diff options
| -rw-r--r-- | .gitattributes | 3 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 20617-h.zip | bin | 0 -> 351478 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 20617-h/20617-h.htm | 4326 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 20617-h/images/cover.jpg | bin | 0 -> 250754 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 20617-h/images/masthead.jpg | bin | 0 -> 40902 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 20617.txt | 4156 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 20617.zip | bin | 0 -> 58444 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | LICENSE.txt | 11 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | README.md | 2 |
9 files changed, 8498 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/20617-h.zip b/20617-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..705d082 --- /dev/null +++ b/20617-h.zip diff --git a/20617-h/20617-h.htm b/20617-h/20617-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..dd82aab --- /dev/null +++ b/20617-h/20617-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,4326 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<html> +<head> +<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of Young Wild West at "Forbidden Pass;" and, How Arietta Paid the Toll, by An Old Scout</title> +<meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> +<meta name="generator" content="Sausage Software HotDog Professional 6" /> + +<style type="text/css"> +.chapter {text-align: center} +p {text-indent: 30px; text-align: justify} +h2 {text-align: center} +h3 {text-align: center} +hr {width: 50%} +body {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%} +</style> +</head> + +<body> + + +<pre> + +Project Gutenberg's Young Wild West at "Forbidden Pass", by An Old Scout + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Young Wild West at "Forbidden Pass" + and, How Arietta Paid the Toll + +Author: An Old Scout + +Release Date: February 18, 2007 [EBook #20617] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK YOUNG WILD WEST *** + + + + +Produced by Richard Halsey + + + + + +</pre> + +<div style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center"> +<img src="images/cover.jpg" id="cover" height="796" width="575" alt="Cover" /> +<br /> +<br /> + +<hr style="width: 100%" /> +<br /> +<br /> + +<img src="images/masthead.jpg" id="masthead" height="180" width="575" alt="Masthead" /> + +<br /> +<br /> +</div> + +<h2>YOUNG WILD WEST AT "FORBIDDEN PASS"<br /> +<span style="font-size: 60%">AND</span><br /> +How Arietta Paid the Toll</h2> + +<p></p> + +<hr /> +<h3>By AN OLD SCOUT.</h3> + +<hr /> + +<p></p> +<div class="chapter"> +CHAPTER I. +<br /> +<br /> +THE ARRIVAL AT BIG BONANZA. +</div> + +<p> +It was just about five o'clock in the afternoon of a cool day in autumn +when Young Wild West and his friends rode into a little mining camp +called Big Bonanza, which was situated in the heart of the range, known +as the Silver Bend Mountains, Nevada. +</p><p> +It was the first signs of anything like civilization that the party had +seen in two days, and though there were but half a dozen little shanties +in it, the sight of it was a welcome one. +</p><p> +Young Wild West was beyond a doubt the greatest and best known of the +heroes of the Wild West, and though but a boy in years, he had made a +name for himself that many an elder person would have been proud to own. +</p><p> +He had earned the title of the Champion Deadshot of the West by his +remarkable skill with the rifle and revolver, and he was ever ready to +defend the title against all comers. +</p><p> +Many of his warmest friends called him the Prince of the Saddle, because +he was without a peer at breaking and riding the wildest and most +vicious horses of the West. +</p><p> +When upon the back of the beautiful sorrel stallion he always rode he +made a picture that was dashing and handsome in the extreme. When on his +trips through the wildest parts of the Great West he invariably was +attired in a fancy buckskin hunting suit, and with his sombrero tipped +well back upon his head, he surely showed up as a dashing young hero. +</p><p> +The flash in his eye told of his courage and persistence, while his +athletic form betokened his strength and quickness. +</p><p> +But of all his qualifications to make up a dashing young Westerner his +greatest was his coolness and fixed purpose to do right, no matter what +the cost might be. +</p><p> +Few, indeed, are possessed of such sterling qualities, and it is only +those who are that make real heroes. +</p><p> +But, as we have already stated, and the majority of our readers know, +Young Wild West was a genuine boy hero of the Wild West, and that is +only saying the truth. +</p><p> +Being the owner of several gold and silver mines, the young deadshot had +an income that was more than sufficient to permit him to pursue his +favorite hobby, which was riding about through the wildest parts of the +states and territories in search of adventure. +</p><p> +At the time of which we write there was plenty of excitement and +adventure to be found in that region, and Young Wild West was helping +along the advance of civilization, which, by the way, has not reached +all parts of the West yet, speaking in a true sense, and reckoning in +law and order. +</p><p> +In company with our boy hero were his two partners, Cheyenne Charlie and +Jim Dart, and two very pretty young girls and a young woman. +</p><p> +Cheyenne Charlie was a government scout and one of the best known +Indian-fighters of his time. He was yet a young pan, and though he had +been "through the mill," as the saying goes, he was better satisfied to +be led than to lead, and thus it was that he had cast his lot with Wild. +</p><p> +The scout was a tall man, straight as an arrow, and his long black hair +and mustache, together with his bronzed face, gave him the appearance of +being just what he was—an out-and-out Westerner. +</p><p> +Jim Dart was a boy of about the same age as our hero, born and reared in +the West, and though he seldom had much to say, he was full of grit, and +always ready to do his share. +</p><p> +The two were known as the partners of Young Wild West, and they always +dressed in the same style he did. +</p><p> +The two girls of the party were Arietta Murdock, the charming sweetheart +of our hero, and Eloise Gardner, Jim Dart's sweetheart; the young woman +was the wife of Cheyenne Charlie, and her name was Anna. +</p><p> +The girls, as they always called them, loved to travel around with our +hero and his partners, and they had learned to look upon the dangers +they were constantly coming in contact with rather lightly. +</p><p> +Arietta was the only one of the three who had been born and reared in +the West, but Anna and Eloise had been there long enough to become +accustomed to its ways, and they could ride horseback and shoot with +great skill. +</p><p> +Two Chinamen, who were riding bronchos and leading pack-horses, were +with our friends, and as they came to a halt in front of a saloon that +had a sign across the front declaring it to be a hotel, one of them +hastily dismounted, and before Young Wild West and the rest knew what he +was up to he disappeared around the corner of the shanty. +</p><p> +There were three men, besides the man who ran the saloon, in front of +the roughly-constructed building, and they seemed to be cowboys, by +their general appearance. +</p><p> +All four of the men were regarding the new arrivals with no little +interest, and when the Chinaman slid around the corner of the shanty one +of them called out: +</p><p> +"One of your heathens is dry, I reckon, strangers. I'll bet he's headin' +fur ther back door." +</p><p> +"Yer kin bet your life on that!" Cheyenne Charlie answered. "Hop likes +his tanglefoot once in a while, an' he never loses a chance ter git it." +</p><p> +"Well, if that's ther case I'd better go in an' wait on ther galoot, +then," spoke up the proprietor of the place. "We ain't used ter seein' +gals around here, an' I sorter hate ter leave, too. But business is +business." +</p><p> +The man spoke in a way that was not meant to be disrespectful, for what +he had said was undoubtedly the truth. The few inhabitants of Big +Bonanza were not in the habit of seeing female visitors. +</p><p> +"Well, gentlemen," said Young Wild West, "we have just dropped in here +by accident, and I reckon if there's no objection we'll camp around here +somewhere until morning. We are making a trip across the state, and we +are going in a straight line as much as possible. What we happen to +strike makes little difference to us; whether it is a mining camp or a +desert. We are used to all kinds of traveling, and generally go prepared +for anything." +</p><p> +"Talks like he was someone what sorter knows all about things, eh, +boys?" remarked the cowboy who had called out that the Chinaman was +heading for the back door to get into the saloon. +</p><p> +"Yes," answered one of his companions, while the other gave a nod. +</p><p> +"Looks as neat as a pin, too, don't he?" went on the man, who evidently +took it that our hero was a boy fond of showing off in an expensive +costume, and that he did not amount to a great deal. +</p><p> +"They all look neat," one of the others observed. "Them gals is sartinly +worth lookin' at, ain't they? They've struck it rich somewhere, an' ther +first big town they come ter they've bought new clothes. I reckon I kin +judge things all right." +</p><p> +"So you think you can judge pretty well, eh?" said Young Wild West, as +he dismounted. "Well, what do you take me to be?" +</p><p> +"A putty smart boy, who thinks it looks nice ter have his hair long, an' +who likes ter put on lugs 'cause he's got some putty gals with him," +answered the cowboy, after a slight pause. +</p><p> +"So that is your opinion, is it?" +</p><p> +"I reckon it is, young feller." +</p><p> +"Well, don't you think a person has a right to wear good clothes if he +can well afford it?" +</p><p> +"Oh, yes. I ain't sayin' nothin' about that. But clothes don't make ther +man—or boy, either. How long have you been West, Sonny?" +</p><p> +"How long have you been West?" +</p><p> +"About fifteen years, I reckon." +</p><p> +"Well, I can beat you by three or four years, then. Anything more you +would like to know?" +</p><p> +"Oh, tell him ter dry up, Luke!" said the first speaker. "What's ther +use of talkin' ter ther young dandy? Him an' ther other boy has hired +ther man they've got with 'em ter take 'em around an' show 'em ther +sights; an' they've, got ther man rigged out in buckskin an' fancy +trimmin's, jest ter make 'em all attract attention. I'll bet I'm right +on that!" +</p><p> +He turned to our hero as he said this and acted as though he was sure he +was right. +</p><p> +"How much will you bet, you windy galoot?" +</p><p> +As Young Wild West said this he drew a roll of bills from his pocket and +showed it to the three cowboys. +</p><p> +It was just then that the saloon-keeper appeared in the door, and behind +him was the Chinaman who had sneaked in at the rear door of the shanty. +</p><p> +"What's all this talk about, gents?" he asked. "I hear some putty loud +talk, so there must be somethin' goin' on." +</p><p> +"Oh, there isn't anything going on yet; but there might be, if the +fellows don't get a little more civil," our hero answered, coolly. "It +seems that they are trying to pick a row just because we have on better +clothes than they have. If they are looking for anything like that I +reckon they can get it mighty quick." +</p><p> +"Wow!" exclaimed the most talkative of the three cowboys. "Did you hear +that, boys? Well, well! Who would have thought it?" +</p><p> +Cheyenne Charlie acted as though he would like to take a hand in the +controversy, but he managed to keep quiet. +</p><p> +Jim Dart and the girls were looking on with smiles on their faces, while +the Chinaman, looking out of the doorway, over the shoulder of the +keeper of the saloon, actually grinned with delight. +</p><p> +They all knew that Young Wild West was quite able to take care of all +three of the men if it became necessary and they also knew that +something was likely to happen very soon. +</p><p> +The two companions of the talkative cowboy laughed uproariously. +</p><p> +They evidently agreed with him that the boy was away off in his remarks. +</p><p> +Cheyenne Charlie could keep still no longer. +</p><p> +"Jest show ther galoots that yer ain't foolin', Wild," he said. "Shake +'em up it little." +</p><p> +"Lat light, Misler Wild!" called out the Chinaman, from the door. "Makee +allee samee be polite, so be." +</p><p> +"Shet up, you heathen!" roared the nearest cowboy, and with that he +caught the Celestial by the pig-tail and pulled him out. +</p><p> +A kick followed this and the Son of the Flowery Kingdom let out a yell +of pain. +</p><p> +Biff! +</p><p> +Young Wild West darted forward and struck the cowboy a blow on the +breast that sent him reeling. +</p><p> +"If you insist on it I'll give it to you good and straight," he said, +calmly. "How do you like that?" +</p><p> +Biff! +</p><p> +This time he landed one on the man's ribs, and down he went in a heap. +</p><p> +The other two started to interfere, but out went the boy's left and one +of them landed on all fours in a jiffy. +</p><p> +Spat! +</p><p> +Our hero's right caught the other on the chin and he went, too. +</p><p> +As was to be expected, all three of the cowboys made moves to pull their +guns. +</p><p> +But Young Wild West got ahead of them. +</p><p> +"Let go of those playthings—quick!" he shouted. "I will show you +galoots that you have got to be more civil with us. Get up and say you +are sorry for interfering with us." +</p><p> +There was something about the manner of the boy that told them that they +really had made a mistake. The revolver was held by a hand that was +steady as a rock, and there was no doubt in their minds but that lead +would fly from it if they disobeyed. +</p><p> +They let go their revolvers and scrambled to their feet. +</p><p> +"Ha, ha, ha!" laughed Cheyenne Charlie. "A fine lot of galoots you are! +Young Wild West is only a boy, all right, but I reckon he kin lick a +stagecoach load of sich fellers as you are! Make 'em do ther tenderfoot +dance, Wild. Go on—jest fur fun!" +</p><p> +"All right, Charlie," was the reply, and the young deadshot fired a shot +that hit the ground near the feet of the spokesman of the trio. +</p><p> +"Hold on!" the cowboy shouted. "It's all right, Young Wild West. I know +who yer are now. I'll 'pologize. Don't shoot no more!" +</p><p> +Crack! +</p><p> +Again the boy fired, and then all three, knowing what was wanted of +them, began to dance for all they were worth. +</p><p> +Crack—crack! +</p><p> +Cheyenne Charlie now took a hand in the game, and, while the girls and +Jim Dart laughed merrily, the three cowboys did the "tenderfoot dance" +in fine shape. +</p><p> +Both Wild and the scout fired three or four shots apiece, and some of +them took chips off the high heels of the boots the cowboys wore. +</p><p> +"I reckon that will be about all," said our hero, as he ejected the +shells from his revolver and then coolly proceeded to reload the +chambers. "You galoots will know better the next time. I don't much like +the looks of you, but I want to tell you that if you happen to take a +notion to get square with us for what has happened you'll get the worst +of it. I hope you understand what I say." +</p><p> +The rascals—for they were undoubtedly such—did not stop to make a +reply, but darted into the saloon. +</p><p> +The Chinaman gave a parting laugh, and then, turning to the other +Celestial, observed: +</p><p> +"Me havee velly nallow escapee, my blother." +</p><p> +"You allee samee velly muchee fool!" was the retort. "You allee timee +lookee for um tanglefoot, so be." +</p><p> +"Me havee two velly nicee lillee dlinks, my blother; you no havee." +</p><p> +"Me no wantee," was the scornful rejoinder. +</p><p> +It was Wing, the cook, who claimed he did not want any whisky. +</p><p> +He was just a common, everyday Chinee, who did his work well and slept +whenever he had nothing else to do, providing no one disturbed him. +</p><p> +Hop, on the other hand, was one of the very shrewd and cunning ones of +his race. +</p><p> +Gifted with the art of sleight-of-hand, a lover of gambling and a +fondness for playing jokes on people had made him a great character, +indeed. +</p><p> +But he was a real fixture to the party that Young Wild West led, and as +he had on more than one occasion been the means of saving the lives of +different members of it through his cleverness, he was thought a great +deal of by them all, and many of his shortcomings were overlooked. +</p><p> +Having disposed of the cowboys, Young Wild West now asked the keeper of +the saloon if he thought there would be any objections to their pitching +a camp somewhere around in the vicinity. +</p><p> +"I reckon not," was the reply. "There ain't no one as lives here in Big +Bonanza, what would 'ject ter anything like that. They've all heard tell +about Young Wild West, I reckon, an' some of 'em says as how they've +seen yer. Yer kin bet that yer will be welcome here! Jest help +yourselves ter any spot yer want." +</p><p> +"Thank you. I thought perhaps some one might raise objections—the three +cowboys, for instance." +</p><p> +"Oh, they're strangers here. I never seen them until this afternoon. +They must have come a putty long ways, fur there ain't a ranch in a +hundred miles of here, as I knows of. Go ahead an' pick out a place ter +camp. Ther boys will be here in a few minutes, fur it's about quittin' +time now. I'll tell 'em that Young Wild West, ther champion deadshot, is +here, an' you kin bet that they'll give yer a royal welcome!" +</p> + +<hr /> + +<p></p> +<div class="chapter"> +CHAPTER II. +<br /> +<br /> +OUR FRIENDS HEAR ABOUT FORBIDDEN PASS. +</div> + +<p> +Young Wild West was not long in picking out a spot to camp upon. +</p><p> +It was right near a little, running brook that came tumbling down the +steep rocks and wound its way through the gentle slope upon which was +located the cluster of shanties. +</p><p> +It was easy to tell that the mining camp had not been in existence very +long, for the shanties were new. +</p><p> +As soon as the pack horses were unloaded our friends allowed the two +Chinamen to go ahead with the work of getting the camp in shape, while +they took a look around. +</p><p> +Almost opposite to the point they had rounded in order to ride into the +mining camp was a high ridge, which was easily a hundred feet above the +level. It extended around on both sides and joined the sloping, +irregular side of the mountain over which the trail ran. +</p><p> +Almost in the centre of this was a cut that was about thirty feet in +width, and it was so regular in shape that one would almost have taken +it to be the work of man. +</p><p> +But it was nothing more than one of the passes that are to be found in +the mountains, and which are so handy for travelers to proceed to a +given point in a more direct line. +</p><p> +Young Wild West noticed that a trail ran through the camp direct to the +pass. But it did not appear as though it was used a great deal, since +the wagon-ruts and hoof-prints had become obliterated in some parts. +</p><p> +"I wonder where that trail leads to?" our hero observed, as he tamed to +his two partners. "Wherever it goes, there are not many using it now, it +seems." +</p><p> +"It leads on up in the wilds of the mountains, by the looks of things," +Jim Dart answered. "It may be that prospectors have gone that way and, +not finding anything worth while, have come back through the pass +again." +</p><p> +"Sorter looks that way, I reckon," said Cheyenne Charlie. "But, hello! +Ther miners is quittin' work. Now we'll soon see how many of 'em knows +us, as ther saloon man said they did." +</p><p> +Sure enough, the miners were seen heading for the saloon. They came from +different directions, for it was just six o'clock now, and they had quit +work for the day. +</p><p> +The claims that were being worked were all within sight of the shanties, +the nearest one being but a couple of hundred yards away from the +saloon, which appeared to be the leading place in the camp. +</p><p> +But as the store was very near to it, it might be that some of the men +were bound there. +</p><p> +Having satisfied themselves that it was a very nice, little mining camp, +our friends turned to and assisted the Chinamen to get things in shape. +</p><p> +They did not intend to remain there any longer to get a rest than for a +day or two, but they were always interested when they struck a spot +where gold dust was being taken out. +</p><p> +No end of good luck had followed them in their search for gold, and +Arietta, the charming sweetheart of the dashing young deadshot, had the +lead over them all, as far as making discoveries that were profitable to +them were concerned. +</p><p> +But it was nothing more than chance that had brought them to Big +Bonanza, and, as was usually the case, a little excitement had started +immediately upon their arrival. +</p><p> +But none of our friends minded what had happened. +</p><p> +They were so used to meeting "bad men," as many of the miners and +cowboys were proud to style themselves, that there was absolutely +nothing new to it. +</p><p> +Meanwhile the miners were not long in reaching the saloon, and the store +adjacent to it. +</p><p> +Then it was only a few minutes before half a dozen were seen approaching +the spot where the two Chinamen had finished putting up the tents that +belonged to the camping outfit. +</p><p> +"Hello, Young Wild West!" called out a big man, with a short, gray beard +on his face. "How are yer? An' how's everybody with yer?" +</p><p> +"First rate," answered Wild, as he shook hands with the miner, but +failed to recognize him. "How are you?" +</p><p> +"Me? Oh, I'm fine! I've struck it rich here in ther wilds of Nevady, my +boy! I'm ther prospector what started ther camp. I named her Big +Bonanza, an' it sartinly has been a big bonanza fur me. Beats minin' up +in Weston, all right." +</p><p> +"Weston, eh?" +</p><p> +Then our hero remembered of having seen the man before. +</p><p> +The short, gray beard had changed his appearance wonderfully. +</p><p> +The miner was John Sedgwick, a former bartender at a hotel in the little +town in the Black Hills that had been named for our hero. +</p><p> +"Sedgwick, I didn't know you," he said, smiling at him. "What in the +world are you doing with that gray beard? It makes you look twenty years +older." +</p><p> +"Well, we ain't got no barber shop here yet, an' I never was much good +at shavin' myself, so I jest let ther beard grow. But what's ther odds? +I'll shave up an' spruce up jest as soon as I've made my pile. Then I'll +light out fur home, an' me an' my wife will live on ther fat of ther +land. I've got nigh to a hundred thousand now, an' jest as soon as I git +it I'm goin' ter strike out fur ther East. Hello, Charlie! Hello, Jim!" +</p><p> +He now shook hands with our hero's partners, for they had recognized him +as an old acquaintance the moment Wild spoke to him. +</p><p> +The girls had seen Sedgwick, too, and they greeted him warmly. +</p><p> +"Well," said the miner, "I reckon there ain't many here in Big Bonanza +what ain't heard tell of Young Wild West an' his pards. I've kept ther +boys interested in tellin' 'em about ther wonderful things you've done. +Come up an' shake hands with ther whitest boy what ever stuck his toe in +a stirrup, boys!" +</p><p> +The last was addressed to the men who had come over with him, and they +now pressed forward eagerly. +</p><p> +Young Wild West sized them up quickly and made up his mind that they +were an honest lot, indeed. +</p><p> +He had come in contact with so many rough characters that he had made it +a point to read faces and study character that way. +</p><p> +It was seldom that he made a mistake in his estimation of a man, either. +</p><p> +The miners seemed very glad to know the dashing young deadshot and his +friends, and after they had talked awhile they, turned to make their way +to their shanties, so they might get their suppers. +</p><p> +As our hero followed Sedgwick a little way from the camp his glance +happened to turn toward the mouth of the narrow pass at the other side +of the valley. +</p><p> +"Where does that trail lend to, John?" he asked, pointing it out. +</p><p> +"That?" the miner queried, as he shook his head. "That trail leads ter +Silver Bend, which is another minin' camp a good deal bigger than this +here one. It's only ten miles from here by goin' through that pass. But +few as know about ther pass goes that way. They would rather go around +about twenty-five miles, so they don't have ter go through it. They +calls it 'Forbidden Pass,' yer know." +</p><p> +"Forbidden Pass, eh?" +</p><p> +Young Wild West looked interested. +</p><p> +"Yes, that's it." +</p><p> +"But what do they call it that for?" +</p><p> +"Well, there's a certain gang what belongs ter Silver Bend what runs +things their own way, an' they say that they've organized inter a gang +of outlaws ter clean out them what travels through ther pass. They put +up a sign at either end of ther pass, which is only about a mile an' a +half long, ter let any one what kin read know that they're forbid ter go +through. If they do go through they have ter git robbed; that's all. Ter +save trouble an' money ther most of folks would rather go around ther +other way, or else keep away from Silver Bend, that's all." +</p><p> +"Well, that sounds pretty good, I think, Sedgwick. I reckon I'll have to +go through that pass, just to see what will happen." +</p><p> +"I knowed you would say that, Wild. But if I was you I wouldn't bother +about it. They're a bad lot, an' no mistake—ther men what runs things +in that pass. They say there's about twenty of 'em, an' that ther most +of 'em is tough cowboys what have been forced ter light out fur stealin' +cattle an' sich like. Though there ain't any doubt that some of 'em +lives right in Silver Bend, no one knows who they are. They're a mighty +bad lot, an' since there ain't no chance of catchin' 'em, on account of +ther many caves what's along on either side of ther pass, they've been +doin' business there ever since we opened up ther camp, here, an' a +mighty good business they've done, too." +</p><p> +"That seems a little strange," and our hero shook his head. "What sort +of people are they over in Silver Bend?" +</p><p> +"Oh, about ther same as anywheres else, I s'pose. But I've heard say +that it's ther fault of them what's in charge of affairs over there. It +might be that some of 'em is in with ther outlaws of ther Forbidden +Pass." +</p><p> +"It might be, that's true. Well, Sedgwick, you can bet that I am going +through that pass! I want to meet this gang of robbers, just to see if +they are any different from any other robbers I've come across. How +about it, boys?" +</p><p> +Wild turned and looked at Cheyenne Charlie and Jim Dart as he said the +last. +</p><p> +"Yer kin bet your life we'll go through ther blamed old pass!" the scout +answered, while Dart nodded, as though it was a matter of course. +</p><p> +"I knowed it!" exclaimed Sedgwick. "Ther minute I heard you was here I +know'd that you'd be fur goin' through ther Forbidden Pass. It struck +me, first off that you'd come here jest fur that very, purpose." +</p><p> +"No," answered our hero, shaking his head. "We never heard of Forbidden +Pass. But we are mighty glad to hear of it now, I reckon. Sedgwick, you +know pretty well what we think of gangs of outlaws, and the like." +</p><p> +"I do," was the reply. "If you start after 'em once, you always land 'em +too." +</p><p> +"Well, we'll start after this gang, then. You can bet that we'll come +mighty near landing them, too!" +</p><p> +"I'm sure of that, Wild." +</p><p> +"Say!" said our hero, as the miners started again to go. "Didn't you say +that the outlaws consist of cowboys who have been forced to light out +from the ranches they worked upon?" +</p><p> +"Yes, that's what I heard over in Silver Bend." +</p><p> +"Well, there are three cowboys over at the saloon now. I've sized them +up pretty well, and it strikes me now that they might belong to that +gang. Anyhow, I am sure that they are no good." +</p><p> +"I saw them galoots, Wild. I don't know who they are. But they seemed to +be mighty respectful. Hoker, ther saloon keeper, was tryin' ter tell me +how you had some fun with 'em an' made 'em understand that they couldn't +do as they pleased. But I was so anxious ter git over here an' see yer +that I didn't pay much attention. I s'pose I'll have a chance ter talk +to yer after supper?" +</p><p> +"Oh, yes. We'll take a walk over to the saloon. I'll ask the cowboys +about the outlaws of Forbidden Pass, too." +</p><p> +The miners now left and returned to their respective homes. +</p><p> +"Well, Wild, I suppose you are very glad to learn all this," said +Arietta, as our hero walked back to where the girls were standing. +</p><p> +She, as well as the rest, had heard all that was said, and her face now +wore a smile as she looked at her dashing young lover. +</p><p> +"Yes, Et, I am glad to know that there is a place here that is forbidden +to travelers. You know very well that it would only make me more anxious +to do a thing if I was told that I must not do it. I am certainly going +through Forbidden Pass!" +</p><p> +"Well, I don't blame you, Wild." +</p><p> +The girl possessed a spirit of fearlessness, and she was not the one to +advise Wild to show himself afraid of any gang of outlaws. +</p><p> +"I reckon we've struck a blamed funny sort of camp, all right," remarked +the scout, as he pulled the ends of his long mustache. "It couldn't have +been better if we'd been lookin' up somethin' that was ter be good an' +excitin', could it?" +</p><p> +"Hardly," answered Jim. +</p><p> +"Well, never mind about it now, boys. I reckon we'll think about the +supper. Hurry up, Wing. Just get a little move on you." +</p><p> +"Allee light, Misler Wild," answered the cook, smilingly. "Me havee, um +supper leady allee samee pletty quickee, so be." +</p><p> +"Me helpee my blother," spoke up Hop, grinning. "He allee samee velly +muchee slow." +</p><p> +"Me no slow," retorted Wing; "me allee light." +</p><p> +"There!" interposed Wild. "Don't get in a wrangle over it. Hurry the +supper along, that's all." +</p><p> +The two Celestials said no more, but both worked away as fast as they +could. +</p><p> +It was not long before the supper was cooked, and then all hands did +fall justice to it. +</p><p> +"Now, boys," said Wild, as he finished eating, "I reckon a good cigar +wouldn't go bad, so we will go over to the saloon and buy some. The +girls will be all right here, since we won't hardly be out of sight of +them. Come on!" +</p><p> +The three soon took their departure, and they had scarcely done so when +Hop, the clever Chinaman, sneaked around a clump of trees and took a +course that would fetch him around to the rear of the saloon. +</p><p> +It was hard to keep him away from such places, for he loved gambling and +practical joking, not to speak of "tanglefoot," to such a degree that he +could not be held back. +</p> + +<hr /> + +<p></p> +<div class="chapter"> +CHAPTER III. +<br /> +<br /> +THE OUTLAWS OF FORBIDDEN PASS. +</div> + +<p> +The three cowboys were just getting ready to leave when Young Wild West +and his two partners reached the saloon. +</p><p> +They had loaded up pretty well with "tanglefoot," and they were doing +some very loud talking. +</p><p> +But when they saw the young deadshot they became suddenly silent. +</p><p> +"Hello!" called out Wild, speaking in his cool and easy way. "So you are +going back to the ranch, eh?" +</p><p> +"Yes," answered the one he had handled so roughly. "I reckon we've about +had our spree, so we'll go back now." +</p><p> +"How far is your ranch from here?" queried Wild, as he stepped up closer +to them. +</p><p> +"About thirty miles, I reckon," was the reply. +</p><p> +"Why, I heard there were no ranches within a hundred miles of here. +That's mighty queer." +</p><p> +"Whoever told yer that don't know nothin' about this part of ther +country, I reckon." +</p><p> +"Well, it was the boss of the saloon who told us. Perhaps he isn't much +acquainted around here." +</p><p> +Neither of them said anything to this, but went on buckling up their +saddle-girths. +</p><p> +"Which way are you going?" Wild asked, as they were ready to mount their +horses. +</p><p> +"Right out that way," was the reply, and the speaker pointed toward the +pass. +</p><p> +"What! You are not afraid of being held up in Forbidden Pass, then?" +</p><p> +"No. I reckon that's all rot what's said about that. Some galoots named +it Forbidden Pass, jest fur fun, an' since then there's them what's +afraid of their own shadders what's added enough to it ter make folks +think it's dangerous ter go through there. We come that way, an' I +reckon we'll go back that way. I don't believe there's any gang of +outlaws hangin' around there than there is right in this camp." +</p><p> +"Well, I am sorry to hear that. I had an idea that we could have a +little excitement hunting out the gang. If there is no gang there we +will be disappointed." +</p><p> +All three of the cowboys looked at him sharply. +</p><p> +It was evident that they did not know just what to make of the boy. +</p><p> +They swung themselves on their horses, however, and started to ride off. +</p><p> +"Say!" said Wild, calling out loudly to them. "If you happen to run +across any outlaws in Forbidden Pass just tell them that Young Wild West +is looking for them. Don't forget that, will you?" +</p><p> +One of the cowboys gave a reply that was not quite intelligible, but as +there was an oath attached to it, our hero knew that it was not +complimentary to him. +</p><p> +He did not stop them, however, and they rode away straight for the +narrow pass at the other side of the pleasant little valley the camp was +located in. +</p><p> +Not until they saw the three men disappear in the pass did our friends +go into the saloon. +</p><p> +But let us follow the cowboys and find out something more about them. +</p><p> +When our hero had said that they might belong to the outlaws of +Forbidden Pass he had hit the nail right on the head. +</p><p> +The fact was that there was a gang of eighteen villains located in the +pass, and these three had been picked by the leader to ride to Big +Bonanza for the sole purpose of leading the miners to believe that there +was no longer any danger for travelers to go through that way when they +wanted to go to Silver Bend. +</p><p> +During the time the trio was in the saloon they had been talking in this +way, and they had partly made Hoker, the proprietor, believe that there +was something in what they said. +</p><p> +The man Wild had treated so roughly bore the name of Chuck Snivel, and +he was a sort of lieutenant of the band. +</p><p> +The leader of the outlaws was a scheming man of a fair education, who +was called Cap Roche. +</p><p> +This villain owned a store in Silver Bend and was also the postmaster +there. +</p><p> +He divided his time with his lawless band and the store, and, being well +thought of in the mining camp, he had all the chance in the world to +pursue his villainy