Issued Weekly—By Subscription $2.50 per year. Entered as Second Class Matter at the N. Y. Post Office by STREET & SMITH.

October 3, 1896. Ms dic. NOL Biba Price Five Cents.

 

ANDES

 

 

 

‘IT IS BLACK MIGUEL AND HIS BAND,’’ CRIED JUAN IN TERROR. ‘‘THEY COME TO KILL US.”?

 
 

, prone ne -geeEe

 

 
 

| Tipe Tepe

Issued Weekly—By Subscription $2.50 per year.

Vol.

 

Octolier 3, 1896.

 

OR

By the eande oer

CHAPTER I.
FRANK FINDS A MISSION.

Bum p—thud !

One boy had been walking, the other
running. They collided at the corner of
Bush and Battery streets, San Francisco,
and both fell heavily.

‘‘All down; set ’em on t’other alley!’

‘‘Beg-a de pardon, senor. Very great-a
mistake! Beg-a de pardon very much!”’

“Let up! What are you begging my
pardon for, old man? I am the one to beg
pardon. You were walking—I running—

came to corner—didn’t look—biff !—here
we are.”’

The speaker laughed. It was a jolly,
free-and-easy, reassuring boy’s laugh.
The other lad had a sad, dusky face, with
big, dark eyes that seemed filled with a
haunted fear.
language showed he was not a native of
-the United States.

The boy who
jumped up. :

__ ‘*Here you go, old man, ha: cried,
‘catching the other by the bait and cane
ing him to his feet. tye
“Unfortunate. blunder. ery, sorry. In
a hurry. Must. catch a train.??
: ished out a handsome wate

eee been running

 

Entered as Second Class Matler at the N, Y. Post Ofice. SrrEET & SMITH, 29 aoe St., N.Y
Ee uae Leo to Act of Peres) in the Year 1896, in the Office of the Liorar ian of Congress, MW nae LEG:

No. 2.

FRANK MERRIWELL'S ion

The Mystic Valley of the Andes.

His appearance and his

| States of America. Are you on?”

    

1 deli

  
  
        
      
     
   
    
      
        
     
       
    
   
    
       
    
 
      
        
    
   
       
    
  
 
  
 

LIBRARY.

 

 

Price Five Cents,

 

 

RANK MERRIW ELL.”

glanced at it, whistled softly, then asked:

‘How far is it to the isa street
railway station ?”’

“T-cannot tell, senor,’’ was the respect-
ful reply, although the words seemed to
be uttered in a bewildered way. ‘‘I donot
know what place dis is at all.”’

‘‘Hum! So? Why, this is Bush street,
this is Battery, and that is Market, over
there...

 

 

 

“No, no! I mean I do not know what
citee dis/is.”?

“How? Come again! Don’t know what
city this is? Say, what have you been up
against, old man ?”?

‘‘T speak de trute, senor,’’ was the
|humble, almost cringing, protest. - gS 3
know not vty I be here—I know not _
where I be.’ = :

“Whew!” whistled the American lad,
beginning to look the other boy over with
keen interest. ‘‘Off your trolley, ¢h?
Why, this is San Francisco, in the State
of California, which is one of the most
magnificent gems in that glorious,. scin- —
tillating collection known as the United —

oP}

  
  

  
   
 
  

The dark-eyed lad looked still more be
wildered aby this spread-eagle manner

nformation.

 

 
  

“De United States ?’’
“*T think I must be dere.”’

“What? Didn’t even know you were
in the United States? Well, are you
sure you’re on earth? Jupiter! but you
interest me!— Wonder if I can catch that
train now?’’—Again glancing at his
watch.—‘‘Don’t look that way from the
road. Let her go. Will have to wire pro-
fessor again. Did not start.
Try again to-morrow.’ How’ll that go?”’

“I do not know what you talk-a about,
senor.’’

he murmured.

‘Missed train.

“Of course you don’t; stupid of me.
I’ll introduce myself. I am Frank Merri-
well, a traveler by profession just at pres-
ent. I had a rich uncle—queer old fellow
—who died and left mea fortune. In his
will he provided that, in order that I
might increase my knowledge of the/®
world, and broaden my ideas, I should
travel. I havé been doing so, in company
with my guardian, Professor Orman Tyler
Scotch, generally known as ‘Hot Scotch,’
and some companions. Companions went
home; professor was called East on urgent
business. I wouldn’t go unfil I had seen
San Francisco. Ready to start to-day;
sent all my luggage to station, then ran
over to view Chinatown once more. Took
too much time about it, and was sprint-
ing for a cab when I collided with you.
There you have it in a nutshell. Now,
let drive at me. Iam curious to know
how it happens you don’t know | where
you are at.’?

ecQoan al trust-a you’?

“T think so; but I may be somewhat
stuck on myself.’’

“T think Lcan. ‘You have-a de good
face. But I have been fool so saicot! time.
I tell you de story. It is long.”’

_*’That so? Then we won’t stand here.
Where’ ll we go? You look hungry.’’
“Si, senor; have not eat in long time.’

2 ‘Well, we'll fix that. Wonder where

FRANK MERRIWELL'S MISSION.

Come

close at hand on Market street.
along.”’

“*Si, senor.’

‘Don’t $Si, senor’ me any more, please.
Iam no more than a year older than you.
My name is Frank Merriwell. Call me
Frank. What’s your handle?”’

‘‘Handale? I do not understand.’

“Oh, that’s a Western expression that
I have picked up. I mean to ‘ask your
name. ’?

“‘Matias—Juan Matias.’’

“Good! You'll be Juan;
That goes. Now for something to eat.’’

A few minutes later the two lads, who)
had thus strangely met, were seated in a
restaurant, and Frank had ordered a
square meal for Juan, which was quickly
served. ‘The boy with the dark eyes be-
gan eating in a way that showed he was
extremely hungry, although he did every-
thing with a refinement and grace of man-
ner that told his breeding had been of the
best.

When Juan’s appetite was well satisfied
Frank said: ae

‘‘Now, partner, for your story. You
said it was long. Cut it short as possible
—condense it. We Yankees believe in
condensations. You’re Spanish???

““My father was—or is—a Spaniard.”’

‘Was or is? What do you mean by
thates

“Alas! Senor Frank, I know not 4 my
father be living or dead.”’

“Drop the senor; I’m Frank. Here’s a
mystery! I love mysteries. Get after that
yarn, Juan.’’

‘CAs you say. I will make is short. My
father was born in Spain, of noble an-
cestors. You see I speak good English
when I am not excited. You wonder? I
will explain. My mother was an English
lady. He met her in Paris, while travel-
ing. She was also traveling. He saw her,

~

presented, and was fortunate in obtaining

 

t re ta rant is? Must be one

an introduction.

+¥

T’ll be Frank.

’/admired her, sought her to be properly —

He loved her, and she

aa

se i

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

      
       
     
        
 

Bee es

 
  

      

 

 
 

;
|
|
|
|
:

St ss

1 iy
&
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FRANK MERRIWELL’S MISSION. 3

loved him at first sight. But there were
difficulties in the way of a marriage—
difficulties on both sides. He told.her of
Spain. A year later they met in Madrid.
They had not lost track of each other in
all that year. In Madrid my mother also
met the Marques de la Villa de Villar de
la Aguila. He loved my mother likewise.
My father and the Marques quarreled;
they fought a duel. My father think he

have killed the marques, and he fly from

Spain, where next he go to Chili. The
marques does not die, but he hate my
father. Fate bring my father and my
mother together again, and they be mar-
ried. One year later my sistare is born;
then, in another year, I am born. In
Chili my father come to be a great man.
He have power and influence in politics,
and he grow to be rich. Fifteen years he
live in Chili—Santiago, Valparaiso and
other places.. Then the Marques de la
Villa del——”’

“‘Cut is short, Juan; give us his last
name.’

“The Marques Aguila come to Chili
and find my father. He plot against my
father. The revolutionary war—it come,
and my father he init. When it is over
iny father have to fly for his life; and to
leave everything. The marques pursues
to capture—to keel-a my father. But my
father he escape. We live hid in de moun-
tains. But always we fear de marques, for
he be rich-a and powerful. In de moun-
tains be de bandits. Black Miguel lead-a
dem. De marques offar Black Miguel de
pardone if he will capture my father. Ha!
what you think of dat?”’

{I think your father was in a bad box.
Couldn’t he get out of the country ?”’

“T tell you,’ explained Juan, excitedly.
“My mother have grow ill—my sweet

mother! Father have my sistare and my-

self, wid my mother. We try to go over

de mountains to Mendoza. My mother 'be

weak, and de mountain sickness take her
high upon de mountain. She be faint—

4

 

 

she fall from de saddle! Den she bleed-a
at de nose! My father know to save her
we mustygo back. Dat we have to do,
and we Vive in the valley again. My
mother—my sweet mother!—she get
worse and worse, and den she die! Oh,
senor—oh, Frank, dere we bury her! Den
my father do not want to go away. He
stay by her grave, all his life gone wid
her; ”?

The tears were running down Juan’s

face, and his chin was quivering. Frank
turned away and coughed, which gave

him an excuse for producing his handker-
eiek +

For some minutes there was silence,
and then the low, musical voice of Juan
began again:

‘‘T make it short, now, Frank. Dere
we stay and stay. My sistare be beautiful
—she look like my mother when my
mother is a little girl, We live some way
—any way. I always fear Black Miguel
find us, but my father seem to have lost
fear and care. Then—Frank—then my
father he disappear.”

‘*Disappears ?”?

‘‘We never know-a where he go—we
never know what become of-a him.
Pepita, my sistare, and I go everywhere
—we hunt, search, but do not find-a him.’’

‘What next, Juan—what next?’’

“My sistare!’’ cried the Spanish lad,
clasping his hands—‘‘one day she disap-
pear, too! Oh, I be crazee! I wander in
de mountain, calling all de time, ‘Pepita,
Pepita, Pepita!’ Sometime I think-a I
hear her ansare. I listen. It be de wind
in de rocks. One time some way, I find
myself in a strange valley, near to de
blind valley of Cerillos. I cannot get out;
I do not know how I come-a dere. I be
sick, faint, hungree. I think I must die
there. I call-a to Pepita. Den, senor—

den, Frank,’’ cried Juan, rising to his

feet, his face working with excitement,
“TY hear her ansare somewhere—some-
where in de air!

‘

   
  
     
  
   
   

   

4 FRANK MERRIWELL’S MISSION.
a big-a back hole far up in de rock. I|on the box seat—partners till the mission
look away. When I look again, I see dat} is ended !”’
hole no more! It be gone! Den I get) Their hands met in the clasp of undy-
crazee! Next I know, many men bel i ing friendship.

round me. Dey must be de men of Black | rae gee

|
:
|

Miguel. I be seize, ~tied, blindfold! I CHAPTER II
struggle-a, but no use. Dey feed me, dey :
carry me away, dey put me on a horse, . CD Te

we travel many day. Den we be at the} Toward sunset of a beautiful day the
sea. I am put on a ship, keptin de dark-a, |steamer California, cleared from San
oh, so long—so long! And den, in the) Francisco, dropped anchor in the harbor
night, I be brought to de land, and left. I) of Valparaiso.
find myself in strange place where de| Ou the forward deck two lads, Frank
English is spoke-a. I walk-a, walk-a. [| Merriwell and Juan Matias, were gazing
am afraid; I speak to nobody. Den you) at the picturesque city that rose on the
run to me, and we fall down. You know/|slope beyon® the quay, with the purple
che reat: mountains, the mighty Andes, making a
Frank Merriwell’s eyes were blazing! background in the remote distance.
with excitement. Neither lad heeded that} ‘‘Hurrah, Juan!’? cried Frank, in‘ his
many eyes were on them. |impulsive way, ‘‘we are here!”
“Tuan,’? cried Frank, ‘‘you have been} ‘‘Yes, Frank.”’
wronged! With the aid of Providence, ‘Why, what’s the matter with you?
your wrong shall be righted!”’ You say that as if your heart were heavy
*‘Oh, Frank, I fear never! And my} with fear.”’

poor little sistare! Look, Frank,’ tak-| ‘‘Soitis. Ah, Frank, something tell

ing a locket from his bosom and open-|me we soon be in great danger.”’

ing it for the other lad to see; ‘‘disis her} ‘‘Danger be hanged! You should be
picture. Oh, where is she now?”’ | happy to get back—happy at the prospect

It was the sweet, innocent face of a/of.soon finding your father and sister’?

girl of sixteen at which Frank Merriwell| .‘‘But I fear we can never find them,
gazed, and he felt his chivalrous nature|and I fear——”’

stirred to the depths. There was a tender] ‘‘Get out with your fears! We will find
pleading in the pictured eyes that he|them! I have made it my mission. Come,

could not resist. cheer up. How do we get ashore ?’’ :
‘Tuan, we will find where she is—we| ‘‘See the little boats coming off to us,

will rescue her!”’ Frank. They will set us ashore.’’
‘*How ?”? . It was nearly an hour later, however,

 

“By going to her! I have money| before arrangements had been thade so
enough, Juan, and Iam not going East. | that they were taken upon one of those
I shall send a message to Professor | boats,

Scotch immediately, and together, you) Before long, each with a. leather grip”

and I, will take the first steamsnip for|in hand, they were hastening fo fad a

Valparaiso.’’ | hotel in Valparaiso, :
‘‘Oh, my good friend, is dat possible e?| It was the hour when there was the

“It is possible, and it shall be! It shall} |? most life and movement in the city, and,

_ be, my mission to solve this mystery, to/in many ways, the scenes reminded Frank’

your father’ s fate, to save your sis-| of those he had beheld in oe te

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   
   
   
 
   
 

  

 

|
|

 

 

 

 

 

   
   
  

_beforé they

ways. Suddenly they were startled by the!

blue, strolled everywhere. The ee
part of the women wore rebozas and scar-|
let sashes, although, to break the har-|
mony of all this, Parisian gowns.and bon-)
nets wete in evidence. There were men)
wearing vermillion serapes about their
shoulders, with wide hats of felt trimmed |
with silver, and breeches of pink buck-|
skin, held together down the sides with |

er buttons. But there were other men}
in English coats and trousers, with silk |
hats and Picadilly shoes. Some neal
twirled their canes, and walked in teats
tion of English swells. |

On the streets were donkeys piled high |
with sacks of silver ore, or carrying great |
jars of water. Spirited horses dashed
along the streets, ridden by men who sat |
in the saddles as if they were a part of}
the animal. Soldiers were to be seen at
frequent intervals, and, as in Mexico, the}
peon was on every hand.

Suddenly Juan grasped Frank’s hand
and drew him quickly round ‘a corner,
panting: :

*“Oueek—we must run!’’

“Run? What for???

_ “One of Black Miguel’s men—Bengo
—a spy, a wretch!—have seen me!”’

Juan fled, and Frank followed till he
could overtake and stop the frightened lad.

‘Be sensible, Juan. It is not likely this
Bengo recognized you. You are dressed
now like a native of the United States.’’

‘That attracts his attention!’’ palpi-
tated the frightened boy. ‘‘He look-a at
us both sharp-a. I be sure he know-a us.’

After some time Frank succeeded. in
calming Juan, and they proceeded.

