Copyright 153?, by BEADLE AND ADAMS. July :5, 1833.

W
82.50 a year. Entered at the Post Office at New York. N. Y.. as Second Class Mall Mutter.

 

 

Si «.4 PUBLISHED WEEKLY' BY BEADLE AND ADAMS, P 1
Vol. IV. Nu x‘l‘lhfr. N0. 98 \VILLIAM STREET‘ NE“; YORK_ Fuel-(53:13:13. N0. 85.

 

V FIGHTING FRED, or.THEW0ASTAWAYS UF GRIZZLY CAMP.

BY T- C- HARBAUGH,

AUTHOR on “THE SNOW—TRAIL," “ THE BOY EXILES OF SIBERIA," “SNOWVSHOE TOM", “ LOST BOY \YI‘IALERS,” 1:10., ETC.

'1" ,
//;/ 1/

r/

THE BOYS HELD THEIR TORCHES 1N (IKE HASH AND THE.“ ILICVULVERS XV THE OTHER,

 

,_.:

    

2

.. Fighting Fred;

'The Gastamys of Grizzly Camp.

BY T. C. HARBAUGH,
AUTHOR or “ nor nxmns,” “ snow-snonfirom,"
“Losr nor WHALERS,” “ KIT
CARSON CLUB," nrc.

 

we; CHAPTER I.
’- LEFT To. THEIR FATE.

“11' cannot be that they have‘ gone away to
sta‘ , and have left us .to our fate in this wild
regain.”

I’m afraid of it, Max.”

“Then ma not one of them ever see the Set-
tlements again! May Indian and grizzly make
short Work of the merciless villains! Here we
are, ruthlessly abandonedin 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
Grizzly Camp.”

“We’ll see about that! I remember, for one,
that we are Yankee boys, and I’m going to see
if Yankee pluck will not bring us out of this
She alleO.‘ .' I never did go much on that

e1 ow guide, and preciouslittle more on Tucson
om. As for Captain Snake, I did have a bet-
ter opinion of him, but after all I guess he’s no

i
,J

9

better than the other two. Hold up your heads, _

boys, and look misfortune squarely in the face.
Pm not going to let this infamous desertiou
dampen my spirits or prevent me from having
a good time. Since we have been abandoned to
the mercy of grizzlies and Indians, let us ins set
our armament and make the best of a bad ar-
gain. In the fint‘flace,~bo'ys, let us throw defl-
ance into the teeth of fate. 011' with your hats,
and give three cheers for Cam p Grizzly S”

The three. boys, who stood before the lone
cabin ‘hmongthe Cascide mountains, took ofl.’
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 defiant of the
three youths, a. well-limbed boy named Fred
Nichols. “The only wonder is that they’ve left
us anythin at all, and under the circumstances
we will fee grateful for the smallest favor.”

A light luugh followed these words, and the
three boys disappeared beyond the rough thresh-
old of the cabin.

While they are inspecting the meager arsenal
left them. and inwardly growling at their ill-
luck, let us for a moment look at the circum-
stances 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 pressnt chapter, which, let us inform the
reader right here, is October 12th, 1882, the
boys left Sacramento full of glee for strip to
Fort Okiuaka e, on the north branch of the
Columbia, witliin the limits of Washington Ter-
ritory, where the expected to enter the service
of a well-known ur company.

The entire party consisted of six persons—the
three be 3 already mentioned, and three men-—
Tucson cm, a well—known guide: Old‘ Blue
Mountain, Indian’ hter and trapper: and Cap—
tain Snake, a half— read, a man who had been
trusted more than he deserved. .

The three men had been paid well for the

-work for which they were hired, and nobody

be ondthem had dreamed of treachery.

a might remark here that the boys had on
smoomions caught the trio holdm whis-
per : conversations; and while Fro , ever
we Mn! and shrewd, feared that a ans f
some kind was afoot, he did not think t at the?
wereto be ruthlesslyabandon'ed and left to shi t
301' 5 ‘ vac, hundreds of miles from their
.. nu ' ' ,

After'Elengthy but not unadventurous jour-
ney almost urtotl‘Oregon, the little party of six
found theme-i lvcs in front of a strong and unin-
habited cabin among‘ the Cascades, a short dis-
tanca south of the main stream of theColumbia.

The cabin, standing Ione'lnd weather-beaten,
and without a door told them that some persons
had been before them; butit had been-aban-
doned many years prior to the young tnppers’

arrival.

It stood in the mast _ tiful yet wildest part
of the Cascade range, a. we the dalles of the
great River of the West.

Lof‘ y mountains lifted their heads on every

.the new re ion for

 

Fighting- Fred.

side, some timbered almost to their points
others rugged and bare, as though a fire ha
stripped t em of their trees.

Hundreds of these mountain trees were pines
that seemed to touch the skies; their circumfer-
ence and hight suprised even the boys, and this
when they‘had seen the renowned sequoia groves
of California.

The cabin of course
mountain travelers.

They stripped the packs from their horses,
and deposxtmg them in the but, turned the ani-
mals loose to seek their meal, while they—men
and boys—either rested themselves or scoured
game.

Several ays were passed at the cabin by the
entire party.

The mountain forests swarmed with game of
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 appropriately named
Bald Cone.

Then it was that they made a discovery well
calculated to fill their souls with horror.

The camp was uninhabited, and worse still,
not a horse was to be found!

During their absence Tucson Tom and his
companions had taken the animals and de-
camped, leaving them to go on or stay there, ac-
cording to their choice.

Abandoned in the wilds of Northern Oregon
was not a pleasant thought, and it was natural
that Max should see no pleasure in the future.

What added to the ril of theirsituation was
the fact that they be crossed a large Indian
trail the day before reachin the cabin.

This had probably made t 9 three uides and
hunters turnvback; but why should t ey aban-
don the lads to almost certain death?

It looked like treachery of the blackest hue.

Now let us retui n to the three castaways whom
we leftinsperting the cabin for the purpose of
seeing whnr. the rascal] y trio had left behind.-

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

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

Beyond these things nothing of utility had
been left behind, but the faces of the boys
brightened when they behold the little h‘ea .

‘ We’re a long ways from overty,” exc aim-
ed'Fred. ” I fancy that these things were left
at Ca 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

proved a friend to the

,existence in Old Blue Mountain’s brain, and

Tucson Torn wasn’t slow to follow the en es-
tion. Where they’ve one I don’t care. T ey
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!” enjoined Fred. V “Now
let us taste the fish we’ve caught, a’nd'after that
be' in life in earners " ' '

The‘boys left the cabin and Max hastened to
the spot where he had de ited the results of
their fishing excursion a ew minutes before,
but the exclamation of astonishment followed:

“ Bomebod has stolen the fish.”

“Impossib e!” said Fred and Ned bounding
forward. _ ,. . , v ‘

“ Here’s where I laid them,” answered Max.

inting to the spot where“ _ 3 fish had lain, for

here were males onthe' d, nothing more—
not a single salmon. :, ,

“This beats ever thin ,”, declared Fred.
“One misfortune swi tly to low: another. The
fish were have five minutes ago,”,and his eyes
flashed angrily. , v. . _

‘.‘ I'd like to see the miserable thief!”he ejacu-
lated. “If he’s an Indian. he daremot show
filmmlf; if a “cooking white man, he had better

eep his distance. We have been left here by
three of the‘meanest men that ever a
grail; Sgt 3:11am no rating! why we is, M be

epriv our supper. - inion ys,
that the thief has one in wild on. e
are some scales t at confirm my belief. By
Jove! if we come up with the salmon this ,
there’ll be some fun.’ '

 

Led by Fred, whose courage enthused them
all, Ned and Max cocked their guns asthe ran.

Fifty yards away the boy castaways alted
suddenly, for some animal was rushing through
the dense undergrowth directly toward them.

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

The next moment there burst into view a treL

mendous grizzly, beneath whose enormous paws
the very earth seemed to shake.

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

 

CHAPTER II.
- BEAR srnaxs FOR SUPPER-INDIANS.

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

“ Look out!” called 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
{)0 drive a bullet into the brain of a bounding

ear.

The grizzly seemed to take no account of
Fred’s shot, for be neither sto ped nor dropped
the fish, but plunged on wi h his little eyes
sna ping-furiously. v

C agrined at his ill-luck, Fred lowered the
rifle, an excellent repeating firearm, and hold—
inglt in his hand, essayed another shot with a
di erent result, for the grizzly, hard hit, uttered
a mad grow], but continued to cling tenaciously
to the salmon.

“Pour it into him!” shouted Fred. “Cheat
the old stagir out of his supper, and gain one
for ourselvm" ,

Ned and Max sprung forward; but. before
they could bring their rifles to bear on the
brute, be 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 9 ring aside ere 9 dashed
by at full speed an within arm’s length of
their bodies.

“ Come along!” shouted Fred Nichols spring-
ing after the bear which appeared to be badly
wounded. “ He’s got to give us the fish or
beansteaks—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 but was compara-
tively open, and the hear, if he had not sought
the cabin, could have been seen.

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

A grizzly in their home was an adventure
they had not bargained tor.

After a while Fred crept forward, and recon-
noitered.

He heard a singular sound beyond the thres-
hold, and rei‘oining his companions, told them
that their so mon supper for the present was a
thing of the past; the bear was at last'enioying
the stolen meal!

The lads retired a short distance fr'om the
cabin; and held what Fred called “a council of
war. ‘

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

- Tucson Tom and his com anions had‘left sev-
eral little sacks of sugar, t and 00368 behind,
and these to the castaways were worth their
wei ht in old. , .

ell di the ho 5 know that it would befool-
hardiness to attac 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 miles: but the only dog
She patzty owned had been coaxsd away by the

sear rs. . ‘

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

A full round moon showed herself in the
cloudless skies and silvered the ground to the
ver threshold of Brain’s den.

or for a glimpse of their enemy and buns
gry as wolves, the three boys watched the door

l

 

‘ r

l
L

 

 

I Fred.

with cocked rifles and fingers ready at the

trigger. .

‘ ’m not ing to stand this , a moment

longer l” crie Fred at the end of the second
hour. “ I don’t pro se to sit here Without my

supper, and await t e pleasure of that mean
rizzly. He’s got to s ow himself, or let us

gnow 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’ve been de-
prived of.” And closing his lips firmly 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.

“ l’m gomg to see about this,” he said to him—
sell'r ” If 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
stopgg ‘there and tried to pierce the gloom that
lay yond.

“ Hello there! you old 'sneak-thiefl” sud-
denly rung out Fred’s clear tones. “You’ve
got no busmess on the claim you’ve occupied.

ome out and play the man!”

The words seemed to echo everywhere in the
old shanty, but they did not eliclt a. single re-
spouse—not even a grunt

“ He may be dead!” Fred sent over his shoul.
der to Ned and Max, and turned his attention
to the but again. ‘

The next moment he recoiled with a half-
?tifled cry, for semething cold had touched his

acel

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 one acted
and sent a terrible thrill through every ber of
his frame.

‘3 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 o ning as if he expected
to see the bear dash orward to an encounter;
but the grizzly did not accommodate him.

The snout that had tonched 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 castawag's, the
homely head of the bear appeared in t a dark
opening.

“There he is!” said Fred in Whispers as he
raised his rifle already cooked. “Now, boys,
let us give him the oomplimen ts of a broadside !"

Three ns instantly struck as many shoul-
ders, amfgs the boys glanced down the barrels,
the head disappeared as suddenly as it had been
thrust into prominence.

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

“A mean one, even for a bear,” answered
Fred. “NOW look out I’m oing to reuse him
if % San. The music of a. bullet may bring him
on .

Fred’s last word was followed by the ringing
report of lnshrifle.

“ 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 bul-
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, any
day!" shouted' Fred as he went forward, for-
gettaing that the huge monster might not be

ea

“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 at scared at his own shadow," laughed
‘It’sa wonder he didn’t drop the fish.

‘ Great Cesar! look what a carcass, boys.”

/

 

a moccasin in the yieldin

Fighting Fred.

Well might ,Fred make use of the exclam-
ation, for the dead grizzly was a monster 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 castaways began to skin
their prize, for they desired to discuss some

, juic bear—steaks.