and profit greatly from it. +</p><p> +As Chuck Snivel and his two companions entered the pass they turned and +took one last look at Young Wild West and his partners. +</p><p> +"I reckon there's trouble ahead, fellers," the lieutenant of the outlaw +band observed. "That boy is about ther worst one I ever had tackle me; +an' ther others is putty nigh as bad, no doubt. It sorter strikes me +that they're here fur ther purpose of findin' us out. Yer all heard what +ther boy said as we come away, I reckon?" +</p><p> +"I sartinly did, fur one," answered the man nearest him. +</p><p> +"He said if we happened ter run across any outlaws in Furbidden Pass we +should tell 'em that Young Wild West is lookin' fur 'um," the other +added, quickly. +</p><p> +"That's jest what he said!" exclaimed Snivel. "Now, then, what does that +mean?" +</p><p> +"It means that he's after us," said the second, shaking his head and +shrugging his shoulders. +</p><p> +"It looks that way," the third villain admitted. +</p><p> +"Well, yer kin bet your life we'll tell ther outlaws, won't we?" +</p><p> +"We sartinly will." +</p><p> +"Come on, then! Let's git to ther cave." +</p><p> +They set their bronchos at a gallop and moved rapidly through the pass. +</p><p> +"I wonder if ther sign was all right?" said one, as they rode along. "I +was thinkin' so much about what that boy said that I never thought ter +look." +</p><p> +"It was all right," replied Snivel; "I looked at it. Ther sign that Cap +Roche made on a barrel-head is there. Yer kin bet that it'll stay there, +too. Young Wild West might take a notion ter knock it down; but if he +does we'll see to it that it's put up ag'in, or another jest like it." +</p><p> +When they had covered about a mile they slowed down a little and began +to look behind them very often. +</p><p> +The fact was that they were nearing the hidden headquarters of the +outlaw band of Forbidden Pass. +</p><p> +The pass itself was just about two miles in length, the entrance being +less than a quarter of a mile from the cluster of shanties that made up +the mining camp of Big Bonanza. +</p><p> +At the other end the regular trail to Silver Bend would be reached, and +by taking the cut through the short pass just about fifteen miles could +be saved on a journey to Silver Bend. +</p><p> +But, as John Sedgwick had told Young Wild West, the miners no longer +took the short cut, since so many holdups had occurred in the pass. +</p><p> +The clever man who captained and ran the gang of villains was now trying +to make the traffic be resumed through the pass, and, as has been said, +Chuck Snivel and two others were sent over to the little mining camp to +make the miners believe that there was no longer any danger to travel +that way. +</p><p> +There was no doubt but that they had succeeded pretty well, too, since +they were now certain that Young Wild West was coming through that way. +</p><p> +The boy had said enough to convince them of that. +</p><p> +It was a little more than half way through the pass that time three +villains, who had posed as cowboys at Big Bonanza, came to a halt. +</p><p> +They looked cautiously in both directions, and, not seeing a sign of a +human being, Chuck Snivel nodded his head and exclaimed: +</p><p> +"I reckon everything's all right, boys. Come ahead!" +</p><p> +Then he turned and rode sharply to the left, to what seemed to be a +solid wall of rock. +</p><p> +Reaching out his hand, he grasped a rope that was hidden beneath some +hanging vines. +</p><p> +A sharp pull on this and up rolled a curtain, leaving an opening that +was large enough for a horse and rider to pass through. +</p><p> +The curtain was made of some flexible material and was painted to +imitate the rock that was on either side and above it. +</p><p> +Snivel rode in the opening and his companions followed him. +</p><p> +Once inside they all dismounted, and then Snivel walked over to the edge +of the entrance and lifted a log that was lying there to an almost +upright position, leaning it against a rock. +</p><p> +As he did this the curtain rolled down. +</p><p> +It was a rather simple affair, since the rope that was attached to the +top of the curtain was tied to the log, and when the log was made to +drop the curtain went up. +</p><p> +It would drop just as quickly when released, as there was a weight at +the bottom. +</p><p> +The part of the cave the three men were now in was hardly any wider than +the entrance itself, but it extended back a short distance and then took +a sharp turn to the left. +</p><p> +As they led their horses to this point they came upon a natural +underground apartment that was fully fifty feet long and thirty in +width. +</p><p> +Though irregular in shape, it was surely an ideal place for a band of +robbers to hold forth. +</p><p> +The natural ceiling was high, and through the face of the cliff light +was admitted through several zig-zag cracks. +</p><p> +Fully a dozen men were sitting in the cave on boxes and stools or lying +in bunks that were built along two sides of it, and none of them +appeared to be much disturbed by the entrance of the trio. +</p><p> +"Where's Cap?" asked Chuck Snivel, when he had led his horse to a dark +part of the cave and tied it to the long strip of wood that was there +for the purpose. +</p><p> +"He's over to ther store, I reckon," answered one of them. "How did yer +make out in Big Bonanza, Chuck?" +</p><p> +"Putty good, I reckon," was the retort. "Everything would have been all +right if we hadn't met Young Wild West an' his pards there." +</p><p> +"Young Wild West an' his pards!" exclaimed one of the robbers, jumping +to his feet, excitedly. +</p><p> +"Yes, that's what I said. Why, do you know anything about them galoots, +Bob?" +</p><p> +"Do I? Well, I reckon I do! I had ther chance ter see 'em a couple of +times down in Prescott, Arizona. I belonged ter a gang near there, which +got cleaned out by them same three galoots yer jest spoke of. I got away +jest by ther skin of my teeth, an' I was mighty thankful fur it, yer kin +bet! Young Wild West ain't nothin' but a boy, an' neither is one of his +pards. But ther three of 'em makes ther toughest proposition I ever +seen. So they're here, are they? Well, I wish they wasn't, fur it means +bad fur us. I'll bet they'll be lookin' fur us afore many hours!" +</p><p> +"Oh, yes. There ain't no mistake about that part of it. They'll be +lookin' fur us. What do yer s'pose Young Wild West told me as we left +Big Bonanza?" +</p><p> +"I don't know. What was it?" +</p><p> +"He said if we seen any outlaws in Furbidden Pass ter tell 'em that he +was lookin' fur 'em." +</p><p> +Bob shook his head and showed that he felt very uneasy. +</p><p> +"I know how it'll be," he said, half to himself, "We're in fur it now. +That boy has got more lives than a cat, an' when he shoots he kills +every time. He's ther luckiest galoot what ever tried ter do a thing, +an' if he has made up his mind ter clean us out yer kin bet he'll do +it!" +</p><p> +"Pshaw!" spoke up one of the others. "That's all foolishness. Jest +because these galoots you're talkin' about happened ter clean out ther +gang you belonged to in Arizony, don't say that they're goin' ter do +anything like that with us. What did I hear yer say—that Young Wild +West is only a boy?" +</p><p> +"That's all he is," Bob answered. "But he kin do more than any man I +ever seen." +</p><p> +"An' there's only three of 'em?" +</p><p> +"Yes." +</p><p> +"An' there's another boy?" +</p><p> +"That's right." +</p><p> +"Well, what is ther third galoot?" +</p><p> +"He's a man—a big, powerful one, with no mercy when he gits after a +crook." +</p><p> +"Oh, he's man, eh?' I thought maybe he might be a woman," and the outlaw +chuckled. +</p><p> +Nearly all of them laughed at this. +</p><p> +But it was plain that the villain called Bob was very uneasy over what +he had heard. +</p><p> +And Chuck Snivel and the two who had accompanied him to Big Bonanza were +not in a jolly mood, either. +</p><p> +Their experience with the Champion Deadshot and his partners had been +quite enough to make them understand that they had struck a proposition +that was a little different from what they were in the habit of facing. +</p><p> +While they were talking over it a horseman rode into the cave. +</p><p> +It was Cap Roche, the leader of the outlaw band. +</p><p> +"Now, then, we'll see what Cap says about it," said Bob, his face +brightening a little. +</p><p> +"He'll soon fix it so Young Wild West won't amount ter much, I reckon," +spoke up one of the men, confidently. +</p><p> +The villainous leader was soon among them and listening to the news +Chuck Snivel had brought from Big Bonanza. +</p> + +<hr /> + +<p></p> +<div class="chapter"> +CHAPTER IV. +<br /> +<br /> +OUR FRIENDS GO TO THE MOUTH OF THE PASS AND READ THE SIGN. +</div> + +<p> +When Wild and his partners entered the barroom of the shanty saloon they +saw that quite a crowd had gathered there. +</p><p> +Nearly all the miners working the claims that had been staked out in the +camp made the saloon their headquarters evenings. +</p><p> +There were but two or three of the thirty miners who did not drink and +gamble, and they usually spent their idle time with the storekeeper, +smoking and talking until it was time to retire for the night. +</p><p> +Our hero cast a swift glance around the room and saw Hop standing almost +in the centre of the room, the miners gathered around him, and their +faces wearing grins. +</p><p> +The clever Chinaman had come in by the back way while our three friends +were watching the cowboys as they rode into Forbidden Pass. +</p><p> +The first thing he did was to try and make himself solid with the +miners. +</p><p> +Though Nevada had plenty of Chinese at the time of which we write, it so +happened that there were none in Big Bonanza until Young Wild West +arrived with his two servants. +</p><p> +The men all knew what Chinamen were pretty well, and there was a sort of +feeling against them that they were something not to be exactly classed +with human beings, so to speak. +</p><p> +Hop knew this as well as any of them, and hence his desire to make +himself in good standing with them. +</p><p> +The first thing he did on entering, then, was to pull a chunky piece of +bamboo from under his coat and hold it up. +</p><p> +It was not more than eight inches in length and looked to be a very +common-looking thing. +</p><p> +But while the miners were wondering what the "heathen Chinee" was up to, +Hop suddenly gave the piece of bamboo a twist, and the next minute a +small, bright-colored parasol was in his hand. +</p><p> +This was raised in a jiffy, and then he went parading around the room +with it over his head. +</p><p> +Only a minute did this continue, however, and then the parasol vanished +as quickly as it had appeared. +</p><p> +The Chinaman roiled the piece of bamboo in his hands and that, too, +disappeared. +</p><p> +Then he stood still in the middle of the room and bowed right and left. +</p><p> +"Me allee samee velly smartee Chinee, so be," he observed, blandly. "Me +likee Melican mans velly muchee." +</p><p> +The next thing he did was to toss a silver coin to the ceiling and as it +came down he caught it in his mouth and went through the motions of +swallowing it. +</p><p> +"Me allee samee eatee money, so be," he went on to say, smiling and +bowing again. +</p><p> +It was just then that our hero and his partners came into the room. +</p><p> +"Hello, Wild!" called out Sedgwick, who was one of those present. "Your +funny Chinaman has been doing some stunts fur us." +</p><p> +"Oh, he is liable to do almost anything," was the reply. "What is the +matter, Hop? Who told you that you could come over here?" +</p><p> +"Allee samee nothing the mattee, Misler Wild," answered Hop, shaking his +head and looking serious. "Nobody say me comee over here; me comee allee +samee, so be." +</p><p> +There was a laugh at this, and then Hop had succeeded in doing what he +had tried for. He had got the good will of the miners. +</p><p> +Having satisfied himself on this point, he stepped up to the bar, and, +nodding pleasantly to Hoker, the boss, he observed: +</p><p> +"Me likee chuckee dicee for um dlinks, so be." +</p><p> +"You would, eh? Well, I never yet chucked dice with a Chinee; but blamed +if I don't do it jest this once. What's it goin' ter be, fur all hands?" +</p><p> +"Lat light; allee samee all hands gittee lillee dlink. If me lose me +pay; if you lose you allee samee givee um dlinks." +</p><p> +"Good!" +</p><p> +The saloon keeper brought out the dice, and, shaking them in the leather +box, rolled them out. +</p><p> +"There yer are!" he said, exultantly. "There's fourteen fur yer ter +beat. If yer do it you're a mighty good one." +</p><p> +"Allee light," was the reply; "me velly muchee lucky Chinee, so be." +</p><p> +Then Hop picked up the little cubes and appeared to be examining them +closely. +</p><p> +But he was doing something else, too. +</p><p> +He had three dice of his own, and when he rattled the box preparatory to +making his throw they were the ones in it. +</p><p> +Hop's dice were not straight dice. +</p><p> +They had only fives and sixes stamped on them, so no matter how they +were rolled less than fifteen could not come up. +</p><p> +Though the dice were not exactly the size of those furnished by Hoker, +it would be hard to tell the difference, unless one made a close +examination of them. +</p><p> +Hop rolled out the dice and two sixes and a five showed up. +</p><p> +"Lat velly goodee thlow, so be," he observed, and then he picked up the +dice and dropped the regular ones in the box. +</p><p> +"I reckon it is," answered the saloon keeper. "Come on, boys. It's on +me. I lost, but I made him throw big to beat me." +</p><p> +Young Wild West and his partners knew that Hop had all sorts of trick +dice, and they could easily guess that he had played a trick on the man +in order to beat him. +</p><p> +But since there was no money involved, our hero would not say anything. +</p><p> +He did not like Hop to fleece any one honest, though, and as the clever +Celestial was always bent on cheating some one, it often became +necessary to make him give back his winnings. +</p><p> +Our hero thought he had better let the boss of the place and his patrons +know that the Chinaman was a sharp and trick gambler, so just as Hoker +proposed that they throw again, and for five dollars on the side, he +spoke out: +</p><p> +"Gentlemen, I advise you not to gamble with Hop Wah. He is a very smart +one at the business, and he will relieve you of all the money you have, +if you play with him. Being a sleight-of-hand performer, he can do +things that you could not see. Just go it light on that point. I don't +want to have him get into trouble, and that is what he generally does +when he wins a whole lot of money. There is always some one to accuse +him of cheating, whether they catch him or not, and then there is +trouble. Now don't play cards or throw dice with him for money, if you +don't feel like losing your money." +</p><p> +"All right, Young Wild West; I'll take your advice," said the boss of +the saloon. "I reckon that you know what you're talkin' about." +</p><p> +Hop put on an injured air and went and sat down at a table. +</p><p> +It was now getting dark and the lamps were lighted in the saloon. +</p><p> +Wild called Sedgwick to him and they got to talking about the cowboys +who had left a short time before. +</p><p> +The miner related what he had heard them say about Forbidden Pass, and +the young deadshot nodded in a pleased way. +</p><p> +"I reckon that means something," he said. "Business has been pretty bad, +I suppose, and the outlaws are anxious to have travel through the pass +resumed. Well, I reckon I'll take a walk over and see how it looks at +this end of the pass, anyhow. Come on, boys!" +</p><p> +Charlie and Jim promptly responded to the call, and Sedgwick hastened to +declare that he would go with them, if there were no objections. +</p><p> +"Certainly not," our hero assured him. "Come on!" +</p><p> +The four left the saloon and walked over to the pass. +</p><p> +Though it was now quite dark, they had no trouble in seeing the sign +that was posted at the entrance. +</p><p> +It consisted of a barrel-head nailed together, and the words upon it +were as follows: +</p><p> +</p> + +<p style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0px"> + "FORBIDDEN PASS!"<br/> + "Travelers must pay toll, or go some other way."<br /> + "Private Road!" +</p><p> +Jim Dart struck a match so the inscription could be read, and when they +had made it out our three friends looked at each other and nodded, while +the miner waited to hear what would be said. +</p><p> +"I reckon that's what I call putty good," said the scout, a smile +creeping over his bronzed face. "'Private Road,' eh? Well, I wonder who +is ther owner of it!" +</p><p> +"We'll find out all about it, Charlie," said Wild, assuringly. "Just +wait till to-morrow morning. We'll take a ride through the pass, and +don't you forget it!" +</p><p> +"Well, it might be that yer won't be bothered now, fur it's jest likely +that ther outlaws has quit ther pass an' gone somewhere else," Sedgwick +remarked. "If them cowboys is all right, an' they kin go through without +bein' bothered, it are most likely that you fellers kin." +</p><p> +"But I don't believe they are all right," our hero answered. "I think +that they belong to the outlaw gang, and that they came over here and +talked that way just on purpose to get the people here to use the pass, +instead of going by the roundabout way to Silver Bend." +</p><p> +"It looks that way, I'll admit, Wild." +</p><p> +"Well, no matter how it is, we'll go through the pass to-morrow, I +reckon. And we'll come back, too, if it takes a whole day to do it." +</p><p> +It was just then that the sounds made by a approaching horse came to +their ears. +</p><p> +"Somebody is coming through now," said the scout, as he listened. +</p><p> +"Get behind the rocks here," Wild whispered. "We will watch him as he +goes past, and see what he does, if anything." +</p><p> +A few seconds later a horseman came in view. +</p><p> +Our friends could distinguish the outlines of both horse and rider, and +when they saw the man halt right at the end of the pass they were not a +little interested. +</p><p> +The rider turned and looked at the sign, and, nodding when he found that +the sign was there all right, he started on for the little collection of +shanties. +</p><p> +"That's Cap Roche, ther storekeeper over in Silver Bend," Sedgwick +whispered, as he went on. +</p><p> +"Is that so?" Wild queried. "Well, I reckon we'll go back to the saloon +and find out what kind of a fellow Cap Roche is." +</p> + +<hr /> + +<p></p> +<div class="chapter"> +CHAPTER V. +<br /> +<br /> +CAP ROCHE MEETS YOUNG WILD WEST. +</div> + +<p> +Chuck Snivel was not long in telling Cap Roche all that had taken place +over in Big Bonanza. +</p><p> +The face of the leader of the outlaws wore a troubled look as he +listened, and when the man was through he shook his head and said: +</p><p> +"I reckon I'll have to go over and have a look at this dangerous boy, +boys. I have heard of him, and I have reason to believe that he is a +hard one to beat. Though he is mighty young, he has spent his time +looking for trouble ever since he was big enough to shoot a gun, and he +has had so much luck that I suppose now he thinks that he is +invincible." +</p><p> +"He's a regular terror, Cap," spoke up Bob. "I know what I'm talkin' +about. I've seen him, an' I've seen what he could do. He's jest as cool +as a chunk of ice, an' yer can't no more scare him than yer kin a mad +grizzly. If he's after us you kin bet that he'll git us, unless he's +catched afore he gits a good start on." +</p><p> +"Well, I reckon he'll have the hardest time of his life getting us, +though," the leader answered. "But I'll ride over, anyhow and try and +find out something. Told you to tell any outlaws you met that he was +after them, eh, Chuck?" +</p><p> +"Yes; that's right, Cap." +</p><p> +"Well, we'll see about that. I won't be long in findin' out what he's up +to. If he gets through Forbidden Pass without paying toll he's got to be +a good one, that's all. His life will probably be the price demanded for +toll, too. I reckon that's what I'll make it." +</p><p> +After a few minutes further conversation on the subject the leader of +the gang, who was posing as an honest business man in Silver Bend, left +the cave, leading his horse out under the curtain that was rolled up by +one of the men for him. +</p><p> +He rode along in the direction of the little mining camp at an easy +gait, and in a short time he reached the end of the pass. +</p><p> +He paused long enough to see that the sign he had himself painted was in +place, and then he made for the saloon, never once thinking that there +was any one so close by watching his movements. +</p><p> +Cap Roche was well known in Big Bonanza, and he was satisfied that no +one dreamed that he was anything else but an honest man. +</p><p> +He made up his mind to tell the miners that he had decided to ride +through the pass just for the purpose of finding out if the outlaws were +still there. +</p><p> +"I'll have no trouble in making them think that it is safe to go through +now," he muttered, as he rode up to the saloon. +</p><p> +Dismounting, he entered the shanty and found the biggest part of the +population gathered there. +</p><p> +"Hello, boys!" he called out, familiarly. "How are you all? I took a +notion to ride over to-night through Forbidden Pass. I did not let the +notion get out of my head, and came right away. How is business, +anyway?" +</p><p> +Several of the men hastened to shake hands with him, and soon a lively +conversation was taking place. +</p><p> +"So yer come through ther pass, eh?" observed Hoker, after there came a +lull. "A putty risky thing ter do, I reckon." +</p><p> +"Well, I don't know. You see, I have had the place watched pretty +closely the last few days, and not the least sign of any one has been +discovered there. I feel that the outlaws, if there were any there, have +left for some other parts." +</p><p> +Just then Cap Roche happened to set eyes on Hop Wah, who was sitting at +a table, showing half a dozen miners some tricks with a pack of cards. +</p><p> +"Hello! You've got a heathen here, eh?" he exclaimed. "When did he +strike here!" +</p><p> +"Late this afternoon, Cap," answered Hoker. "He's a great Chinee, too. +He's a sleight-of-hand feller, an' he kin handle dice an' cards any way +he wants ter. A man don't stand no more show winnin' from him than he +does walkin' on air." +</p><p> +"Ah! He must be a curious sort of a heathen, then. Did he come here +alone?" +</p><p> +"Oh, no. He come here with Young Wild West. You've heard of him, I +reckon?" +</p><p> +"Yes, I believe I have. A sort of dashing young fellow, who can shoot +well, isn't he?" +</p><p> +"Well, I should say so! You oughter been here a couple of hours ago an' +seen what he done ter three cowboys! He sartinly did take ther starch +out of 'em in no time." +</p><p> +"Yes?" and the two-faced man arched his eyebrows and looked surprised. +"I should like to get acquainted with the young fellow. Where is he +stopping?" +</p><p> +"Right down below here. He carries a campin' outfit with him, an' he's +got two young gals an' a young woman along, as well as his two pards an' +this Chinee an' another one. Oh, Young Wild West is used ter goin' +about, an' it don't 'pear ter make any difference ter him an' his +friends whether there's a hotel ter put up at or not. They didn't even +ask me if I could accommodate 'em." +</p><p> +Hoker shook his head, as though he felt that he had been slighted +somewhat. +</p><p> +But Cap Roche only smiled. +</p><p> +"I reckon they could tell by the size of your shanty that there wasn't +much chance of getting accommodated here," he said. "I don't wonder that +they didn't ask you. Why don't you put up a bigger shanty, like we've +got over at the Bend? This place is growing all the time, and the time +will soon be here when you'll have the chance to fill a good-sized +building with boarders. I reckon there's plenty of dust here that hasn't +been dug out yet." +</p><p> +"There ain't no doubt about that, Cap," spoke up one of the miners. +"This is goin' ter be one of ther best minin' camps in ther middle part +of Nevada, an' there ain't no mistake on that. It's most placer minin' +that we've been doin' here, 'cause we ain't got no machinery ter go down +deep in ther ground. But that there's big deposits down under us there +ain't no doubt. I've cleaned up a cool, thousand so fur this week, an' +I've got two more days ter make almost another one. I'm goin' ter send +my stuff over to ther Bend Saturday afternoon." +</p><p> +"By the long route, I suppose?" and Cap Roche smiled in a peculiar way. +</p><p> +"Yes; that's ther way ther wagons goes nowadays." +</p><p> +"Well, I'll guarantee that it will be safe to go through the pass, just +the same." +</p><p> +"How is it that you are able to give such a guarantee as that, +stranger?" +</p><p> +The voice came from the doorway, and, turning, Cap Roche saw a +dashing-looking boy, with a wealth of chestnut hair hanging over his +shoulders, standing there, looking at him. +</p><p> +The villain knew who it was without being told. +</p><p> +"Young Wild West, I reckon?" he said, coolly. "Come on in; don't stand +there. I don't know just what kind of a guarantee I can give that this +man's gold will go safely through the pass, but it is my opinion that +there are no robbers there. That's why I spoke that way." +</p><p> +"Oh!" +</p><p> +Our hero walked in followed by his partners and John Sedgwick. +</p><p> +As the reader may judge, Wild had suspected the man the moment he saw +him looking at the sign at the mouth of the pass. +</p><p> +When he heard Sedgwick say he was the storekeeper over in Silver Bend he +did not alter his opinion, either. +</p><p> +Determined to find out more about the man, he had walked over to the +saloon. +</p><p> +Cap Roche was talking when our friends got there, and as his back +happened to be toward the door he did not see them until after the young +deadshot spoke. +</p><p> +Wild knew that the only way to get anything out of the man would be +first to anger him. +</p><p> +He had tried to do this, but apparently he had not succeeded. +</p><p> +The face of Roche wore, a smile as he came in, and, giving a nod, he +said: +</p><p> +"I never saw you before, but I knew you right away. I am glad to meet +you, Young Wild West." +</p><p> +"All right, Cap Roche. I am glad to meet you, too." +</p><p> +"Ah! You know me, then?" +</p><p> +"Well, Sedgwick told me who you were. We saw you looking at the sign +over at the pass. Quite a sign, isn't it?" +</p><p> +"You saw me looking at it?" queried the man, showing just the least bit +of uneasiness. +</p><p> +"Yes, we were over there when you came out. The man who painted the +letters on the barrel-head is quite an artist, and he knows how to +spell, all right. They say there is another sign at the other end of the +pass." +</p><p> +"Yes, there's one just like it there," replied Roche. "I can't help +looking at them every time I come through Forbidden Pass. To-night is +the first time I have been through in a week or two, so I could not help +looking to see if the signs were still in place. As you heard me say +before you came in here, I am satisfied that there are no longer any +outlaws hanging about the pass. I reckon they must have got disgusted +with the lack of business and moved away." +</p><p> +"Maybe they did. But if they haven't moved away they will move before +many hours, and you can bet all you're worth on that!" +</p><p> +"You are going after them, then?" +</p><p> +"Well, such work just suits me, and whenever we think we can do a +community a good turn we always go ahead and do it. Outlaws don't like +me, and I don't like outlaws. It is the same with my partners. Some +might call us a little meddlesome sometimes, but it is a way we have +got, and we simply can't help it. Are you going back through the pass +to-night, Mr. Roche?" +</p><p> +"Why, yes. It is only ten miles from here to my store over in Silver +Bend. That is no distance to make, you know." +</p><p> +"That's right. Well, if you happen to meet any of the outlaws while +going through just tell them that we will be looking for them +to-morrow." +</p><p> +A peculiar smile flitted across the features of Roche, but he quickly +changed it and laughed lightly. +</p><p> +"All right, Young Wild West," he said. "If I happen to meet any of them +I'll surely tell them what you say." +</p> + +<hr /> + +<p></p> +<div class="chapter"> +CHAPTER VI. +<br /> +<br /> +CAP ROCHE FALLS A VICTIM TO HOP. +</div> + +<p> +Cap Roche now turned his attention to the table at which Hop was +sitting. +</p><p> +"So the heathen is showing you something with the cards, eh, boys?" he +said, smilingly. +</p><p> +"That's right, Cap," answered one of them. "An' he's mighty slick, too." +</p><p> +"He is, eh? Well, I'd like to see what he can do." +</p><p> +"Me showee velly nicee lillee tlick," spoke up Hop, nodding pleasantly. +</p><p> +The Chinaman was quite sure that Young Wild West suspected that the man +was not altogether right, for he was a keen observer and an attentive +listener. +</p><p> +That made him decide to make a victim of him, if he could. +</p><p> +Hop had thought out a brand new trick with a deck of cards, and he was +all fixed to work it on somebody. +</p><p> +He was pleased to find that he had a victim. +</p><p> +Shuffling the pack well, he spread them out like a fan and held the +cards so that some of the faces could be seen by Roche. +</p><p> +"You see um jack of hearts?" he asked. +</p><p> +"Yes," was the reply. +</p><p> +"Allee light; you allee samee lemember um jack of hearts." +</p><p> +Then he gave the cards another shuffle, and in doing it one of them +slipped up his sleeve unobserved by any one. +</p><p> +There was really nothing wonderful about this, since there was a thin +piece of elastic attached to the card, and the moment it was released it +left the pack. +</p><p> +As might be supposed, it was the jack of hearts. +</p><p> +But Hop had another jack of hearts, as he needed it to carry out the +trick. +</p><p> +He kept this one concealed in his hand and passed the deck to Roche, +saying: +</p><p> +"You pickee outee um jack of hearts and me allee samee showee how me +makee fly away." +</p><p> +The man quickly looked over the cards and found that the jack of hearts +was not among them. +</p><p> +"I reckon you took it when no one was looking," he said, with a smile. +"That is not much of a trick; I could do that myself." +</p><p> +"Me no takee," declared the Celestial, putting on a look of surprise. +"Maybe allee samee dlop on um floor." +</p><p> +He got up from his chair, and then, dropping upon his hands and knees, +began looking around on the floor under the table. +</p><p> +While doing this he cleverly slipped the card he had in his hand into +the boot-top of Roche. +</p><p> +Then, before he got up, he pulled the card that had the elastic attached +to it from his sleeve and held it so the elastic was concealed. +</p><p> +"Here um card," he said, as he showed it to every one. "Me puttee in um +pack, so be." +</p><p> +Roche was watching him closely, for he knew that the Chinaman was up to +something, and he was certain that the card went into the pack. +</p><p> +But it did not. +</p><p> +It slipped up Hop sleeve the same as it had done the first time. +</p><p> +"Now you findee um jack of hearts," he said, smilingly. +</p><p> +Roche nodded and proceeded to look for it. +</p><p> +"It isn't here," he said, looking surprised. +</p><p> +"You wantee tly foolee poor Chinee," Hop declared, putting on an injured +look. "You takee um card and puttee in your boot, so be." +</p><p> +"What's that?" cried Roche, half angrily. "Do you mean to say that I +stole the card from the pack?" +</p><p> +"Me allee samee bettee ten dollee you gottee um card somewhere, so be!" +was the quick retort. +</p><p> +"You will, eh? All right. I'm a betting man, I am. It don't make any +difference who I bet with, either. I'll bet you ten dollars that I +haven't got the card on me. If one has got it you're the one, for you +are doing the trick." +</p><p> +Hop held up both hands and threw open his coat, to show that he did not +have it. +</p><p> +Then he laid ten dollars on the table. +</p><p> +"Boys," said Roche, looking at those around him, "I don't know just what +kind of a game I am up against; but I do know that I haven't got that +card anywhere on my person. I feel so sure of it that I'll bet a hundred +dollars instead of ten!" +</p><p> +"Allee light." +</p><p> +As quick as a wink Hop's hand went into his pocket and out came a roll +of bills. +</p><p> +He quickly counted out ninety dollars more and put it on the table. +</p><p> +Roche immediately covered it, and then, rising to his feet, he moved +away from the table and called out: +</p><p> +"Hoker, come here and search me. If you find the jack of hearts anywhere +on me the Chinaman wins. If you don't find it I win." +</p><p> +"Lat light," said Hop, nodding to the boss of the place. +</p><p> +Hoker came forward and proceeded to go through the man's pockets. +</p><p> +He did not find the card in any of the pockets, so he went on down and +tried the boot-tops. +</p><p> +Then it was that he pulled out a card from one of them. +</p><p> +"Here she is, Cap!" he exclaimed, as he arose and held out the card so +all could see it. "Here's ther jack of hearts!" +</p><p> +"Tricked, by thunder!" exclaimed Roche, as Hop smiled and put the money +in his pocket. +</p><p> +"Mighty clever, I should say," ventured Sedgwick. "Cap, yer shouldn't +have bet." +</p><p> +"I couldn't help it," was the reply. "But I know how it was done. He put +the card in my bootleg when he was looking around under the table." +</p><p> +"No; that couldn't be," declared the saloon keeper. "He put ther card in +ther pack after that. An' I'll swear that he wasn't near enough ter put +it on you after that, even if he had it in his hand." +</p><p> +"Well, that is true, come to think of it. But he got it there, somehow." +</p><p> +Roche took the card and looked it over. +</p><p> +Then he picked up the pack and compared the backs of the cards with the +one he held in his hand. +</p><p> +"I lose the hundred, that's all," he exclaimed. "But I'll bet another +hundred he can't work that trick again!" +</p><p> +Hop smiled. +</p><p> +"You allee samee watchee too muchee," he said. +</p><p> +"You bet I would watch." +</p><p> +The cards were laid on the table by him, and Hop picked them up in an +offhanded way. +</p><p> +"Here um nicee lillee tlick," he said, as he ran the cards up his arm in +a long string. "Evelybody no do lat, so be." +</p><p> +Then he let them go back again, and in doing so two or three of them +dropped to the floor. +</p><p> +Hop was on his knees gathering them up in a twinkling. +</p><p> +Then it was that he slipped a card in the bootleg of Roche again. +</p><p> +But he was not caught doing it, however. +</p><p> +He got the cards that had dropped and did the trick over again, this +time not losing any of them when they ran back to his hand. +</p><p> +Then he suddenly showed the jack of hearts again. +</p><p> +"Do you