The Red Cloud chief., 1921-02-03
CHAPTER x.-Continued.
10.

Descending was far easier than the
toilsome climb through the darkness
OF the night before. There was moth
Ing In sight so far as the mouth Of the
ravine where II 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 that
this more important thing had for the
time being. at least. rendered his own
escape matter Of small cOnsidera-
tlon. II any attempt had been made
to trail him, this effort had certainly
already been abandoned. As he leaned
forth from his hiding place he saw,
scarcely hundred yards away. the
log walls OF that hut. concealed among
the trees which he had dlmly noted
from the crng above. This was prob
ably where Olga had been confined.
His heart beat rapidly as he studied
the outlines. Could she be there still?
Was Mncklln with her? or had she
been left there under guard of some of
his Indian allies?
II she was there. and not too Sc
curely guarded, II might be possible
for him alone to effect her rescue The
Inspiration to make the attempt ap-
pealed to him strongly. II he only
could get her away unobserved as far
as that cave. he believed II possible to
follow the trail 10 the summit. The
project appeared simple enough. as he
turned II thus over In his mind; at
least II surely could do no harm for
him to determine definitely II the lady
still remained imprisoned there. He
would venture far enough to assure
himself that this must be the fact.
Shelby was sufficiently conscious of
danger to use every precaution; the
training of years came to his aid. The
rocky banks Of the stream were suf-
ficiently high to conceal his advance
and the creek curved about so as to
approach the hut within few yards
Assured that the water would thus
conceal his trail, he crept across the
narrow open space and lowered him
self over the bank, crouching knee
deep In the cold stream, safely under
cover. Thus protected he waded slow
ly downward. He saw no evidence OF
any guard, and became convinced the
cabin also was deserted; that IL this
was actually the place where Olga
had been confined on arrival. she haC
since been removed elsewhere.
AS he drew nearer the place appeared
old, rather dllapidated and long desert
ed, a shack scarcely fit for human habi
tation any longer. The one window wa
boarded up, ard the patched roof o
the lean-to sagged dismally. This wa
certainly not the place; no one appar
emily had lived there for many year
Still. now he had ventured so much, I
might be well to take look inside
Assuredly no harm could be done b.
his searching the rooms, and thi
would require only moment or two.
He drew himself up into the weed:
and wiggled his way forward until h
obtained full view Of the door
was tightly closed, but unguarde
without. Indeed his search reveale
no sign that the hut had been vlsite
for months, until he came within
yard or two Of the long step befOr
the entrance; then he suddenly er
countered footprints in the softe
ground, and was able to distinguis
where some One-more than one, b
thought-.had pushed passag
through the surrounding tangle Z
weeds. He studied these signs inten
" Yet discsrned nothing resemblin