Part 22 (1/2)
”You are tellingtrail----”
”It's the truth, Benson But, say, don't be rough onDat shootin'----”
”I know all about you, Anderson Now co down, the old scout untied the rascal's feet, that hehole
Here they found the other two desperadoes sitting at the botto upon what old Benson intended to do next
”If you leave us here we'll die of hunger and thirst,” said one
”No, you won't,” answered the old scout ”You've got your hands to ith, and if you aint lazy you can dig your way to the top inside of twenty-four hours”
”And our hosses?”
”I'll take care of the at the fort”
”At the fort!”
”Exactly, and in the e for the ani at Hank Leeson's cabin”
With the desperadoes safe for the ti at the bottom of the hole, old Benson set off without delay for the cave near Bald Top Mountain, as it was called for years by Rocky Mountain pioneers He rode his own horse, leading the others by his lariat, which he always carried with hier ahead, and that if he wanted to assist his friends he must move with caution He knew that Captain Moore had been made a prisoner, but whether or not Joe and Darry had been captured also was still a question
Coht of the spot where the cave was located, he dismounted and tied all the horses in the woods at the foot of a slope Then he crawled forward until he ithin a hundred feet of the entrance to the cave
He was just in time to see Fetter depart on his mission The desperado passed within fifty yards of where the horses were stationed, and for several minutes Benson was fearful that the ani in another direction, and so saw nothing of the steeds
As darkness had come on, the desperadoes had lit a camp-fire near the entrance to the cave
Two uard The others took it easy, and did very much as they pleased All waited for Riley and the others to return with Fetter, bringing in old Benson as a prisoner
As the scout heard the talk about hihter than ever
”Reckon you'd be surprised to knoas so close,” he muttered ”Well, if it comes to a mix-up, I'll try to hold up my end, just you see if I don't!”
CHAPTER XIX
ESCAPING IN THE DARKNESS
It was after ht when the camp settled down to rest Fetter had not returned, and Matt Gilroy waslost a good portion of the night previous in traveling, and he lay doith the others