“ ow for the best supper these mountains
aflord!” and Fred began to cut oil! the haunch.
“ I tell you, boys—"

“ For mercy’s sake, look yonder!” interposed

ax.
Fred looked up.
“ What is it? I see nothing," he said.
“Neither do I, DOW' but as sure as I have
eyes, I saw an Indian’s head above you me .”
“An Indian!” and Ned and Fred leaped to
their feet. “Grizzlies first, red-skins next—
that’s the way it is likely to go in this wild
region.”

 

CHAPTER III.
FRED ON THE INDIAN’S TRAIL.

INSPECTION indinated that Max had seen the
shadow of an Indian’s head on the whitened
suéface of the bowlder, and not the head it—
se .

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 appeessd despite their
situation, some choice stea {S were cut from the
carcass, and a fire, built in the interior of the
cabin.

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
justice. .

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

The boys had employment that kept them
awake.

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

ortunutely the night passed away without
an alarm of any kind; 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
ifwhere Max had seen something the night be—

ore.

“ Me: was right,” suddenly ejaculated the
boy, staring at the unmistakable impression of
, ground. “Our dan~
gei- lies just here: If the ndian is alone he will

oubtless tell his companions when he joins
them that Grizzly Camp is inhabited by three
boys. The trail leads toward the river. I will
icing»; it a short distance, and see what becomes
0 l .

' The trail left by the red‘skin was plain enough
to be followed by a youth of Fred’s experience
in mountain craft, and, nothing denoted, the
holyI resolved to see what became of it.

e did not stop to consider that more or less
hazard was attached to the 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 mind.

In‘ less than five minutes after leaving the
bowlder, Fred had put a little wooded ‘rise be-
tween him and camp, but continued to press
on.

The river, which was a rapid tributary of the
Columbia, was about halt a mile from the
cabin. ,

It was a narrow and very swift stream, rush—
ing with great force between its banks which in
many laces were steep 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,
arid eventually poured its waters into the Pa.
c1 0. '

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 speedil con-
firmed, for the trail led to the trunk itsel .

Fred halted at the tree and threw wistful
glances-amen the stream.

He was anxious to know in which direction
the red-skin had inched after striking the appo~
site bank. A - '

 

3

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 oil? was not less than ten feet in di-
ameter. It made an excellent footbridge,
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 wildness, foaming and boiling

‘ with a roar at intervals almost deafening.

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

He reached the middle of the footbridge
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-
hind him, obscuring entirely his starting‘
place.

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."

Scarcer 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!” ejaculated Fred, as he strained his eyes to
obtain a glimpse of the living object which was
undoubtedly advancing along the tree.

’Turning his body and bracing it as best he
was able, he cocked his rifle and awaited re-
su ts.

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.

All at once the foliage scarcely twenty feet
away was parted, and t e castaway of Grizzly
Cam saw not the painted head of an Indian,
but t e homcl ‘ mug of a bear!

“ Another rizzly!” fell from Fred’s lips, and
a moment later a. smile appeared on his counts.
nanceba smile for the ludicronsness attached
to his situation.

Astonishment was depicted in the grizzly's
eyes, for he had come upon a person for whom
he was not looking. '

“ If he withdraWSI he will be permitted to
depart in peace,” resumed Fred; “ but if he
advances he will surely run against a bullet.” v

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 stren h. _

At first sight of the bear, Fred had raised his
rifle, and, with the piece resting in a fork
straight ahead, he had Old Ephraim completely 7
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
grizzlyigp make a movement.

1% , 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-
clgaipiied Fred, as his cheek dropped to his rifle-
s oc .

At that moment he touched the trigger, and
with a terrible h0wl of pain the huge animal
rolled aside and caught madly at the limbs that
brushed his hide. . ‘

Fredleaned. forward with his heart in his
throat. ~ A '

.The bear had not fallen from the tree, and
might be desperately wounded, and in a condi~
tiou 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
the river, turning over and over in its swift de-
scent. . . _ ‘

Old Ephraim struck the water and threw to~
ward the interested watcher tarabove a column
of spray and foam; then his body. was seen for
a meniant longer, when it disappeared beneath
the boiling flood! ‘ ,

let slip a breath of relief, and sent a

look of defiance toward the bank he had lately . ‘ w i

left. 5

\

 

  

4

 

Fighting Fred.

 

 

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 chagrined
at finding nothing of the kind.

He stuck to the tree and went on, nor left it
until he reached the top, where he examined
the ground again, but with the same result.

Fred was 1puzzled; his countenance told
plainly that t e red~skin had completely out-
generaled him.

Despairing of recovering the trail, the boy
trapper leaned against a tree, and resolved to
rest a few minutes before setting out on his
return to camp.

He was now in a wood whose soil he had
never trod before.

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 from 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 Indian’s trail, but, with the art
of his people, the red-skin had deftly concealed
it, and, for ought Fred knew, might be many
miles away.

LFred at ast resolved to go back to Grizzly
lamp.

There W: 5 work to be done there.

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

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

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

His hat indeed had been taken from his head,
but it had not fallen to the ground; it had been
pinned to the tree by cm 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 flred that arrow?”
be exclaimed. “I am alone, but I am not
afraid. Where is the red coward, I say? Let
him face Fred Nichols if he dare !"

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

CHAPTERI V.
BACK IN CAMP—A FATAL DISCOVERY.
fl Fm’s blood was hot; his eyes seemed to flash
re.

Behind him was his hat still pinned to the
tree by the feathered shaft which had barely
phased 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
distance, for he had not heard the twang of the
bow-string; the only noise he had heard was the
Eissdof 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-
ing tree you may and remain a coward to your
dying day. You dare not show yourself. I’m
here to fight you in any manner you like.”

Fred’s words died away in far-off echoes and
the next moment he was walking toward the
Bangui bridge with his rifle still cocked in his

an s.

“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 sha’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 imbedded 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 cam l”

He walked bold y toward the tree-brid e with
eyes (11:1 the alert, and once more put is foot
upon .

This time he believed there would be no
grizzly to follow him; if he was molested at all,
It would be by an enemy to be 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 at.

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 'oy by Ned and Max, for Fred had
over-stayed is time, and the two boys were
gettin anxious when he made his appearance.

Fre related his adventure with the bear as
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 yarn. “This old cabin stands
over the entrance to a cave which looks like the
mouth of an old mine.”

Fred uttered an exclamaticn 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
for a 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 1n~
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 i”

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

“ But very little is known about it,” said Max.
“The only living man who knows anything
about it is, on know, hopelessly mad in the
hospital at ca Angcles. Old Blue, the mean
old rat who deserted us yesterday, used to de—
clare that the Lost Mine is somewhere in Ore-
Eon; but I will admit, Fred, that he really

nows no more about it than we. But let us
throw conjecture to the winds, and see what
our ‘ flnd ’ reveals.”

While Max was talking, Ned removed a cer-
tain puncheon from its place, and revealed to
the young bear-killer’s gaze a dark opening
large enough to receive the body of a man.

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

The boy’s head 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 im rovised, and, with
several others in reserve, t e three Castawa s
descended to the cave proper, and fearles y
crossed the threshold.

Alwa s foremost in expeditions of dam er,
Fred Nichols had placed himself at the has of
the little band, and with the torch in one hand
and a revolver in the other, he crept down the
damp corridor deeper and deeper into the re-
cesses of the m isterious place.

For more t an ten minutes the boys were
compelled to advance in a crouching osition,
for the ceiling of the corridor was quite ow, and
the passage was so narrow that they had to
move in ndian file, that is, one behind the
other.

At last, however, a light cry from Fred pro-
claimed that the gloomy corridor had termin‘
ated, and a moment later the three bo s stood
in a chamber whose dimensions the ambeau
did not for a short time reveal.

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

“It is the Lost Mine!” suddenly exclaimed
Ned, as he stooped and picked up an object that
possessed a. singular glitter when held in a cer-
tain lace.

“ ice! You don’t call that gold, do you,
Ned?”

“ No, but id may be near it,” was the reply.
“If what I ust picked up is mica, what do you
call this?" _ .

Fred Nichols did not reply, but with dilatm
eyes, took the rough rock from ed’s hand an
began to examine it closely.

he youth had spent .many weeks among the
richest mines of California, and had acquier a
good. deal of information about the precious
metalsin their rough state; therefore, when he

 

took the rock from Ned’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 compauo
ions" faces he uttered a word that thrilled them.

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

“ Hurrah l” 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
entirenplace. The nugget may be a stray one,
and—

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

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

Need we say that the he s 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 quartz
and they were ready to believe that they ha
accidental] rediscovered the wonderful mine
which had en “lost " for years, and in search
of which hundreds of intrepid men had risked
life and squandered fortunes. 0

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

Ned, in an outburst of enthusiasm, even de—
clared that they would hunt up the rascally trio,
and instead of paying them for their villamy,
give them ten thousand apiecel

If the rocks were as valuable as Fred re arded
them, there could be no end to the wealt lust
unearthed.

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

“ Hellol here’s another corridor 1" suddenly
cried Ned, and the little party rushed into the;
narrow place.

This discovery proved to be a narrow passage‘
way, which led the ea er boys by numerous
turns into a room sma ler 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
vestigc of color from their faces.

“Come!” 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!” was his horrified ejac-
ulation. “ We have found the Lost Mine, only
to make it our living grave 1"

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 leading to the old cabin!

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

hands.

“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 lca ed instantly to his side and
stared at his “find, ’ which he held up to their

828.

It was nothing less than a beautiful huntin -
knife of Indian make, and its burnished bin 9
and clean horn handle told that it had not been
buried in the earth that had fallen.

Each boy knew that it was not on the floor of
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. an how i” snatch-
ing the knife from Max’s ban and running
with it toward the obstructed corridor. “We,
will make this knife hel us to safety!” . I

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

Suddenly he uttered a cry of disappointment,
andaturning to his comrades, held up his right
hen .

 

 

 

“Mr

 

Fighting Fred.

5

 

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. _

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

CHAPTER V.

v THE “CHIMNEY” AND WHAT IT CONTAINED.

THE breaking of the knife was enough to dis—
courage the he s.

of. great den of dirt lay between them and
3 et .

It 1); 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-
venience 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 eatly 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 how?" 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.

“ I see a dark opening above me,” he said.

I “ A srrong current of air comes from it."

" lr is the chimney of this underground
ho’use!” explained Ned. “Can't you get into
it?

 

“ Not quite,” was the answer. “If my arms
were a foot longer, I might accomplish the
feat.”

“ Come down and we’ll soon remedy that.”

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 tree!" Suddenly ex-
claimed Fred. “ There seem to be niches alon
its sides, as though some person had been used
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 goini to do,” came
back the response, and the yout drew himself
up into the o ening he had discovered.

ed and x 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 1]
chimney,” the young adventurer sai address-
ing his comrades. “ One can ascend very rendi-
ly by brncm i; his feet against the sides of the
tree which have 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 Loan opening almost as large as in
body. It is through it that we ct 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 es-
cape."
Fred was about to make an observation when
a uantity of half decayed wood fell at their
fest, and caused them to elevate their gaze as
though they expected to see a live object in the
chimney. . , ,

“You must have loosened that dirt dung;
your explorations," said Ned, addressing Fr .

the old ,

 

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

N‘gAn animal of some kind, probably,” said

e .

“ Or a red~skin. Remember the knife we
picked up here awhile ago.”

Ned and Max uttered exclamations of hor—
ror.
“ I’ll find out What it is,” resumed Fred,
drawing his revolver. “I never leave a mys<
tery till I have solved it.”

“ What are you going to do?” queried Ned,
clutching his arm.

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

The next moment a dull report resounded
throughout the cave, and Fred stepped back to
await results.

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

“Blood 1” exclaime Fred, holding his torch
close to the spot, and looking at his companions.
“Didn’t I tell 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 stared into the opening above.

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

“No! no!" said Max.
deadly wounded already.”

“ The person? What makes you speak thus,
Max?”

“ The knife we found on the floor of this
cave 3”

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.

‘fThe What-is-it 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 comv
pamons on the defensive; they ‘ ad already
drawn their revolvers, and were watching the
dark orifice overhead.

It was plainly evident that an object of some
kind was coming down the tree, not very fast,
tots; sure, but fast enough to keep the boys ex-
01 .

“ You will fire'wheii 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 ri ht.

The suspense Was broken rat or abruptly, for
two strange-looking objects suddenly made their
appearance and him for a moment in mid-air,
be ow the bottom 0 the chimney.

“ Read i” cried Fred.

f “Egon " exclaimed Ned. “ Those are a man’s

ee . .