‘But another adyenture awaited them
reached: the hotel.
Juan sought secluded streets and dark

|
|

 

 

sound of voices that came from a little!
_ group of dusky figures. One of these fig-|
ures was standing with his back against |

“the wall of a building ; the others sur-

im in a_half-circle. The one

 

‘lme at Fardale!

  

FRANK MERRIWELL’S MISSION. 6.

against the wall was
t
4

with his back
anes

‘““Wal, gol ding your picters! I knowed -
you was follerin’ me for something that
wasn’t no good. So you want my purse ?”’

‘*Si senor,’’ bowed one who seemed to
be the leader. ‘‘You geeve-a us dat, we
do not hurt-a you.’’

‘*Haow kind! I s’pose yeou kin see this
,ere revolver I’ve got? Wal, she’s loaded
| by gum! an’ ef yeou don’t git aout
mighty dad-bimmed lively she'll com-
mence to shoot, by thutter! an’ I won’t
hold myself responsible ef some of yeou
fellers git hurt, by ginger!”’

In amoment Frank Merriwell sprang
forward, shouting:

““That’s right, Ephraim! give
‘em! I’m with you!’

Smack! sntack!

Frank struck two blows, and two of the
ruffians went down. The others took to
their heels instantly, and the ones who

it to

(had been struck scrambled up and fol-

lowed, all quickly disappearing.

Then Frank turned to the person whe
had been trapped by the band. Out went
his hand, and he cried:

‘“Kphraim Gallup, of Vermont! I’d
quicker thought of seeing a. being from
Mars!’

The other, who was a tall, lank, awk-
ward boy, somewhat older than’ Frank, *
gasped and staggered.

“Frank Merriwell!’’ he _ roared.
“Krank Merriwell who was at skule with
Jumpin’ jee-whiz! kin
this ere be possible !”’

“T reckon it is,’’? laughed Frank, as he
grasped the hand of the Yankee lad.
‘Come, let’s get out of this; it’s danger-
ous here. We'll find a hotel, and we can
explain everything to each other’s satis-
faction there.’’

Juan proved valuable now, for he con-
ducted them to a good hotel, at which he —
did all the business of sec iene accomim :
idations.

  

 
    
     
  
 

 

6 FRANK MERRIWELL’S MISSION.

To Frank and Ephraim the exterior of
the hotel did not seem at all inviting, for
it was a one-story adobe building; but,
once inside, they were, surprised and de-
lighted to fmd a series of courtyards, or
patios, avenues of trellised vines, aviaries,
canalized watercourses, and other pleasant
features. Here and there fountains played
and the colored lights from swinging
lamps made the place seem like fairyland
to the ship-weary lads.

The boys ate supper in the open air,
near one of the tinkling fountains.

‘Jove! exclaimed Frank. ‘‘This is
great! Now, Ephraim, old man, just ex-
plain how it happens that you are here.”’

““Whut, talk an’ eat at ther same time!
Gol dinged ef I kin doit. Jest you wait
till I fill my sack some, an? then I'll tell
ye all abaout it.’

So they waited, and, finally, when the
country boy had satisfied his ravenous ap-
petite to a certain extent, he leaned back
in his chair and asked:

“Ju ever hear me speak uv my brother
‘Hiram, Frank?’’

“‘T believe I have,’’? nodded Merriwell.

‘Wal, it’s like this: Hi, he’s a danged
smart feller, and he knows haow ter make
money an’ keep it. When he gits holt of
a silver dollar he squeezes it so gol derned
hard it makes ther eagle squawk. All ther
same, he never wus ther kind ter stay to
hum an’ be satisfied. He wuz alwus
lookin’ out fer ther best place tewmake a
dollar, an’ a friend of ourn got him ter
come ter Chili. Marm, she didn’t want
him ter come ’way aout here, but he
would doit, an’ he done it. Wal, he’s
bin luckier than a barrel uv apple-sass—
made money hand over fist ever sense he’s
bin hére, by gum!”’

“And so you thought you would come
here,- eh ?”’

‘Hi sent fer me—said as haow he’d

ut me in ther way of gittin’ rich. Marm
f want me to come no more’n

she wanted Hi to, but dad he said it wuz
all gol dern foolishness, an’ I come.”’

‘But you were at school in Fardale,
How did you happen to leave school???

‘“Too much fol-de-rol business there.
Ef a feller didn’t mind his pucker all the
time he got the old scratch. I couldn’t
stand it, an’ so I jest got aout. Hi sent
money ter pay my passage daown here.”’

‘‘Where is your brother ?’’

‘‘Spected to meet him soon’s I got
here, but business tuck him orf inter the
maountings, an’ he left word fer me ter
stay right here till he got back.”’

‘“Well, I am more than glad to see

you again, Ephraim; but I never expected ©

to meet you down here in South America.”’

‘Wal, you kin bet I was gol derned
glad to see yeou when ye found me
standin’ orf them fellers what wanted to
rob me, dad-bim um! An’ I never s’pected
ter see yeou down here, though I knowed
ye was travelin’ round. Jest you kinder
explain haow it is yeou are here.”’

So Frank quickly explained how he
came to be in Valparaiso, and Ephraim
listened with intense interest. The tale of
Juan’s woes aroused the warm-hearted
Yankee lad, and, at the end, he asked:

‘‘Be yeou fellers goin’ right on inter
the maountings 2?

“Vou bet!’ replied Frank. ‘‘We go on
to-morrow. No time’is to be lost.”’

Ephraim meditated some minutes, and
then cried:

‘‘By gum I’m goin’ with ye!”

‘‘What’s that? You going?”

““That ere’s jest what I be,
=e won’t be back here fer ten days,

’I might jest.as well be doin’ so1
thin’, Yeou may hev ter fight some, an’

yeou know I kin hold up my end, by.

thutter!’’

**You are just the fellow we want,’’

declared Frank, with satisfaction. ‘‘Juan,
we’ll take him into the combine.
to be a_ three-cornered partnership, and

 

 

|| here? s luck to it, R

by jinks!

some- —

This is

 

 

 

 

 

 
|
wuz |
CHAPTER III.
ale, | TRAPPED IN THE MOUNTAINS.
" | | Frank was well pleased to: have
Soa L Ephraim accompany them, and the fol-
Be ' lowing morning found the little party on
nt the way by rail to Santa Rosa.
aut | With the exception of their horses,
7 they were thoroughly armed and equipped. ;
4 It made Frank feel quite at home to
8 find himself traveling on a passenger car |’
he } that had been manufactured in Wilming-
= | ton, Delaware.
| It happened that on this train there did
af ~ not seem to be one of the brigandish men
se with blue-black beards, such as Frank
had expected to see everywhere in Chili.
d The men and women chatted with a
© certain refreshing freeness. ‘The men were
. stylishly dressed, to a great extent, and
i many of the women wore Parisian bonnets.
Frank was disappointed. He had ex-
pected to see much in the dress and man-
ners of the people that was distinctive
S _ and characteristic. He expressed his dis-

 

appointment to Juan, who said:

‘It isin the poor people you will see
what you look for. ‘They wear the poncho
| = and the manta. Rich people they like to
do like the English or the French. They

seem ’shamed to dress like the people of
_ the country where they do belong.”’

He then called Frank’s attention to a
pretty girl who was wearing the manta.
The girl was sitting near an open window,
and Frank watched he ex some minutes,
finally deciding that the manta was de-
cidedly becoming. It is always black, and,
in this case, was made of fine material.
The folds around the face of the girl were

 

 

ss = arranged with a certain piquancy, the

shape of the coiffure heing shown, while
a fascinating curl was allowed to escape,
_ apparently by accident. The girl also had
* acharming way of readjusting the folds
_ of the shawl, which was cre over the
‘left yee: 3

 

FRANK MERRIWELL’S MISSION. 7

| dians.’

 

mystery on every hand.

  
  
   
     
   
   
  
   
  
  
   
 
    
   
 
   
   
   
   
   
 
 

When Frank had tired of watching the
girl he looked out at the landscape, but
this, also, became tiresome after a little.
Then he.turned to Juan.

*“We shall leave the railroad at Santa
Rosa???’

CeSi: »”

‘“We must obtain horses there?”’

The Spanish lad nodded.

**Do you think we’ll be able to get them
without trouble ?’’

“Tf the money be ready to pay.’’
‘*Well, Ichave enough forthat. Irather
think I have enough to last till we get
back to Valparaiso. Last night I wrote a
letter to my guardian, and he will forward
funds as soon:-as he receives it.’? ~~

*‘T know a man in Santa Rosa who will
get us the horses,” said Juan. ‘‘He bea
friend of my father, but he keep it quiet.
He is Don Honorio Rosende, who have
made the quickest time any one ever
made over the mountains between Santa
Rosa and Mendoza. He do it in thirty-six
hour and kill two horses. That way he
save ye brother, who was captured by In-

““Well, we will call on Don Honorio.’’

‘“That’s jest what we’ll do, by gum!
We want some gol sete good hosses,
100;

‘““The best we can obtain.’’

Santa Rosa was reached, and the boys
went straight to the Hotel del Comercio,

where they obtained accommodations
and made inquiries concerning Don
Rosende.

It happened that the don had been away
at Santiago, on business, but was ex- |
pected to return that evening. The boys
held a consultation, and decided it was
best to wait for his appearance.

After a swimming bath in the hotel, |
which delighted and refreshed the lads,
they walked out to view the town. :

Santa Rosa they found surrounded by
snow-capped mountains, rising in blue —
To the west the

      
   
     
    
  

   

  

  
     
  
   
  
   
    
  
   
  
   
     
       
     
 
 
     
   

8

main ridge of the Andes flung itself high
into the-sky. z

“Which way do we go from here?”
asked Frank.

‘That way,’? answered Juan, waving
his hand toward the northwest.

‘‘T be gol dinged ef I see haow in
thutteration we’re goin’ that air way,”’
said Ephraim. ‘‘Wecan’t git no hosses
that kin jump over them hills.’’

‘“We will find a pass through them,”’’
exclaimed Juan.

‘‘Dad bimined ef I kin see where!”’

‘‘It be not easy to see from here, but I
find it. You trust me.’’.

“All right, Wand. I ruther guess you
know your business, we'll stick by
yeou closer then flies stick ter ther bung-
hole uv a ’larses barrel.”

Santa Rosa proved to be like nearly all
Chilian towns, ‘The streets were laid out

arr?

tectangularly, dividing the place into
squares like a checkerboard. With very

few exceptions, the houses were one-story
in height, built of sun-dried bricks, with
grayish-tiled roofs, and stuccoed walls,
colored rose, yellow, blue and_ other
shades.

The streets were ankle deep in dust.
Open channels of water flowed along the
sides of the streets. “The sidewalks were
paved with round pebbles.

The boyswisited the plaza, or, public

* ™ eriig in the grateful shadows of the trees.
fe 2. = (fn Sabta Rosa ponchos were “plentiful.
‘> The poncho isa blanket with a hole cut
in the middle. ‘The wearer slips his head} -
through the hole, allowing the blanket to
hang from his shoulders.

Here many of the people wore wide-
‘brimmed white straw hats,
bla€k strings, tied beneath the chin.

“Never saw folks dress in sech gol-dern
outrageous styles,’’ declared Sees
“Tt jest beats all nein Bre
ae

FRANK MERRIWELL’S MISSION. a

square, where there were many benches, |,
Be Aare where they*found a few citizetis-ling-

held on by| -

 

that they had seen all of Santa Rosa they

 

 

desired, and Frank and era returned g
to the hotel. hi
Juan, however, sought some of his h
father’s friends whom he could trust. d
Frank and Ephraim went out into one t
of the hotel’s patios, where they found two
hammocks strung beneath an arbor of q (

vines, and there they remained,
till they fell asleep.

- Frank was awakened by feeling him-
self violently shaken by Juan.

‘‘What’s the matter ?’’ he asked, as he
sat up.

‘““We must get away
quick-a!’’panted the Spanish lad.
must not stop a here.”’

‘Jupiter! you are pale, and you seem all
broken up. Have you seen a ghost???

**No; but I have seen something wotse.’

“What?” ay.

‘““Bengo.”? s a

‘‘Who is Bengo?’? :

‘He is de vera bad cut-a-throat—spy—
one. devil !”?

“But why should we run away from
him? He is not likely to molest us, is he?”’

“Si, Frank.” :

‘‘Why should he??? ~

‘He belong to Black Miguel’s band-a.”’

‘*And Black Miguel is the outlaw ‘you
fear so much—the one who was offered a
pardon if he would capture your father?”

“Si, Frank.’’

Well, it is not at all likely this Belvo
knew you, Juan.’

» “Ah, he did! Ksee itswhen che look-a
at me. T tel you what It’ ink, Fr ank. 2 yO
wer) ahead;”? ‘ * % ay

“T Pink He be set to watch- aus. It? ink |

chatting 7

from here ver’

‘(We i

 

 

 

aa

~
>
.

 

he follow ué everywhere.” é We not get - a
away from him $0 easy. 7 a Am
“Oh, I don’t know about that, e am Ss 2

inclined to believe you are frightened — om 2
over nothing.” oo

Wait!’ cried Juan, desperdtel
see! You find I know-a somethi
“Gol cneee ef +8 don’t think.

 
  
  

 

 
 

one
two
of

‘ing’

he

3

Ve

tet &

*
a

it

as

 

 

  

* FRANK MERRIWELL’S MISSION.
good plan ter git aout uv taown kinder CHAPTER IV.
lively an’ quiet like,’’ said Ephraim, who
had been listening. ‘‘It might be a
’ darned sight better fer ther general state! The Chilian lad was so overcome with
uv aour health.’’ |terror that he nearly fell from his horse.
So they talked the matter over, and de-| Frank and Ephraim were surprised, but
cided that, if they could obtain the horses, | they did not become frightened and lose
they would slip out of Santa Rosa quietly their wits.
that very night. ‘‘Darn iny pumpkins, ef this don’t look
Don Rosende returned, and they had no | | |like trouble!’’ drawled the Vermonter, as
difficulty in obtaining three horses, for}he quickly unslung his rifle font tae
which Frank paid. (back. ‘‘Never used this air kind uv a gun
Late that evening they rode out of Santa | 'much, but I uster do a darn good job with
Rosa, and, with Juan as guide, headed to|dad’s ole muzzle-loadin’ army musket
the northwest. |when I wastohum. Ef I kin git onter
_ For two days they journeyed into the ther way this thing jeogerfies, I may be
mountains, and during all that time Juan|able to hit the side uv a haouse or some-
was certain they were followed. | thin’, = a ot
At length they found themselves in a| ‘*Come on!’ cried Frank. ‘‘Remember
long, narrow valley—a valley that was | the gap we passed back a short distance.
almost a ravine. |We must reach it ahead of them, and

THROUGH THE GAP,

|
|
|

 

 

  

 

   
 
  
  
 

— eried Juan, in terror.
lowed ! !

Juan seemed to have lost his bearings| ride into it.’

for the time, and they finally came to the|
end of the valley, which closed in an im-|

passable wall of bare black rock.

“Tt is the blind valley of Cerillos!’’ | 9

cried Juan. ‘‘I know where we be now.
We can go no farther ; we must, tum
back.”’ ;

Turn back they did, but, at that very

“moment, far down the valley, a band. of
horsemen came into view, and _ rode
straight toward the three lads.

