The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-05-24

tNcS6 his SpdsLl-htS VI SupPliSdtioh ho
stood for all that is most awe-inspiring and
unnerving, asking but a little stretch OF
the imagination to figure him as one OF
those old iron-hard prophets of denuncia.
ton come back to earth to be the herald OF
the wrath Of God.
Twas close upon actual nightfall when
the old man rose from his knees and. with
the rising, put off tho beadsman and put
on the shrewd old Indian fighter. Followed
some hurried counselings as to how We
should proceed. and in these the hunter set
the pace for IL as his age and vast ex-
p%erience in woodcraft gave him leave.
His plan had all the merit Of simplicity.
Now that We had the horses, Richards
notion of an approach from the head Of
the sunken valley became at once the most
hopeful Of any. So Ephraim Yeates pro-
posed that we betake ourselves to the
mountain top and to the head Of that ra-
vine which the Catawba and 1 had discov-
cred. Here we should leave the horses well
hidden and secured. make our way down
the ravine. and. with the stream for a
camp at its lower end. Once on the ground
without having given the alarm We might
hope to free the captives under cover Of the
darkness; and our retreat up the valley
would be far less hazardous than any open
flight by way Of the UNEMPLOYED road the
powder train had used.
So said the old backwoodsman! but nei-
Their Dick nor / would agree to tits in toto.
Dick argued that while we were killing
time in the roundabout advance we should
be leaving Margery wholly at the mercy
Of the baronet. and that every hour Of
delay was full of hideous menace to her.
Hence he proposed that three of US should
carry out the hunters plan, leaving tho
fourth to take the hint given by the charred
stick and the swimming ambush crew. and
so penetrating to the valley by the steam
cavern, be at hand to strike n blow for our
dear lady'S honor in ca GO nf mood
"'Tis a thing to be done, and l en- with
you. Dick said l. This before Ephraim
Yeates could object. Should there be need
for any. two blades will be better than one.
If it come to blows and we are killed or
taken. Yeates and the chief must make tbs
shift to do without our help
AS you would guess, the old hunter de-
INJURED to this halving Of our slender force.
but We over-persuaded him.. If all went
well, we were TO rendezvous on the scene
of action to carry out the plan of rescue.
But II our adventure should prove disas-
tTous, Yeates and uncanoola were to bid
their time. striking in when and how they
might.
Touching this contingency. 1 drew the ole
man aside for a word in private.
IF aught befali US. Ephraim-if we should
be nabbcd as We are likely to be-you are
not to let any hope of helping US lessen
by a feathers weight the rescue chance OK
the woman. You'll promise me this?'
"Sartain sure: ye can rest easy on that.
Cap'n John. But don't ye go to let that
rampaging boy OF our'r upset the fat In the
fire with any o. his foGlishness. He's love-
sick. he is: and there amt nothing in this
world so ridiculous foolish ez a love-sick
it's a love-sick gal"
I promised on my part. and so We went
our separate ways in the gathering dark
ness; though not until the lashings OF the
packs had been cut and the powder and
lead, save such spoil of both as Ephraim
and Uncanoola would reserve, had
been spilled into the river. AS for the
bodies of the dead Indians. the old hunter
said he would let them ride till he should
to some convenient chasm for a sepu1-
cher; but l mistrusted that he and the
would scalp and leave them once
We were safely out Of sight.
AT the parting we took the rivers edge
FOR 1t. Richard and I. keeping we'll under
he bank and working our way cautiously
Town the gorge until we were stopped by
pouring ,cross-torrent Of the UNDER
ground tributary. Here We turned short to
The left along the margin Of the barrier
stream. and tracing its course across the
gorge came presently TO the northern cliff
1t the lip of the spewing cavern mouth
BY now the night was fully come and
N the wooded defile we could place our
selves only by the sense Of touch.
Are yo1 ready. Dick?" said /.
las ready as a man with a shaking aguo
'an be-" he grttted out. This dogs work
We nave been doing of late has brought my
curse upon me and I am like to rattle
teeth loose"
Let me go alone. then. Another cold
No." said he stubbornly. Wait butsa
and the fever will be on me: thenf1
hall be lighting ut for anything that