“And an Indian’s at that!” and putting up his
revolver, Fred leaped upon the stones and 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 provoke even a smile.

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

. Ned and Max sprung instantly to Fred’s as-
sxstance, 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.”

“ Lean Wolf no resist,” was the response.
“ Him shot in the tree by white boy.”

“ An Indian, by Jupiter!" exclaimed Max.

An Indian it was, but so covered with the
dirt of the tree as to be scarcely reco nizable.

The boys, however, saw a pair 0 gleaming
black 9 es, and after a brief inspection a lithe
and we l~made body.

“ You were huntin us, Lean Wolf,” said
Fred to the Indian. “ hen you went up the
tree you dropped your knife on the floor.”

“ Mebbe so," was the response.

“ Aren’t you the fellow who pinuedmy hat to
the tree this turn Hing?" .

The red-skin shook his head.

“ Don’t know anything about that clrcum~
stance, eh?” continued Fred. Well, all flaws
to say about that trick is that I propose to get

“ The person may be

 

even with the fellow who did it. You say you
are wounded. Where?”

The red-skin held out his right arm.

“ Win ed, I see.”

Lean olf nodded.

“ We’ll soon fix on up if {Iou’re worth the
doctoring," laugh Fred. “ ow long is that
ro e y0u’ve got wrapped around your ody."

‘ Pretty long, mebbe.”

“ Will it reach from the hole in the tree to the
ground?"

“ Mebbe so.”

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

“ Lean Wolf’s arm too bad.”

An examination showed that the bullet fired
up the chimney by Fred had penetrated the In-
diau's arm, cracking, if not breaking, the prin-
ci ‘ll bone, thereby inflicting a painful wound.

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

Becomin obmmunirative during the rper—
ation, the ndian gave the ho s to understand
that he was a member of the hoshone nation,
and that a hunting-party 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 barbarities.

Lean Wolf did not carry a veryfirepossessing
countenance; Ned remarked to ax that be I
looked much like the animal whose name he
bore; 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 of
the earth that cut off his retreat.

He declared that he had never entered the
cave before, but the seventy feet of cod lariat
rope which he carried around his ody, gave
the lie to this declaration.

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

Desdpite his woun ed arm, the Shos‘ one ad-
juste 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
wrapped the rope about his body again. ;
“ Lean Wolf go now,” he said, and before the
grateful boys could reply, or detain him in any

way. he was disappearing in the forest.

“We’ll see that fellow again,” said Fred to
his companions. “If he doesn’t deserve the
name he bears, then set me down for a know-
nothing.”

 

CHAPTER VI.
imnn’s snow—ms WARNING.

NEED we say that the sudden disappearance
of Lean Wolf excited alarm in Grizzly Camp?

The three Castaways felt that he would re-
join the hunting-part he had mentioned, and
a uaint them With t 6 condition of the place.

is that event, they would soon be visited and
sub‘ected to a great deal of trouble.

The boys began to prepare for the worst.

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

They next proceeded to make loop holes be-
tween tbe logs, and arranged the puncheons on
the ground so that in (“nee of rapid firing by the
enemy, they could rel ire 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 be visited to-nigbt; but the
visit will surely come," remarked Fred, when
thev 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. hen, the tree would
answer for a lookout, and e would have been
well fixed. But fortune has determined other-
wise, perhaps for our own good—whoshall say?” V

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

It was the second night of their abandonment
in the wild Cascade country: the first one had
been disturbed by the visit of the big grdzzly,
and this was likely to record more exciting

scenes. _
But it ass‘d away without an adventure of ,
any kin and the boys, who grew tired o!

watching and fell asleep near dawn, awoke to

I

6

Fighting Fred.

 

see the sunshine streaming through the loop-l

Lolcs.

Another night and still another passed away
in li.;e nmnner, and when the sun went down on
the Fourth day the boys had recovered from
iheir fears, and began to plan some little excur-
sions in search of game in the surrounding coun-
try.

They cleaned their weapons and looked care-

u1iy to their supply of ammunition; then, after
the. usual rou'ine of story-telling, shut them-
selves up within their castle to pass another
night.

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, moonlit landscape that
stretched before his gaze.

Nothing glided across the line of his vision—
not even a sneaking wolf from the pack that
occasionally howled up among the mountains.

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

How long Fred slept he did not know,but
long enough to have several exciting dreams,
the last of which startled him from his slum-
l ers, and he sprung up, but without disturbing
his companions.

He chided himself for having dropped asleep
on his ost, 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 ped from Fred’s lips.

. He con (1 not see from the cabin. Could it be
that the moon had gone down and that the
lundsca was wrapped in gloom?

He gl dad to the left and found another loop-
hole through which he could see the ghostly flg-
’li'es of the tall trees that grew in front of the
hut.

Nothing suspicious attracted his attention.
but, somewhat puzzled, he went back to the
first opening and applied his eye to it a sin.

This time his view was unobstructed, ut sud-
denly, while he looked through the port he saw
a figure moving toward the river half a mile
away. V

For several seconds Fred could not credit the
evidence of si ht, but, he was forced to do so,
for the longer e gazed the more distinctly he
saw the moving object.

“ It is that mean Indian Lean Wolf,” ex~
claimed Fred. “He had his car at the port a
minute ago, and that is whyI could not see
anything. I knew he would come back. Hal
‘he has stopped and a pears to be waitin for

some one. What’s t at object approac ing
him? Another red-skin! I guess we are in for
it now.”

Even as Fred spoke the person who had just
left the cabin was joined by 9. fl ure that came
from his left. and the two stoo close together
near a tree, but boldly in the moonlight. '

“ I’ve got a notion to spoil that eonfab,” re-
sumed 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.” ‘

W! on he concluded the bear-killer thrust his
ride through the port-hole and took deliberate
aim at the man who had just listened at the
1 of the cabin.

he pair presented a good tar at, for they did
not stand more than thirty yar s away, and so
chime together that the boy marksman could not
in as.

Fred sent over the barrel before he teased
the trigger an audible wish for good luc , then
thelfraclt of his weapon awoke the echoes of the
Ill t.

he of the figures sprung into the air with a
piercing cr , and fell back to earth, while the
other recoi ed and turned taward the cabin.

Ned and Max were on their feet in an in-
stunt. '

" What’s the matter?” they cried at the same
breath. -

“Look out yonder at that tableau." said
Fred. “You can’t see a part of it very dis-
tinctly, for one of the men is l ing on the
ground with a bullet in his breast i my rifle did
not fail me, the other has not recovered from
the effects of the shot. I think I ave Lean
Wolf his quietus, but since I’ve been coking at
his com nion he looks like a white man.”

"‘He IS not an Indian!” cried Ned. “Who-
ever he is he shows a good deal of bravery, for
be is stooping over his companion. See! he is
lifti him from the cunt]. ’

“ lages," responded red, “ he is going to carry

 

him away. I will not object to that if he keeps
his distance hereafter. But sneaks must remain
from Grizzly Camp if they desire whole skins."

From the loop-holes the three boys could see
the unwounded night prowler shoulder his com-
panion, and start with the body toward the
river.

They watched him in silence, and with a great
deal of curiosity, and did not speak again until
he had passed out of si ht.

“What do you thin now, Fred?” questioned
Max. “ Do you think your victim was Lean
Wolf?”

“1 do not know,” was the reply. “I know
one thing—that I shot a person who came here
for no good. We’ve got to protect Grizzly Camp
from all intruders, whether they walk on four
legs or two. Time will tell who got my bullet
to-night.”

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

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

An our passed away when all of a sudden a
single blow sounded on the heavy door, and
quickly died 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 oing to know something about what
happene last night,” he said glancing 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 'ust about what I had an idea it was!”
he excla med a moment later. “Here’s a paper
pinned to the door with a knife.”

Ned and Max uttered exclamation: of aston—
ishment.

“ Here is the document, boys," and Fred,
drawin back into the cabin, displayed to his
compan ons’ gaze a dirty piece of paper on
which there was some rough writit('l}g. '

Eagerly did the Castaways of rizzy Camp
bear the pa. r to one of the loo ho es, and
bend forwar to master the inscript on.

The task was not a difficult one, for the hand-
writing, though rough, was plain and consisted
of these startling words:

“You youngsters will soon wish you had never
been born. If you‘ve Iggzt an grit, now is the time
to show it. Leave G ly amp within the next
twenty-four hours or take what comes after that!
We mean blznessl’

Fred read the warning aloud,’ and when he
looked at his companions his eyes fairly flashed.

“That's lain language, ho_ a," he said. "Of
course no ndian ever wrote t. These letters
look like some I’ve seen before.”

“ Whose were they, Fred? ’

“ Old Blue’s."

Ned started.

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

“ That’s the way it looks. But I don’t care
who sted that notice. We’re not oing awn
with n twenty-four hours, nor in orty-eigh .
Like Grant, I’m willing to fight it out on this
line. Grizzly Camp is the safest place I know
of, and here I pro to stay till driven out, if
I am to leave at a l.” '

Ned and Max applauded Fred’s resolve.

CHAPTER VII.

NEW ADVENTURES-WATANAMA’S REVENGE.

Ir Tucson Tom and his companions had re-
turned to the neighborhood of Griuly 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 camp for the pur-
pose of driving the youn Californians away.

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

Of course the warnin inned to the cabin
door by the huntingvkni a nd been written by
a white man, most probably by the person
called Old Blue by Fred.

The threats only strengthened the boys’ de—
termination, and Fred spoke the sentiments

 

of all when he declared that they would not de—
piart  in twenty-four hours nor in forty—
e vht.

ll‘hey had a good supply of hear-meat on
hand and were tolerany 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 previous night had roved fatal and
shortly a ter the reception 0 the warning, he
proceeded to the spot where his victim had
fallen.

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

The boy trapper did not follow it, but re-
turned to the cabin and reported to his com-
panions. ‘

“ We ought to reconnoiter 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 rcconnoitering expedition
while Ned remained in camp.

Armed with what weapons could be spared
for the purpose, the two boys bade Ned adieu
and set off toward the river.

Fred, very naturally leading the way, selec'
ted the route toward the tree on which he had
encountered the grizzl .

He believed that t e man who had carried
his victim off the field had gone in that direction,
and he expected to discover evidences that he
had crossed the footbridge with l is burden.

Max had never seen the tree, and his curiosity
concerning it was natural]?’ very great.

“ Haltl’ said Fred in ow tones when they
had nearly reached the bank of Ra id river.
“ Look straight ahead, Max, about t irty rods
and tell me what you see.” i

Max who had cocked his rifle immediately
upon his friend’s “ halt” looked in the 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 them. too, but do you not see some.
thin beyond the bushes?”

“ see nothing.” .

“ Can it be that my eyes have deceived me!”
queried Fred gazinfilintenfly ahead.

“ What did you t ink you Sn“ f"

“I hardly know. It might be a man or a
grizzly. I certainl saw something move on the

urther side of the lushes.”

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

‘No, no i” 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 can-
tiously forward. . ‘
“ At the first glimpse of a living thin raise
your an ” Fred said. “ We cannot lie too
quick n this country. On a‘man’s alertness de-
pends his life; remember that, Max.”

The oung Californians continued to advance
upon is 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 ram Fred
had not prevented.

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

Having made the same discovery announced
by his com anion, Max was already lowering
h s rifle whi e be stared at the rson who stood
beyond the bushes staring at t em, with fright
and wonderment commingled in her eyes.

For a moment the red girl treatened to fiv
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 apparently sixteen,
tall, and straight as a red skin a 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 assed
for an Indian fairy, and the boys almost orgot
to address her in their admiration of her
figure.

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

instead of replying, the Indian maid smiled
slightly and her pretty eyes twinkled mer—

rIl .
X What is your name?” continued the young
bear-killer.

 

 

(-0

In.

m.

Fighting Fred.

7

 

“ Watanama is the Star of the Shoshoncs'”

“ A star eh 3” and Fred laughed as be glanced
at Max. ‘This is discnvering a planet in the
daytime. Well, Watanama, we are glad to see
you. Where are your people?"

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

“They are onder, ale boys,” she said in
very good English. “ hey are many, and the
big game fall before their arrows.”

“ Lean Wolf’s hunting—party,” said Max.
“We may obtain some information of that red
rascal {mm the Star of the Shoshones.”

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

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

“ A case of unrequited love,” smiled Fred.