Wild-looking ruffians they were, with
bright-colored serapes and blue-black
beards. They were arined with rifles, re-
volvers, knives and machetes, on which
the sunlight glinted, and they .set up
wild cry as they saw the three boys.

At the head of the band rode a dark-
faced, fierce- looking man, mounted on a
coal-black horse.

“Tt is Black Miguel and his band-a!””

“T know we be fol-
They have us in.de trap! They

come to kill-a us! We will all be mur-

 

 

““Won’t it be a trap?”’

‘‘No more than this is, for we havé no
shelter here, and we are hemmed in. If we
get into the gap, those fellows will have
to ride in after us one ata time, and we
can shoot them as fast as they come.’’
“‘Go ahead! We're with ye, by gum!”

**Come on, Juan!””

Frank had also unslung his rifle, and
the three lads now charged straight toward
the oncoming bandits. Juan did not urge
his horse into the charge, but the creature
kept with the others,

The two American boys.
their rifles above their heads,
great shout of defiance.

“Come on, you cut-throats!’’ cried
Frank, defiantly. ‘‘We’ll make it inter-

esting for you!”

“Come on, yeou gol dern dirty-mugged
sons-uv-guns!’’ yelled Ephratm. “We'll
give ye hot-shot an’ Hail Columbia! —
We'll give yer a taste uv Yankee lead, ye
p’izen sarnips!”’ ae od
To the napa ‘it must have seemed

flourished
uttering a

¥

      
       
  

    
   
  

   

10
for the trio rode at the outlaws as if they
were utterly reckless and devoid of fear.

Black Miguel was seen to fling his
horse upon its haunches and make a ges-
ture that brought his followers to a
halt.

‘They ain’t goin’ ter run, be they???
nervously asked Ephraim, with a queer
laugh.

‘“‘What’s the matter?’’ asked Frank.
‘Are you afraid you will not get a crack
at them ?”’ |

‘Oh, that don’t worry mea great deat. ”

‘‘They think we’re going to charge
them, and so——’”

‘“They’re gittin’ reddy for us.
is that gap?”’ :

‘Almost half way to where they have
halted. See it there on the right.”’

“It’s @ gol dern good thing they
stopped.”’

‘“That’s right.’?

“Rf they hadn’t we couldn’t got toit.”’

ORO,»

“Naow——

‘‘Get ready tc takea flying shot at them
as we whirl into the gap. You go in first,
and let Juan follow. I will come behind,

and Pll make it hot for them if they
crowd us.’

By this time they were chose upon the
gap and very near to the bandits. The

‘latter were waiting, with some doubt, for
the boys to get yet nearer, holding their
weapons ready for use.

“‘Ready!’’ hissed Frank.

The two lads flung up their rifles.

Sohare 222

The weapons spoke.

‘*Hooray!’’ bellowed Ephraim, in de-
light. ‘‘That air’s ther way ter give ’em

hot shot an’.Hail Coluinby !’’

One of the outlaws had flung up his
arms and pitched from the saddle to the
ground, while the horse of another had
. dropped instantly.

he moment the bandits were flung

Where

”

 

FRANK MERRIWELL’S MISSION.

“To the right!’
‘*Here is the gap!’
To the right the lads wheeled.

cried Frank, clearly.

A yell came from the lips of the
bandits.
“Ha;-ha!l? laushed- Brank.- *“They

have just tumbled to the trick. Bend low.
There’ll be bullets in the air in a mo-
ment.”? :

Forward the boys bent upon the necks
of their horses, and then a rattling volley

of shots came from the outlaws, while
bullets whistled all about the lads.
e Never touched < me, by. sum?

chuckled Ephraim, who seemed to have
absorbed some of Frank’s reckless spirit.

“‘Give it to them once more!’’ panted
Merriwell.

They were close to the gap, which
seemed like a long, nartow crack in the
face of the rocky wall. Before dashing into
it, Frank and Ephraim whirled and fired
again.

There was. no time to note the effect of
these final shots, for the horses required
instant attention. i

As théy dashed into the gap, bullets
were chipping off bits of rock and sending
down pebbles and dust from the face of
the wall.

In they went, one after the other, and
not ofie of them all had been touched by
a bit of lead.

‘‘Well, that’s dead fick 1’? exclaimed
Frank, when he had asked them if they
were hurt, and they had told him they
were not. ‘Those fellows cannot be good
marksmen, or they were rattled.’’

““Shalld keep on goin’ as fur as I kin?”
asked the Yankee boy.

‘‘Sure; keep right ahead till you aie

to stop.”
The gap was strewn with bowlders, and

it zag-zagged so they could not ride

swiftly, but still they made pretty good
time, dashing recklessly along. _

 

"Behind them the bandits

 

i ig ogee

 

 

   

 

 

wild

rasca

lead.
thar
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plac
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ride

cla
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arly wild cries, and the sounds indicated the
5 rascals were in pursuit.
Frank wondered where the gap would
the lead, and if it would prove anything more
than a great fissure in the mountain side.
* It wound on and on, and it widened in
os places, while there were places where it
a og contracted till it seemed that a horse and
tider could scarcely pass through.
Still it did not come to an end.
ks Behind the fugitive lads there was a
u clattering sound and the babel of calling
e

of. voices, telling that the bandits were com-
ing as swiftly as possible.

Juan said nothing. His eyes were ‘filled
with a hunted light, and he seemed quiv-
ering with terror.

Ephraim pressed straight onward, while
Frank turned now and then to look back.

At one place, where the gap was par-
ticularly narrow, Frank said:

“*Go on, boys. I’ll overtake you pretty
soon;”’

‘““Whut be yeou goin’
the Yankee lad.

‘‘T am going to put a checker on those
fellows. Go ahead.”’

- Frank stopped, holding his rifle ready
for use, and sitting sideways in the sad-
dle.

There was a bend in the walls of the
gap so he could not see the pursuers till
they reached a certain point.

He could hear them coming nearer and
nearer, and he knew just when they
ought to appear.

The rifle rose and the butt was pressed
against his shoulder.

The nose and head of a horse came into

. view.

That was all the boy wished to see.

The rifle spoke, and the horse fell,
flinging its rider headlong against a
bowlder.

_ Swinging round in the saddle, Frank
- urged his horse onward agait.
‘That will cause them to hold up a
little, ” pees t the 2e% with Peasae

 

 

ter do??? asked

 

 

Baa pt Ete

    

FRANK MERRIWELL’S MISSION.

     
   
  
   
   
   
 
   
  
 
 
    
  
  
   
   
   
   
    
  
    

1l

tion. ‘‘It is possible they may not be so
fierce to follow, as the one who isin ad-
vance will not know but he is liable to be
shot at any moment.”’

Frank knew it was not going to be an
easy thing to give Black Miguel the slip,
but he also knew he need look for no
mercy if he should fall into the hands of
jthe bandit. It must be a case of struggle
to the end and never surrender.

It took him some time to come up with
Ephraim and Juan. The Yankee boy gave
a deep sigh of relief when he looked back
and saw Frank.

‘“‘Didn’t know, fer sure, that was yeou
|that done ther shootin,’’ he said. “‘I was
iruther afraid ’twas one uv them p’izen
iskunks what is after us.”?

**No, I did it myself.”

‘“Whut did ye shute?’’

‘AP OTSR. 22

‘“A hoss? Why, that’s a clean waste uv
paowder and lead!”’

“‘Oh, I guess not.”’

‘Why didn’t yeou shute one uv them
gol dern land pirates ?”’

“‘T don’t like to shoot a man in that
way when a horse will do just as well. LI.
have never found any satisfaction in shoot-
ing at human beings, although I have
been forced to do so several times in my
Inte;

‘‘Yeou’ve got a conscience as big as a
haouse, Frank?’

‘‘Well, there is some satisfaction in hav- _
ing a conscience.’

‘Them critters won’t hesitate abaout
shootin’ at us, an’ mebbe ther very one
yeou didn’t shute will be ther one to shute
yeou.”’

“*Possibly.”’

‘(Then I kinder guess yeou’ll be gol
dern sorry ye let him go.”’

‘‘Vour philosophy is too much for me,
Ephraim.”’ ;

‘*Wal, it’s hoss-sense.’

They rode onward, and the. sounds ‘of :
pursuit did not press them as closely as be

 

        
      
        
     
  

 

 
 

  
     
 
   

  

 

12 FRANK MERRIWELL’S MISSION.

fore, showing the bandits had taken warn-| ‘‘It run into de tunnel—it go under de
ing. The boys had expected the gap to ground.”
end at any moment, but it continued, | “Well, I have seen a case like that,’

and, finally, they came out into a beauti- declared Frank. ‘‘It was in the Tennessee
ful valley through which ran a stream of | | Mountains, and the stream was known as
water. The valley was surrounded on} LL ost Creek. It sank into the earth and
evety hand by towering mountains. ‘disappeared . No one knew where it came
““Aurrah!’’ cried Frank, in delight. out.’
‘We were not cornered, after all! This is | ‘‘Just like a-dis!’’ cried Juan.
what I call great luck.’ | ‘Wal, it may run in all right,’ said
‘‘We be not corner in de gap,” said! Ephraim, hastily. ‘‘We’ve gotter git aout
Juan, wildly, ‘“but we be corner here!’’ | uv this mighty sudden, an’ I cal’late it’d
‘Cornered here? What do you mean?’’; be a good plan ter find haow this warter
“YT mean dat zis is de strange vallee| gits inter the valley.”’ .
where I heard Pepita ansare my call—de| ‘To this Frank agreed, and they rode
vallee where Black Miguel capture me-a! | up the stream.
We be lost-a!”’ | Juan kept looking up at the high walls,
no jand he finally uttered a cry, pointing to
| the black face of a steep bluff.
‘“Nere,’’ he cried—‘‘dere is where I see

CHAPTER. V: |
de black hole in de rock when I hear my

THINGS MYSTERIOUS. ‘
isistare call to me!”

“Jost? What do you mean by that?| The boys looked with interest, but the
Why should we be lost here? I should, face of the bluff seemed unbroken, and
say we have had great luck in finding this| Frank said:
‘valley.”’ “Vou must be sustaler, Juan, ie there
Juan made a gesture of despair. ‘is no hole there now.’
“But we never find-a our way out!) ‘‘I see dat hole, den I see it no more. I
Black Miguel be in de pass by which we!am not mistake, Frank. Dat is de place.

e

enter. ’’ ‘T tell you de hole it disappear-a.’?’

“But there must be some other way | ‘‘T ruther guess yeou was twisted,
out of the valley.’’ Juan,’ drawled Ephriam. ‘‘Yeou thought’

“T tink not. When I come here before | you saw the hole.”’
I do not know how get in. Now I remem- | “‘T no make a mistake—no, no! I tell
ber I come through dat gap. I find no you I hear Pepita ansare me whien I call
other way out.”’ |to her—I know I hear it.”’

_ “But this stream runs through the val- | “Veou hed bin wanderin’ raound in
fey. It must come in somewhere and go'the maountains; an’ yeou was half

out somewhere.’ lerazy. You thought yeou heard her.”’
“That's tight, by gum!’ put in the| ‘No, no, no! I know! I know!”?

Vermonter. “‘Warter kin run daown a ‘“There is no time to discuss that,’ cut .

maountain, but I be gol derned ef I ever jin Frank. “If those bandits follow us
saw any runnin’ up hill yit!”’ iclosely they will—— There they come.”
‘The way it go out it run under de| MHoarse shouts were heard behind them,

‘

saw the three lads, and the shouts they
uttered were cries of triumph.

 

-mountain,’’ explained Juan. and, looking back, they saw the bandits,
pe ndes the mountain ?”’ eee out into the valley. The ruffians

 

 

 

ee]

Fran
ging
cy
befo:
splu

Ey

a di

ny
imac
whi

nes

 

 

 

 

 
 

 
 
 

E 9
“ey

see
as
nd
Ine

 

 

 

just now,’’ said Frank.

considered, his face very
thoughtful.

 

  

FRANK MERRIWELL’S MISSION. 13

“JT don’t like the sound,’’ declared |

Frank. ‘‘If they did not feel sure of bag-
ging us they would not yell like that.”’

“Wal, they’ll hev ter fight like thunder |

before they bag us, by thutteration!’’
spluttered the boy from Vermont.

“We nevar get out,’’ declared Juan, in
a disheartened way.

The boys rode onward, but the bandits
inade no immediate effort to follow them,
which caused Frank still greater uneasi-

CSS:

‘*That shows, beyonda doubt, that they |

feel sure they have us,”’ he said.

‘They rode up the valley for nearly half
a inile, and then came in sight of a water-
fall. Beyond the waterfall the stream
seemed to pour out of the side of a mighty
mountain.

Thé boys halted in dismay.

‘That settles one thing,’’ said Frank.

‘We'll not be able to get out of this!

valley in this direction. See; it closes in
there, and there is no outlet.

thesbandits were in no hurry to follow |

Lise*

‘“‘T tell-a you dat!’’ cried Juan. ‘‘We
be in de trap!”
Ephraim ground his teeth.

“Gol dern it all!’ he raged. ‘‘Air we
oD

. ‘ |
goin’ ter be cooped up like a lot uv |

chickens! Let’s go back an’ fight aour|

way right out through them ding-blasted |

bandits.”’

“That is a trick we cannot accomplish’
“They will ‘be
looking for us to come hustling back, as
soon as we find this end of.the valley is
closed.”?

‘Wall, what be we goin’ to de?”’

Frank looked the situation over and
grave and
_Near the waterfall a mass of
bowlders were piled, and he regarded

_ them with a critical eye.

‘*Let’s go nearer and look them over,”’

 
 

  

he said. -
‘What for?’’ asked Ephraim.

  

No wonder

(aoa

“o see what sort of a fort they will
‘make. Wemay have to get into some
‘situation where we can hold off Black
Miguel and his band.’

So they rode nearer, and it was seen
that the rocks would afford them shelter
if they were obliged to defend themselves
from the outlaws.

’

‘We will stop right here,’’ declared
Frank. ‘‘It is best to do the thing those
bandits will not expect us to do, and
they’]] be looking for us to come back.
ambushed and shot
down like dogs if we did so.”’

So they dismounted and led their horses
behind a mass of bowlders, where they
would be well sheltered in case bullets flew
thickly.

Frank looked the mass over, and he
|quickly saw how strong a fort could be

Ten to one we’d be

| made.

‘“Take hold, .boys,’’ he directed. ‘‘We
must roll a wall of stones together here.
Then let Black Miguel conie on.”’

They worked like beavers, for they did
‘not know how soon the outlaws would
‘come vpon them. In the course of an
hour they hada wall erected, and they
Lwere ready for the assault.
| By this time they were all hungry, and
they decided to eat from the provisions
| obtained at their last stopping place. This
| supply was small, for Juan had expected
to obtain food from the peed who lived
amid the mountains.

‘“We’ll have to go easy with the rations
|'to-night,’’ said Frank. ‘‘It will be better
to keep some for to-morrow.”’

