Los Angeles herald., 1907-04-21

Dory had gazed into the fire for some time
in silence. at must be that something has
happened but / can't imagine what Tor
there's nothing in the way of wild beasts IN
this valley that he would have any reason to
fear"
"And he must have been certain before he
went out that there were no men about; ior
YOU know he has been more afraid than we
were that some one would learn we were
here"
"I'll tell you what's keeping him, Kirk
cried, suddenly, his face lighting up with Joy
the thought came to him. Hes met some
one, and, rather than show the way here, he
has gone off in another direction. That's just
what's the matter, and we can give up worry
ing about him. 1t was foolish to think that
he was in any danger He'll be back the first
thing in the morning"
This explanation of the guides absence
seemed so reasonable that the boys made
their preparations for the night WITHOUT tur-
ther misgivings. They kept stricter watch
than usual owing to the fact that they feared
strangers were somewhere in the vicinity, but
neither heard nor saw anything to cause
alarm.
When daylight came, they were not as con
fident in their theory of Bart's absence as
they had been, and neither one made any
move toward going to work after breakfast
had been eaten.
"Well?" said Dory, inquiringly, as Kirk
stood as if in deep thought, looking down to-
ward the opening of the ravine.
Its no use. ! cant go to work, Kirk
said, quickly. 81 suppose he's been detained,
just as we concluded he had last night, but |
don't feel like doing anything till we see
him."
Let's saddle the burros, and ride down as
far as he said he was going"
THAT wouldn't do at all, said Kirk, de-
cidedly. "If, as we think he is staying away
because he is afraid to let any one know
where the mine is, we might expose the whole
thing by coming out on the donkeys; but, if
you say the word, III go with you down the
edge of the woods, where if any one is on the
plain, we should be out of sight"
Come on! That's better than doing moth
ing"
The boys started out at once, going nearly
to the opening of the Tavine, and then strik
ing abruptly off to the left, keeping within the
shelter of the woods, but yet so near the edge
that they could see any one who passed.
They had walked for half an hour, and were
already beginning to look for the pool Bart
had spoken of, when Kirk, who had stepped
nearer the edge of the plain to look around,
started back, with cry of dismay.
What is it?" asked Dory, pushing forward
to look for himself.
Stay back" said Kirk, grasping him by
the arm You can see from here"
Holding the branches aside, in order to see
more distinctly, Dory gazed at a man who
was walking with hobble, if his leg had
been injured in some way, down the valley
directly past them.
why, it's that Tom, the road-agent who
attacked us in the pass, and who killed the
burros!" he exclaimed, in alarm
That's exactly who it is said Kirk, en-
phalcally, "and now we know why Bart
hasn't come back"
.',.lDo you mean that he's afraid this man
~ mean that there's been some mischief
done to him. You know he said that Tom
would continue to follow him, and this time
he's beeen caught"
Dory stood speechless in fear and aston
ishment and then in trembling voice he
added
do?"
81 think that we ought to see whether we
can help Bart or not. No matter what may
have occurred, we must know where the men
are, and whether We can get across the di-
vide without their knowing it. OF course il
anything has happened to Bart, it would
never do for lis to stay here alone"
But how can we do anything?"
"We'l go back to the camp; fix things up
there as snug as we can; get all our weapons
and plenty of ammunition, as well as some
food, and start down through the woods till
we come to the pool to which Bart was 90
ing. There we may be able to find some trail
which Will lead us on to where we ought Ia
Suppose they should find our camp while
We are awayY
That would be o good deal better than
for them to find it while we were there. Come
on. We must do What we can to help Bart
and the only thing Is u set out on the trail