Watanama did not notice the remark, but
proceeded:

“ 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 pon
and took her along. Last night Watanamale t
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-running river
yonder.” '

“Do you think Red Crow is lookingvfor 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 crossing
the tree on which I shot the grizzly."

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

he movin of the foliage in the middle of the
tree indica the advance of some object. but
whether brute or human it was impossible to
tell.

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

All at once something that was not a paw
separated those near the bank,and a moment
thereafter the painted face and bare shoulders
of a red-skin made their up arsnce.

The apparition was start in enough to briu
exclamation: to the lips of the beholders, an
when the full figure of the Indian appeared in
Eiew, Max felt his rifle jerked rudely from his

and.

" It is Red Crow 1” rung suddenly from Writs.
nama’s throat, and before Max could arrest her
intention the gun was at her shoulder.

Fred sprung u and attempted to seize the
rifle; but before 8 could touch it a loud report
rung out on the mornin air, and the form of
the stalwart red-skin fel back among the fohage
of the tree.

The capture of the gun and the shot had not
occupied three seconds; one had followed the
other in lightning succession. ,

The Star of the Shoshones did not try to retain
possession of the rifle after her shot.

She turned to Max and thrust it into his hands,
while her eyes fairly flashed,

“ 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.”

“Wateuama will see!"

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

Fred and Max hurried after her.

A few bounds brought Watanama to the tree,
and as she lea ed upon it, Fred uttered an ex-
clamation 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
soothed and rushed oceanward two hundred feet
belowl ,

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

The red-skin was not dead, for the boys saw
his eyes flashes the girl glided forward With up-
lifted hatchet. .

“It was Watsnama’s bullet that s illed Red
Crew’s blood,” hissed the Star of the 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 directly
above him, and clutchingalimb with her left
hand, leaned toward him with the hatchet poised
above her head.

Horrified by the scene, the two boys held
their breath.

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

A wild cry broke from the warrior s 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 whirlpool! ,

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 VVatanama 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.”

“ Ho would not have spared the Star of the

Shoshones,” was the quick retort. “ Are the 3
white boys alone in thi< country?” ’
“There are three of us,” said Fred. “ If you

would see us all come with us to camp," and
turning on his heel, he took up the trail eading
t0 Grizzly Camp.

Watamima followed without a word.

 

 

CHAPTER VIII. ,
A TERRIBLE VISITOR.

Ami! a few hours spent at Grizzly Cam ,
the Star of the Shoshones evinced no desire
go back to her kindred.

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

“Here 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 youn Castaways
that Watanama should remain in rizzl Camp
until she saw fit to depart, and, having een in-
formed of this resolve, she thanked the b0 8 in
a few modestly spoken words, and formal y in-
stalled herself in the cabin.

As she possessed no weapons but the hatchet
with which she had sent Red Crow swiftlyto
his doom, Fred resswi one of his revolvers
u n her, though it was evident from her looks
t at 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'he troubled by the men who

the notice on the cabin door,” remarked

red. “I flrml believe that Old Blue Moun-

tain and his pa 5 have sneaked hack 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, the will meet with
a. reception they will not Soon orget.”

en 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,
glancmg at his companions.

“You are sure there were but tiro, Star?”

“Watanama saw only two then, but she
thought she caughta limpse of another man
lyin on some rem lim 5 on the ground."

“ he fellow shot last night?”

h“Did white boy shoot a pale-face?” queried
t e 'r.

“ ?don’t know about that, but I certain] hit
a living tar et of some kind,” answered red.
“ l mistook im for an Indian with whom you
ought to be ver well acquainted, since you are
Lean Wolf’s ester,” and the oung speaker
smiled. “If you saw a man Fing on some
leaves this morning, I did not Kill last night,
111 wpuld like to know which one of the three I i
it.
The day

 

seemed destined to pass without any i

more incidents than those already recorded. ‘
Watanama asked permission to prepare mp |
fir, and the manner in which she roasted the .
ar-meat made the boys wish that she could :
remain with them always. ’
The night coming on promised to be the most
exciting one they had. experienced since leaving

'shingles off,” the youth exclaime

home, and extra precautions were taken to in-
sure safet and guard a ainst a surprise.

“ I won (1 feel entire y 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 widospreading
branches touched the roof.

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

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

“ If you had made that remark this momin ,
Max. we might have felled .it, since the ra. 3
left us one ax, but, as it is, we must let it stand
awhile longer. Idon’t like its position myself;
but we’ll put up with it, and take the con-
se uences."

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

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

The wind increased until it sent the boughs of
the old maple with terrible violence a ainst the
cabin roof, and whistled through the cop-holes

. like an irate (it man.

“ Watanama see heap 0’ nights like this,” sud-
genly said the Indian girl amid 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.”

“They come by mby,” responded the Sho~

‘ shone.

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

“The storm has wrenched one of the heavy
d guessing
arig t the extent of the disaster. “if it were
to rain now we should be deluged.”

But not a drop struck the u turned faces of
the anxious little group, who ully ex cted to
see the cabin overturned b the next b t.

“What was that?” ask Ned’s voice all at
once, as a strange, yet almost human, cry cut
the storm.

“ A panther or a mountain-lion—-—I hardly
know which,” said Fred. “The animal seems
to be in the tree above us!”

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

What if the terrible beast should d into the
hut, where it could not be seen for t e gloom
that prevailed there?

The fire by which Watanama had gotten sup-
per had long since become a lies of 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 em basis.

A band C utched Fred’s am.

“It is the yellow cat, white boy,” said the
Shoshone girl.

“ I know it now. I recognise him by his
screams.” ‘

As he spoke, Fi hti'ng Fred put up his, moi,
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 com anions “That
mountain demon is liable to op among most
any moment. He is in the maple, and the wind
:11st brush him 05.”

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. .

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

“ e is here 1” 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 ould have without.

The stillness which ad followed the fall of
the panther, which had been shaken from his
perc by the violence of the wind, seemed pal‘

l pable.

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 tt em “ ith two balls of fire, and
lashing the air with his yellowish tail. '

The arrival of the mountain post was immedi. ,
ately followed by a lull in the storm, 

 

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8

Fighting Fred.

 

 

inran upward glance through the opening, caught
the limmer of a star.

“ am not going to endure this sus ense any
lon er," he suddenly ejaculated in ow tones.
“ e 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 leaped up, and as it
fire: larger Fred held the little torch above his

ea .

Watanama was the first to see the visitor.

“ See! the yellow cat!” she exclaimed, point
ing at an object which the three boys saw
at the same moment.

“ Heavens! what a monster!" fell from
Fred’s lips.

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

The burning match seemed to increase his

priofortions.

is belly touched the puncheons, and his
head, furnished with two flashing eyes, rested
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
putting up his knife and drawin from his belt
a revolver already cocked. “ y match will
last long enough to afford me good shooting
light, still I may not kill. Be ready for an
emer ency."

“ e are all ready,” whispered Nei.

It was evident that the anther was abont to
leap u nsome victim w 0 had. been selected
from t 9 number before him.and to frustrate
him Fred would have to shoot quick.

Withouta tremor the brave boy leveled the
revolver and covered the beast, aiming between
the lowing eyeballs. '

“ ow I have him i” he murmured.

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

The report of the revolver filled the cabin
and was followed by a deafening scream of
pa m
“The match did it i” said Fred. “ Stand your
ground and watch. I have another lucifer.”

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

“Quin-kl for Heaven’s sake give it to him!”
shouted Fred.

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

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

“You and I for it!” grated Fred Nichols
lea ng 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 expired
onthe 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 plyin his knife with effect, and the
latter reply ng w th scratches and bites.

“ Have you a match, Ned?” asked Max.

".‘ Alas! no i” was the answer.

“ Never mind the matches, boys,” cried Fred’s
voice. “‘I’ll master the yellow cat if I con-
tinue to do as well as I’m doing now!”

Ned, Max and Watanama could hear the
tyrriflc struggle going on on the floor, but could
not see it.

They kept their weapons in readinem for an
emergency, but could not use them in their
tom'pa’nion’s behalf.

Suddenly there came a thunderous sound
from toward the door. '

“Bello!in that?" vociferated a gruff voice.
“What kind ov a circus ar’ you hevin’, any-
how! I’m hyer to tell you boysthet the twenty-
four hours ev expired, an thet something’s
about to happen.”

The next moment, Fi htin Fred disengaged
himself from his four-' oote 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 your orders 2"
he answered in fearless tones. “We’ve just
got rid of one enemy, and haven’t any idea of
running tram another !" '

 

CHAPTER 1X.

FOES ON THE ROOF—NED’S MISHAP.

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

Ned had in the mean time lighter a torch, and
the interior of the cabin was plainly l‘9vt‘flll‘d.

The panther lay on the bloody puncheons a.
few feet away in the last agoni  of wrath.

A number of gaping wounds inflicted by
Fred’s knife were visible in the c.ucass, and
there were other evidences of a terrible sting—
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,
frightened by Fred’s words?

the occupants of the but could have looked
beyond the door, they mi ht have detected the
figure of a stalwart man ressed in rough buck-
sklin garments, and armed with rifle and pis«
to s.
"This was the person whose voice had startled
a .

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

“ Them ar’ mighty bold words for a boy i” he
said suddenly. “We gave you chaps twenty-
four hours to leave Grizzly Camp in, but you
haven’t budged a peg.”

“That is true, and, more than that, sir, we

‘ do not intend to be frightened awayi”

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

F “dMaybe ybu’d better try that game,” flushed
re .

“Mebbe we will! Look hyer, little chaps, as

I hev jes’ said, we don‘t want to be hard on you.

What if we should give you till tomorrow

night?”

‘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 light exclamation by the man outside fell
upon Fred’s ears.

“Since you know so much I’m not going to
keep anything back. 1 am Old Blue Mountain,
and Tucson and Captain Snake ain’t far 01!.
Do gou know who you shot last night!”

“ have an idea. " '

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

ife wouldn’t be worth a dream tl-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

again.

“ Good-by for a while, boys,” said Old Blue.
“My advice is to it out of Grinly Camp as
soon as possible. t stands in a mighty on-
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 air
swer was made to it, for Old Blue was walking
awa .

“ guess we’re in for a siege,” remarked Nod.
“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 uuhurt occupants of the but 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 Biue 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 be allowad to seek them at
once, as she 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 nearly over; the _oughs
of the maple no longerbrushed 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 his 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 .

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

Without informing his companions of the
singular circumstance the fighting _ hero of
Grizzly Camp resolved to watch awhile longer,
or until he could reach a satisfactory conclu—

smn.

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

“ I‘ll see what that means,” said the wounded
boy, noiselessly drawing forth his revolver and
cocking it.

"What do you mean?” asked Max, whose
sharp ears had caught the click of the lock.

“Hush 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
kind was on the roof, but whether man or ani-
mal he of course did not know.

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

Fred fired at what he supposed was the living
thin . ,
Agwild cry followed the report of the weapon,
and a heavy body was heard to roll over the
cabin roof and fa lto theground.

“Another panther!” ejaculated Ned.

“ A man!” said Max.

There was the glitter of triumph in Fred’s

e es.
y“Whichever it was. I don’t think my bullet
went far amiss,” wae his reply. “I heard tl-e
body strike the ground, am 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.

“By the door, Ned?”

“ No, through the hole in the roof.”_

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

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

“Eve ything 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 eyes and ears," was Fred’s last injunc-
tion, and Ned 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 t c

cot.

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

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

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

“ I am a prisoner,” was the startling answer
that immediately 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!

A moment’s silence followed the awful revela-
tion.

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 rascally red-skins to understand thatif they
harm you they‘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. l’ll pull
through of my 0WD aCcord if the red-skins will
give me time."

Max and Fred watched the opening oven

 

 

w! v

«#1,,

 

(4‘.

Fighting Fred.

9

 

 

head with cocked revolvers, but no enemy made
his a pearance. ,

“ a be the are satisfied for the present
with ed.” sai the former.

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

“ Do you think she will return?”

“I do. Iplacea reat deal of confidence in
that Indian girl. e’ll Watch and wait till she
comes, Max. ’

And watch and wait they did till the stars
disappeared, and streaks of daylight shot up—
ward from the eastern horizon.

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

“Open, white boys. It is Watanama. Weh-
tano is at her heels 3"

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

A moment later he jerked the portal open and
the figure of the Star of the Shoshones hounded
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 seen!

