FRANK 
 I'S 
 DARING
 
 [BRARY 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 LOS ANGELES 
 
 IN MEMORY OF 
 EDWIN CORLE 
 
 PRESENTED BY 
 JEAN CORLE
 
 FRANK MERRIWELL'S DARING
 
 " Rig Ga.be is dead or gone," said Merriwell with sincere regret. (.See page 208)
 
 FRANK MERRIWELL'S 
 DARING 
 
 BY 
 
 BURT L. STANDISH 
 
 AUTHOR OF 
 
 'Frank Merriwell's Schooldays," " Frank Merriwell's Trip West," 
 
 "Frank Merriwell's Chums," " Frank Merriwell's Foes," 
 
 " Frank Merriwell Down South," etc. 
 
 PHILADELPHIA 
 
 DAVID McKAY, PUBLISHER 
 
 604-8 SOUTH WASHINGTON SQUARE
 
 Copyright, 190) 
 7 STREET & SMITH 
 
 Frk Mtmwtir* Darfe|
 
 CONTENTS 
 
 I Five Boys on Wheels .... 7 
 
 II An Unyielding Father .... 21 
 
 III William Ayer is Surprised ... 29 
 
 IV Frank and Jack . . . . . 44 
 
 V A Dash to the Rescue .... 56 
 
 VI The Mad Prophet 65 
 
 VII In the Dungeon 80 
 
 VIII The Black Tribunal .... 88 
 
 IX The Pit of Fire 96 
 
 X Adrift in the Desert .... 107 
 XI On to the Mountains . . . .123 
 
 XII The Skeleton 134 
 
 XIII "Indians!" . 146 
 
 XIV Blue Wolf Tries the Bicycle . . . 156 
 
 XV Trick Riding 167 
 
 XVI Escape . 181 
 
 XVII The Mystery Explained . . . .196 
 
 XVIII A Night Adventure .... 208 
 
 XIX The Story 223 
 
 2035376
 
 CONTENTS 
 
 XX Another Escape .... 231 
 
 XXI At Lake Tahoe 241 
 
 XXII A Race on the Lake . . . . 254 
 
 XXIII The Hermit's Power .... 268 
 
 XXIV Recovery 280 
 
 XXV Lost Underground .... 289 
 
 XXVI Brother and Sister .... 298 
 
 XXVII Old Friends 307 
 
 XXVIII Bart Hodge Makes a Confession . 315 
 
 XXIX Frank Becomes Alarmed . . . 326 
 
 XXX Arrest and Escape .... 337 
 
 XXXI Isa Isban 347 
 
 XXXII Hodge Reappears .... 364 
 
 XXXIII A Knock at the Door . . . -375 
 
 XXXIV The Sheriff's Shot .... 38? 
 
 XXXV Escape Conclusion .... 393
 
 Frank Merriwell's Daring. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 FIVE BOYS ON WHEELS. 
 
 "Here we come, boys ! Clear the track !" 
 
 "Look out, Jack, or you'll get going so fast you 
 can't stop." 
 
 "Dat dar lad dun fink he's a flyin' star !" came from 
 a colored youth, riding with the four white boys. 
 "Fust t'ing he knows he'll go ter pieces in one grand 
 bust-up, suah as yo' is boahn!" 
 
 The scene was a rocky road leading down a long 
 mountainside. Far below was a beautiful valley, one 
 'of the finest in the whole State of Utah. 
 
 It was a sunny day and the boys on wheels were in 
 the best of spirits. 
 
 The acknowledged leader of the crowd, although he 
 was not now in advance, was Frank Merriwell, a tall, 
 well-built youth, brave and manly to the core, and an 
 all-around athlete.
 
 8 Five Boys on Wheels. 
 
 With Frank were Harry Rattleton, Jack Diamond, 
 a Virginia youth, and Bruce Browning, all students 
 from Yale College. Harry was Frank's roommate 
 and own particular chum, although Jack was a close 
 second, while Bruce, the corpulent member of the 
 group, was a warm friend to all. 
 
 The fifth of the party was Toots, a colored boy. 
 
 The five had started from City Hall, New York 
 City, on a journey westward to San Francisco, Cali- 
 fornia. 
 
 Numerous adventures had been encountered, but the 
 boys had escaped without serious injury, although on 
 more than one occasion matters had looked exceed- 
 ingly black for them. 
 
 "We are going to come out on top after all, boys," 
 said Frank, as they pedaled along; "that is, if Jack 
 doesn't ride so hard that he breaks his neck." 
 
 "Ride hard!" cried Rattleton, in derision. "As if 
 any of us have ever taken the chances you've taken." 
 
 "Well, I took them when I had to," returned Frank, 
 modestly. 
 
 "Not always. As, for instance, when you rode 
 through the tunnel in darkness." 
 
 "Well, I admit that was an extra risk."
 
 Five Boys on Wheels. 9 
 
 By this time Jack was so far in advance that Frank 
 thought it best to go after him and see that nothing 
 went wrong. 
 
 Away he sped, and presently caught sight once more 
 of Jack Diamond. 
 
 The young Virginian was going forward as fast as 
 ever, and it was with difficulty that Frank caught up 
 with him, 
 
 "Take it easy, Jack," he called out "No use of 
 hurrying." 
 
 "What's the next town, anyway?" 
 
 "A small place called Lehi Junction." 
 
 "Hope it's got a good hotel or restaurant; I'm as 
 hungry as a bear." 
 
 "So am I." 
 
 Presently, from a great distance, they heard the 
 whistle of a locomotive. 
 
 "Train coming," said Jack. "But I don't see any 
 railroad tracks." 
 
 "They must be around the turn of the road. Go 
 slow, or we may get caught." 
 
 Both decreased their speed, and presently came in 
 sight of the tracks, which wound in and out of the 
 mountains just north of Utah Lake.
 
 io Five Boys on Wheels. 
 
 At one of these turns was located Lehi Junction, a 
 collection of fifteen or twenty houses, a couple of 
 stores and combined saloon and hotel. 
 
 "Hurrah, here's an eating place!" cried Jack. "My, 
 but I won't punish a thing when I get my feet under 
 the table." 
 
 "Here comes the train," came from Frank. "Look 
 out, don't get on that track !" 
 
 Both turned away and started to ride in circles while 
 the short train should pass, for the "junction" was 
 several hundred feet beyond the settlement proper. 
 
 "By Jove! look at that!" 
 
 It was Jack who uttered the cry, and he suddenly 
 nodded in the direction of the railroad track. 
 
 Frank gazed in the direction, and his heart gave a 
 leap of horror. 
 
 A young man had walked on the track directly in 
 front of the oncoming train. 
 
 He was engaged in reading a letter, which he held 
 in both hands, and was evidently totally unaware of 
 his danger. 
 
 "He'll be killed!" gasped Jack Diamond. 
 
 "Not if I can save him/' came from Frank Merri- 
 well, and with one leap he reached the ground. An-
 
 Five Boys on Wheels n 
 
 other leap took him to the stranger's side and he 
 grasped the man by the arm and dragged him from 
 the track just as the train swept past. 
 
 "You must be walking in your sleep, my friend!" 
 exclaimed Frank, with a short laugh. "Certainly you 
 had a close call that trip. If I hadn't seen you were 
 dazed the engine would have killed you." 
 
 "It wouldn't have made any difference if it had!" 
 came hoarsely from the lips of the rescued one. "I 
 don't know whether to thank you or not for saving 
 me." 
 
 Frank looked at him ini amazement. 
 
 "Are you crazy, man?" -he cried. "Why, you are 
 young and strong and in the best of health. How is it 
 that you do not care whether you live or die?" 
 
 "Oh, it wouldn't interest you to hear the story of 
 Tom Whitcomb. Poor little Lona!" 
 
 "Girl in it!" cried Frank. "I knew it! Always is 
 a girl in it when a young fellow like you gets to feel- 
 ing that way. Never mind, old man ; get a brace on, 
 and let her go. She's not the only one. There are 
 others, and you are the kind of chap to take your 
 choice." 
 
 Tom Whitcomb was a good-looking fellow, with a
 
 12 Five Boys on Wheels. 
 
 fine, intellectual face, and he was well dressed and 
 prosperous in appearance. 
 
 "You do not understand/' he said, huskily. "Never 
 mind. I can't explain. It would take too long. 
 Poor little Lona!" 
 
 "Great Scott, man!" he cried. "Something has 
 happened to your sweetheart. I do understand now, 
 and you have my sincerest sympathy. She is dead?" 
 
 "Worse than dead." 
 
 "Worse? It can't be! I don't wish to pry into 
 
 your affairs, but well, I won't ask questions. I see 
 
 it has hit you hard. That's why you were walking 
 
 ' along that track as if you were in a trance. Lucky I 
 
 saw you." 
 
 "Yes, I will thank you for that." 
 
 The young man dropped the letter, which Frank 
 picked up and handed to him, saying : 
 
 "You may not care to lose this." 
 
 "No, no!" cried Whitcomb. "It is from her the 
 last letter I may ever receive from her! She has ap- 
 pealed to me to save her, but I do not know where he 
 has taken her, and he will seal her to him before I can 
 reach her. I might find her I might find him and 
 kill him!"
 
 Five Boys on Wheels. 13 
 
 Frank's interest increased. 
 
 "As long as there is life there is hope," he quoted. 
 "If she has made an appeal to you, there may be a 
 chance of saving her." 
 
 Whitcomb took a long look at Merriwell. 
 
 "Do you know," he said, "I like your face. It is all 
 right. You are from the East. I can tell it by your 
 speech. You cut the letter r out of everything you 
 say." 
 
 "You are mistaken," smiled Frank, "I do not cut it 
 out. I use the letter, but I do not gargle my throat 
 with it, as seems to be the habit among you Western- 
 ers." 
 
 "Well, I knew you were from the East by your 
 speech. I suppose the *Y' on your sweater stands for 
 the bicycle club to which you belong?" 
 
 "That 'Y' stands for Yale College." 
 
 "Then you are a college man. Say, I have a desire 
 to tell you everything. I must tell somebody. I be- 
 lieve you are the one. Do you care to listen ?" 
 
 "Unburden your soul, old man. I'll give you my 
 sympathy, if nothing else. Where shall we go? I pre- 
 sume you do not care to have anybody and everybody 
 hear your story?"
 
 14 Five Boys on Wheels. 
 
 "No. Come with me." 
 
 "Wait till I speak to my friends." 
 
 The others had come up, and, for the first time, Tom 
 Whitcomb saw Merriwell's four friends, all of whom 
 were dressed in uniform bicycle suits. 
 
 Frank spoke a few words to his friends, and then 
 followed Whitcomb to a spot where they were quite 
 alone, and the young man told him his love story, 
 which will not be given in full here. It is enough to 
 say that he loved Lona Ayer, who lived with her father 
 in Provo, and they were engaged. Tom confessed 
 that he was a member of the Mormon church, but he 
 did not believe in polygamy. Frank was rather sur- 
 prised to hear him speak of Brigham Young in terms 
 that were not altogether respectful. 
 
 Having told how he became acquainted with Lona 
 Ayer, and how they were finally engaged, Tom ex- 
 plained that some business connected with the Mor- 
 mon church had brought to Provo one Asaph Hold- 
 fast, an elder who believed in the doctrines of Brig- 
 ham. Holdfast had been a guest at the home of Wil- 
 liam Ayer, and there he had seen Lona. She had 
 written Tom about the old elder and how he had 
 watched her with his greedy eyes. She had said that
 
 Five Boys on Wheels. 15 
 
 she avoided him as much as possible, but that letter 
 had not prepared him for the one that was to follow. 
 
 Her second letter had been mailed from Nephi, far 
 to the south. It was despairing and hysterical, and it 
 was plain she had not been given opportunity to finish 
 it, for it was broken off in the middle. That letter 
 told Whitcomb how Elder Holdfast had demanded her 
 as an addition to his wives, and how the man seemed 
 to exercise a hypnotic influence over her father, who 
 had agreed to all his demands. Then, when she re- 
 belled, she had been led by her father to believe she 
 would not be forced to marry the elder, but that she 
 must go away at once. 
 
 They started, and on the journey the girl had dis- 
 covered she was being taken to a hidden town amid 
 the mountains, where polygamy was practiced as it had 
 once been practiced in Salt Lake City. She could not 
 escape, but she succeeded in sending the letter to Tom, 
 begging him to follow and save her. 
 
 "That is the story," said Whitcomb, in conclusion ; 
 "but I do not know where he has taken her, so how am 
 I to follow?" 
 
 "You are a Mormon, and you should be able to 
 find out where this town is located."
 
 1 6 Five Boys on Wheels. 
 
 "At that, I might not be able to reach it in time." 
 
 "Take chances. You might." 
 
 "But what could I do? alone!" 
 
 "Make a struggle. Tell you what I'll do!" 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 "I'll go with you." 
 
 "Whitcomb was surprised. 
 
 "Why should you?" he asked. 
 
 "Because I am interested in you, old man, and I 
 want you to save that girl and marry her. The whole 
 crowd will go with you, if you want them. My 
 friends will stick to me like glue." 
 
 A new light came to Tom Whitcomb's face. 
 
 "You give me a ray of hope!" he cried. "We can 
 try it. If we can find the town if we can!" 
 
 "It must be somewhere to the south somewhere 
 down past Nephi. That is a clew." 
 
 "But the railroad branches at Nephi, which is a 
 junction." 
 
 "You must find out which branch to take. What 
 is the good of being a Mormon if you can't find out 
 where this polygamous town is located! Surely there 
 are many Mormons who know all about it. Make a
 
 Five Boys on Wheels. 17 
 
 hustle, man get a gait on ! How many of my friends 
 shall I take along?" 
 
 "Not all of them. One will be enough. Are you a 
 fast rider?" 
 
 "Well, excuse my blushes! I don't like to say." 
 
 "All right Take the best rider you have as a com- 
 panion. If you stick to me, the time may come when 
 you'll have to ride for your lives. Let him be a good 
 fighter, too, for it is not likely we'll be able to save 
 Lona without a fight." 
 
 "Diamond is the man," said Frank. "He can ride 
 like the wind, and he is a fighter from 'way back when 
 he gets started. In fact, he enjoys a fight better than 
 a square meal." 
 
 "Then he is the one. We will start for Provo at 
 once. There I have friends who may be able to put 
 us on the trail. Oh, if we can save her !" 
 
 "We will, old man, if she stands Elder Holdfast off 
 a little. All we need is time." 
 
 "But how shall I be able to pay you ?" 
 
 "Look here, don't you talk to us about pay. I am 
 in this thing for the racket, and I know Jack will be 
 ready enough to take a hand. Pay! Well, say! If 
 you hint at such a thing again don't do it! Elder
 
 1 8 Five Boys on Wheels. 
 
 Asaph Holdfast, we're on your trail, and you'll find us 
 harder to dodge than bullets. We won't do a thing 
 to you when we catch you !" 
 
 Being 1 a Mormon, Tom Whitcomb was able to ob- 
 tain full information concerning the Lost Tribe of 
 Israel, to which he had heard Elder Holdfast be- 
 longed. 
 
 He learned the exact location of the town of Bethel, 
 which lay in the Valley of Bethsada, and, with Frank 
 Merriwell and Jack Diamond as companions, he lost 
 no time in reaching the vicinity of the valley. 
 
 But the valley was guarded, and Whitcomb knew it 
 would be a difficult thing to enter it. Still it was said 
 there was a way of getting into it over the mountains, 
 for an old hermit, known as Old Lonely, entered and 
 left the valley at wilL 
 
 Old Lonely was "cracked," for he believed himself 
 a prophet, and he boasted that nothing on earth could 
 injure him. He often entered Bethel and "prophe 
 sied," but although he was not of the Mormon faith, 
 he was never molested, as the inhabitants of the valley 
 believed him quite harmless. 
 
 While Frank and Jack sought to find a way of get- 
 ting into the valley without the assistance of other
 
 Five Boys on Wheels. 19 
 
 parties, Whitcomb sought Old Lonely, hoping to ob- 
 tain aid from the hermit. 
 
 Between them it was agreed that if the bicycle boys 
 reached the town first everything was to be done to 
 delay the "sealing" of Lona Ayer to Holdfast till 
 Whitcomb appeared. 
 
 If Whitcomb got in first, he would try to hold things 
 up till his friends arrived, and the trio would make a 
 desperate attempt to carry off the girl. 
 
 At a distance, it had seemed that the task of rescu- 
 ing Lona could be accomplished easily, but when the 
 boys found how hard it was to get into the valley they 
 began to realize what kind of a job they had tackled. 
 
 Frank Merriwell, however, was not the lad to be 
 frightened by anything, no matter how formidable it 
 appeared, and it was mainly through his nerve and 
 skill that he and Jack found a way down from the 
 heights above into the valley, after obtaining a posi- 
 tion where they could view the town. 
 
 But Merriwell was forced to confess that they could 
 not return as they had entered. Even though they 
 could scale those steeps themselves, where they had 
 let their wheels down with the aid of a rope, those
 
 20 Five Boys on Wheels. 
 
 wheels could not be dragged up through the scraggy 
 timber. 
 
 They had entered the "Forbidden Valley," but 
 would they ever get out to tell of their adventures? 
 
 If so, they would be the first Gentiles to boast of such 
 a thing. 
 
 "We'll do our best for the girl, Jack, if we can find 
 her," said Frank. 
 
 "That's what we will," nodded Diamond, determina- 
 tion written on his dark face. "But it is about a hun- 
 dred to one we'll not be able to find her."
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 AN UNYIELDING FATHER. 
 
 "Arise, daughter," said William Ayer, touching the 
 shoulder of the sleeping girl, whose sad yet pretty face 
 bore traces that told she had wept herself to sleep. 
 "The morning has dawned, and this is the day that 
 shall witness the consummation of thy happiness." 
 
 With a little pitful cry, the girl opened her eyes and 
 shrank from him. Then, seeing his face, she gave a 
 murmur of relief. 
 
 "Oh, it is you, father !" she said. "How you fright- 
 ened me! I didn't know I thought it might be that 
 that horrid creature." 
 
 "Of whom do you speak in such terms, my daugh- 
 ter?" gravely asked William Ayer. "Whom do you 
 designate by the epithet 'horrid creature ?' ' 
 
 "Why, there is but one person I could possibly 
 mean, father." 
 
 "Name that person, daughter." 
 
 "Elder Asaph Holdfast, of course,"
 
 32 An Unyielding Father. 
 
 William Ayer held up both hands, an expression of 
 horror and sorrow on his face. 
 
 "Oh, my daughter!" he cried. "I -hoped thy heart 
 would be softened during the night and thy rebellious 
 spirit would be bowed down with contrition, but it 
 seems I hoped vainly. Elder Holdfast is a chosen 
 servant of the Lord, and a good and holy man." 
 
 "Elder Holdfast is a contemptible old wretch ! Oh, 
 how I despise and fear him!" she cried, sitting bolt 
 upright in bed and making a wild gesture. "He has 
 a thin, sanctimonious old face, and his hair and beard 
 are snowy white, but his age can command for him no 
 respect, as his evil nature is shown in his narrow little 
 eyes. Oh, father! the look I have seen in those eyes 
 when they rested on me it makes me shudder with 
 horror to think of it !" 
 
 "You are hysterical, daughter !" said William Ayer, 
 attempting to soothe her. "You are given to vain 
 fancies and foolish thoughts. In the eyes of the good 
 Elder Holdfast thou hast seen nothing but the tender- 
 est regard for you and your spiritual welfare." 
 
 "Bosh!" cried the girl, sharply. "Tender regard, 
 indeed! Such tender regard as the wolf gives the 
 lamb it has selected for its prey!"
 
 An Unyielding Father. 2) 
 
 "Ah, but you will discover your mistake when the 
 good elder has made thee his wife," 
 
 "Which he shall never do, father! I refuse to be- 
 come the ninth Mrs. Holdfast. Asaph Holdfast al- 
 ready has seven living wives and one has died. Ugh !" 
 she cried, with a shiver ; "it is a horrible thing to think 
 about! And it is said that polygamy is no longer 
 practiced in Utah !" 
 
 "That is said to deceive the wicked Gentiles, who 
 would rob our religion of all that makes it distinct and 
 uplifting, if -he could." 
 
 "And do you you, my father ! believe that polyg- 
 amy makes the Mormon religion 'uplifting?' Heaven 
 pity you if you do ! Polygamy has been the shame and 
 disgrace of the Mormons! To-day all the younger 
 members of the church acknowledge it." 
 
 "Ah, but that is because they have fallen away. 
 Brigham Young was inspired of God, and he had 
 many wives. Here in this lost Valley of Bethsada the 
 Brighamites have built up a town that is shut off from 
 the rest of the world a town of which few outside its 
 boundaries know anything at all. Here the Mormon 
 religion is practiced as it was practiced in Salt Lake 
 City in the days of Brigham."
 
 24 An Unyielding Father. 
 
 "And -here you have dragged me, at the command 
 Df that old wretch Holdfast!" 
 
 "Hold, daughter! Thou shalt not speak thus dis- 
 respectfully of Elder Holdfast! I forbid it!" 
 
 "I don't care !" cried the girl, spiritedly. "He is an 
 old wretch! Some day the law will reach him, and 
 then he'll suffer. And you, father you deceived me," 
 she reproachfully declared. "You sanctioned my en- 
 gagement to Tom Whitcomb " 
 
 "That was before Elder Holdfast had seen thee and 
 claimed thee, daughter." 
 
 "What evil power can that man have over you, 
 father? Why could he, at his command, cause us to 
 leave our pretty home in Provo and come here to this 
 hidden town amid the mountains? And you know I 
 would not have come here had I known at first where 
 you were taking me." 
 
 "In this place, my child, deception was necessary in 
 order to accomplish a great good." 
 
 "A great evil, you mean! I tell you, father, I will 
 not marry that old wretch! Tom Whitcomb will 
 come here and save me from him." 
 
 "It is a vain hope, daughter, for Whitcomb cannot 
 know whither thou hast gone."
 
 An Unyielding Father. 25 
 
 The girl was silent, but a strange look passed over 
 her face a look that her father failed to note. 
 
 "This is the day that thou art to be sealed to Elder 
 Holdfast," said William Ayer. "Already the sun 
 hath risen, and it is a beautiful morning. Array thy- 
 self in thy best apparel, daughter, and banish that sad 
 look from thy face. Time will convince thee of thy 
 mistake. I bid thee nay, I command thee be gen- 
 tle and respectful toward the good elder. In time thou 
 shalt learn to love him." 
 
 "Love him !" cried the girl, burying her face in her 
 hands "love that old wretch ! Never ! I detest him 
 now, and I shall detest him always! Oh, father!'* 
 and she suddenly caught both his hands "my dear 
 father! I beg you not to put this shame and sorrow 
 upon me ! You have told me how much you love me, 
 and I 'have seen it in your eyes. Prove it now by sav- 
 ing me from Asaph Holdfast! You must see how 
 much I suffer you must know it will kill me ! I can- 
 not live through it!" 
 
 He released one of his hands and slowly stroked 
 her hair. For a moment a light of pity shone from 
 his eyes, but it seemed that he crushed down the pity in
 
 26 An Unyielding Father. 
 
 his -heart and hardened his soul to carry out what he 
 firmly believed was his duty. 
 
 "Daughter," he said, coldly, "thou art excited and 
 hysterical now. You will see things in a different 
 light very soon. It has been ordained that thou shalt 
 become the wife of Elder Holdfast, and it is not in my 
 power to withhold thee from him." 
 
 "Oh, you can't be so cruel so heartless!" sobbed 
 the poor girl, her whole shapely body racked by emo- 
 tion. "I am your child your own little Lona! You 
 have held me in your arms and rocked me to sleep, and, 
 with my head on your breast, with your arms about 
 me, I have felt that you would shield and protect me 
 always. I was so happy then, dear father! And 
 now now is it possible that you are the one to turn 
 against me and force me into this shame ! Oh, father ! 
 father!" 
 
 For a moment the man turned his face away. Then 
 he set his teeth and, when he looked at her again, his 
 face was cold and calm as usual. 
 
 "I tell you it is the will of one whose power I can- 
 not deny," he declared. "It is useless for you to rebel, 
 my daughter." 
 
 "Ah !" she sobbed, her blue eyes raining tears, "how
 
 An Unyielding Father. y 
 
 I wish I had died when I was a happy child! How 
 can it be you would force me to this when you know 
 what has happened to the plural wives almost all over 
 "Utah? They have been set aside, and only the first 
 wife remains as the true wife of the husband. Think 
 of their wretched position of their shame! And you 
 would force me to this you, my father !" 
 
 "The law may have said that none but the first wife 
 is the legal wife of the husband," said William Ayer; 
 "but that law was made by men and Gentiles. The 
 law of God says all those wives are true and legal 
 wives, and the law of God cannot err. For them there 
 is no shame, and greater shall be their reward here- 
 after because of what they may suffer at present. As 
 for you, their fate can never be yours. The people 
 here in this beautiful valley are called the Lost Tribe 
 of Israel, and lost they are to the outside world. No 
 railroads shall ever come here, and Gentiles will not 
 be permitted in this valley. Here polygamy shall con- 
 tinue and flourish long after you have passed away, so 
 have no fear that the fate of plural wives in other parts 
 shall befall you." 
 
 "You are crazy!" cried the girl. "Such a thing 
 Cannot continue! Some time the Gentiles will pour in
 
 28 An Unyielding Father. 
 
 here, and then the railroad will come. With it shall 
 come the putting away of the plural wives. But I'll 
 not live to see that time! If I am forced into this by 
 the father I have loved. It will kill me!" 
 
 "Nonsense, daughter ! Let us have no further folly. 
 Arise, as I have commanded, and don thy gayest attire. 
 At ten Elder Holdfast will come for thee and take thee 
 to the Endowment House, where thou shall be sealed 
 unto him. Be ready." 
 
 Then he turned and left the chamber. 
 
 Shaking, sobbing, moaning, the girl flung herself 
 down on the bed, burying her face in the pillows. 
 
 "Oh, Tom Tom, my sweetheart!" she cried; 
 "where are you now? Did you receive my letter? 
 Will you be able to find me? Will you reach me in 
 time? If not, if you are too late, you will find me 
 when I am dead!"
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 WILLIAM AYER IS SURPRISED. 
 
 Through the pretty little Mormon town of Bethel, 
 which stood in the Valley of Bethsada, hidden deep in 
 the heart of the mountains, slowly and sedately walked 
 Elder Asaph Holdfast, accompanied by one of his seven 
 living wives, a plain, stout, matronly-looking woman. 
 
 Elder Holdfast had long white hair and a long white 
 beard, and he seemed to be wrapped about with an air 
 of self-conscious righteousness. At a distance there 
 was something patriarchal in his appearance, but his 
 face was cold and immobile, with a sternness about it 
 that told he was a man of unbending will and unfor- 
 giving nature. 
 
 The face of the seventh Mrs. Holdfast, who ac- 
 companied him, had a meek, bovine look, plainly show- 
 ing the woman was not of a high order of intelligence. 
 
 Mrs. Holdfast did not walk abreast her lord and 
 master, but kept a step to the rear, showing she fully 
 felt her utter inferiority and unworthiness. 
 
 Not a word did the good Elder Holdfast say, but
 
 30 William Ayer is Surprised. 
 
 there was on his face a steady determination of pur- 
 pose, and it is possible that his eyes, which were set 
 close together, betrayed something of the pleasant an- 
 ticipation that rilled his soul. 
 
 For was not this the day that should see him sealed 
 to the charming- and beautiful daughter of a brother 
 Mormon, who must feel it an untold honor to have his 
 only and dearly beloved child become the ninth wife of 
 one so high in the Mormon church as Elder Asaph 
 Holdfast! 
 
 The sun was shining and the birds were singing. 
 It seemed that all the world was filled with joy and 
 happiness, and surely there could be nothing of sorrow 
 and wrong in the beautiful little town of Bethel, where 
 the Mormon religion, as expounded by the Prophet 
 Brigham, was practiced and held full sway. 
 
 Here no Gentile had ever come to bring discord and 
 unhappiness. The regular approaches to the valley 
 were guarded by chosen ones, whose duty it was to 
 turn back any suspicious persons who could not give 
 sure and convincing proof that they were of the Mor- 
 mon faith and endowed members of the church in 
 good standing. 
 
 Elder Holdfast approached a small cottage, and
 
 William Ayer is Surprised. Ji 
 
 rapped slowly and sedately on the door, which was 
 opened almost immediately by William Ayer. 
 
 "Ah, Brother Ayer," said the elder, offering his 
 hand, "you see I have come, as appointed. 
 
 "Ah, Elder Holdfast," said the other, accepting the 
 proffered hand, but failing to give it a very cordial 
 pressure, "I am glad to see thee, and I trust thou art 
 well. Wilt thou enter?" 
 
 The elder entered. He did not offer to introduce 
 the wife who had accompanied him, but William Ayer 
 placed a chair for her, and bade her sit down, which 
 she did, after the elder had taken a chair. 
 
 Elder Holdfast's eyes were keen, and he detected a 
 troubled look on the face of the other man. Of this 
 he did not speak at once, but observed : 
 
 "Brother Ayer, I trust your daughter is in readi- 
 ness to accompany us to the Endowment House, for the 
 appointed hour is at hand." 
 
 "Elder Holdfast," said Ayer, hesitatingly, "it sa^ 
 dens me to inform thee that my daughter is not well.' 1 
 
 The cold look on the face of the Mormon elder grew 
 colder still, and he regarded Ayer with sternness. 
 
 At last -he spoke : 
 
 "I saw by thy face that something was amiss. But
 
 32 William Ayer is Surprised. 
 
 thou knowest, brother, that this is a mater that cannot 
 idly be put off to please the whim of a girl." 
 
 "I know, I know," said the father, hastily; "but in 
 truth Lona is not well. You should remember, as I 
 have told you, that she had formed a foolish attach- 
 ment for a young man in Provo." 
 
 "I remember that thou didst speak of it, Brother 
 Ayer. If I remember aright, the young man's name 
 is Whitcomb, a son of Jarius Whitcomb, who during 
 life was a firm believer in the Mormon doctrine and a 
 useful member of the church. Am I right?" 
 
 "Thou art right." 
 
 "Let me see," continued the elder, "Brother Whit- 
 comb was at one time one of the destroying ones 
 chosen by the Prophet Brigham for a great and holy 
 purpose." 
 
 "In that thou art right." 
 
 "But the son, I am told, has been beguiled by the 
 false teaching of the ungodly Gentiles, and hath turned 
 in a measure from the religion of his father." 
 
 "It is even so." 
 
 "Then," said Elder Holdfast, "there is no reason 
 why we should give him any consideration, and cer-
 
 William Ayer is Surprised. 33 
 
 tain it must be, Brother Ayer, that you could not de- 
 sire your daughter to wed such a man." 
 
 "I had rather she would not," said Ayer, weakly. 
 
 "Had rather!" came sternly and reprovingly from 
 Asaph Holdfast's lips. "My brother, I am aston- 
 ished nay, I am amazed! It is something to which, 
 under no circumstances, you should give your con- 
 sent." 
 
 William Ayer seemed to feel the sting of the good 
 elder's reproval, and he hung his head for a moment. 
 Then, with an attempt at self-justification, he looked 
 up and said: 
 
 "You know she is my only child, and I love her so 
 I hate to cause her sorrow." 
 
 "As she is thy only child, it is all the greater reason 
 why thou shouldst have great care that she should not 
 err in such a grave step. I much fear thou art too 
 yielding with her, brother. It is ever for the good of 
 an unthinking child that a stern and steady hand guid- 
 eth it in the course it should pursue. But it seemeth 
 that I came to Provo in time to save thy daughter 
 from such a sad mistake as a marriage with a son who 
 hath renounced the religion of his father the true re- 
 ligion."
 
 34 William Ayer is Surprised. 
 
 "But it was so sudden, Elder Holdfast that is why 
 it has shattered the poor girl's nerves and made her 
 ill." 
 
 "Brother Ayer, mayhap thy daughter is shamming. 
 I much doubt that she is ill at all." 
 
 Nor would the good elder be convinced. He in- 
 sisted that the girl must prepare herself at once to ac- 
 company them to the Endowment House. Ayer tried 
 to remonstrate, in a feeble way, but all he said had no 
 impression on the elder, and he finally gave in. 
 
 "If possible, I will bring her down," he said, as he 
 started to leave the room. 
 
 "Tell her she must come down, or I, myself, will 
 come for her. Mrs. Holdfast, accompany Brother 
 Ayer, and use thy arts of persuasion on the willful 
 child. Tell her plainly that I have come for her, and 
 will not go away without her. If necessary, she shall 
 be carried to the Endowment House in a cart." 
 
 Without a word, the woman arose and followed 
 William Ayer to the chamber of the girl. As he lifted 
 his hand to knock at the door, the father paused in 
 surprise, hearing the voice of his daughter speaking 
 within.
 
 William Ayer is Surprised. 35 
 
 "She is talking to some one !" he exclaimed. "Who 
 can it be?" 
 
 Then -he abruptly opened the door. 
 
 To his further surprise, he saw that Lona had arisen 
 from her bed and was dressed. She was at the win- 
 dow, which opened on the front of the story-and-a- 
 half cottage. The window was open, and she leaned 
 out as she spoke to some one outside. 
 
 "Here now?" she was exclaiming, in a most ex- 
 cited manner. "Is this true can it be true?" 
 
 "What does this mean?" cried the father, as he 
 strode into the room. 
 
 With a little cry, the girl started back and attempted 
 to close the window, but William Ayer reached it, and 
 his hand held it open, while he thrust -her aside. 
 
 Looking out, the Mormon saw something that 
 caused him to stare and gasp. 
 
 Beneath that very window were two youths, attired 
 in dust-covered bicycle suits, standing beside their 
 wheels, which also were covered with dust. 
 
 They were looking up at that window, and it was 
 plain that they had been speaking with the girl. 
 
 Now William Ayer, although he had been less than 
 forty-eight hours in Bethel, knew full well that no such
 
 36 William Ayer is Surprised. 
 
 young men belonged there, and no bicycles had ever 
 before been seen in the Valley of Bethsada. 
 
 The young cyclists were handsome-looking fellows, 
 and they lifted their caps to the man at the window 
 with a careless nonchalance that made him gasp. 
 
 "How do you do, sir," said one of them, pleasantly. 
 "I trust you will pardon us, but we are strangers here 
 in fact, we came upon this town quite by accident 
 and, seeing the young lady at the window, we took the 
 liberty to ask her some questions, which she very 
 kindly answered. Will you be good enough to thank 
 her for her courtesy. Good-day, sir." 
 
 Then, before William Ayer could speak, they 
 mounted their wheels and pedaled on into the town, 
 
 William Ayer let go the window, which came down 
 with a crash. 
 
 "Breath of my soul !" he cried. 
 
 Then he looked at his daughter, who was confused 
 and excited, with a strange flush on her cheeks. 
 
 "Tell me the truth, girl !" he commanded, as he sud- 
 denly gripped her wrist. "Who are those young 
 men?" 
 
 "I do not know, father." 
 
 "Tell me the truth, I command thee!"
 
 William Ayer is Surprised. 37 
 
 "I have told you the truth." 
 
 "And you were speaking with them?" 
 
 "I saw them come along, and their appearance 
 caused me to look out of the window. They stopped 
 and spoke." 
 
 "The insolent dogs!" burst from William Ayer. 
 
 "They were not insolent, father; they lifted their 
 caps, and were very polite. I am sure they " 
 
 "It was insolent of them to speak to you at all! 
 And they are not Mormons! They are Gentiles!" 
 
 "It may be." 
 
 "It may be! You know they are you know!" 
 
 "How should I know?" 
 
 "No Mormons in this town ride bicycles." 
 
 "Which shows that this town is very slow," said 
 Lpna, in a manner that caused her father to gasp for 
 the third time. 
 
 "My daughter," he cried, "what has wrought this 
 change in thee ? A little while ago thou wert ill." 
 
 "Yes, but I am better now." 
 
 "Thou art better since speaking with those Gentiles. 
 There is something wrong in this. How they ever got 
 in here is a mystery, but they will not long remain. 
 The good elder must be told what has happened."
 
 )8 William Ayer is Surprised. 
 
 Then he hurried down and told Elder Holdfast 
 everything. Holdfast seldom allowed himself to be- 
 come excited, so he listened with affected calmness, 
 but his face grew harder than William Ayer had ever 
 seen it. 
 
 "There has been some reprehensible carelessness," 
 he said. "Some one must be punished for it But 
 now the Gentiles are in here they will not find it so 
 easy to get out." 
 
 "But what will be done with them?" 
 
 "Brother Ayer," said the elder, a forbidding and 
 somber look on his aged face, "it is said that polygamy 
 is not practiced anywhere in Utah. You have seen 
 how true this is. It is also said that the destroying 
 Ones no longer exist. You may never know whether 
 this is true or not, for not even all stanch and devoted 
 members of the church know everything, but you may 
 rest assured that any dangerous Gentiles who may en- 
 ter the Valley of Bethsada will not go back to the world 
 to tell what they have discovered." 
 
 Despite himself, the listening man shuddered and 
 drew back. The look in Elder Holdfast's eyes at that 
 moment was not pleasant to see, and William Ayer 
 was chilled to the marrow.
 
 William Ayer is Surprised. 39 
 
 He recovered his nerve with an effort, and hastily 
 said: 
 
 "Is it not well that the townspeople should know 
 whom there is in our midst, Elder Holdfast? Should 
 not the brethren be warned not to hold communication 
 with the two Gentiles?" 
 
 "Surely, Brother Ayer, they should be warned. Go 
 at once through the town, and communicate to them 
 the fact that the ungodly are with us." 
 
 "But Lona, my child I cannot leave her." 
 
 "Be not fearful on that account, Brother Ayer; she 
 is in good hands and safe." 
 
 Yes, safe safe as is the lamb that is left in the 
 care of the wolf! Safe! The word was a mockery! 
 
 William Ayer -hesitated and gazed doubtfully at the 
 good elder, and in the good elder's eyes he saw a com- 
 mand that he dared not disobey. 
 
 "Go!" said Holdfast. 
 
 William Ayer sought his hat, and humbly though 
 reluctantly, he left the cottage. 
 
 Holdfast arose, and, without hesitation, he ascended 
 the stairs to the chamber he knew was occupied by the 
 child he had chosen for his prey. 
 
 At the door he paused to listen, and he could hear
 
 40 William Ayer is Surprised. 
 
 his seventh wife talking with the girl within. Then 
 he heard Lona Ayer speak plainly and distinctly, and 
 the words she uttered were far from flattering to the 
 soul of the listening man. 
 
 "You say your husband is a servant of God !" cried 
 Lona. "My poor woman, you have no husband! I 
 pity you indeed I do! And you would place me in 
 a situation quite as wretched as your own. Oh, I beg 
 of you I entreat you to aid me in escaping that de- 
 vouring monster! You are a woman you have a 
 woman's heart that must go out to me in pity. I tell 
 you the truth when I say I would much rather die than 
 submit to the fate it has been said I must meet ! Don't 
 tell me Asaph Holdfast is good and kind! He is a 
 monster in human form! I have seen the Evil One 
 in his eyes his greedy old eyes!" 
 
 Then Asaph opened the door and stepped into the 
 room. 
 
 "Sister Ayer," he said, solemnly and reprovingly, 
 "thou hast spoken words for which thou shalt some 
 day repent in sackcloth and ashes." 
 
 The girl fell back, uttering a cry of fear. 
 
 "Don't!" she cried "don't come near me! Keep 
 off!"
 
 William Ayer is Surprised. 41 
 
 He did not obey, but advanced to the center of the 
 room, while she retreated, holding up her hands in 
 mute appeal. 
 
 "Sister Ayer," spoke the white-crowned old elder, 
 "I have come to take thee to the Endowment House, 
 where thou art to be sealed to me this day. Put on thy 
 street garments, and we will start at once, for already 
 there hath been too much delay." 
 
 "No!" 
 
 The girl uttered the word loudly, flinging up one 
 hand. 
 
 "No!" she cried again. "I will not go!" 
 The good elder folded his hands, and a sinister, 
 mirthless smile curled his withered lips. 
 
 "It has been ordained," he declared. "Get ready!" 
 Then she suddenly fell on her knees before him, 
 and with her clasped hands uplifted, her eyes raining 
 tears down her pretty face, she crept to his feet, beg- 
 ging for mercy. 
 
 It was a spectacle to move a heart of stone, but 
 Asaph Holdfast looked on calmly, his face emotion- 
 less and unrelenting. 
 
 The words of the girl were wild and incoherent
 
 42 William Ayer is Surprised. 
 
 her agony was most pitiful. Even the bovine seventh 
 Mrs. Holdfast, with her fat, smothered nerves, could 
 not look on unstirred, and she turned away. 
 
 But what availed tears with Asaph Holdfast ! What 
 mattered it to him that the tender heart of this girl 
 was breaking! What cared he that she was suffering 
 such agony and fear as few may suffer and survive! 
 
 He had looked upon her, and she was fair to his 
 eyes. She was young, with blue eyes and brown-gold 
 hair. She was plump, and in the bloom of perfect 
 health. He -had seen the rose-blush in those cheeks 
 that now were so pale and tear-wet. 
 
 She looked up, and she saw nothing in that cold face 
 that gave her the slightest encouragement. Far from 
 that, it crushed the hope in her heart. 
 
 But that was not all that -was left to her. Hate 
 came to her such a frightful sensation as she had 
 never before experienced. 
 
 She sprang up, and the look on her face startled 
 Asaph Holdfast. 
 
 "You old monster!" 
 
 She spoke the words slowly and distinctly, and each 
 word was like a blow in its intensity. They fairly 
 moved the old elder, despite himself, but they simply
 
 William Ayer is Surprised. 43 
 
 made him sterner and more unrelenting, if such a 
 thing were possible. 
 
 "Thou shalt repent!" he said. "Is it necessary to 
 take thee to the Endowment House by force?" 
 
 "And you would seal to you one who hates you and 
 despises you! You would make your wife one who 
 loathes the very sight of your wicked old face one 
 who shudders with horror in your presence! Noble 
 man, fit elder of the Mormon " 
 
 "Stop! I may listen in silence as you rail about 
 me, Sister Ayer, but I cannot hear you speak ill of the 
 church. Shall I send for a conveyance to take you to 
 the Endowment House?" 
 
 "No. I will walk." 
 
 "It is good/' bowed Asaph, fresh triumph in his 
 eyes. "Prepare."
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 FRANK AND JACK. 
 
 The two lads who had found their way into Beth- 
 sada were our friends, Frank Merriwell and Jack Dia- 
 mond. 
 
 After leaving William Ayer's cottage, they pro- 
 ceeded slowly, and were surprised to see a man run- 
 ning down a cross path to get in advance of them. 
 
 "That is singular," said Jack. "He seems to have 
 come from the cottage we just left." 
 
 "And, unless I am much mistaken," cried Frank, "he 
 is the very man who appeared at the window, and with 
 whom we spoke." 
 
 "I believe you are right," exclaimed the young Vir- 
 ginian. 
 
 "Sure I am. What is the old duck up to? There 
 is something in the wind." 
 
 "You bet! He is going to head us off." 
 
 "Well, if we get off with our heads after coming 
 here we'll be dead lucky. That is old man Ayer, the 
 girl's father."
 
 Frank and Jack. 45 
 
 "And she is a peach!" burst enthusiastically from 
 Jack. "I don't wonder Whitcomb is stuck on her and 
 crazy to save her from the old elder he says has selected 
 her for a future wife." 
 
 "Steady, Jack steady, boy!" laughed Frank. 
 "You stand no show in this little game. Besides that, 
 it wouldn't be a square deal to Whitcomb, after prom- 
 ising him that we would do our level best to help him 
 rescue the girl, to fall in love with her and attempt to 
 steal her from him." 
 
 "Look here, Frank," cried Diamond, somewhat 
 hotly, "I am a man of honor, don't forget that! I 
 would not think of doing such a thing. We have 
 pledged ourselves to Tom Whitcomb, and we'll stand 
 by him through thick and thin." 
 
 "Through thick and thin !" echoed Merriwell. "He 
 seems to be a white man and all right, even if he is a 
 Mormon." 
 
 "Do you know, I am getting a different opinion of 
 the Mormons than I once -had." 
 
 "How is that?" 
 
 "Why, the Mormons I have seen seem like other 
 people. I believe some of the wild stories told about 
 their religion and their ways are a mess of lies."
 
 46 Frank and Jack. 
 
 "The Mormons are not what they were, Jack. They 
 have changed in recent years, and the younger Mor- 
 mons are all right. They still hold to their religion, 
 but they have cast aside polygamy, and I believe no 
 man has a right to say how another shall worship God. 
 The Mormons believe they -have the only true religion, 
 and it is their privilege to think so." 
 
 "Well, we won't discuss that. Yon may be sure 
 I'll stand by Whitcomb, and I'll not try to steal his 
 girl, no matter how much I may like her appearance. 
 What interests us most now is the man ahead of us. 
 See, he seems to be warning the town! Look there 
 are other men, and they are running from house to 
 house. By Jove! we are in for a hot time here, 
 Frank." 
 
 "Surely we are likely to find it interesting," smiled 
 Merriwell. 
 
 As the boys proceeded, they found the cottages were 
 closed, and they saw no signs of human beings any- 
 where about. 
 
 "Crawled into their holes," chuckled Frank. "They 
 seem to be very shy." 
 
 "I don't like their shyness," admitted the Southern 
 lad. "To me it has an unhealthy aspect."
 
 Frank and Jack. 47 
 
 "Let's get off and see if we can't raise somebody." 
 
 "I am with you." 
 
 They dismounted before a cottage, and Frank 
 walked up boldly and rapped loudly on the door. 
 
 They waited a minute, and then he rapped again. 
 
 Another minute, and no one answered the knock. 
 
 A third time Frank applied his knuckles to the door, 
 exclaiming : 
 
 "Here goes for a corker!" 
 
 But that "corker" produced no further result than 
 had the other knocks. 
 
 "Somebody lives here, that's sure," said Jack. 
 
 "But they are not at home to us, and that's sure," 
 smiled Frank. 
 
 "Look, there is a well. Let's get a drink." 
 
 Leaving their wheels, they went around the corner 
 to the well, where they drew up a bucket of water, and, 
 with the aid of a handy dipper, obtained a fresh, cool- 
 ing drink. 
 
 And what tasted better to a hot, weary and dusty 
 cyclist than a drink of clear, sparkling water from a 
 well by the wayside? No wine, no drink prepared by 
 man, nothing soothes and refreshes him like pure cool 
 water.
 
 48 Frank and Jack. 
 
 If pure water were not so readily obtained, if it were 
 not a free gift of nature, if it were an invention of 
 man, all humanity would be eager for it in preference 
 to the most costly of wines, or the finest liquors. If 
 it were scarce and hard to obtain, it would command 
 a fancy price, even though beer ran in rivers every- 
 where. 
 
 Does the boy who considers it a manly thing to 
 drink beer and whiskey, even though the taste of the 
 stuff may be nauseating to him, and who speaks pertly 
 of water as "good stuff to bathe in" does he ever 
 pause to think what a foolish fellow he is? 
 
 He drinks beer or whiskey because he thinks it is a 
 manly thing to do; but it is far more manly to drink 
 water, and truthfully say he does not like beer or 
 whiskey and so will not drink anything he does not 
 like. 
 
 The boy who will do this and stick to It is a moral 
 hero, and he has in him the stuff that makes a suc- 
 cessful and honored man. The more he is ridiculed 
 and "guyed" by his friends and acquaintances, the 
 greater hero he is, and the more he will be respected 
 in the years to come. 
 
 Not afl the -heroes wear epaulettes on their shoulders.
 
 Frank and Jack. 49 
 
 The humblest boy in the smallest and most obscure vil- 
 lage has scores of opportunities to become a hero, al- 
 though it is seldom he recognizes the fact. 
 
 He may not be regarded as a hero, but that will 
 make him no less a hero. Let him refuse to do any- 
 thing -he may know is wrong, and thus he has become 
 a hero. 
 
 The world is full of heroes and heroic deeds. 
 
 Having obtained a drink from the well, the boys 
 went back to their wheels, which they brought into the 
 shade of the cottage, w-here they sat down. 
 
 From their position they could obtain a fine view of 
 the town, which they enjoyed greatly. 
 
 Jack was restless, but Frank seemed quite at ease. 
 
 "It's no use to get all torn up over this matter," 
 Merriwell said. "We have to take things as they 
 come." 
 
 "I never saw another fellow like you!" cried Jack. 
 "I believe if you were to lose both your legs, you'd 
 coolly observe that it couldn't be helped and that you 
 didn't propose to cry over spilled milk." 
 
 "Well, we've got to stay here till Whitcomb comes, 
 anyway. We made a hustle to get here before the 
 girl was sealed to the old elder, having promised him
 
 50 Frank and Jack. 
 
 we'd do our best to defend her and save her till he 
 showed up." 
 
 "That's right, and it was a most remarkable chance 
 that caused us to find her immediately on entering the 
 town. When you saw the girl at the window and 
 asked her if she knew a Miss Lona Ayer, she nearly 
 took away my breath by saying she was Lona Ayer." 
 
 "I came near dropping dead myself," confessed 
 Frank. 
 
 Thus they chatted for a while till they saw three 
 persons slowly advancing down the road. One was 
 a man with white beard and hair. The others were a 
 stout woman and a young girl. 
 
 "Here they cornel" said Frank, rising to his feet. 
 "The old villain is taking her to the Endowment 
 House. Here's where we'll have to get in our work, 
 Jack. It is going to be a warm morning." 
 
 The boys arose to their feet and stood by their 
 wheels, in lively anticipation of what was to follow. 
 
 "Yes," said Frank, repeating his remark, "it is bound 
 to be a very warm morning, Jack. Here's where 
 we've got to get in our work." 
 
 "We can't wait for Whitcomb," fluttered Jack.
 
 Frank and Jack. 51 
 
 "We've got to make an attempt to save that girl at 
 any cost." 
 
 "Oh, but you are hard hit!" murmured Merriwell. 
 "I believe you would be pleased if Whitcomb never 
 put in an appearance." 
 
 "Oh, don't talk of that! Quit your jollying! This 
 is no time for fooling, Merry. What are we going 
 to do to stop this affair ?" 
 
 "Well, we'll hold a little argument with Elder Hold- 
 fast." 
 
 "Argument? What good will that do? Is there 
 a bug in your head, old man? We'll have to work, 
 not argue." 
 
 "Sometimes it is work to argue," smiled Merriwell, 
 coolly. "If you were provided with a tandem now, we 
 might get the girl away from the old duck and carry 
 her off." 
 
 "But we'd not be able to get out of the valley." 
 
 "We might. We could attempt to run the gauntlet 
 of the sentinels at the eastern entrance." 
 
 "Well, we haven't a tandem, so talk about some- 
 thing we can do. They are getting very near !" 
 
 "If she were a boy one of us could carry her off on 
 his back."
 
 52 Frank and Jack. 
 
 "We'll have to try it now!" exclaimed Jack, des- 
 perately. "She can cling around my neck, and I'll 
 try it !" 
 
 "You're excited, old man. We'd never get off like 
 that." 
 
 "Well, for goodness' sake tell what we can do !" 
 
 "Keep cool. Here they are. We'll jolly the old 
 elder." 
 
 The girl saw them first, and a look of relief and 
 joy swept over her sad face. They had not deserted 
 her ; they were still there. 
 
 As Elder Holdfast approached with sober step and 
 slow, Frank and Jack pushed out to the street, and 
 Merriwell hailed the man. 
 
 "Excuse me, my dear sir," said Frank, doffing his 
 cap. "I wish to speak with you a moment." 
 
 Holdfast halted in surprise, turning his eyes toward 
 them. 
 
