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(THE PHANTOM TRACKER;

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AUTHOR 01“ ‘f  DOG TRAILER,” ‘9 WILL-dim: wwfl’m'mn’

 

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Entered “cording m A ct ul‘ (‘ufié‘reefi in 1110 year 1573, by
I 1“ RA N1; S '1‘ ARR c2300.,
Inrthe omch  the Libmian ogwongzjen, at Washington.

 

 

 

 

THE PHANTOM TRAILER :

0R,

, THE PRISONER or THE HILL CAVE.

 

onsp'rnn I.
m CAVE-HUNTER AND THE SHADOW.

It was a sultry, scorching day, 'on the banks of the river a

Gila—very sultry and silent. The sun in the zenith looks-t1,
whitely down, and the yellow banks reflected its rays fiercely
on the sluggishly-ereeping, warm river. Away over, the flat,

glistening plain reigned the utmost silence. as far as the eye, a
could teach it saw nothing—only dead level, dead heat, and ‘

dead silence. Here, mile upon mile from civilization, him?
dreds of miles any from any habitation, this vast wilderness
stretched away—always level, siwa s hay, always silent—a
spectral land. ' . ‘ '

A large catfish lazily rolled and tumbled on the surface of
the river, 'too hot to swim, and too stupid to move—lying
there, he only, at times, aned his fins and tumbled gently.
A vulture sat on a sand-eye; just above him—a water-fulture,
or, rather, a brown, dirty fish-hawk. He was lazily watching
his chance to swoop suddenly down upon the fish, and carry
him otf in his talt'ms. But it Was too hot to undergo any use-
:1 less exertion, so he watched and waited ’for a sure chance.
r: plumlng himself moodily. ‘ ,

v , A panting coyote sat on his house ate little distance, watch-
ing the pair, and vaguely conscious that he Was very magi-y;
inhaled-ebb“ under an adjacent tiny shrub tremblingly'

' '  flag the coyote, starting violefifly n the “ism” WWW?“ 6‘

T - .0

'71." til! letter; and a huge yellow serpent, long and ~mh.
 “839d scaly body up the bin! towerd-”th‘e m  -' a. *

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'10

m PHANTOM mum; on,

The sun shone redly dowu now, leaving its white appear.
ance for a sanguinary and blood-red hue; a haze was brew-
lug.

Suddenly .the quiet was disturbed. , The coyote sneaked
away, with" "his bristly'chin upon his. lank shoulder; this
alarmed the rabbit, and he, too, fled, making the most gigantic
leaps; in ten seconds he had disappeared. The snake’s eyes
flushed in enraged disappointment, and hissing spitefully, he
raised his head to discover the cause of the hasty flight.

He soon saw it. On the barren banks he could have seen
a mouse at a long distance. The object he saw was the ex-
act reverse of that diminutive quadruped, being a large, Stal-
Wart. swarthy man, on a large black horse.

He appeared suddenly, riding over the crest of an adjacent
hillock. He stopped on the summit, glared keenly‘aronnd,
then rode down into the river. He stopped in the river where
the thirsty horse drank greedily. Then, after dismounting
and drinking deeply himself, he boldly rode up the opposite
bank. . ‘

He appeared well acquainted with the locality, for this was
the only fordable place for miles—either the river was too
deep or the bottom too soft—“ quicksandy.”

Riding up the bank, be halted and sat for a moment buried
in profound thought. He was a Mexican, 9. giant in propor-
tions. His visage was flat of a crafty, wily man, and his
keen black eye was one that never quailed. His dress was
simple, being in the American manner, of welldressed buck-
skin. He however still clung to his mzbrero, which, instead
of'being cocked jauntily on the side of his head, was drawn
down over his eyes to shield them from the hot sun. Bis
whole equipment was that of a inounted ranger, and this style
of dress has so often been described as to be familiar to all.

Instead of the short carbine which a Mexican habitually
casries, he sported along, elegant rifle—a very witch to charm
a hunter‘s eye. Then he had a brace of silver-mounted re-

- volwrs, each firing five times without reloading. Like the

rifle, they were eostlv, and.fata]ly precise and true, models of
expensive and beautiful workmanship.

But in his belt was that which, however captivating to the
eye they might 110,3)th them into the shade. It Was a Ian;

G

 

 

 

 

mu rmsONEB or run mu. CAVE. 11

 u dagger, double-edged, sharp as a razor, with a basket handle

’ of rare workmanship. This last was gold (the handle)—-pure,
yellow gold, chased and milled into all manner of quaint and
~ droll devices. It" hung jauntin in its ornamented sheath at
his belt, and his hand was forever caressing'its beautiful
handle.’

Why should this man, forty years of age, rough, plainly
dressed, riding with the stealthy air of one who is at war—-
with a ragged saddle and plain, even homely steed, have such
elegant and costly weapons? They cost a large sum, evi-
dently, and should be the property of a prince.

, While he is cnressing his dagger, as the weapons and their
t ~ history are the subjects of this narrative, let us go back a year
. for a'brief space.

i ‘ The name of the Mexican was Pedro Felipe, the old and
.i H tried servant of a wealthy and kind master, also a Mexican.
A year ago his master, Senor Martinez, had occasion to cross
 a vast, sterile wilderness, lying a hundred or more miles north
6 of the Gila river. While on that plain, in a remote part of
it, called the Land of Silence (a ghostly, spectral plain, con-
? sidered haunted), his only daughter, a beautiful young girl,
was abducted by a robber chief, and carried away to a ren-
dezvous—a hollow hill in4he plain. Here she was rescued
by Pedro, diaguised as a black savage.

The hillock had an aperture in it, and Pedro, on hearing a
.1 noise, looked out and saw the lieutenant of the band, a fierce
 man called the “Trailer,” approaching. Knowing he must
 take his life or be discuvered by the whole band, he shot him

dead, from off his horse. ,
From the Trailer’s body he took the weapons we have de-
scribed, and then left the body to be devoured by wolves and
‘ birds of prey. He was certain that in the hillock' a large
treasure was secreted, but fearing to be discovered by the
: band, whom he expected to arrive every hour, he left without
 searching for it. But the band, he soon after learned, dis-
‘ banded without returning to the hillock, and left for MtXlCO.
 4 .Pedro had but one glaring fault—the love of gold. He
‘ " m. now on his way to the hill in the Land of Silence, to
,sesrch‘ for the treasure, and he felt confident of finding it.
Why not}. The captain and the Trailer Were dead—-he had

 

 

 

s

' very superstitious.

18 THE PHANTOM TRAILER; on,

seen them both full; the party had at the same time disor- '2

ganized ; and he was certain they had never returned to seek
for it. '

The Trailer had been the last robber on the spot, and he
himself had killed him; so he was certain of finding the
treasure untouched.

Pedro Felipe’s absorbing love of gold had brought him on ‘

this hot day to the northern bank of the Gila, on his way to
the Land of Silence in search of it. t ,

The sun gl'eamed‘ redly through the haze as Pedro looked
northward, with his raven eye toward the spectered Land of
Bifence. It was an ill-fated land. Many dark and myste-
rious deeds had taken place there, many deeds of which the
World would never know. Indians and hunters avoided it
and deemed it hauntedby evil spirits. Well it might be; it
was a ghostly, hazy, quiet piece, where the sun shone fiercely,
and water was scarce. ' , , -

Bedro’sexperlenCe had been strange in this land, and he was
' ‘ But he was alsn brave and Crafty, having
the reputation of being the best Mexican scout and Indian-
flghter in his part of the country. -

So, urged on by his love of gold—his only and great fault
——a’nd by the prospect of adventure and excitement, he was
to brave, alone and unaided, the land of specters and of
death—the Land of Silence. ,

He turned his horse's head to the south, and peered away
over the plain. Nothing was in sight; he was alone in the
vast wilderness.

“ Farewell, Mexico l" he said; “good-by to your sunny
plains and pleasant groves! May it not be long before I
come back to thee, my land! Farewell, my old master, my
beautiful mistress, and her noble husband ; my old com-
panion,’Benedento—-and all I hold dear. This morning I
stood on your border, sunny Mexico. Tomorrow, at sunset,
I will be alone, alone in the Land of Silence. Farewell, my
landl I may never tread your soil again.” I

He slowly dismounted, and placing his arm affectionately
round his steed‘s neck, raised his sombrero reverently.

“ My faithful horse, we must go; time is precious. , Once

'nwre, farewell, my land."

 

 

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m museum on mm mm. can. 13

He waved his hand with a graceful parting-salute, camly,
but ‘with a vague presentiment of coming evil. Then he re-
mounted, turning his horse’s head to the north; under the hot
sun,'blazing with blinding heat, in the desert alone, he rode
away, bound for the Land of Silence.

As he started, a vulture rose from an adjacent knoll, and
wheeled slowly above him, and croaked dismally. Was it a

is bad augury—the warning of evil to come?

The vulture returned to his perch; the other animals re-

 turned to their former places, and Pedro was riding away.

As the last wink of the setting sun gleamed out over the
silent plain, a new form appeared on the southern bank of
the river. He, too, peered sharply about him when he reached

. the crest of the knoll, and"he was very wary and watchful.

'3 t‘wmavhia-fir ..
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When he had finished his scrutiny without seeing any thingto
alarm him, or arouse distrust, he rode down the bank.

In the river his horse (a powerful black) halted to drink ;
but the rider never moved. Then, when he had finished, the
horse stepped up the northern bank and galloped away
townrd the north. ' p

The traveler was dressed in buck-skin ; was armed to the
teeth; had a black, conical hat in which a black plume nod-_
Bed and waved,‘and a face in which glowed two raven eyes.

He was an ugly-looking customer—a desperado in appear-
ance.

' In the twilight soon horse and rider became blended in one _
blurred mass as they receded, rapidly growing fainter to the
sight, and further away. In half an hour darkness had fallen,
and they were no longer visible from the river bank.

Who was the rider? "

Ask the winds. ‘ ‘

' 'Where was he going ?
To the Land of Silence, directly in the Mexican’s tracks.

 

14 m rm'rox mama; 01:,

CHAPTER II.

LOST IN THE DESERT.

ON the afternoon in which last chapter’s events occurred, "
a train of three wagons plodded slowly up to the southern 
bank of the Gila, about twenty miles east from the place ‘1
where Pedro forded it. Here was quite a good ford, and it 4 _‘

was somewhat in use, being on a northern trail—one of the
many from Mexico to the north. The country about it was
exactly similar to that around the other ford with one ex-

ception—away in the east, Vulture Mountain Was barely visi- 

ble in the distance. From that mountain toward the east the
Gila river was constantly under the quiet supervision of a
sandy-rocky range of disconnecred mountains, to its extreme
scarce. But here all was flat, sterile, and quiet.

The wagons were accompanied by several horsemen, and
one horsewoman—or rather, young girl. In fact, these were al-
most the entire party, the only ones in the wagons being the
teamster, one American, and two Canadians.

It was a small train-21 “whifllt-outfit." Three wagons
were a small number beside the dozens that. generally con-
sorted. It could easily be seen it was not the property of a
large stock-owner or freighter, but was evidently the property
of a single man—an emigrant. I

It was even so. ,The man yonder on the verge of the~bank
—that sturdy, brgnzed man of fifty or thereabouts. about
whom the other horsemen gather, is the owner: Joel Wheeler,

a northern New Yorker.

Hearing of the rapid fortunes which were constantly being
made by enterprising Americans in Mexico, he had left a
Comfortable home in New York to gain immense riches.

’After being in that “golden ” land for several years he had
found 'out what many others had done before him—«hat the
men in Mexico were as keen and shrewd at a bargain as any
one elsea—in fact, many times, more-so. ~

His exchequer ran low; mrauding savages and violent

m )1er ma. Pylon ,

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I ‘V disease thinned his flocks; his native servants plundered him;

 ing maid——a very picture of sound health.

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" until, completely disgusted and homesick, be packed his goods
. and chattels and started, en route for his old State.

His daughter, the horsewoman on the sorrel pony, was a
sweet, lovely girl of eighteen. Blessed with natural beauty,
the several years’ sojourn in Mexico had done much to en-
liven and develop it—being a brunette she was rendered dou-
bly comely by the fresh, dry air of that country.

Another of its pleasant freaks had it played upon her; it

' had given her that much to be desired blessing, perfect health.

From a pallid, feeble invalid she had become a jovial, bloom-
During her resi-
dence in, Mexico she had, without losin;,r her northern modesty
and chastity, contracted the universal abandon of the graceful,

'  indolent people, which, while it detracted nothing from her
purity, visibly added to her external attractions.

, spect, however, she still clung to her former breeding-her

equitation. While it was, and is, customary for Mexican la-

~ dies, when so inclined, to ride astride of a horse, and while

she knew it was much the easiest way, she still rode, as she
termed it, ‘f in civilized fashion.”

Christina Wheeler (Christina being curtailed to the tanta-
lizing appellation of Kissieiwas a courageous, high-spirited
girl. ' Though being in possession of several masculine traits,
she still preserved that feminine reserve and chariness of con-
duct which is, so necessary in male eyes, and without which
woman sinks to the level of a beautiful, favorite dog, are pre-
cise,‘costly gem. She was a kind and beloved mistress to the
few serVants; and while treating them graciously and well,
bracked no unseemly or obtrusive familiarity. Besides her
beauty she was no nobler nor more intellectual than scores of
women one may chance upon during a day’s ride through a
prosperous and refined district. But her beauty was regal——
more—bewitching, as many a disappointed Mexican dandy

  t00_well remembered, who had basked in her impartial



a", my :. 1,».

smiles only to mope and s‘ulk afterward. .
Did I say impartial smiles ? 1, was wrong—entirely so; If
report said truly, the sweetest were bestowed on her father’s
' “titan, or foreman.

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In one re- V

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. adopted  .cld gentleman. Sturdy, self'reliant and

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'had adopted the southern habit, of riding_&'

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16 m Plum-ox TRAILER; on,
with Christina, no wonder her rom'antic spirit had endowed

him with all the qualities requisite as a hero. It had ; and
as she gazed at him now, as he conversed with her father, she

felt pleased atseeing how much he relied on young Car- .
v penter.

The young man bestrode a light-colored steed, known from
its peCuliar color throughout the western and southern States
as a “ clay-bank." He was well curried and rubbed down ;
indeed a curry-comb attached to his saddle-horn denoted this
was an every-day occurrence, even in the desert.

-Such a man ,was Samuel Carpenter. At twenty-five years
of age he well understood wild life, and it showed his tidy,
neat habits~every thing belonging to him being kept in pet‘-
fect order.

The other two horsemen were rough-looking, wiry men of
middle age. One, mounted on a gray “States horse," was
Bari Scranton—Carpenter’s assistant. The other was a man
well known in southern. Texas and northern mitten—4“ Tim
Simpson, the guide", ‘

The latter, for a stipulated sum, had agreed to conduct the
party by the shortest and quickest way to the Leavenw0rth
and Texas trail—being nearly four hundred miles from their
present position. » '  ,3;

Like many others of his calling he was reticent in th‘e‘te‘x-
treme, scarcely speaking save in monosyllables. He had sev-
eral reasons for this :‘ one was that it kept him out of trouble ;
another, that he was not annoyed by a cross-tire of questions,

' which guides detest.

The teamsters were Kit Duncan, an American, and Napo-
leon and Louis Robidoux, two brother Canadians,‘whom Joel
Wheeler had brought from New'York. They were now re-
turning with glad hearts tomrrd their northern home.

It is unnecessary to state'the party was well armed~ez~gry
man carried a rifle, and the regulation brace of revolvers and
av.“_bowie.” The wagons were drawn by horses—six to 3
Wagon. ‘

Instead'of sitting in the wagon and driving, the teamsters

 
     

horse and guiding the leagggdig e.‘ I 'When‘wislb
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brave, and withal, handsome, being brought up from infancy  '

   
      
  
 
 
   
    
  
    
  
 
 
    
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   

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ing to “gee,” he steadily pulled the line; to “ haw,” a shor
jerk was sufficient.

This is the party, its outfit and position, now on the south
ern bank of the Gila. '

They forded the river and stood headed northward on the
other side. Now they were in the heart of the Indian coun-
try—now they must be wary and guard against the hostile
and cunning savages

“Well,” remarked Mr. Wheeler, looking north,“ had we
better stop here, or go on 1’”

The question was addressed to the guide, who was down
- on his knees searching for Indian “sign.” He arose. L

“ Stop hyar.”

“ Why ? what are your "reasons ‘2”

“ Water hyar. No water for forty mile.”

. “ Is that so? Well, then we had better stop. '7 We can't

 afford to lie out all night without water, can we Sam l"

' “ N o, sir," replied the young man. “ We should be obliged
to fast if we did; When the weather is sultry, especially on
the southern'prairies, food begets thirst. we should suffer
without water. Any old plainsman will tell you when out
of water to keep ycur stomach empty, unless a dry cracker
can be called food. It is true, medical men say the reverse;
but, sir, men that have suffered thirst know that food without
water is dangerous. I have tried it.” -

“ K’r'ect l” muttered the old guide, in assent. ‘-

“ Skience is one thing an’ experience is another.” declared
'Burt Scranton. “ I’ve studied one an’ tried t’oth'er. [Ln-
hitch, boys.” _ _ _ 

All hands went to work to prepare for the night. While
the Preparations for camping were going on, the 000k, Kit
Duncan (the hardest worked, and consequently sourest and
snarliest man in the party), who Was also a teamster, Went
down to the stream to fill his kettle with water.

 “ jack-rabbit,f‘ startled at his approach, sprung from un—
" 31‘ a projecting sand-point, and darted away up the bank.
A! it gracefully and rapidly “'loped " away, Christina (Q!

'Ki58i9,_as we shall call her), ever on the alert, noticed it.

’ i ' _ " Oh. What an enormous rabbit 1“ she cried. “ The largest

/ _1,‘¢V°T‘Saw.* Pray, Simpson, is that the common rabbit i" ,

 

   

18 THE PHANTOM TRAILER; on,

“ No. Jack-rabbit.”

“ What a very odd name. Why do they call it so 7"

The guide did not give the true answer—that because of
its resemblance to a laughable beast of burden ; but answered
shortly, as be filled his pipe:

“ Big ear; like—like—-iike—donkey.”

“ Oh, hn'th i I perceive; See, it has stopped under that little
bush. There—~Oh, my! it is hurt—it is lame! see how it
limps—I will catch it, it is so curious.”

Kissie was impulsive. Without further preface she
lightly struck the 'sorrel pony with her riding whip, and on
a swift gallop went after the rabbit, which slowly limped
away. '

The guide, being the only idle one, nlone noticed her.
sh0ok with suppressed laughter, aWniting the result.

The guide well knew, though Kissle did not, that this
strange rabbit plays some unaccountable pranks, and is the
direct_canse of many hearty laughs at a “greenhorn’s” ex-

He

.  Seeing a human being, he at once retreats, limping

"as if badly hurt. This attracts some one not “ well up ” in
prairie life, and he pursues it. But let the sequel tell its own
tale. ‘

1 As Kissie drew near, the rabbit bounded away as if sud-
denly cured of its disability, gaining some distance ; 'then he
limped again—this time dragging one of its hind-legs labori-
ously. ' ‘

His long ears were laid upon his back, which was suddenly
shrunken, as if by a, shot in the” spine; he pawed hastily
with his forefeet; and, evidently, was badly hurt. Perhaps
his sudden activity was the result of severe fright, succeeded
by a reaction—so reasoned Kissie.

'f‘ Bunny, Bunny,” she cried, “ you are mine—~you are my
captive."

She was quite close upon him, and was drawing closer atj

every spring. The rabbit was almost caught.

,“Count not your chickens before they are hatched,” warns
an nitl‘saw. Perhaps it would have been better for Kissie to
have recollected it. But on she went, with no other desire
0r thought besides catching the fecbly-struggiinganimal. >

To her surprise she‘ drew no'nearer, thouin the rabbit ’

 

 
 

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seemed scarce moving, and Dimple was going at a smart gal-
lop. Surprised and nettled, site plied the whip, and once
p again she was on the rabbit's very heels. ‘
Once again the rabbit suddenly darted away as lightly as a

deer; but only for a few smurt leaps.

Again he seemed stricken by that odd impediment to his
flight. It was very strange—what could it mean Y”

For an hour the strange chase Continued, the participants
sustaining their respective positions, while Dimple panted and
r ' lagged, and Kiesie alternately Wondered and plied the
g" whip.
‘, - It was a rare place for s protracted chase. For milesiand
' miles northward (the course they were following) the great,
v flat plain stretched sway—although level, always hard and
' solid.
» - The chase still continued, still repeating itself: now a
spurt, and the rabbit is near; Bunny springs once or twice
and the sorrel pony is behind again.

Once she thought she had heard a shout far behind ; but
l intent upon overtaking the rabbit, still kept. on and looke
i; not back. ~ ' ‘
' At last the chase was terminated rather suddenly. Evl- ,3.
dently becoming wearicd with his frolics, the rabbit one”; '
single look behind, then to Kissie’s utter dismay, darted away
at full speed

She had seen frightened antelopes flee like the wind; she
had. seen wild mustangs soour altay in afi‘right; but never
before had she seen a “ jack-rabbit " on his mettle. "
_ There was a sudden streak before her, a small white speck"
, bobbing up and down; nnd when Kissie reined in the pony
. . she was alone. The rabbit was far away.

“anedl miserably deceived l" were her exolamations as
the truth forced itself upon her. “ To think that insignificant
creature had so much reason in him. Why, he was only do-
ceiviug me, after all-a mean trick to gratify his wicked little
heart. I might hare known it .by the way he acted. Well,
I never; and what slaugh there will bewhen I get back. ‘
Deceived by a paltry rabbit. I can imagine how they 'will‘ 
laugh. Father will never let me hear the lust of it~nejther ‘
iv will that horrid Burt Scranton ; only Bum will be my chain'-

 

 

 

  

 

80 ms: minors man; on,

pion. And how that horrid guide will grin, too—I declare it
makes me provokedto think of it.”

She'pouted prettily and gazed where the sly animal had
disappeared. Then she spoke again: '

' “ Well, it is of no use that I can see—my remaining here.
It is 'most supper-time and I will go back, without my boast-
ed capture.“ So, Dimple—tired, pet? We are going back."

She turned the pony’s head around and slowly cantered of,
still musing otter her defeat, without raising her head.

She had ridden a mile, perhaps, when it occurred to her
she had better discover the whereabouts of the train. Ac-
cordingly she reiued in, and raising her eyes, slowly scanned
the prairie before her.

It was bare; the train was not in sight.

Thinking some intervening hillock hid them' from her
sight, she rode some distance at right angles; but still no
white-capped. wagons did she see.

Sheoertainly must have become turned round; she must
be bewildered as to the direction she had been pursuing.

But no, She distinctly remembered seeing her shadow at
her right hand when pursuing the rabbit. She was Certain of
that—quite sure. What easier than to ride back, keeping the
shadow to the left of her ? She could not then go
astray.

Christina was quick-witted. She had no sooner found the
wagons were not in sight when the above reflection ran
through her mind. She was impulsive. decided; and know-
ing this to be the only means of again finding the wagons,
started back, with her shadow over her left shoulder.

r “ Man proposes, God disposes.”

She won discovered that. No sooner had she started on
the return track,,than, as if to vex and annoy her, a bank of
snow-colored clouds rose rapidly in the south. ‘At the same
moment a southerly breeze came lightly over the plain.

Assaid before, Kissie Was-a girl of keen and quick per-

ceptions. Shesaw the bank of clouds arising; she knew if _

not breeding a terrible squall, they were at least rolling on to
obscure the sun; then what were her chances of regaining
camp 1

She knew they were few; she knew the necessity of hard -

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

mrmmonmmntnm i1

riding; and, plying the whip again, rode at a gallop with the
shadow still over her left shoulder. -

On the Southern plains, as with the Southern people,
changes come and go with great speed. It was so in the
present case; for before the sorrel pony had cantered a mile
the heavens above were clouded; the sun was obscured.

A loud, swishing noise accompanied the fleecy clouds,
somewhat in the rear of the adVanced vapor. She reined
in. ’ ~
She was sufficiently versed in Southern life to feel no alarm
at the approaching wind. Had it been from the north—a
norther—she would have trembled; but, coming from the
south, she felt no alarm; it was nothing but a “field'r of
drifting vapor, and in the course of an hour the sky might
be clear again.

