The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-03-08

\ quick pull on his ankle by som,
one behind rolled him from his mount II
a trice. He felt hand removing The
pistol from the back trousers poke
in which he had put II.
He had dropped his hands TO save
himself in the fall. but they wers
caught by others Of the group, and. in
Il moment they were being tied behind
him.
Meanwhile still n,ore Of the men made
a hasty search Of his pockets and re-
lieved him Of his watch and the money
American as well as Mexican, which
he carried.
The whole operation was performed
with a celebrity which bespoke perfect
organization and plenty of practice. In
the abundant time ne sfterward hac
for thinking the matter over. he esti-
mated that he was upon his feet. being
led into the thicset, in something like
ninety seconds from the time when the
men had appeared in his path.
For a while they led him along by
path which seemed to have been well
beaten. II bore off toward the san
Francisco ridge.
AS the darkness of night Erew thicker,
AAAN 4llNA l-EAAfA tNa AlltH hllNAAAr AfttA
Wallace realized that he could NO long
CT form any idea Of the directions IN
which he was being led.
Several times the course of the path
turned so abruptly that it might essily
have been doubling back by the time
they had gone a mile. To occurred "a
him that it might be the plan of the
men 20 lead him back TO Durango anC
let him GO
But he changed his mind when tho
course Of their tramp turned upward
growing sleeper and sleeper as they
penetrated farther into the hills.
He Was so far from the lights thai
ne could tell nothing as TO where mis-
feet were stepping, but the men beside
him seemed perfectly familiar witt
every inch of the way and he felt com
paratively smooth ground beneath him
At length they came 10 the end O
the slope The lights ahead turned alb
ruptly and started AZ right angles %
the climb they had made.
As Wallace reached the place where
the leaders had turned he saw tina
they we're upon the edge of a prcCipiCc
on the opposite side or the ridge from
that they had come I'D.
Far, far below him. he could heal
the faint echo Of the rush OF a noun
tain torrent. He shuddered as h'
thought how easily the TWO guard!
might thrust him over the edge The
world would never know what had be
come Of him.
As If the thought had telegraphec
itself ahead 10 the captain Of the
band, a sudden shout from him
brought the party To a standstiil The
prisoner was brought forward into the
midst of the group who formed a semi
circle about him.
He was kept standing upon the brink
ot the chasm. At another command
from the hie 1arI
toward the edge
once more the captain shouted a few
words. one OF the torch bearers flung
his torch into the yawninC space.
Down. down. went the HiCkerinE
light Its suffering flashes illuminated
the Jagged sides OF the canyon. but il
touched nothing as il fell deeper and
deeper until u seemed a faint spark in
the unfathnmabIe abyss.
At last ii disappeared To Wallace
II seemed minutes before the faint
Kiss Of the water when the fire struck
II came back 10 his straining ears.
There came another word OF COM
mand- Instantly a firm hand gripped
tho prisoners collar. The knuckles
pressed into his neck. a sharp blow
struck him across the back of his
knees. He knew that he was being
hurled after the torch
And then he heard a wild laugh from
his captOrs as he fell upon his back
still in the grip or the bandit who held
mis- collar II had been only a rough
lest on the part Of the robbers.
The line fell again into order Of
march Another torch was lighted.
Swiftly they went forward. ever fol-
lowing the crest Of the ridge AT the
side Of the prCcipCe
As ne more fully recovered from tho
fright. he realized that the trick had
been something more than Joke. n
had been intended for the purpose Of
showing him how completely he was
In their power, how useless would he
any attempt 20 escape or fight for lib
erty-
They followed the top Of the preciplce
Tor perhaps mile and a half. Then
began a sudden descent by means OF
4 marrow path. in places natural, I'm
shelves that projected from the SIDE
or the wall Of rock
~ length they came TO n wider shelf
Wnere they paused long enough 10 tie
6 rope about WaIlaCe's waist The
ends were seized by his two guards.
Half a dozen torches were now light
"a and the party proceeded in single
nle along path So narrow that il
could hardly be called more than
The men clung close 10 the rocks az
they went. Wallace's hands being tied
he tried 10 lean his weight toward tho
wall above. but there were places where
the others seized OVerhangiup stakes
lions in the perpendicular side OF the
Cliff. Here he had 20 depend upon the
guards who brought him about with
the line in a manner that would have
caused his admiration had Il not caus-
60 him such terror.
One b. one the lights ahead disan-
peaTed y last particularly diffc1:1-
swing Of the rope brought him 10 tie
mouth or cave. Inside no saw The
torches OF his captOrs beinE used 40
Eight lamps fastened to the walls of
the cave
Silently the bandits lined up against
the wall With deep obeisances, thev
acknowledged their real leader. an old
man Of white hair and flowing beard
who came forward from the extreme
rear OF +he cavern
II the bandits had spoken Spa nish at
all II had been I'm such a jsrCon that
Wallace had been unable 10 understand
a word. But 70 his extreme aStonish-
rent. the old man. after closely SCrl5f-
iuizing the captive with deep set, black
eyes, addressed him in Unbroken Eng
lish--
You are an American" he said in
a voice hardly louder than a whisper
CHAPTER xxx.