 "Ahem!" coughed Frank, smiling sweetly. "I wish 
 to call your attention, sir, to the latest model of the 
 Get There Bicycle, the perfect wheel, none other like it 
 on earth. We are agents for the Get There, and we 
 are introducing them all through the West, where they 
 are giving the most perfect satisfaction. They have
 
 Frank and Jack. 53 
 
 reinforced forks, the stoutest diamond frame in ex- 
 istence, the most beautiful and perfect sprocket ever 
 made, the greatest crank-shafts ever conceived, ball- 
 bearing head, Never Pop tires, and other advantages 
 over the ordinary wheels which I will be pleased to 
 point out. You should secure one of these wheels 
 for yourself, sir, another for your wife, and a third 
 for your charming daughter.'-' 
 
 Frank bowed low to Lona, whipping out a note book 
 and pencil as he did so, and continuing, before Hold- 
 fast could catch his breath. 
 
 "Permit me to take your order, sir, for your entire 
 family. Wheels to be paid for on deliverance, satis- 
 faction guaranteed or money refunded, all wheels to 
 be kept in repair for one year free of charge if brought 
 to any of our regular agencies. Your name and ad- 
 dress, sir. I will take your measure to see what height 
 frame you require." 
 
 "Avaunt, ungodly Gentiles!" cried Elder Holdfast, 
 uplifting his hands, with an expression of horror on 
 his face. "Remove from my sight these inventions of 
 Satan!" 
 
 "Eh?" exclaimed Frank, in apparent surprise. "1-
 
 54 Frank and Jack. 
 
 ventions of which ? Come again. I slipped a cog and 
 didn't quite get you that trip." 
 
 "Get behind me!" sternly commanded Asaph. 
 
 "I could do that all right on a tandem, sir," chirped 
 Frank, pleasantly. "Perhaps you would choose to 
 have a tandem for yourself and wife, while you pur- 
 chase an ordinary wheel for your daughter. The Get 
 There Tandem is a peach ! It is a thing of beauty and 
 a joy forever. You don't have to push it along, al- 
 though it is a good thing it goes itself. Actually you 
 have to hold it back to keep it from running away with 
 you when you are going down hill. Talk about fly- 
 ing, why, my dear sir, the Get There Tandem has 
 wings ! Get it fairly started, and it touches the ground 
 only in high places. I assure you, sir, I firmly believe 
 it will be the nearest approach to flying that you will 
 ever make." 
 
 "Come," said Elder Holdfast, speaking to the bo- 
 vine Mrs. Holdfast and the girl ; "we will leave these 
 Gentiles to their own destruction, which they have 
 brought upon their heads." 
 
 "Now, don't tear yourself away," entreated Frank. 
 "Stop a while, and we will talk it over. It is possible 
 you are prejudiced against a wheel, but I think I can
 
 Frank and Jack. 55 
 
 overcome that if you will lend me your pocketbook I 
 mean your ear. You may not see the advantages to 
 be derived from bicycling. Few do at first. On some 
 it dawns slowly, while others have to have it beaten 
 into their heads with a club. Now I'd like the job 
 of beating it into your head if you " 
 
 But Asaph would stop to hear no more. 
 
 "Come!" he again commanded; "we will go on." 
 
 He started, and the woman placed an urging hand oh 
 the arm of the pretty girl ; but the girl shook that hand 
 off, ran swiitly toward the boys, flung herself on her 
 knees before them, and wildly cried : 
 
 "Save me save me from that old wretch 1 He is 
 dragging me to the Endowment House, where I am to 
 be sealed to him!"
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 A DASH TO THE RESCUE. 
 
 "What's this?" cried Frank, in apparent surprise. 
 "Sealed to him? Why, isn't he your father?" 
 
 "No, no! Tom must have told you about him. 
 This is Asaph Holdfast, who is trying to force me to 
 become one of his many wives. Save me from him !" 
 
 By this time Jack had reached the girl and lifted her 
 to her feet, placing a protecting arm about her, as he 
 swiftly whispered in her ear: 
 
 "We'll stand by you, don't be afraid. We knew you 
 all the time, and Merry is chaffing old Holdfast." 
 
 "Don't let him touch me again !" 
 
 "If he does, it will be over my dead body !" came in 
 a rather stagy manner from the lips of the young Vir- 
 ginian. 
 
 Frank gave the Mormon elder a reproving look, and 
 shook his head, as he sadly said : 
 
 "Oh, Asaph, Asaph! methinks thou arrt an old rat! 
 Why, I thought she was your daughter all the while 
 or your granddaughter. I was not clear on that point,
 
 A Dash to the Rescue. 57 
 
 but thought I would flatter you by calling her your 
 daughter. And you are thinking of making her your 
 wife against her will ! My ! my ! Asaph, old fel., you 
 are a sad dog, indeed !" 
 
 The old elder gasped for breath and nearly turned 
 black in the face. No longer was he icy cool. The 
 insolence of the young Gentile was enough to arouse 
 a man of stone. . ^ 
 
 But what aroused Asaph more than anything else 
 was the sight of Jack Diamond, with his arm about 
 Lona and his face close to hers, as he spoke some fer- 
 vent vow in her ear. 
 
 "Unhand that girl, thou unholy one !" shouted Elder 
 Holdfast. "Cease to defile her with thy polluting 
 touch!" 
 
 He took a step toward Jack, but Frank ran his bi- 
 cycle between them and interposed his own body. 
 
 "Let's talk this matter over," he said, smoothly. 
 
 "Stand aside!" snarled the Mormon, with a mena- 
 cing gesture. 
 
 Frank did not seem at all alarmed. 
 
 "Don't get gay with me, Asaph," he smiled. "I have 
 a desire to respect your gray hairs, although I fear it 
 would be difficult to do so. I am a great respecter of
 
 58 A Dash to the Rescue. 
 
 age, but surely nothing is more repulsive and harder 
 to respect than a wicked old man who makes a bluff 
 at being pious." 
 
 "Oh, thou shalt suffer for this !" fumed the old elder. 
 
 "I am willing to take chances on that. What I most 
 wish to know is if it is quite true that you have more 
 than one wife, and you are thinking of forcing this 
 young and defenseless girl to marry you? Give it to 
 us straight, old boy." 
 
 "It is none of thy business, meddling Gentile!" 
 
 "To you it may seem none of my business, but, 
 however, nevertheless and likewise, I have an inclina- 
 tion to make it some of my business. It's a way I 
 have. You may call me down and say I am too fresh 
 and all that, but it won't make any difference. I have 
 traveled in Europe, Eerup and Ohrup, and slipped 
 through Greece, but travel has never seemed to cure 
 me of my freshness to any great extent. I'm always 
 getting into trouble by mixing into some affair where 
 I'm not invited, but still I continue to mix, while I use 
 arnica on my bruised and battered body and beefsteak 
 poultices on the blackened eyes I receive." 
 
 "Get out!" cried Holdfast, with a flourish of his 
 arms, in doing which he struck the seventh Mrs. Hold-
 
 A Dash to the Rescue. 59 
 
 fast a smacking backhand slap in the face nearly upset- 
 ting her. 
 
 "Gently, gently, Asaph," cautioned Frank. "If you 
 flourish your arms like a windmill, you will be sure to 
 damage some one," 
 
 Then the elder uplifted his voice and uttered a wild, 
 strange cry. 
 
 Almost immediately the door of the cottage behind 
 the two boys flew open, and out rushed two men. 
 
 Diamond did not see the men, and they were close 
 upon him when Holdfast uttered an order. 
 
 "Take that girl from the Gentile." 
 
 Lona gave a cry of warning and fear. 
 
 "Look out!" she screamed. 
 
 As Jack turned, he received a heavy blow tliat 
 stretched him stunned upon the ground. 
 
 "Here's where things commence to boil," murmured 
 Merriwell, as he made a jump for the man. 
 
 The Mormon seemed to think it would be an easy 
 thing to handle that young fellow, but he met with the 
 greatest surprise of his life, for Frank gave a side 
 swing, ducked under the fellow's arms, caught him 
 about the body, lifted him from his feet, and threw 
 him down upon his head and shoulders.
 
 60 A Dash to the Rescue. 
 
 Elder Holdfast had started toward the man who was 
 holding the screaming girl, but he halted in amaze- 
 ment when he saw how swiftly and easily Merriwell 
 disposed of the other man. 
 
 But the elder's cries had aroused more than two 
 men. Several others were hurrying toward the spot, 
 as Merriwell saw. 
 
 "Ginger!" he exclaimed to himself. "This is bad! 
 We can't carry the girl off, and we'll be beaten by num- 
 bers. Jack seems to have been knocked out at the 
 start." 
 
 Still he made his lunge at the man with the girl, 
 snatched her away, and gave the fellow a thump that 
 staggered him. 
 
 In her excitement and terror, however, the girl clung 
 to Frank so tightly that he was not able to use his arms. 
 Then it was that the men rushed upon him, and he re- 
 ceived a shower of blows that felled him to the ground. 
 
 The girl was borne shrieking away, while the young 
 bicyclists were left lying on the ground. 
 
 Frank was the first to recover and sit up. He 
 reached over and gave Jack a shake, cheerfully saying : 
 
 "Make a brace, old man. Are you still in the 
 game?"
 
 A Dash to the Rescue. 61 
 
 Jack's eyes were open, but he was dazed by the 
 shock of the blow and fall. He sat up with difficulty, 
 staring blankly around. 
 
 "Did I fall, or was I pushed?" he murmured. "It 
 seems to have been a combination of circumstances. 
 It strikes me that I was pushed." 
 
 Then Jack seemed to realize what had happened, 
 and he cried: 
 
 "Miss Ayer what has become of her ?" 
 
 "Elder Holdfast and his minions were too many for 
 us, and he has carried her off." 
 
 Jack struggled to his feet, staggering dizzily. 
 
 "We we must follow!" he hoarsely exclaimed. 
 "We must stop him before he reaches the Endowment 
 House. "Remember our promise to Whitcomb, 
 Frank." 
 
 "I remember," said Frank. "It'll not be our fault 
 if we fail to keep it. We'll make another bluff. For- 
 tunately they have not taken our wheels." 
 
 Getting on their feet, they could see a party of men 
 far down the road that led toward the Endowment 
 House, whither they were hurrying. In the midst of 
 those men the unfortunate girl was being carried along, 
 while Elder Holdfast rushed on in the lead.
 
 62 A Dash to the Rescue. 
 
 "Quick, Frank !" cried Jack. "If we lose a moment, 
 they'll reach the Endowment House ahead of us." 
 
 "We can't hold 'em up long, at most, but we'll try 
 to hold 'em up as long as we can. Come on !" 
 
 T-hey mounted their wheels, and away they went 
 down the road in pursuit of the party that had carried 
 off the girl. 
 
 Jack was wildly excited by the fear that the girl 
 would be dragged into the Endowment House before 
 they could reach her. 
 
 Frank was trying to think of some scheme for carry- 
 ing the girl off bodily and bidding defiance to the Mor- 
 mons for a time. It seemed utterly impossible to cfo 
 such a thing, and he began to feel that they had at- 
 tempted a task that would have appalled men of sober 
 judgment. 
 
 Nearer and nearer the Endowment House rushed 
 the party with the girl, the Mormon elder urging them 
 on, as he ran along in advance. 
 
 The seventh Mrs. Holdfast was too fleshy to keep 
 up with the others, and she had fallen behind. She 
 saw the bicycle boys coming in pursuit, and placed her- 
 self in the middle of the street, wildly nourishing her 
 umbrella, and shouting for them to stop.
 
 A Dash to the Rescue. 63 
 
 "Out of the way!" cried Jack. 
 
 "We need room!" shouted Frank. 
 
 But the woman resolutely stood her ground, un- 
 mindful of all danger. 
 
 "Look out! Do not run her down/' warned Mer- 
 riwell. 
 
 Both boys were spinning straight ahead, and she 
 aimed a blow at them as they came near. Lite a 
 flash, they swerved aside and sped past, passing on 
 either side of her. 
 
 The umbrella cut the air with great force, and, as 
 it met with no obstruction, the woman was thrown for- 
 ward in the road by the impetus of her own blow. 
 
 Holdfast saw the boys coming, and he urged the 
 men to hasten still more in getting the unwilling girl 
 into the Endowment House. 
 
 The very door of the building was reached, and it 
 seemed that Frank and Jack would be too late. 
 
 At that moment a horseman appeared, coming 
 around the building at a mad gallop. He wore old 
 clothes, and his long white beard was split and fanned 
 over each shoulder by the wind. His head was bare, 
 and his hair, like his beard, was white.
 
 64 A Dash to the Rescue. 
 
 "Stop !" shouted the old man. "Unhand that girl, 
 or feel the wrath of an avenging one!" 
 
 "It is Old Lonely, the crazy prophet!" cried the 
 Mormons. 
 
 "Do not mind him!" came from the lips of Elder 
 Holdfast "Into the Endowment House with the 
 girl!" 
 
 But the horseman charged straight into the knot of 
 men, who scattered before him. He stooped and 
 caught up the girl, in doing which he accidentally tore 
 the beard from his face, showing it was false. 
 
 The girl saw his face, and a scream of amazement 
 and joy came from her lips. 
 
 "Lona, my darling!" he cried, as he lifted her from 
 the ground. 
 
 "Tom Tom, my sweetheart!" she joyfully sobbed. 
 
 Then the big white horse bore them both away.
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 THE MAD PROPHET. 
 
 The scattered Mormons were dumb with amaze- 
 ment, scarcely able to believe what their eyes had be- 
 held. 
 
 Scores of times they had seen the old hermit come 
 into the town, and never before had he attempted an 
 act of hostility toward them. 
 
 The old hermit? Was this the same old man? 
 True he had looked like Old Lonely as he came char- 
 ging around the Endowment House, but the Mad 
 Prophet had never been known to possess a horse, and 
 the accident which had snatched the false beard from 
 the man's face -had betrayed the fact that he was not 
 old at all, but was a young- man in disguise. 
 
 Certain it was that they had not been deceived right 
 along by the prophet. This was a person who had 
 made himself up to look like Old Lonely, but it could 
 not be Old Lonely. 
 
 Frank and Jack had witnessed the rescue of the
 
 66 The Mad Prophet. 
 
 girl, and they had recognized Whitcomb when he 
 straightened up with Lona in his arms. 
 
 Off came the caps of the two bicyclists, and the Yale 
 yell of triumph pealed from their lips. 
 
 "Hey, Whitcomb!" shouted Frank, with satisfac- 
 tion. 
 
 "He was on hand, after all," said Jack, and it seemed 
 that there was a shade of disappointment in his voice. 
 
 "Don't let it hit you like that, old chap," laughed 
 Frank. "If he hadn't been on hand, we'd been too 
 late." 
 
 "That's right," confessed Diamond. 
 
 "Alice samee, we held old Holdfast up long enough 
 to give Whitcomb a chance to get here. He has us 
 to thank for that." 
 
 "But he doesn't propose to thank us. He is going 
 to get out as fast as he can, and leave us to hoe our 
 own row." 
 
 "That's all right. He's got the girl, and his first 
 thought is to save her." 
 
 "He ought to have a thought for us, after what we 
 have done for him. We have risked our lives." 
 
 "I don't believe he'll forget us. We must follow 
 him."
 
 The Mad Prophet. 67 
 
 Follow him they did, but the horse bore the young 
 man up a steep hill, and then they disappeared from 
 view. When the boys reached the top of the ascent 
 nothing of the young couple could be seen. 
 
 In the meantime, the Mormons had been preparing 
 for pursuit. 
 
 Asaph Holdfast was dazed when he saw the false 
 beard torn from the face of the horseman and recog- 
 nized the young Mormon lover of Lona Ayer. 
 
 Asa -had believed the horseman was the mad prophet, 
 and the metamorphosis into a young man seemed 
 magical. 
 
 But the old elder quickly recovered, and then he 
 shouted : 
 
 "After him! Do not let him escape from our 
 clutches. Lose no time. The sentries must be 
 warned, and these intruders shall not be permitted to 
 escape. Bring back the girl without harm, for she is 
 the daughter of a brother Mormon, and is to become 
 my wife. Go!" 
 
 They hastened away to obey his commands. 
 
 Horses were soon gathered, and a body of pursuers 
 were following Whitcomb and the girl, who did not 
 seem inclined to make for either outlet from the valley,
 
 68 The Mad Prophet. 
 
 but struck straight toward the steepest and most for- 
 midable range of mountains. 
 
 The street came to an end, and the ground grew 
 rougher and rougher. Onward they pressed, till it 
 seemed that horses could go no farther. 
 
 Then they came upon the very same white horse 
 on which the rescuer had appeared the animal that 
 had borne the young man and the girl away. 
 
 "They can't be very far away!" cried the leader of 
 the party, triumphantly. "Watch out for them. Re- 
 member, do not harm the girl. If he gives up quietly, 
 take the man captive. If he fights well, his blood be 
 on his own head!" 
 
 In less than a minute a great shout went up, and one 
 in advance was seen excitedly pointing toward some- 
 thing. 
 
 Looking in the direction indicated, they saw, sitting 
 on a bowlder, an old man with long white hair and 
 beard. 
 
 It was Old Lonely! 
 
 In a moment a dozen guns were aimed at the Mad 
 Prophet, and he was ordered to surrender quietly. 
 
 He looked at them without moving or speaking.
 
 The Mad Prophet 69 
 
 His eyes alone told that there was life in his body, for 
 he sat there like an image of stone. 
 
 They advanced and surrounded him. 
 
 "We have caught you, old man!" they cried, tri- 
 umphantly. 
 
 Then he arose. 
 
 "What wouldst thou with me ?" he asked, in a deep, 
 full-chested voice. "I am here." 
 
 "Where are they where have you hidden them?" 
 fiercely demanded the leader of the Mormons. "Speak, 
 and tell the truth !" 
 
 "I never speak anything but the truth," he declared, 
 his eyes gleaming from beneath the shaggy eyebrows. 
 "But the truth is something seldom heard in this for- 
 bidden valley. Down here it is that lies are upheld as 
 the gospel of Heaven, and the weak and lowly are 
 trodden under foot until the very rocks and hills cry 
 out, 'How long, my Lord, -how long?' ' 
 
 "Oh, shut up!" coarsely commanded the leader. 
 "You can't play that game any more. We have been 
 fooled long enough by it. Now we know you have 
 aided our enemies, and that settles your case. It must 
 have been you who aided them to enter the valley, and
 
 7o The Mad Prophet 
 
 you provided one with a disguise that made him look 
 like you." 
 
 "How do we know that this is not the same one the 
 same fellow?" cried one of the party. "It may have 
 been a trick all along. Try his whiskers." 
 
 Then a hand reached out and gave the beard of the 
 Mad Prophet a strong, sharp jerk. 
 
 It did not come off, and it was seen by those nearest 
 that it was genuine beyond a doubt. The man who 
 carried off the girl had provided himself with a dis- 
 guise in some way, and had fooled those who saw him 
 till the moment when he unwittingly unmasked him- 
 self as he snatched the girl up. 
 
 Fire gleamed from the eyes of the hermit, and it 
 was plain he did not like the treatment he was receiv- 
 ing. 
 
 "There cometh a day of judgment," he said, -his 
 heavy voice rumbling away in the caverns of his breast 
 "a day in which the oppressor shall tremble, and the 
 oppressed shall rejoice. Beware of that day! Touch 
 me not! Let me pass!" 
 
 He made a move to leave the spot, but they crowded 
 still closer about him, and the leader cried: 
 
 "You cannot go! We are going to hold you now,
 
 The Mad Prophet. 71 
 
 till you confess the truth. You shall be taken down 
 into the valley and imprisoned there till " 
 
 A hoarse, mocking laugh broke from the old man's 
 lips. 
 
 "You cannot take me," he declared. "Place thy 
 hands upon me at thy peril! Stand aside!" 
 
 "Grab him and hold him !" cried the leader. 
 
 They attempted to do so, and the Mad Prophet 
 struck out with his bony fists, his arms working like 
 piston rods, and a fierce fire blazing in his eyes. 
 Smack! smack! smack! sounded his blows, and men 
 reeled back before them. 
 
 "Blow, horn of Joshua, and let the walls totter and 
 fall!" he thundered, as -he struck right and left. 
 "Smite, sword of Gideon, and let thy enemies feel thy 
 destroying touch ! Stand still, O sun in yonder sky 
 stand still till the battle shall be finished ! As Samson 
 smote the Philistines thus will I smite and slay my ene- 
 mies!" 
 
 And it was marvelous how he beat them back and 
 sent them reeling and falling before his blows. 
 
 At a distance, amid the rocks farther up the moun- 
 tain, crouched Frank Merriwell and Jack Diamond, 
 where they had hidden. They could see the old man
 
 72 The Mad Prophet. 
 
 battling against great odds, and their hearts were filled 
 with admiration for him. With his snow-white hair 
 and beard, he loomed above his assailants, and the 
 words that came from his lips were distinctly heard by 
 the bicycle boys. It seemed that a strange soft light 
 fell on his old face, and to Frank he was the counter- 
 part of some patriarch of Bible times. 
 
 "Look at him!" exclaimed Diamond. "Merciful 
 goodness! he is a wonderful fighter! It is astound- 
 ing!" 
 
 "It is !" declared Frank ; "and I can't stand this any 
 longer!" 
 
 "What are you going to do ?" 
 
 "I am not going to keep still and see him battle 
 against such odds. I am going down and give him a 
 hand. Come on!" . 
 
 "Stop, Frank ! It's no use to " 
 
 But Merriwell had impulsively bounded down the 
 rocky steep, and Jack followed him as fast as pos- 
 sible. 
 
 Fierce and terrible was the fight made by the Mad 
 Prophet, but his enemies crowded upon him and beat 
 him down by force of numbers. 
 
 Once he sank to his knees, and they uttered cries of
 
 The Mad Prophet. 73 
 
 triumph, thinking he was conquered; but he arose 
 again, flinging them off with his powerful arms. 
 
 "Nay! nay!" he thundered; "think not to conquer 
 me thus easily ! The strength of the Mighty One is in 
 these arms and a holy fire burns in my heart! Thou 
 shalt fall before me as the Philistines fell before Sam- 
 son! Down! down! down!" 
 
 But he was human, and they beat him to his knees 
 again, struck him on the head, and stretched him pow- 
 erless on the ground, where they flung themselves upon 
 him. 
 
 Then it was that, with a loud Yale yell, Frank Mer- 
 riwell came charging like a wild steer right into their 
 midst, with Jack Diamond following him closely. 
 
 Biff! biff! biff! rained the blows from the hard 
 fists of the two young athletes, and every blow counted. 
 
 They came near creating a panic among the Mor- 
 mon gang, but the leader held the men from taking 
 to their heels, and the boys quickly found themselves 
 in the midst of a red-hot fight. 
 
 "Give it to them, Jack!" rang out Frank's clear 
 voice. "Show them the kind of stuff old Yale turns 
 out!" 
 
 Never in all his life had Frank felt so strong and
 
 74 The Mad Prophet. 
 
 dauntless. It seemed to him that he had been given 
 strength and skill for the occasion. He smashed a 
 man in the mouth with his right, drove his left into the 
 pit of another man's stomach, dodged several hands 
 that were stretched out to grasp him, minded not the 
 blows that fell upon him, and in the midst of it all he 
 laughed ! 
 
 Jack was not backward. He could fight also, and 
 the Mormons were astounded and amazed by the ter- 
 rific onslaught of the reckless college lads. 
 
 "A thousand furies !" snarled the leader of the gang, 
 spitting out teeth, after receiving a blow on the mouth 
 from Merriwell's hard fist. "What ails you, men? 
 Beat them down! Kill them!" 
 
 "If that's it, we'll die game !" flung back Frank. 
 
 "Hurrah!" shouted Diamond, his dark cheeks 
 flushed and his eyes flashing fire. "There will be 
 some satisfaction in making a die of it in this manner, 
 if croak we must!" 
 
 "You're the right stuff, old man!" cried Frank. 
 "That's the sort of stuff old Virginia turns out! 
 They make men down in old Virginia !" 
 
 The boys clung together.
 
 The Mad Prophet. 75 
 
 "Back to back!" directed Frank. "We'll fight as 
 long as we can in that manner." 
 
 "The Lord of Hosts hath raised up friends for me 
 in my hour of need!" thundered the deep voice of the 
 Mad Prophet, as he suddenly flung off the last of those 
 who were trying to hold him down. 
 
 He arose, and his white-crowned head towered in 
 the midst of his enemies. 
 
 "Give it to them! We are with you!" encouraged 
 Merriwell. 
 
 Old Lonely did "give it to them." Again he fought 
 like a modern Hercules, and his face wore an inspired 
 look, as he shouted these words: 
 
 "The triumph of the wicked shall be short, and in 
 the day of judgment their punishment shall be great. 
 'Twill be then they shall hear the awful words, 'Depart 
 from me, thou sinful ones, into the lake of fire and 
 brimstone that burneth with an unquenchable flame ! y 
 And there shall be weeping and wailing and gnashing 
 of teeth. They shall cry aloud for the rocks and hills 
 to fall on them and cover them from the wrath to come, 
 but nowhere under the face of all the heavens shall 
 there be a hiding place for them." 
 
 His deep and thunderous voice was flung back in
 
 76 The Mad Prophet. 
 
 heavy echoes from the rocky steeps, and it seemed to 
 reverberate amid the crags above. An eagle, wheeling 
 across the azure sky, sent down an answering scream. 
 
 The prophet caught up one of the Mormons, and, 
 with wonderful strength, lifted him and dashed him 
 against others of the party, sending them all down in a 
 writhing, scrambling heap. 
 
 One of the men who had been beaten down fastened 
 his arms about Frank's legs, and Merriwell was partly 
 thrown. He recovered, and struck the fellow such a 
 blow on the temple that those clinging hands relaxed, 
 and the man lay stretched on the ground. 
 
 Jack dragged Frank to his feet, and they fought on, 
 their blood leaping in their veins, their hats off, the 
 warm sunlight of a perfect summer day shining on 
 their perspiring faces. 
 
 "Oh, if the rest of the gang were here !" cried Jack. 
 "If we had Browning's powerful arms to aid us !" 
 
 "It's no use to think of them," panted Frank. 
 "We've got to do our righting, and we seem to be doing 
 a fairly good job." 
 
 Driven mad with fury, one of the Mormons tried 
 to drive a knife into Jack. 
 
 Frank caught the wrist of the murderous wretch,
 
 The Mad Prophet. 77 
 
 and gave it a twist that caused him to drop the bright 
 blade. 
 
 Like a flash Merriwell caught up the knife. Then 
 it was that the Mormons actually wavered once more. 
 
 At that moment a body of men came rushing up 
 from below, scrambling over the rocks, and shouting 
 encouragement to those who were trying to over- 
 come the two boys and the Mad Prophet. 
 
 "Reinforcements!" palpitated Diamond. 
 
 "Sure!" came huskily from Merriwell. 
 
 "That settles it!" 
 
 "That settles us !" 
 
 "But we won't give up!" 
 
 "Not as long as we can wiggle a finger ! Hoe in !" 
 
 They made a last desperate spurt in the fighting, but 
 once more Frank was seized about the legs and dragged 
 down. 
 
 The same man had repeated the trick. 
 
 Merriwell had the knife in his hand, and he could 
 have settled the fellow with a single blow. 
 
 "No!" he gasped; "I'll not stain my hands with 
 blood! It would be useless." 
 
 The knife was flung aside, and he grappled with the 
 man. Over they rolled, each trying to get fiis hands
 
 78 The Mad Prophet. 
 
 on the other's throat. The eyes of the man glared at 
 Frank, and Merriwell's parted lips showed his set teeth. 
 
 In the mad struggle Frank's head struck against a 
 rock, and his senses swam. That gave his foe an ad- 
 vantage, and he obtained the hold he desired. 
 
 Frank tried to breathe, but could not. He tried to 
 speak, but no sound came from his lips. The world 
 seemed reeling about him in a blood-red mist, and 
 there was a roaring in his brain. It grew dark. 
 
 "Good-by, Jack!" he tried to say. "We made a 
 jolly good fight of it, but we're done up at last." 
 
 Then he lay limp and lifeless on the ground. 
 
 When Frank went down Jack's back was no longer 
 protected, and his foes swarmed at him there. 
 
 The Mad Prophet seemed to realize the danger, and 
 he flung them aside for a time. 
 
 But even Old Lonely was not invulnerable, and his 
 blows began to lose their force. The men swarmed 
 in and separated the boy and the old man. 
 
 Jack could see the white head of the strange man in 
 the midst of the enemies who surrounded him, and 
 he heard the prophet cry : 
 
 "Unholy mockers of the true God, what wouldst
 
 The Mad Prophet. 79 
 
 thou with me? Depart from me, or beware of the 
 wrath to come!" 
 
 But the Mormons would not depart. They swarmed 
 on him thicker and thicker, and they beat and dragged 
 him down for the third time. This time they tool-, 
 care to make fast his hands and feet, and Old Lonely 
 was captured at last. 
 
 This done, they turned their attention to Jack, and 
 he was unable to resist the force of numbers. They 
 handled him with such ease that he was amazed. 
 
 "Seems as if you might have done that before, if 
 you had made a real try," he said. "You are a lot of 
 cowards, and that's what's the matter with you!" 
 
 When he was secured, he looked around for Frank. 
 He saw him, and Merriwell lay on the ground, his 
 face dark and discolored, while his tongue seemed to 
 protrude from his lips. 
 
 "Merciful Heaven!" groaned Diamond, turning 
 away in horror. "He is dead! Poor Merry!"
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 IN THE DUN GEO N. 
 
 The Mormons were triumphant; the boys and the 
 4>ld hermit were overcome and captured. The leader 
 of the Mormons gave orders that the captives should 
 be carried into the town and disposed of as Elder 
 Holdfast should design. 
 
 Jack had tried to creep to the side of Frank, but he 
 Tvas prevented from doing so. He was lifted and car- 
 ried away, still murmuring: 
 
 "Poor Merry!" 
 
 The fury of Asaph Holdfast knew no bounds when 
 lie found the girl had not been found, although the 
 Mad Prophet and the two bicycle boys had been made 
 captives. 
 
 "To the ruined fort with them !" he cried. "Fling 
 them into the dungeon, and there let them remain till 
 the Black Tribunal shall decide on their fate." 
 
 They were carried onward again, and soon they saw 
 before them a structure of stone, situated near the 
 western entrance to the valley. Looking at this struc-
 
 In the Dungeon. 81 
 
 ture, Jack Diamond was filled with wonder, for plainly 
 it was an old fortification, and it showed much skill in 
 the construction, the walls being high and solid, capped 
 with turrets and towers. Formidable indeed was the 
 appearance of the old fort, and Jack wondered what 
 hands had constructed such a marvelous piece of work 
 in that remote and lonely valley. 
 
 He was not given much time to inspect it. Into the 
 fort they were hurried, by way of a great gate, and 
 soon the walls of stone were around them. 
 
 But they were not to be left there, with the open air 
 of heaven to breathe. Across the open space they were 
 taken, and a black opening loomed up before them in 
 the wall. Through the opening the Mormon captors 
 bore their prisoners. 
 
 A dark passage was entered, and there the Mormons 
 paused to light a wretched old lamp, which shed a very 
 dim light. That light was enough to show them 
 where to take their captives, which was all they desired. 
 
 At the end of the passage they came to a stone door. 
 There was a clanking of chains and a clang of heavy 
 iron bars, and then the door was opened. 
 
 Beyond that door lay a black space that was awe- 
 some enough to cause the stoutest heart to quake.
 
 82 In the Dungeon. 
 
 "In with them!" harshly commanded the leader. 
 
 The captives were thrust into the hole, and the door 
 closed behind them with a sullen shock. 
 
 It was very dark in there, and the air seemed heavy. 
 Surely it was a place to strike terror to the stoutest 
 heart. 
 
 Jack's hands had been set free at the very moment 
 when they flung him into the dungeon, and he lost lit- 
 tle time in removing the rope from his feet. 
 
 "This is better than being trussed up, anyway/' he 
 muttered. 
 
 Then he spoke to the old hermit, but received no re- 
 ply. He spoke again and again, but the man remained 
 silent, although Diamond could hear him breathing 
 nearby. 
 
 "I wonder where Merry is? Poor Merry!" 
 
 The young Virginian sought his friend, and his 
 hands soon touched Frank Merriwell's body. Frank 
 was huddled in a little heap, still lying quite motion 
 less, as if dead. 
 
 Eagerly Jack felt for the pulse of his friend whom 
 he loved felt for his heart, and listened with his ear 
 close to Frank's breast. 
 
 A great cry of joy escaped his lips.
 
 In the Dungeon. 83 
 
 "He lives ! He is not dead yet !" 
 
 With nervous haste he tore the cords from Frank's 
 wrists and feet, released Frank's clothes about the 
 neck, and began to work to restore him to conscious- 
 ness. 
 
 Then it was that Jack prayed. He asked God to 
 spare the life of the friend he loved and admired, not 
 minding or caring that the old hermit was near to hear 
 his words. 
 
 After a time a groan and a sigh came from Merri- 
 well's lips, and then he began to breathe hoarsely, as if 
 his throat pained him. 
 
 "He is coming around all right he still lives!" 
 shouted Diamond, and the sound of his voice smote on 
 his ears painfully. 
 
 Ten minutes passed, and Frank began to understand 
 that Jack was near was speaking to him. After that 
 Merry recovered rapidly. 
 
 "What makes it so dark Jack?" he slowly 
 and painfully asked. "Is it night?" 
 
 "No, not night, Frank, old fellow. We are shut 
 up in a dark hole." 
 
 "Shut up?" 
 
 "Yes. You know we had a fight."
 
 84 In the Dungeon. 
 
 "I know something happened, for every breath I 
 draw seems to burn my throat, and my head is filled 
 with a dull pain." 
 
 "You remember we fought the Mormons we 
 went to the aid of the old hermit, who was fighting 
 them all alone." 
 
 "I remember now. Well, we did the best we could. 
 I told you it was bound to be a warm day." 
 
 "All our fighting did no good." 
 
 "Oh, I don't know! I remember getting in a few 
 licks that must have damaged somebody's coco. It 
 was rather lively while it lasted." 
 
 "And it landed us here." 
 
 "We'd have landed here, anyway, and I didn't pro- 
 pose to give up without a fight. The sight of the old 
 man, with his white head, fighting all that howling 
 gang was more than I could endure. I was bound to 
 go to his aid." 
 
 "Well, I think we are pretty near the end of our 
 rope. The Mormons have us fast and safe, and our 
 goose is cooked." 
 
 "Where is the old man?" 
 
 "He is somewhere here with us." 
 
 "A prisoner, too?"
 
 In the Dungeon. 85 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 "I'm sorry for him. He deserves a better fate. I 
 wish I had a drink of water. I believe it would cool 
 my throat It burns so!" 
 
 "There is no water here, Frank." 
 
 "Well, we'll have to get along without it Where's 
 the old man ? I want to talk with him." 
 
 "If you succeed, you will do better than I could. I 
 tried to talk with him, and he would not speak to me 
 at all." 
 
 They crept over till they found Old Lonely lying on 
 the ground, bound hands and feet. Then they both set 
 to work to release him, which they soon accomplished. 
 
 But, although Frank did his best, he could not in- 
 duce the hermit to speak. At last Frank gave up the 
 task. 
 
 "If he'd talk, we could find out something about 
 Whitcomb," said Frank. 
 
 "Whitcomb!" shouted Diamond, savagely. "Don't 
 talk to me of that fellow! I never want to hear his 
 name again !" 
 
 Merriwell was surprised. 
 
 "What is the matter? What has struck you now?" 
 
 "Whitcomb has deserted us! We came here and
 
 86 In the Dungeon. 
 
 risked our lives for him, but, the moment he got the 
 girl, he skipped out and left us to our fate!" 
 
 "For which I do not blame him." 
 
 "You don't?" 
 
 "No." 
 
 "Then something must be the matter with your 
 head ! It was a cowardly thing to do 1" 
 
 "It was all right." 
 
 "How do you make that out?" 
 
 "It was his place to make sure first that Lona Ayer 
 was safe from the clutches of the Mormons, and it 
 was our place to bother pursuers till he could get 
 away. We did the bothering." 
 
 "And he did the getting away !" 
 
 "But, having placed the girl in a position of safety, 
 I believe Whitcomb will return and see what he can 
 do for us." 
 
 "By that time it will be too late to do anything but 
 plant us." 
 
 "Oh, I don't know ! I have been in tight boxes be- 
 fore this. Remember the old saying about the slip be- 
 tween the cup and lip." 
 
 "I have very little hope in slips in cases like this." 
 
 "Well, we won't give up until we have to. My
 
 In the Dungeon. 87 
 
 throat feels some better, and my head does not ache so 
 badly. We'll examine this place, and see how tightly 
 we are cooped up." 
 
 As well as they could, they made an examination of 
 the walls, feeling all around the place with their hands. 
 From this they received no satisfaction at all." 
 
 "She seems solid," confessed Frank. 
 
 "She is," declared Jack. 
 
 "We'll have to wait till somebody comes, and then, 
 perhaps, we'll be able to find out how long they mean 
 to keep us in here." 
 
 "We are to be kept here till we are removed to be 
 tried before the Black Tribunal. I heard old Holdfast 
 say so." 
 
 "Then it's no use to flutter. We may as well take 
 it easy, and wait for the Black Tribunal to get in their 
 work." 
 
 "I never saw a fellow like you!" shouted Jack. 
 "You are inclined to be altogether too cool about things 
 of this sort!" 
 
 Then he flung himself down on the ground, and 
 they waited.
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 THE BLACK TRIBUNAL. 
 
 At last, after many hours, during which they were 
 kept in the dungeon without food or drink, they heard 
 some one at the door. The chains rattled and the iron 
 bars clanked as the heavy door swung open, and a 
 gleam of light shone into the dungeon. 
 
 Back of that light were men whose faces were hidden 
 by masks, and who carried deadly weapons in their 
 hands. 
 
 "They have come to finish us!" exclaimed Jack, as 
 the weapons were pointed at the three captives. 
 
 "Come forth!" commanded one of the masks, 
 sternly. 
 
 "Thanks awfully," said Frank Merriwell. "We 
 don't care if we do." 
 
 He coolly walked out, stooping to keep from striking 
 his head, as he passed through the low door. 
 
 He was seized in a moment, and his hands were 
 again bound behind his back.
 
 The Black Tribunal. 89 
 
 Then Jack was ordered to come out, and he did so, 
 being served the same as Frank. 
 
 To the surprise of all, Old Lonely made no resist- 
 ance, but came out when ordered to do so, and per- 
 mitted them to bind his hands. 
 
 Then they were marched along the dark passage, 
 where the light flared fitfully and the air was dense and 
 foul. 
 
 "We are going to our doom!" whispered Jack in 
 Frank's ear. 
 
 "Well, doom or dinner I feel like going to one or 
 the other," returned Merriwell. "If they are thinking 
 of finishing us, I hope they will give us a square meal 
 before they do the job." 
 
 "This is no time to jest" 
 
 "That's jest right, Jack ; but this hunger of mine is 
 no jest. I have a healthy and growing appetite." 
 
 "Silence!" commanded one of the masked guards. 
 
 "All right, your royal muchness," said Frank, re- 
 signedly. "We'll be as still as clams." 
 
 They passed across the open space within the walls, 
 and entered another passage, which was dark as the 
 first. Proceeding along this passage, they came to a
 
 90 The Black Tribunal. 
 
 square chamber, which was lighted by flaring, smoking 
 torches. 
 
 In a semi-circle at one side of the chamber sat 
 twelve cloaked and cowled figures, their garments of 
 somber black. They sat there, motionless as statues, 
 and, in truth, at first glance, the boys fancied they 
 were images. 
 
 Slightly in advance, behind a block of stone, on 
 which was an open book, sat another black-robed fig- 
 ure. This one, however, did not wear a cowl, but his 
 head was hidden by a mask made to resemble the 
 head of a black bear. 
 
 "Prisoners," said one of the guards, "you are stand- 
 ing before the Black Tribunal and the great judge of 
 the Lost Tribe of Israel. Here in this chamber you 
 shall be tried, and sentence shall be pronounced upon 
 you." 
 
 Then the three were placed in a row before the 
 black-robed figures, and the guards fell back a few 
 steps. 
 
 The figure that wore the bear's head arose. 
 
 "Ye shall be judged according to your deeds, un- 
 godly ones," he said, in a deep and solemn voice.
 
 The Black Tribunal. 91 
 
 "Speak truly and with reverence when questioned, 
 for much dependeth on thy words and manner." 
 
 "It is even so," came in unison from the semi-circle 
 of dark forms. 
 
 Then the great judge read a passage from the book 
 before him, which was the Mormon Bible. When 
 this was finished, he addressed himself to the hermit 
 
 "Man of the white hair and beard," he said, "grave 
 and terrible is the charge against thee. Thou hast been 
 permitted to enter and leave the Valley of Bethsada 
 at thy will, and no one has lifted a hand to do thee 
 harm. We felt that thou wert our friend, and we were 
 yours. But now it seemeth thou hast conspired against 
 us. It is charged that thou hast aided Gentiles and 
 enemies of the Mormon faith to enter the valley. 
 Speak man; is the charge true?" 
 
 The Mad Prophet drew himself up to his full height, 
 and his eyes steadily regarded the judge, but his lips 
 parted to utter no sound. 
 
 "Speak!" again commanded the judge. 
 
 Still the hermit was silent. 
 
 "Hast thou no defense?" 
 
 Silence. 
 
 "Thus thou condemneth thyself!" said the judge.
 
 92 The Black Tribunal. 
 
 "If you have no words of defense, the Tribunal shall 
 pronounce thy fate, for it is useless to question thee 
 further." 
 
 There was scorn and defiance written on the face of 
 the old man, and it was plain that nothing could force 
 him to unseal his lips in his own defense. 
 
 "Brothers of the Tribunal," said the great judge. 
 "You see he hath no defense to make. What shall be 
 his fate?" 
 
 "The pit of fire," came in chorus from beneath the 
 cowls. 
 
 "The pit of fire it shall be," declared the judge. 
 "He shall be utterly destroyed from the face of the 
 earth wiped out root and branch. Take him away." 
 
 He waved his arm, and the guards grasped Old 
 Lonely, who did not resist as they conducted him from 
 the chamber. 
 
 It came Frank's turn next. 
 
 "It's no use!" whispered Diamond, despairingly. 
 "They mean to kill us anyway, and we may as well keep 
 still." 
 
 Frank was singled out, and the great judge said: 
 
 "Art thou a Gentile?"
 
 The Black Tribunal. 93 
 
 "I presume that is what you would call me, as I 
 am not a Mormon," answered Merriwell, quietly. 
 
 "How comes it thou wert in the Valley of Beth- 
 sada?" 
 
 "My bicycle brought me here." 
 
 "But there was a reason why thou earnest here. 
 Speak the truth." 
 
 "My dear sir, I would not be impolite enough to 
 contradict you even if you were mistaken in anything 
 you may assert." 
 
 The judge made a gesture of displeasure. 
 
 "Thy tongue is smooth, but thy manner is insolent," 
 he said. "Why didst thou come to this valley?" 
 
 "Well, sir, my reason for coming was to do my best 
 to save an innocent girl from being forced to become 
 the plural wife of a gray-headed old wretch who should 
 be preparing for his departure from this world, instead 
 of accumulating more wives. There you have it 
 straight from the shoulder, and I hope it satisfies 
 you." 
 
 "Brothers," said the judge, "hast thou heard ?" 
 
 "We have heard," came back, solemnly. 
 
 "Gentile," said the judge, "didst thou know this val- 
 ley was forbidden to all not of the Mormon faith?"
 
 94 The Black Tribunal. 
 
 "I had heard so." 
 
 "And still thou didst not hesitate to enter here," 
 came sternly from the hidden lips of the judge, 
 "Thou hast heard, brothers. What shall be his fate?" 
 
 "The pit of fire!" 
 
 Jack Diamond uttered a cry of horror, while it 
 seemed that Frank remained unmoved. 
 
 The judge waved his hand, and Merriwell was 
 seized and taken away. 
 
 Then it was that Jack became desperate and furious. 
 
 "Take me with him, you murderous ruffians!" he 
 cried, in his clear, strong voice. "I am as guilty as 
 he! You may kill us both, but you'll not always es- 
 cape the punishment you merit! You are a lot of 
 bloodthirsty hounds! I do not believe you are true 
 Mormons at all ! I do not believe the Mormon church 
 would recognize you, if it knew the truth about you! 
 You are outcasts on the face of the earth, and " 
 
 "Brothers," came the loud, yet somewhat muffled 
 voice of the great judge, "you have heard enough. 
 Pronounce his fate." 
 
 "The pit of fire!" came for the third time from the 
 Black Tribunal. 
 
 "What a farce !" shouted Diamond. "We were con-
 
 The Black Tribunal. 95 
 
 demned in advance, and this pretended trial is a mock- 
 ery ! Miserable men ! how you will shudder and quake 
 when you stand before the last Great Tribunal in that 
 day when all men shall be judged !" 
 Then he, too, was borne away.
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 THE PIT OF FIRE. 
 
 One by one the three captives were cast into a nar- 
 row space where the walls on either hand were more 
 than twenty-five feet in height. At the top this space 
 was open to the sky, but it was night, and a crescent 
 moon hung low, so its light did not sift down into that 
 grim pit. 
 
 "Well, here we are," said Merriwell, as Diamond 
 was thrust in. "This is the pit all right, all right ; but 
 I fail to see the fire." 
 
 "It cannot be this is the place to which we were con- 
 demned!" cried Jack. "There is no fire here." 
 
 In the center of the pit, standing motionless, his 
 arms folded over his broad breast, was the Mad 
 Prophet, who still remained silent. 
 
 "There is no fire here," admitted Frank; "but it is 
 possible they mean to make a little fire for us some 
 way. I do not think they have brought us here for 
 nothing." 
 
 "These men are not Mormons!" declared Diamond.
 
 The Pit of Fire. 97 
 
 "At their worst, Mormons never destroyed their ene- 
 mies in such a manner. They may claim to be Mor- 
 mons, but I know the Mormon church to-day would 
 not acknowledge them as such." 
 
 "It makes little difference to us what they are, they 
 have us foul, and they mean to snuff us out Look 
 there!" 
 
 On the top of the wall appeared a human figure, 
 bearing a torch. It was one of the dark-robed thirteen 
 known as the Black Tribunal. 
 
 Others followed, each bearing a torch, till the thir- 
 teen were assembled on the wall of the pit. 
 
 It was a strange and fantastic spectacle as revealed 
 by the flaring light of the torches. High above were 
 the mysterious and awesome ones in cloaks and cowls, 
 looking down upon the three helpless captives con- 
 fined within the narrow limits of the walled inclosure. 
 The faces of the captives were upturned, and they 
 looked white and despairing, with wildly gleaming 
 eyes. 
 
 Still stood the old hermit, his white head bare, his 
 arms folded over the beard that flowed down across 
 his breast. There was dignity and disdain in his at-
 
 98 The Pit of Fire. 
 
 titude, and it seemed that he was supported by an- 
 other and higher power than his own. 
 
 Was it possible that out of the thirteen human beings 
 on the wall not one looked down in pity at those help- 
 less captives whom they had doomed? 
 
 "The time hath come!" said the voice of the great 
 judge. "Thus let all Gentiles perish from the face 
 of the earth!" 
 
 "Now comes the fire!" muttered Frank. 
 
 "Whew!" exclaimed Jack. "It is something be- 
 sides fire! What a frightful odor! Are we to be 
 smothered?" 
 
 "It is escaping gas !" cried Merriwell. "It must be 
 this place is connected with a natural gas well, and 
 the gas has been turned in here! I see through their 
 trick now!" 
 
 Then the old, white-haired hermit was seen to move. 
 He unfolded his arms, and stretched them toward 
 heaven, his face upturned and his lips moving. 
 
 "He is praying!" whispered Merriwell, awed by the 
 spectacle. 
 
 From the figures on the wall mocking laughter 
 came down. 
 
 "Laugh, O wicked ones!" thundered the powerful
 
 The Pit of Fire. 99 
 
 voice of the Mad Prophet. "The Lord of Hosts is 
 my Lord and my God! His sheltering hand is over 
 me! As He protected the three Hebrew children in 
 the fiery furnace thus he will protect us !" 
 
 "Let's see how well you will be protected !" sneered 
 a voice from the wall. 
 
 Then a torch came whirling down into the pit. 
 
 In a moment there was a burst of fire from twenty 
 different places where the gas was pouring into the pit 
 The heat was scorching and awful, and it drove the 
 boys to the very center of the inclosure. 
 
 "It has come, Frank!" gasped Jack. "We can't 
 stand this more than a minute ! It will soon cook us !" 
 
 The jets of fire grew fiercer and fiercer, telling that 
 the gas was being given a greater head. 
 
 Once more the Mad Prophet uplifted his arms and 
 cried aloud : 
 
 "Give me strength, Lord, as thou gavest Samson 
 strength to pull the temple down and destroy his ene- 
 mies in the ruins !" 
 
 With that prayer on his lips, he rushed to the wall 
 between the jets of fire, and there before him was what 
 had once been a door, but was sealed up in a crude
 
 ioo The Pit of Fire. 
 
 manner with rough stones. Against these stones he 
 placed his shoulder. 
 
 Once more those above laughed mockingly. 
 
 "Push!" they cried. "It is thy only hope!" 
 
 He did push. He set his shoulder firmly, and gave 
 a mighty heave. 
 
 And then wonders of wonders ! The sealed door- 
 way gave before him ! From the top of the wall came 
 loud cries of amazement. Another mighty surge, and 
 the sealed portion burst outward, making a large open- 
 ing in the wall. 
 
 A miracle it seemed, but, in truth, the sealed por- 
 tion of the wall was weak and it had not required an 
 enormous outlay of strength to burst it open. 
 
 Falling rocks rained down about the Mad Prophet, 
 but did not seem to harm him as he burst through and 
 disappeared. 
 
 Jack Diamond seemed stupefied by what had hap- 
 pened, but Frank was quick to comprehend that for- 
 tune had favored them, and there was a chance to es- 
 cape. 
 
 "Come!" he cried, catching hold of the Virginian 
 and forcing him through the opening. "For your life, 
 run!"
 
 The Pit of Fire. 101 
 
 They fled from the spot, but had not gone far when 
 they heard a voice calling to them : 
 
 "Thither thither if thou wouldst escape! There 
 is but one way for us to get out of the valley, and I 
 know that." 
 
 "It is the Mad Prophet!" exclaimed Frank. "We 
 must follow him!" 
 
 "That's right," said Jack, recovering his speech at 
 last. "I am ready to follow him after what he has 
 done to-night." 
 
 The tall figure of the strange man loomed before 
 them, and they allowed him to guide them through the 
 
 town and to the rocky steeps beyond, as they ran hear- 
 \ 
 
 ing faint cries of pursuers far behind them. Up the 
 rocks he climbed, and they labored along behind him 
 till they came to the mouth of the hidden cave. 
 
 And there at the mouth of that cave Tom Whit- 
 comb was waiting. He was rejoiced to see them, and 
 he said: 
 
 "I was on the point of descending into the valley to 
 see if I could not find you, although Old Lonely had 
 promised that he would shield you from harm." 
 
 Whitcomb was astounded when he learned what
 
 102 The Pit of Fire. 
 
 they had passed through, and he looked on the strange 
 hermit with added awe. 
 
 "He is a wonderful man," he whispered in Frank's 
 ear. "He told me a bit of his story. He hates all 
 Mormons with an undying hatred, for they murdered 
 his brother and tried to kill him. There is no doubt 
 that he is crazy. He says he is remaining here till 
 the time when God shall give him power to destroy all 
 the guilty ones in the valley at a single stroke and spare 
 the innocent. He also says that he could have de- 
 stroyed them all long ago, but refrained, as the inno- 
 cent would have perished with the guilty. I am in- 
 clined to think he raves when he makes such talk, as he 
 fancies himself endowed with supernatural powers." 
 
 "Surely the manner in which he toppled down the 
 walls of the pit of fire seemed supernatural," said 
 Frank. 
 
