The brave response of Celeste Seldon pleased the young miner, though he did not wish her to remain upon the box. He knew the merciless nature of the road-agents, and that if they fired without challenging him, she stood, in as much danger as he did of being killed or wounded. So he said:
"I would much rather that you should go inside the coach, especially until we pass the Dead Line."
"No; I remain here."
"You are determined?"
"I am."
"Then I can say no more, and I hope, recognizing that I have a lady with me, they will not fire upon me."
"You seem to confidently expect an attack."
"I am sorry to say that I do."
"May I ask your reasons?"
"Well, I happen to know that one who was secretlyon watch here on my last run is not here to-day, having been called away. I also know that five horsemen, whom I have reason to believe to be road-agents, left W—— ahead of me for the purpose of robbing the coach."
"Have you much of value with you?"
"I have considerable money in bank-notes for miners at Last Chance."
"Is it too bulky for me to hide?"
"I think not, miss."
"Then let me try it."
A halt was made and the money taken from its hiding-place. Then the girl asked:
"Do you know the amount that is here?"
"Yes, miss, it is stated here," and he handed out a paper.
"I will take the paper and the money, for I can hide it," and with this she put it in a silk bag that she carried and fastened it securely beneath the skirt of her dress.
Feeling relieved on this point, Harding drove on and soon after came in sight of the Dead Line.
He had just come up level with the cross thatmarked the spot of former tragedies, and was talking to his team, which showed much nervousness at passing a scene which they realized as one to dread, when loud rang a voice:
"Hold hard, Harding, or you are a dead man!"
Not a soul was visible among the rocks or in the trees, and Harding had it flash through his mind to make a dash, when quickly the hand of the young girl was laid upon his arm and she said firmly:
"Obey!"
"I must do so," was the low reply, for the young man realized that it would bring a volley upon them to attempt to dash through.
So his foot went hard down upon the brake, as he pulled his horses up and the stage came to a halt.
"Make your lines fast around the brake and hands up now!" came the order from the unseen foe.
"You must obey," said Celeste Seldon, as the driver hesitated.
With a muttered imprecation Harding obeyed, and then out from the thicket came a horseman. His horse was enveloped in a black blanket, and the rider wore a black robe like a domino, shielding his formcompletely. His face was covered by a red, close-fitting mask, while a cowl covered his head.
"The devil on horseback," muttered Harding, as he beheld the man, and right there he made up his mind that if he was the sole one who held up the coach, he would watch his chance, if he could get Celeste Seldon away from his side, and try a duel with him for mastery.
But this hope died away when, as though suspecting the intention of Harding, the horseman called out:
"Come, men, and let us get to work."
Silently there came out of the thicket half a dozen men on foot, but all enveloped in black robes, wearing red masks, and with their feet clad in moccasins, while a quick glance at the hoofs of the horse ridden by the chief showed that he had muffles on, to prevent making a track.
The girl calmly surveyed the scene.
The half-dozen men appearing at the call of their chief seemed to be well trained, for two of them went to the heads of the horses, two more to either door of the coach, and the others awaited orders.
The horseman rode close up to the side of the coach, his hand upon his revolver.
"Harding, I see that you meditate resistance if opportunity offers, but let me warn you that you are a dead man the instant you make any attempt to escape or fire upon us. I would kill you now without the slightest hesitation, only I fear it would break up the line and travel to Last Chance, and that I do not wish. Dismount from that box, and, remember, my revolver covers you!"
Harding obeyed in sullen silence.
"Now, what freight have you on?"
"I have the mails, and this lady passenger, but, low as you are, you will not rob her, I hope."
"There was money sent through by you to Last Chance."
"You pretend to know this, but I have no money for Last Chance."
"I know better."
"There is the coach, search it; but let me tell you, if you touch the United States mails you will have every soldier stationed at W—— and at Faraway on your track."
"I believe you are right about that, and I do not care to fight the Government by robbing the mails; but the money I want."
"I have not got any, I told you."
"I do not believe you."
"Then find it."
"I will."
A thorough search of the coach was made, and then the driver was searched, but without any money being found.
"I know that the sum of thirty thousand dollars was to be sent by you to the miners in Last Chance."
"You know this?"
"Yes."
"How?"
"Never mind, but I know it."
"Well, you see that your spy misinformed you."
"As the money cannot be found it is a dead loss to me, and I hold you responsible."
"All right, I am."
"But, as I said, if I kill you no man will be found to take your place——"
"Oh, yes, Doctor Dick will."
"D—— Doctor Dick—I beg pardon, miss, but he refers to one whom I hate, and some day will be avenged upon."
"Well, if you kill me you will have the chance, for he will drive."
"With even that hope to get even with him, I will not kill you, yet I must have that money or a hostage."
"Take me, then."
"No, I could not realize the amount on you."
"Then do without."
"Not I, when there is a hostage at hand."
"Who?"
"This lady."
"Coward! you would not dare."
"Won't I? Then see, for that lady becomes my prisoner until I receive that money."
"What money?"
"The thirty thousand you beat me out of to-day."
"How can you get it by taking me with you?" asked Celeste Seldon quietly.
"Why, very easily, miss."
"How so, may I ask?"
"Harding will go on to Last Chance and reportthat I have you as my prisoner, to hold until the miners pay me the sum of—well, I'll add interest, so call it thirty-five thousand dollars."
"The miners have nothing to do with me, sir, they do not even know me."
