Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1902-11-06


to explain their conduct to his own
satisfaction. He believed his last
hour had come and determined to
meet his fate like hero. When told
to prepare for death, he rose, made
no resistance, and his arms were
tied behind his back. The moose was
adjusted about his neck, and he took
his position under the cross-bar, and,
closing his eyes, murmured a short
prayer.
All eyes were on the other captive,
but he sat with face averted and said
not word. There was no change in
his expression-no more indication of
grief than might have been expected
at the death of stranger. When tbs
miserable farce was over Paul had
been released, and the four rascals
retired again to confer with each
each other. Tom Ambrose said:
well, it's my opinion that we've
lost our last chance of ever getting
his buried millions"
At this Padgett again proposed his
knotted stick and swore he would
brain both with it, but he was pre-
vented by Morris and Allen, who de-
clared there should be no real vio-
lence. The two prisoners were given
meagre supper of dried beef and a
little meal cruel, and driven to the
far end Of the cavern for the night.
When they were apart from the
guard Paul asked:
What was meant by their extraor-
binary course to-day?"
They labor under the mistaken
idea that we are related and both
have some knowledge of the buried
treasure. AS they are mistaken they
will succeed in getting nothing from
u.s."
I have been mystified at their
strange conduct all along" said Paul,
land I would not be surprised at any
time at their taking our lives"
His companion shook his grizzled
head and answered:
mo. no; they won't harm us so
long as we have the secret in our own
breasts. If We should tell them and
they should find the treasure then we
would be killed in short order"
Paul shuddered, was silent for a
while and asked:
Then you don't believe we have
any hope of mercy at their hands?"
The sea captain answered:
NO"
Captain, let's make our escape"
Ssh! Speak lower; you may be
heard"
Il will, but am in earnest"
so am |, but we must be cunning
as the fox to escape from those ras-
GALS"
81 am willing to trust you implic-
lily"
Then say nothing"
Though night and day were the
same in that dungeon, the captors had
their sleeping and waking hours. Paul
and his companion threw themselves
on their miserable pallet Of straw, but
not to sleep. They lay SO they could
watch their captors.
At last, one after another, they be-
gan to grow drowsy. One rose and
went toward the pile of straw, and
stretching himself upon it, was soon
snoring. A short quarrel followed on
the subject of guarding the prisoners.
Padgett was the man selected and
he swore he had done more than his
share at that business and he wouldn't
do any more of it, but Morris, who
seemed the person in command, de-
clared he must take his turn of two
hours, and left him on duty while
the others went to bed
The whole matter could not have
been better planned for Paul, for Pad
gett was careless and yawned sleep
lily before his companions had closed
their eyes. For long time he made
a fight against the wiles of Morpheus,
but at last his head dropped forward
on his chest.
Paul raised his own head aud
shoulders from his pallet of straw
and surveyed the entire cavern at a
sweeping glance. There was a fire
burning in the center which threw out
a dull, ruddy glow, dimly lighting the
scene. Where the fire had been built
the cavern was wide, and from the
lofty ceiling ages ago great fragments
of stone had been torn loose and lay
in heap on the floor, little to one
side of the fire, leaving a dark path
in the shadow. Paul could also see
that their captors had placed their
rifles in a corner farthest from them.
The three men sleeping on the straw
were between the prisoners and the
rifles, which were on the right of the
sleeping sentry. All the advantages
and disadvantages of the position
were taken into consideration at a
glance. Pauls companion arose and
gave their surroundings a quick sur
vey, and then they exchanged glances.
The look was sufficient. They under
stood each other as well as If they
had spoken volumes. Paul was to look
after the guard and the captain to
seize the rifles. The young man
nodded assent to the request ex-
pressed by the captains eyes, and be-
gan to act. They rolled up the blank
cts and left them on the straw, with
their caps stuck over them, giving
them, in the uncertain light, the ap-
pearance of two sleeping men. Paul
went first on hands and knees. creep
ing around the little mound of stone
and earth and over the loose stones
with all the caution possible. He
was closely followed by the hermit,
who seemed to possess the wonderful
faculty of moving without noise.
The sentry stirred in his sleep
when Paul was within ten or fifteen
PAGES of him. The determined youth
seized a stone and leaped toward him.
Ned Padgett suddenly started up with
a yell and had half raised his rifle,