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J“ . llmll‘uiml-ll—IMI. .1. ‘ I ll ’ l‘ .’ f ‘- ‘-
189'), by BIADLI All» Ann“. Entered In Second UM- Mutter nu ma an York. N. Y.. Pun Otfira. Jnnunrv 6, 1391‘.

“II

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Copyrighted.

P bl h B d
No. 417. 33-33. “ " 2132;332:123: mm“, “vim... V01. XXXIII.

Fighting [radar Hisnu.

 

 

 

THE BOYS HELD [HEIE TORCHEH LN ONE HAND A511 l'unlfl NpVULVniho 1.'- THE OTHER.

 

 

I Fighting Prod.

 

' Fighting Fred of Frisco;

The Castaways of Grizzly Camp.

BY ’1‘. C. HARBAUGH,
AUTHOR OF “ nor EXILES.” “ snow SHOE Ton,"
“ms-r nor wnsmms," “KIT
causes CLUB," are.

 

CHAPTER 1.
mm TO THEIR rAm

“ Ir cannot be that they have gone away to
ltay, and have left us to our fate in this wild
region. ’ '

“ I’m afraid of it, Max.”

“Then may not. one of them ever see the let-
tlements again! May lndian and grizzly make
short work o_t' the merciless villains! Here we
are, ruthlessly abandoned in the wilds. I don’t
know where we are, for the map has been taken
from us, and we are left to perish miserably in
Grizzlv Camp."

“ We‘ll see about thati I rerr ember. for one,
that we are Yniikre boys, and I’m going to see
if Yankee luck will not bring us out of this
sun all 0. I never did go much on that

ol ow guide, and preciouslittle more on Tucson

om. As for Captain Snake, 1 did have a bet-

ter opinion of him, but after all I guess he's no
better than the other two. Hold up y our heads,
boys, and look misfortune squarely in the face.
I'm not going to let this infamous desertion
dampen my spirits o" prevent me from having
a good time. Since we have been abandoned to
the mercy of grizzlies and lndinns, let us inspect
our armament and make the best of a bad bar-
gain. In the first place, boys. let us throw defl-
ance into the teeth of fate. 0!]! with your hats.
and give three cheers for Camp Grizzly l”
- The three boys, who stood heft re the lone
cabin among the Cascade mountains, took 03
their hats, and. headed by the one who had
spoken last, gave three rousing cheers.

“ Let us see now what the rascals have really
left behind,” resumed the most deflant of the
three youths, a well-limbed boy named Fred
Nichols. “ The only wonder is that they’va left
us anything at all. and under the circumstances

we will feel grateful for the smallest favor.”

A light laugh followed these words, and the

v three boys disappeared beyond the rough thresh;

old of the cabin.

While they are inspecting the meager arsenal
left them. and inwardly growling at theirill-
luck, let us for a moment look at the circum-
srunees which had brought them to the spot
where we have introduced them to the reader.

Fred Nichols, Max Martin and Ned Knight
were chums Whose ages did not vary more than
three months from seventeen years.

Nine weeks prior to the date of the opening
of the present chapter, which, let us inform the
reader right here. is October 12th. 188‘}. the
have left San Francisco full of glee for a trip to
Fort Ukinakane. on the north branch of the

Columbia. within the limits of Wuhinzton Ter-

 

ritory, where the expected to enter the service
of a well-known ur company.

The entire party consisted of six persons—the
three have already mentioned, and three men.—
Tucson Tom, a welLknown guide; Old Blue
Mountain, Indian~flghter and trapperrand Cap.
tain Snake, is half-breed, a man who had been
trusted more than he deserved.

The three men had been paid well for tho
work for which they were hired, and nobody
beyond them had dreamed of treachery.

We might. remark here that 'the boys had on
several occasions caught the trio holdm whis-
pered conversations, and while Fre , eyel-
watchful and shrewd, feared that a game of
some kind was afoot, he did not think that the
were to be ruthlessly abandoned and left to sum
for themselves, hundreds of miles from their
destination.

After a lengthy but not nnadventurous 10,".
hey almost "(1055 Oregon, the little party of six
found themkelves in front of a strong and mun.
habited Cllbin among the Cascades. a sham dis,
tance south of the main stream of the Columbia.

The cabin, standing ions and weather-beaten,
and e ithout a door. told them_that some pemus
bud been before them; but it had been align-
donnd many years prior to the young trapper.)
arrival.

it stood in the most beautiful yet wildest pan
of the Cascade range. above the dulles of the
great, River of the West.

int y mountains lifted their heads_on every
side, some timbered almost to their points
others rugged and bare, us though a fire had
stripped them of their trees. ‘ ' '

Hundreds of these mountain trees were pines
that seemed to touch the skies; their cucnmfer.
ence and hight suprisod even the bnys,hand this
when they hail seen the renowned sequent grove.
of California.

The cabin of course proved a friend to the
mountain travelers.

They stripped the packs from their ho

and depositing them in the but, turned the aui- ""

mals loose to seek their meal, while they—men ,

and boys—either rested themselves or scoured
the new re ion for game.

Several ays were passed at the cabin by  a ’

entire party.

The mountain forests swarmed with game  L. 3'
every description, and the rivers that poured ‘

their waters into the Columbia were well stocked
with fish.

On the afternoon of the fourth day the three" 

boys, full of sport, left camp for a. fish, and did "

not return until the sun had set behind a
mountain which they had appropriatelxnamed
Bald Cone. l ' _
Then it was that they made a discovery-well"
calculated to fill their souls with horror. ’
The camp was uninhabited, and worse am
not a horse was to he foundl . .
Durin their absence Tucson Tom and his
compadn olnsviiad fltaker: the animals and de-
earn as ng em 0 go on or ate there
cord ng’to their choice. y .43
Abandoned in the wilds of Northern
was not a pleasant thought, and it was no

that. Max should see no pleasure in the future. “ l
W we. 7;

but added to the peril of then-situation

 

 

 

     
    
 

.15,"

.1 v

 

 

I  keep his distance.

 dep

 

 

  

in.»

Fighting Prod. _ 8

 

the fact that they had crossed a large Indian
trail the day before reaching the cabin.

This had probably made the three guides and
hunters turn back; but why should they aban-
don the lads to almost certain deathll

It looked like treachery of the blackest hue.

Now lotus retui n tothe three castaways whom
we left inspecting the cabin for the purpose of
seeing what the rascally trio had left behind.

The search was brief, but yielded more than
the boys expected.

They found that the deserters had left them a
gun apiece and a fair supply of ammunition, a
few rough cooking utensus and three traps large
enough to hold animals smaller than the wolf;
also an ax and a hatchet.

Beyond these things nothing of utility had
been left behind, but the faces of the boys
brightened when they beheld the little heap.

“ VVe’re a long ways from poverty,” exclaim-
ed Fred. “ I fancy that these things were left
at Cn tain Snake’s suggestion.”

“ on still take some stock in the half—breed?”
Ned half-queried.

“ A little,” smiled Fred. “ He‘s not altogether
bad—that yellow-skinned old fellow isn’t. The
infamous scheme that has been carried out found
existence in Old Blue Mountain’s brain, and
Tucson Tom wasn’t slow to follow the su ges-

‘ tio'n. Where they’ve one I don’t care. hey
have left us here, but at us show them what
Yankee pluck can accomplish. I’m for fighting
adversity to the bitter end."

“ So am I,” echoed Ned. “ The odds are
against us at present, for I am lost as much
here as I would be if dropped blindfolded in the
heart of Africa.”

. “ Courage! courage i” enjoined Fred. , “ Now
, let us taste the fish we’ve caught, and after that
be in life in earnest.”

The boys left the cabin and Max hastened to
the spot where he had de osited the results of

.‘their fishing excursion a ew minutes before,
butethe exclamation of astonishment followed:

“ Somebody has stolen the fish.”

“Impossible 1” said Fred and Ned bounding

,forward.

r V “Here's where I laid them,” answered Max,

pointing to the spot where the fish had lain, for
there were scales on the ground, nothing more-—

; not a single salmon.

- '“ This beats ever thing.” declared Fred.

.“ One misfortune swi tly follows another. The
fish were here five minutes ago,” and his eyes

flashed angrily. ,

’ “ I'd like to see the miserable thief l” he ejacu-
lated. “ If he’s an Indian he dare not show
himself: if a sneaking white man, he had better

We have been left here by

three of the meanest men that ever struck a

trail' but that is no reason why we should be

ved of our supper. My opinion is,hoys,

. that the thief has gone in this direction. Here

' n - are some scales that confirm my belief. _B

Jove! if we come up with the salmon this

there’ll be some fun.’

.‘f’ Led by Fred, whose courage enthused them

- ,fall. Ned and Max cocked their guns as the ran.
‘ ‘ Fifty yards away the boy castaways alted

. ‘ suddenly,.for some animal was rushing through

i the (lysine undergrowth directly tow than.

 

 

“ Stand your ground!" commanded Fred,
raising his piece. r

The next moment there burst into View a tire-
mendous grizzly. beneath whose enormous pawl
the very eartu seemed to shake.

He came forward with baleful eyes, and
snout erect, and in his month he carried a. mag.
nificcnt string of mountain fish.

 

CHAPTER II.
mun STEAKB FOR screen—mums.

THE fierce aspect of this animated picture was
softened somewhat by the fish that dangled
from the grizzly’s mouth.

“Look out!” culled Fred to his companions as
he stood his ground and threw his weapon
against his shoulder.

He took a hasty aim and fired straight at the
head of the monster.

As the sun had set and the mountains were
full of shadows, it required good marksmanship ,
{:2 drive a bullet into the brain of a bounding

ar.

The grizzly seemed to take no account of
Fred’s shot, for be neither stopped nor dropped
the fish, but plunged on with his little eyes
snapping furiously. .

Chagrined at his ill-luck, Fred lowered the
rifle, an excellent repeating firearm, and hold-
ing it in his hand, assayed another shot with a ~
different result, for the grizzly, hard hit, uttered
a mad growl, but continued to cling tenacioust
to the salmon.

“Pour it into him i” shouted Fred. “Cheat
the old stager out of his supper, and gain one ‘
for ourselves.” ,

Ned and Max sprung forward- but before
they could bring their rifles to hear on the
brute, he altered his course, and charged direct-
ly at them. -

The boys fell back without firing their pieces,
for the grizzly was almost upon them and they
had barely time to sprin aside ere lie dashed
by at full speed and Within arm’s length of
their bodies. I

“Come along!” shouted Fred Nichols spring-
ing after the bear which appeared to be‘ adly
wounded. “ He’s got to give us the fish or
bear~steaks-—I don’t care which.”

The grizzly dashed straight toward the cabin,
and turning one of its corners disappeared.

The boys were not far behind him and when
they reached the but not a glimpse of the grizzly
could they obtain.

Was it possible that the old fellow had ' taken
possession of the cabin? ‘ - ’

If he had not, what had become of him!

The ground in front of the hut was..compara-
tlvely Open, and the hear, if he had not sought
the cabin, could have been seen.

The loys paused in front of the old structure,
and gnzeil into each other’s faces.

A grizzly in their home was an adventure
they had not bar ained for.

After a while red crept forward, and neon-
noitered. -

Heheard a singular sound beyond the' thres-
hold, and reigning his companions, told them
that their a on number for the present was a

   

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‘ righting Prod.

 

thing of the past; the hear was at last enioying
the stolen meal!

The lads retired a. short distance from the
cabin; and held what Fred called “ a council of
war.

When the grizzly had finished his meal, might
be not take a notion to wreak his vengeance on
the few perishable and very valuable things the
old but contained?

Tucson Tom and his companions had left sev-
eral little sacks of sugar, salt and c( flee behind,
and these to the castaways were worth their
wei ht in gold.

ell did the boys know that it would be fool—
hardiness to attack the bear in his retreat, and
then there was no telling how long he might see
fit to hold the fort.

If they had possessed a dog, they might have
induced the old fellow to show himself and pre-
sent a target for their rifles: but the only dog
the party owned had been coaxad away by the
deserters.

An hour passed away, but 01d Ephraim did
not show his head.

A full round moon showed herself in the
cloudless skies and silvsred the ground to the
very threshold of Bruin’s den.

Eager for a glimpse of their enemy, and hun-

., gry as wolves, the three boys watched the door
with cocked rifles and fingers ready at the
trig er.

“ ’m not' going to stand this a moment
longer!” cried Fred at the end of the second
hour. “ I don’t propose to sit here without my
supper, and await t e pleasure of that mean
grizzly. He’s got to show himself, or let us

now Why not.”

“ My opinion is that you’ll get into trouble if
you precipitate events," ventured Max, the most
cautious member of the trio.

“ Trouble be hanged!” was the response.
“ Think of the luscious supper we’vo been de-
prived of.” And closing his lips firle behind
the last sentence, Fred went forward deter-
mined, as his manner indicated, to bring mat-
ters to a crisis.

Ned and Max saw him approach the cabin
and halt several feet from its door, or rather
threshold, for door, as we have said, the old
shanty had not.

The sound which the boy had heard before
was now still. as if the bear, having finished the
fish. had retired for the night.

Fred dropped on all fours and crept nearer.

“ I’m going to see about this,” he said to him-
self. “ It' Old Eph is taking a nap he’s likely
to be disturbed.”

A short crawl brought the fearless boy to the
openin , and to his companions’ surprise he
stop e there and tried to pierce the gloom that

y yond. v

“ Hello there! you old sneak-thief!” sud-
denly rung out Fred’s clear tones. “You’ve

at no business on the claim you’ve occupied.
some out and play the man 1”
, The words Seemed to echo everywhere in the
‘ old shanty, but they did not elicrt a. single re—

“ He‘ may be dea "Fred sent over his shoul-
der to Ned and Max, and turned his attention
to the but aaain. ,

 

The next moment he recoiled with a half-

:tifleld cry, for something cold had touched hil
8.06

It was the muzzle of the occupant of the
cabin!

Fred almost lost his balance as he went
back. for the touch so icy was so une ected
and sent a terrible thrill through every bar of
his frame.

" What’s the matter?” asked Ned. “ Is the
grizzly dead?”

“Dead? heavens no!” exclaimed Fred. “ He’s
just been trying to kiss me.”

Fred stood erect once more, and his eyes
were riveted on the opening as it he expected
to see the bear dash forward to an encounter;
but the grizzly did not accommodate him.

The snout that had touched his cheek and
almost frozen it had apparently been with-
drawn, as though its owner was satisfied with
his advance.

At last, however, and with a suddenness that
startled the three supperless castaways, the
homely head of the bear appeared in the dark
opening. '

“There he is!” said Fred in whispers as be
raised his rifle already cocks i. “Now, boys,
let us give him the compliments of a broadsidcl“

Three guns instantly struck as many shoul—
ders, and as the boys glanced down the barrels,
the head disappeared as suddenly as it had been
thrust into prominence.

“ That’s a scurvy trick l” growled Ned, sorely
disappointed. ’

“A mean one, even for a bear,” answered
Fred. “ Now look out I‘m going to rouse him
it E gan. The music of a bullet may bring him
on .
Fred’s last word was followed by the ringing
report oi his rifle. '

‘ Here he is!” ejaculated Ned and Max in one,
breath, as a. tremendous figure cleared the
threshold in a lumbering manner, and was fired
at by the two boys, the reports of whose wea-
pons were blended into one. -

This time fortune Seemed to direct the hul-
lets, for at the crack of the rifles the bear fell
heavily on his side, and moved but once as the ‘
echoes died away. \ ,

“Bear-steaks are better than fish-bones, an
day!” shouted Fred as he went forward, for-

getting that the huge monster might not he _ 

dead.
“It isn’t so terrible to be abandoned, after
all,” was Ned’s conclusion. ‘

“My opinion is that the worst has not come,”
observed cautious Max. “I’d ,like to know
what frightened that bear in the underbrush,
a. while ago.”

“ He got scared at his own shadow,” laughed
Fred. “It’sa wonder he didn’t drop the fish.
Great Cesar! look what a carcass, boys.” ‘

Well might Fred make use of the exclam.
ution, for the dead grizzly was amonster of his
kind, and looked doubly huge in the mellow,
moonlight in which he lay.

Being Californians, and used somewhat to
camp ife, the three castawayi began tO'skln
their rize, for they desired to discuss some
julc ear-steaks. ,;
“ w for tbO'bOIll supper these mountain. r

 

 

 

 

, boys. The trail ‘and: toward the river.

r

‘ofit

righting Prod.

 

afl’ord!” and Fred began to cut of! the haunch.
" I tell you, boys—”
M“ For meroy’l sake, look yonder!” interposed

ax.

Fred looked up.

“What is it? I see nothing,"he said.

“ Neither do I nOW' but as sure as I have
eyes. I saw an Indian’s head above on rock.”

“An Indianl” and Ned and Fre leaped to
their feet. “Grizzlies first, red-skins next—
that’s the way it is likely to go in this wild
region."

CHAPTER III.
mum on ma mmu’s mam.
INSPECTION indicated that Max had seen the
shadow of an Indiau’s head on the whitened
surface of the bOWlJEI‘, and not the head it.

self.

Fred was inclined to attribute it all to fright,
but Max persisted that he had seen something,
and the three boys returned in no high spirits
to the bear.

As hunger had to be appeased despite their
situation, some choice sten s were cut from the
cagcass, and a fire built in the interior of the
ca in.

.Ned and Max kept guard at the opening
while Fred roasted the meat to aturn. after
which he invited them to the most delicious of
repasts to which, need we say, the trio did full
games.

I That night there was destined to be no sleep
in Grizzly Camp.

The boys had employment that kept them
awake.

The shad0w on the rock was enough to keep
sleep from their eyes, and while they watched
the planned in low voices for the future. /

ortunately the night passed away without
an alarm of any kin ; the distant wolf-howls
did not disturb the occupants of Grizzly Camp.
for the sneaking pack kept its distance, although
they made the entire night resound with their
dismal cries. '

When day broke again Fred visited the rock
Evhere Max had seen something the night be-

ore.

> “Max was right,” suddenly ejaculated the
boy. staring at- the unmistakable impression of
a moccasin n the yieldin ground. “Our dan-
ger lies just here: If thegIndian is alone he will
doubtless tell his companions when he joins
them that Grizzly Camp is inhabited by {hrefi

wx
follow; it a short distance, and see what becomes

The trail left by the red~sldn was'plain enough
to be followed by a. youth of Fred 5 experience
in mountain craft, and, nothing daunted, the
boE resolved to see what became of it.

9 did not stop to consider that more or less
hazard was attached tothe following of an In-
dian trail in the Cascade country.

He had the safety of the camp and the lives
of his companions uppermost in his rn nd.

In less than five minutes after leaving tho

' ‘ bowlder. Fred had putn little wooded rise be-
'-“ tween

him and camp, but continued to press

on.
r The river. which was a rapid tributary of the

 

Collumbis, was about half a mile from the
ca nn.

It was a narrow and very swift strea m. rush-
ing with great force between its banks which in
many places were stoop and perpendicular.
This tributary which on account of its current
the boys had several days before dubbed Rapid
River, entered the Columbia some miles away,
and eventually poured its waters into the Pa-

m c.

The Indian‘s trail led Fred straight toward
the river, and he at last reached its Western
bank at a. spot where it was bridged in a natu-
ral manner by a huge tree. like the tall ones
seen elsewhere in the country.

There instantly rushed across the boy’s mind
the idea that the red spy had crossed the river
on the tree, and this thought was speedily con-
firmed, for the trail led to the trunk itself.