So, turning her pony’s hind quarters to the coming wind,
she hraced‘herself and waited its approach. '

It came with a roar, and striking Dimple, almost‘wok her
of her feet; Hut the sturdy little beast spread’ her legs and
stood like a rock. Almost as soon as told it was past, rushing
toward the north, gathering strength every moment: and, be-
yond a steady breeze, and a few floating particles in the air,
the atmosphere was quiet.

Kissie looked at her tiny watch,and sighed : in another hour
the son would sink below the horizon. What, then, wouid
become of her if she did not succeed in finding the camp?-

“I must ride somewhere,” she said, growing seriously
alarmed. “ If I haven’t the sun to guide me I must steer
without it.” '

So saying, she returned her pony's head and rode away in
a Canter. ,. ,

She had not gone far when she reined in with avery white
face. Covering her eyes with her hands; she how'ediher head,
and her heart sunk.

_ “ Oh. my Godl what shall I do t" she moaned. “What
shall I do? Where shall I go i" -

Well might she feel alarmed! well might she be tertor- '
stricken; to: in her abstraction one had turned'md m

I .

mmrmm;on..

 

CHAPTER III.
ABLEEP IN run LAND on SILENCE.

“ TURNED round twice I" ejaculates the reader. “Why
should she be terrified at such a slight thing P”

For a very good reason, for example: blindfold a person
and after doing so turn him twice in his tracks. He then
will be unable to tell with any degree of certainty to which
point of the Compass he is facing. So it was with Kissie.
Though not blindfolded, she might as well have been, and
might as well have turned round fifty times as twice. The
flat plain was everywhere the same monotonous expanse, no-
where showing any landmarks, by the slightest depression or
elevation.

,No wonder she was frightened, even terrified. Had she
been inra settled country, she would only have experienced
venetian and discontent at being forced to spend the night on
the prairie; but here she Was, far from any settlement, lost
from her companions, and in a lmstile Indian country. She
knew the latter to be fierce and bloodthirsty, and was aware
they would not scruple to commit any outrage their cunning
brains might suggest. She knew they were predatory and
gregarious, often rambling in bands of from a dozen to fifty-
or a hundred. She knew also they were the fiends of the
plains-wither Comanches or Apaches, dreaded alike by quiet
madam and courageous hunter.

Should she meet with them, what would be her fate—what
her doom? What—— V

At this point in her reflections Dimple pawed impatiently,
and tossing her bend, snuffed the air; she was evidently fa-
tigued-and hungry and was impatient at heing kept at a stand-
still. 

.“ Quiet, Dimplel you are tired, pet; you have had a hard
gallop after a day’s march. Dear, dear me ; that I had never
left them."

But the pony was not very much fatigued. She was a

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 its,


 

 

 

.tu  -

*5“ §$',1?‘$’§\s‘r’;“ ‘
, , 

1931

 

“it-

run raran or ran mm. CAVE. 28

 pure mustang, but. recently captured and tamed, and could
1 have galloped the entire day without faltering.

“ Oh, where shall I go—what shall I do? Oh, heaven! I
would I had never left them. Be quiet, I say, Dimple? ‘what
do you mean ?”

The pony was stamping violently, and with tossing head
Was staring ovur the plain. Mechanically Kissie followed his
gaze.

Away on the distant horizon (the eastern one, though she
did not know it) she saw a solitary speck, moving slowly. It
was that which had caused the mustang’s alarm. It had evi-
dently been in sight for some time, for now she remembered
the pony had been restless for considerable time. It was
some animal, perhaps a solitary horseman.

thought she could distinguish the necessary outlines of a
mounted man. '

Indeed, by strain- ‘
" ing her eyes, she was almost certain it was the latter, as she

The object was a man, and mounted on a black powerful I

horse. It was Pedro Felipe.

Had she known it was a white man, had she any reason to
suppose he was not an enemy, she would have at once
spurred toward him; but, knowing that numerous Indians
were at all times scouring the plains, she desired rather to
give"him a wide berth, fearing he was one of that dreaded
race. .

She raised her whip, and striking the mustang sharply, was
riding away when a new object appeared on the horizon, op-
posite the Mexican. Object? rather a number of blots, mov-
ing toward her. This she could tell as they appeared sta-
tionary'while they rose 'and fell, like a galloping horse.

‘She had Seen such objects before, and knew they were gal-
loping animals. _ Knowing that scarcely any animals fre-
quented the plain, from its sterility, she readily became aware
that they were a band‘of mounted men. .

She felt her heart-leap joyously; it Was her friends; They
had doubtless become alarmed at her prolonged ahsenee, and
had started in search of her. Filled with joy at the thought,
she pressed on, her fears at rest. Just then she loOked for

1'

‘ the tar-distant, lone rider—he was not in sight; he had van-



34 ' "mm mm mmnn’;’63,

suddenly she stopped the mustang, and a deadly pallor
overspread her countenance, a wild .fear arose within her.
She had counted thirteen distinct objects moving toward her.

L.

Her father’s party numbered seven—the one approaching ‘

numbered thirteen ; it could not be her friends—it could not.

Who were they? Surely they were mounted men, surely
they were not her friends; who could they be? They were
coming, miles away, directly toward her.

The truth flashed upon llt‘l‘, and her heart sunk like lead.
Sitting quietly in her saddle, she stared at them, drawing
nearer every minute. Then she became aroused. Wheeling
suddenly she plied the whip, and the wiry mustang, now Some-
what refreshed, sprung away 'at a long, steady gallop, and the
blots behind scattered, collected again, then rose and fell
faster and shorter. The chase had commenced—she was pur-
sued by Indians.

It was now sunset, as nearly as she could judge, and the
cloudy sky overhead promised a brief, dark twilight, to be
succeeded by a dark, murky night. The rainy season was
'now drawing near, and for aught she knew the clouds above
might be the “ advance-guard.” This, at least, was in her
favor. .

Kissie was like her father—impulsive but cool. L Looking
back, she Calculated the distance between her and the flying
savages. It was nearly four miles‘ She lacked at the sky
and calculated that darkness would fall in less than an hour.

“ They Will have to ride like the wind to overtake Dimple
in an hour,” she said, with a small degree of hope. “Till
then, Dimple, fly; in an hour we may be safe for the pres-
ent." ' ' '

The mustang, as if Cognizant of the importance of speed,
tossed his plucky head, then bending it down, “ reached ” like

a quarter-horse; his sensitive nose had warned him of the -

proximity of his former hated foe-—the red-man. Running
without the incentive of whip or spur, be stretched away; and
behind came ‘a dozen and one Apaches, grim and remitted;
they were on the war-trail.

At that hour a flock of vultures wheeling abOVe, high in

the zenith, looked down upon a strange scene—at least for ‘ »,
that usually deserted plain. Directly beneath were a flying > ’ ‘

    

 

 

 

  

 

    
 

.m- ransom or m mu. cam 85

 maiden and galloping Indians—the latter in hot pursuit of
 the former; both mounted on fleet horses, both riding at full

 

s eed.
 pA few miles to the west a solitary horseman was pursuing
: his way northward, at a slow gallop. He was a Mexican—
- Pedro Felipe. At the rate, and in the direction the maiden
Was riding, it would not. be long ere she would meet him—she
' riding northwesterly. Directly south and nearly fifteen miles
behind Pedro, rode a dark, ugly-looking man on a black horse;
and though the Mexican had left no visible trail, this myste-
rious rider was following him, directly in his very tracks.
Riders on the savage-infested, weird plains generally look
sharply in every direction to avoid their dreaded foes; they
generally, if alone, keep close to timbered tracts; but this
rider never gazed to the right, left, or behind him—only keep-
ing his gaze fixed toward the Land of Silence.

In a south-easterly direction from him was a train en-
Camped on the Gila, for the night. All the work had been
finished. The horses were lariated at hand ; the rude kettle
was boiling merrily; the cook .was swearing and grumbling,
as usual ; but all was not quiet. ‘

Ever and anon one of the several men lying lazily about
, would rise, and shading his eyes, peer toward the north-east,
 as if in search of something. v
 He was invariably unsuccessful ; and, after anxiously gaz-
' 5 ing for several minutes, would return, and talk in low tones
to his companions. .

Then several would start up together and peer over the
northwestern plain; then, muttering anxiously, would return
and lie down again, talking earnestly ; something was wrong.

Even the cook, yho was generally too hard at work, tired
and surly to pay attention to any thing outside of his “ Dutch-
oven,” would now and then pause and look anxiously toward
the mirth-west; it. was plain something was wrong.

It was twilight on the yaat plain, north of the Gila. Now
the two Wilmipfll panic had visibly changed their positions.
The Indians were quite near, having gained two miles in light
{—3 vast 831“; they must have ridden like the wind, or the
sorrel mustang must have lagged. V V

The last was the case. From some hidden reason Dimple

 

m PHANTOM manna; on,

26

had lost his swift run, and was going at a faltering canter—
he was unaccountany fatigued or injured. She could hear
faintly the hideous yells behind—a mile and a half distant.

At this, with her last hope giving way, she plied the whip.

The mustang obeyed, and for a few lengths galloped
briskly, but soon collapsed, and feebly cantered on. She fell:
terrified at the thought of captivity and prayed for rescue.

It came. The twilight was almost over, then pitchy dark-

ness would shielddier from her red enemies. The moon rose
about three hours after sundown—she could easily elude them
until that time; then, perhaps, she would be safe.
‘ Another circumstance, far more potent, was in her favor.
The soil of theiplain, baked hard after months of drought,
left no impression of the mustang’s hoof, consequently she
Could not be traced by the hoof-marks. It was not probable,
after having eludedi'them, that in this wide, Vast plain they
could chance upo’n'g‘her again. So, if she succeeded in es-
caping, forthe present she was in comparative safety.

Sheisgbgecded. The darkness swiftly gathered down over
the plit‘hi‘f‘she lost sight of her pursuers, though still hearing
their hideous yells; and they, in turn, lostsight of her.

Fifteen minutes later, on pausing and waiting a few mo-_

ments, Kissie heard them gallop by in the darkness, not ten
rods away. Then she turned and rode for an hour in an op-
posite direction; for the present. she was safe. I
Alighting, she left Dimple to graze at will on the scanty
herbage; and, conscious the timid mustang would awaken her
by stamping, should danger come, lay down, and, completely
worn out, fell into a light, troubled sleep.
‘ The chase had not amounted to muchwthe odds, large
0"“, being in her favor; but while she mid escaped from
them, she had ridden many miles further from her friends.
 Alone in the desert, guarded by the wary, timid pony, she
Slept; and the night was dark and gloomy in the Land 0
Silence-for she was withi "  ghdStlyborder. '

 
 

4 ~‘

,g.
E‘.
.L
i

 

dune-um”

 

 

 

 

THE PRISQNEB OF THE HILL CAVE. 

 CHAPTER Iv.
CIMARBON JACK.

 ' As the first gray streaks of dawn slanted across the east- ~
ern horizon, the little camp on the Gila was astir, and the
members were bustling about. Anxious faces they were;
their movements were hurried and nervous; and the general
aspect of the camp was one of alarm andganxiety.

There is evidently a great commotion fig camp; ever and
anon the men scan the surrounding horizofi; and one and all
Went the same anxious look ; what. is the utter?

The question is answered almost as see asked, as a cry
arises from one of the watchers. The ' a start to their
feet (they are at present bolting a hasty brealrgfast) and follow-
; ing their companion’s gaze see a horseman  along the
river bank. He is quite near, having been  under the

if. he

,1: bank, and consequently unseen by them.  . V
‘ “ Simpson! the guide 1” shout one or two voices; then two
others add, with a groan, “and alrme.”

if“ And alone I” cry the rest, gloomily.

,,:"?1‘|ie guide wits coming slowly, his mustang lagging with
. df‘fioping head, as if just freed from a hard, long ride. The
_ guide, too, though generally reserved, Was moody, and wore a
~ . so” of apologetic, shame-faced air. '

Joel Wheeler and young Carpenter sprung to meet him.

“ Have you seen her ?” asked Mr. Wheeler, though know~
ing the question'was a superfluous one. The guide shook his‘
_ head. 
z, “ Nor any trace of her ?” hastily added Carpenter. Simp-
*  sontslo'wly shook his head again.

 “ Not at all—nosign '3" ,
“Nury mark, sign, trail, trace—nary nuthin’. Blast the
luck !” he added. in sudden ire ; “ I've done rode over every
4 squat" inch of this kentry sence last night, fur miles around.
She ain‘t nowhar ’ronnd hyar, that’ssartain share."
 ’It was only too evident the guide spoke truthfully. His

t...‘

. "I/‘WJ‘I’..‘4",

 

 

 

  
 
 

 

_ 28

THE PHANTOM TRAILER; OR,

 

fatigued, travelsworn steed, panting deeply, and his own wea- 

ried air, showed he had ridden far and swiftly.
“ Yer see’d no one, then i” asked Burt Scranton.
“Who sed I never see’d
son.
“ You did.”
“ I didn’t I"
“ What did you say, then i" ‘
“ Thet I hedn’t see’d the lady—and I hevn’t.”
“ You have seen some one, then ?” asked Carpenter.
“ Yes, I lit-v)?
“ Whom '1’”
The guide broug his fist down on his knees:
“ A sperrit."
“ A spirit? N
“ Up hyar, a pi

sense! Where ?"

in a‘kentry Called the Land of Silence."

“Ah! the La f Silence.” and Burt slowly shook his
“ I’ve hee )n that place.” ‘

looked incredulous and grinned.

:‘  a guide, netllcd, burst out:

“ Yes,  may jist bet yer hides I don’t want ter see it
ag’in, now. “'3' thunder! ef Iwarn’t skeered I never was,
and every one of ye‘s heerd of Simpson, the guide—every one
of ye know ’t I ain't no coward, neither.”

“ What did it look like ?” asked Kit Duncan.

The guide slowly dismounted,and flinging his arm over his
saddle, said :

“ It war the ghost of the Trailer.”

“ The'Trailer l” echoed Burt.

“ Yes, the Trailer. Jest the same as he allus war, in his
peaked hat and black feather, jest'lhe same as ever he war,
armed ter kill, he rode his old black hoss right by me, not ten
V feet off. Gee-Whittaker! I ked hev touched him." .,

“Did he speak i” asked Louis Robidoux, in a quizzical
manner. ' .

“Thet’s the wust of it. When he got clos’t ter me, he

turned his face too-ward me. Gee-crymini! how white his
face war."

“ What did he say P” '
‘.‘ ‘ You air ridin’ late, Tim Simpson.’ ”

Seeing

   
  
  

A“

no one i” hastily retorted Simp— '

its

my».er r,   A.

 

 

 

 

. I

 

 

THE PRISONER OF THE HILL CAVE.

“ Is that all i”

“ Gee-whiz! ain’t thet enough?"

“ Why didn‘t you shoot him ?”

“1 war loo skeered—I know’d ’twar no mortal man.”

“ How did. you know ‘3"

“ Cuss yerl a woman’s nuthin’ ter yer on the ke-westion.
How did I know? Wal, the Trailer’s got a grudge ag’in’ me,
an’ ef he’d been a man don’t yer see he’d ’a’ plugged me More
I see’d him? He war a fee-roeious man, thet Trailer, and ef
he war alive when I met him, he’d ’a’ sure plugged me. He
didn't, and lhet shows he's dead. Durn it l Ilmow he’s dead;
Pedro Felipe killed him in the Land of SilenCe, over a~yeaP
ago. I see’d his skeleton onc’t.”

“ Halloai” exclaimed Burt, suddenly. “ Look thar l” and
he pointed down the river. All eyes followed the direction.

A man mounted on a trim bay horse Was seen advancing

,at‘ along, swinging lope, quite near. 7139. had drawn close

during the dialogue, unnotiCed, and was coming boldly on, as
if he feared no danger. Simpson immediatély recognized him.

“ Cimarron Jack l" he cried. “ Gee-meuen't‘li ! hooray l”

The rider stopped and drew a rewlver. ,

“ Who is there 1’” he demanded, in a rieh, musical voice,
with a purity of accent rarely seen on the southern plains.

“'l'im Simpson, the g‘uide l" '

“ Is that so? Hurrah! I’m Cimarron Jack, the tiger, and
I’m a thorough-bred from Tartary, I tell you." .

Belting his revolver, he struck spurs to his splendid bay,
and the next moment was heartily shaking Simpson by the
hand, wrenching it violently.

" I’m an elephant, I am i” he shouted, in stentorian tones,
addressing the entire party. “ I'm a Feejee dancing-master,

and where’s the man that‘ll say ‘ boo ’ to this chap? I’m the
fellow who killed cock-robin l”
“ You are just in time, Jack," said the guide. “ We want

yer ter help us.” .
Nowhere in America do men come so quickly “ to the
point," as on the vest South-western plains. Meets. friend
- n .  not seen for years—he is in trouble, mayhap. You
have scarcely time to'greet him before he informs you of his
,embarrassment, and requests your immediate assistance; You

w

 
   

'ru PHANTOM TRAILER; OR,

instantly, if you are a “ plainsman,” grant his request—it is
often policy to do so.

Cimarron Jack was a noted ranger and inexplicable man.
While his whole conversation was a series of boastings and
vaunts, while a more conceited man perhaps never breathed,
he had one trait which was the very opposite, paradoxical as
it may appear—he believed that others were as keen and
shrewd as himself, and, when on the war-path, believed his
enemy as bold and crafty as himself—the predominating trait
of the shrewdest detectives in the world.

To describe him, his dress and manner, Were a long and hard
sask. Closely-knit, six feet and three inches in hight, with
the arm of a black-smith, and the leg of a cassowary, he was a
fbrmidable enemy when aroused, and he was a man of iron
nerve. Withal, he was at times as tender as a woman, and
was always upright and honest.

Imagine a giant on a splendid bay stallion, with weapons
of all sorts, sizes and nationalities slung about him ; with red,
green, blue, gray—in short, every color—-feathcrs twisted into
his clothing, long boots, painted in different colors—looking
like an insane person—imagine this, and you are distantly
acquainted with Cimarron Jack, the ranger, hunter and In-
dianvfighter. .

“ What do you want with the king pin of all rifle-shots?
Show me a star, and I’ll knock the twinkle out of it with a
Number One buckshot.”

The party stared at him aghast. Never before had they
seen such a fantastical braggadocio. Had they never before
heard of him they would have deemed him a raving maniac,
and would have given him a wide berth. But every one who
was in that country at that time—184—, had heard of the far-
famed Cimarron Jack.

“ What do you want with the people's favorite ?” he de-
manded. “ Come—the court is impatient.”

Joel Wheeler stepped forward and said : “ Sir, we are——-”'

~“ Don’t ‘ sir’ me i" interrupted the ranger. “ I’m Cimarron
Jack, and I'm the cock of the walk”, '

“Well then,'Cimarrmi Jack, my daughttmyflififlflw '
last night and we fear she is lost—indeed, we are positive" ‘

she is. The country is infested with Indians—” ‘

 

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

f 1",!” my?!” « .( , 

'

THE PRISONER or ran m can. 81

“ You can’t tell me any thing about Indians, for my educa-
tion in that direction is finished. Hurrah 1 three genuine
cheers and a tiger for the man that can't be beat 1”

Snatching his sombrero from his head, he swung it aloft,
cheering himself lustily. Then he replaced the hat and lis-
tened gravely. ,

“ It is only too evident that Christina is lost. Cognizant

- that the country is swarming with hostile Apaches and Co-

manches, we are very much alarmed. You are a noted scout
and tracker—l’ve frequently heard of you; and if you will
lend us your assistance in searching. for her, I will cheerfully
pay any price you may ask."

“ Count me in—just score the grizzly-tamer on the rolls.
But stop i” be added, his face becoming grave, and addressing
Simpson. “ Is the beauteous maid fair to look upon ‘8”

“ Ef thar ever was an angel on airth, she’s the one,” em-
phatically pronounced the guide.

“ Then hurrah 1 blood raw, blood raw i cut your palate out
and eat ité-you are just shouting I will. I’m a thorough-
bred, sired by Colossus.”

“ Are you willing to go, then ?” demanded Carpenter.

“ You're talking I am.”

“ Well, just tell the men to hitch up the horses, Burt."

Scranton turned to execute the order, and Mr. Wheeler
called a consultation of the principal men, Cimarron Jack,
Carpenter and Simpson, to decide upon the most feasible plan
for recovering Kissie. He was much alarmed. Although
for years accustomed to Kissie’s vagaries and erratic wander-
ings, he was now alarmed in good earnest. She had often
ridden away from the train on some expedition, but she had
always returned punctually. But now they were in a coun-
try overrun with hostile, ferocious Indians, who were capable
of any fiendish deed, and quite unscrupulous enough to exe
cute it.

But there were other dangers near by, if not quite as po-
tent. Here in this hot, vast plain water was scarce, though

the country was “ cut up ” by creeks. ' These, however, were
entirely dry nine months in the year, and this season was un-
« commonly dry. Then, too, savage and large beasts roamed
the plain. The large gray wolf hunted in packs, ready when

    

83 m PHANTOM TRAILER; on,

hungry to fellow and run dOWn a human being; the grizzly
often came down from his cave in the mountains to prey up-

on the animals in the plain; and many other animals, quite[ a

as ferocious and cunnipg, roamed the inimitable waste.

Snuld she avoid all these dangers; should she elude the
fierce Apache, the gray wolf and grizzly bear; should she be
fortunate enough to discover water, a thing scarcely possible,
there was another danger to be dreaded—hunger.

She was not armed, and procuring food on the barren plain,
without the necessary weapons, was impossible. She could
procure no food from the herbage—it was scant, dry and
short. She was undoubtedly in a desperate predicament.

Mr. Wheeler revolved these several contingencies in his
mind, and grew sad and moody. Carpenter noticed his de-
jection, and though anxious and sad himself, endeavored to
cheer him.

“ Come, cheer up," he said, laying his hand upon his shoul-
der. “ The case may not he so desperate after all. While
there. is life there is hope, you know.” I

' “ Sam, I know you can sympathize with me—you are the
only one who can appreciate my agony, for it is positive

agony. To think of the dear child, heaven knows where, '

suffering and heart-sick, almost distracts me. Sam, I fear the
worst.”

“ Come, sir, come; you must not talk like that. She only
rode away after a rabbit—she, mayhap, has become Conqued,
perhaps lost. But the sorrel mustang is sagacious, and doubt-
less ere‘this is scenting back toward us. I know he will come
back if she will give him his heat .” '

“ A thing she will not think of doing,” replied Mr. Wheeler.
/“ If she is lost, she is lost, indeed—there is no end to this vast
plain." ‘ «e I .

“ But she must have left a trail, and with two such famous
\men as Cimarron Jack and Simpson, we can surely trail her.
Those two men are prodigies, sir—they are famous,even
among their fellow-countrymen. Cheer n p, sir—see, they are
ready to start. Shall I saddle your horse, sir ll”

“ If you will, Sam. I am so perplexed I am fit for nothing.”
“I will do it, sir. Take my word for it, sir, we will soon
find her.”

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

“'r '.v

4

MA

1.1.,

I";

P

.‘w n‘ gr, V

 

I:

b a much faster rate than usual to keep in sight.

Tn museum: ot m  can. 33’

“ God grant it i" was the fervent reply.
The result of the Council was this: the guide, Cimarron»

8' Jack, Mr. Wheeler, and Sam, were to ride toward the north-

west, if possible on Kissie’s trail. Burt Scranton and the
teamster would follow with the wagons. The trailing party
would proceed moderately, while the wagons Would move at
This was
done to avoid being separated by Indians, should they meet
, with any. This arrangement (Cimarron Jack’s suggestion)
afterward proved a wise one.- But more anon.
“Are you ready l" said Jack, vaulting into his saddle.
“ If you are, follow the man who can thrash his weight in
wild-cats with a. ton of grizzlies thrown in to to make the
skirmish interesting.”
“Yer ain't quit yer bragging yet, I see,” remarked the
guide. '
“Bragging! ma brag? d‘ye mean it? whizl I’ll cut
your palate out and eat lt—yes, I will, you know that your-
self. Blood raw, blood rawl I'm the man 'that never Bays
‘ boo’ to a lame chicken."
“ Hyar’s her trail,” 7 observed the guide.

