Four enemies stood between herself and freedom--and
four cartridges were left in her weapon.
At last she crept cautiously out and made her tedious way to the center
of the place again. She must do something and the audacious plan born
of necessity involved the need of a light. If her hand felt flesh
instead, her pistol was ready.
But after much noiseless groping she came upon the overturned lantern
and she had encountered nothing else.
Back in the lee of the rock she boldly struck a match, kindled the
wick--and still as she reached up and set the thing on the boulder's
top the unbroken silence held.
She had hoped to draw their fire and account for some of them at least,
but now as she peeped cautiously out she found to her astonishment that
except for herself the cavern was empty.
She also became sure of another thing. Her saddle-bags were gone.
She came out then and having repossessed herself of her rifle took up a
position well to one side of the shaft's opening where anyone who
entered must pass her muzzle, but she did not venture into the passage
itself because she was sure that that way lay an ambuscade.
Pages:
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184