The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1921-04-20

mar the pain ne mad Followed the
night previous continued upward
was. perhaps, that secret passageway
which Pamela had said led finally to
the top of the gorge. and along which
she planned to guide their future es-
cape. Beyond the outer edge of the
shelf there was nothing but sky vsl-
bic. and, believing the coping would
conceal his movements from observa-
ton below, Shelby pushed his way out
: through the opening. and crept on
hands and knees to where he cautious
ly could gaze over.
! He was higher up on the cliff than
he had previously realized, although
its PERCEPTIONS front yet lowered men,
acingly above. The view below was
like that Of distant picture, its de-
tails indistinct. He felt no longer any
special fear of being observed, how
ever. and leaned far enough forward
to see clearly up and down the broad
valley. Ills position lay somewhat re-
moved. around the angle of side
ravine. so that he could not trace the
entire course Of the Cottonwood. or
even discern the waterfall beneath
which he had entered the Hole. Yet
he had glimpse Of the main stream.
could pick out what he believed to be
the log house from which he had es-
capped. while. within a grove so as to
be scarcely distinguishable. appeared
the roof of another. smaller building.
lie would not have noticed this, but
for a thin spiral of smoke arising from
the chimney. Pancha had said the
place where Olga was confined was
visible from this spot. Could this be
It? He stared down long while, but
without reward.
Yet there seemed to be much pass
ing and repassing along the main val
ley; black. ill-defned figures of men
on horseback almost constantly visible.
He was surprised at the number,
! never having supposed that this colony
of outlaws was so numerous. An
other thing. while he could not clear
! ly distinguish such small objects at
that distance, the majority of these
riders had the appearance of being In
dams. Could they be Sioux warriors
! gathered here in preparation for some
raid on the exposed settlements? or
was II possible that the troops had al
ready struck. and driven the rem
nants of scattered war parties into
this Hole for refuge? In either case
their presence in such numbers rem
dered his own position so much more
precnrious, and increased the danger
surrounding Olga. He felt that, in
i spite of his pledge to the Mexican girl,
he could not remain In his hiding
place quietly. without endeavoring to
learn more of what had actually oc-
cured during the night.
Indeed he could perceive no reason
why he should remain entirely mac
tive. At the very best she could &C.
compllsh nothing before night. and
had held out very little hope for even
then. There were no signs that he
was being sought after down below. 1t
might be that in the excitement of
other happenings. his escape had been
considered as Of minor Importance
'"ot JOCs COuNluScu liSlt Ic
could never get out Of the Hole unob-
served, took no immediate interest in
trailing him. What was the use, when
he must eventually surrender? 1t
would be simple matter to steal eau
tiOusly down through that deep cleft
In the rocks, rs far. at least. as the,
stream below. He would -ccssi,cealed
oil the way. and .opst. there hidden
securely a@c .r.,s those thick bushes, he
i. " at then learn what was actually
occurring 1t would lie far better for
him to know. Besides, this would be
no disloyalty to Pancha; even if she
sought him he would still he in the
path she must follow, and. so long ms
he remained undiscovered. just where
he was concealed could make no pos
sible difference. The argument salts
fed his mind. because he felt he must
act; must make some effort OF his
own.
Descending was far easier than the
toilsome climb through the darkness
of the night before. There was moth
ing IN sight so far rs the mouth of the
ravine where 1t opened into the main
valley. Beyond that he could per-
ceive moving figures. and occasionally
hear the sound of distant voice. 1t
was clearly evident to his mind that
something unusual must have oc'
curred-some news of disaster or ap'
preaching danger-to arouse such ex,
, element among the citizens of the
Hole; and he also felt convinced thai
, this more important thing had for the
,, time being, at least, rendered his owl
!, escape a matter Of small consdera
ton. II any attempt had been made
to trail him. this effort had certainl.
. already been abandoned. AS he leaned
? forth from his hiding place he saw
= scarcely a hundred yards away, thu
log walls of that hut. concealed amon'
. the trees which he had dimly note'
= from the crag above. This was prob
!. ably where Olga had been confined
= His heart beat rapidly as he studie