.Jack vaulted backward to the ground, examined-it, swore ‘

an oath or two, lit his pipe, boasted a little, then remounted
and rode off on the faint, Very dim trail, with the wagons
rumbling after; the search had Commenced.

The guide ever and anon raised‘ his head and p‘eered ofi‘ ‘

 ’ into the northern, purple-tinted distance, as it half afraid of

seeing some disagreeable object. However, he held his peace
and relapsed into his usual, but for some time, abandoned ta.-
citurnily. Must the truth be spoken? The guide was

_ alarmed.

I...

 

M wax 2mm): Turns; on,

CHAPTER v.

A DEAD MAN’S GHOST.

ON the- day after Pedro left the Gila he arrived at the old j“

robber hilloek. As he rode up to it, he mechanically looked
for a skeleton he expected to see there—the skeleton of the
Trailer. To his surprise not a bone of it was there, where
he left the body.

Could the Trailer have come to life? impossible—he was
killed instantly. Pedro had shot him from behind, the ball
enteringr his back and penetrating to his heart. No—it Could
not be possible.

But the skeleton—where was it? of COIH'SC the body had
been devoured by carnivorous animals—as a matter of course
it’lmd been; but animals never swallow the bones—they
should he there still.

Pedro was perplexed and. looked off over the plain, as if
for an answer. He got none. Everywhere,‘in every direc-
tion, it Was the same monotonous expanse—always yellow,
dry and quiet, always spectral and forbidding; he was in
the heart of the Land of Silence.

"The skeleton—where in the world can it be ?" he mut-
tered, glancing about.
and uneasy already. This is a cursed quiet place—this
plain; and such a name as it has, too; just the place for
spirits toproam about in. I am beginning to believe they have
tampered with the Trailer’s bones——I do, indeed. Hal what‘s

‘that i’" " ‘ I

He had espied something white at a distance away—some-
thing which looked dry and bleached, like bones long ex-
posed to the elements. He rode slowly toward it; it (or they)
was a bunch of bones clustered together, as if thrown hastily
in a pile.

He took them one by ‘one in his hands and narrowly ex-
amined them. They were human, he could tell—might they
not be the Trailer‘s? They were much woismellme thought,

\

 

1r'been

Sti

I i ——the

year
had

ii must

' idly

mm

wil‘
hig

 

“Curse it,[ begin to feel awkward

 

 

 

L.)x« ~ fliers.

" —-they had not been there then.

 one is deceived ofttimes by appearances.
been a large man—a giant; these bones were rather small.

 

TEE PRISONER.“ m  CAVE. 86

The Trailer had
Still he knew he had not Seen them when here a year ago

These bones were about a
year old; that is, exposed to the elements. A year ago he

4 had killed the Trailer, the last robber on the spot—the bones
, must be his.

“ They are the Tmiler's—they must be,” he said, and
idly kicking thctn, mounted and rode back to the hill or
mound. 4

To describe this singular place would be a long task, so we
will skim briefly oVer it. About forty feet long by twenty in
hight, it was a mere shell—probably a hiding-place contrived
centuries ago. It Was entered in this manner by Pedro.

Scattered over the surface of the knoll were a large number
of flat stones. Lifting one of the largest of these, he hurled
it against one imheddcd in the ground, dented in the form of
a cross. The ground suddenly gave way and disclosed an
opening sufficient to admit a horse. ‘ .

It was a plank-trap; cunnineg covered with earth, its ex-
istence would never have been suspected by the uninitiated.
It was hung on stout leutheru hinges fastened to two upright
posts.

The hollow ,hill was divided into two chambers, one within
the other. The first was dark and was only lighted by the
opening of the door. The floor was the ground, the Walls
the hillside,,the ceiling the summit. The only furniture it
contained was a huge water-bucket, a rusty gun or two,‘
several tattered blankets, and a resinous, partially-consumed
torch. . “

Pedro noticed this torch, and his eyes sparkled.

“ Just where I left it a year ago—in this chink. Now I
am Certain Iwas the last one here—now um I Certain of
finding the hidden treasure.”

He lighted the torch, and after looking out into the plain,
started toward the inner. chamber. But suddenly stopping, he
Went back to the entrance.

“ I might as. well bring the horse inside now,” he said.
“ Perhaps I may be obliged tc spend a week here. He will
be oht of light, tOO.” 'v . 1

    

m PHANTOM Tasman; on, 1

Going out he brought in the horse, and then tightly closed
the entrance. Then his eyes fell on the water-vessel.

“ I wish I had some water,” he said ; “ and no doubt the I

horse thinks the same. But there is a stream ten miles north
—-Alkali Creek. The water is not very good, but it is wet. I
will go after I’ve searched awhile.”

Unsaddling the horse, and leaving him to roam at will
about the ‘chamber, he again took up the torch and went to
the entrance of the inner one.

This was a mere slit in the hillside, barely large enough
for him to enter. However, his pliant body enabled him
to glide through, and standing in the entrance, he threw the
light over the apartment.

It was empty, just as he had expected.
too—further evidence that there had been no one there since
he had left. His spirits rose at every step, and his way was
‘ becoming certain. ‘

. This chamber was somewhat larger than the other, and
was lighter, the chinks above being larger. It was also
scantily furnished, and in the same manner as the first.

A pile of blankets lay in one corner, and Were evidently
long unused. A single gun stood by them—a rifle. -Otuer-
wise the room was empty. -

Pedro, after satisfying himself as to other occupants, with
his habitual energy began at once to work. Drawing his re-
volver, he hastily uncapped the tubes,.then, lighted by his
torch, commenced to sound the wall, the ceiling, the floor-in
fact, everything which might conceal the treasure he knew
was there.

 Outside the sun still shone upon the bare plain, blinding
' with its heat the few small animals which stole about, the
only moving objects on the plain.

The only moving objects? Not so; there was another
one—a man riding a black horse. Several miles awayfrom
the hillock, he was coming, at a slow walk, from the south;
going n.)rth and to the hillock.

An hour passed. Pedro was working steadily inside, at
intervals muttering disjointed sentences. The solitary rider
drew near, and halted close to the hillock. ,

He was dressed in a tight-fitting suit of buck-Jilin, and it

It was unchanged:

 
   

his

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in

9 326

 

 

  

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WK”

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1 ,.
 his black, conical hat, a black plume dropped. Armed to the
;“ teeth, he was a desperate-appearing person. His face, bearing

L

worry , _

  
    

L

"w- r-w

\K

 

L1.

. citenient, can not keep his eyes of!" from it.
‘ he had forgotten his horse, and with the bag on his shoulder,

m "rmsom or m  can.

the marks of license to strong and evil passions, was pale in

the extreme-even ghastly.
He halted before the entrance, and just then Pedro ex-I’

- claimed below—he was excited about something. ‘Then he

rode round to the opposite side of the hillock, and draw-
ing up, facing it, sat like a statue on his black horse.

 

A fierce cry came from the cavern—a cry of wild delight.

" This was followed by a series of disjointed exclamations, ex-
»~ pressive of the wildest joy. Then came hurried tramping

to and fro—then dead silence. Outside the rider still sat on
his sable steed, and remained grim and quiet, never changing
a muscle. All was quiet in the Land of Silence.

 

It was toward the middle of the afternoon when Pedro _

, burst-out of the entrance gesticulating extravagantly, and

fairly shouting under the influence of some strong emotion.
In his hand he held his horse-blanket, tied into a rude bag;
it was loaded with something that chinked musically.

‘ “Found! found!” he cried. “What fertune—what ex-
traordinary luck! Only three hours’ searching, too. Oh,
holy mOtherl what shall I do with all this Wealth? Pedro,
Pedro Felipe, you are as rich as the richest. Blessed be all
the saints i What fortune, what fortune l"

‘ This grave, demure man of forty, fairly danced in excite-
ment, and shook the bagviolentiy.

Chink, chinkl a musical rattle that. More than one man
.has gone crazy over less. Huzzahl huzzahl the treasure is
found.

He has feasted his eyes on it before; but, wild with ex-
In his agitation

had been starting on foot for Mexico. But now he sunk on
his knees, and opening the blanket-bag, shook it. .
Heavens! what a sight. Rolling out in a sparkling cascade

came coin, gold and silver, ornaments of the same metals,
costly watches, splendid rings, and guards, and above all,
gleaming, sparkling diamonds: Diamonds set in magnificent .

 
 

N.

  

  

 

,. p,- 

 

88 THE PHANTOM manna; on,

rings; diamonds garnishing costly brooches; diamonds cti~ ‘
and rough, large and tiny; what a fortune, what beautifu":..-gig
bewitehing riches was there. v  ]

Spread out on the ground, Pedro gazed fascinated upo' 91110
his precious treasure, and well he might. Here a deep ame‘ - lou
thyst glitnmered and shone, hob-nobbing, as it were, with a tra
brilliant diamond; yonder a sparkling seal clung closely with- l '
a shining watch guard. Diamonds were sprinkled about pell-l ‘Th
mell among all sorts and sizes of costly jewels, expensive] the
Watches, and piles of golden and silver coin of large denom-g
inations; here a solitary ruby flashed and shimmered; butni
above all, outstripping all, was a. huge topaz, mocking the sun _
by its deep, transparent yellow tint; it was a gem among
gems-

Pedro had not formed any idea of the value of his treasure ,
——his brain was so demented he could not have counted twenty;
correctly. But he saw the coins were all among the highest -'
ever sent from the mint, and nearly all gold; but. he had not _
the slightest idea of the value of the jewels—he only knew th
he was immensely rich. 1 . wi

“ Ah, my yellow, shining, pretty pets!” he exclaimed, fill- er
ing the bag again. “My darlings! you have made me the ,rru
richest man in the wide world. Brave, yellow, sparkling {wt
boys l" . fine

A horse stamped, close by. He listened intently. V "r

Another stamp and a shrill neigh from a strange horse. Jim
Pedro turned sick, his brain reeled, and a deadly nausea seized EH
him. '. '

Suddenly recovering, he threw the bag into the entrance, P
and drew his jeweled dagger—his rifle was inside. ' . m

" Who’s there?" he hoarsely said, peering off into the plain. 'd‘
“ Speak l man or ghost! who is near—who is there 1"? \

Nothing—no one; the plain is bare. Allis quiet in the 12
Land of Silence. ' = '41

“ Murder! help! who’s there? Oh, heaven, my gold l”~ . ’11

He saw the plain was bare, and that he was alone. He '. 'fl
drew/a breath of relief—might he not have been deceived? ., 31.1

Perhaps. He prayed so. But stay—the hillock bid a p311,“
of the plain from view. He‘would ascend it and discover ,
evil 1! it was at hand. - '“ ~

 

 

nus ransom or ran BILL can. ~ s.

, Wit-tr ahoarse cry he brandished his dagger, and with-two

j<glgantic strides stood on the summit.

' But Only for amoment, he stood there with a pale, terrified
Jace, staring eye and shaking limbs. ’l‘hen reeling, with a
cloud cry he rushed down into the cave and closed the en-
" fitrance, terrified almost beyond his senses.

1 What was the matter—what had happened? Enough.
,"l‘here, on his old black horse, under his plumed black hat, sat
.. "g the ghost of the Trailer.

CHAPTER VI.
KISSIE FINDS A FRIEND.

PEDRO sat behind the closed entrance, lowering savager
1through the. glimmering chinks, and almost beside himself
.with astonishment, vague fear, and wonder. He had recov-

, "cred his gun and was clutching it, ready to fire at the smallest
wrestle above; his precious; treasure formed a costly seat, on
V‘jvhich he‘sqnatted; afraid of the cave, afraid of the dark-
’ness, the ghost, his own horse, and even of himself.
, Do not infer from this that Pedro was a coward, 0n. the
. [.1 Contrary, he was brave—a holder man never drew breath.
:,He was far-famed for his hravery. But, “ put yourself in his
' place,” and cease to wonder at his alarm.

An hour passed, during which he fancied he heard a slight .
noise overhead. But if there was one, it was slight, scarcely
discernible. He began to regain his habitual equanimity, and
to try and laugh down his fears. But the latter was no easy
,~~ra3k, '1‘“ see the perfect form of a man he had shot through
‘ 4 Mia heart a year ago—to see him mounted on the same steed
..fhe had drapped him from—to see his wicked, gleaming eye
fixed upon him in deadly, unrelenting hate—and above all,
' 1 meet him at this place, in the country noted for its spec-
51ers, was enough, as he strongly declared, “to scare the Old
{5 ick._nut of ten years‘ wickedness.”

 Blushiing up courage, he advanced to open the Mud
I 1 9 2

 

    

  

'40 m PHARTOM mum; on,‘
peer out. Just then he heard a footfall above—he drew u
back again, seized with fear. 9

The foothill became two, then three, then grew into a suc- ;
cession of patters. He knew the sound-—-it was a horse. He ;.
did not stop to conjecture—he (lid not hesitate or draw a :
timid hreath ; hut angry at. himself for being alarmed, boldly ‘
threw open the trap, and with ready rille, peered out.

His eyes fell upon a fair young girl coming directly toward
him on a sorrel mustang, the latter apparently wandering aim- L
lessly at an easy amble. Her eyes Were iixed on the distant ‘
plain beyond the hillock, and were wandering, as if she saw V
nothing to attract her attention.

“ It is strange she does not see it i” observed Pedro—“ very»
strange. But stay l the hillock is .higher than its head, andt
so she does not. perceive it. But she will—she will.” I

But she did not, and came on directly toward the entrance.
Suddenly, when quite close, the mustang snorted, tossed her ,
head, and shied aWuy from something in front of her.

“Ah l” he muttered, “then it was no optical illusion—it
is, in truth, a spirit.” ;

But he was deceived. If the mustang saw the form he-
hind the hill, the lady did not, and being higher than her
steed had a better opportunity for discovering it.

“ Be quiet, Dimple l" commanded the lady. “It is only V
some large burrow—it is nothing to alarm you. Be quiet, I
my to .
Pedro stared. From where she was now (the mustang hav- ‘-
ing darted to a point which allowed a full view of the hi1
look) she could have easily seen the form had he been there.
But she did not, and of course he was not in sight—the pony '
was alarmed at the yawning entrance, which shotved glactnily .
against the yellow hillock. \

Pedro’s fears were over. Wondering why a lady—a whit -. -.
and beautiful American lady—should he alone on this wild
sterile plain, he resolved to make himSelf known. Perhup 
she was in distt'ess—maylmp she had just escaped from ca *
tivity and needed assistance. ' 1’

Gallantry was one of his predominating traits. :,

Casting aside his weapons, and wearing an easy, goodm V's
lured air, which became him, he stepped carelessly out in to f

mu.

 

  
 
 
 
   
  

 

 

   
 

 

. find food, such as it is.

H ‘

ltl' ..

t‘

 

.N

THE PRISONER OF THE HILL CAVE. 

view. » Lifting his somdn'ero, he said, with an assuring
smile:

“ Senorita, your servant.”

Snortl The mustang was twenty yards away in five se-
Conds, and the lady, unseated, was on the ground, wildly
alarmed, but not injured; the timid mustang had throwu her
in its sudden fright. I

She arose and fled toward her mustang, but the treacherous
animal galloped away, and halting a hundred yards distant,
tossed her head and regarded the strange man wildly. See-
ing she could not recnver her steed in her present state of
mind, she turned to Pedro, doubting and fearing him. He
saw she mistrusted him, and again raising his sombrero, again
bowed low.

“ Fear not, senorita—fear not; I am a friend."

“ A friend? Who are you ‘3"

' “ Pedro Felipe, senorita. Do you need assistance ?"

“Oh, yes, sir; I am in great trouble. I am lost from my
friends. I was chased by Indians last night. I am very
hungry and tired; I have not tested food since yesterday at
noon.”

Pedro, eying her admiringly, noticed her sweet face was
pale and worn. Ever ready to assist a fellow-creature, hey

I started toward the entrance.

“ Enter, senorita, enter. But stay,” he added’,‘ in a low
tone; “do you see any thing on the other side of the
um i" '

“ No, sir-—nothing. No one is visible.” ..

“ It is well. Senorita, if you will come in here you will
There are blankets, also, if you need
rest."

But she hung back. She feared to enter that strange,
yawuing hole with this man, evon if he did look and act like
an honest man.

“ My pony, Dimple," she said, hesitatiugly. “ I am afraid

“' she will go astray."

.‘

t “ Never fear, senorita—I will bring her back to you, if she

f does."

“But—but—” .
“Ah I perceive, senorita—you wrong me. I have been

.

42 THE PHANTOM TRAILER; on,

too long a companion and servant of my kind master in Mexi~
co—Senor Marti nez—to harm a lady. 1—”

“ Why! are you the Pedro that lives at: that grand old
place? Why, our farm was quite close to it I My father is
Mr. Wheeler.” \ .

“ Ah! then I am fortunate in having an opportunity to 
serve you. Your party is on their way north, is it not ?" '

“ Yes, sir.' Do you know any of them ?”

“ Only Simpson, the guide. He is- an old friend of mine.
Many is the time we have fled from Apaches. I started from
the hacienda on the morning you started for the north. lsaw
your party, several. days ago, down on the Santa Cruz river."

“ Then you will help me to find my friends 3" ‘

“As311retlly,senorita. Come in and rest. My accrmimo-
dations are poor, but they are better than none. Come in,
senorita.”

No longer she feared to enter that forbidding aperture, but
led by Pedro, walked in. The mustang, seeing her mistress »
disappear, came slowly tOWard the entrance.

“ Why, what a dismal, gloomy plaCe,” said Kissie, timidly '
halting in the entrance. “ What is it—who lives here ?”

“ It is an old outlaw den,” replied Pedro. “ But, no out-
laws occupy it now—its only resident is your servant.” 

Much she marveled, but she did not ask any questions, as
she was faint from lack of nourishment. Pedro, for security’s
sake, led her into the second chamber, and shaking up the
tattered, musty blankets, bade her rest while he procured food,
he going out for the purpose. “

She reclined on the soft blankets, greatly surprised at the *
strange events in which she had participated. But she did
so unaccmnpanied by any feelings of alarm or of grief, for
now she had found a haven of rest.

She sunk into a dreamy dOZe, delicious for its being in-
dulged in perfect safety. She had heard of the man outside .1
--she was aware he Was a far-famed and respected smart and ;
warrior; she knew he would protect her. She could limit V
him in the next room stirring about, whistling under his ‘5.
breath, and the saVory odor of roasting meat floated to her 
nostrils. A lingering trace of uneasiness alonq remained—she I ..
knew her friends would be alarmed about her.  '

   

 

V ‘ ‘u.
. ‘ ‘ '

 

a

t

tr:

 

“ trance, looked out.

THE museum: on THE mm. cave. 48

g This latter feeling was not strong enough to seriously alarm l
her, as she conceived it an easy task for them to find her.

,i Mingling with it was a delicious sense of security and peace,
l of rest and nourishment, and the savory smell of the adjoin-

ing cookery. Gradually these blended into one feeling; Pe-

 dro’s whistle (outside became more melodious and softer—the
r dull, gloomy air of the dark apartment soothed her, and she
» fell asleep.

Pedro, as he cooked his bit of venison (he had killed an
antelope when on the Gila), reflected and pondered, and his
thoughts shaped themselves into words. -

“ She is asleep—I can hear her breathe. It is strange, very ;
strange, that she did not see it. It was no mistake of mine,
that I know. What, then, was it? The TrailerTs ghost.

“ Pshaw l I killed him a. year ago, and saw him fall dead
with my own eyes. It can not—it can not be.

“But I saw him. Ah, that is only too certain. Sitting on

1 his old black horse, under that Waving black plume,and in

the same old dress. I saw Him—I know I saw him.‘ Pedro
Felipe, there is no fighting away the fact—you are haunted.”

He shuddered, streng man as he was, and going to the en-
Still the hot breeze came from the south,

' V  still the hot sun stared down upon the yellow plain, still all

 

4.x

 

 was quiet. Only the mustang was in sight, browsing at a
' little distance, with his head turned toward the east.

"‘ I must lariat that mustang,” said Pedro. “There aretoo
many Indians about for him to show our retreat. Yes, I will
lariat him.”

' Perhaps one motive for doing so was, that going out he
might peer over the hill. He dreaded a scoond appearance
of the apparition, and though he would not acknowledge it
to himself, cordially feared it. It was not to his discretlit,\

'V, however. '

He took his lariat, or lasso, from his saddle, which lay on
the floor, the horse lying near. Then he stepped out, still

,  keeping one Corner of his eye toWard the summit of the hill.

. Suddenly he stopped.
“ What if she should awake and discover my treasure l” he

” thought, trembling for its safety, though he knew she was
;,perfectty to be trusted.

o

44 THE PHANTOM TRAILER; on,

It was lying in 8 Corner still, in the bag. He threw the r
water-bucket. a. blanket, and his saddle over it. _

" That will suffice for the present,” he said; then casting 
an eye toward the inner room, went out with his lariat.

The mustang still browsed, tail toward him. It was an
excellent opportunity for a capture, and he Would profit by it.
So, making a running-noose at one end, he coiled his lariar, 
and taking the coil in his hand, begun to swing it over his '
head. At the same lime he allowed the noose full play, by
this means increasing its siza‘until it became seVernl feet in
diainetcr. Such is the apparently simple manner of throwing
the lasso.

The noose became larger and wider, the amount of rope in
his hand became less; in another moment the noose Would
be over the animal’s head. .

It did not lea've his hand. Just before he had got ready
to let it fly, a voice close by said:

“ Aim well, Pedro Felipe.”

He started, dropped his rope, and stared round. He was
alone-«no one had spoken. Was it imagination i’——the mus-
tang still hroWsed—she had not heard it. It was a false .
alarm. . ,r _. y

Again he picked up his rope. Again the voice spoke, nah 
time harshly. " t

“ Take care, Pedro l" ' I

Dropping his rope, he flew to the summit and looked over "’, '
the plain. No one Was in sight—mo apparition, no Indian, 
no human being. .

Then with a pale face he darted toward the entrance, with
the ejaculated words:

“ The voice of the Trailer 1” . I

The trap-door rung harshly as he slammed it ’to from the ,. .
inside. The mustang heard the sound, tossed his-head. and ‘
gnllopm] away a short distanCe, then stopped and looked at
the hillock. "'- ,

It was hare—~nn one was in sight. Rent-Veda her sud.‘;f
den fear, she dropped her head and grazed again. The sunf’
slowly set over the Land of Silence. 5 "

Who spoke t"

The man with the black plume in his conical hat.

7 y...

y-.-
‘ 1

-._ .4. r

 

. x \ ..

 

THE masons. or mm mm. CAVE. 45 ,

(N

F‘ F a K “‘15.

CHAPTER VII.

H  y]

i

.- 5, THE pursuing band wound away over the plain, now, at
E‘ four hours from sunrise, invisible from the banks of the
Gila;
They were, as has been said, divided into two separate
. parties. That- of Cimerron Jack was in advance, the riders
‘. urging on their steeds at a swift amble. The wagons behind
, under charge of Burt Scranton, rattled along merrily, drawby
7 « horses kept at a slow trot. ‘
_‘ ' “ I say,” said Jack, as they trotted on, “ we are nearly into
 the Land of Silence, now, ain’t we ?"
9 l ‘ This remark was addresscd to the guide. He nodded.
' “ And now we’ve got to look out for Apaches.”
’ l ‘ a, “ No ’Pulchies hyur." 5
I  1“ Yes, there are."
I“ " I know hotter. Never come inter this kentry. Too dry.”
 "‘ Well, there are Apaches prowling about nowuthat I
5. know to he a fact."
I “ Know morc’n I do, then.”
w“ “ You bet I do. hooray! three cheers for the man who
1, f, can clean out a whole jail-full of prize-fighters; a tiger for
‘  the stoutest, smartest man in, the world. I can thrash a jnn-
7 gle-l‘ull" of gorillas, myself. I tell you. I’m the man that
,; can’t  fazed, myself; and i’m the cock of the walk.”
"<1 1. “ I’m sick of lhet durned braggin',” growled Simpson.
' “ Hee‘ifl‘no‘rthin’else sence I fust see'd yer."
: ‘ . “ And yotinre liable to continue hearing it, too.”
“ Dllrfi‘f’me ef I kuin’t slop it.”
“ Yes you min—with a big copper."
“ Well, I kin.”
“ Le’s see you try it.” '
“ Hark l” suddenly cried Carpenter. “ Was not that a
gunshot i'”
' The friendly disputants ceased their strife, and halting and

Wfi‘qm.

