Condon globe. (Condon, Gilliam Co., Or.) 189?-1919, 1903-01-01
CHAPTER XIX.
Thieves Fall Out.

intrenched and the beaieged In the
stone House can only remain cooped
In until relief shall arrive from tho
fort.
II they are even spared this prlvl.
iego they viii feel thankful for IL
requires time 20 communicate with
the military authorities aud then sol
diera move with deliberatlon and pre-.
pare before they move.
Old Egan'H messages are already
sent out and his reInforcementS are
doubtless on the road. While sol.
dierR are preparing "ratlons" and
rolling their blankets and seeing TO
their equipments generally. Indian
warriors are already in the saddle
and riding night and day toward the
seat of their campaign.
II the Indians should surmlae that
relief had been sent for they would
hurry the final attack, and the be.
Hieged felt much alarmed for fear
that they might discover the tracks
or Metzger, who bad borne the mes
sage 10 the trapper There was also
some fear OF delay In communicating
with the military post Rs the trRpper
was known 10 spend great deal of
his time away from home. working
among his traps In the rimrocka.
While II was considered best that the
trapper should make the Journey TO
the fort, yet. Metzgor had received in.
structiona To 30. should he be unable
TO ind Hammersley
The besieged determined 10 die
rather than fall into the hands of the
Snakes. for they knew that Old Egan
would show no mercy now. having
caught the Lord OF The Desert in his
treachery, and they guarded the loop.
holes with cloea scrutiny never fail.
Ing 10 send bullet nj the slightest
exposed portion OF an Indians body.
They were we'll supplied with pro.
visions. water and ammunition. and
unless actually overpowered would
be able to Withstand siege indoh.
niteiy.
The indians were likewise prepared
for the siege. Besides the pure water
that flowed from the mountains above
the Stone House, they had the great
meadows for their stock 10 Craze upon
and had the Lords choicest bullocks
to select from when they became
hNhhNEs ~ AHN NlHENiHk WHETIuT
from the rlmrocks and lava beds this
life was truly dream; plenty 10 cat
and drink. only desultory guard duty
just exciting enough 20 stimulate
their energy--old Egan's braves were
In their element. But summer can.
not last always even with the savage.
While his warriors were revcllng In
the luxury OF hazardiess siege and
the hope of an old time assault aud
division OF the rich booty. Old Egan
was scannlng the desert for his re.
Inducements. Intuition admonIshed
him that delay would not help his
cause. that the sooner he had taken
his prey and vanished among the lava
rocks OF the far south. the better.
The outlook who had been placed on
the peak overlooking the desert, sIg
nailed Old Egan that reinforcements
we're coming.
The chief could not resist climbing
10 the summit Of an adjoining foothlll
and looking for himself. He was re-
warded by seeing cloud OF dust far
out on the desert to the south that,
from It's length along the plain. he
knew n band of his warriors were
coming in single file as rapidly as
their steeds could bring them. A
little later another cloud of dust from
the southwest announced other rein
forcements on the way. and, though
the Indians preserved silence while
In view OF the occupants OF the Stone
House. they could not resist chanting
their war SONGS In their concealment.
Just at nightfali another band of
reinforcementS arrived, and. the
Indians now becoming more bold,
rent the air with their warwhoops. But
the new arrivals were hungry and
thirsty, and as darkness came on the
Lord of The Desert beheld their
camphres in every direction and he
saw them buslly engaged In cooking
and feasting upon his choicest beeves,
which had heen fattened for the pal.
ates OF different race. Martin Lyle
was not a coward. He was a villain
and thief and a drunkard. but with
all OF this he was man of courage
OF the true Scotch stripe. When he
saw his property being sacrificed, his
home surrounded by an enemy. his
life and that OF his comnanions
threatened. he rose from his big arm
chair, dressed and armed himself for
battle and took active command of
his men.
Dan Follett had been watching the
proceedings with studious silence.
He came to the conclusion that a
crisis was at hand. Meeting the
Lord of The Desert in the front yard
he told him he would speak with him.
uMn I xy1o ha uoid AhtuI, htoh
time for settlement between us. ]
have performed all Of my agreements
with you and You have put me OFF
from day to day, and now that have
no obligations remaining unfulfilled
demand that the deeds be signed and
that you pay the balance due me-"
tut, man, this Is no time for set
tling business affairs, when our very
scalps are quivering on our heads.
There Is plenty OF time. Wait until
we have repulsed this band of blood
thirsty savages, which your awkward
ness has brought to our door, and
then we will talk about settlement"
But we must settle now!" de-
manded Follett. "You have thus put
me off from time to time and | now
must have settlement without fur
ther delay"
IT am a man of few words. as you
know, Follett," responded Lyle. "and
answer now. once and for all, wait
until ! am ready to SETTLE"
$50 am a man of few words and
also Of quick action. your Lordship,
a title for which you are indebted to
me, and another moments delay on
your part will be the costliest act of
your life" said Follett in a low, de.
termined tone.
Dan Follett was a man of action
and of few words, as the reader is
aware. and his conscience did not die