"That does not matter, for they are a gallant lot of men, rough though they may look, and many of them be, so, when it is known what I have done, they will chip in generously and the money will be raised very quickly."
"How will you get it?" asked Harding.
"I will meet you on any day we may agree upon, at this spot, with this lady, and you will come alone, as I will, and the exchange of the hostage for the money will be made. If you come with others, or attempt treachery, I swear to you I will kill the girl before your eyes, so if you wish to have that done, play traitor, while, if you act squarely with me, all will be well. What do you say?"
"I say, as it cannot be otherwise, I will be your hostage until the money is paid you," said Celeste Seldon firmly.
The plucky stand taken by Celeste Seldon won the admiration of Harding at once. He did not understand why she had been so prompt in her reply, so willing to at once yield herself as a hostage until a ransom was received for her release. But she did offer, and he at once decided what he should do.
"See here, cutthroat," he said, "I have something to say to you."
"Well, out with it, but be more choice in your epithets bestowed on me, if you wish to keep in good health."
"What! don't like the name, eh? Well, I called you by a name that denotes your calling."
"What have you to say?"
"Just this, that if you will allow this young lady to ride on to Last Chance, on one of my stage-horses, for he will carry her safely there, I will remain your hostage until Landlord Larry sends the money out to you which you demand."
"As a hostage you are of no value, but the lady is."
"Well, again?"
"What is it?"
"If I pay you the amount you said was to be sent by me, will you let the lady go?"
"When will you pay it?"
"Now."
"Do so, and I will let the lady go free."
"No, no, sir, you have not the money," cried Celeste to Harding.
"Yes, miss, I can make it good, for I have a little more saved up than he demands, and I can start over again to lay up a fortune, you see, for I am young yet."
"I will not consent to that, except that I return you the money, my kind friend, for I am well able to do so. I will recompense you, by paying you back my ransom."
"We will not quarrel on that score, miss, so give him the money," said Harding.
Celeste turned, and, raising her skirt, took the bag of money from its hiding-place. This she handed toHarding, who threw it at the masked outlaw's feet with the remark:
"Your spy informed you correctly; there is the money; just thirty-two thousand dollars."
"Thank you," said the outlaw, quietly counting the money before he spoke again.
"Yes, it is all here. Now, miss, had Harding ransomed you, it was your intention to have repaid him, you said."
"By all means, for I have no claim upon that brave gentleman."
"You are able to pay back so large a ransom, are you?"
"Had I not been able to pay it back I would not have made the offer to do so."
"You have not got the money with you?"
"Oh, no, I am no traveling bank, nor am I a fool."
"Well said; but as you are able to pay a ransom for yourself, I shall hold you a prisoner until you pay me the money I demand."
An oath burst involuntarily from the lips of Harding at this treachery on the part of the road-agent,while the young girl turned pale with momentary dread. But she said firmly:
"After receiving the money you demanded, and which I feel it my duty to pay back, as it is really my ransom, will you be so vile, so lost to all manhood, as to enforce your words against me?"
"What more can you expect of one who has no character, who is already damned body and soul. Oh, no, I have no conscience, so do not appeal to me, for all I wish in the world is gold, and that I will have, no matter who the victim or what the means I have to take to get it."
"You are indeed lost to every human feeling."
"So I said, and you are my prisoner until this man, Harding, brings me, well, say thirty thousand dollars ransom money for your safe delivery to him once more. Now, miss, I will take your baggage along, for you may need it, and you will go with me."
"Where would you take me?"
"To my retreat, and you will be treated with respect; but money I must have. As for you, Harding, go on to Last Chance and raise the money for thislady's ransom. Give it to Doctor Dick, and let him come with you in your coach on your next run out.
"Halt just here, and he will be met by one of my men with this lady. If others come, her life shall be the forfeit. When my messenger receives the money, this lady shall be given into the charge of Doctor Dick. Do you understand?"
"I do, and you will understand that all of Last Chance, every man capable of carrying a gun, will be upon your trail before night."
"Just let any one pursue me, and instead of finding me, you will discover the dead body of this young girl in the trail awaiting you. Remember, I am not to be followed, or intimidated. Do you understand now?"
Harding made no reply, for he was too much overcome to speak; but the small leather trunk belonging to Celeste Seldon having been taken from the coach, along with a side-saddle and bridle she had brought with her, the driver clasped her hand in farewell.
Harding was unable himself to speak, for his emotion at being unable to protect the girl. Celeste Seldon said to the outlaw:
"I would like to have a word with this gentleman."
"Before me, yes," said the masked chief.
"Very well, I have no secret to make known to him, so you may hear."
Then, turning to Harding, she continued:
"You have been most kind to me, sir, and I appreciate it. You have done all in your power for me, no one could do more; but let me say to you if you can raise the sum demanded by this—this—robber, do so, and every dollar shall be refunded to you within a few days after my return East."
"The men won't ask it, miss."
"But I shall pay it. Now to the reason in part of my coming here."
"Yes, miss."
"Try to find out for me among the miners if a man by the name of Andrew Seldon is known to any of them, and, if so, where he is."
"I will."
"Try also to do all in your power for that poor young man Bernard Brandon, who, you told me, had been crazed by a bullet-wound, doubtless given by this very—murderer."
"Yes, I shot him, and killed Dave Dockery, the driver, and a miner at the same time," was the remark of the masked road-agent, delivered with the utmost effrontery.
"You seem proud of your red work, sir."