B

 

   
 

 

 

an,

46 m. mmouxv manna; on,

turning in their saddles, listened long and earnestly. The};

train was not in sight, having descended into a sort of dry
slough which ran across the plain.

“False alarm,” declared Simpson, turning to continue the
trail. But Cimarron Jack disagreed with him.

“Tim, I saw Apache Jack up by Comanche Rock, day be-
fore yesterday, and he Warned me of a hand of Apaches who
were out on a. maraud, down in this direction; What he
says is gospel."

“ Durned cf it ain’t !
dence in Apache Jack was unlimited.

“ The old boy was looking rather fazed,” continued Jack.
" He told me he had only just given them the slip, after a run
of thirty miles.”

“ Hark l” sharply commanded Mr. 'Wheeler.
heard agun behind.”

“I thonght I did, too,” said Sam.

A puff of white smoke arose from the crest of a small
knoll, half a league behind; then a man was seen to spring
on the summit and wave his hat frantically.

The eagle eye and electric brain of Cimarron Jack took in
the situation at once. He struck his steel spurs sharply into
the blood-bay’s flanks. “

“ Come on i" he shouted, galloping toward the gesticulating
man. “ There’s something wrong with the train. Come on i
follow the tiger-eat !" 9

They followed, pell-mell, plying the spur; As if cogni- ‘

zant of the importance of speed, the horses bent their heads
and fairly flew ; while their riders kept their eyes upon the
man on the knoll.

Suddenly he disappeared and a new object came in sight.

Afar ofi‘ on the plain, beyond the invisible train, came a man ‘

on a galloping animal. He was followed bymnother and
more, all shooting out from behind a distant ridge.
“ ’Patchees l" yelled Simpson. “ They air a-makin’ fur the
train 1” ' '
The guide was right.
knoll, and the Apaches were galloping toward it.

The train was halted behind the

‘ “the southeast.
\

i

y ALAA

I giv’ in,” said Simpson. His confl- .

“ I’m sure I e

5“ 

w They had 1 
evidenly been following the trail, as they were coming from ,

 

o t:


 

 

. -‘- -. v , ,. .._4_ .,. .
A. .3 1., h , m“.  
. [I '~ I '.

m 'rnrsom or run m1. cave. 147
“Hurry i” cried Sam. “ We will havedo fly to save the
train.” And as he spoke be bent over his ‘* clay-bank’s ”

neck as if to accelerate his ape .
The knoll was quite n ow, being not more than three

hundred yards distant. The coming savages were at least. a
mile away. The whites had the start. '

A minute more and they dashed up in a body to the
knoll.

I/was as they had expected ; the train was grouped- behind
it, every one being in hapless confusion with the exception of
Burt, who was loudly swearing at the utter disregard of his
orders by the tWO Robidoux. . s

Duncan was scuttling about among his tin dishes and
kettles in his wagon, trying to find his' favorite weapon—a
dull butcher-knife, with a blade like a hand-saw. The utmost
confusion prevailed.

However, the arrival of the main body in some digree
quieted the teatnsters and restored order. ‘ ’

Sudden‘y the coming Apaches, now about a half-mile dis-
tant, drew up tlcir mustangs, and grouping, stared keenly at
the train. They had Seen the horsemen suddenlyvarrive
to sustain the small band they were swooping down

, upon.

Cimurron Jutk was in his element. Taking, with the

i'characteristic ptomptness of a veteran Indian-tighter, ad-

vantage of their hesitation, he sprung fromrhis horse.
“ Now, fly ’round 1" he commanded. “ Stir your stumps,
u fellows l” ointin to the Canadians. “You Louis drive
yo g 7 1

’your team ahead ten feet I”

The man obeyed. qniettd by the magnetic influence which
Jack always po~sessed when in danger. '

“ New, Duncan—blast your nervous, excitable hide i drive
alongside Louis l” v

But Duncan paid no attention, searching, in anagony of

I haste, for his lost knife.—

Butt promptly performrd his task. The other. Canadian,
with more coolness than the Olhtl‘ drivers, seeing what was
desired, waited for no orders, but drove his Wagon in a line .

with the others.

“ Now all hands get to work and unhitch the horses. Don‘t

48 THE PHANTOM TRAILER; OR,

be in a hurry; buckles can’t be managed without coolness 7

and deliberation.

The men went to work w'th dispatch, yet coolly, and in a
few moments the horses were bed from the wagons.

“ Now, you drivers take the horses aside, and the rest of us
will draw the wagons together.”

The Canadians did as commanded, and the remainder drew

the wagons together; then the horses were tied firmly to the '

wheels on the side next the knoll. Now they were in

quite a snug and secure t'ort, with a barricade of wagons in 

front, and a small hill behind. '

After this short but highly necessary work was finished,
Cimarron Jack looked closely at his rifle, desiring the
others to do the same. He carefully reloaded his “Colt’s
six-shooters,” and laid them before him on the wheel-
hub.

“ Now, boys," he said, “we are in tolerable circumstances
for the present, but there is no knowing how long we will
remain so. Rot those cussed devils out there! there’s an army
. ot‘ ’etn t" 

I “ Fifteen,” corrected Simpson.

“ Fifteen to seven. Oh, that ain’t as bad as it might
be."

“ What a large ,fellow that is, yonder, to one side," ob-
served Carpenter, indicating a powerful, stalwart savage, pro-
minent among the rest. g .

“ Cheyenne," remarked the guide, taking a huge bite from
a “plug 0’ Navy,” which he always carried

“ Comanche l" corrected Jack. “ He’s no Apache—he
isn’t built .like one. Tear my lion’s heart out, but I believe I
know hint,” he suddenly added.

“Durned of I don’t, too i" declared Simpson, watching
him narrowly. -‘

“ It’s Red-Knife, the renegade."

“ K’rect l"

“ Who is he ‘3" inquired Mr. Wheeler. .

“ Red-Knife, the Comanche renegade—a notorious, murder-
ing old rut l” replied Jack. “ He’s the worst Indian on the
plains, and ‘ give up ’ is something he does not know. Kicked

7 1 WP.” _Y."‘nr

 

out of his own tribe he joined the Apaches, and since has i

' u

18

was:

930?

"L15; .1 .1.”

‘3

' 5“”.tj

 

 curveting.
" ter seeing his brother Ishmaelites wheel and curve about him

THE rmsomm on THE HILL CAVE. 49
gained a reputation for cruelty and cunning far above tiny of
the others.” .

“ We are in danger, then.”

“Danger! Well,I should remark. But look yonder-—
What in the name of Cimnrron Jack, the Cook of the walk,

 does that painted devil mean ?”

All eyes were turned at once toward the savages. Belare

3' stationary, they Were now prancing and caperinl,r about, spread-

ing like a bird’s wing, then folding again, ever prancing and
Only the chief, Rod-Knife, remained at rest. Af-

for smne time, he dismounted, cast his weapons on the ground
and slowly stalked toward the barricade. V

“ He‘s a fool!” whispered Burt to Sam, as he drew within
rifle-range. “ Fust thing he‘ll know, he‘ll find hisself dead, if

I ever Simpsnn or t’other draws head on him.”

H

“ He's going'to palaver, remarked Jack. _

The sumgc drew quite close, until he halted within long ‘
pistol-range. Then, spreading his arms and throwing buck
his head, he cried out: ‘

“ Are the pale-faces women, that they Seek to hide L Are
they coyotes, that they burrow when danger comes? Are
they fools, that they know not that Red-Knife is the chief of
the plains—that he is not to be foiled ‘3”

He spoke in the Spanish tongue will) a good tone and ac.
cent. Long intercourse with the Mexicans had improved his
tongue.

lle receiVed, no answer ; he went on. . .

“ Are the pale-faces dumb, that they do not reply? Ugh [
they are dogs." .

“ He thinks we are greasers—he does, by Cimarron Jack,
the god of war! Well, let him discover his mistake—he will
do so before long,” remarked Jack.

“ Le's pepper him, Jack,” said the guide.

“ No; let him talk. It he thinks we are Mexicans he will .
charge-ether: we will give him a little lead to digest.”
“ Will the pale faces surrender i“ cried the chief.

they yield 1’”

“ 0h, yer jist go back ter yer daubed fools, and quit yer

gab i" cried the guide. .

“ Will

50 m PHANTOM TRAILER; on,

Thé‘savage understood English slightly, and after some reg:
He started back a pace or I

flection, deciphered the Command.
so, somewhat taken aback by finding he was taunting Ameri
cans. Then he resumed, swaggering:

“ Come out from your hiding-place, Women !
men into the plain and talk to Red-Knife.

ards."

“ I‘ll put a stopper to his month i" declnred Jack, bending
and creeping through the wagons. Then, standing in full
view before the chief, he cried, brandishing his rifle :

“Get back to your howling crew, you Comanche renegade
dog! Get back, or I‘ll Send you in a hurry."

He spoke in the chief's own tongue, and he recognized
Jack. Knowing his deadly precision with the rifle, well so-
quainted with his reckless daring and warlike proclivities, he
prepared‘t‘o retreat to his Companions. But he could not re-
sist the temptation of another taunt.

“ SQuaw from the bitter river ” (Cimarron Fork), “,dog from
a dog’s conntry, coyote with a forked tongue—Red-Knife
will dance with his warriors and his braves around your
fire-stake. The squaws shull spit upon him, the pappooses
will pierce his flesh with darts, and the coyotes will tear his
flesh.”

He turned and fled, dodging and darting from side to side
to avoid Jack’s bullet, which he knew would speed after him.

 It did.

Enraged, Cimsrron Jack leveled his rifle and glanced over
the sights. The'gun helched its smoke and fire, the chief.
dodged atthe very moment, and the bullet razed the black
feather which nodded on his painted head, and sped harm-
lesst on.

The guide, Sam, and Burt also fired, but their bullets were

wild—the chief’s erratic and rapid motion rendered it almost -
‘ impossible to strike him. Running like a deer, he speedily
' regained his mustang and his band,and mounting, spoke

several hasty words to his clustered braves, gesticulating
wildly, ,

The next moment they separated—one band of seven start-

ing away toward the north, while the other, with the chief, ~ 

I.“ . r .v
“a . ' ' "'  '7

Come like g ,
He is a brave-—- 3
he has taken many scalps ; the whites are dogs and are cow— ' 

.‘n—

, . ..
at“? w «new. cs,“

 

.. {SA _.

 

um msom or rm; am. can. ‘81

‘ - rode west a few yards, and drawing as near as they dared,
rem: , halted, facing the whites. _
e or'qi “ Now it has come right down to business, and we'll have
eri  to lOok sharp," growled Jack.

 “ Why so—what is wrong ?” simply inquired Louis Rom-
lke :3; door.
h.  J nck glanced scornfully over him from head to foot.
.w. ‘i “ Have you any eyes in your head i" he asked, with curling

4'. A54 W‘s .

 

lip. “ If you have, just use ’em. Can’t you see they are going
to make a surround it" t V

Under his yellow hair, the Canadian’s face flushed, and he
scowled at. Jack.

" Use me more respectfully, or you may me 11;," box,

growled.

“ Dry up! You had better he atrifle more, respectful your-
self, or you will rue it. I am Cimarron Jack, the fellow, who
teaches grizzlies how to wrestle, collar-und-elbow; I am the'
fellow whtxcan hold a kicking mule by the off- hindfoot’. with
my thumb and little finger. I tell you, the man in the moon
doesn’t dare to make faces at me of a still night. He knows
I can shoot. mighty straight, he does."

5‘ Quit yer braggin’ and mind yer eye," admonished the
guide, surlily. “ It’s no time tei' brag, now.”

“ Yes, Cimarron Jack; pray do not breed discord at this
critical moment,” said Mr. Wheeler. “ See, the hill now
hides the savages from our view—the band that. rode away.”

“ Who‘s breeding discord, I’d like to know? I don't let;
any mule-whacker say boo, to me, I led you. However,

5

young bantam," turning to the driver, “ youvand I see more of. I ;

each other, mind that. For the present, there is too much

to look after to fool with you.”

‘ at

 

 

m PHANTOM TRAILER; on,

CHAPTER VIII
GIVE AND'TAKE.

CIMARBON JACK, with these words, turned his back to the
snlky Canadian, and carefully recounoitered the position of
the Indians. The chief's baud still remained drawn up in
line, facing them like soldiers on a dress-parade; the other
Was not in sight.

“ This won’t do,” remarked Jack. “ We must keep an eye
on those devils who rode round hack of us. First thing we
know the whole gang will Come whooping on us. That ’11
,2. never do—we must keep them off."

“ But how are we going to do that i” inquired the Canaa',‘

dian.

Jack became nettled. .

“ Why, peep over the top of the hill, to be sure.”

“ But they will shoot us—Rcd Kuit’e’s hand.”

*‘ Oh, they will try? I know I’m the crack shot of these
plains, and Ican’t hit a num three quarters of a mile off
with a carbine that. won‘t kill at three hundred yards. They

darsn't come within half a mile to shoot, so we are safe from:

that quarter. There‘s no time to he lost; those red t0ols
may he crawling up the other side of the hill [or all we
know.”

So saying, he coolly left the wagons, and deliherately
Walked up the hillside. He was greeted with a volley from
fled-Knifes band, but the bullets fell far short; the short
Mexican carbines were useless at long range.

He slackened his pace as he drew near the summit, and
dropping on all-fours, crept up to the top, and peered
quickly but cautiously over. Then, with a. short oath, he
4 rose to his feet, and with a surprised look gazed over the
j plain. ,

‘ “ What is it, Jack ?" demanded the guide.
A ..f‘.'l‘ear my ten-ton heart out if there’s an Apache in sight
'  this side.” ’

“1;, ~14; ‘ '-
-'-‘ Wain-c

«1" «no. :

 

IVW .,

  

u T‘

u 1‘

‘ If” “eve

Th

 i; The

enol'
dish

1
sidt

t

for

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
  
 

 

 

 

 

     

s

 
  
 

ma Parson}: or THE-HILL drum. ,6"

4‘ “ That so ?”

“ It‘s a fact. Come up here and see, if you don’t be-
’ " . lieve it."

‘ ' The guide grasped his rifle and started toward the summit.

- The rest followed.
‘ Stay back, every one i" commanded Jack. “Two’s

enough up here. You stay back and keep the renegade at a
distance."

"'9 *5' They obeyed, and Simpson mounted the hill and stood be-
?”  side Jack. .
In “Thom yer said yer kedn’t see nuthin'?” remarked the,

“ So I did, and you can’t either.”
ye A “ Kin, too.”
’0 ii “ Where ?”
u : “ Yonder. See thet black speck movin’ ’long toward the
I . V east, a hundred yards ter the right i’" p' f
'~ I “ Yes."
‘ “That's an Apashe’s top-knot, an' he‘s skulkin’ along mt
arroyo." ‘ '
“ Simpson, you always did have sharp eyes."
The guide waived the compliment .quietly, and ‘ re-
sumed: ’
“Arroyo bends ter the right; jest thnr, an’ every one 0’
them red devils is a-crawlin’ round ier sneak in ter us. Call V
the men hyar an’ giv’ ’em a volley when they come in sight.
We kin pick off the lot.” —
The men were called just in time. Just as the savages-1
g rounded the bend and arrived in full view each_man chose a’
s  savage and all fired simultaneously. They were all good shots,
and the effect Was marked. '
Fivo of the seven Apaches threw up their arms and with».
loud cries reeled and fell dead. The other two went back into
the arroyo like rabbits.
“ Well done i" cried Jack. “ Hallo! look out-ther‘o“
' " comes Red-Knife. Pull your revolvers and don’t shoot too.” .
quick. Get under crwer liver now.” ’ '

m“  former.
l

     
 

 

it

.1 They rushed down the hill again, and crept behind that; ,f
. '1 wagons. Red-Knife had seen the fatal volley and defeat of .
m ‘- his men and was frenzied with rage. At the head of the I

 

'1‘“ PHANTOM TRAILER; OR,

7!!

whooping, screeching pack he rode, intent upon a suddenk‘f'

'charge while they were exposed.

“ Load your guns, men I” cried Jack. “ Don‘t be in a
hurry—there’s plenty of time. Hurrah ! we are the cocks of
the walk, the men that can't he beat."

The two parties were equally matched now, the savages  '

only numbering onepiore than the whites. But this did not
deter Red-Knife from making a charge. He had liVed long
with the Whites and had partially avoided his savage style of
warfare for that of the white men.

0n the yelling pack dashed, screaming hideously and rend-

4-

ing the air with their shrill whoops. The men behind the '

wagons lay quiet, and having all reloaded, sighted across their
long rifles, coolly. Now that they were staring dread danger
in the lace, the cook,Kit Duncan, was cool and determined,
having thrown aside the nervous apprehension with which he
had been afflicted at the approach of the savages. He had.
killed his man, too, in the arroyo, and Jack regained confi-
dence in him. _

Suddenly the approaching pack divided, part going to the
right; and part to the left, swerving by, beyond sure rifle aim.
Never apparently noticing their enemies, they rode on at a.
keen run until they had half completed the circuit of the camp.

“By thunder l" shouted Simpson. “ Climb inter the
‘w’agons, boys —theygair goin’ ter fire crisscross."

“A cross-tirel” ejaculated Jack. “Pile into the wagons,

' boys—lively now.”

He was already half-way into the nearest wagon. The
men stopped not to reflect—they knew that under a cross-
fire they would scon be cut to pieCes, and helter-skelter they
scrambled, each into the nearest wagon.

As it happened, the guide and Sam were in the same
wagon with Cimarron Jack. In the next, and center one,
were the remainder, huddled in the bottom, to e~cape the
bullets which would easily pierce the canvas cap-tent“

“ Blast it! the horses will git shot—every blamed one of
t’emg" declared Simpson, in disgust. “ They’ve got a fair,

. aquarg aim at ’em—rot their red hides. Cuss an lnjuu, any-

bow- That’s no kuow'in’ what they’ll do, nor when they'll
do it." _ .

 

 

 

 

 

    

.

\

      
  
 
   

m ’rm‘sonmn ‘or run: HILL CAVE. '55

 
 

xi  C *A rejoinder was made in the shape of a bullet which “ sung ”

f: iathrough the Wagon-cover just above his Feud ; he dodged, and
a y: is'growled, “ Lucky We ain’t outside now.”

of in “ It is, indeed,” rejoined Sam; “ very fortunate. We should

' -._ have thought of this contingency.”

    
   

     
   

  
   

es ,: a: It was a singular OVersight. In the manner in which the
0‘  {Wagons were placed, a sort of lane was formed by them (ind
'8  the supporting knoll. The savages, at opposite sides, could
’f  bring to hear a heavy cross fire through the lane; they were

   

:i, doing it now, hence the whites‘ alarm.
_ 1" For a few moments a. perfect hailstorm of bullets rattled ‘
 against the Wagons, but no one was struck; then they ceased ' W ‘
4 to bury themselves in the woodwork.
 “They‘ve emptied their barrels,” Jack said, with a con-
'_ temptuous smile. “The more fools they—now just stick your
 heads out, boys, and pepper ’em while they can’t return it 1”
 he added, in a‘ loud voice.
“ Le’s both go fur Red-Knife,” whispered the guide.
.“ Ay: We Can’t hoth miss him.”
Hastin throwing up the wagon-cover, they took a quick
aim and tired. However, the wily savage saw the movement,
and slipping behind his mustang, eluded the bullets, which, '
.; close together, whistlt-d through the air where his body had
i» been but a moment before. A shrill' yell of derision came.‘
' from his lips as he peered over the sleed’s back at the foiled
‘1 ‘ scouts. Jack swore roundly. _
Sam had also fired at a tall savage, but had been foiled-in
the same manner. The ones in the other Wagon, however, ‘,
 had succeeded in bringing one dusky devil to the dust. New
I  they were exactly equal. -
’l‘hey durst not peep from the Wagons lest they might prove
a good mark for an Apache rifle. However, Simpson soon’
,- bethought himself of a simple plan by which they might ea-
‘ sily reduce their enemies’ number. Drawing his knife he cut.
a slit in the canvas wagon-Cover, then ,two more for his cont-
panions; then called out to the occupants of the other wagon
to do the same. Now they could protrude their rifles,-and .
with a good aim and a simultaneous volley might lessen their,
,V " enemies by one-half. _ a
.7 :9 The plan would have been successful had. not the chief

 
 
      
   
   
   
   
   
 
     
   
    
   
    
    
   
   
   
    
    
    
      
       
      

a

 
 

\.
56 THE PHANTOH TRAILER; on,

suddenly suspected something. Making a signal, he-began  _
move away. However, he was a little too dilatory. Just ; ~ 
he was getting into long rifle-range, the guide and his com ' I
pnnions discharged their pieces, the others doing the same a. 
the other hand. "

that of a short, malicious warrior who rolled from his horse l
dead. Another struck Red Knife in the leg, they could tell' I.
as he twitched it suddenly, then clapped his hand upon it. ‘
yell from the other band caused them to IOok tow-it'd it.
gaunt, tall savage started up in his saddle, gazed wildly roun f
for a moment, then his mustang galloped away, riderleSS; 
two savages the less. 
It was now high noon, and the sun’s rays poured down“
like molten lead on the white covers of the wagons. Out." ’
side, tlte horses, who were unharmed, (the Indians having." 3
thought to secure thefl alive) protruded their tongues antli 1"
nickered low and pleadineg for a taste of the water-butt.”~.‘
The men, too, manger the warm and tepid water, were sutfer-s ’
ing with the intense heat. The very air seemed as if a hur-rv“
ricnue from a baker's oven was brewing. The wood-Work, 
Was hlistered and parched; and still the sun shone redly, still" 
the men S\\'t:llcl't't.l and watched, still the savages, drawn up in ‘7
line. watched the wagons under the knoll. I,
The day wore on. Vultures wheeled above, now drawn 
hither by the sounds of strife; coyotes skulked and snifi'ed 
the air at a. safe distance; and still the sun shone down hotly-- '
upon the two hostile bands. ~ f ‘
Suddenly the savages rode hack to their former positionf"
and clustering together, gesticulated energetically. The whites ‘ ‘5
could not hear, but knew they were engaged in a discussion; -'
Only a few moments they talked and gestured, then they ' L
turned their mustangs‘ heads to the south-west. >
Dismonnting,r from his mustang, Red-Knife stalked toward 
the whites for a few rods; then he cried : _. _
“ The Red-Knife is a brave—he seeks not to war with dogs: 
and cowards. The sounds of war Come front the south; ,
there will the Comanche go to war with braves—he leaves,
pale-face dogs to their own cowardly deeds. The Red-Knife ,
 has spoken.” '

 

    
 

THE 23:30st  has 1min CAVE. ' "N 5'?“

   

, A Cimarron Jack sprung out of the wagon into the open
lain. The chief recognized him.

“ Dog from the bitter river 2” he cried, with an insulting
estnre; "coward of a Coyote, squaw, sneak, the Red-Knife
I anghs at you.” I
I “ I‘m Cimarron Jack, the grizzly-tamer! I‘m the man that
il-led rcock-robinl I’m the jumping wild-cat from Bitter
Ireeki I’m the man that can run faster '1) a jack rabbit,
Wear more than a camp-cook, neigh more than an elephant,
' Vnd kill thieving Indians like the small-pox. I'm the Grand
A h ngul of Tartary, and i’m the cock of the walk.”

‘ The chief turned, stalked hack to his steed. mounted, and
' rode away with his band toward the south ; clustered together,
gt‘iding swiftly. K
_ i' The men came out from the wagons, and, standing on the
" blah], watched the Indians as they swiftly receded, wonder-
.  ug-
. i It was‘no sham, no strategy; they were actually going;'
,1 :and, in the course of an hour, were lost in the distance.
_‘ “ I say, Simpson, what does all this mean ‘3” inquired Mr.
f‘ li'Whet-ler.

’I-r' “Dunno!”

“ Haven’t you any idea '3” asked Sam.

“ No.”

“ I have—n pretty sure one,” replied Jack.

