Wallowa chieftain. [volume] (Joseph, Union County, Or.) 1884-1909, 1902-12-25
Copyright, 1929
CHAPTER TX.
Rescued and Lost.

meath the sands or wire grass. He
was not infrequently rewarded by find
ing an animal in the jaws of trap,
cowardly gnawing at its own impris-
oned limb and attempting to skulk
away at his approach. These pelts,
which were usually carried to a safe
hiding place. added to the luggage on
his back containing fresh bats for
his traps and food supplies, made his
burden quite a heavy one, but it did
not cause him to abandon his Win
chester. revolver and knife, which
were his constant companions-and
they were not carried for ornament.
Toward night he decided to climb
to the top of the rimrocks and take a
survey of the country. Away to the
west he saw the moving forms of Fol
lett and his companions. as their
horses logged along, leaving a cloud
of dust behind them. He brought his
field glasses to his eyes and surveyed
the men for a moment and the thought
ran through his mind: Wonder what
kind of deYiltry that Dan Follett is
out on for his master this time?"
Hammersley had beheld the victim
of these two men too long not to sus-
pect every move they made to be a
wicked one.
'If you knew how hot your trail IS
getting, Dan Follett. you would hunt
n colder one. but I hope to see the
same rome hang you and your mas
ter" said the trapper half audibly.
The trapper looked down at his
Winchester and shock his head hes
itatingly saying. 'No, no. let ven
geance come in the proper manner"
AS he turned in disgust his eyes
fell upon another object. far away
on the opposite side of the rimrocks.
A great cloud of dust rose behind 1t
and the word Snakes" escaDed his
lips. Bringing his glass to play. he
was no time in making out the char
acter of his party. After surveying ii
carefully he remarked. "Old Egan has
been at work again" Then he ex-
claimed, as he looked through his
glasses. "a girl captive. as sure as
live. All, Egan stealing horses has
become too tame for YOU, has it? You
are not satisfied with providing Your
stomaches and means of locomotion
and the hazard of occasionally killing
a man who resists you. but now you
have gone and taken some innocent
white girl"
81 am not the law, neither should
attempt to punish you for your num-
erous crimes. for l rather like to see
you harass the Lord of The Desert oc-
casionally-he deserves it, but pro-
pose to look into this caper of yours"
As the trapper watched the course
the Indian marty was taking he saw
at glance that it was making for the
watering place that NIGHT, near the
picture rocks. He was first to arrive
at the place and secrete1 himself in
a crevasse of the rocks near the top
and watched their approach. having
selected place from which he could
observe the camping grounds about
the watering place.
The reader is familiar with what
took place from the time of the ar
rival of the Indians until the inter
ference Of the TRAINER, for it was he
who assaiIed Old Egan when the lat
ter laid his wicked hands upon the
person of Bertha Lyle.
Old Egan was strong and firm but
the traDper was active and wiry.
With the advantage, too, of having
taken the Indians by surprise he soon
tore him from the girl and hurled him
to the ground. But as the cry made
by the warriors as they came to TIE
rescue of their chief warned him thst
he had not the time to finish settling
accounts with his ANTAGONIST. If he 81
desired. he seized the girl by the hand
and led the way into a crevasse in the
rimrocks with which he was familiar.
AS they passed into the recesses IF
the rocks. he heard evclamstions
from the Indians which alarmed him
as to his immediate future course
with the girl. They had recognized
him aud knew whore he lived. and to
approach his home with her would be
difficult should the Indians ATTEMPT to
guard it. He was not long in doubt
on this point. for he heard Egan give
directions for them to go Immediately
to the trapper's place and guard ii
until he came.
If once hidden in the home in the
same room as that occupied by the in
valid, he never feared for the danger
of her rescue, for the passage to this
room was so secret that no one had
ever been able to find It. though in his
absence his home had been visited by
Indians and whites, and ransacled
many times.
1t was easy to discern from the
shouting of the Indians that while n
part of the band. headed by Old Egar.
were on their way to the trapper's
home the others were recklessly try.
ing to follow his trail. for knowing his
Inarksmapship the man who trifln1
with him knew the risk he was taking.
But the Indians knew that as long as
he could prevent it he would never
fire a gun, while the girl was in his
company; that this would endanger
her life by drawing the fire to her.
After going long distance through
the crevasse made by natures great
upheavel in the long past, Hammers
ley led the way into secluded place
which he thought was unknown to any
except himself.
AS he and his companion seated
themselves the shouts of the Indians
came to their ears from the distance
The girl was the first to break the ST.
lence.
do you live in this country, my
dear preserver?" she inquired.
When he informed her that he did,