Fred halted at the tree and threw wistful
glances across the stream.

He was anxious to know in which direction
the rod-skin had moved after striking the oppo-
site bank.

Having ascertained this, he could go back to
camp and report to his companions.

The trunk of the tree at the point where it
had broken ofl.’ was not less than ten feet in di-
ameter. It made an exc‘ellent foot bridge,
although at times the foliage that still remained
upon it was very dense, miniature thickets, so
to speak.

For Fred to discuss the feasibility of crossing
the river on the tree was to undertake the task,
and having looked to his weapons he sprung up-
on the mountain giant.

A minute later he was moving forward.

Two hundred feet beneath him rushed the
river in a state of wildnesa, foaming and boiling
with a roar at intervals almost dsafening.

Fred had but to look downward to tighten his
hold on the limbs and steady himself as be ad-
vanced inch by inch toward the distant bank.

He reached the middle of the foot-bridge
without accident and halted for breath.

The densest foliage to be found on the body of
the tree now surrounded him. He could not see
twelve feet ahead, and the limbs had closed be-
hiind him, obscuring entirely his starting-
p ace.

To a boy less courageous than Fred Nichols
the situation would have been one of the most
unpleasant kind, but it did not deter him.

‘ There are real thickets on this bridge,” he
said to himself. “ I wonder that the Indian did
not clear a path with his hatchet.”

Scarcely had he finished when a noise from
toward the bank he had lately left attracted his
attention, and his first look backward be per-
ceived the limbs shake as if some person was
moving forward.

“ I’m in a predicament if the Indian is behind
me I” ejaculated Fred, as he strained his e es to
obtain a glimpse of the living object whic was
undoubtedly advancing along the tree.

Turning his body and bracing it as best he
was able, he cocked his rifle and awaited rs-
su s.

The shaking of the limbs increased, and the
boy’s heart beat anxiously when he knew that a
few more seconds would reveal the enemy.

 

0 Fighting Fred.

 

All at once the foliage scarcely twenty feet
Iv- a was ported. and the (‘astM'uy of Grizzly
Ci.an sow not [he paintml head of an lndlun,
but theI hour Iv ung of a bear!

“Another GI izziy !” fell irom Fred’s lips, and
a moment later a smile appeared on in: counte-
nance—a snnle for the ludicrousness attached
to his situation.

Astonishment was depicted in the grizzly’s
eyes, for he had come upon a person for w hom
he was not looking.

“If he withdraws, he will be permitted to
depart in peace,” resumed Fl'Oll; “ but if he
advances he “ill surely run against a bullet.”

For several minutes boy and bear eyed each
other above the seething torrent that rushed be-
tween the river’s banks.

It promised to be a test of endurance, as well
as mental study of strength.

At first sigtt of the bear, Fred had raised his
rifle. and, with the piece resting in a fork
straight ahead, he had Old Ephraim completely
covered.

The boy’s fingers itched to press the trigger,
and send the shaggy monster rolling from the
tree into the rapid current below; but there was
a possibility of failing to deliver a death—shot
even at that distance, so Fred waited for the
grizzl to make a movement. '

At ast, as if satisfied that no very serious ob.
stacle blocked his way, the bear gave a grunt
and came forward again.

“ You've sealed your doom, old captain 1” ex-
claimed Fred, as his cheek dropped to his rifle-
stock. ,

At that moment he touched the trigger, and
[with a terrible bowl of pain the huge animal
rolled aside and caught madly at the limbs that
brushed his hide.

Fred leaned forward with his heart in his
throat.

The bear had not fallen from the tree, and
might be desperawa wounded, and in a condi-
tion to attack him.

But no! Bruin’s days were numbered. Even
as Fred looked, the limbs gave way before his
great weight, and the huge carcass shot toward

tho river, tnrning OVer and over in its swift de- ‘

scent»

Old Ephraim struck the water and threw to-
ward the interested watcher far above a column
of spray and foam; then his bod y was seen for
a moment longer, when it disappeared beneath
the boiling floodl

Fred let slip a breath of relief, and sent a
{023k of defiance toward the bank he had lately

a ll. ‘

If there were any more bears to try the bridge
he was ready to encounter them.

- But none presented themselves. and after a
few moments Fred resumed his journey, and
reached the bank for which he had set out.

The ground there was soft enough to show the
impress of a moccasin, provided a. human foot
filled it; but the youth was somewhat chagnned
at finding nothing of the kind. _

He stuck to the tree and went on, nor left it

/' until he reached the top, where he exanuned
the ground again, but with the same result.

Prod was pulled: his countenance

 

plainly that the red-skin had completely out-
goneruli-d him. i '

Desoniring of recovoring the trail, the boy
trnppnr leaned against a tree. and rcsolVrd to
rest a few minutes beioro setting out on his
return to Camp.

He was now in a wood whose soil he had
never trod be-fore.

Giant trees without a limb under sixty feet
from the ground grew around him. and the soil

was carpeted with soft rich grass entirely

different irom that which grew east of Rapid
River.

It was morning in the wild woods of northern
Oregon, and Fred quite forgot the infamy that
had made him a castaway in a region where
d nger lurked in every shadow.

He would have been satisfied if he could have
recovered the lndian’s trail, but, with the art
of his people, the red-skin had deftly concealed
it, and, for augnt Fred knew, might be many
miles awa .

Fred at last resolved to go back to Grizzly

amp.

There was work to be done there.

He had formed a plan which he was certain
Max and Neil would approve of, and he was
anxious to lay it before them.

He was about to quit the tree when the queer-
est of sounds struck his ear, and he felt his hat
lirred from his head.

. The boy started from the tree with a. start-
ling cry, which was cut short when he turned.

His but indeed had been taken from his head,
but it had not fallen to the ground;1‘t had been
pinnr'd to the tree by an Indian arrow! ,

Fred looked at it but for a second, and then
wheeled with the click of his rifle’s lock.

“ Where is the red-skin who fired that arrow!”
he exclaimed. “I am alone, but I am not
afraid. Where is the red c0ward, I say? Let
him face Fred Nichols if he dare!”

The boy spoke apparently to the trees alone,
for there was no response.

0
CHAPTER IV.
BACK IN CAMP—-A FATAL DISCOVERY. 1
fl FRED'S blood was hot; his eyes seemed to flash
ro.

Behind him was his but still pinned to the
tree by the feathered shaft which had barely .
{hissed his head; in his front, trees—nothing but
recs.

He was puzzled to know from whence the
arrow had come. ‘

It had doubtless been fired from a goodly » 7

distance, for he had not heard the twang of the -
bow-string; the’ only noise he had heard was tho ~
Eissd of the shaft as it cut the air above his
ea .
“Well,” resumed Fred, after waiting several
minutes for a response to his challenge, “ well,
if you are determined to keep behind a shelter-
imz tree you may_and remain a coward to your
dying day. You dare not show yoursrlf. I’m
here to fight you in any manner you like.”
Fred’s words died away in far-oi! echoes and
the next moment he was walking towa the V
gangs] bridge with his rifle still oockod in his-
an ‘

 

 

 

Fighting Fred. '7

"It all the Indians in these parts are as
sneaking as that one. Grizzly Camp is apt to
have trouble with them,” he said, in audible
tones. “ By Jove! I've forgotten my hat. The
red-skin sba’n’t carry it of! as a trophy.”

The youth wheeled and went back to the
tree, from which he wrenched the arrow, al-
though the iron barb was deeply imbcddcd in
the wood. and put on his hat, after which he
turned toward that part of the wood from
which the shaft had come, and broke the arrow
above his head.

“ Now for camp!"

He walked boldly toward the tree-bridge with
eyes on the alert, and once more put his foot
upon it.

This time he believed there would he no
grizzly to follow him; if he was molested at all,
it would be by an enemy to he feared more than
the mountain monsters of the cascades.

The young Californian cast more than one
anxious glance over his shoulder as he advanced
along the tree, for, to tell the truth, he expected
to be followed by the unseen marksman.

He looked once down among the waters, but
did not see the hear.

The grizzly’s huge carcass had long since dis-
appeared, and was doubtless miles from the
s ot.
p“ There’s a. river between us anyhow,”
thought Fred, as he stepped from the tree on
the safe side of the stream, and without wait-
ing to make further investigations he hastened
toward camp.

We need not mention that his arrival was
hailed with 0y by Ned and Max, for Fred had
overstayed n's time, and the two boys were
getting anxious when he made his appearance.

Fred related his adventure with the hear us
well as the incident of the mysterious arrow,
to all of which his companions listened With
breathless attention.

“ We have made a singular discovery, too,”
announced Ned, when Fred had spun his some-
what thrilling yam. “This old cabin stands
over the entrance to a cave which looks like the
mouth of an old mine." _

Fred uttered an exclamation of astonish-
ment.

“ How came you to discover it?” he asked.

“ We were examining the puncheons on the
floor with a view to utilizing several of them
fora door,” was the reply, “and the removal
of one disclosed an opening which we saw at
once had been made by the hand of man a long
time ago.”

“ And you then inspected the Cavern?”

“We did rot, but concluded to defer the in-
spection until your return. You are here now,
and we will see what is in the unexpected dis-
covery. You have heard the story of the Lost
Mine. Fred?" . _

“ Yes, but it isn’t supposed to be in this part
of the country, it I heard aright.” . _

“ But very little is known about it." said Max.

“The on] living man who knows anything
about it , ou know. hopelesdy mad in the
hospital at s Angeles. Old Blue. the mean

old rat who deserted as yesterday, used to de-
clare that the Lost Mine is somewhere in Ore-

 

gon: but I will ndmft. erd. that he Wall"
knows no more about it than we. But lot us
throw conjecture to the winds, and see what
our ‘ flud ’ reveals.”

While Max was bull-ling, Ned removod a cer-
tain puncheon from its place, and revealed to
the young boar—killer’s gaze a dark opening
large enough to receive thc body of a man.

“Scei the first stage isn’t deep,” Ned ex-
claimed, leaping into the pit and laughing at
Fred’s astonishment.

The boy’s bead and shoulders were elevated
above the opening, but he informed Fred that
below him was the real entrance to a cave
whose dimensions were not known.

A torch was quickly improvised. and, with
Several others in rc>crve. the thrce Castnwa s
descended to the cave proper, and fearlessy
croesed the threshold.

Always foremost in expeditions of dan er
Fred Nichols had placed himsclf at the hen o
the little band, and with the torch in one hand
and a revolvor in the othcr, l e crept down the
damp corridor (lePpr-r and deeper into the re-
cesses of the mysterious plnca.

For more than ten minutes the boys were
compelled to advance in a crouching )ositiou
for the Ceiling of the corridor was quitelow, and
the passage was so narrow that thev had to
move in Indian file, that is, one behind the
other.

At last, however, a light cry from Fred pro-
cluimed that the gloomy corridor had termin-
ated, and a moment. later the three hovs stood
in a chamber whose (liincnsions the £1 nibeau
did not for a short time rcvl-al.

Gradually the aspects of the place became
visible, and, in order to “ holly relieve the
gloom, the other torches were lighted.

“It is the Lost Mine!” suddenly exclaimed
Ned, as he stoop. d and pickcd up an oth-ct that
possessed a singular glitter when held in a. cer-
tain place.

“Mica! You don’t call that gold, do you,
Ned 5"

“ No, but gold maybe near it,” was the reply.
“If what I Just picked up is mica, what do you
call this!"

Fred Nichols did not reply, but, with dilatin
eyes, took the rough rock from Ned's hand an
begun to examine it closely.

The youth had spei t many weeks among the
richest mines of California, and had acquii'cd a
good deal of information about the precious
metals in their rough state; therefore, when he
took the rock from vad‘s hand with a curious
cast of countenance, it was evident that there
was something in it.

Ned did not speak for some time.

When he again looked up into his compan-
ions’ faces he uttered a word that thrilled them.

“ It is gold 1” he declared. “ This rock in my
hand is almost solid gold.”

“Hurrah!” shouted Ned. “We have redis-
covered the famous Lost Mine, and it now be-
longs to us."

“'Not so fast " said Max. “ Let us inspect the
engi'e”place. The nugget may beastray one,
an -

“ A stray one! What do you say to this!"

 

 

 

righting Fred.

 

Ned was holding in his band another nugget
almost as large as the one Fred had just passed
on and his eyes were snapping with triumph.

eed we say that the boys stood dazed by the
wonderful discovery they ad made!

Ned and Max had great confidence in Fred’s
judgment when it came to gold-bearing quart
and they were ready to believe that they be
accidental! rediscovered the wonderful mine
which had an “lost” for years, and in search
of which hundreds of intrepid men had risked
life and squandered fortunes.

They felt like thanking Tucson Tom and his
companions for deserting them in the wild Cas-
cade country.

Ned, in an outburst of enthusiasm, even de-
clared that the would hunt up the rascal! trio,
and instead 0 paying them for their vil ainy,
give them ten thousand apiece!

It the rocks were as valuable as Fred re rded
them, there could be no end to the wealt just
unearthed.

The floor seemed ved with them, and an
examination of one o the walls of the chamber
threw Fred into ecstasies.

“ Hello! here’s another corridor!" suddenly
cried Ned, and the little party rushed into the
narrow place.

This discovery proved to be a narrow passage-
way, which led t e eager boys by numerous
turns into a room smaller than the one first
found, and not so rich in golden rocks.

It was the end of the journey, for the new
room possessed but one outlet, and by that the
one they had entered it.

All at once a dull noise like the falling of a
mass of earth startled the boys; it drove every
vesti e of color from their faces.

“ me!” cried Fred. “We may be impris-
oned in this placel"

Horrible was the thought!

It drove the gold finders forward at the top
of their speed, and with their hearts in their
throats.

They all entered the gold-room at the same
time and dashed across it.

A moment later Fred, who was slightly in the
advance, recoiled with a cry.

“ We are buried alive 1" was his horrified ejac-
ulation. “ We have found the Lost Mine, only
to make it our living grave l"

t This terrible state of affairs seemed all too
rue.

The noise which.had sent a nameless chill to
their hearts had been occasioned by the fall of
a mass of dirt and rock, which effectually
blocked up the corridor lending to the old cabin!

For several minutes after Fred’s exclamation
the Castaways stood speechless in the glare of
at: torches, almost ready to fall from their

nds.

“ What is this!” suddenly cried Max. break-
in the silence as he sprung upon a certain
obiect on the floor of the cavern.

ed and Fred leaped instantly to his side and
stared at his “find,” which he held up to their

game.

It was nothing less than a beautiful huntin -
knife of Indian make, and its burnished bla e
and clean horn handle told that it had not been
buried in the earth that had tlesI.

 

III!

Each boy knew that it was not on the floor at
the gold»room when they first visited it, and the
longer they gazed at the knife the deeper be
came the mystery.

Fred’s thoughts wandered back to the red~
skin who had pinned his hat to the tree: but he
could not connect that event with the finding
of the knife.

“ We will_call it a god-send, anyhow !” snatch—
ing the knife from Max’s hand and running
with it toward the obstructed corridor. “We
will make this knife he! us to safety l"

With this he valianth attacked the debris,
and began to cut his way through the accumu-
lated earth.

Suddenly he uttered a cry of disappointment,
gndaturmng to his comrades, held up his right

an .

It now held but the handle of the Indian
knife; the blade had struck a stone and snapped
at the hilt!

It was the most precarious moment of the
Castaways’ existence.

ed and Max were ready to despair, but
Fighting Fred was not.

CHAPTER V.
THE “CHIMNEY” AND WHAT IT CONTAINED.
Tim breaking of the knife was enough to dis-
courage the :33.
A great d of dirt lay between them and

safety.

It s true that, according to Fred’s judgment,
a vast amount of gold surrounded them; but, in
their present critical situation, it amounted to
nothing.

The young Castaways forgot the yellow nug-
gets in their desire to escape from their under-
ground prison.

Strange to say, they experienced no incon-
vanience from the air they were compelled to
breathe; although they were many feet below
the surface of the earth, the atmOsphere seemed
pure and bracing. _

A light wind fanned the flames of their torches
and atly puzzled them.

" here is an outlet somewhere to the open
air," said Fred, taking new hope from the cur-
rent of wind that kissed his cheeks. “The cool
air seems to come from some point overhead.
We have not inspected the ceiling of this cham-
ber. Let us do so now.”

“But howl” asked Max. “ I can not reach it
with the light of my torch, though I hold it as
high as I can.”

“ I will try it. Here, boys, stand together
and let me get upon your shoulders.”

“ Here we are. Fred.”

With little difficulty the young grizzly-slayer
mounted to the shoulders of his companions,
and held the torch as high above his head as
possible.

“Isee a dark opening above me," he said.
“ A strong current of air comes from it."

“ it is the chimne of this underground
hogsel” explained N “Can’t you get into
it

 

“ Not uite,” was the answer. “ If my arms
Fest-e” a cot longer, I might accomplish the
ea .
" Come down and we'll soon remedy that.”

 

    

 
   

 L “RIM-I: Pred- I

 

Fred leaped to the ground. and the three boys
began to collect. the stones that lay scattered
about the cave.

These soon formed a respectable heap, on top
of which Ned and Max braced themselves, and
helped their companion to mount to their shoul-
ders gain.

“The chimney is a hollow treel” suddenly ex-
claimed Fred. “ There seem to be niches alon
its sides. as though some person had been us

- to climbing up!”

“I can understand the mystery of the fresh
air now." answered Max. “If it wasn’t asking
too much of you, Fred, we’d urge you to as-

‘ cend the hollow.”

“That’s just what I’m going to do,” came
back the response, and the youth drew himself
up into the o ening he had discovered.

Ned and ax saw his feet disappear, and then
lowered their faces to keep from their eyes the
dirt knocked down by Fred.

For some time no word came back from the
boy in the chimney, and the twain left in the
cave were beginning to believe that he had van-
ished forever.

At last his heels reappeared at the mouth of
the openin . and then his body was seen.

The two ys hailed Fred with exclamations
of delight.

,“I must have climbed sixty feet u the old
chimney,” the young adventurer sai address-
in his comrades. “ One can ascend very readi-
ly y bracing his feet against the sides of the
tree which havo been used in that manner be-
fore. I don’t know how high the hollow ex-
tends, probably more than a hundred feet. I
went up toan opening almost as large as 11)
body. It is through it that we et the fres

- air we breathe here. If we had a ong rope we
might escape by means of the hole in the tree,
but we do not possess a single cord."

“Alas! no.” ejaculated Max. “After all the
discovery of the chimney does not facilitate esp
ca .

{if-ed was about to make an observation when
a quantity of halfedecayed wood fell at their
feet, and caused them to elevate their gaze as
though they expected to see a live object in the
chimne .

“Yod must have loosened that dirt durin

' your explorations,” said Ned, addressing Fre .

“I think not. I recollect that while at the
hole of which I have spoken, I heard a peculiar
noise overhead, and had some dirt like this fall
on m shoulders. My opinion is that some-
thin is up the tree.”

"‘ :1 animal of some kind, probably,” said

ed.

'“Or a red-skin. Remember the knife we
picked up here awhile ago."

Ned and Max uttered exclamation- of her-

ror.

“I’ll find out what it is,” resumed Fred,
drawing his revolver. “I never leave amys-
‘tery till I have solved it.” _

I ‘ What are you going to dol"quer1ed Ned,
clutching his am.

“I’m goin to shoot up the tree,” and Fred
jerked himse loose and leaped upon the pyra-
mid of stones.