want to try the other trick again?" the man front Silver Bend +asked. +</p><p> +"You no givee poor Chinee um showee to play um tlick, so be," answered +Hop. +</p><p> +"What kind of a show do you want? There you are with the jack of hearts +in your hand. Now I'll bet you that you can't get it into my bootleg +again!" +</p><p> +He moved back from the table, so he would be entirely clear from the +Chinaman, as he said this. +</p><p> +Hop let all hands have a look at the jack of hearts, and then he allowed +it to flip up his sleeve. +</p><p> +He shuffled the pack, laid it on the table and brought his fist down +upon it with considerable force. +</p><p> +"Lere um go!" he exclaimed. "Me bettee you hundled dollee you gottee um +jack of hearts in you bootleg, so be!" +</p><p> +"What!" cried Roche, as he looked down at his feet. "Do you mean that, +you heathen?" +</p><p> +"Me allee samee meanee," was the reply. "Me wantee givee you chancee to +gittee square, so be." +</p><p> +The villain had a hundred dollars out in a hurry. +</p><p> +"There you are!" he exclaimed. "Cover that!" +</p><p> +"Me covee allee samee pletty quickee, so be." +</p><p> +Hop did cover it, too; and then, folding his arms, he looked at Roche +and remained silent for a moment. +</p><p> +"Search me, somebody," said the latter, looking around. "Here, Sam! He +bet that the jack of hearts was in my bootleg again. You look and see." +</p><p> +"All right, Cap," answered the miner. +</p><p> +The leader of the outlaws stretched out his limbs and gave the man a +good chance to make the search before the eyes of the lookers-on. +</p><p> +He found the card the first thing, and, with a look of amazement on his +face, he held it up. +</p><p> +"There she is, Cap!" he exclaimed, with a shake of his head. "I didn't +think it was there; I thought ther Chinee was jest goin' ter let yer git +your money back. But there's ther jack of hearts, an' it sartinly was in +your boot!" +</p><p> +"Well, by ginger!" cried Roche. "I reckon I'm done with this kind of a +game. The heathen Chinee is altogether too much for me." +</p><p> +"Young Wild West told us he could beat anything there was goin'," spoke +up John Sedgwick. "He's a sleight-of-hand Chinee, that's what he is." +</p><p> +"Well, I am not a squealer, as you all know," said Roche. "But I do +think that some one should have told me that I was betting against a +sleight-of-hand performer." +</p><p> +"That wasn't fur us ter do, Cap," replied Sedgwick, shaking his head. +"You knowed that he was clever when yer seen him foolin' with ther +cards, an' doin' them other tricks. You lost your money jest because you +thought you was smarter than he was. I happen ter know that a man does a +very foolish thing when he bets ag'in a man showin' a trick. That's what +ther feller doin' it wants, an' he wins every time, too." +</p> + +<hr /> + +<p></p> +<div class="chapter"> +CHAPTER VII. +<br /> +<br /> +WILD MAKES AN IMPORTANT DISCOVERY. +</div> + +<p> +Cap Roche nodded his head at what Sedgwick said. +</p><p> +"All right," he said. "I reckon I'm satisfied. I am not broke, just +because I lost a couple of hundred dollars." +</p><p> +After that he made himself very agreeable to all hands, and when he got +ready to ride back to the cave in the pass he bade them good night and +invited them to call at his store when in Silver Bend. +</p><p> +Young Wild West and his partners waited until the man rode off, and then +they hurriedly left the shanty saloon. +</p><p> +Wild set out on a run for the camp. +</p><p> +He had made up his mind all at once to follow Cap Roche through +Forbidden Pass. +</p><p> +He got his horse in a jiffy, and, hastily telling the girls where he was +going rode off toward the pass. +</p><p> +So quickly had the young deadshot acted that Roche had not more than +three or four minutes the start of him. +</p><p> +If he went along at an easy gait Wild would be able to overtake him +before he got through the pass. +</p><p> +So quickly had the young deadshot acted that Roche had not more than +three or four minutes the start of him. +</p><p> +If he went along at an easy gait Wild would be able to overtake him +before he got through the pass. +</p><p> +Our hero knew that he was undertaking a risky thing, for he was quite +sure that there was a band of outlaws located somewhere in the pass, or +very near to it. +</p><p> +But he went on without any hesitation, prepared for anything that might +turn up. +</p><p> +The place was totally strange to him, but the boy had confidence in the +sorrel stallion he rode. +</p><p> +Spitfire would surely follow the horse that was ahead. +</p><p> +There was no mistake about that. +</p><p> +On went the dashing young deadshot, covering the ground rapidly. +</p><p> +He figured it that the storekeeper of Silver Bend was not going very +fast, however, and when he thought he ought to be pretty close to him he +brought his horse to a sudden halt and listened. +</p><p> +Wild had reckoned rightly, for he could hear the clatter of hoofs ahead. +</p><p> +"Ah!" he exclaimed, under his breath. "That was a pretty good guess. +Another minute and I would have been right up chose to him—close enough +for him to see me, perhaps. But I hardly think he has heard me, so I'll +keep right on." +</p><p> +He set out again, keeping his horse at a walk. +</p><p> +Suddenly the hoofbeats ahead ceased. +</p><p> +Wild let the horse walk right on, for the sounds that came from +Spitfire's hoofs could hardly be heard, the ground being very soft just +there. +</p><p> +But when about a hundred feet had been covered Wild brought his horse to +a halt and dismounted. +</p><p> +Throwing the bridle rein over the animals head, he hurried forward on +foot. +</p><p> +He rounded a turn in the pass just in time to distinguish the outlines +of a horse, and rider making straight for the almost perpendicular wall +at the left of the pass. +</p><p> +Then, all of a sudden, both man and horse disappeared! +</p><p> +"By jove!" exclaimed our hero, under his breath. "I reckon Cap Roche has +made a stop before going over to Silver Bend. Now it is for me to find +out where he has stopped. I didn't think I would have as much luck as +this. Whew! I reckon it won't take us long to settle accounts with the +outlaws of Forbidden Pass." +</p><p> +Stepping forward noiselessly, he was soon at the very spot where he had +last seen the horse and rider. +</p><p> +There was nothing there now and only the bleak walls of stone were +before him. +</p><p> +It was very dark in the pass too, but he could see the stars twinkling +overhead, and he was thus enabled to distinguish objects. +</p><p> +Wild went straight to the face of the cliff. +</p><p> +He put out his hand. +</p><p> +It was not rock that he touched, but a piece of canvas or similar +material. +</p><p> +This was nothing new to the dashing young deadshot, for he had been up +against all kinds of devices, and, he simply gave a low chuckle of +satisfaction. +</p><p> +"I'm mighty glad I followed you, Mr. Cap Roche," he thought. "Now, I +reckon it will be easy to settle the business. I'll just mark this spot, +and then ride back to the camp." +</p><p> +It was an easy thing to mark the spot, for he did it by rolling three +stones together, which he had no trouble in finding with his feet. +</p><p> +He took care that they were not directly in front of the hidden opening, +so they could not be knocked aside by horses, should they come out. +</p><p> +But Wild knew just where he put them, anyhow, and then he went back to +the waiting sorrel, and, mounting, rode off at a walk. +</p><p> +Not until he was a hundred yards from where he had mounted his horse did +he set out at a gallop, and then he was not long in reaching the end of +the pass. +</p><p> +Wild rode to the little camp and dismounted, surprising his waiting +friends for getting back so soon. +</p><p> +"I reckon yer couldn't catch up to ther galoot, eh, Wild?" remarked +Cheyenne Charlie. +</p><p> +"Oh, I caught up with him, all right," was the reply. "Things worked +just the way I wanted them to." +</p><p> +"Is that so? Good enough!" +</p><p> +"Yes. I caught up to Cap Roche, and I was just in time to see him +disappear." +</p><p> +"Disappear?" echoed Arietta. "Then he fooled you, after all?" +</p><p> +"Oh, no. He didn't fool me, Et, for I found where he went." +</p><p> +"Git out!" exclaimed the scout, jubilantly. +</p><p> +"Yes, I was right there in the proper time. But I'll tell you all about +it." +</p><p> +This the young deadshot did, and when he had done the faces of his +partners and the girls wore smiles of delight and satisfaction. +</p><p> +Even the girls were always anxious to see him make a success of hunting +down outlaws and bad men, no matter how much the danger was in doing it. +</p><p> +They had become so used to it that they thought that Wild and his +partners were simply following the natural law in doing such things. +</p><p> +"I am glad you did not go into the place, Wild," Arietta said. "If you +had done so you might have been caught, and then we would not have known +where to look for you." +</p><p> +"That is just why I didn't take the risk of doing it, Et," was the reply. +"To-morrow will be time enough to get inside the cave, or whatever it +may be. But you can bet that both Charlie and Jim will know just where +it is before I make the attempt." +</p><p> +Our friends usually retired quite early nights, and as they were pretty +well tired out from an all-day ride, they decided to get the sleep they +needed. +</p><p> +Hop had not returned yet, but Wild thought he would allow him to stay +out, since there was nothing to do in the morning. +</p><p> +He felt that the Chinaman would not get in any trouble at the saloon, +since the miners all seemed to like him. +</p><p> +It was after midnight when Hop returned to the camp, and when he came he +sneaked in quietly. +</p><p> +But Cheyenne Charlie was awake, and he let him know that he heard him. +</p><p> +"You yaller galoot, you've been fillin' up with tanglefoot ag'in!" he +exclaimed in a whisper. "Don't think I don't know." +</p><p> +"Allee light, Misler Charlie," was the Chinaman's reply; "me feel allee +samee velly goodee. Whattee you care?" +</p><p> +The scout let it go at this, and soon the camp was wrapped in silence. +</p><p> +Early the next morning they were up and stirring, however. +</p><p> +Hop was still sound asleep, however, and when his brother tried to +arouse him it did no good. +</p><p> +It was not until our friends had eaten their breakfast that it occurred +to them that it was time for Hop to get up. +</p><p> +Charlie undertook the task of rousing him. +</p><p> +He threw a pail of water on him, and, as might be supposed, it had the +desired effect. +</p><p> +"Lat allee light, Misler Charlie," said the Celestial, as he made for +the brook, after crawling out of the tent; "me allee samee gittee +square, so be!" +</p><p> +"You're square now, if I know anything about it," was the retort. "You +don't count ther tricks you're played on me, I s'pose? Now, you'd better +look out what yer do ter me, 'cause I won't stand it, if yer rub +somethin' good an' hard on me." +</p><p> +"Allee light, Misler Charlie," was all Hop said just then. +</p><p> +The breakfast being over, Young Wild West decided to take a ride through +the pass, and thus keep his promise. +</p><p> +"Come, boys," said he, "I reckon we'll start out now. We'll go right on +through, unless it happens that we are stopped by the outlaws. When we +come back I'll show you the place where Cap Roche disappeared last +night." +</p><p> +"I would like to go along, Wild," spoke up Arietta, "Why can't we all +go?" +</p><p> +"Well, it might make it a little bad in case the villains took a notion +to hold us up," was the reply. "But if you want to go real bad I suppose +you may." +</p><p> +"We do want to go real bad, don't we, girls?" said Arietta, as she +turned to Anna and Eloise. +</p><p> +"Of course, we do!" was the quick reply. +</p><p> +"All right, then. Hop and Wing will stay in charge of the camp. Get +yourselves ready, and be sure that you take your rifles with you. If we +are attacked by a masked gang about half way through the pass I won't be +much surprised." +</p><p> +The horses were soon saddled, and then, after giving the two Chinamen +instructions to keep a watch on the camp, and not to get into mischief, +Wild led the way for Forbidden Pass. +</p><p> +"We are going through, and we won't pay any toll, either!" he said. +</p><p> +"If there is any toll to pay, I'll pay it!" exclaimed Arietta, as she +touched the butt of her revolver. +</p> + +<hr /> + +<p></p> +<div class="chapter"> +CHAPTER VIII. +<br /> +<br /> +CAPTURED IN THE PASS. +</div> + +<p> +As our friends neared the commencement of Forbidden Pass they saw that a +crowd of the miners of the camp were watching them. +</p><p> +A man, whom they easily recognized as Sedgwick, waved his hand to them, +and they answered it. +</p><p> +"I suppose he thinks that something will surely happen to us, if the +outlaws are still hanging around here," our hero observed. "Well, he may +be right; we can't tell." +</p><p> +"I want to read that sign, Wild," spoke up Arietta, as she brought her +horse to a halt. "Well, it was not painted by an ignorant man, anyhow. +It is about the first sign, with so many letters to it, that I have seen +spelled correctly—in a little camp, like this, anyhow." +</p><p> +"Oh, I reckon Cap Roche made the sign, all right, Et," replied our hero. +"He seems to be a pretty smart man. The lettering is good, I must say. +And there is even a painted background—something I did not notice last +night, boys. A pale-blue background, with white letters. Well, that is +all right!" +</p><p> +"We have got to pay toll, I suppose, Arietta," said Jim, with a twinkle +in his eye. +</p><p> +"I said a minute or two ago that I would pay it, if any was demanded," +she retorted. "Just leave that part to me." +</p><p> +No one knew exactly what she meant, and it is hardly likely that she did +herself. But there was one thing evident, and that was that she did not +mean that any money was to be handed over to the outlaws, should it be +demanded. +</p><p> +They did not remain at a halt long, but proceeded on their way, their +horses at a gentle canter. +</p><p> +"Just keep your eyes on the watch for three stones lying close +together," said Wild, as they got nearly a mile through the pass. "They +are stones a little larger than a goose egg, I should judge." +</p><p> +"All right," answered the scout, with a confident nod. "I reckon I'll +see 'em, if they kin be seen, Wild." +</p><p> +A minute or two later they came to the very spot where Wild had seen the +villain disappear the night before. +</p><p> +The boys could tell when he got there right away, as he had noticed the +spot where he had dismounted, the ground being rather soft there; and +the hoofprints, as well as his own footprints were discernible. +</p><p> +Charlie and Jim noticed the prints, too, and they were almost straining +their eyes to catch sight of the three stones. +</p><p> +Suddenly the scout gave an exclamation of satisfaction, and then quickly +added: +</p><p> +"I see 'em, Wild." +</p><p> +"So do I," said Jim, almost at the same instant. +</p><p> +"All right, boys. We'll go right on through the pass, and when we come +back we'll make an investigation." +</p><p> +The girls also saw the three little stones, but when they found that +Wild did not seem to want to make much of them just then they rode on, +with only a passing comment. +</p><p> +They reached the other end of the pass without meeting a human being or +seeing anything that would indicate the presence of any. +</p><p> +Then they dismounted and took a look at the sign that was posted there. +</p><p> +It was so nearly like the other that if the two had been side by side +the difference could not have been told. +</p><p> +This one was nailed to a big tree, and after he had looked it over Wild +decided to take it down and see if there was anything on the other side +of it. +</p><p> +He used the butt of a revolver in place of a hammer and soon knocked the +barrel-head loose from the tree. +</p><p> +Then it was quickly pried off. +</p><p> +Much to his satisfaction, he saw that there was some lettering on the +back of the sign. +</p><p> +But it was done in black, and the letters were daubed on in a careless +way, such as a shipping house clerk does it. +</p><p> +Young Wild West's face lighted up with a smile as he read the following: +</p><p> + "Cap Roche," + "General Store," + "Silver Bend, Nev." +</p><p> +"What do you think of that?" he asked, holding the barrel-head so his +companions could read it. "I reckon we know where the material to make +the sign came from now." +</p><p> +"Great gimlets!" exclaimed Cheyenne Charlie. "If you hadn't seen Roche +go inter ther cave last night you would know now that he was connected +with ther outlaws. This is what I calls great!" +</p><p> +"Well, I'll just put the sign up again," said our hero, after a moment +of thought. "But I'll put it so the back part can be read. It may make +Cap Roche wonder a little, and if anybody else, not connected with his +gang, sees it they may do a little studying and wondering." +</p><p> +He soon knocked the nails out, and then he lost no time in nailing the +sign to the tree in the manner he had proposed to do. +</p><p> +"There you are!" he said. "You can't see the words as plainly as you +could the others; but I reckon they can be read all right, if one takes +the trouble to get up a little close to the tree." +</p><p> +"I reckon if any one comes this way they'll notice it quick enough," the +scout declared. +</p><p> +As they intended to go no further, they simply took a look at the trail +that came around the mountain at that point and then continued on toward +the southwest. +</p><p> +"There's the way to Silver Bend," said Wild. "I reckon we'll go through +there when we get done with Forbidden Pass." +</p><p> +"That's right, Wild," Arietta spoke up. "We will need something from the +general store that can't be bought in Big Bonanza." +</p><p> +They all laughed at this, and then, mounting their horses, turned and +rode back into the narrow pass. +</p><p> +The mile to the spot where the secret entrance to the cave had been +discovered by our hero the night before was soon made, and then they +came to a halt. +</p><p> +Wild was just going to dismount to make an examination when a revolver +shot sounded and his hat was knocked off his head. +</p><p> +The next instant fully a dozen came down the rocky side of the pass and +confronted them with drawn revolvers. +</p><p> +"Hands up—everybody!" called out one of them, who was easily recognized +as Chuck Snivel, the cowboy. +</p><p> +Crack—crack! +</p><p> +Charlie fired two shots in quick succession, and then urged the girls to +flee. +</p><p> +Wild saw that nearly all the men were pointing their weapons at him, so +he thought it best to obey the command. +</p><p> +He seemed to be the one they wanted, and he felt that one hostile word +from him would insure his death. +</p><p> +Two of the outlaws had dropped when the scout fired, but the others were +so close upon them that Wild was seized and pulled from his horse in +less than a second, almost. +</p><p> +The young deadshot struck at them with his clenched fists and made it +decidedly unpleasant for them. +</p><p> +But he knew he could not get away, and he was simply doing this to give +his companions a chance. +</p><p> +They all took advantage of it but one, and that was Arietta. +</p><p> +"I reckon you'll pay toll fur coming through Forbidden Pass, Young Wild +West!" one of the villains exclaimed. "Hold him tight, boys! I'm glad +yer didn't kill him when that shot was fired at him. I told Chuck not +ter do it. Ther captain wants him alive. Git ther gal, too! This is what +I call collectin' toll, all right!" +</p><p> +Arietta's horse had been seized by the bit, and a ruffianly fellow stood +holding him with one hand, while his other held a revolver that was +pointed at the girl's breast. +</p><p> +The rest of the party had succeeded in getting around a bend, but Wild +knew they would not go very far. +</p><p> +But before they had time to get back and do anything both he and Arietta +were dragged up close to what seemed to be the rocky wall of the cliff. +</p><p> +Then the curtain rolled up, and in they went, the outlaws following with +those who had fallen and the horses. +</p><p> +It was all done so quickly that our hero found himself in the darkness +before he fairly realized what had happened. +</p><p> +Arietta uttered a scream as she was hurried into the mouth of the hidden +cave, but a hand was quickly placed over her mouth, and that ended any +further chance to let Charlie and the rest know where they were being +carried. +</p><p> +Wild's weapons were taken from him while he was being dragged into the +cave, and it was a very rough handling that he received. +</p><p> +But he knew how useless it was, so he did no further struggling. +</p><p> +The fact that the rest had succeeded in getting away was a little +consolation, for that meant that they would come back and effect a +rescue. +</p><p> +Our hero placed the utmost dependence on Charlie and Jim, for they had +never failed him yet. +</p><p> +In through the short passage the outlaws took them, and then into the +big cave. +</p><p> +They paused here long enough to bind the boy's hands and then Chuck +Snivel, who was in command, said: +</p><p> +"Outside into the hole with him, boys. Tie him to the post until Cap +comes. We'll keep the girl here. I reckon we'll collect the toll all +right." +</p><p> +"It will be a dear toll, too," spoke up the man who had cautioned him +not to kill the boy. "Two of us went under, I s'pose you know." +</p><p> +"An' no amount of money will bring 'em back ter life," chimed in +another. +</p><p> +"There'll be a lot more of you go under before you collect your toll!" +exclaimed Young Wild West, who had now fully recovered from the surprise +he had been treated to. "Just wait!" +</p><p> +"That's all right, boy," Chuck Snivel answered, "You know how I feel +toward you, I reckon. You don't have no idea that you're ever goin' ter +git away from here alive, do yer?" +</p><p> +"I haven't the least doubt but that I will," was the calm retort. +</p><p> +"Well, jest see how mistaken you'll be. I'm goin' ter be ther one what +will kill yer! Do yer understand that?" +</p> + +<hr /> + +<p></p> +<div class="chapter"> +CHAPTER IX. +<br /> +<br /> +ARIETTA ATTEMPTS TO ESCAPE. +</div> + +<p> +At a word from Snivel Young Wild West was dragged along through the big +cave to a place that was almost directly opposite to the entrance. +</p><p> +The light that was admitted through the cracks in the front was +sufficient for our hero to see that it was another passage that he was +being taken to. +</p><p> +He had heard the villain in command of the men say that he was to be +taken outside and put in the hole until the leader came, but just what +that meant he did not know. +</p><p> +He was destined to find out very soon, however, for the passage did not +extend many feet. +</p><p> +A sharp turn in it and he saw a natural hollow, with steep walls of rock +on either side, right before him. +</p><p> +It looked very much like the pass, but he knew it could not be, for they +would not take him out there again. +</p><p> +Another thing, the end of the opening, or hole, as it might be called, +was but fifty yards away. +</p><p> +Some parts of this wall was very steep, and others looked as though it +could be climbed. +</p><p> +On one side, not far from the passage he was taken from, was a stout +post that was planted firmly in the ground. +</p><p> +To this Wild was taken, and being placed in an upright position, with +his back to it, he was firmly tied to the post. +</p><p> +"There!" exclaimed Chuck Snivel, fiendishly. "I reckon you'll stay there +just as long as we want yer to, Young Wild West." +</p><p> +"All right," was the calm rejoinder. "I hope you won't want me to stay +here very long. I don't like this kind of business." +</p><p> +Some of the outlaws laughed, while others glared at him savagely. +</p><p> +His style did not exactly suit them. He was too cool by far. +</p><p> +Then, again, two of their number had fallen during the struggle to +capture the brave boy and his sweetheart, and that made them feel all +the more ugly toward him. +</p><p> +"You was goin' through ther pass an' yer wasn't goin' ter pay no toll, +Young Wild West!" exclaimed Snivel, after a short pause. "I reckon yer +found out your mistake all right. We seen yer when yer went through, an' +we jest got ready fur yer when yer come back. Yer couldn't have stopped +in a better place, fur ye was right in front of our cave. Yer jest +walked right inter ther trap we had set fur yer." +</p><p> +"That's all right," Wild answered, coolly. "You have won the first trick +in the game, that isn't going to count for much. I've been in just such +fixes as this, and I have always got out of them. You couldn't scare me +if you tried for a week!" +</p><p> +"You talk it nice; but yer will change your tune afore you're many hours +older. Thought it was fine fun ter make me dance last night, didn't yer? +Oh, but I'm gittin' square, all right." +</p><p> +"You'll wish you had never met me before I am done with you." +</p><p> +"Ha, ha, ha!" laughed the villain. "Hear him talk, boys! He acts jest as +though he ain't no prisoner. He's got nerve enough fur ten, I reckon." +</p><p> +"I reckon it's his bluff that's always carried him through," remarked +one of the outlaws, as he looked at the helpless boy and nodded. "But +there's always a time, yer know. Young Wild West has gone ther length of +his rope!" +</p><p> +"I reckon you'll find that my rope is a great deal longer than you +think," Wild answered, thinking it good policy to keep in conversation +with them, as the more time Charlie and Jim had to figure out a way of +helping him the better it would be. +</p><p> +"Ha, ha, ha!" +</p><p> +Again Snivel laughed. +</p><p> +It was evident that he was very sure that it was all up with Young Wild +West. +</p><p> +The success the outlaws had met with since they had established their +quarters in the cave no doubt made them confident that they could not be +ousted. +</p><p> +"Boys," said Snivel, as he turned from our hero, evidently satisfied +that he could gain nothing by trying to frighten him, "I reckon you had +better bury ther bodies of Pete an' Simon. I don't know as there's any +use in waitin' fur Cap ter come. He won't be here till some time after +dinner, he said when he went away last night. He's tryin' ter git ther +stage coach ter run through ther pass ag'in, an' if it does we'll let it +go fur ther first two or three trips, an' then when they've got a good +pile aboard we're goin' ter nab on it. Cap knows his business, all +right; an' we make more by his bein' away than we do when he's here." +</p><p> +"That's right," answered the man, who seemed to have more to say than +any of the rest. "I reckon we'll go ahead with our funeral. I'll take +what they've got on 'em, an' you kin put in ther box inside, so ther +boss kin take charge of it. I know they both must have had a few dollars +when this unexpected business happened. This are too bad! It's ther +first loss we've met with since we've been banded together." +</p><p> +"That's right, Aleck," replied Snivel. "You go ahead. Joe an' Dick kin +go ahead an' dig ther grave that'll answer fur ther pair of 'em. Poor +fellers! They never knowed what struck 'em, fur ther galoots what fired +them shots aimed 'em mighty straight, an' there was no sufferin' done. +I'm mighty glad I wasn't in ther way of one of them bullets." +</p><p> +"Well, we all are, as fur as that goes. But it's a shame that they had +ter be snuffed out that way." +</p><p> +He went away to attend to the work assigned him, as did the others who +had been named. +</p><p> +Then Snivel walked back into the cave, leaving Wild to his own +reflections. +</p><p> +The villain found Arietta sitting on a box, over which some skins had +been thrown to make it comfortable. +</p><p> +The girl had not been tied, the villains evidently thinking that there +was no danger of her escaping, as she was but a girl. +</p><p> +But she was being closely watched, just the same, for those left to +guard her could not help noticing that she was not afraid. +</p><p> +"Well, miss," said Snivel, apologetically, "I'm mighty sorry ter see you +in such a fix as this. What did yer want ter come through Forbidden Pass +fur, anyhow? Didn't yer read ther sign?" +</p><p> +"I wanted to come through, so I could pay the toll, and I will do it +when the proper time comes," was the reply in a steady voice. +</p><p> +"You pay ther toll! Why, have yer got a big pile of money?" +</p><p> +"Not here. But I think I can pay it, though." +</p><p> +"Where is your money, gal?" +</p><p> +The lieutenant of the outlaw band became interested right away. +</p><p> +"I don't know as I have got to tell you where my money is," replied +Arietta, coolly. "You don't suppose it is anywhere near here, do you? I +wouldn't be wise if I carried a big pile of money around with me, would +I?" +</p><p> +"Well, I don't know about that part of it. But it would be all ther +better fur us, I reckon," and the man grinned, as though he thought he +had got off a pretty good joke. "But jest tell me how yer expect ter pay +ther toll?" +</p><p> +"I'll show you that when the time comes," was the reply. +</p><p> +"But can't yer tell me now?" +</p><p> +"No, because I don't just know how I am going to pay it. But I am going +to do it, just the same." +</p><p> +"I s'pose yer mean that you're goin' ter pay somethin' ter be let go +free," observed the villain, after thinking a minute or two. "Well, it +will depend on what ther captain says about you gittin' away. I don't +hardly think he'll be in favor of lettin' you go, no matter how much yer +agree ter pay." +</p><p> +"Oh, I will get away as soon as Young Wild West gets out of here. He +won't be long in finding a way to release me." +</p><p> +"Miss, if you're dependin' on anything like that ter happen jest git it +off your mind. Young Wild West ain't never goin' ter git out of here +alive. I've swore that I'll kill him; an' ther boss of our gang wouldn't +think of lettin' him live, nohow. Jest make up your mind that ther boys +has got ter die, an' that you're likely ter go ther same way yourself. +There's nothin' like resignin' yourself to your fate, yer know." +</p><p> +"Oh, is that so?" +</p><p> +Arietta looked at him with flashing eyes. +</p><p> +Her defiant way struck Snivel as something wonderful, coming from a +defenseless girl, as it did. +</p><p> +He did not know that she had a six-shooter in the bosom of her dress, +which had been overlooked when she was disarmed. +</p><p> +But Arietta always carried the weapon there. +</p><p> +It was of smaller calibre than the one she always carried at her belt, +but it was deadly enough at short range. +</p><p> +The revolver had been given her by Young Wild West on her sixteenth +birthday, and several times it had stood her in good stead. +</p><p> +At the very minute that Snivel was talking to her she was thinking of +bringing the weapon into use. +</p><p> +Arietta had heard enough to make her believe that her dashing young +lover was not to be harmed for a while, for she had been listening when +the men were talking about Cap Roche, and she had not failed to make +note of it when they said that he was not due at the cave until some +time after the hour of noon. +</p><p> +Before Snivel came in from the rear entrance she had been carefully +studying the cave, and she knew just the way to get out. +</p><p> +She thought that the quicker she did it the better it would be for both +herself and Wild. +</p><p> +She determined that she would act right now. +</p><p> +"Can I have a drink of water?" she asked, as Snivel was about to pull up +a stool near her. +</p><p> +"Sartin," was the reply. "I'll go an' fetch yer one right from ther +spring." +</p><p> +There were only two men besides the lieutenant of the band in the cave +just then, and they were back near the rear. +</p><p> +Snivel went and got a tin cup and as he turned his back to go and fetch +the water Arietta arose and stepped lightly across the cave. +</p><p> +She had almost reached the passage that led out to the pass when one of +the outlaws saw her and raised the alarm. +</p> + +<hr /> + +<p></p> +<div class="chapter"> +CHAPTER X. +<br /> +<br /> +"THAT MAKES FOUR OF YOU!" +</div> + +<p> +As the outlaw's warning cry sounded through the cave Arietta gave a +shout of defiance and darted into the passage. +</p><p> +Like Wild, she had seen the curtain lifted when she was carried into the +cave, and she knew that curtain was not far away. +</p><p> +It was doubtful if she would be fired at by the villains, she thought, +but there was really no telling, so she drew her revolver and looked +over her shoulder as she ran. +</p><p> +Both the man who saw her when she was nearly out and the other villain +were now running swiftly through the cave, and each of them had a drawn +revolver. +</p><p> +Arietta ran as far as she could go, and then she came in contact with +the painted curtain. +</p><p> +She did not know how to manipulate it, of course, so the best thing she +could do was to reach for the bottom and lift it. +</p><p> +This she did, and, much to her joy, it came up easily. +</p><p> +A quick move and she had darted under it and was outside in the pass. +</p><p> +Then it was that she gave a cry of delight, for Cheyenne Charlie was +right there to greet her. +</p><p> +The girl did not say a word, however, but motioned for the scout to get +behind a rock that was close at hand. +</p><p> +She darted after him as he obeyed her, and then out came the foremost of +the men who were chasing her. +</p><p> +Crack! +</p><p> +The scout fired without any hesitation and down went the villain in a +heap. +</p><p> +But his action checked the others from coming out, and the curtain went +down in a jiffy. +</p><p> +Arietta's action in lifting it had caused the log to fall and pull it up +to its full height. +</p><p> +"That's putty good, I reckon," said Charlie, smiling grimly. "Is Wild +all right, Arietta?" +</p><p> +"He is safe for the present, I think," was the girl's reply. "They are +waiting for the captain to come. He won't be here until some time after +dinner, so there is a good chance of saving Wild." +</p><p> +"If that's ther case, I reckon there'll he a good chance, fur ther +captain will never git here!" +</p><p> +There was no mistaking the meaning of Cheyenne Charlie just then. +</p><p> +Cap Roche's life was surely in danger if he showed up in Forbidden Pass +that day! +</p><p> +"Take him alive, Charlie," advised Arietta, "Where are Jim and the +girls?" +</p><p> +"Right back there a little ways," was the reply. "But you jest leave it +ter me ter settle with Cap Roche. I'll show ther two-faced galoot what's +what!" +</p><p> +Arietta said no more, but hurried through the pass in the direction +Charlie had indicated. +</p><p> +She found the rest waiting for her, for they had heard the shot, and had +seen her with Charlie. +</p><p> +"Is Wild all right?" Dart asked, anxiously. +</p><p> +"Yes, for a while, anyhow," was the reply as Anna and Eloise both tried +to embrace her at