Democratic Sentinel, Volume 15, Number 48, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 December 1891 — ROYAL RANGER RALPH; The Waif of the Western Prairies. [ARTICLE]

ROYAL RANGER RALPH; The Waif of the Western Prairies.

BY WELDON J. COBB.

CHAPTER XIV. RANGER RALPH’S ADVENTURES. Wo loft Ranger Ralph in a vory peculiar position of peril and excitement, an occupant of one of the wagons the outlaws had securod from the attacked emigrant train. As lias been stated, tho scout beliovod that his presence in the vehicio was not known or even suspected. Ho had crept thither, dosporatoly wounded as he supposod, and while unconscious tho wagon had startod on its journey. From what ho saw and hoard, the scout reasonod that Danton had met a new section of Dospard's outlaw band near tho emigrant train, and they were a 1 now returning to tho banuit's headquarters at Lono Canyon. The plight was not a pleasant one to tho ranger. He discerned great peril and trouble should Despard carry Inez to his mountain homo. Aloro than onco the old scout had lod tho vigilantos to the place, only to suffer defeat Tho canyon was noarly impassable wnon guarded by the outlaws. Even were tho girl rescued, it would bo difficult to pass through iho qountry infested by hostilo Indians. Still, tho scout was glad the plot now centered at Lone Canyon. Here he know tho hormlt Walford lived. Tho scout found that his wound, received at tho onslaught ou the emigrant train, wliilo painful, was by no means serious. He lay securely hidden by the hay and straw in thq bottom of tho wagon, yet he could soe his cncmlos on the seat and behind the wagon. Tho course of the outlaws during the morning was over a prairie interspersed with trees. Toward evening thoy diverged to the mountains, entered Lono Canyon, and then followed tho Pueblo River through the hills. It was just about dusk when the cavaleado halted at a piaco well known to tho scout. As ho peered from his covert ho knew that ho was in the vicinity of one of the hardest taverns In tho territory. It \Va,s known' as “Lone Canyon Tavern,” and was kept by a man named Ditmar, who, surrounded by fugitives from justice and criminals, safely defied the law in this isolated place. The entire party had stoppod hero, and their noisy tones and clinking glasses could bo heard from the bar-room a few minutes later. The scout was about to shift his pained, crampod position, and oven meditated taking advantage of the gathering dusk to escape from the wagon, when he pausod and listened. 'I wo men wore passing tho wagon and going toward tho saloon. Thoy wore conversing, and ho heard ono of thorn say: “I understand Despard is going to divide and leave tho business. ” “Yes, when ,we get up to tho den,” responded the other. “There’s considerable plunder to divide. ” “5 should say so. Ho got a lot from the emigrant wagons.” “In gold?” “Clearmoney; yes.” “Where Is It?” “Maybe It’s In this wagon.” “Not likely. ” “Why not?” “They don’t leave gold lying around loose. ” One of tho men, as If impelled by some whimsical curiosity, had placed Ills hand over tho backboard of tho wagon. Groping among the hay, he uttered a Startled ejaculation. “Hello!” “What is it?” asked his companion. “There’s some one in hero.” “In the wagon?” “Yea ” “Who is it?” “Dunno, but It’s some ono.” “Let’s have him out.” “No. That’s Danton’s business. I wonder if ho knows who It 19?” “May be a friend of his. We’ll tell him about It, anyway. ” The man pulled vigorously at tho scout’s arm. Ranger Ralph gave utterance to a series of incoherent mutterings. “Drunk!” commented one of tho men. They walked away toward tho tavern. The scout foresaw that his discovery was only a question of time. He glanced toward the tavern and ob-erved that several of the outlaws were hanging outside the piaco in full sight of tho wagon. “If I could only start up the horses around the ledge of rocks there, I would be out ot range and could escape, ” he thought. Ranger Ralph chirruped to the horses, and they instantly started. He had miscalculated what would occur, however.

The moment they turned tho ledge of rocks the road led by a steep descent to the river. Ungulded, and borne forward by the Impetus of the wagon, tho horses dashed down this declivitous pathway. Tho scout sprang to his feet and started for the seat. A swing of the vehicle dashed him against its sides, and then ho gave up all for lost: for the wagon pitched from side to side, lurched forwa:d, fell over the side of the cliff, and went tumbling to the rocky Led of the river, sheer forty feet bejow. Tho startled outlaws hurried after the wagon as they it start forward. They saw the catastrophe, and heard the horses neigh wildly in terror as they struggled in midair. Then the traces gave way, The steeds disappeared under tho waters of iho river. The wagon struck the water, was submerged, and then with its living freight was borne from sight into tho shadows of the canyon, down the swift current of the Pueblo River.

CHAPTER XV, WHITE FAWS. The smoldering camp-firo of the Modocs burned low, and tho spot where the triumphant savages had fired the funereal pile a few minutes previous was silent and deserted. At the place where Darrel Grey had been tied to the tree its charred trunk and a heap of ashes alone showed. The least sanguine of the Indians ■would have sworn that their intended victim had certainly paid the full penalty of his temerity in visiting their camp. Yet the young scout had escaped. It was a marvelous combination of circumstances which led to his timely rescue. He had abandoned himself to his fate, and adjudged a struggle utterly useless when the fire was lighted. He saw the Indians disappear. He saw the fire creep upward—a hideous, menacing serpent of flame—and gave himself up for lost Suddenly hope revived in his breast His hands were loosed; he was forcibly dragged back from the tree, and he turned to greet his unexpected rescuer. ▲ dark, expressive fate peered into

