Tip Top LIBRARY. Issued Weekly—By Subscription $2.50 per year.. Entered as Second Class Matler at the N. Y. Post Office. StruwT & SMITH, 29 Rose St., N. ¥ Entered Ateording to Act of Congress, in the Year aaron in the Office of the Librarian of Congress, Washington, D. C October pene. 2, 1 156. . ge :y epee peels na No. 25. Price Five Cents. Bre ai MERRIWELL'S MISSION® The Mystic Valley of the Andes. By the Author of ‘‘FRANK MERRIWELL.” CHAPTER I. FRANK FINDS A MISSION; Bump—thud! Cue Roy had been walking, the other suan? », They collided at the corner of Bush a 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. His appearance and his language showed he was not a native of the United States. The boy who jumped up. ‘*Here you go, old man,’’ he cried, catching the other by the hand and draw- ing him to his feet. “Unfortunate blunder. Very sorry. In a hurry. Must catch a train.”’ He flashed out a handsome watch and had been running glanced: at it, whistled softly, then asked: “*How far is it to the Townsend street railway station ?”’ “‘T cannot tell, senor,’’ was the respect- ful reply, although the words seemed to be uttered in a bewildered way. ‘‘Ido not know what place dis is at all.”’ ‘“‘Hum! So? Why, this is Bush street, this is Batterv, and that is Market, over there.’’ “‘No, no! 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. ‘TI know not why 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, eh? FWhy, 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 States of America. Are you on?”’ The dark-eyed lad looked still more be- wildered by this spread-eagle manner of I mean I do not know what >) delivering information. “De United States ?’’ “7 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. ‘Missed train. Did not start. Try again to-morrow.’ How’ll that go?’’ “*T do not know what you talk-a about, senor.’’ *‘Of course you don’t; stupid of me. V’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 me a 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 have 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 until 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.”’ “€Can I trust-a you?’’ “7 think so; but I may be somewhat stuck on myself.’’ “T think Ican. You have-a de good face. But I have been fool so many time. I tell you de story. It is long.2’ ‘That so? Then we won’t stand here. Where’ll we go? You look hungry.’’ «Si, senor; have not eat in long time.’ “‘Well, we’ll fix that. Wonder where he murmured. FRANK MERRIWELL’S MISSION. Come close at hand on. Market street. along.” ‘Sh sesror.”’ “Don’t ‘Si, senor’ me any more, please. I am no more than a year older than you. My nameis Frank Merriwell. Call me Frank. What’s your handle?’’ ‘“‘Handale? I do not understand. ”? ‘“Matias—Juan Matias.”’ ““Good! You’ll be Juan; I’ll be Frank. That goes. Now for something to eat.” A few minutes later the two lads, who had thus strangely met, were seated ina 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. aay sree When Juan’s appetite was well satisfied Frank said: ‘‘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 that? ‘‘Alas! Senor Frank, I know not if my father be living or dead.’’ “(Drop the senor; I’m Frank. Here’s a mystery! I PXe mysteries. Get after that yarn, Juan.’ ““As you say. I will make is shost 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. Hemet her in Paris, while travel- ing. She was also traveling. He saw her, ’| admired her, sought her to be properly presented, and was fortunate in obtaining he nearest restaurant is? Must be one} an introduction. ane got oy “‘Oh¢ that’s a-Western’ expression that I have picked up. I mean to ask your » name. ”? - He loved her, and she - ee ani fat anc fa tO lea to ¢ fatk tain he } tain dem pard wha 7 Coul ‘ ‘7 “My moth Self, de mx weak, high ere Seat Ok nae «AO. ie ak vy ’ lat | + FRANK MERRIWELL’S MISSION. 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, bit he hate my father. Fate bring my father and my . mother together again, and they be mar- ried. then, in another year, I am born... In Chili nity 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——’’ Me wy oe stort, 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 in it. When it is over m”™ father have to fly for his hfe, 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?’’ “T 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— One year later my sistare is born;| 3 she fall from de saddle! Den she bleed-a at de nose! My father know to save her we must go back. Dat we have to do, and we live in the valley again. My mother—my sweet mother!—she get wotse and worse, and den she die! Qh, 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 Heta S The tears were runniug down Juan’s face, and his chin was quivering. Frank turned away and coughed, which gave him an excuse for producing his handker- chief. . For some minutes there was silence, and then the low, musical voice of Juan began again: e, “‘T make it short, now, Frank. Dere we stay and stay. My sistare be beautiful mother is a little girl. We lve 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 mever 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! Qh, I be crazee! I wander in de mountain, calling all dé time, ‘Pepita, Pepita, Pepita!’ Sometime I] think-a I hear her ansare. IHsten. 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, —she look lke my mother when my : “T hear her ansare somewhere—some- — where in de air! Icannot see her; I see 4 FRANK MERRIWELL’S MISSION. a big-a back hole far up in de rock. I look away. When I look again, I see dat hole no more! It be gone! Den I get crazee! Next I know, many men be round me. Dey must be de men of Black Miguel. I be seize, tied, blindfold! I struggle-a, but no use. Dey feed*me, dey carry me away, dey put me on a horse, we travel many day. Den we be at the sea. I am put on a ship, kept in de dark-a, oh, so Jong—so long! And den, in the night, I be brought to de land, and left. I find myself in strange place where de English is spoke-a. I walk-a, walk-a. I am afraid; I speak to nobody, Den you run to me, and we fall down. You know the rest.’’ Frank Merriwell’s eyes were blazing with excitement. Neither lad heeded that many eyes were on them. “*Juan,’’ cried Frank, ‘‘you have been wronged! With the aid of Providence, your wrong shall be righted!”’ ‘Oh, Frank, I fear never! And my poor little sistare! Look, Frank,’’ tak- ing a locket from his bosom and open- ing it for the other lad to see, ‘‘dis is her picture. Oh, where is she now?’’ It was the sweet, innocent face of a girl of sixteen at which Frank Merriwell gazed, and he felt his chivalrous nature stirred to the depths. There was a tender pleading in the pictured eyes that he could not resist. ‘Juan, we will find where she is—we will rescue her!’ “How pe “By going to her! I have money enough, Juan, and Iam not going East. I shall send a message to Professor Scotch immediately, and together, you and I, will take the first steamsnip for Valparaiso.”’ *‘Oh, my good friend, is dat possible ?”’ Tt is possible, and it shall be! It shall be my mission to solve this mystery, to learn your father’s fate, to save your sis- ter! Juan, your hand! Weare partners on the box seat—partners till the mission is ended!’ Their hands met in the clasp of undy- ing friendship. CHAPTER II. OLD FRIENDS MEET. Toward sunset of a beautiful day the steamer California, cleared from San Francisco, dropped anchor in the harbor of Valparaiso. On the forward deck two lads, Frank Merriwell and Juan Matias, were gazing at the picturesque city that rose on the slope beyond the quay, with the purple mountains, the mighty Andes, making a background in the remote distance. “Hurrah, Juan!’’ cried Frank, in his impulsive way, ‘‘we are here!’’ “‘Ves, Hrank.’? ‘‘Why, what’s the matter with you? You say that as if your heart were heavy with fear.’’ as “So itis. Ah, Frank, something 'tell 1 me we soon be in great danger.’’ ‘“‘Danger be hanged!.-You should be happy to get back—happy at the prospect of soon finding your father and sister,’’ ‘‘But I fear we can never find them, and I fear——’’ “Get out with your fears! We will find them! I have made it my mission. Come, cheer up. How do we get ashore ?’’ ‘‘See the little boats coming off to us, Frank. They will set us ashore.’’ It was nearly an hour later, however, before arrangements had been made so that they were taken upon one of those © boats. Before long, each with a leather grip in hand, they were hastéhing to find a | / : { Es hotel in Valparaiso, It was the hour when there; was. the most life and movement in the city, and, in many ways, the scenes reminded Frank of those he had beheld in Mexico. Throngs of people, in red, orange and | ate 02). OD. ARMM is 1? — 11 , be oct in, i. ind ne, yer, so 10se - grip ida the and, rank . and ad - blue, strolled everywhere. part of the women wore rebozas and scar- . saying: f FRANK MERRIWELL’S MISSION. 