 Jack was restless. 
 
 "Where is Miss Ayer?" he asked. "Is she safe?" 
 
 "She is safe," assured Whitcomb. "And your bi- 
 cycles are safe, also, for I found them down amid the 
 rocks a short time ago ^stumbled on them by acci- 
 dent." 
 
 "Where are they?"
 
 The Pit of Fire. 103 
 
 "I brought them up here, and they are in the cave." 
 
 "Well, say!" cried Frank; "I want a chance to sit 
 
 down and rest! This turn of affairs has completely 
 
 taken away my breath! It is wonderful, and I can 
 
 scarcely realize it." 
 
 "Young men," said the solemn voice of Old Lonely, 
 "you must confess that the sheltering hand of the Most 
 High hath been over us. Thank not man for thy de- 
 liverance, but thank God." 
 
 They left the forbidden valley by the road that was 
 known so well to Old Lonely, who befriended and 
 aided Tom Whitcomb on hearing the young man's 
 story. 
 
 When they were outside, the hermit bade them fare- 
 well. 
 
 "Go!" he said, warningly "go, and do not stop till 
 far from this accursed spot. Never return here. Do 
 not tell the tale to any one, for it will not be believed." 
 
 "That's right," nodded Frank. 
 
 "Marry the girl as soon as possible, and guard her 
 as a precious jewel," said the Mad Prophet to Tpm 
 Whitcomb. "Better take her out of Utah. Her 
 father will come to thee in time, and he will rejoice that
 
 IO4 The Pit of Fire. 
 
 his daughter was spared from the clutches of the old 
 elder." 
 
 Then he addressed the girl. 
 
 "Be a good wife to him," he said, "for he has risked 
 his very life for thee. And these other young men 
 have risked no less." 
 
 "But I cannot marry them all !" cried Lona, in con- 
 fusion. 
 
 Was it possible that the ghost of a smile flitted across 
 the face of the old man? 
 
 "No," he said ; "but you can reward them with your 
 gratitude and your admiration. Surely they deserve 
 that. And now farewell. We shall never meet again, 
 for I go back to watch and wait till the time comes to 
 strike. Farewell all." 
 
 It was three days later that Frank and Jack joined 
 the others of the party, who had been impatiently 
 waiting for them, wondering and speculating over 
 their absence. 
 
 "Well, give a report of yourself," drawled Brown- 
 ing, sternly, "I am actually getting tired of hanging 
 around and doing nothing." 
 
 "That must be a new disease for you," laughed 
 Frank.
 
 The Pit of Fire. 105 
 
 "Mah goodness!" cried Toots, surveying Merriwell 
 critically. "I done begun teh believe I nebber was 
 g\van ter set mah eyes on yo' face no mo'. What you 
 been doin', boy? Hab yo' been gallavantin' off arter 
 some ob dese pretty Mormon gals ? Land ob wartermil- 
 lions! I's hit it de fus' pop! I done seen de guilt in 
 yeh eye, boy ! Yum, yum ! But yo' is jes' nacherally 
 a terror, yo' is!" 
 
 "Will you steep kill I mean keep still!" cried Rat- 
 tleton. "I want to hear what Frank and Jack have to 
 say for themselves." 
 
 "If we tell you everything, you will think we arc 
 drawing the long bow," said Frank. "Eh, Jack?" 
 
 "That's so," nodded Jack. 
 
 The boys protested that they would accept every- 
 thing as literal truth, and so the story was told at last. 
 When it was finished, Harry asked : 
 
 "Where are Whitcomb and his sweetheart now ?" 
 "They are married, and on their way East. They 
 are going to get out of Utah." 
 
 "I don't blame them," yawned Browning. "If I 
 were Whitcomb, I wouldn't stop this side of the Atlan- 
 tic Ocean. And I rather think we had better be get-
 
 106 The Pit of Fire. 
 
 ting out of Utah before Frank and Jack have another 
 fit and run off after some other pretty Mormon girl." 
 "We'll get a move on us in the morning," said 
 Frank. "Hurrah for the road and the spinning 
 wheel ! We're still in the ring, for all of the knockout 
 blows that have been aimed at us."
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 ADRIFT IN THE DESERT. 
 
 Once more the bicycle boys pushed on westward, 
 and it must be said that in spite of all their perils 
 they were in the best of spirits. 
 
 The beautiful valley in Utah was left behind, and 
 some time later found them on the edge of the great 
 American Desert. 
 
 "A desolate place, indeed," said Bruce Browning. 
 
 Nevertheless, he and the others allowed Frank to 
 persuade them that they could cross the desert on their 
 wheels instead of taking the longer route around to 
 the northward. 
 
 But it was not long before matters began to grow 
 serious. 
 
 Water was not to be had, and they began to suffer 
 greatly from thirst. 
 
 The thirst at last became so great that nearly all 
 were ready to drop from exhaustion. 
 
 Toots was much affected, and presently he let out 
 a long wail of discouragement.
 
 io8 Adrift in the Desert. 
 
 "Land of watermillions ! mah froat am done parched 
 so I ain't gwan teh be able teh whisper if we don' find 
 some warter po'erful soon, chilluns! Nebber struck 
 nuffin' lek dis in all mah bawn days no, sar!" 
 
 "You're not the only one," groaned Bruce. "What 
 wouldn't I give for one little swallow of water!" 
 
 "We must strike water soon, or we are done for," 
 put in Jack. 
 
 Toots began to sway in his saddle, and Frank spurted 
 to his side, grasping him by the arm, as he sharply 
 said: 
 
 "Brace up! You mustn't give out now. The 
 mountains are right ahead, and " 
 
 "Lawd save us !" hoarsely gasped the darky. "Dem 
 dar mount'ns had been jes' as nigh fo' de las' two 
 houah, Marser Frank. We don' git a bit nearer 'em 
 no, sar! Dem mount'ns am a recepshun an' a de- 
 lusum. We ain't nebber gwan teh git out ob dis desert 
 nebber! Heah's where we's gwan teh lay ouah 
 bones, Marser Frank!" 
 
 "You are to blame for this, Merriwell," came re- 
 proachfully from Diamond. "You were the one to 
 suggest that we should attempt to cross instead of 
 going around to the north, and "
 
 Adrift in the Desert 109 
 
 "Say, Diamond!" cried Harry; "riv us a guest I 
 mean give us a rest ! You were as eager as any of us 
 to try to cross the desert, for you thought we'd have it 
 to boast about when we returned to Yale." 
 
 "But we'll never return." 
 
 "Perhaps not; still I don't like to hear you piling all 
 the blame onto Merry." 
 
 "He suggested it." 
 
 "And you seconded the suggestion. We started 
 out with a supply of water that we thought would 
 last " 
 
 "We should have known better !" 
 
 "Perhaps so, but that is the fault of all of us, not 
 any one person. You are getting to be a regular 
 kicker of late." 
 
 Jack shot Harry a savage look. 
 
 "Be careful !" he said. "I don't feel like standing 
 too much ! I am rather ugly just now." 
 
 "That's right, and you have been the only one who 
 has shown anything like ugliness at any time during 
 the trip. You seem to want to put the blame of any 
 mistake onto Merry, while it is all of us " 
 
 "Say, drop it!" commanded Frank, sharply. "This 
 is no time to quarrel. Those mountain are close at
 
 no Adrift in the Desert. 
 
 hand, I am sure, and a last grim pull will take us to 
 them. We will find water there, for you know we 
 were told about the water holes in the Desert Range." 
 "Those water holes will not be easy to find." 
 
 "I have full directions for finding them. After we 
 get a square drink, we'll feel better, and there'll be no 
 inclination to quarrel." 
 
 "Oh, water! water!" murmured Browning; "how 
 I'd like to let about a quart gurgle down past my 
 Adam's apple!" 
 
 "Urn, um!" muttered Rattleton, lifting one hand to 
 his throat. "Why do you suppose a fellow's larynx 
 is called his Adam's apple?" 
 
 "Nothing could be more appropriate," declared 
 Bruce, soberly, for when Adam ate the apple he got it 
 in the neck." 
 
 Something like a cackling laugh came from Harry's 
 parched lips. 
 
 Diamond gave an exclamation of disgust. 
 
 "This is a nice time to joke!" he grated, fiercely. 
 
 "The matter with you," said Rattleton, "is that 
 you've not got over thinking of Lona Ayer, whom you 
 were mashed on. You've been grouchy ever since you 
 and Merry came back from your wild expedition into
 
 Adrift in the Desert. in 
 
 the forbidden Valley of Bethsada. It's too bad, 
 Jack " 
 
 "Shut up, will you ! I've heard enough about that !" 
 
 "Drop it, Harry," commanded Frank, warningly. 
 "You've worn it out Forget it" 
 
 "Great Scott!" grunted Browning. "I believe my 
 bicycle is heavier than the dealer represented it to be." 
 
 "Think so?" asked Rattleton. 
 
 "Sure." 
 
 "Then give it a weigh," 
 
 Browning's wheel gave a sudden wobble that nearly 
 threw him off. 
 
 "Don't!" he gasped. "It's not original. You 
 swiped it from the very same paper that had my 
 Adam's apple joke in it." 
 
 "Well, it was simply a case of retaliation." 
 
 "I'd rather have a case of beer. Oh, say! a case 
 of beer ! I wouldn't do a thing to a case of beer not 
 a thing! Oh, just to think of sitting in the old room 
 at Traeger's or Morey's and drinking all the beer or 
 ale a fellow could pour down his neck ! It makes me 
 faint!" 
 
 "You should not permit yourself to think of such a
 
 112 Adrift in the Desert. 
 
 thing as beer," said Frank, jokingly. "You knovr 
 beer will make you fat." 
 
 "Don't care; I'd drink it if it made me so fat I 
 couldn't walk. I'd train down, you know. Dumb- 
 bells, punchin' bag, and so forth." 
 
 "Speaking of the punching bag," said Frank, "makes 
 me think of a good thing on Reggy Stevens. You 
 know Stevens. He's near-sighted. Goes in for ath- 
 letics, and takes great delight in the fancy manner in 
 which he can hammer the bag. Well, he went down 
 into the country to see his cousin last spring. Some 
 time during the winter his cousin had found a big hor- 
 nets' nest in the woods, and had cut it down and taken 
 it home. He hung it up in the garret. First day 
 Stevens was there he wandered up into the garret and 
 saw the hornets' nest hanging in the dim light. 'Ho !' 
 said Reggy. 'Didn't know cousin had a punching bag. 
 Glad I found it. I'll toy with it a little.' Then he 
 threw off his coat and made a rush at that innocent- 
 looking ball. With his first blow he drove his fist 
 clean through the nest. 'Holy smoke !' gasped Reggy ; 
 'what have I struck?' Then the hornets came pouring 
 out, for the nest was not a deserted one. They saw 
 Reggy and went him several better. Say, fellows,
 
 Adrift in the Desert. 113 
 
 they didn't do a thing to poor Reggy ! About five hun- 
 dred made for him, and it seemed to Reggy that at 
 least four hundred and ninety-nine of them got him. 
 His howls started shingles off the roof of that old 
 house and knocked several bricks out of the chimney. 
 He fell down the stairs, and went plunging through the 
 house, with a string of hornets trailing after him, like 
 a comet's tail. The hornets did not confine them- 
 selves strictly to Reggy; some of them sifted off and 
 got in their work on Reggy's cousin, aunt, uncle, the 
 kitchen girl, the hired man, and one of them made for 
 the dog. The dog thought that hornet was a fly, and 
 snapped at it. One second later that dog joined in the 
 general riot, and the way he swore and yelled fire in 
 dog language was something frightful to hear. Reggy 
 didn't stop till he got outside and plunged his head into 
 the old-fashioned watering trough, where he held it un- 
 der the surface till he was nearly drowned. The 
 .whole family was a sight. And Reggy well, he's 
 had the swelled head ever since." 
 
 Rattleton laughed and Bruce managed to smile, 
 while Toots gave a cracked "Yah, yah !" but Diamond 
 failed to show that he appreciated the story in the least. 
 
 However, it soon became evident that the spirits of
 
 ii4 Adrift in the Desert. 
 
 the lads had been lightened somewhat, and they pedaled 
 onward straight for the grim mountains which had 
 seemed so near for the last two hours. 
 
 The sun poured its stifling heat down on the great 
 desert, where nothing save an occasional clump of sage 
 brush could be see-n. 
 
 Heat shimmered in the air, and it was not strange 
 that the young cyclists were disheartened and ready to 
 give up in despair. 
 
 Suddenly a cry came from Diamond. 
 
 "Look!" he shouted. "Look to the south! Why 
 haven't we seen it before? We're blind. Water, 
 water !" 
 
 They looked, and, at a distance of less than a mile it 
 seemed they could see a beautiful lake of water, with 
 trees on the distant shore. The reflection of the trees 
 showed in the mirror-like surface of the blue lake. 
 
 "Come on!" hoarsely cried Jack, as he turned his 
 wheel southward. "I'll be into that water up to my 
 neck in less than ten minutes!" 
 
 "Stop!" shouted Merriwell. 
 
 Jack did not seem to hear. If he heard, he did not 
 heed the command. He was bending far over the
 
 Adrift in the Desert. 115 
 
 handlebars and using all his energy to send his wheel 
 spinning toward the beautiful lake. 
 
 "I must stop him!" cried Frank. "It is a race for 
 life!" 
 
 Frank forgot that a short time before Jack Diamond 
 had accused him of leading them all to their doom by 
 inducing them to attempt to cross the barren waste- 
 he forgot everything save that his comrade was in 
 danger. 
 
 No, he did not forget everything. He knew what 
 that race meant. It might exhaust them both and 
 render them unable to ride their wheels over the few 
 remaining miles of barren desert between them and 
 the mountain range. When Diamond learned the 
 dreadful, heart-sickening truth about that beautiful 
 lake of water it might rob his heart of courage and 
 hope so that he would drop in despair and give himself 
 up to death in the desert. 
 
 Frank would save him he must save him! He 
 felt a personal responsibility for the lives of every one 
 of the party, and he had resolved that all should re- 
 turn to New Haven in safety. 
 
 "Stop, Jack!" he shouted again. 
 
 But the sight of that beautiful lake had made Dia-
 
 n6 Adrift in the Desert. 
 
 mond mad with a longing to plunge into the water, 
 to splash in it, to drink his fill till not another swallow 
 could he force down his throat. 
 
 Madly he sent his wheel flying over the sandy plain, 
 panting, gasping, furious to reach the lake. 
 
 How beautiful the water looked! How cool and 
 inviting was the shade of the trees on the other shore 1 
 Oh, he would go around there and rest beneath those 
 trees. 
 
 Frank bent forward over the handlebars, muttering: 
 
 "Ride now as you never rode before!" 
 
 The wheel seemed to leap away like a thing of life 
 it flew as if it possessed wings. 
 
 But Frank did not gain as swiftly as he desired, for 
 Diamond, also, was using all his energy to send his 
 bicycle along. 
 
 "Faster! faster!" panted Frank. 
 
 Faster and faster he flew along. The hot breath of 
 the desert beat on his face as if it came rushing from 
 the mouth of a furnace. It seemed to scorch him. 
 Fine particles of sand whipped up and stung his flesh. 
 
 He heard a strange laugh a wild laugh. 
 
 "Heaven pity him!" thought Frank, knowing that 
 laugh came from Jack's lips. "The sight of that
 
 Adrift in the Desert. 117 
 
 ghostly lake has nearly turned his brain with joy. I 
 fear he will go mad, indeed, when he knows the truth," 
 
 On sped pursued and pursuer, and the latter waa 
 still gaining. Frank Merriwell had engaged in many 
 contests of skill and endurance, but never in one where 
 more was at stake. His success in overtaking his 
 friend meant the saving of a human life perhaps two 
 lives. 
 
 Now he was gaining swiftly, and something like a 
 prayer of thankfulness came from his lips. 
 
 Once more he cried out to the lad in advance, but it 
 seemed that Diamond's ears were dumb, for he made 
 no sound that told he heard. 
 
 One last spurt Frank felt that it must bring him 
 to Diamond's side. He gathered himself, his feet 
 clinging to the flying pedals as if fastened there. 
 
 A slip, a fall, a miscalculation might mean utter fail- 
 ure, and failure might mean death for Diamond. 
 
 Now Frank was close behind his friend. He could 
 hear the whirring sound of the spokes of Diamond's 
 wheel cutting the air, and he could hear the hoarse, 
 panting breathing of his friend. 
 
 A steady hand guided Merriwell's wheel alongside 
 that of his friend ; a steady and a strong hand fell on
 
 Ii8 Adrift in the Desert. 
 
 the shoulder of the lad who had been crazed by the al- 
 luring vision of the lake in the desert. 
 
 "Stop, Jack!" 
 
 Diamond turned toward his friend a face from 
 which a pair of glaring eyes looked out. His lips 
 curled back from his white teeth, and he snarled: 
 
 "Hands off ! Don't try to hold me back ! Can't you 
 see it, you fool ! The lake the lake !" 
 
 "There is no lake!" 
 
 "Yes, there is! You are blind! See it!" 
 
 "Stop, Jack ! I tell you there is no lake !" 
 
 Frank tried to check his friend, but Diamond made 
 a swinging blow at him, which Merriwell managed to 
 stop. 
 
 "Wait listen a moment!" entreated Frank. 
 
 But the belief that a lake of water lay a short dis- 
 tance away had completely driven anything like reason 
 from Diamond's head. 
 
 "Hands off!" he shouted. "If you try to stop me 
 you'll be sorry !" 
 
 Frank saw he must resort to desperate measures. 
 He secured a firm grip on the shoulder of the young 
 Virginian, and, a moment later, gave a surge that 
 caused them both to fall from their wheels.
 
 Adrift in the Desert. 119 
 
 Over and over they rolled, and then lay in a limp 
 heap on the desert, where the earth was hot and baked 
 and the sun beat down with a fierce parching heat. 
 
 Diamond was the first to stir, and he tried to scram- 
 ble up, his one thought being to mount his wheel 
 again and ride onward toward the shimmering lure. 
 
 Frank seemed to realize this, for he caught at his 
 friend, grasped him and held him fast. 
 
 Then there was a furious struggle there on the 
 desert, Diamond making a mad effort to break away, 
 but being held by Frank, who would not let him go. 
 
 The eyes of both lads glared and their teeth were 
 set. Frank tried to force Diamond down and hold 
 him, but Jack had the strength of an insane person, 
 and, time after time, he flung his would-be bene- 
 factor off. 
 
 The eyes of the young Virginian were red and 
 bloodshot, while his lips were cracked and bleeding. 
 His cap was gone, and his straight dark -hair fell in a 
 tousled mass over his forehead. 
 
 Occasionally muttered words came from Diamond's 
 lips, but the other was silent, seeming to realize that 
 he must conquer the mad fellow by sheer strength 
 alone.
 
 I2O Adrift in the Desert. 
 
 So they fought on, their efforts growing weaker and 
 weaker, gasping for breath. Seeing that fierce strug- 
 gle, no one could have imagined they were anything 
 but the most deadly enemies, battling for their very 
 lives. 
 
 At last, after some minutes, Diamond's fictitious 
 strength suddenly gave out, and then Frank handled 
 and held him with ease. Merriwell pinned Jack down 
 and held him there, while both remained motionless, 
 gasping for breath and seeking to recover from their 
 frightful exertions. 
 
 "You fool!" whispered the Virginian, bitterly. 
 "What are you trying to do?" 
 
 "Trying to save your life, but you have given me a 
 merry hustle for it," answered Frank. 
 
 "Save my life! Bah! Why have you stopped me 
 when we were so near the lake." 
 
 "There is no lake." 
 
 "Are you blind ? All of us could see the lake ! It is 
 near very near!" 
 
 "I tell you, Jack, there is no lake." 
 
 "You lie!" 
 
 "You have been crazed by what you fancied was
 
 Adrift in the Desert. 121 
 
 water. Some time you will ask my pardon for your 
 words." 
 
 "You will ask my pardon for stopping me in this 
 manner, Frank Merriwell! You did it because I was 
 the first to discover the lake! You were jealous! 
 You did not wish me to reach it first! I know youl 
 You want to be the leader in everything." 
 
 "If you were not half crazy now, you would not 
 utter such words, Jack." 
 
 "Oh, I know you I know!" 
 
 Then Diamond's tone and manner suddenly 
 changed, and he began to beg : 
 
 "Please let me up, Merry please do! Oh, merci- 
 ful Heaven ! I am perishing for a swallow of water ! 
 And it is so near! There is water enough for ten 
 thousand men! And such beautiful trees, where the 
 shadows are so cool where this accursed sun can't 
 pour down on one's head! Please let me up, Frank! 
 I'll do anything for you if you'll only let me go to 
 that lake!" 
 
 "Jack, dear old fellow, I am telling you the truth 
 when I say there is no lake. There could be no lake 
 here in this burning desert. It is an impossibility.
 
 122 Adrift in the Desert. 
 
 If there were such a lake, the ones I asked about the 
 water-holes would have told me." 
 
 "They did not know. I have seen it, and I know 
 it is there." 
 
 Frank allowed his friend to sit up. 
 
 "Look, Jack/' he said; "where is your lake?" 
 
 Jack looked away to the south, the east, the north, 
 and then toward the west, where lay the mountains. 
 
 There was no lake in sight.
 
 
 CHAPTER XL 
 
 ON TO THE MOUNTAINS. 
 
 "Where where has it gone?'* slowly and painfully 
 asked Diamond. I am sure I saw it sure! The 
 lake, the trees, all gone!" 
 
 "I told you there was no lake." 
 
 "Then then it must have been a mirage!" 
 
 "That is exactly what it was." 
 
 With a deep groan of despair Diamond fell back 
 limply on the sand, as if the last bit of strength and 
 hope had gone from him. 
 
 "This ends it!" he gasped. "What's the use of 
 struggling any more! We may as well give up right 
 here and die!" 
 
 "Not much !" cried MerriwelT, with attempted cheer- 
 fulness. "That is why I ran you down and dragged 
 you from your wheel." 
 
 "What do you mean?" 
 
 "I knew the mirage might lure you on and on into 
 the desert, seeming to flee before you, till at last it 
 would vanish in a mocking manner, and you, utterly
 
 124 On to the Mountains. 
 
 exhausted and spirit-broken, would lie down and die 
 without another effort." 
 
 Jack was silent a few moments. 
 
 "And you did all this for me?" he finally asked. 
 "You pursued and pulled me from my wheel to to 
 save me?" 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 Another brief silence. 
 
 "Frank." 
 
 "Well, Jack?" 
 
 "I was mad." 
 
 "You looked it." 
 
 "My thirst the sight of what I took to be water 
 the shadows of the trees! Ah, yes, I was mad, 
 Frank!" 
 
 "Well, it's all over now." 
 
 "Yes, it is all over. The jig's up !" 
 
 "Nonsense! Get a brace on, old man. We must 
 get to the mountains. It is our only chance, Jack." 
 
 "The mountains! I shall never reach the moun- 
 tains, Frank. I am done for played out!" 
 
 "That's all rot, old fellow ! You are no more played 
 out than I am. We are both pretty well used up, but
 
 On to the Mountains. 125 
 
 we'll pull through to the mountains and get a drink of 
 water." 
 
 "You never give up." 
 
 "Well, I try never to give up." 
 
 "Frank, I want you to forgive me for what I said 
 before we saw the mirage. You know I was making 
 a kick." 
 
 "Oh, never mind that! It's all right, Jack." 
 
 "I want you to say you forgive me." 
 
 "That's dead easy. Of course I forgive you. Think 
 I'm a stiff to hold a grudge over a little matter like 
 that?" 
 
 Diamond looked his admiration from his bloodshot 
 eyes. 
 
 "You're all right, Merry," he hoarsely declared. 
 "You always were all right. I knew it all along. 
 Sometimes I get nasty, for I have a jealous nature, al- 
 though I try to hold it in check. I never did try to 
 hold myself in check in any way till I knew you and 
 saw how you controlled your tastes and passions. 
 That was a revelation to me, Merry. You know I 
 hated you at first, but I came to admire you, despite 
 myself. I have admired you ever since. Sometimes
 
 126 On to the Mountains. 
 
 the worst side of my nature will crop out, but I always 
 know I am wrong. Forgive me for striking you." 
 
 "There, there, old chap! Why are you thinking of 
 such silly things? You are talking as if you had done 
 me a deadly wrong, and this was your last chance to 
 square yourself." 
 
 "It is my last chance I am sure of that. I am 
 played out, and I can't drive that wheel farther. It's 
 no use I throw up the sponge right here." 
 
 A look of determination came to Frank's face. 
 
 "You shall not do anything of the kind!" he cried. 
 "I won't have it, Jack !" 
 
 Diamond did not reply, but lay limp on the ground. 
 Frank put a firm hand on his shoulder, saying : 
 
 "Come, Jack, make a bluff at it" 
 
 "No use!" 
 
 "I tell you it is! Come on. We can reach the 
 mountains within an hour." 
 
 "The mountains!" came huskily from Diamond's 
 lips. "God knows if there are any mountains ! They, 
 too, may be a mirage!" 
 
 "No! no!" 
 
 "Think think how long we have been riding
 
 On to the Mountains. 127 
 
 toward them and still they seemed to remain as far 
 away as they were hours ago." 
 
 "That is one of the peculiar effects of the air out 
 here." 
 
 "I do not believe any of us will reach the moun- 
 tains. And if we should, we might not find water. 
 Those mountains look baked and barren." 
 
 "Remember, I was told how to find water there." 
 
 But this did not give the disheartened boy courage. 
 
 "I know you were told, but the man who told you 
 said that at times that water failed. It's no use, 
 Frank, the game is not worth the candle" 
 
 Then it was that Merriwell began to grow angry. 
 
 "I am ashamed of you, Diamond !" he harshly cried. 
 "I did think you were built of better stuff! Where is 
 your backbone! Come, man, you must make another 
 try!" 
 
 "Must?" came rather defiantly from Jack. "I'll not 
 be forced to do it !" 
 
 "Yes, you will?' 
 
 The Virginian looked at Frank in astonishment. 
 
 "What do you mean?" he asked. 
 
 "I mean that you will brace up and attempt to reach 
 the mountains with the rest of us, or I'll give you the
 
 128 On to the Mountains. 
 
 blamedest licking you ever had and there won't be 
 any apologies afterward, either!" 
 
 That aroused Jack somewhat. 
 
 "You you wouldn't do that now?" he faltered. 
 
 "Wouldn't I ?" cried Frank, seeming to make prepa- 
 rations to carry out his threat. "Well, you'll see!" 
 
 "But but " 
 
 "There are no buts about it ! Either you get up and 
 make one more struggle, or I'll have the satisfaction 
 of knowing you are not in condition to make a struggle 
 when I leave you. This is business, and it's straight 
 from the shoulder !" 
 
 Diamond remonstrated weakly, but Frank seemed 
 in sober earnest. 
 
 "I believe it would do you good," he declared. "It 
 would beat a little sense into you. It's what you want, 
 anyway." 
 
 A sense of shame came over Jack. 
 
 "If you've got enough energy to give me a licking, I 
 ought to have enough to make another try for life," 
 he huskily said. 
 
 "Of course you have." 
 
 "Well, I'll do it. It isn't becau~ T fear the licking,
 
 On to the Mountains. 129 
 
 for that wouldn't make any difference now, but I can 
 make another try for it, if you can." 
 
 Frank dragged the other boy to his feet, and then 
 picked up their fallen wheels. Jack was so weak that 
 he could scarcely stand, seeming to have been quite ex- 
 hausted by his last furious struggle with the boy who 
 had raced across the desert sands to save his life. 
 Twice Frank caught him and kept him from falling. 
 
 "What's the use ?" Diamond hoarsely whispered. "I 
 tell you I can't keep in the saddle!" 
 
 "And I tell you that you must ! There are the other 
 fellows, coming this way. I will signal them to ride 
 toward the mountains, and we will join them." 
 
 Frank made the signal, and the others understood, 
 for they soon turned .toward the mountains again. 
 
 Then Merriwell aided Jack in mounting and getting 
 started, mounting himself after that, and hurrying 
 after the Virginian, whose wheel was making a very 
 crooked track across the sand. 
 
 When it was necessary Frank supported Jack with a 
 hand on the arm of the dark-faced lad, speaking en- 
 couraging words into his ear, urging him on. 
 
 And thus they rode toward the barren-looking 
 Desert Range, where they must find water or death.
 
 i}o On to the Mountains. 
 
 They came to the mountains at last, when the burn- 
 ing sun was hanging a ball of fire in the western sky. 
 From a distance Merriwell had singled out Split Peak, 
 which had served as his guide. At the foot of Split 
 Peak were two water-holes, one on the east and one on 
 the south. 
 
 First Frank sought for the eastern water-hole, and 
 he found it. 
 
 But it was dry! 
 
 Dry, save for the slightest indication of moisture in 
 the sand at the bottom of the hole. 
 
 "I told you so!" gasped Diamond, as he fell to the 
 ground in hopeless exhaustion. "There is no water 
 here!" 
 
 "Wait," said Frank, hoarsely. "We'll see if we 
 can't find some. Come, boys; we must scoop out the 
 sand down there in the hole we must dig for our 
 lives!" 
 
 "By golly !" said Toots ; "dis nigger's reddy teh dig 
 a well fo'ty foot deep, if he can fine about fo' swallers 
 ob wattah." 
 
 "A well !" muttered Rattleton. "We'll sink a shaft 
 here!" 
 
 "Well, I don't know!" murmured Browning.
 
 On to the Mountains. 131 
 
 So they went to work, two of them digging at a 
 time, and, with their hands, they scooped out the sand 
 down in the water-hole. As they worked a little 
 dirty water began to trickle into the hole. 
 
 "Yum! yum!" muttered Toots, his eyes shining. 
 "Nebber saw muddy wattah look so good befoM I 
 done fink I can drink 'bout a barrel ob dat stuff!" 
 
 They worked until quite exhausted, and then waited 
 impatiently for the water to run into the hole. It rose 
 with disheartening slowness, but rise it did. 
 
 When he could do so, Frank dipped up some of the 
 water with his drinking cup and gave it to Jack first 
 of all. 
 
 Diamond's hands shook so with eagerness that he 
 nearly spilled the water, and he greedily turned it down 
 his parched throat at a gulp. 
 
 "Merciful goodness! how sweet!" he gasped. "More, 
 Frank more !" 
 
 "Wait a bit, my boy. You have had the first drink 
 from this hole. The others must take their turn now. 
 When it comes around to you again, you shall have 
 more." 
 
 "But there may not be enough to go around !" Jack 
 almost snarled. "What good do you think a little like
 
 132 On to the Mountains. 
 
 that can do a fellow who is dying of thirst? I must 
 have more now!" 
 
 "Well, you can't have another drop till the others 
 have taken their turn not a taste!" 
 
 When Frank spoke like that he meant what he said, 
 and Jack knew it. But the little water he had re- 
 ceived had maddened Diamond almost as much as had 
 the mirage. As Frank turned toward the water-hole, 
 Jack started to spring upon him, crying: 
 
 "We'll see!" 
 
 "Hold on !" said Browning, as one of his hands went 
 out and grasped Diamond. "I wouldn't do that. 
 You are excited. I reckon I'll have to sit on you, 
 while you cool off." 
 
 Then the big fellow took Jack down, and actually 
 sat on him, while the Virginian raved like a maniac. 
 
 "Poor fellow!" said Frank, pityingly. "He has al- 
 most lost his reason by what he has passed through." 
 
 One by one the others received some of the water, 
 and then it came Jack's turn once more. By this time 
 he was silent, but there was a sullen light in his eyes. 
 When Frank passed him the water in the drinking cup 
 he shook his head, and refused to take it. 
 
 "No !" he muttered. "I won't have it ! Drink it all
 
 On to the Mountains. 133 
 
 up! You don't care anything about me! Let me 
 die!" 
 
 "Well, hang a fool!" snorted Browning, in great 
 disgust. 
 
 "Say, jes' yo' pass dat wattah heah, Marser Frank, 
 an' see if dis coon'll refuse teh let it percolate down 
 his froat!" 
 
 "Yes, give it to Toots!" grated Diamond. "You 
 think more of him than you do of me, anyway ! Give 
 it to him !" 
 
 "Don't chool with that fump I mean don't fool 
 with that chump!" snapped Rattleton. "Let him have 
 his own way ! He's got a bug in his head ; that's what 
 ails him." 
 
 "Let him alone, Bruce," said Frank, quietly. "I 
 want to talk to him." 
 
 "He struck at you behind your back." 
 
 "Never mind ; he won't do so again." 
 
 "Oh, you don't know!" muttered Diamond. 
 
 "Yes, I do," declared Frank, with confidence. 
 
 "Never mind us, fellows. I want a little quiet talk 
 with Jack." 
 
 They understod him, and the two lads were left 
 alone.
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 THE SKELETON. 
 
 Frank began talking to Diamond in a smooth, pleas- 
 ant way, appealing to his sense of justice. At first 
 Jack turned away, as if he did not care to listen, but 
 he heard every word, and he was affected. 
 
 "You are not yourself, old fellow," said Frank, 
 softly, placing his hand gently on Diamond's shoulder. 
 "If you were yourself you would not be like this. It 
 is the burning desert, the blazing sun, the frightful 
 thirst these have made you unlike yourself. I don't 
 mind anything you have said about me, Jack, for I 
 know you are my friend, and you would not think of 
 saying such things under ordinary circumstances. A 
 little while ago, away out on the desert, you told me 
 that much. It was then that reason came back to you 
 for a little while. Knowing how you have suffered, I 
 gave you the first drink from this water-hole. The 
 water ran in slowly, and I did not know that there 
 would be enough to go around twice. You were not 
 the only one who had suffered from thirst, but the
 
 The Skeleton, 135 
 
 others made no objection to your having the first 
 drink they wanted you to have it. But it was neces- 
 sary that they should have some of the water, so that 
 all of us would be in condition to search for the other 
 vater-hole. Surely, old fellow, you see the common 
 sense of this. And now, Jack, look the water has 
 cleared, and more is running into the hole. It will 
 quench your thirst, and you will be yourself again. 
 You are my friend, and I am yours. We stand ready 
 to fight for each other at any time. If one of my ene- 
 mies were to try to get at me behind my back, why, 
 you would " 
 
 "Strangle the infernal cur!" shouted Diamond. 
 "Give me that water, Frank! You are all right, and 
 I'm all wrong ! Just let me have a chance to fight for 
 you, and see if I don't fight as long as there is a drop 
 of blood in my body !" 
 
 Merriwell had conquered, but he showed no sign of 
 triumph, although he quietly said : 
 
 "I knew all the while, dear old fellow ; in fact, I be- 
 lieve I know you better than you know yourself." 
 
 Then, when the others came up, ready to jolly Dia- 
 mond about refusing to drink, Frank checked them 
 with a gesture.
 
 i}6 The Skeleton. 
 
 Jack felt better when he had taken a second drink 
 of water. As water had risen in the hole, all the boys 
 were able to get another round, and the spirits of all 
 of them were raised. 
 
 "I believe we have some hard bread and jerked beef, 
 haven't we, Merry?" asked Browning. 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 "Well, we are all right, then. Can't knock us out 
 now. All I need is a good chance to rest." 
 
 "Oh, you need rest!" nodded Rattleton. "You al- 
 ways need that. You can take more rest and not com- 
 plain than any fellow I ever saw." 
 
 "Young man," said Bruce, loftily, "it won't work. 
 I refuse to let you get me on a string, so drop it." 
 
 "You'll be lucky if you get out of this part of the 
 country without getting on a string with the other end 
 hitched to the limb of a tree." 
 
 "That reminds me," drawled Bruce; "at the last 
 town where we stopped I asked a citizen if there were 
 any horse thieves in that locality, and he said there 
 were two of 'em hanging around there the night be- 
 fore." 
 
 "Yes," nodded Harry, "that was the place where
 
 The Skeleton. 137 
 
 they said they were going to stop lynching if they had 
 to hang every durned lyncher they could catch." 
 
 "Boys," laughed Merriwell, "we are all right 
 When you chaps get to springing those things I feel 
 there is no further danger. We'll pull out all right." 
 
 "Suttinly, sar," grinned Toots. "I's gwan teh bet 
 mah money on dis crowd ebry time, chilluns. We's 
 hot stuff, an' dar ain't nuffin' gwan teh stop us dis side 
 ob San Francisco no, sar!" 
 
 Finally, refreshed and filled with new hope, the boys 
 mounted their wheels and started to seek for the sec- 
 ond water-hole. 
 
 Frank led the way, and they turned to the south, rid- 
 ing along the base of some barren cliffs. . 
 
 "Are you sure we'll be able to find our way back to 
 the water-hole we have left if we failto discover the 
 other one?" asked Rattleton. 
 
 "I am taking note of everything, and I do not think 
 there will be any difficulty," answered Frank. 
 
 They had proceeded in this manner for about two 
 miles when they saw before them a place where the 
 barren cliffs opened into a pass that seemed to lead 
 into the mountains.
 
 138 The Skeleton. 
 
 "There is our road!" cried Merriwell, cheerfully. 
 "It should lead us straight to the second water-hole." 
 
 "Yah! yah!" laughed Toots. "Cayarn't fool dat 
 boy, chilluns ! He knows his business, yo' bet ! Won't 
 s'prise me a bit if he teks us stret to a resyvoyer no, 
 sar!" 
 
 They made for the pass, and, in a burst of energy, 
 the colored boy spurted to the front, taking the lead. 
 
 Of a sudden, as they approached a point where the 
 bluffs narrowed till they were close together, the negro 
 gave a sudden wild howl of terror, tried to turn his 
 wheel about and went plunging headlong to the 
 ground. 
 
 "Wow!" gasped Rattleton. "What's struck him?" 
 
 "Something is the matter with him, sure as fate," 
 said Frank. 
 
 Toots was seen to sit up and stare toward the wall 
 of stone, while it was plain that he was shaking as if 
 struck by an attack of ague. Then he tried to scram- 
 ble up, but fell on his knees, with his hands clasped 
 and uplifted in a supplicating attitude, while he wildly 
 cried : 
 
 "Go 'way, dar, good Mr. Debbil ! I ain't done nuf- 
 fin' teh yo' ! Please don' touch me ! I's nuffin' but a
 
 The Skeleton. 139 
 
 po* good-fo'-nuffin' nigger, an' I ain't wuff bodderin* 
 wif no, sar! Dar am some white boys wif me, an* 
 I guess yo'll lek them a heap sight better. Jes' yo' 
 tek one of them, good Mr. Debbil !" 
 
 "Has he gone daffy, too?" muttered Frank, in as- 
 tonishment. 
 
 Then the boys came whirling up and sprang from 
 their wheels, at which Toots made a scramble for 
 Frank, caught hold of his knees, and chatteringly 
 cried : 
 
 "Don* yeh let him kerry me off, Marser Frank! I 
 knows yo' ain't afeared of nuffin', so I wants yeh ter 
 protect po' Toots from de debbil wif de fiery eyes !" 
 
 But Frank was so astonished that he scarcely heard 
 a word the colored boy uttered. 
 
 Seated on a block of stone in a niche of the wall was 
 a human skeleton. It was sitting bolt upright and 
 seemed to be staring at the boys with eyes that flashed 
 a hundred shades of light. 
 
 "Poly hoker no, holy poker!" palpitated Harry, 
 leaning hard on his wheel. "What have we struck?" 
 
 For a time the others were speechless. 
 
 Wonderfully and fantastically was the skeleton deco- 
 rated. On its head was a rude crown that seemed to
 
 140 The Skeleton. 
 
 be of glittering gold, while gold bracelets adorned its 
 arms. About the fleshless neck was a chain of gold, 
 to which a large locket was attached, and across the 
 ribs was strung a gold watch-chain, while there were 
 other fantastic and costly ornaments dangling over 
 those bones of a human being. 
 
 The eyes of the skeleton, flashing so many different 
 lights, seemed to be two huge diamonds of enormous 
 value. 
 
 No wonder the young cyclists stared in astonish- 
 ment at the marvelously bejeweled skeleton! 
 
 "Well, drawled Browning, with his usual noncha- 
 lance, "the gentleman seems to have dressed up in his 
 best to receive us. Some one must have sent him 
 word we were coming." 
 
 Toots, seeing the others did not seem frightened, 
 had got on his feet and picked up his bicycle. 
 
 "Goodness!" muttered Diamond. "If all those 
 decorations are solid gold, there is a small fortune in 
 sight!" 
 
 "What is the meaning of this, Frank?" asked Rat- 
 tleton. "How do you suppose this skeleton happens 
 to be here?"
 
 The Skeleton. 141 
 
 "Ask me something easy," said Merriwell, shaking 
 his head. 
 
 "The skeleton must have been decorated in that man- 
 ner by some living person," asserted Rattleton. 
 
 "But where is that person ?" 
 
 "Not here, that is sure." 
 
 "It may be a warning," said Jack, gloomily. 
 
 "Warning, nothing!" exclaimed Frank. "It is plain 
 the thing has been left there by some person, and we 
 are the discoverers. It must be that the skeleton is 
 that of some poor devil who perished here for want 
 of water." 
 
 "And it may be that the one who placed it there per- 
 ished also/' said Rattleton. 
 
 "Very likely." 
 
 "In which case,'' came eagerly from Jack's lips, "all 
 that treasure belongs to us! Boys, it is a wonderful 
 stroke of fortune ! We have made enough to take the 
 whole of us through Yale, and " 
 
 "If we ever get back to Yale, old fellow ! This un- 
 fortunate fellow perished here, and our fate may be 
 similar." 
 
 "Boo!" shivered Browning. "That's pleasant to 
 think about !"
 
 142 The Skeleton. 
 
 "More than that," Frank went on, "the treasure 
 does not belong to us if we can find the real owner or 
 his heirs." 
 
 The excitement and interest of the boys was great. 
 They were eager to examine the decorations of the 
 mysterious skeleton. 
 
 "We'll stack our wheels, and then one of us can 
 climb up and make an inspection," said Frank. 
 
 So they proceeded to stack their wheels, Toots ob- 
 serving : 
 
 "Yo' can fool wif dat skillerton if yo' wants to, chil- 
 luns, but dis nigger's gwan teh keep right away from 
 it. Bet fo' dollars it will jest reach out dem arms and 
 grab de firs' one dat gits near it. Wo-oh! Land ob 
 wartermillions ! it meks me have de fevah an' chillins 
 jes' to fink ob it!" 
 
 "We'll draw lots to see who goes up," said Frank, 
 winking at the others. "You will have to eo if it falls 
 to you, Toots." 
 
 "Oh, mah goodness!" gasped the frightened darky. 
 "I ain't gwan teh draw no lots, Marser Frank no, 
 sar! I's got a po'erful bad case ob heart trouble, an' 
 mah doctah hab reckermended dat I don't fool roun'
 
 The Skeleton. 143 
 
 no skillertons. He said it might result distrus if I 
 boddered wif skillertons." 
 
 "What's that?" cried Frank, sternly. "Would you 
 drink your share of water when water is so precious 
 and not take even chances with the rest of us in any 
 danger ?" 
 
 "Now, Marser Frank!" cried the darky, appeal- 
 ingly; "don' go fo' to be too hard on a po' nigger I 
 De trubble wif me is dat I'm jes' a nacheral bo'n 
 coward, an' I can't git over hit nohow. Dat's what 
 meks mah heart turn flip-flops ebry time dar's any 
 dangar, sar." 
 
 "But think of the treasure up there that we have 
 found. If it should fall to you to investigate, and you 
 were to bring down that treasure, of course you would 
 receive your share, the same as the rest of us." 
 
 "Lawd bress yeh, honey! I don' want no treasure 
 if I've goter go an' fotch hit down. I'd a heap sight 
 rudder nebber hab no treasure dan git wifin reachin' 
 distance of dat skillerton yes, sar!" 
 
 "Don't fool with him, Merry," said Diamond, im- 
 patiently. "Of course you don't expect to send him 
 up, and you won't think of giving him any part of the 
 treasure."
 
 144 The Skeleton. 
 
 Frank flashed a look at the Virginian, and saw that 
 Jack was in earnest. 
 
 "You are mistaken, old man," he said. "I do not 
 expect Toots to go up there, but, if there is a real 
 treasure and it is divided, you may be sure he will 
 receive his share." 
 
 "Oh, well!" cried Jack, somewhat taken aback; "of 
 course I don't care what you do about that, but I 
 thought you were in earnest about what you were 
 saying." 
 
 "The trouble with you," muttered Rattleton, speak- 
 ing so low that Jack could not hear him, "is that you 
 never see through a joke." 
 
 "Come," spoke Browning, "if we've got to take 
 chances to see who goes up and makes the examina- 
 tion, come on. I hope to get out of it myself, but if 
 I must, I must." 
 
 "We need not take chances," said Frank, promptly. 
 "I will go." 
 
 "It will not be difficult, for it is no climb at all," 
 said Jack. "Two of us can swing ourselves up there 
 in a moment, and I will go with you, Merry." 
 
 Then it was that Rattleton suddenly gave a great 
 cry of stupefied amazement.
 
 The Skeleton. 145 
 
 "What's the matter?" asked Merriwell. 
 
 "Look! look!" gasped Harry, pointing toward the 
 niche in the rocks. "The skeleton it has disap- 
 peared !" 
 
 They looked, and, dumb for the time with amaze- 
 ment and dismay, they saw Rattleton spoke the truth. 
 
 The mysterious skeleton had vanished!
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 "INDIANS !" 
 
 "Gone!" cried Jack. 
 
 "Sure!" nodded Frank. 
 
 "Lordy massy sakes teh goose-grease!" gasped 
 Toots, again shivering with terror. "Didn't I done 
 tole yeh, chilluns ! If yo' know when yo' am well off, 
 yeh'll git erway from heah jes' as quick as yeh can 
 trabbel! Oh, mah goodness!" 
 
 Shaking in every limb, the colored boy tried to get 
 his bicycle out from the others, lost his balance, fell 
 over, and sent the entire stack of wheels crashing to 
 the ground. 
 
 "Well, this seems to be a regular sleight-of-hand 
 performance," coolly commented Browning. "Now 
 you see it, and now you don't; guess where it's gone. 
 It drives me to a cigarette." 
 
 But he discovered that his cigarettes were gone, 
 which seemed to concern him far more than the van- 
 ishing of the skeleton. He declared he had lost a whole
 
 "Indians!" 147 
 
 package, and seemed to feel quite as bad about it as if 
 they were solid gold. 
 
 Rattleton was excited. 
 
 "What sort of pocus-hocus no, hocus-pocus is this, 
 anyway?" he spluttered. "Where's it gone? Who 
 wayed the old thing a took. I mean who took the old 
 thing away?" 
 
 "It couldn't have gone away of its own accord," 
 said Frank, "so some one must have removed it." 
 
 "Don' yeh fool yo'se'f dat way, Marser Frank!" 
 cried Toots, sitting up amid the fallen wheels. "Dat 
 skillerton am de berry ol' scratch hisse'f! De next 
 thing some ob dis crowd will be disumpearin' dat way. 
 Gwan ter git kerried off, ohilluns, if yo' don' git out 
 ob dis in a hurry." 
 
 "Oh, shut up !" snapped Diamond. "You make me 
 tired with your chatter!" 
 
 "Mistah Dimund," said the colored boy, with at- 
 tempted dignity, "if yo'll let dat debbil kerry yo' off 
 yo'll nebber be missed no, sar." 
 
 Jack pretended he did not hear those words. 
 
 "Here goes to see what has become of the thing!" 
 cried Frank, as he scrambled up to the niche where the 
 skeleton had sat
 
 148 "Indians!" 
 
 "I am with you!" cried Diamond, as he followed 
 Frank closely. 
 
 Reaching the nook in the face of the cliff, they looked 
 about for some sign of the skeleton that had been 
 there a short time before, but not a sign of it could 
 they see. The ghastly thing was gone, and the glit- 
 tering ornaments had vanished with it. The block of 
 stone on which the object had sat was still there. 
 
 "Well, fat do you whind I mean what do you 
 find?" cried Rattleton, impatiently. 
 
 "Not a thing," was the disgusted reply. "It has 
 gone, sure as fate!" 
 
 "So have my cigarettes!" groaned Browning. 
 
 "The treasure is any of that there?" asked Harry, 
 eagerly. 
 
 "Not a bit of it." 
 
 "Well, that's what I call an unfair deal," murmured 
 Bruce. "It is a blow below the belt. If the old skele- 
 ton had desired to go away, none of us would have 
 objected, but it might have left the trimmings with 
 which it was adorned." 
 
 Frank was puzzled, and the more he investigated 
 the greater grew his wonder. He knew they had seen
 
 "Indians 1" 149 
 
 the skeleton, yet it had vanished like fog before a 
 
 blazing sun. 
 
 Jack shrugged his shoulders and shivered, saying: 
 
 "There's something uncanny about it, old man. I 
 believe it is a warning." 
 
 "Nonsense!" cried Frank. "What sort of a warn- 
 ing?" 
 
 "A warning of the fate that awaits all of us." 
 
 "You are not well, Jack." 
 
 "Oh, it is not that! First we see a lake of water, 
 and that disappears; then we see this skeleton, and 
 now that has vanished. You must confess that there 
 is something remarkable in it all." 
 
 "The vanishing of the mirage came about in a 
 natural manner, but " 
 
 "But you must confess there was something decid- 
 edly unnatural about the vanishing of the skeleton." 
 
 "It was removed by human hands I will wager 
 anything on that." 
 
 "Then where is the human being who removed it?" 
 
 "I don't know." 
 
 Unable to remain below, Rattleton came climbing 
 up to the niche. 
 
 "I've got to satisfy myself," he said, as he felt
 
 150 "Indians!" 
 
 about with his hands, as if he expected to discover the 
 vanished skeleton in that manner. "I can't see how 
 the blamed old thing could get away !" 
 
 "Well, you can see quite as well as we can," ac- 
 knowledged Frank. "It is gone, and that is all we can 
 tell about it." 
 
 The boys satisfied themselves that the thing had 
 really disappeared, and they could not begin to solve 
 the mystery. After a time they returned to the 
 ground. 
 
 "It am de debbil's work!" asserted Toots. "Don' 
 yeh mek no misteks 'bout dat, chilluns." 
 
 They held a "council of war," and it was resolved 
 that they should go on through the pass and try to 
 find the second water-hole before darkness fell. 
 
 Already night was close at hand, and they must 
 needs lose no time, 
 
 "We can come back here in the morning and see 
 if we're able to solve the mystery," said Merriwell. 
 "I, for one, do not feel like going away without mak 
 ing another attempt at it." 
 
 "Nor I," nodded Rattleton. 
 
 "It is folly," declared Jack, gloomily. "I say we
 
 "Indians!" 151 
 
 have been warned, and the best thing we can do is get 
 away as soon as possible." 
 
 "By golly! dat am de firs' sensibul fing I've heard 
 yo' say in fo' days!" cried Toots, approvingly. 
 
 They picked up their wheels, and soon were ready 
 to mount. 
 
 "Here's good-by to the vanishing skeleton for to- 
 night," cried Frank. 
 
 He was answered by a wild peal of mocking laugh- 
 ter that seemed to run along the face of the cliff in 
 a most remarkable manner. 
 
 "Ha! ha! ha!" it sounded, hoarsely, and "Ha! ha! 
 ha !" came down from the rocks, like a mystic echo. 
 
 "O-oh, Lordy!" 
 
 Toots made a jump for the saddle of his bicycle, 
 but jumped too far and went clean over the wheel, 
 striking his knee and turning in the air, to fall with a 
 thump on the back of his neck. 
 
 "Mah goodness!" he gurgled, as he lay on the 
 ground, dazed by the shock of the fall. "De ol' debbil 
 done gib meh a boost then fo' suah!" 
 
 The other lads looked at each other in perplexity. 
 
 "Well, wh-wh-what do you think of that?" stam- 
 mered Rattleton.
 