"Yes, killing is a trade with me just now."
Celeste Seldon turned from him with disgust and horror, and, addressing Harding, continued:
"Ask the one you spoke of as Doctor Dick to do all in his power for that poor sufferer, and he shall be well rewarded for it. When I am released I will go to Last Chance, as it was my intention, and do all I can to find my father, and minister to the sufferings of poor Mr. Brandon. Now, I thank you once more and bid you good-by."
Harding clasped her hand, dared not to trust himself to speak, but there were volumes in the look of intense hatred he cast upon the masked face of the road-agent chief. Then he mounted to the stage-box, gathered up his lines, and drove away in a silence that was most expressive.
Harding glanced back as he came to the end of thecañon, but saw that the road-agents and their fair prisoner had already disappeared.
Then the lash descended upon the backs of the startled horses and the team was sent along at a pace that was dangerous indeed.
But Harding could only find vent for his pent-up feelings by rapid and reckless driving, and never before had the distance between the Dead Line and Last Chance been covered in the time in which he made it.
Notwithstanding his delay at the Dead Line, he went thundering up the valley half an hour ahead of time, and when he drew rein before the hotel his horses were reeking with foam and panting like hard-run hounds, while his face was white, his eyes ablaze with anger and indignation, and his teeth set firmly.
"Great God! Harding, what has happened?" cried Landlord Larry in alarm.
Throwing the mail at the feet of the surprised landlord, Harding leaped to the ground and said hoarsely:
"Come, I wish to speak to you."
He led the way into the office and then told the whole story.
"We will mount a hundred men and go in pursuit at once," cried Larry.
"What! do you forget his threat?"
"What threat?"
"To kill the girl!"
"He will not do it."
"He will."
"No, he dare not."
"You do not know him—I do."
"Well, what is to be done?"
"Just what he demands."
"What! pay him?"
"By all means, and save the girl!"
"You are right."
"But have all ready then, the moment that she is safe, to throw five hundred mounted men on a hunt for him, have the entire country about Dead Line surrounded, and then hunt him and his men to death," savagely said Harding.
"Yes, it must be done; but now to tell the men what has happened," and Landlord Larry went out, followed by Harding, to find a large crowd of miners gathered about the hotel.
Landlord Larry was considerably nonplused by what had been told him by Harding, and he hardly knew how to break the news to the miners. Hundreds had assembled, for the mad race of Harding's team up the valley had told them that something had gone wrong.
So they had hurried in twos and by half-dozens to the hotel to hear what had happened.
They were more eager to learn it all when it was told how Harding had made no report, but had led Landlord Larry into the office and been closeted there with him an hour.
The panting horses had been led away to the stable, the mail had been opened by Landlord Larry's clerk, and many had gotten letters.
But the interest in letters was lost in the desire to learn what had happened on Harding's run in.
When the two men were seen coming out of the hotel, a wild yell greeted them.
Landlord Larry stepped out upon the piazza, and at once a silence fell upon the crowd, while every eye was turned upon the white face of Harding.
"Men, I have bad news for you," said Landlord Larry. "The coach has been held up again, and thirty-two thousand dollars in money, given to Driver Harding to bring to Last Chance, was taken. There are some forty of you who feel this loss, having sent your gold out to be exchanged for this money. But that is not the worst of it.
"The mails were not disturbed, as the road-agent said that he wished no trouble with the Government. Nor is this all, for Harding had a passenger with him on this run, a young girl."
"Where is she?" came in a chorus of voices.
"I will tell you: There were seven road-agents, all masked, and their chief mounted. They held the coach up at the Dead Line, and they covered Harding with their rifles, and demanded the money which, in some way, they knew he had.
"The young lady had hidden it for him, but as she was to be held for ransom, she gave it up, and,learning that she was rich, the road-agent chief then demanded ransom from her."
And speaking slowly and distinctly Landlord Larry went on to tell the whole story of the coach and taking of Celeste Seldon captive.
The crowd was as silent as death, except for the suppressed breathing of the men, and the bronzed faces of the miners paled and flushed by turns. When at last it was told how a ransom of thirty thousand dollars was demanded, before a word had been said that it would be paid back, a yell arose:
"We'll raise it!"
"Good! that is just what I knew you would do, pards, and I will head the list with five hundred," said Landlord Larry.
"Put me down for five hundred," called out Harding, and the two offers were cheered, while a stern voice called out behind the landlord:
"Put me down for a thousand, Larry, for I have heard all that you have told the men."
It was Doctor Dick, who, seeing the crowd in front of the hotel, had come to the piazza by passing into the house through the rear door.
Another cheer greeted the sum named by Doctor Dick, and there arose cries on all sides as men pressed forward:
"I'll give a thousand, landlord!"
"Name me for fifty."
"Put me on the list for a hundred!"
"Twenty-five for me!"
And so on were the sums named by the noble-hearted and generous fellows, even those who had lost their money by the road-agents subscribing, until Doctor Dick called out, for he had been keeping account:
"Hold on, all! The amount is already named. Now, men, form in line, and give your names as you pass along, and the money, those who have it."
It was late when the ransom list was made up, and the men had not heeded the supper-gong until after they had paid their subscriptions.
Then Landlord Larry packed the money away, and the crowd dispersed to their various occupations and pleasures for the night, which may be set down as consisting principally of drinking and gambling.
The question regarding the unfortunate girl who had fallen into the hands of the masked and merciless outlaws being settled, the driver said to Landlord Larry and Doctor Dick, who had returned to the office in the hotel.
