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

for a

Table of

his head or feet. He hadn't much time to get ready for the fall, and so maybe it wasn't just as he wanted it. I don't think it was, either, with Mickey or me. Such things ain't generally in this part of the world. Maybe some of the ot

the outside of the cavern, with the means at command for assisting Mickey to the surface, but, the Indians

im. This, under the circumstances, was exceedingly difficult, as it was not likely that the Irishman would suspect that his young friend had succeeded in reaching the o

pt as close to the edge as he deemed safe, and emitted

so that he could catch any response; but the dim, soothing murmur of

, and he will come back, so he wil

killful and wise enough to learn from the trail which had first told them the story, that a boy and man had been caught in the cavern, and it was very evident that they all believed that there was no other avenue of escape except that by whic

d had emerged by that means into the outer world, the natural supposition would be that his companion had done the same, and that, therefore, neither of the fugitives were below, the inevitable conclusion being that the tables had been completely turne

hopes were raised to the highest pitch by hearing it answered. In his excitement he thru

rable distance from the opening, and that he heard and understood the situation. To make matters still more cer

e! Whenever you can get the chance, get hold of the l

r it was likely that some one of the half dozen Apaches understood English well eno

stand me, Mic

red when the desired response was made,

ve to do is to wait for him to get the chance, and he wil

had to do, but, at the same tim

r, "one of those Apaches will try to climb up it, and I will have to cut it

ficulty; but none presented itself, and he concluded that it was an inevi

, and that night was much nearer than he supposed. Nearly twenty-four hours had elapsed since he had tasted food, and, although he felt somewhat faint, he was not troubled with hunger. He made up his mind to make no effort to obtain food until he should succeed in bring

very far from here, and, if I can fi

ridge, where he had lain so long watching the movements of the Apaches. This led him directly behind a mass of boulders and r

grass where they had been left undisturbed for several hours. They were all fine-looking animals, every one of them-not one having saddle or bridle, and nothing, indeed, excepting the long thong, which, like the lasso, was made of bull'

ould just pick out two of the best here, stampede the others, and then gallop toward home as fa

In addition to the rich pasture, a rivulet of clear, cold water flowed by, within re

p at the stranger, and one or two gave a faint whinney, a

to take one of you-that is, if Mickey could go along, for I don't intend to leave him, so long as I know he's alive. You seem prett

refreshing water, and then made a

e the slip, and he sent a half-dozen fresh ones to look me up. They were all strangers to me, and I am sure I never saw them

he hoped was to give Mickey O'Rooney a chance for his life. It seemed to him that it would not be safe to attempt it until the sun went down. His theory was that the Apaches would not remain directly beneath

f the question for them to escape by the opening, which was at such a distance over their heads, had scattered to search for some ot

t it descend slowly, gently and noiselessly to the bottom, permitting it to pass through his hands in such a

ext five minutes. He was startled by feel

ter their whistle, no matter how cautiously made. So, by way of reply, Fred gave the lasso, severa

owing that a heavy weight had suddenly fastened upon i