White Pine news weekly mining review. [volume] (East Ely, Nev.) 1910-1920, 1918-04-28
diagonally TO the opposite shore.

the bring of the cliff below where
Pete still was standing. The out
law eyes were quick to catch the
wrecked ano elinging to the rock
and below the bodies of the drown
ed bandits which had been washed
ashore. They talked excitedly of
the fate of Blake and the girl and of
the Indian when one of them saw
Pete. Black Jack called down to
HIM and he stirred and looked up re-
plying he could not get up the cliff
and he had been injured. A lariat
was quickly lowered and he was
hauled up.
Carefully hidden behind a rock so
the outlaws could not see them.
Blake and Bessie watched to sec If
Pete betrayed his word. Black Jack
stepped before him and Selling him
by the shoulders demanded to know
what had become of the outlaws and
Blake and Bessie. The Indian was
silent a moment and then as Haines
repeated the question, he replied:
"All drowned. Blake and woman
drowned. too"
Black Jack did not conceal the
shock this information gave him
Suspicious. however, he studied the
red mans face, then reached for
ward and yanked the bandage from
his head and saw II was made from
a woman's skirt-Bessie's.
With an oath. Black Jack paused
in his advance, but with blood in his
eyes, demanded to know which
direction they had taken. Pete re-
manned dumb. Then the bandit ask
ed If they went across the river.
Showing slight fear, the Indian re-
piled. No"
Down the river?" shouted Haines
his rage again getting the better of
him. Yes" nodded Pete, and Black
Jack, satisfied at last, ordered all to
mount.
Across the river. in the shelter of
the rock, Blake and Bessie clasped
hands at their apparent deliverance
and the r~eassuring thought that the
Indian had kept his word-then they
turned from the river to seek the
trail that should lead them to the
railroad.
Black Jack lead his men some
distance down the shore, searching in
vain for some traces of Blake and
Bessie. until convinced he was on
the wrong trail. Still suspicious OF
the Indian, but not caring to wreck
immediate vengeance by shooting
him. he called his men about him
and told them their prey had escaped
to the other side. Urging his own
horse into the river. the others fol
lowing, he started for the other
shore.
The outlaws landed almost at the
spot where Blake and Bessie had left
the water a short time before. Black
Jack told the men their quarry must
be in the woods not far away, and
at his orders they scattered, Johnson
taking the Indian and under instruc-
lions to kill him II he shaved and
signs of seeking escape.
Wearied and hungry, Bessie had
not proceeded a mile into the woods
when she was forced to rest, drop
ping beside a log In a little clearing.
blake stood above her. as If to ward
off further dangers, when suddenly
a lone horseman crossed his view. II
was Black Jack.
Blake realized they were lost IL
the outlaws discovered them. and he
determined to put the bandit CHIEF
out OF the way by meeting him singly
In battle before the could call aid.
To this end, he told Bessie to pro-
coed down the trail until Black Jack
should see and overtake her, he te
follow closely behind.
INC ptdn WI w 1900
Catching sight of Bessie. the outlaw
spurred his horse forward while the
girl fed up the trail. The chase was
brief. Bessie's flight took her to
tree behind which Blake wal conceal
ed and at the foot of which she trip
ped and fell. With an exaulting cry
Black Jack leaped to the ground and
was about to seize her In his arms
when Blake sprang out and on the
back of his enemy.
Black Jack. taken by surprise, was
thrown to the ground. but recovered
quickly and there began a deadly
battle between the two men, event,
matched In skill and strength, Bessie
in a frenzy of anxiety. snatched
rife from Black Jacks saddle. bu'
dared not fire 1t for fear OF hittint
III