The Washington times., 1903-01-25
CHAPTER XIV.
ONCE MORE IMoZENE.

Fitch uttered an imprecation and
fell back against the wall of the cav
ern, utterly unable to properly ex-
press his establishment.
IT'S never Jose Rodriguez" ex-
claimed Ford. scarcely above
whisper.
Isl, senor-eet indeed ees," respond
ed the strange looking individual
hoarsely.
"Alive?" cried Ford again. scarcely
willing to believe his eyes.
Don't be goose, Ford" said
Keeth good naturedIy. "Of course
+ he's alive, though he looks more like
a ghost than a human being
Il hat eaten leetle for weeks" ex-
Iplained the Spaniard simply. only
such food as I could pick up in the
1herdsmen's huts yonder'
And we've been living on the fat
of the land" said Ford. Haven't we
some food here, Keeth ?"
II lost my pack when 1 got into
that qufcksand. returned the engi-
Ineer Perhaps Fitch has some
thing"
/ Food hand torches ave all gone,
declared the Cockney. stiII staring at
I Rodriguez with protruding eyebaIls.
Everything was swept away in the
rush of the waters said Keith, with
disappointment. but we viii get
more"
How" demanded Ford Kinsale.
BY going back to the town"
'What-to-night?@ cried Ford.
TT is already morning, senors,'
said Rodriguez 1.-THE storm did not
arise till near midnight. When it
! began 10 rain I feared for you and
hurried down the tunnel to warn
you"
You hurried to warn us?" repeated
Keeth. How did you know we
were here? Come, Jose. you must
tell Us your story. We have believed
you dead We searched for you all
along the shore below the spot where
you and that guide fell over the cliff.
How did you get here? And how long
have you been here?"
The senior must wait I cannot
tell him all in a breath-eh. wha-at?''
responded the Spaniard. with a smile.
Let US sit down about the fire. I am
easily chilled when I hat so leetle on"
We're hall in the same box"
grunted Fitch, stretching his bare
legs out toward the fire
True, Senior Feetch." said Jose.
with another broad smile. Il did not
know you all in dose ratments-eh.
wha-at? 7 see you going into the
mout' of the tunnel yonder. but I not
be quite sure it you"
Then you were the man we saw
fitting about the entrance Of the
PASSAGE" INTERCEPTED Keith I'VE
feared it was one of the Indians"
q hat been out into de valley
nights" said Jose u hat try TO
learn if YOU be captive among these
people. That I not able to learn for
sure, though I know they haf some
body"
Come, tell US your story" said
Keeth.
The Spaniard stretched himself
upon a ragged bit Of blanket beside /
the fire, and with many gestfculations
and Eth, wha-ats?" related his terri /
bic experience. He had fallen unhurt /
over the cliff in the desperate en- /
brace of the treacherous savage, but !
fortunately when they struck the /
water the Indian was underneath. /
The contact with the cold water /
Ioosed the guides hold; they sank /
together, but Jose alone rose. He /
was greatly weakened by his strug- /
gle, and the swift current swept him /
down stream and around the bend of /
the river in a very few moments. He /
did not get TO the bank until he had
been carried quite two miles below
the bridge, and then ne was so ex- /
hausted that he could scarcely crawl /
out of the water.
He lay there by the river for most /
of that day, but before dark climbed /
to the summit of the cliff He had a
little food and his blanket. He
cleaned his revoIvers and found
plenty of ammunition for them in the
waterproof compartments of his belt |
At sunrise the next morning he start
ed in search of his companions. He
discovered the place where they had /
descended to the shore of the river
and saw the effects of the landslide
which had shut off their retreat to /
the top of the cliff. Knowing that .
they could not go down the river. he .
followed along the stream, hoping to
overtake them at some point higher
Up.
But he was a few hours behind /
them. and although he reached the |