one time. +</p><p> +She quickly let them know the situation, and then she turned her +attention to the spot where Charlie was in waiting for the outlaws to +show themselves. +</p><p> +The scout's blood was up now, and she knew quite well that he would +shoot the villains as fast as they showed themselves. +</p><p> +Ten minutes passed by, and no one showed up. +</p><p> +Charlie was waiting patiently, however. +</p><p> +He was confident that one of the outlaws would want to get out to see +what had happened to the fellow that followed in pursuit of the escaping +girl. +</p><p> +But Charlie did not know that the villains had a peephole in that +cleverly contrived curtain, and that they had already looked through it +and learned that their comrade was dead on the ground. +</p><p> +To say that the outlaws were enraged at what had happened would be +putting it mildly. +</p><p> +The girls escape had happened so unexpectedly that they could hardly +realize it, and then, right on the back of it, another man is shot! +</p><p> +"Chuck," said the man called Bob, "I reckon we're in fur it." +</p><p> +"Don't say that," was the retort. "Ain't we got Young Wild West hard an' +fast?" +</p><p> +"Yes, an' we thought we had ther gal that way, too. But she ain't here +now, is she?" +</p><p> +"Well, I wouldn't care two cents about her, if it wasn't that it was +through her that Wally got shot." +</p><p> +"Poor Wally! An' jest as we was fillin' up ther grave of ther other two, +too. Well, yer didn't finish their job, did yer?" +</p><p> +"No; when we heard ther hubbub inside we stopped an' run in." +</p><p> +"An' left Young Wild West out there alone, eh?" +</p><p> +"Yes; but he couldn't git away; you know that well enough." +</p><p> +"There ain't no tellin' what he might do." +</p><p> +Snivel hurried out of the rear of the cave. +</p><p> +But the prisoner was still there, tied to the post, just as he had been +left. +</p><p> +The horses of the outlaws had been led out there, and they were cropping +at some sparse grass that grew there. +</p><p> +As the sun did not get much of a chance at the bottom of the hole, as it +was called by the outlaws, the vegetation there was scarce. +</p><p> +"So you're here yet, eh?" said Snivel, as he stepped up to the boy. +</p><p> +"Why, yes," was the reply. "You didn't think I was going to leave so +soon, did you?" +</p><p> +"No, I didn't think so. But funny things is happenin' jest about now." +</p><p> +"What was the matter in the cave?" +</p><p> +Wild asked the question in an indifferent way, but he was really anxious +to hear, for he had no idea that Arietta had made her escape. +</p><p> +He had heard the shot, too, and he was eager to find out what it all +meant. +</p><p> +"Yer want ter know what was ther matter in ther cave, eh?" asked Snivel, +looking at the boy and scowling. "Well, I don't know as it will do any +hurt ter tell yer. Ther gal got away from us—that's what was ther +matter." +</p><p> +"Is that so? Who fired the shot I heard?" +</p><p> +"One of your pards, I s'pose." +</p><p> +"Did it hit any one?" +</p><p> +"I reckon it did. Another of our men got laid out. Oh, this is only +makin' it all ther worse fur you, Young Wild West. You don't stand no +livin' show, so there's no use in thinkin' yer do." +</p><p> +"I wish Cap Roche would come, so I call find out my fate," said Wild, +though he did not mean it. +</p><p> +The longer the leader of the outlaws stayed away the better were his +chances of being rescued by his partners. +</p><p> +"How do you know that Cap Roche is ther one that's goin' ter settle +about your fate, Young Wild West?" +</p><p> +"Why, I have heard you fellows talking about him." +</p><p> +"Yer did, eh? I reckon yer never heard none of us say any more than Cap. +We didn't say that Cap Roche had anything ter do with our crowd." +</p><p> +"Well, I thought you did." +</p><p> +"I don't know as it makes any difference, though. You ain't never goin' +away from here alive. Ther toll that you'll pay is your life, Young Wild +West! Cap Roche will soon say that." +</p><p> +"Maybe he will, and maybe he won't," retorted our hero, as calmly as +though he was simply talking business with a friend. "Cap Roche might +take a notion to let me go. His business at the store in Silver Bend +might require him to do so." +</p><p> +"I reckon he'd be a fool ter let yer go. Where would he land if he did?' +</p><p> +"Well, if he made a deal with me he might land all right." +</p><p> +Wild was adopting different tactics now. Anything to gain time, and he +thought that he might get the men in the humor to make terms for his +release. +</p><p> +Not that he meant to pay the "toll," as they called it; but if he could +make them believe that he had a large sum of money at his command it +might work all right. +</p><p> +The fact was that our hero had very little money on his person. +</p><p> +His experience had taught him not to carry much with him. +</p><p> +Therefore, he always kept the bulk of what he brought with him in a +hidden pocket in his saddlebags. +</p><p> +Hop was the one who had taught him that this was the safest way, for +road agents seldom took a notion to make a thorough search of a +horseman's saddlebags. +</p><p> +"How much money have yet got with yer, Young Wild West?" Snivel asked. +</p><p> +"Not much. But I have plenty in the banks of Denver and Phoenix." +</p><p> +"Denver an' Phoenix is both a mighty good distance from here." +</p><p> +"I know that. But an order from me would fetch the money any time you +went for it." +</p><p> +"That's so, too." +</p><p> +"And my word is worth as much as my money, I reckon!" +</p><p> +"I don't know about that. I wouldn't take ther word of any one. I don't +think any one would tell ther truth in a case like this." +</p><p> +"Well, there is no use in flying, to make a deal with you, then. I'll +wait till the captain comes, I reckon." +</p><p> +"He's ther one ter talk ter, anyhow." +</p><p> +It was just then that another shot sounded from the pass. +</p><p> +The next minute Bob came running out of the rear of the cave. +</p><p> +"Another man got his medicine, Chuck!" he exclaimed. "He would go out +ter git ther body of Wally, an' he got shot down afore he could git hold +of it!" +</p><p> +"That makes four of you!" said Young Wild West coolly gazing at the +villains. "Where do you think you are coming out in this game?" +</p> + +<hr /> + +<p></p> +<div class="chapter"> +CHAPTER XI. +<br /> +<br /> +WHAT HOP WAH DID. +</div> + +<p> +Though he had been told to remain with Wing and watch the camp, Hop grew +so restless after our friends had been gone about half an hour that he +decided to follow them and see if he could not assist in hunting down +the outlaws. +</p><p> +He had heard enough of the conversation to make him understand just how +the hidden cave was located, and he relied on his sleight-of-hand work +to help him. +</p><p> +If there was anything that the Chinaman liked it was to do something +that met with the approval of Young Wild West. +</p><p> +After he had once got it into his head that he wanted to go Hop grew +very restless. +</p><p> +Finally he turned to the cook and said: +</p><p> +"Me go takee lillee walk thlough um pass, so be, my blother." +</p><p> +"Misler Wild say you, allee samee stay here, so be," was the reply. +</p><p> +"Lat allee light. But me 'flaid Misler Wild allee samee gittee in um +tlouble; me wantee helpee out." +</p><p> +Wing did not care if he did go, for he thought he was perfectly able to +take care of the camp. +</p><p> +So when Hop said he thought Wild might be in trouble he nodded and +retorted: +</p><p> +"Allee light; my blother go if he wantee to. Me allee samee stay here, +likee Misler Wild say." +</p><p> +"Lat light, my blother. You velly muchee goodee Chinee; but you no +undelstand, likee me; me allee samee velly muchee smartee, allee samee +my uncle in China." +</p><p> +"Um uncle in China allee samee dead; gittee head cuttee off for stealee +pig!" +</p><p> +"Sh!" said Hop, holding up his hand. "My blother mustee not lettee +Misler Charlie knowee lat." +</p><p> +"Me no care, so be. You allee samee foolee." +</p><p> +Wing acted as though he was disgusted, but a sorrowful look from his +brother soon brought him around. +</p><p> +"Me no tellee Misler Charlie," he said. +</p><p> +"Allee light. Now me go to um saloon and gittee lillee dlop of +tanglefoot; len me go and havee lillee look alound up Forbiddee Passee, +so be." +</p><p> +Hop was not long in getting ready. +</p><p> +Without another word he set out for the saloon. +</p><p> +The miners were all at work by this time, so there was no one there but +Hoker and the man he had to help him. +</p><p> +They were both busy cleaning up the place when the Chinaman entered, but +they greeted him cordially. +</p><p> +"Where's Young Wild West?" asked Hoker, though he well knew that he had +started out to go through Forbidden Pass. +</p><p> +"He takee lillee tlip to huntee uppee some outlaws, so be," answered the +Chinaman. "Me likee havee lillee tanglefoot; len me go outee huntee, +too, so be." +</p><p> +"Is that so? Well, I don't know how much of a hunter you are, but if yer +are as good at it as yer are with ther cards you'll make out all right, +I reckon." +</p><p> +"Lat light." +</p><p> +Hop got his drink, and then he had a flask filled with whisky for use +later on. +</p><p> +"Now, len," said he, blandly, "me chuck dicee to see if me pay or you +givee me um tanglefoot." +</p><p> +"No yer don't!" was the quick reply. "You fork over ther money. I ain't +goin' inter no gamblin' game with you. You're too much fur me, an' I +ain't ashamed ter own up ter it." +</p><p> +Hop grinned and paid the bill. +</p><p> +Then he put the flask in his pocket and set out for the pass. +</p><p> +He had heard Wild say that the spot where the hidden cave was located +was only about a mile from the camp, so that made a nice, little walk +for him. +</p><p> +The fact was that Hop did not mind walking, anyhow. +</p><p> +He was in the saddle so much that it was a relief to get the opportunity +to walk around once in a while. +</p><p> +Reaching the pass, he took a good look at the sign and gave a nod of +approval. +</p><p> +Hop had learned to read English pretty well, though he could not speak +it with any great degree of accuracy. +</p><p> +But he did not want to do any better than what he did in that line, for +his style just suited him. +</p><p> +"Make pay allee samee toll, so be," he said, musingly. "Whattee lat?" +</p><p> +That was just a little too much for him. +</p><p> +But he was not going to let it worry him any, so he started through the +pass without any further delay. +</p><p> +The trail made by our friends was very plain in places, and Hop took +notice of this fact. +</p><p> +He walked along leisurely, taking in all he saw, which was not a great +deal, since there were nothing but cliffs and the blue sky above to be +seen. +</p><p> +He kept right on until finally he rounded a turn in the pass and saw Jim +Dart and the girls about a hundred yards ahead. +</p><p> +As they were gathered behind a big rock, as though hiding, he knew that +something was wrong right away. +</p><p> +Hop came to a pause. +</p><p> +Though he wanted to know what was up, he felt that it would be best to +go it alone, so he did not walk ahead and join them. +</p><p> +While he stood back close to the cliff a revolver shot rang out. +</p><p> +He saw Jim raise his head above the rock and take a quick look in the +direction it came from, and then all was still. +</p><p> +It so happened that Hop had got there just in time to hear the shot that +ended the career of the fourth outlaw. +</p><p> +The Chinaman did not know what it meant, so he looked for a way to get +up close to Jim and the girls without being seen by them. +</p><p> +If he went on through the narrow defile he could not do it. +</p><p> +Then he looked up and, much to his satisfaction, he saw a place that +could be climbed quite easily, he thought. +</p><p> +He decided to go on up, and then work his way along until he was +directly above those in waiting. +</p><p> +Hop was quite agile for a Chinaman who did not like work a great deal. +</p><p> +He was soon ascending the craggy way, and in less than two minutes he +was at the top of the cliff. +</p><p> +Once there he found that it was comparatively level, and he walked along +fearlessly. +</p><p> +But he could not help noticing that there was a fissure similar to that +which formed the pass on the other side, and, being curious to see what +was down there, he made his way to the edge. +</p><p> +A smothered cry of astonishment came from the Chinaman's lips as he +peered downward. +</p><p> +It was the "hole," as the outlaws termed it, that Hop was looking into, +and there was Young Wild West, tied to the post, in plain view! +</p><p> +"Lat pletty goodee—or pletty badee, so be!" exclaimed Hop, under his +breath, "Me findee Misler Wild pletty quickee. But um bad Melican mans +gottee him, so be." +</p><p> +Keeping out of sight, he lay flat at the top of the cliff and saw the +excited outlaws as they moved about in the hole below him. +</p><p> +The distance was about forty feet, but Hop soon discovered a way to get +down, or nearly all the distance, anyhow. +</p><p> +But he did not intend to risk doing it just then. +</p><p> +The excited voices of the men came to his ears, and he was not long in +making out that they were talking about a man that had just been shot as +he went out to get the body of a comrade. +</p><p> +From his position he could see about all there was to be seen in the +fissure. +</p><p> +There was the grave the villains had placed the two bodies in, and which +they had started to fill. +</p><p> +He counted ten men there, too, and he shook his head when he found there +were so many of them. +</p><p> +"Misler Wild allee samee in um bad box, so be," he muttered. "Me better +go tell Misler Jim, so be." +</p><p> +Having decided upon this plan of action, he crawled away from the edge +of the cliff and made his way down into the pass. +</p><p> +It was easier to get down than it was to come up, and once there he +started boldly for Jim and the girls. +</p><p> +He was within twenty feet of them when Arietta turned and saw him. +</p><p> +"Here is Hop!" she exclaimed in a low voice. "Maybe he can help us out." +</p><p> +Jim brightened when he saw the clever Chinaman, for he knew very well +that Hop had been of great value to them in such cases. +</p><p> +"Come here," he said, beckoning to him. "Don't make any noise, Hop." +</p><p> +"Me no makee noisee," was the reply. "Me knowee allee 'boutee; me just +see Misler Wild. He tied to um post, and ten mans by him. Allee samee +velly muchee bad workee." +</p><p> +"You saw Wild!" Arietta exclaimed, looking at the Chinaman in surprise. +</p><p> +"Lat allee samee light, Missy Alietta." +</p><p> +"Where did you see him?" +</p><p> +"Me go uppee lere, and me allee samee lookee down on um other side, so +be." +</p><p> +"Great Scott!" cried Jim Dart. "Who would have thought of doing that? +Hop, you are a dandy!" +</p><p> +"Me velly muchee smartee Chinee, so be," was the reply. "Where Misler +Charlie? Me takee and showee where Misler Wild is velly muchee quickee, +so be." +</p><p> +Jim gave a signal, which was answered right away by the scout, who was +crouching behind a big boulder, right close to the curtained entrance of +the cave. +</p><p> +The next minute Charlie was seen approaching them. +</p><p> +"Come on," said Jim. "Hop has seen Wild, and he wants to show us where +he is." +</p> + +<hr /> + +<p></p> +<div class="chapter"> +CHAPTER XII. +<br /> +<br /> +THE OUTLAWS TAKE SOME MORE PRISONERS. +</div> + +<p> +As soon as Hop had explained just how they could get up to the top of +the ridge Cheyenne Charlie was eager to go. +</p><p> +"Ther gals kin go back ter Big Bonanza, I reckon," he said. "Then there +won't be any danger of 'em gittin' hurt." +</p><p> +Anna and Eloise were perfectly willing to this, but Arietta shook her +head. +</p><p> +"I am going to stay here till Wild is free," she declared. +</p><p> +The scout knew very well that there was no use in arguing the question +with her. Arietta had a mind of her own, and the only one she would ever +listen to was Young Wild West. +</p><p> +"All right," the scout said, "Hop, you jest show us where yer got up +there, an' me an' Jim will go up an' take a look." +</p><p> +He quickly showed them, and then Charlie and Jim at once began to +ascend. +</p><p> +Arietta promptly followed them. +</p><p> +"Hop, you stay here with the girls till we come back," she said, "Keep a +watch, and if anything happens call out to us." +</p><p> +"Allee light, Missy Alietta," he answered, though he would have much +liked to go up with them, since it was he who had made the important +discovery. +</p><p> +Young Wild West's two partners and Arietta were soon out of sight. +</p><p> +Anna and Eloise watched them until they disappeared, and they continued +to look where they had last seen them. +</p><p> +If they had only looked the other way they might have saved themselves a +lot of trouble. +</p><p> +Or if Hop had kept a watch, as Arietta told him to, things would surely +have turned out differently. +</p><p> +It so happened that Cap Roche had changed his mind about waiting until +after the hour of noon before paying a visit to the cave, and he was +riding up the pass in company with one of his men at that very moment. +</p><p> +In watching the climbers the two girls had exposed themselves to the +view of any one approaching, and when Cap Roche and his man suddenly +came in sight of the two so near the hidden cave they were astonished. +</p><p> +One of the cowboys who had seen our friends when they came to Big +Bonanza was his companion, and he was not long in recognizing Anna and +Eloise. +</p><p> +"Cap," he whispered, "they belong to Young Wild West's crowd. I wonder +what they kin he doin' here?" +</p><p> +"Is that so?" queried the leader. "Well, I'll soon find out what they +are doing here. I reckon we had better catch them and take them in the +cave. That will be a bold stroke, I think. The chances are that Young +Wild West is around here somewhere." +</p><p> +They dismounted and moved cautiously toward the girls. +</p><p> +When they got directly in front of the cave they were astonished to see +the bodies of two of their men lying there. +</p><p> +The eyes of the leader flashed dangerously. +</p><p> +"Young Wild West has been at work, I reckon!" he exclaimed, in a low +voice. "Come on! We had better go in first and see if everything is all +right there." +</p><p> +It was at that moment that the curtain rolled up, for the man on watch +had seen them. +</p><p> +They hurried to him and learned the situation, as far as the man knew +it. +</p><p> +But the fact that Young Wild West was a prisoner so elated the +villainous leader of the outlaw gang that he felt like giving a shout of +joy. +</p><p> +He restrained himself, however, and then quickly made up his mind to +capture the two girls outside. +</p><p> +Another man who was inside the cave was called, and then the four set +out to carry out their foul purpose. +</p><p> +As they crept nearer to the unsuspecting girls, who were now talking in +whispers and waiting patiently for the return of their companions, they +found that there was a Chinaman with them. +</p><p> +"Catch all three of them, and don't let them have a chance to utter a +cry," was the order from Cap Roche. +</p><p> +Stealthily the four villains crept upon the unsuspecting ones, and two +minutes later all three of them were struggling in the grasp of the +outlaws. +</p><p> +Though it had been planned quickly, it was well done, and, unable to +make an outcry, Hop and the two girls were carried bodily into the cave. +</p><p> +A whistle brought half dozen to their assistance, and then the prisoners +were bound and told to be silent. +</p><p> +"If you scream it will do no good, for if your friends start to come in +here they will be shot down like wolves!" said Cap Roche, smiling +fiendishly. "The best thing you can do is to take it easy." +</p><p> +Having said this, he turned to his men and ordered that the two bodies +be brought in. +</p><p> +This was done, though those who did it were very cautious in their +movements, since they expected to be shot down at any moment. +</p><p> +Much relieved, the outlaws carried the bodies through the cave to the +hole outside. +</p><p> +"Now," said the leader, "just tie the prisoners to the table." +</p><p> +This was soon done, Hop pleading to be released in vain. +</p><p> +"Go and fetch Young Wild West here," said Roche. "We will have them all +together while I talk to them." +</p><p> +Chuck Snivel hastened to do the bidding of his boss. +</p><p> +He went out to the post and began untying the captive boy. +</p><p> +"Cap Roche has got here, an' he wants ter see yer, Young Wild West," he +said. +</p><p> +"All right," answered the boy, not knowing whether to believe him or +not. "He'll find that I am all right, I reckon." +</p><p> +His ankles being untied, Wild walked along readily. +</p><p> +The captain was standing near the table waiting for him. +</p><p> +When Wild saw Anna, Eloise and Hop prisoners there he could scarcely +believe his eyes. +</p><p> +Things were surely getting worse, instead of better, he thought. +</p><p> +But he did not let the captives think that he was anything like +discouraged over the prospect. +</p><p> +"How are you, Mr. Roche?" he said, coolly. "How is business over at the +store and post office?" +</p><p> +The villain smiled at this. +</p><p> +"You're a pretty cool one, I must say," he retorted. "I suppose it was +you who turned the sign over?" +</p><p> +"Yes; I thought I would let travelers know that you were one of the +outlaws who demanded toll from those who pass this way." +</p><p> +"Well, I hardly think your plan worked, then, for I took the trouble to +right the sign a little while ago. Well, what do you think of this +business, anyhow? Sorry you came to Forbidden Pass, are you not?" +</p><p> +"Oh, no. This is pretty bad for me just now. But it won't last very +long. If you want to save trouble you had better release me, and the +others you have got here, and then light out somewhere. If you don't you +will only be sorry for it. You think you have got the best of me now, +but in a short time you will find out that it will be just the other +way. You don't suppose that I came here without knowing just what I was +doing, do you?" +</p><p> +"Well, you couldn't have known just what you were doing or this wouldn't +have happened." +</p><p> +Roche motioned toward the prisoners. +</p><p> +"It was a poor way for you to win out, this letting us get you and those +others, I think," he added. +</p><p> +"Well, of course, I did not expect anything like this to happen," Wild +answered, coolly. "That was a pretty good scheme your men put through +when they got me. But let me tell you that my two partners have gone to +get a crowd of miners to come here and clean, you out. They know just +how to get in, for they have seen the curtain raised in front of the +opening that leads in here. But they knew all about that last night, for +I followed you here and saw you come in. I told them all about it, and +they know just what to do now." +</p><p> +Cap Roche looked uneasy. +</p><p> +He did not relish the idea of the miners of Big Bonanza finding out +about the cave. +</p><p> +And he was now pretty certain that they would. +</p><p> +The fact that he was known to be the leader of the outlaws made it +impossible for him to go back to Silver Bend, too. +</p><p> +Though he had the best of Young Wild West just then, he knew he was in a +very bad box. +</p><p> +"You have done well, Young Wild West," he said, trying to appear cool. +"You have done something that no one else has been able to do—you have +found our cave and exposed the secret of it. I will admit that you have +ruined our game here, but you don't suppose that you are going to live +to enjoy telling about it, do you?" +</p><p> +"Oh, I don't know. I expect to live a long while, Cap Roche. I reckon +you think as much of your life as I do of mine. If you should kill me +you know very well that you would not live long after doing it. Your +friends would never get a chance to do you a good turn, for you would +never fall into the hands of the minions of the law. The only chance you +have got is to make a deal that suits me. If you don't want to do that, +do as you please." +</p><p> +Cap Roche got up and began pacing the rocky floor of the cave. +</p><p> +His uneasiness made his men feel in anything but a pleasant frame of +mind. +</p><p> +Suddenly he paused in front of Wild and said: +</p><p> +"Let's hear your proposition." +</p><p> +"I would much rather you would make one," was the calm reply. +</p><p> +"Could you guarantee me three days to get away from Silver Bend if I +agreed to let you go by paying the toll?" +</p><p> +"Yes, I could do that, I suppose." +</p><p> +"Well, I'll think it over." +</p><p> +"You had better think quickly then." +</p><p> +Cap Roche scowled. +</p><p> +"See here!" he exclaimed, turning to Hop and quickly severing his bonds. +"You go and tell Young Wild West's partners that I want all the money +they can rake up, and as soon as you bring it to me you can all go free. +They are to fetch no one here, though. If they do I will kill Young Wild +West, and then take the chances of a siege in the cave." +</p> + +<hr /> + +<p></p> +<div class="chapter"> +CHAPTER XIII. +<br /> +<br /> +THE CLEVER CHINAMAN AT WORK. +</div> + +<p> +Hop no sooner had his hands free than he said: +</p><p> +"You wantee me tellee lat ley mustee gittee velly muchee money, and len +you lettee Young Wild West go?" +</p><p> +"Yes, that's it. You seem to understand pretty well for a Chinee. You +understood enough to clean me out of a couple of hundred dollars last +night, too. I reckon you had better give me that money and all the rest +you have, before you go on your errand." +</p><p> +"Me velly solly," declared Hop, acting as though he really felt bad over +it, "but me leavee allee my money in um camp." +</p><p> +This was a fact, too, as all he had with him was about five dollars in +silver. +</p><p> +"I reckon I had better go through you," said the leader of the outlaws. +</p><p> +Hop quickly produced what money he had, and then held up his arms to let +the man make a search of his clothing. +</p><p> +Roche went through him and brought out as many as half a dozen packs of +cards, a flask of whisky, several little vials containing liquids and +powders, two or three oblong objects that looked like a lot of paper +pressed together, some black-looking cigars, a dead mouse, some colored +string, and a lot of other small things, too numerous to mention. +</p><p> +But there was no money to be found. +</p><p> +"That's a nice lot of trash fur a galoot ter have in his pockets," he +declared, looking at the pile in disgust. "What are you doing with a +dead mouse in your pockets?" +</p><p> +"Me feel lat me might gittee hungly some time, and len me have lillee +bite to eatee," replied Hop, looking very innocent. +</p><p> +The outlaws grinned at this. +</p><p> +They had all heard that Chinamen liked to eat rats, so they were not +surprised to hear that one ate mice. +</p><p> +Even Wild smiled at the way Hop was working it. +</p><p> +He now believed that the chances of getting free from the outlaws were +improving, for Hop would be apt to manage it in some way. +</p><p> +"I'll tell you what you do," said Roche, as Hop proceeded to put the +articles back where they had been taken from. "You get your money at the +camp and bring that here, too." +</p><p> +Allee light, Misler Outlaw, replied Hop. "You will havee um cigar?" +</p><p> +He tendered one and, taking it, the outlaw looked at it suspiciously and +then cut off the end with his bowie knife. +</p><p> +Hop lighted one, too, and then he stood still. +</p><p> +"Me allee samee forgittee whattee you say," he said, as he looked +puzzled. +</p><p> +Cap Roche went over it again. +</p><p> +"Oh, allee light. Me understand." +</p><p> +The cigar he had given the villain was a good one, and he puffed away at +it with no little satisfaction, since it served to soothe his nerves +somewhat. +</p><p> +Hop took occasion to drop the dead mouse in the pocket of the man who +was standing at the side of Wild to prevent his possible escape, and +then he turned to go. +</p><p> +But he came back again, and, looking at the villain he had played the +trick on he said: +</p><p> +"You takee my tanglefoot and allee samee puttee in your pockee; me +wantee." +</p><p> +As it was Roche who had appropriated the flask, the man shook his head +and grinned. +</p><p> +"See here!" exclaimed the leader, angrily. "You ought to be satisfied +that I didn't take more than the whisky. You've got your mouse, so go on +and do your errand." +</p><p> +"Oh!" cried Hop, his face lighting up. "Now me know. You takee um +tanglefoot, and lis man takee my mousee! He allee samee gottee in um +pockee." +</p><p> +Instinctively the outlaw put his hand in his pocket, and the first thing +his fingers came in contact with was the dead mouse. +</p><p> +He uttered a cry and pulled it out. +</p><p> +"Hip hi!" yelled Hop, as he ran for the mouth of the cave. +</p><p> +But the outlaw was just mad enough to run and catch him before he got to +the curtain. +</p><p> +"Here," said Hop, "me givee you lis. Allee samee diamond ling inside. +Lettee poor Chinee go!" +</p><p> +It was one of the oblong, little packages that he handed to the man, +and, letting the mouse drop, he took it and walked back to those in the +big cave. +</p><p> +But he did not notice that a tiny spark was working its way along what +seemed to be a string on the package. +</p><p> +The fact was that it was one of his patent firecrackers that Hop had +given him. +</p><p> +Just as he joined the rest at the table the thing exploded with a noise +like that of a shotgun. +</p><p> +"Ow! Murder!" yelled the outlaw, for his hand was burned by the +operation. +</p><p> +Then he danced about like a wild man, while the prisoners were forced to +laugh, in spite of their situation. +</p><p> +Cap Roche was the first to realize what had happened. +</p><p> +"Shut up!" he commanded. "He played a joke on you, that's all. Serves +you right for fooling with him. That is the greatest Chinaman I ever +saw." +</p><p> +The victim went for water to cool his burning hand. +</p><p> +"Allee light; me go now," called out Hop, who had been, watching from +the front of the cave. "Me soonee come back with um money to pay um +toll, so be." +</p><p> +Out he went, and he had not gone more than a dozen yards when he came +upon the scout. +</p><p> +"Where's Anna an' Eloise?" Charlie demanded. +</p><p> +"Outlaws allee samee gottee," was the reply. "Comee 'way pletty +quickee." +</p><p> +He almost pulled him around the bend, and then he found Jim and Arietta +there. +</p><p> +The three had been watching from the top of the cliff, and when they saw +the outlaws take Wild in they did not wait very long there, but came +back to the pass. +</p><p> +It was their intention to take up a couple of lariats and try and devise +a means of getting Wild away from the villains, but when they found that +the girls and the Chinaman were not there, while the horses were just as +they had left them, they did not know what to make of it. +</p><p> +It was while the scout was creeping up to the cave, thinking that the +outlaws might have caught those they had left in the pass, that he saw +Hop come out. +</p><p> +It was surely a morning of surprises, and Charlie was badly puzzled. +</p><p> +But when Hop told of the errand he has been sent on he was completely +silenced for the time being. +</p><p> +When he found the use of his tongue he exclaimed: +</p><p> +"Well, that beats anything yet! So ther galoots wants us ter pay money, +eh? Well, I reckon not! We'll jest git Wild an' ther two gals away from +'em without payin' a thing. Hop, you take my horse an' ride over to ther +camp as fast as yer kin. Jest git ther miners together an' tell 'em +what's up. Then yer kin git some of ther counterfeit money you've got +hid around somewhere an' come back an' take it ter Roche. While you're +talkin' to 'em we'll all creep in an' fix ther galoots fur good an' +all!" +</p><p> +"Allee light, Misler Charlie." +</p><p> +Hop was not long in mounting the scout's horse, and then he rode swiftly +to Big Bonanza. +</p><p> +He went to the camp first and, telling Wing enough to make him +frightened about it, he got a roll of counterfeit money from his +saddlebags. +</p><p> +This he stuffed in his pocket, and then he rode to the saloon. +</p><p> +"Misler Hoker," he said; "me wantee allee samee lot of mans to go and +fight um outlaws, so be. Ley allee samee gottee Young Wild West in um +cave, and Missy Anna and Missy Eloise, too, so be." +</p><p> +The keeper of the saloon was astounded when he heard this. +</p><p> +He questioned the Chinaman and soon came to the conclusion that he was +telling the truth. +</p><p> +Then he hastily left the saloon and went out and told the miners as fast +as he could get to the places they were working at. +</p><p> +Shortly afterward the first of the miners to be notified by Hoker came +running into the saloon. +</p><p> +Hop had to answer a lot of questions, but he managed to make it plain to +the miners what was wanted of them, so in a few minutes they were +marching for the pass. +</p><p> +The Chinaman rode on ahead and soon came to the spot where he had left +Charlie, Jim and Arietta. +</p><p> +But they were not there now, and, thinking that they had ascended the +cliff again, he decided to go on in the cave. +</p><p> +He went around to the curtain and found the scout lying close to the +cliff near it. +</p><p> +Charlie motioned for him to go on in, and, without looking at him any +further, Hop lifted the curtain and obeyed. +</p> + +<hr /> + +<p></p> +<div class="chapter"> +CHAPTER XIV. +<br /> +<br /> +HOW ARIETTA PAID THE TOLL. +</div> + +<p> +Arietta and Jim had gone to the top of the cliff again, hoping to catch +sight of Wild once more, while Charlie remained near the mouth of the +cave. +</p><p> +The scout made up his mind to get inside when Hop came back, and he had +managed to creep up close to the concealed opening. +</p><p> +As the Chinaman passed inside he waited for half a minute, and then he +took the risk of raising the curtain a trifle. +</p><p> +The coast was clear, so he crawled through. +</p><p> +Once on the inside, he moved over to a rocky wall and then listened. +</p><p> +He could hear the Chinaman talking in his bland way to the villains. +</p><p> +There had been a man watching for Hop's return, but in some way he had +neglected to be looking at the time Charlie crept up, and it was not +until he had escorted the Chinaman to the leader that he went to the +curtain to stand guard again. +</p><p> +But he did not see the crouching form of the scout, and once he had +passed him Charlie began moving toward the rear of the cave. +</p><p> +He soon got to within a few feet of the villains in the cave, and when +he peered from behind a rock and saw his wife and Eloise sitting at the +table near Wild; he felt a little easier. +</p><p> +Hop was standing before the leader of the band, and all eyes were turned +on him. +</p><p> +He had been talking in a random sort of way, not seeing