‘‘An’ haow be we goin’ ter git aour
next supply ?’’ asked Ephraim.
‘Just now that is an unansweiable ques-
tion.”? :

While they -were eating all were startled
by a heavy rumbling explosion that
seemed to be somewhere underground.
They looked at each other ina bewildeyed
manner, their eyes full of qiestionise

What i in 1 thut eration do

 

    
  
  
    

14

that was, Frank?’’ spluttered the boy
from Vermont.

“It was not an earthquake.”’

“Wal, not by a jugful!’’

“Tt sounded like a blast.”’

‘*It surely did, by gum!”’

Then Juan was appealed to, but he was
as much puzzled as the others.

“‘T cannot tell,’’ he said, shaking his
head, ‘‘This valley is one place of mys-

-tery. That is one of them.”’
The boys began to feel that there was,
in truth, something uncanny about the
valley. Even the mountains, which tow-
ered grim and ominous on every hand,
seemed to shut the place in like mighty
sentinels, as if the spot were forbidden to
man.

The sun dropped down into the west,
and shadows began to. deepen in the
gulches and ravines. With the growing
shadows, the uneasiness of the boys in-
creased. Although he would not confess
it to himself, Frank disliked to spend a
night there.

“Darn me!’’? Ephraim Gallup finally

observed, unsteadily. ‘‘I feel jest the
same’s I did one time, when I went, with
some other fellers, to stay in Jed Spruce’s
ha’nted haouse. I was kainder creepy all
“over my meat, an’ I’m that air way naow.”’

“It would be a relief if the bandits
made an attack on us,’’ said Frank.

“They do that after dark,’? Juan said.

‘‘An’ there won’t be a gol dern bit uv
a moon, will they?”

““Oh, yes, there will be a faded old
moon in the west the first of the night,
but it may not shed much light into this
valley. The last part of the night will be
moonless.’’

_ ‘*Then’s when they’ll come fer sure.”
~ “We will make it hot for them, when-
ever they come.’’

About an hour later they heard the

: padrernnd ep plesion once more, and

  
   
 

   

  

FRANK MERRIWELL’S MISSION.

rider seemed to leap. The horse was coal

 

 

 

ledge, and this was distinctly felt to
jar. si
‘‘Next time she may be hard enough -
to knock acorner off one of these air f
maountains!’’ whispered Ephraim, in an : :
awe-stticken way.
‘“‘T wonder if that can be anything the ;

bandits are doing?’’ speculated Frank.
“Tt can’t be they are blowing down the
walls‘and blockading the gap?” .

After talking this over, it was decided
that such a thing was not at all likely,
but they arrived at no decided opinion
concerning the explosions.

Night came on. The sun faded from
the snowy peaks, and the darkness spread
and deepened. Stars came out one by one, ;
and the ghost of a moon seemed to restin
the hollow between two mountains.

During a part of the. afternoon the :
horses had been picketed where they
could feed on the grass, but they were
again brought behind the barrier of rocks.

The boys huddled together and talked
in whispers.

Suddenly, cutting Sues the night
like a keen blade, came a wild cry, chill-
ing the blood. It was full of unutterable
despair, and it seemed to issue from the
lips of a human being.

That cry caused the boys to shudder
and huddle closer behind the rocks.

The waterfall splashed in the wan
moonlight! Something caused them all to
look at it at once.

Out from the falling water a horse and

 

black, and the rider was covered with
something that glistened darkly in the
moonlight.

     
  

     

CHAPTER VI.
OF PHANTOMS.

    
 

THE STRUGGLE

 
 

Three astounded boys crouched behind ~
the rocks and stared at the horse and ~
rider. The trio seemed stricken dumb an
motionless with amazement.

    

 
   
 

ugh
air
an

the
1k,
he

ed
y)
on

 
 
 

  
 

 

 
  
  
  
 
  

Not a moment did the strange horseman
stop, but straight down the stream he
went.

Juan muttered a prayer in Spanish,
crossing himself.

“Wal, gol dern ef that don’t beat all
creation!’’ gurgled Ephraim Gallup, as
soon as he could get his breath. ‘‘Where
in thutteration did they come frum ?”’

Frank was silent, being not a_ little

_ puzzled.

The horseman had seemed utterly in-
different to the presence of the boys, or
quite unaware that they were there.
Away he rode, without being challenged.
The horse scrambled from the bed of the
stream, and the clickety-click of its hoofs
grew fainter and fainter as it went gallop-
ing down the valley.
~ “What do yeou think uv that, Frank ?”’
Ephraim demanded.

“‘T think it was a horse and rider,’’ said
Frank. :

‘A spirit !’? whispered Juan.

‘“‘Git aout with yer gol dern nonsense !”’
exclaimed the Vermonter, promptly. ‘‘I
don’t take no stock in that air, yeou bet!”’

‘“There was nothing supernatural about
the horse and rider,’? Merriwell quietly
declared. ‘‘They were flesh and blood.’’

‘Ah, Frank,’’ sighed Juan; ‘‘how do

you explain de way they come—out of de

water ??’

“T am not going to try to explain it;
but I believe it was a trick to frighten us.
The outlaws are trying to break our
nerve, so they will have an easy time
when they come in on us.”’

“Dad-bim um!’ grated Ephraim.
“Dad-bim ther skunks! I don’t like this
air monkey business, but they’ll have
hard work ter scare me so I can’t shute.’’

‘'That’s right,’? nodded Frank, the

dim light failing to show the expression
_ of satisfaction on his face; ‘‘keep your

nerve, old man, and. we’ll make them
t if they get the best of ts.’’
‘But we are in de rp a i etied Juan,

|be repeated. They were listenin

  

FRANK MERRIWELL’S a i 5 15

despairingly. ‘‘You do not know-a Black
Miguel! He nevare let any one get out de
trap. He keel-a fordefun. He like to
see de blood run-a—like to hear de victim
cry for pain!’

‘*Bvidently he is an inhuman monster, ’’
came quietly from the lips of Frank Merri-
well. ‘That is all the more reason why
we should die fighting. It is not healthy
to fall into his hands.”’

‘“‘Oh, my poor sistare!}’ sobbed the
Chilian boy. ‘‘She nevare be save! Poor
Pepita!”’ .

Then he fell to repeating a prayer once
more.

Frank was surprised at Juan’s lack of
nerve. The boy had seemed timid in the
first place, but he had thought he would
show more nerve when Chili was reached
and he found himself in his own country.

However, on considering the condition
under which Juan had lived—on remem-
bering that his father had been a hunted
fugitive—Frank did not wonder so much
that the dark-faced lad was not very
brave.

‘‘Perhaps he will show up all right in
a pinch,’’ thought Frank, who was in-
clined to be liberal.

For a long time they sat and talked of
the surprising appearance of the horse and
rider. It was plain to all that the head and
shoulders of the rider had been covered
by the protecting folds of something, on
which the thin moonlight made the water
glisten.

“He came aout uv the warter,’’? mut-
tered Ephraim; ‘‘but haow in thuttera-
tion did he git into it?”’

That was a question difficult to answer.

The early night wore on, and_ the
shadowy moon dropped lower and lower
into the hollow between the two moun-
tain peaks.

T’he boys spoke of the wild, wailing cry
they had heard, and sccndecss if it woul

 

 

 

when it came.

      
  
  
 

  

16

The moon had gone, and darkess was
heavy in the valley. ‘The cry seemed to
float along on the heavy air, and it was
expressive of the most unutterable agony.

Then two fiery figures were seen racing
along the black wall to the south, swiftly

coming nearer the head of the valley, |

and changing in shape-as they came.
“Santa Maria!’’ gasped Juan,
covered his eyes with his hands.
‘What in gol darnation is it?’? asked
the Vermonter, in wonder.
“Look! directed Frank.
stopped. Well, this is a free show,
no mistake!’’ \

and

On the smooth face of the precipice
two figures-had halted.
ning skeleton, -every bone
seemed composed of white fire;
was a scarlet demon, armed with a
flaming sword.. The ten had been pur-_
suing the skeleton, but now the latter,
seemingly driven to bay, faced about to
give battle.

of which |

‘‘Say, I want to go right back to Var-
mont!’? groaned Ephraim Gallup, his
teeth chattering. ‘‘I can’t stan’ this, gol
dern my boots ef I kin! It’s too SCG by
thutter !”?

Then, before the eyes of the boys, a

brief but savage battle took place. The
skeleton grasped the demon by the

throat, but was cast off, and the demon
plunged its sword through between the
skeleton’s ribs, which did not seem:
harm the skeleton in the least.

Ephraim began to forget his fears, and
grew excited.

to

“Say, which way ye bettin’, Frank ?”’
he demanded. ‘‘I’ll go ye that ther skele-
ton knocks ther Old Boy out in two
AOE

“(11 stand you on that,’. said Frank.
_ "The demon is bound to do execution
- with that sword.’

Gb: that don’t caomnt, for thas skelé-

 

ithe

“They have

 

One was a egrin-|

the other | ‘ing figures became terrific.

‘dashed to the ground.

jated beyond measure by its injury.

 

&

FRANK MERRIWELL’S MISSION.

|mind it to have the sword poked through |

him a few dozen times, ”’ :
‘‘Well, he doesn’t seem to -mind it,”?
confessed Frank, as the demon jabbed the
skeleton several times.
Juan, hearing their voices, lowered his

hands, took a look at the awe-inspiring

‘battle, then covered his eyes with his
and he}

hands again and resumed praying.

“Oh, shut up with yer jabberin,’’ cried
Yankee lad. ‘‘Git inter ther game
here, an’ back yer man!”?

‘“The saints preserva us!’’ palpitated
Juan, in English.

“We'll hev.ter do a little preservin’
aourselves, ur they won’t stan’ by us,’’
snorted Ephraim, in disgust.

Now the battle between the two glow-

The demon
flung aside his sword, and they grappled.
Once, twice, three times the skeletomwas
When it arose the
third time it was seen that its left arm
had been broken off at the shoulder.
_ Still the battle raged with unabated
fierceness, for the skeleton seemed infuri-
It
hurled itself at the crimson demon, which
it caught with its remaining hand and
tried to strangle.

The demon writhed and twisted in its
efforts to fling off its relentless antagonist.
Sometimes both bent close to the ground,
and then they straightened up. At length
the skeleton was dashed down again, and,
when it got up, one leg had fallen off at
the knee. /

‘‘Naow I guess bets aout uv the ring
fer sure,’’ said Ephraim, regretfully.

But, no! the skeleton hopped round on
onc foot as lively as a sparrow. It flung
itself on the demon, who seemed enraged
beyond measure by the persistency: of its
fleshless antagonist. s is

The battle ended in a eee be
struggle, and the demon actually tore the
skeleton to pieces, ee, it,

   

    
   
  
     
      
    
   
   

_. mass, to the ground, and then, in an
“stant, skeleton and demon vanished.

“Great yowling cats!”
Yankee boy. ‘‘That was. the gol derndest
scrap I ever see!’’

Frank laughed.

‘Our friends, the enemy, seem to be)
doing everything possible to make it)
pleasant for us while we remain here.’’

‘““What do yeou think,
was that done?”?

‘“They were spirits!’ hissed Juan.
‘Don’t arouse the anger of de spirits !’’

‘“Don’t——”?

‘“No! Mebbe Black Miguel he be scared
away. If so, then we git out—perhap’.”’

“EF scarcely think Black Miguel will be
frightened away so easily. I don’t fancy
he has been alarmed by anything that has
happened.”’ ;

For the third time the wild, wailing
cry sounded in the valley, dying out into
a faint moan that was nerve shaking.

‘*T don’t understand how such a yell as
that can come from-—-human lips, yet it
seems.like a human cry,’’ said Frank.

 “Ftisacry from a lost soul!’’ whis-
pered the Chilian boy.

‘*Nonsense! I don’t take stock in that.

You need a tonic, Juan; your blood is in
a bad condition.”’
“Ah, Frayk, I know-a—I know-a!’’

“Tf you think you do it is useless to
argue with you.”’

_“*No use to talk-a.’’
‘Then I will not try it.’?
“But yeou have got to acknowledge
there has bin some gol dern queer things
_ took place sence we come here,’ said
- Ephraim. |
“Some things rather surprising, but
nothing supernatural.”’

““That’s your idea, hey?”
‘ ‘Ves, 7
- What abaout the hoss an’ feller that
came aout of the waterfall?”
oe “Surely pe ‘was ak sestaritee!

    
  
  
 

  
 
   
 
  

 

  

\ FRANK MERRIWELL'S MISSION.

in- |

Frank—haow |
i will do next.’

 

  

17

It was done to frighten us and shake our

nerve, as these other things have been
palpitated the)

done. When the bandits are satisfied that
we are overcome with terror, they will
come down on us with a rush. We must
keep our nerve about us, or we’ll all be
killed without striking a blow in our own
defense. ’?
“By gum, yeou’re right!

kinder like to know what them

But~ I’d
critters

Barely had the words fallen from
Ephraim’s lips when a flash of light came
down over the ‘waterfall, and a flare of
fire ran along the bosom of the stream that
flowed through the valley, so the stream
itself seemed to be a river of fire! .

CHAPTER VII.
A SHOT IN THE DARK.

‘Santa Maria!’

““Great Scott!’’

“Darn my punkins!”?

Juan, Frank and Ephraim uttered these
exclamations in turn, as they crouched
behind the rocks and stared in amazement
at the river of fire

‘The entire surface of the stream seemed
blazing, and the light illumined the valley.

It was a remarkable spectacle, and one
well calculated to paralyze the lads with
astonishment and fear.

The light showed the black rocks, the
jagged walls, the frowning precipices, but
revealed no living human being to the
boys behind the rocks. :

‘This is rather remarkable, I must
confess !’’ said Frank, staring wonderingly
at the fiery stream.

“‘Darned ef I ever saw warter burn like
that air before!’’ spluttered the Vermont
lad.

“It is de etid of de world- eiec moaned
Juan.

  

  
     
   
 
 

  

18

 

things oughter ketch purty gol dern
soon !”?

‘“What’s this smell in the air?”?
Frank.

“Dunno. What is it???

“‘Tt seems like burning oil.’’

“So it does. Mebbe that river runs aout
uv an oil factory somewhere.”’

“The fire is sinking already.”’

This was true. Near the waterfall it
was dying out and floating away on the
bosom of the stream, although it seemed
to burn as brightly as ever, further down
the valley.

Little patches of fire drifted swiftly
down the stream and burned themselves
out on the surface of the water. Soon
there was no fire in the vicinity of the
waterfall; andin a very few minutes there
was none anywhere along the stream.

Darkness lay dense and awesome in the
uncanny valley.

Now the boys noticed that the horses
were snorting and rearing, apparently
greatly terrified by what had taken place
and by their own struggles.

‘“They’re liable to break away!’’  ex-
claimed Frank, springing up. ‘‘We must
look out for that.”’

‘“That’s so, by gum!’ cried Ephraim.

Together they hastened toward the
horses. ‘his was an unfortunate move,
for, suddenly appearing as they did in the
darkness, they completed the work of
rendering the animals frantic.

“‘Whoa! Easy there!’’ called Frank,
hoping to reassure the creatures with i
voice. 5

The horses were making too much noise
to hear him. They reared and plunged,
and one of them broke away.

