Part 20 (2/2)

”Hang the hoss!” he murmured half aloud, yet, all told, he did not bla ”Couldn't do it, eh, boy?” he said, and the beast shook hisalone, then!” went on Rasco, and struck the horse on the flank

Aent the steed, and this tiained without much difficulty

”Now you're out, how am I ter make it?”

It was easy to ask this question, but not so easy to answer it Rasco tried to run up the spongy incline and sank to his knees

”Ain't no use; I'll try a new garowled

Fortunately, Rasco was in the habit of carrying, in cowboy fashi+on, a lariat suspended from his belt This he noound and with a dexterous throw caught the outer loop over a sturdy bush growing over one of the perpendicular sides of the opening

Testing the lariat, to an to ascend hand over hand This was no light task, yet it was speedily accoh of relief he found himself safe once more

But in the meantime the horse had trotted off, alarrass Rasco saw this snake a ht before he could get a chance to dispatch it

The trail of the horse led again back to the ravine, but not in the direction of the cave Bound to secure the ani in pursuit

He was in the ravine, and had just caught sight of his steed oncefrom a distance These were the shots fired by pawnee Brown at the wildcat He listened intently, but nobelow the level of the surrounding country, he was unable to locate the discharge of firear somewhar,” he mused ”Can thet be pawnee shootin', or is it dick an' the others?”

He secured the horse and began to ascend out of the ravine, when a murmur of voices broke upon his ears One of the voices sounded fae

Instantly dis, he tied his aniain, and worked his way noiselessly through the brush The voices ca, Rasco saw on horseback Louis Vorlange and half a dozen cavalryht to detain dick as a horse thief

”I feel certain they will co ”I saw at least two boo yonder ravine”

”They will coe ”Ita rush they will try to sneak in during the night, one at a time”

”We'll be ready for 'enificantly, to Vorlange, otten the reward offered if, in a battle he should lay pawnee Brown and dick low At the words Vorlange nodded

”When will the reinforcements be up this way?” asked Ross

”I have already sent word to headquarters,” answered Vorlange ”The lieutenant is sure to respond without delay”

”Do you reckon the boomers knoe are on hand to stop the,” answered Vorlange ”If pawnee Brown leads his men in this direction they will fall directly into a trap--if the lieutenant does as I have advised, and I think he will”

”I hope the booive us a chance to wipe 'eht started, don't you fear,” answered Vorlange

The spy meant what he said Too cowardly to meet pawnee Brown face to face, he wanted to reat scout should be killed