5, let sashes, although, to break the har- mony of all this, Parisian gowns and bon- nets were in evidence. There were men shoulders, with wide hats of felt trimmed silver buttons. But there were other men hats and Picadilly shoes. tion of English swells. jars of water. Spirited horses dashed 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: : **Queek—we must run!’’ ‘Run? What for?’’ ‘One of Black Miguel’s men—Bengo —a spy, a wretch!—-have seen me!”’ Juan fled, and Prank 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 attentioii!’’ 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 adventure awaited them before they reached the hotel. Juan sought secluded streets and dark | ways. Suddenly they were startled by the sound of voices that came from a little group of dusky figures. One of thése fig- ures was standing with his back .against - the wall of a building; the others sur- rounded him in a half-circle. ; The one The greater! with | you was follerin’ me for something that wasn’t no good. So you want my purse??? wearing vermillion serapes about their | | be the leader. with silver, and breeches of pink buck-/do not hurt-a you.”’ skin, held together down the sides with! ere revolver I’ve got? Wal, she’s -loaded in English coats and trousers, with silk|by gum! an’ ef yeou don’t git aout Some even| mighty dad-bimmed lively she’ll com- twirled their canes, and walked in imita-| mence to shoot, by thutter! an’ I won’t | hold myself responsible ef some of yeou On the streets were donkeys piled high | fellers git hurt, by ginger!’’ with sacks of silver ore, or carrying great | | forward, shouting: along the streets, ridden by men who sat| his back against the wall was ‘‘Wal, gol ding your picters! I knowed ‘ “Oh, that don’t worry mea great deal.”’ They think we’re going to charge them, and so——”’ . ‘“They’re gittin’ reddy for us. is that yap?” "Almost half way to where they have halted. Sce it there on the right.”’ “It’s a gol dern good thing they stopped.”’ fe hat’s right.” “Ef they hadnt we couldn’ gottoit.’’ ‘No. ”) **Naow——’? “Get ready tc take a flying shot at them as we whirl into the gap. You go in first, and let Juan follow. I will come behind, and I’ll make it hot for them if ‘lies _ crowd us.’’ By this time they were close upon the gap and very.near to the bandits. The latter were waiting, with somé “doubt, for the hoys to get yet nearer, holding their weapons ready for use. “Ready !’’ hissed Frank. The two lads flung up their rifles. “Fire !?? e The weapons spoke. “Hlooray!’ bellowéd Ephraim, in de- light. ‘‘That air’s ther way ter give ’em hot shot an’ Hail Columby!” One of the outlaws had flung up his arms and pitched from the saddle to the ‘gtound, while the horse of another had dropped instantly. _ For the moment the bandits were flung to consternation. ; Where brought his followers to a! FRANK MERRIWELL’S MISSION. ‘To the right!’ ‘‘Here is the gap!” To the right the lads wheeled. cried Frank, clearly. have just tumbled to the trick. Bend low. There'll be bullets in the air in a mo- Tenin: 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. ‘‘Never touched mie, by gum!’ ~ 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 seenied like a long, narrow 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. As they 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 one of them all had been touched by a bit of lead. “‘Well, that’s dead lucky!’ 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.’ ‘SShall I keep on goin’ as fur as I kin ?”? asked’ the Yankee boy. . e‘‘Sure; keep right ahead till you have 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 were uttering — A yell came from the lips of the bandits. “Ha, bal’? laughed Frank. © ‘They acta nn | f } t] fe fo dl urge ‘ m FRANK VERRIWELL'S MISSION. ' wild cries, and the sounds rascals were in pursuit. Frank wondered where the gap would | It wound on and on, and it’ widened in contracted till it seemed that a horse and rider could scarcely pass through. | Still it did not come to an end. 4 Behind the fugitive lads there was a} clattering sound and the babel of calling | voices, telling that the bandits were com- a deep sigh of relief when he looked back 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 | ges 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 = SOD aia om or 2 : . “Whut be yeou goin’ \ the Yankee lad. “T am going to put a checker on those ter do?’ asked fellows. Go ahead.”’ , \ Frank stopped, holding his rifle ready ¢ I for use, and sitting sideways in the sad- 4 dle. a There was a bend in the walls of the d . gap so he could not see the pursuers till y . they reached a certain point. He could hear them coming nearer and d nearer, and he knew just when they “y. ought to appear. ; The rifle rose and the butt was pressed od against his shoulder. The nose and head of a horse came into 33 view. That was all the boy wished to see. ee The rifle spoke, and the horse fell, flinging its rider headlong against a nd bowider. ide Swinging round in the saddle, Frank od urged his horse onward again. ‘°That will cause them to hold up a INS heh ah little,’’ muttered the boy, with satisfac- indicated the | tion. | lead, and if it would prove anything more | shot at any moment.’’ than a great fissure in the mountain side. | places, while there were places where it but he also knew he need look for no gol dern land pirates ?”’ 11 ‘It is possible they may not be so fierce to follow, as the one who isin ad- | vance will not know but he 1s liable to be | Frank knew it was not going to be am jeasy thing to give Black Miguel the slip, mercy if he should fall into the hands of |the bandit. It must be a case of struggle to the end and never surrender. It took himr some time to come up with Ephraim and Juan. The Yankee boy gave ‘and saw Frank, | “Didn’t know, fer sure, that was yeou that done ther shootin,’ he said. “I was 'ruther afraid ’twas one uv them p’izen” lett what is after us. ‘“No, I did it 2 ae ‘“Whut did ye shute?”’ eA horse.” ‘‘A hoss? Why, that’s a clean waste uv paowder and lead !”’ “Oh, I guess not.”’ “Why didn’t yeou shute one uy them ‘*T don’tJike to shoot a man in that way when a horse will do just as well I have never found any satisfaction in shoot- ing at human beings, although I have been forced to do so several times in my — tite. 2 ‘‘Veou’ve got a conscience as big as a | haouse, Frank.’ ‘‘Well, there is some satisfaction in hay- ’ ing a conscience. ’’ ‘(Them critters wou’t hesitate abaout shootin’ at us, an’ mebbe ther very one yeou nee shute will be ther one to — yeou. ie ‘Then I kinder guess aoa be gol dern sorry ye let him go.’ ‘‘Your philosophy is too much for me, Ephraim.’ ‘‘Wal, it’s hoss-sense.’ They rode onward, and the sounds Ps pursuit did not press them as closely as be s 12 fore, showing the bandits had taken warn-| ing. The boys had expected the gap to | end at any moment, but it continued, and, finally, they came out into a beauti- ful valley through which ran a stream of water. The valley was surroundéd on every hand by towering mountains. ““Hurrah!’’ cried Frank, in delight. ‘We were not cornered, after all! This is what I call great luck.’ ‘We be not corner in de gap,’’ said Juan, wildly, ‘‘but we be corner here!’ “Cornered hére? What do you mean?”’ “YT mean dat zis is de strange vallee ‘where I heard Pepita ansare my call—de vallee where Black Miguel capture me-a! We be lost-a!”’ f CHAPTER V. THINGS MYSTERIOUS. — ‘Lost? What do you mean by that? » Why should we be lost here? I should - say we have had great luck in finding this = -valley.”’ Juan made a gesture of despair. ‘But we never find-a our way out! Black Miguel be in de pass by which we enter.’ “But there must be some other way| out of the valley.’’ “Tink not. When I come here before I do not know how get in. NowI remem- ber I come through dat gap. I find no other way out.’’ “But this stream runs through the val- ley. It must come in somewhere and go out somewhere. ’”’ “That’s right, by gum!’’ put in the Vermonter. ‘‘Warter kin run daown a » maountain, but I be gol derned ef I ever | saw any runnin’ up hill yit!”’ ' ‘The way it go out it run under de mountain,’’ explained Juan. ‘Under the mountain ?”’ Si, Frank.’ FRANK MERRIWELL’S M'SSION. ‘Tt run into de tunnel—it go under de ground.’ ‘Well, I have seen a case like that,” declared Frank. ‘‘It was in the Tennessee Mountains, and the stream was known as Lost Creek. It sank into the earth and disappearec. No one knew where it came out.”’ ‘Just like a-dis!’’ cried Juan. ‘*Wal, it may run in all right,’’ said Ephraim, hastily. ‘‘We’ve gotter git aout uv this mighty sudden, an’ I cal’late it’d be a good plan ter find haow this warter gits inter the valley.”’ To this Frank agreed, and they rode up the stream. Juan kept looking up at the high walls, and he finally uttered a cry, pointing to the black face of a steep bluff. ‘*Dere,’’ he cried —‘‘dere is where I see de black hole in de rock when I hear my sistare call to me!”’ face of the bluff seemed unbroken, and Frank-said : ‘You must be mistaken, Juan, for there is no hole there now.”’ ‘*T see dat hole, den I see it no more. I am not mistake, Frank. Dat is de place. I tell you de hole it disappear-a.’’ “J ruther guess yeou was. twisted, Juan,’’ drawled Ephriam. ‘‘Yeou thought you saw the hole.’’ ““¥-49 make a mistake—no, no! I tell you I hear Pepita ansare me when I call to her—I know I hear it.”’ ‘‘Yeou hed bin wanderin’ raound in ithe maountains, an’ yeou’ was half icrazy. You thought yeou. heard her.”’ ‘‘No, no, no! I know! I know!”’ ‘There is no time to discuss that,’’ cut in Frank. ‘‘If those bandits follow us closely they will—— There they come.”’ Hoarse shouts were heard behind them, and, looking back, they saw the bandits riding out into the valley. The ruffians saw the three lads, and the shouts they ‘How can that be?” uttered were cries of triumph. ° sos | Ay ca cei fa se mi: ey The boys looked with interest, buttesthe . —..__yal the the us. ( be ; [ E i « oir chic way ban 4¢) just look: soon close LEY Fr, consi thoug bowlc them “aT: he sai t. Ww eR MiMi eisai oe. valley in this direction. lf ‘before they bag us, a cee pan agen dae ied Are FRANK MERRIWELL’S MISSION. “JT don’t like the sound,’’ declared Frank. ging us they would not yell like that.” ““If they did not feel sure of bag- 13 | ‘To see what sort of a fort they will | make. We may have to get into some psieyalion where we can hold off Black “Wal, they’ll hev ter fight like thunder | Miguel and his band.”’ by thutteration !’’ spluttered the boy from Vermont. “We nevar get out,’’ declared Juan, in a disheartened way. The boys rode onward, but the bandits made no iminediate effort to follow them, | which caused Frank still greater uneasi- | ness. ‘“That shows, beyond a doubt, that they feel sure they have us,’’ he said. They rode up the valley for nearly half | a mile, and then came in sight of a water- fall. seemed to pour out of the side of a mighty mountain. The boys halted in dismay. ‘“That settles one thing,’’? said Frank. “We'll not be able to get out of this| See; it closes in there, and there is no outlet. No wonder the bandits were in et “T tell-a you dat!’ cried Juan. be in de trap!’ Ephraim ground his teeth. “Gol dern it all!’? he raged. ‘‘Air we goin’ ter be cooped up like a lot uv chickens! Let’s go back an’ fight aour way tight out through them ding-blasted bandits.”’ ‘That is a trick we cannot accomplish just now,’’ said Frank. ‘‘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 do?”? Frank looked the situation over and considered, his face very grave and thoughtful. Near the waterfall a mass of bowlders were piled, and hee regarded them with a critical eye “Let’s go nearer and laa them over,”’ no hurry ‘We he said. ‘What for?” asked Sia Beyond the waterfall the stream | to follow| Lo 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'll be looking for us to come back. Bes to one we’d be ——— and shot . | down like dogs if we did so. So they dismounted and led their horses | behind amass 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 | made. ‘Take hold, boys,’’ he directed. ‘‘We must roll a wall of stones eee here. Then let Black Miguel come 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 had a wall erected, and they were 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 peons who lived amid the mountains. ‘(Well 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 unanswerable 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 in a bewildered manner, their eyes full of questioning. - ‘(What in thutteration do yeou think — 14 that was, Frank?’’ spluttered the boy from Vermont. “Tt was not an earthquake.” “Wal, not by a jugful!”’ “It sounded like a blast.”’ “Tt surely did, by gum!”’ _ Then Juan was appealed to, but he was as much puzzled as the others. “YT 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, 4n truth, ‘something uncanny about the valley. Even the mountains, which tow- ered ptim and ominous on every hand, seemed to shut the place in like mighty sentinels, as if the spot were forbidden to mau. 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 -ba’nted haouse. I was kainder creepy all * over my meat, an’ I’m that air way naow.”’ “Tt 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 willbe a faded old! moon in the west the first of. the night,’ _ but it-may not shed much light into this walley.. 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’ underground explosion once more, and this time it seemed louder and more dis- tinct than before. They were upon a FRANK MERRIWELL’S MISSION. ledge, and -this was distinctly felt to jar. “Next time she may be hard enough to knock a corner off one of these air maountains!’’ whispered Ephraim, in an awe-stricken way. “‘T wonder if that can be anything the bandits are doing?’’ speculated Frank. “It 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 opimion 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 rest in 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 { a tL 7. tb VE See nh E again brought behind the barrierefceks—— aH The boys huddled together and talked in whispers. Suddenly, cutting through 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 rider seemed to leap. ‘The horse was coal black, and the rider was covered with something that glistened darkly in the moonlight. CHAPTER VL THE STRUGGLE OF PHANTOMS. Three astounded boys crouched betes the rocks and stared at the horse and rider. The trio seemed stricken dumband | motionless with amazement. e2 do th de yo wa but Th ner wh c ‘D: air harc dim of sa herv fight ‘eF es) ae ~ e y e — d nd yal ith seis % | ; a wi 4 the horse and rider,’’ _ you explain de way they come—out of de 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 ‘ittle 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. Thé 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. ‘I think it was a horse and rider,’’ said “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 Merriwell quietly declared. ‘‘They were flesh and blood.’’ “*Ah, Frank,’’ sighed Juan; ‘‘how do water???’ ‘Lam 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 tight,’? 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 fight if they get the best of us.” FRANK MERRIWELL’S MISSION. 15 despairingly. ‘‘You do not know-a Black Miguel! He nevare let any one get aut de trap. Hekeel-a forde fun. He like to see de blood run-a—tlike to hear de victim ery for pain!"’ ‘Evidently 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. : The boys spoke of the wild, wailing cry they had heard, and wondered if it would “‘But we are in de trap-a!’’ cried Juan, ee i be repeated. They were listening for it when it came. mas 16 The moon had gone, and darkness was heavy in the valley. Thecry 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, and he covered his eyes with his hands. “What in gol darnation! is it?’’ asked the YVermonter, in wonder. *‘Look!’’ directed Frank. ‘‘They have stopped. Well, this isa free show, and no mistake!’ On the smooth face of the precipice two figures had halted. One was a grin- ning skeleton, every’ bone of which seemed composed of white fire; the other was a scarlet demon, armed with a flaming sword. The demon had been pur- suing the skeleton, but now the latter, seemingly driven to bay, faced about to give battle. _ “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 toomuch, 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 to harm the skeleton in the least. Ephraim began to forget his fears, and grew excited. “Say, which way ye betfin’, Frank ?’’ he demanded. ‘‘I’ll go ye that ther skele- ton knocks ther Old Boy out in two - rounds !’’ “Pll stand you on that,’’ said Frank, ““The demon is bound to do execution with that sword.”’ “Oh, that don’t caount, for the skele- ithe Yankee lad. |here, an’ back yer man!’’ 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 tthe skeleton several times. Juan, hearing their voices, lowered his hands, took a look at the awe-inspiring battle, then covered his eyes with his hands again and resumed praying. ‘*Oh, shut up with yer jabbetin,’’ cried “Git inter ther game ‘““The saints preserva us!’’ palpitated Juan, in English. “We'll hev ter do a little preseryin’ aourselves, ur.they won’t stan’ by us,’’ snorted Ephraim, ‘in disgust. Now the battle between the two glow- ing figures became terrific. The demon flung aside his sword, and they grappled. Once, twice, three times the skeleton was dashed to the ground. When it arose the had been broken off at the shoulder. Still the battle raged -with unabated fierceness, for the skeleton séemed infuri- ated beyond measure by its injury. 