 152 "Indians!" 
 
 "He ought to file his voice, whoever he is," coolly 
 observed Browning. "It's a little rough along the 
 edges." 
 
 "It strikes me that somebody is having fun with us," 
 said Merriwell, a look of displeasure on his face. 
 
 "What are you going to do about it ?" asked Harry. 
 
 "We don't seem able to do much of anything now. 
 Come on." 
 
 Toots scrambled up, and they mounted their wheels. 
 As they started to ride away, a hollow-sounding voice 
 cried: 
 
 "Stop!" 
 
 "Oh, riv us a guest I mean give us a rest !" flung 
 back Rattleton. 
 
 "Stop!" repeated the mysterious voice. "Do not 
 try the pass. There is danger beyond. Turn back." 
 
 "I told you it was a warning!" cried Jack. "What 
 do you think of it now?" 
 
 "I think somebody is trying to have a lot of sport 
 with us!" exclaimed Frank. 
 
 "Well, what are you going to do?" 
 
 "Not a thing. I don't propose to pay any atten- 
 tion to it. Come on, fellows. We must have more
 
 "Indians!" 
 
 water, and there's none too much time to find it be- 
 fore dark." 
 
 Diamond was tempted to declare he would not go 
 any further, but he knew the others would stand by 
 Frank, and so he pedaled along. 
 
 As they drew away from the spot where they had 
 seen the skeleton, they heard the mysterious voice 
 calling to them again, commanding them to stop and 
 turn back. Thus it continued till they had ridden on 
 so that it could be heard no longer. 
 
 Despite himself Frank had been impressed by what 
 he had seen and heard, and a feeling of awe was on 
 him. Ahead the shadows were thick where the dark 
 cliffs seemed to come together, and there was some- 
 thing grim and overpowering about the bare and 
 towering mountains that sullenly frowned down upon 
 the little party. 
 
 The boys were silent, for they had no words to 
 speak. Each was busy with his thoughts, and those 
 thoughts were not of the most pleasant character. 
 
 A feeling of heart-sickening loneliness settled down 
 upon them and made them long for the homes that 
 were so far away. What satisfaction was there, after 
 all, in this great ride across the continent? They had
 
 154 "Indians!" 
 
 encountered innumerable perils, and now it seemed 
 that they were overshadowed by the greatest peril 
 of all. 
 
 How still it was! The mountains seemed like 
 crouching monsters of the great desert, waiting there 
 to spring upon and crush them out of existence. There 
 was something fearsome and frightful in their grim 
 air of waiting. 
 
 The whirring of the wheels was a warning whisper, 
 or the deadly hiss of a serpent. As they passed between 
 the frowning bluffs, which rose on either hand, the 
 whirring sound seemed to become louder and louder 
 till it was absolutely awesome. 
 
 Frank looked back, and of all the party Bruce 
 Browning was the only one whose face remained stolid 
 and impassive. It did not seem that he had been 
 affected in the least by what had happened. 
 
 "He has wonderful nerve!" thought Merriwell. 
 
 Diamond's dark face seemed pale, and there was an 
 anxious look on the face of Rattleton. Toots betrayed 
 his excitement and fear most distinctly. 
 
 Frank feared they would not get through the pass 
 in time to find the second water-hole, and he increased 
 his speed.
 
 "Indians!" 155 
 
 The ground was favorable for swift riding. At that 
 time Merriwell thought it fortunate, but, later, he 
 changed his mind. 
 
 Of a sudden the pass between the bluffs ended, and 
 they shot out into a valley or basin. 
 
 A cry of astonishment and alarm came from Frank's 
 lips, and he used all his energy to check and turn his 
 flying wheel. 
 
 Before them blazed a fire, and around that fire were 
 gathered 
 
 "Indians!" palpitated Harry Rattleton,
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 BLUE WOLF TRIES THE BICYCLE. 
 
 "Indians!" echoed Jack Diamond. 
 
 "Indians?" grunted Bruce Browning, astonished. 
 
 "O-oh, Lordy!" gasped Toots. "Dis am whar a 
 nigger boy I know is gwan teh lose his scalp fo' suah !" 
 
 "Turn!" commanded Frank "turn to the left, and 
 we'll make a run to get back through the pass." 
 
 But they were seen, and the redskins about the fire 
 sprang to their feet with loud whoops. 
 
 At the first whoop Toots gave a howl and threw up 
 both hands. 
 
 "Don' yo' shoot, good Mistar Injunses !" he shouted. 
 "I's jes' a common brack nigger, an' I ain't no 'count 
 nohow. Mah scalp wouldn' be no good teh yo' 
 arter " 
 
 Then he took a header off his wobbling machine 
 and fell directly before Jack, whose bicycle struck his 
 body, and Diamond was hurled to the ground. 
 
 "Stop, fellows!" cried Merriwell. "We mustn't 
 run away and leave them ! Come back here !"
 
 Blue Wolf Tries the Bicycle. 157 
 
 From his wheel he leaped to the ground in a mo- 
 ment, running to Diamond's side. Grasping Jack by 
 the arm he exclaimed : 
 
 "Up, old fellow up and onto your wheel! We 
 may be able to get away now! We'll make a bluff 
 for it." 
 
 But it was useless, for Jack was so stunned that he 
 could not get on his feet, though he tried to do so. 
 
 Toots was stretched at full length on the ground, 
 praying and begging the "good Injunses" not to 
 bother with his scalp, saying the hair was so crooked 
 that it was "no good nohow." 
 
 Up came the redskins on a run and surrounded the 
 boys, Bruce and Harry having turned back. 
 
 Browning assumed a defensive attitude, muttering: 
 
 "Well, if we're in for a scrap, I'll try to get a crack 
 at one or two of these homely mugs before I'm pol- 
 ished off." 
 
 There were seven of the Indians, and nearly all of 
 them carried weapons in their hands. Although they 
 were not in war paint, they were a decidedly ugly-look- 
 ing gang, and their savage little eyes denoted anything 
 but friendliness.
 
 158 Blue Wolf Tries the Bicycle. 
 
 "Ugh!" grunted the tallest Indian of the party, an 
 old fellow with a scarred and wrinkled face, 
 
 "Ugh! ugh! ugh!" grunted the others. 
 
 Then they stared at the boys and their bicycles, the 
 latter seeming a great curiosity to them. 
 
 "Well, this is a scrolly old jape I mean a jolly old 
 scrape!" fluttered Rattleton. "We're in for it!" 
 
 Toots looked up, saw the Indians, uttered another 
 wild howl, and tried to bury his head in the sand, like 
 an ostrich. 
 
 Frank singled out the tall Indian and spoke to him. 
 
 "How do you do?" he said. 
 
 "How," returned the Indian, with dignity. 
 
 "Unfortunately we did not know you were here, or 
 we should not have called," explained Merriwell. 
 
 The savage nodded, the single black feather in his 
 hair fluttering like a pennant as he did so. 
 
 "Urn know," he said. "Um see white boy heap 
 much surprised." 
 
 "Jee! he can talk United States!" muttered Rattle- 
 ton. 
 
 "Talk it !" said Bruce, in disgust. "He can chew it, 
 that's all." 
 
 "I trust we have not disturbed you," said Frank,
 
 Blue Wolf Tries the Bicycle. 159 
 
 calmly; "and we will leave you in your glory as soon 
 as my friend, who fell from his wheel, is able to 
 mount and ride." 
 
 "No, no!" quickly declared the tall Indian; "white 
 boy no go 'way. Injun like um heap much." 
 
 Browning lifted his cap and felt for his scalp. 
 
 "It may be my last opportunity to examine it," he 
 murmured. 
 
 "But we are in a hurry, and we can't stop with you, 
 however much we may desire to do so," declared 
 Frank, glibly. "You see we are on urgent business." 
 
 "Yes, very urgent," agreed Rattleton. "Smoly 
 hoke no, holy smoke! don't I wish I were back to 
 New Haven, New York, any old place!" 
 
 "White boys must stop," said the big savage. 
 "Black Feather say so, that settle um." 
 
 "I am afraid it does," confessed Browning. 
 
 Diamond got upon his feet, assisted by Frank. 
 
 "Well," he said, somewhat bitterly, "that is what we 
 have come to by failing to heed the warning we re- 
 ceived !" 
 
 "Don't go to croaking!" snapped Rattleton. "These 
 Indians are peaceable. They are not on the war path." 
 
 "But they are off the reservation," said Frank, in a
 
 160 Blue Wolf Tries the Bicycle. 
 
 low tone; "and that is bad. They have us foul, and 
 there is no telling what they may take a notion to do." 
 
 "It's pretty sure they'll take a notion to do us," 
 sighed Harry. 
 
 The tall Indian, who had given his name as Black 
 Feather, professed great friendliness, and, when the 
 boys told him they had been looking for the water- 
 hole, he said : 
 
 "Urn water-hole dare by fire. Good water, heap 
 much of it. Come, have all water um want." 
 
 "Well, that is an inducement," confessed Browning. 
 "We may be able to get a square drink before we are 
 scalped." 
 
 It was with no small difficulty that Toots was forced 
 to get up, and, after he was on his feet, he would look 
 at first one Indian and then dodge, and look at another, 
 each time gurgling: 
 
 "O-oh, Lord!" 
 
 And so, surrounded by the Indians, the boys moved 
 over to the fire, which was near the water-hole, as 
 Black Feather had declared. 
 
 "Well, we'll all drink," said Frank, as he produced 
 his pocket cup and proceeded to fill it. "Here, fel- 
 lows, take turns."
 
 Blue Wolf Tries the Bicycle. 161 
 
 While they were doing so the Indians were examin- 
 ing their bicycles with great curiosity. It was plain 
 the savages had never before seen anything of the 
 kind, and they were rilled with astonishment and mys- 
 tification. They grunted and jabbered, and then one 
 of them decided to get on and try one of the wheels. 
 
 It happened that this one was the smallest, shortest- 
 legged redskin of the lot, and he selected the machine 
 with the highest frame. 
 
 "Ugh!" -he grunted. "White boy ride two-wheel 
 boss, Injun him ride two-wheel hoss heap same. 
 Watch Blue Wolf." 
 
 "Yes," said Browning, softly, nudging Merriwell 
 in the ribs with his elbow, "watch Blue Wolf, and you 
 will see him smash my bicycle. I sincerely hope he 
 will break his confounded head at the same time!" 
 
 "White boy show Injun how urn git on," ordered 
 Blue Wolf. 
 
 "Go ahead, Bruce," directed Frank. 
 
 "Oh, thunder!" groaned the big fellow. "I'm so 
 tired!" 
 
 But he was forced to show the Indians how he 
 mounted the wheel, which he did, being dragged off 
 almost as soon as he got astride the saddle.
 
 162 Blue Wolf Tries the Bicycle. 
 
 "Ugh!" grunted Blue Wolf, with great satisfaction. 
 "Urn heap much easy. Watch Blue Wolf." 
 
 "Yes, watch Blue Wolf!" repeated Browning. "It 
 will be good as a circus! Oh, my poor bicycle!" 
 
 With no small difficulty the little Indian steadied 
 the wheel, reaching forward to grasp the handlebars 
 while standing behind it. The first time he lifted his 
 foot to place it on the step he lost his balance and fell 
 over with the machine. 
 
 The other Indians grunted, and Blue Wolf got up, 
 saying something in his own language that seemed to 
 make the atmosphere warmer than it was before. 
 
 The bicycle was lifted and held for the little Indian 
 to make another trial. He looked as if he longed to 
 kick it into a thousand pieces, but braced up, placed his 
 foot on the step and made a wild leap for the saddle. 
 He missed the saddle, struck astride the frame just back 
 of the handlebars, uttered a wild howl of dismay, and 
 went down in hopeless entanglement with the unfor- 
 tunate machine. 
 
 "Wow!" howled Blue Wolf. 
 
 "Oh, my poor bicycle!" groaned Browning, once 
 more. 
 
 The fallen redman kicked the bicycle into the air,
 
 Blue Wolf Tries the Bicycle. 163 
 
 but it promptly came down astride his neck and drove 
 his nose into the dirt. 
 
 "Ugh!" grunted the watching Indians, solemnly. 
 
 "Whoop!" roared Blue Wolf, spitting out a mouth- 
 ful of dirt. 
 
 Then he made another frantic attempt to cast the 
 machine off, but it persisted in sticking to him in a 
 wonderful manner. One of his arms was thrust 
 through the spokes of the forward wheel to the shoul- 
 der, and as he tried to yank it out, the rear wheel spun 
 around and one of the pedals gave him a terrific thump 
 on the top of the head. 
 
 "Yah!" snarled the unlucky Indian. 
 
 "Two- wheel hoss kick a heap," observed Black 
 Feather. 
 
 Blue Wolf tried to struggle to his feet, but he was 
 so entangled with the bicycle that it seemed to fling 
 him down with astonishing violence. 
 
 Then as the noble red man kicked, and squirmed, 
 and struggled, the bicycle danced and pranced upon his 
 prostrate body like a thing of life. 
 
 "O-o-oh!" wailed Blue Wolf, in pain and fear. 
 
 Toots suddenly forgot his fears, and holding onto
 
 1 64 Blue Wolf Tries the Bicycle. 
 
 his side, he doubled up with a wild burst of "coon" 
 laughter. 
 
 "Oh, land ob water-millions !" he shouted. "Dat 
 bisuckle am knockin' de stuffin' out ob Mistah Injun ! 
 Yah! yah! yah! Lordy! lordy! 'Scuse meh, but I 
 has ter laff if it costs me all de wool on mah haid !" 
 
 Browning folded his arms, a look of intense satisfac- 
 tion on his face as he observed : 
 
 "I have made a discovery that will be worth millions 
 of dollars to the government of the United States. 
 Now I know a swift and sure way of settling the In- 
 dian question. Provide every Indian in the country 
 with a bicycle, and there will be no Indians left in 
 a week or two." 
 
 "Camlet's host I mean Hamlet's ghost!" chuckled 
 Rattleton, holding his hand over his mouth to keep 
 from shrieking with laughter. "I never saw anything 
 like that before!" 
 
 Merriwell sprang forward and assisted Blue Wolf 
 in untangling himself from the wheel, fearing the bi- 
 cycle would be utterly ruined. 
 
 The little Indian was badly done up. His face was 
 cut and bleeding in several places, and he was covered 
 with dirt. With some difficulty he got upon his feet,
 
 Blue Wolf Tries the Bicycle. 165 
 
 and then he backed away from the bicycle, at which 
 he glared with an expression of great fear on his 
 countenance. 
 
 "Heap bad medicine!" he observed. 
 
 It seemed that the other Indians were really amused, 
 although they remained solemn and impassive. 
 
 "Give me hatchet!" Blue Wolf suddenly snarled. 
 "Heap fix two-wheel hoss !" 
 
 He would have made a rush for the offending wheel, 
 but Frank held up a hand warningly, crying: 
 
 "Beware, Blue Wolf! It is in truth bad medicine, 
 and it will put a curse upon you if you do it harm. 
 Your squaw will die of hunger before another moon, 
 your children shall make food for the coyotes, and your 
 bones shall bleach on the desert! Beware!" 
 
 Blue Wolf paused, dismay written on his face. He 
 longed to smash the bicycle, but he was convinced that 
 it was really "bad medicine," and he was afraid to 
 injure it. 
 
 "Say, that is great, old man!' enthusiastically whis- 
 pered Rattleton in Merriwell's ear. "Keep it up." 
 
 "Blue Wolf not hurt two-wheel hoss," declared 
 Black Feather, who seemed to be the chief of the little 
 band. "Want to see white boy ride."
 
 1 66 Blue Wolf Tries the Bicycle. 
 
 "Do you mean that you want me to ride?" asked 
 Frank. 
 
 "Ugh!" 
 
 "All right," said Frank. "I'll show you how it is 
 done." 
 
 Then he motioned for the savages to stand aside. 
 
 "No try to run 'way," warned Black Feather. "In- 
 jun shoot um." 
 
 "All right, your royal jiblets. If I try to run away 
 you may take a pop at me."
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 TRICK RIDING. 
 
 The Indians made room for Frank to mount and 
 ride. 
 
 Standing beside the wheel Frank sprang into the 
 saddle without using the step, caught the pedals and 
 started. 
 
 The savages gave utterance to a grunt of wonder 
 and admiration. 
 
 Frank had practiced trick riding, and he now pro- 
 posed to exhibit his skill, feeling that it might be a 
 good scheme to astonish the savages. 
 
 He started the bicycle into a circle, round which 
 he rode with the greatest ease, and then of a sudden he 
 passed one leg over the frame, and stood up on one 
 of the pedals, which he kept in motion at the same 
 time. 
 
 The Indians nodded and looked pleased. 
 
 Then Frank began to step cross-legged from pedal 
 to pedal, passing his feet over the cross bar of the 
 frame and keeping the wheel in motion all the time.
 
 168 Trick Riding. 
 
 A moment later he whirled about, and with his face 
 toward the rear, continued to pedal the bicycle ahead 
 the same as if he had been seated in the usual man- 
 ner on the saddle. 
 
 "Heap good!" observed Black Feather. 
 
 
 
 Then, like a cat Merriwell wheeled about, lifted his 
 feet over the handlebars to which he clung, slipped 
 down till he hung over the forward wheel, placed his 
 feet on the pedals, and rode in that manner. This made 
 it look as though he were dragging the bicycle along 
 behind him. 
 
 There was a stir among the Indians, and they looked 
 at each other. 
 
 Without stopping the bicycle, Frank swung back 
 over the handlebars to the saddle. Having reached 
 this position, he stopped suddenly, turning the for- 
 ward wheel at an angle, sitting there and gracefully 
 balancing on the stationary machine. 
 
 "Heap much good!" declared Black Feather, grow- 
 ing enthusiastic. 
 
 "Oh, those little things are dead easy," assured 
 Frank, with a laugh. "Do you really desire to see me 
 do something that is worth doing?" 
 
 "What more white boy can do?"
 
 Trick Riding. 169 
 
 "Several things, but I'll have to make a larger 
 circle." 
 
 It was growing dark swiftly now, the sun being 
 down and the shadows of the mountains lying dark 
 and gloomy in the valleys. 
 
 "Go 'head," directed Black Feather. 
 
 Frank started the bicycle in motion, and then, with 
 it going at good speed, he swung down on one side 
 and slowly but neatly crept through the frame, com- 
 ing up on the other side and regaining the saddle with- 
 out stopping. 
 
 "Paleface boy great medicine!" said Black Feather. 
 
 "Ugh !" grunted all the Indians but Blue Wolf. 
 
 The little savage was looking on in a sullen, won- 
 dering way, astonished and angered to think the white 
 boy could do all those things, while he had been unable 
 to mount the two-wheeled horse. 
 
 "How do you like that, Black Feather?" asked 
 Frank, cheerfully. 
 
 "Much big!" confessed the chief. "Do some more." 
 
 "All right. Catch onto this." 
 
 Then away Frank sped, lifting the forward wheel 
 from the ground and letting it hang suspended in the 
 air, while he rode along on the rear wheel.
 
 170 Trick Riding. 
 
 "Merry is working hard enough," said RattletoiL 
 "I never knew he could do so many tricks." 
 
 "There are lots of things about that fellow that none 
 of us know anything about," asserted Browning, who 
 was no less surprised, although he did not show it. 
 
 "He is a fool to work so hard to please these 
 wretched savages!" muttered Diamond. 
 
 "Now, don't you take Frank Merriwell for a fool in 
 anything!" came swiftly from Harry. "I never knew 
 him to make a fool of himself in all my life, and I have 
 seen a good deal of him." 
 
 "Well, why is he cutting up all those monkey tricks ? 
 What will it amount to when it is all over?" 
 
 "Wait and see." 
 
 "The Indians will treat us just the same as if he had 
 not done those things." 
 
 "Perhaps so." 
 
 "Of course they will!" 
 
 "Now, Black Feather, old jiblets," cried Frank, in 
 his merriest manner, "I am going to do something 
 else. Get onto this." 
 
 Sending the bicycle along at high speed Frank lay 
 over the handlebars and swung his feet into the air
 
 Trick Riding. 171 
 
 till he held himself suspended in that manner, head 
 down and feet up. 
 
 The Indians were more pleased and astonished than 
 ever. 
 
 "Oh, it's all in knowing how!" laughed Frank, as 
 he gracefully and lightly dropped back to the saddle. 
 
 Again the Indians grunted. 
 
 "Now, Black Feather, old chappie," said Frank, "I 
 am going to do the greatest trick of all. I'll have to 
 get a big start and have lots of room. Watch me 
 close." 
 
 Away -he went, bending over the handlebars and 
 sending the bicycle flying over the ground. He acted 
 as if he intended to make a big circle, but suddenly 
 turned and rode straight toward the pass by which 
 they had entered the basin. Before the Indians could 
 realize his intention, he was almost out of sight in the 
 darkness of the young night. 
 
 Howls of rage and dismay broke from the redmen. 
 They shouted after the boy, but he kept right on, 
 quickly disappearing from view. 
 
 "There," sighed Browning, with satisfaction, "I 
 told you he was not doing all that work for nothing, 
 fellows."
 
 172 Trick Riding. 
 
 "He's done gone an' lef us!" wailed Toots. 
 
 "That's what he has!" grated Diamond "left us 
 to the mercy of these miserable redskins! That's a 
 fine trick !" 
 
 "Oh, will you ever get over it?" rasped Rattleton. 
 "Why shouldn't he? He had his chance, and he'd 
 been a fool not to skin out!" 
 
 "I thought he would stand by us in such a scrape 
 as this." 
 
 "What you thought doesn't cut any ice. He'll come 
 back." 
 
 "After we are murdered." 
 
 Rattleton would have said something more, but the 
 Indians, who had been holding an excited conversa- 
 tion, suddenly grasped the four remaining lads in a 
 threatening manner. 
 
 "Oh, mah goodness!" palpitated Toots. "Heah is 
 whar I's gwan teh lose mah wool ! It am feelin' po'er- 
 ful loose already!" 
 
 Browning was on the point of launching out with his 
 heavy fists and making as good battle of it as he could 
 when he heard Black Feather say : 
 
 "No hurt white boys. Make um keep still, so um 
 not run 'way off like odder white boy. That am all."
 
 Trick Riding. 173 
 
 "I'll take chances on it," muttered Bruce, giving up 
 quietly. 
 
 The four lads were forced to sit on the ground, and 
 some of the savages squatted near. The fire was re- 
 plenished, and the Indians seemed to hold a council. 
 
 "Deciding how they will kill us," said Diamond, 
 gloomily. 
 
 "Nothing of the sort," declared Rattleton. "See 
 them making motions toward the bicycles. They are 
 talking about the wonderful two-wheeled horses." 
 
 "Gracious !" gasped Toots ; "dat meks mah hair feel 
 easier !" 
 
 Browning held a hand on his stomach in a pathetic 
 manner. 
 
 "Oh, my !" he murmured. "How vacant and lonely 
 my interior department seems to be! Methinks I 
 could dine." 
 
 "The hard bread and jerked beef," whispered Jack. 
 "It is in the carriers attached to the wheels." 
 "Yes, and we had better let it remain there." 
 "Why?" 
 
 "These Indians look hungry, too." 
 "You think "
 
 174 Trick Riding. 
 
 "I do. They will take it away from us and eat it if 
 we bring it out. That would leave us in a bad fix." 
 
 "But they can get it out of the carriers." 
 
 "They can, but they won't." 
 
 "Why not?" 
 
 "They are afraid of those bicycles so afraid that 
 they will not go near them. Therefore our hard bread 
 and jerked beef is safe as long as we let it remain where 
 it is." 
 
 Harry agreed with Bruce, and they decided not to 
 touch the food in the carriers; but all were thirsty 
 again, and they expressed a desire to have another 
 drink from the water-hole. 
 
 To this the Indians did not object, and they took 
 turns at drinking, although the water did not taste 
 nearly as sweet as it had the first time. 
 
 Having satisfied themselves in this manner they sat 
 down on the ground once more, being compelled to do 
 so by the redskins, who were watching them closely. 
 
 "They have us in a bad position in case they take 
 a notion to crack us over the head," said Harry. "We 
 wouldn't get a show." 
 
 "Mah gracious!" gurgled Toots, holding fast to his
 
 Trick Riding. 175 
 
 scalp with both hands. "We's gwan teh git it fo' suah, 
 chilluns ! De fus' fing we know we won't no nuffin' !" 
 
 "We must get out of this somehow," muttered 
 Bruce. 
 
 "That's right," nodded Jack. "Merriwell has taken 
 care of himself, and left us to take care of ourselves." 
 
 He spoke in a manner that showed he felt that Frank 
 had done them a great wrong. 
 
 "It's a good thing he got away as he did," asserted 
 Harry. "Now we know we have a friend who is 
 not a captive like ourselves, and we know he knows 
 the fix we are in. You may be sure he will do what he 
 can for us." 
 
 "He'll do what he can for himself. How can he 
 do anything for us ?" 
 
 "He'll find a way." 
 
 "I doubt it." 
 
 "You have become a great doubter and kicker of 
 late, Diamond. It is certain the loss of that Mormon 
 girl who married the other fellow has soured you, for 
 you were not this way before. Why don't you try 
 to forget her ?" 
 
 "I wish you might forget her! You make me sick 
 talking about her so much ! I don't like it at all !"
 
 176 Trick Riding. 
 
 "If you don't like it lump it." 
 
 Jack and Harry glared at each other as if they were 
 on the point of coming to blows, and this gave Brown- 
 ing an idea. He saw the Indians had noticed there 
 was a disagreement between the boys, and he leaned 
 forward, saying in a low tone: 
 
 "Keep at it, fellows keep at it! I have a scheme. 
 Pretend you are fighting, and they will let you get 
 on your feet. When I cry ready we'll all make a jump 
 for our wheels, catch them up, place them in the form 
 of a square, and stand within the square. The red- 
 skins are afraid of the wheels think them 'bad med- 
 icine.' They won't dare touch us." 
 
 Browning had made his idea clear with surprising 
 swiftness, and the other boys were astonished, for they 
 had come to believe that the big fellow never had an 
 original idea in his head. 
 
 Both Jack and Harry were taken by the scheme, and 
 Diamond quickly said: 
 
 "It's a go. Keep on with the quarrel, Rattleton." 
 
 Harry did so, and in a very few seconds they were 
 at it in a manner that seemed intensely in earnest. 
 (Their voices rose higher and higher, and they scowled
 
 Trick Riding. 177 
 
 fiercely, flourishing their clinched hands in the air and 
 shaking them under each other's nose. 
 
 Browning got into the game by making a bluff at 
 stopping the quarrel, which seemed to be quite inef- 
 fectual. He seemed to try to force himself between 
 them, but Rattleton hit him a hard crack on the jaw 
 with his fist, with which he was threatening Diamond. 
 
 "Scissors !" gurgled Bruce, as he keeled over on his 
 back, holding both hands to his jaw. "What do you 
 take me for a punching bag?" 
 
 "You have received what peacemakers usually get," 
 said Harry, as he continued to threaten Diamond. 
 
 The Indians looked on complacently, their appear- 
 ance seeming to indicate that they were mildly inter- 
 ested, but did not care a continental if the two white 
 boys hammered each other. 
 
 Jack scrambled to his feet and dared Harry to get 
 up. Harry declared he would not take a dare, and he 
 got up, Then Bruce and Toots lost no time in doing 
 likewise, and, just when it seemed that the apparently 
 angry lads were going to begin hammering each other 
 Browning cried: 
 
 "Ready!" 
 
 Immediately the boys made a leap for the bicycles,
 
 1 78 Trick Riding. 
 
 caught them up, formed a square with them, and stood 
 behind the machines, like soldiers within a fort. 
 
 The Indians uttered shouts of astonishment, and 
 the four boys found themselves looking into the muz- 
 zles of the guns in the hands of the savages. 
 
 "What white boys mean to do?" harshly demanded 
 Black Feather. "No can run away." 
 
 "Heap shoot urn!" howled Blue Wolf, who seemed 
 eager to slaughter the captives. "Then no can run 
 away." 
 
 "Hold on !" ordered Browning, with a calm wave of 
 his hand. "We want to parley." 
 
 "Want to pow-wow?" asked Black Feather. 
 "That's it." 
 
 "No pow-wow with white boys. White boys In- 
 juns' prisoners. No pow-wow with prisoners." 
 
 "No !" shouted Blue Wolf. "Shoot urn ! shoot um !" 
 
 "Land ob massy!" gurgled Toots. "Dey am gwan 
 teh shoot !" 
 
 "Black Feather," said Browning, with assumed as- 
 surance and dignity, "it will not be a healthy thing for 
 your men to shoot us." 
 
 "How? how?"
 
 Trick Riding. 179 
 
 'Do you see that we are protected by the 'bad 
 medicine' machines ? If you were to do us harm now, 
 these machines would utterly destroy you and every 
 one of your party. The moment you fired at us these 
 machines would be like so many demons let loose, and 
 as they are not made of flesh and blood, they could 
 not be harmed. Not one of your party could escape 
 them." 
 
 The light of the fire showed that the Indians looked 
 at each other with mingled incredulity and fear. 
 
 "Wow!" muttered Rattleton. "Is this Browning I 
 hear? How did you happen to think of such a bluff?" 
 
 "Have to think in a case like this," returned the big 
 fellow, guardedly. "I think only when it is abso- 
 lutely necessary. This is one of those occasions." 
 
 The Indians got together and held a consultation. 
 
 "Can't we make a run for it now ?" asked Diamond, 
 eagerly. 
 
 "We can," nodded Bruce, "but we won't run far. 
 They'd be able to drop us before we could get out 
 of the light of the fire." 
 
 "What can we do?"
 
 i8o Trick Riding. 
 
 "Why, we'll have to " 
 
 Browning was interrupted by a clatter of hoofs, 
 which caused him to turn toward the East. The In- 
 dians heard the sound, and they turned also. 
 
 Then wild yells of terror rent the air.
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 ESCAPE. 
 
 Coming through the darkness at a mad gallop was 
 what seemed to be the gleaming skeleton of a horse. 
 The ribs, the bones of the neck, legs and head, all 
 showed plainly, glowing with a white light. 
 
 And on the back of the horse,, which had sheered to 
 the north and was passing the fire, sat what seemed 
 to be the skeleton of a human being, the bones gleam- 
 ing the same as those of the horse. 
 
 It was almost an astonishing and awe-inspiring 
 spectacle, and it frightened the Indians greatly. 
 
 "Howugh owugh owugh!" wailed Black Feath- 
 er, dismally. 
 
 Then the savages dropped on their faces, covering 
 their eyes, so they could not see the skeleton horseman. 
 
 Almost at the same moment as the horseman was 
 passing the spot the ghastly appearing thing seemed 
 to give a sudden swing about and completely disappear. 
 
 "Poly hoker!" gasped Rattleton. "It's gone!"
 
 1 82 Escape. 
 
 "That's right!" palpitated Diamond "vanished in 
 a moment!" 
 
 "Oh, mah soul mah soul!" wailed Toots. "Dat 
 sholy am de ol' debbil hisse'f, chiiluns! When we see 
 it next it's gwan teh hab one ob us fo sho!" 
 
 "Hark!" commanded Browning. 
 
 The beat of the horse's feet could be distinctly heard, 
 but the creature had turned about and was going back 
 toward the pass through the bluffs. 
 
 Chucker-chucker - chuck ! chucker - chucker - chuck ! 
 chucker-chucker-chuck ! came the ghostly sounds of the 
 galloping horse. 
 
 "It's turned about !" gasped Harry, in astonishment 
 
 "It's going!" fluttered Jack. 
 
 "And we'd better be going, too !" put in Browning. 
 
 Then with a familiar whirring sound something 
 came flying toward them through the darkness, causing 
 Toots to utter a wild shriek of terror. 
 
 Into the light of the camp-fire flashed a boy who 
 was mounted on a bicycle, and they saw it was Frank 
 Merriwell. 
 
 "Away!" he hissed, as he flew past them. "Make 
 straight for the pass by which we entered this pocket. 
 I will join you."
 
 Escape. 183 
 
 Then he was gone 
 
 Browning gave Toots a sharp shake, fiercely whis- 
 pering : 
 
 "Mount your wheel and keep with us if you want to 
 save your scalp ! If you don't you will be left behind." 
 
 Then the boys leaped upon their bicycles and were 
 away in a moment, before the prostrate Indians had 
 recovered from the shock of terror given them by the 
 appearance of the skeleton horse and rider. 
 
 For the time Bruce Browning took the lead, and the 
 others followed him. Toots had heeded the big fel- 
 low's warning words, and he was not left behind. 
 
 Barely had they passed beyond the range of the fire- 
 light and disappeared in the darkness when wild yells 
 of anger came from behind them, and they knew the 
 Indians had discovered they were gone. 
 
 "Bend low! bend low!" hissed Diamond. "They 
 may take a fancy to shoot after us ! Stoop, fellows !" 
 
 Stoop they did, bending low over the handlebars of 
 their bicycles. 
 
 Bang! bang! bang! 
 
 The Indians fired several shots, and they heard some 
 of the bullets whistle past, but they were not hit.
 
 184 Escape. 
 
 "Well, that's what I call luck !" muttered the young 
 Virginian. 
 
 "What do you call luck?" asked Rattleton. 
 
 "The appearance of that skeleton horse and rider in 
 time to scare the Indians and give us a chance to get 
 away." 
 
 "Oh!" said Harry, sarcastically, "I didn't know but 
 it was Merry's return. I told you he would not desert 
 us." 
 
 "I wonder how he happened to come back just 
 then?" 
 
 "He came back because he was watching for an op- 
 portunity to help us, and he saw we had a splendid 
 chance to get away while the redskins were scared by 
 the appearance of the horse and rider. You ought to 
 know him well enough to know he is not the fellow to 
 desert his friends in a scrape like this." 
 
 Diamond was silent. 
 
 "I wonder where Frank is?" said Browning. "He 
 said he would join us, and he is " 
 
 "Right here, old man," said a cheerful voice, as a 
 flying bicycle brought Merriwell out of the darkness 
 to Browning's side. "This way, fellows! We'll hit 
 the pass and get out of here as soon as we can."
 
 Escape. 185 
 
 "Lawd bress yeh, Marser Frank!" cried Toots, joy- 
 fully. "I didn't know's I'd see yeh no mo', boy!" 
 
 "I hope you didn't think I had left you for good ?" 
 
 "No, sar !" declared the colored boy. "I done knows 
 yeh better dan dat, sar! I knowed yeh'd come back, 
 but I was afeared yeh'd come back too late, sar. Dem 
 Injunses was gittin' po'erful anxious fo' dis yar wool 
 ob mine yes, sar !" 
 
 "Well, I am glad to know you thought I would not 
 desert you. I don't want any of my friends to think I 
 would go back on them in the hour of need." 
 
 Diamond was silent. 
 
 The pass was found without difficulty, and they went 
 speeding through it. 
 
 "How did you happen to turn up just then, Frank?" 
 asked Harry. 
 
 "I was waiting for a chance to come to you, and I 
 saw the chance when that horse and rider frightened 
 the Indians." 
 
 "The horse and rider where are they?" asked 
 Browning. 
 
 "Gone through the pass ahead of us." 
 
 "Mah gracious!" exclaimed the colored boy. 
 "What if dat ol f debbil teks a noshun teh wait fu' us?"
 
 1 86 Escape. 
 
 "What sort of ghost business was it, anyway ?" ques- 
 tioned Rattleton. "It seemed to be a skeleton horse 
 and a skeleton rider, and it disappeared in a twinkling. 
 I will admit this skeleton business is beginning to 
 work on my nerves." 
 
 "It is rather creepish," laughed Frank ; "but I do not 
 think it is very dangerous." 
 
 "All the same, you do not attempt to explain the 
 mystery." 
 
 "Not now." 
 
 "Not now? Can you later?" 
 
 "Perhaps so." 
 
 "It is plain he knows no more about it than the rest 
 of us," said Diamond. "As for me, I am getting sick 
 of seeking vanishing lakes and vanishing skeletons. If 
 I get out of this part of the country alive, you'll never 
 catch me here again." 
 
 "Meh, too!" exclaimed Toots. 
 
 "Well. I don't know as any of us will care to revisit 
 it," laughed Frank. "Anyway, we have been very 
 lucky in escaping from those Indians. That you can't 
 deny." 
 
 "You fooled them easily," said Rattleton. 
 
 "Yes, and they did not even take a shot at me, whid
 
 Escape. 187 
 
 was a surprise. I expected they would pop away a 
 few times." 
 
 "What are we going to do after we get out on the 
 open desert again?" asked Jack. "It seems to me we'll 
 be as bad off as ever." 
 
 "We'll have to go around the range to the south, 
 or wait for the Indians to get away from that water- 
 hole, so we can go through the mountains as we orig- 
 inally intended." 
 
 "The Indians may not go away." 
 
 'I rather think they have been scared so they'll not 
 hang around there long. I don't fancy they'll be any- 
 where in the vicinity by morning." 
 
 "If they are gone " 
 
 "We'll be all right, providing we can make our Tiard 
 bread and dried beef hold out till we can reach one of 
 the small railroad towns." 
 
 "How far away is the railroad ?" 
 
 "Not much over fifty miles." 
 
 "That is easy !" declared Rattleton. "We can make 
 it on a spurt!" 
 
 As they reached the eastern opening of the pass their 
 attention was attracted by a bright light that seemed to
 
 1 88 Escape. 
 
 shine out from the very niche where they had found 
 the jewel-decorated skeleton. 
 
 "What does that mean?" exclaimed Jack, in aston- 
 ishment. 
 
 "Land ob wartermillions !" gasped Toots. "It am 
 de debbil's light fo' suah, chilluns ! Don' yeh go near 
 it!" 
 
 "By Jove!" cried Frank. "That is worth investi- 
 gating! Come on, fellows!" 
 
 He headed straight toward the light, and as they 
 came near the niche they saw the be jeweled skeleton 
 was again seated as they had seen it in the first place, 
 and a bright flood of light was shining upon it from 
 some mysterious place. 
 
 "It's back!" exclaimed Harry, in astonishment. 
 
 "Sure enough!" said Frank. "It is on deck again." 
 
 "I tells yeh to keep away from dat skillerton!" 
 shouted Toots. "Hit am gwan teh grab yo' this time 
 if yo' gits near hit!" 
 
 "We'll take chances on that," declared Frank. "This 
 time we won't give it time to get away, but we'll go 
 right up and examine it." 
 
 "That's what we will!" agreed Harry. 
 
 But even as he spoke, the light disappeared, and this
 
 Escape. 189 
 
 made it impossible for them to see anything up there 
 in that dark nook. 
 
 "Ha! ha! ha!" 
 
 Again they heard the mocking laughter, smothered, 
 hollow and ghostly in sound. 
 
 "Somebody is having lots of fun with us," said 
 Frank, as he leaped from his wheel. "It may be a 
 good joke, but I fail to see where the 'ha, ha,' comes 
 in." 
 
 "Is the skeleton gone?" 
 
 "I don't know, but I'll mighty soon find out." 
 
 Without hesitation he swung himself up to the niche 
 
 in the rocks, and Rattleton followed, determined that 
 
 Frank should not go alone into danger. 
 
 Harry afterward confessed that he was shivering all 
 over when he climbed up there in the darkness, but 
 his fear did not keep him from sticking to Merry. 
 
 A cry broke from Frank's lips. 
 
 "What is it?" called Browning, from below. 
 
 "By the eternal skies, it's gone again!" 
 
 "Didn't I tole yeh!" cried Toots, from a distance, 
 "Come erway from dar, Marser Frank! If yo' don', 
 yo's gwan teh be grabbed !"
 
 190 Escape. 
 
 "It is gone!" agreed Rattleton. "This beats the Old 
 Nick!" 
 
 Again they heard that mocking laugh, which seemed 
 to come down from some point above their heads. 
 
 "Wooh!" shivered Harry. "That sounds pleas- 
 ant!" 
 
 "Hang it all !" exclaimed Frank, in a voice that in- 
 dicated chagrin. "I don't like to be made fun of this 
 way! If we don't solve this mystery before we go 
 away I shall always regret it." 
 
 "Beware!" 
 
 It was the same voice that had uttered the warning 
 when they were riding into the pass, and now, in the 
 darkness of night, it sounded even more dismal and un- 
 canny than before. 
 
 "Come out and show yourself," called Frank. 
 
 For some time the boys remained there, but they 
 were forced to abandon the task of solving the mys- 
 tery that night. Frank descended to the ground with 
 no small reluctance, and Harry kept close to him. 
 They mounted their w r heels and rode away once more, 
 fully expecting to hear the mocking laughter, or the 
 ghostly voice calling after them. In this, however,
 
 Escape. 191 
 
 they were disappointed, as nothing of the kind hap- 
 pened. 
 
 After they had ridden some distance, Frank pro- 
 posed that they halt for the night. 
 
 "We are in for an open-air camp to-night," he said. 
 "It is something we did not expect, but it can't be 
 helped, and as the night is not cold I think we can get 
 along all right. We need rest, too." 
 
 "That's right," agreed Bruce. "I feel as if I need 
 about a week of steady resting, but I don't care to 
 take it here." 
 
 "How about the Indians?" asked Jack. "We are 
 not very far from them, and they might find us." 
 
 "I scarcely think there is any danger of that." 
 
 "Why not?" 
 
 "Those redskins were so badly frightened that 
 they'll not go hunting after white boys to-night. It is 
 more likely they will skin out and make for the Sho- 
 shone Reservation, on which they must belong." 
 
 "But what if they should happen to follow us?" Jack 
 persisted. 
 
 "We must take turns at standing guard to-night, and 
 the guard should be able to give us warning of danger 
 in time for us to mount our wheels and get away."
 
 192 Escape. 
 
 It was plain that Diamond was not in favor of stop- 
 ping there, but he said no more. 
 
 Fortunately the night was warm, so they suffered no 
 discomfort by sleeping thus. No dew fell out there 
 on the desert 
 
 It was arranged that Diamond should stand guard 
 first, while Frank came second, with Toots for the last 
 guard toward morning. 
 
 They ate some of the hard bread and jerked beef and 
 then threw themselves down, with their bicycles near 
 at hand, so they could spring up and mount in a hurry 
 if necessary. 
 
 Browning was the first to stretch himself on the 
 ground, and he was snoring almost immediately. The 
 others soon fell asleep. 
 
 The rim of a round, red moon was showing away to 
 the eastward when Jack awoke Frank. 
 
 "How is it?" Merriwell asked. "Have you heard 
 or seen anything suspicious?" 
 
 "Not a thing," was the reply. "All is still as death 
 out here far too still. I don't like it." 
 
 "Well, it is not real jolly," confessed Frank, with a 
 light laugh ; "but I don't think we need to be worried 
 about visitors, and that is one good thing."
 
 Escape. 193 
 
 Jack was fast asleep in a short time. 
 
 Morning came, and Toots was the first to awaken. 
 Dawn was breaking in the east as he sat up, rubbing 
 his eyes and muttering: 
 
 "Good land! dat am de hardes' spring mattrus dis 
 coon ebber snoozed on yes, sar! Nebber struck nuf- 
 fin' lek dat befo'." 
 
 Then he looked around in some surprise. 
 
 "Gracious sakes!" he continued. "Whar am de 
 hotel ? It done moved away in de night an' lef ' us." 
 
 It was some time before he realized that they had not 
 put up at a hotel the night before. 
 
 "Reckum dis is whar we stopped las' night," he 
 finally said. "I 'membah 'bout dat now. We was ter 
 tek turns watchin'. I ain't took no turn at all, an* it's 
 wamnin'. He! he! he! Guess de ohap dat was ter 
 wake me fell asleep hisself an' clean fergot it. Dat 
 icks meh 'bout so much sleep ah'aid ob de game." 
 
 He was feeling good over this when he noticed that 
 three forms were stretched on the ground near at hand, 
 i stead of four. 
 
 "Whar am de odder one?" he muttered. "One ob 
 dem boys am gone fo' suah. Land ob wartermillions ! 
 What do hit mean ? Dar am Dimun, an' dar am Rat-
 
 194 Escape. 
 
 tletum, an' dar am Brownin', but whar whar am Mar- 
 ser Frank?" 
 
 In a moment he was filled with alarm, and he lost no 
 time in grasping Harry's shoulder and giving it a 
 shake, while he cried : 
 
 " Wek up heah, yo' sleepy haid wek up, I tells yeh ! 
 Dar's suffin' wrong heah, ur I's a fool nigger!" 
 
 "Muts the whatter?" mumbled Rattleton, sleepily. 
 "Can't you let a fellow sleep a minute? It isn't my 
 turn yet." 
 
 "Yoah turn!" shouted Toots. "Wek up, yo' fool! 
 It's done come mawnin', an' dar's suffin' happened." 
 
 "Eh?" grunted Harry, starting up and rubbing his 
 eyes. "Why the moon is just rising." 
 
 "Moon!" snorted the colored boy. "Dat's de sun 
 comin' up! An' I don't beliebe yo' took yoah turn 
 keepin' watch." 
 
 Browning grunted and rolled over, flinging out one 
 arm and giving Toots a crack on the neck that keeled 
 him over on the ground. 
 
 "Landy goodness!" squealed the darky, grasping 
 his neck with both hands. "What yo' tryin* ter do, 
 boy? Want ter kill a po' coon? Nebber seen such 
 car'less pusson as yo' am, sar!"
 
 Escape. 
 
 195 
 
 'Oh, shut up your racket !" growled the big college 
 lad. "I'm not half rested yet. Call me when break- 
 fast is ready." 
 
 "Yo'll done git yeh own breakfas' dis mawnin', sar; 
 but befo' dar's any breakfas' we's gwan ter know what 
 has become of Marser Frank. He's gone." 
 
 "Gone?" replied Bruce, sitting up with remarkable 
 quickness. 
 
 "Gone?" ejaculated Harry, popping up as if he were 
 worked by springs. 
 
 'Gone where ?" asked Diamond, also sitting up and 
 staring around. 
 
 'Dat's jes' what I wants ter know, chilluns," de- 
 lared Toots. "Dat boy ain't heah, an' Ts powerful 
 feared de old skillerton debbil has cotched him." 
 
 'Why why," said Jack, "I woke him and -he took 
 my place." 
 
 'But nobody roused me," declared Rattleton. 
 
 'Nor me," asserted Browning. 
 
 'Git up, chilluns git up !" squealed Toots, excitedly. 
 "We's gotter find dat boy in a hurry ! 'Spect he's in a 
 berry bad scrape!"
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 THE MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 
 
 By this time the boys were fully aroused. An in- 
 vestigation showed that Merriwell's wheel was gone. 
 
 "Didn't I tole yeh old debbil skillerton would done 
 cotch some ob us !" cried Toots, in great distress. 
 
 "I hardly understand what the skeleton could have 
 wanted with Merry's wheel," observed Browning, 
 
 "G'way dar, boy ! Didn' de skillerton ride a hawse !" 
 
 "And you think it is an up-to-date skeleton that has 
 decided to ride a bicycle hereafter. In that case, I con- 
 gratulate Mr. Skeleton on his good sense." 
 
 "It must be that Frank has gone on a ride without 
 saying anything- to us," said Jack. "I do not see any 
 other way of explaining it." 
 
 "But why should he do such a thing?" asked Rat- 
 tleton. 
 
 "That is where you stick me." 
 
 Browning slowly shook his head. 
 
 "It is remarkable that he should do such a thing
 
 The Mystery Explained. 197 
 
 without saying anything to us," declared the big fel- 
 low. 
 
 "And he must have taken that ride in the night," 
 said Jack. 
 
 "While he should have been on guard," added 
 Harry. 
 
 The boys stood looking at each other in sober 
 dismay. 
 
 "It isn't possible that Merry could have gone daffy," 
 muttered Rattleton. "He is too well balanced for 
 that." 
 
 "I don't know," came gloomily from Diamond. 
 "This dismal, burning desert is enough to turn the 
 brain of any fellow." 
 
 "Yah!" cried Toots. "Don' yeh git no noshun dat 
 boy ebber had his brain turned ! It am de weak brains 
 dat git turned dat way. His brain was all right, but I 
 jes' know fo' suah dat he hab been cotched." 
 
 "And I suppose you want to run away as soon as 
 possible before you are 'cotched ?' ' 
 
 Then the colored boy surprised them all by saying: 
 
 "No, sar, I don' want teh go 'way till we knows 
 what hab become ob Marser Frank. Dat boy alwus
 
 198 The Mystery Explained. 
 
 stick by his frien's, an' dis coon am reddy teh stick by 
 him, even if he do git cotched." 
 
 "Good stuff, Toots!" cried Rattleton, approvingly. 
 "You are all right! If anything has happened to 
 Frank we'll know what it is or leave our bones here." 
 
 The boys were worried. They hurriedly talked over 
 the remarkable disappearance, trying to arrive at an 
 understanding of its meaning. 
 
 At length it was agreed that Frank might have gone 
 back to try to solve the mystery of the skeleton, and 
 then they decided that two of the party should remain 
 where they had made their night bivouac, while the 
 other two proceeded to search for Merriwell. 
 
 Diamond insisted on being one of the searchers, 
 and Rattleton was determined to be the other, so 
 Browning and Toots were left behind. 
 
 The boys mounted their wheels and rode back 
 toward the pass through the bluffs. 
 
 Diamond was downcast again. 
 
 "Everything is going against us," he declared. 
 "There is fate in it. I am afraid we'll not get out of 
 this wretched desert." 
 
 "Oh, you're unwell, that's what's the matter with
 
 The Mystery Explained. 199 
 
 you!" declared Harry, scornfully. "I'll be glad when 
 you are yourself again." 
 
 "That's all right," muttered Diamond. "You are 
 too thoughtless, that's what's the matter with you." 
 
 They approached the spot where the mysterious 
 skeleton had been seen, and both were watching for the 
 niche in the rocks. 
 
 Suddenly they were startled by hearing a wild cry 
 from far above their heads, and looking upward they 
 saw Frank Merriwell running along the very brink of 
 the cliff, but limping badly, as if he were lame. 
 
 But what astonished and startled them the most 
 was to see a strange-looking, bare-headed man, who 
 was in close pursuit of Frank. Above his head the 
 man wildly flourished a gleaming, long-bladed knife, 
 while he uttered loud cries of rage. 
 
 "Smooly hoke!" cried Harry. "Will you look at 
 that!" 
 
 Diamond suddenly grew intensely excited. 
 
 "What can we do? what can we do?" he ex- 
 claimed. "Frank is hurt! That creature is running 
 him down! He will murder him!" 
 
 "If Merry had a pistol he would be all right."
 
 200 The Mystery Explained. 
 
 "But he hasn't! We must do something, Harry 
 we must!" 
 
 "Neither of us has a gun." 
 
 "No, but " 
 
 "We can't get up there." 
 
 "But we must do something!" 
 
 "We can't!" 
 
 Jack grew more and more frantic. He leaped from 
 his wheel and seemed to be looking for some place to 
 try to scale the face of the bluff. 
 
 "Oh, if I could get up there!" he groaned. "I'd 
 show Frank that I was ready to stand by him! I'd 
 fight that man barehanded !" 
 
 And Rattleton did not doubt it, for he well knew 
 how hot-blooded Diamond was, and the young Vir- 
 ginian had never failed to fight when the occasion 
 arose. He would not shirk any kind of an encounter. 
 
 Merriwell saw them and shouted something to them, 
 but they could not understand what he said. 
 
 "Turn! turn!" screamed Jack. "You must fight 
 that man, or he will stab you in the back ! He is going 
 to strike you!" 
 
 Frank seemed to hear and comprehend, for he sud- 
 denly wheeled about and made a stand. In a moment
 
 The Mystery Explained. 201 
 
 the man with the knife had rushed upon him and struck 
 with that gleaming blade. 
 
 A groan escaped Jack's lips as he saw that blow, but 
 it turned to a gasp of relief when Frank stopped it by 
 catching the man's wrist. 
 