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 m iiiiitniu herbs to Fred’s gaze.

“ Wahteno can’t come in now,” she said, with
a smile. " Him almost catch Watanama in the
mountains."

 

CHAPTER X.
NED IN rm; ROLE OF MAZEPPA.

Nun's few words recounting his terrible mis—
haps were only too true.

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

He had hardly touched terror. firma when he
was seized from behind, and a. moment there—

. after he found himself the prisoner of a number
of Indians whose half—naked 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, anl without any regard for his
nerves.

It was during this time that in answer to
Max’s voice he informed his companions of his
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 gave the Shoshone a look that meant
everlasting hatred, and he was dragged from
the scene of his capture, nor halted until the
whole band, thirteen in number, reached the
banks of Rapid River not far from the noted
tree-brid e where We have already witnessed
some thrflling scenes.

Here Ned met for the first time the leader of
the band, an evil-eyed Shoshone chief who
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 pearance.

The ch ef_ha 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 b ow in the face with the back
.of his hand which almast deprived him of

, several of his teeth.

“If Idon’t get evan with you for that, old
Roddy, may  never seethe boys again,” grated
Ned under his breath. “ That was the act of a
brute, 311d 0119 that 8 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 ca tive. keep.
ing the course of the currenthand did not halt
313nm the streaks of day again brightened the

est.

Then. to the boy’s astonishment, a large en.
calllllpment appeared in sight in a beautiful
va ey.

“ 1 shall probably see Lean Wolf now," flashed
across his mind. “I do not know how the old
fellow will regard me, but he oughtto treat me
with respect since we gave him life when we

can ht him in the Lost Mine.” ‘

Tge Shoshone camp into which Ned Knight
was soon afterward conducted turned out to be
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 camp.

“ We were going to Fort Okinakane."

“ To hunt fur, eh?”

Li Yes.”

“Where big pale-faces?”

“The.three guides, you mean?"

U Yes. i!

‘ They’re prowling about somewhere. They
deserted us like cowards a few nights since.”

“Ran off, eh?"

“ That’s it.”

Half Moon reflected for a moment.

“ Look hy’eri" he suddenly exclaimed; “ white
boy, you no business in this country.”

Ned’s eyes flashed.

“And what business have you here, pray’.”
he asked, facing the Shoshone resolutely. “You
are a long ways from your reservation.
Northern Oregon isn’t your hunting grounds."

“Mebbe not; but Shoshoncs come hyer all
same,”retorted the chief. “If the big chief’s
warriors want us to go awa why don’t they
come and chase us off? a f Moon and his

oung braves hunt wherever the game runs.

hey don’t ask the bignwhite general where to
go. White boy, Half oon is a great red-man.
His warriors are stron , an’ as numerous as the
grass-blades in the val eys. Look at his braves.
These are but a few of them. White boy, you
no business hyer.”

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.” ‘

A shudder went to the young Californian’s

heart.
“ Are the heartless wretches going to make a
Mazeppa out of me?” he involuntarily asked
himself. “They are mean enough to stoop to
anything. I have yet to hear of a Shoshone
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 ex ect
to be bound to that horse and sent adrift. , t is
the unisbment 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.

Thongs 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 escape next to- impossible.

The process of tying Ned to thehorse occupied
fifteen minutes. for the animal was restless and
did not take kindly to his burden.

Among those who were foremost in
ing this merciless task were several
past Ned’s own age.

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

Although Ned had not been deprived of his

erform-
oys not

clothes, the cords hurt him very much, and he

knew that the rapid speed of the horse would
only increase his pain.

Suddenly 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
come.

“ White boy, keep your heart up," said a low
voice at Ned’s ear; it spoke in rapid tones.
“ Young horse go a long‘waya, mebbe. When

 

he gets tired say hoo! hoo! bee! in his ear. I am
Nagamo, the white boy’s friend. My hands
have tied the knot for him.”

Need we say that Ned started?

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 In-
dians who held the horse sprung aside.

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

“ Fortune help me!” 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, on red
fiends! You may yet pay dearly for this morn-
ing’s work." '

The yells of the Shoshones still rung in the
boy’s ears; but the speed of the horse caused
them to grow fainter and fainter as he left the
wild landscape behind.

Trees, rocks 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
5 eed!

Not until he showed signs of fatigue after a
journey that threatened to be endless, did Ned’s
hopes rise.

Then he thought of Nagamo’s words, and
placing his lips as close to the animal’s ear as he
could, he shouted “ hool boo! hoot” in a lou
voice. _ ’

The effect was magical; the horse braced his
fore~feet in the wild trail and instantly became
stockvstill.

Ned shouted for joy.

CHAPTER XI.
NED FINDS A FRIEND AND A WEAPON.

“PLEASE fortune, 1 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 bound him to the horse's back.

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

Ned was eager tosit 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 sevoial times found himself
on the eve of despairirggi.

If Nagamo had "fix ” the knots for Ned, he
had certainly done sojn a manner not at all to
his liking. .

Great draps of sweat came out on the white
boy’s forehead as he tugged away at the cords;
he worked with a spirit that almost commanded
success. >

It was not until he had spent an hour in earn-
est work that he was able to move further than
a few inches.

_ He hailed his success with an exclamation,“

Joy. ,

After freeing one hand, the remainder of the
task was not very difficult, and Ned at last out
astride of the horse and formed out of the ropes
a strong, if not a brautiful bridle.

“ Now, where am I?” he asked. surveying the
rough scenery by which he was hemmed in. “ I
have 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. He
longed to go back to the old camp and to stir-
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 hei defend the camp against the wilesof Old
Blue ountain and his partners. '

The sun was mounting toward the meridian
while Ned tried to get his bearings.

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

land.

After_awhile Ned decided to urge the horse
on, hoping that he might strike the trail leadin
to Grizzly Camp. or encounter some landmar-
thot would tell im 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

 

 

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Fighting Fred.

 

 

 

I he had freed himself, but still in a strange re-
ion.
- “ There doesn’t seem to be much hope for me,”
he said, with a smile. “ If I had a. u I might
prooure a dinner, but I recollect at my rifle
was left at the cabin.”

Hopin against hope, almost, that something
favorab e would turn up, Ned ressed on deeper
and deeper into the heart of t e wild mountain
range.

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

“A grizzly, I uess,” said Ned, trying to con‘
trol the steed, w ich threatened to break from
his war.

" 0! ho! ho!” rung out loud and clear the
next moment, till the mountains rung with the

echoes.

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

These were stickin out of the mouth of a.
cavern on the trail si e about ten rods ahead,
and made up the apparition that had frightened
the horse.

“ Ain’t I abearl” followed the lost boy's last
words. “Look at my head, ho! ho! ho!” and
:he words echoed more devilishly than be—

ore.

To say that Ned was surprised does not tell
the story. . V

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.

“Who are you?" he suddenly asked. “You
look like a gle, but you don t laugh like one
“that’s oer 'n.”

“Hol ho! I think not,” was the response,
and the following instant there leaped from the
cave the mimhapen figure of a human being—in
short a dwarf, whose likeness it was next to
im sible to describe.

t came ho ping down the trail toward Ned,
much after t a manner of a frog, with a queer
grin overspreading its countenance.

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

The color of the dwarf’s skin was that of
parchment, and [a pair of little eyes overshad-
owed by long lashes pooped forth with a bulb
crazy twink e.

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

He did not stop until he stood in the trail be~
side Ned’s horse, the tofiaof his had barely
reaching to the animal’s nks.

d “grant you see I’m no grizzly?” asked the
we .

“ Of‘course I do; but who are you?"

ll Pow.”

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

“ 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 or joy.

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

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

' v Ned hit his lip.

“ I don’t want a lau h, Poto,”he said sternly.
“ What I do want. t on b, is information. I
now believe that this Ind an horse has carried
me near the old cam , but I am afraid that I
could not find it w thout help., My comrades

“there may be in peril and may need my be]

‘Will you show me the trail that leads to Grizzly

Cam?!”
“ etc will show white boy.”
i “ Goodi 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 cavern he
had disappeared.

The den was a queer lace for an abode; it
looked like the lair of a w d 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 h pad into view. and his skinny hands
held up 0 Ned an old rifle such as the early ex-
plorers of the West used many years ago.

“White bo me have use or (fun; take it,”
said Poto, an Ne bent down an

accepted the
gift with an expression of thanks.

 

He smiled to himself as he examined the old

iece.

Flt had not to all appearances been fired in
twent years, and he even doubted whether it
contained a load.

Still he accepted it, not wishing to displease
the dwarf, on whom so much now depended,
andevinced a desire to be conducted 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 proffer
of 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!" exclaimed the
white boy trapped, and thinning himself from
the horse, for the trail had become very steep,
he hurried forward.

“ See!” cried Poto, stretching forth one of his
queer-looking arms. “ Does not white boy see
Lhe cabin he has been looking for?”

Ned followed the dwarl’s hand and saw a
goodly distance below them a but, beside which
grew 3. tree that instantly 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 l” he cried, turning to the dwarf. .

“One near here, mebbe.”

Ned started. .

Did the dwarf know anything about the Lost
Mine whose mouth was concea ed 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 hut, for the bad pale-face is not far
awe .”

“ understand, Poto. You mean the three
white rascals who left us to our fate a few
nights since, Ahl they had better not cross my
path. ’

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

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

“ Poto want no help,” said the mountain
dwarf, shakin his head. “Him go back to
his cave and Iive like a grizzly, ho! hol ho!”
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 purpose, too, for the dwarf
leafed upon the steed’s back and wheeling him
su denly, dashed down the mountain at reek-
neck speed.

Ned did not tarr long on the s t from
which the dwarf ha shown Grizzly amp.

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

An easily-discerned trail led down the moun-
tair‘ittoward the camp and Ned availed himself
of .

After a tramp of many minutes he heard the
roar of the waters of Rapid River as they
rushed through their narrow channel.

It was musm to his ears now.

“I am getting near home,” he exclaimed.
“'.l:1he,boys 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, ther. youngster, an’ drop thet gun,”
cried the man. i

“It is Captain Snake, one of the villainous
three, ” muttered Ned. “ Stand back 1” he called
aloud. “My hand is at the trigger.”

“You daren’t shoot me.” was the answer, as
{age speaker advam ed. “ Why, I’m Old 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.

CHAfiER Xll.
ran snosaosas COME BACK.
N21133:“ the smile of Fortune! here comes
9 !'

 

” It cannot be, Max 1" , .
“ He is here, running as though he had a
thousand Shoshones at his heels 1” , .
Max was at the door tearing down the harri-
cades as rapidly as ossible.
_Watanama the ndian girl was assisting

in]. .
When the last one had been removed, the
boy Opened the door and Ned, almost out of
breath and still bearing the old musket, dashed
into the cabin.
“ This is whatI 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
neighborhood. The chances are that I have

settled with Captain Snake for his treachery.”

“ What! killed him, Ned?”

“ I do not know but that I have. My gun
went off while it was pointed at his head. ’

“ Where was be?”

“A short distance from here, and near the
river. After firing I ran for the cabin. How
do you feel, Fred?

“ Better. Watanama is indeed an an el of
health. I already feel the results of her octor-
ing. But tell us about your adventures.
know you have a yarn to spin, Ned.”

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

“ Watanuma also had a narrow escape.”
smiled Fred when the young narrator had cl n-
cluded. “She was chased almost to the door of
the cabin by a grizzly into whose body Max
fired two shots from is 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 bagged. He iumbered
of! with a good deal of difficulty, and is not far
away at this time.”

“ There. Max,” said Fred gently. “ Don’t
set your head on obtaining that bear-skin for
the present. The time may come when an op-
portunity for getting it may present itself, but
just now Grizzly Camp is in a state of siege, and
we must do nothing that will imperil our
safety."

These were wholesome words and cooled
Max’s ardor.

Constant watchin at the loopholes 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 e hut 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 be
on his feet again in a con la of days, and every
now and then declared it is intention todefend
the camp to the last extremity.

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

“ They don’t seem vet \' urxious to give us an-
other tilt,” runarked .Max as the sun went
down, leaving him at his favorite post, rifle in
hand. “ With Tucson Tom badly wounded and
Captain Snake probably dead. Old Blue does
not feel like pushing hostilities."

“ I think 1 V6 ould not if I stood in his shoes,”
laughed Ned; “ but there is no telling what the
coming night will bring forth.” ‘

Ahl that was true.

