Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-08
CHAPTER XVII-Continued.

! He pcsted six of his eight sound men at
points of vantage. took a fresh terch'
passed through the crypt with the re-
manning two and tried the tunnel. The
! smoke had partially cleared. and he was
able to make his way by degrees through
/ the dead bodies there to the pit mouth
| At that point. also all was silent Inc
scaling Ladder still lay where they had
been left when the panic-stricken attack
had turn d and fzd.
| He tipped them over the edge. Inc!
fell without :, sound.
Turning toward t1e l7dsa. he passed
/ around the sallrr and. AT It's narro"es''
found Yharra living III hudCled heap.
| He called his two assist MS and they
! carried that limp h, dy also into the
| crypt.
..H.'s dead. no doubt" said Alardyce,
''put we'll make sure before we nufS
| him
| 4 hastv survey of the lower siretch or
stair showed that 1t was comp iraiIelH
| clear. and then he turned pach W ''''o""
] the pr >sident.
Hes not dead yet. COrbHn Whispered
! to him. with dry lips. land suppose that
we must not take justice into our own
! hands. ~.
..Wil Won look after him. Allardyce?"
i The Englishman nodded. knowing the
! dire temptation. since II mad come 10 MN
+ also. 1t would have been 81 very easy
| to send what looked like corpse after
| the ladders into the abyss
| He set to work in a far corner with
such resources as were available. ana.
after much patient effort. was rewarded
by some symptom of returning animation
"a faint almost imperceptibie movement
| OF the eyelidS, respiration scarce us
! cernii,le.
Meggs- had pulled round already and
came shutting over TO ask II he couid
assist
"rcll m, about O'Dare. Jerry Altar
dyce requested. breathlessy. I'll resur-
rect this criminal myself.
I'VE let him down till he siSnafed
| Stop. - said Meggs. in a iifeless. me,
chanical voice. Then the rope swayed
good deal and we st arted to haul in
without waiting for any order. But the
weight was off 1t. We lowered II again
and waited; waited till the attack was
close on us when We had to wind up or
else let go altogether.
1T was cut clean through. signal line
and all. at the far end
How could that happen. Aliardyce?
Il can't imagine. Jerry. old chap: You
mustn't fret about il. Denny would say
the same if he were here.
Meggs PISSED restlessly onward. but
with dragging footsteps. and then turned
back TASK. Has the smoke cleared
YETI"
1T was clearing rapidly, when 1 came
up" said Af1ardyce.
Il wish you'd help me when you're
through here" begged Meggs. I'm go
ing down below to look Tor him..
A little later Don Ygnacio Ybarra was
out of danger. and Allardyca intrusted
| the further care of him to two of the less
seriously wounded men, whom he pro-
vided with utensils for the prompt sup
preston of their prisoner in case that
stormy petrol should show any signs of
spreading his wings for flight.
Treat him with all due respect-out
don't stand any nonsense. he instructed
them. and sought out Corbyn, who was
once more occupied with all the cares OF
his almost desperate situation:
The. wells run dry was his first
greeting. and at that Allardyce looked
very blank, land we've only hfty-eight
rounds of ammunition left he added.
gloomily.
Did Meggs- tell you that he wants to
go after Denny?' Alardyce asked after
he had digested these unpleasant tidings.
Yes. and l didn't like. to stop him. He's
terribly upset about it all. and wish
you d see to it that he does nothing rash.
I'll send you warning If there's any move
on the enemy's part toward the tunnel.
but l don't think there will be at the mo-
ment' - r.
That was all Allardyce had aimed at,
and he went underground again in haste.
The bodies on the steps had been dis
that of consignng them to the dark gulf
below. and when he reached it's orif1ce he
found Meggs actively engaged in prepara-
ton for the perilous descent there1nto.
The glare sof torches and the fire his
helpers had kindled, in the cresset showed
velvet blackness beneath, and. when
they held their breaths to listen, utter
silence reigned. ---
i've sent light down. Meegs re-
marked land it burned brightly at the
of ho line The airs cleared Tloro
must be some Sort of ventilation below.
LET me go in your place. old chap.
Allardyce begged. persuasively. but Meggs
merely shook his head.
dyce?' said he. "and lower me until m
satisfied? I've brought downsa fresh coil
of rope to lengthen this.
Don't pull me up till tell you to-.
That was the mistake l made and it has
cost us dearly"
| He spoke quite briskly. and the other
promised to observe his wishes. 1t was
| too late now TO cavil.
So that Meggs went down into the
depths without more words. to find out
why his friend had not returned there
| from.
His lights disappeared" reported the
lookout man on the ledge. but Allardyce.
despite his fears, paid fathom after
| fathOm out until. to his unspeakable re-
lief. the signal came to STOP 81.
Seems to be swinging good deal.
said the observer. and Allardyce. beth
hands or the rope. could feel 1t come and
go d. little while the men behind him held
fast
The weight went off it suddenly and
cold fear laid finger on his heart. What
if another clean-cut empty line were all
they could recover from that most mys-
FERROUS chasm.
For five long minutes. which passed
like five centuries, he stood there mo-
! tionless and mindful of his promise. A
throb of thankfulness set his heart beat
ing with fresh vigor two emphatic tugs
| at the cord about his wrist said "Heave
away"
Shoulder the rope. Mcclure. and haul
down hill he said. and proceeded to pull
hard. hand over hand.
1t proved a harder task than he had
anticipated. considering Meggs' light
weight and they had TO paus, twice to
draw breath ere the outlook encouraged
them with the announcement. Light he
low" And shortly after that CHEEKY
shout of Here he cOmes.' caused them
to slow down lest their passenger should
strike the rocks with violence unneces
sary. And then his head and shoulders
showed above the brim. and Allardyce
cried in scared voice. Denny
lie might nave let the rope slip in his
absolute amazement but that MCGUIRE
had hold of it far down the tunnel And
the gray ghost attached to it's travelling
end said somewhat GROSSLY. Haul in, you
| silly owl For heavens sake don't drop
met
! \ final effort fetched him to safe foot
| ing. and. while Allardyce danced to and
FRO ,I, 1t.