 "Give it to him! Give it to him!" shrieked Dia- 
 mond, dancing around in a wild frenzy of anxiety and 
 fear. 
 
 Then the boys below witnessed a terrific struggle on 
 the heights above them. 
 
 The man seemed mad with a desire to plunge the 
 knife into Frank, and it was plain that Merriwell did 
 not wish to harm the unknown, but was trying to dis- 
 arm him. 
 
 "What folly ! what folly !" panted Diamond. "He'll 
 get his hand free and stab Merry sure! Beat him 
 down, Frank beat him down!" 
 
 Once Frank slipped and fell to his knees. A fierce 
 yell of triumph broke from the man, and it seemed 
 that he would succeed in using the knife at last. 
 
 With a groan of anguish Diamond covered his eyes 
 that he might not witness the death of the friend he 
 loved. For Jack Diamond did love Frank Merriwell, 
 for all that he had complained against him of late.
 
 202 The Mystery Explained. 
 
 A cry of relief from Rattleton caused Jack to look 
 up again, and he saw Frank had regained his feet and 
 was continuing the battle. 
 
 And now the man fought with a fury that was nerve 
 thrilling to witness. His movements were swift and 
 savage, and he tried again and again to draw the knife 
 across Frank's throat. 
 
 Jack and Harry scarcely breathed until, with a dis- 
 play of strength and skill, Frank disarmed his assail- 
 ant by giving his arm a wrench, causing the knife to 
 fly through the air and fall over the edge of the cliff. 
 
 Down to the ground below rattled the knife, and 
 then Diamond said: 
 
 "Now Frank will be able to handle the fellow!" 
 
 But, flinging his arms about the boy, the man made 
 a mad effort to spring over the brink. For some sec- 
 onds, locked thus in each other's arms, man and boy 
 tottered on the very verge, and then they swayed back. 
 
 Frank broke the hold of the man, striking him a 
 heavy blow a second later. The man reeled and 
 dropped on the edge of the precipice. He scrambled 
 up hastily, but a great slice of rock cleaved off beneath 
 his feet and went plunging downward. 
 
 Then the watching boys saw the unknown totter-
 
 The Mystery Explained. 203 
 
 ing on the brink, wildly waving his arms in an en- 
 deavor to regain his balance. Frank sprang forward 
 to aid him. 
 
 Too late ! 
 
 With a wild scream of despair, the strange man top- 
 pled over and whirled downward to his death. 
 
 Frank climbed down. 
 
 "It's all up with him, poor fellow," said he, as he 
 stood near the body of the unknown man, looking 
 down at the face that was white and calm and peaceful 
 in death. 
 
 "Who is he?" asked Harry. 
 
 "What is he?" asked Jack. 
 
 "I am afraid those questions cannot be answered," 
 confessed Frank. "That he was a raving maniac I am 
 sure, and he lived in a remarkable cave close at hand; 
 but who he is or how he came to be there in that cave 
 I do not know." 
 
 "Well, how you came to be up there with him run- 
 ning you down to stick a knife in you is what I want to 
 know," said Harry. 
 
 "That's right," Jack nodded. "Explain it, old 
 man." 
 
 Then Frank told them how, after the moon rose the
 
 204 The Mystery Explained. 
 
 night before, he had taken his wheel with the inten- 
 tion of riding around the camp, feeling he could keep 
 watch as well that way as any. After the moon was 
 well up, he saw there was no one anywhere about, and 
 a desire to revisit the spot where they had seen the 
 skeleton seized upon him. He rode to the spot, but 
 there was no skeleton in the niche among the rocks. 
 Leaving his bicycle, he climbed up there to examine 
 once more, and to his astonishment, found that what 
 seemed to be a solid, immovable stone had turned in 
 some manner, disclosing an opening. 
 
 Then, with reckless curiosity, Frank resolved to 
 
 investigate further, and he descended into the open- 
 ing, found some stone steps, and was soon in a cav- 
 ern. .The first thing he discovered was the skeleton, 
 still decorated as the boys had seen it in the first place, 
 and he remained there till he found how it could be 
 placed in view on the block of stone and then removed 
 in a twinkling. He also found a lamp with a strong- 
 reflector, which had thrown its light on the skeleton 
 from a hole in the rocks. There was another opening 
 near that, where a person in the cave could look out on 
 the desert, and Frank knew the ghostly voice they had 
 heard must have come from that place.
 
 The Mystery Explained. 205 
 
 Merriwell continued his investigations, having 
 lighted the lamp, by the light of which he wandered 
 through the cave. Suddenly he came face to face with 
 an old man, who seemed surprised, but spoke quietly 
 to him. 
 
 The old man declared he was "Prof. Morris Fill- 
 more," but did not say what he was professor of, and 
 he volunteered to explain everything to the boy. 
 
 This he did, telling how he worked the skele- 
 ton to frighten away those who might molest him in 
 his solitude, as he wished to be alone. There was 
 another entrance to the cave, and, in a large, airy 
 chamber a horse was kept. The horse was coal black, 
 but on one side of him was drawn the outlines of the 
 skeleton frame of a horse, and the strange old man ex- 
 plained that he had a suit of clothes on one side of 
 which he had traced the skeleton of a human being. 
 This had been done with phosphorus, and it glowed 
 with a white light in the darkness. 
 
 The old hermit had entered the pocket and ridden 
 near the camp of the Indians. When he turned about 
 the skeleton tracings in phosphorus could not be seen, 
 and so the ghostly horse and rider seemed to disappear 
 in a most marvelous manner.
 
 206 The Mystery Explained. 
 
 Frank questioned him concerning the treasure, and 
 the old man seemed to grow excited and suspicious. 
 He said something about the treasure being the prop- 
 erty of some one who had fled from the destroying 
 angels of the Mormons in the old days, but had per- 
 ished in the desert. Frank was led to believe that 
 the skeleton was that of the original owner of the 
 treasure. 
 
 But when the boy would have left the cave the 
 stranger told him he could not do so. He informed 
 Frank that he could never go out again, and then it 
 was that the boy became sure Fillmore was crazy. 
 
 As the man was armed, Frank decided to use strat- 
 egy. First he sought to lull the man's suspicions, and 
 after being watched closely for hours he found a 
 chance to slip away. 
 
 Almost immediately the man discovered what had 
 happened and pursued. By chance Frank fled out 
 through a passage that led upward till the top of the 
 bluff was reached, but he fell and sprained his ankle, 
 so he was unable to get away. The hermit followed, 
 and the mad battle for life took place. 
 
 "Well, this is amazing!" gasped J?ck. "What are 
 you going to do with that treasure?'
 
 The Mystery Explained. 207 
 
 "Take it to some place for safe deposit and advertise 
 for the legal heirs of Prof. Millard Fillmore." 
 
 "And if no heirs appear " 
 
 "The treasure will belong to us.'* 
 "Hurrah!"
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 A NIGHT ADVENTURE. 
 
 Frank's plan was carried out. All the treasure was 
 removed from the cavern in which the mysterious old 
 hermit was buried. The hermit's horse was set free, 
 and the boys carried the treasure to Ullin, Nevada, 
 where it was shipped to Carson and deposited in a 
 bank there, 
 
 "If it is not claimed in a year's time, boys," said 
 Frank, "we will go about the work of having it evenly 
 divided among us. In that case we will have made a 
 good thing out of this trip across the continent." 
 
 Nothing more was seen of the Indians, and the boys 
 continued on their trip until Carson City was reached. 
 
 One evening Frank was strolling along alone when 
 a shrill, piercing cry of pain, ending abruptly, cut the 
 still evening air. 
 
 "Hello!" muttered Frank, as he paused to listen. 
 "Something is wrong with the person who gave that 
 call."
 
 A Night Adventure. 209 
 
 He listened. In a moment the cry was repeated, 
 and this time it ended with a distinct appeal for help. 
 
 Frank was unarmed, but he was aroused by the 
 thought that a fellow being was in distress, and he ran 
 quickly to a dark corner, from beyond which the cry 
 had seemed to come. 
 
 To the left was a dark and narrow street, which 
 looked rather forbidding and dangerous. 
 
 "I believe the cry came from this street," said Frank, 
 to himself. "If there were a few lights " 
 
 "Help!" 
 
 There could be no mistake this time; the cry did 
 come from that street. A short distance away in the 
 darkness a struggle seemed to be going on. Frank 
 could hear the sound of blows, hoarse breathing, mut- 
 tered exclamations and cries of pain. 
 
 "Some fellow is being done up there!" thought the 
 boy from Yale. 
 
 Without further hesitation he ran toward the point 
 from which the sounds seemed to come. 
 
 In a moment Frank was close upon two dark forms 
 that were battling fiercely on the ground. He could 
 see them indistinctly in the darkness. 
 
 "Ah-h-h, you little whelp!" snarled a harsh voice.
 
 2io A Night Adventure 
 
 "So ye will run away, hey? Well, ye'll never run 
 away no more after this!" 
 
 "Oh, please, please don't beat me so!" pleaded a 
 weak voice. "You you are killing me! Oh! oh! 
 oh!" 
 
 "I'll make ye 'oh, oh, oh!' " grated the other. 
 
 Then the blows fell thick and fast. 
 
 "Here, you miserable brute!" rang out the dear 
 voice of Frank. "You ought to be shot!" 
 
 Then he grasped the figure that was uppermost and 
 attempted to drag him off the other. 
 
 To Frank's surprise, although the attack had been 
 sudden, he did not succeed in snatching the assailant 
 from the unfortunate person he was beating. 
 
 "Get out!" roared a bull-like voice. "Lemme 
 alone, or I'll cut yer hide open! This is none of your 
 business !" 
 
 "Help, sir help!" cried the weak voice. "He has 
 beaten me nearly to death! He will kill me!" 
 
 "Ye oughter be killed, ye ungrateful little whelp!" 
 
 "Break away !" commanded Frank, as he lifted them 
 both by a wonderful outlay of strength and literally 
 tore them apart.
 
 A Night Adventure. 211 
 
 The one who had been assailed could not keep on 
 
 his feet, but swayed weakly and sank to the ground. 
 
 
 With a sound that was like the snarl of a ferocious 
 
 beast, the other grappled with Frank. He was sc 
 short that he stood not much higher than Frank's 
 waist, but his shoulders were wonderfully broad, and 
 he had arms that were almost long enough to reach 
 the ground when he was on his feet. 
 
 "Great heavens!" thought Merriwell. "What is 
 this I have run against? Is it a human gorilla?" 
 
 And then he found that the creature possessed mar- 
 velous strength, for Frank was literally lifted off his 
 feet and flung prostrate, the other coming down upon 
 him. 
 
 The fall came about so suddenly that Frank was 
 dazed, a,nd his breath was nearly knocked out of his 
 body. For a moment he did nothing, and the creature 
 scrambled up and grasped the fallen lad by the throat 
 with hands that were like iron. 
 
 "Bother with me, will ye!" snarled that beastlike 
 voice. "I'll fix ye so ye won't do it no more!" 
 
 Frank felt that he was in deadly peril, and that 
 caused him to clutch the man's wrists and hold fast. 
 
 He saw something uplifted, and he knew well enough
 
 212 A Night Adventure. 
 
 that the furious creature had drawn a weapon of some 
 sort. 
 
 "Look out!" panted the weak voice from close at 
 hand. "He will kill you! He has a knife!" 
 
 Then, as Merriwell used all his strength to hold 
 back that uplifted hand, he began to realize that, ath- 
 lete though he was, he was no match for the person he 
 had tackled. 
 
 The strength of those long arms was something 
 wonderful, for little by little the man forced Frank's 
 hand back, and his knife approached the boy's breast. 
 
 Merriwell felt that his power of resistance might 
 give out suddenly at any instant, and then the blade 
 would be driven to its hilt. 
 
 He was desperate and frantic, for there was some- 
 thing awfully horrifying in the steady manner in which 
 that knife was forced nearer and nearer. 
 
 Cold sweat started out all over him, and he panted 
 for breath, while it seemed that his madly leaping 
 heart would burst from his bosom. 
 
 He could see two glaring eyes that seemed to shine 
 with a baleful light of their own in the darkness. He 
 could see the writhing features of a ghastly face, and 
 he could hear the creature grate his teeth.
 
 A Night Adventure. 213 
 
 Nearer and nearer came the blade. 
 
 Crying and panting, the one whom Frank had at- 
 tempted to save got upon his feet, swayed a bit, and 
 then steadied himself with a great effort. 
 
 "You shall not do it you shall not!" he gasped. 
 
 Then he flung himself on the man, seeking to drag 
 him from the prostrate lad. 
 
 Frank saw that the time had come to make a last 
 effort for the mastery, and so, aided by the other, he 
 succeeded in forcing his opponent back enough so he 
 could squirm out from beneath. 
 
 In a moment Frank gained his feet, and then, as 
 the man with the knife came up, out shot the fist of the 
 young athlete. 
 
 Smack ! 
 
 The blow landed fairly, sounding clear and distinct 
 
 Over went the dwarf, and the knife flew out of his 
 hands, falling with a clattering ring upon some stones. 
 
 Merriwell knew -he must follow up his advantage, 
 but he was barely quick enough, for the fallen ruffian 
 scrambled to his feet with the nimbleness of a cat. 
 
 But again Frank struck the fellow, using all his 
 skill and muscle. He barely escaped being clutched
 
 214 A Night Adventure 
 
 by those long arms, but the dwarf was knocked down 
 once more. 
 
 The sounds which came from the throat of the man 
 were decidedly unpleasant to hear. They did not 
 seem to be words, but were a succession of snarls. 
 
 By the time Frank had struck the creature again, 
 he did not scramble up so quickly. 
 
 At that moment, having heard the sounds of the 
 struggle, some person brought a light to the broken 
 window of an old house that stood almost within the 
 limits of the street. 
 
 That light shone out and fell full on the dwarf man 
 as he was rising to his feet after the third blow. His 
 long arms were extended so that his hands lay on the 
 ground, and he was standing in a crouching position 
 on all fours. His face was pale as marble, and disfig- 
 ured by a red scar that ran down his left cheek from 
 his temple to the corner of his mouth. His eyes were 
 set near together, and were blazing with ferocity. 
 
 Taken altogether, Frank thought that the most hor- 
 rible face he had ever seen. 
 
 The light seemed to startle the horrid-appearing 
 creature, and, with a low, grating cry of baffled fury, 
 he turned and ran swiftly away, still in a somewhat
 
 A Night Adventure. 215 
 
 crouching position, h:'s hands almost touching the 
 ground, while he made queer leaps and bounds. 
 
 In a moment the dwarf had disappeared. 
 
 Frank gave a breath of relief. 
 
 "Good riddance!" muttered the lad from Yale. 
 
 Then he turned to look for the person he had saved 
 from the dwarf. 
 
 That person had disappeared. 
 
 "Gone!" exclaimed Merriwell, in astonishment and 
 regret. "He must have been frightened away during 
 the last of the struggle. He was weak, and he may 
 not have gone far." 
 
 Frank resolved to search, and immediately set about 
 doing so. He had not proceeded far when he came 
 upon a form stretched motionless on the ground. 
 
 A hasty examination showed Frank it was a boy, 
 who seemed to have fainted. 
 
 "It is the chap the dwarf was beating!" decided Mer- 
 riwell. 
 
 He lifted the unconscious boy in his arms, tossing 
 him over one shoulder, and started toward the lighted 
 street. 
 
 "I must take the poor fellow to the hotel, and then
 
 216 A Night Adventure. 
 
 we'll see what can be done for him. He seems to be 
 in a bad way." 
 
 By the time the lighted street was reached the boy 
 recovered consciousness. He struggled a bit, moaned 
 slightly, and then, in a pathetic, pleading voice, he 
 said: 
 
 "Please don't take me back to Bernard Belmont, 
 Apollo please don't! I know he will kill me!" 
 
 "Don't be afraid," said Frank, gently. "I am not 
 taking you to any one who will harm you." 
 
 A cry of astonishment broke from the boy. 
 
 "Why," he exclaimed, "you are not Apollo!" 
 
 "No; I am Frank Merriwell. Whojs Apollo?" 
 
 "A dwarf a wretch the hired tool of Bernard 
 Belmont! Oh, he is a monster, without heart or 
 soul!" 
 
 "He must be the one with whom I had the lively 
 little set-to." 
 
 "You you came to my aid you saved me from 
 him ! How can I thank you ! But I thought he would 
 kill you!" 
 
 "And so he might if you hadn't helped me throw 
 him off. You did it just in time, and I believe you 
 saved my life."
 
 A Night Adventure. 217 
 
 "Oh, but he had a knife I could see it! And I 
 knew he would use it. He has such wonderful 
 strength." 
 
 "He is strong." 
 
 "Strong! I do not see how you held him off ! But 
 I could see him forcing the knife nearer and nearer, 
 and I grew frantic, for it seemed that you would be 
 killed before my eyes." 
 
 "I was rather anxious myself," confessed Frank, 
 with something like a laugh. 
 
 "It was a nasty position." 
 
 "I don't know how I dared touch him, but I re- 
 member that I did. Then you flung him off and got 
 up. After that, I remember that you were fighting, 
 and I felt sure you could not conquer him. He would 
 get the best of you in the end, and then he'd finish 
 me. I was scared and tried to run away ; but I did not 
 go far before I became sick and weak, and and I 
 don't remember anything more." 
 
 "You fainted." 
 
 "And you whipped Apollo?" 
 
 "Not exactly. I knocked him down a few times, 
 but he seemed to spring to his feet almost as soon as
 
 2i8 A Night Adventure. 
 
 he went down. Then somebody brought a light to a 
 window and he was scared away." 
 
 The boy clung to Frank. 
 
 "He did not go far!" he excitedly whispered. "He 
 is not far away! He is liable to spring upon us any 
 time! Bernard Belmont has sent him for me, and he 
 will not rest till he gets me. Oh, I must get away 
 quick to my sister ! She is near so near now ! But 
 my strength is gone, and and " 
 
 The boy began to cough, and each convulsion shook 
 him from head to feet. There was a hollow, dread- 
 ful sound about that cough a sound that gave Frank 
 a chill. 
 
 "Never mind if your strength is gone," said Merri- 
 well, encouragingly. "You'll get along all right, for 
 I'll stick by you and see that you dr." 
 
 "You are so kind!" 
 
 "What's your name?" 
 
 "George Morris." 
 
 "Where do you live here in Carson?" 
 
 "Oh, no, no! I live in Ohio." 
 
 "That is a long distance away." 
 
 "Yes, sir." 
 
 "How do you happen to be here?"
 
 A Night Adventure. 219 
 
 The boy hesitated, seeming in doubt and fear, and 
 then, with what appeared to be a sudden impulse, he 
 said: 
 
 "I am going to tell you I am going to tell you 
 everything. Put me down here. Let's rest. I am 
 tired, and I must be heavy." 
 
 They sat down on some steps, the boy seeking to 
 keep in the shadow, showing he feared being seen. 
 
 "It's it's like this," he began, weakly. "I I ran 
 away." 
 
 "Oh-ho!" exclaimed Frank. 
 
 The lad quickly, almost fearfully, clutched his arms. 
 
 "Don't think I ran away foolishly!" he exclaimed, 
 coughing again. "I I came out here to find my sis- 
 ter, who is buried." 
 
 "Then your sister is dead?" 
 
 "No." 
 
 "Not dead? You said she rs buried. How can a 
 person be buried and not be dead?" 
 
 Frank began to think it possible the boy was rather 
 "daffy." 
 
 "There there's lots to the story," came painfully 
 from the boy. "I can't tell you all. The letter said 
 she was buried buried so deep that Bernard Belmont
 
 22o A Night Adventure. 
 
 could never find her. That letter was from Uncle Car- 
 ter." 
 
 "Uncle Carter?" 
 
 "My father's brother, Carter Morris. He lives 
 somewhere in the mountains west of Lake Tahoe. He 
 has a mine up there, and he is very queer. He thinks 
 everybody wants to steal his mine, and he will let no 
 one know where it is located. They say the ore he has 
 brought here into Carson is of marvelous richness. 
 Men have tried to follow him, but he has always suc- 
 ceeded in flinging them off the trail. Never have they 
 tracked him to his mine." 
 
 "Then he is something of a hermit?" 
 
 "Yes, he is a hermit, and my sister is with him. 
 He wrote that she was buried deep in the earth that 
 must be in his mine." 
 
 "How did your sister come to be with him ?" 
 
 "I helped her I helped her get away!" panted the 
 boy, excitedly. "I knew they meant to kill us both!" 
 
 "They? Who?" 
 
 "Bernard Belmont and Apollo." 
 
 "Who is Bernard Belmont?" 
 
 "My stepfather. He married my mother, after the
 
 A Night Adventure. 221 
 
 death of my father. He is a handsome man, but he 
 has a wicked face, and he is a wretch a wretch !" 
 
 The boy grew excited suddenly, almost screaming 
 his words, while he struck his clinched hands together 
 feebly. 
 
 "Steady," warned Frank. "You must not get so 
 excited. 
 
 The boy began to cough, holding both hands to his 
 breast. For some minutes he was shaken by that 
 convulsive cough. 
 
 "Come," said Frank, "let me get you to the hotel. 
 You must have a doctor. There must be no further 
 delay." 
 
 "No, stop!" and the boy held to Merriwell's arm. 
 "I must tell you now. I seem to feel that my strength 
 is going going ! I must tell you ! He he killed my 
 mother !" 
 
 "Who Bernard Belmont?" 
 
 "Yes, yes!" 
 
 "Killed her? You charge him with that?" 
 
 "I do. He killed her by inches. He tortured her 
 to death by his abusive treatment he frightened my 
 poor mother to death. And then, when he found
 
 222 
 
 A Night Adventure. 
 
 everything had been left to us my sister and myself 
 then he set about the task of destroying us by inches. 
 It was fixed so that he could get hold of everything 
 with us out of the way, and he " 
 
 Another fit of coughing came on, and, when it was 
 finished, the boy was too weak to proceed with the 
 story. 
 
 "You shall have a doctor immediately !" cried Frank, 
 as he lifted the lad and again started for the hotel.
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 THE STORY. 
 
 Frank succeeded in getting George Morris to the 
 hotel, took him to a room, and put him on the bed. 
 
 "Do not leave me!" pleaded the boy. "Apollo will 
 come and carry me off if you do. Stay here with me !" 
 
 "I'll stay," assured Frank; "but I must find some 
 of my friends and send for a physician. You must 
 have a doctor right away." 
 
 Bruce, Diamond and Toots had gone out, but he 
 >und Harry, and told him what was desired. Harry 
 started out to search for a doctor, while Frank re- 
 turned to the boy, who was in a state of great agita- 
 tion when he re-entered the room. 
 
 "Oh, I thought you would never come!" coughed 
 the unfortunate lad. "You were away so long!" 
 
 He was thin and pale, with deep-sunken eyes, which, 
 however, were strangely bright. He was poorly and 
 scantily dressed, and the hand that lay on his bosom 
 seemed so thin that it was almost transparent. One 
 of his eyes had been struck by the fist of the brutish
 
 224 The Story. 
 
 dwarf, and was turning purple. On one cheek there 
 was a great bruise and a slight cut. 
 
 Frank's heart had gone out in sympathy to this un- 
 fortunate lad, and he was filled with rage when he 
 thought how brutally the poor boy had been treated. 
 
 Merriwell sat down on the edge of the bed, and took 
 that thin, white hand. It felt like a little bundle of 
 bones, and was so cold that it gave Frank a shudder. 
 
 "You are very ill," declared the boy from Yale. 
 "I believe you have been starved." 
 
 "That was one way in which he tried to get rid of 
 us," said George. 
 
 "You are speaking of Bernard Belmont?" 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 "He tried to starve you?" 
 
 "Yes, and my sister also. Little Milly! You 
 should see her! She is such a sweet girl, and she is 
 so good ! I don't see how he had the heart to torture 
 her." 
 
 "This Belmont must be a human brute !" cried Mer- 
 riwell, in anger. "He deserves to be broken on the 
 wheel !" 
 
 "He is a brute !" weakly cried the boy. "He killed 
 my mother my dear, sweet mother! Oh, she was so
 
 The Story. 225 
 
 good, and so beautiful! She loved us so Milly and 
 me! Listen, my dear friend/' and the the boy drew 
 Frank closer. "I I think he poisoned her!" 
 
 These words were whispered in a tone of such hor- 
 ror and grief that the soul of the listening lad was 
 made to quiver like the vibrating strings of a violin 
 when touched by the bow. 
 
 "You mustn't think about that now," said Frank, 
 soothingly. "It will hurt you to think about it." 
 
 "But I must, for, do you know, dear friend, I feel 
 sure I shall not have long to think of it." 
 
 "What do you mean?" asked Merry, with a chill. 
 
 "Something something tells me the end is near. 
 Apollo, he hurt me here." 
 
 The boy pressed one hand to his breast and coughed 
 again. 
 
 "You are excited you are frightened," declared 
 Frank. "You will be all right in the morning. The 
 doctor will fix you up all right. You shall have the 
 very best food you can eat, and I'll see that you re- 
 ceive the tenderest care." 
 
 The eyes of the lad on the bed filled with tears and 
 his lips quivered, while he gazed at Frank with a look 
 of love.
 
 226 The Story. 
 
 "You are so good!" he said, weakly, but with deep 
 feeling. "Why are you so good to me a stranger?" 
 
 "Because I like you, and you are in trouble." 
 
 "There are not many like you not many ! I know 
 I can trust you, and I do wish you would do something 
 forme!" 
 
 "I will. Tell me what it is. I promise in advance." 
 
 "I don't want you to promise till you know what it 
 is, for I have no right to ask so much of you." 
 
 "Very well. Tell me." 
 
 "When I am dead, for I know I shall not last long 
 will you find my sister and tell her everything? Tell 
 her how near I came to reaching her, and let her know 
 that I am gone. She loves me. I am only fifteen, 
 but she is eighteen and very beautiful. She looks like 
 my angel mother. Dear little Milly! Will you do 
 this?" 
 
 "I will do it, if the occasion arises; but we'll have 
 you all right in a short time, and you will go to her 
 yourself." 
 
 "If I recover, I shall not be able to go to her." 
 
 "Why not?" 
 
 "Bernard Belmont has followed me, and he will drag 
 vie back to the old prison I know it."
 
 The Story. 227 
 
 "He shall not!" exclaimed Frank, with determina- 
 tion. 
 
 "The law is with him," said the boy, weakly. "He 
 has the best of it, for he is my legal guardian." 
 
 "At that he has no right to abuse you, and he can 
 be deprived of guardianship over you. It shall be 
 done/' 
 
 But no light of hope illumined the face of the un- 
 fortunate boy. 
 
 "It will be no use," George said. "He has starved 
 me and beaten me. He has drenched me with water, 
 and left me where it was icy cold, so that I have been 
 awfully ill. And all the time I had this this cough." 
 
 Frank leaped to his feet and paced the small room 
 like a caged tiger, his soul wrought to an intense fury 
 at the thought of the treatment the boy had received. 
 He longed for power to punish the monster who had 
 perpetrated such dastardly acts. 
 
 "Your sister," he finally asked "did this brute treat 
 her thus?" 
 
 "Nearly as bad, but she was older and stronger." 
 
 "Tell me, how did your sister get away from him ?" 
 
 "We planned to run away together, and then I be- 
 came so ill that I could not. I I made her leave me.
 
 228 The Story. 
 
 I told her she must find Uncle Carter must let him 
 know everything. It was our only hope. He must 
 save us." 
 
 "But how did she reach your uncle?" 
 
 "It was this way: We knew where Bernard Bel- 
 mont kept some money in a little safe, and I I knew 
 how to get into that safe. That money belonged to 
 us it was mother's money. Belmont was not worth 
 a dollar when he married my mother. It would not 
 be stealing for us to take it. Sometimes he went away 
 and left us to be cared for by Apollo, the dwarf. Such 
 care ! Apollo was a monster a brute ! Bernard Bel- 
 mont hired him to torture us. This time, when Bel- 
 mont went away, Apollo shut us up in a room, leav- 
 ing some bread and water for us, and we were left 
 there, while he visited the wine cellar and got beastly 
 drunk. He thought we were safe in that room 
 thought we could not get out. ' But we had been im- 
 prisoned there before, and I had made a key of wire. 
 We got out. We found the dwarf in a drunken sleep, 
 and we tied him. Then we went to the safe and 
 opened it. There was but a trifle over fifty dollars in 
 that safe. It was not enough to take us both to Ne- 
 vada to Uncle Carter. Then I fainted, and I was toe
 
 The Story. 229 
 
 ill to try to run away when my sister restored me. She 
 insisted on staying with me, but I commanded her to 
 go. I begged her to go. I told her it was the only way. 
 If she did not go, we were lost, for Bernard Belmont 
 would discover what we had done, and he would make 
 sure we had no opportunity to repeat the trick. She 
 wanted to stay and care for me. I told her Belmont 
 would not dare harm me till he had caught her. It might 
 be some days before he got back. It was possible she 
 could reach Uncle Carter, and then Uncle Carter could 
 come East and save me. After a time I convinced her. 
 She took the money, dressed herself for the street, and, 
 after kissing me and weeping over me, left me. I 
 have never seen her since." 
 
 "But she escaped she reached your uncle?" 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 "He made no effort to save you?" 
 
 "No." 
 
 "Why was that?" 
 
 "I know nothing, except that he is queer. Perhaps 
 he thought I was not woith saving. It was nearly a 
 week before Bernard Belmont returned. All that time 
 I kept Apollo tied fast, and I rejoiced as the days went 
 by. When Belmont came there was a terrible out-
 
 2 30 The Story. 
 
 burst. I was beaten nearly to death. He tried to 
 make me tell where my sister had gone, but I would 
 only say, 'Find out.' When I had become unconscious 
 and he could not restore me to my senses to question me 
 further, he started to trace Mildred. He traced her 
 after a time, but she had reached Uncle Carter, and 
 she was safe. He wrote a letter to Uncle Carter, and 
 the reply he received made him furious. It told him 
 that Milly was buried so deep that he would never see 
 her again. She was dead to him and to the world. 
 Then Bernard Belmont swore that I would soon be 
 dead in truth. After that oh, I can't tell it!" 
 
 Frank saw it was exhausting the unfortunate boy, 
 and he quickly said : 
 
 "Do not tell it ; you have told enough. But you es- 
 caped." 
 
 "After nearly a year. I escaped without a cent of 
 money, and how I worked my way here I do not know. 
 Several times I dodged detectives, whom I knew were 
 in the employ of Belmont. I got here at last, but I 
 found Bernard Belmont and Apollo were waiting for 
 me. I tried to escape, but Apollo found me, and 
 you know the rest."
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 
 ANOTHER ESCAPE. 
 
 The poor boy relapsed into silence, closing his eyes 
 and breathing with no small difficulty. A great flood 
 of pity welled up in the heart of Frank Merriwell as 
 he looked at that thin, bruised face, and he felt like 
 becoming the boy's champion and avenger. 
 
 Again Frank pressed the thin hand that looked so 
 weak and helpless. He held it in both his own warm, 
 strong hands, and he earnestly said : 
 
 "My poor fellow ! you have been wretchedly treated, 
 and it is certain that Bernard Belmont shall suffer for 
 what he has done. Retribution is something he can- 
 not escape." 
 
 "Oh, I don't know !" weakly whispered George. "I 
 used to think so I used to think that the wicked people 
 all were punished, but I'm beginning to believe it isn't 
 so." 
 
 "You must not believe it isn't so," anxiously de- 
 clared Frank. "Of course you believe there is an All- 
 wise Being who witnesses even the sparrow's fall ?"
 
 232 
 
 Another Escape. 
 
 'Yes.' 
 
 "Then you cannot doubt that such a Being will visit 
 just punishment upon the wicked man who has caused 
 you so much suffering and pain. His way is past find- 
 ing out, but you must trust Him." 
 
 There was something noble and manly on the face of 
 Frank Merriwell as he spoke those words, and the man- 
 ner in which he uttered them told that he had the ut- 
 most and implicit confidence in the wisdom of the 
 Being of whom he spoke. 
 
 At that moment it scarcely seemed possible that 
 Frank was the same merry, laughing, lively lad who 
 was usually so full of fun and pranks. Those who 
 fancied they knew him best would have been amazed 
 could they have seen him and heard his words. 
 
 Thus was shown one of the many hidden sides of 
 Frank's nature, which was most complex and yet hon- 
 est and guileless. 
 
 The boy on the bed opened his eyes and looked at 
 Frank in silence for a long time. Finally he said : 
 
 "I see you really believe what you say, and you have 
 given me new faith. I have suffered so much so 
 much that I had begun to doubt. It is hard to trust 
 in the goodness of God when it seems that nearly all
 
 Another Escape. 233 
 
 the wicked ones in the world are the ones who are 
 prosperous. Bernard Belmont is believed to be an 
 upright and honorable man in the town where he lives, 
 and the people there think he was very kind to the two 
 invalid children left on his hands when his wife died. 
 
 "Some day they will know the truth." 
 
 "It will be when I am dead!" 
 
 "Nonsense!" 
 
 "I am sure of it. Do you know, dear friend, Apollo 
 hurt me so much to-night ! It seems that he hurt me 
 somewhere in here." 
 
 The boy pressed his hand to his side. 
 
 "But the doctor is coming, and he will make you well 
 again." 
 
 "Perhaps he can't. I had rather not get well than 
 be turned over to Belmont again and left for him to 
 torture." 
 
 George shuddered at this, and Frank ground his 
 teeth softly, as he thought what intense satisfaction it 
 would give him to see the man Belmont punished as he 
 deserved. 
 
 "Why doesn't Harry come with the doctor?" 
 thought Frank, as he got up and impatiently paced the 
 floor. He has had plenty of time."
 
 2)4 Another Escape. 
 
 A few moments later the boy on the bed beckoned 
 with his thin hand. 
 
 Frank hastened to the bedside, anxiously asking : 
 
 "Is there anything I can do?" 
 
 "Yes," whispered George; "sit down and listen." 
 
 "I wish you would save your strength. You must 
 stop talking." 
 
 "I must talk, for it is my last chance. I want to tell 
 you again that I know my sister is somewhere in the 
 mountains up around Lake Tahoe. You have said you 
 would find her. Do so; tell her I am gone. She is 
 an heiress, for all the money Bernard Belmont has will 
 belong to her then. If you could do something to aid 
 her in obtaining her rights. Will you try?" 
 
 "I will try." 
 
 "Oh, you are so good and you are so brave ! How 
 you fought that terrible dwarf! You did not seem 
 afraid of him! It is wonderful! I never saw any- 
 body like you ! Yes, yes, I am beginning to have faith. 
 How can I help it after this?" 
 
 He smiled at Frank, and there was something so 
 joyous and so pathetic in that smile that Merry turned 
 away to hide the tears which welled into his eyes.
 
 Another Escape. 235 
 
 When Frank turned back he was bravely smiling, 
 as he said, in a most encouraging manner : 
 
 "Now you must have faith that you are going to get 
 well. That is what you need. It will be better than 
 medicine and doctors. Think think of meeting your 
 sister again!" 
 
 "Yes, yes !" panted the boy. "Dear little Milly I" 
 
 "How happy she will be !" 
 
 "Yes, yes !" 
 
 "And think of regaining possession of what is right- 
 fully your own of getting square with Bernard Bel- 
 mont." 
 
 A cloud came to the face of the boy. 
 
 "Of course I want what is mine I want Milly to 
 have her rights," he slowly said; "but but it is not 
 my place to punish the man who has wronged us." 
 
 "The law will do that." 
 
 "God will do that ! I believe it once more since talk- 
 ing with you. I trust Him fully." 
 
 There were footsteps outside the door, a gentle tap, 
 and Frank admitted Harry and a physician. 
 
 The doctor sat down in a chair by the bed and asked 
 the boy a few questions, while Frank and Harry anx-
 
 236 Another Escape. 
 
 iously watched and listened. The doctor's face was 
 unreadable. 
 
 "Who is this boy, Frank?" whispered Harry. 
 "Where did you find him?" 
 
 "Wait," said Merry. "I will tell you later, but not 
 here." 
 
 The doctor declared that the unfortunate lad must 
 have some light stimulating food without delay, and 
 he wrote a prescription. 
 
 "Take this to a druggist and have it filled," he said, 
 handing it to Harry. 
 
 Harry left the room. 
 
 The boy lay back on the bed, his eyes closed, breath- 
 ing softly. The doctor arose and walked to the win- 
 dow, motioning Frank to join him. 
 
 "How is it, doctor?" Merriwell anxiously asked, 
 in a whisper. 
 
 The man shook his head. 
 
 "I can't tell yet," he confessed; "but I fear he is 
 done for. He has been starved, and his lungs are in a 
 bad way. What he needs most is stimulants and food, 
 but everything must be mild, as his system is in such 
 a weakened condition. As for the injury to his side,
 
 Another Escape. 237 
 
 of which he complains, of course I cannot tell how se- 
 vere that may be." 
 
 Frank's heart sank, for the doctor was more discour- 
 aging in his manner than in his words. 
 
 "Save him if you can, doctor !" he entreated. 
 
 "I will. Is he a friend or relative of yours?" 
 
 "He is an utter stranger to me. I never saw him 
 before to-night." 
 
 The doctor lifted his eyebrows in astonishment. 
 
 "Indeed ! Then who is to pay the bills for his care 
 and treatment?" 
 
 "I will," Frank promptly answered. "Here, take 
 this as a fee in advance." 
 
 A bill was thrust into the physician's hand. 
 
 After looking at the bill the doctor assumed a very 
 deferential manner. 
 
 "He should have a first-class nurse/* he declared. 
 
 "He shall," assured Merriwell; "the best one to be 
 obtained in Carson." 
 
 "This is very strange," said the physician. "I can't 
 understand why you should do such a thing for one 
 who is a stranger to you. You must have an object." 
 
 "I have." 
 
 "Ah! I thought so!"
 
 238 Another Escape. 
 
 "My object is to see this poor, abused boy live and 
 get his just due. He has been misused, and the man 
 who has misused him should be punished. I hope to 
 live to know that man has been punished as he de- 
 serves." 
 
 "Ah!" came from the doctor once more. "Then 
 you have a grudge against the man ?" 
 
 "I never saw him in all my life. I never heard of 
 him before this night." 
 
 The physician was more puzzled than before. 
 
 "Then I must say you are a most remarkable per- 
 son !" he exclaimed. 
 
 Once more there were steps outside the door heavy 
 shuffling steps. 
 
 The boy on the bed heard those steps, and a gasp 
 came from his pale lips, as he turned his head toward 
 the door, his face distorted by fear. 
 
 "He is coming!" 
 
 The words came in a hoarse whisper from the in- 
 jured boy. 
 
 Frank started toward the door and the boy wildly en- 
 treated : 
 
 "Stop him don't let him come in here! Hark! 
 There is another step! They are both there! They
 
 Another Escape. 239 
 
 have come for me come to drag me back to a living 
 death!" 
 
 "Why, he is raving!" exclaimed the doctor. 
 
 Bang! open flew the door. Without stopping to 
 knock or ask leave to enter, a tall, dark-bearded man 
 stepped into the room. 
 
 At this man's heels came a crouching figure that 
 seemed half human and half beast. It had a short, 
 thick body and long arms that nearly reached the floor. 
 Its face was pale as marble, save for a red scar that 
 ran down the left cheek to the corner of the mouth. 
 The eyes were set near together, and they glistened 
 with a savage, cruel light. 
 
 Frank stepped between the intruders and the bed, 
 but the boy had seen them, and he sat up, uttering a 
 wild scream of fear, then fell back on the pillow. 
 
 "Who are you? and what do you want?" demanded 
 Merriwell, boldly confronting the man and the crea- 
 ture at his heels. 
 
 "Never mind who we are ; we want that boy, and we 
 will have him!" declared the man. "He can't escape 
 us this time !" 
 
 Frank glanced at the figure on the bed, and then 
 turned back, crying with great impressiveness :
 
 240 Another Escape. 
 
 "He can and has escaped you, Bernard Belmont ; but 
 he will stand face to face with you at the great bar of 
 justice in the day of judgment!" 
 
 "What!" hoarsely cried the man, starting back and 
 staring at the ghastly face of the boy on the bed ; "he 
 is dead!"
 
 CHAPTER XXI. 
 
 AT LAKE TAHOE. 
 
 Poised like a sparkling gem in a grand and glorious 
 setting of mountain peaks, lies Lake Tahoe, the high- 
 est body of water on the American continent. 
 
 The sun was shining from a clear sky when Frank 
 Merriwell and Harry Rattleton reached a point where 
 they could look down upon the bosom of the lake, from 
 which the sunlight was reflected as from the surface 
 of a mirror. 
 
 "There it is, old man !" cried Frank, enthusiastically 
 "the most beautiful lake in all the wide world!" 
 
 "That is stutting it rather peep I mean putting it 
 rather steep," said Harry, with a remonstrating grin. 
 
 "But none too steep," asserted Frank. "People raved 
 about the beauties of Maggiore and Como, and thou- 
 sands of fool Americans rush over to the old world 
 and go into raptures over those lakes, but Tahoe 
 knocks the eye out of them both." 
 
 "I think you are stuck on anything American, 
 Frank."
 
 242 At Lake Tahoe. 
 
 "I am, and I am proud of it, too. Rattleton, we 
 have a right to be proud of our country, and we would 
 be blooming chumps if we weren't. It is the greatest 
 and grandest country the sun ever shone upon, and a 
 fellow fully realizes it after he has been abroad and 
 traveled around over Europe, Asia and Africa. I've 
 been sight-seeing in those lands, my boy, and I know 
 whereof I speak." 
 
 "You are thoroughly American, anyway, Frank." 
 
 "That's right. I love my native land and its beauti- 
 ful flag Old Glory! I never knew what it was to 
 feel a thrill of joy that was absolutely painful till I 
 saw the Stars and Stripes in a foreign land. The 
 sight blinded me with tears and made me feel it would 
 be a privilege to lay down my life in defense of that 
 starry banner." 
 
 "Well, you're a queer duck, anyway!" exclaimed 
 Harry. "I never saw a chap before who seemed cool 
 as an iceberg outside and had a heart of fire in his 
 bosom." 
 
 Frank laughed. 
 
 "Every man is peculiar in his own way," he said. 
 "I never try to be anything different than I am. I am 
 disgusted by affectation."
 
 At Lake Tahoe. 243 
 
 "We have found Lake Tahoe, but that is not finding 
 the 'buried heiress,' as you call her." 
 
 "But we will find her." 
 
 "I scarcely think it will be an easy task." 
 
 "Nor do I think so, but I gave George Morris my 
 word, and I am going to keep my promise to him, poor 
 fellow !" 
 
 "You never seem to consider the possibility of fail- 
 ure, Frank." 
 
 "The ones who consider the possibility of failure are 
 those who fail, old fellow. Those who succeed are the 
 ones who never think of failure who believe they can- 
 not fail. Confidence in one's self is an absolute 
 requisite in the battle of life." 
 
 "There is such a thing as egotism." 
 
 "Yes. That consists in bragging about what you 
 can do. It is most offensive. It is the fellow who 
 does things without boasting who cuts ice in this 
 world. The other fellow often spends his time in tell- 
 ing what he can do, but never does much." 
 
 "I think you are right ; but let's get down nearer the 
 
 lake. I've heard that the water is marvelously clear." 
 
 "It is so clear that a small fish may be seen from
 
 244 At Lake Tahoe. 
 
 the surface, though the fish is near the bottom where 
 the lake is the deepest/* 
 
 "Then it can't be very deep." 
 
 "It is, nevertheless. In many places it is thirty or 
 forty feet even more than that." 
 
 "Then who invented the fish story?" 
 
 "The fish story is all right," laughed Merriwell. "I 
 know." 
 
 "How do you know?" 
 
 "I've been here before." 
 
 "Here at Lake Tahoe?" 
 
 "Sure." 
 
 "Well, say!" cried Rattleton, in astonishment, "I'd 
 like to know where you haven't been !" 
 
 "Oh, there are lots of places where I haven't been, 
 but this is one of the places where I have been. That's 
 all." 
 
 "What brought you here?" 
 
 "I came here in pursuit of a young lady in whom a 
 friend of mine, Bart Hodge, was interested." 
 
 "I think I have heard you speak of Hodge." 
 
 "Yes, he was my chum when I was in Fardale Mili- 
 tary Academy. We were enemies at first, and Hodge
 
 At Lake Tahoe. 245 
 
 did his best to down me, but we became friendly after 
 that, and Hodge turned out to be a very decent fellow." 
 
 "Where is he now?" . 
 
 "Give it up. Haven't heard from Bart in a long 
 time. Last I knew he was out here in the West some- 
 where." 
 
 The boys had reached Tahoe on their wheels, there 
 being a road to the lake. The road was not a very 
 good one for bicycle traveling, but they had ridden a 
 portion of the way. 
 
 Now they had left the road and pushed down to the 
 lake by a winding path, along which they had been 
 forced to carry their wheels at times. 
 
 They made their way down to the edge of a bluff, 
 from the verge of which they could look over into the 
 water. 
 
 "Say ! it is clear !" cried Harry. 
 
 "I told you so," smiled Frank. 
 
 "But but why, it almost seems to magnify! I 
 can count the pebbles on the bottom. Look at those 
 tiny fishes swimming around there," 
 
 In truth the water was marvelously clear, and things 
 on the bottom could be seen almost as plainly as. if the/ 
 were not beneath the surface.
 
 246 At Lake Tahoe. 
 
 "Why, it don't seem possible that a boat can float 
 on it!" broke from Harry. 
 
 "It is something like floating in the air." 
 
 "Are there boats to be obtained near here?" 
 
 "There are a number of boats on the lake. There 
 once was a man near here by the name of Big Gabe 
 who owned a boat." 
 
 "Let's get it, if he is here now. I want to take a 
 sail on this lake. How do we find Big Gabe?" 
 
 "I don't know that we'll be able to find him at all. 
 He was a consumptive." 
 
 "Oh, then he may be dead?" 
 
 "Not from consumption. He came here to die, but 
 in less than a year he was stronger and heartier than 
 he had ever before been, and he was so lazy that he 
 didn't care to do anything but lay around and take life 
 easy. He said he was going to stay here till he died, 
 but there seemed little prospect that he'd ever die. 
 
 TTg " 
 
 At this moment there was a sudden wild snarl behind 
 them, and, before they could turn, each lad received a 
 powerful thrust that sent him whirling from the bluff 
 to fall with a great splash into the water below. 
 
 Both lads had Tv.-lled their bicycles over the brink,
 
 At Lake Tahoe. 247 
 
 so the wheels fell with a loud splash into the water 
 which washed against the base of the steep rock. 
 
 The boys themselves had been sent whirling still 
 farther out, and they sank like stones when they struck 
 the water. 
 
 But they came up quickly, wondering what had hap- 
 pened. 
 
 "Blate glisters no, great blisters!" gurgled Harry, 
 as he spurted water like a whale. "Where are we at?" 
 
 "Christmas!" said Frank. "What struck us?" 
 
 And then, on the top of the bluff, they saw a creature 
 that was dancing and howling with rage and satisfac- 
 tion. 
 
 It was Apollo, the dwarf. 
 
 "May I be hanged !" exploded Rattleton. "It's that 
 thing!" 
 
 "It is!" agreed Frank; "and I supposed that thing 
 must be hundreds of miles from here." 
 
 "Going East." 
 
 "Of course." 
 
 "Belmont didn't let any grass grow under his feet 
 before he got out." 
 
 "Not much." 
 
 The creature on the bluff danced and screamed and
 
 248 At Lake Tahoe. 
 
 waved its long arms, while its hideous face was con- 
 vulsed with expressions of rage. 
 
 "Oh, I'd like to get at him!" grated Frank. 
 
 "Thank you, I'd much rather keep away !" exclaimed 
 Harry. 
 
 Then the boys started to swim ashore. 
 
 Suddenly the dwarf began throwing stones at them. 
 He picked up huge stones from the ground and sent 
 them whizzing through the air with great force and 
 something like accuracy. 
 
 "Well, this is getting rather hot !" exclaimed Frank, 
 as a huge jagged stone shot down past his head and 
 sank in the water. 
 
 "Hot!" gurgled Rattleton. "I should say so- 
 some!" 
 
 "Lookout!" 
 
 Another huge stone struck between them. 
 
 "If that had hit either of us, it would have fixed us !" 
 came from Frank. 
 
 "You bet!" 
 
 "Swim, old fellow! We must get away." 
 
 But as they swam, looking for a place to go ashore, 
 the dwarf followed along the top of the bluff, still pelt-
 
 At Lake Tahoe. 249 
 
 ing them with stones, while he uttered those savage 
 cries. 
 
 One of the smaller stones struck Merry and hurt 
 him not a little. 
 
 "Wait!" he muttered. "I'll get a chance at you 
 yet!" 
 
 Then, regardless of the shower of stones, he started 
 to swim in toward the shore where he saw a place that 
 they could get out of the water. 
 
 But another stone whizzed down, and there came a 
 broken, strangling cry from Harry. 
 
 "What happened, old fellow?" asked Frank, who 
 was now a bit in advance. "Did the cur hit you?" 
 
 No answer. 
 
 Frank looked around, and found Harry had disap- 
 peared from view. 
 
 The dwarf on the bluff danced and howled with 
 fierce delight. 
 
 As quickly as he could, Frank turned about, swam 
 back a little and dived. It did not require a great ef- 
 fort to go down, for now his clothes were thoroughly 
 wet, and he sank easily. 
 
 As soon as he was below the surface, keeping his 
 eyes open, he saw his friend lying on the bottom. The
 
 250 At Lake Tahoe. 
 
 water was so clear that there was not the least difficulty 
 in this. 
 
 Down Frank went till he reached Harry, whom he 
 grasped. Planting his feet on the bottom, he gave a 
 great leap and shot upward. 
 
 The water was not more than eight feet deep, and 
 he quickly reached the surface, immediately striking 
 for the shore. 
 
 But his watersoaked garments and Harry's weight 
 dragged on him, and it was a desperate battle to keep 
 from going down again. 
 
 "You must do it, Merriwell !" he told himself. "It's 
 your only show! Pull him out somehow!" 
 
 Several times his head was forced below the surface 
 and it seemed that the struggle was over ; but he would 
 not give up, and he would not let go his hold on Harry. 
 
 "Both or none!" he thought. "If I can't get out 
 with him, I'll not get out without him!" 
 
 The dwarf had disappeared from the bluff, which 
 was a fortunate thing, as he would have been given a 
 fine opportunity to pelt them with rocks as Frank 
 slowly and laboriously swam ashore. Just then, if 
 Merriwell had been struck on the head by a stone, it 
 must have ended the whole affair.
 
 At Lake Tahoe. 251 
 
 "Oh, if my clothes were off !" panted Frank. "Then 
 I could do it. I must do it anyway." 
 
 He wondered how badly Harry was hurt, but it was 
 impossible to tell till the shore was reached. 
 
 The water did not seem so bouyant as it should, and 
 he almost felt that there was a force dragging him 
 down. 
 
 Purely by his power of determination he succeeded 
 in reaching the rocks and dragging himself out with 
 his burden, when he sank down utterly exhausted. 
 
 "Thank goodness!" he gasped. "I did it!" 
 
 He had not been there many moments when he heard 
 a cry above, and, looking upward, saw the dwarf had 
 returned to the edge of the bluff. 
 
 The dwarf seemed astonished when he saw the boys 
 had reached shore, and he sent a stone whistling down 
 at them. 
 
 Frank dodged the missile, and then, with a fresh 
 feeling of strength, hastened up the rocks toward the 
 top of the bluff. 
 
 Apollo saw the boy coming and immediately took to 
 his heels, quickly disappearing from view. 
 
 Finding the dwarf had escaped, Frank turned back, 
 lifted Harry in his arms, and again mounted the rocks*
 
 252 At Lake Tahoe. 
 
 He reached the top and bore his friend to a place 
 where he could rest on some short grass where he was 
 sheltered from the sunlight. 
 
 Then Frank looked for Harry's injury. 
 