If the little garrison of Grizzly Cam could
have pierced the evening shadows that Ilay be-
tween them and the river, the might have be-
held a 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 ap arance of bein badly hurt,
another had his end bandaged y a crimson
rag, while the third, the most villainous looking
member of the trio, was talking in mad tones.

“ The next time I uess they l bullet me,” he
growled; “that is oys, if we let them have
their own way. If we don’t finish the job an’
git possession 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 to-ni ht an’doin’ it u brown, too. One of
the kids ored you throng 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’ you can work.”

“ I’m ready for anythin ,” replied the man
last spoken to who ooke like a half-breed.
“Ned aimed to kill an’ it isn’t his fault that he

4

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- . yank..._nmy.

 

Fighting Fred.

11*

 

 

did not.
yourself. Old Blue an
night.” ‘

‘1’]! stay hyer, but I’d rather be With you.”
replied the badly-wounded desperado. “ My
opinion is that you’ll find the camp on the alert,
so be keerful, for the boys can shoot.”

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

“ An’ an Injun gal?”

“Yes, an’ an Injun gal.”

Night had fairly thrown her mantle over the
earth when the council among the bushes broke
up, and the man called Tucson Tom was the
sole person left on the spot.

Old Blue and Captfllll Snake, the half-breed,
crawled toward the cabin.

The night 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‘
gather 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’ar'é”

“ Or an Injun .3"

“ Not a red—skin, I hope."

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

“ That’s a fact, cap'n.
thin of it vet?"

“ othin‘.”

For a moment longer Captain Snake, the
halfAbreed, listened and looked with every sense
on the alert.

‘9 I see it now!” he suddenly whispered at his
com anion’s ear.

“ al, what is i It”

“An lnjun, by hokeyl”

Old Blue Moun’ain drew his bowie.

“ Is the crittur comin’ toward us .3” 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 at to the
cabin, for I hold a settler in my hon .”

The night was not dark enough to hide en-
tirely the figure that was wending its way over
the ground toward the two men prepared to

've the cree r a warm rei-ep‘ ion.

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
:loes. Blue, the jig is up for to-night.”

“I know that, cap’n. It’ll surprise. you pre-
sently to see how easy an InJun can die.” V

Another minute sufficed 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 ot' a large body of
savages not far off; if so, it was essential that
Old lue should put a summary end to his pre-
sent expedition.

All at once the white despeme sprung at the
creeping figure, and as it leaped up his hand
darted at the Indian’s throat.

“ You die hyerl” hissed Old Blue, in'ihe as-
tonished redskm’s'enrs. “ The cap‘n an’I don’t
allow any body to Interfere in our game.”

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

Hnil—11 fail, cap’n?” he in uired, in low, tri-
umphant tones. and the! ad ed. “ 1 nevrr do.
when my band’s in workm’ condition. as it is to-
ni ht."

aptain Snake eyed the dead Inn-mm around
whOse neck was a necklace or u 011-; mi. and
turned away a moment later um: u smile of
satisfaction. , ,

“Now let us go on," Fold ‘0‘! Bid: . “ I’m
sure that the younzsters (lldn E 11"“ any noise
for l n’iade none. Thet lngun’s name wai- Lean
Wolf.

He turned toward the cabin as he finished
but before he had proceeded a rod, the hand of
Captain Snake fell on his shoulder.

‘ Halt!"

“ What’s up now—another Injunl”

You can stay hyer, Tucson, an’ rest
I will do the job to-

Can’t you see any

 

“More than one I’m thinkin’.”
“ No, cap’nl”

“Look yonder, an’ yonder. If them things
ain’tfired-skins I never saw stumps crawl be-
fore.

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

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

The two worthies of 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 ejaculated 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 asleep by any
means!” said Captain Snake. “Some of their
bullets told, for the red-skins gave several death-
yells. Thar ’ll be high fun now!”

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.

But they were again met by the deadly rifles
on the inside, and several more dropped dead.

CHAPTER XIII.
THE EMPTY HUT—HIT FROM ABOVE.

THE effective shooting of the defenders of
Grizzy Camp seemed to daze the u,.tacking
party.

Tue red-skins reeled from the flashes of the
guns, and for 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 fluod of moon-
light down upon the scene.

“ Hurrah! now pour it into them !” exclaimed
Fred. “ Let us show them that we are not to be
captured with ease.”

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 enough it was struck Now after blow, and
threatened with destruction.

But the planks were strong, and the boys
confident that they would be nule to withstand
the attack.

As we Siioshones had now concentrated all
their (fl? his on the door, the besieged turned
to the nienaw a quarter and awaited results.

What had become of Old Blue Mountain and
Ca tain Snake?

hey were no longer 0n the spot where we
saw them last, for dismayed by the red-skius’
furious attack1 they had beaten a hasty retreat,
sneaking from the field back to the place where
they had left Tucson Tom their wounded com-
panion.

To_ their horror they did not find Tucson there,
and in low voices they called him, but received
no response.

‘ A brief Search, however, revealed the miss-
iii man, but what o. si ht he was when found.

_ ucson Tom had ha a desperate encounter
With a grizzly from the look of the under rowth
bylwhicb the dos erado was surrounde . The
animal was doubt ass the same one wounded by
Max a. few hours before.

Tucson Tom had fought for life, but the griz»
zly had conquered, for the dead body of the
lawless fell0w, terribly torn, was the spectacle
that greeted Old Blue and Captain Snake.

The two men stood silently over the mangled
cor e for a few moments, when Old Blue sud-
den v exclaimed:

“ Tliar’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 answar 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’ma sinner!” ejaculated
Old Blue. “Stand wbar you ar’ jess one min—
lite, an’ you’ll never finish another purd.”

Out flew Old Blue’s revolver as he took a mad
stride toward thzxgrizzly by whom they had
just been confron .

“'Stopl none 0’ that I" 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
h yer. f you must fight the grizzly do it with
your knife. ”

u I  mp1“!!!

Back to the speaker’s belt went the cooked re—
volver and out leaped a knife.

Old Blue was no coward.

The grizzly, doubtless badly wounded from
his repeated growls, stood his ground and
awaited the onset.

Suddenly he rose on his hinder feet to receive.
Old Blue, who threw out his left arm as he
sprung forward.

A moment later he sunk into the grizzly’s emv
brace.

Three times he struck in rapid succession, at
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 of
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’ progressin’
at the camp,” said Old Blue. “ I don t hear any
noise that way. Mebbe the Injuns have carried
the lace by storm an’ paved the way for us.“

“ Idadn’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 i” suddenly
asked Captain Snake.

“ Hang me if it isn’t!” was the reply. “ The
red-skins have taken the place, an’ carried 03
the kids. Come on, cap’n. I’m anxious to get
at the bottom of this alfair.”

It was indeed true that the cabin door stood
Bride open; Old Blue’s eyes had not deceived

im.

Satisfied that the Sboshones had taken cap—
tives the occu ants of Grizzl Camp, the two
men hurried onward, and 0 d Blue was the
first to halt on the threshold of the cabin.

It was empty! 3

.“1’ll have a ‘ ht 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 illumine the interior of
the but.

“ They’ve gone, that’s a fact,” be said after a
minute‘s inspection. “ New I’m goin’ to see if I
have ,been right. Take up that board there,
on n.

a tain Snake removed the puncheon desig—
nated) by Old Blue’s finger. and looked up wiih
a puzzled expression of countenance. ’

“Thar’s no hole byer,” he said.
be wrong, after all.”

Old Blue looked astonished.

“ I’m not goin’ to give it “Wet,” he replied:
“Tulip up the other board. hat do you see
now.’ ' -

‘.‘ Noihin’ but earth.”

“ No hole. cap’nl"

“ No hnle. Blue.”

“ Hung me if I ain’t stumped l"

“ Sn am I.”

Old Blue’s match went out at that moment,
and. the interior of the cabin was in darkness
again.

” Can it be possible that this old but does not
stand over the opening ot the Lost Mine?” the ,
Fold-hunter exclaimed. “ I do not want to be-

ieve it, but I‘m afraid I will have to. ‘I tell
you what we’ll do, cap‘n. We’ll set fire to the
shanty that has fooled us. I don’t want to give
the missing mine up yet. It’s in this country
somewhar, aii’ wharever it is thar lies our for-
tune. I’ve got another match.”

“ Thar’s nothln’ 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.

The ground around the but was covered in
many places with pine cones and dry boughs,
which would burn readily.

Tbke 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 mumps never dreamed that they

“We must

were watched.

 

     

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‘ that the dirt in settlin

12

Fighting Fred.

 

If they could have obs rved a certain lace
on one of the ler est trees near by, an ele—
vated about sixty el-f above the ground, they
would have seen one-half of a human fl ure.

“I’ll see what I can do for you, OI 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.
. lowever, here it goes, with the compliments of
the boys of Grizzl Camp.”

The next instan the youth so strangely situ—
ated sent ahatchet whirling through the air,
wefilaimed at one of the dim figures before the
ca in.

A startling cry followed the throw, and Old
Blue, in the act of striking another match be
fore thedoor, sprung to his feet. to stagger back

i

like a rson hard hit.

“ ho did thati”he growled, as he quickly
recovered. “Cap’n, that lick came from the
skies.

“ 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!”

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 00d throw after all,” he said. “It
saved the ca in and, I trust, marked Old Blue
for life.”

 

CHAPTER XIV.
HUNTING AGAIN—A FLYING snow.

A MORE 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 mercy; but instead
they found the cabin empty. and not a white
bov for them to wreak their vengeance on.

If they had lifted several of the heavy pun-
cheo'ns that helped to form the rough our of
the hut, they might have solved the mystery of
the boys’ escape; but as they did not, and with-
drew from the cabin with a good deal of confu-
sion, they left the conundrum unsolVed.

The three boys and Watanama, the Shoshone
girl, had effected their escape by means of the
oldi passage leading to the cave beneath the
cab n.

The reader will recollect thlt 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 sevent ~foot rope.

A short time prior to the' orcing o the door
of the cabin by the Shoshones, Max discovered
down had left a small
opening, which led to t e cave itself.

If it could be enlarged, escape were possible!

An eflort to widen it encountered success, and,
in short, when the door fell in the Castaways of.
grizzly Camp were safely housed in the corri-

or.

The retreat of the Indians was swiftly fol-
lowed by the arrival at the but of Old Blue and
Captain Snake after which followed the inci-
dents already described.

There was a‘feneral laugh of triumph when
Fred descende from the tree and related the
story of the hatchet cast.

Despite his wounds, Fighting Fred had made
hisway u the old tree, and, by a lucky blow,
had save the camp from destruction by fire.

“ We’ll have a little rest now, I’m thinking,"
he said. “ The Indians have withdrawn full of
*uperstitious notions concerning our escape, and,
Jill Blue and the captain have retired rather
discomflted. We have reason to rejoice, for we
aregti’ll alive, and Grizzly Camp not much dam-

age .

We might add here that Fred’s views were
correct ones.

For several (18. 3 nothing occurred to- imperil
the camp, and atanama had said that the red
hunting— rty had doubtless retired to another
part of t a 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 foe
Was in sight.

As Lean Wolf had not made his appearance,
the he s were inclined to believe that he had
fallen in the assault on the but which was not
the case, as we know.

As the boy trappers possessed good appetites,
thebear-meat disappeared rapi ly dung: the

,week of siege and excitement, and the ob ning
of a fresh supply was necessary.

Ned also desired to visit Poto, the dwarf, who
had rendered such valuable assistance to him
during his escape from the Sl'oshones.

it was agreed one day that Max should guard
the camp while Fred, Ned and Watanama un—
dertook a reconnoissance as well as a hunt for
meat.

Ned asked the Indian girl if she knew any-
thing about Poto, but as no very satisfactory
answer was returned, he did not press the mat-
ter, although he believed that the dwarf was
not wholly unknown to her.

On leaving camp W'atanama asked permission
to guide the party, which was readily granted,
and, bidding Max adieu, the hunters set out on
the hunt.

The Star of the Shoshones led the boys with a
confidence which told them that she was not un<
familiar with the country, and when Fred asked
her if she had ever seen it before she cast down
her eyes and did not reply.

“She is goin straight to Poto’s caVe—I am
sure of it!" sud enly 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
stopped and turned 11 on the boys.

“ knew it!" said ed. “ You have guided
us to within sight of the dwarfs den.”

