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THE NEBRASKA ADVERTISER
W. XV. HANOKKS I'ublUher.
TJEMAHA,
NEBRASKA-
CLACK SHEEP.
,Krom their folded matco they wander far,
Their ways seem harsh and wild;
'They follow the bed: o a baleful star,
Their paths aro Cream-bcsutleL
Yet haply they sought but a wider range,
Some loftier mountain slops,
.And little rocked of the country strango
1oyond tho gatea of hope.
Am' haply a bell with a luring call
Summoned their feet to tread
'Midst tho cruel rocks where the. deep pit
fall And tho lurking snaro ore spread.
"Maybe, In spltp of their tameless dam
Of outcast liberty.
They're sick at heart for the homely ways
Where their gathered brothers be.
And oft at night, when tho plains fall dark
And the hills loom' large and dim,
.For the shepherd's voice they mutely hark,
And their souls go out to him.
Meanwhile, "Black sheep! blaclc shecpl" we
cry,
Safe In the Inner fold;
And maybe they hear, nnd wonder why,
And marvel, out In the. cold.
Richard Burton, In Atlantic Monthly.
"jF&
newer
iDVEJplTUgf
W
CAPTJHJ
(Copyright, i3o8, by S. S. McClure.
CITAPTEU X. Continued.
The rest of the part now retired,
Aver j' and his- daughter occupying one
tent and the three younger men the
other, while Dick Taylor loosened his
revolver in his belt, made Mire that
each cartridge was in place, and then
took up his post in the dark shadow of
a huge rock here no ray of light could
betray his presence to a watcher.
Soon not a bound was to be heard but
the low murmur of his companions'
voices as they discussed the situation,
then these died out, and a chorus of
snores' testified to the soundness of
their slumber.
II our afer hour passed until it wns
fully midnight. Then the. miner entered
the tent where his partner was sleeping
:ind laid his hand lightly on his shoul
der. la an instant the sleeper -was wide
awake, and a moment later the two
were outside.
"Hear anything?" asked Tarbox softly-
"No," replied the other, "but some
how I feel uncomfortable. I 'never had
this feelingyetbutwhatthere was sure
to be trouble, ahead. I wish it was day
ilght. Keep out of sight as muchas you
can, Joe. 1 didn't say much before the
rest, but I believe that scoundrel we
saw at Laduc's place would think noth
ing of shooting a man in the back if he
had any cause to do it. It's a pity this
all happened. Wo might have all got us
much as we wanted before anyone
found out about it. Now there's no tell
ing what may happen."
Five minutes later he wnsasleep, and
Tarbox was standing sentry over the
silent camp.
It was nearly daybreak when he re
plenished the lire, for the air grew very
"Don't you count mo?" pouted Clara.
chilly. Soon a gray streak appeared in
the southeast, and as Tom came out of
2ii tent Uio sun was just rising over
the rolling land over which they had
traveled the day before.
The rest of the party were soon
awake, and Taylor said at once:
"I believe we have not been, seen yet,
but we must get out of sight before
breakfast. Joe, turn the horses loose
and start them off. The rest of us will
begin to pack in the stuff."
llei grasped a heavy package as he
spoke, and the others followed hts ex
ample When they reachetl the face of
Hie cliff ho paused and said, solemnly:
"I am going to show you a wonderful
beeret All 1 want Is your word that
you will never reveal It until 1 give you
permission. Will you promise this?"
Ills three companions readily gave
their promise, and looked curiousry
about them
Their guide stepped up to the rocky
wall ind carefully pushed abide the
MmE,
fisfe" eJlm
V. JsrX (-J TJ !.. H
ressraw
mats of moss nnd creepers, disclosing to
their wondering gaze the same aperture
from which he had Issued the previous
night. Looking Inside, they could see
that for several feet the rock overhead
was unbroken, forming an arch like n
doorway at the height of some seven or
eight feet, but the light which showed
bejond was apparently from above.
Taylor led the way with his burden
after looping the creepers to onesideto
prevent them from being torn away. A
few steps brought them beyond the arch
of rock, and a simultaneous- exclama
tion of astonishment broke from all the
men.
They found themselves standing nt
the bottom of a deep chasm in t he f olid
rock. On cither side of them the walls
rose perpendicularly to the height of
some 50 feet as smoothly as if chiseled
by human agency. Far uboc them a
narrow strip of blue sky wound like a
ribbon, and in front, at a distance of a
few yards, n sharp curve in the rocky
way shut off all further view.