“ \tht is it 1’”

“You know Apache Jack told me the other day, at Go-
manche Creek, that thirty Apaches chased him thirty miles
9r more ‘1‘”
“ Yes."

a “ Well, he said Red-Knife was the chief of the hand. Now
“the skunk had only fourteen here besides himself—-fifteen in
all. That shows there has been a division for Some reason or
ether. Now he’s bound south to fetch the hulk of the band
‘1 help him. He will be back in twenty hours, depend upon ‘
:‘t—then look out." _ .
~ ,“I think you are wrong," said Burt Scranton. “ If Red- '
I; nife was goin’ ter fetch the rest of his gang, he'd. leave some '
“ue hyar tor keep an eye on us.” - .,
“Jest whar you‘re wrong,” declared Simpson. “ We leave  i“ V

      
   
        
        
     
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
      
   

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\
A.

< w

.v r
r

abig trail. behind us—J tell you. It’ll be mighty easy fu ,
him ter fuller it. He takes his hull gangr ter make us b’llevq; ,
he’s gone for good—the old badger. But I b'lieve we kin 7
outwit him yet." ' ‘

“flow?” was the general question.

“Jest this ‘ere way : ’bout ten miles north is a bigger hill
nor this—a hill kivered with loose rocks. Thar‘s a devilish
peart place ter make a stand thar—and it's only three miles ,
from the sweetest water yer ever tasted—Alkali Creek. It’s what'- 

them fellch that think they know so much when they don’t  t

know nuthin’-—-book-writers—call asubter~rnin again stream.”
“ Subterramean,” Corrected Sam. “ Alkali Creek does not,
by its name, give any great promise.” 
“ Wu], thar's good water thar; it ain’t very cold, but it’s - '--
BWPet, an‘ that‘s the main thing.” ‘ ’ ‘

“ I believe we Would make a strike by going,” added Cim- v 

arron Jack. “I know the hill—it is a strange place. Men {
have been seen to ride up to it, and suddenly disappear, and

all efforts to find them have been useless. However, for a A, 
year there’s been nothing wrong about it, and I, to:- one, move  -'
we go as quick as we can. The sun is only three or four ‘f 1'
hours biuh, and time is scarce. Besides we may find the _,“‘

young Miss there.” a

Mr. Wheeler groaned, and Carpenter looked gloomy, but
they both agreed with Jack. Of course, the rest. were bound '
to follow them.

The hasty resolve was soon put in execution. The horses
were watered from the butt, and attached to the Wagons; the
drivers mounted their saddles, and the horsemen trotted away,
past the ghastly red bodies, past the Coyotes, under the wheel-
ing vultures, bound for the Hillock. ‘

 

  
 

   

 

   

   

mi firm m m “have.

 
  

CHAPTER IX.

eons—eons l

 
    
   

ON that same afternoon, and about sunset or a little later,
" Pedro was eating a frugal supper in the hollow hilloek with
' s Kissie. - s

Both were downcast. She, on account of her friends, was
 uneasy and sad, while he was still experiencing the fear of
. dealing with something not of this world. The mysterious
. -' Voice he knew so well of old, that terrible form he had seen,
still haunted him. And more; the sudden disappearance of
the apparition highly alarmed him and kept his nerVes strung
to the highest tension, and he expected every moment to see

  
       
      
       
   
   
   
     
    

d ‘  V it stalk in upon him.

a 1'  But he kept his own counsel and did not further alarm and
e '3' annoy his companion by relating the incident.

I.  The supper was plain—the» remnants of a venison dinner
,1 , and some dried meat which Pedro carried in his haversack.

   

The torch threw’a feeble, flickering light o‘er the glotmiy , I
apartment ; an insect droned a funeral dirg‘e‘cloae by in home " ' ""1
cranny ; the horse close by stamped and 'chewed his" grain,
and the sound of the mustang’s hoofs outside were dull and
‘ heavy; night was drawing on. _ ~ ‘ 5
:3 “ Hist, senorita 1” Pedro suddenly whispered, with uplifted
' hand. “Surely I heard a voice.”
They listened; all Was quiet.

« ' They were about resuming their meal when the mustang
f 'outside snorted and galloped away; something had alarmed
5’4 her?-
" “ Something is at hand,” said Pedro. “ Stay here, senorita,
while I peep out. Do not he alarmed—J will not leave-you.”
t .“ Oh, I pray it is‘my father—pray God it is," she replied,
with a lightened heart.

i Perhaps it is—I hope so, senorita. But I must gov! am
sure I hear the voice again." , .

Though inwardly quaking, Pedro‘s exterior was enol, inlé'
possible—his features betrayed no fear. Though never

   
 
   
   
     
   
   
   
   
     
     
   
   
   
     
    

60 m PHANTOM TRAILER; on,

doubting that if he looked out he should again see the fearful

apparition, he picked up his gun‘and squeezing through the

interior passage, stalked to the door and peeped out. '

“ Hello! thar‘s her mustnng,”~ he heardit strange voice say,
and a moment later Several men rode round the hill. He
Was relieved at finding,r they Were flesh and blood, and not his
ghastly enemy, and using his eyes sharply, scanned them.

They Were three in number. One, a middle aged man
with a eareworn expression and haggard face Was drearily
peering round about him. Close beside him, on n " clay-
bank " horse, sat a hantl~ome young man, speaking to him in
a. low lone, evidently endeaVoring to cheer him. The third
was a. burly, stout man, on n powerful “ States horse.” The
reader is well aWare who they are—the party of searchers.

Bit Pedro did not know them, and though strongly sus-
pecting their identity, was not the man to trust to appearimCes
or jump at conclusions. He resitlved to wait and watch.

“Here Comes the guide and Citnarron Jack," remarked
Carpenter, pointing oVer the plain. “ And the wagons are at
hand, tun; we will soon be strongly encamped.”

Mr. Wheeler mitde no rejoinder save a sigh.

By the gaze of histwo con t'ttdcs, Pedro judged the guide
and Cimarron Jaek were at. hand. The latter he had ofieri
heard'of, hut had never seen. [Us supposition proved oor-
reCI; a rattle of wheels was heard, three white-capped wu-
gons rounded the hill and drew up by the three horsemen,
and simultaneously two men came round .the opposite side,
mounted, the one on a mustang" and the other on a powerful

* deep-hay.

Though the twilight had almost given place to night, yet
Pedro rc-Cognized the former of the tWo horsemen—the guide.
His heart leaped at the sight, for joy. Many were the data-
gers he had faCed with ‘ the weatherheaten guide, many were
the hardships they together had endured, closely-knit were
the bonds of‘ mutual like and esteem; and Pedro with joy
gaZed upon his Companion of yore.

His first. impulse was to rush out and grasp his old “ pard-

rner” by the hand; but a second thought changed his mind.
“ They might become alarmed and shoot me,” he reflected,
“I will make myself known.

    
   

 

 
 

 

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fly,
He
ris

 sure—I don’t know all of those men; there might be a knave
among them.”

   

THE rmsqnm: on- ujma: mm. cam .61
¢*

  

“But stay,” he resumed. “ I might as well see to my tree-

 
 

 
 

The precious bag still lay covered with the saddle, the wa-
ter-bucket and the blankets.

He had dug the gold from a hole close by.’ It was not re-
filled,1md taking the bag he placed it in its former hiding-
place and then threw the concealing articles UVCI’ it; for the

 
   
     
   
    

present, they were safe.

"l‘hen going to the closed trap-door he placed his lips to a
chink, and whispered: “ Tim Simpson.”

Intending to give Kissie a glad surprise, he lowered his
voice so she could not hear him from the other chamber.

f‘ What’s wanted?” growled the guide, supposing'one of
He received no rejoinder. .Pedro

 
   
     
   
 
   

his party was the speaker.
whispered again.
“ SnnpSnn—old friend.”
“ Well; spit it eoul !" sharply spoke the guide.
whisper, ‘ SimpSon,’ all day.
“ Who spoke 2’” asked Burt.
“ Dunno."
“ I heard a whisper.” said Jack.
_ “ So did I; and I," added several. 1
“ Didn‘t any 0‘ yer fellers speak tcr me ?” K 4 
“ Nil—n0."
“ Durned cur’ous. I heerd a whisper, sartln."
“ So did all of us,” said Sam.
Pedro spoke a trifle louder.

“ SimpSon, here I ant—Pedro Felipe,” and he boldly
emerged from the hill. - '
Astounded, the party started back, then leveled their guns,
believing him immortal, his appearance was so sudden and un-
expected. Pedro, seeing his danger, dropped prone to the
earth. He was not too soon, for, staggered and alarmed,
several fired at. him; but his presence of mind saved his

‘ life. ‘ ‘
Rushing rapidly to SimpSon, he sprung behind his mustang
to avoid being shot, as several guns were aimed at’him. V

“ Simpson—have you forgotten me ? I am your old friend,‘

Pedro.”

 
 
   

“ Don’t

 
 
      
   
   
   
         
     
   
   
   
   
   
         
    
       

     
  

'\

“ mm PHANTOM TRAILER; on,

  
 

The guide recognized him and sprung from his mustang: 
He was too old a 'hunter and guide to remain surprised tor .
any length of time.

“Gee-whiz !" he cried, scrambling about in a. mad wrestle?
with the Mexican. “Durn yer old greaser soul! gee-mini,
cry~minil Hooray ! dog-gon me ef it ain't Pedro l” -

The rifles were lowered and the horsemen stared aghast.

   
 
        
   
   
   
   
     
   
   
   
   
     
     
     
   
   
   
     
     
        
     
       
    
     
   
 
    
 

Surprised, astounded, they sat wondering, neither stirring or « ‘. 
speaking. Meanwhile the American and Mexican scrambled inqm:
about in their wild and friendly wrestle, overwhelming each,  ‘
other with their joyful buffets, and light hugs. To a stranger _
it would have Seemed a struggle of death as the guide cursed :, am
roundly and bestowed epithets without number upon his long- -‘ 
absent friend, many too coarse, even foul, to he presented  ca
here. ' >

At last, from sheer inability to further continue, they re-
laxed their clutches, and drawing hack a pace, stood looking 0f
the other over from head to foot—they were rare friends. In

“Cimarron Jack,” said the guide, "here’s the sharpest,
’cutest, patientest man in the kentry. Durn yer hraggin’ eyes, 

git off of yer boss and greet him.”

“ Pedro Felipe !” cried Jack, dismounting, “ you are a greas-

er, but a first-class fellow I‘ve heard. Shake the vice of the
, cock of the walk and the terror of the grizzlies. Put your
hand there, you villain."

“ Cimarron Jack, I, too, have heard of you frequently, as a
boasting, vaunting krntve,.,witlt more tongue than strength or
brains. I hope you will die with your boots on," replied Pe-
dro, shaking his hand cordially. That introduction would
be considered formal and cold a few miles north West—in
California, where eVery man greets a stranger with an oath
and an evident insult. However, these two men were polite.
and gentlemanly, and either would have regarded as an insult
any more polite greeting. .

“ Where did you eotne from, Pedro ?" asked Jack. “Darn
me, I was scared—I was for a fact.” ,

“ Out of the hill yonder.” ‘

“ Glory hallelujurrum ! thereis a hole. What in the name
of Cimarron Jack the thoroughbred from Bitter Creek, were

you doing in there 1’” ‘

   

 
  
  
  
   
   
  
 
 
 
 
    
  
 
 
 
 
    
  
 
 
 
 
 
  

 

.

  

TIE. IRISONER OF THE HILL GAVE.

Pedro pointed to the;,mustang, Dimple, grazing at a dis-
ce. “ Do you .see that mustang?" he asked. ,
Mr. Wheeler sprung from his horse, followed by Sam and

131,111. ' Rushing to Pedro he cried, seizing him by the shoul—
,der: '

“For God‘s sake, where is my daughter? Tell me, sir,

i  quickly 1"

Pedro Was a man of few words. In answer, he pointed

 quietly to the dark aperture in the hillside.

“ Where? I do not see her. Sir, you joke with me.”

“ No he don't, nuther,” surlily put in the guide.
ain‘t that kind of a man, let me tell yer.”

“ Perhaps he means there is a cave in the hill,” suggested

u He

, Carpenter.

“ Just so, senor; she is there.”
They stopped not to parley, or to demand an explanation
of his sudden appearance. albeit they were greatly surprised;

7 but one and all dismounting, rushed to the cave entrance.

But Pedro, suddenly alarmed for his treasure’s safety, sprung
before the hole. Drawing his beautiful dagger, he cried,

‘ hoarsel y :

“ Stand backl back! you shall not enter.”
“ But we will i" shouted Carpenter, rushing at him menaco,

«ingly. The guide put out his foot and dexterously tripped

him.
“ And, by Judas, yer won‘t go in ct he sez not ter 1" 'he
growled, placing himself beside Pedro, and cocking his rifle.
“ Pedro's my friend, and 1’” stan’ by him ef I hev ter‘desert ,
the gang ter do it. Jest count me in, Pedro.”

“ Let me go in—-stand away i" cried Mr. Wheeler, wildly. .

" I must go in.” - ‘
The guide put him back with his hands. “Mr. Wheeler,

' fur the present yer ’r my boss, and a durned good one yer ’ve

be’n, too; hot, Pedro an’ me swnre ter allus stick to one
another, and I‘ll stick ter him, and fight the party I’m a mem.
ber of—tlmt’s Simpson, the guide.”

V“ Oh, thunder, Simpson 1 what's the use of 'keeping a man
in suspense? I’m disgusted with you, for a fact.” ~

“. Cimarron Jack, you an’ me hev run tergether consider.
able, but I’ll stick to: Pedro, yer may jest bewer bottom donut

    
  

 

  

 
 

   

64 ‘ TEE PHANTOM TRAILER; on,

 

on it! He sez her shain’t go in, and I’ll back every dume
thing he says. " Ef yer don’t like it yer (tan lump it 1” , -.
Cimarron Jack grew red in the face, and his eyes sparkled
Pedro, knowing a quarrel between these two men would l'esul: ,
in the‘death of one or both of them, hastily said: ;
“ Don’t quarrel—keep c0ol ! I’m willing every one should _
go in-—[ aureven anxious; but 1 must go in first. That is,
the reason I kept you haek.” '
“ Wal. why ’11 thunder don’t ye go in, then i” demanded
Burt. “'l‘har’s no use in talkin’ all day, is thar? the old
gentleman Wants ter see his darter—kain’t yer let: him in ‘3"

 

  

 

 

  
 
   
 
    
  
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pedro sheathed his dagger, and saying: _ A

“ Certainly—come in,” sprung over the small pit in which  _ “
his treasure was hidden. Then, knowing such a procedure 1‘ ’ [1185
would attract attention, he stepped aside. The», men tiled 3': '1
quickly in, leaving their horses outside unwatched, and stood . ' l
blinking in the double twilight inside. . A ’a hrct

“ Christina—Kissie i” cried Mr. Wheeler. “My child, ‘ flut
where are you 7" ' "

There was silence for a moment. Pedro expected to see .
Kissie glide gladly from the inner chamber into her father’s -~ - art
arms; but she did not appear. ’ th

“ Strange,” he thought. “ Is it possible she is sleeping ?”

“ Well--where is she ‘2” impatiently demanded Carpenter. in

“ She is in the inner apartment; I was thinking she would
come at the sonnl of her father's voice.”

“ Where is the inner apartment? lead us there 1" clamorcd g
the men. Pedro, leaving his treasure, reluctantly Stalked " e

 

 

toward the narrow passage. They folloWed eagerly, pressing
Close upoa him. He slipped through and found the torch
was extinguished.

“ Ha. l” he ejaculated.

‘f What’s up ‘3” whispered Simpson, in his ear. “Curse
. this black hole—it’s dark as a pocket l"

“ Where is she? now you have brought us here, where, is
she? Strike 8. light! a lightl Kissie—Kissic " cried Mr.
Wheeler. They listened. No ansWei-ing Voice sounded, int)
Bound was hetrd; deathlike stillness, and damp, thick air
brooded round.

“Sirs, there is ‘something very strange in this,” hollowly

 

 

 
 
 
 
 
  
  
 

    
 

 
    

' THE PRISONER OF THE HILL CAY'E. 65

  
 

whispered Pedro. “I left her here not fifteen minutes since.
he ltorch is where I left it—my hand is upon it; I'- will
trike‘a light.”

The torch flamed redly out as Pedro, waving'it aloft,
' eered round the chamber. 1
He could not see her. With the men strangely affected
by Sonic unknown influence, with their weapons drawn, he
walked slowly about the narrow chamber, making the entire
. cirCuit without success.

“ Senors,” and his Voice, they could perceive, was hollow
and quivering—“ there have been ugly and strange happen-
'- _ings here, to-day. She is not here."

7 All was silence. _

“ There is still the first chamber—she may be there; we

' v may have missed her; sirs, this way.”

They followed.

1 , In the first chamber again. The torch flickers in the

*7 breeze as they walk slowly about after it—a mysterious in-

- V fluence is upon all. ’

“ Sirs—svnors—she is not here.”

_. All is quiet and the torch flul‘t‘s redly. The horses outside
' are silent—they never stamp, the night breeze is (lamp, and

. thevtorch flickers and flares; all is quiet in the Land of Silence

, A hollow voice is heard; it is Pedro’s; he speaks almost

, in a whisper. I

V' ‘-‘ Seuors—sits—let us go outside.”

He stalks away. They follow in utter silence; even the
guide and the ranger are under a strange influence. They

' emerge into the Open air. . .

Pedro, the guide and Cimarrou J:le stood on the summit
of the hill and peered round in the darkness. The twilight
had given place to night, yet they could See some distance,
the atmosphere was so clear. The horses stood as if statues,
motionless; the mustang was out on the plain, but she was
no longer browsing ; on the Contrary, she at intervals tossed
her head and stantpcdt—slle Was uneasy.

The guide and the hmger went slowly down the hill, with
subdued {net-s, into the throng below. Pedro remained above
with his torch. I

The mustang now trotted toward him, snorting and tow

    
  

   
      
       
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
       
     
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
       

O

‘ .

06 um PHANTOM TRAILER; on,

ing her mane; he watched her, flaring the torch for a bette "
view. ,
Suddenly she screamed shrilly and galloped rapidly away. W '

At the same instant Pedro saw a form approaching. Ile. '

waved the torch: .‘ I.
The form drew near, and he perceived it was thatof a  

Colossal horseman. IIe slightly stooped and held his torch I
aloft. He drew nearer, and strangely his horse's feet gave out ~ "

no sound. The men below were on the opposite side of the hill. .
Suddenly the horseman loomed up as if by magic, and ' ,
Pedro, with a wild cry, started to his feet. The horseman .

wheeled and was riding away at a. gallop into the darkness— ' 5

in thirty seconds he was invisible. Pedro for a moment stood -
stupefie'd, and no Wonder, for in that colossal form, on the T

powerful black horse, under the coniCal hat. with a black 3 It

plume, rode the Trailer.

For a moment only he stood semi-paralyzed, then, with a ‘
wild cry, and waving his torch, he, sprung down the hill. j“;
Into the aperture he went, and with trembling, eager hands
tore away the coverings of his treasure.

Off came the saddle, then the water bucket, aside went the
blankets, and his arm plunged into the hole.

Standing in the entrancc, they saw him rise, reel, stagger,
and fall directly under his horse’s hoofs with awwild cry, and
a brief, hoarser yelled sentence. Then Pedro fainted, with
the echo of his cry ringing and dying through the gloomy
cavern :

“ Gone—gouc—all gone 1”

They rushed in and lifted him up, the guide first. Taking
him tenderly in his arms, he held the torch to his face; then
he laid him gently down; then he shook his head slowly;
'then, with every muscle, feature and lineament of his face
showing his earnestness, with wild eyes, with voice trembling .
and hollow in spite of himself, he said:

“Gentlemen, thar‘s suthin’ wrong ’bout this cursed, ugly
black hill ; the strongest, coolest, bravest man in' the world . '
has fainted clean away—~dead away I”

“ And the girl—where is she f—she is gone," muttered
Cimarron Jack.

“ She is gone—gone l”

 

 
 

'rrm 2313013311 or was um CAVE.

 
  

CHAPTER X.

WORSE YET.

   
  

 
  
  

, a THE guide, lifting the torch, looked round on a small band
‘ 501' vaguely-frightened, nervous tnen. Why shottld they be
. {frightened—why nervous? Nearly all Were accustomed to
» fillob-nob with Nature in her strangest and most incomprehensi-
'j fible moods—were accustomed to sudden surprises and alarms,
-ft.§nd all were endowed with at least ordinary courage and
1: g“ nerve.”

A I The secret of this alarm was this—they all had hen/r11 that

       
   

   
 
 
 
    

  
 
    

a . 3a once feared and malignant. robber, who had been dead a
ll. '7: ."year, was roaming nocturnally ahout the Land of Silence.
is j  -K‘n0wing him to be dead, they were satisfied it was his ghost.

 
 

"- ii‘.}All men have‘at leasta small amount of superstition innate-
" these were no exception. The, guide had recounted his strange
j; meeting with the rubber, and had been implicitly believed, as
"this manner when relating it .was not that. of one who would
‘ - joke offalsely speak. Having never seen him they were af-
. , fected by the guide‘s mistrust and vague fear. and by the
sudden, strange, and real disappearance of Kissie. They
never doubted she had been an occupant of the cave——wns
nether mustangjust without? Then if she had not, Pedro
never would have voluntarily shown himself if he had wished

. to keep her~ concealed. It was only too plain she had been

 there and had disappeared. ' '

" They would have been more alarmed had they seen what
Pedro had seen-Lhad they known what he knew ;’ it Was bet-
ter they did not—far hetter.

Darkness reigned over the Land of Silence; the hill with
its adjacent horses and wagOns—with its inner, half-scared

_ occupants, lay still as the cm] breeze swept over it ; only the

.' ;_ mustang on the prairie quietly hrowsing made a faint noise

 as she cropped the short and wiry bunch~grass here and
"‘ there—all was quiet in the vast desert, as the night waited

on toward midnight.

 
 
    
   
 

  

‘I'l-u..-

        
     
   
   
   
   
   
   
     

 
   
        

68 THE PHANTOM TRAILER; on,

Nine o‘clock. Now Pedro was sitting up, supported b
the faithful guide, and plied and harassed with questions 5
chose not to answer. He told of Kissie‘s appearance at th
cave, of his Conversation with her, of the way in which sh
had occupied herself during the time she had been with him.‘ '2

of the last he saw of her, where she was and what she .

was doing; but why he came, when he arrivedI what he tar-' 3
ried for, and what he had seen, he refused to tell. lIe wan 5
firm and decided, though his nerves were shaken eon" “
Bidet'ably. a I

‘Mr. Wheeler was overwhelmed and in a semi-stupor, and. I

Carpenter was alarmed for his health. After being so man i

his loved daughter, after almost touching her and being

within ear-shot, the shock of the sudden disappearance had ' I.

unmanned him, and he had sunk into a state of imbecility.

Carpenter, loving Kissie and grieving for her, was more in
a state to appreciate his sufl'erings than any one else, and did '
his best to comfort him, being assisted in a rude manner by
the faithful Burt Scranton. But if he heard their words of
comfort he did not reply—sitting motionless he gt'ieVed alone.
The night wore on. , g 

Ten o‘clock. The group was gloomy and quiet, each one
sitting or lying on the ground, some smoking, others chewing,
and all reserved and moody. No Watch outside had been Set,
as they were all strangely stupetied by the recent strange
events. The horses attached to the wagons were quiet, the
deserted saddle-horses Were lying down, and the mustang out
on the plain began to show very distinctly—the moon was
rising. .
BetWeen eleven and twelve o’clock there was a slight move-
ment outside among the horses, and a succession of stampings
ensued; but it was soon quieted, iDVoluutarily, and Was still.
again.

Cimarron Jack, growing weary of the dead calm in the
ce‘l-like ehamher, rose to his feet and started toward the door.
As he did So, a ('lamor arose outside. A mare screamed vi-
cioiisly,vstampinu; a shrill “ uicker " Came from a horse, and
there was at the same moment asound of rushing and gallop-
ing licofs. , Y

He sprung to the trap and peered out,lthen yelled shortly.

 

mm museum or THE HILL CAVE. B9

1' Swarming round among the stationary train were over a
. [Score of running, twisting, gliding Indians, overrunning the

*Wagon, busily engaged in unhitching the draft-horses, while

. ,jmore were galloping over the plain striving to lariat the sad-
. “ dle horses, which had taken fright and galloped aw:iy. They
- ,3 Were busy as bees, and were swarming round like them.

- L  Thirty running, rohhing lndinns make a larger show than fifty
' f: whites, they are so much more agile and quick.

