Elk City mining news. (Elk City, Idaho) 1903-1913, 1910-01-29
CHAPTER XII.-(Continued. }

distir guished that of another, and finally
heard some one turn and grunt- In some
lnexplicable way, these men had happened
to camp just above the spot chosen by
Duponceau to hide his chest.
scarce dared turn and crawl away
from fear of waking the sleepers, and so
lay still, wondering If by any chance they
could have already found the treasure, or
If there might yet be an opportunity for
~ to remove it: Suddenly felt Rodney
grip my arm. Listen he breathed.
Off In the distance clear and long, rose
the osprey call. Duponceau was in some
danger.
We wriggled away from the hemlock,
crawled back through the woods, and
stood erect only when we reached the
edge. There we swept the beach and
what we could see of the Ship for signs
Of men. but the shore was still empty
as the desert.
Shall we run for it?" / asked
NO. said Rodney; IF there are any
men there, they're between MS and the
boat. or on the boat we'd best keep close
to the Cliff until we get our bearings"
The advice was good like Indians we
made the fringe of the woods. keeping in
shadow. When we were forced to leave
this shelter we skirted the cliff, ready to
crouch back at call or to rush forward
As we neared the shadow of the head
land we saw figures climb over the rocks
Of the little inland sea and head up the
beach-four men. silhoutted black against
the white sand. and not one OF them as
tall as Duponceau.
They haven't got him." / whispered !:
'at least. he is not with them"
That's queer" said Rodney. al haven't
heard shot fired. They must have
boarded the Ship"
We crossed the causeway running light
ly, and climbed on board The deck was
as empty as the beach had been when
we first crossed 1t. / rushed below and
poked In all the hunks. but not trace Of
Duponceau was TO be found. Rodney and
i stood In the bow and peered across the
rocks. We could see nothing save the
woods and the sky.
well. said Islip at last, that takes
the cake. He's vamosed. vanished, cleared
out, and dare say we'll never see hide
or hair OF him again. This things get
ting positively spooky. Selden. Are you
sure that the man was flesh and blood p
but he came a. the middle of the night,
and he's gone AZ the same time. Strange
Where on earth could he gor
Search me-" said Rodney, Il thought
the adventure was almost TOO real to be
true. Such things don't happen, you
know that Is, not oonsecutivey-
q days ride of New York" He consider.
ed the matter grayely but what will
Barbara say II she finds we haven't kept
BY himf'
y was thinking Of that myself" J an.
sWered, looking blankly al him.
lslip broke into a laugh-suc an la.
feci0ue laugh that J couldn't help joining
him y dare say we're different Ia mosl
Ways. Selden,' be said. but we're alike
ln one, Well, here's hoN e. and be held
0ui his hand 20 ne.
We shook hands hall seriously, half 10
Jest aud ] took back All the unklnf
ihings had ever tlongbi about him.
We turned aud Went down The deck o.
fhe outer side ol fae mast heard ifod
ney exclaim aud saN BIN stop aud lool
81 fAe gai Where hls hand rested.
email gold chain Nas fastened 40 fpe edge
~ peered over ABE side apd tAen, to ipl
utter apazomepf began io throw oh hil
clothes
7NAai on earth began bui Rod
ney opll ebpeAleo ape hulaAed updl'ss
lng iAfn from toWeAAnlN oui lp ile ~
rame lbe ospifyf erj clean Quafefnf Il
mlnol oadenee lsllp slipped olfl lN
eide crossed iNp fQ'kf, an0 QlNea ipt
puIsa % ae elslp saa w ~us