Despite the fact that he was rather awk-
ward in appearance, Ephraim was strong
and quick. Happening to be near the
horse that freed itself, the Vermonter

aoe through the air and paught at the

asked

 

 

 

FRANK MERRIWELL’S MISSION.

the rope close to the horse’s head. Then,~
with a leap and a swing, he landed on
the animal’s back. ©

‘“Whoa, gol dern ye!’’ he cried, tri-
umphantly. ‘Think ye kin git erway
frum Ephraim Gallup? Ef ye do, yeou’ll
make ther biggest mistake uv yeour life,
by thutter!”’

The horse continued to rear and plunge
while Ephraim was speaking, and then,
all at once, the creature seemed to realize
that it was no longer held by the rope.

A wild squeal came from the animal’s
lips, and away it shot down the valley,
bearing the boy on its back.

“Stop!’? shouted Frank.
back !”’

“Can’t!’? was the reply.
derned hoss is——’”’

That was all Frank could understand,
for the horse continued to tear down the

valley, bearing the Yankee. lad along.

Frauk did his best to quiet the other
animals, and he succeeded in a few mo-
ments.

Before he had quieted them to his satis-
faction, he heard a series of wild yells far
down the valley, followed by three or
four shots, and still further yelling.

‘Hard luck !’’ muttered Merriwell, bit-
terly. ‘Ten to one Eph has run plumb
upon the bandits, and has been killed or
captured. Now fate seems dead against
tsi" =:

‘The yelling died out, but the final cries
were full of triumph, and Frank’s heart
was heavy in his bosom. Having pacified
the horses, he returned to the place where
Juan crouched and shivered.

‘“We be lost, lost!’?? murmured Juan.

Frank said nothing, for he was trying

“(Come

“This gol

to think what should be done in this —

emergency. He had not given up hope,

and he knew it was possible Ephraim had

escaped, but his sober judgment told him
the situation was one of deadly ‘peril,

| where there did not seem one chance in

a thousand that one = the thre

 

 

  
 

 

   
 

 

FRANK MERRIWELL'S MISSION.

would ever leave that fateful valley alive.

If their foes had been aught but the
most deadly and desperate cut-throats,
creatures who often shed human blood for
the mere pleasure of doing so, the peril
might not have seemed so grave.

Frank was much disappointed in Juan,
for he had fancied the boy who was seek-
ing to find his lost sister and rescue her
would be brave and daring. Now he did not
depend on the Chilian boy in the least,
and he felt that Juan was an incum-
brance.

But he could not rest without knowing
what had happened to Ephraim, so he de-
termined to creep down the valley. ‘The
outlaws were down there, and he might
get near enough to them to find out some-
thing.

He had turned to tell Juan what move
he thought of making when he was sur-
prised and startled to hear a galloping
horse approaching.

“Dey coming!’’ palpitated the Chilian
lad. ‘‘Dey coming now to kill-a us!”’

““Well,. we will make it a very interest-
ing job for them!’’ grated Frank, swing-
ing his rifle round ready for use. *‘I’H
wager something I perforate a few of the
villains !?’

Nearer and nearer came the galloping
horse.

‘There can be but one,’’ muttered
Frank. ‘‘I wonder who that is,-and what
_ he wants ?”’

Then his heart gave a great leap ‘of
hope.

“It may be Ephraim!?’ he gasped. ‘‘If
it should be——”’

He stopped short, for the horse had

”

ceased to gallop. The animal was comt-|.

ing forward at a walk, and was now quite
near.

* Halt. there !??

The ringing command came from Frank
_ Merriwell’s lips, and it was emphasized
by a double click, as he cocked his rifle.
The horse stopped.

  

  

19

‘“Young senor, I wish to speak with*
you.”’

The words, uttered in a smooth, musi-
cal voice, came through the darkness, and
they seemed like an electric shock to

| Juan, who started up with a smothered

cry.

Frank was a little surprised, but he im-
mediately asked:

‘Do you mean that you wish to speak
with me?”’

“Si, senor; you are the one.”’

*“Who are you?”’

‘“That can make no difference to you.
At this time I propose to be your friend,
if you wil] let me.”’

‘‘My friend? Impossible!’’

“‘Not so, young senor. If you will let
me be your friend, that I will.”’

Through Frank’s head flashed the
thought that this was a trick, and he was
wary. To his surprise, Juan was kneeling
at his side, fingering a rifle, and breath-
ing heavily. . The Chilian seemed over-
come with a desire to do some shooting.

“Steady !’’ whispered Frank. ‘‘Don’t
be in a hurry. Watch out that we are not
taken by surprise while I talk with that
man.”’

“That man!?? fluttered Juan. ‘Oh, if I
could see-a heem!’’ :

‘‘T cannot understand why you should
offer friendship,’’ Frank called to the un-
seen man. ‘‘We have no friends here.”?

“And you should have no enemies
hére, young senor. It is the fault of your
own that you come into this trap, from
which you can never get away without I
help you.’’

‘‘Why should you help me?”

‘‘Because I do no wish to see’ you
killed. You do not belong in Chili, and
you do come here on a foolish expedition.
I know all about that. Now you yourself
do find in a bad trap. Black Miguel have
you very fast, and it is the wish of him to
kill you quick and soon. I havé induced >

 

   

him to hold still for a little time.”’

 
 
     
 
 

Frank was doubtful;
2

lieve the man was speaking the truth. Be-

to deceive them.

‘Why should you induce him to hold |

on??? :
“Why should I wish that you
killed? You have'never harmed

thing at all. With
some influence, and I ¢

Black Miguel I
can get

you go away without trouble.

on a certain condition.’

- “Now comes the trap!”’

and then he asked to know the

condition.’

“fcertain

After a moment of hesitation,
seen man said:

“With you you
Matias by naine.’?

“Well?”

“You have him?”

eS

have a_ boy, Juan |

“There were three of you, but one of |

you he has become a captive to Black
Miguel.”

Frank’s heart leaped and swelled with
a feeling of relief. So Ephraim still lived.

“The loss of him leaves you very
weak,’ the man went on. ‘‘You are but
two to many. You have no chance to es-
cape. If my offer you do not accept, you
will all be killed.’’

‘““Make your offer.”’

“tis this: Your friend who was with
you is not harmed; but he will be killed
right away if you do not a¢cept the terms,
which are that Juan Matias you shall give
up to Black Miguel. If Juan you give up,
the one who is captured shall be set at
freedom, and away you may ‘go without
being at all hurt. Remember, that it will
cost at once the life of him who is ¢ap-
tured if Juan Matias you do not give Up.
What do you answer ?”’

‘Then, to Frank’s no Neagascita te Juan
: ed:

uw be de iota stron

  

he could not be-| ster! You be de one dat kill-a my
|—steal-a my sistare!
hind all this he felt sure there was a plot | de ] a Villa del Villar de la Aguila!

ringing
are | Chili
me in|
“some way, and against you I have not one|
have |
t2hin: to let
I will do it |

the un-

entirely changed.
jand cowered, but he seemed wrought to

 

tiently. |

20 en FRANK MERRIWELL'S MISSION.

fadare
You be de Marques
May
'de saints direct dis bullet!”

There was a flash of fire, followed by a
Frank knew the
an boy had discharged his rifle.

report, and

CHAPTER VITI.
‘apros!??

This action on the part of Juan had

thought Frank ;| been quite unexpected by Frank Merri-
i well, so he was unable to prevent it. The
Imoment it
‘clutched the boy,

happened, however, he
crying:

‘Stop! Do not fire again!”’

Juan laughed wildly. ,

‘‘T hope I have no need to do dat!’* -he
|returned. ‘‘I hear where his voice souund-a,
laud I shoot a it. Ha! ha! Mebbe I
|do not miss.

Frank was astonished, for Juan seemed
He no longer cringed
madness and despair.

* The rifle was taken from the Chilian
boy, and then Frank called:

‘“Are you injured, sir???

‘‘Not at all,”? was the calm reply.
‘“The bullet passed within a few inches
of my head, but I was not at all touched.”’

This seemed to make Juan frantic. He
raved in Spanish for several minutes,
showing he had a passionate nature and a
fiery temper. He was quite changed from
the quiet, timid lad of a short time before.

“‘Be quiet!’? ordered Frank, sternly.
‘‘What is the good of all this aes and
noise! Keep still’’

Juan became silent, but he was heard
to grate his teeth occasionally, and his

restless movements told that he was hold- |

ing himself in check by a great effort,

“Do you accept my proposal 2”? de-

 

manded the man in the darkness, impa-
‘*At once you must answer, fo

 

 

 

 

| he
“ an

care 1
some |

CTs
to offe
in his

iG:

OTs
lease
that °
being

worl
cou
wo

: sla
:. rif
eas aii

nit

he

 

  
   
   
   
  
 

 
 
    
     

   
 
      
 

V

 
 

   
 
  

FRANK MERRIWELL’S MISSION.- “ =o = : 21°

care not to remain here and be shot at| great fool!’ he cried. ‘‘Senor Gallup-will
some imore.”’ | be killed immediate I carry back your
“Ts that the only condition you have|answer. And then you cannot escape. -
to offer?” asked Fr rank, his heart heavy |B lack Miguel will bring his men and
in his bosom. .| finish the. work. - All tire will fall.
‘(Si senor; the only one. | Think—think how it, can be that you
StT¢ 1 give up Juan Matias, you will re-| May save, yourself and -your friend if _you

lease Ephraim Gallup, and will promise but do give up Juan Mae

that we shall leave the mountains without | ed have thought of it. Go ahead with
being harmed ? >? | your murdereus work! Ishall stand by
Gi senor. | Juan to the end!’
Juan fu heavily. He was await-| ‘If not of yourself, then of your

ing Frank’s decision. Frank had expected | friend.you should think. It is your duty
he would entreat not to be given up, but) to save him.’

he did nothing of the sort. __ “Tf this proposal were made to him, y*
_ Within himself Frank Mertiwell was| know what his answer would be. He:

fighting a battle. Juan Matias was of would despise me if I gave up Juar fo.

foreign blood, while Ephraim Gallup, |save him and to save myself. « You have *

brave and true, was a Won ces, an old|had my answer.
schoolmate, a true friend and comrade. Juan ies Frank’s™ arm, and his

+

When it came to a choice between them! voice trembled with emotion, as he *
. -

there could be no hesitation on his part. panted:
If Juan were not given up Ephraim | ‘oMank-a you, t’ank-a you! You sure
would be killed immediately, and there) be de true friend-a! But it be not rightea?
could be little doubt but the bandits —you must not die for me-a. No, no, no!
would afterward complete their work by|Tf ~you can git away, den I go give-a mvy-
slaughtering the other boys. - By the sac- ‘self up! I do dat now. My- fazare: ds
tifice of the Chilian lad fae other twc| dead; my sistare is lost ; nothing I have to*
might escape. i live for! “Tell. him, Frank—tell him dat I
Frank thought this all over in a mo-| give my self up.’ we
ment, and then he despised himself for} Frank Merriwell was dazed. Could it
hesitating. He saw his honor blackened, | be possible this was the” ctinging, x, * shiver-
and felt a thrill of shame because he had | ing, unnerved boy whom he ha ‘fegar ded
hesitated an instant. |as a coward a short time- ago? - ‘Such a
“What do you tell him, Frank ?”’ thing seemed impossible." ~:~ * =

Juan asked the question, his voice soft| “Are you in earnest, Juan?” she= de-

.

‘and low. manded. = :

.

“Tell him!’’ said Frank, hoarsely ;| ‘Tam, Frank, Tell-a sin) Ge 2

‘There is but one thing to tell him! I} ‘‘No!P? cried Mertiwell,: . fiercely.

took your hand in San Francisco, and|‘‘Ephraim would despise” me “still more
swore to be your partner to the bitterend.| when he knew all—and 4* sltiould hate
Do you think I will go back on my oath!| myself! No! We can. Bakexio: térms with

No, no—not even to save Ephraim Gal- this villainous’ ‘marques |”? -
lup, my old schoolmate!’ Baty think, Frank -think—=—”
Then he passed a hand across his fore- “Suan, the chances “are: tliat this is a
head, groaning: > : trick. We have shown them: we catfight,
“Poor Ephraim !”’ and they fear us, boys though 1 we ates ~ “HE

‘“‘Come, come!’’ called the impatient) you were given up, and we submitted our. 2
voice in the darkness. ‘‘What is to be|selves into the hands of ‘the “bandits: all
your answer, young senor. Will you give! would be murdered in cold blood.” Theré

 

 

 

cannot be you are : Very so much the have.” The chance you hayé =

 

 

*

Juan Matias up to save’ the other and |inay be no hope for us, but, _at least, = we
yourself ?”’ can die fighting!” a?" ge eee
No, never!’ _ The man in the darkness heard these -
The man uttered an exclamation of _as-| words, and he flung back: = =° = =
ishment in Spanish. — “All right! Your own way -you -sh

aa wh wiles

Sve
RAD Bad ee Oe

io

me

 
 
 
  

 

    
    
   
    
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
   

*

        
    
        
     
     
     
    
     
     
     
       
      
     
      
 
       
   
 
      
    
      
       
 
 

  

 
 
    
    
  
   

22

and now I can never be able to save you
some more. Black Miguel will bring to
you your death. Aavzos.’’

A moment later the horse was heard
galloping away.

Juan tried to use the rifle once more,
wishing to serid a shot after the man; but
Frank would not permit it, as he believed
it would be a waste of lead.

“Oh, Frank!’ cried the @hilian boy;

“‘you should have let me go. It be no use|

at all, for we all have to be kill-a at last.”’

‘Juan, it was a trick—I am satisfied on
that point. Black Miguel is not going to
let any of us escape, if he can help it. If
I gave you up and surrendered myself
into the power of the bandits, they could
‘kill us all without danger to themselves.
But, even if they were honest, I could not
think of giving you up in order to escape.
I swore to stand by you through thick
and. thin—I gave you my hand on it.
Frank Merriwell never breaks his word.’’

“Oh, Frank! I think’ dere never be|1}
another boy like-a you! You beso grand!”’

“Oh, that is nonsense, Juan! Iam do-
ing what any decent fellow would do—
‘that’s all. Don’t give me too much
eregit.”

But there was a great fear in Frank’s
heart. Ephraim was a captive in the
hands of the bandits, and it was likely he
would be destroyed without delay.

Was there no way to save him?

Frank asked himself the question over!
and over, and then he formed a resolution |.

to do what he could.

*‘Juan,’’? he said, ‘‘I am going down
the valley to see if I can find out any-
thing concerning Ephraim.’’

Juan said nothing.

“T want you to ‘stay here, »” Frank went
on. ‘‘I want you to watch the horses and
hold this fort, if any one tries to take it.”

pak expected the Chilian boy ‘would re-
moustrate, atid great was his surprise
when Juan calmly said:

“T will do what I can, Frank. Tam not

so very much of the fighter.’
“Keep cool and listen,’ ” advised Frank.

~ ‘When I return I will whistle twice,

make a pause, and then whistle once. By
t signal you will know tes >

  

 
     

‘upon the

 

 

FRANK MERRIWELL’S MISSION.

MP wih”

Frank paused, and then his hand found
the shoulder of his companion, whom he
had come to respect anew within a few
minutes.

