The Washington herald., 1912-01-25

polite excuse Solano explained the neces-
sity OF quick return to the imaginary
camp, and they trotted OF, Solano ex-
ultant. Brockett deeply mystified.
What on earth is the pepper for,
Ramon?" he demanded.
Dogs" replied Solano. IF I know
anything about these people they'll have
hounds on our track at any moment
Long ago, when Cuban slaves hid in the
canebrake. they used TO stop the hounds
with a little pepper. used at the right
time and place. and the stories / had
heard came back to me-
And even as the Cuban spoke the howl
of a hound came down the wind-then
another, and then the chorus Of a pack!
The events of the next few hours
seemed like some sort OF weird. wildly
mingled dream. Brockett and Solano
found a stretch Of rocky ground near
the river bank, and ran briskly on this
for several minutes. Then, descending
to the waters edge, they skirted the
river little ways, while the noise Of the
pack grew momentariIy nearer and
stronger. They came to a little creek,
running at right angles TO the river, and
crossed II, wading knee-deep in the brown
water. At the very edge Of the jungle
was a big bowlder, relic of some glacial
slide of centuries ago. They climbed this
rock and took a long jump from its sum-
nit. after carefully spreading pepper all
over the fiat top of the stone. The deep
footprints made as they landed from their
leap were sprinkled with cayenne Cay
enne covered their tracks into the woods
for the next half mile. and when they
leaped a slender stream they peppered
the spoor on each side of the water.
Then they raced on, tired almost TO the
dropping point, staggering, stumbling
now and then. but keeping their nerve
and spirit undiminished. At last a rail-
road cut appeared before them. They
crossed it. climbed the bank on the
farther side and burrowed in a tangie Of
long, dry grass and weeds. There they
lay. gasping and putting, while their
lungs seemed bursting through their ribs.
And from the dim distance, borne upon
the breeze, came family the howls OF
hounds in bitter agony. and the shouts OF
baffied men In fruitless rage.
That seems to have worked pretty
weIIr grimIy commented Solano. That
particular pack Of dogs won't be in shape
to train anybody for a week TO come
II they want to follow US with hounds,
they'll have to send back for another
batch and by the time they arrive We
can be some distance on our way. II
they try to track us without dogs, We
have a splendid chance to get through
these woods TO some spot NheIc VIC
can board a train. The chances are all
with US right now-your noble baron is
fooled again."
Fooled more completely than. the boys
IMAGINED At the very moment when
Brockett and SolanO lay painting IN
their weedy lair, a large, doubie-hsted.
irascibIe man walked up TO Baron Zoi-
lern, who-w just alightiug from train
and was gazing blandly upon the unac-
customed scenes OF Little Rock.
Baron Zollern?'' demanded the double
listed and isascible individual.
1T iss me. Vot wish you?" acknowl-
edged the baron, amiably-
The large, irascible man seized Baron
ZoIlern with a clutch like that OF laun-
dry presser II want you, first," he thun-
dered, land then 1 want that gang that
you hired 10 bluff the conductor OF the
Chicago train. I'll put you where the
feas won't bite you and then III collect
your partners!" -..-..-
And the. genuine sheriff of Little Rock,
without further delay or parley. dragged
the noble Baron Zollern headlong from
the station platform.
rrO BE CONTINUED TOMORROW