"Now I wish to see about the poor fellow whom that young girl was coming out to see, and also to learn about her father."
"Who was her father?" asked Landlord Larry.
"Her name is Celeste Seldon, and she wished me to ascertain if her father had ever been heard of in the mines. His name was Andrew Seldon."
"Andrew Seldon?" quickly said Doctor Dick.
"Yes."
"I know of such a man, or, rather, knew of him, for he is dead now," was the response of the gambler.
A cloud passed over the face of Harding, and he remarked sadly:
"That poor girl seems doomed to have sorrow dog her steps. But you knew her father, doctor?"
"Yes, I knew him long years ago, and I happen to know of his having been out here, working for a fortune in the mines, I believe."
"You are sure that it is the one she seeks?"
"The names are the same. The Andrew Seldon I knew was from Tennessee."
"So was her father, and he must be the man you refer to. But where did he die?"
"I'll tell you what I have not made known to others. Buffalo Bill and I struck a trail to see what the end would bring to us, and the night before we came to the end those we sought were buried by the caving-in of a mine which they were working under a cliff. One of those men was Andrew Seldon, and he had a companion with him."
"And they were killed?"
"Yes, buried under the cliff, that fell upon their cabin, destroying all."
"You must tell the story to the young girl, for I cannot, doctor."
"I will do so, though I hate to give a woman pain."
"Now, doctor, I wish to ask about the one she seeks here in Last Chance."
"Who is he, Harding?"
"The poor fellow you so devotedly cared for, but whose reason was destroyed by the wound he received from the road-agents."
"Ah, yes, poor fellow, his mind is irrevocably wrecked."
"Where is he?"
"Landlord Larry can tell you better than I, for he seems to avoid my cabin since I gave him up as a patient."
"He wanders about among the camps at will; but that reminds me that I have not seen him to-day," the landlord said.
"Is he the one the girl is coming to see?" asked Doctor Dick.
"Yes, and his name is Bernard Brandon. He came out here on a special mission for her, I suppose to find her father, and not hearing from him she feared that he had gotten into trouble, so came West herself in search of him."
"Well, her coming may bring back his reason, though I doubt it."
"Will you not question him, doctor, telling him about her, and see if you cannot get him to talk rationally?"
"Certainly, Harding, but where is he?"
Landlord Larry asked his clerk about the man, buthe had not seen him all day, and, the miners being questioned, not one recalled having seen him since the day before.
In some dread that harm had befallen him, Harding then went out in search of the poor fellow. He went from miner to miner and camp to camp in his vain search, for not anywhere could he find any one who had seen the missing man for over twenty-four hours.
Becoming really alarmed, when he realized the shock it would be to Celeste Seldon, whose hazardous and costly trip to the West would be utterly useless, Harding went back to the hotel to consult Doctor Dick and Landlord Larry about giving a general alarm.
Then alarms were only given in times of direct need, for the miners were sworn to obey the call, and come from every camp and mine within the circuit of habitation about Last Chance.
The alarm was given by sending a mounted bugler to every prominent point in the valley, where he was to sound the rally three times.
A half-dozen positions thus visited would send thebugle-notes into every camp of the valley, and it was the duty of all miners to at once strike for the place of assembly at the hotel, and give the warning to all others whom they saw.
Landlord Larry hearing the story of Harding's fruitless search for the stranger, at once decided to order the alarm sounded without consulting Doctor Dick, who was not at his cabin.
So the bugler was called in, and, mounting a speedy horse, he placed the bugle to his lips and loud, clear, and ringing resounded the "rally."
Then he dashed from point to point at the full speed of his horse, and within half an hour, from half a dozen prominent positions, the bugle-call assembling the miners had rung out and men were hastening to obey the summons.
Within an hour every man in Last Chance had reported at the assembling-point, all eager to know the cause of the alarm.
Again Landlord Larry was the speaker, and he began by asking if the unfortunate stranger, whose wound had crazed him, was in the crowd.
Every eye was at once on the search for the man, but soon the reports came that Bernard Brandon was not in the crowd.
Then Landlord Larry made known that the mysterious disappearance, at the time of Miss Seldon's capture by the road-agents, was a coincidence so strange that it needed explanation.
Miss Seldon was coming to Last Chance to find that very young man, who had in turn come there in search of her father, and now, when she was a captive to the road-agents, to be given up only upon the payment of a large ransom, the stranger had most mysteriously disappeared.
The name of the young lady's father was Andrew Seldon, and if any miner present could tell aught regarding him, or had known such a man, the landlord wished him to come and tell him all that he could about him.
But it was the duty, and but justice, for one and all of them to set out on the search for the young stranger who had disappeared from their midst, and he wished to know if they would not take a day offand do so, for it might be that he had been injured, and was then lying suffering and deserving their sympathy and aid somewhere among the mountains.
A perfect yell in answer to the request of Landlord Larry told him that Bernard Brandon would be found if he was in or near Last Chance, and so it was agreed that all would start at dawn the following morning, many mounted, many on foot, and report the result, if good or bad, at the hotel at night.
So the miners' meeting broke up, and with the first gray in the east the following morning, four-fifths of Last Chance were off, searching for the missing man.
As they wore themselves out, or completed the search over the circuit assigned them, the men came in and reported at the hotel. Each had the same story to tell, that the search had been a fruitless one.
