Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1904-10-25


lose ones way in such woods"
Finally the place was approached, and
Fox could see most of its peculiarities.
Toward the river the rocks were piled up
as by some mighty CONFUSION, while to
the left was deep gorge, over which
ran a sort of natural bridge of rock. Just
az they reached this point the guide ut
tered an exclamation of dissatisfaction.
Bah! My saddle girth has broken
he said. you ride on. sir and | viii
follow you as soon as have fixed it"
Fox was now behind his guide, and
as he saw the fellow slip from the sad
die he drew up his own horse His first
impulse was to cast his eyes over the
strange, wild scene ahead. The ravine
was very deep, with rough. jagged sides,
and with bottom of huge rocks, over
which the torrent was evidently wont to
dash during the season of heavy rains
and freshets. But the most peculiar
feature of all was wide, naturally arch
ed tunnel which extended through the
bottom Of the bluff to the river The
path was very narrow. not wide enough
for a cart, all articles which needed
transportation being generally carried by
pack miles, though the most common
mode of transportation was by the river.
The path upon the shelf or bridge of
rock was not over four feet wide in any
place, and certainly hundred yards in
length, while the gorge extended away
to the left until it became lost in the dis
tant forest
Come" uttered the guide, somewhat
impatiently, ride on and l will soon
overtake you"
1T is not proper for the guided party
to ride ahead of the guide" replied Fox,
carelessly, having first seen that his pis-
tolls were at hand.
But you had better ride on now" urg-
ed the guide, for you have no time to
lose"
/ Il am in no hurry"
But / am"
'1Then we will ride faster when we
get started again."
Warda was not only perplexed, but
much agitated. He found that the stran-
gers eyes were steadily upon him, and
his every movement was watched. But
soon he seemed to gain confidence, and
with a steadier hand he patched the
girth witt, thong where he had himself
cut 1t, and in few moments more he
was in his saddle.
Now you may ride on, he said, "for
my horse is not safe with another behind
him. He will not go over with the
sounds of hoofs in his ear
Then" replied Fox, who could not
help smiling at the fellows quaint in
gcnuity, Il will not start until you are
across. Now If you are in hurry,
move"
This last sentence was spoken sharp
IL. and the fellow started on Fox waited
until he had gained the opposite side.
and then he followed him. When the
traveller reached the spot where his guide
stood, the latter rode on ahead at a brisk
trot, and Fox followed at a respectful
distance. Soon the gentleman saw Warda
place his hand in his bosom, and when
he withdrew it he had a pistol in it.
Warda supposed he had accomplished
this without being noticed. On the next
instant Fox heard a sharp click, click.
and from the way in which the fellows
right elbow was bent he knew that the
weapon was ready for firing. Fox drew
his own pistol, and held it beneath the
skirt of his frock, by bringing the skirt
up over the saddle bow.
Suddenly Warda drew in his horse by
a powerful movement, and quickly
changing his pistol into his left hand, he
cried out, in wild, strange voice, at the
same time pointing off over the river:
"See here! See therew
James Fox had seen the whole process,
and he knew full well that if he did
not act promptly he would have bullet
through his head before he could prevent
it. He waited until he saw the guide
reach back with his right hand for the
pistol, and then he knew the crisis had
come. 1t was hard to take the life of a
fellow, but now he had his choice-to
fall by the hands of an assassin, and
tn as leave the villain to do more murder,
while at the same time a still darker
villain would be left behind with a de-
fenseless maiden in his grasp-or to save
his own life, and thus live to accomplish
a work which justice and mercy and
love demanded at his hands. These
thoughts flashed through his mind like
lightning, and on the next instant his
course was clear.
Look! Lookp' cried the guide.
Fox saw the Villains finger now upon
the trigger of his pistol With firm
hand he drew in his rein, and as his
horse settled back he quickly brought
his own pistol TO within a yard of the
assassin's head and fired. The guides
horse bounded forward at the sound of
the report. and Warda was thrown upon
the ground. He had uttered no cry,
for the ball had passed through his
brain, and the force of the conclusion,
even without the ball, would have stun
ned him for while.
James Fox hastily dismounted and
stopped over the PROSTATE guide, but life
was extinct, and after dragging the body
out from the path, so that his horse
could pass freely along. .Ie remounted
and rode along, taking no notice of the
guides horse. which had now stopped as
though waiting for its rider.
Toward the middle Of the forenoon,
Mari Laroon began to look for his slave
who had been sent TO guide James Fox;
hut the hours passed away until night
fall. and he did not come. The bucca-
neer now became uneasy, ana sent off
two OF his most trusty men to hunt
Warda up if possible. These two took
their horses, and they were directed to
follow the path to Lopez Garonne's,
snd look carefully for the missing man.
BE sure and examine well about the
great bluff and ravine." said Mari, in
conclusion, for there is dangerous
place. Hasten. now"
Half an hour after the negroes had
gone, the buccaneer was in the great hall
pacing up and down the paved door. The
sun was near setting. and the shadows
were now heightened out till they be-
came lost in the distance. Suddenly
Mari heard an alarm at the gate. and
soon afterward he was informed that
one Of the men from the brig would see
him. OF course. he gave orders for the
man 80 be admitted. and he waited in
tho hall for him. Ere long he heard
heavy step en- the veranda, and he start
ed with s quick emotion as the sound
fell upon his ear for there was but one
man who walked with that unequal
thump. and that man he had supposed
to be in prison. Bat his queries were
soon stopped. for the hall door was
thrown open. and the MANNED form Of
Buffo Burlington appeared opon the