Los Angeles herald., 1907-04-07

|
direct advance would simply be to court GER
| tain death.
There's no danger but that they have got
us safely enough now" said Kirk, after ne
had watched the men until he saw that they
had no intention of changing their positions
for some time "By tomorrow the other one
| will be up here, and by the next day we Shall
be forced to surrender" :,
Some one may come along before then,"
said Dory, hopefully.
"There isn't much chance Of that. Miners
wouldn't be around here, and if any one want
ed to cross the range he wouldn't travel this
way. OF course, it is possible that some, one
may come, and that's the only hope we have
of getting out Of here alive"
! The moments passed slowly until darkness
covered the face Of the earth, and the peril
of the young gold-hunters was greater than
before, for the men might creep up on the
very LEDGE and by shooting at random wound
and even kill one or both of the boys.
| Kirk was fully alive to all the dangers of
their position, and did what he could to guard
against them. 1t was arranged that the one
who was on guard during the, night should
stand, of course, where he could peer out;
but that the other must make his, bed di-
rectly beneath the opening, where there was
no chance of stray bullet reaching him.
| That the burros were yet on the ledge could
be told by the. occasional paving and sn1orting
as they feasted upon the cactus; and this was
unfortunate for the boys, since such noise
might prevent them from hearing the ap-
proach of the enemy.
Despite their peril, the boys slept soundly
had just come on watch for the second time,
rubbing his eyes in the effort to thoroughly
shake off the drowsiness that oppressed him.
Dory was breathing heavily five minutes after
he had rolled himself in his blankets, and
Kirk was beginning to think that he must
adopt some measure to arouse himself, when
he heard sound that caused his eyes to open
to their widest extent
The noise was very slight, but as if some
one was trying to Chamber over the boulders
cautiously There was no question in klrks
mind but that the enemy were creeping up
to carry into effect the very plan he had fear
ed they might try, and his first thought, was
to awaken Dory;. but he refrained from doing
it, as he said to himself:
whats the use? One can guard the open
ing as well as two, and if they do fire in at
us, he's safe, even if I'm hit"
Then, with both hammers of his gun cooked,
and Dory's weapon leaning against the wall
where he could grasp it without loss of time,
he waited, motionless and with bated breath.
Kirk had not been mistaken. He could now
hear the soft footsteps of more than one ap-
preaching nearer and nearer. Suddenly the
noise ceased, and he thought that they were
could fire at him without exposing themselves
when he heard distinct whisper:
"Kirk! Kirk!"
For an instant he was too much bewidered
danger of his position teaching him caution, he
answered, but in low voice:
'Tm here, but ready to fire, as I shall do if
you remain there"
''It's me, Kirk-it's Bart" came back from
the mouth of the cave; and before the boy
could give way to the joy that filed his heart.
the same voice whispered: BE careful l
don't want those fellows to know I'm here"
In another instant, Bart was in the cave,
with both arms around Kirk in what was
very like loving embrace, and then to the
additional surprise of Kirk, one man after
another entered, until the place was uncom-
fortably crowded, even though all were stand
| ing.
| Of course this numerous arrival of visitors
awakened Dory, who started to his feet in
terror; but before he could utter any cry, Kirk
whispered:
Bart is here, and he's brought all these
men with him"
Then the. guide greeted Dory as he had
pleteiy mystied by his sudden appearance mese uo
he prevented any questioning by telling his
story at once.
II got along all right for twenty-four hours
after you left, for the road-agents seemed quite
willing to keep their portion of the agreement,
and it wasn't until / started after you that 1
discovered what fool | made of myself"
"You had forgotten the lariats" interrupt
ed Kirk.
"And so you thought of it-did your"
"Not until last night, and then it was too
late to come back to warn you"
"Well, hadn't got fifty yards away from
that place when | remembered what l should
have thought of before, and knew that even
then it might be too late to do any good. So
kept right on for half mile, walking about
as sharp as l ever did, you may depend. and
then L struck straight along the side Of tha
range on a trail | knew OF. i could see YOU