‘‘T may not come back, Juan,’’ he said,
a trifle huskily. ‘‘I am going down there
to give Ephraim a helping hand, if I can.

If he is in danger of being killed, I shall.

stand by him. ‘The bandits may finish us
both. If I do not come back—if we never
see each other again—farewell, Juan.”’

A sob came from the throat of the
Chilian boy, and, suddenly, he embraced
Frank, clinging to him a moment.

“Adios! adios! adtos!” May all the
saints defend-a you, Frank! While you
are gone I will pray, pray, pray. My
great sorrow is that I bring-a you here.’?

‘Don’t let that trouble you, Juan, my
lad. You did not bring me here—I
came of my own accord. You have noth-
ing to weigh heavily on your conscience.
My regret. is that we have stumbled into
this trap so soon—that we have been

unable to solve the mystery of your.

father’s and sister’s disappearance. It was
fate. Good-by.”’

‘* Adtos!””

Rifle in hand, Frank crept over the
rocks and slipped silently away into the
darkness.

“He will never return!’ said ae, in

Spanish.

CHAPTER IX.
FRANK TO THE RESCUE.

Slowly Frank made his way down the

valley, uncertain as to what moment he
might walk into a trap.

‘CAt any rate, I will die fighting,” he -

thought.
He held his tifle ready for immediate

use, and he could work the repeater with

astonishing swiftness and accuracy.

The darkness seemed to deepen. The

stream gurgled faintly, and Frank kept.

close by it, pausing frequently to listen.

 

 

 

 

 

 

   
  
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

It ened that he had reached the —

   
   
    
  

vicinity of the gap by which they had
entered the valley when, of a sudden
high up at one side of the vane a ligh
blazed forth. ;

It seemed that the light was rf
oy, and he immedi
pped to the pround, . 0

 

  
  

  
 

Not a moment too soon.
Across the valley shot the bar of light,

| passing directly over him. Had he been

; standing he must have been revealed.
‘‘Well, this is interesting!’’ muttered

Frank, clutching his rifle in anticipation

of an attack. ‘‘Can those people see in the

dark that they are able to tell some one

q is moving down the valley? This is surely
a valley of mysteries.’

For a few seconds the bar ofight re-
mained motionless, and then it moved.
Away it traveled to the south, glaring
broadly on one side of the valley, while it
gleamed out like a fiery eye high up in the
face of the black wall on the other side.

“That is a powerful reflector,’’ mut-

_ tered Frank. ‘‘If the light should reach
me, I would be revealed.’’

All at once the fiery eye seemed to close
with a wink, and blank darkness lay in
the valley once more.

Frank felt sure the persons behind the
reflector had been surveying the valley to
“see if any one was moving therein.

Some moments after the reflector was
shut off another light gleamed out from
the wall, showing an opening in the ap-
parently solid rock.

The light came from a flaring torclt,
which was held above the head of a man.
‘Other men appeared in the opening, and
the light of the torch showed them swing-
ing out over and deseending to the level

- Of the valley by means of a rope or a rope
ladder.

Frank believed he understood why the
reflector had been used. The persons who:
» Werte coming down into the valley wished
_to learn if they were likely to be observed
by enemies.
ui “Well, they
thought the boy.

 

 

barely missed -me,”’
“If I had not dropped

_ asif I were shot, they would have seen
. me. 2

_ Three persons came out of the opening
and descended the ladder, after which|

the man with the torch retreated and dis-

  
   
  
  
 
 
  

teat Scott!’ gasped Frank,who had
to his feet and moved down the
| short distance. ‘‘This is getting

 
  

FRANK MERRIWELL’S MISSION.

 

   

23

ment near at hand, so he dropped to the
ground ofce more, and lay still.

The light of the reflector played over
the bottom of the valley. It came nearer
and nearer to the boy, who clutched his
rifle and thrust it.forward, ready to shoot
if forced to do so.

The light fell on the stream, near
which Frank was stretched on the ground,
and the boy scarcely restrained an excla-
mation of astonishment.

The stream had dwindled to a mere
thread, which was trickling along the
lowest part of its bed. It had been from
thirty to forty féet in width, but now a
person could step over it with the greatest
ease.

‘‘Another of the remarkable things
which seem to be constantly taking place
in this valley,’’ thought the lad.

Then a strange fancy came to him. It

was that the stream had been burned up
by the fire.

This thought he immediately thrust
aside, regarding it as childish and absurd.
His attention was once more given to the
shifting light of the reflector.

This light finally fell on three persons
who were crossing the. stream a short dis-
tance below where Frank lay. One of the
three was plainly an Indian. ‘The other
two were half-bloods, and all looked fierce
and formidable.

‘““They belong to the bandits, as thought
the boy.

When the trio had crossed the stream
the light from the reflector suddenly van-
ished again, and all was darkness in the
valley of mystery.

The light had revealed to Frank that
he was yet a considearble distance above
the gap by which the valley had been en-
tered.

He arose to his feet and moved forward
slowly, pausing frequently to Hsten with
great intentness.

He was expecting that the light from
the reflector mignt be shot into the {valley
at any moment.

This, however, did not occur again for
some time, and he was enabled to find the
gap without being i in further eanee 2 fro:
the light. 4

There were
mouth of the gap.

   
      
   

24

ing to each other in the darkness and
heard them walking to and fro.

Ata distance below the gap a light
shone out into the valley.

Frank moved toward this point, and,
in a short time, he found himself looking
into an alcove among the rocks where
the bandits were camped.

His heart“leaped into his mouth the
moment he looked in there, for he saw
the ruffians were preparing to shoot|
Ephraim Gallup, who was standing with
his back against a small tree, to which he
was tied securely.

The light of a fire revealed the bandits
and the unfortunate captive, who had
been ‘carried into their clutches by a
frightened and unruly horse.

A line of savage-looking men, with
leveled rifles, were standing within ten
paces of the luckless lad.

. Ina moment those rifles would belch
forth fire and death.

With the quickness of thought, Frank
Merriwell’s. rifle leaped to his shoulder,

and he began to work it with such rapid-|

ity that there was scarcely a break be-
tween the reports.

For once in his life, at least, he did not
hesitate to shoot at human beings, for he
knew it was the only way of saving his
friend.

Two of the six executioners fell imme-
diately, while a third clasped his side,
dropped his rifle, and staggered away.

The attack was so sudden and unex-
pected that the bandits were thrown into
the utmost confusion and terror.

Frank leaped forward, swinging his
rifle from his shoulder by its strap. Out
flashed a knife, and he reached the side
of Ephraim Gallup. Two swift slashes set
the captive free. Frank’s hand grasped
Ephraim’s wrist, and he literally yanked
the Vermonter toward the darkness be-
yond range of the firelight. —

“Run !’’ he panted.

“Gol dern me ef I don’t!” gasped the
Yankee lad.

“Tt willbe a hot race for the water-

_ fall,” said Frank; ‘‘but we may be able
to make it.”

“We must make it,’’ grated the other

“We'll lose a aour skulps ef we hh t,
; in f i ;

FRANK MERRIWELL’S MISSION.

|

ja distinct crash, and the light went out.

‘the ground.

 

 

 

 

shi
let
had been alarmed, and they were expect-
ing an attempt would be made to escape aw
from the valley by passing them.

The bandits who-had been thrown into 4 _ to
confusion by Frank’s attack recovered }
swiftly, and they set out after the running bo
lads, shouting hoarsely and angrily. OV
Sometimes they fired at random into the re:
darkness, hoping to wing one of the boys. Wi

Both youths knew there was danger | fe
that they inight be hit by a chance bullet, i
and they bowed their heads, and ran for ar
all that was in them. fo

Ephraim had not been’ given time to
wonder at Frank’s unexpected appearante. in
All the emotion that he could feel was a al
sensation of thankfulness at his escape th
from what seemed certain death. '

The stream was reached, and Frank
thought of crossing over, hoping to de-
ceive their pursuers; but, to his great as- "|
tonishiment, the channel was once more
bankful with water.

Such marvelous changes took place in st
|the valley that it was not strange he n
ishould feel dazed and bewildered.

Up the stream they went. q h

The bandits were making a great noise | ¢
behind them, but the lads were holding —
their own, if not gaining. a

Then came something that caused | 7 y
Frank to utter an exclamation of anger
‘and dismay. x }

The light from the reflector was flung i
into the valley again. y

‘“That light will be the ruin of us!”
grated Merriwell. ‘“‘Ifit falls on us it will
be kept there, and the bandits will be, §
given a chance to shoot us down.”? :

‘““That’s right, b’gosh!’’. gasped .
Ephraim. “But what in thutteration be
we goin’ to do”? |

(

  

“Stop! I will try ‘something. -

They stopped, Frank dropped on one
knee, leveled his rifle, and took aim at
the light. . oe

The report of the rifle was followed by

 
 
  
 
   

‘*Hooray!’’ cried Ephraim, | in delight. it
‘‘Vou done it slick!”’
‘Down!’ hissed Frank, catching hold
of the Yankee boy, and yanking him to

 

   
 
 
  
 

   
 
  

    
 

Not a second too soon, for t .

 

Pp OIE ank’s rifle had been see

   
 

 

 

US @

 
 

    
 
 
 

   
   
   
  
   

   

~ good—half Spanish and half English.

ae

FRANK MERRIWELL’S MISSION.
| shots were fired toward the spot, the bul-

lets whistling over the prostrate boys.

“Up! panted Frank — ‘‘up, and
away !”?

Then they sprang up and fled onward
toward the waterfall.

It was a desperate race for life, but the
boys were fleet of foot, and they were not
overtaken. The fortress of rocks was
Teached, and they
wall, panting for breath, and ready to de-
fend the spot to the end.

But the bandits did not press them,
and, after a time, Frank looked around
for Juan. :

The Chilian boy was not at hand,
in vain they called him. -He did
answer. ‘The two horses remained
their places, but Juan Matias was gone.

and |
not |
in

CHAPTER: X.
UNDER

‘““Gone!”’

The boys uttered the word in ~unison,
Stating at each other through the dark-
ness.

‘Gol dern me ef I kin understand where
he kin hev gone to!’’ exclaimed Ephraim.
‘Did yeou tell him to stay here???

“‘Sure; and he said he would do so.

“Can? t never put no dependence on the
word of a Spaniard.”’

‘““There is where you are wrong,
Ephraim. There are Spaniards who: are
honest as anybody.
you cannot trust.”’ :

‘*Wal, wasn’t Wand a half-blood ?”’ -

“In one sense he is, but the mixture is
By
half-bloods I mean the Spanish- Indians.
They are treacherous.”’

‘““Wal,, Wand didn’t hev any nerve.”?

“T don’t know about that. I think he
did have nerve.”’ .

Then Frank told of the proposal made

THE WATERFALL.

by the Marques Aguila; and how Juan

had offered to give himself up that the
-other boys might go free.

_‘‘That clean beats me!” acknowledged
- wouldn’t hey believed it-ef

 

 

 
 
 

ohcnest 1 Ie kn
tet yeou don’t thitik he was as
ae by we saound of the

 

crouched behind the!

It is the half-bloods-

  

26

shutin’ on daown

below ?”?

‘‘T do not think so, but he may have
been.’

‘‘He didn’t take either one uv the
hosses.”’

Sono; 7

‘“Mebbe he kinder thought he could git
away better ’thout ’em.’’
| “Ido not believe he would try to get
|away till he knew what had happened to
me—I will not believe it.’’

‘Then where has he gone?’’

‘That is more than I can tell.’

“What’ll we do?”’

‘Wait a while and see_ if he does not
|turn up.’

So the ‘boys settled behind the rocks
and waited.

A profound silence seemed to rest over
the night-shrouded valley. Some way
there was something ominous in the
silence. The boys felt creepy and uneasy.

‘‘Seems like them critters is crawlin’
up on us,’’ whispered the lad from Ver-
mont. ‘‘Can’t hear ’em, kin ye?’

‘‘No; Lcan hear nothing—excepta gal-
loping horse. ’’

‘Foss is comin’.

‘That's right.”’

‘Who kin be with the critter?

‘“Nhe Marques Aguila, perhaps.’

‘Comin’ here ag Nefecfor what ?”’
| ‘That remains to be seen. Keep still.”
Nearer and nearer came the galloping
| horse, till it was quite close at hand. The
boys held their weapons ready for use,
and Frank was on the point of uttering a

challenge when the horse was heard to
Itake to ‘the stream.

“Halt, there!’

The cry came from Frank’s lips.

There was no answer. ‘The horse con-
tinued to splash along the stream, being
now near at hand.

“Halt, or we fire!”’

The horse seemed to spring forward,
there was a break in the sound of the
waterfall, and then the horse could be
heard no more.

‘Great gosh!’’ gurgled Ephraim.

“‘Gone!’? muttered Frank. »

“Mebbé that’s right; but where has ta
critter gone?’’

_ “Under the waterfall.”’

that has bin goin’

 

oo 3E

 

 

 
    
    
  

26

“Under the waterfall! Git aout! Haow
kin that be?’’

‘“The falling water must conceal the
mouth of a cave.’

“‘Smotherin’ smoke!
uv that!’

“T thought of it when the horse and
rider appeared some time ago, and now I
feel almost certain of it.’’

““RE yeou’re right, it beats all natur,
that’s all!”

‘*T will wager I am right, and I am go-
ing to prove it.””

““Haow? 2)

‘*By looking for the cave—by going
into it.’?

‘“Haow ye goiii’ into it?”

‘’Through the waterfall.’’

*Thutter!”’

**T should not be surprised if it proved
to be one of the entrances to the bandit’s
cave, for J am certain the bandits have a
cave near at hand.”’

The Vermonter was silent a moment
and then he said:

cratic

ee Wel ent?

‘“Yeou’ve got the longest head uv any
feller I ever saw, b’gosh! Yeou simply
beat all creation !”’

Frank laughed a bit, softly.

‘“‘T don’t care about beating all crea-
tion,’’ he said. ‘‘IfI could fool these
blcodthirsty bandits a bit, about now, I
would be well satisfied. ’’

“*Rool ’em! Yeou’ve nigh done better
than that already, by gum! Ef yeou
didn’t lick the hull gany fer a minute, I
don’t know a gol dern thing.”’

“But we are still trapped in this valley.
I want to fool them and get out. That’s
what I am figuring on just now.’’

‘‘Wal, figger erway, an’ I hope ye’ll
figger it aout.”

A moment later Frank directed Ephraim
to follow, and then climbed over the rocks
and started toward the waterfall. Frank
had reloaded his rifle, and Ephraim’s rifle,
which had been left behind the rocks,
‘ was recovered and in the possession of its
owner.

Frank crept down close to the edge of
the waterfall, passed his rifle to his com-
panion, and said :

“TI expect to be well drenched, but it

I never thought

FRANK MERRIWELL’ S MISSION.

| uncanny sensation.

 

will pay if I discover what I am looking
for. I don’t mind the wetting.”

He stepped into the stream and waded
out a bit. All at once he paused, a low
exclamation breaking from his lips.

‘“What is it??? asked Ephraim, softly.

‘fA light?’ exclaimed Frank. ‘‘Can’t

fyou see it shining on the water? It is be-

yond the waterfall.’’

Ephraim saw it, and it gave “him an
He felt as if some-
thiyg cold were creeping along his spine.