The next moment a dull report resounded

 

 

 

w... m 3 ;_ I _

 

 

 

throughout the cave, and Fred stepped back to
await results.

The pistol-shot was followed by the’ fall of
some more dim, and then something struck a
bare stone, and left aglistening stain there.

“Blood l" exclaime Fred, holding his torch
close to the spot, and looking at his companions.
“ Didn’t I to i you there was a live something
up the chimney?"

The boys stared at the crimson spot for a mo-
ment, or until another joined it. when they
sprung back and stun-d into the opening above.

“ Shall I try again?” asked Fred, cocking his
revolver once more.

“No! no!” said Max. “The person may be
deadly wounded. already."

M“'l;he person? What makes you speak thus,
nx '

“ The knife we found on the floor of this
cave!"

Fred Nichols did not deliver the second shot,
but stepped back and fastened his eyes on the
opening.

All at once great quantities of dirt began to
fell upon the stones.

“The What-isit is coming down," Fred ex—
claimed. There is no telling what is about to
happen. Get ready to receive him, boys. We
may have to fight for our lives in the Lost
Mine!” -

Fred’s words were not needed to ut his com.
panions on the defensive“ they ad already
drawn their revolvers, an were watching the
dark orifice overhead.

It was plainly evident that an object of some
kind was coming down the tree, not very fast,
to be sure, but fast enough to keep the boys ex-

, cited.

“You will fire when 1 give the word," said
Fred. “ Don’t throw a single shot away.”

The boys held their torches in their left hands
and their revolvers in their right.

The suspense was broken rather abruptly, for
two strange-looking ob 'ects suddenly made their
appearance and hung or a moment in mid-air,
below the bottom of the chimney.

“ Ready!” cried Fred.

f “t “old!” exclaimed Ned. “ Those are a man’s
ee .

“ And an Indian's at that!" and puttingup his
revolver Fred leaped upon the stones an seized
the dangling objects.

Under other circumstances Ned and Max
might have laughed at. their companion pulling
on the human feet. but the situation was too
serious to provrike even a smile.

All at once Fred fell backward as a human
body dropped from the opening, and the twain
rolled from the pyramid to the floor of the gold-
room.

Ned and Max sprung instantly to Fred's as-
sistance, and halted over the stranger, at whose .
head they presented their revolvers.

“ Surrender!" demanded Ned. “ You are at
our mercy and we will not hesitate to kill if
you make a show of resistance."

“ ' n Wolf no resist,” was the
“ Him'shot in the tree by white boy."

“ An Indian, by Jupiter!” exclaimed Max.

Indian it was, but so covered with the
dmofthetreeutobowmolyromninble

 

 

Fighting Prod.

 

The boys, however, saw a pair or gleaming
black eyes, and after a brief inspection a lithe
and well-made body.

“ You were hunting us, Lean Wolf,” sald
Fred to the Indian. “ When you Want up the
tree you dropned your knife on the floor.”

“ Mebbe so," was the response.

“ Aren’t you the fellow who pinned my hat to
the tree this morning!”

The red-skin shook his head.

“ Don’t know anything about that circum-
stance, eh?” continued Fred. “ Well, all I have
to say about that trick is that I propose to get
even with the follow who did it. You say you
are wounded. Win-re?"

The red-skin held out his right arm.

“ \Vinged, I see."

Lean Wolf nodded.

“ We'll soon fix you up if you‘re worth the
doctoring," laughed Fred. “ How long is that
re e \on’ve got “rippt'd around your body."

' Pretty lung, mebbe.”

“ Wilglnit reach from the hole in the tree to the

ul|(

“ Mebbe so. "

“ Why didn’t you try it instead of coming
down the tree?”

“Lean \Vull’s arm too bad.”

An examination shoWed that the bullet fired

up the chimney by Fred had penetrated the In-'

dian’s arm, cracking, if not breaking. the prin-
ciprl bone, thereby inflicting a painful wound.

he lining of the boys‘ coals furnished material
for bandages, and with a good deal of surgical
skill, Fred dressed the injured member.

Becoming communicative during the oper-
ation, the Indian gave the boys to understand
that he vas a member of the Shoshone nation,
and that a huntingparty was not far away.

The Shoshones were the very Indians the
boys had to fear, for they had lately relin-
quished their obligations to the Government,
and committed some inhuman bnrbnrities.

L- an Wolf did not carry a Very prepossessing
enuntenance; Ned remarktd to Max that he
looked much like the animal whose name be
here; and Fred summed him up for a. red-skin
who could not be trusted.

He said that he had accidentally discovered
the opening leading from the cabin to the gold-
room, where he was at the time of the fall 0!
the earth that cut ofl’ his re treat.

He declared that he had never entered the
cave before, but the seventy ft et of good lariat
rope which he carried around his body, gave
the lie to this declaration.

The boys were a! sinus to escape from their
imprisonment, and guided by Lean Wolf they
worked their way up the tree to the opening.

Despite his wounded arm, the Bhos‘ one ad-
justed the rope for descent, and in less than an
hour the three boys stood near the old cabin
again at the foot of the tree.

After them the red-skin descended, and coolly
wra pad the rope about his body again.

" .enn Wolf go now,“ he said, and before the
grateful boys could reply, or detain him in any
way. he was disappear-hip; in the forest. '

“ We’ll see that fellow again " said Fred to
his companions. “ If he doesn‘t. deserve the

name he hears, then set me down for a know-
nothing.”

 

CHAPTER VI.

man’s snow—ran WARNING.

NEED we say that the sudden disappearance
of Loan Wolf excited alarm in Grizzly Camp!

The three Castaways felt that he would re-
join the huntingparty he had mentioned, and
acquaint them with the condition of the place.

In that event, they would soon be visited and
subjected to a great deal of trouble.

The boys began to prepare for the worst.

After discussing a breakfast of bear meat,
they began to constructa door out of the means
at hand, and before noon had erected one
which, if not very handsome, possessed one
admirable feature—strength.

They next proceedvd to make loop holes be-
tween the logs, and arranged the puncheons on
the ground so that in (‘ase of rapid firing by the
enemy, they could retire to the opening leading
to the cave.

All these preparations were deemed necessary
by the events that had lately taken place, and
before night the old cabin had been placed in a
good state of defense.

“ We shall not he visited to-night; but the
visit will surely come,” remarked Fred, when
they had finished their Work. “If the earth
had not fallen into the corridor we could retire
to it in case of danger, and bid defiance to the
whole Shoshone nation. Then, the tree would
answer for a lookout, and we would have been
well fixed. But fortune has determined other-
wise. perhaps for our own good—wh0shall say?"

That night the boys shut themselves up in the
cabin with many misgivings.

Ir. was the secoml night of their abandonment
in the wild Cascade country; the first one had
been disturbed by the visit of the big grimly,
and this was likely to record more exciting
scenes.

But it assd away without an adventure of
any kind: and the boys, who grew tired of
watching and fell asleep near dawn, awoke to
fee; the sunshine streaming through the loop-

IO 95.

Another night and still another passed away
in like manner, and when the sun went down on
the fourth day the boys had recovered from
their fears. and began to plan some little eXt-ur-
sit ms in search of game in the surrounding coun-
try.

They cleaned their weapons and looked care-
.‘ully to their supply of ammunition; then, after
the usual rou ine of story-telling. shut. them-
seliges up within their castle to pass another
nig t.

The moon came up round and full. and the
last bird among the mountain foliage ceased her
warbling and dropped asleep on the bough.

It was Fred's turn to mount guard, and for a
long time he stood at one of the loop‘holes and
watched the weird, moon-lit landscape that
stretched before his gaze.

Nothing glided across the line of his vision—
not even a sneaking wolf from the packfihat

 

occasionally howled up among the mountains.

     

V. ~-J- a

 

  
 

     

 

Fighting. Fred.

11x

 

Atlast the boy uard felt his limbs giving way
beneath him, an , unconscious, he sunk to the
floor asleep.

How long Fred slept he did not know,th
long enough to have s veral exciting dreams,
the last of which startled him lrom his slum-
bers, and he sprung up, but without disturbing
his companions.

He chided himself for having dropped asleep
on his st, and his first movement was to the
loop‘ho e at which he had watched till sleep
overcame him.

The next moment an exclamation of wonder-
ment dro cd from Fred’s lips.

He ooulltl) not see from the cabin. Could it be
that the moon had gone down and that the
landscape was wrapped in gloom?

iHe glided to the left and found another loop-
i hole through which he could see the ghostly fig-
: use of the tall trees that grew in front of the

' hut.
l Nothing suspicious attracted his attention,
but, somewhat puzzled, he went back to the
first opening and applied his eye to it again.

This time his view was unobstructed, but surl-
denly, while he lookpd through the port, he saw
5, a figure moving toward the river half a mile

SW!) .

F05; several seconds Fred could not credit the
evidence of sight, but he was forced to do so,
for the longer 5 gnzed the more distinctly he

. Jaw the moving object.

4" » “ It is that menu Indian Lean Wolf,” ex-
‘ claimed Fred. “He had his car at the port a
: minute ago. and that is why I could not see
5] anything. I knew he would come back. Hal
1 he has stopped and appears to be waiting for
, some one. What’s that objoct approaching
' him‘? Another red~skinl I guess we are in for
‘ it now.”

. Even as Fred spoke the person who had just
Ll left the cabin was joined by a figure that c ime
a v from his left, and the two stood close together
near a tree, but boldly in the moonlight.

’ “ I’ve got a. notion to spoil that confab,” re-
3 turned Fred after watching the pair for a mo-
.- ment. “If we are going to have war, I might
as well open it. I will not waken the boys; my
rifle will do that.” -

 

 

4:.

 

rifle through the port-hole and took deliberate
aim at the man who had just listened at the
lo of the cabin.

. ' * he pair presented a good target, for they did
{ 1 not stand more than thirty yards away, and so
' ‘ ' ‘ close together that the boy marksman could not

miss.
Fred sent over the barrel before he pressed
' the trigger an au‘lible wish for good luck, then
the bench of his weapon awoke the echoes of the

ni t.

ne of the figures sprung into the air with a

piercing cry, and fell back to earth, while the
other recoiled and turned toward the cabin.

Rod and Max were on their feet in an in-

stant. '
“ vghw- the matter?” they cried at the some
t .
“Look out yonder at that tableau." said

,‘ Fred. “ You can’t see a part of it very dis-
‘M’V. for one o: the men is Lving on the

 

   
   
 
  
 
    
  

in. v 2' I W on he concluded the,bear-kiiler thrust his

 

ground with a bullet in his breast if my rifle did
not fail me, the other has not recovered from
the 911’ cts of the shot. i think I gave Lean
\Volf h‘s quivtns, but since I’ve been looking at
his companion he looks like a while mun."

“ lie is not an lnrlian!”cvi-ad Ned. “Who-
ever he is he shows a good dual of bravery, for
heis stooping ovnr his companion. Soc! he is
lifting him iron) the ground.”

“ Yes,” responded Fred, “ he is going to carry
him away. I will not object to that if he keeps
his distnnco herenfrer. But sneaks must remain
from (frizzly Cnnp if they desire whole skins.”

From the loop holes the three boys could see
the unwoundod niglihprowler shoulder his cum-
pnnion, and start with the body toward the
nvor.

They watched him in sill'nco, and with a. great
deal of curiosity, and did not speak again until
he llilll pnssed 0.11% (if sight.

“ Vtht do you lliink now, Fred?" queslioned
Max. “ Do you think your victim was Lean

“I do not know,” was the roplv. “ I know
one thing—that l rhOt‘; a prison who came here
for no good. We’ve got to protcct Grizzly Ca mp
from all intruders, whether they walk on four
logs or two. Time will tell who got my bullet
lie-night."

Ned's watch told the boys that it was a little
past midnight, and it was resolved to close no
eye till down.

The interior of the cabin was quite gloomy.
for the moon had droppeJ behind a spur of one K
of the mountains, and no longer threw her mel-
low light in at the publicise.

An hour passed away when all of a sudden a
sing’e blow sounded on the' heavy door, and
quickly (lied away.

The three boys, wide awake and ready for an
emergency of any kind, sprung forward. but
saw no one moving across the ground in front
of the cabin.

. The blow mystified them, the more so because
it was not repeated, and they dared not go out-
side to investigate it.

Morning came at last, and Fred laid his hand
on the barricades. ‘

“ I’m going to know somcthing about what
happened last night,” he said g ancing at Ned
and Max.

No objection was raised to his resolve, and
the heavy barricades were removed, and the
door opened wide enough to let Fred put his’ ‘
head out.

“ It’s just about what I had an idea it was!” -v
he exclaimed a moment later. " Here’s a paper
pinned to the door with a knife.”

Ned and Max uttered exclamations of aston-
ishment.

“Here is the document,‘ boys," and ‘Fred,
drawing hack into the cabin. displayed to his
companions' gaz: a dirty piece of paper on
which there was some rough writing. »

Eagerly did the Cistnwnys of Grizzy Camp
bear lhe paper to one of the loop holes, and\
bend forward to master the inscription. ‘

'lfh'e task was not a difficult one, for the hand.
writing, though rough, was plain and consisted
of these startling words: ‘

"You youngsters will soon with you lwi mm

 

 

 

been born. If you've got an grit, now is the time
to show it. Leave Grizzly amp within the next
twenty-four hours or take what comes after that!
We mean biznessl‘

Fred rend the warning aloud, and when he
looked at his companions brat-yes fairly flushed.

“ That's lain language, boys,” he said. “ Of
mnrse no ndian ever wrote it. These letters
look like some I’ve seen before.”

“ Whose were they, Fred?"

“ Old Blue’s.”

Nod started.

“Then you mean to say that the three vil-
lains who abandoned us a. few days since are
hanging around yet?"

“ That’s the way it looks. But I don’t care
who sted that notice. \Ve’re not going away
within twenty-four, hours. nor in forty-eight.
Like Grunt. I’m willing to flzht it out on this
line. Griulv Camp is the safest place I know
of, and here I propose to stay till driven out, if
I am to leave at all."

Ned and Max applauded Fred’s resolve.

CHAPTER VII.

NEW ADVENTURES—WATANAMA’S REVENGE.

Ir Tucson Tom 0an his companions had re-
turned to the neighborhood of Grizzly Camp,
what had brought them back?

It was barely possible that they suspected
the whereabouts of the mine which the boys
,had discovered by the merest accident, and they
might have abandoned the cmin for the pur-

se of driving the young Californians away.

If the latter supposition was the case, they
had failed, for, as we have seen. the Castaways
were sticking close to the old camp.

Of course the warning pinned to the cabin

 

door by the hunting-knife had been written by‘

a White man. most probably by the person
called Old Blue by Fred.

The threats only strengthened the hovs’ de-
termination, and Fred spoke the sentiments
of all when he declared that they would not de-
part in twenty-four hours nor in forty-
ei ht. ’

hey had a. good supply of bear-meat on

hand and were tolerably well fixed for a Siege;
but they were forced to admit that the cabin
could not withstand a protracted attack.

Fred was anxious to know whether the shot
fired the revious night had roved fatal and
shortly a ter the recs-ption o the warning, he
proceeded to the spot where his victim had
fallen.

He found on the ound some particles of
. dried blood, and a slight trail of crimson led

toward the river.

' The boy trapper did not follow it, but re-
,turnedto the cabin and reported to his com-
panions _ '

“ We ought to reconnoiler the Vicinity a
little.” he said. “ If the enemy is lurking here-
abouts, we should not be ignorant of his posi-
tion or numbers.”

It was then a reed that Max and Fred should
undertake a s ort reconnoilering expedition
while Ned remained in camp.

Armed with what weapons could be spared
for the purpose, the two boys bade Ned adieu
cud set all: toward tho our.

-  lions-:‘a‘smfiama  x .‘ r

 

12 Fighting Prod. I ~

Fred, very naturally leading the way, also
ted the route toward the tree on which he had
en: ountered the grizzly.

He believed that the man who had carried
his victim 03 the field had gone in that direction,
and be expected to discover evidences that ho
had crossed the footbridge with 1 is burden.

Max had never seen the tree, and his curiosity
comerning it was naturally very great.

“ Haltl’ said Fred in ow tones when they
had nearly reached the bank of Rapid river.
“ Look straight ahead, Max, about thirty rods
and tell me what you see.”

Max who had cocked his rifle immediately
upon his friend’s “ halt" looked in th‘ direction
indicated for a minute and then spoke:

“I see nothing but a clump of bushes that
almost conceal the stump of a tree,” he said.

“I see then), too, but do you not see some-
thing beyond the bushes?"

“ I see nothing.”

“ Can it be that my eyes have deceived met”
queried Fred gazing intently ahead.

“ What did you think you saw!”

“I hardly know. It might be a man or a
grizzly. I certainly saw something move on the
further side of the bushes.”

“A shot in that direction might solve the
mysrery,” suggested Max.

“ No, nol” quickly responded Fred. “I have
been mistaken, I guess. Let us go forward and
investigate."

With their fingers at the triggers of their rifles 

and eyes on the alert, the two boys moved cau-
tiously forward.

“ At the first glimpse of a living thing raise
your gun,” Fred said. “ We cannot be too
quick in this country. On a man's alertness de-
pends his life; rt member that. Max.”

The oung Californians continued to advance
upon t e clump of bushes, and were only a few
feet from it when all at once a living figure
sprung into view.

Up went the two rifles and the triggers would
have been pressed, if a startling cry from Fred
had not prevented.

“Don’t shoot, Max! It is an Indian girll”

Having made the same discovsry announced
b bis com anion, Max was already lowering‘
his rifle whi e be stand at the erBOn who stobd
beyond the bushes staring at t em, with fright
and wonderment com ingled in her eyes.

For a moment the red girl treatened to fly
from the s t. but second thought and the rapid
advance 0 the boys restrained her, and they
soon came up.

In person the young creature was beautiful
for an Indian. She was up arently sixteen,
tall, and straight as a red skin 3 lance, and pos-
sessed black hair and eyes.

She was well dressed in soft doeskin gar-
ments, the frock of which was fringed with

beads as were also the moccasins that incased - ,

her shapely feet.

In short. this young girl might have passed
for an Indian fair , and the boys almost for t
:10 address her 11 their admiration of or

gure. _

“ We come near shooting you,” said Fred at
last. “My friend here wanted to send a build;
among the bushes before you rose,”

no)“- . 41" .r- w); 3V1: 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   
 
  

Fighting Fred. ' 19

 

Instead of replying, the Indian maid smiled
sillshtly and her pretty eyes twinkled mer-
ri y.

“ What is your name!" continued the young
bear-killer.

“ Watnnama is the Star of the Shoshoncs."

“ A star, chi" and Fred laughed as he glanced
at Max. “Thisis discovering a planet in the
daytime. Well, Watanania. we are glad to see
you. Where are your people?"

The girl turned and waved her hand toward
the Western horizon.

“They are yonder, pale boys," she said in
very good English. “ They are many, and the
big ame fall before their arrows."

“ an Wolf’s hunting-party,” said Max.
“We may obtain some information of that red
rascal from the Star of the Shoshones.”

At mention of Lean Wolf’s nume, Watanama
started and cast a frightened glance behind her;
it did not espape the boys’ eyes.

“ Watanama is Lean Wolf’s sister," she said.
“He wan‘s her to become Rwl Crow’s squaw,
but Watanama will never build his fires.”

“ A case of unrequited love," smiledvFred.