1» Selcrting a burly knave close by, who Was trying to burst
, .‘l- a stout tobacco caddy, he took a long, deliberate aim and fired,
. ; 'thcn dwwing his Colt’s six-shooter, commenced firing rapidly,

j yelling like a demon. '

 The large Indian fell dead on his breast, with a gurgling
‘ i1 groan; and the precise and correctly aimed revolver wounded

t two more, who dropped, then rose and staggered away.

.1 Like magic, the Work of plunder ceased. Individually
' _, dropping their occupations, the savages sharply looked round
" ,i for the cause of the sudden and fatal volley, but as Jack had

,1 slunk back into the cave they saw nothing. Then they be-

- came wildly alarmed, all their hereditary superstitions crowd-

 ing one upon another, and began to retreat. ‘

, Cimarron Jack strove to organize his men, in order to make
- f. a sudden onslaught, which would be more efficacious than a
.  volley from the hill, as the savages would be frightened out
‘ .t '01' their wits at seeing them rise from the ground. But sur-
,  prised, the “ green " ones clustered together like sheep, pay-

 ing no attention to his oaths and orders, and before he could
,  begin to reassure them, the savages had mounted their mus—
' tangs, and with the stolen draft-horses, went away like the
, wind, a large and scared band of thirty, headed by the male-

volent chief, Red-Knife. \

“ Give ’cm a volley before they get away l” he cried. level-
ing his reloaded rifle and firing, The guide, Sam and Burt:
folloWed his example, but only one shot took effect—a retreat-
ing savage rolled from his mustang, which sprung away rider-
less. The others were too surprised to tire.

Jack started out into the plain. V

 “ Jerusalem! look at ’em skedaddling ofl‘ with every cussel
 draft horse. Whew I‘ mount as quick as you can, boys, and

 after ’em. {.lively, now i”

.1.
A

p

 

70 run rman TRAILER; on,

The moonlight revealed an exciting scene. Away tower
the south-east, riding like the wind, Were seven and twent .

other, though weak from 1mg of blood, still managed to pre- 

some his balance, though clumsily; they were the victims'of-- 7

Cimarron Jack’s proficiency with fire-arms. 'One mustang was  ,

\ ridcrless—the one from which the last savage had been shot ;’ '
and he galloped along with his mounted companions, his side
streaked with blood.

Behind were several men out on the plain by the hillock, a
coaxing their runaway steeds to them. It wasa tedious, longr
task, as they had been frightened in good earnest. :

Finally, Simpson suc0eeded in lariating his mustang, and
then mounting, soon collected the rest. Then the majority
of the horsemen rode away in pursuit, leaving the rest to ,
Search in the cave for the lost girl. .

'l‘he pursuers were Jack, Simpson, Carpenter, Burt and
Louis Robidoux; the remainder were Mr. Wheeler, Duncan, 2
Napoleon Robidoux and the half-stupefied and almost useless ,'
Pedro. . i

The latter party watched the others till they were lost in . ,t

the far distance. Then they turned toward the cave. . , p .
“ We are in for it,” remarked Rohidoux, in a low tone, to ' '
Duncan. “ What if more of these mean Indians should come? '
We’d be the only ones tit to fight ’em. Look at. the master
and the Mexican—they are both entirely useless. One is
half-dead about some strange affair, while the other is almost
in a trance with grief.” '
Duncan broke out vehemently: , '
“They went away and never told me whether they’d be
back to breakfast. Now, blast the luckl it' I cook up a lot
of grub for the whole party, and they ain’t here to eat it, the
things‘ll all spile, and then I‘ll catch thunder for being extra.
vagant and wasteful. And if I don’t cook for the lot, they‘ll
beams to come back, and then there’ll be a fuss ’cause break-
fast ain’t ready.”
“ 0h. never mind the breakfast; there are other-things

\

more important than that, just now.” '

 

4

m 231mm or m mm. CAVE
fril'The cook stared at him aghast.
‘15“ Other things more im-port-ant to look after! Oh, every
fair of my head! Oh, my hoot heels! Oh, if I didn’t get
; cakl’ast to-morrow, what a swearing, red hot mess there'd
_ .e—-every nmn a-Cussing me. You neVer Was a camp Cook—-
utt don't know what it is."
»  “ It‘s the Gifted. job in the train."
'4 “ Say that again anal l‘ll knock you down! Great Cmsarl
' I wanted to have the sweetest revenge on an enemy, I’d
’ y,ndeinn him to cook all his life. for a camp. He'd go crazy
jg every hair in his head would turn gray in a few months.

eavens! what torments! Talk about your referees-th
'bout your President of the United States—your umpires—,—

7% our Settlers of disputes ——there‘e not so thankless a. job in the
I iorld as that of a camp cook. It is always, cook, do this-
, _ok, do that; cook, when’s dinner going to he ready ? There
) 5; [*n‘t enough biscuits, cook—why didn‘t ye make more? You

",efi'er make the coifeestrong enough, cook—why don’t yo

. g I . . . l
we ake'it stronger? Cook, go fetch SUHlO drinking watt 1'! Just
3:, if I war a slave. No wonder I’m cross; who ever saw A

unip cook that Wasn’t? Nobody.

V “And then if u meal ain’t ready to a second, how, I”m .
, “Worn at and cursed. 000k, what makes you aquys behindl’;
: on are never on time. Then when it is ready, then comes
W‘ fhe'mnsic—a. regular dirge to me. One grumhling rascal says
3:13 e meat nin‘t cooked ; another swears ’cause thar's gnats in
‘ ie coffee—joist as if I could go round catching hugs like a
[)y with a Butterfly net. And if a feller is in a civilized
1 any and has butter, then it melts until you have to soak
'our bread in it In get any one. They cnss me for that too,
 in! say I’m lazy and stingy because I won't tote an ice-chest-
3 ounll... These fellers are the Worst I ever (lid see. Bimehy
'll'e'y’ll'bc wanting ice cremn, jelly, chocolate, oranges, mat~
resses to sleep on,‘aml a waiter for every one. They’ll be
. hauling linen shirts, kid glove-I, and a hoot black bimcby-J I
.  oultln’t be at all surprisctl if they should beg for ottomans,
. palsy-chairs and musketo-bars—not a hit. 0h, curse the day
emu; fool enough to join as camp coolil Oh, every hair of
571. head 1”  K ‘
'Y  The Canadian, seeing he was in a fever, no turtlwr aggro;
119

 

12 run PHANTOM TRAILER]; on,

rated him by continuing the conversation, but glancing ov
the plain, said: Q,“

“ There are three horses yet—noI two, that are loose. Ca:
you throw a lariat, cook Y” .

“ No, l Can’t-and what's more, I ain’t a~going to. 1’ I
up every morning before daylight, Cooking while you la.
fellows are snoring; then 1 drive team and wash dishes  
the same time—I ain’t cross-eyed, and the result is I go sl ? 3
into some hole, then get cussed. Then at noon you felle
roll on your lazy hacks and see me cottk, cook; and each 0
is always wanting me to .cook a dish just the Way some on V
else don’t. want it done. Then it’s wash dishes and dri 
team again all the afternoon; a cross-eyed man could do  "
Well enough, but I can’t. Then I‘m washing dishes long a. ::
ter every one‘s asleep at night, and am expected to turn or ”
chry morning a little after midnight and go to work, wor
again. No, sir ; if you want the horses brought up, you .-.
do it yourself, for 1 can’t and won’t.” ,' 

“ All right, D mean. You do haves hard time, that is w 
fact. Go in now, and get Bone sleep and I’ll try my be 
at Catching the horses.” ’  ,.

Duncan went inside and found Pedro and Mr. Wheel ,;
both in a semi-stupor, from diiferent causes, while Robidou ' 
took a lai‘iat and started away toward the black horse and t .‘V 
mustang, Dimple. . 1

They were some two hundred yards distant, and hot.
grazing, though (litferently. The mom shone brightly, a
by its light. he could see the black horse was quietly feediu‘
while the mustangyiw restless and kept moving away fro, 9:
him as if afraid of his superior siZe. . ~

Silence reigned over the level plain as the Canadia '1 ,
walked rapidly toward them with his laria’t in his hand. '  ,I
looked carefully over the plain—nothing was in sight; he w '
alone on the plain in the Land of Silence. ‘ ’,

lie halted, as a‘ thought struck him, hesitated a moms 7
then Went on. ' ,_ p .,

“What if I should see the ghost the guide was talki
about ?” he mused. ‘“ I begin to believe he did see one an '
the strange things that have happened to-night. That Ped' A
follow they any in a brave man, but he‘s scared .tonig 

 

Tim 'Pmsoxnn or run: gum olive. 78

“wonder if he saw it? I’d hate to have him ride up to me

w." ‘ . '

a Once more he looked around on the moonlit silent plain—

} ce more he moved on.

 The black horse erased his browsing as he drew near, and

Inked at him fixedly; something at that moment occurred.

, Rohi'lonx. L

 “ Pedro’s horse is in the cave," he whispered to himself ;

wand all the others are gone except Dimple. It is, strange——
. .i.’ hose horse can it he 1’" \
  He went on and drew near. The mustang had moved
a. .Way quite a- distance, and stood snorting and tossing her
5  zine; she was evidenly ufi'riglited—what was the matter ?

 She was gazing at something behind him—he turned. As
i  did so he nttered a sharp cry.

7 A form was coming toward him from the hillock—a colos-
>  form walking rapidly. A tnll hat surmounted his head,
 _nd in the hand was It. waving plume; a eerape was over his
‘ houhlers. almost concealing his body; he was quite near,
‘ 7;" ing in fact only a rod or so distant.

The Canadian knew it was not Pedro, and no man as
hormone was of the party besides him except. Cinmrron
. , tek, and he was away. He trenhhled; could it he the ‘

 ' ide’s ghost? , ‘ .
~  The man was almost upon him. and was advancing rapidly,

.35 izcd with sudden terror, nameless hut vivid, he clasped his

nds and awaited his approach. His old superstitious were
. ,1 ‘ully'urimsed, and he felt it Will! a thing to be dreaded.
-' 7 In the seconds he stood face to face with the whitest,

'L-httstliesl face, the blac‘kest, kecnest eye, andvthe most terrify-

g form he had ever seen. He knew now who it wits, from

The guide’s description.

A ' Horror! he was facing, on this moonlight night, on this ‘ ’
,, Fore, lonely plain, the glwst of the Trailer! -
.  “ You are into on the plain to-niéht. ’ _

 They Were almost: the " ‘vcry words he had spoken to the

guide. 'With a wild cry, and lnHVt‘d by his gre‘iit terror,he

 w the figure stalk toward the black home, which Walked to
_ feet him. _ ' - '

i. '»-He'8l0pped in the entrance and stared back, then again

 

74 THE neuron TRAILER; on,

shrieking, he sprung in and tightly closed the tmp; he had
seen the-mustang, Seized with fear, scour away over the plain,
and coming toward the hillock on the stalking black horse
was the terrible, strange form—the T/‘at'ler's spirit!

Still shined the moon quietly dbwu. Theta. i3 dire trouble
in the Land of Silence to night.

CHAPTER Kit
A REFUGE IN Tins.

AWAY rode the Apaches gnlloiiing south-east, leading the ‘V'
captured horses behind them. In the sudden surprise and ‘

retreat they had forgotten to retain those articles which they  ‘

had fixed their eyes on, only a few diminutive and ensily—car- »
ried articles heng clung to. ’l‘ln-ir most precious prize had

been abandoned—the Cnddy of “ black Nuvy”—-fur more __
precious in their estimation than gold or ornaments. It him 71
been pwunded, hammered, dished ng-uinst wagon hubs, hut in .
vain; and so, though reluctantly, they rode away minus tWO

braves, with two more finally wounded, with a paltry prize of _

tWelve aged, henvy horses, whose best run was a .mere rapid "’V ’ 

Canter, and who were incumbered with heavy, impeding?
harnesat - .

Not knowing the nature or number of their foes, they ,
were riding away toward a part of the plain some twenty
miles distant, which was Ll'thera‘ed by numerous and
deep arroyos (small clmmis or deep ravines) which in their
great number and devious windings utforded excellent;
shelter. ~  ‘

Looking; back, though they could not 308 more than
sew-ml miles in the hazy moonlight, they Were Cerlnin that
they were pursued, but. by whom or how many they could-
not determine. V

They had been pinudering’the abandoned wagons of their »
recent. victorious fties-Q—tlmt they were mum of; but where
they had been so ‘etfcctual-ty concealed, or how many-V

 

THE .rmsonnn on THE gum. CAVE. v '75

‘ they numbered were enigmas the shrewdest could not un-
; rnvel. ,

' Moonlight still hung over the Land of Silence, and the
round full orh in the eastern zenith still shone clearly. Still
I rode the savages on. V

‘ Behind, but gaining, came five white men, or about one-fifth
of the snmges, riding faster and quite as directly toward

' the plain of the arroyos. 'l‘he savages, as they rode over
-,  the ground, chattered noisily—these men, too, conversed, but

1‘  gloomily. v * t

‘7 “We Can not distinguish the Apaches—perhaps we or
straying from the trail,” remarked Louis Robidonx.

“ Ain’t nuther i” This from the guide, surlily.

I “ How do you know ?" asked Sam, spurring to the guide’s
side.

“ Bekase we air goin’ ter the eye-dentieal place whar they’re
goini."

, “ Where is that—to the ravines t"

“ Gulches. Dead Man’s Gulehes.”

“Why are they named. so strangely ‘3"

“Because a man that gits in thur stands a mighty poor
' show to git out again. You’ve seen them Chinese puzzles,
haven’t you ?-‘——we boys used to have them at school. The
only difference between the two is, that whar yer skin easy git
ter the center of the Gulches, you kuin’t in the puzzle; but
both air mighty hard ter git out of. I’ve seen a man that
' said he traveled [bur days trying ter git out, and didn’t move
' a mile in the whole time. The creeks are parallel, crisscross,
 angling-“every which way; and they are deep and wide.
. God pity the greenhorn thatgits inter them."

“ I heard a Mexican tell some whopping yarns about some
Dead Man’s Gulches, but I didn't believe him ; but senee ye
say so and back him, why I’ll hev ter give in, I reckon,” re-
marked Burt Scranton.

“ Wait till yer git thar an’ then see fur yourself," suggested
. the guide. “ Durn me of I want any truck with ‘em, you hear
‘ no, gran’mother ?” .

u “ Then you are sure the red-skinned knnves will go to the
‘4 .Gulehes P” interrogatively spoke Sam. I
,“ Sdrtaln. They’re skeered and don’t know who shot at

 

/. .
THE PHANTOM marina; on,

70

‘ ’cm. That's mighty peert shelter in the ‘Gulches, an’ that’s
whar every Apache fur miles 'round skedaddles ter when he’s
hard pressed.’ I’ll bet my bottom dollar we’ll be sure ter find
’em thar.” ‘ ‘ - ‘
“ You, too, Jack ‘3” Cimarron Jack nodded.
“Very well; how far dist-ant are they ‘8"
“ A matter of fifteen or twenty miles, p‘r’aps.
honrs’ sharp spurring.”

About two

“ All right then.”“'§pur up, boys, spur upl ' Here goes for 

the Gulches—hurrah l”

“ Hurrah for Dead Man’s Gulchesl" was the answer, as
on they sped.

“Three and a tiger for the catmnount-cheWers; for the
rattlesnake-charmers; _
Cocks of the Walk l” yelled Qimarron Jack, suiting the action
(the former one) to the word.

They were given lustily, and the trampled herbage under ' V

the ringing hool's slowly raised to find that the ruthless de-
stroyet’s Were passed on and were rapidly receding from
sight.

Two hours later. Now the moon was in the zenith, round,
white and gleaming, and the actors'in the varying tragedy
were passing over a dilfercnt landscape. The plain, though
still level, taken as a whole, Was cut into many islands. capes,
peninsulas—into all manner of curious shapes by the deceit-
ful ravines and small creeks, called Dead Man’s Gulches.

Winding in and out, slipping, crawling, and at short times
and long interVals, trotting, AWNS a serpentine train of dusky

t’

for the scorpion-eaters; and for the 1‘

forms, twisting and climbing. deeper and deeper into the wild .

and Study maze.
EVer and anon they looked back, and some grinned sardon-

jcally, while others frowned and fingered thein totnahawks ,

llcl‘vuus‘ly. They were looking at a small party behind who
Were just entering the Gulches, a mile weary, and who were
coining boldly and rapidly on in pursuit.

Unlike the savages they Were" unincumoered with leading
horses, and were able to move much more rapidly. They
were also in Indian file and were headed by Simpson, the

guide—now a guide in a. useful and important Sense, for he; ;

 

 

 

Tu rmsoxnn on THE tuLL cave. '27

   

ti ' was acquainted with many (not all, by any means) of the

 

it’s
e's names into which they were involiing themselves?
ud “ Durn my hide l" he growled, as he mounted an eminence.

 

“Gee-whiz! what a pile of 'em thar is. Gee-Whittaker!
‘ v ef they’d turn and surround us.in these durned gulches What
abuttue thar’d be. A surround—it'd he the last of every mo-
ther‘s son of us.”

The guide was losing his taciturnity—a sure sign he was in
‘ earnest, and so he was. .
i “ W e’d better look sharp," resumed Jack.
“ Keep youreyts open all of you and see that no red rascal

 
   

’VO

  

or T

 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  

as .
. leaves the main pack. The moon shines clear and we can
.3 easily tell if any one drops into a hole.”
.9 ‘. They obeyed his instructions, and leaving the guide to find
n the ,way, steadily watched the retreating hand. Now they
would he sharply outlined against the sky, winding out of
51- ' View like a treml mill; now they would appear coursing over
3- a level “ reach ;” and again they Would disappear altogether.
u “ (luss the place I" sharply exclaimed Burt, as his horse
slipped down a low hunk. “ It‘s jest like the old Adirondacks,
on a small scale. I’ll bet them devils make two rods ter our
’ one.” .
, “ No, they douit,”-said Jack. “ They are held back by our

 

horses-durn ’em. We'll soon catch ’em."

“ Then what will we do—they are five to our one, and all
armtd with good rifles the Govemment gave them?" queried
Sum.

‘bFight-we can do nothing else. The Government didn’t
give ‘em rifles—it‘s the Ingnn agents. They make a hand-
some profit on the rifles, trading ’em for furs and the like.
The Inguns get guns and then turn'rouud and kill whites
with them.” .

“But the Apaches have no agent.” _ 1

“' Whittclitl‘erenCe does that make? The norlhern tribes
do—-—good breech-loading rifles are given them by the stand.
There’s such a thing as trade, and swop, and steal—as much
among Inguns as whites. The reservation Inguns don’t have
lunch use for rifles, so they trade ’em off to hostile tribes.
You bet sometime .I’m going to try for an lngun agency, then
éhurrah l”

   
    
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 

 

  

THE PHANTOM TRAILER; on,

“ K’rect i" came from the guide. :

“ Hallo i” cried Burt, sharply. “The pack ain’t quite so .’
big as it was.” .

They ceased and looked ahead. Surely enough, the band _
had diminished one-half at least. The remainder still kept '
on, though with -slackened speed. The guide stopped"
short. ‘ '

“ It’s not any use ter go much further—Just“ thing we .
know we’ll be inter a big ambuscade. Any thing but that,
sayI." ‘ _ ' _

"‘ We can keep on for three or four hundred yards yet,
Tim. They’ve stopped in some big gulch while the rest '-
haVe gone on. They will lie there to pepper us when we ..
cotne on and they won’t stir. We might get in a volley on
them, too, by riding along.”

The guide cogitated for a moment. The plan seemed.

feasible, and accordingly. he again bent His eyes to the
ground, and the party glided in and out among the gulches. ,
L “ Now, fellows, and you ’specially, Robidoux, mind your
eye. We ain’t on a bare plain, now, but "in a devilish mean
place. Keep close to Simpson and have your guns cocked
and ready. Ride slow, Simpson i” ‘

“Ay, ayl" and as the guide slackened his pace they
clostered about him. Now the gnlches- grew narrower,
deeper, and thicker. It became difficult to climb some of ‘
the sandy, yielding, and precipitous banks; the descents, too, ,
became attended with danger. Sometimes they Were forced y
to follow’ a ravine some little distance in order to find an "
, emerging place ;_ then again they were obliged to ride along
a bank to find a safe descending spot. This irksome and
dangerous task was rendered doubly dangerous by the fact
that at some advanced point, they knew not. where, nearly .
a score of bloodthirsty and cunning Apaches lay waiting for
their sculps. 

The 'foremost band still retreated, but slowly in order .
to stimulate them to greater haste, which Would, of course, '
be attended with a large degree of recklessness. _ They 7
Were within half amile, having lost ground, and were ap- V
'parently beating the led horses to urge their lagging steps. .'
But the sharp eyes of Scranton had given them timely Warn-s

 

vi

'rnE Parsons or THE HILL CAVE.

a. ing, without which they would surely have run into a fatal

trap.
‘ ‘They were now on a “ reach ” and had space for a fast
' ‘trot of a hundred yards or more; when they would reach
' the brink of a yawning chasm, black and gloomy in its dark
 and serpentine shadow. Here the guide stopped, followed
.- by the others.

“It’s no use ter go further,” he said. “ Do yer see that
big gulch ahead? Wu], yer may het yer lives that in that
, black sliadder more ’n a dozen dirty ’Patchies air watchin’
' us. We’ll stop fur a change, right hyar.”

‘ I “ Here‘s a splendid place for a stand,” said Jack, pointing
to a deep'fissure adjacent.

“Le’s climb for that, and if there’s any ’Patchies in the
gully, yender, ye‘ll see how quick they'll come skinning out,
When they fin‘dout we‘ve found ’em out.”

“ And we’ll rout them out, right out,” said the Canadian,
' mimicking Jack’s speech. The latter turned upon him and

' grasped him by the throat. ' -

“ This ain‘t the first time you’ve insulted me,” he cried;

“ but, by Judas, it’ll be the last.” .
I Huff! a. stream of flame shot out from the shadow, a
loud report sounded, and a bullet whistled past Jack’s head.
His timely and sudden change of position had saved his.i
life.

Letting loose the malicious Canadian, he spurred his horse
toward the fissure. . ' ‘

“come on i" he cried, t‘ we are attacked! Yondcr’s the
._ other puck coming back to helpffight down in this gully;
. now, liVelyl” - . .

Pell-mell, helter-skelter, they dashed recklessly into the.
friendly fissure, while simultaneoust a hideous, blood-curd-
ling yell. rung out from the black, shadowy gulch, and a
harmless Volley sped over their heads. They were dib‘CHVt‘TCd

v and perhaps entrapped—dim fight had arrived, and they Were

opposed to and harassed by, five times their number of‘ wily,

cruel, unrelenting foes.

, In five minutes the “ reach "was swarming with yelling,
screeching and blOodthirsty Apaches, forming- to pounce
upon the devoted band below. <> ‘ ,

 

3

THE PHANTOM TRAILER; OB,

CHAPTER XII.
- A MYSTERIOUS SHOT.

Arm the Canadian had trembled, shuddered and hrood- "
ed awhile without. being alarmed by a second visitation, he
began to look into the why and the wherefore of it. To
follow his vague and erratic mind-wanderings would be a
dull task, as he was too terrified and confused to shape his.
thoughts into any discernible mutter.

An hour perhaps passed and it was now the early morn-
ing. In the Cave the torch cast fits flickering light overa ,
dull, gloomy scene. Pedro and Mr. Wheeler lay motionless
in a semi‘stupm‘; Duncan muttered disjointedly in his sleep,
bewalling and cursing his hard lot; the horse of the Moxi-
can .stood in his giant proportions quietly in a corner; and
only the Canadian was at all conscious of passing sounds and
events. These had not come—were yet to arrive; and ur-
rive they did in no very merry manner.

All had been quiet, Duncan in his heavy sleep forgetting
to snore, when the mustang, Dimple, niekered loudly ;" at
the same tnoment Pedro turned uneasin and muttered:

“ The Trailer—my precious, yellow gold."

The Canadian started,,and springing to his feet glanced
‘round in the darkness as though momentarily expecting a
second visitation of the man in the towering hat; but all
Was quiet, the torch flickered Weirdly, and he again sat near
the entrance.

“ What does he mean ?” he soliloquizetl. .

