The Holly chieftain., 1917-03-30

his guard. His poverfsl strength suc-
ceeded In keeping the Mexicnn'a knife
. good distance freo his breast. si.
though the why devil made thrusl
after thrust. Finally Rutledee With 0ns
strong blow sent the knife Of hls %,
ponent 6ying to the dust. at the aame
time almost taking the Aexieaa ~
his feet.
Manuel was now at the mercy of
the Captain The httef walked over
to where his adversary atood erinGing
and trembling with fear. and was
about 10 run his knife into him. WHEN
q spirit Of fair play tosG pnaseaaoa
of him. He threw his knife away
and went AFTER him with his Asta.
During the enrountef Rutlesige
stumbled over Q stone and went tum-
hing to the ground. The Merriam.
with q hendish grin. fell on top of
him and grabbed him ~ the thrnat.
With quick jerk. Rutiehee managed
tc throw him Oh. and. locked together.
they both went rolling to the edge
NJ the cliff. For . moment II l0Oked
NJ II hoth would 10 tumhiine into
the canyon below. hut Manuel hnniiy
managed to free himself and endesv-
ored to force Rutledge over the ehee.
Rut. the Captain Grahbed Manuel and
hung suspended IN mid-air m he en-.
denvored to nght bis way to the top
agnin.
At this moment Liberty. who With
Pedro. had made her way IN the cnmp
of the rangers. after eluding Inpex
md his men. saw the two men fight
Ing. and. With a shrek Of terror
rushed toward them. closely followed
by the old slave.
Al she reaohed the spot. Rutiedge
reEained his foothold. Manuel. how
ever was exhausted. The Captain.
realizing this. fought on until ne Ind
the Mexican at his mercy. and then.
picking him up ,he lifted him high
nbove his head and was ahout 10
throw him over the cliff into space
when shrill cry attracted his at
tentiOn.
"Bobl Bob !" She ran up to him
and grabbing his arm pleaded for the
fellows life.
"He belongs down there with the
rest Of those yellow dogs" snid Rut-
ledge. meaning Lopez and his hnnd.
"Rut. you don't wnnt his blood on
your hands. Rob." she begged. .If ne
is whnt you say. he Isn't worth IT,"
swell he cnn think you for snving
his life." remarked the captain as ne
flung the fellow to the ground.
Just then terrific explosion oc-
Cured. and the little party turned
Just in time to see the rock which
fiad blocked the trnil. 20 flying up
wards into thousands Of pieces.
"Where is Lopez and his gnng?'
.nked Rutiedge as he turned ngain to
Liberty who was greeting the Major.
.T.npez and Afvirn have organized
d big bnnd Of insurrectos md they nre
going to march into Discovery to-
night md kill every man. womaA and
chld" she cried excitetlly.
"My God!' exclaimed the Major.
"And. there's only handful Of citi.
zens to resist them"
slsn't there something we can do
to help themr' blended Liberty.
They're probably well on their way
by this time." snid Rutledge.
"Nostinos Is fifteen miles from
here" said Liberty. ''There Ia a
Cabrera camp there. They nre in
communication with Dis
covery and II we ride hnrd we mny
he able to warn Colonel Dalton to
be prepared"
eve will start for that place." snid
the Major. But. he did not see one
Of Lopez's men. who hnd been hiding
in the bushes. listening to every word
and crept quietly away to inform his
leader Of the intended warning.
As the hand. with Lopez riding at
their head. left the trail. and turned
into the main rond the messenger over
took them. Leaping from his horse he
rushed up to the leader.
"Rutledge and his men are going
to Nostinos to inform Colonel Dalton
of our plans" he said.
"Ah. ha." grinned the Mexican.
"Well. we show them" And he inn
mediately ordered his men to dis
mount and they made for the bushes.
pulling their horses behind them. to
lie in wait for the little company Of
rangers, which at that moment was
Just starting down the trail.