Watanama did not notice the remark, but
proCPeded:

"Red Crow is with the big hunting-party of
the Shoshones. He has sworn by the Great
Spirit that Watanama shall become his squaw,
and Lean Wolf her brother, has said the same.
They made Watanama go with them on the
hunt with the other women, who were to dress
the skins and cure the meat. She could not
stay in her lodge, for they tied her upon a pony
and'took her along. Last night Watanama left
the red hunters; she does not want to go back
any more, for sooner than build Red Crow’s
fires she will leap into the swift~runmngr1ver
yonder.”

“Do you think Red Crow is looking for you
now?" asked Max.

“He will throw himself on Watanama‘s
trail,,”’ was the answer. “ He may be near
now.

“Look yonder!” ejaculated Fred, who had
glanced toward the river, then but a few rods
away. “Down—down! somebody is cressmg
the tree on which I shot the grizzly.”

The trio instantly dropped to the ground, and
fastened their eyes on the tree bridge which was
in lain view from the spot.

he moving of the foliage in the middle of the
tree indicate the advance of some object. but
:vllilether brute or human it was impossible to
e .

It was likely that the figure would devalog
into a huge grizzly before many minutes, an
in breathless expectancy the trio watched the
shaking limbs.

All at once something that was notapaw
separated those near the bank, and a moment
thereafter the painted face and bare shoulders
of a red-skin made their sp earance.

The apparition was start infi enough to brin
exclamation to the lips of t o beholden, an
when the full re of the Indian appeared in
nova: Max felt is rifle Jerked rudely from his

a

“ It is Red Crow 1" runs suddenly from Wats-

 

nama’s throat, and before Max could arrest be!
intention the gun was at her shoulde

Fred sprungr up and attempted to seize the
rifle; but before he could touch it a loud report
rung out on the morning air, and the form of
tlw stalwart red-skin fell back among the foliage
of the tree.

The capture of the gun and the shot had not

i occupied three seconds; one had followed the

other in lightning SLICI‘L‘SSlUD.

The Star of the Shoshones d d not try to retain
posseSsion of the rifle after her shot.

She turned to Mux und thrust it into his hands,
while her eyes fairly flushe .

“Red Crow did come, but Watanama will‘

never be his squawl” she exclaimed.

“ You may have missed him,” said Fred. “I
am Certain that he did not fall from the tree."

“ Watanama will seel"

With this the Indian girl snatched from her
belt the only weapon with which she was
armed, a small hatchet, and bounded toward the
tree.

Fred and Max hurried after her.

A few bounds brought VV-itanama to the tree,
and as she leaped upon it, Fred uttered an ex.
clu motion of error.

He had caught sight of the same object seen
by the Indian girl—an Indian hanging with a.
death grip on the limbs over the riVer that
aesthetli and rushed oceanwurd two hundred feet

8 CW

He instantly divined Watanama's intentions,
but could not frustrate them.

The red‘skin was not dead, for the b0 s saw
his eye flash as the girl glided forward With up-
lifted atchet.

“It was Watanama’s bullet that s illed Red
Crow’s blood,” hissed the Star of the t hoshones.
“ He would take her to his lodge, but she will
send him to the abode of the evil spirit.”

Red Crow ground his teeth, but did not speak.
At that moment the girl stopped directl
above him, and clutching a limb with her is 8
hand, leaned toward him with the hatchet poised

abova her head.

Horrifled by the scene. the two boys held
their breath. ' _

Suddenly, and with resistiess force, the hatchet
descended toward the limb that sustained Red
Crow’s weight, and severed it at a single blow!

A wild cry broke from the warriors throat,
and while it still filled the ears of those who
heard it, a. human body shot toward the river
with frightful velocity, and struck where the
waters formed a whirl pOOll

it was undoubtedly the end of a Shoshone
brave!

Watanama turned to the boys with a gleam
of victory in her eyes.

“ What say the pale faces now?” she cried
halting before them. “ Will Watanama ever
build tires in Red Crow’s lodge?"

“I think you never will, said Fred; “but
you might have spared the life of your lover."

“ He would not have spared the Star of the
Shoshone-s,” was the quick retort. “Are the
white boys alone in this count l”

“There are three of us,” sni Fred. 'i. “If you
would see us all come with ustocamp.”and

 

h

Fighting Prod.

 

turning on his heel, he took up the trail leading
to Grizzly Camp. V
Wutauama followed without a word.

CHAPTER VllI.
A TERRIBLE VISITOR.

. AFTER a few hours spent at Grizzly Camp,
the Star of the Shoshones evinced no desire to
go back to her kindred. _

“ Maybe we’d better let her sray,” said Ned,
during the consultation that followed between
the three boys.

“Hero is only another month to feed. and our
bear-meat will last a long time. Then she
knows all the Indian tricks, and if Lean Wolf
and his brother-warriors should give us any
trouble. she may prove an invaluable help. I
am for letting her remain.”

It was thus agreed by the young Castaways
that Watanama should remain in Grizzly Camp
until she saw fit to depart, and, having been in-
,formed of this resolve, she thanked the boys in
a few modestly spoken words, and formally in-
stalled herself in the cabin.

As she possessed no weapons but the hatchet
with which she had sent Red Crow swiftly to
his doom, Fred ressed one of his revolvers
upon her, though it was evident from her looks
that she preferred one of the rifles.

“We must not forget that at the end of
twenty-four hours from a certain time last
night we will be troubled by the men who

ted the notice on the cabin door,” remarked
red; “I firmly believe that Old Blue Moun-
tain and his pards have sneaked back for some
purpose or other, and that we will receive a
visit from them before many hours.”

“Let them come!” exclaimed Fred. “Now
that we are on our guard. they will meet with
a reception they will not soon forget.”

When the Indian girl was made acquainted
with the circumstances of the posting of the
warning. she instantly recollected that that
very morning she had seen two men along the
river, and their garments indicated that they
were whites.

“ What did I tell you!” cried Fighting Fred,
glancing at his companions.

/ “You are sure there were but two, Star?”
i‘Watanama saw only two then, but she
thought she caught a glimpse of another man
lyiu on some gre 'n limbs on the ground.”
“ he fellow I shot last night!”
“ Did white boy shoot a pale-face?” queried

the fir].

“ don’t know about that, but I certainly hit
I lining tar at of some kind,” answered Fred.
"I mistook im for an Indian with whom you
ought to be var we acquainted, since you are
Lean Wolf’s sster, and the oung speaker
smiled. “If you saw a man ying on some
. leaves this morning, I did not kill last night,
lInw’ould like to know which one of the three I

t.
The d3 seemed destined to pass without any

> more in dents than those already recorded.
,Wotunama asked permission to prepare sup-

_,rand the manner in which she roasted the
Earliest made the boys wish that she could
with them olwm.

 

‘1 " l was.) V; fin WE‘fi‘sTu.

The night coming on promised to be the most
exciting one they had experienced since leavmg
home, and extra precautions were taken to in-
sure safety and guard against a surprise.

“ I would feel entirely satisfied with the ar-
rangements if that tree were out of our way,”
said Max, pointing to a large maple that grew
so near to the cabin that its wide-spreading
branches touched the roof.

It was the only tree within thirty yards of
the but, and bud probably been left standing
for shade by the original builders.

Frcd looked at the tree a moment, and then
replied: .

" If you had made that remark this morning,
Max, we might have felled it, since the rascals
left us one nx, but, as it is, we must let it stand
awhile longer. 1 don’t like its position myself;
but we’ll put up with it, and take the con-
se ucnces.’ »

ight came once more, this time with clouds
and a high wind that swayed the pines and
hemlocks that dotted the rough landscape.

The prospect was not at all inviting. but the
occupants of Grizzly Camp kept stout hearts in
their bosoms, and mentally invoked the smiles
of the Goddess of Fortune.

The wind increasad until it sent the boughs of
the old maple with terrible violence a ainst the
cabin root, and whistled through the cop-holes
like an irate demon.

“ Watanama see heap o‘ ni hts like this," sud-
genly said the Indian girl um d the gloom of the

ut.
"The worst is yet to come, I think,” replied
Fred. “ If our enemies do not take advantage
of this hurricane, I will not give them credit
for good generalship.”

h“They come by’mby,” responded the Sho-
5 one.

Suddenly a noise that startled every one al-
most lifted them ofl their feet. and a small
bough dropped upon Max’s head from above.

“The storm has wrenched one of the heavy
shingles off,” the youth exclaimed, gueseing
might the extent of the disaster. “I! it were
to rain now we should be deluged.”

But not a drop struck the u turned faces of
the anxious little up, who ully ex cted to
See the cabin over med by the next b alt.

“What was that?” asked Ned’s voice all at
once, as a strange, yet almost human, crycut
the storm. ‘ '

‘IA
know which,” said Fred.
to be in the tree above us I"

This was enough to drive the hearts of tho
quartette into their throats.

What if the terrible beast should drop into the
but, where it could not be seen for the gloom
that prevailed there?

The fire by which Watanama had gotten sup-
per had long since become a hen 0t coals, and
afforded a very faint glow, whic by no means
relieved the darkness.

A minute‘s stillness followed the cry which,
had startled every one, and then it was repeat-
ed with emphasis.

A hand clutched Fred's arm.

“ it is the yellow cat, whit» boy," laid the
Shoshone zirl.

panther or a mountain-lion—I hardly r
“ The animal seems

w! __

 

Fighting Prod.

 

“ I know it now.
screams.” . I

As he spoke, Fi hting Fred put up his revol-
ver and drew his nife.

In the gloom the blade would serve him bet-
ter than the trigger. .

" Stand from under the opening in the roof—
quick !" he cried to his companions. “ That
mountain demon is liable to drop among us at
any moment. He is in the maple, and the Wind
ma brush him off ” .

he occupants of the cabin drew back to the
wall behind them, where they waited With bated
breath for the next event. .

They did not have to wait long.

SuddenlyI during a terrific gust of wind, a
hideous scream was broken atwain, and some-
thin alighted in the cabin.

“ e is here!” whispered Fred. “ We have a
visitor for whom we were not looking.”

The crisis had arrived. _

The Castaways had a foe within the cabin as
ferocious as any they could have without.

The stillness which had followed the fall of
the anther, which had been shaken from his
pegc by the violence of the wind, seemed pal-
pa is.

It would not be strange if the boys and Wat-
anama heard their own hearts.

The location of the panther was not known,
but the four could imagine him crouched a few
feet away eying tleni with two bulls of fire, and
lashing the air with his yell0wish tail.

The arrival of the mountain pest wasimmedi.
stely followed by a lull in the storm. and Fred,
’ in an upward glance through the opening, caught
the limmer of a star.

“ am not going to endure this suspense any
longer," he suddenly ejaculated in low tones.
“ The panther is here and has to be encountered.
NOW, look out. I’m going to strike a lucifer.”

The following moment the crack of a match
was heard, then a flame lea ed up, and as it
m larger Fred held the lit e torch above his

6 .
Watanama was the first to see the-visitor.
“ See! the yellow cat!” she exclaimed, point-
lng at an object which the three boys saw
at the same moment.

“ Heevensl what a monster!”
fied’s lips.

Soarcely ten feet from the four was crouched
the largest panther they had ever seen.

The homing match seemed to increase his
prgiortions.

is bell touched the puncheons, and his
head. turn bed with two flashing eyes, rest-ed
between his fore-paws, while his hinder parts
were raised a little and his long tail moved
uneasily back and forth. ' .

It was a sight the young Californians would
' not soon forget.

“ I’ll open the battle,” resumed Fred, calmly
puttin up his knife and drawing from his belt
a rave var already cocked. “ My match will
hit lop enough to aflord me good shooting

ht, s I may not kill. Be ready for an
s ergeney."

' “ We are all ready,” whispered Ned.

I recognize him by his

fall from

It was evident that the panther was about to

 

leap upon some victim who had been selected
from the number before him. and to frustrate
him Fred would have to shoot quick.

Without a tremor the brave boy leveled the
revolver and covered the beast, aiming between
the glowing eyeballs.

“Now I have him!” he murmured.

At that moment the match, burned through,
fell apart, a portion dropping upon the young
marksman’s hand.

The report of the revolver filled the cabin
and was followed by a deafening scream of

pain.

"“ The match did it!” said Fred. " Stand your
ground and watch. I have another lucifer.”

The second match which the boy struck at
that moment blazed up as the other had done,
and revealed the panther crouched against the
wall of the hut terribly wounded no doubt and
on the eve of charging the party.

“Quick! for Heaven’s sake give ittohiinl”
shouted Fred.

Ned and Max fired straight at the crouching
monster, as, with another growl, he left the
puncheous and shot through the airl

The flash of the revolvers disconcerfed him
and instead of landing on one of the boys, he
struck the wall behind them with a dull thud
and dropped to the ground.

“You and I for itl" grated Fred Nichols]
lea ing at the panther, knife in hand!

he animal turned upon him and leaped for-
ward with distended jaws, but Fred did not
shrink.

He aimed a blow at the demon’s side as the
match which had fallen from his hand exoired
on the floor, and as he felt his knife sink be-
neath the yellow hide, a pair of limbs encircled
him and deprived him of his balance.

Boy and panther went to the floor together,
the former plving his knife with «fleet, and the
latter replying With scratches and bites.

“ Have you a match, Ned?” asked Max.

“ Alas! he!" was the answer.

‘_‘ Never mind the matches, boys,” cried Fred’s
voice. “ 1’“ master the yellow eat if I con-
tinue to do as well as I’m doing nowl” '

Ned, Mix and Watnnama could hear the
terrific struggle going on on the floor, but could
not see it.

'They kept their weapons in readiness for an
emergencvg but could not use them in their
companion s behalf. _

Suddenly there came a thunderous sound
from toward the door.

“Hellolin their!" vociferated a gruff Voice.
“ What kind or a circus ar’ you thin’, any-
how! I‘m hver to tell you bn sthet the twenty-
four hours hev expired, an that something’s
about to happen.”

The next moment, Fl htin Fred disengaged
himself from his four core antagonist, and
With a bloody knife in his hand staggered,
rather than walked, to the door.

“ And we are here to tell you, whoever you
are, that We don‘t propose to obey y: or ordersl”
he‘snaweéred in fearlessd thoges. ’ “ We’vs just:
go :1 0 one enemy, an wot i so
runningfmsnanotherl" - W ,

 

  

Fighting Fred.

 

  

CHAMP. IX.
you as rim noon—man’s menu.

M had finished the panther in the nick of
time, and while he stood at the door speaking
the determined words just recorded, bloo
streamed down his cheeks; but his eyes lost
none of their fighting luster.

Ned had in the mean time lighted a torch, and
the interlor of the cabin was plainly revealed.

The panther lay on the bloody fpuncheons a
few feet away in the last agonies 0 death.

A number of gaping wounds inflicted by
Fred’s knife were visible in the carcass, and
there were other evidences of a terrible strug-
g e.

For several minutes after the boy’s reply to
the loud voice on the outside of the cabin, there
was no reply of any kind.

Had the unseen speaker taken his departure,
frl toned by Fred’s words!

the occupants of the but could have looked
beyond the door, they might have detected the
a e of a stalwart man dressed in rough buck-
n garments, and armed with rifle and pis-

llThis was the person whose voice had startled

a .

He stood almost against the door through
which he had just sent his warning.

“ Them er’ mighéy bold words for a boy I” he
said suddenly. ‘ e gave you chaps twenty-
four hours to leave Grizzly Camp in, but you
havon’t budged a peg.”

“That is true, and, more than that, sir, we
do not intend to be frightened away 2”

“You don’ ehl We’ll be liberal, boys; we
don’t want to hard on ye. Thar’s enough of
us to clean you up.”

“gdaybe you‘d better try that game,” flashed

“Mebbe we will! Look hyer, little chaps, as
I hev jes’ said, we don't want to be hard on you.
Whhsgzpif we should give you till tomorrow
n

, ‘You can do just as you like,” was Fred’s re-
sponse. “Were you to conclude to extend the
time a week we might conclude to remain.
You need not flatter yourself with the thought
that you are unknown. We all know who you
are; ]your voice betrays you, Old Blue.”

A , ht exclamation by the man outside fell
upon fired’s ears. '

“Since i:ou know so much I’m not going to
has anyt ing back. I am Old Blue Mountain,
an Tucson and Captain Snake ain’t far 03.
Do gen know who you shot last nightl”

“ have an idea. ’

“Wal, it war Tucson. If the bullet had
Basset! two inches to the right the old feller’s

fe wouldn’t be worth a dream to-night; but,
as it is. he is goin’ to git up ag’in.”

“I’m sorry to hear that!’ exclaimed Max.
“ Tell him that for all of us, Fred."

“No,” answered Fred in low tones. “ That
would hardly do,” and he turned to the door

n.
"Good-by fora while, boys,” said Old Blue.

 

healthy region jes’ now. We ar’ liable to come
back at any time, an' when we do come some-
thing will happen.”

Fred’s reply was couched in the determined

tones he had maintained all along; but no an-
swer was made to it, for Old Blue was walking
away.
“ guess we’re in for a siege,” remarked Ned.
“I long for a chance to pay those men for their
rascality. Something important has brought
them back. They must believe that the cabin
stands over or near the mouth of the Lost Mine.
What‘s the matter, Fred?”

Ned’s exclamation was caused by seeing his
brave young companion stagger from the door
and drop like a swooning person to the floor.

The unhurt occupants of the hut sprung to
Fred’s side, and soon discovered that he had
fainted from loss of blood.

His battle with the panther was a desperate
one, and now that Old Blue had departed his
energies had given way and he was senseless.

An examination of Fred’s hurts showed that
they were quite serious, but the Indian girl said
that there were herbs among the mountains
which would soon place the panther-killer on
his feet again.

She begged to he allowed to seek them at
once assbe said she could find them after night,
but Ned and Max refused to let her out.

Fred after awhile was brought back to con-
sciousness, and when Watanama mentioned the
herbs to him he told Ned to open the door and
let her depart on her mission.

Obedient to Fred’s request Ned opened the cabin
door, and the girl skipped out into the m ht.

The storm was now nearl over; the _ ughs
of the maple no longer brus ed the cabin roof
with the vengeance of a short time before, and
there were many stars in the sky.

Fred lay on a cot with [115 face upturned
toward the opening in the roof through which
his four-footed enemy had been hurled by the
storm. .

All at once one of the stars on which he had
been gazing intently for some moments. faded
from sight, and then another, equally brilliant,
met the same fate.

“A cloud didn’t do that,” murmured Fred.
“ Can there be another anther on the roof?"

Without informing is companions of the
singular circumstance the fl sting hero of
Grizzly Camp resolved to watc. awhile longer,
or until he could reach a satisfactory conclu-

slon.

Suddenly the two stars reappeared, but for a
moment only.

“ I’ll see what that means,” said the wounded
boy, noiselesst drawing forth his revolver and
cooking it.

“ What do you mean?” asked Max, whose
shar oars had caught the click of the luck.

“ ush l" whispered Fred. “ Don’t bring the
light here. Go back to Ned and watch the door.
l’m able to take care of myself." .

Fred raised the revolver as Max glided back
to Ned, who watched near the door.

He was certain that a living object of some

“ advice in to is out of Grin] Cam a. kind was on the roof but whether man or ani-
a?!» possible. it stands in e Izizhtypsn- malhsof course did n'ot know.
«Vent.

 

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Fighting med.

1?

 

For a moment after Max’s departure he saw
the two stars, then they were suddenly blotted
rrom existence.

Fred fired at what he supposed was the living

thing.

A wild cry followed the report of the weapon,
and a heavy bod was heard to roll over the
cabin roof and fa l to the ground.