“The 'l‘railer——that means that horrible ghost. And yel- '
low goltle—what does that mean? He has seen the specter
——-tl¢at I am satisfied of; it accounts for his strange alarm
and apathy; but the gold, the .gold—~what gold does he
mean ‘8" ' ‘

Another shrill nicker from Dimple outside; in his abstrac- ’
tion he noted it not but went on with hissrililo'quy.

“I have hunted the moose on Mooseheud Lake, and on

 

9

0-1“!

mm rmsoseu 0F m HILL cave. , 81 '

on the head-waters of the Penohscot; I’ve lumbered on the
Kennebec and Androscoggin; I’ve fished in the Thousand '

.Isles; I’ve hunted the bear in the Missouri Ozarks; but of

all the ghastly moons that eVer shone, this one to-night is
the ghastliest. The very moon in the Land of Silence is
different from other moons—or the saute moon at other
places. There it is white; here it is yellow, red, and some-
times even blood-red, like a ruby. What a quiet, ghastly
place—this vast yellow wilderness; how still the air always
is; how sultry and hazy the days and dreamy the nights;

 iiow— Halloa l"

Again the mustang nickered, shriller and wilder than be
fore. He was about to resume, when n wilti,-nnenrthly yell
broke upon the quiet night air-n yell as' if Pandemonium
had broken loose. Starting back with fear, he clasped his
hands, then mu to the entranCe and flung it open.

He closed it as quickly, if not sooner, as a rumbling Sound
came from behind the hillock, a sound of thundering honfs,
and the hideousyell pealed again; then, as he peeped through'
a chink, he saw the Cause. ~

Riding like wild-tire, screaming and whooping, came a do-
Zen Indians, charging on the wagons from behind the hill.
Clustering together with tossing arms, they rode Bthop
flown upon them. He started down, then ran quickly to
Pedro. .

“ Pedro—Pedro Felipe—wake up—arise; we are charged
by Apaches.”

At the word Apaches Pedro rose suddenly, from sheet ’
habit, as .his eye wits vacant, and his air that of a somnambu-
list; his energy was short-lived, and he sunk down again.

-“ Pedro—for heaven's sake get your gun ; we are at-
tacked.” i

“Have you seen it ?" I

“ Seen them? Yes; they are yelling outside—don’t you _
hear them? Come, hurry l"_

“Have they got my gold 3"

Robidoux was sharp enough to take advantage of this ques-
tion, and he replied :. ’ *V '

“ Yes, yes; all of it. Come, hurry !" ,

Pedro needed no' other incentive, but sprung from his couch

 

   
   
 

    

82 ~ THE PHANTOM TRAILER; on,

and grasped his rifle. Springing toward the door, he
hoarser said: I

“ Senor, here we {go—altogether; 0 'amba 1"

Before Robidoux could stop him h had flung back the
trap—door and was standing outside, aiming at a slender
Apache just entering a wagon. The broad, dusky back of the
savage, in contrast to the moonlit, white wagon-cover, offered
a good mark; and quickly sighting, the Mexican drew the
trigger. The Apache, with a wild’ yell, sunk back on the
wagon-tongue and hung suspended across it, killed imme-‘
diaH-ly. This was a decidedly favorable event; for,aw»rkened
by the sight of his habitual foe, aroused by his successful shot, ~
Pedro was himself again.

The Canadian smiled as Pedro darted back into the cave,
at seeing a once more natural expression on his features.
Should he retain his eqnanimity they had but little to fear
beyond the plundering of the train, and that might be pre-
vented for the present, as the whole line of wagons was com-
manded by the entrance. '

The utmost confusion prevailed among the dusky plunder-
crs as the fatal bullet ended their Companion’s career forever.
Some darted behind wagons; some flew to their adjacent mus-
tangs; two clanibered into a wagon ; while the rest scattered
like rabbits, not knowing by whom the shot Was fired, or,:
where the precise marksman was stationed. ‘

They were thoroughly alarmed, inasmuch as, not belonging
to Red-Kuife’s band, they had accidentally fallen upon the
train. They had been surprised at not finding a human being
near the wagons; they were thunder-struck at the mysterious

~ shot and its fatal effect.

Their alarm and surprise was somewhat dissipated very
soon by Pedro‘s firing from a chink in the trap-door. He.
“had aimed at the prostrate form of a savage, lying on the
ground behind a wagon; the bullet struck him fairly in the
side, and, with a groan of mortal agony, he stretched himself
prone, to speedily die. 1 I

Thomrh by this shot Pedro had reduced his enemies’ num-
ber in some degree, still, upon the whole, the shot was disad-
vantageous, in this wise : when he fired, the Chink being small,
the force of the explosion had carried away a portion of ‘ the

\

 

  

l

rm: mum or m HILL um 88

rotten planking, making- the aperture distinctly visible from

- , the wagons. 'l‘he lynx-eyed savages instantly discoVered this,

and Were instantly awm‘e the hill was hollow—a mere shell.

A grunt of relief and gratification went nround‘the line of
sknlking figures, speedily changed to one of alarm. A hole,
black and wide, suddenly appeared in the hillside; a stream
at flame shot out,- a report amended, and [Wu savages yelled
loudly, and, with their comrades, t-lainhered upon the wheels
in order to effectually ooncwtl themselves, and protect. their
bodies from the murderous fire. ,

“_Well done!" remarked Pedm to his oompanions,’all of
whom had taken part. in the volley. “ We killed none, but:
made them howl, nevertheless.”

Ctml, deliberate, noble Pedro was himSelf again—the far-
famed scout and feared Indian-tighter. Now was his brain

a , clear; now Were his newes steady; and the famous master

of Indian strategy was rapidly running down his No. 1 buck-
ShOt, with eyes sparkling like a ferrets.

“ St‘nm'S-Sll‘s, fire not hastily. It is a fault with you
Amerieans—yonare not sntficiently aware of the itppntanec
of keeping Cool. See! they have quite concealed themselves;
neVer mind, we are entirely safe, Well ammunitioned, and able
to prevent them from plundering the wagons. Keep cool,
watch eVery point, and when you fire be sure and aim." I

“ 1 hope they won‘t hurt any of my tin caps,” anxiously mut-
tered Duncan. “_ We haven't got but fiw, and one of them
leaks. “It'll be just likr 'em to go and eat all my brown
sugar tip—oh, my hoot-h» els! if they do how I’ll get cussed.
1f the President of the United States was struck by lightning
you fillers ’d cuss me, and say I was to blame.”

“Less talking, senor, if you please,” gently admonished
Pedro. “ ‘ All tongue no sand,’ " as Simpson says.

A few minutes paSsed, and suddenly Duncan broke out
again : _

"Every hair of my headl Save it—ob, save it, for”
heaven’s sake l" ‘ 1

“Save what it” asked Robidonx. _

"‘ Don’t you see that small stream running down through
the wagowbottom ?" _
“I see something dark, I think. .What is it i'”

 

  

84‘ um PHANTOM men; on,

“ Flour l flour! Oh, save it! My boot-heels! won't I get
a cussing when I tell ’em they can’t have any more biscuit?
Everybody ’ll swear at me: Cook, I never saw such a. clumsy
bunch of darned carelessness; cook, the next time you want
humor-chips or fire—wood you can get ’em yourself; never ask
me to pack water for you again, c0ok, for I Won’t do— it, you
careless, wasteful old cook; then Cimarron Jack, or what-
ever you Call him, ’ll sure desert, ’cuuse I Couldn’t help my-
self when the Injuns wasted the flour—lie, a fuller that don’t
get bread of any kind once a year. Oh, every hair of my
head! l’m the cussing-post for the world to swear at— me,
the cump-cmk, a low, thankless dog.”

“ I will see they are informed of the true state of affairs,
now,” said Pedro, consolingly.

Duncan burst out, in high dhdgcon:

“ Think that ’ll do any good ? think ’ee, think ’ee? Sir, I
solemnly swear itl—if you put your lmnd on the Bible afore
an aloulde. or whatever you call him, and swear—yes, sir,
swear upon your oath, they’d still cuss me and say I’m the
one to blame. Oh, curse the unlucky,miserable day I learned
to cook 1 -

“ if any young man should Come to me and ask me for
- advice," he resumed, after a brief pause, “perhaps 1 Couldn’t
tell him what to do, but I could just naturally tell him what
not to do. I’d say, young mam, don’t let any fellow invrigle
you into learning the pustry-wok‘s trade—it ’ll be the
ruin of you. Oh, look at my flour—going all the time."

During the time in which he had been speaking, the moon
had been steadily moving on its downward, westward course,
making the wagon-shadows larger, perceptibly. Though but
little longer, they were of sufficient length to form n hlnck
isthmus between the wagons and the most distant end of the

hill. ' ,Duucun, on stopping, observed it change come o’er the
face of the\grund old strutegist.‘ From a Cool, impussilile
calm it had changed to an expression of pnfiiltve terror,
which as quickly vanished, giving, in turn, place to a look of
moderate, unxiet y. ‘ . ,

Stepping to the torch, he extinguished it, gazing» anxiously
‘ to the roof before so doing. Then in the dag-hem he
whispered : '

 

  

 

. ' the door. \
‘ Men, you twu place yourselves by my side, in readiness to

.1 fire."

  

'mn PRISONER 0F mm mm. CAVE. 85

   

“Senor Wheeler, you will beef more use in guarding
Allow me to advise you to look well .-to it.

  
 

 

 

 

They did so, and he continued: ,

“ I saw, just now, the entire body of the Apaches scatnper
along that longest shadow to the right. They have dis-
covered the hill is only a shell, and will endeavor to .force
their way into .it before daybreak. There are now nine of
them and they will at once go to work. There is nothing to
be feared—the moon shines so hrightly that we can see the
slightest crevice they may make.”

No longer they watched the wagons in the brlght moon-
light ; hat with every Confidence in their famous leader, with
hands touching his garments, they waited, looking at the small
chinks, in the roof through which the white sky shone
plainly.

Pedro was an infallible prophet when he prophesied, for
this reason—he never prognosticated without mature delibera-
tion, always ruled by existing circumstances. I Men wondered
and marveled, hut, superficial themselves, considtrcd it a mar-
velous power, when, like many other strange powers (?), it was
only the legitimate offspring of two healthy parents—shrewd?
ness and thought. -

In this case he was right. Before‘five minutes had passed,
a slight noise was heard on one side of the slanting roof,
rather low down, a grating rasping noise. ,

“ They are boring. God grant they haveth got my
butcher-knife!” excitedly whispered Duncan, in a fever.
“ Where do you think they are boring with their cussed knives
and hatrhets it”

Pedro chuckled.

“ They are working too ’low to reach us. There is one
part—a quarter—«11' the hill that is solid. They areboring at;
that place, ha! ha l”

The rasping Continued, growing louder and harsher. The
savages were strangely hold and reckless. ' No other noise
was heard, only the same quick, grating sounds—grate,
grate—us the Metal weapons glancad from the flinty, pebhly
Soil. .

   
 

 
  
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 

    
     
    
       
    
    
      

86 ran PHANTOM TRAILER; on,

“If they were boring on this side, now,.they would be
nearly through, I judge by their vigorous, rnpid work,” ob-
served Pedro. “ But, as they are at work on a solid-part of
the hill, they will get through to us in about a Week. Ha!
ha! Apache 1" and he laughed. tauntingiy.

“I wonder where the others mire,” interrogatively- spoke
the Canadian. “ They might be in trouble for all we
know.” ‘

“ Near the Dead-Man’s Gulch,” replied Pedro. “I believe
they took that route in pursuit." .

“ They stand a slim chance of recovering the horses.”

“ I was not Well at the little the attack was made,” and if it
had been light a blush would have been seen on Pedro’s
cheek. “ How many did they number?

“ About thirty, I belieVe,” Simpson said.

“ Six to one—hum ! Well, the odds are certainly against
them. If we Were only out of this hole now, we might ride
to their assistance.”

“ And leave the girl—the sweet, pretty lass ?’7

“ Ah, that is a painful mystery—painful indeed. It quite
astounds me.” ' '

' “Mr. Wheeler and Carpenter are well’nigh crazy over it.
It is lucky in one way that these cussed Apaches have been
pestering us—they have kept their thoughts somewhat away -
from her. Poor Miss Kissiei where has she gone ?” V ,

“ Hark 1" - - . ’

A loud report came to their ears, and at the same time,
though unseen by them, the working Indians, with a loud
whoop, fled 'from the hill. A shriek of agony at the same
time resounded from the roof, and a body dropped heavily
with a hollow sound. I

“ By every hair of my head i" cried Duncan, “hear them
rascals skedaddie l”

“ Who shot 1’” Cried Pedro. " Senor, I say, who shot ‘5’”

“It came from inside the hill, I’ll take my oath to it I" de-
clared Robidoux. ‘ A ‘

“ I know it did, senor—i know it did ;” and Pedro's voice
showed he Was excited. “No one shot. here, and some one
shot from inside the hill and killed a savage.“ Who shot ?"

They could not tell. '

.i‘

 ":‘Lwafi'e' , . '

 

  

THE museum or THE mm; (mm.

t

  
 

~I-Q‘r6

CHAPTER VI.

A MIRAC ULOUS ESCAPE.

 
    

\u h.

’ ON the “ reach " above the fissure in which Cimarron Jack’s ,
hand was concealed, danced and whooped the entire band of a -
Apaches, eager for white blood, and, us prospects appeared, in ' ,
good clmnces of getting it. Conspicuous among the painted . 
prick stalked Red-Knife, the renegade, to and fro, Cogituting ‘9
and framing a feasible plan for extermination. .
. It needed not a. very subtle brain or 31 very bold man to fer.
_’ ret out the whites from their present position, and well he ;
knew it. W‘Vhile many plans, ideas and means gratuitously 
‘~ presented themselves to his scheming head, but one was no-
cepted~ut once the most feasible, the easiest executed, and

 
   
     
   
   
   
        
      
   
 
      
 

I the one attended with the least danger—a surround.

1;; Conjectured, planned, advocated—done; so he thought, in

'. his inordinate self-esteem. He did not for it tnonient consider
 that the noted “ squaw from the bitter river” was thoroughly ‘

_ Versed in savage warfare—that he had a vast store of expe-
I‘; rience to draw from—that he was crafty and brave Rs :1 lion.
V’,‘ In his vast conceit, he entirely ignored the fact, and went di-
rectly on with putting,r his plan into exrcution. .
{The 'whites were in an iswlntcd fissure about fifteen feet in,
depth by twenty wide and one hundred long, in "the shape of
a horse-shoe, the party being ensconced under the bank lit the
“ co.qu " in the'concavlty. Here they were safe for the pre-
. sent, but a small ravine opening front the fissure, rendered
A 3. their situation precarious. This ravine played an important
1 part in the tragedy, for whose acts the actors were now prei
paring earnestly. _
Where it entered the “ horse-shoe" fissure, it was narrow,
., being only about three feet in width, hut in a hundred yards
2 it run under sandy banks. and widened out. to forty feet or”
I' more. These sandy banks were crumbling and projecting, ,
l , overhanging the ravine (more properly a. “ draw "), they pre-
sented an unstable footing. , ‘
Red-Knife noticed this “draw,” and at once, without con.

 
       
   
       
        
      
   
       
     
    

  

88 THE PHANTOM TRAILER; on,

suiting his chiefs, whom he ignored, commenced operations.
Detaching a party of three to take charge of the distant draft-
" horses, he divided his party of twenty into two portions. One
of these he directed to creep along the shadow of a project-
ing bluff until they had made half the circuit of the horse-
shoe; the other, commanded in person by himself, was to en-
ter the “ draw,” keeping iu‘shadow as much as possible. Halt.-
ing in the draw, they were to give a preconcerted signal, then
both parties wore to prosecute a cross-fire with what arms
they possessed. Such a position Would completely command
the horse-shoe fissure with its hidden occupants.

“Boys,” observed Cimarrou Jack, sitting on a mud~bnwl—
der, “this is lovely; but the thoroughbred from Tartary don’t
scare worth a cent. It takes mighty fine Working to face the
grizzly domesticator—it. does. for a fact.”

“ Oh, quit yer durhed, disgustin’ brsg‘gin’! It: makes me
feel ashamed of the hull human race,” growled Simpson.

()imarron Jack Went on, with a sly twinkle at the guide:

“ In _addition to my noble and manly qualities, I have the
Coveted and rare faculty of insnaring women Educated at
college, of good looks, as you can see, engaging manners, I
cast rough rowdies like this knave of a guide into the shade.
That, you 309, makes ’etn bot—red-bot; and when I give, as
is my custom, a brief and extremely modest synopsis of my

talents, they call it, in their vulgar way, ‘braggin’.’ I’m the

cock of the walk—hooray ! I‘m the scorpion and centipcde
chewer—the wildCat educator—heuray t”

“Faugh! it’s downright sickening. Durned ef I kain’t
lick any man that brags so !" deciared the guide, with real
rising choler. “ An’ ef he don’t. like it he kin lump it—thet's
Simpson, the guide.”

f‘ Dry up; what‘s that 1’” whispered Jack. “Look out,
boys—there’s something forming. Look along that blutf yon-
der—I think I see something moving there. ‘ i

The half-earnest wrangle was ceased, and shading his eyes,
the guide peered, as it' endeavor-int: to theme the drapery of
shadow under the bluff: but if Jack saw any thing, there was
no repetition of the object. ’I‘aking his eyes from the bluff,
Cimarron Jack turned round, then uttered a suppressed
cry.

 ,  \‘3 r‘A' M >
_ ._4 .- ‘u m an an F.

 

9

.

Tim rmsoxnn OF THE HILL gave. 89

“ What is it ?" sharply demanded the guide, instantly on
T, the alert: '
' “ Wher look there-«look yonder l” -
a 'They folloWed the direction of his pointing finger with
 their gaze. Up the draw, and in its widest part, Were nearly
 a. dozen Apaches, or rather parts of them, moving rapidly
about. They were visible from their waists upward, and their
[farms were tossing as if violently excited, The light of the
- yellow moon made this a most grotesque spectacle, but an ut-
 terly incomprehensible one to the whites, who watched them
V ,1 eagerly. It appeared as if a dozw Apaches had been de-
 f; prived of ll” legs at the loins, and had been cast into the
 draw and were'tossing their arms in agony. Part of them
 were upright, part bending their necks forward. while others
 Were bent backward; and all were gesticulating violently.
' It was strange, but they Were all facing the West, at right
 angles to the course of the draw. Though wildly gesturing,
 and, as it seemed, struggling, they preserved the utmost silt-nee,
 freq'uently gazing toward the whites, as if fearful of attract-
; ing their notice. '
 “What can it mean I?” asked Sam, utterly confounded.‘
 “ What does it all mean ‘1” - '
 “lthink i know.” replied Jack, after a moment’s sober
- scrutiny; “ don’t you, Simpson ?” -
I" “ Yes—think so? -
. v. “ What is it?" and Robidoux‘s face wore a look of the
'L ‘  most intense surprise. ‘
L “ By Jupiter—hooray! iris, it is! look, they are sinking.”
_, It was eVen so! Each and all were only visible front the
‘5- ' breast upward, now, and their rifles, still clasped tightly, .were
 thrown about in wild and vehement. motions; the guide ut-
 tered a sharp exclamation.
‘ “Quicksan(ted—quicksamled ! see—the draw is darker
.;; than at t’other places. It’s the black sand—quicksa-nd-—-
hooray l” , l '
r p “ Great Heaven I”, ejaculated Carpenter. “ They are sink.
” 7 ing into a quicksand—hurrah l” '
‘ “ They War makin’ a serround and got stitched—hooray l"
Ushoute’d the guide; then the voice of Cimarron Jack rung

, .

 

00 m PHAN'rou TRAILER; on,

“ Give it to ’em boys-give it to ’cml aim steady till ,I
éount three, and then—one l” -

Up went the guns, each man taking a struggling, sinking
savage.

“ 'l‘wo l"

A steady dead aim.

“ Three l"

Crnslimsliriekl and then a. cloud of dense, sluggish smoke
obscured the river. They had no more than lowered their
rifles when a shrill yell arose behind them, and a rush of feet
was heard. Ciniarron Jack dropped his rifle and drew his
knife and revolver, facing round. '

“Draw, boys—draw! barkers and knives. A surround 2.
here comes t’other gung behind llS——dl’tl.w quick and don't
faze l” '

Tln-y drew, each a knife and revolver, and faced round,
fearing nothing from the helpless hand behind, some of whom
must be dead. They did sojust in time.

From under the prrjeeting hluti’ darted nine stalwart.
Apaches, knives and tomahnwks in hand. They had seen
their cmnrades’ utter helplessness and discomt’itnre, and look-
ing th'I‘ the smoke of the Volley, had seen four shot and in-
stantly killed. Buriiing'with rage and chagrin, they Wt'l‘e
coming, fifty yards away, “ith determined faces gleaming
hideously through the red war-paint.

As they rapidly drew near, Jack cried:

" Work those pistols lively, th's—-—sli()ot a thousand times a.
minute.”

'l‘hey obeyed. Crack—«track i went the pistols, and, though

‘ excited, the aim was tolerany Correct, and IWo Indians went
down, one killed, another .disahled. Seven still came on,
thoth warily, facing the, revolvers of the whites, Cott‘s great
invention doing deadly “ ork at a. short distance. They were
runningr at a dog-trot, dodging and darting from side to side
to prevent any aim being taken; in another moment they

'were fighting hand to hand. I

It was a slmrt, deadly struggle, briefly terminated. Jack,
Simpson, and Burt fell to the ground when their respective
antagonists were nigh, avoiding the toma‘haw-ké which flew
over their heads. Then as an Apache tOWered over each,

 

m museums or mm: mm CAVE. 91.

’they rose suddenly, and throwing their entire weight and
' muscle into the act, plunged their knives into the saviige
', breasts; the red-skins fell without a groan.
1 It was a perilous, nice operation, and few would have
dared attempt it-; but knowing if they kept their nerve and
. temper they would prove victorious, they accepted the chanccs,
as we have seen, with the highest success. Calculating nicely,
5 each had about an interval of two seconds to work in—the in-
, terVal between the Apaches’ arrival and his downward knife-
'-thrusL
‘Gigantic, fiery Jack stayed not to enjoy a second and sure

'V _' thrust, but withdrawing his long knife, hastily glanced around.

\ . Buck under the bank was a man fighting desperately with two
' Apaches—fighting warily; yet strongly, and in silence.

I It was Carpenter, cutting, thrusting, and dodging. Jack
'1 needed but; a glance to satisfy him Carpenter Would soon
 prove a victim to the superior prowess of the Apaches, and
, with a Wild hurrah sprung forward, just as Burt and the guide
.r were disengaging themselves from the dead bodies of their
“ antagonists. But, he Was stopped suddenly.

Covered with mud, dripping with water, and glowng with
rage and heat, a fierce, stalwart savage sprung before him,
and he knew him in a moment. it was Red-Knife—he had
* escaped from the quicksand and was now preparing to strike,
his tomahawk glinting above his head.

“Dog from the bitter river—squawl ugh l" and down
went the hatchet. '

But not in Jack’s skull—the Indian scout was too electric
in his thoughts and movements to stand Calmly and feel the \
metal. crash into his brain. Bending low, with the qnick~
ness of a serpent, he darted under the savage-’5 arm just in
time, but he stopped not to congratulate himself upon his es-
citpe, but turning clasped the chief round the waist and sud-
denly “ tripped him up." ' ' -

The savage's thigh passed before his face as the chief was
hurled backward. A stream of deep-red blood was spirtiog
. from‘a wide g’ush in it—the momentum of the hatchet had
I been so great RedKoife had been unable to check it, and
V it had entered his thigh and severed the mainartcry. The
' "blood was spirting in a large, red ,stream in the air, and

 

92 THE PHANTOM _'I‘RA!LEE ; on,

he felt the warm liquid plash and fall on his back. But he
whirled the faint chief ()VM‘ on his back, and with a sudden,
keen hiow, drove the knife into his heart. With a last dying
look of malevolent-y the chief scowled on his victOrious
enemy, then the death-rattle sounded in his throat—he was
dead, no longer a renegade.

Jack sprung up and stood on his guard, but there was no
necessity, Short as the combat had been (only thrw'mz'nutes
in duration) it was now over, being finished as the guide
drew his knife from a convulsively-twitching savage, and
wiped ital his sh-eve. '

Save the eight prostrate savages, not an Indian was in
sight. Cool, steady, retiCent Tim Simpson sheathed his knife
and picked up his gun and l‘eVolver.