Many of the mounted men did not come in until after dark, but theirs was the same story, that no trace of the missing stranger could be found.
At last every man who had been on the search had returned, and not the slightest trace of the missingBrandon had been discovered by a single one who had gone out to look for him.
No one remembered to have seen him very lately, and so his fate was unsolved, and the miners put it down as unknown, with the belief that he had either been kidnaped by road-agents or had fallen into some stream, or from a cliff, and thus met his death.
The belief of Landlord Larry and Harding was that Bernard Brandon had been captured, for some reason, by road-agents, and this convinced them that there were spies of the outlaws then dwelling in their midst; but what the motive for kidnaping the man was, they could only conjecture, believing it to be ransom that they thought the miners would pay, and, if they did not, that Celeste Seldon would.
This belief, of spies in their midst, caused a very unpleasant and uneasy feeling among all, for hardly any man knew whether he could trust his own comrade or not.
Doctor Dick came in late from his search and rounds to visit his patients, and listened in silence to the report that Bernard Brandon could not be found.
He, however, would not believe that road-agentshad kidnaped the crazed man, but said that he might have sprung from the cliff and taken his own life, have fallen over a precipice, or been devoured by the fierce mountain-wolves that hung in packs about the camps.
It was with a sinking heart that Celeste Seldon saw Harding drive away upon the stage, leaving her in the power of the road-agents. But she was a brave girl, and determined to show the outlaws that she did not fear them, no matter how great her dread of them was in reality.
The saddle and bridle she had brought with her were carried along for a couple of miles, and placed upon a led horse, one of half a score hidden there, and the masked chief started to aid her to mount.
But she said with a sneer:
"I need no assistance from you."
With this she placed her hands upon the horn and leaped lightly into the saddle.
Her leather trunk was then strapped securely upon a pack-saddle, and the chief said:
"Now, Miss Seldon, that you and my men are mounted, we will start."
She turned her horse on the trail behind him, and the other outlaws followed, all riding in Indian file and with several packhorses bringing up the rear.
After a ride of a dozen miles a halt was made for a rest, the chief said, and then Celeste Seldon observed that the hoofs of every horse were muffled, to prevent their leaving a trail.
Having been left something over a couple of miles from the scene of the holding up of the stage, it would be next to impossible for the best of trailers to discover which way the road-agents had come to the spot and left it, for the chief's muffled-hoofed horse would leave no track to where the other animals were.
Tired out and anxious, Celeste Seldon, after eating sparingly of the food given her by the chief, sat down with her back to a tree, and, closing her eyes, dropped into a deep sleep. When she was awakened to continue the journey she found that she had slept an hour.
"We are ready to go miss," said the man who had appeared to be the chief's lieutenant, and whom he had called Wolf, whether because it was his real name, or on account of his nature, Celeste did not know.
"I am ready," she said simply, refreshed by her short nap.
"Shall I aid you to mount, miss?"
"No, I can mount without your aid; but where is your chief?"
"He has gone on ahead, miss, to prepare for your coming, leaving me to escort you."
"I am content, for one is as bad as the other," was the reply, and, leaping into her saddle again, she fell in behind the man Wolf, and the march was again begun.
Night came on, but the outlaws rode on for an hour or more, when they halted at a small spring in a thicket.
Celeste was made more comfortable in a shelter of boughs, hastily cut and thrown up, and when supper was ready she ate heartily of antelope-steak, crackers, and coffee.
She was rather glad to have got rid of the masked chief, of whom she stood in the greatest awe, and Wolf never spoke to her unless she addressed some remark to him.
When she lay down upon the blanket-bed, spreadupon fine straw, which he had made for her, she sank at once to sleep.
She had no thought of escape, for what could she do there alone in that wild, trackless land? She would bide her time and await the result, be it what it might.
She was awakened early in the morning, and the march was at once begun again, a halt being made a couple of hours later for breakfast.
While it was being prepared she was allowed to wander at will, Wolf calling her only when it was ready, and thus showing that they had not the slightest idea that she would do so foolish a thing as to escape from them, to perish in the wilderness, or meet death by being attacked by wild beasts.
When the start was again made, Wolf said:
"When we halt for our noon camp, miss, I will have to blindfold you, and bind your hands."
"Ah! you consider me very dangerous, then?" she said, with a smile.
"You doubtless are dangerous, miss, in more ways than one; but it is to prevent your seeing where we take you that you are to be blindfolded."
"Do you think I could guide a party after you?"
"You have the nerve to do it, miss."
"But why bind my hands?"
"To prevent your removing the bandage from your eyes, miss."
"I will pledge you my word that I will not do so."
"I believe you would keep your word, miss; but the chief is a man who is merciless, and his orders were to blindfold and bind you, and if I disobey he would shoot me down as though I were in reality a wolf."
"Perhaps not much loss, but I will submit," said Celeste with a sigh, for she had enjoyed the scenery, and her freedom as well this far, and now must be both blindfolded and bound.
It will be remembered that when Buffalo Bill and Doctor Dick rode away from the caved-in mine and crushed cabin of the two gold-hunters in the Grand Cañon, there were human eyes following their movements that they little dreamed were upon them.
Gazing at them from a hiding-place half a mile away were two men whose faces showed much anxiety as they saw the scout and the gold king moving about their quarters, when they had believed themselves hidden from all search by friend or foe.
Those two were Andrew Seldon and Lucas Langley.