“Another panther l” ejaculated Ned.

“A mani” said Max.

There was the glitter of triumph in Fred’s

eyes.

“Whichever it was. I don’t think iny bullet
went far amiss,” was his reply. “I heard the
body strike the ground. an my opinion is that
it is lying out yonder divested of life. If I were
strong enough I’d go out and see for myself.”

“ I will go,”said Ned.

“Ny the door, Ned?”

“ 0, through the hole in the roof."

“Not for awhile at least,” replied Fred.
“ Let us wait a few minutes.”

The time mentioned by Fighting Fred soon
passed away. and Ned claniberod to the open-
ing in the roof where he listened for awhile be-
fore he advanced further.

“Everything is quiet down there,” he sent
back in low tones to his comrades in the hut.
“ I will go down by means of the tree.”

“ Use e es and ears,” was Fred’s last injunc-
tion, and ed quickly disappeared.

Three minutes later a cry of horror entered
the cabin.

Max sprung from the door. and Fred.
wounded as he was, almost sprung from the

cot.

“Ned has fallen in with a foe ” ejaculated
Max. “ We should have opposed his expedi-
tion, Fred.”

Max ran to the other side of the hut, and put
his ii to a crevice.

“ hat has happened. Ned?” he cried in loud
tones. “If you are alive, speak, for heaven’s
sake!”

“I am a risoner,” was the startling answer
that imme iately came back. “ Fred shot and
killed a Shoshone warrior, and I am in the
hands of six braves.”

The” voice ceased suddenly, as though the
speaker had been choked off.

It was terrible news. -

In addition to the renegade whites who
threatened Grizzly Camp, a party of Shoshone
warriors had come to vex it and Ned had fallen
into their hands!

u A moment's silence followed the awful revelse
on.

Then Fred’s voice rung out.

“Don’t despair for a minute, Ned, but keep a
stout heart in your breast.” he said. “Give
the rascal] red-skins to understand that if they
harm you {hey’ll pay dearly for it. If death
does surround us. we are not helpless.”

“ I’ll not despair. boys," was Ned’s answer.
"Don’t risk your lives on my account. '1’“ pull
through of my own accord if the red-skins Will
give me time.”

Max and Fred watched the opening over
head with cocked revolvers, but no enemy made
his appearance. ’

'I

“ Maybe the are satisfied for the so
with Ned.” sai the former. pm at

“ It looks that way," was Fred’s reply. “ We
can’t do anything for the boy to-uight. Wata-
nama may have some news when she comes
back."

“ Do you think she will return!”

“ I do. I place a. rest deal of confidence in
that Indian girl. e’ll watch and wait till she
comes, Max. '
d.And waeigh mad wall; the ddid t-‘ll the stars

isappear , an strea s o ayi shot 11
Ward from the eastern horiz in. w p-

Suddenly a piercing cry greeted their ears
and something fell against the door.

“0 n. white boys. ItisWata-Ilns. Wah-
tano is at her heels!”

“ Heavens i” cried Max, as he flew tothe door;
and began to remove the barricades.

A moment later he jerked the portal open and
the figure of the Star of the Shoshones bounded
into the cabin.

“ Wahtanol Wahtanol' she cried. in startling
accents.

Max closed the door at once, but not until he
had caught a glimpse of Watanama’s pursuers,
the largest grizzly he had ever seenl

He lost no time in readjusting the barricades
and when he had finished his work, he turned
upon the red girl who was displaying a bundle
of mountain herbs to Fred’s gaze.

“ Wahtano can’t come in now ” she said with
a smile.
mountains."

 

CHAPTER X.
NED m ran noun or WA.

Nun‘s few words recounting his terrible mis-
haps were only too true.

fter mounting to the roof of the cabin, he
clambered u . n the body of the maple with the
assistance 0 its boughs, and lowered himself to
the ground.

He had hardly touched term firma when he
was seized from behind, and a moment there-
after he found himself the risoner of a number
of Indians whose half-ha ed figures he could
make out despite the uncertain light.

The Shoshones seemed delighted at the ease
with which they had secured a member of the
little garrison, and Ned was jerked from man
to man during the inspecting process with ver
little ceremony, and without any regard for h
nerves.

It was during this time that in answer to

misfortunes.

Immediately afterward he was knocked al-
most senseless by one of his captors, who in
broken English gave him to understand that he
must keep still. .

Ned ave the Shoshone a look that meant
everlasting hatred. and he was dragged from
the scene of his capture, nor halted until the

banks of Rapid River not far from the noted
tree-budge where we have already witnessed
some thrilling scenes.

 

Here Ned met for the first time the] d
i the band. an evil-eyed Shoshone chies‘f 

3"

37...: ._._
w— , "m'fi—mmr

“ Him almost catch Watanama in the

Max’s voice he informed his companions of his'

whole band. thirteen in number. reached the ‘

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Fighting Prod.

 

  

boasted of the name of Half Moon. Although
his figure was stalwart, one of his shoulders was
higher than the other, which deformity gave
*' him a singular a pearauce.

The chief he tried by artificial means to
overcome this distortion of his otherwise hand-
some figure, but it immediately attracted Ned’s
attention, noticin which Half Moon gave the
young captive a h ow in the face with the back
of his hand which almost deprived him of
several of his teeth.

“If [don’t get even with you for that, old
Roddy, may I never see the boys again,” grated
Ned under his breath. “ That was the act of a
brute, and one that a decent Indian would not
be guilty of. I’ll remember it against you.”

~After a brief halt on the river-bank, the

, Shoshones moved away with their captive. keep
ing the course of the current, and did not halt
until the streaks of day again brightened the

as .
Then, to the boy’s astonishment, a large en-
campment appeared in sight in a beautiful

valley.

“ 1 shall probably see Lean Wolf now.” flashed
across his mind. “I do not know how the old
fellow will regard me. but he ought to treat me
with respect since we gave him life when we
caught him in the Lost Mine.”

The Shoshone camp into which Ned Knight
was soon afterward conducted turned out to he

’ the general rendezvous of the large party which,
as Lean Wolf had told them, had entered

. Northern Oregon for the purpose of hunting.
Ned was inclined to believe that the band was
. as well prepared for war as for hunting, and

‘ shortly after entering the camp he had his sup-
positions confirmed.

“ What bring white boys here!” asked Half
Moon. when Ned had been placed in the midst
of the assembled population of the cam .
> “ We were going [0 Fort Okinakane.

‘ “ To hunt fur, eh?”
V . "Yes."

“ Where big pale-faces?”

“ The three guides, you mean!"

(6 Yes.”

V ‘ The ’re rowling about somewhere. The
deserts us 1 ke cowards a few nights since." ‘

“ Ran off, eh‘l” ‘

“ That’s it.”
Half Moon reflected for a moment.

“ Look hy’erl” he suddenly exclaimed; “ white
bo :“you no business in this country.”

’s eyes flashed.

. “And'what business have you here, pro 1”

he asked, facing the Shoshone resolutely. “ ou
‘ e are a Ion ways from your reservation.
., N nrthern regon isn’t your hunting grounds."

“Mebbe not- but Shoshoues come hyer all
same ” reto -the chief. “ If the big chief’s
warriors wantus to go awav wh don’t the
come and chase us of“ aif oon and h s

‘ oung braves hunt wherever the game runs.
hey don't ask the bi white general where to
£0. White boy, Half can is a great red-man.
is warri are “loaf, an’ as numerous as the

- blades in the v e 3. Look at his braves.
one are but a f’e'w of em. White boy, you

_aohulneuhy.

   

 

 

The manner of the chief was insolent in the
extreme.

Ned saw that all the Indians were in complete
accord with him, and their lowering looks did
not speak Well for his welfare.

“ How much country has white boy seen!”
suddenly resumed the chief.

“Not a great deal." _

“Half moon show him more. Bring in one of
the swift horses."

b A shudder went to the young Californian’s
eart.

“ Are the heartless wretchos going to make a.
aneppa out of me?” he involuntarily asked
himself. “They are mean enough to stoop to
anything. I have yet to hear of aShoshone
with a heart."

The chief's order concerning the horse was
quickly obeyed, and Ned soon found himself
within a. few feet of a beautiful roan three-
year-old. whose limbs were symmetry itself.

“ Horse never been rode yet, white boy,” said
Half Moon while Ned gazed intently at the
steed. “Him kin run to the place where the
sun sets an’ not git tired. How boy like to ride
him, eh?”

“I am in your power,” said Ned. “ I expect
to be bound to that horse and sent adrift. It is
the punishment I expect at your hands, but if I
outlive the torture, I will try to pay you back.”

The youth’s words were addressed to Half
Moon whose reply was a malicious grin and a
moment later in merciless tones he gave orders
for the boy to be lashed to the back of the un-
broken horse.

Thougs for that purpose were speedily forth-
coming. and more than twenty savages sprung
forward to carry out the chief’s commands.

While two strong bucks held the horse,Ned
was carried forward and thrown upon his back,
with his head toward and almost against the
mane. '

The young trapper did not struggle for he
knew that resistance would only tighten the
cords, and render esca e next to impossible.

The process of tying ed to the horse occupied
fifteen minutes, for the animal was restless and
did not take kindl to his burden.

Among those w 0 were foremost in erform-
ing this merciless task were several oys not
past Ned’s own ago. ~

The seemed to take great delight in what
they id, showing Ned no more kindness than
did their older brethren. .

Although Ned had not been deprived of his
clothes, the cords hurt him very much, and he
knew that the rapid speed of the horse would
onéy increase his pain.

uddenly all the Indians stepped back but
two, and they were the ones who held the

steed.
Ned held his breath; he knew the crisis had

001119. ,
“ White boy, keep our heart up.” said a low i

voice at Ned’s ear; 1: spoke in rapid tonal.
“ Young horse go along ways, mobbe. When
he gets tired say hool hool bee! in his ear. 1am
Nagamo the white boy’s friend.
have tied the knot for him.” I.

Blood was” that hile ' ,

Myhandl'

 

 

  *-

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m. w.

 

 
 
 
  
   

 

f-...dz

 

Fighting Prod. 13

 

Could it be‘that in the Shoshone camp at the
critical moment he had found a friend?

“Nagamol” be repeated. “I will not forget
the name.”

He had not time to say more, for a loud cry
peeled from Half Moon’s throat, and the ln-
dians who held the horse sprung aside.

The animal gathered himself for a moment,
and then with a snort went off like a rocket to
the wild yeils of the assembled camp.

“ Fortune help mel” ejaculated Ned, as he felt
himself being borne forward at terrible speed.
“ This is what a fellow gets for wanting to be-
come a trapper in earnest. Shout on, you red
fiends! You may yet pay dearly for this morn-
ing’s work.”

The yells of the Shoshoues still rung in the
boy’s ears; but the speed of ihe horse caused
them to crow fainter and fainter as he left the
wild landsca behind.

Trees, me 3 and bushes disappeared at a
glance, and the horse presently exchanged the
valley for the roughness of the mountains.

Would he never stop, nor even check his

speedl

Not until he showed signs of fatigue after a
tourney that threatened to be endless, did Ned’s

opes rise.

Then he thought of Nagamo’s words, and
placing hm lips as close to the animal's ear as he
could, he shouted “ hool hool hool” in a loud
voice.

The eflect was magical; the horse braced his
fore-feet in the wild trail and instantly became
stock-still.

Ned shouted for joy.

CHAPTER XI. ;
mm FINDS A mun AND A WEAPON.

“PLEASE fortune, i will yet live to pay Half
Moon back,” was Ned’s first ejaculation when
he realized that the Indian steed had stopped,
aftler a long run which had extended over many
mi es. ,

But the boy could scarcely move for the ropes
that hound him to the horse‘s back.

The long journey, while it had by no means
exhausted the animal’s powers, had fatigued
him somewhat, and he was glad to crop the rich
grass that grew alongside the trnil. and to re-

, gain his breath among the mountains.

Ned was eager to sit astride of his prize, and
to be able to guide him, if possible, to the cabin
where he left Max and Fred.

He tugged at the cords with a great deal of
perseverance, and several times found himself
on the eve of despairing.

If Nagamo had “fixed ” the knots for Ned, he
had certainly done so in a manner not at all to

is liking.

‘ Great drops of sweat came out on the white
boy’s forehead as he tugged away at the cords-
he worked with a spirit that almost commands
success. ‘ .

It was not until he had I out an hourin earn-
est work that he was able move further than
a few inches. ' _

He hailed his success with an exclamation of

j03‘1th freeing one hand, the remainder of the
flukwunotverr difloultmnd Nod at Iastsat

 

'AriiijF’.‘u.‘.,-y‘:   153.3.) s. . ., H

astride of the horse and formed out of the ropes
a strong, if not a. beautiful bridle.

“Now, where am ll" he asked. surveying the
rough scenery by which he was hemmed in. “ I
havo escaped from the fate designed for me by
the ShOShones; but I must be far from Grizzly
Camp, and in a region entirely unknown to
white men.”

The boy’s situation was not at all inviting. Ho
longed to go back to the old camp and to sur-
prise his companions with his safe return.

He had been torn from them at the most crit-
ical moment of their sojourn in the northern.
wilderness. and now he wanted to rejoin them
to hel defend the camp against the wiles of Old
Blue ountain and his partners.

The sun was mountir. toward the meridian
whilo Ned tried to get his bearings.

The Indians had stripped him of everything
valuable, his revolver, knife and compass, thus
{angering him entirely helpless in the wild

an .

After awhile Ned decided to urge the horse
on, hoping that he might strike the trail leadin
to Grizzly Camp, or encounter some landmar
that would tell him where he was.

_He 'was delighted to find that the horse obeyed ‘
him in every particular, and before a great
while he was several miles from the place where
he had freed himselt, but still in a strange re-
gion.

“ There doesn’t seem to be much hope for me,”
he said, With a smile. “If Ihad a uh I might
procure a dinner, but I recollect that my rifle
was left at the cabin.”

Hoping against hope, almost, that something
favorable would turn up, Ned ressed on deeper
and deeper into the heart of t 0 wild mountain
range. »

All at once his horse stopped, threw up his
head and started back with a snort of aflrig'ut.

A grizzly, I guess,” said Ned, trying to con-
trol the steed, which threatened to break from
his ower. '

" ol hol hol” rung out loud and clear the
:1le: moment, till the mountains rung with the.

l 63.

“ That’s no bearl” ejaculated the boy, al- ‘
though the next moment he saw what appeared
to be the head and shoulders of a‘grizzly.

These were sticking out of the mouth of &
cavern on the trail side about ten rods ahead
and made up the apparition that had frightened
the home.

“ Ain’t I a bearl” followed the lost boy’s last
words. “Look at my head, hol hol hol” and
the words echoed more devilishly than be-

fore.
To say that Ned was surprised does not tell
the story. ‘ 3
His horse still manifested emotions of terror.
but the boy now had him under control, while
he‘stared at the strange being at the cave. 1'
[mime areiyiful’gh: sudddenly; fakedmg‘ You
eagrzzv u on on no la '
—thfit’c; clertaiii.” ’ k  8 e on.
0 0! thin not" was the response."
and the following instant there leaped from the
cave the misshapen figure of a human being—in
short a dwarf. whose likeneu it was mute

.; impossible to describe.
.M;' ”‘

 

   

:1  15 1.».

 

   

 
    
  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
   
  
  

righting Prod. ‘

 

It came hopping down the trail toward Ned,
much after the manner of a frog, with a queer
grin over-spreading its countenance.

The bear—skin head and all had been left he-
hind, for in the twinkling of an eye the grizzly
be transformed himself into a human dwarf.

8 color of the dwari’s skin was that of
parchment, and a pair of little eyes overshad-
owed by long lashes peeped forth with a half-

crazy twinkle.

The dirty buckskin garments, with which the
dwarf had clothed himself, scarcely sufficed to
hide his ungainly figure.

He did not stop until he stood in the trail he-
side Ned’s horse, the top of. his head barely
reachin to the animal’s flanks.

“ Don t you see I’m no grizzly?" asked the
dwarf.

“ Of course I do; but who are you?”

‘.‘ Poto.”

“ Potol Well, Poto, will you please tell me
where I am i”

“ White boy doesn’t know then?”

“ If I did I should not have asked you.”

“ Lost from the cabin, hey?”

Ned felt his heart bound for joy.

“ Yes, I am lost from the cabin; in other
words, from Grizzly Camp,” he replied. “ Am
1 near the old place?”

Instead of replying, the mountain dwarf burst
into a boisterous laugh.

Ned hit his lip.

“ I don’t want a laugh, Poto,” he said sternly.

'“What I do want, though, is information. I

now believe that this Indian horse has carried
me near the old camp, but I am afraid that I
could not find it Without help. My comrades
there may be in peril and may need my help.
Will you show me the trail that leads to Grizzly
Cam i”

“ oto will show white boy.”

‘“ Goodl I thought you would i” cried Ned.

After eying the young Californian for a mo-
ment longer, the dwarf turned and hopped to-,
ward his cave.

“ I suppose he means that I shall follow him,”

‘ ' murmured Ned, urging the horse forward.

To this the dwarf made no objection, but
when Ned reached the mouth of the cavarn he

'had disappeared.

The den was a queer place for an abode; it
looked like the lair of a wild beast, and the lost

. he did not desire to explore its depths.

e drew rein in front of it, and waited for
the dwarf to come forth.
At the end of five minutes the dwarflsh crea-
ture hopped into view. and his skinny hands
held up to Ned an old rifle such as the early ex-

" plorers of the West used many years ago.

“ White boy ma have use for gun; take it,”
said Pete, and Ne bent down and accepted the

. gift with an expression of thanks.

He smiled to himself as he examined the old

lace.
F It had not to all appearances been fired in
twenty years, and he even doubted whether it
contained a load.

Still he accopted it, not wishing to displaces
the dwarf, on whom so much now de ended,

 

and evincbd a desire to be conduc to the
cabin wherever it was.

“ Poto will show white boy but,” said the lit-
tle ogre, and away he went down the trail,
paying not the least attention to Ned’s protfer
ot' a seat on the saddle.

For several minutes Ned followed the dwarf
without speaking, and all at once Poto began to
ascend the mountain by a path scarcely wide
enough to admit of the passage of a horse.

Every once in awhile he would look back to
see if he was followed, and finding Ned at his
heels, he would evince his approval in a grin.

At last, at a hight of several hundred feet
above the level of the trail, Poto halted and
turned to Ned with a look of triumph.

“ He must see the old shanty l” exclaimed the
white boy trapped, and throwing himself from
the horse, for the trail had become very steep,
he hurried forward.

“ See!” cried Poto, stretching forth one of'his
queer-lookin arms. “Does not white boy see
the cabin he as been looking fori”

Ned followed the dwarf’s hand and saw a
goodly distance below them a hut. beside which
grow a tree that inslantly reminded him of the
scenes he had left behind.

He could hardly suppress a cry of gladness.

“ Poto, if I had a gold mine it should be
yours!” he cried, turning to the dwarf.

“One near here, mebbe."

Ned started.

Did the dwarf know anything about the Lost
Mine whose mouth was concaaled by the capi.
tol of Grizzly Camp?

“ Go down to the cabin,” resumed Poto.
“The Indian horse has brought white boy
almost home. Let him be careful when he
nears the but, for the bad pale-face is not far
away.”

“ understand, Poto. You mean the three

white rascals who left us to our fate a few

niglgtg since, Ahl they had better not cross my
at .

“ Gun shoot ’em, eh?” cried Pete tapping the
old musket.