Where they stood the passage wid
ened abruptly for a space of some ten
feet, and Taylor said:
"This is the bed of some old stream
which must have run here thousands of
years to wear its way down through the
rock to this depth. Itight here where
we are standing it seems to have backed
up nnd made a sort of basin, which ac
counts for the rocks being worn out so
much wider. When there was a freshet
the water couldn't get out through the
opening fast enough. But we must be
getting the rest of the goods in here.
Drop your loads here till we have it all
out of sight."
The others obeyed and as they went
back and forth he told them how he had
discovered the opening.
"We came down from Selkirk," he
said, "but we struck off somewhere
north of where the trail divides, ltwas
last sum.mer. We were prospecting and
headed over this way. We got all mixed
up in the woods and at last we came
out at the other end of the curious
gull. We found gold and stayed there.
One day I followed this place down
from the other end and came out here."
It required some time to carry all the
goods into the opening, and although
Tarbox soon returned and even the
vounir cirl assisted with all her
strength it was an hour later when
Dick Taylor pulled the sheltering mass
over the entrance and hid it from view,
"There!
We are safe now from all
prying eyes. The next thing is to get.
all this stuff into camp. 1 t'll be a tough
job, but there's plenty of time and live
of us to do it."
"Don't you count me?" pouted Clara
Avery. "See the great, heavy bundle I
just brought in here."
"O, of course," laughed Taylor.
"Everyone can help, and you seem to be
a plucky little one. We shall lind plen
ty of work for you mending and cook
ing for us. Can you cook?"
"Can she cook?" repeated her father,
proudly. "Dick, yon just wait till she
turns out a sample. We shan't have to
live as we did in. the old days."
"Good! Well, talking about eating.
reminds nic that we haven't had any
breakfast. T couldn't wait to get this
stuff out of sight till after breakfast,
but. now it's different. We will leave
all we can't take at one load and go
up to our camp now. We can comeback
nnd get the rest after we have eaten.
Don't load up too heavy. It's not very
smooth walking where we are going."
Throwing a package over his shoul
der he led the way until the turn in
the passage was reached. Beyond this
the way grew narrower, until there was
barely room to walk. Twenty yards
farther there was a sudden rise for
about ten feet, and the walls appeared
to be alternate layers of rock, gravel
and dirt.
Soon it was all a sharp rise, and they
found it extremely diJHcull to carry
their burdens.
"You sqe -why we "have no need for
the horses," remarked Tarbox. "1 have
sent them racing down the trail as far
as 1 could. We couldn't get them up
here, and they wouldn't find anything
to live on if we could. 1 hope they will
stay away from this locality. They
would arouse suspicion if anyone saw
them."
Another five minutes' climb and they
emerged on a rocky platform, and Tay
lor said, quietly:
"There! Jn front of you lies our
camp, and gold enough to make you all
rich, if we can only keep the place to
ourselves long enough. We have food
enough for a year, and all we want is to
be let alone." '
Tom and Green stared blankly about
them, but their untrained eyes told
them nothing. A huge ridge of rock
ran from where they stood across the
valley before them, and was lost in the
dense timber half n mile away. In the
foreground the heavy moss which cov
ered the ground was cut up in places by
the channels of defunct torrents and
dotted with fragments of rock, some of
which seemed to have pierced the
bosom of the soil from below, while
others had been detached from the
ridge at some time and rolled into the
valley.
On the left of the ridge a small
stream, scarcely two feet wide, was
running swiftly, and pointing to its
bank Taylor added:
"See those two holes and the two
heaps of dirt! Well, we've been waiting
for water to wash that dirt out. We've
been thawing out that ground with tires
all wln'cr so we could dig. Those two
heaps are full of gold and it'll run ten
dollars to the pan."
Avery alone seemed to pay little or no
attention to his friend's words. He
was examining the scene before him
critically, blithe hardly glanced at tho
two heaps of dirt upon which the oth
ers gazed with intense Interest. He
made no comment, however, nnd when
Taylor moved forward lie followed him
without a word.
"Now I'll show you where we live."
There was no sign of a tent or hut
visible, but they soon saw that he was
heading for a stout bush not far from
the little stream ami auout loo feet
from where they had emerged fromthe
natural tunnel.