Their escape had been miraculous, from being buried in the mine beneath the cliff, and they had established for themselves new quarters up the Grand Cañon a few miles away from their former home.
This new camping-place was more secluded than the former one, and approached by a narrow ridgethat no one would believe a horse could pass along, for in places it was only eighteen inches wide.
But Andrew Seldon had gone first along it on foot, and found beyond, up in the depths of a large cañon opening into the mightier one, a perfect garden spot and scene of beauty.
A crystal stream trickled down a lofty precipice and flowed through the cañon, and in its bed glittered grains of gold innumerable.
Back under the shadows of the towering cliffs there were found veins of precious metal giving promise of rich mines.
There were trees growing luxuriously in this nature's park, velvety grass covering acres of meadow-land, wild fruits that were delicious, and everything to make this home a most charming one.
They first made the effort to get their horses across the narrow ridge, upon either side of which was an abyss a quarter of a mile in depth, seamed with ravines, and looking like the craters of defunct volcanoes.
The first horse tried, Andrew Seldon's own riding-animal, followed his master without hesitation along the dizzy, awful pathway.
Turning, Seldon led him back again, and then the other animals followed slowly, and though nervously, yet without accident.
They were repaid for their fright when turned loose upon the acres of luxuriant grass in the valley.
A fence of poles made a barrier across the narrow entrance of the valley, and so the horses were allowed to roam at will.
A stout cabin was next built, and the two men having made themselves comfortable for the winter, were ready to begin their search for gold, feeling safe once more in their retreat, for who would believe that they had crossed that narrow ridge to find a hiding-place beyond?
And here these two men, so strangely met, with mysterious lives, and both in hiding from the world, settled down to win a fortune from the generous earth, to earn riches that would make them comfortable in their latter years far from the scenes that had known them in other days and to which they dared not return.
Each day they worked several hours in their gold-hunting, and then one of them would take his gun and go in search of game, while the other would do the chores about their cabin.
It was upon one of these hunting expeditions one day that Andrew Seldon found himself belated from having pursued his game much farther than he had thought.
It was some miles back to camp and the sun had long since ceased to send its rays down into the depths of the mighty chasm of the Grand Cañon.
He started back, with his game swung up on his back, and the shadows rapidly deepening about him.
As he neared his old destroyed home he stopped suddenly, for across the cañon a light flashed before his gaze.
"It is a firelight as sure as I live," he muttered.
"What does it, what can it, mean?"
He stood like one dazed by the sight for some time, and then slowly fell from his lips the words:
"It can mean but one thing—that some one has come into the cañon."
After a moment more of silent thought he said almost cheerily:
"Ah! it is Lucas."
But again his voice changed as he added:
"No, he dreads the spot where he was so nearly buried alive and will not go there. Whoever it is, he is a stranger. I must know, for if they have come here to remain, if they are our foes we will be forewarned and hence forearmed.
"I will at once solve the mystery, for I had hoped never to behold a human face here other than Lucas Langley's and my own," and the gold-hunter walked away in the direction of the firelight which had so startled him.
He went cautiously, for he knew well the danger if he was discovered, and the builders of the camp-fire proved to be foes.
He knew the locality well, and that he could approach within a hundred yards of the fire, and discover just what there was to be seen.
Arriving within an eighth of a mile of the spot he halted, laid aside his game and rifle, and then movedforward from rock to rock, tree to tree, armed only with his revolvers.
He now saw that there were three fires, two near together and one a couple of hundred feet apart and off to itself.
The scene of the camp was a small cañon near his old home and on the trail leading to it. There was gold in the cañon, for he had discovered it there and taken some away, while he had marked it as his claim, it having been already staked as one of the finds and claims of the real Andrew Seldon.
In truth, there were a dozen such claims in the Grand Cañon found by Andrew Seldon, all of them paying finds.
Having reached a point within a hundred yards of the camp-fires, Seldon leaned over a rock and began to survey the scene.
The three fires were burning brightly, and beyond the light fell upon a number of horses corralled in the cañon, where there was grass and water. There were brush shelters near, three in number, and about the fires in front of them were gathered a number of men.
Counting them, Andrew Seldon found that there were eight in sight.
There appeared to be no guard kept, and the camp was certainly not a very new one, apparently having been made there several weeks before.
Emboldened by his discovery, the gold-hunter crept nearer and nearer, and then could see that the men were all masked.
This struck him as being a very remarkable circumstance, indeed, since they were clad like miners, some of them wearing beards that came below their masks. All were armed thoroughly.
They were eating their supper as Andrew Seldon looked at them.
Gaining a point of observation still nearer, the gold-hunter obtained a view of the camp-fire apart from the others. A comfortable little cabin was just behind the fire, and a rustic bench had been made near it.
A blanket hung over the door of the tiny cabin, and about the fire was the evidence of a supper recently eaten, for a cup, tin plate, and knives, with the remains of a meal, were upon a rock that served as a table.
Upon the rustic seat sat one whose presence there was a great surprise to Andrew Seldon.
"By Heaven, it is a woman!" he almost cried aloud in his amazement.
Then he determined to get a still nearer view, and after surveying the position, he decided that he could do so by passing around to the edge of the cliff and creeping along it to a point not sixty feet away.
As he, after very cautious work, reached the point he sought, some forty feet from the one at the camp-fire, gazing upon her he muttered to himself:
"It is a young and beautiful girl, and why is she here with those strange men? Who is she, and what is this mystery? I must solve it."
