Q: CHAPTER XII

A chill, gray, somber dawn was breaking when Ellen dragged herself into the cabin and crept under her blankets, there to sleep the sleep of exhaustion.

When she awoke the hour appeared to be late afternoon. Sun and sky shone through the sunken and decayed roof of the old cabin. Her uncle, Tad Jorth, lay upon a blanket bed upheld by a crude couch of boughs. The light fell upon his face, pale, lined, cast in a still mold of suffering. He was not dead, for she heard his respiration.

The floor underneath Ellen's blankets was bare clay. She and Jorth were alone in this cabin. It contained nothing besides their beds and a rank growth of weeds along the decayed lower logs. Half of the cabin had a rude ceiling of rough-hewn boards which formed a kind of loft. This attic extended through to the adjoining cabin, forming the ceiling of the porch-like space between the two structures. There was no partition. A ladder of two aspen saplings, pegged to the logs, and with braces between for steps, led up to the attic.

Ellen smelled wood smoke and the odor of frying meat, and she heard the voices of men. She looked out to see that Slater and Somers had joined their party--an addition that might have strengthened it for defense, but did not lend her own situation anything favorable. Somers had always appeared the one best to avoid.

Colter espied her and called her to "Come an' feed your pale face." His comrades laughed, not loudly, but guardedly, as if noise was something to avoid. Nevertheless, they awoke Tad Jorth, who began to toss and moan on the bed.

Answer the following questions:
1. Where did Ellen drag herself?
2. Why?
3. how tired was she?
4. Did she get under a blanket?
5. How long did she sleep?
6. What was her uncle's name?
7. Where they alone in this cabin?
8. What did Tad lay on?
9. Was he dead?
10. How did she know?
11. What furniture did they have in the cabin?
12. Was there a partition?
13. Was there a ladder?
14. what was used for steps?
15. Where did it lead?
16. Who did Ellen see join the party?
17. What did she hear to know?
18. How did Somers appear?
19. What did Colter say?
20. Who laughed?
A: 1. into the cabin
2. to sleep
3. exhausted
4. yes
5. until late afternoon.
6. Tad Jorth
7. yes
8. a blanket bed upheld by a crude couch of boughs
9. no
10. she heard his respiration.
11. beds
12. no
13. yes
14. braces
15. the attic.
16. Slater and Somers
17. the voices of men
18. best to avoid.
19. "Come an' feed your pale face."
20. His comrades
Q: CHAPTER XXIX

LOCATING THE LOST MINE

While Yates and another of the men ran toward Noxton to make him a prisoner, the others turned their attention to the Baxters and Al Roebuck.

The Baxters were hiding behind a clump of bushes, but now, as soon as discovered, they took to their heels, making sure that the bushes and trees should keep them screened, so that there would be no danger from a fire such as had brought down their unlucky companion.

"They're on us, dad!" groaned Dan Baxter, "Oh, why did we ever come out here!"

"Silence, Dan," whispered Arnold Baxter. "If we don't keep still they may shoot us down in cold blood." And then Dan became as mum as an oyster, although his teeth chattered with terror.

On went father and son, down a hill and into a deep valley where the rocks were numerous and the growth thick. Several shots flew over their heads, causing Dan to almost drop from heart failure.

"I--I can't ru--run much further!" he panted.

"Come, here is an opening between the rocks," whispered Arnold Baxter. "In you go, before it is too late. If they follow us, we can sell our lives as dearly as possible."

Dan gave a groan at this, and slipped into the hollow. He did not wish to sell his life at any price.

"Let us put out a--a flag of truce," he whined. "Give them everything, father, but don't let them shoot us!" Every ounce of courage had oozed away from him, for he had seen Noxton brought down, and thought the rascal was dead.

Answer the following questions:
1. What were the Baxters hidden behind?
2. What was one of their first names?
3. What was the other first name?
4. Did Dan's teeth chatter because he was cold?
5. From what then?
6. Were Dan and Arnold related?
7. How?
8. Who ran toward Noxton?
9. To do what?
10. Were the Baxters shot at?
11. Where did the bullets go?
12. Causing who to almost fall down?
13. From what?
A:
1. bushes
2. Dan
3. Arnold
4. No
5. fear
6. Yes
7. they were father and son
8. Yates
9. make him a prisoner
10. Yes
11. over their heads
12. Dan
13. heart failure