Los Angeles herald., 1907-03-31


preciplce, he marked out with the shovel
me about ten feet long, curving nearly to
the wall at each end.
Now you and Kirk must roll these boul-
oers up, and build regular stone wall, six
teet high, along the line have Marked" he
SAID TO Dory. "Then, if our friends do get
on the mountain, we shall have hole to
crawl into"
But perhaps they may come up on this
slue, and then wall will be of no use, un-
less we could roof it over" suggested Dory.
lney can't get up on this side. I'll an
swer for that, because tried it myself two
years ago, and l came mighty near never be-
ing able to tell about it. You can use the
burros to pull the largest of the boulders, for
the iar1ats Will be strong enough for trace
lines"
Then, having marked out the work, Bart
went back to relieve Kirk, saying, as he took
the gun from him:
I've shown Dory what you'll have to do
toward preventing our friends from driving
us out of here. l reckon that we shall have
today and tomorrow to finish it in, and af-
hot"
The line of fortifcation took in at the end
nearest the entrance portion of the brook,
and thus the water supply would not be cut
of If they were obliged to take shelter there.
Ih- boys, fully understanding the neces-
= slty of haste, lost no time in beginning the
work, and as they proposed to use the larg-
est boulders in two rows as a foundation,
the first thing to be done was to make some
kind of a drag on order that the burros
might be pressed into service.
fortunately, at the further end of the ra-
vine, several saplngs were growing, and
these, bound together, made rude fiat, on
which the heavy rocks might be dragged.
Two of the burros were then harnessed to
it by means of the lariats, and the real labor
was begun.
But once during the remainder of that day
did the boys stop, and only then long enough
to hastily cook and eat their dinner.
The guide had been called a number of
times to help for few moments when an
unusually large boulder was to be placed in
position; but that was the extent of his
work upon the fortifcation.
The wall was nearly four feet high when the
boys stopped work at the end of the first
day. and nearly the same thickness.
Five loop-holes were to be made at the
height of the first days labor, and the re-
mainder of the structure could easily be COM
pleted during the following day.
1t is but simple justice to the burros to
say that if it had not been for them it would
e have been impossible, even for all three to
have completed the fertilization in less than
twice that time.
At the close of the first days seige-for
be no question, as Bart had not only seen
but fired at different members of the road
agents party during the time he had been on
watch-it was evident that the boys would
be obliged to stand guard at least portion
of the night.
The guide had had no sleep for thirty-six
hours, and it was imperative that he should
have some rest.
II don't believe they'll attempt to do any
thing before morning, unless it is to see if
we're on guard" said Bart, as all three par
took of their supper behind the stone work at
the sentry,s post. my idea is that they'll
start for the mountain tomorrow morning, if
they've not already done so. Probably two
will go up there, and the other two stay here
to keep us from getting out at this end. Now
I'll take care of our friends till about mid
night and then both of you can stand watch
till morning"
Agreeably to this plan the night was pass
ed, and nothing was seen nor heard of the
enemy. They did not even show themselves
in the morning, although the smoke of a
campfire could be seen among the trees.
There's no doubt about it now" said Bart,
half an hour after daylight. "Some of 'em
have gone up the mountain, and the others
are laying low here until they get ready to
wipe us out"
In view of the fact that there would be
little more for the guard to do save to keel
sharp lookout, Bart insisted that one OF
the boys should stand watch while he work
ed on the fertilization, and Dory and Kirk
aternated, each watching one hour and work
ing one.
Bart could perform as much labor as both
of the boys together, and by three o'clock in
the afternoon the wall was of the required
height. All the provisions, ammunition and
camp equipage had been placed behind il
when, as If the cessation of their work was
the signal, shot was heard from the top Of