Behind this bush they saw an open
ing partially concealed from iew by a
big bowlder, while others had been
added by human hands to make conceal
ment more effectual.
"This is our house," said Taylor. "It
will do nicely for your daughter, Bill,
and the rest of us can use the tents.
It's hot. enough for the rest of the sum
mer." The' cave wns about ten feet square,
nnd was not altogether the work of
nature. The rock was very soft, and
the two men hod spent many hours
enlarging It, until It was n very com
fortable place of abode. Several skins
covered the floor, and Clara Avery gave
a cry of delight as she entered.
"I'll soon have breakfast ready now,"
she said.
While she wns preparing it her father
strolled off by himself, and examined
the ground with a thoughtful air. He
came to the cave when his daughter
called that the food was ready, but his
appetite semed to be poor, nnd he had
little to say. Even his daughter noticed
his preoccupation, but whatever was
troubling him he kept it to himself,
and joined the others, after breakfast,
in the work of bringing up the rest of
the goods, which proved no easy ask.
Three hours later, when the last
package had bcon safely piled in the
cave, Dick Taylor said thoughtfully:
"Why wouldn't it be a good plan to
block up the passage? Those two
men are too near to suit me, Joe.
They've got my letter and are sure to
find where we camped last night if they
look long enough. The very fact that
we let our horses go will let them know
that we must have gone where we could
not possibly take them. They arc sure
to see the animals. Suppose they go
nosing round nnd lind the opening un
der the moss? We are on American soil
and they have as much right here as we
have."
"Hut one of them tried to murder
me," cried Tom, indignantly, "and he
did rob me!"
"We might make him give up whathc
stole," was the quiet reply, "but you
have no courts here and can't prove
anything against him. I think I'll take
a look along the trail and see if there
are any signs of them."
Turning on his heel abruptly he
made his way up the incline until he
reached the top of the cliff, where he
shaded his eyes with both hands, for
the sun was glaring. A moment later
he called his companions, who hast
ened to join him.
"Look!" he said, as they reached his
side.
Following his outstretched arm the
others saw a mounted man not more
than a mile from the foot of the cliff
and making directly for it. That it was
the mate or his companion there could
be no doubt. He was leading several
pack horses, and .Too Tarbox at once
recognized the outfit.
"It's one of them, sure enough!" he
exclaimed. "They've managed to find
their way here, and now they will see
the ashes of our fire. They'll make
one in the same place, but that's all the
good it'll do them. .Still, I think we'd
better stop up that hole, so they can't
get through if they do find it."
"Better do it at once, then," replied
Taylor, and the two men started for
the entrance to the gully. When they
had reached it Tarbox pointed to a
big bowlder lying almost on the edge
of the opening and said:
"Call the rest of them and we will
roll this chap down. It won't go far be
fore it wedges, and then no living man
can come through."
But it required half an hour's labori
ous work to accomplish this. They
were obliged to fell a small tree for a
lever, and even then it required their
united labor to move the heavy bowl
der. Inch by inch, however, they forced
it along until it overbalanced. Then
withn sullen crash it fell into the rocky
bed and bounded clown the steep way
for some 30 yards until it reached a
turn. Here it wedged itself fast, com
pletely blocking the pabsageway.
But, mingled with the crash of its
lodgment, the men distinctly heard a
muflled shout from beyond it, which
cnused them to stare blankly at each
other.
CHAPTER XI.
JUST TOO LATE.
When Joe Tarbox left the mate and
his companion and started on his why
to Dyea the latter watched him until
he disappeared behind the first hill.
Then he turned to Bider and rubbed his
hands together gleefully.
"You done that fine!" lie exclaimed.
"We are all right now! Let's mukc
tracks. I'm itchin' ter git my hands on
some of the yaller boys. Did yer notice
how that feller choked himself off when
he started ter say somethln' 'bout n
nugget? 1 wouldn't give a ceut for his
chances of secin' 'em agin."
Their horses were soon ready, and
once more the two adveuturers took up
their route. Several times they missed
the trail, but after four days' travel
they came to the white cliff mentioned
In the letter.
"Make sure what It says," said tho
miner, and Bider produced the preeiotiB
document at once.