his own, a pair of mournful eyes me! bis glance. “White Fawn!" ejaculated Darrel, In I bewilderment. It was indeed the Indian maiden. “Ye 9 it is White Fawn." “And luwe? You rescued me. Ah, how can I thank you?" “Eagle Eye forgets.” “Forgets what?" “That he saved the life of White Fawn." “But how came you here?” “Because here was the Black Crow.” “Despard!” exclaimed Barrel. “Y'es, so the paleface calls him.” “He is your enemy?" The oyes of the Indian princess flashed fiercely. “He is, my most cruel enemy. ” “Speak! What wrong has he done you?" “Why would Eagle Eye know?” “To avenge White Fawn’s wrongs.” “You would do that?” “Yes, for he has persecuted tho friends of Eaglo Eye.” “Como!” The Indian maidon lod Darrel to a spot near tho river where they would not be discovorod should tho savages return. Then she told her simple, fateful story. It seemed that a month previous she had been wedded at the camp of her father to thu Jaguar, a chief of tho peaceful Ncz Forces. Tho latter was to convey her to tho reservation of his tribo, and left tho wigwam of Shadow Snako loaded down with gold and jewels. Dyke Dospard and his men were to convoy them to their destination. Instoad, he robbed then killed tho Jaguar, as White Fawn bollevod, and imprisoned her in the cave whenco Darrel had rescued her. Here she had been guarded by ono of Despard s men until tho return of the latter from Ton Spot Then ho had attempted to kill her, as has boon soon. Darrel asked tho Indian girl why she did not go to her father with her story. “Not till White Fawn Is certain tho Jaguar is dead, and until sho has killed Black Crow,” sho replied, ominously. Sho listened intently as Darrel related his own adveuturos with the bandit Then she said: “White Fawn knows whoro Black Crow has gone. ” “You do?” “Yes. ” “Whoro?” “To Lone Canyon. ” “Is It far from hero?” “A night’s Journey.” “And you will guide mo thither?” “Yes.” Boforo an hour had passed Darrol knewuhat tho Intrepid Whito Fawn was a valuablo and dauntloss ally to his cause. She seemed inspired with but ono idea, and that was to confront tho man who had wrongod her so terribly. White Fawn understood tho country thoroughly, but they may slow progress, s Many times they concealed themselves to avoid passing savages, and It was night when they came to the canyon where tho stronghold of tho bandits was located. They skirted tho gulch whoro tho Lono Canyon tavern was situated, and descended into tho wild gully boyond, that was desoiato and Isolated in tho extreme. The moonlight showed tho river with the towering hills on either side. “Look!” said Whito Fawn. “Yonder is one of tho hiding places of tho palefaced renegades. ” Barrel saw a dilapidated log structure which seemed to be built out from an immense cavo in tho mountain side. “You think Despard is there?" ho asked. “Yes. ” “And tho girl?” “Is his prisoner there, or noar by. Remain bore. Whito Fawn will soon return. ” “Whore are you going?” askod.Darrel. “To find out how many thorn are—to learn how wo may reach tiiom." Sho was gono like a (lash. Tho moments sped by and Darrol anxiously awaited tier return. Ho was standing on a ledge of rocks which jutted out over the river, and vainly scanned the scene for somo Indication of iho prosonco of his foes. Suddenly, to his right and inland, ho saw a light Hash. He began walking toward it, clambered over a huge boulder, and was amazed to view a natural basin in tho landscape which resembled an immonso pit. Its sides were almost perpendicular, and were overspread with vines and bushes.

Tho light moved across the opon space at the bottom of this indentation. Apparently, it was a lantern carried by somo pefton. Barrel observed that the placo was directly back of tho elevation in which tho log cabin was located. It was evidently a part of the abode of the bandits. As he stood regarding the lantern curiously it suddenly disappeared. At the same moment, in leaning too far over the edge of tho pit, ho lost his balance and fell forward. Down, down ho wonj, slightly breaking a very heavy fall by clutching at ttio vinos and shrubs. He landed at tho bottom of tho pit, badly bruised and half stunned. There was no way of climbing out of the place, and as ho recovered his senses he endoavored to find somo other outtot from his strange place of imprisonment. Ho finally groped his way to an opening that seemed to lead into tho mountain side. Undoubtedly, he reasoned, tho man with the lantern had disappeared by this egress. Ho crept along a narrow passage-way, and saw, some distance ahead, a glimmer of light. Darrel paused, as against Its radiance ho mado out a largo, cavelike apartment. Two men were standing within it Ono was Dyke DeSpard, The other was a man bearing a lantern in his hand. “Well,” the former asked, “is every•thing all right?” “Yes, Captain.” “No spies or visitors since wo left?” “None. ” “And tho way of escape by the pit?" “Is closed up until we need to use it.” “Very well. Now, then, as to your expedition down the canyon?” “In search of the old hermit? “Walford—yes. ” Darrel started. Ho remembered that this was the name of the man to whom Tracey had left the fortune for Inez. “I have located him ” “Good.” “It is about ten miles from here.” “Could you guide me there?” “Readily.” “Is he alone?” “Always. ” “And not prepared for visitors?” “Ho imagines no one knows tho way to his abode." Then wo will make a visit ” “When?” “To-morrow. ” The two mon loft the place. Darrel followed them at a distance. Suddenly the light was shut out from his vision. A large stone seemed rolled Into an aperture leading from the cave. He approached It and peered beyond tho edges. A cry of delight escaped his lips. In an underground apartment stood tho object of his quest It was Inez Tracey, the girl he ao devotedly loved. fro na coaxuußD.]