Los Angeles herald., 1907-03-24


WIDE In the centre, and narrowing at each
end, until the entrance was hardly sufficient
to admit loaded burro. With the exception
OF these two ends and the top, it was inclosed
three hundred feet abruptly, and then sloped
off to conform with the mountains on either
side.
A portion of the interior of this impreg.
nable camp was covered with boulders of all
sizes, while the remainder had been over
grown with foliage. That this canyon had
once been the bed of some mighty stream
seemed more than probable, since coming
boys entered was narrow brook, that, wind
ing down from some subterranean spring in
the mountain side, found an outlet to the
valley below through the opening at which
Bart had posted himself.
In this place, which, at certain seasons OF
the year, was nothing more than a water
course. the party could stand a protracted
siege, for the provisions they had with them
would suffice for several weeks, and the dom
keys would find enough to subsst upon for
quite as long time.
With plenty of food and water, their posi-
ton would not have been desperate, had it
not been for the possibility Bart had suggest
ed, that the road-agents might post them
would do so seemed only too likely, for it was
not probable the robbers would yield up
their ill-gotten gains without severe strug-
gle.
In the entrance TO the pass barC IOunO JndC
he would be obliged to stand as fair mark
for the enemy. So perpendicular were the
rocks on each side that they afforded not the
slightest shelter. He could only conceal him,
self by lying down, and to do this 1t would
be necessary to remain in the water all the
time, for the entire width Of the opening was
simply the bed of the brook.
1t was, therefore, imperative that whoever
was on guard, should be concealed from the
foe, and Bart called the boys to aid him
T. 1o1-; hor do fNxun ho1lH Haro
were rolled to the very edge of the pass, and,
at the risk of being shot by the watchful
enemy, Bart lifted one on top of the other,
leaning it against the side of the cliff in such
a way that it formed barricade nearly six
feet high, blocking up one end of the pass
but yet allowing the water to run either side.
Several other bouders were put at the
back of these first two, and it was easy to
keep watch over the cleared space in front
through the interstces of the rocks. A few
of the stoutest bushes formed dry floor for
the sentry to stand on, and yet permitted the
water to flow through a necessary arrange
ment; otherwise, they might have been
drowned out very speedily.
After this had been done, and Bart had
been keeping careful watch during the time
they had been at work, he said to Kirk:
"Stand here while | go inside. If you see
anything that looks suspicious, let drive at
it, for it is better to lose charge of powder
and bullet than to. allow them to creep up
on us. Take my rife, because it will carry
further than yours, and when you fire at any
thing try to hit it, for it won't do to let
them think that we are poor marksmen."
Kirk by no means fancied this being pos
sibly obliged to fire at human being, but he
knew that the lives of his companions, as
well as his own, depended upon his doing so
in case the exigency presented itself, and he
stood at his post, watchfully. observing every
thing within his range of vision.
Bart, recognizing the fact that it was Of the
utmost Importance that the camp should be
fortified at every point, and as soon as will
ing hands could do it, was already forming
plan by which they could be protected if an
attack was made from above
The walls of rock were almost perpendicu-
lar; therefore, they would afford no shelter
for those in the ravine in case any one was
at the top of them.
TO BE CONTINUED NEXT SUNDAY