The Twin Falls times. [volume] (Twin Falls, Idaho) 1905-1916, 1915-10-22
CHAPTER XXI.
The 9poil Of the Pelican.

The Spoil Of the Pelican.
- EAvlNG his tnsk Of searching for
the trouble In the mechanism
= of the motor. Quabba slipped
around to the back Of 1t and
pushed the little machine. with many
grunts and straining efforts, from the
dangerous spot near the set blast and
its warning sign.
Pushing and painting, he showed the
heavy little machine over the water
covered tracks a hundred yards or
more down the tunnel. Then he rush.
ed back under the electric light by the
set blast and. Selling the blast battery
by its leather handle and uncoiling the
loops of wire. the other ends Of which
were fastened deep down in the blast
holes to the detonator in the dynamite.
Quabba slipped back through the dark
ness and called to Esther in n tense
whisper to come around behind the
shielding bulk of the motor with him.
From the blast battery box he carried
trailed the length OF wire that would
carry the vital spark of the forces Of
destruction.
Now Blair Stanley and Luke Lowell
had located them by the single light
upon the electric motor. They pressed
forward with exultant shouts; then
just as they reached the wide space
where the blast was set at the new
heading Quabba, hundred yards
away and shielded with Esther, be-
Ind hn hn NJ. ~F
the battery down swift and hard.
There was dcafening boom and
crash a burst Of fire. the sound Of
showering rocks. n heavy fall Of earth
and debris that seemed to heave out
and groan and rattle and settle-then
choking fog Of blast smoke and 81
lence.
Whatever had been the matter with
the motor. the shock and jar of the ex-
plosion had settled the loosened wire
back in place to a proper contact, for
when. shaking with fright and excite
ment. Quabba had dragged Esther
aboard the motor again and turned the
lever the little machine moved forward
like a living thing, slowly at first and
then. gaining speed, glided smoothly
and swiftly out Of the smoke and on
and on, swifter. faster. until the hunch-
back and the trembling girl felt a
breath Of fresh air from outside blow
upon them and saw CLEAN of day
light and sped on and out from the
dark mouth of the mine into Cod
good sunlight!
The men called to this side of the
mountain to the new workings were
astOunded ut the appearance of SC
strange Il pair bursting out from the
tunnel and speeding down the track on
the electric motor that had been left
at the other and far off portal Of the
tunnel The trackmen dropped theil
tools. The mine foreman and his wife
joined with the throng Of miners thai
surged around the motor and the
strange pair that drove it.
They told their wild story to sympa
thetic ears. Turning Esther over t.
the ministering attentions Of the biz
hearted sharer Of his joys and sorrows
the mine boss and several assistants
1 lENcIScu tue AuOtOA slAu uLONC OdCA les
| olutely into the mine depths to find thu
men whom Esther and Quabba told of
They returned at nightfall. having
cleared away the debris Of the blast
but finding no trace of Luke Lovel
and Blair Stanley. The wicked have
luck alike with the good. At the edg'
of the blast Blair Stanley had beer
struck down and hurt slightly. and
Luke had borne him back through thu
choking smoke all the weary way
whence they had come. until they, too
reached the daylight and safety. a
Esther and Quabba had reached it, bu
on the far side of the mountain mine.
That night by the fire In the offic'
shack Of the mine boss Esther ant
Quabba told again such parts Of thei