Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1901-09-12

She recognized him, and did not
scream.
What dear, brave fellow you are,"
she murmured, ito risk your life for
me!'
She looked at him with tears in her
beautiful eyes, and stroked his hair
fondly.
At this moment one of the villains
awoke.
What is the matter with the fire?"
he cried.
Macdonald had taken the precautlon
to close his lantern while Helen and
he were whispering, so that there was
no danger of immediate discovery.
The man got up and began to tumble
around. His companions awoke, and
swore because they had been disturbed.
Not a moment was to be lost.
The situation was desperate, we'll
nigh hopeless. Macdonald feared that
he had played brave and most peri
lous part only to be defeated. While
he was in terrible suspense, not know
ing what was best to do, the dear girl
whispered to him.
came in it"
Can you find it?'
Yes; there is stake with red
flag on it that will guide me to it."
Meanwhile the robbers had discov-
cred the blankets, and were removing
them from the fire. Two of the fell
lows approached the wigwam. AS
they reached it Macdonald and Helen
left it, after he had hastily cut the
cords that bound the maiden's
hands. One of the men
happening to touch our hero, the lat
ter with quick presence of mind, felled
his enemy to the lava. The robbers,
now thoroughly aroused hurled forth
imprecations that echoed in deafen-
ing manner throughout the cavern
But they could not readily find Ian
tern, and could not tell where the fu-
gitives, running noiselessly in their
stocking feet, were. The pursuers dis
charged their pistols at random. and
one bullet whistled by the heads OF
our hero and heroine. They continued
to run, keeping as nearly as they could
a straight course.
Macdonald opened the slide of the
lantern as soon as he dared to do it,
They had reached the top of the height
Just above the shore; but no flag was
in sight.
The robbers saw the fugitives, yelled
viciously and fired their pistols. Bull
lets whistled alarmingly near the in
tended victims.
Macdonald closed the lantern, and
holding Helen's hand, walked along
the islands edge. Again he allowed
CLEAN Of light to escape. He saw the
flag ten feet from him, and closed the
lantern before the Williams could fire.
The steps of the pursuers sounded
fearfully near.
The fugitives ran forward, expecting
each moment to be precipitated into
the water. But fortune favored them.
They fell against the flag pole, and re-
covering themelves in a second, slid
down the islands steep bank. Mac
Donald opened the lantern. Thank
God. The boat was at their feet.
They sprang into it. Macdonald
handed Helen the lantern, cut the
rope, grasped the oars, and they were
afloat
At this moment three of the robbers,
waving pistols, gained the summit of
the bank.
Shut the lantern!" Macdonald
cried.
Before Helen could. obey the cavern
rang with a great discharge of fire
arms The three men threw up their
hands and fell forward into the water.
Macdonald knew that his friends
had come to the rescue just in time.
He looked behind him, and saw on the
lava shelf his five brave companions
waving their hands with delight.
The boat touched the shore. Will
ling hands assisted our hero and he
roine to ali5ht.
Awed by the fate of their comrades,
the five robbers on the island sur
rendered themselves, and, with most
of the property which they had stolen,
were taken back to Albuquerque in
triumph.
Young Macdonald, the fair Helen
and their five gallant friends were re-
ceived with raptures by Colonel Bleek-
er and his wife, and were lionized by
all the people of the city.-Waverly
Magazine.
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