Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1900-01-05
CHAPTER XI.-CoNTNUED.


But Bowers found it no easy task to
retrace his steps. It was now very
dark, and as Rider had not dared to
tight fire there was nothing to guide
his companion, who stumbled about as
best he could, not daring to shout for
fear he might alarm the party he had
just been watching. He became hope
iessly lost at last and was about to give
up the search until daylight when he
heard horse stamping.
Confident there was no one but Rider
near him, he called softly, and to his in
tense delight the sailor answered from
point not 20 yards away:
us that you, Bowers?''
Eyes" was the surly reply, as the big
miner reached his side, "and I've had a
nice time gittin' here, too. I'm starved"
''Shan 1 light a ire?" asked Rider.
I've got it all ready, but was skit-
fish about lighting it till L found out
what you had seem
"You don't light no fire here" growled
the other. "We've got ter put up with
cold grub tonight. We've been regular
done for, we have!"
whats the matter?''
Matter enuff! In the fust place, that
Tarbox chap we see start for Dyea has
met a party an turned back. One O.
Their men is named Avery"
'AveryH'
The mates teeth chartered as he
gasped:
"But. saw him buried at seal"
"Rot! Theremay be more'n one Avery
in Their world! Didn't that letter say
L 7 /
was to come? Course it did! Mebbe it's
the old chaps brother or cousin or
somethin'.
Then there's two young chaps that
looked like sailors an young gal that
1 take ter be Avery's darter by the way
she stayed round him. They've routed
out the chap as wrote the letter an
they've all gone into camp under a big
cliff not more'n mile from where we re
sittin' this mint"
1.-THE young men must be Scott and
the second mate" said Rider, land
don't you see these papers are no good
to us after all our trouble? We can't
do anything now but give the thing up
and make for the Klondike. We've got
good out"
snake for nothin'!'' was the savage
interruption. Them men hev got a
gold mine right round here somewheres
and I've as much right there as they
hev if 1 can only find it. I'd like tel
see 'em drive me off. You can go to the
Klondille if yer like, but yer don't take
any o. this stuff with yer. See?"
Like most DULLES, Obed Rider was
easily cowed by a bigger bully than
himself and he dared not make the re
ply which came to his lips. Instead ht
said:
'"But can't join these men after TAX
ing these papers from Scott. There'd
be trouble"
az didn't say L was goin' to jine EN-
Look here, Rider, are yer scared or not:
Here we are, two stout chaps with plen
~ of grub an the horses. We knows
Jest whar them fellerS are. now, an
they don't know whar we be. If VIZ
keeps our eyes open thar's sure ter bt
q chance for business. Win yer sticl
ter me or not?"
Rider had little choice. He dared no.
demand half the outfit his own money
had purchased and was forced to sub
nit, so with a, show of sincerity he eX
claimed:
"Of course I'll stick, Bowers!"
''All right. Now, you keep watch the
fust half of Their night an call me fol
Their last. We've got ter be moyin
bright an early"
In five minutes the hardened rasca
was snoring, while Rider stood guard
He had no stomach for Bowers com
pany now, and would gladly have lief
him, but the miner had gained such a.
ascendancy over him that he dared no
attempt to leave him now that he wa
asleep. He had meant to assault Ton
Scott and take his papers, but his Gu
pidity was inf1amed, and he had bee
drinking then. He was sober now, an
the evident intention OF his comrade [
attempt. to bully or rob five armed me-
was quite another matter. Still, ther
was no help for it. and he tried to stee
his cowardiy heart to its work.
Bowers relieved him at midnight, an
as soon as the first streak of dayEgh
could be seen he aroused the mate an
said:
"I'm off again. Stay here and keep
under this hill as much as you can till
get back"
Once more he made his way to tn
bowIder and took up his station. Frol