The Washington times., 1903-01-25

/ tne lndi&A3 IN time TO see the party
| who had - ptured his friends enter
ing the forest, he was not quite posi-
/ tive that Keith and HIS companions
were with them. But as the white
men did not appear at any point
along the river shore, he believed
they had been taker prisoners or
that the Indians had m3ssacred them.
Alone though he was, he deter
mined not to return TO Hualpa with
out assuring himself on this point.
He believed that he alone knew the
secret entrance to the Indians val
lev. by which he had made his escape
before. Therefore. he ventured into
the labyrinth OF subterranean gall
lelies to the tunnel through which
/ flowed the little river which watered
the inclosed valley. In these galleries
he had lurked ali these weeks, hoping
to obtain an opportunity of speaking
with the prisoners But Keith and
/ his friends had not been treated as
/ he had been when ne was a captive.
/ The Indians had shown him little
mercy, as he was a Spaniard He
4 had been made to herd the uamas
and goats, and work with the women
IN the fields.
Il hat been as far as the town at
night, senors." declared Jose. In con
eiusion; for these Indians set no
watch except at the entrance 10 the
valley But I not find where you
was lodged. Now that you hat es-
caps we viii be off YER soon, and I,
for ons, hope nefer to see this place
again"
But 'ow about that treasurer"
suggested Fitch, leaning forward.
''Ah. Senior F7eetch, your experience
hat not made you forget dat-eh.
wha-at?"
Hi should say not. I came out for
it; want to take some OF it back
to pay me for wot Hive been
through"
You shall have your weesh, senor."
| declared the Spaniard.
But we can't go without food"
said Ford.
True, responded Keith Another
supply Of torches-eh, Jose
The senior speaks true. Torches
We must haf"
But how will we get them?"
DO not these heather gather IN
front Of their temple to worship the
sun as it rises?"
They do"
Then let US go at that time. enter
S0rue aefadc IN tEz ~--+-1-+-.- -
town and take what We need"
When shall We DO it,"
Tonight" replied Jose.
'Anged if Hi believe Hi could
squeeze through that place again.
said Fitch. nodding toward the mar
row aperture by which they had
gained entrance TO their present
abode HI was so scared then that
Hi felt small and slipped through
easy"
Slipped through easyI" exclaimed
Ford, laughing. IF I hadn't pulled
like a yoke OF steers you'd be stick
ing there yet
We not all 60" said Jose. Two
Of US plenty-eh. Senior Keeth?"
Yes; you and I, If you think you
can stand it."
Yer well, We viii 60 And now.
senors, as We cannot eat, let Us
sleep and the Spaniard followed out
his philosophical suggestion by roll
ing up in the tattered blanket and
dropping off at once. The others
did the same. and all four slept until
late in the day
When they awoke Keith and Ford.
with a flaming brand from the fire.
went out through a narrow passage
TO the river The water had subsidized
and trickled peacefully along the
rocky bed, falling over the first cas-
cade with a pleasant roar. They
could scarcely realize that it was the
same stream that had threatened to
overwhelm them early in the morn
ing
They walked out TO the end of the
tunnel and looked INTO the valley.
Nobody was in sight. not even the
herdsmen. OF course their escape had.
been discovered, but if their recent
captors suspected that they had en-
tered the tunnel, they doubtless be-
lieved that the sudden tempest which
had broken over the valley had raised
tee water 70 such a height as to drown
their prisoners.
They went back TO their comrades
and waited in the side chamber, with
such patience as they could com
mand, for the time had come for the
raid upon the stores of the Indians
Fitch dozed, but the three younger
men felt their situation too keenly
to admit of that. They sat in silence,
for the most part, until past midnight
Then Jose declared i tine they
started. and shaking har.,5s with Ford
and letting the sleeping Fitch lie
undisturbed, he and Keith went out.
They were both armed with re-
volvers. and their last act before
leaving the retreat was to make sure
that me weapons were in perfect
order.
1T FoDa M v,-,,,r+ F~-r-, .. -.