fit to make a +report just yet. +</p><p> +"Stop that!" exclaimed Roche, as he started in to give an account as how +smart his uncle in China was. "Did you get the money from Young Wild +West's partners—that's the question?" +</p><p> +"Me allee samee gittee biggee pile of money and um bottle of tanglefoot, +so be," answered the Chinaman, quickly getting down to business. +</p><p> +"Give me the money!" +</p><p> +"You lettee Miss Anna and Missy Eloise go?" Hop went on asking. +</p><p> +"Yes, I'll let them go right now." +</p><p> +To make good his words he cut the ropes that held them helpless and told +the two girls to walk on out. +</p><p> +Surprised at their sudden release, they lost no time in obeying. +</p><p> +Hop handed over the roll of counterfeit money. +</p><p> +"Now you can go, too," he said, nodding to the Chinaman. +</p><p> +"How aboutee Misler Wild?" +</p><p> +"Well, we'll keep him a little while longer, I reckon." +</p><p> +Anna and Eloise lost no time in getting out of the cave. +</p><p> +Just why the villainous leader of the band had seen fit to let them go +they did not know. +</p><p> +The scout saw them go past him, but he did not offer to attract their +attention. +</p><p> +He was waiting to get a chance to release Wild. +</p><p> +But it was not going to come to him just then, for Cap Roche suddenly +called Chuck Snivel and said: +</p><p> +"Take Young Wild West out and tie him to the post again. I reckon we +can't trust altogether to that Chinaman. It may be that he has told the +miners of Big Bonanza all about this. If he has we will need the +prisoner to make terms with them. There is one thing about it, and that +is that Young Wild West don't go free until I know for a certainty that +we will be allowed a chance to get away." +</p><p> +As soon as Hop saw that they were going to take Wild outside he made his +way toward the front of the cave. +</p><p> +"Goodby!" he said. "When you findee lat me allee samee keepee my word +you let Misler Wild go. Len you all go 'way, and nobody hurtee you." +</p><p> +Hop lost no time in getting outside. +</p><p> +He found the girls where the horses were. +</p><p> +But Jim and Arietta were nowhere to be seen. +</p><p> +"Missy Anna," he said to the scout's wife, "you and Missy Eloise allee +samee takee horses and lide to meet um miners. You tellee allee 'boutee. +But makee um stay light here till Misler Charlie or Misler Jim comee." +</p><p> +"All right, Hop," Anna answered. "We will do just as you say. But where +is Charlie?" +</p><p> +"He in um cave." +</p><p> +"What!" +</p><p> +"He comee in light after me, so be. He waitee to gittee lillee chance to +gittee Misler Wild outee." +</p><p> +The girls understood. +</p><p> +Just then the walking miners from the camp came in sight. +</p><p> +There were twenty or more of them, and they were all armed to the teeth. +</p><p> +When they saw the girls they broke into a cheer, but a motion from Hop +quickly silenced them. +</p><p> +"Don't makee no noise," he said. "Misler Wild no gittee outee yet, so +be." +</p><p> +Then he told them just how things were, and the men agreed to wait with +the girls until they received orders from either Charlie on Jim. +</p><p> +Hop now clambered up the cliff to find Arietta and Jim. +</p><p> +Once at the top he looked around, but could see nothing of them. +</p><p> +He quickly made his way over to the other side and cautiously peered +over. +</p><p> +The outlaws had just brought Wild out of the cave, and on a ledge about +twelve feet above him were Arietta and Jim, hiding behind a rock. +</p><p> +"Young Wild West," said Cap Roche, as the boy was led out to the post, +"are you ready to give your promise that we will not be interfered +with?" +</p><p> +"I can't give a promise like that until I know for certain that I am to +be freed," was the reply. +</p><p> +As Wild spoke the words he caught a glimpse of Arietta and Jim on the +ledge. +</p><p> +But he was so well trained that he did not let the villains know that he +had seen anything out of the ordinary. +</p><p> +"Tie him to the post, boys," said Roche. "I reckon we've got to figure +this thing out right before we do much. I'll see if we need any more in +the way of toll." +</p><p> +He pulled out the roll Hop had given him, and the men, eager to see the +money, did not proceed to tie Wild right away. +</p><p> +The moment Roche opened the roll he saw that it was not good money. +</p><p> +An oath escaped his lips. +</p><p> +"Where is that rascal of a Chinaman?" he demanded. "This isn't money. It +is nothing but the rankest kind of counterfeit bills." +</p><p> +It was just then that our hero saw his sweetheart getting ready to do +something. +</p><p> +At the same moment Hop was hurrying to the edge of the cliff on the +other side to tell the miners to rush into the cave. +</p><p> +The critical moment had arrived. +</p><p> +The villains had just finished tying Wild to the post when a lariat +whizzed through the air and settled over the head and shoulders of the +leader. +</p><p> +"Here is the way we are going to pay the toll!" cried Arietta. +</p><p> +Up the side of the cliff went the man. +</p><p> +The brave girl held a revolver pointed at Snivel, and, in a ringing +voice, she added: +</p><p> +"Release the prisoner, or your captain will die!" +</p> + +<hr /> + +<p></p> +<div class="chapter"> +CHAPTER XV. +<br /> +<br /> +CONCLUSION. +</div> + +<p> +Cheyenne Charlie was just thinking of making his way out of the cave +when a shout rang out from the opening they had taken Wild through. +</p><p> +Out went the men in a hurry, and, hearing Arietta's voice shouting a +warning to them, the scout drew his revolvers, and with one in either +hand bounded out after the outlaws. +</p><p> +One of the first things he saw was the form of Cap Roche hanging from +the ledge. +</p><p> +The rope had looped him about the body and pinioned his arms at the same +time. +</p><p> +But the villain was making a desperate struggle and the rope showed +signs of slipping. +</p><p> +However, not one of the men dared to shoot at the girl or Jim. +</p><p> +Cheyenne Charlie stepped up and walked around behind Wild without being +noticed by the excited and surprised outlaws. +</p><p> +A quick slash with his knife and the ropes were severed. +</p><p> +Then he slipped a revolver in the boy's hand. +</p><p> +Wild coolly stepped from the post. +</p><p> +"Up with your hands, you sneaking coyotes!" he cried in a ringing voice. +"I reckon ther jig is up now. Arietta has paid ther toll!" +</p><p> +Then Wild calmly reached out and took another revolver from the belt of +the nearest man to him. +</p><p> +Two of the villains held up their hands, but the rest made a bolt for +the cave. +</p><p> +Crack! +</p><p> +Cheyenne Charlie got at work, as usual, and the foremost one dropped. +</p><p> +"I reckon you galoots will have ter have a bigger grave dug when we git +through with yer," he called out. "That one you've got here ain't half +big enough!" +</p><p> +Just then Cap Roche slipped the rope, and down he came in a heap. +</p><p> +Before he could get upon his feet our hero stood over him. +</p><p> +"Surrender!" he cried. "It is the easiest way out of it. If you fight it +out there won't be one man left of you, Roche!" +</p><p> +"I'll never surrender!" was the defiant shout. "Go ahead and shoot me, +if you want to. I am going to die fighting." +</p><p> +He rolled over and got upon his feet, regardless of the fact that the +finger of the young deadshot was upon the trigger of the revolver that +was aimed at him. +</p><p> +Roche had lost his revolvers when he tumbled down, but he still hold his +knife. +</p><p> +Jerking it from the sheath, he prepared to make a rush at the boy, who +stood covering him with a revolver. +</p><p> +Just then several shots rang out from inside the cave, following by +yells of triumph. +</p><p> +Arietta now slid down by means of the lariat Jim had hold of. +</p><p> +Then Jim dropped the distance himself. +</p><p> +Out of the cave came the miners, dragging the prisoners they had taken +with them. +</p><p> +Roche turned deathly pale when he saw that it was all up with him. +</p><p> +"Young Wild West," he hissed, "I want to kill you before I die myself! I +will never be taken alive, so if you have got the nerve to fight me, +come on!" +</p><p> +Wild dropped his revolvers into the holsters and took Jim's knife. +</p><p> +"I'm after you, Cap!" he exclaimed, a smile playing about his mouth. "If +you want to kill me, come on!" +</p><p> +Clash! +</p><p> +The knives came together in the air, and then the fight was on. +</p><p> +Young Wild West kept slapping him on the face with the flat of his knife +blade, and this was galling to the outlaw. +</p><p> +"What are you, a young fiend?" he cried, savagely, as he received a +scratch on the neck, which he knew could have been his finish if the boy +had so willed it. +</p><p> +"No," answered Wild; "I am simply a boy who has practiced this sort of +business a great deal. Look, out for yourself, Cap! I am going to make +you drop that knife!" +</p><p> +The words were hardly out of his mouth when the back of Wild's blade +struck the villain's wrist. +</p><p> +Uttering a cry of pain, Roche dropped his weapon. +</p><p> +Then he staggered back and picked up a stone. +</p><p> +Crack! +</p><p> +One of the miners fired and the man reeled, and, letting go the stone, +dropped to the ground, dead. +</p><p> +Our hero now went into the cave, for the twelve men who had survived +were all tied hard and fast. +</p><p> +It was only natural that he should want to look around the cave, and one +of the first things he came across was the paint that had been used to +make the signs, or some just like it. +</p><p> +A brush was found, and he painted the following across the entire +breadth of the curtain: +</p><p> +"Closed for Repairs—No More Toll Collected in the Pass!" +</p><p> +"I reckon that looks all right, don't it, boys?" he called out to the +miners. +</p><p> +"You bet!" cried John Sedgwick. "Boys, give three cheers fur Young Wild +West!" +</p><p> +The cheering echoed through the pass. +</p><p> +It was now near noon, but Wild was bent on doing the work he had in +view, so he started in. +</p><p> +He sent the miners on with the prisoners, and then he painted a couple +of signs to take the places of those at either end of the pass. +</p><p> +The signs when finished bore the words: +</p> + +<p style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0px"> + "Short Cut Pass—No danger!"<br /> + (Signed) "Young Wild West." +</p> + +<p> +"There! I reckon as soon as we have put these up we will call the job +complete," he said. +</p><p> +Not until they were up did our friends return to their camp. +</p><p> +There was a big time in Big Bonanza, as might be supposed. +</p><p> +A messenger had been sent over to Silver Bend to spread the news of the +capture of the outlaw band, and, with the prisoners locked in a shanty, +the miners danced around it in delight. +</p><p> +It was the middle of the afternoon when a crowd came over from Silver +Bend, and then the prisoners were turned over to the Vigilantes who were +with them. +</p><p> +Everybody was surprised when they heard that Cap Roche was dead, and +that he had been the leader of the outlaws. +</p><p> +The next day Young Wild West and his friends left Big Bonanza. +</p><p> +They rode through the pass that had been forbidden to travelers unless +they paid toll, and stopped at Silver Bend, for a day and night. +</p><p> +They received a big ovation there, and the next morning they set out for +Arizona, where our hero had some business to attend to. +</p><p> +They all were willing to allow that it was one of the liveliest mornings +they had ever put in when they went to Forbidden Pass, however. +</p><p> +But Arietta had paid the toll, so that was sufficient. +</p> + +<p style="text-align: center"> +THE END.</p> + +<p></p> + +<hr /> +<p> +Read "YOUNG WILD WEST AND THE INDIAN TRAITOR; or, THE CHARGE OF THE +'RED' BRIGADE" which will be the next number (290) of "Wild West +Weekly." +</p> +<p> +<span style="font-weight: bold">SPECIAL NOTICE:</span> All back numbers of this weekly are always in print. If +you cannot obtain them from any newsdealer, send the price in money or +postage stamps by mail to <span style="font-weight: bold">FRANK TOUSEY, PUBLISHER. 24 UNION SQUARE, NEW +YORK</span>, and you will receive the copies you order by return mail. +</p> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Young Wild West at "Forbidden Pass", by +An Old Scout + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK YOUNG WILD WEST *** + +***** This file should be named 20617-h.htm or 20617-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/0/6/1/20617/ + +Produced by Richard Halsey + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +https://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at https://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +https://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at https://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit https://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including including checks, online payments and credit card +donations. To donate, please visit: https://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + + +</pre> + +</body> +</html> diff --git a/20617-h/images/cover.jpg b/20617-h/images/cover.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..523380f --- /dev/null +++ b/20617-h/images/cover.jpg diff --git a/20617-h/images/masthead.jpg b/20617-h/images/masthead.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..4dff52a --- /dev/null +++ b/20617-h/images/masthead.jpg diff --git a/20617.txt b/20617.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..f620c70 --- /dev/null +++ b/20617.txt @@ -0,0 +1,4156 @@ +Project Gutenberg's Young Wild West at "Forbidden Pass", by An Old Scout + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Young Wild West at "Forbidden Pass" + and, How Arietta Paid the Toll + +Author: An Old Scout + +Release Date: February 18, 2007 [EBook #20617] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK YOUNG WILD WEST *** + + + + +Produced by Richard Halsey + + + + +YOUNG WILD WEST AT "FORBIDDEN PASS" + +AND + +How Arietta Paid the Toll + +By AN OLD SCOUT. + + +CHAPTER I. + +THE ARRIVAL AT BIG BONANZA. + +It was just about five o'clock in the afternoon of a cool day in autumn +when Young Wild West and his friends rode into a little mining camp +called Big Bonanza, which was situated in the heart of the range, known +as the Silver Bend Mountains, Nevada. + +It was the first signs of anything like civilization that the party had +seen in two days, and though there were but half a dozen little shanties +in it, the sight of it was a welcome one. + +Young Wild West was beyond a doubt the greatest and best known of the +heroes of the Wild West, and though but a boy in years, he had made a +name for himself that many an elder person would have been proud to own. + +He had earned the title of the Champion Deadshot of the West by his +remarkable skill with the rifle and revolver, and he was ever ready to +defend the title against all comers. + +Many of his warmest friends called him the Prince of the Saddle, because +he was without a peer at breaking and riding the wildest and most +vicious horses of the West. + +When upon the back of the beautiful sorrel stallion he always rode he +made a picture that was dashing and handsome in the extreme. When on his +trips through the wildest parts of the Great West he invariably was +attired in a fancy buckskin hunting suit, and with his sombrero tipped +well back upon his head, he surely showed up as a dashing young hero. + +The flash in his eye told of his courage and persistence, while his +athletic form betokened his strength and quickness. + +But of all his qualifications to make up a dashing young Westerner his +greatest was his coolness and fixed purpose to do right, no matter what +the cost might be. + +Few, indeed, are possessed of such sterling qualities, and it is only +those who are that make real heroes. + +But, as we have already stated, and the majority of our readers know, +Young Wild West was a genuine boy hero of the Wild West, and that is +only saying the truth. + +Being the owner of several gold and silver mines, the young deadshot had +an income that was more than sufficient to permit him to pursue his +favorite hobby, which was riding about through the wildest parts of the +states and territories in search of adventure. + +At the time of which we write there was plenty of excitement and +adventure to be found in that region, and Young Wild West was helping +along the advance of civilization, which, by the way, has not reached +all parts of the West yet, speaking in a true sense, and reckoning in +law and order. + +In company with our boy hero were his two partners, Cheyenne Charlie and +Jim Dart, and two very pretty young girls and a young woman. + +Cheyenne Charlie was a government scout and one of the best known +Indian-fighters of his time. He was yet a young pan, and though he had +been "through the mill," as the saying goes, he was better satisfied to +be led than to lead, and thus it was that he had cast his lot with Wild. + +The scout was a tall man, straight as an arrow, and his long black hair +and mustache, together with his bronzed face, gave him the appearance of +being just what he was--an out-and-out Westerner. + +Jim Dart was a boy of about the same age as our hero, born and reared in +the West, and though he seldom had much to say, he was full of grit, and +always ready to do his share. + +The two were known as the partners of Young Wild West, and they always +dressed in the same style he did. + +The two girls of the party were Arietta Murdock, the charming sweetheart +of our hero, and Eloise Gardner, Jim Dart's sweetheart; the young woman +was the wife of Cheyenne Charlie, and her name was Anna. + +The girls, as they always called them, loved to travel around with our +hero and his partners, and they had learned to look upon the dangers +they were constantly coming in contact with rather lightly. + +Arietta was the only one of the three who had been born and reared in +the West, but Anna and Eloise had been there long enough to become +accustomed to its ways, and they could ride horseback and shoot with +great skill. + +Two Chinamen, who were riding bronchos and leading pack-horses, were +with our friends, and as they came to a halt in front of a saloon that +had a sign across the front declaring it to be a hotel, one of them +hastily dismounted, and before Young Wild West and the rest knew what he +was up to he disappeared around the corner of the shanty. + +There were three men, besides the man who ran the saloon, in front of +the roughly-constructed building, and they seemed to be cowboys, by +their general appearance. + +All four of the men were regarding the new arrivals with no little +interest, and when the Chinaman slid around the corner of the shanty one +of them called out: + +"One of your heathens is dry, I reckon, strangers. I'll bet he's headin' +fur ther back door." + +"Yer kin bet your life on that!" Cheyenne Charlie answered. "Hop likes +his tanglefoot once in a while, an' he never loses a chance ter git it." + +"Well, if that's ther case I'd better go in an' wait on ther galoot, +then," spoke up the proprietor of the place. "We ain't used ter seein' +gals around here, an' I sorter hate ter leave, too. But business is +business." + +The man spoke in a way that was not meant to be disrespectful, for what +he had said was undoubtedly the truth. The few inhabitants of Big +Bonanza were not in the habit of seeing female visitors. + +"Well, gentlemen," said Young Wild West, "we have just dropped in here +by accident, and I reckon if there's no objection we'll camp around here +somewhere until morning. We are making a trip across the state, and we +are going in a straight line as much as possible. What we happen to +strike makes little difference to us; whether it is a mining camp or a +desert. We are used to all kinds of traveling, and generally go prepared +for anything." + +"Talks like he was someone what sorter knows all about things, eh, +boys?" remarked the cowboy who had called out that the Chinaman was +heading for the back door to get into the saloon. + +"Yes," answered one of his companions, while the other gave a nod. + +"Looks as neat as a pin, too, don't he?" went on the man, who evidently +took it that our hero was a boy fond of showing off in an expensive +costume, and that he did not amount to a great deal. + +"They all look neat," one of the others observed. "Them gals is sartinly +worth lookin' at, ain't they? They've struck it rich somewhere, an' ther +first big town they come ter they've bought new clothes. I reckon I kin +judge things all right." + +"So you think you can judge pretty well, eh?" said Young Wild West, as +he dismounted. "Well, what do you take me to be?" + +"A putty smart boy, who thinks it looks nice ter have his hair long, an' +who likes ter put on lugs 'cause he's got some putty gals with him," +answered the cowboy, after a slight pause. + +"So that is your opinion, is it?" + +"I reckon it is, young feller." + +"Well, don't you think a person has a right to wear good clothes if he +can well afford it?" + +"Oh, yes. I ain't sayin' nothin' about that. But clothes don't make ther +man--or boy, either. How long have you been West, Sonny?" + +"How long have you been West?" + +"About fifteen years, I reckon." + +"Well, I can beat you by three or four years, then. Anything more you +would like to know?" + +"Oh, tell him ter dry up, Luke!" said the first speaker. "What's ther +use of talkin' ter ther young dandy? Him an' ther other boy has hired +ther man they've got with 'em ter take 'em around an' show 'em ther +sights; an' they've, got ther man rigged out in buckskin an' fancy +trimmin's, jest ter make 'em all attract attention. I'll bet I'm right +on that!" + +He turned to our hero as he said this and acted as though he was sure he +was right. + +"How much will you bet, you windy galoot?" + +As Young Wild West said this he drew a roll of bills from his pocket and +showed it to the three cowboys. + +It was just then that the saloon-keeper appeared in the door, and behind +him was the Chinaman who had sneaked in at the rear door of the shanty. + +"What's all this talk about, gents?" he asked. "I hear some putty loud +talk, so there must be somethin' goin' on." + +"Oh, there isn't anything going on yet; but there might be, if the +fellows don't get a little more civil," our hero answered, coolly. "It +seems that they are trying to pick a row just because we have on better +clothes than they have. If they are looking for anything like that I +reckon they can get it mighty quick." + +"Wow!" exclaimed the most talkative of the three cowboys. "Did you hear +that, boys? Well, well! Who would have thought it?" + +Cheyenne Charlie acted as though he would like to take a hand in the +controversy, but he managed to keep quiet. + +Jim Dart and the girls were looking on with smiles on their faces, while +the Chinaman, looking out of the doorway, over the shoulder of the +keeper of the saloon, actually grinned with delight. + +They all knew that Young Wild West was quite able to take care of all +three of the men if it became necessary and they also knew that +something was likely to happen very soon. + +The two companions of the talkative cowboy laughed uproariously. + +They evidently agreed with him that the boy was away off in his remarks. + +Cheyenne Charlie could keep still no longer. + +"Jest show ther galoots that yer ain't foolin', Wild," he said. "Shake +'em up it little." + +"Lat light, Misler Wild!" called out the Chinaman, from the door. "Makee +allee samee be polite, so be." + +"Shet up, you heathen!" roared the nearest cowboy, and with that he +caught the Celestial by the pig-tail and pulled him out. + +A kick followed this and the Son of the Flowery Kingdom let out a yell +of pain. + +Biff! + +Young Wild West darted forward and struck the cowboy a blow on the +breast that sent him reeling. + +"If you insist on it I'll give it to you good and straight," he said, +calmly. "How do you like that?" + +Biff! + +This time he landed one on the man's ribs, and down he went in a heap. + +The other two started to interfere, but out went the boy's left and one +of them landed on all fours in a jiffy. + +Spat! + +Our hero's right caught the other on the chin and he went, too. + +As was to be expected, all three of the cowboys made moves to pull their +guns. + +But Young Wild West got ahead of them. + +"Let go of those playthings--quick!" he shouted. "I will show you +galoots that you have got to be more civil with us. Get up and say you +are sorry for interfering with us." + +There was something about the manner of the boy that told them that they +really had made a mistake. The revolver was held by a hand that was +steady as a rock, and there was no doubt in their minds but that lead +would fly from it if they disobeyed. + +They let go their revolvers and scrambled to their feet. + +"Ha, ha, ha!" laughed Cheyenne Charlie. "A fine lot of galoots you are! +Young Wild West is only a boy, all right, but I reckon he kin lick a +stagecoach load of sich fellers as you are! Make 'em do ther tenderfoot +dance, Wild. Go on--jest fur fun!" + +"All right, Charlie," was the reply, and the young deadshot fired a shot +that hit the ground near the feet of the spokesman of the trio. + +"Hold on!" the cowboy shouted. "It's all right, Young Wild West. I know +who yer are now. I'll 'pologize. Don't shoot no more!" + +Crack! + +Again the boy fired, and then all three, knowing what was wanted of +them, began to dance for all they were worth. + +Crack--crack! + +Cheyenne Charlie now took a hand in the game, and, while the girls and +Jim Dart laughed merrily, the three cowboys did the "tenderfoot dance" +in fine shape. + +Both Wild and the scout fired three or four shots apiece, and some of +them took chips off the high heels of the boots the cowboys wore. + +"I reckon that will be about all," said our hero, as he ejected the +shells from his revolver and then coolly proceeded to reload the +chambers. "You galoots will know better the next time. I don't much like +the looks of you, but I want to tell you that if you happen to take a +notion to get square with us for what has happened you'll get the worst +of it. I hope you understand what I say." + +The rascals--for they were undoubtedly such--did not stop to make a +reply, but darted into the saloon. + +The Chinaman gave a parting laugh, and then, turning to the other +Celestial, observed: + +"Me havee velly nallow escapee, my blother." + +"You allee samee velly muchee fool!" was the retort. "You allee timee +lookee for um tanglefoot, so be." + +"Me havee two velly nicee lillee dlinks, my blother; you no havee." + +"Me no wantee," was the scornful rejoinder. + +It was Wing, the cook, who claimed he did not want any whisky. + +He was just a common, everyday Chinee, who did his work well and slept +whenever he had nothing else to do, providing no one disturbed him. + +Hop, on the other hand, was one of the very shrewd and cunning ones of +his race. + +Gifted with the art of sleight-of-hand, a lover of gambling and a +fondness for playing jokes on people had made him a great character, +indeed. + +But he was a real fixture to the party that Young Wild West led, and as +he had on more than one occasion been the means of saving the lives of +different members of it through his cleverness, he was thought a great +deal of by them all, and many of his shortcomings were overlooked. + +Having disposed of the cowboys, Young Wild West now asked the keeper of +the saloon if he thought there would be any objections to their pitching +a camp somewhere around in the vicinity. + +"I reckon not," was the reply. "There ain't no one as lives here in Big +Bonanza, what would 'ject ter anything like that. They've all heard tell +about Young Wild West, I reckon, an' some of 'em says as how they've +seen yer. Yer kin bet that yer will be welcome here! Jest help +yourselves ter any spot yer want." + +"Thank you. I thought perhaps some one might raise objections--the three +cowboys, for instance." + +"Oh, they're strangers here. I never seen them until this afternoon. +They must have come a putty long ways, fur there ain't a ranch in a +hundred miles of here, as I knows of. Go ahead an' pick out a place ter +camp. Ther boys will be here in a few minutes, fur it's about quittin' +time now. I'll tell 'em that Young Wild West, ther champion deadshot, is +here, an' you kin bet that they'll give yer a royal welcome!" + + +CHAPTER II. + +OUR FRIENDS HEAR ABOUT FORBIDDEN PASS. + +Young Wild West was not long in picking out a spot to camp upon. + +It was right near a little, running brook that came tumbling down the +steep rocks and wound its way through the gentle slope upon which was +located the cluster of shanties. + +It was easy to tell that the mining camp had not been in existence very +long, for the shanties were new. + +As soon as the pack horses were unloaded our friends allowed the two +Chinamen to go ahead with the work of getting the camp in shape, while +they took a look around. + +Almost opposite to the point they had rounded in order to ride into the +mining camp was a high ridge, which was easily a hundred feet above the +level. It extended around on both sides and joined the sloping, +irregular side of the mountain over which the trail ran. + +Almost in the centre of this was a cut that was about thirty feet in +width, and it was so regular in shape that one would almost have taken +it to be the work of man. + +But it was nothing more than one of the passes that are to be found in +the mountains, and which are so handy for travelers to proceed to a +given point in a more direct line. + +Young Wild West noticed that a trail ran through the camp direct to the +pass. But it did not appear as though it was used a great deal, since +the wagon-ruts and hoof-prints had become obliterated in some parts. + +"I wonder where that trail leads to?" our hero observed, as he tamed to +his two partners. "Wherever it goes, there are not many using it now, it +seems." + +"It leads on up in the wilds of the mountains, by the looks of things," +Jim Dart answered. "It may be that prospectors have gone that way and, +not finding anything worth while, have come back through the pass +again." + +"Sorter looks that way, I reckon," said Cheyenne Charlie. "But, hello! +Ther miners is quittin' work. Now we'll soon see how many of 'em knows +us, as ther saloon man said they did." + +Sure enough, the miners were seen heading for the saloon. They came from +different directions, for it was just six o'clock now, and they had quit +work for the day. + +The claims that were being worked were all within sight of the shanties, +the nearest one being but a couple of hundred yards away from the +saloon, which appeared to be the leading place in the camp. + +But as the store was very near to it, it might be that some of the men +were bound there. + +Having satisfied themselves that it was a very nice, little mining camp, +our friends turned to and assisted the Chinamen to get things in shape. + +They did not intend to remain there any longer to get a rest than for a +day or two, but they were always interested when they struck a spot +where gold dust was being taken out. + +No end of good luck had followed them in their search for gold, and +Arietta, the charming sweetheart of the dashing young deadshot, had the +lead over them all, as far as making discoveries that were profitable to +them were concerned. + +But it was nothing more than chance that had brought them to Big +Bonanza, and, as was usually the case, a little excitement had started +immediately upon their arrival. + +But none of our friends minded what had happened. + +They were so used to meeting "bad men," as many of the miners and +cowboys were proud to style themselves, that there was absolutely +nothing new to it. + +Meanwhile the miners were not long in reaching the saloon, and the store +adjacent to it. + +Then it was only a few minutes before half a dozen were seen approaching +the spot where the two Chinamen had finished putting up the tents that +belonged to the camping outfit. + +"Hello, Young Wild West!" called out a big man, with a short, gray beard +on his face. "How are yer? An' how's everybody with yer?" + +"First rate," answered Wild, as he shook hands with the miner, but +failed to recognize him. "How are you?" + +"Me? Oh, I'm fine! I've struck it rich here in ther wilds of Nevady, my +boy! I'm ther prospector what started ther camp. I named her Big +Bonanza, an' it sartinly has been a big bonanza fur me. Beats minin' up +in Weston, all right." + +"Weston, eh?" + +Then our hero remembered of having seen the man before. + +The short, gray beard had changed his appearance wonderfully. + +The miner was John Sedgwick, a former bartender at a hotel in the little +town in the Black Hills that had been named for our hero. + +"Sedgwick, I didn't know you," he said, smiling at him. "What in the +world are you doing with that gray beard? It makes you look twenty years +older." + +"Well, we ain't got no barber shop here yet, an' I never was much good +at shavin' myself, so I jest let ther beard grow. But what's ther odds? +I'll shave up an' spruce up jest as soon as I've made my pile. Then I'll +light out fur home, an' me an' my wife will live on ther fat of ther +land. I've got nigh to a hundred thousand now, an' jest as soon as I git +it I'm goin' ter strike out fur ther East. Hello, Charlie! Hello, Jim!" + +He now shook hands with our hero's partners, for they had recognized him +as an old acquaintance the moment Wild spoke to him. + +The girls had seen Sedgwick, too, and they greeted him warmly. + +"Well," said the miner, "I reckon there ain't many here in Big Bonanza +what ain't heard tell of Young Wild West an' his pards. I've kept ther +boys interested in tellin' 'em about ther wonderful things you've done. +Come up an' shake hands with ther whitest boy what ever stuck his toe in +a stirrup, boys!" + +The last was addressed to the men who had come over with him, and they +now pressed forward eagerly. + +Young Wild West sized them up quickly and made up his mind that they +were an honest lot, indeed. + +He had come in contact with so many rough characters that he had made it +a point to read faces and study character that way. + +It was seldom that he made a mistake in his estimation of a man, either. + +The miners seemed very glad to know the dashing young deadshot and his +friends, and after they had talked awhile they, turned to make their way +to their shanties, so they might get their suppers. + +As our hero followed Sedgwick a little way from the camp his glance +happened to turn toward the mouth of the narrow pass at the other side +of the valley. + +"Where does that trail lend to, John?" he asked, pointing it out. + +"That?" the miner queried, as he shook his head. "That trail leads ter +Silver Bend, which is another minin' camp a good deal bigger than this +here one. It's only ten miles from here by goin' through that pass. But +few as know about ther pass goes that way. They would rather go around +about twenty-five miles, so they don't have ter go through it. They +calls