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. fer sure,’’ said Ephraim, regretfully. But, no! the skeleton hopped round on | onc foot as lively as a sparrow. itself on the demon, who seemed enraged © beyond measure by the persistency’ of its fleshless antagonist. The battle ended in a. tempestuous struggle, and the demon actually tore the cl renee as ton ain’t got no flesh nor blood. He don’t skeleton to pieces, flung it, a shattered j a ““Naow I guess he’s aout uv the ring | It flung © ' ee a Ae OLLIE as. { third time it was seen that-its Se t s ~p ,ar eee gS sega ee ted | ari- It lich and } . its nist. . und, neth and, ff at ge nsec ) ring} nd on : flung } FRANK MERRIWELL’'S MISSION. mass, to thé ground, and then, in an in-|It was done to frighten us and shake our 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 forus while we remain here.’’ “What do yeou think, Frank—haow 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’.”’ “‘Tsearcely 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 _ery sounded in the valley, dying out into a faint moan that was nerve shaking. “YT don’t understand how such a yell as that can come from human lips, yet it seems like a human cry,’’ said Frank. ‘It is acry 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, Frank, I know-a—I know-a!”’ ‘“‘Tf you think you do it is useless to _) argue with you.”’’ 3 ht fly - “*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.”’ “’Phat’s your idea, hey ?’’ AAS; 2? ‘‘What abaout the hoss an’ feller that came aout of the waterfall?” ‘‘Surely there was nothing supernatural ea about that. It was a trick, and that isall. gt: beNe palpitated the|done. When the bandits are satisfied that WW nerve, as these other things have been | j : | We are overcome with terror, they will |come down on us with arush. 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 will do next.”’ 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! But I'd critters CHAPTER VIL 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. 4 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 4 at the fiery stream. ¥ ‘““Darned ef I ever saw warter burn like — that air before!’’ spluttered the Vermont lad. “Tt is'de end of de world-a!”’ Juan. Zi aoe ‘‘Dunno butit is,’? nodded Ephraim. ‘‘When warter gits ter burnin’, othe moaned 18 things oughter ketch purty gol dern soon!’ ““What’s this smell in the air?’ asked Frank. “Dunno. What is it?’ “Tt seems like burning oil.”’ **So it does. Mebbe that river runs aout av an oil factory somewhete.”’ “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. “Hittle patches of fire drifted swiftly flown the stream and burned themselves out on the surface of the water. Soon there was no fire in the vicinity of the waterfall, and in 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 horsés _ were snorting and rearing, apparently * greatly terrified by what had taken place and by théir own struggles. | “They’re liable to break away!’’ » claimed Frank, springing up. ‘‘We must look out for that.’’ ““That’s so, by gum!’’ cried Ephraim. _ Together they hastened toward the a horses. This was an unfortunate move, E for, suddenly appearing as they did in the _ darkness, they coimpleted the work of rendering the animals frantic. ““Whoa! Easy there!’’ called Frank, _ hoping to reassure the creatures with his voice. _- ‘The horses were making too much noise tohear 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 id quick. Happening to be near the orse that freed itself, the Vermonter aped through the air and caught at the of broken rope. ex- 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. : shouted Frank. **Stop !”’ ““Come back!’ “*Can’t!?? -was: the: reply. .‘“This=gol -¥9 derned hoss is— That was all Frank could understand, for-the horse continued to tear down the valley, bearing the Yankee lad along. 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 uise?? ‘> 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 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 e rarest chance, Ephraim grasped a thousand that one of the three lads pie Frauk did his best to quiet the—sther — Ch MA: mi . | | \ | it- nb ost ries art fied yeTe ying this ope, had . |’ . him . eril, ‘e in mma lads | * _ The horse stopped. 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 ee ot shiching, *‘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’ll wager something I perforate a few of the villains!’ Nearer and nearer came the galloping horse. ‘“"There can be but one,’’ mattered Frank. ‘‘I wonder who that is, and what he wants?’ ”» Then his heart gave a great leap of hope. “Tt may be Ephraim!’’ he gasped. ‘‘If it should be——”’ He stopped short, for the horse had ceased to gallop. The animal was com- ing forward at a walk, and was now quite near. “SEalt, there!"” The ringing command came from Frank Merriwell’ slips, and it was emphasized by a double click, as he cocked his rifle. ‘ 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 ery. 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 will 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 eee ~ surprise while I talk with that man. ‘That man!’’ fluttered Juan. could see-a heem!”’ 23 “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 here, 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 a 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 haye induces “Oh, if I ket ae ss him ‘to hold ste f Pes Hittle time.’ Be 20 Frank ‘was doubtful; he could not be- _ lieve the man was speaking the truth. Be- hind all this he felt sure there was a plot to deceive them. _ *‘Why should you induce him to hold on??? ‘Why should I wish that you are killed? You have never harmed me in some way, and against you I have not one thing at all. With Black Miguel I have some influence, and I can get him to let you go away without trouble. I will do it on a certain condition.’’ *“Now comes the trap!’’ thought Frank ; and then he asked to know the ‘‘certain condition.’’ After a moment of hesitation, the un- seen man said: “With you you have a boy, Juan _ Matias by name.’’ ‘Well?’ “You have him ?”’ ¢ (Ves. ) __ ‘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 _twoto many. You have no chance to es- cape. If my offer you do not accept, you will all be killed.”’ _ **Make your offer.’’ ’ “3t is this: Your friend who was with | you is not harmed; but he will be killed ' tight away if you do not accept the terms, | which are that Juan Matias you shall give ip to Black Miguel. If Juan you give up, he one who is captured shall be set at reedom, and away you may go without - being at all hurt. Remember, that it will ost at once the life of him who is cap- ured if Juan Matias you do not give up. What do you answer?”’ Then,,. to Frank’s astonishment, Juan ed FRANK MERRIWELL’S MISSION, ster! You be de one dat kill-a my fadare —steal-a my sistare! You be de Marques de la Villa del Villar de la Aguila! ~ May de saints direct dis bullet!’’ There was a flash of fire, followed by a ringing report, and Frank knew the Chilian boy had discharged his rifle. CHAPTER VIII. Shoe (27 This action on the part of Juan had been quite unexpected by Frank Merri- well, so he was unable to prevent it. The moment it happened, however, he clutched the boy, 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 sound-a, and I shoot koqend it.. Ha! ha! Mebbe I do not miss. Frank was astonished, ‘fot Juan seemed entirely changed. » He no longer cringed and cowered, but he seemed wrought to 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 bluster 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?’” de-- manded the man fn the darkness, impa- |tiently. “At once you must answer, for I sais tog ki : : pe : 4 a mn bas et ete A a I ot dh Rt hy rE FRANK MERRIWELL’S MISSION. 21 care not to remain here and be shot at some more..’’ “Ts that the only condition you have to offer?’’? asked Frank, his heart heavy in his bosom. ‘Si, senor; the only one.”’ “Tf I give up Juan Matias, you will re- lease Ephraim Gallup,- and will. promise that we shall leave the mountains without being harmed ?’’ Si, senor.” Juan breathed heavily. He was await- ing Frank’s decision. Frank had expected he would entreat not to be given up, but he did. nothing of the sort. Within, himself Frank Merriwell was fighting a battle. Juan Matias was of foreign blood, while Ephraim Gallup, brave and true, was a Yankee, an old schoolmate, a true friend and comrade. When it came toa choice between them _ there could be no hesitation on his part. If Juan were not given up Ephraim would be killed immediately, and there could be little doubt but the bandits * would afterward complete their work by slo rez the other boys. By the sac- tifice of the Chilian lad the other two might escape. Frank thought this all over in a mo- _ ment, and then he despised himself for hesitating. He saw his honor blackened, and felt a thrill of shame because he had hesitated an instant. “What do you tell him, Frank?’ Juan asked the question, his voice soft and low. “Tell him!’ said Frank, hoarsely; ‘“There is but one thing to tell him! I took your hand in San Francisco, and swore to be your partner to the bitter end. Do you think I will go back on my oath! No, no—not-even to save Ephraim Gal- lup, my old schoolmate !”’ Then he passed a hand across his fore- head, groaning: _ Poor Ephraim !”’ ‘Come, come!’’ called the impatient voice in the darkness. ‘‘What is to be | your answer, young senor. Will you give } Juan Matias up to save the other and »= yourself???’ ‘No, never!’’ The man uttered an exclamation of as- tonishment in Spanish, ‘It cannot be you are very so much the Ho great fool!’’ he cried. ‘‘Senor Gallup will be killed immediate I carry back your answer. And then you cannot escape. Black Miguel will bring his men and ~ finish the work. All three will fall.. Think—think how it can be that you may save yourself and your friend if you but do give up Juan Matias.’’ “‘T have thought of it. Go ahead with your murderous work! I shall stand by Juan to the end!” “Tf not of yourself, friend you should think. to save him.’’ “‘Tf this proposal were made to him, I know what his answer would be. He would despise me if I gave up Juan to save him and to save myself. You have had my answer.’’ Juan clutched Frank’s arm, and his * he then of your It is your duty voice trembled with emotion, as panted : ‘’Mank-a you, t’ank-a you! You sure be de true friend-a! But it be not right-a —you must not die for me-a. No, no, no! If you can git away, den I go give-a my- self up! Ido dat now. My fazare ‘is dead; my sistare is lost; nothing I have to live for! Tell him, Frank—tell him dat I give myself up.’’ Frank Merriwell was dazed. Could it be possible this was the cringing, shiver- ing, unnerved boy whom he had regarded as a coward a short time ago? Such a thing seemed impossible. ‘“Are you in earnest, Juan?’ he de- manded. “Tam, Frank. Tell-a hintdat.’’ “No!” cried Merriwell; ~ fiercely. ‘(Ephraim would despise me still more when he knew all—and I should hate myself! No! We can make no terms with this villainous marques!’’ “But, think, Frank, think——”’ ‘Juan, the chances are that this isa trick. We have shown them we can fight, and they fear us, boys though we are. If you were given up, and we submitted our- selves into the hands of the bandits, all would be murdered in cold blood. ‘There may be no hope for us, but, at least, we can die fighting !”’ The man in the darkness heard these — words, and he flung back: - . ‘‘All right! Your own way you shall have. ‘The chance you have been given 22 and néw I can never be able to save you some more. Black Miguel will bring to you your death. Adios.” A moment later the horse was heard galloping away. Juan tried to use the rifle once more, Wishing to send a shot after the man; but Frank would not permit it, as he bélieved it would be a waste of lead. *"Oh, Frank!” cried the Chilian boy; “you should have let me go. It be no use at all, for we all have to be kill-aat 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 thepower of the bandits, they could kili 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 oe boy like-a you! You be so grand!” “Oh, that is nonsense, Juan! Iam do- ing what any decent fellow would do— that’s all. Don’t give me too much credit.’’ 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,” hé'said, “I am going down - the valley to see if Tcan find out any- thing concerfing Ephraim.’’ Juan said nothing. “J 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.’’ He expected the Chilian boy would re- moustrate, and great was his surprise ~ when Juan calmly said; “YT will do what I can, Frank. Iam 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 that signal ‘you will know. me.” pod will.’? _ “Tf you hear anything suspicious utter a challenge. a if you get no answer fire. be | eee to the grotieds FRANK MERRIWELL'S MISSION, SY seal? 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. ‘“Adtos! adios! adios?’ 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’tet 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 fate. Good-by ‘*Adtos!” Rifle in hand, Frank crept over the rocks and slipped silently away into the darkness. ‘‘He will never return!’’ said Juan, 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. ‘fAt any rate, I will die fighting,’’ he thought. He held his rifle ready for immediate use, and he could worfk the repeater with astonishing swiftness and accuracy. ‘The darkness seemed to deepen. ‘The close by it, pausing frequently to listen. vicinity of the gap by which they had entered the valley when, of a sudden, blazed‘forth. It seemed that the light was turned upon the boy, and he immediately father’s and sister” s disa ppeartmree.—It swag stream gurgled faintly, and Frank kept _ It seemed that he had reached the- high up at one side of the valley a light i | 1 — ras a cee oO |e ‘and descended the ladder, | _ Stream a short distance. ~ decidedly warm!’ FRANK MERRIWELL’S MISSION. 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 is moving down the valley? This is surely a valley of mysteries.’ For a few seconds the bar of light re- mained motionless, and then it moved. Away it traveled to the south, glaring broadly on one side of the valley, while it gleaméd 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 teach mie, 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 he wall, showing an opening in the ap- parently solid rock. The light came from a flaring torch, 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 descending to the level of the valley by means of a rope or a rope ladder. Frank believed he understood why the teflector had been used. The persons who were coming down into the valley wished to learn if they were likely to be observed by enemies. ‘“Well, they barely missed me,’’ thought the boy. ‘‘If I had not dropped - as if I were shot, they would have seen me.’ Three persons came out of the opening after which the man with the torch fetreated and dis- _ appeared. Ten seconds later the reflector suddenly shot a light into the valley once more. “Great Scott!’’ gasped Frank, who had Tisen to his feet and moved down the “This is getting There seemed to be no place of conceal-! 23° ment near at hand, so he dropped to the ground once 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 searcely 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 feet in width, but now a person conld oe 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. Tt was that the stream had been burmed 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. 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 listen 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 oceur again for some time, and he : gap without being in dries danger from the light. There were arate on guard at the — mouth of the Bap. He cei them speak ‘“They belong to the bandits,” thought a was enabled to find the — 94 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 niche 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 theit 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. In a 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, droppéd 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 tifle 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 will be a hot race for the water- ~ fall,’’ said Frank; ‘‘but we may, be able to make it.”’ su ‘We must make it,’ grated the other boy. ‘‘We’ll.lose aour skulps ef we don’t, | an’ that’s sdrtin” sure. FRANK MERRIWELL’S MISSION. : he sentries at the Silat of the gap ea had been alarmed, and they were expect- sh ing an attempt would be made to eScape let from the valley by passing them. The bandits who had been thrown. into am confusion by Frank’s attack recovered’ | swiftly, and they set out aftertherunning | oo) lads, shouting hoarsely and angrily. Sometimes they fired at random sinto the bo darkness, hoping to wing one of the boys, ey. Both youths knew there was danger a that they might be hit by a chance bullet, ve and they bowed their heads and ran for fer allthat was in them. Ephraim had not been given time to fos wonder at Frank’s unexpected appearance. | All the emotion that he could feel was a] 3, sensation of thankfulness at his escape ’ aa from what seemed certain death. th The stream was reached, and Frank thought of crossing over, hoping to de- ceive their pursuers; but, to his great as- tonishment, the channel was once more bankful with water. Such marvelous changes took place in the valley that it was not strange he should feel dazed and bewildered. Up the stream they went. The bandits were making a great noise behind them, but the lads were holding ms their own, if not gaining. ; Then camé something that caused ; Frank to utter an exclamation of anger and dismay. ° os The light from the reflector was flung | into the valley again. fi a “That light will be the ruin of us!” yo grated Merriwell. ‘“‘Ifitfalls on us it will be kept there, and the bandits will be 7 given a chance to shoot us down.”