“I would see what itcould do. I hope we will
meet again, Pete. You have done me a valu-
able service, and I long to repay you. How
can I help you?”

“ Poto want no help," said the mountain
dwarf, shaking his head. “Him go back to
his cave and live like a grizzly, ho! hol hol"
And before Ned could restrain him, he had
passed beyond arm’s reach.

“ Take the horse for your trouble,” cried Ned
after him, and to a. pur ose, too for the dwarf
lea ed upon the steed’s ac]: and wheeling him
su denly, dashed down the mountain at break-
neck speed.

Ned did not ta long on the amt from
which the dwarf be shown Grizzly amp.

Despite his capture by the Shoshones, fortune
had favored him in a very strange manner, and
he felt his indebtedness to the singular being
whom accident had thrown into his path.

An easily~discerned trail led down the menu-
tlzint-toward the camp and Ned availed himself
0 1
After a tramp of many minutes he heard the
roar of the waters of Rapid River as they
rushed throu h their narrow channel.

It was In to his cars new.

 

ll,

 

 

 

 

 

Fighting Fred. .1

 

"I am getting near home,” he exclaimed.
“Tiheuboys will be delighted to welcome me,
an —

He stopped suddenly and raised the old gun
to his shoulder. , .

A man dressed in dirty buckskin had risen
before him.

“ Halt, thar. youngster, an’ drop thet gun,”
cried the man.

“ It is Captain Snake, one of the villainous
three " muttered Ned. “ Stand back!" he called
aloud’. “My hand is at the trigger.”

“ You dai-en’t shoot me.” was the answer, as
gigs speaker advent-ed. “ Why, I’m 01d Snake,

y—

The sentence was broken by the thunderous
report of the old musket, and the man in front
of Ned threw up his hands and disappeared.

Ned wheeled and ran toward the cabin.

 

CHAPTER XII.
m saosnomcs COME BACK.

“ BY the smile of Fortune: here comes
Ned!”

“ It cannot be, Maxi”

“He is here, running as though he had a
thousand Bhoshones at his heels 1” .

Max was at the door tearing down the barri-
cades as rapidly as ossible. . '

Watanama the ndian girl was assisting

im.

When the last one had been removed, the
boy opened the door and Ned, almost out of
hreat and still bearing the old musket, dashed
into the cabin. _

“ This is what I call good luck !”.he exclaimed,
seeing himself in the midst of his companions
once more. “We are united again, thank
heaven! Our three betrayers have not left the
nei hborhood. The chances are that I have
mtfied with Captain Snake for his treachery.”

“ What! killed him Ned?”

“ I do not know hu that I have. My gun
went olf while it was pointed at his head. .

“ Where was he!”

“A short distance from here, and 'near the
river. After firingI ran for the cabin. How
do you feel, Fred! '

“ Better. Watanama is indeed an aiggel of
health. I already feel the results of her octor-

ing. But tell us about your adventures. I

know you have a am to spin, Ned.” _

Ned Knight fort with proceeded to give an ac-
count of his adventures since his foreible re-
moval from Grizzly Camp. His audience was
small but none the less attentive, and he was
listened to to the close without once being inter-
rupted. ”

“ Watanama also had a. narrow escape,
smiled Fred when the youn narrator had con-

cluded. “ She was chased a most to the door of

the cabin b a rizzl into whose body Max
two shits {gain his Winchester; but Old
Eph succeeded in getting away.”

“ If it had not been for the presence of ene-
mies in the neighborhood the old fellow would
have been followed and banged. He lumbered
ed with a gogid deal of difliculty, and is not far
awa' at this me.

“ here. Max." said Fred gently. “Don’t

 

set your head on obtaining that bear-skin to!
the present. The time may come when an op-

ortunity for getting it may present itself, but
Just now Grizzly Camp is in a state of siege, and
we tmiyi’st do nothing that will imperil our
as e y.

These were wholesome words and cooled
Max’s ardor.

Constant watchin at the loop holes of the
cabin failed to revea the immediate presence of
any foe, and the sun began to drop toward the
western horizon.

Durin Ned’s brief captivity the hole in the
roof of t ' e but had been repaired, and the car-
cass of the panther buried under the floor.

Fred said that, thanks to the herbs found by
Watanama in the mountain, he expected to he
on his feet again in a con le of days, and every
now and then declared it is intention to defend
the camp to the last extremity.

The rid girl was entirely satisfied with her
lot, and frequently told the boys that she had
abandoned her tribe forever. ‘

“They don’t seem verv anxious to give us an-
other tilt," rs marked ax as the sun went
down, leavin him at his, favorite post, rifle in
hand. “ Wit Tucson Tom badly wounded and
Captain Snake probably deadg Old Blue does
not feel like pushing hostilities. ’

“I think 1 would not if I stood in his shoes,"
laughed Ned; “ but there is no telling what the
coming night will bring forth."

Ah! that was true.

If the little garrison of Grizzly Camp could
have pierced the evening shadows that ay be-
tween them and the rivsr, the might have he-
held s. very interesting counci of war.

Among the bushes not far from the rapid
stream crouched three men whose faces were
by no means handsome. '

One had the appearance of bein badly hurt,
another had his ead bandaged y a crimson
rag, while the third, the most villainous looking
member of the trio, was talking in mud tones.

“ The next time I guess they ll bullet me " he
growled; “that is, boys, if we let them Ave
their own_way. If we don’t finish the job an’
git posssssion of the shanty, the Injuns will do
it for us, an’ then good-by to the gold mine ,
under it. I’m in for doin the whole business
up tonight an’ doin’ it up brown, too. One of
the kids bored you through an’ through, Tucson,
an’ we don‘t expect you to have a hand in the
fun, but you, cap’n, you’ve got a scalp wound,
an’ on can work.”

“ 'm ready for anything,” replied the man
last spoken to who ooked like a half-breed.
‘l‘jNed (time; to kill an’ it isn’t his fault that he

in no . on can sta h er, Tucson an’ rest
giggle. Old Blue an?! inn do me’ job to-

“ l'll stay hyer, but I’d rather be with you.”
replied _the badly-wounded desperedo. ‘ ‘
opinion is that you’ll find the camp on the slot
so‘be keerr'il, for the boys can shoot.”

We’ve tackled men before now. Tucson, an’
we ought to be able to take keer of three boys.” I

“ An’ an Injun all”

“ _Yes, an’ an In an gal.”

Night had fairly thrown her mantle over the
earth when the council among the team broke , ,

 

 

 
  
  
 
 
   
  
   
  
     
  
 
 
  
  
   
  
  
 
  
   
   
 
    
   
 
 
  
  
   
  
  
   
  
    
  
   
  
   
  
 
 

 

v sent expe

 . tonlshed red—skin’s ears.
i llow anybody to interfere in our game,”

 

Fighting ma. .

 

up, and the man called Tucson Tom was the
sole person left on the spot.

OJ Blue and Captain Snake, the half-breed,
crawled toward the cabin.

The ni ht promised to favor their murderous
undertaking, for with the disappearance of the
sun heavy clouds rose above the horizon, and
threatened to obscure the disk of the moon when
it should rise.

Did the boys see the figure that crept toward
the cabin from the southwest?

Not far behind it was another moving over
the ground in the same manner, and heading
toward the same goal.

When the crawlers halted the were almost
against the cabin, and putting t eir heads to-
gether conversed for a while in low whispers.

Suddenly one of the pair turned his head and
listened toward the point from which they had

crept.

“ What is it, cap’ni” he said addressing his
com anion.

“ can’t make out yet, but something’s com-

. in’ this way.”

“ Mebbe it’s a b’ari”

“Or an Injun 1”

“Not a red—skin, I hope."

“ They’re liable to come back, you know,
Blue.”

“ That’s a fact, cap’n. Can’t you see any
thin of it et?"

“ othin .”

For a moment longer Captain Snake, the
half-breed, listened and looked with every sense
on the alert. ’

“ I see it nowl” he suddenly whispered at his
com anion’s car.

:A all, whatbis  l”

n mun y o ey

Old Blue Mountain drew his bowie.

“Is the crittnr comin’ toward us?” he asked.

“ Straight for us, or I’m a catamount,” an-
swered the captain.

“ We’ve got to settle him, that’s all. Lie low
an’ let him come on. He’ll never get to the
cabin, for I hold a settler in my hand.”

The night was not dark enough to hide en-
tirely the figure that was wendi'ng its way over
the ground toward the two men prepared to
give the creeper a warm reception.

Old Blue did not take his eyes from it for a
moment. ‘

“Finish him the first blow,” said the half-
breed. “ Don’t let him get a yell on us. If he
does. Blue, the jig is up for to-night.”

“I know that, cap’n. It’ll surprise you pre-

Qntly to see how easy an Injun can die.”

CAnother minute suificed to bring the two ‘

parties almost together.
The destination of the red-skin, whoever he

' - was, undoubtedly was the cabin.

Perhaps he was the spy of a large body of
savages not far 03; if so,~it was essential that
Old Blue should put a summary end to his pre-
dition.

All at once the white desperado sprung at the

' . plug figure, and as it leaped up his hand

darted at the Indian’s throat, 
“ You die hyerl” hissed Old Blue, in the as-
“ The cap‘n an’ I don’t

 

- Down came the uplifted knife, and Old Blue
owered to the ground a human body in which
its was already extinct.

“ Did I fail, cap’n?” he inquired, in low, tri-
umphant tones, and then added. “ 1 never do,
when: r'ny hand’s in workin’ condition, as it is to-
m 1 .

aptain Snake eyed the dead brave around
whose neck was a necklace of wolf-teeth, and
turned away a moment later with a smile of
satisfaction.

“Now let us go on,” said Old Blue. “ I’m

are that the youngsters didn’t hear any noise
lair 1lt made none. Thet Injun’s name war Lean

o .

He turned toward the cabin as he finished '

hut before he had proceeded a rod, the hand 0
Captain Snake fell on his shoulder.

“ Halt l”

“ What’s up now—another Injunl”

“ More than one I’m thinkin’."

“No, cap’nl”

“Look yonder, an’ yonder. It them things
ifain’tnredskins I never saw stumps crawl be-

ore.

Captain Snake’s moving hand showed Old
Blue the objects his keen vision had deter-ted.

“ Injuns they are, curse the luck I” grated the
desperado. “Seel they are getting together.
Thar! they’re all grouped now.”

The two worthies ot the far Northwest gazed
speechless at the movement that they had just
witnessed. '

Captain Snake had counted twenty Indians,
and his companion had doubtless done the
same.

"Thar they go!” suddenly ejactSated Old
Blue, as the red-skins darted toward the cab-

in.
The next minute the flashes of four rifles cut
the night. and the clear reports floated up the
mountain sides.
“ The young badgers weren’t asleepsb any
meansl” said Captain Snake. “Some 0 their

bullets fold, for the red-skins gave several death- ,

yells. Thar ’ll be high fun nowl”

The air now resounded with the wild yells of
the Indians who knew that longer secrecy was
not possible, and having recoiled a few feet
from the deadly fire of the defenders of the
camp, they suddenly recovered and rushed for-
ward again. I

But they were again met by the deadly rifles
on the insxde, and several more dropped dead.

CHAPTER XIII.
m mm? Bur—arr FROM ABOVE.

THE eflective shooting of the defenders of
Grizzly Camp seemed to daze the attacking
party. I

The red-skins reeled from the flashes of the
guns. and far a moment seemed on the point of
retiring altogether from the field.

A stalwart chief, however, animated them by
his fearless spirit and led them on.

As if to assist the besieged. the clouds broke
suddenly above the but and let a flood of moon-
light down upon the scene.

F “(Iiiurrahl now pour it into them i” exclaimed

re .
captured with ease,"

 

   

“ Let us show them that we are not to be

 

 

 

 

           
       
        

     

 

 

 

 
   
  

l'ightin‘ Prod.

 

lat

 

Despite the rapid shots a portion of the red —
band reached the but against whose logs they
were comparatively safe.

“They ll try the door next,” said Max, and
sure enou h it was struck blow after blow, and
threatened with destruction.

But the planks were strong, and the boys
confident that they would be able to withstand
the attack. .

As the Shoshones had now concentrated all
their eflorts on the door, the besieged turned
to the menaced quarter and awaited results.

What had become of Old Blue Mountain and
Ca tain Snake?

hey were no longer on the spot where we
saw them last, for dismayed by the red-skins'
furious attack, they had beaten a hasty retreat,
sneaking from the field back to the place where
they had left Tucson Tom their wounded com-
punion.

To their horror they did not find Tucson there
and in 10w voices they called him, but received
no response.

A brief search, however, revealed the miss-
in man, but what a sight he was when found.

cson Tom had had a desperate encounter
with a grizzly from the look of the under r0wth
by which the des erado was surrounds . The
animal was doubt ess the same one wounded by
Max a few hours before.

Tuwon Tom had fought for life but the griz-
zly had conquered, for the dead body of the
lawless fellow, terribly torn, was the spectacle
that greeted Old Blue and Captain Snake.

The two men stood silently over the mangled
corpse for a few moments, when Old Blue sud-
den v exclaimed:

“ Thar’s that much more for us, cap’n, when
we git the bonanza. Tucson would never have
amounted to much with that wound in the
back, but if I could find the grizzly what won
the game I’d pay him back for his work.”

As if in answrr to Old Blue’s boast a fierce
growl and a noise at his left startled both men,
and they whirled in a moment.

“The old fiend as I’m a sinner!” ejaculated
Old Blue. “Stand What you ar’ jess one min-
ute, an’ you’ll never finish another pard.”

Out flew Old Blue’s revolver as he took a mad
stride toward the e(grimly by whom they had
just been confront .

“Stop! none 0’ that!” cried Captain Snake,
springing forward and laying his hand on his
arm. “A shot may bring the whole red gang
down 11 11 us, an’ you know we don’t want em
hyer. f you must fight the grizzly do it with
yo‘ull- er'lte.” ’ x"

‘ w’ ca a

Back to th: speaker’s belt want the cooked to
volver and out leaped a knife.

Old Blue was no coward.

The grim, doubtless badly wounded from
his repea growls, stood his wand "1d
awaited the onset.

Suddenly he rose on his hinder feet to receive
Old Blue, whg threw out his left arm II he
sprung orwa .

A moment later he sunk into the grluly’s em-

 

Thm times he met in rapid succession, st

 

each blow the knife sinking beneath the bear‘s
shaggy coat, and the huge monster suddenly
staggered back to receive the knife of Captain
Snake, who had come up.

In less than five minutes after the finding ot

Tucson Tom’s mangled body he had been
avenged.
Old Blue and his companions picked up the
corpse and carried it to a secluded spot, where
they buried it in the best manner they could,
but shed no tears over the grave.

Like all men of their class they seldom wept,

“ I’d like to know how things ar’progresqn’
at the camp," said Old Blue. “I don t hear any
noise that way. Mebbe the Injuns have carried
the piece by storm an’ paved the way for us.”

“ adn’t we better go an’ see?"

“ I think we had.”

Side by side the two men glided toward the
besieged cabin, but halted a number of rods
from it and strained their eyes to see what was
going on.

Strange to say they saw no Indians and heard
no sounds.

" Isn’t the door standing wide open!" suddenly ’
asked Captain Snake.

“ Hang me if it isn’t!” was the reply. “ The
red-skins have taken the place, an’ carried oil!
the kids. Come on, cap’n. l’m anxious to get
at the bottom of this affair."

It was indeed true that the cabin door stood
Eviido open; Old Blue’s eyes had not deceived

m.

Satisfied that the Shoshones had taken cap-
tives the oocu ants of Grizzl Camp, the two
men hurried orwurd, and 0 :1 Blue was the
first to halt on the threshold of the cabin.

It was emptyl

" I’ll have a light in an instant,” said Old
Blue, and drawing a lucifer from the depths of
a. buckskin pocket he produced a blaze, with
which he proceeded to llumine the interior of
the hut.

“They’ve gone, that’s a fact,” he said after a
minute's inspection. “ Now I’m goin’ to see if I
have ’been right. Take up that board there,

ea ’n.

:‘ptain Snake removed the punt-been desig-
nat by Old Blue’s finger, and looked up win:
a puzzled expression of countenance.

“Thar's no hole hyer,” he said.
be wrong, after all.”

Old Blue looked astonished. ,

“ l’m not goin’ to give it up et," he replied:

“Taakne up the other board. but do you see

now
“ Nothin’ but earth.”
"No hole, ca ’nl”
“ No hole, B us.”
“ Hang me it I ain’t stumped!"
“ So am I.”

' Old Blue’s match went out at that moment,
andi the interior of the cabin was in darkness \
age n.

“Can it be possible that this old but does not
stand over the openienig ot the Lost Mine?" the

old-hunter exclaim .
love it, but I’m afraid I will have to. Itell
you what we’ll do, ca ‘11. We’ll set fire to the '
about; that has tool op. I don’t want to sin

“ We must

 

“ I do not wantto beg, v ‘-

 

 

righting Fred. v ~>

 

   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
  
  
 
   
 
 
  

the missing mine up yet. It’s in this country
somewhar, an’ wharever it is thar lies our for-
tune. I’ve got another match.”

“Thar’s nothin' in hyer to start a fire with.”

“ Thar’s kindlin’ outside."

The two worthies left the cabin with the full
determination of giving it over to the flames.

r The round around the but was covered in
many p aces with pine cones and dry boughs,
which would burn readily.

Till: moonlight showed the two men where to
wor

They soon collected a lot of combustible ma-
terial, which Old Blue threw into the cabin,
and got ready to fire it. -

The two scamps never dreamed that they
were watched.

If they could have obs‘rved a certain place
on one of the lar est trees near by, and ele-
vated about sixty set above the ground, they
would have seen one-half of a human ii are.

“I’ll see what I can do for you, 01 Blue!"
exclaimed the boy who was leaning from the

» hole in the mountain monarch. "I used to
throw the hatchet pretty accurately in the
California camps, but my arm is still sore from
my panther-fight, and I may miss my mark.
However, here it goes, with the compliments of
the boys of Grizzly Camp."

The next instant the youth so strangely situ-
ated sentahatchet whirling through the air,
we‘ll-aimed at one of the dim figures before the
ca 11..

.A startling cry followed the throw, and Old
Blue, in the act of striking another match be-
fore the door, sprung to his feet. tostagger back
like a rson hard h t.

“ he did thatf’be growled, as he quickly
rgfovgred. “Cap’n, that lick came from the
s es.

“ I don’t know about that; but it came from
above—I know that,” was the response. “We
must go back, Old Blue. Hang me if I stay hyer
another minute 1”

Captain Snake turned and quitted the scene,
and, as Old Blue followed him, a boy’s triumph-
ant laugh soared toward the stars.

“ It‘Was a good throw after all,” he said. “It
saved the cabin and, I trust, marked Old Blue
,for life.”

 

CHAPTER EV.

, We AGAIN—A FLYING error.

A roan surprised lot of Indians than those
that rushed into the cabin after breaking the
door down was probably never seen in the wild
Northwest.

They expected to find the defenders of the
‘ , camp completely at their m'ercy: but instead
they found the cabin em ty, and notawhite
boy for them to wreak the vengeance on.

f they had lifted several of the heavy pun-
cheons that helped to form the rough floor of
the hut, they might have solved the mystery of
the he s’ escape; but as they did not, and with-
drew rain the cabin with a good deal of contu-
siOn, they left the conundrum unsolved.

The three boys and Watanama, the Shoshone
girl, had, eflected their escape by means of the

 

old). passage leading to the cave beneath the
ca in.