“It is down yonder, around the big here
rock," was the reply.

“ I know it. Let us go on and see the strange
little fellow.”

vThe Indian girl advanced again, but with a
good deal of reluctance.

Ned grew impatient.

" I will lead the wny,” he cried. “I want to
get along faster than this,"and, springing ahead
of Watnnama, he led the way eagerly down the
side of the mountain.

A few minutes’ hnsie brought him to the big
bare bowlder that jutred over the trail, and as
he turned it he uttered a loud cry and instantly
l‘ecoiled.

Fred and W'atannma sprung forward.

“Look! yonder is Poto!" exclaimed Ned.
“ Woe to the miscreants who did that deed !”

The sight that met the beholder-5’ eyes was
horrible enough to chill their blood.

A human body, deformed, it is true, but still
human, was swayin in the wind before a dark
cavernous opening t at led into the bowels of
the earth!

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 be dead?" 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,yand they chose
this poor bein l I owed Poto a great eel, 81'
most life itsel , and now I find him dangling in
the air—dead! It is terrible! Show me .he
trail of the murderers l”

“ Not so fast," said Fred, who could smother
his ire. " We cannot afford to turn ven cance-
hnnters yet. Our day may come. e will
bury Polo in the depths of his den, where the
wolves will not find him, and then prosecute our
hunt for meat.{’ '

The body of the dwarf was carried beyond
the threshold of the cave'where he had spent
many years of his life, and placed in a grave
over which stones were piled for his monument.

There was nothing in the cavern to tempt the
trio, and when they left nothing was taken
awa .

They believed that the dwarf had met his
death at the hands of Old Blue and Captain
Snake, who had probably left the country for a
time, if not for good.

Who ever did it did a mean act, which called
loudly for vengeance, for Watanama 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 off on
another trail.

.l'

r 'ill we find game in this direction?” asked

1, Fred. addressing the Shoshone girl.

t-

Mebhe so,” was the unsatisfactory rep] ,
which Fred swallowed with a good deal of il-

! 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.
be shot at? I see nothing."

“But I do,” said Fred, stepping forward and
raising his rifle. “ I see the biggest pair of buck-
horns in Oregon.” _

“ Don’t you see the buck himself, Fred?”

“ What is to

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.

“ Who fired that shot?" he exclaimed. “In
another second the deer would have been mine;

ul— ’

“Hurrah! The biggest buck in Oregon!”
shouted a loud voice, and the hurt moment the
figure of a man rushed toward the deer, which
was writhing on the ground in the agonies of
death.

“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 !“ 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
his un.

“ on’t make any demonstrations, captain,”
continued Ned over his rifle. “We want to
talk to you a little. Stay where you are!"

Captain Snake, the half-breed, was too aston-
ished to reply.

He saw that he was at the mercy of those who
had a. right to send a bullet through his brain,
and he evidently thought that submission 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 forum-d.

“That’s a spl~iidirl buck, captain,” said Fred,
glancing at the dwul c. or as he came up. “You
were a ittle to quick if r me.”

“ I’m that way lor nearly everybody." snapped
the captain.

“You were for Poto, as we have just seen,”
put in Ned. “That was a mean act.”

Captain Snake’s eyes flashed, but he did not
reply}

N“ hat made you hang the dwarf?” continued

ed. .

“None 0‘ your business, white boy i” was the
mad response, as Captain Snake leaped like a
t' or 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 halfAhreed, who was running down the
trail at the top of his speed!

“Help! murder! h-e-l-pl” rung instinctively
from Ned’s throat. '

Fred stood dazed for a moment.

He had not looked for such a turn of af-
fairs.

When he recovered, Captain Snake and his
prisoner were rapidly disappearing.

“ Watanama will stop him!” cried the Indian
girl, throw ing her rifle to her shoulder.

“ No! you’ll hit Nedl” gas d Fred.

“ Watanania can shoot, w ite boy i"

The Star of the Shoshones sprung from
Fred’s grasp, and fired a shot after Captain
Snake.

“ What did Watanama say?” she exclaimed,
wheeling upon Fred with a triumphant expres—
sion as the smoke of the gun scared upwar .

Fred did not reply.

He was staring down the trail, where the half~
breed and his captive had disappeared with the
crack of the rifle.

CHAPTER XV.
BOW MAX ENTERTAINED VISITORS.

WE are now going back l0 Max—unobtrusive,
cautious Max.

He had been left in charge of Grizzly Camp
before, but had not enjoyed any adventures
during his stay “on guard."

This time, however, he was not to get of! so
easily.

For an hour after the departure of his com-

 

panions, Max stood at the largest of the loop-
holes—quite a little window of itself-and sur-

“ Nothing but the horns; but I've got a good»

 

 

 

 

 

Fighting Fred. .

13

 

 

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
first revolved it in his brain, and he was not
likely to be cajoled into opening the door.

There was a certain loneliness about his situa‘:
tion, but the boy did not mind it, and he anx~
iously awaited the hunting-party’s return.

Suddenly there appeared in front of the cabin
and not more than ten feet beyond the door
the huge head of a. bear.

With the most quizzical expression imaginable
Old Ephraim was surveying the cabin, and Max
fancied that the hoggish little eyes had singled
him out.

“ I’ll surprise you!” ejaculated the boy, spring-
ing back for the rifle that stood in the nearest
corner. “ Who knows but that I may bag the
most game by remaining at home?”

He returned to the loo —hole a minute after-

ward, but the hear he quietly taken his des
parture.
. “Went off without saying adieu,” laughed
the boy, who regretted that he had missed an
excellent shot by having his rifle in the corner
and not in his hands.

The words had 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
maple!” e said, after a moment s listening.
"' if he tries the roof he’ll come through a rear.
deal quicker than Fred’s panther did, and will
be in a pretty situation.”

Max thought of the avenue leading to the
underground apartments, but to his courage,
let it be said, he never thought of running from
the hear. I _ , , . .

From what he saw of the animal he believed
it to be a. grizzly not yet full own, but large
enough to give him a terrib e battle, and of
sufficwnt weight to crash through the cabin’s
roof.

it was a very unpleasant moment in Max’s
life.

He heard the bear making his way up the
free that grew almost against the hut, 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 ceiling under the spreading branches of the
ma le.

oments seemed hours while he waited for
the bear to advance.
1 Alt last one of the boards overhead shook a.

itt e.

“Feeling your way, are you?” ejaculated
Max. “ I’d rather you would change your
mind; but if you are determined to visit me,
the sooner you come the better.” v

Yes, the rizzly was feeling his way.

Max coifid imagine him trying the planks
with one of his paws, which was just what he

= was doin at that moment.
Sudden y with a noise that almost lifted Max
‘ Martin off his feet two of the roof boards fell in
witha terrible crash, and with them came an
ob ect which looked monstroust hugel‘

nstinctively the boy drew back into the
depths of the corner, and pressed his rifle
agamst his shoulder. ,

For several moments he did not catch sight
of his vicitor for the broken boards had nearly
covered him, but suddenl the bear shook him-
self clear, and looked at his surroundings.

The grizzly’s astonishment was comical; his
sudden descent had amazed him, and be present-
ed an admirable target for Max’s aim.

The young Californian did not hesitate, but
aiming at the bear’s head fired a shot which
sent the animal reeling backward and to the
floor in the throes of death.

Max threw another charge into the steel
chamber of the repeating title as quickly as pos-
sible, fearful that his shot was not a fatal one;
but, the grizzly had already succumbed and was
gasping his last.

“ That’s easier done than I thou ht,” said Max
triumphantly. “A grizzly Wit one bullet
doesn’t discredit an old hunter.” _

He stepped to his prize and Surveyedut with
admiration but his thoughts_ were disturbed
with a suddenness that drove him back a gig,

“ Greet Caesarl another grin] l” 9 ex.
claimed. for on looking up he babel the face of
a second bear who waigonwlilphtmg him from
theedeofthe a 01-00. .

Maxgrecoverefiaii): a moment from his second
surprise.

x,

 

“Just stay there a momentl” he said to the
new visitor, and sending his wea on swiftly
against his shoulder he hurried a. all toward
the apparition overhead.

An instant later a bowl of rage and pain was
heard, and something terribly large struck at
Max’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 opening!

Max did not realize until a second after the
bear’s fall that one of the paws had knocked his
rifle from his hands.

“I’ve got this, thank fortune!” 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 advanced upon the desperate animal
eager to begin and end the conflict which could
not be avoided.

He shot just as Old Eph rose on his hinder
feet, aiming at the little white spot under his
throat, and back from the pistol smoke stag—
gered the bear with an angry grow]. ‘

But only for a moment.

In the twinkling of an e e be rushed forward
again, meeting Max’s thir bullet half-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 became useless.

He drew his knife.

Shutting his teeth hard, Max had resolved to
conquer or die in the ca mm of Grizzly Camp.

. He saw the bear, blee ing from two wounds,
rise again and throw wide his huge fore-paw
for the se tling hug.

It could not be avoided, for the knifearmed
boy was against the wall.

" I’ll face you to the end!” he exclaimed, and
at the hear 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 puncheons, they
fell apart and Max, as he rolled away with a
gasp, relin uished his hold on the knife.

It was di 'cult to tell which had won.

Most probably death had claimed them both.

Twenty minutes later a heavy rap sounded on
the cabin door.

“ Open, Maxl We’ve got meat enough to
keep us a 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 been killed by
grizzliesl” and the rson who alighted at Max 5
side was Fighting E‘s—ed Nichols.

CHAPTER XVI.
THE TRAIL or A DREAM.

THANKS to fortune and a good constitution,
the boy i ing on the cabin floor beside the hear
was not end.

“You didn’t kill both these grizzlies?” asked
Fred in astonishment, when Max opened his
eyes in the midst of his companions.

“ I think I did,” was the reply, and the young
victor narrated the adventure we have record—
ed in the foregoin chapter.

“ Ned, yon er, find a ver narrow escape.”
replied Fighting Fred. “ e found Pete the
dwarf strun up by the neck and buried him
in his den. hen we started out on a meat-
hunt. All at once Watanama discovered a pair
of antlers raised above some bushes and I pre-
pared to bag a buck. But before I could press
the tri ger, another rifle spoke. and the deer
tell. he man whoran forward to claim his
prize was Captain Snake, whom we instantly
covered and made hold up his hands. Ned
wanted to shoot him for helpin% to take Pete’s
life and frankly told him so. e walked upto
where the captain stood and all at once be
seized Ned and started 01! at the top of his
speed. I dared not shoot, but Watanama de-
termined that the miscreant should not escape.”

“ Did she shoot at Snake. while he carried
Ned in his arms ?" questioned Max ea erly.

“ Hear me tbrou h and you wi know,”
answered Fred. “ atanama took a hasty aim
and died. I saw Ned and his captor instantly
disappear, and ran forward with all my might,

 

more than half-expecting to see the youngster
llying dead amon the grass along the trail.
he Star of the hoshones kept at my heels.
What was my surprise and joy, Max, when I
reached the spot to see Ned unharmed.”

” And Captain Snake?”

“ on, he had escaped to vex us again, if he
isn’t too badly wounded.”

“ Didn’t he attempt your life?” said Max,-
turning to Ned.

“No; he told me before the shot was fired
that he was carrying me to a person with whom..
I was well acquainted. I suppose he meant Old
Blue. Watanama’s ball must have shattered.
his arm for when he ran off, his left one seemed
to hang useless at his side.”

“ It’s a pity it wasn’t his treacherous heart,”
ejaculated Fred. “ I am inclined to think that
we shall meet these two worthies again during
our stay at Grizzly Camp, but if they come
back they will meet with a reception they will
never for t. For my part I Wish they would
come. e are in pretty good fighting trim. ‘
I’ve got over my anther fight, and beyond.
some few bruises, Id Eph didn’t hurt you,
Max."

“ A da will set me to rights again,” smiled

Max, an as his gaze 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 :1 place again.”

The little hunting—party had fetched home-
some choice venison, and several brace of mounm
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-v
ed over to the Indian girl who desired to dress:
them in the most approved frontier style for
Max.

“That red 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 to-day I caught her
talking to herself about Red Crow the red—skim-
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 river?’ :

“ 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 Wotanama’s;
uneasiness, and no one thought of it 3 am until
at the solemn hour of midnight when 9 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-v
dian girl at his side. > ,
“ Don’t speak, white boy,” she said, in the‘
lowest of whispers. “Watanama is going to,

say cod-by.” ‘

“ hat’s thatF—going away, eh?” ejaculated.
Fred, unable to conceal his astonishment.