‘“What’s it mean???’ he hoarsely whis-
pered.

‘It means there is somebody in there
with a light,’’ replied Frank, exultantly.
‘It means that I was right in thinking
there is a cave beneath this waterfall.
It means The light is gone!”

Quick as a flash Frank plunged through
the sheet of falling water. A moment
later he came back, shaking the water
from his clothes.

“Quick!’’ he gurgled,
trifle! Come on!?’

‘*What do you mean to do?’’

“Go in there. ””

‘What did you find?”’

‘*A cave, as I thought I should.”’

“‘Anything else ?’’

“Didn’t stop ro look toe anything else,
then’ Come on.

Frank tucked a hae of his revolver
up under his coat, and plunged through
the waterfall again.

Ephraim had waded out into the
stream, but he hesitated a moment. Then
he set his teeth, muttering:

‘“Here goes!’?

Through he went.

It was no more than a thin sheet of
water, and they were on the other side in
a moment. Ephraim felt himself grasped,
and Frank’s voice whispered in Hs ear:

‘‘Be still! The man who came in here
ahead of us is not far away.”’

Clinging to each other,
forward.

The place was very damp, and the walls
dripped moistute,

 

“sive me my

tance, gleamed the light of a torch,
_ That light showed ‘them a man,

me”

they moved —

for the water forced
itself down through cracks in the rocks.

In a few miuutes they came to a point _
where a passage led off to the deft, and
there they halted abruptly, for, inthe dis- ie

  

ee 2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

    

   
    

  
 

 

a suddenly disappeared as if he had stepped
ded through aa open doorway.
owe en *‘Come on!’? hissed Frank, and he
skurried along that passage, with Ephraim
ly. close at his heels. :
n’t By rare good fortune, they made little
bed noise, and they quickly reached the place
where the man had disappeared.
an There they paused and looked into a
vi large dry chamber, which seemed to be
ie well aired, as if it opened to the outer
fae world some way.
° Atthe farther side of this chamber were
a some rude stalls, and two of these stalls
, were occupied by horses.
as In the middle of this chamber, or un-
- j derground stable, a man was rubbing the}:
ee water from another horse.
Frank knew this was the man who had
rh just ridden into the cavern.
2 Both boys were filled with astonish-

ment, for of all the wonderful things they
had Heheld since entering the mysterious
¥: valley, this seemed the most remarkable.
They could not express their feelings
by words, but Frank’s hand gave Eph’s
arm a pressure that meant much.
They took good care not to be seen.

ing the horse well, and then covering the
’ animal with a warm blanket, after which
: the creature was led into one of the stalls
Vy and fed.

When this matter had been attended to
the man picked up the torch, which had
been thrust upright into a rift in the
Bs ' rocks, and started to leave the stable.

The boys drew back hastily, crouched
in an angle of the passage, and prepared

 

 

| to meet the man, if he should come upon
_them.
But he left the stable and turned the
_ Other way. @

hey followed, keeping within view of
. the flaring torch.
‘(He will lead us to the hiding place of
the bandits, ’’ whispered Frank,
“Sure as preachin’ is preachin’,
. turned Ephraim.

  
 

19) re.

   
  

ee CU APTER x1:

THE STRUGGLE ON THE LAKE,

The passage did not lead straight
thead, but turned and twisted in many

ections, so the boys sometimes lost
‘ht of the torch for a moment.

 
     
 

 

 

  

The man did his work thoroughly, dry-:

FRANK MERRIWELL’S MISSION. 27

Once or twice the man seemed to halt
and listen.

At length a flight of rude steps, hewn
from the solid rock, was reached.

Far above them they saw the man
climbing upward.

The wonders of that underground place
were astounding, but the boys had no
time to stop and think of that.

As soon as they dared, they started to
climb the stairs. The torch vanished, and
they knew the man had reached the top.

‘*Be lively!’ palpitated Frank, as he
scrambled up the steps.

They made some noise, and’ Frank
feared the man wotild hear thea: ; but noth-
ing of the kind took place.

‘At last the top of the flight was reached.

Far away the torch gleamed and van-
ished.

Regardless of any danger that might
await them in the darkness, they rushed
toward the spot where it had been seen.

The passage widened, and then «it
turned suddenly and came out into a
mighty chamber.

Frank clutched Ephraim, and the boys
stopped abruptly on the brink of an un-
derground lake that lay spread before
them.

At a distance on the bosom of this lake

a boat was moving from them. In the
boat the flaring torch -was set. The man

| they had followed was paddling the boat

away.

The light of the torch gleamed on the
bosom of the water that lay like a great
pool of ink, covering the entire floor of
the chamber.

Overhead was such dense darkness that
the roof could not be seen.

In a moment Frank saw the man in the
boat was getting away, for the great body
of water would keep them from following
him, as no other boat-seemed at hand.

Frank was desperate. He had believed
they would be able to follow the man to
the outlaws’ den, and: he did not fancy
being baffled in such a manner.

“T must 8top him!’ he grated.

He dropped on. one knee,' flinging his
rifle to his shoulder: _ But just as Frank
was going to utter a challenge a most sur-
prising thing took place.

 

A iene suddenly uprose. from the bot

&

 
     
    
Sas
tom of the boat, grappled with the man,
and a fierce battle began. |
_ “Great gosh ’’ gasped Ephraim Gallup.
_ ‘What in jee- -thutter is ther mednin’ uv
that?
Frank was no less astonished than the
Yankee boy, and he stared in wonder-
ment at the struggling forms.
The torchlight was such that it did not
show them plainly.
- > The boat rocked violently, threatening
» fo. upset.
- Exclamations in Spanish came from |
; the lips of the combatants.
-All.at once there was a sharp cry of
pain, and then one of the two toppled
backward and struck’ the surface “of the
“Sater with ar splash, disappearing from
“view.
; The other,” “with the totchlight. show-
5 ing a. knife clutched in his trembling
“Nand, leaned over the edge of the boat
- “and peered down into the inky water, as
“~ ifwaiting for his enemy to rise; that he
aight finish the job with another. stroke.:
- Frank and Ephraim knew they had be-.

*
i

eae

a

ba dh Fee

4

 

*
\

-
a

ee held an underground tragedy, and they
_ félt the blood rushing through their veins

7. aud their hearts fluttering. “
ew *The “one wlio remained in the boat cried:

out something in Spanish, :quickly fling-
ing. down the. deadly knife as if he had
beet seized by a sudden horror for it.

That: Woice | Sounded ecitige 3 to both |
lads. :

The boat swung “round ay Dit, ae nthe
light of.thé tofch shone upon’ the’ victor
in such a-way that they. could see nies dis-
tinctly.« © ;

“Gol ‘derh my- boats I~ nee the boy

'

FRANK MERRIWELL’S MISSION.

“|tiine and think on what I had” better to

 

 

 

4
“Tam here, and so is Ephraim. Come 4} bir
baek.”’ ~ Dat
Juan dropped the paddle into the water ey
and turned the boat about. Then he pad- | end
dled back to the shore, sprang out, and wit
greeted them with demonstrations of .un- ee
speakable joy. ot
‘*T be ’fraid we never see each odar any -
more,’’ he said. ‘‘I be ’fraid we separate oe
for good.” e
““We did not expect to see you again,’”’ ay
confessed Frank. ‘‘We could not conceive i
what had become of you.’’ 7S
“‘After you go the water ts waterfall Bi:
——it stop to run.’? |
‘*T know that.’? $0!
“*T cannot hear it some more, and so I fie
go to see what the matter can be. I find | If
it has stopped to run.’’ . : dis
‘SVes, yes?” | ae
- ‘Then. I find the great black hole -o
under the place where the waterfall have :
been. I light some matches, and I see it fr
is the mouth of a cave. Then. into it I 4
will go, and soI do. With my matches *
it is able for me to get along. I find the

'| passage, the horses, the steps, and, last, I

|find the lake.~ All this take me very long 4
time, for have to move slow, slow. I do t}
not know how long I have been here, but ¢
it seem that I have’been-two or three day.. z

I know it be not so, for I should have
tstarved+ But I find the lake at last, and I”
find the boat. » I am afraid to go out on-
the lake—I am afraid I never get back.
It is pretty bad to be lost on a lake like
this, you must think. I stay here ’long

  
   
 
   
  

 

from Vérniont. “Why,” that?s—the it’s |
Wand?’ be n=

“It is Juam, sure enough | 2” exclaimed
Frank.

The occupant of the ca sega “theng,
and he suddenly grasped ae paddle; ee
ing to paddle away:

“Tuan!” called Frank, : p=

It was the Chilian boy, ares ‘he paris,
with the paddle ABER Ge

‘Juan! = ¢

‘‘Who call? Dat you, Frank?) 2%

(Ves. ”

‘De saints be praise! i feat it be Blaék
Miguel! It. sound-a ane ao ‘voice, but oe

* a

~
* “

* 5

«
a

we
ro

~

~ a4

  
    

 

: ae dat x get de best. of hit

ae
he
es

raat

do. ‘Then I heard somebody coming. I>
iknow not how I can hide. In the bottom
of the boat I see one, blanket that have

| been left. there by somebody. It does not —
take me long under that to get myself,
and-I think perhaps I may keep still and
be.taken to the-place where I shall find 4
| Pepita. ‘Ha! ~The man—the bandit—he _
get into:‘the boat. Ha! I keep all curl up
undér de blanket... I know he paddle 4
boat out-a. Bimeby pretty soon he put’his-
foot on my hand, and*his boot jam my
fingers flat. I can ’stand it hot any longer—
I shall cry with de pain. I get mad-a,
Then I take out my knife, jump. up, _
fight with-de man, I take him so by

  
   
   
    
      
      
  

   
  
     
     
     
  

 
 

3

ome §

ater 4
pad-
and

sUn-

any
rate

>

n.?”
‘ive
J

fall

Ord
nd J

 

 

  

°F

   
 
  
  
  

   
   
 
 

   
  
    
 
 

.

: * PRANK ‘MEI :RIWELL'S MISSION, ie a 29

him with de icnife— hie fall ovyer—he ted are. two outléts to ‘this lake, and that the
Dat i is de end.” e ~- < | bandits are able to ‘turn the, water from

Juan had grown very excited toward the| one channel to the-other. That would ex-
os of his story, and he was shudc dering plain why. the ‘stream ceased to, run
‘with horror when he had finished. _-|through. tlie. valley, for the water had

“Gol dern me!’’ cried Ephraim Gallup. ‘been turned into the other channel.’?

“T kainder thought Hots didn't hev no ‘‘But4t won’t explain ther fire that run
sand, but I take it all -back, by thutter!/ daown: the stream, or the fightin’ ~skeler-
Penuisé a Il tight, Wand!” . Boise an? demon.”?

Frank then "explained how he had been | ‘Frank laughed softly, 2
able to save Ephraim, ending by ‘saying: | ‘“Those things are easily explained.

“Tt seems to me that we have-reason to |” “Then yeou jest explain um.”?

hope, for fate has aided us to. a great ex-|. ‘‘The fite was caused by burning oil.
tent, and we may yet be able to outwit’ Oil will float on the surface of the water,

Slack: Miguel and escape.’ Ae and a-large amount must have been
“T névar go. away now “till I fe poured into the stream and then ignited.”’

something nt *Pepita, declared Juan, “Wal, I be gol derned! Never thought

fiercely, “Don’t stay with me—go; go! uv that; an’ I smelt oil when she was
If you find any way to get out, go! 1 may } burnin’. But haow about t’oether thing ?”’

die here—I expect dat!” 58 =| “That was a magic lantern trick. It is
“Juatt, we are with you. We will stand likely-you have seen one of these magic

_ by each other to the end.” -° ~ * | antern shows that tiavel around through
“Gol derned ef we don’t!" 4 = | small country towns?’’

“You ate very good frievids—true “Yes, but great jee-thutter! haow
friends! I wonder if all American boys be|could they do that air trick here? Jest
like you ?”?. . 4 «.] yeou explain that.”

_ “Not.all; but*most of«them.” : ‘“The persons who worked the lantern

“Down here we have been taught. to| were hidden in this cave, high up at one
hate the Americans. Once we thought | side of the valley. There must have been
there would be war with America. We an opening in the wall, like a window.
think we‘are able to beat the” Atnericans, /From that opening the figures were flung
for everybody say they .are? cOwards all.|on the opposite wall.”’
if they be like what I have seen of them, | ‘‘An’ I was scat! Darn my eyes! But
what fools Chilians ~would te “to: try tolyeou ain't told whut them thunderin?
fight them! ! . America would be able” ‘to noises was what we heard.”’ :
beat little Chili_in so very short, time er ‘“They were blasts somewhere in this
it would be a great astonishment. = cave. What they were for I cannot say.’?

‘There ald” be no. awat between the| “Wal, hang a fool! It’s easy enough
“United States and “Chili; but-this is no/ to see through things after they're ex-
_ place to talk. of such things. g AL present | plained. I don’t know so much as a

4

 

we must look out t for ourselvés. What is} ‘turkey gobbler!”

pe done next???” : After a short time it was decided that
‘The-den uv the -gol gern’ bandits is they had better embark on the bosom of
| Somewhere-on tother: ‘side tv- this pond.” the lake and try to find a landing-place
rn 7
‘That must«be true. But how large is yi thie dat Het-chore.
this lake?: That isan interesting question.) Frank took the paddle and the boat
The stream that flows through ‘the wwalley | 4s sent skimming over the black water
must 2 the.outlet of this lake, Can We/in the same direction that had been

i find. the proj eer pangs place of the | chosen by the unfortunate bandit.
farther s Shore 2?’ Afte1 a pull of about fifteen minutes

‘Wee can try they came to the opposite shore, and _be-
And if we - get ‘lost on the lake—j fore them, to\their satisfaction, they saw
et the great opening to a passage.

We'll*have to take aour ehantes on} They landed, and were about to proceed _—
ar into the passage when Frank stopped —
ok think there | met sayings quickly:

 

 

  

 
 
   
 

30

‘Be still! Listen!’’

They listened, and, from far along the
passage, sounds of voices came to them.
They distinctly heard a muffled shot and
wild cries. The sounds became more and
more distinct, and the boys looked into
each other’s faces in alarm.

‘‘Out with that torch!’’ hissed Frank.
‘*‘We are likely to be in a heap of trouble
right away! Out with the torch, I say!”

CHAPTER XII.
OUT TO THE LIGHT OF DAWN.

The torch was quickly extinguished.

The sounds came nearer, and the cries
were hoarse and fierce.

Then there was more shooting, being}.
this time a succession of shots.

“Into the boat!’ commanded Frank.
‘‘We will row out a short distance.”’

‘(Col dern me ef I don’t think we’d
better row out a thunderin’ long dis-
tance!’’ spluttered Ephraim.

They quickly entered the boat and
rowed out on the lake.

Soon glimmering lights were seen far
along the passage, and then the lights re-
vealed running figures. From these figures
little flashes of fire leaped out, followed
by the reports of firearms.

‘‘Who be they shutin’
Ephraiin, wonderingly.

“Somebody in advance,’’ replied Frank.
‘‘See—see those others who have no
torches. There are two of them—no,
three! See, one of them fires back! His
aim was good, for down goes a torch!
That is a race for life!”’