 Rattleton had been struck on the head by a stone, 
 which had cut a short gash in the scalp, and from this 
 blood was flowing. 
 
 "It doesn't seem very bad," said Frank, as he ex- 
 amined the wound. "I rather think it stunned him, 
 and that is all. He was not under water long enough 
 to drown." 
 
 Frank took a handkerchief from his pocket and 
 wrung it out, intending to bind up Harry's head 
 with it. 
 
 At that moment, happening to glance up, he saw a 
 pale, horrible face peering out from a mass of shrub- 
 bery. 
 
 It was the face of Apollo, the dwarf. 
 
 "That creature still here!" grated Merriwell, as he 
 sprang up. "If he isn't driven away, he may find 
 a way to injure us further." 
 
 Then he ran after Apollo, who quickly disap- 
 peared. 
 
 Frank pursued the dwarf hotly, hearing the little
 
 At Lake Tahoe. 
 
 253 
 
 wretch crashing along for some distance, but Apollo 
 succeeded in keeping out of sight, and, at last, he 
 could be heard no more. 
 
 Merry was disgusted. He spent some time in 
 searching for Apollo, and then returned to the spot 
 where he had left Harry.
 
 CHAPTER XXII. 
 
 A RACE ON THE LAKE. 
 
 To Frank's amazement, he found Rattleton reclining 
 in a very comfortable position, with the handkerchief 
 bound about his head. 
 
 "Hello, old boy!" Merriwell cheerfully called. "I 
 reckon you are all right, for you are able to do up 
 your own wound." 
 
 "I say, Frank," came eagerly but weakly from Rat- 
 tleton, "what has become of her ?" 
 
 "Her? Whom?" 
 
 "The fairy, the nymph, the beautiful queen of the 
 woods! She was here a few moments ago she was 
 with me." 
 
 "By Jove! that crack on the head has knocked him 
 daffy!" thought Merriwell. "He's off his trolley 
 sure!" 
 
 "Why don't you answer me?" Harry impatiently 
 demanded. "I closed my eyes but a moment, and 
 when I opened them again she was gone." 
 
 "I hope you are not referring to the dwarf," laughed
 
 A Race on the Lake. 255 
 
 Frank, lightly. "I hope you do not mean him when 
 you talk about a fairy, nymph and beautiful queen of 
 the woods?" 
 
 "No, no! Of course I do not mean that horrible 
 creature! I mean the girl the girl who was here!" 
 
 "There has been no girl here." 
 
 "What ? I know there has ! I saw her, although it 
 seemed like a dream. I saw her before I could fully 
 open my eyes. She was kneeling here beside me, 
 and she was so beautiful!" 
 
 "My dear fellow," said Merriwell, gently, "that tap 
 on the head has mixed you somewhat there's no 
 doubt about it." 
 
 Harry made a feeble, impatient gesture. 
 
 "You think I am off/' he said; "but I am not. I 
 tell you I saw a girl a girl with blue eyes and golden 
 hair. Her cheeks were brown as berries, but the tint 
 of health was in them. And her hands were so soft 
 and tender and warm!" 
 
 Frank whistled. 
 
 "I'm afraid you are hurt worse than I thought," he 
 said, with no small concern. 
 
 "Oh, scrate Gott!" spluttered Harry. "I am not 
 hurt at all! I tell you I saw her do you hear?"
 
 256 A Race on the Lake. 
 
 "Yes, I hear." 
 
 "But you don't believe me, and that is what makes 
 me hot" 
 
 "Keep cool." 
 
 "How can I? Look here, look at my head." 
 
 "Yes, you did a very good job. I was about to do 
 it up when I saw that dwarf again, and I chased him." 
 
 "I didn't do it up at all." 
 
 "No?" 
 
 "Not on your retouched negative!" 
 
 "Then who " 
 
 "The girl the girl, I tell you! When I came to 
 my senses, I felt some person at work over me, and 
 through my eyelashes I saw her kneeling here at my 
 side. I tell you, Frank, she was a dream a vision ! 
 I thought I was in heaven, and I scarcely dared 
 breathe for fear she would disappear." 
 
 Frank was watching Harry closely. 
 
 "Hanged if the fellow doesn't believe it!" muttered 
 Merry. 
 
 Rattleton's ears were sharp, and he caught the 
 words. 
 
 "Believe it!" he weakly shouted "I know it! I 
 not only saw her, but I felt her hands as she gently
 
 A Race on the Lake. 257 
 
 brushed back my wet hair and tied this bandage in 
 place. Look at it, Merry, old fellow; I couldn't have 
 put it on like that you know I couldn't." 
 
 "Well, it would have been quite a trick." 
 
 "I think she saw us thrown into the water, for she 
 murmured something about it. She must live near 
 here, Frank." 
 
 Harry was fluttering with suppressed eagerness. 
 
 "If you saw such a girl, it is likely that she does." 
 
 "If I saw such a girl! Oh, smoly hoke! will you 
 never be convinced?" 
 
 "Perhaps so," nodded Frank, as He examined the 
 ground. 
 
 "What are you looking for?" 
 
 "Her trail." 
 
 "If you were an Indian, you might find it; but no 
 white man could find it here, as the ground is not 
 favorable." 
 
 "I think that is right," admitted Frank, as he gave 
 over the attempt. "If you saw such a girl, I have a 
 fancy I know who she is." 
 
 Harry started up, shouting: 
 
 "You do?" 
 
 "Sure."
 
 258 A Race on the Lake. 
 
 "Then you saw her when you visited the lake be- 
 fore?" 
 
 "No." 
 
 "How is it that you are sure you know who she is if 
 you never saw her before?" 
 
 "You are little numb just now, Harry, or you 
 would have thought of it yourself. She must be the 
 buried heiress." 
 
 Rattleton caught his breath. 
 
 "Right you are!" he exclaimed. "Why, it must be 
 her!" 
 
 "It strikes me that way," nodded Frank. 
 
 "By Jove!" palpitated Harry; "she is a peafect 
 perch I mean a perfect peach! Merry, old chap, she 
 takes the bun!" 
 
 Frank laughed. 
 
 "It's not often you get this way, Rattles," he said. 
 "She must have hit you hard." 
 
 "Right where I live, old man. I'd like to win her." 
 
 "But you must not forget she is an heiress." 
 
 "Oh, come off! That doesn't cut any ice in this 
 case. She was dressed like anything but an heiress, 
 and "
 
 A Race on the Lake. 259 
 
 "You know why. She is living like anything ex- 
 cept an heiress, and still she is one, just as hard." 
 
 "And that infernal dwarf is here searching for her !" 
 
 "Sure." 
 
 "We supposed he had gone East, with Bernard 
 Belmont." 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 "Instead of that, Belmont sent him here to find the 
 girl." 
 
 "Correct me, noble dook." 
 
 Harry started up, in great excitement. 
 
 "We must defend her, Frank we must protect her 
 from that wretched creature !" he cried. "I am ready/' 
 
 "I see you are," smiled Merry. "The thought that 
 she might be in danger has aroused you more than any 
 amount of tonics. We can't protect her unless we can 
 find her." 
 
 "And you said a short time ago that we would not 
 fail to find her." 
 
 "\Ye will not, and I hope we may be able to find 
 her in time to be of assistance to her. To begin with, 
 we must get our bicycles out of the lake. It is a for- 
 tunate thing they fell in the water." 
 
 "Fortunate?"
 
 260 A Race on the Lake. 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 "Why?" 
 
 "It is pretty certain the dwarf would have smashed 
 them if they had not." 
 
 "That's right. I never thought of it. He would 
 have had a fine opportunity. It is fortunate." 
 
 "We can remove our clothes and hang them in the 
 sunshine to dry while we are getting the wheels." 
 
 A look of horror came to Harry's face. 
 
 "No, no!" he cried, wildly. "We can't do that!" 
 
 "Why not?" 
 
 "The girl she is somewhere near here. What if 
 she should see us? Good gracious; it hakes my mart 
 I mean it makes my heart stand still to think of it !" 
 
 Harry's expression of horror and the way in which 
 he uttered the words caused Frank to shout with 
 laughter. 
 
 "Oh, my dear fellow!" he cried; "if you could do 
 that on the stage ! It would be great ! You'd make a 
 great hit!" 
 
 For once in his life Harry failed to see the humor- 
 ous side of a thing, and he did not crack a smile. 
 
 "What's the use to '-ha-ha' that way, Merry?" he
 
 A Race on the Lake. 261 
 
 cried. "You wouldn't want a thing of that kind to 
 happen, and you know it." 
 
 "Of course not, old man, so we'll have to keep on 
 part of our clothing while we are recovering the 
 wheels." 
 
 They approached the edge of the bluff, and, as they 
 did so, a canoe shot out from the mouth of a small 
 cove nearly half a mile away. 
 
 There was a single person in the canoe and, imme- 
 diately on seeing her, Harry cried: 
 
 "There she is that is the girl !" 
 
 It was a girl, and she was handling the paddle with 
 the skill of an expert, sending the light craft flying 
 over the bosom of the lake. 
 
 "We must call to her!" exclaimed Harry. "She 
 must stop!" 
 
 "We can't stop her by shouting to her, Rattles," de- 
 clared Frank, quickly. "It would frighten her, that's 
 all." 
 
 "But but what can we do?" 
 
 "Unless we can find a boat, absolutely nothing." 
 
 Rattleton was desperate. 
 
 "It's terrible, Frank !" he cried. "We may lose the
 
 262 A Race on the Lake. 
 
 only chance of finding her! At least, she should be 
 warned !" 
 
 "Look!" directed Merriwell, who was watching the 
 girl closely. "She is looking back! See her use the 
 paddle now! She is alarmed! She makes the canoe 
 fly! She makes it spin along at great leaps! Surely 
 something has frightened her ! What is it ?" 
 
 Harry's excitement grew. 
 
 "It's something, that's sure. She is using all her 
 strength! How beautifully she handles the paddle! 
 See the sunshine strike her hair ! It is like gold ! And 
 now look! look!" 
 
 Around a point just beyond the cove came a boat in 
 which two men were seated. Both men were pad- 
 dling, but the boat was heavy, and they were not gain- 
 ing on the fleeing girl. 
 
 "Great Scott !" exclaimed Frank. "It is Apollo, the 
 dwarf!" 
 
 "Yes; and the other the other is " 
 
 "Bernard Belmont!" 
 
 "Then he is here he did not go East at all. That 
 was a blind." 
 
 "Sure enough. They are here to find the girl." 
 
 "To put her out of the way, perhaps!"
 
 A Race on the Lake. 263 
 
 "It would be like that man. If he gets hold of her, 
 some terrible accident is likely to happen to Mildred 
 Morris. But they are not gaining; she is keeping the 
 lead with ease." 
 
 "Yes," nodded Frank, satisfaction on his face; "she 
 will not be taken." 
 
 The boys watched the race with great interest, see- 
 ing the girl draw farther and farther from her pur- 
 suers, till, at last, they gave over the attempt in dis- 
 gust, although they still paddled along after her. 
 
 She headed for a distant shore, and Frank and Harry 
 did not cease to watch till both boats had disappeared 
 in the shadow of the mountains and timber. 
 
 "There," said Merriwell "over there somewhere 
 must be the present home of that girl. It is a wild 
 region, for I was there once myself, and I know. We 
 will go there and see what we can find." 
 
 "But we must recover our wheels first." 
 
 "That is right ; and now we can remove our clothes 
 to do so, without fear of being seen. Come on." 
 
 It was no simple task to get the bicycles out of the 
 lake, but the thought of the girl's possible danger 
 seemed to have restored Harry's strength, and, be-
 
 264 A Race on the Lake. 
 
 tween them, they succeeded, after many efforts, in ac- 
 complishing their object. 
 
 In the meantime their clothes, which had been hung 
 where sun and wind would reach them, had partly 
 dried. 
 
 "We can't wait for them to get entirely dry," said 
 Frank. "We'll put them on just as they are. No- 
 body ever gets cold around Lake Tahoe at this time of 
 year." 
 
 Harry did not object, but the garments were just 
 wet enough so it was not an easy thing to get into 
 them. This, however, was done, after a severe strug- 
 gle and a small amount of startling and highly pic- 
 turesque language from Rattleton. 
 
 "Woo!" said Harry. "If we had a fine road, we 
 could get on our bikes and send them spinning at 
 such speed that the breeze would soon dry us; but 
 now how do you propose to get over across this 
 part of the lake, anyhow?" 
 
 "Well," said Frank, "you heard me speak of Big 
 Gabe?" 
 
 "Of course." 
 
 "His cabin was not far from here," 
 
 "What of that?"
 
 A Race on the Lake. 265 
 
 "He owned a sailboat." 
 
 "Wheejiz no, jeewhiz! that's the stuff! That's 
 what we want!" 
 
 "I rather thought so. With the aid of a sailboat 
 we can get across the lake easily." 
 
 "Let's look for Mr. Big Gabe without delay." 
 
 Frank took the lead, and they went in search of the 
 big hermit, trundling their wheels or carrying them, 
 as was necessary. 
 
 The modern bicycle is so light, although it is strong 
 and stanch, that it may be carried almost anywhere, 
 and so the task of taking the wheels along was not as 
 difficult as it might have been. 
 
 Within half an hour they came in sight of Big Gabe's 
 hut, which lay on the shore of the little cove out of 
 which the girl had sped in the light canoe. 
 
 "It was from this very spot that I first saw that 
 building," said Frank. "I'll never forget it. Bart 
 Hodge was with me. When we drew nearer, Big 
 Gabe himself came out and threatened to shoot us, 
 thinking we were trying to steal his boat, or something 
 of that sort." 
 
 "Where is the boat now?"
 
 266 A Race on the Lake. 
 
 "There it is, down where the tree overhangs the 
 lake. See?" 
 
 They could see the single mast and stern of the boat. 
 
 "Good luck!" cried Rattleton. "With the aid of 
 that, we won't do a thing but make a lively cruise 
 across the lake, for the wind is rising, and we'll have 
 a fair breeze." 
 
 Frank was looking steadily toward the hut, and 
 there was something like a frown on his face, which 
 his companion observed. 
 
 "What's the matter?" Harry asked. 
 
 "The hut looks deserted. The first time I saw it 
 smoke was coming out of the chimney. Now the 
 chimney is giving forth no smoke, and the door stands 
 open. It doesn't look as if any one had been around 
 the place for a year." 
 
 "That's right," admitted Harry, anxiously. "But 
 the boat is there." 
 
 "It may be in bad condition, else why didn't Bel- 
 mont and the dwarf take it?" 
 
 "There was no breeze a short time ago, and they 
 could not have sailed it across the lake. Besides, they
 
 A Race on the Lake. 267 
 
 were in pursuit of the girl in the canoe, and they 
 hoped to overtake her with the aid of a boat they could 
 row or paddle." 
 
 "Your reasoning is all right, my boy. We will hope 
 the sailboat is all right, too. Come on."
 
 CHAPTER XXIII. 
 THE HERMIT'S POWER. 
 
 Around the shore of the cove the two boys went 
 toward the hut As they approached it Frank placed 
 his hands to his mouth in the form of a horn, and 
 shouted : 
 
 "Oh, Gabe ! Oh, Mr. Blake !" 
 
 His voice came back in a distinct echo from a dis- 
 tant rocky steep, but that was all the answer he re- 
 ceived. The rising breeze stirred the open door, seem- 
 ing to wave it at the boys in derision, but the air of 
 loneliness about the place was oppressive. 
 
 "There's no one about/' said Frank. 
 
 "Not a soul," agreed Harry. 
 
 They reached the cabin and looked in. It had not 
 been occupied for two months, at least. 
 
 "Big Gabe is dead or gone," said Merriwell, with 
 sincere regret. "I hoped to find him here." 
 
 "Well, let's see if his boat is all right," came anx- 
 iously from Rattleton. "That is what we want to 
 know most"
 
 The Hermit's Power. 269 
 
 Leaving their -wheels leaning against a tree, they 
 hastened to the spot where the boat lay moored at a 
 short distance from the shore, 
 
 "We'll have to swim to get it," said Frank. "It is 
 plain that other boat in which we saw Belmont and 
 the dwarf was used by Gabe to get from the shore to 
 the sailboat." 
 
 Frank stripped off quickly and plunged into the lake, 
 although the water was cold, as he well knew from re- 
 cent experience. 
 
 Out to the boat he swam, came up by her stern, and 
 got in without difficulty, which was a very neat thing 
 to do, as the average boy would have tried to crawl 
 in over the side, with the probable result of upsetting 
 the boat. 
 
 "How's she look, Merry?" called Harry, anxiously. 
 
 "O. K.," answered Frank. "There's some water in 
 her, but it is a small amount, and the sails are well 
 reefed. They may be somewhat rotten, but we'll be 
 careful of them." 
 
 "How are we to get our wheels on board?" 
 
 Frank stood up and surveyed the bottom, which he 
 could do with ease, because of the unruffled surface 
 of the cove, as the wind did not touch it there.
 
 270 The Hermit's Power. 
 
 "There's a channel leading up to that large rock," 
 he said. "I'll bring the boat up there." 
 
 "Look out to not get her aground so she can't be 
 brought off," warned Harry. "That would be a 
 scrape." 
 
 "I'll look out." 
 
 Frank did not find it difficult to get up the anchor, 
 and then, with the aid of a long oar, he guided the 
 boat to the rock. 
 
 In the meantime, Harry had hastened to bring the 
 bicycles down to the cove, and they were all ready to 
 be taken on board. This was accomplished, and Harry 
 followed them. 
 
 "Now away, away," he cried. "We'll set our course 
 for yonder shore." 
 
 "Of course," punned Frank, and Rattleton made a 
 grimace. 
 
 "Bad very bad/' he said. "That habit has been 
 the cause of more sudden deaths than anything else of 
 which I know." 
 
 Frank laughed, and they pushed the boat from the 
 great rock. 
 
 Rattleton set about unfurling the sails and getting 
 them ready for hoisting.
 
 The Hermit's Power. 271 
 
 "Are you a sailor, Merry?" he asked, as if struck 
 by a new thought. 
 
 "Am I ?" cried Frank. "Ha ! ha ! also ho ! ho ! Wail 
 a wee, and you shall see what you shall see." 
 
 "Then you have been to sea?" 
 
 Frank gave the other boy a look of reproach. 
 
 "And you had the nerve to do that after saying what 
 you did about the bad pun I made a short time ago 1" 
 he cried. "Rattleton, your crust is something awful !" 
 
 They made preparations for running up the sail, 
 saw that the tiller was all right and the rudder worked 
 properly, and looked after other things. The bicycles 
 were in the way, but that could not be helped. 
 
 Harry aided Frank in setting the sail, and, with 
 the aid of the oar, the boat was worked out to a point 
 where they could feel the breeze. 
 
 "By Jove! this is rather jolly," commented Rattle- 
 ton, as they began to make headway. "With a fair 
 wind, we'll run over there in a short time, and then 
 then if we can find that girl !" 
 
 "My boy, your face is aglow with rapture at the 
 thought," smiled Frank. "You have been hit a gen- 
 uine heart blow. Look out that it doesn't knock you 
 out."
 
 272 The Hermit's Power. 
 
 Away they went, making fair speed, although the 
 boat was decidedly crude and cumbersome. 
 
 The mountainous region beyond the lake was wild 
 and picturesque, but, fortunately, the boys found a 
 cut that led down to the very shore of the lake. 
 
 They reached a spot where they could run up close 
 to the shore, which enabled them to take their bi- 
 cycles off without trouble. 
 
 The boat was made fast, the sails having been reefed 
 once more, and then the lads deliberately mounted their 
 wheels and attempted to ride into the cut. 
 
 This was not so difficult as might be thought, for 
 they found what seemed to be an antelope "run" that 
 led from the shore, and they pedaled along that path. 
 
 "It was somewhere in this region that we found the 
 retreat of the gang of money makers when I was here 
 before," said Frank. 
 
 "What's that? A gang that made money?" 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 "I suppose they had some kind of an old hut here- 
 abouts in which they did the work?" 
 
 "They had a cave a most wonderful cave it was 
 said to be. That cave had never been fully explored, 
 and By Jove!"
 
 The Hermit's Power. 273 
 
 Frank interrupted himself with the exclamation, a 
 strange look having come to his face. 
 
 "What is it?" asked Harry. 
 
 "I have an idea." 
 
 "Put us on." 
 
 "That cave, my boy that cave!" 
 
 "What about it?" 
 
 "It is said that Carter Morris, the queer old miner, 
 lives in some sort of an underground place." 
 
 "That's right!" cried Rattleton, catching Frank's 
 meaning, and growing excited. 
 
 "He has some sort of mysterious mine." 
 
 "Sure, old man!" 
 
 "And he wrote Bernard Belmont that Mildred Mor- 
 ris was buried from the sight of the world." 
 
 "Now, you believe " 
 
 "I do I believe it possible that man may be oc- 
 cupying the very cave once occupied by the counter- 
 feiters." 
 
 Rattleton was following Frank along the path, and 
 he nearly ran Merriwell down in his excitement. 
 
 "You know the way to that cave?" he shouted. 
 "You can find it?" 
 
 "I might be able to do so, although I am not sure
 
 274 The Hermit's Power. 
 
 of it. I can try. Even if we find the cave, we may 
 not find the man and girl there." 
 
 "It is a chance, anyway. It's the best we can do." 
 
 After they had proceeded into the mountains some 
 distance, Frank began to look for a slope they could 
 scale, so they might get out of the pass. 
 
 It was finally found, and, with their wheels on their 
 backs, they labored to the top. Getting down on the 
 other side was even more difficult, but they succeeded. 
 
 Then Frank led Harry a wild chase, till Rattleton 
 was pretty well played out. His head had ceased to 
 bleed, and he had removed the handkerchief, but he 
 could feel that the blow had taken not a little of the 
 stamina out of him. 
 
 "How long are you going to keep this up, Merry ?" 
 he asked. 
 
 "We must be somewhere near that cave," declared 
 Frank. "It is getting toward night. I hoped to be 
 fortunate and find it before dark." 
 
 "If we don't " 
 
 "There's another day coming. We have hard bread 
 and smoked beef in the carriers, and we can find water 
 here. We're not nearly as bad off as we were oxj the 
 Utah desert."
 
 The Hermit's Power. 275 
 
 "That's right. That was a bad fix, but we pulled 
 out of it all right. If our clothes were somewhat drier 
 I could regard the approach of night with greater 
 complaisance." 
 
 "Our clothes are nearly dry, and they will be much 
 more so in two hours." 
 
 They continued the restless search, Frank seeming 
 utterly tireless. Rattleton admired him for his resist- 
 less energy and unwavering determination and confi- 
 dence. 
 
 Fortune must have smiled on them, for, as they were 
 making their way along a narrow cut, they turned a 
 short corner and beheld the dark mouth of a cave just 
 ahead of them. 
 
 Both lads stopped and stood beside their wheels, ut- 
 tering exclamations of satisfaction. 
 
 "Is that it, Frank?" asked Harry. 
 
 "It may be one of the entrances to the old cave of 
 the counterfeiters," answered Merry. "That cave has 
 several mouths. This is not the one I saw, but " 
 
 "It is a cave, and it may be the one we are search- 
 ing for. Come on !" 
 
 "What are you going to do?" 
 
 "Go in."
 
 276 The Hermit's Power. 
 
 "We can't go in without torches." 
 
 "That's right dead right ! Was so excited I didn't 
 think of that. But hooray! we have found it!" 
 
 "Don't be so sure yet. We'll go up and look in." 
 
 They approached the mouth of the cave. 
 
 Suddenly, as they came near, there was a roar from 
 within, and out of the cave rushed a man whose long 
 hair and beard were white, and whose clothes were 
 rude and worn. 
 
 The boys halted in amazement, staring at this man, 
 who also stopped. 
 
 Frank spoke to Harry : 
 
 "It must be Carter Morris!" 
 
 "It is!" cried the old man, whose ears had caught 
 the words. "How do you know me ? What right have 
 you to know my name? I am buried buried from 
 the world!" 
 
 "Crazy as a bedbug!" whispered Rattleton. 
 
 "Oh, crazy, am I !" sneered the man, much to Har- 
 ry's astonishment, for it had not seemed possible he 
 could hear that whisper. "That's what they think 
 the fools!" 
 
 Rattleton clutched Frank's wrist. 
 
 "Look," he panted ; "she is coming ! There she is !"
 
 The Hermit's Power. 277 
 
 Out of the darkness within the mouth of the cave 
 advanced the strange girl they had seen in the canoe. 
 She was hatless, and she looked marvelously pretty 
 with her golden hair hanging about her ears and 
 reaching down upon her shoulders. 
 
 "Well, she is a fairy!" admitted Merriwell. "If 
 you win that, you'll be a lucky lad, Rattles." 
 
 "Ha! ha! ha!" harshly laughed the man, without a 
 trace of mirth in face or voice. "That is all they think 
 of, the fools ! That is what brings them here ! They 
 know you are rich, my dear they know it ! And they 
 seek to win you! But you are dead to the world 
 dead and buried!" 
 
 "Mr. Morris," said Frank, speaking quietly, "we 
 have a message for the young lady." 
 
 "Bah!" cried the man. 
 
 "It is from her brother," said Frank. 
 
 "Bah!" repeated the hermit 
 
 But the girl started forward, crying : 
 
 "My brother what do you know of him?" 
 
 The man put out his hand and held her back. 
 
 "It is a trick," he declared "a shallow trick ! They 
 think to fool you that way. Don't listen to them, 
 child! Let me talk to them."
 
 278 The Hermit's Power. 
 
 Then he turned on the boys, his face dark with 
 anger. 
 
 "Go away from here!" he cried. "Every moment 
 you remain here your lives are in danger ! If you care 
 to live, go away at once!" 
 
 The girl looked frightened. 
 
 "We can't go away till we have delivered our mes- 
 sage," said Frank, calmly, as he started forward. 
 
 "Back!" cried the strange old man, flinging out his 
 hand with a warning gesture. "It means death if you 
 advance another step!" 
 
 The girl looked more frightened than ever, and the 
 boys halted again. 
 
 "The old pirate!" whispered Harry. "We must 
 save her from him somehow, Frank! I know he is 
 detaining her against her will." 
 
 Again that harsh, mirthless laugh. 
 
 "You know a great deal," sneered the man; "but 
 you do not know enough to go away and save your 
 lives! You do not know my power, but you shall feel 
 it!" 
 
 The girl cried out and started to lift a hand. Then
 
 The Hermit's Power. 279 
 
 the man stepped to the right and touched the wall of 
 stone. 
 
 To Frank and Harry it seemed that the mountains 
 fell on them and beat them down with a great blow 
 that stretched them helpless and senseless on th* 
 
 ground!
 
 CHAPTER XXIV. 
 
 RECOVERY. 
 
 With a feeling of numbness and pain in every limb 
 and every part of his body, Frank Merriwell stirred 
 and tried to sit up. His strength seemed to be gone, 
 and he wondered at his weakness. 
 
 "What what does it mean ?" he asked himself, puz- 
 zled. 
 
 There was a cloud on his brain, and, for the time, 
 he did not remember what had happened. He realized 
 he was lying on the ground, and he wondered if he 
 had been there long. 
 
 After a time he turned his head a bit, and close be- 
 side him he saw Harry Rattleton, stretched on his 
 back, his arms outspread, his face ghastly pale. 
 
 A chill of horror seized upon MerriweH's heart. 
 
 Why didn't Harry move? Why were his eyes 
 closed? Why was his face so white? 
 
 There was something horrible and awe-inspiring 
 about those rigid limbs and that ghastly face. 
 
 "He is dead!"
 
 Recovery. 281 
 
 He succeeded in speaking the words aloud, although 
 his voice was weak and faint. The sound startled him, 
 and, with a mighty effort, he lifted himself to one 
 elbow. 
 
 "Harry!" he panted, thickly "Harry, wake up!" 
 
 Still no stir. 
 
 "Harry, Harry, are you asleep?" 
 
 Rattleton remained motionless. 
 
 Holding himself thus, Frank watched, but he could 
 not see that the bosom of his friend rose and fell at 
 all he could not see that Harry breathed. 
 
 Surely that pallid face was not the face of a living 
 person! It had the stamp of death upon it! 
 
 "Merciful goodness!" whispered Frank, as he 
 dragged himself nearer. "I know I am sure some 
 frightful thing has happened to us ! But I do not seem 
 to remember." 
 
 He paused and stared about Sunset light was on 
 the snow-capped peaks of the Sierras, and away up 
 there they were dazzling to the eye; but there were 
 deep shadows below black shadows in the heart of 
 Frank Merriwell. 
 
 "The mountains!" he faintly murmured "they are 
 all around us! This is not the desert no, no! We
 
 382 Recovery. 
 
 were not overcome by hunger and thirst Something 
 something else struck us down!" 
 
 He lifted one hand to his head, which was so numb 
 and felt so lifeless. What was the trouble? 
 
 Concentrating all his faculties, he forced himself to 
 think. Then he seemed to remember. 
 
 "The girl !" he faintly exclaimed "we were search- 
 ing for her! We were trying to find the cave, and 
 we found it!" 
 
 He remembered at last. He remembered the ap- 
 pearance of the old man of the white hair and beard; 
 he remembered that the girl had come forth from the 
 mouth of the cave; he remembered the warning of the 
 strange man and the frightful shock that had followed. 
 
 "Jingoes!" he said. "I believe we were struck by 
 lightning ! I'm not completely knocked out, but Harry 
 seems to be." 
 
 Then he reached Rattleton and touched his face, felt 
 for his pulse, sought to discover if his heart beat. 
 
 Close to the breast of his friend Frank placed his 
 ear, and what he heard caused him to utter a cry of 
 satisfaction. 
 
 "Not dead !" he exclaimed. "He still lives ! There 
 is a chance for him."
 
 Recovery. 283 
 
 The thought that Harry's life might depend on his 
 efforts aroused him still more. He loosened Harry's 
 sweater and the collar about his throat, he chafed his 
 wrists and temples, he fanned him, called to him, 
 sought in many ways to arouse him. 
 
 At last he saw signs of success. Rattleton's breast 
 rose and fell, and he gave a great sigh. 
 
 "That's right, old man!" cried Frank, with satis- 
 faction. <; Just open your peepers and let us know you 
 are recovering." 
 
 Harry opened his eyes. 
 
 "Where what why " 
 
 He seemed unable to ask the questions that sought 
 for utterance. 
 
 "I was thinking the same things a few moments 
 ago," said Frank. "We were knocked out in the first 
 round with the old hermit." 
 
 "Hermit what hermit?" 
 
 "That's it," nodded Merry. "You're as bad off as 
 I was. Why, Carter Morris, the uncle of the girl 
 with the golden hair, who has hit you so hard." 
 
 A light of understanding came to Harry's face, and 
 he revived with wonderful swiftness. 
 
 "I remember it all now!" he faintly exclaimed.
 
 284 Recovery. 
 
 "But I do not know what happened to us. It seemed 
 to me that something struck me." 
 
 "Something did." 
 
 "What was it?" 
 
 "I don't know, but something knocked us both out 
 You remember that the old man warned us not to ad- 
 vance another step said it would mean instant death 
 if we did." 
 
 "Yes; but I thought the old duffer was bluffing." 
 
 "So did I. I have since decided that he wasn't." 
 
 "You think he gave us the knockout?" 
 
 "I do." 
 
 "How could he?" 
 
 "Some way. He has some mysterious power, with 
 the aid of which he guards the mouth of that cave." 
 
 "And that power must be " 
 
 "Electricity!" 
 
 "It's a dead-sure thing!" cried Harry. "We were 
 given an electric shock. When the man touched the 
 wall with his hand, he turned on the current." 
 
 "I believe it." 
 
 "But how did the shock reach us?" 
 
 "Don't know. I saw no wires." 
 
 "Nor I."
 
 Recovery. 285 
 
 "There must have been wires." 
 
 "I presume so." 
 
 "Well, where are we now ?" 
 
 They looked around, but there was nothing about 
 their surroundings that they remembered having seen 
 before. 
 
 "We are not in front of the cave/' said Frank. 
 
 "No, we are not where we fell, that is sure." 
 
 "We must have been removed to this spot." 
 
 "Sure." 
 
 "The bicycles where are they?" 
 
 With no small difficulty they got upon their feet, 
 and then they saw their wheels leaning against the 
 face of a black rock near by. 
 
 At first their legs seemed scarcely able to support 
 their weight, but they grew stronger as the moments 
 passed, and they approached the wheels. 
 
 Then it was they saw something drawn with white 
 chalk on the smooth surface of the black rock. 
 
 It was the representation of a human hand, with 
 the index finger pointng in a certain direction. 
 
 Beneath the hand were these words : 
 
 "THIS WAY GO!"
 
 286 Recovery. 
 
 "It is a warning!" cried Frank. 
 
 "You boot your bets I mean bet your boots! It 
 tells us to git." 
 
 "Well?" 
 
 With that word Frank turned on Harry sharply. 
 
 "You may go if you want to," said Rattleton ; "but 
 I never knew you to run away. You are not easily 
 scared." 
 
 "How about you?" 
 
 "I am here to find that girl, and I am going to stay 
 till I find her or croak! That's how about me!" 
 
 "Good stuff!" cried Merry, approvingly, as he 
 grasped the hand of his comrade. "We'll both stay 
 till we find her." 
 
 In a short time the boys began to feel like them- 
 selves once more. Taking their wheels along, they 
 sought for a spring, and were able to find one. 
 
 There they stopped and made a meal from the hard 
 bread and jerked beef, which was washed dow with 
 clear water from the spring. 
 
 "Now I am all right," Harry declared. "A feed 
 was what I needed."
 
 Recovery. 287 
 
 They discussed matters a few minutes, and then, 
 carefully observing the surroundings, decided to con- 
 ceal the bicycles in the vicinity of the spring and seek 
 for the mouth of the cave once more. 
 
 They found a good hiding place for the wheels, and 
 there the machines were stowed away. 
 
 "We can't be so awfully far from that cave," Frank 
 decided. "One man and a girl would not be able to 
 bring us a long distance." 
 
 But the cave was not easy to find, and the more 
 they searched the more bewildered they became. 
 
 Meanwhile night was coming on swiftly. 
 
 "Hist!" warned Harry, suddenly grasping Frank's 
 wrist and drawing him down behind some bowlders. 
 "Look there!" 
 
 "What is it?" 
 
 "Moving figures! I saw them distinctly over 
 there." 
 
 "The man and the girl?" 
 
 "Couldn't tell. There they are again. Look!" 
 
 "I see! It is not the man and the girl It is two 
 men."
 
 288 Recovery. 
 
 "That is right or, at least, a man and something 
 
 that resembles a man." 
 
 "It is Bernard Belmont and his gorilla man!" 
 "You are right, Merry, my boy; and they, too, are 
 
 searching for the mouth of the cave. It will be a good 
 
 scheme to watch them."
 
 CHAPTER XXV. 
 
 LOST UNDERGROUND. 
 
 Tfie boys followed Belmont and Apollo, being aided 
 in doing so without danger of discovery by the gather- 
 ing darkness; but they knew very well that, in a short 
 time it would become so dark that they might lose track 
 of the two. 
 
 Apollo seemed to be guiding his master to some spot, 
 and they clambered over the rocks with haste that in- 
 dicated a desire to reach the place without delay. 
 
 At last the dwarf paused and swept aside some 
 matted vines from the face of what seemed to be a 
 cliff of solid stone. 
 
 A black opening, large enough to admit a man in a 
 stooping posture, was revealed. 
 
 Apollo urged Belmont to follow, and then they dis- 
 appeared beyond the vines, which fell down and hid 
 the opening again. 
 
 "It's a cave, Merry!" whispered Rattleton. 
 
 "Yes," nodded Frank; "it may be one of the many 
 entrances to the great cavern of the 'queer' makers.
 
 290 Lost Underground. 
 
 This may lead into the cave occupied by Carter Mor- 
 ris!" 
 
 "Then let's get in there quick!" exclaimed Harry, 
 eagerly. "If we don't, we may lose track of those 
 men." 
 
 "We must use something like caution, my boy. If 
 we were to rush in after them, it might do us up, for 
 they may be laying for us." 
 
 So the mouth of the cave was approached with 
 caution. 
 
 When they had reached it, Frank listened. 
 
 From a distance inside he could hear voices, and, 
 peering through the vines, he caught the glimmer of 
 a light 
 
 "Come in quickly after me, Harry," he directed. 
 "Be ready to fight for your life if attacked." 
 
 Rattleton's heart was in his throat, and he felt that 
 they were plunging into unknown and terrible danger, 
 but he said : 
 
 "Go ahead. I am with you to the end." 
 
 Gently and swiftly Frank made the opening in the 
 vines larger, and then he quickly stepped through, 
 holding them aside for his friend to follow-
 
 Lost Underground. 291 
 
 The vines fell back into place, and the lad crouched 
 close to the ground. 
 
 "There," said Frank, "see that light? It is not a 
 torch." 
 
 "No. It seems to be some sort of lamp." 
 
 "It is a miner's lamp. Look another is 'being 
 lighted." 
 
 A match flared up, and its bright glow revealed the 
 pale and terrible face of the gorilla man, who was 
 lighting the lamp. 
 
 The lamps were arranged to be placed in the hats 
 of those who carried them, and this was what the two 
 men did with them. 
 
 When everything was arranged to their satisfaction, 
 Belmont and the dwarf started onward into the cave. 
 
 "We'll follow them, Harry," said Frank. 
 
 The light from the lamps made it a comparatively 
 easy task for the boys to accomplish their purpose. 
 
 Deeper and deeper into the great cave went the two 
 men. Once or twice they stopped and listened. Once 
 the boys distinctly heard Apollo say: 
 
 "Master, I think I heard a step." 
 
 "Nonsense!" returned the man, sharply. "You 
 heard nothing."
 
 292 Lost Underground. 
 
 "I am sure I heard something," the dwarf insisted. 
 
 'Then it was a rat, or, if there are no rats here, it 
 was a piece of falling stone." 
 
 "It may have been," acknowledged Apollo. 
 
 Onward they went. 
 
 Frank and Harry had stopped and were listening. 
 Harry's hands grasped Merriwell's arm, and he was 
 filled with excitement. He drew a breath of relief 
 when the men moved on. 
 
 "Jy bove no, by Jove!" he gasped. "I thought 
 the trick was up then !" 
 
 "Still !" cautioned Frank. "We must not alarm that 
 dwarf too much. He has wonderfully keen ears.'* 
 
 The passage, in places, broadened into great cham- 
 bers, while in other places it narrowed till they were 
 forced to make their way along one at a time. 
 
 "If we lose sight of those lights we may have some 
 trouble getting out," whispered Harry. 
 
 "That's so," confessed Merriwell. "I have seen 
 other passages besides the one taken by them." 
 
 The thought of being lost underground in that great 
 cave was enough to turn them cold with fear. 
 
 And then, without the least warning, the lights in 
 advance suddenly vanished.
 
 Lost Underground. 293 
 
 "Down!" whispered Merriwell. "I believe they 
 have discovered we are after them. Close to the 
 ground and listen !" 
 
 Down they crouched, their hearts beating riotously 
 in their bosoms. 
 
 Not a sound seemed to break the deathlike stillness 
 of the cave, 
 
 "What's happened?" whispered Harry. "Where 
 have they gone?" 
 
 "Give it up," answered Frank. "T-hey have dis- 
 appeared, 'but that is as much as I know." 
 
 "Perhaps they are laying for us." 
 
 But, although they waited a long time, not a sound 
 could they hear save those sounds . made by them- 
 selves. 
 
 "I am going ahead," declared Merriwell. 
 
 "We may run into them." 
 
 "Got to chance it, old man. That might be better 
 than to have them run away from us. Come on." 
 
 "I'm with you." 
 
 Keeping close together, they crept forward slowly, 
 not knowing but they might be attacked at any mo- 
 ment. 
 
 Of a sudden, Frank gave a gasp and cry. Harry
 
 294 Lost Underground. 
 
 tried to grasp his companion, and then he found him- 
 selg slipping, sliding, falling. 
 
 Down they went, getting hold of each other, but 
 being unable to stop their descent. It was impossible 
 to see anything there in that frightful darkness, and 
 that made their peril seem awful indeed. 
 
 Fortunately their fall was not always direct There 
 were times when they seemed to be sliding down a 
 steep slope, while dust filled their eyes and mouths, 
 and they were bruised and scratched and robbed of 
 breath. 
 
 Finally, when it had seemed they would never cease 
 falling, they stopped with a great thump and lay pant- 
 ing side by side. 
 
 "Great humping misery !" gasped Rattleton, weakly. 
 "Are we diving or are we lead I mean are we living 
 or are we dead?" 
 
 "We seem to be living," said Frank, "but we might 
 be better off if we were dead. I think we are in a bad 
 scrape." 
 
 "What happened to us, anyway?" 
 
 "We fell." 
 
 "Or were we pushed?"
 
 Lost Underground. 295 
 
 "There was no pushing about it. We took the 
 tumble ourselves." 
 
 "You don't suppose the chaps we were following 
 fell down here ahead of us ?" 
 
 "No." 
 
 "Then what could have become of them?" 
 
 "They must have turned off into a side passage we 
 did not see. That is the only way I can explain it." 
 
 "Well, we may not be able to get out of this." 
 
 "We'll have to get out." 
 
 "What if we can't?" 
 
 "We mustn't think of that." 
 
 "All right; but I can't help it." 
 
 They sat up and felt of themselves, finding no tones 
 were broken, although they had been bruised some- 
 what. 
 
 Harry was about to get on his feet, but Frank would 
 not allow that till he had lighted a match, as there was 
 danger of taking another mad tumble. 
 
 Frank always carried matches in a watertight case, 
 and he produced and struck one. By the aid of the 
 tiny blaze they first satisfied themselves that they were 
 not on tfie brink of another descent, and there was no
 
 296 Lost Underground. 
 
 immediate danger of falling again. Then they tried to 
 lock around. 
 
 "Murder !" gasped Harry. "We are in it bad !" 
 
 Frank felt that Rattleton was right; without doubt 
 they were in a very bad scrape. But it was Merry's 
 policy to keep up his courage and put on a front, so he 
 joked and laughed as if it were a matter to be made 
 light of. 
 
 "I don't know how you do it, old man," said Harry, 
 gloomily; "but I can't laugh while we are in this sort 
 of a hole." 
 
 "We've both been in bad scrapes before. Keep a 
 stiff upper lip. We'll pull out all right. First, we 
 must see if we can scale this place where we fell." 
 
 Another match was lighted, and they made an ex- 
 amination. It was not long before they were con- 
 vinced that it was utterly useless to think of trying to 
 get out that way. 
 
 "Can't be done!" groaned Harry. 
 
 "Not that way," admitted Frank. "But we'll find 
 a way." 
 
 "We came here to find the buried heiress, and now 
 we are buried ourselves. That's what I call hard 
 lines."
 
 Lost Underground. 297 
 
 With the aid of their matches, they made their way 
 along slowly, both fearing they might take another fall, 
 and that it might be fatal. 
 
 "Perhaps it would be the best thing that could hap- 
 pen to us," said Rattleton, dolefully. "It would be a 
 great deal better than starving down here under- 
 ground." 
 
 Frank said nothing. He saw their matches were 
 running out, and the thought of being left there in the 
 darkness of that great cavern, with no means of pro- 
 curing a light of any sort, was overcoming him and 
 making it impossible for him to assume an air of care- 
 lessness and merry spirits. 
 
 Finally, when there were but a few matches left, 
 Frank said: 
 
 "We'll have to feel our way along and take chances, 
 Harry. I am not going to use up all these matches, 
 for there is no telling how valuable they may be later 
 on." 
 
 So, clinging to each other, they crept along inch by 
 inch, lost in the Stygian darkness of the great cavern 
 of the Sierras.
 
 CHAPTER XXVI. 
 
 BROTHER AND SISTER. 
 
 "There's a light ahead, Harry!" 
 
 Frank uttered the words in an excited whisper, after 
 they had been groping their way through the darkness 
 of the great cavern for what seemed to be many hours. 
 
 Rattleton was greatly agitated. 
 
 "It is a light, sure!" he panted. "Frank, we're all 
 right at last!" 
 
 For some time they had heard a strange puffing 
 sound that seemed smothered and far away, like the 
 panting breathing of some subterranean monster. This 
 was accompanied by a singular buzzing roar that 
 sounded very uncanny. 
 
 "What is it?" asked Rattleton, in awe "what can 
 it be?" 
 
 "Give it up," confessed Frank. "Let's find out 
 Come on." 
 
 They moved toward the light, and soon they found 
 themselves looking down into a round chamber of the 
 great cavern from a height of many feet.
 
 Brother and Sister. 299 
 
 What they saw filled them with inexpressible aston- 
 ishment. 
 
 The place was lighted with electric lamps, and down 
 there in the chamber was a steam engine and a small 
 electric dynamo. 
 
 The engine was running steadily, and the dynamo 
 hummed with a sound about which there now was 
 nothing uncanny. 
 
 Near the engine, watching it with interest, was the 
 girl of the golden hair. 
 
 Harry clutched Frank's arm. 
 
 "There she is!" he panted. "We have found her 
 at last!" 
 
 They stood in silence for several moments, watching 
 the girl, who looked very pretty beneath the light of 
 the electric lamps. 
 
 Suddenly a cry came from Harry, and he clutched 
 Merriwell's arm with quivering fingers, pointing with 
 his other hand. 
 
 "Look! look!" he exclaimed. "The dwarf there 
 he is!" 
 
 Sure enough, the crouching figure of Apollo was 
 seen emerging from the darkness of a black opening 
 and advancing toward the girl with swift, catlike steps.
 
 300 Brother and Sister. 
 
 The girl had heard Harry's exclamation, and, 
 startled, she looked up toward where the boys were 
 standing. 
 
 Then the dwarf rushed upon her and clutched her 
 with his iron hands. 
 
 A scream of terror came from the lips of the fright- 
 ened girl, and rang in weird echoes through the cave. 
 
 The hand of Apollo was pressed over her mouth. 
 
 But that scream had been heard, and there was an 
 answering shout from not very far away. 
 
 The girl struggled, but the dwarf dragged her along 
 toward the dark opening. 
 
 "How can we get down there, Frank? We must 
 take a hand! How can we do it? It is too far to 
 jump!" 
 
 Rattleton was frantic. 
 
 Frank was looking for some way of getting down 
 into the chamber. 
 
 Before either of them could discover a means of 
 joing to the assistance of the girl, Carter Morris, the 
 strange old hermit, rushed into the cavern. 
 
 Morris sprang to the aid of the girl, but it seemed 
 Bernard Belmont had been waiting for such a thing
 
 Brother and Sister. 301 
 
 to happen, for he leaped out of the darkness and grap- 
 pled with the hermit. 
 
 Then a savage battle took place before the eyes of 
 the boys. 
 
 "Furies!" roared the man of the cave, writhing to 
 break the grasp of his assailant. "Who are you?" 
 
 The girl got her mouth free from Apollo's hand 
 and screamed: 
 
 "It is my stepfather it is Bernard Belmont!" 
 
 It seemed that those words filled the hermit with a 
 mad frenzy. He struggled furiously, and Belmont 
 was forced to exert all his strength to prevent himself 
 from being overcome, although he was the assailant. 
 
 "We must go to the rescue, Frank we must !" pal- 
 pitated Rattleton. 
 
 The boys were determined to find a way of getting 
 down into the round chamber, and Frank fancied he 
 saw a manner of descending. It would be necessary 
 to drop at least fifteen feet, but he started to make the 
 attempt and Harry followed. 
 
 The battle between Belmont and Carter Morris con- 
 tinued with great fury, and Morris seemed to become 
 perfectly mad with rage when he was unable to over- 
 come his assailant
 
 $02 Brother and Sister. 
 
 Bit by bit the hermit dragged the man toward the 
 buzzing dynamo, his eyes glowing with an awful pur- 
 pose. 
 
 Suddenly he tried to hurl Belmont upon the dynamo. 
 
 Belmont realized the intention of the man, and a 
 scream of fear escaped him. 
 
 A moment later both men went down upon the ma- 
 chine ! 
 
 A second they seemed to cling there, and then they 
 were flung off, falling upon the rocky floor of the cav- 
 ern and lying still, holding fast to each other in death ! 
 
 The girl screamed, and the dwarf seemed overcome 
 with sudden fear. He stared at the contorted face of 
 his dead master, seeming unable to realize what had 
 happened in the twinkling of an eye. 
 
 Down from the heights above dropped two boys. 
 
 "Give it to him, Frank!" screamed Harry. 
 
 They rushed at the dwarf, but, for once in his life, 
 at least, Apollo was mastered by terror, for, with a 
 shout of dismay, he released the girl and fled, disap- 
 pearing in a hopping, bounding manner into the dark- 
 ness. 
 
 Rattleton caught the half-fainting girl in his arms, 
 crying :
 
 Brother and Sister. 303 
 
 "Hurrah, Merry, we have found her, and we've 
 saved her!" 
 
 But she had fainted. 
 
 When another morning dawned the two boys and 
 the girl left the great cave and started for Carson City. 
 
 Already had Mildred explained to them how it hap- 
 pened that the steam engine and the dynamo were 
 found in the cavern. The coiners who had occupied 
 that retreat years before had discovered a valuable 
 vein of ore, and they had devised a scheme of mining 
 with the aid of electricity. The engine was brought 
 there to run the dynamo. As a certain portion of the 
 cave yielded coal in liberal quantities, it was not diffi- 
 cult to find fuel for the engine. 
 
 Carter Morris, being somewhat of an electrician, 
 had put the abandoned machinery in running order 
 when he took possession of the cave. 
 
 It had been his intention to protect himself from in- 
 truders by the aid of electric currents, and he had given 
 Frank and Harry a frightful shock at the mouth of the 
 cavern by means of hidden wires. 
 
 The electric current had caused his death when he 
 fell upon the dynamo in struggling with Bernard Bel- 
 mont.
 
 304 Brother and Sister. 
 
 The graves of both men were made in the cave, and 
 Little Milly shed tears over the body of her mad uncle, 
 who had sought to befriend her by "burying" her. 
 
 The hidden bicycles were found, and the sailboat was 
 discovered where the boys had left it. 
 
 After setting sail to cross the lake, Frank touched 
 Harry's arm and pointed to an object that was floating 
 in the water, at the same time pressing a finger to his 
 lips and shaking his head, with a look toward Milly. 
 
 Harry looked and started, for he saw the ghastly, 
 upturned face of Apollo, the dwarf, the scar on his 
 cheek having turned a purplish blue. 
 
 The girl did not see this object, and the boys be- 
 lieved it far better to leave the dwarf than to horrify 
 her by letting her see the body. 
 
 Carson was reached without further adventure, and 
 there a joyous surprise awaited Mildred Morris. 
 
 Jack Diamond met the little party outside the hotel. 
 
 "Where are Toots and Bruce?" asked Frank, in a 
 low voice. 
 
 "Standing guard, as you directed," said Jack. "We 
 have taken turns since you went away, and he has not 
 been left alone a moment." 
 
 "How is he?"
 
 Brother and Sister. 305 
 
 "Better much better. The doctor says he thinks 
 he'll come around all right." 
 
 Then Frank and Harry accompanied Milly to a 
 certain room of the hotel. Browning and the colored 
 boy were called out of the room, and Merriwell said to 
 the girl : 
 
 "Go in, Miss Morris. There's some one in there 
 who will be glad to see you." 
 
 He held the door open, and urged her gently into 
 the room. 
 
 A moment later there was a cry of joy two cries 
 a rush. Then, peering in at the door for a moment, 
 the delighted lads saw Milly spring toward the bed 
 and clasp her living brother in her arms. 
 
 Frank closed the door. 
 
 Immediately Toots danced a wild cancan of delight. 
 
 "Golly sakes teh goodness!" he chuckled. "Dat 
 gal sho' am a peach. I'd jes' lek teh take dat sick 
 boy's place 'bout five minutes. Yah! yah! yah! Oh, 
 mommer !" 
 