He noted that the single fire was just around a bend of the cañon, and that the men were camped below her.
"This looks as though she was a prisoner. But how did they find this spot, and how dare they venture down that dangerous trail?
"Well, Andrew Seldon the real did it, I did it, Lucas Langley also, and Buffalo Bill and the comradewith him were two more to make the venture, so why not these men?
"But why are they masked, and what does it mean that they have that young girl in their midst? Beyond doubt she is a captive, and yet I dare not communicate with her. It would betray my presence and I would lose all, perhaps my life.
"They do not know of my presence here in the Grand Cañon, and they will hardly find our camp, at least as long as they find gold where they are. Well, I will return to my home and tell Langley of my strange discovery."
After so musing, and gazing the while at the girl, Andrew Seldon was about to leave his position, when he saw a horseman ride into the lower camp. The horse seemed to have been hard ridden, for he came in with lowered head, and that the newcomer was in authority there was shown by the men rising as he approached the fire, while one of them took care of his horse.
"I will see what this arrival means," muttered Andrew Seldon, and he kept his position among the rocks.
The man who had ridden into camp gave some order, which Andrew Seldon could not hear, and one of those about the camp-fire at once set about preparing supper for him.
There was upon his face a red mask, much as the others wore, but he was dressed in somewhat better style than they, wearing cavalry-boots instead of heavy ones such as his men had on, while his body dress was a velvet jacket.
His hat was a slouch, encircled by a silver cord representing a snake, as the gold-hunter discovered, when he afterward got a closer view of him.
He talked to his men for a few minutes, but what he said the gold-hunter was unable to hear. Then he walked away in the direction of the other fire.
"Now I can know what this means," muttered Andrew Seldon eagerly.
The young girl had certainly seen the man arrive in camp, but she had shown no interest apparently inhis coming, and now, as he approached, she calmly remained seated, her eyes, however, following his movements.
As he drew near he politely raised his sombrero and said:
"I hope I find Miss Seldon well?"
"Seldon! She bears the name I now am masquerading under," muttered the gold-hunter in intense surprise.
"Miss Seldon is as well as could be expected under the existing circumstances, of being the captive of a band of cutthroats," was the cutting reply, and the listening man, who heard all, opened wide his eyes.
"You are harsh in your terms, Miss Seldon."
"Are you not road-agents, robbers, and murderers, and are you not holding me here for ransom, after having robbed me of a large sum in my keeping?"
"Yes, such is the case."
"Then why wince under the name of cutthroat? But you have been away for some days."
"I have."
"You have seen your chief?"
"I have."
"And what message does he send?"
"You are to go with me at dawn to the rendezvous on the Overland Trail, where you are to be given over to the one sent by the miners of Last Chance to pay your ransom."
"I am glad of this; but will your chief keep faith, or will he play the traitor for a third time and escape giving me up through some trick?"
"No, for if he did he would surely be run down, as he knows, by the miners, even if your life was the forfeit."
"I hope it may prove true that I am to be ransomed, and I will be ready to go with you; but where is your chief?"
"He is in his other camp."
"Then he has two?"
"Yes."
"Am I to be blindfolded and bound again when you are taking me from here?"
"Such are his orders, Miss Seldon."
"He fears that I, a young girl, may lead a force upon his secret retreat?"
"That is just what he fears, Miss Seldon."
"I only wish Iwasable to do so."
"Miss Seldon, may I speak a word to you?" suddenly said the masked outlaw, drawing nearer.
"I believe there is no more to say, for I will be ready at the hour you desire to start."
"There is more to say, and say it I will. I wish to tell you that I have been a very wicked man, that I went to the bad when hardly out of my teens, broke my mother's heart by my evil life, and ruined my father financially, driving him to suicide in his despair.
"I came West and tried to redeem the past by becoming an honest miner; but luck went against me, and I at last turned once more to evil and found a band of outlaws. Money came to me in plenty, and at last I drifted into the band that our chief commands, and, as you know, I am his lieutenant.
"He found this mine and sent us here to work it and have our retreat here also. Much gold is coming to us through our work, and also by our holding up the coaches on the Last Chance trail, for he posts us where to be on hand for an attack, as we have what we call the post-office half-way between our camp and his.
"When he made you a prisoner I felt for you, and, as I was the one to hold you captive and bring you here, I grew more and more fond of you until now I must, I will tell you, that I love you with my whole heart and soul, Celeste Seldon."
The young girl had not moved during the time that the outlaw lieutenant was speaking, but now, when he proclaimed his love for her, she arose, drew herself up, and said haughtily:
"And I, Celeste Seldon, abhor such love as you, an outlaw, would feel for me, and command you not again to speak one word to me while I am in the hateful atmosphere of your presence as your prisoner."
"Celeste Seldon! It washername—hisdaughter's name, and yet the letter said that she was dead! Is this a coincidence, or is she alive, and is this young girl the child of Andrew Seldon the real?"
So mused Andrew Seldon the impersonator, as he crouched among the rocks, his eyes riveted upon the girl not fifty feet from him, and who so boldly faced the outlaw officer who had dared breathe to her a word of love.
The outlaw stood abashed at the manner in which his avowal of love had been received. There was no anger in his look, and he seemed hurt rather than offended.
After Celeste Seldon's indignant response to him he half-turned away, as though to retire in silence, but then reconsidered his determination and said in a low tone full of feeling:
"Pardon me, for I did wrong to think for a moment that an angel would look kindly upon a devil.I love you, and I could not but tell you of it, for you had decided me as to my own course, you had made me see my evil life as it is in all its enormity, and decide to make another struggle to go back to honor and truth."