"It says keep to the left," ho an
nounced. "All right. Here goes, but 1 don't sec
no signs of any trail. We'll have to
keep our eyes open for that feller's
tracks, I suppose," rejoined Bider,
wheeling his horse as he spoke. "It's
a mighty blind sort of a route along
here, but I'll find it if there's gold at the
end of our trip waltln' for us. Sec if I
don't. I'm as good lis one o' them dl
vinin' rods any time."
He seemed to be right, for he picked
nls way nlong with marvelous accuracy
until at length they reached an open
spot. Here he paused and said:
"It's guesswork now, but we'd bet
ter keep as nigh the same direction as
wo kin. We ain't fur from the end
now."
But for once he was wrong. Had he
diverged more to the left he would have
"What's ho driving at?" muttered Bowers to
himself.
soon reached the turn from which a
view of the gorge was to be had. As it
was they inclined to the right, and us
it was nearly dark they decided to
camp for the night. Hank Bowers' rest
loss eyes were always on the alert, and
as they were unsaddling their animals
he suddenly gripped Bider's arm with
one hand and pointed with the other.
"See that smoke!" he exclaimed.
"Look!"
Bider did look, and there, plainly de
fined against the setting sun, was a col
umn of black smoke curling upward far
to the southwest.
"What do you suppose it is?" he in
quired. "That is a signal! No fool would try
to cook with wet wood when there's
plenty o' dry ter be had ! You stay hero
and don't move till I git back!"
Without another word he strode off
in the direction of the smoke, which
seemed to be beyond a heavily wooded
hill not more than a mile away. At the
light of the hill stood a ragged rock
like a sentinel on duty, and toward this
he bent his steps. He was not long
leaching it and from its shelter he
peered cautiously around theouter cor
ner. A party of men were unsaddling their
horses near the foot of a high cliff, and,
as he looked, he distinctly saw a woman
among them. The twilightwasdeepen
ing fast, and lie could not distinguish
any features, buthe muttered aloud:
"If that don't beat nil! I don't un
derstand it nohow. I must know who
they be, an' what they're after!"
With stealthy steps he drew near the
party, sheltering himself easily behind
the bowlders as he proceeded. Soon he
was near enough to be certain that the
men were strangers to him, and he
watched the thick smoke with curiosi
ty. He did not. see Joe Tarbox, for the
latter had disappeared before the
watcher drew near, but as the latter
crouched behind a rock he suddenly
uttered a savage oath.
"Sold! Curse him! He must havo
been on to me!"
For there before him stood the man
he had parted with on the trail, while a
fifth man wns shaking hands heartily
with one of the party, his joyous shout
of "Avery!" being plainly distinguish
able. For a few moments Hank Bowers
watched the preparations for cumping,
then, apparently satisfied that the par
ty was settled for the night, he stole
noiselessly away, his evil face liglited
up with a look of triumph.
TO 1)1 CONTINUED
All Assured Knot.
Mr. Mover Ouch! Wow! Blanket
blank the blnnkety blank
Mrs. Mover (indignantly) My fa
ther never swore In my presence in his
life.
Mr. Moer (us indignant) Then your
father never burned his hand on a red
hot iron in your presence in his life.
Judge.
Diiiui'Htli! Keoiiomy.
Mrs. Mulligan The grocer charged
me .10 eints a pound for this mate.
Mulligan -Bcdad! an thot's too high.
A mon wild hov to ate half u dozen
pounds in order to git his money's
worth, Judge.
CUT OFF FROM PRETORIA.
(Ion. DoWct Again Interfere with tlis
ltrltlnli Linn of Cnntinuiiloiitliin, Cap
turing 100 Ainu und Moron.
Loudon, July III. Gen. DcWct hns
again succeeded In cutting Lord Hob
erts' communications, both by rail
way and telegraph, and captured 100
of the highbinders. The story of the
federal commander's bold raid comes
in the form of a telegram from Gen.
Forester Walker, dated at Cape Town,
Sunday, forwarding a dispatch from
Gen. Knox, ns follows:
Kroonstnd, July 22. I-'ollowlng Is from
riroadwood, sent by dispatch rider to llo
nlngsprult, wired thenco to Kroonstnd:
Have followed commando slnco July 1G.
Hard, sharp fighting nt l'nlmlctfnntcln
July IP. Prevented from pursuing laager
by darkness. Eight hundred Hocrs found.
