The news=record. [volume] (Enterprise, Wallowa County, Oregon) 1907-1910, 1907-10-17
CHAPTER vi.

establish an intrenched camp. The i'm
mense voladero lowering at a prodigious
height above the precipices, and guarded
on the right and left by enormous masses
Of rock, offered such conditions of secur-
ity that the poems regained all their merry
and regarded the mysterious
flight of the guide as an accident of no
real Importance.
1t was, hence, with we'll promising ar |
dor that they rose on receiving their |
chiefs command and prepared under his
directions to dig the trench which was
intended to protect them from a sur
prise. This trench was to be bordered
by line of tall stakes, running across
the open space between the rocks, which
gave the sole access to the terrace.
At the moment when the leader pro-
ceded with several poems armed with picks
and spades toward the entrance, with the
probable intention of marking the exact
spot where the trench was to be dug, the
capataz approached, and said with a re-
spectful bow:
mi amo, have an important commu-
nication to make to you."
His master turned and looked at him
with ill-concealed distrust.
"An important communication to make
to me?" he repeated.
"Yes"
"What is it? Speak, but be brief"
81 have discovered a grotto."
"What?" his master exclaimed, In sur
prise.
"Yes, excellency."
"Where?"
"There," he said, stretching out his
arm; behind that mass Of rocks"
A suspicious look flashed from behind
his masters eyelashes.
well, we will enter 1t together. Fetch
some torches of ocote wood, and show
US the way. By the by, do not forget to
bring weapons, for we know not what
men or beasts we may find in caverns
thus opening on high road"
The Mexican selected six Of his poems,
on whose courage he thought he could
rely ordered them to take their muskets,
and, bidding the others keep good watch,
but not begin anything until he returned,
he made signal to the capataz that he
was ready to follow him. Carnero had
followed the arrangements made by his
! master with an evil eye, but probably did
not deem it prudent to risk any remark,
for he silently bowed his head, and walk
ed toward the pile of rocks that masked
the entrance of the grotto.
These granite blocks, piled one on top
Of the other, did not appear, however to
have been brought there by accident, but,
on the contrary, they appeared to have
belonged in some early and remote age to
clumsy but substantial edifice.
"It would not be prudent" said the
chief, ito venture without precautions
into this cavern. Prepare your arms, mu.
chachos, and keep your eyes open at the
slightest suspicious sound, or the small
est object that appears, fire. Capataz
light the torches"
The latter obeyed without word the
leader Of the caravan assured himself al
glance that his orders had been prop
erly carried out; then taking his pistols
from his belt, he cooked them, took one
In each hand, and said to Carnero:
"Take the lead. 1t is only just thai
you should do the honors of this plac,
which you so Unexpectedly discovered
Forward you others, and be on you
guard"
The eight men went into the cavern a
the heels of the capataz, who raised tn,
| torches above his head, doubtless in orde
to cast a greater light.
They thus reached a rather large hall
into which several passages opened. AL
! at once the leader stopped and listened.
Listen" he said to the capataz, ID
| you not hear something"
The latter bent his body slightly for
r.
, seconds.
II do" he said, drawing himself ur
1T sounds like distant thunder"
"Is it not? or, perhaps, the rolling o
. subterranean waters"
+ II can swear that you are right. ]
Q would be piece OF luck for us to fin
water In the cave, for 1t would add great
: ly to our security, as we should not b
!, obliged to lead our horses, perhaps, a lon
distance to drink"
81 will assure myself at once Of tn
s truth. The noise proceeds from that pas
= sage, 30 let US follow 1t. As for ou
men, they can wait here; we have nothin
to fear now, for IL the pirates or tn
a Indians are ambushed to surprise US, the
a would not have waited so long befor
: doing so, and hence the assistance of ou
: poems Is unnecessary"
The capataz shook his head doubtful!
"Hum," he said, ''the Indians are yer
J, clever. believe It would be more DR.,
r dent to let the poems accompany u.s."
: Nonsense" said his master, at is nj
necessary; we are two resolute and wei
4 armed men; we have nothing to fear,
d tell you"
. They then entered the passage. 1t WI
, very narrow, and ran downward Q stee
: incline The further they proceeded Il
q more distinct the sound Of water became
= II was evident that at . vsry short di