Los Angeles herald., 1907-04-14

through the mead.
The roadagents, prevented from consum-
mating their plan of murder by the woundlng
of two of their companions, had killed the
animals, which they had probably found ae-
cldentally in their path, and with this petty
revenge had fed.
''Its just like the mean sneaks," said Bart,
in tone of scorn. "They haven't got tne
and they'll even stoop to taking revenge like
this"
II wonder if they killed all the burros?"
questioned Dory, feeling rather helpless as he
thought Of their outfit, which they could not
carry, and therefore would be obliged to aban-
don if the donkeys were dead.
mo; the other two are all right" said
Bart 81 saw them feeding down the pass q
bit, and while you boys are packing up and
getting. breakfast will go after them"
Ar. hour later the little, party were de-
scending the mountain, and before noon were
In the fertile valley below, where they halted
a short time to rest.
The two donkeys that Lad been killed were
those which had carried the packs; but the
ones Kirk and Dory had been riding could
carry a burden very well, and had all the out
ht strapped on their backs.
night. Bart said, thoughtfully. eff we had
been sleeping around the fire, those villains
would have had good targets, and we should
probably have stayed there until some one
came along who was Christian enough to bury
u.s."
But why do you suppose Tom followed
u.s.? Kirk asked, the question having puz-
zled him from the first moment of the at
tack.
"Well, / reckon that he came for spite.
he most likely went up to the ledge expect
ing to find his partners and not meeting them
there, but seeing the different trails, knew
pretty near what had happened. Then he
may have come up near Silver Cliff, met those
two precious scoundres he had with him.
learned what had been done, and, having
nothing very particular on hand. concluded
he'd wipe US. out. He'd been willing to have
let you. go if he could have got me; but in
stead of that they've killed couple of burros
and carried away two ounces of lead"
This mention of bullets reminded Kirk that
Bart's wound ought to have better treatment
be washed and bound up properly.
That was just what / was going to do"
said Bart, he took very small tin box
from his pocket. 'pve got something here
that squaw gave me, and know that it's
just what will fix that little hole in my arm
up all right in couple of days"
Bart's method of dressing his wound was
very expeditions, and when he had finished
the party set out once more, this time trav-
cling nearly due south to the place where the
guide thought they could find "pay dirt"
Instead of halting for dinner. Bart pushed
tOA "oiu, Saying LAGy COulu TedCl Cle place he
had spoken of as early as three O'Clock if no
halt was made before then.
That the guide should be SO eager to 90 on,
when at the start he had been willing to allow
them to loiter by the way as they chose, SEEM
ed singular to Kirk, and he fancied that Bart's
desire to arrive without delay at the placers
ne had mentioned arose more from the fact
that ne feared pursuit than from an eagerness
to begin digging precious metals.
This suspicion of Kinks received some CON-
hrmation. when, about an hour before the
particular spot in the valley was reached,
bart took every precauton to hide their trail.
The animals were halted, while the guide
tramped around, scattering crumbs from his
pocket, bits OF matches and empty shells as if
a camp had been made there; and then the
party doubled back, walking up on to the
slope OF the mountain, where it seemed imnos.
slole that even the hoofs of burros could leave
any trace. Then Bart picked the wav over
the most rocky places he could find, until af
ter an hour of this unsatisfactory kind of
travelling, he led them into a clearing that
caused an exclamation of delight to burst from
the lips of both the boys.
-, They had entered a heavily-wooded rayine
that looked like some snug harbor. with the
plain stretching out as a sea; and walked nm
sort OF lane, with the trees bending over on
each side until the tops nearly touched. the
musical gurgle of brook on the right hand
causing every one to stop for long draught
OF the cool, refreshing water before continu-
ing their journey
When Bart finally called halt, the bovs
were IN the centre of natural amphitheatre,
WIN put narrow opening leading out on tn
Ihe piain' win the exception of the en-
trance, the precipitous cliffs of the mountains
enclrcled them on two sides, while down q
narrow n;nI gorge howed noisy brook, its musical
ripple promising very material and in exposing
the treasures held by the earth
In addition to the natural beauties of tho