Our casualties S killed and 70 wounded.
Reach Vnnlkriints to-day. Kncmy doubled
Its way back through Paardokrnl In
darkness. Bluill march to-morrow to
Hoodovanl station. Send supplies for
'1,000 men nnd horses, also any news of tho
enemy's movements. I believe tho com
mando consists of 2,000 men and four
guns nnd Is accompanied by President
Stcyn and both tho DoWots. Tho wlro
and main lino of tho railway north oC
llonlngsprult havo been cut and also tho
telegraph to Pretoria via Potchefstroom.
According to my Information DoWct linn
crossed tho railway and Is going north.
Gen. Kelly-Kenny telegraphs from
nioemfonteln under dato of Sunday, July
22: Tho railway has been cut north of
llonlngsprult and a supply train nnd 100
Highlanders captured by tho enemy. A
report was received this morning that it
largo forco of tho enemy Is moving on
llonlngsprult. All communication with
Pretoria Is cut off. Tho second nnd third
cavalry brigades aro following tho
enemy.
OFFERS TO MEDIATE.
McKlnlny I,Wtnii to Appeal of Chinese
Onvurninnnt nml 8 tut on Condition Upon
'Which lln Will Act.
Washington, July 21. The presi
dent has listened to the appeal of ilia
Chinese government as transmitted
through .Minister Wu and has signi
fied his willingness to mediate be
tween tho imperial government nnd
the powers, but only upon conditions
which first must be met by the Chi
nese government. The exact nature
of the terms proposed by the state,
department cannot bu slated until to
day, when it is expected publication
will be made of the text of the Chi
nese appeal and of tho president's
message, it is known, however, that
the answer is entirely consistent with
the statement of principles laid down
by Secretary Hay in his identical noto
to the powers, and, moreover, it ac
cepts as truth'il the Chinese state
ments relative to tho safety of tho
foreign ministers at Pekin.
G00DN0W DISCREDITS IT.
CoiimiI nt Shanghai llotlnvn thn Conger
DlHimtch 1 rorgnry All Kuropo
TIlllllCN IilkMTlU.
Washington, July 21. The stato de
partment has received a number of
dispatches from foreign governments
relating to the Conger dispatch and
also from our olllcials in China, in
cluding Consul General Goodnow.
Without exception they discredit tho
accuracy of the dispatch and advance
various theories to show its lack of;
genuineness. Tho entire burden of
the answers indicate a disposition not
to move the relief expedition on tho
evidence furnished by the Conger dis
patch. Notwithstanding these mes
sages Secretary Hay personally con
tinues 1o credit the Conger dispatch,
although ho says that there Is a
possibility of deception.
b'liiokoil tho HhnrllT Out.
Huntsville, Ala., July a J. Elijah
Clark, a negro who Sunday assaulted
Susan Priest, a lH-ycar-old girl, was
taken from jail in this city last night
and lynched near the spot where his.
crime was committed. His body wuh
riddled with bullets. Sheriff Fulg
ham defended his prisoner to the hist,
but n dense smoke from a combina
tion of tar, feathers and oil fired by
the crns-ed mob was too much for
him and ho was dragged from the jail
and placed under a physician's care.
Tho negro was identified by his vic
tim. Onroiilmo Sturk Mm).
Vinita, T. T., July 21. After a long
period of Imprisonment, which he en
dured more like a ferocious beast than,
like a human being, Gcronimo, one of
the most bloodthirsty Indians that
ever figured In history, has gone
stark mad. He is a prisoner at Fort
Sill, Ok. It cost the government
$1,000,000 and hundreds of lives be
fore ho was safely behind iron bnrs.
Tiiiiiinimy'H Wir Campaign Fund.
New York, July 21. Tammany hall
will havo a campaign fund this fall of
about $2,r00,000. This sum will I'm
raised by assessments upon ofiicc
holdcrs and others who share in tho
patronage of tho municipal govern
ment, amounting lo $80,000,000 a year.
Most of this money, it is said, will bo
spent in New York.
Ornnt and Hurry tn On to Clilnii.
Washington, July 24. Although tho
orders have not been issued, it is
pretty generally understood in mili
tary circles that Brig. Gen. Fred
Grant, U. S. V.', nnd Gen. Thomas
Barry have been selected for assign
ment to duty with the military divi
sion in Chiuu.
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