it 'Forbidden Pass,' yer know." + +"Forbidden Pass, eh?" + +Young Wild West looked interested. + +"Yes, that's it." + +"But what do they call it that for?" + +"Well, there's a certain gang what belongs ter Silver Bend what runs +things their own way, an' they say that they've organized inter a gang +of outlaws ter clean out them what travels through ther pass. They put +up a sign at either end of ther pass, which is only about a mile an' a +half long, ter let any one what kin read know that they're forbid ter go +through. If they do go through they have ter git robbed; that's all. Ter +save trouble an' money ther most of folks would rather go around ther +other way, or else keep away from Silver Bend, that's all." + +"Well, that sounds pretty good, I think, Sedgwick. I reckon I'll have to +go through that pass, just to see what will happen." + +"I knowed you would say that, Wild. But if I was you I wouldn't bother +about it. They're a bad lot, an' no mistake--ther men what runs things +in that pass. They say there's about twenty of 'em, an' that ther most +of 'em is tough cowboys what have been forced ter light out fur stealin' +cattle an' sich like. Though there ain't any doubt that some of 'em +lives right in Silver Bend, no one knows who they are. They're a mighty +bad lot, an' since there ain't no chance of catchin' 'em, on account of +ther many caves what's along on either side of ther pass, they've been +doin' business there ever since we opened up ther camp, here, an' a +mighty good business they've done, too." + +"That seems a little strange," and our hero shook his head. "What sort +of people are they over in Silver Bend?" + +"Oh, about ther same as anywheres else, I s'pose. But I've heard say +that it's ther fault of them what's in charge of affairs over there. It +might be that some of 'em is in with ther outlaws of ther Forbidden +Pass." + +"It might be, that's true. Well, Sedgwick, you can bet that I am going +through that pass! I want to meet this gang of robbers, just to see if +they are any different from any other robbers I've come across. How +about it, boys?" + +Wild turned and looked at Cheyenne Charlie and Jim Dart as he said the +last. + +"Yer kin bet your life we'll go through ther blamed old pass!" the scout +answered, while Dart nodded, as though it was a matter of course. + +"I knowed it!" exclaimed Sedgwick. "Ther minute I heard you was here I +know'd that you'd be fur goin' through ther Forbidden Pass. It struck +me, first off that you'd come here jest fur that very, purpose." + +"No," answered our hero, shaking his head. "We never heard of Forbidden +Pass. But we are mighty glad to hear of it now, I reckon. Sedgwick, you +know pretty well what we think of gangs of outlaws, and the like." + +"I do," was the reply. "If you start after 'em once, you always land 'em +too." + +"Well, we'll start after this gang, then. You can bet that we'll come +mighty near landing them, too!" + +"I'm sure of that, Wild." + +"Say!" said our hero, as the miners started again to go. "Didn't you say +that the outlaws consist of cowboys who have been forced to light out +from the ranches they worked upon?" + +"Yes, that's what I heard over in Silver Bend." + +"Well, there are three cowboys over at the saloon now. I've sized them +up pretty well, and it strikes me now that they might belong to that +gang. Anyhow, I am sure that they are no good." + +"I saw them galoots, Wild. I don't know who they are. But they seemed to +be mighty respectful. Hoker, ther saloon keeper, was tryin' ter tell me +how you had some fun with 'em an' made 'em understand that they couldn't +do as they pleased. But I was so anxious ter git over here an' see yer +that I didn't pay much attention. I s'pose I'll have a chance ter talk +to yer after supper?" + +"Oh, yes. We'll take a walk over to the saloon. I'll ask the cowboys +about the outlaws of Forbidden Pass, too." + +The miners now left and returned to their respective homes. + +"Well, Wild, I suppose you are very glad to learn all this," said +Arietta, as our hero walked back to where the girls were standing. + +She, as well as the rest, had heard all that was said, and her face now +wore a smile as she looked at her dashing young lover. + +"Yes, Et, I am glad to know that there is a place here that is forbidden +to travelers. You know very well that it would only make me more anxious +to do a thing if I was told that I must not do it. I am certainly going +through Forbidden Pass!" + +"Well, I don't blame you, Wild." + +The girl possessed a spirit of fearlessness, and she was not the one to +advise Wild to show himself afraid of any gang of outlaws. + +"I reckon we've struck a blamed funny sort of camp, all right," remarked +the scout, as he pulled the ends of his long mustache. "It couldn't have +been better if we'd been lookin' up somethin' that was ter be good an' +excitin', could it?" + +"Hardly," answered Jim. + +"Well, never mind about it now, boys. I reckon we'll think about the +supper. Hurry up, Wing. Just get a little move on you." + +"Allee light, Misler Wild," answered the cook, smilingly. "Me havee, um +supper leady allee samee pletty quickee, so be." + +"Me helpee my blother," spoke up Hop, grinning. "He allee samee velly +muchee slow." + +"Me no slow," retorted Wing; "me allee light." + +"There!" interposed Wild. "Don't get in a wrangle over it. Hurry the +supper along, that's all." + +The two Celestials said no more, but both worked away as fast as they +could. + +It was not long before the supper was cooked, and then all hands did +fall justice to it. + +"Now, boys," said Wild, as he finished eating, "I reckon a good cigar +wouldn't go bad, so we will go over to the saloon and buy some. The +girls will be all right here, since we won't hardly be out of sight of +them. Come on!" + +The three soon took their departure, and they had scarcely done so when +Hop, the clever Chinaman, sneaked around a clump of trees and took a +course that would fetch him around to the rear of the saloon. + +It was hard to keep him away from such places, for he loved gambling and +practical joking, not to speak of "tanglefoot," to such a degree that he +could not be held back. + + +CHAPTER III. + +THE OUTLAWS OF FORBIDDEN PASS. + +The three cowboys were just getting ready to leave when Young Wild West +and his two partners reached the saloon. + +They had loaded up pretty well with "tanglefoot," and they were doing +some very loud talking. + +But when they saw the young deadshot they became suddenly silent. + +"Hello!" called out Wild, speaking in his cool and easy way. "So you are +going back to the ranch, eh?" + +"Yes," answered the one he had handled so roughly. "I reckon we've about +had our spree, so we'll go back now." + +"How far is your ranch from here?" queried Wild, as he stepped up closer +to them. + +"About thirty miles, I reckon," was the reply. + +"Why, I heard there were no ranches within a hundred miles of here. +That's mighty queer." + +"Whoever told yer that don't know nothin' about this part of ther +country, I reckon." + +"Well, it was the boss of the saloon who told us. Perhaps he isn't much +acquainted around here." + +Neither of them said anything to this, but went on buckling up their +saddle-girths. + +"Which way are you going?" Wild asked, as they were ready to mount their +horses. + +"Right out that way," was the reply, and the speaker pointed toward the +pass. + +"What! You are not afraid of being held up in Forbidden Pass, then?" + +"No. I reckon that's all rot what's said about that. Some galoots named +it Forbidden Pass, jest fur fun, an' since then there's them what's +afraid of their own shadders what's added enough to it ter make folks +think it's dangerous ter go through there. We come that way, an' I +reckon we'll go back that way. I don't believe there's any gang of +outlaws hangin' around there than there is right in this camp." + +"Well, I am sorry to hear that. I had an idea that we could have a +little excitement hunting out the gang. If there is no gang there we +will be disappointed." + +All three of the cowboys looked at him sharply. + +It was evident that they did not know just what to make of the boy. + +They swung themselves on their horses, however, and started to ride off. + +"Say!" said Wild, calling out loudly to them. "If you happen to run +across any outlaws in Forbidden Pass just tell them that Young Wild West +is looking for them. Don't forget that, will you?" + +One of the cowboys gave a reply that was not quite intelligible, but as +there was an oath attached to it, our hero knew that it was not +complimentary to him. + +He did not stop them, however, and they rode away straight for the +narrow pass at the other side of the pleasant little valley the camp was +located in. + +Not until they saw the three men disappear in the pass did our friends +go into the saloon. + +But let us follow the cowboys and find out something more about them. + +When our hero had said that they might belong to the outlaws of +Forbidden Pass he had hit the nail right on the head. + +The fact was that there was a gang of eighteen villains located in the +pass, and these three had been picked by the leader to ride to Big +Bonanza for the sole purpose of leading the miners to believe that there +was no longer any danger for travelers to go through that way when they +wanted to go to Silver Bend. + +During the time the trio was in the saloon they had been talking in this +way, and they had partly made Hoker, the proprietor, believe that there +was something in what they said. + +The man Wild had treated so roughly bore the name of Chuck Snivel, and +he was a sort of lieutenant of the band. + +The leader of the outlaws was a scheming man of a fair education, who +was called Cap Roche. + +This villain owned a store in Silver Bend and was also the postmaster +there. + +He divided his time with his lawless band and the store, and, being well +thought of in the mining camp, he had all the chance in the world to +pursue his villainy and profit greatly from it. + +As Chuck Snivel and his two companions entered the pass they turned and +took one last look at Young Wild West and his partners. + +"I reckon there's trouble ahead, fellers," the lieutenant of the outlaw +band observed. "That boy is about ther worst one I ever had tackle me; +an' ther others is putty nigh as bad, no doubt. It sorter strikes me +that they're here fur ther purpose of findin' us out. Yer all heard what +ther boy said as we come away, I reckon?" + +"I sartinly did, fur one," answered the man nearest him. + +"He said if we happened ter run across any outlaws in Furbidden Pass we +should tell 'em that Young Wild West is lookin' fur 'um," the other +added, quickly. + +"That's jest what he said!" exclaimed Snivel. "Now, then, what does that +mean?" + +"It means that he's after us," said the second, shaking his head and +shrugging his shoulders. + +"It looks that way," the third villain admitted. + +"Well, yer kin bet your life we'll tell ther outlaws, won't we?" + +"We sartinly will." + +"Come on, then! Let's git to ther cave." + +They set their bronchos at a gallop and moved rapidly through the pass. + +"I wonder if ther sign was all right?" said one, as they rode along. "I +was thinkin' so much about what that boy said that I never thought ter +look." + +"It was all right," replied Snivel; "I looked at it. Ther sign that Cap +Roche made on a barrel-head is there. Yer kin bet that it'll stay there, +too. Young Wild West might take a notion ter knock it down; but if he +does we'll see to it that it's put up ag'in, or another jest like it." + +When they had covered about a mile they slowed down a little and began +to look behind them very often. + +The fact was that they were nearing the hidden headquarters of the +outlaw band of Forbidden Pass. + +The pass itself was just about two miles in length, the entrance being +less than a quarter of a mile from the cluster of shanties that made up +the mining camp of Big Bonanza. + +At the other end the regular trail to Silver Bend would be reached, and +by taking the cut through the short pass just about fifteen miles could +be saved on a journey to Silver Bend. + +But, as John Sedgwick had told Young Wild West, the miners no longer +took the short cut, since so many holdups had occurred in the pass. + +The clever man who captained and ran the gang of villains was now trying +to make the traffic be resumed through the pass, and, as has been said, +Chuck Snivel and two others were sent over to the little mining camp to +make the miners believe that there was no longer any danger to travel +that way. + +There was no doubt but that they had succeeded pretty well, too, since +they were now certain that Young Wild West was coming through that way. + +The boy had said enough to convince them of that. + +It was a little more than half way through the pass that time three +villains, who had posed as cowboys at Big Bonanza, came to a halt. + +They looked cautiously in both directions, and, not seeing a sign of a +human being, Chuck Snivel nodded his head and exclaimed: + +"I reckon everything's all right, boys. Come ahead!" + +Then he turned and rode sharply to the left, to what seemed to be a +solid wall of rock. + +Reaching out his hand, he grasped a rope that was hidden beneath some +hanging vines. + +A sharp pull on this and up rolled a curtain, leaving an opening that +was large enough for a horse and rider to pass through. + +The curtain was made of some flexible material and was painted to +imitate the rock that was on either side and above it. + +Snivel rode in the opening and his companions followed him. + +Once inside they all dismounted, and then Snivel walked over to the edge +of the entrance and lifted a log that was lying there to an almost +upright position, leaning it against a rock. + +As he did this the curtain rolled down. + +It was a rather simple affair, since the rope that was attached to the +top of the curtain was tied to the log, and when the log was made to +drop the curtain went up. + +It would drop just as quickly when released, as there was a weight at +the bottom. + +The part of the cave the three men were now in was hardly any wider than +the entrance itself, but it extended back a short distance and then took +a sharp turn to the left. + +As they led their horses to this point they came upon a natural +underground apartment that was fully fifty feet long and thirty in +width. + +Though irregular in shape, it was surely an ideal place for a band of +robbers to hold forth. + +The natural ceiling was high, and through the face of the cliff light +was admitted through several zig-zag cracks. + +Fully a dozen men were sitting in the cave on boxes and stools or lying +in bunks that were built along two sides of it, and none of them +appeared to be much disturbed by the entrance of the trio. + +"Where's Cap?" asked Chuck Snivel, when he had led his horse to a dark +part of the cave and tied it to the long strip of wood that was there +for the purpose. + +"He's over to ther store, I reckon," answered one of them. "How did yer +make out in Big Bonanza, Chuck?" + +"Putty good, I reckon," was the retort. "Everything would have been all +right if we hadn't met Young Wild West an' his pards there." + +"Young Wild West an' his pards!" exclaimed one of the robbers, jumping +to his feet, excitedly. + +"Yes, that's what I said. Why, do you know anything about them galoots, +Bob?" + +"Do I? Well, I reckon I do! I had ther chance ter see 'em a couple of +times down in Prescott, Arizona. I belonged ter a gang near there, which +got cleaned out by them same three galoots yer jest spoke of. I got away +jest by ther skin of my teeth, an' I was mighty thankful fur it, yer kin +bet! Young Wild West ain't nothin' but a boy, an' neither is one of his +pards. But ther three of 'em makes ther toughest proposition I ever +seen. So they're here, are they? Well, I wish they wasn't, fur it means +bad fur us. I'll bet they'll be lookin' fur us afore many hours!" + +"Oh, yes. There ain't no mistake about that part of it. They'll be +lookin' fur us. What do yer s'pose Young Wild West told me as we left +Big Bonanza?" + +"I don't know. What was it?" + +"He said if we seen any outlaws in Furbidden Pass ter tell 'em that he +was lookin' fur 'em." + +Bob shook his head and showed that he felt very uneasy. + +"I know how it'll be," he said, half to himself, "We're in fur it now. +That boy has got more lives than a cat, an' when he shoots he kills +every time. He's ther luckiest galoot what ever tried ter do a thing, +an' if he has made up his mind ter clean us out yer kin bet he'll do +it!" + +"Pshaw!" spoke up one of the others. "That's all foolishness. Jest +because these galoots you're talkin' about happened ter clean out ther +gang you belonged to in Arizony, don't say that they're goin' ter do +anything like that with us. What did I hear yer say--that Young Wild +West is only a boy?" + +"That's all he is," Bob answered. "But he kin do more than any man I +ever seen." + +"An' there's only three of 'em?" + +"Yes." + +"An' there's another boy?" + +"That's right." + +"Well, what is ther third galoot?" + +"He's a man--a big, powerful one, with no mercy when he gits after a +crook." + +"Oh, he's man, eh?' I thought maybe he might be a woman," and the outlaw +chuckled. + +Nearly all of them laughed at this. + +But it was plain that the villain called Bob was very uneasy over what +he had heard. + +And Chuck Snivel and the two who had accompanied him to Big Bonanza were +not in a jolly mood, either. + +Their experience with the Champion Deadshot and his partners had been +quite enough to make them understand that they had struck a proposition +that was a little different from what they were in the habit of facing. + +While they were talking over it a horseman rode into the cave. + +It was Cap Roche, the leader of the outlaw band. + +"Now, then, we'll see what Cap says about it," said Bob, his face +brightening a little. + +"He'll soon fix it so Young Wild West won't amount ter much, I reckon," +spoke up one of the men, confidently. + +The villainous leader was soon among them and listening to the news +Chuck Snivel had brought from Big Bonanza. + + +CHAPTER IV. + +OUR FRIENDS GO TO THE MOUTH OF THE PASS AND READ THE SIGN. + +When Wild and his partners entered the barroom of the shanty saloon they +saw that quite a crowd had gathered there. + +Nearly all the miners working the claims that had been staked out in the +camp made the saloon their headquarters evenings. + +There were but two or three of the thirty miners who did not drink and +gamble, and they usually spent their idle time with the storekeeper, +smoking and talking until it was time to retire for the night. + +Our hero cast a swift glance around the room and saw Hop standing almost +in the centre of the room, the miners gathered around him, and their +faces wearing grins. + +The clever Chinaman had come in by the back way while our three friends +were watching the cowboys as they rode into Forbidden Pass. + +The first thing he did was to try and make himself solid with the +miners. + +Though Nevada had plenty of Chinese at the time of which we write, it so +happened that there were none in Big Bonanza until Young Wild West +arrived with his two servants. + +The men all knew what Chinamen were pretty well, and there was a sort of +feeling against them that they were something not to be exactly classed +with human beings, so to speak. + +Hop knew this as well as any of them, and hence his desire to make +himself in good standing with them. + +The first thing he did on entering, then, was to pull a chunky piece of +bamboo from under his coat and hold it up. + +It was not more than eight inches in length and looked to be a very +common-looking thing. + +But while the miners were wondering what the "heathen Chinee" was up to, +Hop suddenly gave the piece of bamboo a twist, and the next minute a +small, bright-colored parasol was in his hand. + +This was raised in a jiffy, and then he went parading around the room +with it over his head. + +Only a minute did this continue, however, and then the parasol vanished +as quickly as it had appeared. + +The Chinaman roiled the piece of bamboo in his hands and that, too, +disappeared. + +Then he stood still in the middle of the room and bowed right and left. + +"Me allee samee velly smartee Chinee, so be," he observed, blandly. "Me +likee Melican mans velly muchee." + +The next thing he did was to toss a silver coin to the ceiling and as it +came down he caught it in his mouth and went through the motions of +swallowing it. + +"Me allee samee eatee money, so be," he went on to say, smiling and +bowing again. + +It was just then that our hero and his partners came into the room. + +"Hello, Wild!" called out Sedgwick, who was one of those present. "Your +funny Chinaman has been doing some stunts fur us." + +"Oh, he is liable to do almost anything," was the reply. "What is the +matter, Hop? Who told you that you could come over here?" + +"Allee samee nothing the mattee, Misler Wild," answered Hop, shaking his +head and looking serious. "Nobody say me comee over here; me comee allee +samee, so be." + +There was a laugh at this, and then Hop had succeeded in doing what he +had tried for. He had got the good will of the miners. + +Having satisfied himself on this point, he stepped up to the bar, and, +nodding pleasantly to Hoker, the boss, he observed: + +"Me likee chuckee dicee for um dlinks, so be." + +"You would, eh? Well, I never yet chucked dice with a Chinee; but blamed +if I don't do it jest this once. What's it goin' ter be, fur all hands?" + +"Lat light; allee samee all hands gittee lillee dlink. If me lose me +pay; if you lose you allee samee givee um dlinks." + +"Good!" + +The saloon keeper brought out the dice, and, shaking them in the leather +box, rolled them out. + +"There yer are!" he said, exultantly. "There's fourteen fur yer ter +beat. If yer do it you're a mighty good one." + +"Allee light," was the reply; "me velly muchee lucky Chinee, so be." + +Then Hop picked up the little cubes and appeared to be examining them +closely. + +But he was doing something else, too. + +He had three dice of his own, and when he rattled the box preparatory to +making his throw they were the ones in it. + +Hop's dice were not straight dice. + +They had only fives and sixes stamped on them, so no matter how they +were rolled less than fifteen could not come up. + +Though the dice were not exactly the size of those furnished by Hoker, +it would be hard to tell the difference, unless one made a close +examination of them. + +Hop rolled out the dice and two sixes and a five showed up. + +"Lat velly goodee thlow, so be," he observed, and then he picked up the +dice and dropped the regular ones in the box. + +"I reckon it is," answered the saloon keeper. "Come on, boys. It's on +me. I lost, but I made him throw big to beat me." + +Young Wild West and his partners knew that Hop had all sorts of trick +dice, and they could easily guess that he had played a trick on the man +in order to beat him. + +But since there was no money involved, our hero would not say anything. + +He did not like Hop to fleece any one honest, though, and as the clever +Celestial was always bent on cheating some one, it often became +necessary to make him give back his winnings. + +Our hero thought he had better let the boss of the place and his patrons +know that the Chinaman was a sharp and trick gambler, so just as Hoker +proposed that they throw again, and for five dollars on the side, he +spoke out: + +"Gentlemen, I advise you not to gamble with Hop Wah. He is a very smart +one at the business, and he will relieve you of all the money you have, +if you play with him. Being a sleight-of-hand performer, he can do +things that you could not see. Just go it light on that point. I don't +want to have him get into trouble, and that is what he generally does +when he wins a whole lot of money. There is always some one to accuse +him of cheating, whether they catch him or not, and then there is +trouble. Now don't play cards or throw dice with him for money, if you +don't feel like losing your money." + +"All right, Young Wild West; I'll take your advice," said the boss of +the saloon. "I reckon that you know what you're talkin' about." + +Hop put on an injured air and went and sat down at a table. + +It was now getting dark and the lamps were lighted in the saloon. + +Wild called Sedgwick to him and they got to talking about the cowboys +who had left a short time before. + +The miner related what he had heard them say about Forbidden Pass, and +the young deadshot nodded in a pleased way. + +"I reckon that means something," he said. "Business has been pretty bad, +I suppose, and the outlaws are anxious to have travel through the pass +resumed. Well, I reckon I'll take a walk over and see how it looks at +this end of the pass, anyhow. Come on, boys!" + +Charlie and Jim promptly responded to the call, and Sedgwick hastened to +declare that he would go with them, if there were no objections. + +"Certainly not," our hero assured him. "Come on!" + +The four left the saloon and walked over to the pass. + +Though it was now quite dark, they had no trouble in seeing the sign +that was posted at the entrance. + +It consisted of a barrel-head nailed together, and the words upon it +were as follows: + + + "FORBIDDEN PASS!" + "Travelers must pay toll, or go some other way." + "Private Road!" + +Jim Dart struck a match so the inscription could be read, and when they +had made it out our three friends looked at each other and nodded, while +the miner waited to hear what would be said. + +"I reckon that's what I call putty good," said the scout, a smile +creeping over his bronzed face. "'Private Road,' eh? Well, I wonder who +is ther owner of it!" + +"We'll find out all about it, Charlie," said Wild, assuringly. "Just +wait till to-morrow morning. We'll take a ride through the pass, and +don't you forget it!" + +"Well, it might be that yer won't be bothered now, fur it's jest likely +that ther outlaws has quit ther pass an' gone somewhere else," Sedgwick +remarked. "If them cowboys is all right, an' they kin go through without +bein' bothered, it are most likely that you fellers kin." + +"But I don't believe they are all right," our hero answered. "I think +that they belong to the outlaw gang, and that they came over here and +talked that way just on purpose to get the people here to use the pass, +instead of going by the roundabout way to Silver Bend." + +"It looks that way, I'll admit, Wild." + +"Well, no matter how it is, we'll go through the pass to-morrow, I +reckon. And we'll come back, too, if it takes a whole day to do it." + +It was just then that the sounds made by a approaching horse came to +their ears. + +"Somebody is coming through now," said the scout, as he listened. + +"Get behind the rocks here," Wild whispered. "We will watch him as he +goes past, and see what he does, if anything." + +A few seconds later a horseman came in view. + +Our friends could distinguish the outlines of both horse and rider, and +when they saw the man halt right at the end of the pass they were not a +little interested. + +The rider turned and looked at the sign, and, nodding when he found that +the sign was there all right, he started on for the little collection of +shanties. + +"That's Cap Roche, ther storekeeper over in Silver Bend," Sedgwick +whispered, as he went on. + +"Is that so?" Wild queried. "Well, I reckon we'll go back to the saloon +and find out what kind of a fellow Cap Roche is." + + +CHAPTER V. + +CAP ROCHE MEETS YOUNG WILD WEST. + +Chuck Snivel was not long in telling Cap Roche all that had taken place +over in Big Bonanza. + +The face of the leader of the outlaws wore a troubled look as he +listened, and when the man was through he shook his head and said: + +"I reckon I'll have to go over and have a look at this dangerous boy, +boys. I have heard of him, and I have reason to believe that he is a +hard one to beat. Though he is mighty young, he has spent his time +looking for trouble ever since he was big enough to shoot a gun, and he +has had so much luck that I suppose now he thinks that he is +invincible." + +"He's a regular terror, Cap," spoke up Bob. "I know what I'm talkin' +about. I've seen him, an' I've seen what he could do. He's jest as cool +as a chunk of ice, an' yer can't no more scare him than yer kin a mad +grizzly. If he's after us you kin bet that he'll git us, unless he's +catched afore he gits a good start on." + +"Well, I reckon he'll have the hardest time of his life getting us, +though," the leader answered. "But I'll ride over, anyhow and try and +find out something. Told you to tell any outlaws you met that he was +after them, eh, Chuck?" + +"Yes; that's right, Cap." + +"Well, we'll see about that. I won't be long in findin' out what he's up +to. If he gets through Forbidden Pass without paying toll he's got to be +a good one, that's all. His life will probably be the price demanded for +toll, too. I reckon that's what I'll make it." + +After a few minutes further conversation on the subject the leader of +the gang, who was posing as an honest business man in Silver Bend, left +the cave, leading his horse out under the curtain that was rolled up by +one of the men for him. + +He rode along in the direction of the little mining camp at an easy +gait, and in a short time he reached the end of the pass. + +He paused long enough to see that the sign he had himself painted was in +place, and then he made for the saloon, never once thinking that there +was any one so close by watching his movements. + +Cap Roche was well known in Big Bonanza, and he was satisfied that no +one dreamed that he was anything else but an honest man. + +He made up his mind to tell the miners that he had decided to ride +through the pass just for the purpose of finding out if the outlaws were +still there. + +"I'll have no trouble in making them think that it is safe to go through +now," he muttered, as he rode up to the saloon. + +Dismounting, he entered the shanty and found the biggest part of the +population gathered there. + +"Hello, boys!" he called out, familiarly. "How are you all? I took a +notion to ride over to-night through Forbidden Pass. I did not let the +notion get out of my head, and came right away. How is business, +anyway?" + +Several of the men hastened to shake hands with him, and soon a lively +conversation was taking place. + +"So yer come through ther pass, eh?" observed Hoker, after there came a +lull. "A putty risky thing ter do, I reckon." + +"Well, I don't know. You see, I have had the place watched pretty +closely the last few days, and not the least sign of any one has been +discovered there. I feel that the outlaws, if there were any there, have +left for some other parts." + +Just then Cap Roche happened to set eyes on Hop Wah, who was sitting at +a table, showing half a dozen miners some tricks with a pack of cards. + +"Hello! You've got a heathen here, eh?" he exclaimed. "When did he +strike here!" + +"Late this afternoon, Cap," answered Hoker. "He's a great Chinee, too. +He's a sleight-of-hand feller, an' he kin handle dice an' cards any way +he wants ter. A man don't stand no more show winnin' from him than he +does walkin' on air." + +"Ah! He must be a curious sort of a heathen, then. Did he come here +alone?" + +"Oh, no. He come here with Young Wild West. You've heard of him, I +reckon?" + +"Yes, I believe I have. A sort of dashing young fellow, who can shoot +well, isn't he?" + +"Well, I should say so! You oughter been here a couple of hours ago an' +seen what he done ter three cowboys! He sartinly did take ther starch +out of 'em in no time." + +"Yes?" and the two-faced man arched his eyebrows and looked surprised. +"I should like to get acquainted with the young fellow. Where is he +stopping?" + +"Right down below here. He carries a campin' outfit with him, an' he's +got two young gals an' a young woman along, as well as his two pards an' +this Chinee an' another one. Oh, Young Wild West is used ter goin' +about, an' it don't 'pear ter make any difference ter him an' his +friends whether there's a hotel ter put up at or not. They didn't even +ask me if I could accommodate 'em." + +Hoker shook his head, as though he felt that he had been slighted +somewhat. + +But Cap Roche only smiled. + +"I reckon they could tell by the size of your shanty that there wasn't +much chance of getting accommodated here," he said. "I don't wonder that +they didn't ask you. Why don't you put up a bigger shanty, like we've +got over at the Bend? This place is growing all the time, and the time +will soon be here when you'll have the chance to fill a good-sized +building with boarders. I reckon there's plenty of dust here that hasn't +been dug out yet." + +"There ain't no doubt about that, Cap," spoke up one of the miners. +"This is goin' ter be one of ther best minin' camps in ther middle part +of Nevada, an' there ain't no mistake on that. It's most placer minin' +that we've been doin' here, 'cause we ain't got no machinery ter go down +deep in ther ground. But that there's big deposits down under us there +ain't no doubt. I've cleaned up a cool, thousand so fur this week, an' +I've got two more days ter make almost another one. I'm goin' ter send +my stuff over to ther Bend Saturday afternoon." + +"By the long route, I suppose?" and Cap Roche smiled in a peculiar way. + +"Yes; that's ther way ther wagons goes nowadays." + +"Well, I'll guarantee that it will be safe to go through the pass, just +the same." + +"How is it that you are able to give such a guarantee as that, +stranger?" + +The voice came from the doorway, and, turning, Cap Roche saw a +dashing-looking boy, with a wealth of chestnut hair hanging over his +shoulders, standing there, looking at him. + +The villain knew who it was without being told. + +"Young Wild West, I reckon?" he said, coolly. "Come on in; don't stand +there. I don't know just what kind of a guarantee I can give that this +man's gold will go safely through the pass, but it is my opinion that +there are no robbers there. That's why I spoke that way." + +"Oh!" + +Our hero walked in followed by his partners and John Sedgwick. + +As the reader may judge, Wild had suspected the man the moment he saw +him looking at the sign at the mouth of the pass. + +When he heard Sedgwick say he was the storekeeper over in Silver Bend he +did not alter his opinion, either. + +Determined to find out more about the man, he had walked over to the +saloon. + +Cap Roche was talking when our friends got there, and as his back +happened to be toward the door he did not see them until after the young +deadshot spoke. + +Wild knew that the only way to get anything out of the man would be +first to anger him. + +He had tried to do this, but apparently he had not succeeded. + +The face of Roche wore, a smile as he came in, and, giving a nod, he +said: + +"I never saw you before, but I knew you right away. I am glad to meet +you, Young Wild West." + +"All right, Cap Roche. I am glad to meet you, too." + +"Ah! You know me, then?" + +"Well, Sedgwick told me who you were. We saw you looking at the sign +over at the pass. Quite a sign, isn't it?" + +"You saw me looking at it?" queried the man, showing just the least bit +of uneasiness. + +"Yes, we were over