The Ronan pioneer. [volume] (Ronan, Mont.) 1910-1970, 1912-03-08
daylight and fresh air of the upper

upon Il teltOW stream. lne natural
! formation of rocks that formed the
shore at this point had been cleverly
contrived by artificial means to form
a strong place of defense. a little
party OF richly dressed men We're ell
tering one of the low arched entrances
that appeared to pierce the solid rock.
BY kicks and threats their captors
made the Americans understand that
they We're to go ashore, and soon they
had landed and were being ushered
through the same low entrance they
had observed.
As each bowed his head and entered
there was little doubt in his mind that
he would ever emerge from that NOUN
tain of rock II he did it would not
be alive, if a Chinese pirate lives up
to his ugly reputation.
a series of winding passages led
through the rock and finally terminal.
ed in a small room followed out of
the granite Here We're rich hangings
and Il silken carpet. One Of the Chi.
nese disappeared through a curtaincd
doorway and presently returned to
confer with his companions
Then the three Americans We're
pushed through The doorway to find
themselves in a large grotto, curtained
and carpeted and richly furnished
with bron2es and porrcajns. e,nlroid-
cries and rare carvings.
In large high backed chair, carved
lnto the rude scmh!ancc of throne.
sat 4 large and very fat Chinese. His
little black eyes seemed to sink into
the flesh of his face and become mere
points of black jet. His chin rolled on
his satin covered breast. and his huge
fat hands were cllmsily clasped about
his capacjous waist On his big head
there was pcrche1 Il black velvet skull.
cap.
The Americans were CARRIED as they
had been seized, and their stormcoats
covered them from neck to heel. Now
their coats We're stripped off. and UNI
der the direction of H4e leader the
prisoners were scar he'd thoroughly.
Yellow claws relieved them of watch
es, money and jewels ard gingerly ap-
propriltetl their weapons. After that
they crowded about the three and en-
deayorcd to make them understand
something they We're trying to explain.
Ellis, who was in a Shanghai bank
ing house, knew some scraps of the
language. and, although this southern
dialect was strange to him, he man
fn
companions that the leader Of the
band was prepared to offer them a
chance for life.
"Hes got a necklace there. See that
string of ivory beads? Well, it's all
white save one, and that's ball Of
pink coral. He says the one that can
get it off the chain without disturbit 8
the other beads may go free. The 9TH
ers get-you known 1
LETS see the ctain," said Arson,
and Ellis made known the request
which was Immediately granted. The
leader took from his neck large
chain Of polished ivory beads the size
Of small pea. The chain was rich
creamy yellow save for the one bead
Of an exquisite rose tinted coral. 1t
was strung Oh fine woven copper wire,
and the joining Of the wire was not
discernible.
"How about the guns?' whispered
Lyman excitedly. II believe l can
split it off first pop.'
"Then it's your chance" said the
others generously, 'for you know we
wouldn't stand a show anyway
"If it's my chance" said Lyman
coolly, "then I'll figure to get the lot
of us off. Ask him if l can have
try with my revolver at solving his
problem"
The leader nodded with an amused
smile, and Arson and Ellis held the
the excitement Of the moment they
did not notice that they We're in line
with the leader Of the pirates, and it
was not until Lymans shot rang echo
ing through the rocky cavcrns, fol
lowed by the Asiatic's hideous yell as
he topped from his chair, that they
realized Lyman's bullet had taken eff
feet in the leaders, body. For a brief
instant there was intense silence; then
Lyman flashed around on the cowardly
crew with uplifted weapon, and it only
needed one or two deadly shots to send
them scattering out of the chamber.
"Its our only chance; let's be off,"
muttered Ellis, grabbing his own
weapon from the floor and rescuing
their fallen watches where they had
been dropped.
They painted down long and mar
row passageway that at its greatest
width would not have admitted the
corpulence of the pirate leader. All
ut once rush of cold air smote their
heated faces. They rounded shoulder
Of jutting rock and came out upon Il
small natural stone jetty that put forth
into the Yellow river. They were quite
out of sight of the creek and the junk
1t concealed.
There n welcome sight met their
ovoc Stoominr I'm tho Strnom cnma