“ Domed spry work 1"

He was not answered. To ‘the majority of the band the
thought was OVt-rwbelming—~that, where fifteen minutEs since,
thirty cunning Apaches were surrounding them, not one re-
mained alive. For s« veral minutes no one spoke, but all
gthed around on the battle scene.

The draw above was empty—the sinking savages, foiled in
their bIOody purpose, had sunk to their death. Carpenter
moorlin gazed where they were last visible, and murmured:

“ God bless the quicksand." '

“ Ay, ay !" came from the others‘ lips.

Chnarroh Jack sprung up at the “reach,” and bolted
around. .

“ Yonder go three—no, four devils, striking away for dear
life. Durn them! theyTye got enough of it this time, I’ll
bet.”

“ Bosses thar ’3” asked Simpson.

“ One, two, three, eight—every one of ’em."

“ Le’a git out’n this, then.”

“ All i'iglib—before any more come down on us. Devilish
pretty work, wasn’t it '3" admirineg queried Jack,’looking
down on the dead bodies below. -“ How’d you getaway with
yourjob, Carpenter ?”

“ The guide and Burt came to my assistance just as I Was
giving out. A minute. more and it would have been too
late.” '

 

'rnn museums 01" ms: mm; CAVE. 98

" ‘And you, Ruby? curse'ma if I don’t forgive you~you
fan’t like thunder. Two on you, wasn’t there ‘3”

V “ Yes; I stabbed one and the other run off, seeing Simpson
' coming for him," modestly replied Robidoux.

“ Well, we’ve no time to talk. The red rascals are cleaned
out—pick up your Weapons, boys. and mount your mustangs,
and we’ll get awny from this hot pluCe." _

They stopped not to gaze longer upon the bloody scene,
but mounting their horses, which under the bunk Imd bravely
stood, rode toward the deserted draft-horses. They were
easily collected, and then all rode away,jmt us the moonlight
was yielding to the paler but stronger one of day. Eluted
with Vietory they left Dead Man's Gulches (or that part of
them) with the ghastly bodies, soon to wither into dry skin
and bone, and under the paling moonlight rode away, hound
back to the liillock. '

- Thanks to the guide’s memory and cunning,‘tliey emerged
from the Gulches at sunrise, and struck out into theyellow
'pluin—saf’e and sound, wholly uninjured, and victorious.

, “ Five men victorious over thirty Apaches," cried Jack.

“ A tiger-fent—Hermles couldn't do better with Sampson and
Heenan, with fifty gorillas thrown in for variety. Three and
a. tiger for the breVest, smartest, handsomest men in the world.
With a will, now 1"

With a will they were given.

CHAPTER XIV.

wno SPEAKS ?

WHEN at. the mysterious shot and death of one of their
number, the.Apaches tied down the hillock, they scuttled for
the wagons as offering‘thc best Concealment.- liowevvr, their
"doing so was to their loss, diminishing their number by two.
Duncan, incensed at the ruthless waste of his flour, and in
perfect keeping with his disposition, had lain in watchful
Wait for an opportunity to present itself whereby he could rec v

 

94 'ms PHANTOM TRAILER; on,

venge his loss. An opportunity occurred as they fled toward
the wagons. One savage, with a searlet. diamond on his
broad back, offering a fair aim, he toolg,advnntnge of ,it and
fired. At the same time, Pedro, ever‘ rettdfy to embrac? any ‘
opportunity, fired also.

Both shots were successful. Duncan’s Aspache threw his
arms aloft, und.with a yell: plunged headlongythe ether sunk
to the ground, with a sharp cry of pain, hen crawled slowly
away, dragging himself painfully. But he was summarily
StOpped by Duncan, who emptied one of his cylinders at him.
This Was sutlit-ient; with a last expiring scowl back upon his
foes, he settled prone upon the sand, and his soul Went to the
happy hunting-grounds. . .

“ There have been strange happenings here lately,” gloom-
ily r marked Pedro, rannning down a bullet. °‘ Who shotjust
now “tell me that ‘3”

“Who can ?” replied Mr. Wheeler. “ Oh, God! if one
misfortune were not. enough to bear without a mystery, deep
and black, to drive one to tbrments. Where is my child?” _
and he bttried his face in his hands. ' ' ' ‘

“ And win-re is my gold—my precious, yellow treasure ?”
fiercely demanded Pedro. ‘ ‘

“ What misfortune can compare with mine ? what agony
as great to bear? how.——"

Seeing his companion's eyes fixed interrogatively upon him,
be tapped short, Conscious he had been unduly excited and
’ lteedless. Turning sharply to his peepingaplacv, he said : ‘

“ Senors, We have lessened their number; of them there re-
mains but six. One or two more killed or disabled would
entirely free us, I think, from their annoying Company.
Come, senors, look sharp l” i /

Duncan and Robidoux exchanged significant glances but
said nothing, only quietly taking their places at the entrance.
leaving Mr. \Vltet‘let‘ stricken again by his gloomy spirits.

And now faint streaks of daylight-slanted across the east-
ern horizon, and the yellow moonlight pale’d before the up-
pronch ‘of the predominating daylight. Perched upon the
hubs of the wagon-wheels the sullen Apaches g't'unted and
growled at their constant defeats, not dhrin’g to it'eturu to the
I hill, and too wary to CXpOSL‘ any put of their bodies. The

I

 

 
   

THE IBISOiifiR OF THE HILL CAVE.

'whites watched and waited with the eyes of a lynx and the
‘6’patience of a eat, but to no tiVuli-bUlil parties Were afraid
., to show themselves. '

J “ Hark 1“ suddenly cried Mr. Wheeler, springing. into the
~’ center of the cave. “ \Vhat is it—who speaks ’3”

“ No one spoke, Senor,” said Pedro, calmly laying his

  
    
  

i's .

,k f hand on his shoulder; “ you are nerVous and excited, senor
y  --lic down and quiet yourself."

y a “ Don’t talk to me of rest and peace—withdraw your

 

 hand l She spoke—any daughter—and I will never rest until

I have found her.” .

In the gloomy light, his eyes shone with at once the sor-

L row and anger of a wounded slag; and knowing to resist

_ him would be to endanger his present health, Pedro con-
 siderately withdrew his hand. As he did so'Dunean whis-
 pered: ‘

.g “ l’ll swear I heard her voice, just then—every hair of my

‘9' head, I did." '

 “ I too imagined I heard a soft voice, but undoubtedly it
was the band outside,” continued the Canadian. “Hark—-
‘there it is again i"

All listened. Certainly some one spoke in a soft, efl'mn-

’ inate voice; though so faintly that it. was impossible to dis-

tinguish the words. '

All listened as though petrified, so intense was the inter-
est—~Pedro alive with hope for his gold, and the others,
more especially Mr. Wheeler, for his lost child. But there
2was no repetition of the voice, and after listening for some
time they returned to the entrance gloomily. ' '

A sudden movement took place among the Apaches.
Their mustangs were grassing out on the plain some five
hundred yards distant, heing some‘hulf a mile from the sor-
rel mustang which avoided them. Starting suddenly from
the wagonlwhecls they darted away rapidly toward their
steeds, keeping the wagons between them and the hillock,
making it imposshle for the whites to aim, even tolerahly.

 “ EVery hair of my sorrel head ! my hoot-heels! "what in

 Jupiter do them fellows mean? they’re getti’ug aWay from

' us like mad. Skunk after ’etn, I reckon." I '

Pedro’s face lightened as he said, “ There is some one up-

   
  
    
  
  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
      
  
 
  

 

 

 
 

96 THE PHANTOM TRAILER; on,

proaching, possibly the party. Certainly it is some (she
hostile to them, o1'-—-” " '

- He stopped short as a thought flashed over him. Could.
it be possible they had seen the apparition—I-that' he had up?
peared to them? no—the idea was rejected as soon as non-
Ceived. Not knowing the Trailer, at least that he had
been killed once, they would have promptly shot at him,
which they had not done. No—it was something else.

It was not a ruse to draw them from their concealment,
as eVery one of the six saiVages was now scampering hastily
for their steeds. They had all retreated—every one; and
_confidcnt of no harm, Pedro stepped boldly out into‘therday-
light and the open plain. "

Down in this country, twilights are brief, and even now
the sun was winking over the horizon. Looking round, his
gaze fell upon a. small Collection of objects, directly against
the sun, a. league or more distant.

‘ Horsemen—whites."

The Canadian and his companions came out.

“ Horsemen, did you say ‘9”.

“ Yes, senor—white horsemen."

“ Ah,1 see—toward the east, against the sun. Coming
this way too, are they not?"

“ Exactly, senor."

“ llow do you know they are white horsemen ?-—there are
many of them."

“Because they ride together. Indians scatter loosely or
ride by twos. These are Coming together and are leading
horses.” ‘

“ Everyhair on my sorrel-top but you’ve got sharp eyes l”
admiringly spoke the cook. ' '

“ Experience, senor—experience. Any Mexican boy Could
tell you the color of those Coming horsemen. But look
over the plain; see the brave Apaches scamper toward the
south-west, whipping their tardy mustangs. Thty are gone,
and we need fear them no more—they will not come hack
for the present. We will meet our friends~-for it is they."

‘Of course Pedro was rightuhe always was; and when
the returning and elated party drew 'up before the hilloek,

~ the fingers had disappeared. ' , "

 

'rrm PRISONER on THE HILL own. 97

‘ They had scarcely dismounted when Mr. l’Vheeler ap-
peared from within. The old gyntlmnan wnS greatly excited,
and begged them to Come at once into the cave. ‘
v “ What’s up?" cried Jan, springing toward the entrance.
'  The old. man, in broken tores, said he distinctly heard his
 daughter‘s Voice in the hill, mingled with a deep, harsh one-—
the voice of a man.
I, “ There must be another chamber 1” Pedro shouted.
'5 “ There are sl.OVels in the wagons ; get them and come on i”
r echoed Sam.
‘ The shovels Were quickly brought, and the whole party,
‘ , ” wildly excited, sprung into the cn’ve.
“ New listen I" whispered Mr. \‘Vheeler.
They did so, and distinctly heard a female voice, 'in plead-
ing tones, at one end of the first chamber.
“There is another chamber, and here it is,” cried Jack.
1’“ Shovel away—work and dig,r l Situps‘on, you and Scranton
go outside and see no one escapes. She’s in a third clnnnber,
and we’ll find her—hurrah !"
.“ Hurrah ! we’ll find her i" chorused the wild men, com-
mending to di5r furiously.

/

CHAPTER XV.

TWICE DEAD.

THEY had not ‘long to dig, as the soil was yielding, and

the st rent;r arms of the excited and determined men drove the

‘ ‘ spndt-s deep into the hillside. Men elatnored to relieve each
other, and in their wild desire to force their way through,
yelled and even pitched dirt away from the workmen “ith
their hands. Never before had the hilloek, in ull its expe-
rience of murders, robberies and crime, looked upon such a.

wild, frenzied scene.
Furious were the blows showered upon the mold wall——

} strongr the arms of the resolute, high strung men that wielded
0 them, and eager the hearts that. heat for rescue. Indians, fa"

 

.TIIE PHANTOM TRAILER; 0R,

tieuc, liunger~nll,\vere forgotten ; and as fast as a shovelful . '
of dirt was cast from the blade it was thrown fur back by the
rnpi Ely moving hands of those for whom there were no 
shovels. , -_

At. last the foremost man, Sum, uttered a‘ sharp cry, and
struck it furious hlow at the wall ; hi~~ shovel had gone through
——therc was it third chzunher. At the same moment it loud
report rung out inside, it Woman‘s voice shrieked, and Sam

staggered hack, cliisping his left arm nhove the elhow with his  ‘1

right. hund ; some one from the inside had discharged a rifle
at him.

Furious before, the excitement now had become frenzy.
Seve ‘le ferocious hlows were struck at the hole; it. widened ;
several more, and the men plunged headlong, found themselves
in a third chnuher, with n body under their feet—n Suit, ,
plinnt hotly. Regardless of Might else. they drew it to the, A
gap, and recognized the features—the face—the form of—
Kissic.

They heard :1. noise, a. chnnor above, and ran eagerly out-
side, leaving,r Sim, pnle nnd sick, yet/,fiild with delight, and
Mr. Wheeler, cnrcssing‘ the fair girl, who bud fainted awny.
It, is useless to describe the scene—pen can not do it; and
knowing the reader‘s imagination is far more powerful» than
any description, we lethe him to fancy it; it was a meeting
of intense joy. ‘

Arriving,r outside, the men, headed by Cimarron Jack, found
the guide nnd Burt engaged in a fierce struggle with n gigan-
tic mnn in n «grape, u conicnl hat and blank plume. Knit'e in
hutttl, hacked up against the hill, with swnrthy thee glowing,
and black eyes sparkling, he was lunging furiously" at them in
silence. lolmsul in form, expert in the use of his knife, ren-
dered desperute by his small chances of escape, the Trailer
fought like :1 (lemon and kept his smaller oplmnents nt lmy. '

“ Don’t kill him I" shouted Jack; “ we must take him alive.
Let. me in to him—stand hack, boys. I know who he isl—
the Trailer."

At. the mention of-his name, the 'latter turned and scowlcd
at him, and hourser cried : ‘ '

“ Cimarron jack-Any old enemy—may you burn in -—-'-—

Jack, dashing forward with clubbed gun, and with his huge

'5’

 

 
  

THE PRISONER 011'~ TEE Km. CAVE. ' 99

   

L ‘ form towering above his companions, ruahed at him. In vain
-. the,'1‘railer endeavored 'to elude the descending weapon ; in
‘ QVaiu he darted hack; the gun deSCended full on his head,
 knocking,t him backward and prone to the cam.) Svnschlsg.

C Juet'theu a man appeared, running, with a ban in one hand
,- and a. long, beautiful ritie in the ()ihcr; it was I’t-dro Felipe

 
     
   
   
   
 
    
 

    

ud  f-witlr his recovered treasure, which he discovered in the new
in ' :f chamber. Finding that the apparition that had haunted him
lis  r was none other than the exrobber lieutenant, and that, like

5 himself, he was probably in search of the treasure, he had
> burned with rage at his theft and crime, and was now seeking
‘F his life.
 "‘ Dog of a robber—fit associate for your old captain ; cow-
 ard,‘.vi1lain, I have come for your blood ! Where is he? Let
me reach him.”

But they held him back firmly, and after bein},r made cog-
. nizant of Cimarron Jack’s desire to keep him alive, he calmed
‘_ himself, and proceeded to bind the senseless robber securely.

" This. he did with his iill'i'tl, which he brought from inside,
keeping the precious bag with him wherever he went. Then
after he. had hound him fast, and given the body a slight
spam with his foot, he said : ‘ -

“When he recovers, we will kill him."
I “ When the Trailer recovers, he will be shot. dead I” added

Gimarron Jack.

.'-‘ Ay, ay P’ was the genera, response.

, fl ' “ All right, boys—Act us go” and see the pretty girl, and

;- leave the two RUDitltHlXS to stand guard over him. My cyc ;

:9 . ain’t 3 beautiful, though Y” . ‘

v ' ‘.‘ Yeti bet l" responded Burt, proudly.

. Inside they found Kissie quite reCovei-ed, with her father I
 and young Carpenter fitting jealously by her. Though pale
and thin, she, in her joy, looked, to the eyes of the men,
more charming than ev: r before.

What~ had Came to, pus“? \Vas a revolution about to
arise? for when xhe si n’fied Ehe waa very h ’ugry, [hittcuu
, st rred hastily nbonhavhtd y glad of a chance locook. Mind

' that—actually glad. As all Wtru hungry, he was forced

to Co.“ upon the men for :tsSiS‘unCc, services which they gladly .
rendered,and soon the savory odorof cookiugfllle'd the cave.

      
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
        
      
   
       
     
     
     

..

100 THE. PHANTOM TRAILER; on,

“ So he gave .you enough to eat, did he, my daughter 1‘”
asked Mr. Wheeler, gazing fondly into her face.

“Oh, yes, plenty; and a warm, Soft blanket to sit upon ;
and he was kind, too—only sometimes he Would ruVe to him— ,
self, stricken by remorse." ‘

“ Did he mullrcut you in any munner?" ficheiy demanded
Carpenter:

“ Oh, no, not at all. He was away most of the time ; and
when he Was present he always kept busy counting a spl‘endid '
-—oh, so lovely i—treusure' he had ; all gold, and jeWel§ and
ornaments —;m immense sum they must be worth.”

“ That is what brought Pedro here, then,” remarked
Sum; “he has, the bug, now, outside, where he is guarding
the Trailer.”

“ ()h, Pedro was so gmd to me. When he went out to tell
you I was here, that horrid mun stole in by u chet passage,
en itched the hug from a. small hole, then put out the torch
and carried me in here. llis horse he kept there, and some-
times he Would get stubborn and try to kick me; ‘then ‘
_ you should have seen him beat him. Once some Indians
tried to cut their way through to us and he shot and killed
one.” ‘

“ Yes, he lies outside now. We heard the shot, and it
mystified us," remarked Napoleon Rohidonx.

“ That villain cimsed us enough trouble," said Burt. “ I’m -
downright glad he has lost. “the gold—Pedro , has fairly
earned it.” »

“ So he has," was the cry. '

“ A shout came from'without, in Pedro’s voice:

“ Come out—gunk: out!"

Expecting Indians, all rushed out hut Sam and Mr.
Wheeler, the former being disnhled hy the bullet of the
Trailer, which had passed through his arm, though not break-
ing it. When they arrived outside they found the Mexican
lowering over the ex~rohher, who had reéowred his senses,
and was now scowling upon the party. The blow from the
rifle had not proved it very forcible one, as a. large “ hunch”
= on his head wgs the only sign of it. ‘ '

.. ‘f Now he has recovered, we will shoot him at once i” and
0: Redru‘s eyes sparkled.

 

, 1..., .

THE PRISONER OF THE HILL CAVE.

“ Ay, ay—tnke him out i" was the unanimous cry.

The Trailer soowlcd.

All of these men had seen “ Judge Lynch,” and many had
assisted him. Following the order of the age, they did not
htsitate, hut proceeded at once to business.

They took him from the hillock, from the side of the

'savuge he had slain, and among other red corpses scattered
about they placed him upon his feet. He immediately lay
doer. A '

“ Get up i” commanded Pedro, who was the acknowledged

. chief.

The robber only scowled in reply.

“Get upfiand die like a man and not like a cowering
bound 1” urged Jack. '

This had the efl‘ ct desired, and the Trailer rose.

“ Now, senors, load your rifles l”

“ They are all loaded."

“ It. is Well. Have you any thing to say, Trailer ?"

No answer save a scowl. .

“It is your last chance. Again, have you any thing to
 l“

“ Si .' poor-rumba l”

“ it is enoug’ln Take him out.”

'He was plnced now in the open plain, facing the hillock.
The men drewup in line, not twenty feet. distant.

“ Are you all ready, senors ‘1’” asked Pedro, aiming at the
victim’s henrt.

“ We are ready.” ‘

“it is good. Aim Well, each at his heart: I will count
three. One.” ‘ . ' “

The Trailer‘s face was a trifle paler now, but his scowl was
blacker and more malignant.

, “ Two l"

" The' Trailer stood firm. Along the line of men eying
his heart he saw no look of mercy, nor look of pity ; only a
settled determination to execute the law of “ Judge Lynch.”

Dead silence. ’

"Three!" I , ‘ 

The Trailer fell flat on his facewLifting him up they {6-

found him dead—~twiee dead—but now forever on earth, '1: ‘ A J

 

f

. @556
k

 ,. Cimnrron Jack, with many good

easings from, his’ true friends, athmgth tore him-

"  nit rode oti‘ toward the Colorado River, to which

. V was en: route, long to be, remembered by those he. 11nd
rimmed. “Simpson phrted with Pedro Inueif/against his
 hut'was CUBSUiUd hy the latter’s promising to meet him
On the Colorado. Then he, Pedro, and Cimurron Jack were.

'tounite. and well armed and equipped were to penetrate to - “

even, country. They underwent many marvelous and perilous
adventures, but we have not space to relate them. 1
Pedro was rieh——-enormously l'lCh—flllti on returning safely
to his “ sunny land ” Was joyfully welcomed back, and com
gratulated upon his success. God bless him, say We. ,
\Vhen the party arrived at Fort Leavenworth, as they safeiy
.did, there was a Wedding, and a joyful one it was, too,‘St\m,
of course, being the happy groom. There the party Sepa-
rated, all but Duncan and Simpson continuing theigjourney
east.  a.  
Strange to say, Duncan—grumbling, unhappy Duncan-i-‘Weijf , '
back with Simpson, in order to explore the Great Colorado "
Canon with the three Mullah-fighters;in the capacity of camp.-
coo/c. He was,uulnq3py, of course, and he had no cooking
ConVeniences ; but managed to assume complete mastery oVer
his strangely-assorted companions, and to keep them alive,
with his original observations and halfisulky grumblings.

THE ENi).

 

 

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No. i—Ilnwkeyo llnrry the Young
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No. 2—0:“ Shut; nr,Tho Whlte \'ultnro.
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No. I—The Bog Miner- W Th. En-
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N o. 8 —Tho Toll Trapper; nr, 'l‘im l-‘iuw-
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No. 9--nghtnln J". the Terror of
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No. ll—The Ho Ilunzert 0!. The "uh.
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No. 11 lieu, the Trapper. A 'l:llo or

o Var Nnmhweot. llg. Edward S. Hl'u.

No. [8 -'l'ho French by: or. Thu Fall
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NO. 10—800! llond; or, Tho Chuuual
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No. IO—The i ter Chef; or, Tho lu-
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No. Io—Tho B'or-Klllon or, Tho hm;
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No. ll-leld NIH or, Tho Cod" Sump
Brlpulo. By Wm. R. Eylur.

No. ‘.-llfl“.l Jo. the GINO. By
Louis “'JTIVIOB. >

No. :3 7 Old Kent, the Ranger. 3]
[dwnrd S. Ll“.

No. M—Tho Ono-E104 Troppor. By
CCpL Coma-xi.
o

1" BIADLI'I Dill Pool-1' Novlu no nlwnyl In prlnt Ind l-ir ale 5 ' I" thIIlr-lon.

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No. 26—1‘he Black Shlp.
\Vnrimr.

No. 27—filnzle Eye, the lit-ourge. B
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)0. 28 —lndlnn Jlm. A Tnle of th. Mln
non- tu Mn.- nrm. lh lidnlrd S. lillil.

No. ESL—The hit-nut. l5) “'um u St. Juhn.

No. 80.— Eagle Eye. My W. J. Hamilton

No. BIH’l‘ho Myntlt-Cunoo. A Rom- V
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No. 82 The Guldc n. llurpoun; rv ml
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No. 68 Thu Scalp Klng. AUDUL Ned

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No. 84- Old Lute. the lndlnn-flghter.
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Comma. '

Nara—The Buy Pioneer. lly Edwn'
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dlllllll.

Ko. 38 "fine llenrt lintrr- w, ‘H.. l‘ro
plietof :1- llulllvw nix. liy llnn: mum

No. 89 ‘Welzel, the h‘c-out; nr_Tb-- Cs
(Wm ‘fllus “magnum ll} 11.9mm“ Brl
nap. .\I. ll.

No. 407-r'l'he Illlfl‘ Ilunter: or, TI.
Strum Mxh oi in 'rnilu'l. ll) indwnrll b-
Ellin.

No. 4I~r“'lld Nut. the Trapper. By
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50.42—1. Iu-cup: ur, ’11" Sioux T: u. '
By Pnul Bi bl.

No. “--Tho “'hlto (luthuv; or, ‘l‘hv
Buidll Brlznm‘L liy llnrry llnzuvd.

No. M—Tho Dog 'l‘rnller.
lck Dowoy. Rudy

NO. “—The Elk K'nx. H ‘ 3. Cha-
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No. “*Adrlnn, nu l'llnl. By Cut.
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No. 61—11:: Ion-hum r.
Boll; Bondy Aprll llth.

a, John 5

l:
)i

By I! red-r-

5, Hunt.

fill: ho u

put-p.14, w my Addnfl: Iln'l. unborn, kn unto; le month (ll Non. 01.15; um yrll IA Nun ) .1. V
BSAOLB AND ADLII, PINS-hon, .8 Will!”- Mnet, Now You,

m:

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