his force, few enough already for the task in view. Also, a dismissed man might turn traitor, warn, or even join, the enemy.
'That type of humour does not appeal to me,' he said coldly. 'I am willing to overlook it, this time, but you fellows must understand that what I say, goes, or I am finished with the business.'
Being completely in his hands, for ,the present, there could be only one answer to this, and Bundy voiced it:
'I guess we're all agreed on that.' The others nodded assent, Lake leading the way. 'That's all right, Boss. I s'pose with what Miss Trenton has told you, we can go straight to the Cache?'
Garstone suppressed a smile at this clumsy attempt to pump. 'Hardly so simple, Bundy,' he replied. 'My information will enable me to find the treasure only when we have driven Dover and his men away.'
'Why can't we make tracks with the dollars an' leave them Circle Dot pilgrims to go on lookin' for what ain't there?' Rattray wanted to know.
'Because, my clever friend, the said pilgrims are camped right on top of the dollars,' was the crushing reply.
Shortly after midnight, they set out, crossed the basin, and entered the gorge. Fortune favoured them, for the night was dark, and they were able to approach unseen. Fifty yards from the cavern, they dismounted and continued the advance on foot. Moving slowly and silently against the black background of the bushes, they presently paused at the sound of a voice--the doctor's.
'Did you hear anything, Hunch?' it enquired.
No reply came; they did not know that the old man had answered with his customary movement of the head, useless in the darkness. So they waited, and then went a few more paces. The shadowy forms of the sentries could now be dimly discerned.
Flint and Rattray crept up behind them, the soft sand muffling their tread, a rifle-butt rose and thudded on the head of Hunch, spreading him senseless on the ground. At the same instant, vicious iron fingers encircled Malachi's throat from behind, preventing the escape of any sound, he was flung down, tied, and effectively gagged by men who, accustomed to handling cattle and horses, found his spare frame an easy task. That they went to this trouble in his case was due to Garstone.
'Mustn't damage the doctor,' he had said grimly. 'We may need his services.'
Leaving their victims on the ground--having first bound the old man in case he recovered--the attackers moved towards the cavern. The glow of the fires, while emphasizing the darkness, enabled them to see the blanketed sleepers, four at one, and two at the other. The latter interested them not at all. With cat-like tread, and invisible until they got within the circle of light, they spread out and then closed in on the larger fire. A low whistle from their leader, and they charged.
Outnumbered and taken by surprise, the Circle Dot men had little chance. Sudden. awakened by a stumble followed by a stifled oath, only thought it was his turn to take guard, andgot to his feet. Then, across the flames, he saw Yorky, kicking and struggling in the grip of a formless shadow, and heard him yell:
'Look out, Jim; they's on to us.'
He turned just in time to escape a swinging blow from a gunstock. His hands dropped to his belt, but ere he could pull a weapon, his arms were pinioned in a band of steel and he was dragged violently backwards. He saw Yorky felled to the earth by a savage fist, and a fitful flare showed him that it was Garstone who dealt the blow; the sight of this big fellow beating up a boy disgusted and infuriated him.
With a swift wrench, he got one arm free, and twisting, drove a fist where he imagined the face of his assailant must be. His guess was a good one, he felt his knuckles connect with flesh and bone. The man fell away, but before Sudden could make any use of this advantage, another hurled himself upon him, clutching and grabbing for a hold. Every muscle braced to keep his feet, he struck fiercely right and left in an endeavour to break away and use his six-shooters, but the two men gave him not a second's respite.
Guns began to crack spitefully, but in the flickering light and violent action, aim could only be erratic. In one flash, Sudden saw Tiny drop, and his opponent run to the aid of the two with whom Dan was fighting furiously. Biting on an oath, he redoubled his efforts, shooting out short-arm jabs with such speed and venom that one of the clawing forms fell back, and panted:
'We got you to rights, Green. Give in, or I'll blow you apart.' The words were followed by the click of a cocked revolver.
It was Flint's voice, and the puncher was about to tell him where he could go when a woman's shrill shriek of despair rang out, and he saw Beth Trenton--apparently panic-stricken --running in the direction of the tunnel. The memory of the abyss awaiting her chilled his blood.
The interruption had startled his adversaries into a moment's slackness. Stooping, he snatched a blazing pine-knot from the fire and thrust it into their faces. Scorched and half-blinded by this unexpected weapon, they recoiled, and dashing between them, he followed the girl, calling her by name. Only the hollow echo of his own cry came back to him.
He raced on, realizing that her life depended upon his over taking her in time. Fit as he was, his breathing power, already taxed by the fight against two, began to weaken under the strain he was now putting upon it. Moreover, his high-heeled cowboy boots were built for riding, not running, and the uneven nature of the ground provided another obstacle to speed.
But Sudden was not the man to boggle at difficulties, he had met and overcome too many; so he stumbled on as best he could, and in silence, for he needed all his breath. Presently, scuffling step warned him that she could not be far away. He dared not call out, lest he frightened her; the death-trap must be near. A moment later, holding his torch high, he saw her, only a few yards ahead, staggering blindly on, apparently oblivious to all save a desire to escape. With a last desperate effort he reached and dragged her back on the very brink of the chasm.
'It's all right, Miss Trenton,' he said. 'Yu were headin' for danger.'
She looked at him with dazed eyes, made a feeble effort to release herself, then saw the gaping void before them and shuddered violently.
'I lost my nerve,' she murmured. 'The shooting and fighting, I couldn't bear it. I wanted to get away-- anywhere.'
'Shore, I understand,' he replied.
Behind them in the tunnel, a shout, followed by two shots which whistled by them in unpleasant proximity, reminded Sudden that he was a hunted man. He had no intention of allowing himself to be taken, and if he left the girl, she might be hit in the random shooting. He took a quick glance at the bar to their retreat; it appeared to be about twelve feet wide, and the far side was slightly lower. The pursuers, who had no light, were still a little distahce off and advancing slowly. It was a hazardous chance, but still--a chance. He pitched his torch carefully, saw it fall safely on the other lip and remain alight. Then he turned to his companion.
'Fellin' better?' he asked.
'Yes, I am all right again,' she replied. 'What are you going to do?'
'We gotta get over that--ditch,' he said.
'Impossible,' she cried.
'Or stay an' be shot.'
As if to drive home his grim alternative, the tunnel reverberated with two more reports, and the bullets chipped fragments from the rock walls; they were shooting at the light. Sudden acted promptly. Seizing the girl's arm, he stepped back ten careful paces, then stooped and lifted her.
'Keep still, an' don't be scared,' he said.
Filling his lungs, he started to run, gaining momentum with each stride and counting them. At the tenth, with a mighty effort, he launched himself and his burden into the air. Sickening seconds, more like long minutes, ensued, during which they seemed to be hanging over the unseen, terrible trough of blackness beneath. Sudden felt that the girl's weight was dragging him down, and the fear that he had failed to jump far enough flashed through his mind. They were falling fall- ing, and then his feet jarred on solid earth, he stumbled, and went headlong. Beth, forced from his grasp by the impact, was lying, faint and dizzy, just in front of him.
'Don't move,' he whispered.
He need not have troubled; she had no desire or strength to do so. Prone in the darkness they waited; the torch had flickered out. Steps sounded, and a voice:
'C'mon Flint. We must be most on to him now.'