“Dat be right!’? came excitedly from
Juan. ‘‘Iuook—see! One of dem dat run
away be a girl I believe dat be Pepita”’

“Tt may be!’ cried Frank. ‘Paddle
in nearer shore. If it should happen to
be, we must take a hand in that business. ’

He clutched his rifle as he spoke, and
Juan grasped the paddle and moved the
boat toward the shore.

Onward came pursued and pursuers, the

at??? asked

girl seeming torun as easily as any of|:

them, sometimes giving aspistance to one
of the men. The other man, who appeared
younger and livelier, now and then turned
to shoot at the pursuers.

fev moments the trainee had

FRANK MERRIWELL’S MISSION.

 

of the lake and a cry of

 

{ torch:

oe

despair came from them when they found for tv
the boat was not there, skipp
“It be Pepita!’’? wildly exclaimed Juan ao
— ‘it be my sistare!”’ fe |
One of the men had turned again, snap- a -
ping his revolver, which failed to go. It oo
was empty! —
The pursuers came on with savage yells. — tl
‘*Hold the boat steady,’’ directed Frank oe
Merriwell, calmly. ‘‘I am going to doa | tle
little shooting. Juan, tell your sister and ie
her companions to lie down.”’ a :
The Chilian boy did so, speaking in ie
Spanish. The fugitives heard, the girl | 3 it
gave acry of joy, and the three flung sta
themselves on the ground. -
Then Frank Merriwell \gave an exhibi- :
tion of shooting that was quite astonish- ae ;
ing. He worked his rifle swiftly, and a

every bullet seemed billeted. ie
Three of the pursuers fell with the first c
three shots, and the others turned in con-

sternation and fled, bullets whistling Jee
about their ears. hee

“Paddle ashore,’’? directed Frank. 7} hee
‘(This boat is large enough to hold three j om
more. Do not lose time.”’ on

The boat was run into the shore. Juan ahi
leaped out and embraced his sister, who phe
was nearly overcome with joy. Then one i ,

of the men, the one the girl had helped
along, grasped the boy, and Juan gave a
wild shout of gladness, crying, in Spanish: | I

“(My father—it is my father’’ anc
“Don’t waste time,’’ swiftly said car
Frank Merriwell. ‘‘Moments are precious. can
Get into the boat. We must be away.”’ | the
He hurried. them into the boat, and \ nes

they pushed out upon the lake. Le

 

 

‘Where in thuttder be we goin’??? | lor
asked Ephraim. ‘‘Ef we go back tothe j- TI
valley we will be in jest as bad scrape as | wi
we was.’” ° . pli
Then the young man who was» with
»|Pepita and her father spoke up quickly: j 2a
“‘T know one way to get ont Let mesa 2

 

have the paddle. Trust to me.
‘Yes, trust to Alvatezy.’ ae Pepita.
Frank did not hesitate. ae
‘Take the paddle,’’ he said. ‘‘If you
can get us out of this trap, you shall pe
well paid. v
Alvarez, who was a dark,. handles ne
young fellow, took the paddle and sent
the boat forward with powerful |
All at once he told them to put.

   
  

 

 

 

      
    
 
 

   

  

   
   

=

r]

~-o2 Aaron

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 
  
     
   
  
   
  
 

   

 
   

 

torches, and they did so, none too soon,
| for two shots rang out and two bullets|n

} the darkness. It seemed that he paddled | the boat and get away.

 

AN ES

} run through the channel under the mour

 

They came to the shore, and Alvarez,

 

 

 

 

 

.

FRANK MERRIWELL'S MISSION. 31

But he had not selected a favorable
i1oment, and the trick had been discov-
skipped past. ered. Then the bandits! pursued, and: the
Still Alvarez pulled forward through | three hurried to the lake, hoping to find
The reader knows

thus for more than thirty minutes before what followed.

he would allow them to light the torches} Aided by friends, Senor Matias and the

again. little party succeeded in crossing the
‘Chere is two channel to the stream | mountains into the Argentine Republic.

that run from this lake—two stream,’’ | But Matias declared that some day he

Alvarez explained. ‘‘One run through the| would return and recover his property,

valley. When that be turned the other which was a rich mine located in the out-
,-|laws’ cave. This mine he had _ originally

| discovered, but the outlaws were working

It is the only way to get out. We may do |it, and it was the sound of their blasts that
it all right, but nobody know about that. | startled the boys shortly after they entered

Nobody ever go through that way.’’ the valley of mystery.
In a short time they came to a strip of ‘Aguila shall not escape me,’’ declared

sandy shore. Here the boat touched, | Senor Matias. ‘‘I have slipped through
_Alvarez got out, told them to wait, passed | his fingers, though he told me a hundred

round a point and disappeared. In ten| times that I should die a captive in my
minutes he came back. |own mine. I will return, and he shall

“T have ttirn the river into the channel | die.” ;
through the mountain,’’ he said. ‘Now|. “1 Hope sont body will kill Black

we try it. We may drown, we may escape. | Miguel,’’ grinned Alvarez. “Tf he: ever

Anyway, it be better than to fall into the |sees me again he will kill me.’’

hand of Black Miguel.’’ | Hank Merriwell was well satisfied with
“They felt a strong current bearing them the result of his trip to Chili.

onward. Inashort time they came to ‘We found your sister, Juan,’’ he said.

where a stream was pouring into a black | ‘*We stood by each other through thick

opening. Into this opening the boat shot |and thin, and now——”’

on its way to destruction, or to—what? “Now must we part?” cried the
* * * x * Spanish lad. “Oh, Frank, you are like

a yo?
It was morning, the sun was shinin to a brother to me:
re ey “Gol dern my punkins ef I want to

and the birds were singing, when the boat eee « : saree
came out where the streant poured from a leave ye "said ee So ae
cavern opening. The boat contained all like “e teavel Heat ae eg S
the fugitives, and they shouted with glad-| 7,
es t you do so?”’ \

ness when they saw the light of day. Cant you

They had escaped iss ihey waedG = 1? Wal, I ae * Pr ae

3 cae : ) wo i + 7 ! y cin:

longer within the snare of the bandits. |?© Mebby 0: By SUR! A :

tain. We must go through that channel.

_ who knew the country, guided them to a [THE END. ]
place of safety.
Alvarez was in love with Pepita. He
“had been one of Black Miguel’s men, but
the girl had won his heart, and he had
offered to save her from the outlaws. She
had agreed to go with him jf he would
aa her father, who was a captive .
iguel’s power, the outlaw being pal
Be cine ive by the Marques ee ORRANK MERRIWELL’S MysTERIOUS
- The young bandit had released Senor| FOE; °F, WILD LIFE » THE CT
Matias, choosing his time when he be-|by the author of Frank Merriwell,’’ will —
i be published in the next number (26) of ©

 

the outlaws were giving their en-
attention to the boys in the valley. the T're Top LIBRARY.

1

  

 

7

 

-

  

    
    
   
   
  
  
   
   
    
 
    
   
   
     
   
  
   
   
 
  
  
   

32

a
27,

ANN ARBOR, Micu., July 1896.
Messrs. StreeT & SmiTH
Publishers Trp Tor Liprary,
New York City.

Dear Srrs:—I think everybody likes to know When
they do anything that is appreciated, and 1 suppose you
will like to know what some of your boy readers of the
Tie Top Liprary think of it.

My father brought home the three first copies, and he
read them all through; then he gave them to me, and
told me if I liked it, I could have it regular. I think

it is immense. It has a good cover, and it has the
nicest printed apppearance of any boys’ library
published, and the stories are great. I notice my
father reads them all just as much asI do. If hope it
will bave a long life.
Very truly yours,
~~ ARTHUR WRIGHT.
.

Eav CLarre, Wis.,
Publishers Tre Top Liprary,
New, York City.
DEAR Srrs:—I want to let you know what we think of
your fine library, the Trp Top. There are about twenty

July 17, 1896.

always held the same day the Trp Top arrives at the
dealer’s where we buy it. Whenever we meet the first
rule is to give t! ree cheers and a tiger for the Trp Top
Liprary and our club. We have some fine times camp-
ing out here, We call the captain of our club Frank
Merriwell, but his right name is Frank Jackson. He is
just like the hero of the stories, and we all have to do
what hesays. At our last meeting we all voted that the
Tir Top Liprary has the best stories for-boys we ever
read, and that we would write and tell you.

Au WINTERS,

Tom ALBRIGHT,

JOHN FARRADAY.

FRANK MERRIWELL’S MISSION.

|

 

| with quickness and pliability,
| coolness and discrimination to the head and elasticity to the
| per, the whole
| power

 

of us boys who read it regular, and we have formed a
club: called the Tip Top Boys, and our meetings are |

  

MILLS’

LETTER WRITER.

This.book of over one hundred pages contains complete instrue-
tion in all branches of correspondence, together with samples of
letters on every variety of subj —Penmanship, Spelling, Gram-
mar, Punctuation, Use of Capitals, Abbreviations, style; advice to
those who write for the press,. business letters, letters of introduc-
tion, application, recommendation, social, congratulation, love and
courtship, ete., the art of secret writing, business laws and maxims,
rules of conducting public meetings, and all forms of conveying
thought from one mind to another through the medium of written
language. This valuable book will be sent postpaid to any address
on receipt of tem cents. Address

MANUAL L BE ARY, 25 Rose street, New York.

 

 

 

 

 

~, WRESTLING.”

tells us that
Without doubt,

History

wrestling was the first form of athletic
pastime.

it gives strength and firmness, conibined
to the limbs, vigor to the body,
tem-

st

  
 

forming an energetic combination of the gr
to be found in man, The book is entitled Prorr
MULDOON’S WRESTLING, It is fully illustrated,
postpaid on receipt of ten cents. Address

MANUAL LIBRARY, 25 Rose street, New York.

AMATEUR PHOTOGRAPHY

Many people imagine that a photographe camera is a diffienit
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this isa mistake. Photography is a clean, light, und pleasant ac-
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complete guide to this fascinating art, entitled AMATEUR MANUAL
OF PHOTOGRAPHY, Will be sent on receipt often cents. Address

MA NUAL LIBRARY, 25 noe street, New York.

SOR
and will be sent

 

 

 

HUNTER AND ANGLER.

Everybody who_ takes. plea astire. in
angling needs this Sook. ‘There
mien of boys as hunting. The
exercising is so evidently benefi

BIRMINGHAM,
Publishers Trp Top Liprary.
Dear Srrs:—I have been taking the Trp Top ever
since the first one came out, and I like it so much I
want to tell you about it. The stories are fine. I think
they are the best stories of adventure I ever read, I’m
going to ‘*glue on’? to the Tip Tor.
Yours truly,
ALFRED CONRADY.

ALA., July 7, 1896.

the sports of hunting and
is no sport so well fitted Jo make
ct of being in the open air and
al that it is surprising that there
are not more hunters and anglers. This book will be sent to any
address on receipt of ten cents, Address,

MANUAL LIBRARY, 25 Rose street, New York,

  

 

 

 

 

The Tip Top aaa

41G

Quarterly — ae Pages
WILLETTE ELEEEGLE itty Cents.

Nuiubers r to 13 of the famous Frank Merriwell Stories have been bound
in one volume including thirteen stories complete and unabridged, and thirteen
illuminated photo-engraved illustrations.

The Frank Merriwell Stories

 

 

 

       
 
Thirty-two Pages.

: Tip Top Price Five Cents.
Libraryez=as~ »

wen

THE LIFE AND ADVENTURES OF FRANK MERRIWELL CAN J
BE FOUND ONLY iN THE TIP TOP LIBRARY,

MIOw—""*"

CoP kA LASGE is

Morrow"

1.—Frank Merriwell: or First Days at Fardale. By 16.—Frank Merriwell in Arizona; or, The Mysteries of
Burt L. Standish. — the Mine. By the Author of ‘* Frank Merriwell.’’
.— Frank Merriwell’s Foe; or, ‘‘Plebe’’ Life in Bar- | ;
bioka aR La Sa Guaaeh. ; 17.—Frank Merriwell in Mexico; or, ‘Lhe Search for the
3.—Frank Merribali’s Medal; or, ‘'Plebe’? Life in | Silver Palace. By the Author of ‘‘Frank Mer-
Camp. By the Author of ‘*Frank Merriwell.’’ riwell,”?
.—Frank Merriwell’s Rival; or, By Fair Play or ; 18.—Frank Merriwell in New Orleans; or, The Queen of
Foul. By the Author of ‘‘Frank Merriwell.”’ Flowers. By the Author of ‘‘Frank Merriwell.??
5.—Frank Merriwell’s Fault; or, Falsé Steps and Foul |

; 19.—Frank Merriwell’s Mercy; or, The Phantom of the
Snares. By the Author of ‘*Frank Merriwell.’’

Everglades. By the Author of ‘‘Frank Mer-
6.—Frank Merriwell’s Frolics; or, Fun and Rivalry at
Fardale. By the Author of ‘‘ Frank Merriwell.”’
7.—Frank Merriwell’s Mysterious Ring; or, The Man
in Black. By the Author of ‘‘Frank Merriwell.’’ shiner. By the Author of ‘‘Frank Merriwell.””

riwell.*’

20.—Frank Merriwell’s Friend: or, Muriel the Moon-

8.—Frank Merriwell’s Fag; or, Fighting for the Weak. | 21.—Frank Merriwell’s Double; or, Fighting for Life
By the Author of ‘‘ Frank Merriwell.’’ and Honor. By the Author of ‘Frank Merri-

9.—Frank M-rriwell’s Furlongh: or, The Mystery of
the Old Mansion. By the Author of ‘‘ Frank
Merriwell.”’

10 —Frank Merriwell on His Mettle; or, Wield Day at
Fardale. By the Author of ‘*Frank Merriwell.’’

11.—Frank Merriwells Fate: or, The Old Suailor’s
Legacy. By the Author of ‘‘Frank Merriwell."? | . Merriwell.’?

12.—Frank Merriwell’s Motto; or, The Young Life | 24.—Frank Merriwell’s Money; or, The Queen of the
Savers. By the Author of ‘‘Frank Merriwell.’’ ‘Queer’? Makers. By the Author of ‘Frank

13.—Frank Mevrivell in New York: or, Fighting an Merriwell.’’
ee te Ree ee Sree en | 25.—Frank Merriwell’s Mission; or, The Mystic Valley

14,—Frank Merriwell in Chicago; or, Meshed by Mys- of the, Andes. «By ‘the Agia) Sarees
teries. By the Author of ‘‘Frank Merriwell ’’ Merriwell.”

well,’
22.—Frank Merriwell Meshed; or, The Last of the
Danites. By the Author of +: frank Merriwell.’’
23. Frank Merriwell’s Fairy: or, The Hermit of Yel-
lowstone Park. By the Author of ‘‘Frank

15.—Frank Merriwell in Colorado; or, Trapping the | 26.—Frank Merriwell’s Mysterious Foe; or, Wild Life
Train Wreckers. By the Author of ‘‘Frank on the Pampas. By the Author of ‘‘Frank
Merriwell.’’ Merriwell.’’

STREET & SMITH, PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK.

ween

For Sale by all Newsdealers. Every Saturday.