? Raine 0 “That’s right, b’gosh!’’ — gasped Fs Ephraim. ‘‘But what in thutteration be | Th we goin’ to do?”’ 4 “Stop! I will try something.”’ f They stopped, Frank dropped on one {| did knee, leveled his rifle, and took aim at | ? the light. by The report of the rifle was followed by ha a distinct crash, and the light went out. | Oth ‘*Hooray !’’ cried Ephraim, in delight. 7 “Vou done it slick!’ 3° Ep ‘‘Down!’’ hissed Frank, catching hold} 2% of tle Yankee boy, and yanking him to” the ground. Not a second too soon; for the flash of Frank’s rifle had been seen, and severa he as ng 1 ill be ed be ne ~ * - old st ° sala is. of 4 | y ed 4 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 reached, and they crouched behind the 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, and in vain they called him. He did not answer. The two horses remained in their places, but Juan Matias was gone. CHAPTER X. UNDER THE WATERFALL. *“Gone!”? The boys uttered the word in unison, Staring at each-other through the dark- HCL *“‘Gol dern me ef I kin und-rstand where he kin hev gone to!’’ excla’med Ephraim. “Did yeou tell him to sta’ 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. It is the half-bloods you cannot trust.’’ “Wal, wasn’t Wand a half-blood ?”’ ‘In one sense he is, but the mixture is } good—half Spanish and half English. By half-bloods I mean. the Spanish-Indians. ley are treacherous. ’’ | Wal, Wand didn’t hev any nerve.’’ __ £ don’t know about that. Ithink he did have nerve.’ Then Frank told of the proposal made by the Marques Aguila, and how Juan had offered to give himself up that the other boys might go free. hat clean beats me!’’ acknowledged Ephraim. ‘1 wouldn't hev believed it ef anyboddy but yeou hed tole me.’’ It 1s. the truth, and I am sure the boy Was 1n earnest.” hen yeou don’t think he was skeered away from here by the saound of the 26 shutin’. that has’ bin. goin’ on daown below ??” ™ ‘‘T do not think so, but he may have been.’’ ‘the hosses.’? (No, ) ‘‘Mebbe he kinder thought he could git away better ’thout ’em.”’ “*I do 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; I can hear nothing—except a gal- loping horse.”’ “Hoss is comin’.’? ‘“That’s right.’ ‘‘Who kin be with the critter?’’ ‘The Marques Aguila, perhaps.”’ “*Comin’ here ag’in—for 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 take to the streain. “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. s ‘‘Mebbe that’s right; but where has the critter gone ?”’ ‘Under the waterfall.’’ didn’t take either one uv the : * 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 sha horse and tider appeared some time ago, and now I feel almost certain of it.” “Kf yeou’re right, it beats all natur, ' that’s all!’ “*T will wager I am right, and I am go- ing to prove it.’’ “Yraow? >? *“By looking for the cave—by going eto 1t,”” **Haow ye goin’ into it?”’ ‘““Through the waterfall. ’’ S-Ehuttet|)? *‘t should not be surprised if it proved to be one of the entrances to the bandit’s cave, for I am certain the bandits havea cave near at hand.’’ The Vermonter was silent a moment and then he said: meget: 73 “Well?” **Veou’ve got the longest head uv any _ feller I ever saw, b’gosh! Yeou simply beat all creation!’ Frank laughed a bit, softly. ‘J don’t care about beating all crea- tion,’’ he said. ‘‘If I could fool thése blcodthirsty bandits a bit, about now, I would be well satisfied.’’ “Fool ’em! Yeou’ve nigh done better than that already, by gum! Ef yeou didn’t lick the hull gang fera 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.’’ _ “Wail, 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 : : “T expect to be well “drenched, but it I never thought FRANK MERRIWELL’S MISSION. will pay if I discover what Iam 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. “A light!’ exclaimed Frank. ‘*Can’t | you see it shining on the water? It is be- _ yond the waterfall.” Ephraim saw it, and it gave him an | § uncanny sensation. He felt as if some- | ™ thiyg cold were creeping along his spine. = ‘‘What’s it mean?’’? he hoarsely whis- pered. s ‘It means there is somebody ‘in there - | with a light,’’ replied Frank, exultantly. d ‘It means that I was right in thinking a there is a cave beneath this waterfall. It means The light is gone!’ jn Quick as a flash Frank plunged through the sheet of falling water. A moment 11 later he came back, shaking the water h from his clothes. a “Quick!”? he gurgled, ‘“‘give me my trifle! Come on!’’ b ‘“What do you mean to-do??? 21 *“Go in there.’ Bsr ‘“What did you find?” ‘fA cave, as I thought I should.”” in ‘‘Anything else?’ @ ““Didn’t stop to look for anything else, tk then. Come on.”’ 21 Frank tucked the butt of his revolver | up under his coat, and plunged through | ¢y the waterfall again. ES Hye Ephraim had waded out into the | ,, stream, but he hesitated a moment. Then | he set his teeth, muttering: a ‘“Here goes!’ $c Through he went. +1, It was. no more than a thin sheet of » water, and they were on the other side in wv a moment. Ephraim felt himself grasped, and Frank’s voice whispered in his ear: th ‘*Be still! The man who came in here ahead of us is not far away.’? th Clingine to each other, they moved forward. ’ ty The place was very damp, and the walls dripped moisture, 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 left, and ~ there they halted abruptly, for, im the dis- - tance, gleamed the light of a torch, S “That at showed them aman,’ who - large dry chamber, which well aired, as if it opened to the outerdclimb the stairs. “he Sot re IS i it a L Scns ines = FRANK MERRIWELL’S MISSION. suddenly disappeared as if he had stepped through aa open doorway. “Come on!’ hissed. Frank, close at his heels. and he skurried along that passage, with Ephraim a7 Once or twice the man seemed to halt and listen. At length a flight of rude steps, from the "salad rock, was reached. | Far above them they saw the man hewn By rare good fortune, they made little|climbing upward. noise, and they quickly reached the place | where the man had disappeared. The wonders of that underground place were astounding, but the boys had no There they paused and looked into a| time to stop aiid ett of that. world some way. At the farther side of this chamber were some rude stalls, and two of thése : stalls were occupied by horses. In the middle of this chamber, or un- derground stable, a man was rubbing the water from another horse. Frank knew this was the man who had just ridden into the cavern. Both boys were filled with astonish- ment, for of all the wonderful things they had beheld 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. The man did his work thoroughly, dry- ing the horse well, and then covering the animal with a warm blanket, after which the creature was led into one of the stalls and fed. When this matter had been attended to the man picked up the toreh, which had been thrust upright into a rift in the 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. They 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’,’? Te- _ turned Ephraim. CHAPTER Xf. THE STRUGGLE ON THE LAKE. The passage did not lead straight ahead, but turned and twisted in many directions, so the boys sometimes lost} ‘sight of the torch for a moment. seemed to be| As soon as they dared, they started to 1 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 would hear them ; 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 chambet. Frank clutched Ephraim, and the boys stopped abruptly on the brink of an un- derground lake that lay spread before thein. At a distance on the bosom of this Jake 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 ce 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. ‘IT must stop 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 figure suddenly wprose from the bot- - : 28 tom of the boat, grappled with the man, and a fierce battle began. “Great gosh !’’ gasped Ephraim Gallup. “What in jee-thutter is ther meanin’ 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 to 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 water with a splash, disappearing from . view. The other, with the torchlight show- ing a knife clutched in his trembling hand, leaned over the edge of the boat and peered down into the inky water, as if waiting for his enemy to rise, that he might finish the job with another stroke. Frank and Ephraim knew they had be- held-an underground tragedy, and they felt the blood rushing through their veins and their hearts fluttering. The one who remained in the boat cried out something in Spanish, quickly fling- ing down the deadly knife as if he had been seized by a sudden horror for it. That voice sounded familiar to both lads. ‘The boat swung round a bit, and the light of the torch shone upon the victor in such a way that they could see him dis- tinctly. “Gol dern my boots!’’ gasped the boy from Vermont. ‘‘Why, that’s—that’s Wand!”’ - “Tt is Juan, sure enough Frank. The occupant of the boat heard them, and he suddenly grasped the paddle, start- ing to paddle away. "Yuan !’’ called Frank, It was the Chilian boy, and he paused, with the paddle uplifted. Sian: |?” “°Who call? Dat you, Frank?’ : 6 Ves, ” _ De saints be praise! I fear it be Black Miguel! It sound-a like your voice, but I ~ could not think-a you be here.’’ !” exclaimed FRANK MERRIWELL’S MISSION. “T am here, and so is Ephraim. back.”? Juan dropped the paddle into the water and turned the boat about. Then he pad- dled back to the shore, sprang out, and greeted them with demonstrations of un- speakable joy. ‘*T be ’fraid we never see each odar any miore,’’ he said. ‘‘I be ’fraid we separate for good.”’ ‘‘We did not expect to see you again,”’ confessed Frank. ‘‘We could not conceive what had become of you.’’ ‘‘After you go the water—the waterfall —it stop to run.’’ **T know that.’’ ‘*T cannot hear it some more, and so I go to see what the matter can be. I find it has stopped to run.”’ ‘Ves, yes?” ‘“Then I find the great black hole under the place where the waterfall have been. I light some matches, and I see it is the mouth of acave. Then into it I will go, and so I 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 time, for I have to move slow, slow. Fdo not know how long I have been here, but | it seem that I have been two or three day. | I know it be not so, for I should have ~ starved. But I find the lake at last, and I find the boat. Iam 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 time and think on what I had better to do. Then I heard somebody coming. I know not how I can hide. of the boat I see one blanket that have been left theré by somebody. 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 curLup | under de blanket. I know he paddle de | boat out-a. Bimeby pretty soon he put his foot on my hand, and his boot jam my | fingers flat. I can stand it not any longer— I shall cry with de pain. I get mad-a, Then I take out my knife, jump up, anil fight with de man. I take him so by de surprise dat I get de best of him. I strike Come } In the bottom | It does not © . | } so I find 10le ave e it fa: hes t, 14 ong FRANK MERRIWELL him with de knife—he fall over—he sink! Dat is de end.”’ Juan had grown very excited toward the “ end of his story, and he was shuddering with horror when he had finished. ““Gol dern me!’’ cried Ephraim Gallup. “T-kainder thought yeou didn’t .hev no sand, but I take it all back, by thutter! Yeou’re all right, Wand!”’ Frank then explained how he had been able to save Ephraim, ending by saying: “Tt seems to me that we have reason to |” hope, for fate has aided us to a great ex- tent, and we may yet be able to. outwit Black Miguel and escape.”’ “T nevar go away now till I know something. of. Pepita,’’ declared Juan, fiercely. ‘‘Don’t stay with me—go, go! If you find any way to get out, go! I may die here—I expect dat!’ ‘Juan, we are with you. by each other to the end.’’ ““Gol derned ef we don’t!’’ “You are very good friends—true friends! I wonder if all American boys be like you ?”’ il, but most of them.”’ We will stand } “Not-ail, but mo m. ““Down here we have been taught to ‘do # but 4 ay. ave tt on ok, ike ng 2m ive 10t If, nd nd he up de Ms. 4 ny ul Je hate the Americans. Once we thought there would be war with America. We think we are able to beat the Americans, for everybody say they are cowards all. If they be like what I have seen of them, what fools Chilians would be to try to fight them! America would be able to beat little Chili in so very short time that it would be a great astonishment.” ‘There will be no war between the United States and Chili; but this is no place to talk of such things. At present we must look out for ourselves. What is to be done next ?”’ “The den uv the gol dern bandits is somewhere on t’other side uv this pond.”’ ‘’That must be true. But how large is this lake? That isan interesting question. The stream that flows through the valley must be the outlet of this lake. Can we find the proper landing-place of the farther shore ?”’ “We can try.’’ “And if we get lost on the lake— what???’ ‘“We]] have to take aour chances on that,” “I think you are right. I think there ’S MISSION. 29 are two outlets to this lake, and that the bandits are able to turn the water from one channel to the other. That would ex- plain why the stream ceased to run through the valley, for the water had been turned into the other channel.”’ “But it won’t explain ther fire that run daown the stream), or the fightin’ skeler- ton an’ demon.’ Frank laughed softly. ‘“Those things are easily explained. se ‘Then yeou jest explain um. ‘The fire was caused by burning oil. Oil will float on the surface of the water, and a large amount must have been poured into the stream and then ignited.”’ ‘Wal, I be gol derned! Never thought uv that, an’ I smelt oil when she was burnin’. But haow about t’other thing ?”” ‘““That was a magic lantern trick. It is likely you have seen one of these magic lantern shows that travel around through small country towns?’ “Yes, but great jee-thutter! haow could they do that air trick here? Jest yeou explain that.’’ ‘“The persons who worked the lantern % were hidden in this cave, high up at one side of the valley. There must have been an opening in the wall, like a window. From that opening the figures were flung ~ on the opposite wall.’’ *“‘An’ I was scat! Darn my eyes! But yeou ain’t told whut them thunderin’« noises was what we heard.”’ Sg ‘*They were blasts somewhere in this” cave. What they were for I cannot say.’ ‘“‘Wal, hang a fool! It’s easy enough | to see through things after they’re ex- plained. I don’t know so much as a turkey gobbler!’? After a short time it was decided that™ they had better embark on the bosom of — the lake and try to find a landing-place . on the farther shore. Frank took the paddle and the boat | was sent skimming over the black water | in the same direction that had been | chosen by the unfortunate bandit. Afte1 a pull of about fifteen minutes | they came to the opposite shore, and be- | fore them, to their satisfaction, they saw the great opening to a passage. They landed, and were about to noone into the passage when Frank oes them, saying, angeles 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 tight away! Out with the torch, I say!”’ a 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.’ *‘Gol 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 figtires. From these figures little flashes of fire leaped out, followed by the reports of firearms. “Who be they shutin’ at?’ asked Ephraim, wonderingly. «Somebody in advance,’’ replied Frank. “See—see those others who have no torches. Tliere 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. ‘‘Look—see! One of dem dat run away be a girl I believe dat be Pepita’’ Itmay 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 girl seeming to run as easily as any of them, sometimes giving assistance to one of the men. The other man, who appeared younger and livelier, now and then turned to shoot at the pursuers. In a few moments the fugitives had reached the edge of the lake, and aicry of FRANK MERRIWELL’S MISSION. The boat was run inte the shore. ~ ‘Juan leaped out and embraced his sister, who was neatly overcome with joy. Then one of the men, the one the girl had helped along, grasped the boy, and Juan gave a wild shout of gladness, crying, in Spanish: ‘‘My father—it is my father’? “Don’t waste time;’? swiftly said Frank Merriwell. ‘‘ Moments are precious. Get into the boat. We must be away.’’ He hurried them into the boat, and they pushed out upon the lake. ‘‘Where in thuttder be we goin’?”’ asked Ephraim. ‘‘Ef we go back to the valley we will be in jest as bad scrape as we was.”’ Then the young man who was with »/Pepita and her father spoke up quickly: “*T know one way to get out. Let me have the paddle. ‘Trust to me.’’ ‘Ves, trust to Alvarez,’? urged Pepita. Frank did not hesitate. ‘Take the paddle,’’ he said. ‘If you can get us out of this trap, you shall be well paid.’’ Alvarez, who was a dark, handsome young fellow, took the paddle and sent the boat forward with powerful strokes. All at once he told them to put out the — peri inact despair came from them when they found | _ the boat was not there. |) for vat be Pepita!’’ wildly exclaimed Juan iy sk: ‘at be my sistare!”’ y One of the men had turned again, snap- —} th ping his revolver, which failed to go. It | oe | was empty ! he ‘The pursuers came on with savage yells. ag ““Hold the boat steady,’’ d directed Frank i Merriwell, calmly. ‘‘Iam going todoa_ | th little shooting. Juan, tell your sister and” | “A her companions to lie down.”’ Bees The Chilian boy did so, speakingin 9 7 Spanish. ‘The fugitives heard, the girl | ™ gave acry of joy, and the three fluug it themselves on the ground. it Then Frank Merriwell gave an exhibi- | X tion of shooting that was quite astonish- ing. He worked his rifle swiftly, and | = every bullet seemed billeted. : f ‘Three of the pursuers fell with the first = three shots, and the others turned in con- i : sternation and fled, bullets whistling | t about their ears. } ‘‘Paddle ashore,’’ directed Frank. ; ‘This boat is large enoug h to hold. three i 1 mote. Do not'lose time.?---~— + ea - ees Stee be, xe i | torches, and they did so, none too soon, for twoshots rang out and two bullets skipped past. Still Alvarez pulled forward through) the darkness. It seemed that he paddled thus for more than thirty minutes before he would-allow them to light the torches again. : “Phere is two channel to the stream | that run from this lake—two stream,’’ -Alvarez explained. ‘‘One run through the valley. When that be turned the other run through the channel under the moun- tain. We must go through that channel. It is the only way to get out. We may do it all right, but nobody know about that. Nobody ever go through that way.”’ In a short time they came to a strip of sandy shore. Here the boat touched, Alvarez got out, told them to wait, passed round a point and disappeared. In ten minutes he came back. “‘T have turn the river into the channel through the mountain,’’ he said. ‘‘Now we try it. Wé may drown, we may escape. Anyway, it be better than to fall into the } hand of DieelVictel.’’ i oe “ e ‘They felt a strong current bearing them * onward. In ashort time they came to where a stream was pouring into a black Opening. Into this opening the boat shot on its way to destruction, or to—what? * * x * * It was morning, the sun was shining, and the birds were singing, when the boat came out where the stream poured from a cavern opening. ‘The boat contained all the fugitives, and they shouted with glad- ness when they saw the light of day. They had escaped, for they, were no longer within the snare of the bandits. They came to the shore, and Alvarez, who knew the country, guided them toa lace of safety. : Alvarez se 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 if he would rescue her father, who was a captive 10 Miguel’s power, the outlaw being paid for keeping him by the Marques Aguila. The young bandit had released Senor Matias, choosing his time when he be- lieved the outlaws were giving their en- _ tire attention to the boys in the valley. FRANK MERRIWELL'S MISSION. 31 But he had not selected a favorable moment, and the trick had ‘been discov- ered. ‘Then the bandits pursued, and the three hurried to the lake, hoping to find the boat and get away. The reader knows what followed. Aided by friends, Senor Matias and the® little party succeeded in crossing the mountains into the Argentine Republic. But Matias declared that some day he would return and recover his property, which was a rich mine located in the out- laws’ cave. This mine he had originally discovered, but the outlaws were working it, and it was the sound of their blasts that startled the boys shortly after they entered the valley of mystery. ‘Aguila shall not escape me,’’ declared Senor Matias. ‘‘I have slipped through his fingers, though he told me a hundred times that I should die a captive in my own mine. I will return, and he shall die.”” ‘T hope somebody will kill Black Miguel,’’ grinned Alvarez. ‘‘If he ever sees me again he will kill me.” Frank Merriwell was well satisfied with the result of his trip to Chili. ‘We found your sister, Juan,’’ he swid. ‘(We stood by each other through thick” and thin, and now——”’ : “Now must we part?’? cried the Spanish lad. ‘‘Oh, Frank, you are like to a brother to me!”’ “Gol dern my punkins ef I want to leave ye!’ said Ephraim, excitedly. “Td | like to travel right araound with ye, and ~ ” = “Can’t you do so?”’ ‘(Gan’t 1? Wal, I dunno. I'll see about it. Mebby so. By gum! I will ef I kin™ ° [THE END. ] “PRANK MERRIWELL’S MYSTERIOUS | Fox; or, WILD LiFE ON THE PAMPAS,”” — by the author of ‘‘Frank Merriwell,” will | be published in the next number (26) of the Tip Top LIBRARY. 32 ANN ARBOR, MICH., Messrs. STREET & Situ, Publishers Tre Top Lisprary, New York City. Dear Sirs:—I think everybody likes to know when they do anything that is appreciated, and | suppose you will like to know. what some of your boy readers of the Tip Top LIBRARY think of it. My father brought home the three first copies, and he July 27, 1896. read them all through; then he gave them to me, and | told me if I liked it, I could have it regular. it is immense. It has a good cover, and nicest printed apppearance of any boys’ published, and the stories are great. I father reads them all just as much as I do. will have a long life. 1 think it has the library | notice my { hope it| Very truly yours, ARTHUR WRIGHT. Eav Cuaire, Wis., July 17, 1896. Publishers Tip Tor Linrary, New York City. Drak Sirs :—I want tolet you know what we think of | your fine library, the Trp Top. There are about twenty of us boys who read it regular, and we have formed a club called the Tip Top Boys, and our meetings are | always held the same day the Tip Top arrives at the | Whenever we meet the first | rule is to give three cheers and a tiger for the Trp Tor} LIBRARY and our club. We have some fine times camp- | dealer’s where we buy it. ing out here. We call the captain of our club Frank Merriwell, but his right name is Frank Jackson. just like the hero of the stories, and we all have to do shat hesays. At our last meeting we all voted that the | Trp Top Lisrary has the best stories for boys we ever read, and that we would write and tell you. Au WINTERS, Tom ALBRIGHT, JOHN FARRADAY,. BIRMINGHAM, ALA., July 7, 1896. Publishers Tre Top Lisrary. Dear Sirs:—I have been taking the Tir 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 Top. Yours truly, ALFRED CONRADY. He is | FRANK MERRIWELL’S MISSION, MiILLS’ LETTER WRITER. This book of over one hundred pages contains complete instrue- 3 , together with samples of riety of subject—Penmanship, Spelling, Gram- , Use of Capitals, Abbreviations, style; advice to for the press, business letters, letters of introduc- tion, application, recommendation, social, congratulation, love | courtship, ete , the art of secret writing, | rules of conducting public | mar, Punctu | those who write and business laws and maxims, 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 by receipt of ten cents. Address MA oe AL eee 25 Rose street, New York. WRESTLING. | History tells us that w restling was the first form of athletic | pastime. Without doubt, it gives strength and firniness, combined | with quickness and pliability, to the limbs, vigor to the body, coolness and discrimination to the head and elasticity to the tem- | per, the whole forming an energetic combination of the greatest | power to be found in man. The hook is entitled Proressor MULDOON’S WRESTLING. It is fully illustrated, and will be sent postpaid on receipt of ten cents. Address MANUAL LIBRARY, 25 Rose street, New York. AMATEUR PHOTOGRAPHY. Many people imagine that a photographer's camera is a difficult | machine to handle, and that the work is dirty and disagreeable. All | this isa mistake. Photography is a clean, light, und pleasant ac- complishment, within the reach of all, The camera will prove a | friend, reporter, and helper. With a very inexpensive camera any boy or girl can now learn not only to take good pictures, but pictures that there is everyw here a demand for at remunerative prices. A | complete guide to this fascinating art, entitled AMATEUR MANUAL Address 25. Rose pestreet, New York. HUNTER AND ANGLER. OF PHOTOGRAPHY, will be sent on receipt often cents. MANUAL LIBRARY, Everybody who takes pleasure in the sports of hunting and angling needs this book. There is no sport so well fitted to make men of boys as hunting. The fact of being in the open air and | exercising is so evidently beneficial that it is surprising that. there | are not more hunters and angiers, This book Will be sent to any | address on receipt often cents, Address, MANUAL LIBRARY, 25 Rose street, New York. The Tip Top Maa 41G Quarterly — Large Pages FOR COLLELLLALLLLLLAALAAAAALGEEE Fifty Cents. Numbers 1 to rank Merriwell Stories have been bound in one volume including thirteen stories complete and unabridged, and thirteen illuminated photo-engraved illustrations. The Frank Merriwell Stories detail the pranks, trials and bravery to the core. 13 of the famous F of a true-hearted American lad—brave They have received universal commendation, and the Tip Top Quarterly is issued in response to numerous inquiries for a complete series of the Merriwell stories.