The St. Johns herald., 1921-07-07

mans boot l wear, and scarcely have stepped off solid rock. Now we go to the stream wonder, and then wade up through the water. There will be no trail. Let us not wait, senor."
 The man followed without a word, touching her with one hand in guid- ance. They were upon a crest of solid rock, worn smooth by the ages, and so advanced unchecked for a hundred feet, until the ridge suddenly termi- mated at the bank of a narrow stream. A single step, and both were standing in the water, and she had grasped his hand.
 "Eet is swift, but not deep," she said confidently. q have waded eet many a time. We must hurry"
 He took the bag of provisions and swung 1t across one shoulder and to- gether they began blowing their way through the downward rush of water. It was tiresome, but they plunged steadily forward, finding the bottom firm. Shelby did not know how far they advanced, nor could he tell, in the darkness, the exact nature of their surroundings. His impression was that they were penetrating narrow side raviDe, between great overshad- owing masses of outcropping stone, which intensified the gloom. Every step took them higher above the floor of the Hole, and, at times the stream became a veritable torrent, against which they scarcely could make prog ress, The girl kept close to the rocks on the right, and struggled forward bravely, never loosening her grasp on his hand. Meeting as he must the stronger sweep of the current, Shelby felt the strain, and was glad when she finally came to halt.
 "Eet's here," she said, "a few steps more, and leave you. The greatest danger is my not getting back in time"
 There was an opening in the solid rock of the wall, a mere crevice. so concealed by tangled shrubbery as to be invisible even in daylight. How she had recognized the spot in that dark ness was a mystery through the sense of feeling probably, for her hands in- stantly parted the interlaced branches. and she crept through them with Shel- by, on his hands and knees, close be- hind. They emerged into gulch, as though some giant aX of the gods had cleaved the very face of the cliff, gulch dry, scarcely four feet in width, rock walled on either side, and almost tunnel because of stunted growth, where dwarf oaks had found some lodgment in cracks and crevices. Pan cha stopped, breathing heavily from the exertion of the climb.
 ''You go on alone from here, senor," she instructed. the words panting be- tween her lips. "There is nothing to do but follow the gulch. A hundred yards and there Is an opening at the right, a small cave. You will feel eet with your hand. You need have no fear to enter, and no one can ever find you there. That is where you will wait until I come"
 Shelby tried in vain to distinguish he- outlines; he could only be sure of her presence by the voice.
 "Do not use any fire" she went on warningly, "or show yourself by day light. They will seek you, and watch these cliffs. Bet may be several days before will dare act; you must be patient. When we come I will bring arms, but I didn't dare touch any to- night"
 "You will not tell me where my wife is being held?"
 'What good, senorI You could aid her not at all. There is no great harm coming to her yet. Sacrista : why you worry about her? bring her with me; did I not promise?"
 'Yes, I trust you, Pancha," he said warmly, "and will do just what you say. But-but, don't you understand? if I knew where she was l would feel better"
 She laughed almost scornfully.
 'Bahl what the difference, senor? You not know if I told you. But 'tis not far away; perhaps by daylight you might see eet from up there; log house all alone under the bluff. Yet you lie hid, senor, and trust all to me"
 "I have promised that"
 "Good. senor; I will go."
 She drew her hand away, and he knew she was gone, although no move ment of her figure could be distin- guished. Shelby swung the bag of provisions again to his shoulder, and began feeling his way blindly forward. He had retained the knife, with which he had effected escape from the cabin, and. although the point of the blade had been broken, he did not feel entirely unarmed. There was no pos sibility for him to lose the way, the unbroken walls shutting him tightly