The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1919-10-09
disappeared, q vague uneasiness In


him, where it stood quivering in the
ground. A glance told him that it was.
an arrow, and looking upward, he saw
a figure standing upon a ledge, who
with a threatening gesture sprang
back and disappeared. Angered at;
what he considered a dastardly at
tempt upon his life, Davis cooked his
rifle and started forward on run.
Five minutes later Rainface, stepping
from behind tree with hand upraised,
advanced upon the amazed John, and
without speaking, led him to a point
which overlooked Morgan's troop just
leaving the shack. The Indians voice
fairly Kissed, so great was his passion.
"He find gold. He steal 1t. He try
kill you. He bad man. Me know"
For a moment John hesitated, then
noting the fearful earnestness Of the
other, he nodded.
"Tll 20 down and see about 1t. You
keep hidden until I see you" OF he
went, half sliding down the trail.
Before Morgan he halted.
"What are you doing herer was
his demand. Paling with anger, the
Hawk gazed at him.
"Since when was I accountable to
you?" he sneered.
"What did you put in that shackf
Nothing"
"That's a lie. You put gold there.
Are you a thief? A traitor?" The face
Of the Hawk grew livid with rage.
John threw up his hand, and at the
signal the old Indian sprang among
them, one long finger pointed at the
traitor.
"Heap big liar. Spider, too. Me see
you fix boat, cut rope-do everything"
he, said fiercely. Whipping out his
gun, the villain roared to his crew.
"Get 'em, boys. All the gold in the
shack for you if"
Selling the man nearest to him,
Davis hurled him into the midst OF
the already onrushing pack. Two
leaps took him within the shack, Rain
face at his side. Instantly they
slammed the door shut and barred it,
by good fortune the windows Of the
place being already heavily shuttered.
Barely in time they threw themselves
upon the floor, for the next instant q
rain Of bullets came splintering
through the door, while from knot
holes and cracks they returned the
compliment as best they could. And
so hot was the fire that the gang out.
side broke and took shelter behind the
trees.
From their places Of concealment
Fream, taking Morgan by the sleeve
pointed at the shack.
If we could cut those two loves
foundation posts on which the shacA
rests, the whole shebang would side
to the edge Of the cliff and 60 smash
ing down into the valley" The DARK
face of Morgan lighted.
"Good. I'll have it DONE" he called
to two of his men.
"You fellows take saws, and while
we divert their attention by q sham
attack in front, you two sneak around
the other way and saw of those posts.
.Savvyr" With grins Of appreciation
Of their opportunity to win reward,
the scoundrels crept away, while tie
rest of the gang opened heavy fire
upon the little building.
Within the shack, John and Rainface
we're battling desperately for thei1
lives. Lying upon the floor and en'
tirely out Of sight Of the rufhans
without, they kept so keen a watch that
no sooner was an arm or leg exposed
thansa bullet soon found it, sending
its owner down with howl of pain.
Davis turned to his partner with
grim smile.
eI guess we can hold them off, Rain
face. They can't get in, and unless
they can think of some new devil
ment-" He ceased speaking and sal
up in alarma Slowly but Enthusiastically
the little building was beginning To
slide down the steep slope toward
where the cliff dropped in a sheer
plunge.
"Great God! We're going overt" he
cried.
Helpless, thrown this way and tna'
by the violent tippings of the analri
they chung onto whatever came handt
est, gazing into each others face with
the eyes of men already dead.
In the very act of plunging into the
abyss, the stump Of one Of the Severed
supports caught upon a projection.
stopping the onward movement Of the
building but bending and bucklina
beneath the strain. A glance telling
him that it needed but a tri1ing effort
to remove this last obstacle and send
the structure crashing to the bottom.
the Spider swiftly uncoiled a rope
Almost Quicker than can be told ne
had made one end fast to the bent and
fast-weakening post, while a dozen
hands eagerly seized the other end OF
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