The Cave in the Mountain / A Sequel to In the Pecos Country

ange

Table of

n't beat any one

hemselves, and had been talking in guarded tones. The Irishman had been silent for several minutes, when the lad asked him a question and

a faithful sentinel, when serious danger threatened; but he believed that there was nothing to be feared on the pr

red. "You seem to want it so bad

slumber upon his part had departed, and he determined that if there

n the sand, "thinking all the time that he'll get a chance to make a meal off of us. So

was to drive out the wolf, to compel him to show up, as a card player might say. Considering the

e must be some embers under the ashes. Micke

g them at once to burst into a crackling flame. This speedily radiated enough light for his purpose, which was simply to find one of those "fat" pieces of p

it and half upon the earth, sleeping as soundly as if in his bed at home. Beyond him and in every direction was the b

above, and, as soon as he had his torch ready and had taken all his bearings, he drew the ash

d began moving slowly toward them. The animal did not stir until the lad was within twenty

hes," mused the little fellow. "I hope he hasn't, and

If that should go out, leaving them in utter darkness, the wolf would immediately

bright flame, after which he resumed his advance upon his foe. At the very fi

fore they were observed a dozen yards or so further on. The wolf was manifestly retreating. He had no fancy for that terrible torch

ay he'll go. If he's a wolf or fox, the hole may be so small that Mickey ca

ight line. He would appear on his right, where he would stare at the advancing torch until i

llowed up his advantage, with high hopes of discovering the secret which was so important to him

tion of the torch puzzled him, no doubt. He had seen fire before, and probably had been burnt-so he knew enough to give it a wi

ards, and had no idea that he was so far away from his slumbering friend. The fact was that the singular cave was only one among a thousand similar

It could not have been more sinuous or winding. The course of the cavern, in reality, was as winding as that of the ravine in which he had effected his escape from the Apaches, and from whic

emed in such a fair way of accomplishment, that he took no note of his danger. The wolf was leading him fo

ew, they would have been in here long ago. They wouldn't stay fooling around that opening, where they're likely to get a

ing it rapidly round his head every few minutes. When he ceased each performance, the fla

kness. In shape and action it was so much like the mountain wolves which had besieged him some night

re was about fifty of them under the tree. One of them is enough for me, if he doesn't give us the

hich he would be should his torch fail, and the other bring a pack of ravenous

said as he held it before him, and

in his hand and that which was burning, it could be seen that it was literally surcharged with resin-so much so that, after being cut, it had overflowe

water dripping down upon him as he passed. The fact, too, that more than once both sides of the cave were visible

ance, "and I'm getting tired of this tramping. I hope the wolf hasn't gone beyond the door he came in by,