The reader will recollect that on another oc-
casion a large quantity of earth fell from the
roof of the corridor, imprisoning the boys in the
gold-room, and forcing them to escape by the
tree and Lean Wolf’s seventy—foot rope.

A short time prior to the forcing of the door
of the cabin by the Shoshones, Max discovered
that the dirt in settling down had left a small
opening, which led to the cave itself.

If it could be enlarged, escape were possible!

An effort to widen it encountered success, and,
in short, when the door fell in the Castaways of
dGrizzly Camp were safely housed in the corri-

or.

The retreat of. the Indians was swiftly fol-
lowed by the arrivul'at the but of Old Blue and
Captain Snake, after which followed the inci-
dents already described.

There was a general laugh of triumph when
Fred descended from the tree and related the
story of the hatchet cast.

Despite his wounds, Fighting Fred had made
his way up the old tree, and, by a lucky blow,
had saved the camp from destruction by fire.

9‘ We’ll have a little rest now, I’m thinking,"
he said. “ The Indians have withdrawn full of
superstitious notions concerning our escape, and
Old Blue and the captain have retired rather
discomfited. We have reason to rejoice, for we
are alive, and Grizzly Camp not much dam—
age .

We might add here that Fred’s views were
correct ones.

For several da 5 nothing occurred to imperil
the camp, and atanama had said that the red
hunting- arty had doubtless retired to another
part of t e country.

Fred’s wounds healed rapidly. and at the end
of the Week the cabin was tenanted again by the
whole party, and not the face of a single fee
was in sight.

As Lean Wolf had not made his appearance,
the he s were inclined to believe that he had
fallen 11 the assault on the but which was not
thzgage, gs we know. d 0d

t e oy tra per-s possesse go appetites,
the bear-meat digappeared rapidly durin the
week of siege and excitement, and the obt ing
of a fresh supply was necessary. ,

Ned also desired to visit Pete, the dwarf, who

‘ had rendered such valuable assistance to

during his esca e from the Shoshones.

It was agree one da that Max should guard
the camp while Fred, ed and Watanama un-
dertgok a reconnoissance as well as a hunt for
mea .

Ned asked the Indian girl if she knew any-
thing about Poto, but as no very satisfactory
answer was returned, he did not rose the mat--
ter, although he believed that t e dwarf was
not wholly unknown to her.

On leavmg camp Watanama asked permission
to guide the party, which was readily granted,
an , bidding Max adieu, the hunters set out on
the hunt.

The Star of the Shoshone! led the boys with a
confidence which told them that she was not unv
familiar with the country. and when Fwd asked

 

 

 

 

 

 

/

 

Fighting run. ' 2s

 

her if she had ever seen it before she cost down
her eyes and did not reply.

“ She is goin straight to Pete’s cave—I am
sure of it l’ and only exclaimed Ned. “ I recog-
nize several landmarks on this trail. We shall
see the dwarf before long, Fred.” '

“ If he is at home,” smiled the panther-killer.

Two miles further on the girl guide suddenly
stop ed and turned u on the boys.

“ knew itl” said ed. “ You have guided
us to within sight of the dwarfs den.” . ‘

“It is down yonder, around the big bare
rock ” was the reply.

“ i know it. Let us go on and see the strange
little fellow.”

The Indian girl advanced again, but with a
good deal of reluctance.

Ned grew impatient.

“I will lead the way,” he cried. “I want to
get along faster than this,"and, springing ahead
of Watanama, he led the way eagerly down the
side of the mountain. .

A few minutes’ haste brought him to the big
bare bowlder that jutted over the trail, and as
he turned it he uttered a loud cry and instantly
recoiled.

Fred and Watanama sprung forward.

“ Look! yonder is Potol” exclaimed Ned.
“ Woe to the miscreants who did that deed l”

The sight that met the beholders’ eyes was
horrible enough to chill their blood.

A human body, deformed, it is true, but still
human, was swaying in the wind before a dark
cavernous opening that led into the bowels of
the earthi

At first sight the three startled ones knew
that it was Poto.

“He may not be dead!” suddenly cried Fred,
dashing forward, and the following minute he
had cut the dwarf down.” .

“Is he deadi" eagerly queried Ned, leaning
forward.

“ Dead and cold!” was the reply.

“ I wonder who did it?”

“Can’t you guess, Ned?”

“lean, indeed,” was the reply. “Old Blue
and Captain Snake had to wreak their ven-
geance on some living object, and they chase
this poor bein i I owed Fate 3 great deal, al-
most life itsel , and now I find him dangling in
the air—deadi It is terrible! Show me the
trail of the murderers i”

I “ Not so fast,” said Fred, who could smother his

his ire. “ We cannot afford to turn vengeance-
hunters yet. Our day may come. We Will
bury Poto in the de'pths of his den, where the
wolves will not find im, and then prosecute our
hunt for meat.” I

The body of the dwarf was carried beyond
the threshold of the cave where he.had_ spent
many ears of his life, and placed in a grave
over w ich stones were piled for his monument.

There was nothing in the cavern to tempt the
trio, and when they left nothing was taken
awa .

Thyey believed that the dwarf had met his
death at the hands of Old Blue and Captain
Snake. who had probabiy left the country fora
time, if not for good.

Who ever did it did a mean set. which called

«v‘

 

loudly for vengeance, for Wataunma said in
one of her communicative moods, that Poto had
never been known to harm a living creature.

Having found the mountain dwarf and given
him decent burial, the little party started OR on
another trail.

“ Will we find game in this direction?” asked

Fred. addressing the Shoshone girl.

“ Mehbe so,” was the unsatisfactory repl ,
which Fred swallowed with a good deal of i l-
grace.

All at once Watanama stopped and pointed
almost straight ahead.

“ Which of the white boys is the best shot?"
she inquired, with a smile.

“ Fred is,” Ned quickly replied. “ What is to
be shot at? I see nothing." . ~

“But I do,” said Fred, stepping forward and
raising his rifle. “ I see the biggest pair of buck-
horiis in Oregon.”

“Don’t you see the buck himself, Fred!”

“Nothing but the horns; but I’ve got a good
idea where the head is.” ,

“Then let him have it.”

Fred’s cheek had already dropped to the stock
of the rifle, and he was aiming at a certain spot
just below the elegant pair of antlers, which
were raised above some bushes sixty yards
away.

But ere he pressed the trigger the clear report
of a rifle further up the mountain broke the
stillness, and the buck disclosed his whole form
by springing into the air.

Fred lowered his rifle amazed.

“ Wlio fixed that shot?” he exclaimed. “ In
another second the deer would have been mine.

“Hurrah! The biggest buck in Oregon 1”
shouted a loud voice, and the next moment the
figure of a man rushed iou ard the deer, which
gas lwrithing on the ground in the agonies of

eat .

“Don’t you know that man?” exclaimed Ned
laying his hand on Fighting Fred’s arm. “It
is Captain Snake. Let us capture the villain
and deal with him as he deserves.”

“ Old Blue may not be far away.”

“What of it! I’ll cover the villain yonder."

Ned’s rifle went to his shoulder as he stepped
forward.

“ Hello there, captain l” he called in a loud
tone, and with an oath the man, who was in the
act of bleeding the deer, sprung up and grasped
un.

“ on’t make any demonstrations, captain,"
continued Ned over his rifle. “ We want to
talk to you a little. Stay where you arel"

Captain Snake, the he f-breed, was too aston-
ished to re ly.

He saw t at he was at the mercy of those who
had a right to send a bullet through his brain,
and he eVidently thought that submision was
the best thing he could do.

Therefore, he did not lift his gun, but held up
his hands in token of surrender, and his captors
moved forward.

“That's a splendid buck. captain," said Fred,
glancing at the dead ds-er as he came up. “You
Weff’a tigtle too guick foi- me.” b ”

m at we ornear ev sue
the captain. y y “y “1" pp“

u q: <.

\

urns ma. taint-mi w Lin 4........'-_....-_._._.. -. 1. ..

W. .1412 am ' .
Manama A

h

 

 

Fighting Prod. *

 

“You were for P010, as we have iinst seen,"
put in Ned. “Thu: was a mean act.
Captain Snake’s eyes flashed, but he did not

re 1 .
Ngeflat made you hang the dwarf 3” continued

“None 0’ your business, white boy I” was the
mad response, as Captain Snake leaped like a

er at Ned.

he young Californian instantly raised his
rifle, but it was wrenched from his hands, and
the next instant he was borne away by the stal-
wart half-breed, who was running down the
trail at the top of his speed!
, “Hele murder! h—e-l-pl" rung instinctively
from Ned’s throat. '

Fred stood dazed for a moment.

1 Me had not looked for such a turn of af-
airs.

When he recovered. Captain Snake and his
prisoner were rapidly disappearing.

“Watanama will stop him!” cried the Indian
girl throwing her rifle to her shoulder.

“ 0! you’ll hit Ned!” gas d Fred.

“ Watanama can shoot, w ite boyl”

The Star of the Shoshones sprung from
gredk’s grasp, and fired a shot after Captain

na e.

“ hat did Watanama say?” she exclaimed,
wheeling upon Fred with a triumphant expres-
sion as the smoke of the gun soared upward.

Fred did not reply.

He was staringdown the trail, where the half-
breed and his captive had disappeared with the
crack of the rifle.

CHAPTER XV.
now MAX ENTERTAINED wsrmns.
WE are new going back to Maxi—unobtrusive,
‘ cautious Max.

He had been left in charge of Grizzly Camp
before, but had not enjoyed any adventures
during his stay “ on guard.”

Tillie time, however, he was not to get oil! so
use] .

Fo¥ an hour after the departure of his com-

nions, Max stood at the largest of the loop-

oles—quitealittle window of itself—and sur-
veyed the landscape that stretched toward the

river.

Fred cautioned him not to unbar the door on
any account, but this admonition was not need-
ed; for Max never did anything without having
.flrst revolved it in his brain, and he was not
; likely to be cajoled into opening the door.

r There was a certain loneliness about his situa-
tion, but the boy did not mind it, and be anx-
iously awaited the hunting-party’s return.

, Suddenly there appeared‘m front of the cabin
and not more than ten feet beyond the door
the huge head of a beer. I

With the most quizzical expression imaginable
Old Ephraim was surveying the'cahin, and Max
fancied that the hoggish little eyes had smgled
him out. .

u'I’ll surprise you i” e aculated the boy, spring-

ing back for the rifle t at stood in the nearest

corner. “ Who knows but that I may bag the
most game by remaining at home?"
He returned to the loop-hole a minute utter-

t»

 

. \u    ,r
‘5: .‘E*.;1t!zld.£e:4mv4wui :"35‘ar “unit: - *

 

...‘.. H”;  up... 3:»: xvi-n a. w’.‘

ward, but the beer had quietly taken his (is,
parture.

“Went off without- suyiug adieu,” laughed
the boy, who regretted that ho had missed an
excellent shot by having his rifle in the corner
and not in h‘shands.

The wor i . hud scarcely left his lips when a
strange scratching noise carried him to the back
part of the hut.

“ Bless me, if the old fellow isn’t going up the
ma lel” he said, after a moments listening.
“I he tries the roof he’ll come through a rent
deal quicker than Fred’s panther did, and will
be in a pretty situation.”

Max thought 0(' the avenue leading to the
underground apartments, but to his courage,
let it be said, he never thought of running from
the bear.

From what he saw of the animal he believed
it to he a grizzly not yet full grown, but large
enough to give him aterrihle brittle, and of
sufiicient weight to crash through the cabin’s
roo .

1 It was a very unpleasant moment in Max’s
ife.

He heard the bear making his way up the
tree that grew almost against the nut, and
followed his movements by the noises.

Suddenly the sounds ceased; Bruin had
reached the first fork from whence he could
step upon the roof if that was his intention.

Max stood in one corner of the cabin with
cocked rifle and his eyes fixed on that part of
the cleiling under the spreading branches of the
me e.

oments seemed hours while he waited for
the bear to advance.
h Alt last one of the boards overhead shook a.
'tt 9.

“Feeling your way, are you?” ejaculated
Max. “I’d rather you would change your

mind; but if you are determined tovisit me,

the sooner you come the better. ”

Yes, the grizzly was feeling his way.

Max ceu d imagine him trying the planks
with one of his paws, which was just what he
was doing at that moment.

Suddenly with a noise that almost lifted Mex
Martin ofl his feet two of the roof hoards fell in
witha terrible crush. and with them came an
ob'ect which looked monstrously huge!

nstinctivaly the boy draw back into the
depths of the corner. and pressed his rifle
against his shoulder.

For several moments he did not catch sight
of his visitor for the broken boards had nearly
covered him, but suddenly the bear shook him-
self clear, and looked at his surroundings. .

The arizzly’s astonishment was comical; his
sudden descent had amazed hi m, and be present-
ed an admirable target for Max’s aim.

The young Californian did not hesitate, but
aiming] at the host’s head fired ashot which
sent 1: 9 animal reeling backward and to the
floor in the throes of death. V

Max threw another charge into the steel
chamber of the repeating rifle as quickly as pos-
sible. fearful that his shot was not a fatal one;
but the rizzly had already succumbed and was
gas mg is last.

“ hat’s easier done than I thought.” said Man

 

mam.

 

- .‘.,

   
 
 
 
  
 
 
  

““‘

Fighting Prod. 37

 

triumphantly. “A grizzly with one bullet
doesn’t discredit an old hunter." . _

He stepped to his prize and surveyed it With
admirati u but his thoughts were disturbed
With a suddenness that drove him back again.

“ Great Caesar! another grizzlyl" he ex-
claimed, for on looking up he beheld the face of
a second bear who was contemplating him from
the edge of the gap in the roof.

Max recovered in a moment from his second
surprise.

“Just stay therea momentl” he said to the
new visitor, and sending his weapon swiftly
against his shou dcr he hurried a. ball toward
the apparition overhead.

An instant later a howl of rage and pain was
heard, and something terribly large struck at
Mn x’s feet.

No wonder that he sprung back with an ex-
clamation of horror.

The bear, by no means dead and as ferocious
as only a wounded grizzly can be, had fallen
through the oponingl '

Max did not realize until a second after the
bvar’s fall that one of the paws had knocked his
rifle from his hands.

“I've got this, thank fortnnel” he said, draw-
ing his revolver, and thrusting it forward.
“Now, old fellow, it is to be a tussle for the
mastery, I suppose." .

Many a person—old hunters, even—shut up in
a log cabin with a wounded grizzly, would have
shrunk from the contest, but not so Max Mar--
tin.

He even advanc (1 upon the desperate animal
eager to begin an end the conflict which could
not be avoided. ‘

He shot just as Old Eph rose on his hinder
feet, aimin at the little white spot under his
throat, an back from the pistol smoke stag-
gered the bear with an angry growl.

But only for a moment.

In the twinklin of an e a he rushed forward
again, meeting :ix’s thir bullet halt-way, but
that did not stop his progress. _

Max was forced back, and the grizzly speedi-
ly brought the fight to close quarters, so close,
Indeed, that the boy’s revolver become useless.

He drew his knife.

Shutting his teeth hard Max had resolved to
conquer or die in the capitol oi' Grizzly Camp.

He saw the bear, bleeding from two wounds,
rise again, and throw wide his huge fore-paw
for the settling hug. ‘

It could not be avoided, for the knife-armed
boy was against the wall.

" I’ll face you to the end!” he exclaimed, and
at the bear he went, aiming a blow at the region
of the heart as the arms closed upon him.

Max kept his right arm under the strong paw,
and with all the strength he could summon
struck the knife deep into the bear’s side.

He thought at that moment of Fred’s battle
with the panther on that very spot.

Bear and boy went to the ground together.

As they struck the bloody puncheouahthey
fell apart and Max. as he rolled away With a
gasp, relin uished his hold on the knife.

It was ditkcult to tell which had won.

Most probably death had claimed them both.

K

 

Twenty minutes later a heavy rap sounded on
the cabin door.

“ Open, Muxl lVe’ve got mcnt enough ix)
keep us i: month,” said a loud voice.

There was no response from within.

A boy’s startled cry was next; heard, and a
face appeared at the hole in the roof.

Merciful heavens! Max has hvcn killed by
grizzlicsl” and the mrsnn who alighted at Max's
side was Fighting li‘i‘cd Nichols.

 

I
CHAPTER XVI.
THE TnAiL or A DREAM.

THANKS to fortune and a good constitution,
the boy lying on the cabin floor beside the hear
was not dead.

“ You didn't kill both these grizzliesi” asked
Fred in astonishment. when Max opened his
eycs in the midst of his companions.

“ I think i did,” was the reply, and the young
victor narrated the ndventure we have record-
ed in the foregoing chapter.

“ Ned. yonder, had a very nnrrow escape,”
replied Fighting Fred. “We found Poto the
dwarf strqu up by the neck and buried him
in his den. Then we started out on a meat-
hunt. All at once \Viimiinma diwovered n pair
of antlers raised fll)nVi-‘ \‘Ullln bushes and I pro-
pnred to bag a buck. Iiut lwforo I could press
the trigger, another rille spoke, and thv- dm-r
fell. The man who run forward to 01‘ i'in his
prize was Captain Snake, whom we instantly
covered and made hold up his hands. ch
wanted to shoot him for helping: to take I’oto’s
life and frankly told him so. We walked up to
where the captain stood and all at once he
seized Ned and started off at the top oi’ his
speed. I dared not shoot, but Watnnnnia do-
terniined that the lllthl‘ellDt should not oscnpv.”

” Did she ‘shoot at Snake while he carried
Ned in his arms!” questioned Max eagerly.

“ Hear me through and you Will know,"
answered Fred. “ Wutnnania took a hasty aim
and fired. I saw Nod and hi: cnptor instantly
disappear, and ran forward with all my might,
more than half-expecting to see the youngster
lying dead among the grass along the trail.
The Star of the Shoshones kept at my heels.
What was my surprise and joy, Minx, when I
reached the spot to see Nod unharmed.”

“ And Captain Snake?”

“ 0h, he had escaped to vex us again, if he
isn’t too badly wounded.”

“ Didn’t lie attempt your life?” said Max,
turning to Ned.

"No; he told me before the shot was fircd
that he was carrying me to a person with whom
I was well acquainted. I suppose he nicant Old
Blue. Watannma’s ball must have shutter-Ki
his arm for when he ran off, his left one 50‘. mod
to hang useless at his side.”

“ It’s a pity it wasn‘t his treacherous heart,”
ejaculated Fred. “ 1 am inclined to thinl: that
we shall meet these two worthios again during
our stay at Grizzly Camp, but it' they come
back they will nieei; with 1: reception they will
never for et. For my part I wish they would
come. e are in pretty good fighting trim.
I’ve lot over my panther flzht.aud beyond

 

    
 

 

23

Fighting fred. \

 

some few bruises, 01d Eph didn't hurt you,
Max.”

“ A da will set me to rights again,” smiled
Max, an as his aze wandered to the carcasses
of the two grizzlies, he added, seriously:

“It was a very narrow escape and I trust I
will never get into so tight a place again.”

The little hunting-party had fetched home
some choice venison, and several brace of moun-
tain quail, which, added to the supply of bear-
meat which Max had secured by remaining at
home, more than filled the larder of the camp.

The grizzlies were skinned and the skins turn-
ed over to the Indian girl who desired to dress
them in the most approved frontier. style for

Max.