there when you came out. The man who painted the +letters on the barrel-head is quite an artist, and he knows how to +spell, all right. They say there is another sign at the other end of the +pass." + +"Yes, there's one just like it there," replied Roche. "I can't help +looking at them every time I come through Forbidden Pass. To-night is +the first time I have been through in a week or two, so I could not help +looking to see if the signs were still in place. As you heard me say +before you came in here, I am satisfied that there are no longer any +outlaws hanging about the pass. I reckon they must have got disgusted +with the lack of business and moved away." + +"Maybe they did. But if they haven't moved away they will move before +many hours, and you can bet all you're worth on that!" + +"You are going after them, then?" + +"Well, such work just suits me, and whenever we think we can do a +community a good turn we always go ahead and do it. Outlaws don't like +me, and I don't like outlaws. It is the same with my partners. Some +might call us a little meddlesome sometimes, but it is a way we have +got, and we simply can't help it. Are you going back through the pass +to-night, Mr. Roche?" + +"Why, yes. It is only ten miles from here to my store over in Silver +Bend. That is no distance to make, you know." + +"That's right. Well, if you happen to meet any of the outlaws while +going through just tell them that we will be looking for them +to-morrow." + +A peculiar smile flitted across the features of Roche, but he quickly +changed it and laughed lightly. + +"All right, Young Wild West," he said. "If I happen to meet any of them +I'll surely tell them what you say." + + +CHAPTER VI. + +CAP ROCHE FALLS A VICTIM TO HOP. + +Cap Roche now turned his attention to the table at which Hop was +sitting. + +"So the heathen is showing you something with the cards, eh, boys?" he +said, smilingly. + +"That's right, Cap," answered one of them. "An' he's mighty slick, too." + +"He is, eh? Well, I'd like to see what he can do." + +"Me showee velly nicee lillee tlick," spoke up Hop, nodding pleasantly. + +The Chinaman was quite sure that Young Wild West suspected that the man +was not altogether right, for he was a keen observer and an attentive +listener. + +That made him decide to make a victim of him, if he could. + +Hop had thought out a brand new trick with a deck of cards, and he was +all fixed to work it on somebody. + +He was pleased to find that he had a victim. + +Shuffling the pack well, he spread them out like a fan and held the +cards so that some of the faces could be seen by Roche. + +"You see um jack of hearts?" he asked. + +"Yes," was the reply. + +"Allee light; you allee samee lemember um jack of hearts." + +Then he gave the cards another shuffle, and in doing it one of them +slipped up his sleeve unobserved by any one. + +There was really nothing wonderful about this, since there was a thin +piece of elastic attached to the card, and the moment it was released it +left the pack. + +As might be supposed, it was the jack of hearts. + +But Hop had another jack of hearts, as he needed it to carry out the +trick. + +He kept this one concealed in his hand and passed the deck to Roche, +saying: + +"You pickee outee um jack of hearts and me allee samee showee how me +makee fly away." + +The man quickly looked over the cards and found that the jack of hearts +was not among them. + +"I reckon you took it when no one was looking," he said, with a smile. +"That is not much of a trick; I could do that myself." + +"Me no takee," declared the Celestial, putting on a look of surprise. +"Maybe allee samee dlop on um floor." + +He got up from his chair, and then, dropping upon his hands and knees, +began looking around on the floor under the table. + +While doing this he cleverly slipped the card he had in his hand into +the boot-top of Roche. + +Then, before he got up, he pulled the card that had the elastic attached +to it from his sleeve and held it so the elastic was concealed. + +"Here um card," he said, as he showed it to every one. "Me puttee in um +pack, so be." + +Roche was watching him closely, for he knew that the Chinaman was up to +something, and he was certain that the card went into the pack. + +But it did not. + +It slipped up Hop sleeve the same as it had done the first time. + +"Now you findee um jack of hearts," he said, smilingly. + +Roche nodded and proceeded to look for it. + +"It isn't here," he said, looking surprised. + +"You wantee tly foolee poor Chinee," Hop declared, putting on an injured +look. "You takee um card and puttee in your boot, so be." + +"What's that?" cried Roche, half angrily. "Do you mean to say that I +stole the card from the pack?" + +"Me allee samee bettee ten dollee you gottee um card somewhere, so be!" +was the quick retort. + +"You will, eh? All right. I'm a betting man, I am. It don't make any +difference who I bet with, either. I'll bet you ten dollars that I +haven't got the card on me. If one has got it you're the one, for you +are doing the trick." + +Hop held up both hands and threw open his coat, to show that he did not +have it. + +Then he laid ten dollars on the table. + +"Boys," said Roche, looking at those around him, "I don't know just what +kind of a game I am up against; but I do know that I haven't got that +card anywhere on my person. I feel so sure of it that I'll bet a hundred +dollars instead of ten!" + +"Allee light." + +As quick as a wink Hop's hand went into his pocket and out came a roll +of bills. + +He quickly counted out ninety dollars more and put it on the table. + +Roche immediately covered it, and then, rising to his feet, he moved +away from the table and called out: + +"Hoker, come here and search me. If you find the jack of hearts anywhere +on me the Chinaman wins. If you don't find it I win." + +"Lat light," said Hop, nodding to the boss of the place. + +Hoker came forward and proceeded to go through the man's pockets. + +He did not find the card in any of the pockets, so he went on down and +tried the boot-tops. + +Then it was that he pulled out a card from one of them. + +"Here she is, Cap!" he exclaimed, as he arose and held out the card so +all could see it. "Here's ther jack of hearts!" + +"Tricked, by thunder!" exclaimed Roche, as Hop smiled and put the money +in his pocket. + +"Mighty clever, I should say," ventured Sedgwick. "Cap, yer shouldn't +have bet." + +"I couldn't help it," was the reply. "But I know how it was done. He put +the card in my bootleg when he was looking around under the table." + +"No; that couldn't be," declared the saloon keeper. "He put ther card in +ther pack after that. An' I'll swear that he wasn't near enough ter put +it on you after that, even if he had it in his hand." + +"Well, that is true, come to think of it. But he got it there, somehow." + +Roche took the card and looked it over. + +Then he picked up the pack and compared the backs of the cards with the +one he held in his hand. + +"I lose the hundred, that's all," he exclaimed. "But I'll bet another +hundred he can't work that trick again!" + +Hop smiled. + +"You allee samee watched too muchee," he said. + +"You bet I would watch." + +The cards were laid on the table by him, and Hop picked them up in an +offhanded way. + +"Here um nicee lillee tlick," he said, as he ran the cards up his arm in +a long string. "Evelybody no do lat, so be." + +Then he let them go back again, and in doing so two or three of them +dropped to the floor. + +Hop was on his knees gathering them up in a twinkling. + +Then it was that he slipped a card in the bootleg of Roche again. + +But he was not caught doing it, however. + +He got the cards that had dropped and did the trick over again, this +time not losing any of them when they ran back to his hand. + +Then he suddenly showed the jack of hearts again. + +"Do you want to try the other trick again?" the man front Silver Bend +asked. + +"You no givee poor Chinee um showee to play um tlick, so be," answered +Hop. + +"What kind of a show do you want? There you are with the jack of hearts +in your hand. Now I'll bet you that you can't get it into my bootleg +again!" + +He moved back from the table, so he would be entirely clear from the +Chinaman, as he said this. + +Hop let all hands have a look at the jack of hearts, and then he allowed +it to flip up his sleeve. + +He shuffled the pack, laid it on the table and brought his fist down +upon it with considerable force. + +"Lere um go!" he exclaimed. "Me bettee you hundled dollee you gottee um +jack of hearts in you bootleg, so be!" + +"What!" cried Roche, as he looked down at his feet. "Do you mean that, +you heathen?" + +"Me allee samee meanee," was the reply. "Me wantee givee you chancee to +gittee square, so be." + +The villain had a hundred dollars out in a hurry. + +"There you are!" he exclaimed. "Cover that!" + +"Me covee allee samee pletty quickee, so be." + +Hop did cover it, too; and then, folding his arms, he looked at Roche +and remained silent for a moment. + +"Search me, somebody," said the latter, looking around. "Here, Sam! He +bet that the jack of hearts was in my bootleg again. You look and see." + +"All right, Cap," answered the miner. + +The leader of the outlaws stretched out his limbs and gave the man a +good chance to make the search before the eyes of the lookers-on. + +He found the card the first thing, and, with a look of amazement on his +face, he held it up. + +"There she is, Cap!" he exclaimed, with a shake of his head. "I didn't +think it was there; I thought ther Chinee was jest goin' ter let yer git +your money back. But there's ther jack of hearts, an' it sartinly was in +your boot!" + +"Well, by ginger!" cried Roche. "I reckon I'm done with this kind of a +game. The heathen Chinee is altogether too much for me." + +"Young Wild West told us he could beat anything there was goin'," spoke +up John Sedgwick. "He's a sleight-of-hand Chinee, that's what he is." + +"Well, I am not a squealer, as you all know," said Roche. "But I do +think that some one should have told me that I was betting against a +sleight-of-hand performer." + +"That wasn't fur us ter do, Cap," replied Sedgwick, shaking his head. +"You knowed that he was clever when yer seen him foolin' with ther +cards, an' doin' them other tricks. You lost your money jest because you +thought you was smarter than he was. I happen ter know that a man does a +very foolish thing when he bets ag'in a man showin' a trick. That's what +ther feller doin' it wants, an' he wins every time, too." + + +CHAPTER VII. + +WILD MAKES AN IMPORTANT DISCOVERY. + +Cap Roche nodded his head at what Sedgwick said. + +"All right," he said. "I reckon I'm satisfied. I am not broke, just +because I lost a couple of hundred dollars." + +After that he made himself very agreeable to all hands, and when he got +ready to ride back to the cave in the pass he bade them good night and +invited them to call at his store when in Silver Bend. + +Young Wild West and his partners waited until the man rode off, and then +they hurriedly left the shanty saloon. + +Wild set out on a run for the camp. + +He had made up his mind all at once to follow Cap Roche through +Forbidden Pass. + +He got his horse in a jiffy, and, hastily telling the girls where he was +going rode off toward the pass. + +So quickly had the young deadshot acted that Roche had not more than +three or four minutes the start of him. + +If he went along at an easy gait Wild would be able to overtake him +before he got through the pass. + +So quickly had the young deadshot acted that Roche had not more than +three or four minutes the start of him. + +If he went along at an easy gait Wild would be able to overtake him +before he got through the pass. + +Our hero knew that he was undertaking a risky thing, for he was quite +sure that there was a band of outlaws located somewhere in the pass, or +very near to it. + +But he went on without any hesitation, prepared for anything that might +turn up. + +The place was totally strange to him, but the boy had confidence in the +sorrel stallion he rode. + +Spitfire would surely follow the horse that was ahead. + +There was no mistake about that. + +On went the dashing young deadshot, covering the ground rapidly. + +He figured it that the storekeeper of Silver Bend was not going very +fast, however, and when he thought he ought to be pretty close to him he +brought his horse to a sudden halt and listened. + +Wild had reckoned rightly, for he could hear the clatter of hoofs ahead. + +"Ah!" he exclaimed, under his breath. "That was a pretty good guess. +Another minute and I would have been right up chose to him--close enough +for him to see me, perhaps. But I hardly think he has heard me, so I'll +keep right on." + +He set out again, keeping his horse at a walk. + +Suddenly the hoofbeats ahead ceased. + +Wild let the horse walk right on, for the sounds that came from +Spitfire's hoofs could hardly be heard, the ground being very soft just +there. + +But when about a hundred feet had been covered Wild brought his horse to +a halt and dismounted. + +Throwing the bridle rein over the animals head, he hurried forward on +foot. + +He rounded a turn in the pass just in time to distinguish the outlines +of a horse, and rider making straight for the almost perpendicular wall +at the left of the pass. + +Then, all of a sudden, both man and horse disappeared! + +"By jove!" exclaimed our hero, under his breath. "I reckon Cap Roche has +made a stop before going over to Silver Bend. Now it is for me to find +out where he has stopped. I didn't think I would have as much luck as +this. Whew! I reckon it won't take us long to settle accounts with the +outlaws of Forbidden Pass." + +Stepping forward noiselessly, he was soon at the very spot where he had +last seen the horse and rider. + +There was nothing there now and only the bleak walls of stone were +before him. + +It was very dark in the pass too, but he could see the stars twinkling +overhead, and he was thus enabled to distinguish objects. + +Wild went straight to the face of the cliff. + +He put out his hand. + +It was not rock that he touched, but a piece of canvas or similar +material. + +This was nothing new to the dashing young deadshot, for he had been up +against all kinds of devices, and, he simply gave a low chuckle of +satisfaction. + +"I'm mighty glad I followed you, Mr. Cap Roche," he thought. "Now, I +reckon it will be easy to settle the business. I'll just mark this spot, +and then ride back to the camp." + +It was an easy thing to mark the spot, for he did it by rolling three +stones together, which he had no trouble in finding with his feet. + +He took care that they were not directly in front of the hidden opening, +so they could not be knocked aside by horses, should they come out. + +But Wild knew just where he put them, anyhow, and then he went back to +the waiting sorrel, and, mounting, rode off at a walk. + +Not until he was a hundred yards from where he had mounted his horse did +he set out at a gallop, and then he was not long in reaching the end of +the pass. + +Wild rode to the little camp and dismounted, surprising his waiting +friends for getting back so soon. + +"I reckon yer couldn't catch up to ther galoot, eh, Wild?" remarked +Cheyenne Charlie. + +"Oh, I caught up with him, all right," was the reply. "Things worked +just the way I wanted them to." + +"Is that so? Good enough!" + +"Yes. I caught up to Cap Roche, and I was just in time to see him +disappear." + +"Disappear?" echoed Arietta. "Then he fooled you, after all?" + +"Oh, no. He didn't fool me, Et, for I found where he went." + +"Git out!" exclaimed the scout, jubilantly. + +"Yes, I was right there in the proper time. But I'll tell you all about +it." + +This the young deadshot did, and when he had done the faces of his +partners and the girls wore smiles of delight and satisfaction. + +Even the girls were always anxious to see him make a success of hunting +down outlaws and bad men, no matter how much the danger was in doing it. + +They had become so used to it that they thought that Wild and his +partners were simply following the natural law in doing such things. + +"I am glad you did not go into the place, Wild," Arietta said. "If you +had done so you might have been caught, and then we would not have known +where to look for you." + +"That is just why I didn't take the risk of doing it, Et," was the reply. +"To-morrow will be time enough to get inside the cave, or whatever it +may be. But you can bet that both Charlie and Jim will know just where +it is before I make the attempt." + +Our friends usually retired quite early nights, and as they were pretty +well tired out from an all-day ride, they decided to get the sleep they +needed. + +Hop had not returned yet, but Wild thought he would allow him to stay +out, since there was nothing to do in the morning. + +He felt that the Chinaman would not get in any trouble at the saloon, +since the miners all seemed to like him. + +It was after midnight when Hop returned to the camp, and when he came he +sneaked in quietly. + +But Cheyenne Charlie was awake, and he let him know that he heard him. + +"You yaller galoot, you've been fillin' up with tanglefoot ag'in!" he +exclaimed in a whisper. "Don't think I don't know." + +"Allee light, Misler Charlie," was the Chinaman's reply; "me feel allee +samee velly goodee. Whattee you care?" + +The scout let it go at this, and soon the camp was wrapped in silence. + +Early the next morning they were up and stirring, however. + +Hop was still sound asleep, however, and when his brother tried to +arouse him it did no good. + +It was not until our friends had eaten their breakfast that it occurred +to them that it was time for Hop to get up. + +Charlie undertook the task of rousing him. + +He threw a pail of water on him, and, as might be supposed, it had the +desired effect. + +"Lat allee light, Misler Charlie," said the Celestial, as he made for +the brook, after crawling out of the tent; "me allee samee git tee +square, so be!" + +"You're square now, if I know anything about it," was the retort. "You +don't count ther tricks you're played on me, I s'pose? Now, you'd better +look out what yer do ter me, 'cause I won't stand it, if yer rub +somethin' good an' hard on me." + +"Allee light, Misler Charlie," was all Hop said just then. + +The breakfast being over, Young Wild West decided to take a ride through +the pass, and thus keep his promise. + +"Come, boys," said he, "I reckon we'll start out now. We'll go right on +through, unless it happens that we are stopped by the outlaws. When we +come back I'll show you the place where Cap Roche disappeared last +night." + +"I would like to go along, Wild," spoke up Arietta, "Why can't we all +go?" + +"Well, it might make it a little bad in case the villains took a notion +to hold us up," was the reply. "But if you want to go real bad I suppose +you may." + +"We do want to go real bad, don't we, girls?" said Arietta, as she +turned to Anna and Eloise. + +"Of course, we do!" was the quick reply. + +"All right, then. Hop and Wing will stay in charge of the camp. Get +yourselves ready, and be sure that you take your rifles with you. If we +are attacked by a masked gang about half way through the pass I won't be +much surprised." + +The horses were soon saddled, and then, after giving the two Chinamen +instructions to keep a watch on the camp, and not to get into mischief, +Wild led the way for Forbidden Pass. + +"We are going through, and we won't pay any toll, either!" he said. + +"If there is any toll to pay, I'll pay it!" exclaimed Arietta, as she +touched the butt of her revolver. + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +CAPTURED IN THE PASS. + +As our friends neared the commencement of Forbidden Pass they saw that a +crowd of the miners of the camp were watching them. + +A man, whom they easily recognized as Sedgwick, waved his hand to them, +and they answered it. + +"I suppose he thinks that something will surely happen to us, if the +outlaws are still hanging around here," our hero observed. "Well, he may +be right; we can't tell." + +"I want to read that sign, Wild," spoke up Arietta, as she brought her +horse to a halt. "Well, it was not painted by an ignorant man, anyhow. +It is about the first sign, with so many letters to it, that I have seen +spelled correctly--in a little camp, like this, anyhow." + +"Oh, I reckon Cap Roche made the sign, all right, Et," replied our hero. +"He seems to be a pretty smart man. The lettering is good, I must say. +And there is even a painted background--something I did not notice last +night, boys. A pale-blue background, with white letters. Well, that is +all right!" + +"We have got to pay toll, I suppose, Arietta," said Jim, with a twinkle +in his eye. + +"I said a minute or two ago that I would pay it, if any was demanded," +she retorted. "Just leave that part to me." + +No one knew exactly what she meant, and it is hardly likely that she did +herself. But there was one thing evident, and that was that she did not +mean that any money was to be handed over to the outlaws, should it be +demanded. + +They did not remain at a halt long, but proceeded on their way, their +horses at a gentle canter. + +"Just keep your eyes on the watch for three stones lying close +together," said Wild, as they got nearly a mile through the pass. "They +are stones a little larger than a goose egg, I should judge." + +"All right," answered the scout, with a confident nod. "I reckon I'll +see 'em, if they kin be seen, Wild." + +A minute or two later they came to the very spot where Wild had seen the +villain disappear the night before. + +The boys could tell when he got there right away, as he had noticed the +spot where he had dismounted, the ground being rather soft there; and +the hoofprints, as well as his own footprints were discernible. + +Charlie and Jim noticed the prints, too, and they were almost straining +their eyes to catch sight of the three stones. + +Suddenly the scout gave an exclamation of satisfaction, and then quickly +added: + +"I see 'em, Wild." + +"So do I," said Jim, almost at the same instant. + +"All right, boys. We'll go right on through the pass, and when we come +back we'll make an investigation." + +The girls also saw the three little stones, but when they found that +Wild did not seem to want to make much of them just then they rode on, +with only a passing comment. + +They reached the other end of the pass without meeting a human being or +seeing anything that would indicate the presence of any. + +Then they dismounted and took a look at the sign that was posted there. + +It was so nearly like the other that if the two had been side by side +the difference could not have been told. + +This one was nailed to a big tree, and after he had looked it over Wild +decided to take it down and see if there was anything on the other side +of it. + +He used the butt of a revolver in place of a hammer and soon knocked the +barrel-head loose from the tree. + +Then it was quickly pried off. + +Much to his satisfaction, he saw that there was some lettering on the +back of the sign. + +But it was done in black, and the letters were daubed on in a careless +way, such as a shipping house clerk does it. + +Young Wild West's face lighted up with a smile as he read the following: + + "Cap Roche," + "General Store," + "Silver Bend, Nev." + +"What do you think of that?" he asked, holding the barrel-head so his +companions could read it. "I reckon we know where the material to make +the sign came from now." + +"Great gimlets!" exclaimed Cheyenne Charlie. "If you hadn't seen Roche +go inter ther cave last night you would know now that he was connected +with ther outlaws. This is what I calls great!" + +"Well, I'll just put the sign up again," said our hero, after a moment +of thought. "But I'll put it so the back part can be read. It may make +Cap Roche wonder a little, and if anybody else, not connected with his +gang, sees it they may do a little studying and wondering." + +He soon knocked the nails out, and then he lost no time in nailing the +sign to the tree in the manner he had proposed to do. + +"There you are!" he said. "You can't see the words as plainly as you +could the others; but I reckon they can be read all right, if one takes +the trouble to get up a little close to the tree." + +"I reckon if any one comes this way they'll notice it quick enough," the +scout declared. + +As they intended to go no further, they simply took a look at the trail +that came around the mountain at that point and then continued on toward +the southwest. + +"There's the way to Silver Bend," said Wild. "I reckon we'll go through +there when we get done with Forbidden Pass." + +"That's right, Wild," Arietta spoke up. "We will need something from the +general store that can't be bought in Big Bonanza." + +They all laughed at this, and then, mounting their horses, turned and +rode back into the narrow pass. + +The mile to the spot where the secret entrance to the cave had been +discovered by our hero the night before was soon made, and then they +came to a halt. + +Wild was just going to dismount to make an examination when a revolver +shot sounded and his hat was knocked off his head. + +The next instant fully a dozen came down the rocky side of the pass and +confronted them with drawn revolvers. + +"Hands up--everybody!" called out one of them, who was easily recognized +as Chuck Snivel, the cowboy. + +Crack--crack! + +Charlie fired two shots in quick succession, and then urged the girls to +flee. + +Wild saw that nearly all the men were pointing their weapons at him, so +he thought it best to obey the command. + +He seemed to be the one they wanted, and he felt that one hostile word +from him would insure his death. + +Two of the outlaws had dropped when the scout fired, but the others were +so close upon them that Wild was seized and pulled from his horse in +less than a second, almost. + +The young deadshot struck at them with his clenched fists and made it +decidedly unpleasant for them. + +But he knew he could not get away, and he was simply doing this to give +his companions a chance. + +They all took advantage of it but one, and that was Arietta. + +"I reckon you'll pay toll fur coming through Forbidden Pass, Young Wild +West!" one of the villains exclaimed. "Hold him tight, boys! I'm glad +yer didn't kill him when that shot was fired at him. I told Chuck not +ter do it. Ther captain wants him alive. Git ther gal, too! This is what +I call collectin' toll, all right!" + +Arietta's horse had been seized by the bit, and a ruffianly fellow stood +holding him with one hand, while his other held a revolver that was +pointed at the girl's breast. + +The rest of the party had succeeded in getting around a bend, but Wild +knew they would not go very far. + +But before they had time to get back and do anything both he and Arietta +were dragged up close to what seemed to be the rocky wall of the cliff. + +Then the curtain rolled up, and in they went, the outlaws following with +those who had fallen and the horses. + +It was all done so quickly that our hero found himself in the darkness +before he fairly realized what had happened. + +Arietta uttered a scream as she was hurried into the mouth of the hidden +cave, but a hand was quickly placed over her mouth, and that ended any +further chance to let Charlie and the rest know where they were being +carried. + +Wild's weapons were taken from him while he was being dragged into the +cave, and it was a very rough handling that he received. + +But he knew how useless it was, so he did no further struggling. + +The fact that the rest had succeeded in getting away was a little +consolation, for that meant that they would come back and effect a +rescue. + +Our hero placed the utmost dependence on Charlie and Jim, for they had +never failed him yet. + +In through the short passage the outlaws took them, and then into the +big cave. + +They paused here long enough to bind the boy's hands and then Chuck +Snivel, who was in command, said: + +"Outside into the hole with him, boys. Tie him to the post until Cap +comes. We'll keep the girl here. I reckon we'll collect the toll all +right." + +"It will be a dear toll, too," spoke up the man who had cautioned him +not to kill the boy. "Two of us went under, I s'pose you know." + +"An' no amount of money will bring 'em back ter life," chimed in +another. + +"There'll be a lot more of you go under before you collect your toll!" +exclaimed Young Wild West, who had now fully recovered from the surprise +he had been treated to. "Just wait!" + +"That's all right, boy," Chuck Snivel answered, "You know how I feel +toward you, I reckon. You don't have no idea that you're ever goin' ter +git away from here alive, do yer?" + +"I haven't the least doubt but that I will," was the calm retort. + +"Well, jest see how mistaken you'll be. I'm goin' ter be ther one what +will kill yer! Do yer understand that?" + + +CHAPTER IX. + +ARIETTA ATTEMPTS TO ESCAPE. + +At a word from Snivel Young Wild West was dragged along through the big +cave to a place that was almost directly opposite to the entrance. + +The light that was admitted through the cracks in the front was +sufficient for our hero to see that it was another passage that he was +being taken to. + +He had heard the villain in command of the men say that he was to be +taken outside and put in the hole until the leader came, but just what +that meant he did not know. + +He was destined to find out very soon, however, for the passage did not +extend many feet. + +A sharp turn in it and he saw a natural hollow, with steep walls of rock +on either side, right before him. + +It looked very much like the pass, but he knew it could not be, for they +would not take him out there again. + +Another thing, the end of the opening, or hole, as it might be called, +was but fifty yards away. + +Some parts of this wall was very steep, and others looked as though it +could be climbed. + +On one side, not far from the passage he was taken from, was a stout +post that was planted firmly in the ground. + +To this Wild was taken, and being placed in an upright position, with +his back to it, he was firmly tied to the post. + +"There!" exclaimed Chuck Snivel, fiendishly. "I reckon you'll stay there +just as long as we want yer to, Young Wild West." + +"All right," was the calm rejoinder. "I hope you won't want me to stay +here very long. I don't like this kind of business." + +Some of the outlaws laughed, while others glared at him savagely. + +His style did not exactly suit them. He was too cool by far. + +Then, again, two of their number had fallen during the struggle to +capture the brave boy and his sweetheart, and that made them feel all +the more ugly toward him. + +"You was goin' through ther pass an' yer wasn't goin' ter pay no toll, +Young Wild West!" exclaimed Snivel, after a short pause. "I reckon yer +found out your mistake all right. We seen yer when yer went through, an' +we jest got ready fur yer when yer come back. Yer couldn't have stopped +in a better place, fur ye was right in front of our cave. Yer jest +walked right inter ther trap we had set fur yer." + +"That's all right," Wild answered, coolly. "You have won the first trick +in the game, that isn't going to count for much. I've been in just such +fixes as this, and I have always got out of them. You couldn't scare me +if you tried for a week!" + +"You talk it nice; but yer will change your tune afore you're many hours +older. Thought it was fine fun ter make me dance last night, didn't yer? +Oh, but I'm gittin' square, all right." + +"You'll wish you had never met me before I am done with you." + +"Ha, ha, ha!" laughed the villain. "Hear him talk, boys! He acts jest as +though he ain't no prisoner. He's got nerve enough fur ten, I reckon." + +"I reckon it's his bluff that's always carried him through," remarked +one of the outlaws, as he looked at the helpless boy and nodded. "But +there's always a time, yer know. Young Wild West has gone ther length of +his rope!" + +"I reckon you'll find that my rope is a great deal longer than you +think," Wild answered, thinking it good policy to keep in conversation +with them, as the more time Charlie and Jim had to figure out a way of +helping him the better it would be. + +"Ha, ha, ha!" + +Again Snivel laughed. + +It was evident that he was very sure that it was all up with Young Wild +West. + +The success the outlaws had met with since they had established their +quarters in the cave no doubt made them confident that they could not be +ousted. + +"Boys," said Snivel, as he turned from our hero, evidently satisfied +that he could gain nothing by trying to frighten him, "I reckon you had +better bury ther bodies of Pete an' Simon. I don't know as there's any +use in waitin' fur Cap ter come. He won't be here till some time after +dinner, he said when he went away last night. He's tryin' ter git ther +stage coach ter run through ther pass ag'in, an' if it does we'll let it +go fur ther first two or three trips, an' then when they've got a good +pile aboard we're goin' ter nab on it. Cap knows his business, all +right; an' we make more by his bein' away than we do when he's here." + +"That's right," answered the man, who seemed to have more to say than +any of the rest. "I reckon we'll go ahead with our funeral. I'll take +what they've got on 'em, an' you kin put in ther box inside, so ther +boss kin take charge of it. I know they both must have had a few dollars +when this unexpected business happened. This are too bad! It's ther +first loss we've met with since we've been banded together." + +"That's right, Aleck," replied Snivel. "You go ahead. Joe an' Dick kin +go ahead an' dig ther grave that'll answer fur ther pair of 'em. Poor +fellers! They never knowed what struck 'em, fur ther galoots what fired +them shots aimed 'em mighty straight, an' there was no sufferin' done. +I'm mighty glad I wasn't in ther way of one of them bullets." + +"Well, we all are, as fur as that goes. But it's a shame that they had +ter be snuffed out that way." + +He went away to attend to the work assigned him, as did the others who +had been named. + +Then Snivel walked back into the cave, leaving Wild to his own +reflections. + +The villain found Arietta sitting on a box, over which some skins had +been thrown to make it comfortable. + +The girl had not been tied, the villains evidently thinking that there +was no danger of her escaping, as she was but a girl. + +But she was being closely watched, just the same, for those left to +guard her could not help noticing that she was not afraid. + +"Well, miss," said Snivel, apologetically, "I'm mighty sorry ter see you +in such a fix as this. What did yer want ter come through Forbidden Pass +fur, anyhow? Didn't yer read ther sign?" + +"I wanted to come through, so I could pay the toll, and I will do it +when the proper time comes," was the reply in a steady voice. + +"You pay ther toll! Why, have yer got a big pile of money?" + +"Not here. But I think I can pay it, though." + +"Where is your money, gal?" + +The lieutenant of the outlaw band became interested right away. + +"I don't know as I have got to tell you where my money is," replied +Arietta, coolly. "You don't suppose it is anywhere near here, do you? I +wouldn't be wise if I carried a big pile of money