The Carlisle independent., 1917-09-27

ing him, now regaining him. At last he came near enough to be able to make out the form of Joe, apparently resting upon the hilltop in fancied safety. As he drew nearer Ravengar saw that he was holding the mantle | in his hand and examining it atten- lively.
 AS he held it, Ravengar, creeping up within leaping distance, suddenly sprang.
 His right fist crashed full into Joe's mouth, and the thief went over like rabbit and, striking his head against the rocks, lay motionless. Ravengar picked up the mantle and began to make his descent among the | rocks.
 The crest was faced by another crest across a valley. Upon the second crest Sebastian and Blanca, with Bianca's second follower, stood, anxious spec tators of the fight. They did not know Joe had the mantle, but they recog- nized him and also Ravengar.
 As they watched they saw Ravengar knock out his antagonist and start down the declivity. He found a difficult passage among the crumbling rocks on the face of the steep cliff; but it seemed to offer a quick return to Leontfne, and Raven gar wanted more than anything else to give her the mantle.
 At last he fell, and, in falling, dis lodged a powder, which rolled down ward, carrying him with it in a shower of pebbles.
 Ravengar could no more stop his de- scent than an Alpine climber can stop an avalanche.
 Fortune favored him. The boulder stopped at the edge of the steep lower drop, and Ravengar managed to catch a tree and draw himself to his feet Seizing the mantle, he folded it invisi- ble side outward, and thrust it into a gap between two rocks. Then he fell over in a dead faint Sebastian, Blanca and her follower, pursuing their way, came to the spot where the fight had occurred. At the bottom of the slope the three could make out the inert figure of Ravengar, lying apparently dead or unconscious.
 We've got him!" cried the man ex- ultantly
 Sebastian shook with fear. The pro- ceedings of the day had not been at all to his liking.
 You settle with him. I've got to go home," he said.
 And, as Blanca looked at him con- temptuously, he turned and made his way back along the trail.
 Blanca and her companion began to descend the precipice. At the bottom they came upon Ravengar. lying insen- sible and bleeding freely from his wound. Bianca's companion looked about him. He espied a jagged stone and, taking it in his hands, poised it above Ravengars forehead.
 With scream Blanca leaped at him in fury and dashed him backward.
 But at that moment the figure of his companion, Joe, with a big brufse on the forehead and split lip, emerged through the trees. "Cut it out Wait !" he yelled. Did you get the cloth?'
 That's so, boys" cried Blanca, grateful for the intermission. We've got to get him round first and make him tell us where the cloth is. There's a hunting Shack somewheres about here. Let's follow the trail and take him to it. Then we can give him the third degree and find what we want to know"
 Leontine had seen them coming. She did not know it was Ravengar whose body was being borne through the trees.
 Then suddenly her eyes fell upon the shotgun, and she remembered Ray engar's instructions. She grasped it from the wall and looked about her. Bianca's voice was to be heard plainly outside the door.
 Leontine saw that the kitchen shelves were covered with curtain, which hung right down to the floor. She rushed behind it, carrying the loaded gun. It was not much of a refuge, but it offered temporary re- spite. From here she could hear the men bringing in their burden. They laid it on the bed.
 Where are you going?" Leontine heard one of them ask Blanca.
 Unto the kitchen" she replied. 'Tm going to search for something to bring him to-"
 The man growled something that was inaudihle Then Teoutina hocoma aware that Blanca was in the room.
 She could see nothing, but she heard Bianca's steps coping toward the shelves. A moment later the curtain was thrown back. Leontine and Blanca looked into each others faces.
 Leontine, holding the loaded gun, watched Blanca defiantly. She was de- termined that she would sell her life dearly. Blanca looked back at her; then she lifted her hand for silence. She drew nearer.