'Don't like this damn place--too much like a perishin' grave,' was the grumbling reply. 'I'm for goin' back; can't see his light even.'
'Must 'a' died on him, 'bout here too. Thought you wanted this hombre?'
'Shore do, I'd like to flay him alive.'
'Sam here, an' I ain't losin' a--Christ!'
The imprecation was succeeded by a blood-curdling shriek of terror, and then a second, dulled, like a weird echo, appearing to come from the depths below.
'What's happened, Rat?' Flint cried anxiously. 'Where are you?'
A match spluttered in flame. Evidently the surviving ruffian was investigating. Then came a horror-stricken 'Gawda'mighty!' and the pad of hurried footsteps dying away in the direction of the cave.
Sudden pawed about, managed to find and light his precious pine-knot, and then assisted the girl to stand up. She was unhurt, but trembling as one in an ague.
'He has died--a terrible death,' she whispered. 'Why did I come to this awful country?'
Sudden's reply had a touch of sternness. 'Don't blame the country because there are evil men in it, they are everywhere, in the big cities as well as the small settlements. What has happened is just that one o' them has gone to the hell waitin' for him, an' the world is the better for his goin'. Now, we ain't quit o' trouble yet--we gotta find a way out.'
His cold-blooded view of the tragedy steadied, if it did not convince her. They resumed their journey, the puncher slightly in advance, and keeping a wary eye for further pitfalls. Beth was silent for some time, and then asked:
'What do you suppose has happened in the cave?'
'Most probably yore friends are on top by this,' he replied dryly. 'Tiny and Yorky were out of it when I left, an' Dan was battlin' against three--big odds for any man.'
'Why did you run away and leave him?' she demanded, and there was something of anger in her tone.
The darkness hid his grin. 'I was scared,' he said.
The answer, coming from one who had recently dared that desperate leap, was too absurd. 'I don't understand.'
'Scared you would suffer Rattray's fate,' he told her.
The blood raced into her pale face, and she was thankful he could not see it. 'Forgive me,' she murmured. 'You knew of that awful place then? I should have guessed there was a good reason for your leaving Mister Dover. You saved me, and I haven't even thanked you.'
'I'd like yu to forget it, ma'am,' he said, supremely uncomfortable. 'Ain't that a blink o' daylight ahead?'
She failed to see anything, and small wonder, for it was still night outside, as the puncher well knew, but it served his purpose. Presently he noticed she was limping, and asked the reason.
It is nothing--just a bruise, when we fell,' she explained. 'Why didn't you leave me on the other side? Those men would not have harmed me.'
'They were shootin', in the dark, an' might have hit yu,' he pointed out. 'Mebbe I took a risk, but there warn't much time to chew things over.'
After another silence. 'You could have warned Rattray.'
'Did yu hear what they wanted to do to me?' he asked caustically, and when she could not answer, added, 'They would have thanked me with bullets.'
They plodded on, resting on the ground at intervals. Progress was tedious, for the friendly pine-knot had burned out, and they had to grope their way through the blackness. At length, however, Sudden was conscious of a freshness in the heavy atmosphere, and away in the distance there really was a spot of faint light. Beth saw it also, and it revived her flagging energy.
'An opening,' she breathed. 'Heavens, I feel as though I had been buried alive.'
They reached it, and stepped out into the chill air of the dawn. They were on the side of a steep hill; the country below was shrouded in mist, and from out of it came the roar of a river.
Chapter XX
In the cavern, the battle was over. Tiny, smiting lustily, had held his own against Garstone and Lake until a wild shot from Bundy, intended for his own antagonist, struck the big cowboy above the knee and brought him down. Having first secured his six-gun, the released pair went to help the foreman, who was wishing he had taken on an easier task than the owner of the Circle Dot. Awakening to find himself already in Bundy's clutch, Dan had fought furiously. Hammered relentlessly, the attacker had to let go, and both pulled their guns. Dodging about in the uncertain light of a fire, however, does not make for good shooting, and beyond a graze or two, both were unhit.
'Best give in, Dover, we're three to one,' Garstone urged, as he and Lake arrived.
'you can go plumb to hell,' the young man panted.
They came upon him from all sides. He fired once, doing no damage, and then the weapon was struck from his hand. He had a glorious moment when he felt his fist smash into Gar-stone's lips, and that was the end; someone jerked his feet from under him, and though he continued a hopeless struggle, they soon had him bound and helpless. The Easterner, blood drooling from his gashed mouth, bent down, eyeing him with malevolent satisfaction.
'Well, Dover,' he jeered. 'You've made a pretty mess of things. But for you, we'd never have found this place. Thanks.'
'Which takes in the pretty mess I've made o' yore face, I s'pose,' Dan countered.
'No, I'll be showing my gratitude for that later,' Garstone frowned. 'After we've collected the dollars.'
Dan managed a laugh. 'Oh, I can wait; I ain't one o' them impatient fellas.'
'What's a few hours anyway?'
'If you think Zeb'll talk that soon, yo're wrong; you did too thorough a job.'
It was the other man's turn to laugh. 'That's where you're wrong--he has talked,' he said triumphantly. 'I had the news I was waiting for last evening.'
This time he scored. Dan understood; it was the girl who had brought this disaster upon them. In fairness, however, he could not blame her; she was on the other side, and he should have remembered. He had missed a bet.
'What's come o' the two men who were outside? Did you kill them?'
'Certainly not. We had to tie them up, and I fancy your aged lunatic got a rap on the head. You have yourselves to thank for any rough treatment.'
'We can take it,' Dan retorted. 'I noticed you picked on the kid for yore share. Where's Green?'
The taunt penetrated the big man's skin. 'I neither know nor care. When Miss Trenton lost her wits and ran screaming for that opening at the back of the cave, he appeared to lose his courage, and followed her. Two of my men went in pursuit, and have not returned.'
Even as the words left his mouth, Flint staggered into the firelight. His labouring lungs told that he had been hurrying. 'Well, did you get them?' Garstone asked.
'Get them?' the man repeated.
'Yes. Green and Miss Trenton.'
'My Gawd! Was she there too? Funny, I had a notion Green was chasm' somebody; that explains it.'
'Explains what, you idiot? Tell a straight tale,' Garstone said impatiently.
'Me an' Rat was scrappin' with Green when, all unexpected, he grabs a chunk o' the fire, shoves it in our faces, an' runs hell for leather into that hole over there, with us on his tail. It's a kind o' underground passage, black as the inside of a nigger, but we could see his light dancin' ahead so we kept on. It was chancy work, runnin' in the dark, an' he was goin' fast. We couldn't gain any, so we spilled lead, but that didn't stop him. Then he seemed to slow down, an' his torch dropped an' went out.'
Flint paused to draw a deep breath, and resumed, 'Rat was a bit in front, an' called me to hurry. Afore I can git to him, there's an awful screech, follered by another, kind o' smothered, like it came from deep down. I yelled to Rat but got no answer, so I crept forward on han's an' knees, feelin' the floor in front till--there ain't no floor. I