 The boy whom Mildred had rushed to meet was her 
 brother, George, who was not dead, but had fainted 
 at sight of his cruel stepfather and the dwarf. Bel- 
 mont had thought the boy dead, and had left Carson
 
 306 Brother and Sister. 
 
 without delay, much to the satisfaction of Frank Mer- 
 riwell. 
 
 And now the doctor who was attending George said 
 the boy had a fair show to recover. 
 
 "Say," observed Diamond, suddenly, "the buried 
 heiress is out of sight ! I think I will " 
 
 "If you try it," spluttered Rattleton, menacingly, 
 "I'll hake your bread I mean I'll break your head ! I 
 saw her first, and I have first claim there!" 
 
 "Break away, there, you chumps," laughed Frank. 
 "We have business first, you know. We must speed 
 on toward California and bring this wonderful trip of 
 ours to a successful finish. Onward is the cry." 
 
 That afternoon they bade farewell to George and 
 Mildred, and rode away, sorry indeed at the parting.
 
 CHAPTER XXVII. 
 
 OLD FRIENDS. 
 
 "We are a set of jolly, jolly lads, 
 
 As we ride as we ride away! 
 You bet we're up to date, but are no cads, 
 
 As we ride as we ride away ! 
 
 We've crossed the plains and scaled the Rockies high, 
 And now hurrah ! for 'Frisco's town is nigh ; 
 We sing as toward that port we swiftly fly, 
 
 As we ride as we ride away!" 
 
 Through a California forest of monster trees our 
 five boys were riding, and they sang as they rode, their 
 voices blending beautifully and making the old woods 
 echo with sweet music. 
 
 To them it seemed that all the perils of the trip were 
 past and San Francisco was in view, although in truth, 
 it was more than two hundred miles away by the route 
 they would be compelled to follow. 
 
 It was a perfect day, with the sun shining from a 
 cloudless sky, as it always seems to shine in California. 
 It was warm, but not too hot for comfort, and the 
 road through the forest was fairly good, winding to 
 the right and then to the left beneath the shadows ol 
 the great trees.
 
 308 Old Friends. 
 
 "If this road wasn't so crooked, we wouldn't have 
 to travel so far," groaned Browning, his manner being 
 so dismal that the others broke into a shout of laughter. 
 
 "You shouldn't kick about this road," smiled Frank. 
 "I've seen a road much more crooked than this." 
 
 "It must have been pretty crooked." 
 
 "It was so crooked that when you started to ride on it 
 you'd meet yourself coming back." 
 
 "Yow!" whooped Rattleton. "That's the worst I 
 ever heard! A man should be put behind bars for 
 perpetrating anything like that." 
 
 "I don't think I'd like to be put behind bars," con- 
 fessed Merry. 
 
 "Huah!" grunted Bruce. "There are others. 
 Why, I know fellows who want to be in front of bars 
 all the time." 
 
 "You mean they drink incessantly?" 
 
 "No, I mean they drink whiskey." 
 
 "Yah! yah! yah!" shouted Toots, his shrill laugh 
 awaking the echoes. "Nebber heard Mistah Brownin' 
 say nufnn' funny as dat befo' ! Dat teks de cake !" 
 
 "I wouldn't mind taking a small cake," said the big 
 fellow. "This California air makes me hungry." 
 
 "Land ob wartermillions ! yo's alwus hungry, Mistah
 
 Old Friends. 309 
 
 Brownin', sar. Yo's been eatin' all de way 'crost dc 
 country." 
 
 "That's right," was Browning's confession. "And 
 there was one strip of country where they didn't seem 
 to have anything to eat but corn beef and cabbage. I 
 actually ate so much corn beef and cabbage that I was 
 ashamed to look a cow in the face." 
 
 "Well, we'll soon be in San Francisco, the greatest 
 city in all this Western land," put in Frank. "There 
 we can get almost any kind of feed we like. Why, I 
 know a restaurant where we'll be able to get 'genuine 
 Boston baked beans.' ' 
 
 "You know a place?" questioned Diamond. "You 
 know? Look here, Frank Merriwell, what is there 
 you don't know about? Have you been everywhere 
 and seen everything?" 
 
 "Not by a long distance, but I have been in San 
 Francisco." 
 
 "Well, it seems to me that we never mention a place 
 that you don't know all about. You were perfectly 
 familiar with Carson City." 
 
 "Yes, I had been there before, and it is a place I 
 shall not soon forget, for it was there I last saw my old 
 chum of Fardale, Bart Hodge."
 
 3io Old Friends. 
 
 "You have spoken of him often of late." 
 "Yes; I have been thinking of him very much. It 
 is natural, as I am near where I saw him last. Dear 
 old fellow ! How we fought in the old days when we 
 first met! And, after that, what firm friends we be- 
 came! Hodge had his failings, but he was white at 
 heart. He would lay down his life for a friend. His 
 parents were wealthy, and they had indulged him in 
 everything he desired, till he was completely spoiled 
 and they could do nothing with him. Fardale was 
 noted as a place where just such fellows were taken 
 and broken into the traces, and so his father sent him 
 there. Hodge didn't do a thing at first oh, no! not 
 a thing! He raised merry thunder, and he hated me 
 with a virulent hatred. He tried to injure me in every 
 way he could devise, but when I pulled him out of 
 several bad scrapes, incidentally saving his life, he 
 began to see that he was in the wrong. He had a 
 fierce battle to overcome his natural inclination to do 
 dirty things, but overcome it he did, and he became 
 fairly popular in time, although no one knew him and 
 understood him like myself. Between us there was a 
 perfect understanding, and I could control him when 
 he would not listen to reason from any other person.'*
 
 Old Friends. 311 
 
 "I believe you were stuck on Hodge!" said Dia- 
 mond, somewhat piqued. 
 
 "No more than I am on any of my true friends," 
 answered Frank. 
 
 "It seems you put yourself to lots of trouble with 
 him." 
 
 "I did ; but I fancied there was the making of a fine 
 man in him, and I felt that it was a shame to see a 
 chap go to the dogs. Several times he came near 
 being fired from Fardale, for they could do nothing 
 with him. If he had been fired, his father would have 
 forced him to hustle for himself. With a boy of 
 Hodge's nature that must have meant ruin, as he would 
 have fallen in with fast companions, would have re- 
 quired money, and would have obtained it by some 
 means or other. If his companions had been crooked, 
 Hodge, although his nature would have rebelled against 
 anything dishonest, would have become crooked also. 
 He told me that, and he said I was his good angel." 
 
 "Hang it, Merry!" spluttered Rattleton; "you've 
 been a good angel for lots of us. It seems that every 
 fellow who sticks by you gets on better than he ever 
 did before."
 
 312 Old Friends. 
 
 "I'm a mascot," laughed Frank. "Follow me and 
 you'll wear diamonds or something else." 
 
 "There's no doubt about it," grunted Browning. 
 "We'll be arrested if we don't. Can't go naked in this 
 country." 
 
 "Yah !" cried Toots. "Don' yo' try so hard to say 
 somefln' funny, Mistah Brownin', fo' dat is where yo' 
 meks a mistook, sar. Yo' falls do'n on yo'se'f, an' yo' 
 don' get funny at all." 
 
 "Thanks, my colored counsellor," murmured the big 
 fellow. "You have a shocking habit of giving ad- 
 vice when it isn't asked. I wouldn't do it so much if 
 I were you." 
 
 "Choke off, Toots," advised Frank. 
 
 "All right, sar all right," muttered the colored 
 boy; "but I knows what I knows yes, sar. It done 
 do some of de crowd good if dey took mah advice, 
 sar." 
 
 The boys admired the trees and the weather, and 
 they were supremely happy. All were hearty and 
 healthy, with muscles as hard as iron and eyes clear as 
 the eagle's. 
 
 Browning, although still stout and sturdy, had 
 worked himself down to a hard, healthy condition, and
 
 Old Friends. 31} 
 
 was really a stunningly handsome fellow. There was 
 about him a suggestion of great strength, and almost 
 any man might have hesitated about facing him in 
 anger. 
 
 As Merriwell was one who constantly kept himself 
 in perfect condition, it cannot be said that he was look- 
 ing better than when the party left New York, al- 
 though he, like the others, was tanned by exposure to 
 all sorts of weather. 
 
 As the party came around a bend of the road, they 
 saw another young bicyclist, who was standing beside 
 his wheel, somewhat uneasily regarding their ap- 
 proach. 
 
 "Hello!" exclaimed Diamond. "Here's a fellow 
 traveler." 
 
 Frank took off his cap and waved it about his head, 
 but the stranger did not answer the salute. 
 
 "Some way he doesn't seem at all pleased to see us," 
 said Rattleton. 
 
 "It may be the way with Californians," said Dia- 
 mond. 
 
 "Anyhow we'll stop and ask him a few questions," 
 Merriwell said. "At least, he can't refuse to answer 
 us, if we are civil."
 
 314 Old Friends. 
 
 So, as the boys came up, they slackened their speed 
 and prepared to dismount. To their surprise the 
 stranger made preparations to mount, as if he contem- 
 plated riding away if they stopped. 
 
 "He's going to run away," grunted Bruce, in dis- 
 gust. 
 
 "Hold on," urged Merriwell, addressing the 
 stranger. "We want to talk with you." 
 
 Then the boys sprang off their wheels. 
 
 To their surprise, the stranger suddenly held out his 
 hand, almost shouting: 
 
 "It is Frank Merriwell, or my eyes can't see 
 straight !" 
 
 "Bart Hodge, as I live!" cried Frank, grasping tHe 
 outstretched hand.
 
 CHAPTER XXVIII. 
 
 BART HODGE MAKES A CONFESSION. 
 
 It was Bart Hodge! 
 
 How they did shake hands! Strangely enough, 
 neither of them laughed, but there was a look of joy on 
 their faces that told of satisfaction and delight too 
 great for laughter. 
 
 "Merriwell, old man," said Hodge, his voice un- 
 steady with emotion, "I can scarcely believe it is true! 
 It seems too good to be true !" 
 
 "Hodge!" exclaimed Frank, "there is fate in this. 
 I was speaking of you not more than ten minutes 
 ago." 
 
 "Speaking of me?** 
 
 "Sure." 
 
 "Then you had not forgotten me?" 
 
 "Forgotten you?' came reproachfully from Frank 
 "you should know I am not the kind of fellow to for- 
 get my friends." 
 
 "That's right," nodded Bart, quickly; "you always 
 did stick to your friends through thick and thin."
 
 316 Bart Hodge Makes a Confession. 
 
 "Yes, through thick and thin, old chum." 
 "But it is most astonishing to see you away out here 
 in this part of the country. Where did you drop 
 from?" 
 
 "Oh, we are on a little run across the country," 
 smiled Merry. "We started from New York, and 
 we're bound for San Francisco. Permit me to intro- 
 duce my friends." 
 
 Then he presented the others of the party in turn, 
 and Bart shook hands with them all, expressing his 
 satisfaction at meeting them, but seeming rather re- 
 served and uneasy. Frank observed that Hodge 
 turned his head to glance down the road now and then 
 as if expecting the appearance of some one or some- 
 thing. 
 
 "So you're Hart Bodge I mean Bart Hodge?" 
 said Harry, as he was introduced. "Well, I'm glad to 
 know you. Merry has talked about you ever since I 
 first met him at Yale. He has told everything about 
 you." 
 
 "If that is true, I'm afraid you have not formed a 
 very good opinion of me," said Hodge, somewhat 
 gloomily.
 
 Bart Hodge Makes a Confession. 317 
 
 "On the contrary, I have formed a very good opin- 
 ion of you," assured Rattleton. 
 
 "Then it can't be Merry has told you everything." 
 
 Frank was not a little surprised by Bart's manner, 
 for Hodge had been a fellow who could not easily 
 suppress his self-conceit, and it had always been his 
 desire to impress strangers with the idea that he was 
 something quite out of the ordinary. 
 
 A vague feeling that something was wrong with 
 Bart seized upon Merriwell. 
 
 "You're not well, old man," he said. "I know it 
 Don't say you are." 
 
 "Never was better in all my life." 
 
 "But something is the trouble I can see that." 
 
 "Oh, no!" assured Bart; "you are mistaken, I as- 
 sure you." 
 
 But, for all of these words, Frank was not satisfied, 
 as Bart's manner had plainly betrayed the fact that he 
 was trying to conceal something. 
 
 "Which way are you traveling?" Frank asked. 
 
 "East." 
 
 "Too bad! We are going the other way, and I 
 hoped you'd go along." 
 
 "Oh, no! it is impossible," Hodge quickly asserted
 
 318 Bart Hodge Makes a Confession. 
 
 "Business important ?" 
 
 "Well, it is er somewhat so." 
 
 "Where are you from last?" 
 
 "Oh, I've been traveling yes, traveling," answered 
 Bart, vaguely. 
 
 "Now, look here!" cried Merry, decisively; "you've 
 got to travel with us, old man. I won't take no for 
 an answer, for I believe you can do it. You'll turn 
 about and go to San Francisco with us." 
 
 "That's right; come on," cried the others. 
 
 Bart shook his head. 
 
 "Can't do it I can't. You don't know I can't 
 explain now." 
 
 "Do you think this is using me just right?" asked 
 Frank, reproachfully. "You'll find us a jolly crowd, 
 and we'll have dead loads of sport. We've made a 
 quick run across, and we can take our time going back. 
 None of the fellows are obliged to hurry home. 
 Come along with us, Bart, and we'll do you good." 
 
 Something like a smile flitted over Hodge's serious 
 face. 
 
 "You are the same old Merriwell," he said. "It has 
 done me good to see you a little while, Frank."
 
 Bart Hodge Makes a Confession. 319 
 
 "It will do you more good to see me longer, and it'll 
 do me good to have you come with me. Come along." 
 
 Bart wavered. It was plain enough that he longed 
 to go, but, for some reason, he hesitated. 
 
 Frank passed an arm about Hodge's shoulders, say- 
 ing, gently but firmly : 
 
 "You've got to do it; you can't get out of it, old 
 chum." 
 
 A wave of feeling fled across Hodge's face, and 
 there was something like a suspicious quiver of his 
 sensitive chin. 
 
 "You do not understand," he slowly murmured. 
 "I'd like to have a talk with you, Frank. I I might 
 tell you " 
 
 "That's right," said Harry, heartily. "Old friends 
 like you chaps want a chance to talk over old matters 
 and things. Excuse us. We're going to find a chance 
 to stretch our weary limbs on the ground. Browning 
 has an attack of that tired feeling, and he will fall asleep 
 in his tracks if he doesn't recline without delay." 
 
 "Huah!" grunted Bruce. 
 
 Then the boys withdrew, leaving Hodge and Merri- 
 well together. 
 
 Bart seemed embarrassed and uneasy. He glanced
 
 32O Bart Hodge Makes a Confession. 
 
 at Frank slyly, as if in doubt, which Merry did not fail 
 to note, although pretending not to observe it. 
 
 They sat down near the foot of a monster tree, 
 against which they could lean in a comfortable position 
 as they chatted. The great forest of redwood trees 
 was all about them, and a Sabbath peace brooded over 
 the gentle slope of the Sierras. 
 
 "Well, Bart," said Frank, insinuatingly, "I trust 
 things are going well with you?" 
 
 A sudden change came over Hodge. A fierce look 
 of rage came to his face and his eyes blazed, while his 
 voice was harsh and unpleasant, as he cried : 
 
 "Things are not going well with me! Everything 
 has gone wrong! Oh, I've had infernal luck ! I know 
 I was born under an unlucky star, and the only time I 
 ever did get along was when you and I were together at 
 Fardale." 
 
 "Then stick by me, and change your luck again." 
 
 "I'd like to do it, but you are going the wrong way." 
 
 "What's the odds? There is no reason why you 
 should not turn back and " 
 
 "There is a reason." 
 
 "Of course I do not know about that, but " 
 
 "Listen, Frank; you remember Isa Isban?"
 
 Bart Hodge Makes a Confession. 321 
 
 "Yes, and Vida Milburn, Isa's half-sister, with 
 whom you were in love. I distinctly remember that 
 Vida was a beautiful and charming girl." 
 
 Hodge's teeth ground together with a nerve-tingling, 
 grating sound, and his face was set as stone, although 
 his eyes still blazed. 
 
 "Yes, a beautiful girl a charming girl!" he ad- 
 mitted, but with sarcasm that could not be mistaken. 
 
 "What's the matter? Where is Vida now?" 
 
 "I don't know, and I don't care a rap !" 
 
 "Oh, say! I think I tumble. It is a case of lovers' 
 quarrel. Now, now, now ! Don't be foolish, my boy ! 
 It will come out all right. You know true love per- 
 sistently refuses to run smooth. You'll make it all up 
 in time." 
 
 Hodge grinned, but there was nothing of mirth in 
 the expression. It seemed to Frank as if some wild 
 animal had shown its teeth. 
 
 "Oh, yes, it will come out all right!" he sneered. 
 "We'll make it all up in time! It's too late, Merri- 
 well." 
 
 "You think so, that's all." 
 
 "I know so. She's married !" 
 
 Frank gasped.
 
 322 Bart Hodge Makes a Confession. 
 
 "Married?" 
 ''Yes." 
 
 "Married? Why, she is a mere girl! And you 
 where do you come in?" 
 
 "I'm not in it, and I think I'm lucky. That's not 
 worrying me." 
 
 "But how how did it happen? Why did you 
 throw her over ? or why did she go back on you ?" 
 
 "I'm not going to tell the whole story now, Frank; 
 but the fact is that she lacked faith in me. I rather 
 think I'm dead lucky to get out of it, for she was 
 rather weak and fickle. You know her half-sister, Isa 
 Isban, although stunningly handsome, is wild and reck- 
 less. She was married to a gambler and maker of 
 crooked money." 
 
 "But he is dead was shot, and Isa disappeared." 
 
 "Well, she has reappeared, but I'll tell you about that 
 later. It's Vida I wish to tell you about now. You 
 know Vida's old uncle and aunt never did have a high 
 opinion of me." 
 
 "Not till they discovered that you were a brave and 
 honorable fellow. Then they seemed to turn about 
 and think you one of the finest chaps in the world."
 
 Bart Hodge Makes a Confession. 323 
 
 "They got over it," Hodge sneered. "They came 
 to think me anything but brave and honorable. They 
 believed me a drunkard, a gambler and a thief !" 
 
 Frank was shocked, and he showed it. 
 
 "Impossible!" he cried. "How could they think 
 such a thing of you? They had no reason to think 
 so!" 
 
 Bart turned crimson till it extended all over his face 
 and neck. 
 
 "You don't know, Merry," he muttered, positively 
 showing shame. "I'm not like you I make a bad 
 break sometimes. It is hard for me to resist tempta- 
 tion, and well, I was tempted, and I succumbed. 
 That's all." 
 
 "Succumbed? What do you mean? I know your 
 heart is right, old fellow, and you did not do anything 
 wrong intentionally." 
 
 "Appearances were against me I confess it. First 
 well, I was seen drunk. That is, I seemed to be 
 drunk, but I swear to you that I had not taken but one 
 drink, and that was not enough to knock out a ten- 
 year-old boy. It was drugged, Frank I know it !"
 
 324 Bart Hodge Makes a Confession. 
 
 "Drugged? Who did such a villainous trick?" 
 
 "My enemy a young fellow who loved Vida. He 
 has a father who's got the rocks. He's older than I, 
 and I thought him my friend. I met him at her home. 
 His name is Hart Davis." 
 
 "The whelp! But did Vida see you?" 
 
 "Yes. I had been out with Davis that night. In 
 the morning I was found on the steps of Vida's home, 
 apparently dead drunk." 
 
 "How came you there?" 
 
 "I didn't know at the time. Since then well, it is 
 settled in my mind. Davis said I left him to go to the 
 place where I was boarding in Carson City. He said 
 I seemed to be all right when I left him, and so he let 
 me go. He appeared very shocked to think such a 
 misfortune had happened me: but burn him! I be- 
 lieve he gave me knock-out drops I believe he carried 
 me to that house I believe he left me on the steps, 
 where I was found!" 
 
 Frank's eyes were blazing now, and the look on his 
 expressive face told how he felt toward Mr. Hart 
 Davis.
 
 Bart Hodge Makes a Confession. 325 
 
 "And did Vida throw you over for that ?" he asked, 
 in an indignant manner. 
 
 "Not entirely for that. She was very shocked and 
 cold toward me, (but when I was arrested " 
 
 "Arrested?" gasped Frank. "Arrested for what?" 
 
 "For stealing a watch."
 
 CHAPTER XXIX. 
 
 FRANK BECOMES ALARMED. 
 
 "For stealing?" 
 
 Frank's astonishment was so great that he found it 
 difficult to utter the words. 
 
 "Yes," nodded Bart, gloomily, "for stealing a 
 watch." 
 
 "But but I know you never did such a The 
 
 man who would think such a thing ought to be shot !" 
 
 "The watch was found on my person," said Bart, 
 slowly. 
 
 "Found on you, was it? I don't care! I know you 
 didn't steal it. Nothing could make me believe that." 
 
 A gleam of satisfaction seemed to pierce the fierce 
 look on Hodge's face, as a shaft of sunshine sometimes 
 pierces a black and sullen cloud. 
 
 "You are right, Merriwell," he said ; "I did not steal 
 it. Give me your hand. Oh, it is good so good to 
 have some one in the world who has confidence in 
 me! It has seemed of late that everybody was down 
 on me.
 
 Frank Becomes Alarmed. 327 
 
 He grasped Frank's hand, and pressed it warmly. 
 
 "You have been up against hard luck, old friend/' 
 came feelingly from Frank. "And the girl shook you 
 quite after you were arrested? 5 ' 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 "Were you tried?" 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 "Convicted?" 
 
 "No." 
 
 "Still she threw you over?" 
 
 "She did." 
 
 "Well, you are dead lucky! Such a girl is not 
 worth thinking about! Don't let that break you up^ 
 Hodge." 
 
 "Wait," said Bart "I have not told you all." 
 
 "Go on." 
 
 "I was arrested in one of the most notorious gam- 
 bling houses in Carson." 
 
 It was plain that the confession cost Hodge much, 
 for his shame was evident, and he hastily added : 
 
 "Give it to me, Merriwell ! I deserve it ! Blow me 
 up!" 
 
 "I shall do nothing of the kind," said Frank, slowly,
 
 328 Frank Becomes Alarmed. 
 
 "although I am very sorry to hear what you have told 
 me. Were you in that house to play ?" 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 "That is the bad part of it, for you know you can't 
 let gambling alone once you get at it. I had hoped 
 you were free of your old bad habits." 
 
 "You never hoped so more than I!" cried Bart. 
 "But it's no use I can't reform. Davis induced me 
 to go to the gambling house, and then he dropped me 
 like a live coal when I was pinched." 
 
 "But you said they proved nothing against you." 
 
 "No, they could not prove anything, for I proved 
 that I bought the watch of a young man who offered 
 it to me at a bargain. That cleared me of that 
 charge." 
 
 "But Vida Milburn threw you down just as hard?" 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 "Why?" 
 
 "Don't you see, I was arrested in a gambling house 
 while playing roulette. She had seen me when I ap- 
 peared to be drunk. That was enough. Even though 
 I did not steal, I drank and gambled. Her aunt for- 
 bade her seeing me. She sent back my presents, and
 
 Frank Becomes Alarmed. 329 
 
 told me we must become as strangers. Two months 
 later she married Hart Davis." 
 
 Frank's hand fell on the shoulder of his old-time 
 friend. 
 
 "It was hard luck, Hodge," he said, in a straight- 
 forward manner, "and you were not entirely blameless. 
 At the same time, it is certain that girl did not care for 
 you as she should, and she might have made you mis- 
 erable if you had won her. The girl who really loves 
 a fellow will believe in him and his honor till there is 
 not a single tattered remnant of his reputation to which 
 she can pin her faith. I tell you, old chum, you may 
 congratulate yourself that you got off as you did." 
 
 "I have tried to do so," said Hodge, "and I re- 
 solved to be a man and forget her. But it was harder 
 to forget than I dreamed, and then, when I was be- 
 ginning to forget, that other came upon me again." 
 
 "That other? What other?" 
 
 "Her half-sister." 
 
 "Isa Isban?" 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 "You met Isa?" 
 
 "In Sacramento."
 
 3)o Frank Becomes Alarmed. 
 
 "And she looks as she did long ago just as hand- 
 some?" 
 
 "A hundred times more so!" cried Bart, his eyes 
 kindling and a flush suffusing his cheeks. "Merri- 
 well, she is the handsomest girl I ever knew!" 
 
 Frank whistled, regarding Bart searchingly and un- 
 easily. 
 
 "What's this? what's this?" he exclaimed. "What 
 has she been doing with you? Why, hang me if I 
 don't believe I know you were hard hit by her!" 
 
 "I was," confessed Bart, flushing still more. "When 
 I first saw her I thought her Vida, but she seemed to 
 have grown more beautiful than ever, and I could not 
 help looking at her. Then I discovered there was a 
 difference I saw it was not Vida but Isa. When I 
 spoke to her she remembered me, and then well, we 
 became very friendly. I told her everything, and she 
 laughed. She said Vida was too soft for anything 
 said the old aunt made Vida do anything she wished, 
 and the girl hadn't spirit enough to do as she desired. 
 She said she would stick to a fellow if she loved him 
 even though he were jailed for twenty years. There 
 was spirit, dash, go about her, Merriwell ! She fasci- 
 nated me, I saw in her what I had missed in Vida,"
 
 Frank Becomes Alarmed. 331 
 
 Frank shook his head in a very sober manner. 
 
 "My dear fellow," he said, "do you remember Isa 
 had a husband?" 
 
 "Yes, but he is dead," said Bart, quickly. 
 
 "I know that; but do you remember the sort of fel- 
 low he was?" 
 
 "Of course; he was a counterfeiter." 
 
 "Exactly, and Isa 'shoved the queer' for him. She 
 didn't do a thing to me the first time we met. I 
 changed a fifty-dollar bill for her, and when I tried to 
 pass the bill I came near being arrested. You remem- 
 ber that?" 
 
 "Sure." 
 
 "I hardly think that is the sort of girl you wish to 
 get stuck on, old boy." 
 
 "I don't know about that," said Bart, rather defi- 
 antly. "She stuck to her husband through thick and 
 thin, and I think all the more of her for it." 
 
 Frank was alarmed. 
 
 "My dear fellow," he cried, "you are an easy mark. 
 That girl is shrewd altogether too shrewd for you to 
 match your wits against hers. She will play you for 
 a fool I am sure of it." 
 
 Bart reddened again and then turned very pale, his
 
 332 Frank Becomes Alarmed. 
 
 manner indicating great embarrassment He drew 
 from Frank a bit, and something in his air added to 
 Merriwell's alarm. 
 
 "I hope you haven't been very friendly with Isa 
 Isban," Frank said. 
 
 "I might have been more friendly, but she had a 
 foolish idea that it would injure me if I were seen with 
 her often." 
 
 "She had such an idea?" 
 
 "Yes; and that goes to show the girl's heart is all 
 right She had consideration for me." 
 
 Frank <bit his lip and scowled. 
 
 "It is remarkable," he confessed. "Are you sure it 
 was out of consideration for you that she did not wish 
 you seen with her?" 
 
 "Sure? Of course." 
 
 "It seems strange. It seems that the kind of life 
 she has led with that reckless coiner husband would 
 be sure to make her careless of others make her hard 
 and heartless." 
 
 "It is not strange you think so, Merriwell ; but it is 
 because you do not know her. I honor and respect 
 her for standing by her husband, even when she knew 
 he was a rascal, and I believe she has a heart and soul
 
 Frank Becomes Alarmed. 333 
 
 a thousand times more noble than the heart and soul 
 of her half-sister." 
 
 "Bad, bad!" exclaimed Frank. "Look here, Bart, 
 you must go along with me. That is settled. Isa 
 Isban will ruin you if you do not escape from her influ- 
 ence." 
 
 A look of indignation settled on Hodge's face, and 
 he drew away. 
 
 "If you knew her well, Frank, I would not pardon 
 you for saying that about her ; but, as you know noth- 
 ing about her,, I will overlook it. But, old fellow, 
 please don't speak of Miss Isban in that way." 
 
 "Miss Isban? Her name is Mrs. Scott; her hus- 
 band's name was Paul Scott." 
 
 "I know, but she has resumed her maiden name since 
 his death. She calls herself Miss Isban now. You 
 should see her, Merriwell. She looks like a sweet girl 
 graduate a girl of eighteen, and " 
 
 "She must be twenty-one or two." 
 
 "I don't know, and I don't care. She does not look 
 it, and I believe she is a splendid girl. I honor and 
 respect her." 
 
 "Great Scott!" thought Frank; "Hodge is in the 
 greatest peril of his life! I am sure of it. I am sure
 
 334 Frank Becomes Alarmed. 
 
 that girl will work his utter downfall if he is not saved 
 from her influence. It is my duty to find a way to 
 save him. I will!" 
 
 When Frank made up his mind to do a thing, he bent 
 all his energies to accomplish the end. In the past 
 Hodge had been easily influenced, but he felt sure Isa 
 Isban had a hold on the lad that could not be broken 
 with ease. The task must be accomplished by clever 
 work. 
 
 "Where is she now ?" Merry asked. 
 
 "I don't know." 
 
 "Don't? How is that?" 
 
 "Well, you see, I I left Sacramento rather rather 
 suddenly," faltered Bart. 
 
 "Suddenly? Explain it, old chum. Why did you 
 leave Sacramento suddenly? I trust you did not get 
 into trouble there?" 
 
 Hodge ground his heel into the ground, seeming 
 quite occupied in digging a hole in that manner. Sud- 
 denly he started and listened. 
 
 "A horse is coming this way up the trail !" he ex- 
 claimed. "It is coming at a hot pace, as if hard rid- 
 den." 
 
 "Let it come. That needn't bother us. Answer
 
 Frank Becomes Alarmed. 335 
 
 my questions, Bart. You know I am your friend, and 
 there should be perfect trust and no secrets between 
 close friends." 
 
 But Hodge did not seem to hear those words. He 
 was listening to the hoofbeats of the galloping horse, 
 and his face had grown pale. 
 
 "Look here, Merriwell," he hastily exclaimed, "the 
 rider of that horse may be a person I do not care to 
 meet." 
 
 Bart got up hastily, and Frank arose, saying : 
 
 "You needn't be afraid of him. The other boys are 
 good fighters, and there is no single man in this country 
 that can do you up while you are with this crowd. 
 We will stand by you." 
 
 "It's not that; you don't understand. I must not 
 be seen. I'll get out of sight, and you must bluff him 
 off, if he asks about me. That's all. Here he comes !" 
 
 A glimpse of the horseman was obtained as he flitted 
 along between the great trees. 
 
 Immediately Hodge slipped behind a tree, and lost no 
 time in getting out of view. 
 
 The horseman came on swiftly, and the boys saw 
 that he was a large man with a grizzled beard that had
 
 336 Frank Becomes Alarmed. 
 
 once been coal black. He was roughly dressed, with 
 his pantaloons tucked into his boots. 
 
 As he approached the man eyed the boys closely. 
 Close at hand he drew up, saying in a harsh voice : 
 
 "Wa-al, who are you, and whatever are yer doing 
 here?"
 
 CHAPTER XXX. 
 
 ARREST AND ESCAPE. 
 
 Frank was inclined to resent the stranger's words 
 and manner. 
 
 "I don't understand how that concerns you, sir," he 
 said, rather stiffly. 
 
 "Hey," cried the man, glaring at Merry. "Don't 
 git insolent, youngster! I don't like it." 
 
 "Your question was impertinent." 
 
 "Whatever is that? Be careful. I don't want any 
 foolin'o" 
 
 Frank smiled at this, which seemed to make the 
 horseman angry. 
 
 "Hang ye!" he exclaimed. "You want to be re- 
 spectful, for you're liable to get into trouble with me, 
 and you won't like that." 
 
 "Shoo fly!" chuckled Toots, showing his big white 
 teeth in a grin. "G'way dar, man! Yo' gibs me de 
 fever an* chillins." 
 
 "Wa-al, dern me!" roared the man, growing very
 
 338 Arrest and Escape. 
 
 red in the face. "It's the first time an ordinary nigger 
 ever dared to speak to Bill Higgins that way." 
 
 "Hole on, sar! I ain't no ordumnary nigger, sar. 
 I's a cullud gemman ob 'stinction, sar, an' po' white 
 trash cayarn't talk to me lek dat no, sar!" 
 
 "Choke off that critter!" growled the mar,, address- 
 ing Frank. "If yer don't, I'll shoot him full of holes !" 
 
 "I wouldn't advise you to do that," came calmly 
 from Merriwell. "You might get into serious trouble 
 if you did." 
 
 "Trouble? trouble over shootin' a nigger?" snorted 
 the stranger. "Wa-al, I think not! I've got the rec- 
 ord of killin' a dozen white men, and " 
 
 "Thirteen is an unlucky number you know. With- 
 out doubt you will be hanged, as you deserve, when 
 you kill the thirteenth one." 
 
 "Mebbe so, but a nigger won't count. I'll bore him 
 if he opens his trap again !" 
 
 "Land ob mercy!" gurgled Toots, dodging behir. : 
 a tree. "Dat man am crazzy fo' suah ! Look out f o' 
 him, chilluns ; dar am no tellin' when he'll tek a noshun 
 inter his fool haid teh shoot you all." 
 
 "You must be a very bad man," said Merriwell, sar- 
 castically.
 
 Arrest and Escape. 339 
 
 "I am; and now yer realize it, mebbe you'll have a 
 little more respect. Who be yer? an' what're yer 
 doing here?" 
 
 "If you will show that you have any right to ask 
 those questions, I will answer them." 
 
 "Right! Why, hang it! I'm ther sheriff of this 
 county 1" 
 
 "Well, what have we done that the sheriff of this 
 county or any other county in California should come 
 around and demand our names, as if we were crimi- 
 nals?" 
 
 "Ye' re suspicious characters." 
 
 "Is that it? And we look like dangerous crim- 
 inals?" 
 
 "I've seen fellows what didn't look more dangerous 
 than you as was rather tough." 
 
 "Well, we are not tough, and we have no reason 
 for concealing our names." 
 
 Then Frank gave the name of each of the boys, 
 pointing them out as he did so, and told how they 
 happened to be in California. 
 
 Bill Higgins, as the man had called himself, listened 
 and looked them over. His manner seemed to change, 
 and he said:
 
 34 Arrest and Escape. 
 
 "You tell that pretty straight, and I reckon you're 
 not giving me a crooked deal, but whar's to'other one ?" 
 
 "What other one?" 
 
 "The one what owns the other bisuckle. Thar's 
 only five of you, and here are six bisuckles." 
 
 The keen eyes of the sheriff made this discovery, 
 and Frank realized that Hodge's wheel should have 
 been concealed. 
 
 "Oh, the other fellow has just stepped aside to look 
 at the big trees," he explained. "This is the first time 
 we have ever seen trees like these. They are wonders, 
 sir. Do you have them all over the State? How tall 
 are they? Can you give us the dimensions of the 
 largest tree discovered in this State? We desire some 
 information concerning them." 
 
 "I see ye do," said Higgins, with sarcasm, "an* I de- 
 sire a little information myself. You'll answer my 
 questions." 
 
 Frank feared his ruse would fail, but he suavely 
 said: 
 
 "Oh, certainly of course, sir. We shall be pleased 
 to answer your questions. Do these trees make good 
 timber for building purposes? Are they difficult to 
 work up ? How thick is the bark ? And how "
 
 Arrest and Escape. 341 
 
 "That'll do!" roared the sheriff, fiercely. "I'm no 
 bureau of information. Whar is the other feller?" 
 
 Frank assumed a dignified and injured air. 
 
 "As you do not seem inclined to answer my ques- 
 tions, I must decline to answer yours," he said, coldly. 
 "If you will drive along, it will be agreeable to us." 
 
 Higgins showed his yellow teeth through his griz- 
 zled beard. 
 
 "Oh-ho!" he grated. "So that's the trick. Wa-al, 
 I know t'other chap is near, an' I'm goin' ter see him. 
 That is settled." 
 
 Off his horse he sprang, leaving the animal to stand, 
 and then, to the surprise of all, he ran to the tree be- 
 hind which Bart was concealed, dashed around it, and 
 gave a shout of triumph. 
 
 A moment later the sheriff reappeared, dragging 
 Hodge by the collar. 
 
 "Don't try ter git away!" he commanded. "If ye 
 do, you'll be sorry. I don't fool with a critter of 
 your caliber." 
 
 "Let go!" cried Bart, indignantly. "What are you 
 trying to do with me? Take your hands off, sir!" 
 
 "Not till I lodge ye behind bars, young feller. 
 You're under arrest, so cool down and keep still."
 
 342 Arrest and Escape. 
 
 "Why am I arrested?" 
 
 "Oh, you don't know ; oh, no !" 
 
 "Answer my question, sir! Why am I arrested?" 
 
 "Now, don't go to gettin' funny and givin' orders. 
 It ain't necessary to answer." 
 
 Frank stepped forward. 
 
 "It is no more than right that you should tell me 
 why you have arrested my friend, sir," he said. 
 
 "Ho ! ho !" cried the sheriff. "So he is your friend ! 
 I thought as much ! Well, don't you get too frisky, or 
 I may take a notion to arrest you, too." 
 
 "Such a thing would be an outrage, and I believe 
 you have perpetrated an outrage in arresting Mr. 
 Hodge." 
 
 "I don't care what you think !" 
 
 "At the same time, I see no reason why you should 
 refuse to tell me why you have arrested him." 
 
 "Jive him gesse I mean give him Jesse!" fluttered 
 Rattleton, as he sought Frank's side. "You know 
 we will stand by you, old man. If you say the word, 
 we'll take Hodge away from him." 
 
 Bill Higgins' ears were sharp, and he caught the 
 words. Like a flash he whipped out a huge revolver, 
 which he held in a menacing manner, while he growled :
 
 Arrest and Escape. 343 
 
 "Thirteen may be an unlucky number, but skin me 
 if I don't make it thirteen or more if you chaps tries 
 the trick !" 
 
 He looked as if he meant what he said. 
 
 "Steady, fellows," warned Merriwell, as the boys 
 gathered at his back, ready for anything. "Don't be 
 hasty." 
 
 "It won't be good fer yer if you are !" muttered Hig- 
 gins. 
 
 "We can take Hodge away from him I know we 
 can!" whispered Diamond, eagerly. "Say the word, 
 and we'll jump him !" 
 
 "That's right," nodded Browning, with deliberation. 
 
 Higgins backed off a bit, still holding fast to Hodge, 
 and handling his revolver threateningly. 
 
 "Blamed if I don't take the whole gang in!" he 
 shouted. "I reckon you're all standin' in together 
 with this feller." 
 
 "You will have a warm time taking in this crowd," 
 said Frank, quickly. "We are friends of Mr. Hodge, 
 and therefore we think it no more than right that we 
 should know why he is arrested." 
 
 "If that's goin' to satisfy ye, you shall know. He's 
 arrested for shovin' the queer."
 
 344 Arrest and Escape. 
 
 "Shoving the queer ?" 
 
 "That's whatever!" 
 
 "But but there must be a mistake." 
 
 "Bill Higgins never makes mistakes." 
 
 Frank was shocked, stunned. He looked at Bart, 
 and Hodge's face, which had been pale, turned crimson 
 with apparent shame. It was like a blow to Merriwell, 
 for the conviction that Hodge was guilty came over 
 him. 
 
 "It was that wretched girl she did it!" he thought. 
 "She has led him into this. She has influenced him to 
 put out some of that bogus money, and he, like the in- 
 fatuated fool that he was, did it willingly. Oh, it is a 
 shame!" 
 
 Bart stole a glance at Frank, and saw by the expres- 
 sion of Merry's face that he was convinced of his folly. 
 Immediately Hodge seemed to wilt, as if hope had 
 gone out of him. The color left his face, and it be- 
 came wan and drawn, with an expression of anguish 
 that aroused Frank's deepest pity. 
 
 "I don't care !" Merriwell mentally exclaimed. "He 
 did it because he was hypnotized because her influence 
 compelled him to do so. If he is brought to trial now
 
 Arrest and Escape. 345 
 
 it will mean his utter ruin. What can I do for him? 
 Can I do anything?" 
 
 Bart saw the change that came over Frank's face, 
 but did not understand what it meant. Instead, no- 
 ticing a hard, determined look, he fancied his former 
 friend was hardening his heart against him. 
 
 Of a sudden Hodge gave the sheriff a shove and 
 trip, sending him sprawling on the ground, his re- 
 volver being discharged as he fell. Fortunately the 
 bullet harmed no one. 
 
 Like a flash, the desperate boy darted away. He 
 caught his wheel, which stood against a tree, and was 
 on it in a moment. His feet caught the pedals, and 
 away he went down the road. 
 
 Bill Higgins scrambled up, uttering language that 
 was shocking to hear. 
 
 "The cursed whelp!" he roared. "He can't ride 
 faster, than bullets can travel! I'll fill him full of 
 lead!" 
 
 Then he flung up the revolver. 
 
 Merriwell was quite as swift in his movements. 
 
 "No, you don't!" 
 
 With that cry on his lips, Frank knocked the weapon
 
 346 Arrest and Escape. 
 
 aside just as it was discharged, and the bullet sped sky- 
 ward through the tree tops. 
 
 Then Bill Higgins whirled and tried to shoot the 
 boy who had saved Bart Hodge, but the heavy fist of 
 Bruce Browning fell on his temple, and he dropped 
 like a log to the ground. 
 
 Frank picked up the sheriffs revolver, which had 
 fallen from his hand, and, when Higgins sat up, he 
 found himself looking into the muzzle of his own 
 weapon. 
 
 "Get out!" 
 
 Merriwell uttered the words, and Higgins took the 
 hint. 
 
 "All right," he snarled ; "but this doesn't end it ! I'll 
 make all of yer suffer f er this !" 
 
 He arose, mounted his waiting horse, and galloped 
 away after Hodge.
 
 CHAPTER XXXI. 
 
 ISA ISBAN. 
 
 Late that same afternoon the five boys were riding 
 westward, when Frank said: 
 
 "Something mysterious has happened, fellows." 
 
 "What is it?" asked Jack, who was instantly inter- 
 ested in any mystery. 
 
 "A short time ago I saw a horseman away down 
 the road here." 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 "He was coming toward us.** 
 
 "Well?" 
 
 "We have not met him. 
 
 "No." 
 
 "Look the road lies before us for a mile. Where 
 is he?" 
 
 "Not in sight, that is sure." 
 
 "He must have turned off somewhere," said Rat- 
 tleton. 
 
 "That is true, but we have seen no road that turned 
 off from this."
 
 348 Isa Isban. 
 
 "Perhaps he saw us and turned aside to avoid us." 
 
 "Or it may have been Bill Higgins, the sheriff, and 
 he is lying in wait to arrest us all," suggested Brown- 
 ing. 
 
 "It was not Higgins," assured Merriwell. "It was 
 a young man, I am sure, although I obtained but a 
 glimpse of him through the trees. We have passed 
 no house since then." 
 
 "Never mind him," said Harry. "We must find 
 a place to stop for the night." 
 
 "I wish we might learn what has happened to Hodge 
 before we stop. I don't believe Higgins recaptured 
 him." 
 
 "It's ten chances to one we'll never hear anything 
 more about him while we are in California." 
 
 "I know that, and I am sorry. I wanted to keep 
 him with us, for he is in great need of friends to 
 straighten him up. He has fallen in with bad com- 
 panions, and they are ruining him." 
 
 "I should say so!" exclaimed Diamond. "He is a 
 fool to let himself be worked by a girl." 
 
 "Don't take Hodge for a fool, Jack. He is any- 
 thing but a fool, but he is easily influenced, and he is 
 proud and passionate. Fairly started on the wrong
 
 Isa Isban. 349 
 
 road, he may go to ruin in a hurry. If we could get 
 him out of this State save him from arrest ! Should 
 he be arrested, tried and condemned, it would mean 
 his utter and complete ruin. After serving a term in 
 prison, he would feel the disgrace so deeply that noth- 
 ing could save him." 
 
 "Well, you have taken a big contract if you are 
 going to try to save him now," Diamond declared. 
 
 "It might be done, but Hello ! this looks like a 
 
 path." 
 
 Frank was off his wheel in a moment, and he quickly 
 decided that a path led from the regular trail into the 
 dark shadows to the forest to the northward. 
 
 "Wonder where it would take us," he muttered. 
 And then, seized by a sudden inspiration, he cried : 
 
 "Come on, fellows; let's go on an exploring expe- 
 dition." 
 
 Diamond protested, and Browning growled after 
 his usual lazy manner, but Frank was supported by 
 Rattleton and Toots, and the majority ruled. 
 
 The path, where it turned off from the road, seemed 
 to be somewhat hidden, but it soon became plain 
 enough, and they were able to ride along in single file, 
 Merrhvell leading.
 
 350 Isa Isban. 
 
 They had proceeded in this manner about a mile 
 when they came in sight of a small cabin that was set 
 .1 own in a little hollow amid the trees. 
 
 The place looked lonely and deserted, but Frank 
 rode straight toward it, and the others followed. 
 
 The boys dismounted before the cabin, and Merri- 
 well rapped loudly on the door. He was forced to 
 knock three times before he obtained a response. 
 
 The door opened slowly, and a bent and feeble-look- 
 ing man with dirty white hair looked at them. 
 
 "Who are you?" he asked, in a cracked voice, sus- 
 picion showing plainly in his eyes, which were bright 
 and clear for all of his age. 
 
 "Travelers," replied Frank, cheerfully. "We were 
 passing, and, as night is at hand, we decided to ask 
 shelter here." 
 
 "It is useless to ask," the man declared, with a 
 shake of his head. "I can't keep you. It is very 
 strange that you should be passing this place. The 
 road does not come within a mile of here." 
 
 "That is true, but we found a path, and became con- 
 vinced that it must lead to a house, so here we are." 
 
 "You have had your trouble for nothing; I shall not 
 keep you."
 
 Isa Isban. 351 
 
 "Hospitable old man!" murmured Browning, sar- 
 castically. 
 
 Despite his age, the man was not hard of hearing, 
 for he caught the big fellow's words and shot him a 
 look. 
 
 "Surely you will not turn us away now/' urged 
 Frank. "It will be dark by the time we reach the road 
 again." 
 
 "That is nothing to me," 
 
 The old man was about to close the door, when, to 
 the astonishment of the boys, a musical, girlish voice 
 said: 
 
 "Let them stop here, Drew. I know one of the 
 young gentlemen." 
 
 The bicyclists looked at each other inquiringly, won- 
 dering which one of them the owner of the voice could 
 know. They all felt a thrill, for this added zest and 
 romance to the little adventure. 
 
 "Am I dreaming?" whispered Bruce; "or did 1 
 hear the gentle ripple of a female voice?" 
 
 "Smoly hoke!" gasped Harry. "To find a girl in 
 this spone lot I mean lone spot ! It is a marvel !" 
 
 "An' dat voice ob hers am lek honey dew from
 
 352 Isa Isban. 
 
 heabben, chilluns 'deed it am!" gurgled Toots, poet- 
 ically. 
 
 The old man seemed astonished and in doubt. 
 
 "Do you mean it, my dear?" he asked. "It was 
 on your account " 
 
 "Never mind me, Drew," came back that musical 
 voice. "It would be a shame to turn them away." 
 
 "But but " 
 
 "There are no buts about it!" cried the voice 
 sharply, almost angrily. "You have heard what I 
 said! They may stop here." 
 
 "All right all right, if you say so. There's noth- 
 ing for them to eat, and so " 
 
 "I'll cook something, for you have corn meal in the 
 house. Young men who ride wheels have appetites 
 that enable them to eat anything." 
 
 "All right all right," repeated the old man, vaguely. 
 
 "Let them put their bicycles under the shed back 
 of the house." 
 
 The old man came out, closing the door. 
 
 "It is my niece, young gentlemen," he explained. 
 "She is very peculiar, and well, when she says any- 
 thing, that settles it, so you'll have to stay." 
 
 "Under the circumstances," said Frank, his natural
 
 Isa Isban. 353 
 
 delicacy influencing him, although he was rather curi- 
 ous to see the owner of that voice, "I am inclined to 
 think we're intruding, and we had better go on." 
 
 For a moment the face of the old man expressed re- 
 lief, and then that look vanished, while he shook his 
 head. 
 
 "No," he said, "that will not do now. She has de- 
 cided that you shall stop, and she will not leave any 
 hair on my head if you go away. You must stop." 
 
 "She must be a gentle maiden!" murmured Bruce, 
 with a faint smile. 
 
 The boys followed the old man around to a shed, 
 under which they placed their wheels. The shed had 
 sometimes been used to shelter horses, but no horse 
 was there then. 
 
 "You mustn't mind my niece," said the old man, 
 apologetically. "She has been spoiled, and she is de- 
 termined to have her own way. She runs the ranch." 
 
 Again the boys looked at each other. 
 
 "I wonder which of us she knows," said Harry. 
 
 "It must be Merriwell," Diamond declared. "It 
 could not be any one else. This is a joke on him." 
 
 Diamond's ideas of a joke were decidedly peculiar. 
 
 He seldom saw anything humorous in what pleased
 
 354 Isa Isban. 
 
 his companions, and he took delight in things which did 
 not amuse them at all. He seldom laughed at any- 
 thing. 
 
 Frank himself felt that he was the one the girl 
 knew, if, indeed, she knew any of them, and he was 
 wondering where he had met her. In the course of his 
 wanderings over the world he had met many girls, 
 not a few of whom he had forgotten entirely. 
 
 "If she is one of your old girls, I'm going to make 
 a stagger at cutting you out, old fellow," chuckled 
 Rattleton. 
 
 "Oh, I don't know!" smiled Frank. "You're not 
 so warm !" 
 
 "Just now I don't see any steam coming out of your 
 shoes," Harry shot back, quickly. "You're not the 
 only good thing on the programme ; you might be cut 
 out." 
 
 "Land sakes, chilluns!" exclaimed Toots, with up- 
 lifted hands. "I nebber heard no such slanguage as 
 dat nebber !" 
 
 "Any of you fellows may have the girl, if you want 
 her," said Jack. "I have not seen her, but I'm sure 
 she is a terror, and I don't care for that kind."
 
 Isa Isban. 355 
 
 They followed the old man toward the door, and 
 entered the house. 
 
 A lamp had been lighted while they were dispos- 
 ing of their wheels, and the girl was standing where 
 the unsatisfactory light showed her face as plainly as 
 was possible. 
 
 She was strikingly handsome, with dark hair and 
 eyes and full red lips. An expectant flush of color 
 was in her cheeks. 
 
 As Frank entered, the girl extended her hand to 
 him, saying: 
 
 "I am glad to see you again, Mr. Merriwell. Have 
 you forgotten me?" 
 
 "Good gracious!" cried Merriwell. "It is Vida 
 Milburn!" 
 
 She tossed her head, her hand dropping by her side. 
 
 "That is not complimentary to me!" she exclaimed. 
 "It shows you remembered my half-sister far better 
 than you did me." 
 
 "Your half-sister? Then you are not Vida!" 
 
 "No, thank you !" with another haughty toss of the 
 head. 
 
 "Then then you must be Isa Isban!"
 
 356 Isa Isban. 
 
 "How remarkable that you should guess it," she 
 said, with biting sarcasm. 
 
 "But you you must remember it has been some 
 time since I saw you, and and I saw Miss Melburn 
 last." 
 
 "You saw me first, and you were so interested in me 
 that you followed me from Reno to Carson City. 
 After that you met my sister, and now you mistake me 
 for her! I am extremely complimented, Mr. Merri- 
 well! Never mind. You are not so many! Per- 
 haps you will introduce your friends. Some of them 
 may have a better memory than you." 
 