“The Star of the Shoshones must go,” was.
the determined rejoinder. “She sis is and had.
a dream. In that dream the spirit 9 Red CIUW’
whispered at her ear.” ,

Fred was about to say “nonssnse,” but check»
ed himself for the faint light in the cabin show-r
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 fee»
as vrell as your lover. Why, then, should his:
spirit come back to you?"

“The Great Spirit send Bed Crow back.”

“ What did he say to you?”

“ He told Watenama to meet him at thm
tree.” - I . .

“ The bridge?”

“ Yes.”

“ When 9"

“ Now, white boy.”

Fred made no repl , but felt the hand of the I
red girl ti hten on b s arm. I ‘ ,

“ Open oor for Watanama,” she said. “She‘
must listen to the voice of the dead;she shall.
go to Red Crow.”

“What if I should refuse?” *

The girl ste ped back and pointed toward thei
roof of the ea in: ~

“Watanama will go out the way the bears‘
came in,” she said. ‘She is going to the tree."'

“Then you shall go by the cor.”

Fred said no more, but proceeded toremcve
the barricades as noiseless] as possible. He
did not want to disturb his s coping comrades.

. He succeeded in his design, and pressing
Watamma’s hand in mute good-by he saw her:
slip away and closed the door otter her.

‘ I’m going a: see the outcome of this dream,”
he said to himself as he began to pot the barri-

cadeebackinthe sermon "hero? '
distanceto the  the girl gayneed *

 

  

14

 

help. She shall not want for assistance while I
can render any.”

‘ He stooped over Ned and awoke him with a
touch.

“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 sur rise,
but did not speak until he had entirely isnp-
peered.

“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 aka his we as
rapidly as possible to the tree that bridge the
rapid river, and away he went at good speed.

" What do I see?’ he exclaimed, pausing sud-
denly in the moonlight 9. short time afterward,
and staring at an object ahead. “Somebody
has deprived the tree-bridge of almost all its
.folia 8. There is somebody about to step upon
it. an it be Watauama’i”

Fred advanced nearer, eager to establish the
identity of the form he had espied.

All at once he stopped and crouched behind
some bushes. .

He was scarcely more than fifty feet from the

. tree, and standin upon it outlined against the
rounded disk of t e moon be few 3 figure which
he was sure he recognized?

5‘ 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-
mands of the brave whose life she took because
he ersecuted her."

he on] response was the roar of the river
that thun ered 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 Indian? 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 ooul see the body moVein and out anion
the scanty foliage left on the fallen trunk, an
{noted that the distance between the creeper
and Watanama was ra idly lessenin .

“I see now—it is an ndian l” he so d. “We-
tanama’s dream is to end with a tragedy if I do
not interfere. Thank Heaven! I am here to
protect the girl!” v .

, At that moment the Star of the Shoshones
advanced toward the middle of the river with
her right hand upraised.

“ Let the Great Spirit speak if Red Crow will
not,".she cried. “Watanama is here and her
ears are openl”

Fred fancied he could see the eyes of the red
crawler flash 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 Watenama instantly
turned. 1

The red crawler sprung up at the same mo-

ment.

" You shall not touch her. I am here!”
flashed Fred, as he threwrhimself between the
warrior and his almost victim with his face

' turned toward the former. “ Backl you
accarsed red-skin l”

The Indian answered with a cry of rage and
dashed at Fred with uglifted tomahawk.

“Not yeti” grated t e 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 throu h the moonlight
to lose itself among the waters low.

The next instant the air seemed full of

arrows! ,
A shar pain darted through Fred's arm; his
was n 01 from his grasp!

“ ’ve got another for you, my reddkihll” he
said. but before he .could draw it he felt a
at”? :1an some over him. , 

V nly did he tryato keep-his balance on the

Fighting Fred.

A wild cry peeled from his lips when he felt
his feet slippin from under him.

Where Was atanama?

,In another instant Fred’s feet had left the log
and he was actually falling!

The horror of his situation almost froze his
blood. V

His hands closed on the first thing they brush.
ed, and he held on with a death-grip.

Well did he know that he was hanging over
the foaming torrent two hundred feet below,
yet he dared not look down ward.

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 bridgel

CHAPTER XVII.

SAVED l—FRED GRANTS TWO DOGS LIFE.
“ BETTER the liver than death by their toma-
hnwks,” crossed the boy’s mind like a flash.
He was helpless, and, what added to his peril,
was the fact that the branch to which he clung
threatened to break with his weight.
A glance along the log above showed him a
number of figures advancing u n him.
“ I’ll perish fighting l” he exc aimed.
He loosened one hand, but held on with two-
fold courage with the other.
Then he made out to draw and cook his re-
volver.

“ My situation does not render me harmless,”
he continued. “ I willshow you red-skins what
a California. boy can do when he‘s cornered.”

Raising the revolver. Fighting Fred fired a
hasty shotat the foremost savage, now not more
than ten feet away.

The brave fallback and dropped upon the 10
badly wounded, and checking his companions
ad vance.

“ White boy hold up hand—quick!" said a
voice at this juncture, directly above him, and
Fred saw Watanama, the Shoshone girl, leaning
t0ward him, with one hand thrust downward.

He instantly thrust the revolver back into his
belt and held up his hand, which the Indian girl
seized and began to exert her strength to draw
him 11 .

Fre assisted Watanams 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 lost.

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 Watanama started toward the
bank, seeing which the Shoshones on the log

run forward.

“Wge’ll finish some of the work here!" cried
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.

Fred did not pause until he had emptied the
chambers of his revolver into the writhing
mass.

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. Ahl 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 Nod 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 ver 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.

Watanama went back to camp without speak-
ing a word, but when the but had been reached
again Fred addressed her.

“Who was the first brave I encountered on
the log—the one that crept u n on while you
were talkin to the Great Sp rit he asked.

“ It was old Eagle, Red Crow‘s brother.”

,'.‘He would have killed you?”

“He wanted Watanama’s blood because her

 

log, to turn and rush toward the shore.

hatchet slew Red Grow.”

a

l

 

“ How did he discover that?"

"' Red Crow 75 spirit whispered at his ear as it
did at Watanama’s,” was the answer.

The Star of 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.

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 reconnoissance 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
depredations.

Several days passed away without bringing
on an attack, and the boys of Grizzly Camp be-
gan to hunt again.

Some rare sport was thus obtained, but they 7

were always on the look-out for human ene-
mxes.

At nightfall the cabin door would be closed
and secured against invaders of every kind, and
around the littl.u fire kindled on the ground in
the middle of the apartment the boys would
listen to the wild Indian legends that fell from
'Watanama’s lips.

In the mean time the mine beneath the cabin
had been fully explored, and the youn trappers
were satisfied that they had found it e 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 ofi’ered to guide the party, and
everything was ready for the departure, when
an incidentoccurred that to some extent disar-
ranfied their plans.

T 3 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,”
replied Fred with a light smile.

‘dBy this time W atanama had reached the boy’s
S) e.

f‘dOpen the door to Sweeping Tempest,” she
sal .

“ Who is he?” a

“ The great chief of the Warm 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
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 em-

est has brought the prisoners to them for pun-
ishment.”

“ Where are the captives?” asked Fred.

“ Iget the white boys follow Sweeping Tem-

. t.

The 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
bog trappers.

ld Blue and Captain Snake had come back
to the camp, but in a manner least expected by
the b0 5 and themselves.

“ at will the young whites do with these
wolves?” suddenly asked Sweeping,- Tempest. I

“They are ca tives now and he] less,” an-
swered red. “ e‘cannot unish em, how-
ever richly they deservs punishment.”

The Indians looked astonished.

 

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Fighting Fred.

15

 

“The snake that the hunter spares to-day
may bite him to-morrow,” said the chief, ad-
dressing the boys. _

“ I know that,” was Fred’s reply. “ We do
not fear those men. Will you leave the country
gislf we let you go?” he asked, addressing Captain

nuke.

“You kin try us if you want ter,” was the
answer.

“That is no reply at all. Will you go away
and trouble us no more, if you gain your
libert @”

“ es, we’ll go.” said Old Blue. “ I’ll answer
for the cap’n. He’s mad, an’ won’t give you
an satisfaction.”

'Let them go,” said Fred, turning to the
chief.

Sweeping Tempest hesitated a moment, and
then gave orders for the prisoners’ release.

Sullenly, 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 rese from the throats of
the Warm Spring braves, and the next second
the'whole band sprung toward the stream.

“We spared two fiends!” exclaimed Fred.
“Let us help to pay them back for this deed 1”
And away he went, with Ned and Max at his
heels.

It was a race for life.

 

CHAPTER XVIII.
A TERRIBLE LEAP—FORTUNE AND FAME.

AFTER firing the dastardly shot, Old Blue and
his companion started oi! 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 tree, and strained
every nerve to overtake them before they could
reach 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 1” he
exclaimed.

“ It was there yesterday,” said Captain
Snake, starin at the spot where the tree had
rested on the ank.

“ That doesn't help us now," was the reply.
There’s a river between us and safety, and you-
der come our foes. Curse the luck, ca ’nl Ef
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.

A wild yell rose from their throats for they
had caught sight of the two whites standing on
the bank. '

Old Blue 5 rung toward the river, and halted
on the very rink of the precxpice.

“Have you the nerve to Jump, cap’n?" he
asked his companion.

“ Down into that river?" '

“ Wh not? El? them Injuns catch us 1t ’11 be
worse than jumpin’ down thar. Thar they ar’,
an’ they expect to take us alive. They see that
the log is missin’. Grit yer teeth, cap’n, an’
'um !

Ca‘ptain Snake looked madly at his enemies
for a moment and then glanced downward at
the roaring torrent.

It was certain death to jump, and death to
recoil.

“ Jump it is, Blue!” he said. “This adven-
ture has turned out poorly. Oh, you skunks!
we’re goin’ to cheat you yet!” he had turned to
the Indians again. “ We will never give you a
heir of our heads. Hurrah for Old Blue and
Cao’n Snake!"

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.

“ Haltl” he cried. '

“ Not any more I” was the response and in the
mooah ht two figures sprung. over the bank!

The ndians uttered yells of rage and dis-
ap intment.

be next instant the entire party reached the
spot. but the twu men had disappeared.

“ That is the end of them," said Fred, gazing
down into the turbid waters. “Whatethrill-
ing place this has been since our occupation of
Grizzly Camp. We might as well go back now;
the trail has ended I” '

The Indians were reluctant to return without

 

the scalps of the two worthies, but these trophies
were not to be had, for the waters had already
carried them far 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 at this 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 Grizzly Camp, they ware visited 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 the Govern-
ment post and returned in safetv.

All thoughts of proceeding to Fort Okinakaue
werfinow abandoned, and the mine was revealed
to a .

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 ve him
advice that saved his life when Half oon 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
young.

We need not sa that he was welcomed
at Grizzly Camp, an assured of Ned’s undying
friendship.

Watanama remained at the camp until she
saw it peopled with whites. when she bade the
three boys farewell, and went off with a young
Warm Spring Indian whose wife she has doubt-
less since become.

At any rate, the boys have not since heard of
her, although they have made many inquiries
in that direction.

After all, the desertion in the mountains re-
sulted in fortunes for the young Californians,
but above all the gold they have obtained, they
value the trophies of the hunt. '

Fred keeps his panther—skin, and Max would
not take the world in exchange for his grizzly
pelts.

As for Ned, he has trophies, too, among them
along lock of black hair, which 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 tress 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 Sacramento, where they
are known as “ The Young Gold-bugs,” Ned,
Max and Fred are enjoying life, and often nar-
rate to attentive listeners their many adven-
tures in and about old Grizzly Camp, which to-
day Is a mining-town of no little importance.

Here we take leave of three Castaways of the
Oregon _mountains, and wish them continued
success in life.

THE END.

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37 Old 'l‘ur Knuckle and His Boy Chums; or,
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54 California Joe, The Mysterious Plainsman.
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l

Magician.

 

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58 Lumc Tim, the Mule Boy of the Mines; or,
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59 Lutl Lionhecls, the Young Tiger Fighter.
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61 The You ng 1V1 ustangerfl. By C. D. Clark.

62 The Tiger Hunters; or, The Colorado Boys
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