Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1901-12-14

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Tarbox now stepped forward and
made his partner acquainted with the
other members of the party. Then he
said:
Its too dark to try to get up to the
camp tonight. We shall have to stay
here till morning. Dick. There's a long
story to tell, and l wish we were safe
u OF sight now. Have you seen any
smoke before?'
Smoke? What do you mean? who
would be doing that? All the people
who know our signal are here now"
mot by a long Sight, they amt" was
the reply, as Tarbox tried to pierce the
darkness about them, which was in
tense by this time.
What do you mean"
well, it's a long story, Dick. In the
first place, we might as we'll get a bite
OF supper, and then Scott here will tell
you all about his trip on the vessel and
what happened to him. I'll finish the
yarn. n then you'll understand just
how the thing stands"
This was oun advice, and his part
ner made no objection, but he was
burning with impotence, and could
hardly wait till the frugal repast was
swallowed. Then he exclaimed:
Now. let's have the story. There's a
good deal depending on 1T. Come,
Scott, fire away"
Tom at once began a detailed account
Of his acquaintance with the old miner,
and when he had concluded the story
TarboX added his meeting with the two
men who had showed him the papers,
adding:
IF Ii ever suspected the truth, Dick,
I'd put a spoke in their wheel some
how. One of them is that tall scamp we
saw hustled out Of Ladue's. I didn't
recognize him at first, but when / saw
him tipping the wink to the sailor on
the sly, / began TO smell a rat"
But where are they?" burst out Tay-
Tor, eXcitedly. you say they were
ahead of us. Where are they now?"
That's what makes me uneasy" re-
piled his partner. 1--WE saw their tracks
back by the white cliff and they turned
off all right. We were too busy hurry
ing to look for them any more. i sup
pose they have got off the track some"
how, but If they should see our fire
there might be trouble. We must stand
a watch tonight. II we can get every
thing out of sight before they get here
they'll never be the wiser. They can't
find us in n hundred years"
His partner evidently shared his un-
easiness, for he responded quickly:
perhaps they won't, but We mustn't
take any chances. I'll take the first
watch and you the second. We are
more used to this sort Of thing, you
know. Wen keep the fire down low.
1t isn't very cold"
The rest OF the party now retired,
Avery and ~his-daughter occupying one
tent and the three younger men the
other, while Dick Taylor lOosened his
revolver in his belt, made sure that
each cartridge was in place, and then
took up his post in the dark shadow OF
a huge rock where no ray of light could
betray his presence to a watcher.
Soon not a sound was to be heard but
the low murmur Of his companions
voices as they discussed the situation,
then these died out, and a chorus of
SHORES testified to the soundness Of
their slumber.
Hour after hour passed until It was
fully midnight. Then the miner en-
tered the tent where his partner was
sleeping and laid his hand lightly on
his shoulder.
In an instant the sleeper was wide
awake, n a m later tho two
were outside.
"Hea anything?" asked Tarbox,
softly.
No replied the other, but some
how i feel uncomfortable. l never had
his feeling yet but what there was
sure to be trouble ahead. / wish it was
daylight. Keep cut of sight as much
] 90 y W. NtAl "SNH 4 NAAAA I CO. AAANNAi ~
fore the rest, but / believe that our
drel we saw at Ladue's place would
think nothing Of shooting n man in the
back if he had any cause to do 1t. It's
a pity this all happened. We might
have all got as much as we wanted
before anyone found out about it. Now
there's no telling what may happen
Five minutes later he was asleep,
and TarboX was standing sentry over
the silent camp.
1t was nearly daybreak when he re-
plenished the fire, for the air grew very
chilly. Soon a gray streak appeared In
the southeast, and as Tom came cut of
his tent the sun was just rising over
the rolling land over which they had
travelled the day before.
The rest OF the party were soon
awake, and Taylor said at once:
Il believe we have not been seen yet,
but we must get out of sight before
breakfast. Joe, urn the horses loose
and start them off. The rest OF us will
begin to pack in the stuff"
He grasped q heavy package as he
spoke, and the others followed his ex-
ample. When they reached the face of
the cliff he paused and said, solemnly:
Il am going to show you a wonderful
secret. All l want is your WORD that
you will never reveal IT until / give you
permission? VIII you promise this?''
His three companions readily gave
their promise, and looked curiously
about them.
Their guide stepped up to the rocky
wall and carefully pushed aside the
mass of moss n creepers, disclosing
to their wondering gaze the same aper-
ture from which he a issued the pre-
vious night. Looking inside, they could
see hat for several feet the rock over
head was u~nbroken, forming an arch
like a doorway at the height of some
seven or eight feet, but the light which
showed beyond was apparently from
above.
Taylor led the way with his burden
after looping the creepers to one side ia
prevent them from being torn away.
A few steps brought them beyond the
arch of rock, and a simultaneous eX-
clamation of establishment broke from
all the men.
They found themselves standing at
the bottom Of a deep chasm in the solid
rock. On either side of them the walls
rose perpendicularly to the height OF
some fifty feet as smoothly as IL CHS
eled by human agency. Far above them
a narrow strip Of blue sky wound like
a ribbon, and in front, at a distance
of n few yards, a sharp curve in the
rocky way shut off all further view.
Where they stood the passage wild
ened abruptly for a space of some ten
feet, and Taylor said:
This is the bed OF some old stream
which must have run here thousands OF
years to wear it's way down through
the rock to this depth. Right here
where we are standing it seems to have
backed up and made a sort OF basin,
which accounts for the rocks being
worn out so much wider. When there
was a freshet the water couldn't get
out through the opening fast enough.
But we must be getting the rest OF the
goods in here. Drop your loads here till
we have 1T all out of sight"
The others obeyed, and as they went
back and forth he told them how he
had discovered the opening.
1--WE came down from Selkirk,'' he