"This, at least, you deserve credit for, and I trust you may carry out your resolve, for in that you shall have my full sympathy."
"Thank you, Miss Seldon; but I have something more to say to you."
"Well, sir?"
"You are to be given up by the chief on the payment of your ransom."
"Yes."
"I wish I could prevent this robbery, but I cannot, as it is simply beyond my power to do so."
"I do not ask it of you."
"Granted; but your being returned will not end it all."
"How do you mean?"
"You came here for an avowed purpose, as I understand it."
"I did, Mr. Wolf."
"That purpose was to find one who had come West on a special mission."
"Granted again."
"His mission was to find your father, Andrew Seldon."
The listener crouching among the rocks started at this and set his teeth hard, while he awaited the reply of the young girl.
"Yes; he came to find my father, Andrew Seldon, who, I had reason to believe, was in the mining-country about here."
"You have not heard of the young man who came at your bidding?"
"Let me say that he came of his own accord, knowing that a great wrong had been done my father by one whom he believed his dearest friend. He came to find him and tell him all the sad truth; but why am I tellingyouthis?"
"Because you know that I am interested, that I can aid you."
"Can you?" was the eager reply.
"I can."
"Do so, and——"
"And what?"
"I will reward you—generously."
"I seek no reward, ask for none, would not accept any pay at your hands, other than to earn your good opinion and gratitude."
"Well, sir?" said Celeste Seldon coolly.
"Have you found your father?"
"No, I regret to say I have not; but I was interrupted in my search by being captured by your robber chief."
"Do you know what became of the young man who came West in search of him?"
"I had a letter mailed at W—— from him, stating that he had heard of people at Last Chance who might tell him of my father, and that he was going there, and would at once communicate with me.
"I had no other letter, and my communications remained unanswered, even my telegrams wired to Santa Fé and mailed there brought no response. Then I decided to come out here myself, and I acted promptly."
"And you have not found the one you seek?"
"I have discovered that the coach in which he left W—— was held up by your band, that he was wounded, and that though he was placed under the care of one known as Doctor Dick, a surgeon, though his life was saved, his reason was gone, and now he is wandering about the mines of Last Chance, a harmless lunatic."
"He was until lately."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean that he was kidnaped several days ago."
"Kidnaped?"
"Yes, Miss Seldon."
"For what purpose?"
"Ransom."
"By whom?"
"My chief."
"Ah! but what ransom can he get from him?"
"I believe you told the chief that you were rich, and this poor fellow is your messenger."
"I think I understand."
"Yes, you will be returned, and then negotiations will be entered into for your messenger's ransom."
"Ah! I am to be still further robbed?" said Celeste, with a sneer.
"Yes, and that is not the end," came the significant reply.
There was something in the response of the outlaw officer that impressed the young girl most strangely. What more could there be in store for her than she had already passed through, which caused him to say that the end was not yet?
The listener among the rocks kept his eyes riveted upon the two, his ears turned to catch every word they uttered.
He now knew that the letter he had received, telling him, as Andrew Seldon, that Celeste, the daughter, was dead, was false, and a fraud perpetrated for some reason upon the absent miner.
"You say that the ransom of Bernard Brandon will not be the end?" asked Celeste, after a moment of meditation.
"It will not."
"What else can there be?"
"A great deal."
"What do you mean?"
"There will be athird demand."
"How?"
"Upon you."
"For what?"
"Gold."
"By whom?"
"The chief."
"What will the demand be for?"
"I'll tell you the truth, as I happen to know it, or, rather, suspect it, from what I do know, have seen, and heard."
"I hope that you will act squarely with me, Mr. Wolf."
"Upon my life, I will, and though I cannot help you now, must even appear to be your foe, in the end I will help you and prove to be your friend."
"I hope so."
"You ask what this third demand will be?"
"Yes."
"Will you ransom Bernard Brandon?"
"Where is he?"
"A fugitive."
"Where?"
"He will be in this camp to-morrow."
"Ah! then I will see him?"
"No; he will not arrive until after your departure."
"I will await his coming."
"That cannot be, for I have orders to start with you to be ransomed, and you are not supposed to know that he has been captured."
"But you have told me so."
"It was a confidential communication, and if you betray me I can render you no further service, for my usefulness will be gone; in fact, I would be put to death."
"I will not betray you."
"Thank you, but let me say that Brandon will be brought here, for two men now have him in charge, and are on the trail here."
"Yes."
"You will be ransomed, and then go to Last Chance. There you will learn of Brandon's mysterious disappearance, and a ransom will soon after be demanded for him."
"Yes."
"You will pay it?"
"Of course I will."
"Then comes the third trial."
"What is it?"
"You will be captured!"
"Ah!"
"It is true."
"By whom?"
"The masked chief of The Cloven Hoofs of the Grand Cañon of the Colorado."
"He will still hunt me down?"
"He will."
"Being forewarned is being forearmed."
"Not in this case."
"Why so?"
"He works in a most mysterious way, and do all you may you will be captured by him."
"And another ransom demanded?"
"Yes."
"And so he will continue to rob me of my gold."
"In this case, the ransom will not be of gold."
"I do not understand."
"The ransom demandedwill be your hand in marriage."
Celeste uttered a cry of alarm, and started back with a look of horror upon her beautiful face.