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

nd Count

Table of

losed his eyes to the impending peril, nor had given way to despair at the trying position in which he was placed. But the stillness remaine

teadily unwound, until the disturbed lad was certain the bottom of

ssed by what was taking place before his eyes; "and if I did not, I could t

was under way. It could not be that he was still asleep; he had no fears on that score. It might be, too, that the Irishman had arrived at the conclusion that the situa

hen the Apache stopped lowering the lasso, and, loo

cave, or else Mickey has fired at it," sa

up the lasso again, and a short time thereafter the roll of blanket was brought to the surface. It was carefully examined by all the group. The dirt on

riments had been satisfactory and they were prepared to venture upon the more dang

om head to foot. Great pains were taken to hide his head and feet from view, the warrior lying upon his back, and suffering himself to be "done up" with as

send down one of their number, thinking that if Mickey does see it he'll believe

ile, as a rule, the Indians of the Southwest are treacherous and cowardly, there are occasio

ches braced themselves, with the lasso grasped between them, while a fourth carefully p

in plain view of the rifleman who had separated the thong which supported the blanket in the first attempt. The Indian must have experienced stra

sending a bullet through it, he hasn't go

ion as if not the slightest particle of danger threatened. Minute after minute passed, and the lad was in deep despair. It could not be, he was compelled to think, that Mickey O'Rooney was anywhere in the vicinity. He must be a long distance away, searching for his young friend, not knowing, and, perhaps, not caring about the Apaches. He might

paying-out process had continued some minutes longer

edskins, as in the case of men who have just finished a laborious job. They looked into each others faces, an

Good luck seems to go with everything they undertake,

roved. The behavior of the group around the opening showed that the Indians were holding communication with their ally below, probably by a system of signals with the lasso, such as the

was secured about a jutting point in a rock near at hand. It was fixed so immovably that it c

ught hold of it and slid down through the opening so rapidly, that it looked as if he had lost his hold and dropped out of

ered Fred to himself; "and t

to provide against accident. If the lasso should fail them at a critical moment, they would be in a bad predicament, cut off from all means of getting out, as the skylight was the only avenue kn

but he was almost ready to believe that they were all that the Indians could ask. The sixth Apache, who remained visible, took matters very comfortably. He stretched himself flat upon the ground, with his head ha

nd sent messages-most probably by the subterranean telegraph-but he shifted his position very little. While he was thus engage

ved the desperate scheme in his mind; but, whatever his plan was,

at up, with his back to him, and as close to the edge of the opening as was prudent, while he held the lasso in his hand, like th

rectly toward the redskin, who harbored no suspicion that there was any of his race in his neighborhood. The plan the lad had resolved upon required nerve, resolution and quic

ght with one of these fierce warriors, but he was prepared, even for that. His hand rested upon the hilt of his

ful peril. His foe had his rifle within easy reach, and, if he turned too soon, he could pick off his you