 For once in his life, at least, Frank was "rattled." 
 He introduced Browning as Rattling and Diamond 
 as Brownton, while he completely forgot Harry's 
 name. 
 
 The girl laughed sharply, plainly enjoying his em- 
 barrassment. She shook hands with all but Toots, 
 saying : 
 
 "Mr. Merriwell doesn't seem to be at his best. 
 It is possible he has ridden too far to-day." 
 
 Then Frank pulled himself together, and imme- 
 diately became as cool and collected as usual, which 
 was no easy thing to do.
 
 Isa Isban. 357 
 
 "I beg your pardon, Miss Isban, but I was just think- 
 ing I had not ridden far enough." 
 
 He said it in his most suave manner, but the shot 
 went home, and it brought still more color to her 
 flushed cheeks. 
 
 "Oh!" she cried, with the same toss of her head, 
 "if your wheel is not broken, it is not too late to make 
 several more miles before absolute darkness comes 
 on." 
 
 Diamond edged up to Frank, and whispered: 
 
 "Careful, Merry! You're getting her very angry, 
 and she is a mighty fine girl. Go easy, old man!" 
 
 This was very amusing to Merriwell, for but a short 
 time before Diamond had expressed himself quite 
 freely in regard to the girl, and it was plain his ideas 
 had undergone a change since seeing her. 
 
 "Don't worry," Frank returned. "She won't mind 
 a little scrap. I think she will enjoy it. She is that 
 kind." 
 
 This did not seem to satisfy the young Virginian, 
 who immeditely set about making himself as agreeable 
 as possible with Isa. 
 
 The boys were invited to sit down, and seats were 
 provided for all of them.
 
 358 Isa Isban. 
 
 Frank became rather serious, for thoughts ef 
 Hodge's misfortune began to trouble him, and he re- 
 membered that this girl was responsible for it all. 
 
 Isa did not look a day older than when he had last 
 seen her, and it was hard to realize that she was a 
 woman with an experience and a dead husband. 
 
 Browning was silent and apparently contented. He 
 seemed to take great satisfaction in sitting down and 
 resting. 
 
 After a little silence, Isa observed, seeming to take 
 a malicious satisfaction in what she said : 
 
 "One of Mr. Merriwell's friends had not forgotten 
 me, at least." 
 
 "It might have been better for him if he had," re- 
 turned Frank, in a manner that surprised himself, for 
 never before had he made such an ungallant remark. 
 
 The girl's eyes blazed and she bit her lip. It seemed 
 that she was on the point of an outburst, but she re- 
 strained herself and laughed. That laugh was defiant 
 and angry. 
 
 "Oh, well, I don't know!" she said. "The person 
 I speak of may find I will stand by him better than 
 some of his friends who would have looked on while 
 he was dragged away to jail."
 
 Isa Isban. 359 
 
 This was a surprise to Frank, for it showed that 
 the girl knew something about the adventure with Bill 
 Higgins, which had taken place that day. 
 
 "So you have seen him since?" asked Merry, eagerly. 
 "Where is he?" 
 
 "Find out." 
 
 "I shall be able to find out in time, I think, Miss 
 Isban." 
 
 "As far as he is concerned, you need not worry, for 
 I do not think he cares to see you again." 
 
 "I do not believe that. He knows me too well, 
 and he trusts me." 
 
 "He thought he knew you, but he did not fancy you 
 would remain passive and see him placed under ar- 
 rest." 
 
 "I did not." 
 
 "What did you do?" 
 
 "I did not have an opportunity to do much except 
 save his life." 
 
 "Save his life?" 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 "How?" 
 
 "I kept him from being bored by a bullet from Bill 
 Higgins' gun."
 
 360 Isa Isban. 
 
 "How did you do so much?" 
 
 "I spoiled Higgins' aim." 
 
 "Well, that was most remarkable! I presume you 
 expect him to show the utmost gratitude for a service 
 that any man might render another !" 
 
 She snapped her fingers toward Frank, laughing 
 scornfully : 
 
 "That's where you fool yourself. Mr. Hodge has 
 told me that he hoped he might never meet you again. 
 He has found other and better friends." 
 
 "Perhaps you speak the truth." 
 
 The manner in which Frank uttered the words im- 
 plied not only a doubt but a positive belief that she 
 was not speaking the truth, and she did not misun- 
 derstand them. Her teeth clicked together, gleaming 
 beyond her curved, red lips, and her hands were 
 clinched. On her white fingers were a number of 
 rings, set with diamonds, which flashed and blazed like 
 her eyes. 
 
 "I care not whether you think I speak the truth or 
 not," she said, and turned her back upon him. 
 
 Diamond evinced positive distress. 
 
 "I can't understand you, Merriwell!" he said, in an
 
 Isa Isban. 361 
 
 aside. "It is not at all like you. Why, you are always 
 gallant and courteous to ladies." 
 
 "That is right," agreed Frank, with deep meaning. 
 "I am." 
 
 Jack did not like that. 
 
 "And you mean to insinuate that this beautiful girl 
 is not a lady ?" 
 
 "I have my doubts." 
 
 "Still it seems to me that you have made a bad break 
 in your treatment of her. You were very rude. That 
 is not the way to treat a young lady." 
 
 "It is not the way to treat the most of them; but, 
 my dear fellow, you will have to learn that they differ 
 as much as men. If you were to treat all men with 
 the utmost courtesy and consideration, you would find 
 that not a few would regard you as a weak-kneed 
 slob. They would impose on you, and their opinion 
 of you would sink lower and lower as you permitted 
 them to continue their impositions without giving back 
 as good as they sent. In this respect, there is a class 
 of women who resemble men. Of course you cannot 
 handle them as you would men, but you can't be soft 
 with them. A man who insulted you you would knock
 
 362 Isa Isban. 
 
 down. You can't strike a woman, but you can strike 
 her in a different way, and, in nine cases out of ten, if 
 he is of a certain sort, she will think all the more of 
 you in the end." 
 
 "Well, I am sure you have made a mistake with 
 Miss Isban. I could see her deep anger and hatred 
 for you in her eyes. She would like to strangle you 
 this minute." 
 
 "I haven't a doubt of it," coolly smiled Frank, his 
 manner showing not the least concern. 
 
 "She will hate and despise you as long as she lives." 
 
 "If so, it will make little difference to me." 
 
 Up to this time Jack had not dreamed that Frank 
 could be anything but courteous and bending to a lady, 
 and now the Southerner saw there was a turn to his 
 friend's character that he had not suspected. 
 
 Merriwell had not been at all brutal in his manner, 
 but his words had touched Isa Isban like blows of a 
 whip. They had stung her and stirred her blood, al- 
 though they were spoken in a way that showed the 
 natural polish and training of their author. 
 
 In truth the girl longed to fly at Frank Merriwell's
 
 Isa Isban. 363 
 
 throat. She felt that she could strike him in the 
 face with her hands and feel the keenest delight in 
 doing so. 
 
 As she turned toward him again, there came a sharp 
 knock on the door.
 
 CHAPTER XXXII. 
 
 HODGE REAPPEARS. 
 
 The old man looked startled, and the girl showed 
 signs of alarm. 
 
 "Quick, Drew!" she whispered. "Is the door fas- 
 tened?" 
 
 "Yes!" quavered the old man. 
 
 "My revolver where is it?" 
 
 "On the shelf where you placed it." 
 
 With a spring that reminded the 'boys of the leap 
 of a young pantheress, she reached the shelf and 
 snatched a gleaming pistol from it. Then she faced 
 the door again, the weapon half raised. 
 
 The boys were on their feet. 
 
 "Land ob wartermillions !" chattered Toots, his eyes 
 rolling. "Looks lek dar am gwan teh be a rucshun 
 fo' suah!" 
 
 Then he looked around for some place of conceal- 
 ment. 
 
 "What is it?" asked Frank. "Is there danger?"
 
 Hodge Reappears. 365 
 
 "To me yes," nodded Isa. "But you do not care! 
 I expect no aid from you, sir." 
 
 "Who is at the door?" 
 
 "It may be Bill Higgins, the sheriff!" 
 
 "Come to arrest you ?" 
 
 "Perhaps." 
 
 "He can't do it!" hissed Diamond, as he caught up 
 a heavy chair and held it poised. "We won't let him I" 
 
 The girl actually laughed. 
 
 "At least, I have one champion," she said. 
 
 "To the death!" Diamond heroically declared. 
 
 The knock was repeated, and this time it was given 
 in a peculiar manner, as if it were a special signal. 
 
 An expression of relief came to the faces of the old 
 man and the girl, but they seemed very much sur- 
 prised. 
 
 "Who can it be?" Isa asked, doubtingly. 
 
 "It is the secret signal," said the man with the gray 
 hair. 
 
 "That is true, but who should come here to give the 
 signal." 
 
 "It must be all right." 
 
 "Wait. I will go into the back room. If it is re- 
 peated, open the door. Should it be an enemy or ene-
 
 366 Hodge Reappears. 
 
 mies, give me time to get away. That's all. Hold 
 them from rushing into the back room." 
 
 "We will do that/' declared Diamond. 
 
 In a moment Isa disappeared. 
 
 The knock was given for the third time, and the old 
 man approached the door, which he slowly and de- 
 liberately opened. 
 
 "Who are you, and what do you want?" he asked. 
 
 The reply was muffled and indistinct, but something 
 like an exclamation of relief escaped the man, and he 
 flung the door wide open. 
 
 Into the room walked a young man with a smooth- 
 shaved face and a swaggering air. 
 
 "Hello, Drew!" he called, and then he stopped and 
 stared at the boys. "I didn't know you had visitors," 
 he said. 
 
 "So it's you, Kent so it's you !" exclaimed the old 
 man, with relief. "I didn't know I reckoned it 
 might be somebody else." 
 
 "You knew I was coming." 
 
 "Yes ; but I didn't 'low you'd get here so soon. It's 
 a long distance to Carson, and " 
 
 "Never mind that," quickly spoke the man, inter- 
 rupting Drew, as if he feared he would say something
 
 Hodge Reappears. 367 
 
 it were better the boys did not hear. "My horse is out- 
 side. Where shall I put him?" 
 
 "In the shed. I'll show ye. Come on." 
 
 The old man went out, followed by the newcomer, 
 and the door was kft open slightly. Toots quietly 
 slipped out after them. 
 
 Isa Isban came back into the room. 
 
 "I do not care to be seen here by everybody who 
 may come along," she explained; "but this person is 
 all right, for Drew knows him." 
 
 This was rather strange to all of the boys except 
 Frank, but Merry instantly divined that she was afraid 
 of Higgins and more than half expected the big sheriff 
 would follow her there. 
 
 The secret signal and the air of mystery and appre- 
 hension shown by the girl and the old man convinced 
 Merriwell that all was not right. 
 
 Isa had at one time "shoved the queer" for a band 
 of men who made counterfeit money, and Bart Hodge 
 had told Frank quite enough to convince Merriwell 
 that she was still in the same dangerous and unlawful 
 business. 
 
 The thoughts which ran riot in Merry's head wjere
 
 368 Hodge Reappears. 
 
 of a startling nature, but his face was calm and passive, 
 betraying nothing of what was passing in his mind. 
 
 Once more Diamond set about making himself 
 agreeable to Isa, and she met him more than halfway. 
 She laughed and chatted with him, seeming to have 
 forgotten that such a person as Frank Merriwell ex- 
 isted. 
 
 Browning sat down in a comfortable position where 
 he could lean against the wall, and proceeded to fall 
 asleep. 
 
 After a short time Toots came slipping into the 
 cabin, his eyes rolling, and his whole manner betray- 
 ing excitement and fear. He would have blurted out 
 something, but Frank gave him a signal that caused 
 him to be silent. 
 
 At the first opportunity the colored boy whispered 
 in Merry's ear: 
 
 "Marser Frank, de bes' ring we can do is teh git out 
 ob dis 'bout as soon as we kin do it, sar." 
 
 "What makes you think that?" asked Merriwell, 
 cautiously. 
 
 "We am in a po'erful ba-ad scrape, sar." 
 
 "What do you mean ?" 
 
 "It am mighty ba-ad folks dat libs heah, sar."
 
 Hodge Reappears. 369 
 
 "Bad? In what way?" 
 
 "Dey hab done suffin' dat meks dem skeered ob de 
 ossifers ob de law." 
 
 "How do you know?" 
 
 "I done hears de ol' man and de young man talkinV 
 
 "What did they say?" 
 
 "Say dat ossifers am arter 'em. De young man say 
 dat he have to run from Carson City to 'scape arrest, 
 sar." 
 
 "He is the horseman I saw ahead of us in the val- 
 ley," said Frank. "He must have seen us coming and 
 concealed himself, expecting we would pass him. It 
 is plain he did not wish to be seen." 
 
 "Suah's yeh bawn, boy! He has been doin' suffin' 
 mighty ba-ad, an' he's dangerous. He said he wouldn't 
 be 'rested alive, sar." 
 
 "This is very interesting," nodded Frank. "It 
 seems that we are in for one more exciting adventure 
 before we finish the tour." 
 
 "I don' like it, sar 'deed I don' ! No tellin' what 
 such folks will do. He am feelin' po'erful ugly, fo* 
 he say suffin' 'bout trubble wif his wife an' 'bout hab- 
 bin' her follerin' him. Dat am how it happen he wur
 
 370 Hodge Reappears. 
 
 comin' from de wes' 'stead ob de eas'. He done dodge 
 roun' teh git 'way from his wife, sar." 
 
 "He is a brave and gallant young man," smiled 
 Merriwell. "I admire him very much nit!" 
 
 "Now don' yeh go teh bein' brash wif dat chap, 
 Marser Frank. Dar ain't no tellin' what he might 
 do." 
 
 "Don't worry. Keep cool, and wait till I take a 
 fancy to move. I want to look him over some more. 
 He will be coming back with Drew in a moment, 
 and Here they come now!" 
 
 Into the cabin came the old man, and the young man 
 was at his heels. There was a sullen, unpleasant look 
 on the face of the latter, and he glared at the boys as 
 if he considered them intruders. 
 
 Isa looked up and arose as they entered. 
 
 The light of the lamp fell fairly on her face, and the 
 newcomer saw her plainly. 
 
 He uttered a shout of astonishment and staggered 
 back, his eyes opened to their widest and his manner 
 betraying the utmost consternation. 
 
 "Is it possible!" he grated. 
 
 Then he clutched the old man by the shoulder, snarl- 
 ing:
 
 Hodge Reappears. 371 
 
 "Confound your treacherous old hide! You have 
 betrayed me. You said the woman was Isa Isban, and 
 she is " 
 
 The girl interrupted him with a laugh. 
 
 "You seem excited," she said. "I am Isa Isban, 
 and no one else." 
 
 He took a step toward her, his face working and his 
 hands clinched. 
 
 "How did you get here ahead of me?" he hoarsely 
 demanded. 
 
 "In the most natural manner possible," she an- 
 swered. "A friend brought me, Mr. Kent." 
 
 "You know my real name you know everything! 
 I suppose you are here to secure evidence against me. 
 You are looking for a divorce." 
 
 "A divorce?" 
 
 "Exactly." 
 
 "I do not understand you." 
 
 "You understand well enough. We have not been 
 married so very long, and our married life hasn't been 
 any too happy. You have accused me of abusing you 
 you have threatened to leave me." 
 
 The girl looked bewildered.
 
 372 Hodge Reappears. 
 
 "What is the matter with the man ?" she murmured. 
 "Is he crazy?" 
 
 The man seemed puzzled by her manner, and the 
 witnesses of the remarkable scene were absolutely ai 
 sea ; they could not understand what it was about. 
 
 "I am not crazy," said the young man; "but I was 
 a fool to marry you. You were not worth the trouble 
 I took to get you. I should have let the other fool 
 have you, instead of plotting to disgrace him in the eyes 
 of your uncle and aunt, so I could get you." 
 
 A great light dawned on Frank Merriwell. 
 
 "Great fortune!" he mentally exclaimed. "This is 
 the fellow who married Vida Melburn, Isa's half-sis- 
 ter, and he thinks this girl is his wife! They used to 
 look so much alike that it was difficult to tell one from 
 the other. 
 
 "Married married to you?" cried the girl. "Not 
 on your life! Why, I never saw you before, although 
 I have heard of you." 
 
 The man seemed staggered for a moment, and then, 
 with a cry of anger, he leaped upon her. 
 
 "What is your game?" he hissed, as he shook her 
 savagely. "What are you up to? I thought you a 
 soft, innocent little girl, and now you are showing
 
 Hodge Reappears. 373 
 
 yourself something quite different. I believe you 
 played me for a sucker! And you want a divorce! 
 Well, here is cause for it!" 
 
 Then he choked her. 
 
 Frank went at him like a cyclone. 
 
 "You infernal villain!" he cried, as his hands fell 
 on the man, and he tore the gasping girl from his 
 clutches. "No one but a brute ever lays hands on a 
 woman in anger, and a brute deserves a good drubbing 
 almost any time. Here is where you get it!" 
 
 Then he proceeded to polish off the girl's assailant in 
 a most scientific manner, ending by flinging him in a 
 limp and battered condition into a corner of the room. 
 
 Diamond had hastened to support the girl when 
 Frank snatched her from her assailant, but she repulsed 
 him and flung him off, saying, hoarsely: 
 
 "Let me alone ! I am all right ! I want to see this 
 fight!" 
 
 With interest she watched Frank whip the man 
 whom she had called Kent, though she swayed and 
 panted with every blow, her eyes glittering and her 
 cheeks flushed. 
 
 As Merriwell flung the fellow into the corner, the
 
 374 Hodge Reappears. 
 
 girl straightened up and threw back her head, laugh- 
 ing: 
 
 "Well, he was a soft thing, and that is a fact! 
 Think of being thrashed by a boy! Drew, is it pos- 
 sible this is our Carson City agent, whom you called *a 
 good man/ when you were speaking of him this even- 
 ing? Such a chap would blow the whole game if he 
 were pinched. I wouldn't trust him." 
 
 The old man stood rubbing his shaking hands to- 
 gether, greatly agitated and unable to say a word. 
 
 At this moment the back door flew open, and an ex- 
 cited boy carfte bounding into the room, crying: 
 
 "I heard the racket, and I couldn't stay in that hole 
 any longer ! If there's a fight, I must be in it !" 
 
 "It'i Hodge!" shouted Frank, delightedly.
 
 CHAPTER XXXIII 
 
 A KNOCK ON THE DOOR. 
 
 Bart Hodge! 
 
 He was again on hand, and his manner, as well as 
 his words, indicated he was eager to take part in any 
 row that was going on. 
 
 The young man who had been so roughly handled 
 by Merriwell sat up and looked at Bart 
 
 "Hodge?" he gasped, doubtingly. "Hodge here?" 
 
 "Hart Davis!" cried Bart, astounded. 
 
 Then they stared at each other. 
 
 "So this chap went under the name of Davis, instead 
 of Kent, while in Carson City," thought Frank Mer- 
 riwell. "He is the one who got Hodge into trouble 
 there, and he married Vida Milburn. It seems that 
 he is a first-class rascal." 
 
 Davis got up. 
 
 "Hodge," he said, "I didn't expect to find you " 
 
 He interrupted himself with a fierce gesture, and 
 then he looked from Bart to the girl and back again to
 
 376 A Knock on the Door. 
 
 Bart. An expression of unutterable rage and satis- 
 faction spread over his face. 
 
 "Ha ! ha !" he fiercely laughed. "I see through it all 
 now! You you are the ones caught! You did not 
 expect to see me here." 
 
 "That's right," nodded Hodge; "but now you are 
 here, I'd like nothing better than the satisfaction of 
 breaking your face. However, it seems that Mr. Mer- 
 riwell has given you a good, comfortable drubbing." 
 
 "He shall pay for it with his life!" shouted Davis. 
 "But you come first you and this girl I married !" 
 
 He snatched out a revolver, but was given no chance 
 to use it. 
 
 Bruce Browning had been watching the fellow 
 closely, and he had approached near enough so that a 
 single step brought him within reach of the man. 
 
 "Not this trip, old boy," he drawled, as he grasped 
 Davis' wrist and gave it a wrench that caused the 
 man's fingers to drop the revolver. "I wouldn't do 
 any reckless shooting if I were you." 
 
 Then he picked up the weapon, while Davis groaned 
 with pain, his face having grown very pale. 
 
 "You are too many for me," he huskily whispered ;
 
 A Knock on the Door. 377 
 
 "but my time will come! I'll do the job, Vida, if I 
 live!" 
 
 "Very tragic," laughed the girl ; "but you have made 
 a big mistake, sir. I am not Vida at all." 
 
 Davis did not heed the words. He was rubbing his 
 sprained wrist and working it about. 
 
 "Look here, you !" cried Hodge, addressing the man ; 
 "I want you to know what a blooming idiot you have 
 made of yourself. This girl is not the one you stole 
 from me." 
 
 "Bah !" cried Davis. 
 
 "It is true that they bear a striking and wonderful 
 resemblance, and you are not the first to be deceived by 
 it. I was deceived myself. But they are half-sisters. 
 Never but once during their lives have they met, and 
 Vida never speaks of Isa." 
 
 "A fine story, but it would not deceive a child," said 
 the man. 
 
 "You do not believe it?" 
 
 "I am not so simple." 
 
 "It is not convenient to prove it to you just now, 
 and you are not worth bothering with at best. You 
 are a treacherous, double-faced rascal, and won Vida 
 by crooked and contemptible schemes, so it would serve
 
 378 A Knock on the Door. 
 
 you right if this were she. But I am not of your dirty 
 nature, and I would scorn to seek to take her from you. 
 I wish you both all the happiness you deserve." 
 
 The old man now approached Davis and began to 
 talk earnestly with him, speaking in a tone that made 
 it impossible for the others to hear and understand his 
 words. 
 
 At first Davis seemed to refuse to believe what the 
 old fellow was saying, but Drew took papers from his 
 pockets and showed them, and it was not long before 
 the man from Carson grew interested and undecided. 
 
 In the meantime, Frank had grasped Bart's hand, 
 and was saying : 
 
 "Dear old fellow, I am overjoyed to find you again 
 and know you escaped from Bill Higgins." 
 
 Bart was rather cold in his manner. 
 
 "Yes," he said, "I escaped without much trouble; 
 but I am not out of the woods yet. He has a warrant 
 for my arrest, and I must get out of California." 
 
 "I will aid you." 
 
 "Thank you, it is not necessary." 
 
 The way in which Hodge said this cut Merriwell 
 deeply, but he kept himself from showing it.
 
 A Knock on the Door. 379 
 
 "It may be necessary," he said. "You can't tell how 
 soon you may need a lift from me, old comrade." 
 
 "I needed one pretty bad to-day, Merriwell." 
 
 "And I was able to keep Bill Higgins from sending 
 five or six bullets after you before you were fairly 
 started." 
 
 "You were, and you did it?" 
 
 "Sure." 
 
 A glow came into Bart's eyes. 
 
 "Why, you took chances of getting into serious 
 trouble, for you were aiding a criminal to escape from 
 an officer." 
 
 "I knew that." 
 
 "What did Higgins do?** 
 
 "Nothing much ; only tried to shoot a few holes in 
 me." 
 
 "Csesar! I couldn't see what was going on behind 
 me." 
 
 "He might have done it, but my friend Browning 
 knocked him down." 
 
 "What? Knocked him down knocked Bill Hig- 
 gins down?" 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 "It was a crazy thing to do ! Higgins is a killer. I
 
 380 A Knock on the 
 
 don't understand how it is that either of you are alive 
 now." 
 
 "The sheriff's revolver dropped out of his hand when 
 he fell, and Browning picked it up. When Higgins 
 reached for another, as he got up from the ground, 
 he found himself covered by his own gun, and he was 
 invited to mosey along. He moseyed." 
 
 This was quite enough to warm Bart up. Now he 
 grasped Frank's hand, and gave it a fierce shake. 
 
 "Dear old fellow!" he said, echoing Frank's words 
 of a short time before. "I might have known you 
 would stand by me. I want to shake hands with Mr. 
 Browning again. He is all right! But really and 
 truly I am sorry you did this, as it is certain to make 
 trouble for you. It has put you in the wrong, Frank^ 
 and that is a shame. See what trouble I have caused 
 you! I am your evil genius! I never brought you 
 anything but trouble, and it is a wonder to me that you 
 can think anything at all of me." 
 
 Frank's arm went around Bart's shoulders. 
 
 "Old chum," he softly said, "I know your heart is all 
 right, and I am sure you would do no deliberate wrong. 
 I do not fancy you committed a crime knowing you 
 were doing so."
 
 A Knock on the Door. 381 
 
 Bart's chin was a trifle unsteady, and there was the 
 deepest feeling in his voice as he said : 
 
 "I wonder that you can have such confidence in me 
 now, but I am glad you have. It was all a mistake, 
 I received the queer money by mistake, and I did not 
 know it was bad till after I had passed some of it." 
 
 Then it was that Isa came forward to sustain him 
 in this declaration. 
 
 "It is the truth," she said, with a short laugh. "I 
 will not attempt to deceive Mr. Merriwell by claiming 
 that I did not know it was counterfeit, for he would 
 not believe me; but I am ready to take my oath that 
 Hodge believed it all right." 
 
 This gave Frank no small amount of satisfaction. 
 
 "I thank you, Miss Isban, for admitting this; but 
 you alone can save Bart if he is arrested. If you will 
 do that, in part, at least, you will repair the damage 
 you have done him." 
 
 It was plain she did not like Merriwell's free man- 
 ner of speaking, but she bit her lips and held back any 
 expression of anger that sought utterance. 
 
 "You are mistaken, sir," she declared. "I cannot 
 save him if he is arrested." 
 
 "You could come forward and tell the truth."
 
 382 A Knock on the Door. 
 
 "She shall not !" exclaimed Hodge, promptly. "You 
 do not seem to understand what that would mean to 
 her, Frank. She would be arrested." 
 
 "And I presume you would go to jail for a crime 
 you innocently committed rather than have her clear 
 you at such an expense to herself?" 
 
 "Yes a thousand times yes!" 
 
 "That is very gallant of you, old fellow, and I ad- 
 mire you for it, but " 
 
 "Mr. Merriwell," said the girl, "I could not clear 
 him if I were to swear on a stack of Bibles as high as 
 the highest peak of the Rockies that he is innocent." 
 
 "No?" 
 
 "No! Who would believe me, Isa Isban, the no- 
 torious 'shover of queer?' No one. They would say 
 I was lying to clear him, and he would do time just 
 the same." 
 
 Frank thought of this a moment, and then slowly 
 shook his head. 
 
 "I believe you are right," he admitted. 
 
 "I know I am right," asserted the girl. 
 
 "Well, you have placed Hodge in a very bad hole, 
 and I scarcely see any way out of it."
 
 A Knock on the Door. 383 
 
 "The only way out is to kill Bill Higgins !" cried the 
 girl, her eyes flashing. 
 
 Frank regarded her with a feeling of horror. 
 
 "I fail to see how that would get him out of it," he 
 huskily said. 
 
 "Well, I'll tell you. Higgins has believed for some 
 time that somewhere in his territory bad paper was 
 being manufactured, although but little of it has been 
 floated hereabouts. He has not notified the govern- 
 ment authorities, but has sought the honor of arrest- 
 ing the gang himself, as he has political aspirations in 
 the State, and he thinks it will be a big feather in his 
 cap if he can do something like this to advertise him. 
 While in Sacramento I got hard up for money, and this 
 is how it happened that I gave Mr. Hodge a bill of 
 large caliber to use in making a purchase for me. I 
 needed the money; and I did not believe it would get 
 Hodge into trouble if he passed it. I was mistaken. 
 After passing from his hands, it was taken to a bank, 
 and there it was refused. Then Bill Higgins got hold 
 of it, and traced it to Hodge. He got out a warrant 
 for Bart, but it does not charge him with passing bogus 
 money. The charge is quite different, for Higgins did 
 not wish to cause any stir by letting any one know why
 
 384 A Knock on the Door. 
 
 he was after Hodge. Bart got wind of the whole 
 business, and warned me. I made him skip out, and 
 I lost little time in getting out of the city myself. 
 Now, you see, Higgins is the only person except our- 
 selves who knows what the charge against Bart is. If 
 he were snuffed out, it might end the whole business." 
 
 Frank had listened to this explanation with the 
 greatest interest, studying the remarkable girl who 
 could thus calmly speak of killing a man. 
 
 Isa Isban was an enigma to him. She seemed to be 
 utterly without the power to understand the enormity 
 of the deed of which she spoke so calmly. 
 
 At times the girl's face seemed as sweet and inno- 
 cent as that of a child, while at other times there was 
 about it a certain hardness and boldness that was re- 
 pellent. 
 
 Merriwell began to pity her, for he believed that she 
 could not understand the difference between right and 
 wrong, and so was, to a great extent, irresponsible. 
 
 At the same time, he doubted if a jury could be 
 found who would convict this sweet and dainty-ap- 
 pearing little girl if she were arrested and brought up 
 for trial. 
 
 "I thank you for your frank explanation of the situa-
 
 A Knock on the Door. 385 
 
 tion, Miss Isban," he said. "You have made it clear 
 that Hodge was not responsible, but you have not made 
 it clear how we are to save him from punishment." 
 
 "Haven't? I reckoned I had. Kill Bill Higgins!" 
 
 "Is it possible you can thus calmly speak of mur- 
 der?" 
 
 "Murder ? It isn't murder when you have to do it.** 
 
 "So in this case you call it " 
 
 "Self-defense." 
 
 "Your ideas on that point are most remarkable ! Any 
 jury in the country would call it murder. No, that 
 will not do. Hodge can't be saved in that manner." 
 
 "There is no other way." 
 
 "We must get him out of the State." 
 
 "Then Higgins will throw up the job of trying to 
 make the arrest himself, but he will put a government 
 detective on his trail." 
 
 Frank was silent 
 
 "That's right, old man," said Bart, gloomily. "I 
 am in for it, and the quicker you cut loose from me the 
 better it will be for you. If you stick by me, you'll 
 be pulled into this affair, too." 
 
 "They can prove nothing against me."
 
 386 A Knock on the Door. 
 
 "They can prove that you interfered with an officer 
 in the discharge of his duty." 
 
 Merry snapped his fingers. 
 
 "Let them. I am willing to be soaked for that, if it 
 is the extent. I shall stand by you to the last, Bart, 
 and I hope we'll pull you through some way." 
 
 "I tell you the only way is to kill Higgins !" hissed 
 the girl. 
 
 Then there came a thunderous knock on the door, 
 and a hoarse voice demanded admittance. 
 
 "That is he that is Higgins I" pelpitated Isa Isban.
 
 CHAPTER XXXIV. 
 THE SHERIFF'S SHOT. 
 
 Old Drew was greatly frightened, and Davis showed 
 alarm. 
 
 "Hold that door hold that door one minute!" 
 cried Isa. "It will give us time to get out of the 
 way!" 
 
 Bruce Browning's shoulder went against the door, 
 and he calmly drawled: 
 
 "Anybody won't come in here in a hurry." 
 
 "Come!" whispered the girl, catching hold of Bart; 
 "we must get away! quick!" 
 
 Davis leaped after them. 
 
 "It will not be a good thing for me to be seen here," 
 he said. "If there is a way of getting under cover, 
 you must take me along." 
 
 "That's right," nodded Isa, "for you would peach if 
 you were pinched. Come!" 
 
 By the way of the door that led into the back room 
 they disappeared. 
 
 Rap-bang! rap-bang! rap-bang!
 
 388 The Sheriff's Shot. 
 
 "Open this door instanter !" 
 
 Higgins roared the order from the outside. 
 
 "What's your great rush?" coolly inquired Brown- 
 ing. 
 
 A volley of fierce language flew from the sheriff's 
 lips. 
 
 "I'll show yer!" he thundered. "Down goes ther 
 door if ye don't open it immediate!" 
 
 "Be good enough, Mr. Drew, to ascertain if our 
 friends are under cover yet," said Frank. 
 
 The old man hobbled into the back room, was gone 
 a moment, and then reappeared, something like a look 
 of relief on his withered face. 
 
 "They're gone," he whispered. 
 
 "Will it be all right to open the door?" 
 
 "I reckon ye'll have to open it." 
 
 "All right. Admit Mr. Higgins, Bruce." 
 
 Browning stepped away from the door, lifting the 
 iron bar. 
 
 Instantly it flew wide open, and, with a big revolver 
 in each hand, the sheriff strode heavily into the room. 
 
 Behind him came another man, who was also armed 
 and ready to do shooting if necessary. 
 
 Higgins glared around.
 
 The Sheriff's Shot. 389 
 
 "Whatever does this mean?" he asked, astonished 
 by the presence of the bicycle boys. 
 
 "Whatever does what mean?" asked Frank, inno- 
 cently. 
 
 "You critters bein' here. I don't understand it" 
 
 "We are stopping here for the night." 
 
 "Sho! Is that it? Well, you're not the only ones. 
 Where are the others?" 
 
 "What others?" 
 
 "One in particler the one you helped to get away 
 to-day. You'll have to square with me for that." 
 
 "I presume you mean Mr. Hodge?" 
 
 "That's whatever." 
 
 "I think your memory is at fault, sir. I did not aid 
 him in getting away, but you owe me thanks for keep- 
 ing you from shooting him. He would have made the 
 unlucky thirteenth man." 
 
 "Well, hang me if you ain't got nerve! All the 
 same, you'll have to take your medicine for aiding a 
 criminal." 
 
 "He has not been proved a criminal yet, sir." 
 
 "Oh, you know all about it! Well, he's somewhere 
 round this ranch, and I'm going to rope him. Watch 
 the front, Britts."
 
 390 The Sheriff's Shot. 
 
 "All right, sir," said the man who accompanied Hig- 
 gins. 
 
 Then the big sheriff strode into the back room, pick- 
 ing up the lamp to aid him in his search. 
 
 Frank held his breath, wondering what Higgins 
 would find. 
 
 After four or five minutes the sheriff came back, and 
 he was in a furious mood. 
 
 "I know the critter is here somewhere!" he roared; 
 "and I'll have him, too! Can't hide from me!" 
 
 "That's right," smiled Frank, with a profound bow. 
 "You have an eagle eye, Mr. Higgins, and you should 
 be able to find anything there is about the place. I 
 wouldn't think of trying to hide from you." 
 
 "Ye-he! ye-he! ye-he!" giggled Toots. 
 
 Higgins' face was black with fury. He pointed a 
 revolver straight at Frank, and thundered : 
 
 "You think you're funny, but I'm going ter bore yer 
 if you don't talk up instanter ! You know where that 
 galoot Hodge is hid, and you'll tell, too." 
 
 "My dear sir," returned Frank, as he folded his 
 arms and looked the furious man fairly in the eyes, "I 
 do not know where Bart Hodge is hidden, and I would 
 not tell if I did."
 
 The Sheriff's Shot. 391 
 
 Higgins ground his teeth. 
 
 "Say yer prayers!" he grated. "I'm goin' to make 
 you the thirteenth !" 
 
 He was in deadly earnest, yet it did not seem that 
 Frank quailed in the least before him. Indeed, in the 
 face of such peril, Merriwell apparently grew bolder, 
 and a scornful smile curled his lips. 
 
 "Shoot!" he cried, his voice ringing out clear and 
 unshaken "shoot and prove yourself a detestable cow- 
 ard!" 
 
 The other lads held their breath. They felt like in- 
 terfering, but something in Frank's manner seemed to 
 warn them to keep still and not try to aid him. 
 
 "You think I won't do it," muttered Higgins. 
 "Well, I'll show ye! I always do exactly as I say. 
 Now, you eat lead!" 
 
 There was a scream, a swish, a rush of feet, a flitting 
 form, and Isa Isban had flung herself in front of 
 Frank, protecting him with her own body! 
 
 The heavy revolver spoke! 
 
 Bang! 
 
 Frank had realized with wonderful quickness that 
 the girl meant to save him by protecting him with her 
 body, and he caught her by the shoulders, flinging her
 
 392 The Sheriff's Shot. 
 
 to the floor in an effort to keep her from being shot at 
 any cost to himself. 
 
 He would not have been successful, however, but for 
 big Bruce Browning. 
 
 The big fellow had been watching Higgins as a 
 hawk watches a chicken. At first, he had not thought 
 it possible the sheriff would fire. He could not con- 
 ceive that the man was such a ruffian. At the last mo- 
 ment, however, he saw Higgins meant to shoot. 
 
 Browning's hand rested on the back of a chair. 
 With a swiftness that was simply marvelous in one 
 who naturally moved with the greatest slowness, he 
 swung that chair into the air and flung it at the furious 
 sheriff. 
 
 Higgins saw the movement out of the corners of 
 his eyes, and, although the missile had not reached him 
 when he pulled the trigger, his aim had been discon- 
 certed. 
 
 The bullet touched Frank's ear as it passed and 
 buried itself in the wall. 
 
 Then old Drew dashed out the light, and the place 
 was plunged in darkness.
 
 CHAPTER XXXV. 
 
 ESCAPE CONCLUSION. 
 
 The sheriff's assistant lost no time in getting out of 
 the cabin, rushing to one of the horses, which had been 
 left a short distance away, and mounted. Then he 
 rode madly away through the forest, deserting Higgins 
 in a most cowardly manner. 
 
 When the lamp in the cabin was relighted, Higgins 
 was found stretched senseless on the floor, the chair 
 having struck him on the head and cut a long gash, 
 from which blood was flowing. 
 
 "I'm afraid I've killed him!" exclaimed Browning. 
 "I didn't mean to do that, but I had to do something. 
 I couldn't keep still and see him shoot Frank down like 
 a dog." 
 
 "It serves him right!" said Diamond, but his face 
 was pale, and he looked very anxious. 
 
 "I sincerely hope he will come around all right," 
 said Frank, as he knelt by the man's side. "This 
 scrape is bad enough, and, although he has shown him-
 
 394 Escape Conclusion. 
 
 self a ruffian, I do not think we care to take the life of 
 any human being." 
 
 Isa Isban was looking down at the man, and her 
 face softened and showed pity. 
 
 "You are right, Mr. Merriwell," she gently said. 
 "You have taught me a lesson. Higgins was a hand- 
 some man in his way, and it is a pity to have him die 
 with his boots on like this. We'll see what we can 
 do to fix him up." 
 
 Frank looked up at her, and one glance was enough 
 to convince him of her sincerity. 
 
 "Poor girl!" he thought. "She has never been 
 taught the difference between right and wrong. Even 
 now, if she had a show, she might become something 
 far better than she is." 
 
 She knelt on the opposite side of the unconscious 
 man. 
 
 "Bring some water, Drew," she sharply commanded. 
 "Bring something with which we can bandage his 
 head." 
 
 "Why don't ye let him die?" whined the old man. 
 
 "It would be a bad thing for you if we did," she re- 
 turned. "His deputy has puckacheed, and he won't 
 do a thing but bring a posse here as soon as possible.
 
 Escape Conclusion. 395 
 
 It will be all the better for you if Bill Higgins is all 
 right when the posse appears." 
 
 "I'm ruined anyway," declared Drew. "I'll have to 
 git out. They will search, and they're bound to find 
 everything if they do." 
 
 "We'll have everything out of here before morning, 
 and then let them search. The first job is to fix Bill 
 Higgins up." 
 
 Water was brought, and she bathed the head of the 
 unconscious man, who groaned a little once or twice. 
 Then Frank aided her in adjusting a bandage. Once 
 their hands touched, and she drew away quickly, catch- 
 ing her breath, as if she had been stung. 
 
 Frank looked at her in wonder, and saw that she had 
 flushed and then grown very pale. Her eyes met his, 
 and then her lashes drooped, while the blush crept back 
 into her cheeks. 
 
 What did it mean? 
 
 More than ever was this girl an enigma to him. 
 
 The boys lifted Higgins and placed him on an im- 
 provised couch in the corner, as Drew would not per- 
 mit them to place him on the bed in the little back 
 room. 
 
 By this time Hart Davis had become convinced that
 
 Escape Conclusion. 
 
 Isa Isban was not the girl he had married, although 
 she looked so much like Vida that he was filled with 
 wonder whenever he regarded her. 
 
 He asked her pardon for his actions of a short time 
 before, but she gave him no heed, as she seemed fully 
 intent on making the sheriff comfortable and restor- 
 ing him to consciousness. 
 
 Hodge did not look at Davis, whom he hated with 
 the utmost intensity, as he feared he would spring 
 upon the man if he did so. 
 
 After a while, Higgins opened his eyes and stared 
 around in a blank manner. 
 
 "Did we stop the mill, pards?" he huskily asked. 
 "The whole herd was stampeded and goin' like a 
 cyclone down the range, horns clanking, eyes glaring, 
 nostrils smoking and hoofs beating thunder out of the 
 ground." 
 
 "What is the man talking about?" asked Frank, in 
 wonder. 
 
 "He was a cowboy once," Isa explained. "He seems 
 to be thinking of that time." 
 
 "It was a wild ride through the night, wasn't it, 
 pards?" Higgins went on, although he did not seem 
 to be speaking to any one in particular. "It was dark
 
 Escape Conclusion. 397 
 
 as ten million black cats, and the cold wind cut like a 
 knife. But we stopped 'em we stopped 'em at last" 
 
 "He is raving daffy!" cried Rattleton. 
 
 "That's right," nodded Frank. "He seems to be 
 in a bad way." 
 
 Higgins wanted to get up, but he was not strong 
 enough to do so, and he fell back with a groan. Isa 
 knelt and wet the bandages on his head. 
 
 "Wimmen can't stop a stampede," he said. "What- 
 ever are you on the range fer ?" 
 
 "Don't be excited," he said, softly. "You were 
 hurt." 
 
 "Hurt? What, me? Well, say, that's a joke! 
 Haw! haw! haw! Any of the boys will tell yer you 
 can't hurt Bill Higgins with a club. Hurt? Never 
 was hurt in all my life. I'm tired that's all. Dead 
 tired, and I want to rest. I'll be all right in the morn- 
 ing." 
 
 Then he turned his face toward the wall and closed 
 Bis eyes. 
 
 "I hope he isn't going to die," said Frank. 
 "So do I," muttered Browning, sincerely. "I don't 
 want to have that to think about"
 
 398 Escape Conclusion. 
 
 Higgins lay in a stupor, breathing heavily. 
 
 "Drew," said Isa, "you and Davis know what to 
 do, while I am getting something to eat for these 
 young men. There may be a posse of men here before 
 morning. The place should be clear." 
 
 They understood her, and, without delay, went into 
 the back room, closing and fastening the door behind 
 them. After that the boys could hear them at work in 
 there. 
 
 Isa rolled up her sleeves, found the corn meal and 
 cooking utensils, and prepared some bread for the 
 hungry lads. 
 
 Hodge built the fire for her, and all the boys were 
 very attentive. They watched her with the greatest 
 interest, and an exceedingly pretty picture she pre- 
 sented as she worked over the small iron stove, her 
 cheeks flushed with the heat and her eyes sparkling. 
 
 Frank was silent, as he sat watching the injured 
 sheriff, and, not infrequently, the eyes of the girl 
 would seek him. Then it was that she heeded not the 
 words of any other person, although they directed 
 their conversation pointedly at her. 
 
 "What's the matter with you ?" Hodge finally whis- 
 pered in her ear. "Are you getting stuck on Merri-
 
 Escape Conclusion. 309 
 
 well? It will not do you the least good in the world. 
 He has not a very good opinion of you." 
 
 She turned pale and hung her head, after which she 
 went on with her work in a mechanical manner. 
 
 Hodge was jealous, but he was not the only one. 
 
 Jack Diamond had not failed to note the change 
 that had come over the girl, and he felt disgusted and 
 sulky. 
 
 "It beats the world!" he thought. "Merriwell was 
 right when he said some girls should be handled 
 roughly, and it is plain this girl is one of them. She 
 is stuck on him! I can see it in her eyes and her 
 actions. She showed it when she flung herself in 
 front of the sheriffs gun in order to protect him with 
 her own body. I'll give it up! Merriwell can read 
 girls better than I, and he knew immediately what sort 
 of girl this one is. I have treated her with the great- 
 est courtesy, and she does not deign to give me a look." 
 
 So Jack sat back by himself and sulked. 
 
 Rattleton wondered what Drew and Davis were 
 doing in the back room. They seemed to be lifting 
 and moving something. 
 
 When the bread was cooked and placed on the table, 
 together with a juicy venison steak which Isa procured
 
 4<x> Escape Conclusion. 
 
 from the old man's supply of meat, the boys drew 
 up, their appetites whetted to a keen edge by the de- 
 lightful odor of the food. 
 
 They took turns in urging Isa to sit at the table with 
 them, but she would not do so till Frank added his in- 
 vitation. 
 
 She served them, and, as she had prepared some 
 coffee, they enjoyed a jolly meal, despite the exciting 
 adventures they had passed through within the last 
 twelve hours. 
 
 Rattleton tried to tell a story, but got it so badly 
 twisted that he quite lost the point, although he pro- 
 duced shouts of laughter. Browning staid old Bruce 
 even told a story, and it was a very good one. Dia- 
 mond was silent, and Merriwell watched Bill Higgins 
 with a look of anxiety on his face. 
 
 "It's too bad we have nothing better than water to 
 offer as a drink," said Isa, looking straight at Frank. 
 
 "There is nothing better in the whole, wide world," 
 Merriwell declared. "It is the drink of drinks." 
 
 When the meal was finished Isa urged them to go 
 away at once. 
 
 "If you remain here, you are certain to get into 
 trouble," she said. "Higgins will be all right in the
 
 Escape Conclusion. 401 
 
 morning, and the deputy is sure to have a posse of men 
 here by that time. All of you may be arrested." 
 
 "Let them arrest," said Frank, calmly. "I am not 
 going to leave Higgins now. I shall keep watch of 
 him until he is able to take care of himself, or till he 
 has proper persons to care for him." 
 
 It was useless to urge Frank to change his mind. 
 He was determined to stay, no matter what came of it, 
 and stay they did. 
 
 It was long past midnight when Drew came in by 
 the front door. Davis was not with him. 
 
 Isa was awake and waiting for the old man. 
 
 "Well?" she questioned. 
 
 "It's all right," he assured. "He's miles away now, 
 and all the stuff is safe stowed." 
 
 "Good !" exclaimed the girl. "Let the officers come! 
 I can sleep now." 
 
 When morning came Bill Higgins seemed quite 
 strong, but his head was filled with the wildest fancies. 
 He talked of strange things, and it was evident that 
 his mind wandered. 
 
 Higgins did not wish to eat anything, but Isa 
 brought him bread and coffee, and he took it from her. 
 
 "Pretty girl," he muttered, with a gleam of reason.
 
 402 Escape Conclusion. 
 
 "Fine girl ! Wonder how such a girl came to be out 
 here on the ranch?" 
 
 In vain they waited for the appearance of the deputy 
 and a posse. The expected did not happen. 
 
 Frank had a long talk with Bart. 
 
 "Old man," he said, "you must come with me you 
 must do it ! I will not take no for an answer. If Bill 
 Higgins comes around all right in his head to-morrow 
 he will be after you again. You must make for San 
 Francisco and lose no time in shipping for some for- 
 eign port. After this affair blows over, you can come 
 back." 
 
 "But Isa " 
 
 "Never mind her. She will take care of herself ; it 
 is your place to look out for Hodge. Higgins may 
 be daffy for several days for a week, perhaps. That 
 will give you all the time you need. Here is the war- 
 rant he carried for your arrest. In it you are named 
 as a vagrant and suspicious character. Isa Isban is 
 sure no one but Bill Higgins knows why he is so eager 
 to arrest you. She does not want you arrested, for 
 she fears you will tell some things you know." 
 
 "Is that true, Frank?" 
 
 "Of course it is true. It would not be good for the
 
 Escape Conclusion. 403 
 
 gang if you were to tell. Now don't pretend that you 
 know nothing about the gang, for you must have sus- 
 pected. I know Drew and Davis removed a lot of 
 bogus money and machinery for making it from a cel- 
 lar beneath the back room of this cabin. My ears told 
 me that they were doing that trick last night. Davis 
 is gone. Let him go. Vida Milburn made a mistake 
 when she threw you over for that fellow, but I rather 
 think it was the best thing that could happen for you. 
 The next best thing will be to get away from Isa 
 Isban. Will you go?" 
 
 "Wait till I have talked with Isa." 
 
 "Let me talk with her at the same time?" 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 So the girl was called aside, and she listened to what 
 Frank Merriwell had to say. 
 
 "Do you think you can get Hodge on board a ship 
 before he is arrested?" she asked. 
 
 "I think so." 
 
 "Then you had better go, Bart," she declared, turn- 
 ing to him. "I am very sorry that I got you into this 
 scrape, but I will tell you frankiy that I do not care for 
 you any more than in a friendly way. You are too
 
 404 Escape Conclusion. 
 
 young. I never saw but one fellow anywhere near 
 your age that I fancied I could care for." 
 
 She looked at Merriwell in a very significant man- 
 ner as she uttered the words, but he did not seem to 
 discover any secret meaning in them. 
 
 Hodge, however, came near saying something, but 
 he bit his lip and kept silence. 
 
 "Will you go?" asked Frank. 
 
 "I will go," answered Bart. 
 
 Frank was not satisfied till he saw Bill Higgins de- 
 livered into the hands of friends. 
 
 As for the deputy who took to flight, he met with a 
 fatal accident while passing through the forest. Either 
 he was swept from the back of his horse by a limb or 
 was thrown off. Be that as it may, he was found 
 with a broken neck. 
 
 And Higgins still wandered in his mind when Frank 
 left him. 
 
 The boys made great speed on the road to San Fran- 
 cisco, which they reached in due time, and there, with 
 the other mail that awaited him, Frank found a brief 
 letter from Isa Isban.
 
 Escape Conclusion. 405 
 
 "I wish to let you know what the physicians who 
 have examined Bill Higgins have to say/' she wrote. 
 "They say he has lost his memory, and, although he 
 may recover from the injury otherwise, it is doubtful if 
 he will ever regain his memory. In that case, Hodge 
 is safe anywhere, but it will be well for him to get out 
 of California." 
 
 The news was gratifying to Hodge, and he lost no 
 time in disappearing from view. 
 
 The arrival of the bicycle boys in San Francisco 
 was the cause of two celebrations, one among them- 
 selves and another among their friends in the East. 
 
 The tour across the continent had been a success, 
 and the papers were loud in their praise of plucky 
 Frank Merriwell and his companions. 
 
 "And now we can take it easy/' said Bruce, lazily. 
 
 "That's Bruce," laughed Diamond. "Always will- 
 ing to take a rest." 
 
 "Dunno but wot we hab earned a rest," put in Toots. 
 
 "Doking snownuts no, smoking doughnuts! what 
 a lot of adventures we have had since we left New 
 York!" came from Harry. "Any of us could write ' 
 a book of travels without half trying." 
 
 "We'll take it easy for a while," said Frank. "But
 
 406 Escape Conclusion. 
 
 not for long. I've got an idea for more sport, while 
 we are out here." 
 
 Long letters followed telegrams to the East and 
 long letters were received in return. 
 
 "You've done the trick, wrote one fellow student. 
 "When you get back to Yale, well I reckon the town 
 won't be big enough to hold you." 
 
 "Dear old Yale!" exclaimed Frank. 
 
 That night the boys sang college songs far into the 
 wee small hours of the morning. They were more 
 than happy. Past perils were forgotten; and here we 
 will once again say good-by. 
 
 THE END.
 
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 Frank Merriwell Down South Frank Merriwell's Loyalty 
 
 Frank Merriwell's Bravery Frank MerriwelFs Reward 
 
 Frank Merriwell's Races Frank Merriwell's Faith 
 Frank Merriwell's Hunting Tour Frank Meniwell's Victories 
 
 Frank Merriwell's Sports Afield Frank Merriwell's Power 
 
 Frank Merriwell at Yale Frank Merriwell's Set-Back 
 
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 Frank Merriwell's Daring Frank Merriwell's Brother 
 
 Illustrated, cloth binding* 5O cents per volume 
 
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