, 1908-07-16
aoneexy ~ sm

iney crept among low shrubs and
around the powders. carefully guard.
ing every slightest movement lest
some rustic OF disturbed foliage. or
sound OF loosened stone. might draw
the fire of those keen watchers. Every
inch Of their progress vas attained
through tedious cropping. yet the dis
lance to be traversed was short, and
Hampton soon found himself pressing
against the uprising precipice. Against
that background OF dark cliff they
might venture to stand erect. the faint
glimmer of reflected light barely sum.
Client to reveal to each the shadowy
outline of the other.
Don't move an inch from, this spot"
he whispered. 1t wouldn't be a square
deal. Kid. to leave those poor fellows
to their death without aver telling
them there's a chance to get out"
b attempted no reply. as he slided
Aoiselessly away. but her face. could
he have seen 1t. was not devoid of ex.
preston. This was an act of Rener.
csity and deliberate courage of the
very kind most apt to appeal to her
nature, and within her secret heart
there was rapidly developing a re-
spect for this man, who with such
calm assurance o his own way.
Then. suddenly. that black curtain was
rent by jagged spurts Of red and vel
low flame. Dazed for an instant. her
heart throbbing wildly to the sharp
reports OF the rifles. she shrank 1--WE
Ing back. her fascinated gaze fixed
on those imp-like figures leaping for.
ward from rock to rock. Almost with
the Hash and sound Hampton sprans
hastily back and gathered her in his
ii arms.
IA Catch hold. Kid anywhere, only 90
y. and quick!"
She retained no longer n mem.
CRY Of Hampton; her brain was COM
pletely terrorized. Inch by inch, foot
By foot, clinging to . fragment of rock
here. graspins \ slippery branch there,
occasionally helped by s~ncounterinG =
Deeper cash In the face of the preci-
pice. her movements concealed by the
scattered cedars. she toiled feverishly
up. The first time she became aware
that Hampton was closely following
was when her feet slipped along \
K root. and she would. have
plunged %headlong into unknown depths
had she not come in sudden contact
with his supporting shoulder. Faint
n dizzy. and trembling like a leaf of
An aspen, she crept forward onto \
somewhat wider ledge of thin rock.
and lay there quivering painfully from
head to foot. A I'M Of suspense,
and hA NO orf~trofpbaA hoogHA hA~
resting At full length along the very
outer edge. his hand closing tightly
over her own.
Remain perfectly quiet" he .whis-
pered, painting heavily w can he
no safer anywhere else"
Shots and yells. the dull crash of
blows. the shouts Of men engaged in
. death %grapple. the sharp cracking
Of innumerable rifles, the inarticulats
means Of pain. the piercing scream Of
sudden torture, we're borne upward
70 them from out the blackness. All
At once the hideous uproar ceased with
. nnal yelping Of triumph, seemingly
rsechoed the entire Length of the
ehaam, in the midst of which n sim
gle voice pleaded pitifully.-only to
die away in a shrek. The two agon.
ICED fugitives lay listening. their ears
strained to catch tho slightest sound
from below. Hampton's ears could dis
Germ evidences Of movement. and he
heard cultural voices calling at = dis
tance. but to the vision all was black.
These uncertain sounds ceased. the
strained ears Of the fugitives heard
the crashing Of bodies through the
thick %shrubbery. and then ven this
Aoiss died away In hi distance. Yet
neither ventured to stir or speak. 1t
may be that thu girl slept ftfully.
worn out by long vigil and intense
strain; but the man proved less for
tunate. his eyes staring out continual
~ into the black void. his thoughts
upon. other days. His features were
drawn and haggard when the FIRST
gray dawn found ghastly reflection
along the opposite rock summit. and
with blurred eyes he watched the faint
tinge Of returning light steal down
ward into the canyon. At asst II
swept aside thase lower clinging mists.
A. though some invisible hand a
drawn back the night curtains. and
he peered over the edge Of his narrow
resting place, gazing directly down
upon the scene Of massacre. With .
quick gasp Of ~unspeakable horror he
sArank . 70 sharply back as to cause
he suddenly awakened girl to start
and glance into his face.
what 10 It'll" she questioned. with
quick catching Of breath. reading that
which she could not clearly interpret
IN his shocked expression. a.
Nothing Of consequence" and he
family ~endeavored to smile. 81 sup
pose / must have been dreaming also,
and most unpleasantly. No; please do
not look down; It would only cause
your head to reel, n our upward