Part 22 (2/2)
The guards at the entrance to the cave had been changed Those now there were two young anization
Inside of the cave Captain Moore, Joe, and Darry, having untied each other's bonds, held a long consultation, the upshot of which was that they intended to escape if the deed could be acco you that ill run a big risk,” said the captain ”But as for ainst Colonel Fairfield and the soldiers at the fort, and I feel itmy commander”
”Whatever you do, Will, I will back you up, so far as I am able,” was his brother's answer
”And I will back you up, too,” came from Darry ”But we must be cautious, for these desperadoes will not hesitate to shoot, and shoot to kill” And the boy shi+vered in spite of himself, for no matter how brave a personhis life
The prisoners had been ordered to keep to the back of the cave, but after all but the guards had retired Captain Moore h to walk carefully to the rowled one of the guards, pro his rifle
”Don't be hard on us,” pleaded the captain ”Let et a little fresh air It's vile in the back of the cave”
”Orders were to keep you out of sight,” growled the second guard
”All right, I'll go back as soon as I've cleaned outaround sharply, trying to locate the other desperadoes and ascertain what the chances of escape really were
As he gazed first to one side and then the other, he caught sight of a hand waving in the air A second later he made out the head and shoulders of old Benson, as the scout rose to his feet behind soht that the scout was at hand to assist the officer wonderfully, and he drew a deep breath of satisfaction
”Are you going back soon?” growled one of the guards
”Yes,” answered the captain ”But I say,” he went on, ”why can't we corowled the other guard
”It ht be better for you to do so”
”We know our own business best, captain You just go back as you was ordered to do If you don't----”
”I don't feel safe in the cave,overhead?”
”Pounding overhead?”
”Yes”
”Don't know of any pounding Do you, Ike?”
”Nary a bit,” replied the other guard
By this ti officer
”Watch out,” whispered Captain Moore ”Old Benson is outside, in the bushes on the left”