“Thatred girl is uneasy about something,”
remarked Ned, after he had watched Watana—
ma awhile. “ She’s superstitious like all her
people, and on the hunt today I caught her
talking to herself about Red Crow the red-skin—
ned lover she killed on the tree-bridge. She
doesn’t think he still lives after falling two hun-
dred feet through space and then striking the
rapids of the riveri’

“ I would think not,” said Fred: “ but there’s
no telling what ideas these Indians get into
their heads sometimes.”

Nothing more was said about Watanama’s
uneasiness, and no one thought of it again until
at the solemn hour of midnight when he was on
guard at the door of the cabin, Fred felt a hand
laid on his arm.

Turning quickly he beheld the form of the In-
dian girl at his side.

“ Don’t speak, white boy,” she said, in the
lowest of whispers. “Watanama is going to
say Wed-by.”

‘ hat’s thati—going away, eh?” ejaculated
Fred unable ,to conceal his astonishment.

“'I‘he Star of the Shoshones must go,” was
the determined rejoinder. “ She sle t and had
a dream. In that dream the spirit 0 Red Crow
whispered at her ear."

Fred was about to say “nons: nse,” but check-
ed himself for the faint light- in the cabin show-
ed him the red girl’s serious countenance.

“ You believe in such thin s, but I don’t,” be
said, instead. “But Red row was your foe
as well as your lover. Why, then, should his
spirit come back to you!"

“ The Great Spirit send Red Crow back.”

“ What did he say to you?”

“ He told Watanama to meet him at the
tree.”

“ The bridge?”

H Yes. 7’

“ When?”

“ Now, white boy.”

Fred made no reply, but felt the hand of the
red girl tighten on his arm.

“0 en door for Watanama,” she said. “She
must isten to the voice of the deem/she shall
go to Red Crow.”

“ What if I should refuse?”

The girl stepped back and pointed toward the
roof of the cabin: ' 4

“Watanama will go out the way the bears
came in,” she said. “She is oing to the tree."

“ Themou shall go by the our.”

Fred d no more. but proceeded to remove

 

the barricades as noiselesst as posaible. He
did not want to disturb his sleeping comrades.

He succeeded in his design, and pressing
Watanama’s hand in mute good-by he saw her
slip away and closed the door after her.

“ I’m going to see the outcome of this dream,”
he said to himself, as he began to put the barri~
cades back in their places. “ It is only a short
distance to the river; .and the girl may need
help. She shall not want for assistance while I
can render any.”

He) stooped over Ned and awoke him with a
tone .

“Take my place. I’ll be back soon,” he said.

“You are not going out, I hope?” asked the
astonished Ned.

“ I am—to the river.”

“ At this hour?”

“Ask no uestions. Keep your eyes open.”

Fighting red sprung to one side of the
cabin, and by means of the logs, ascended nim-
bly to the roof, where he moved one of the
planks aside and began to climb out.

Ned watched him with eyes full of surprise,
but diéi not speak until he had entirely disap-
peare .

“That'saqueer caper, but- let him go,” he
muttered. “ He’ll repent of his folly before
morning.”

Fred alighted on the ground outside in safety,
and hurried forward to find Watanama, but not
a. glimpse of the Shoshone girl could he obtain.

He resolved, however, to m uke his way as
rapidly as posdblo to the tree that bridged the
rapid river, and away he went at good speed.

‘ What do I see’l’ he exclaimed, pausing sud-
denly in the moonlight 3. short time afterward,
and staring at an object ahead. “Somebody
has deprived the tree-bridge of almost all its
foliage. There is somebody about to step-upon
it. Can it be Watanama?”

Fred advanced nearer, eager to establish the
identity of the form he had espied. I

All at once he stopped and crouched behind
some bushes.

He was scarcely more than fifty feet from the
tree, and standing upon it outlined against the
rounded disk of the moon he tow a figure which
he was sure he recognized?

“ Watanama is here, Red Crow,” said the
voice of the Shoshone girl. “ She heard you
speak to her while she slept, and her feet has-
tened to reach the appointed spot. Now, tell
her what she must do. She listens for the com-
mand: of the brave whose life she took because
he ersecuted her.”

he only response was the roar of the river
that thundered over its rocky bed two hundred
feet below.

“There’s something crossing on the tree,”
suddenly cried Fred, whose eyes had wandered
from the girl for a moment. “Is it a panther
or is it an lndian’l Watanama does not see it.”

No, the Indian girl did not see the object
creeping surely upon her from the other bank
of the stream.
> Fighting Fred kept his eyes upon it.

He coul see the body moveln and out among
the scanty foliage left on the fallen trunk, an
noted that, the distance between the creeper
and Watanama was rapidly lessening.

 

 

 

'Lu r‘ .a...

 

 

Fighting Fred.

 

“I see now—it is an Indian l” he said. “Wa-
tanarna‘s dream is to end with a tragedy if I do
not interfere. Thank Heavenl I am here to
protect the girl i”

At that moment the Star of the Shoshones
advanced toward the middleof the river with
her right hand upraised.

“ Let the Great Spirit speak if Red Crow will
005.” she cried. “Watanama is here and her
ears are open l"

Fred fancied he could see the eyes of the red
crawler fllsh fire while they regarded the girl.

” Now is my time!” he exclaimed.

A bound carried him forward.

" Stopl stop!” he cried to the red girl.

Alarmed at his voice Watanama instantly
turned.

The red crawler sprung up at the same mo-
ment.

“ You shall not touch her. I am herel”
flashed Fred, as he threw himself between the
warrior and his almost victim with his face
turned toward the former. “ Backl you
accursed red-skin!"

The Indian answered with a. cry of rage and
dashed at Fred with uplifted tomahawk.

“Not yet i” grated the boy, thrusting a revol-
ver forward, and touching the trigger at the
ri ht moment.

here was a wild cry that mingled weirdly
with the roar of the river, and a half-naked fig—
ure pitched downward through the moonlight
to lose itself among the waters below.

The next instant the air seemed full of
arrows!

A sharp pain dart-ed through Fred’s arm; his
n anpon fel from his grasp!

“ l’ve got. another for you, my red-skins!” he
said. but before he could draw it he felt a
strange dizziness come met him.

_ Vaiuly did he try to keep his balance on the
tog. to turn and rush toward the shore.

A wild cry peeled from his lips when he felt
his feet slippin from under him. - V

Where was atanama?

In another instant Fred’s feet had left the log
and be was actually falling!
bl’l‘tgs hon-or of his situation almost froze his

00 .

His hands closed on the first thing they brush-
ed, and he held on with a death-gr p.

Well did he know that he was hangin
the foaming torrent two hundred feet
yet he dared not look downward.

A second seemed an hour.

Suddenly the air was cut by twenty wild
whoops; the log above him shook.

Fred understood it. The Indians were cross-
ing the bridge! ‘

CHAPTER XVII.
ssvnnl—mn GRANTS rwo noes um
“ Burma the ] iver than death'by their toma-
hawks,” crossed the boy’s mind like a flash.
He was helpless, and, what added to his peril,

over
ow,

 

‘ was the fact that the branch to which he clung

threatened to break with his weight.

A lance along the log above shawod him a
numger of figures advancing u n him.

“ I’ll perish 115“..th l” be summed.

 

He loosened one hand, but held on with two-
fold couruge with the other.

Then he made out todraw and cock his ro-
volver.

“ My situation does not render me harmless,"
he continued. “ I will show you red-skins what
a California boy can do when he’s cornered."

Raising the revolver. Fighting Fred fired a
hasty shot at the foremost savage, now not more
than ten feet away.

The brave fell back and dropped upon the lo
badly wounded, and checking his companion 5
advance. ,

“ White boy hold up hand—quickl" said a
voice at this juncture, directly above him, and
Fred saw Wutanama, the Shoshone irl, leaning
toward him, with one hand thrust ownward.

He instantly thrust the revolver-back into his
belt and held up his hand, which the lndian girl
seized and began to exert her strength to draw
him up.

Fred assisted Watanama as much as he could,
and hailed with joy the moment when he was
able to draw himself upon the log once more.

Not a moment was to be last.

The last red-skin shot by the boy had fallen
into the river below, and the others were about
to resume the offensive again.

Fred and Watannma started toward the
bank, seeing which the Shoshones on the log
sprun forward.

“Vigil finish some of the work herel”orled
the boy, wheeling resolutely upon the enemy as
he reached the bank.

The next moment he opened fire on the In-
dians hurrying forward.

Struck by the deadly missiles, the Shoshones‘

recoiled. and those that did not beat a retreat
tried to hide themselves amid the scanty foliage
of the tree. . 0
Fred did not ause until he had emptied the
chambers of is revolver into the writhing

mess.

Then he turned to the Indian girl.

“I guess you don’t admire the sequel of your
dream,” he said. “ Come let us get back to the
cabin. Ah! here are the boys. They arrive on
the field after the battle has been fought."

Fred’s last remarks had been called forth by
the arrival of Ned and Max. who had come up
out of breath, but with ready weapons in their

hands and eager to take part against the In-

dians.

“We heard a revolver-shot, and started,” ex-
plained Max. “ You must have had a narrow
esca Fred.”

“ have, indeed. The var thought of it
makes me shudder. Those re fiends have had
all the powder and lead they want to—night.
With our arms, we are too strong for them to
follow us up.”

The boys of Grizzly Camp were not molested
when they retired toward the cabin. '

As Fred had said, the Indians had been pun-
ished enough. for they did not send even so
much as an arrow after the little party.

Wotanama went back to camp without speak-
ing a word; but when the but had been reached
again Fred addressed her.

“ Who was the first bravo I encountered on

,

 

 

\

 

 

Fighting Fred.

 

' the log-the one that crept upon you while you
were talking to the Gram Spirit? he asked.

“ It was Bald Eagle, Red Crow’s brother.”

“He would have killed you?”

“He wanted Watanama’s blood because her
hatchet slew Red Crow.”

“ How did he discover that?”

“Red Crow’s spirit whispered at his car as it
did at Watanama’s,” was the answer.

The Star 01' the Shoshones relapsed into silence
again and Fred withdrew.

The camp was left undisturbed. but by no
means unguarded, the remainder of. the night.

The boys expected to receive an attack from
the Shoshones, but none came.

v They did not know that the Indians had held
a council of war, at which it had been decided
to withdraw from the dangerous locality, and
the tenants of Grizzly Camp were left in posses-
sion of the field.

A bold reconnaissance by Fred on the follow~
ing morning showed that the Shoshones had
left, and Watanama assured the boys that they
would not return.

Old Blue and Captain Snake were still to be
feared, and the camp was again put in readiness
to receive them should they attempt any of their
depredntions.

Several days passed away without bringing
an an attack, and the boys of Grizzly Camp be-
gan to hunt again.

Some rare sport was thus obtained, but they
were alwa ya on the look-out for human ene-

mles.

At nightfall the cabin door would be closed
and secured against invaders of every kind, and
around the little flre kindled ou the ground in
the middle of the apartment the boys would
listen to the wild Indian legends that fell from

v Watanama’s lips.
. In the mean time the mine beneath the cabin
, had heenfully explored, and the young trappers
were satisfied that they had found the famous
one lost for so many years.
‘ They resolved to proceed to the nearest Gov-
‘ernment fort within a short time and report
their discovery.

Watanama ofl’ered to guide the party, and
everything was ready for the departure, when
an incident occurred that to some extent disar-
ranfied their plans.

T e Star of the Shoshones was in the middle
of a legend one night when a heavy blow fell
upon the cabin door.

In an instant the occupants of Grizzly Camp
'were on their feet and held their weapons in
their hands.

Fred strode to the door.

“Who’s there?" he asked.

“ Red friends, white hunters,” was the reply.

“I doubt that. I think we haven’t any red
friends in these parts. Tell me your name.”

“ Sweeping Tempest.” . '

“ That’s definite, but not very satisfactory,”

refined Fred with alight smile.

H y this time Watanama had reached the boy’s
si e.
j‘Open the door to Sweeping Tempest,” she

ran .
" Who is he?” / 4
 The great chief o! the  Spring Indians.

 

They are at peace with the Great Father at
Washington.”

“I know that, and I will open to Sweeping
Tempest."

Fred was not long in removing the barricades

V and opening the door.

The next moment there stepped into the cabin
a tall, well-formed Indian, who looked every
inch a chief.

“ Sweeping Tempest and his braves have
caught two pale—faced wolves in the mountains,”
said the red—skin. “They hate the young ale-
faces for they have said so, and Sweeping Tem-
pest has brought the prisoners to them for pun—
lshment.”

“Where are the captives?” asked Fred.

“ I’;et the white boys follow Sweeping Tem-

st.
peThe boys of Grizzly Camp did not hesitate,
but followed the chief from the cabin into the
bright moonlight without.

“ Here are the mountain wolves,” said the
Indian, waving his hand toward two men who
wore the garments of rough borderers.

The boys went forward.

“Old Blue and Captain Snake!” exclaimed
Ned after a moment’s inspection.

The men whOSe names had been pronounced
did not speak, but glared sullenly at the three
boy trappers.

Old Blue and Captain Snake had come back
to the camp, but in a manner least expected by
the boys and themselves.

“What will the young whites do with the“
wolves?” suddenly asked Sweeping Tempest.

“They are capriVes now and helpless,” an-
swered Fred. “ We cannot unish them, how-
ever richly they deserve punish ment.”

The Indians looked astonished.

“ The snake that the hunter spares to-da
may bite him to-morrow,” said the chief, -
dressing the boys.

“I know that,” was Fred’s reply. “ We do
not fear those men. Will you lea e the country
isf w: let you go?" he asked, addressing Captain

an e.

“You kin try us if you want ter.

“That is no reply at all. Wlll you go away
and trouble us no more, it you gain your
libert i”

“ es, we’ll go,” said Old Blue. “ I’lhanswer
for the cap’n. He’s mad, an’ won’t give you
any satisfaction.” ' -

Let them go,” said Fred, turning to the
chief.

Sweeping Tempest hesitated a moment, and
then ave orders for the prisoners’ release.

8111 enly, and without thanking any one for
the change of fortune, the two desperadoes
walked away. . ‘

Three'minutes later from toward the river:
came the report of a firearm, and Sweeping
Tempest fell forward on his face! »

A cry for vengeance rose from the throats of
the Warm Spring braves, and the next second
the whole hand sprung toward-the stream.

“We spared two fiendsl” exclaimed Fred.
“Let us help to pay them back for this deed I"
And away he went, with Ned and Max at his
heels.

It was a race for 1110.

 

 

Fighting Prod.

CHAPTER XVIII
A ranaxnui: LEAP—FORTUNE AND rm

Arum firing the dastardly shot. Old Blue and
his companion started off in the direction of the
tree-bridge, followed, as we have just seen, by
the eager Indians.

The pursuers knew that they would attempt
to cross the river on the true, and strained
ever nerve to overtake them before they could
reac i it.

The two men ran at the top of their speed,
Old Blue leading the advance.

All at once he stopped and pointed toward
the river.

“ Look! by my soul, the old tree is gone!” he
exclaimed.

“ It was there yesterday.” said Captain
Snake, staring at the spot where the tree had
rested on the bank.

“That doesn’t help us novv," was the reply.
There’s a river between us and safety, and yon-
der come our foes. Curse the luck, on ’nl E!
I had a revolver I wouldn’t care; but haven’t
a Single weapon that will do me any good.”

At that moment the foremost of their pur-
suers burst into view.

Old Blue s rung toward the river, and halted
on the very rink ot the precipice. _

“ Have you the nerve to jump, csp’n?” he
asked his companion.

Captain Snake looked madly at his enemies
for ii moment and then glanced downward at
the roaring torrent.

It was certain death to jump, and death to
recoil.

“Jump it is, Blue 1” he said. “ This adven-
ture has turned out poorly. Oh, you skunksl
we’re miin’ to cheat you yeti” he had turned to
the Indians again. “ We will newr give you a
heir of our heads. Hurrah for Old Blue and
Ca o’n Snake l”

The boy trappers seemed to know what was
coming.

They saw the two desperadoes turn to the
river again.

Fred rushed in advance of the whole party.

“ Halt-l” he cried.

“Not any more!” was the response and in the
moonlighttwo figures sprung over the bank!

The Indians uttered yells of rage and dis-
ap mtment.

' he next instant the entire party reached the
spot. but the two men had disappeared.

“That is the end of them," said Fred, gazing
down into the turbid waters. “Whatathrill—
in; place this has been since our occupation of
Grizzly Camp. We might as well go back now;
the trail has ended l”

The Indians were reluctant to return without
the scalps o! the two worthies, but these trophies
were not to be had. for the waters had already
carried them tar away.

Examination showed that a part of the bank
had given way and let the tree-bridge into the
river; hence the doom of the mountain wolves.

When the disappointed party returned to
camp. Watanama, who had remained behind,
announced an agreeable surprise.

 

Sweeping Tempest was neither dead nor mor-
tally wounded, the ball passing along his temple
having stunned him, nothing more.

The Warm Spring Indians sent up shouts of
rejoicing ut ihis intelligence, and the camp rung
with sounds of merry-making.

Although buried in the wilds of Oregon, the
boys of Grizzly Camp now feared no foe, for
they could rely on Sweeping Tempest and his
braves for protection and friendship. .

They did not see fit to impart to their red allies
the secret of the cave of gold, but kept that to
themselves.

A month later, after a delightful abode in un-
molested Griyzly Camp, they were Vigited by a
number of Government scouts from the nearest
military station and promised protection in
their mining operations.

it was Fred’s work, for, in company with
Watanama and three of the Warm Spring sav-
ages, he had made the journey to tho Govern-
ment post and returned in snietv. ‘

All thoughtsnf proceeding to Fort Okinaknne
were now abandoned, and the mine was revealed
to all.

Contrary to the boys' expectations. it did not
turn out to be the famous Lost Mine; but the ‘
gold it produced has enriched the three who
were abandoned in Grizzly Camp by Old Blue
and his companions. _

Ned has since met the youth who gave him
advice that saved his life when Half Moon had
lashed him to the wild horse after his capture;
but the old chief he never met.

He turned out to be a white boy who had

. been captured by the Indians when very

01in .

y Weg need not say that he was welcomed
at Grizzly Camp, and assured of Ned’s undying
friendship.

Watanama remained at the camp until she
saw it peopled with whites, when she bade the
three boys farewall, and went oi! with a young
Warm Spring Indian whose wife she has doubt-
less since become. '

Fred keeps his panther-skin, and Max would
nolt tike the world in exchange for his grizzly
pe ts.

As for Ned. he has trophies. too, among them
a long look of black hair, Vi hich he seldom shows
but which he admires much in secret.

Fighting Fred says that when Watanama
went away she carried with her the heart of
Ned Knight. and that the black trees will make
a bachelor of him.

I am inclined to believe that Fred is right,
but the future will tell the tale. .

Back once more in San Francisco, where they
are snown as ” The Young Gold—bugs.” Ned,
Max and Fred are enjoying life. and often nar-
rate to attentiva listens-rs their many adven-
tures in and about old Grizle Camp, which to-
day is n mining-town of no little importance.

Here We take leave of three Castaways or the
Oregon mountains, and wish them continued
succesa in lite.

m END.

 

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368 Jim. the Sport in Wake-up: or, Foghorn Fan to
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381 Dandy Bill’s Doom; or, Deerhunter, the Boy
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386 The Montana Kid; (tr, Little Dan Rock’s Mis-
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895 Harr , the Countr Bo , in New Y k.
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398 Captain Jack in Rocky Roost. By Col. lngraham.

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400 Black Horse Bill, the Bandit Wrecker. By
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