around with me, would +I?" + +"Well, I don't know about that part of it. But it would be all ther +better fur us, I reckon," and the man grinned, as though he thought he +had got off a pretty good joke. "But jest tell me how yer expect ter pay +ther toll?" + +"I'll show you that when the time comes," was the reply. + +"But can't yer tell me now?" + +"No, because I don't just know how I am going to pay it. But I am going +to do it, just the same." + +"I s'pose yer mean that you're goin' ter pay somethin' ter be let go +free," observed the villain, after thinking a minute or two. "Well, it +will depend on what ther captain says about you gittin' away. I don't +hardly think he'll be in favor of lettin' you go, no matter how much yer +agree ter pay." + +"Oh, I will get away as soon as Young Wild West gets out of here. He +won't be long in finding a way to release me." + +"Miss, if you're dependin' on anything like that ter happen jest git it +off your mind. Young Wild West ain't never goin' ter git out of here +alive. I've swore that I'll kill him; an' ther boss of our gang wouldn't +think of lettin' him live, nohow. Jest make up your mind that ther boys +has got ter die, an' that you're likely ter go ther same way yourself. +There's nothin' like resignin' yourself to your fate, yer know." + +"Oh, is that so?" + +Arietta looked at him with flashing eyes. + +Her defiant way struck Snivel as something wonderful, coming from a +defenseless girl, as it did. + +He did not know that she had a six-shooter in the bosom of her dress, +which had been overlooked when she was disarmed. + +But Arietta always carried the weapon there. + +It was of smaller calibre than the one she always carried at her belt, +but it was deadly enough at short range. + +The revolver had been given her by Young Wild West on her sixteenth +birthday, and several times it had stood her in good stead. + +At the very minute that Snivel was talking to her she was thinking of +bringing the weapon into use. + +Arietta had heard enough to make her believe that her dashing young +lover was not to be harmed for a while, for she had been listening when +the men were talking about Cap Roche, and she had not failed to make +note of it when they said that he was not due at the cave until some +time after the hour of noon. + +Before Snivel came in from the rear entrance she had been carefully +studying the cave, and she knew just the way to get out. + +She thought that the quicker she did it the better it would be for both +herself and Wild. + +She determined that she would act right now. + +"Can I have a drink of water?" she asked, as Snivel was about to pull up +a stool near her. + +"Sartin," was the reply. "I'll go an' fetch yer one right from ther +spring." + +There were only two men besides the lieutenant of the band in the cave +just then, and they were back near the rear. + +Snivel went and got a tin cup and as he turned his back to go and fetch +the water Arietta arose and stepped lightly across the cave. + +She had almost reached the passage that led out to the pass when one of +the outlaws saw her and raised the alarm. + + +CHAPTER X. + +"THAT MAKES FOUR OF YOU!" + +As the outlaw's warning cry sounded through the cave Arietta gave a +shout of defiance and darted into the passage. + +Like Wild, she had seen the curtain lifted when she was carried into the +cave, and she knew that curtain was not far away. + +It was doubtful if she would be fired at by the villains, she thought, +but there was really no telling, so she drew her revolver and looked +over her shoulder as she ran. + +Both the man who saw her when she was nearly out and the other villain +were now running swiftly through the cave, and each of them had a drawn +revolver. + +Arietta ran as far as she could go, and then she came in contact with +the painted curtain. + +She did not know how to manipulate it, of course, so the best thing she +could do was to reach for the bottom and lift it. + +This she did, and, much to her joy, it came up easily. + +A quick move and she had darted under it and was outside in the pass. + +Then it was that she gave a cry of delight, for Cheyenne Charlie was +right there to greet her. + +The girl did not say a word, however, but motioned for the scout to get +behind a rock that was close at hand. + +She darted after him as he obeyed her, and then out came the foremost of +the men who were chasing her. + +Crack! + +The scout fired without any hesitation and down went the villain in a +heap. + +But his action checked the others from coming out, and the curtain went +down in a jiffy. + +Arietta's action in lifting it had caused the log to fall and pull it up +to its full height. + +"That's putty good, I reckon," said Charlie, smiling grimly. "Is Wild +all right, Arietta?" + +"He is safe for the present, I think," was the girl's reply. "They are +waiting for the captain to come. He won't be here until some time after +dinner, so there is a good chance of saving Wild." + +"If that's ther case, I reckon there'll he a good chance, fur ther +captain will never git here!" + +There was no mistaking the meaning of Cheyenne Charlie just then. + +Cap Roche's life was surely in danger if he showed up in Forbidden Pass +that day! + +"Take him alive, Charlie," advised Arietta, "Where are Jim and the +girls?" + +"Right back there a little ways," was the reply. "But you jest leave it +ter me ter settle with Cap Roche. I'll show ther two-faced galoot what's +what!" + +Arietta said no more, but hurried through the pass in the direction +Charlie had indicated. + +She found the rest waiting for her, for they had heard the shot, and had +seen her with Charlie. + +"Is Wild all right?" Dart asked, anxiously. + +"Yes, for a while, anyhow," was the reply as Anna and Eloise both tried +to embrace her at one time. + +She quickly let them know the situation, and then she turned her +attention to the spot where Charlie was in waiting for the outlaws to +show themselves. + +The scout's blood was up now, and she knew quite well that he would +shoot the villains as fast as they showed themselves. + +Ten minutes passed by, and no one showed up. + +Charlie was waiting patiently, however. + +He was confident that one of the outlaws would want to get out to see +what had happened to the fellow that followed in pursuit of the escaping +girl. + +But Charlie did not know that the villains had a peephole in that +cleverly contrived curtain, and that they had already looked through it +and learned that their comrade was dead on the ground. + +To say that the outlaws were enraged at what had happened would be +putting it mildly. + +The girls escape had happened so unexpectedly that they could hardly +realize it, and then, right on the back of it, another man is shot! + +"Chuck," said the man called Bob, "I reckon we're in fur it." + +"Don't say that," was the retort. "Ain't we got Young Wild West hard an' +fast?" + +"Yes, an' we thought we had ther gal that way, too. But she ain't here +now, is she?" + +"Well, I wouldn't care two cents about her, if it wasn't that it was +through her that Wally got shot." + +"Poor Wally! An' jest as we was fillin' up ther grave of ther other two, +too. Well, yer didn't finish their job, did yer?" + +"No; when we heard ther hubbub inside we stopped an' run in." + +"An' left Young Wild West out there alone, eh?" + +"Yes; but he couldn't git away; you know that well enough." + +"There ain't no tellin' what he might do." + +Snivel hurried out of the rear of the cave. + +But the prisoner was still there, tied to the post, just as he had been +left. + +The horses of the outlaws had been led out there, and they were cropping +at some sparse grass that grew there. + +As the sun did not get much of a chance at the bottom of the hole, as it +was called by the outlaws, the vegetation there was scarce. + +"So you're here yet, eh?" said Snivel, as he stepped up to the boy. + +"Why, yes," was the reply. "You didn't think I was going to leave so +soon, did you?" + +"No, I didn't think so. But funny things is happenin' jest about now." + +"What was the matter in the cave?" + +Wild asked the question in an indifferent way, but he was really anxious +to hear, for he had no idea that Arietta had made her escape. + +He had heard the shot, too, and he was eager to find out what it all +meant. + +"Yer want ter know what was ther matter in ther cave, eh?" asked Snivel, +looking at the boy and scowling. "Well, I don't know as it will do any +hurt ter tell yer. Ther gal got away from us--that's what was ther +matter." + +"Is that so? Who fired the shot I heard?" + +"One of your pards, I s'pose." + +"Did it hit any one?" + +"I reckon it did. Another of our men got laid out. Oh, this is only +makin' it all ther worse fur you, Young Wild West. You don't stand no +livin' show, so there's no use in thinkin' yer do." + +"I wish Cap Roche would come, so I call find out my fate," said Wild, +though he did not mean it. + +The longer the leader of the outlaws stayed away the better were his +chances of being rescued by his partners. + +"How do you know that Cap Roche is ther one that's goin' ter settle +about your fate, Young Wild West?" + +"Why, I have heard you fellows talking about him." + +"Yer did, eh? I reckon yer never heard none of us say any more than Cap. +We didn't say that Cap Roche had anything ter do with our crowd." + +"Well, I thought you did." + +"I don't know as it makes any difference, though. You ain't never goin' +away from here alive. Ther toll that you'll pay is your life, Young Wild +West! Cap Roche will soon say that." + +"Maybe he will, and maybe he won't," retorted our hero, as calmly as +though he was simply talking business with a friend. "Cap Roche might +take a notion to let me go. His business at the store in Silver Bend +might require him to do so." + +"I reckon he'd be a fool ter let yer go. Where would he land if he did?' + +"Well, if he made a deal with me he might land all right." + +Wild was adopting different tactics now. Anything to gain time, and he +thought that he might get the men in the humor to make terms for his +release. + +Not that he meant to pay the "toll," as they called it; but if he could +make them believe that he had a large sum of money at his command it +might work all right. + +The fact was that our hero had very little money on his person. + +His experience had taught him not to carry much with him. + +Therefore, he always kept the bulk of what he brought with him in a +hidden pocket in his saddlebags. + +Hop was the one who had taught him that this was the safest way, for +road agents seldom took a notion to make a thorough search of a +horseman's saddlebags. + +"How much money have yet got with yer, Young Wild West?" Snivel asked. + +"Not much. But I have plenty in the banks of Denver and Phoenix." + +"Denver an' Phoenix is both a mighty good distance from here." + +"I know that. But an order from me would fetch the money any time you +went for it." + +"That's so, too." + +"And my word is worth as much as my money, I reckon!" + +"I don't know about that. I wouldn't take ther word of any one. I don't +think any one would tell ther truth in a case like this." + +"Well, there is no use in flying, to make a deal with you, then. I'll +wait till the captain comes, I reckon." + +"He's ther one ter talk ter, anyhow." + +It was just then that another shot sounded from the pass. + +The next minute Bob came running out of the rear of the cave. + +"Another man got his medicine, Chuck!" he exclaimed. "He would go out +ter git ther body of Wally, an' he got shot down afore he could git hold +of it!" + +"That makes four of you!" said Young Wild West coolly gazing at the +villains. "Where do you think you are coming out in this game?" + + +CHAPTER XI. + +WHAT HOP WAH DID. + +Though he had been told to remain with Wing and watch the camp, Hop grew +so restless after our friends had been gone about half an hour that he +decided to follow them and see if he could not assist in hunting down +the outlaws. + +He had heard enough of the conversation to make him understand just how +the hidden cave was located, and he relied on his sleight-of-hand work +to help him. + +If there was anything that the Chinaman liked it was to do something +that met with the approval of Young Wild West. + +After he had once got it into his head that he wanted to go Hop grew +very restless. + +Finally he turned to the cook and said: + +"Me go takee lillee walk thlough um pass, so be, my blother." + +"Misler Wild say you, allee samee stay here, so be," was the reply. + +"Lat allee light. But me 'flaid Misler Wild allee samee git tee in um +tlouble; me wantee helpee out." + +Wing did not care if he did go, for he thought he was perfectly able to +take care of the camp. + +So when Hop said he thought Wild might be in trouble he nodded and +retorted: + +"Allee light; my blother go if he wantee to. Me allee samee stay here, +likee Misler Wild say." + +"Lat light, my blother. You velly muchee goodee Chinee; but you no +understand, likee me; me allee samee velly muchee smartee, allee samee +my uncle in China." + +"Um uncle in China allee samee dead; git tee head cuttee off for stealee +pig!" + +"Sh!" said Hop, holding up his hand. "My blother mustee not lettee +Misler Charlie knowee lat." + +"Me no care, so be. You allee samee foolee." + +Wing acted as though he was disgusted, but a sorrowful look from his +brother soon brought him around. + +"Me no tellee Misler Charlie," he said. + +"Allee light. Now me go to um saloon and git tee lillee dlop of +tanglefoot; len me go and havee lillee look alound up Forbiddee Passee, +so be." + +Hop was not long in getting ready. + +Without another word he set out for the saloon. + +The miners were all at work by this time, so there was no one there but +Hoker and the man he had to help him. + +They were both busy cleaning up the place when the Chinaman entered, but +they greeted him cordially. + +"Where's Young Wild West?" asked Hoker, though he well knew that he had +started out to go through Forbidden Pass. + +"He takee lillee tlip to huntee uppee some outlaws, so be," answered the +Chinaman. "Me likee havee lillee tanglefoot; len me go outee huntee, +too, so be." + +"Is that so? Well, I don't know how much of a hunter you are, but if yer +are as good at it as yer are with ther cards you'll make out all right, +I reckon." + +"Lat light." + +Hop got his drink, and then he had a flask filled with whisky for use +later on. + +"Now, len," said he, blandly, "me chuck dicee to see if me pay or you +givee me um tanglefoot." + +"No yer don't!" was the quick reply. "You fork over ther money. I ain't +goin' inter no gamblin' game with you. You're too much fur me, an' I +ain't ashamed ter own up ter it." + +Hop grinned and paid the bill. + +Then he put the flask in his pocket and set out for the pass. + +He had heard Wild say that the spot where the hidden cave was located +was only about a mile from the camp, so that made a nice, little walk +for him. + +The fact was that Hop did not mind walking, anyhow. + +He was in the saddle so much that it was a relief to get the opportunity +to walk around once in a while. + +Reaching the pass, he took a good look at the sign and gave a nod of +approval. + +Hop had learned to read English pretty well, though he could not speak +it with any great degree of accuracy. + +But he did not want to do any better than what he did in that line, for +his style just suited him. + +"Make pay allee samee toll, so be," he said, musingly. "Whattee lat?" + +That was just a little too much for him. + +But he was not going to let it worry him any, so he started through the +pass without any further delay. + +The trail made by our friends was very plain in places, and Hop took +notice of this fact. + +He walked along leisurely, taking in all he saw, which was not a great +deal, since there were nothing but cliffs and the blue sky above to be +seen. + +He kept right on until finally he rounded a turn in the pass and saw Jim +Dart and the girls about a hundred yards ahead. + +As they were gathered behind a big rock, as though hiding, he knew that +something was wrong right away. + +Hop came to a pause. + +Though he wanted to know what was up, he felt that it would be best to +go it alone, so he did not walk ahead and join them. + +While he stood back close to the cliff a revolver shot rang out. + +He saw Jim raise his head above the rock and take a quick look in the +direction it came from, and then all was still. + +It so happened that Hop had got there just in time to hear the shot that +ended the career of the fourth outlaw. + +The Chinaman did not know what it meant, so he looked for a way to get +up close to Jim and the girls without being seen by them. + +If he went on through the narrow defile he could not do it. + +Then he looked up and, much to his satisfaction, he saw a place that +could be climbed quite easily, he thought. + +He decided to go on up, and then work his way along until he was +directly above those in waiting. + +Hop was quite agile for a Chinaman who did not like work a great deal. + +He was soon ascending the craggy way, and in less than two minutes he +was at the top of the cliff. + +Once there he found that it was comparatively level, and he walked along +fearlessly. + +But he could not help noticing that there was a fissure similar to that +which formed the pass on the other side, and, being curious to see what +was down there, he made his way to the edge. + +A smothered cry of astonishment came from the Chinaman's lips as he +peered downward. + +It was the "hole," as the outlaws termed it, that Hop was looking into, +and there was Young Wild West, tied to the post, in plain view! + +"Lat petty goodie--or petty bids, so be!" exclaimed Hop, under his +breath, "Me finder Misler Wild petty quicken. But um bad Mexican mans +goatee him, so be." + +Keeping out of sight, he lay flat at the top of the cliff and saw the +excited outlaws as they moved about in the hole below him. + +The distance was about forty feet, but Hop soon discovered a way to get +down, or nearly all the distance, anyhow. + +But he did not intend to risk doing it just then. + +The excited voices of the men came to his ears, and he was not long in +making out that they were talking about a man that had just been shot as +he went out to get the body of a comrade. + +From his position he could see about all there was to be seen in the +fissure. + +There was the grave the villains had placed the two bodies in, and which +they had started to fill. + +He counted ten men there, too, and he shook his head when he found there +were so many of them. + +"Misler Wild allee samee in um bad box, so be," he muttered. "Me better +go tell Misler Jim, so be." + +Having decided upon this plan of action, he crawled away from the edge +of the cliff and made his way down into the pass. + +It was easier to get down than it was to come up, and once there he +started boldly for Jim and the girls. + +He was within twenty feet of them when Arietta turned and saw him. + +"Here is Hop!" she exclaimed in a low voice. "Maybe he can help us out." + +Jim brightened when he saw the clever Chinaman, for he knew very well +that Hop had been of great value to them in such cases. + +"Come here," he said, beckoning to him. "Don't make any noise, Hop." + +"Me no makee noisee," was the reply. "Me knowee allee 'boutee; me just +see Misler Wild. He tied to um post, and ten mans by him. Allee samee +velly muchee bad workee." + +"You saw Wild!" Arietta exclaimed, looking at the Chinaman in surprise. + +"Lat allee samee light, Missy Alietta." + +"Where did you see him?" + +"Me go uppee lere, and me allee samee lookee down on um other side, so +be." + +"Great Scott!" cried Jim Dart. "Who would have thought of doing that? +Hop, you are a dandy!" + +"Me velly muchee smartee Chinee, so be," was the reply. "Where Misler +Charlie? Me takee and showee where Misler Wild is velly muchee quicken, +so be." + +Jim gave a signal, which was answered right away by the scout, who was +crouching behind a big boulder, right close to the curtained entrance of +the cave. + +The next minute Charlie was seen approaching them. + +"Come on," said Jim. "Hop has seen Wild, and he wants to show us where +he is." + + +CHAPTER XII. + +THE OUTLAWS TAKE SOME MORE PRISONERS. + +As soon as Hop had explained just how they could get up to the top of +the ridge Cheyenne Charlie was eager to go. + +"Ther gals kin go back ter Big Bonanza, I reckon," he said. "Then there +won't be any danger of 'em gittin' hurt." + +Anna and Eloise were perfectly willing to this, but Arietta shook her +head. + +"I am going to stay here till Wild is free," she declared. + +The scout knew very well that there was no use in arguing the question +with her. Arietta had a mind of her own, and the only one she would ever +listen to was Young Wild West. + +"All right," the scout said, "Hop, you jest show us where yer got up +there, an' me an' Jim will go up an' take a look." + +He quickly showed them, and then Charlie and Jim at once began to +ascend. + +Arietta promptly followed them. + +"Hop, you stay here with the girls till we come back," she said, "Keep a +watch, and if anything happens call out to us." + +"Allee light, Missy Alietta," he answered, though he would have much +liked to go up with them, since it was he who had made the important +discovery. + +Young Wild West's two partners and Arietta were soon out of sight. + +Anna and Eloise watched them until they disappeared, and they continued +to look where they had last seen them. + +If they had only looked the other way they might have saved themselves a +lot of trouble. + +Or if Hop had kept a watch, as Arietta told him to, things would surely +have turned out differently. + +It so happened that Cap Roche had changed his mind about waiting until +after the hour of noon before paying a visit to the cave, and he was +riding up the pass in company with one of his men at that very moment. + +In watching the climbers the two girls had exposed themselves to the +view of any one approaching, and when Cap Roche and his man suddenly +came in sight of the two so near the hidden cave they were astonished. + +One of the cowboys who had seen our friends when they came to Big +Bonanza was his companion, and he was not long in recognizing Anna and +Eloise. + +"Cap," he whispered, "they belong to Young Wild West's crowd. I wonder +what they kin he doin' here?" + +"Is that so?" queried the leader. "Well, I'll soon find out what they +are doing here. I reckon we had better catch them and take them in the +cave. That will be a bold stroke, I think. The chances are that Young +Wild West is around here somewhere." + +They dismounted and moved cautiously toward the girls. + +When they got directly in front of the cave they were astonished to see +the bodies of two of their men lying there. + +The eyes of the leader flashed dangerously. + +"Young Wild West has been at work, I reckon!" he exclaimed, in a low +voice. "Come on! We had better go in first and see if everything is all +right there." + +It was at that moment that the curtain rolled up, for the man on watch +had seen them. + +They hurried to him and learned the situation, as far as the man knew +it. + +But the fact that Young Wild West was a prisoner so elated the +villainous leader of the outlaw gang that he felt like giving a shout of +joy. + +He restrained himself, however, and then quickly made up his mind to +capture the two girls outside. + +Another man who was inside the cave was called, and then the four set +out to carry out their foul purpose. + +As they crept nearer to the unsuspecting girls, who were now talking in +whispers and waiting patiently for the return of their companions, they +found that there was a Chinaman with them. + +"Catch all three of them, and don't let them have a chance to utter a +cry," was the order from Cap Roche. + +Stealthily the four villains crept upon the unsuspecting ones, and two +minutes later all three of them were struggling in the grasp of the +outlaws. + +Though it had been planned quickly, it was well done, and, unable to +make an outcry, Hop and the two girls were carried bodily into the cave. + +A whistle brought half dozen to their assistance, and then the prisoners +were bound and told to be silent. + +"If you scream it will do no good, for if your friends start to come in +here they will be shot down like wolves!" said Cap Roche, smiling +fiendishly. "The best thing you can do is to take it easy." + +Having said this, he turned to his men and ordered that the two bodies +be brought in. + +This was done, though those who did it were very cautious in their +movements, since they expected to be shot down at any moment. + +Much relieved, the outlaws carried the bodies through the cave to the +hole outside. + +"Now," said the leader, "just tie the prisoners to the table." + +This was soon done, Hop pleading to be released in vain. + +"Go and fetch Young Wild West here," said Roche. "We will have them all +together while I talk to them." + +Chuck Snivel hastened to do the bidding of his boss. + +He went out to the post and began untying the captive boy. + +"Cap Roche has got here, an' he wants ter see yer, Young Wild West," he +said. + +"All right," answered the boy, not knowing whether to believe him or +not. "He'll find that I am all right, I reckon." + +His ankles being untied, Wild walked along readily. + +The captain was standing near the table waiting for him. + +When Wild saw Anna, Eloise and Hop prisoners there he could scarcely +believe his eyes. + +Things were surely getting worse, instead of better, he thought. + +But he did not let the captives think that he was anything like +discouraged over the prospect. + +"How are you, Mr. Roche?" he said, coolly. "How is business over at the +store and post office?" + +The villain smiled at this. + +"You're a pretty cool one, I must say," he retorted. "I suppose it was +you who turned the sign over?" + +"Yes; I thought I would let travelers know that you were one of the +outlaws who demanded toll from those who pass this way." + +"Well, I hardly think your plan worked, then, for I took the trouble to +right the sign a little while ago. Well, what do you think of this +business, anyhow? Sorry you came to Forbidden Pass, are you not?" + +"Oh, no. This is pretty bad for me just now. But it won't last very +long. If you want to save trouble you had better release me, and the +others you have got here, and then light out somewhere. If you don't you +will only be sorry for it. You think you have got the best of me now, +but in a short time you will find out that it will be just the other +way. You don't suppose that I came here without knowing just what I was +doing, do you?" + +"Well, you couldn't have known just what you were doing or this wouldn't +have happened." + +Roche motioned toward the prisoners. + +"It was a poor way for you to win out, this letting us get you and those +others, I think," he added. + +"Well, of course, I did not expect anything like this to happen," Wild +answered, coolly. "That was a pretty good scheme your men put through +when they got me. But let me tell you that my two partners have gone to +get a crowd of miners to come here and clean, you out. They know just +how to get in, for they have seen the curtain raised in front of the +opening that leads in here. But they knew all about that last night, for +I followed you here and saw you come in. I told them all about it, and +they know just what to do now." + +Cap Roche looked uneasy. + +He did not relish the idea of the miners of Big Bonanza finding out +about the cave. + +And he was now pretty certain that they would. + +The fact that he was known to be the leader of the outlaws made it +impossible for him to go back to Silver Bend, too. + +Though he had the best of Young Wild West just then, he knew he was in a +very bad box. + +"You have done well, Young Wild West," he said, trying to appear cool. +"You have done something that no one else has been able to do--you have +found our cave and exposed the secret of it. I will admit that you have +ruined our game here, but you don't suppose that you are going to live +to enjoy telling about it, do you?" + +"Oh, I don't know. I expect to live a long while, Cap Roche. I reckon +you think as much of your life as I do of mine. If you should kill me +you know very well that you would not live long after doing it. Your +friends would never get a chance to do you a good turn, for you would +never fall into the hands of the minions of the law. The only chance you +have got is to make a deal that suits me. If you don't want to do that, +do as you please." + +Cap Roche got up and began pacing the rocky floor of the cave. + +His uneasiness made his men feel in anything but a pleasant frame of +mind. + +Suddenly he paused in front of Wild and said: + +"Let's hear your proposition." + +"I would much rather you would make one," was the calm reply. + +"Could you guarantee me three days to get away from Silver Bend if I +agreed to let you go by paying the toll?" + +"Yes, I could do that, I suppose." + +"Well, I'll think it over." + +"You had better think quickly then." + +Cap Roche scowled. + +"See here!" he exclaimed, turning to Hop and quickly severing his bonds. +"You go and tell Young Wild West's partners that I want all the money +they can rake up, and as soon as you bring it to me you can all go free. +They are to fetch no one here, though. If they do I will kill Young Wild +West, and then take the chances of a siege in the cave." + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +THE CLEVER CHINAMAN AT WORK. + +Hop no sooner had his hands free than he said: + +"You wantee me tellee lat ley mustee git tee velly muchee money, and len +you lettee Young Wild West go?" + +"Yes, that's it. You seem to understand pretty well for a Chinee. You +understood enough to clean me out of a couple of hundred dollars last +night, too. I reckon you had better give me that money and all the rest +you have, before you go on your errand." + +"Me velly solly," declared Hop, acting as though he really felt bad over +it, "but me leavee allee my money in um camp." + +This was a fact, too, as all he had with him was about five dollars in +silver. + +"I reckon I had better go through you," said the leader of the outlaws. + +Hop quickly produced what money he had, and then held up his arms to let +the man make a search of his clothing. + +Roche went through him and brought out as many as half a dozen packs of +cards, a flask of whisky, several little vials containing liquids and +powders, two or three oblong objects that looked like a lot of paper +pressed together, some black-looking cigars, a dead mouse, some colored +string, and a lot of other small things, too numerous to mention. + +But there was no money to be found. + +"That's a nice lot of trash fur a galoot ter have in his pockets," he +declared, looking at the pile in disgust. "What are you doing with a +dead mouse in your pockets?" + +"Me feel lat me might git tee hungly some time, and len me have lillee +bite to eatee," replied Hop, looking very innocent. + +The outlaws grinned at this. + +They had all heard that Chinamen liked to eat rats, so they were not +surprised to hear that one ate mice. + +Even Wild smiled at the way Hop was working it. + +He now believed that the chances of getting free from the outlaws were +improving, for Hop would be apt to manage it in some way. + +"I'll tell you what you do," said Roche, as Hop proceeded to put the +articles back where they had been taken from. "You get your money at the +camp and bring that here, too." + +Allee light, Misler Outlaw, replied Hop. "You will havee um cigar?" + +He tendered one and, taking it, the outlaw looked at it suspiciously and +then cut off the end with his bowie knife. + +Hop lighted one, too, and then he stood still. + +"Me allee samee forgittee whattee you say," he said, as he looked +puzzled. + +Cap Roche went over it again. + +"Oh, allee light. Me understand." + +The cigar he had given the villain was a good one, and he puffed away at +it with no little satisfaction, since it served to soothe his nerves +somewhat. + +Hop took occasion to drop the dead mouse in the pocket of the man who +was standing at the side of Wild to prevent his possible escape, and +then he turned to go. + +But he came back again, and, looking at the villain he had played the +trick on he said: + +"You takee my tanglefoot and allee samee puttee in your pockee; me +wantee." + +As it was Roche who had appropriated the flask, the man shook his head +and grinned. + +"See here!" exclaimed the leader, angrily. "You ought to be satisfied +that I didn't take more than the whisky. You've got your mouse, so go on +and do your errand." + +"Oh!" cried Hop, his face lighting up. "Now me know. You takee um +tanglefoot, and lis man takee my mousee! He allee samee goatee in um +pockee." + +Instinctively the outlaw put his hand in his pocket, and the first thing +his fingers came in contact with was the dead mouse. + +He uttered a cry and pulled it out. + +"Hip hi!" yelled Hop, as he ran for the mouth of the cave. + +But the outlaw was just mad enough to run and catch him before he got to +the curtain. + +"Here," said Hop, "me givee you lis. Allee samee diamond ling inside. +Lettee poor Chinee go!" + +It was one of the oblong, little packages that he handed to the man, +and, letting the mouse drop, he took it and walked back to those in the +big cave. + +But he did not notice that a tiny spark was working its way along what +seemed to be a string on the package. + +The fact was that it was one of his patent firecrackers that Hop had +given him. + +Just as he joined the rest at the table the thing exploded with a noise +like that of a shotgun. + +"Ow! Murder!" yelled the outlaw, for his hand was burned by the +operation. + +Then he danced about like a wild man, while the prisoners were forced to +laugh, in spite of their situation. + +Cap Roche was the first to realize what had happened. + +"Shut up!" he commanded. "He played a joke on you, that's all. Serves +you right for fooling with him. That is the greatest Chinaman I ever +saw." + +The victim went for water to cool his burning hand. + +"Allee light; me go now," called out Hop, who had been, watching from +the front of the cave. "Me soonee come back with um money to pay um +toll, so be." + +Out he went, and he had not gone more than a dozen yards when he came +upon the scout. + +"Where's Anna an' Eloise?" Charlie demanded. + +"Outlaws allee samee gottee," was the reply. "Come 'way petty +quicken." + +He almost pulled him around the bend, and then he found Jim and Arietta +there. + +The three had been watching from the top of the cliff, and when they saw +the outlaws take Wild in they did not wait very long there, but came +back to the pass. + +It was their intention to take up a couple of lariats and try and devise +a means of getting Wild away from the villains, but when they found that +the girls and the Chinaman were not there, while the horses were just as +they had left them, they did not know what to make of it. + +It was while the scout was creeping up to the cave, thinking that the +outlaws might have caught those they had left in the pass, that he saw +Hop come out. + +It was surely a morning of surprises, and Charlie was badly puzzled. + +But when Hop told of the errand he has been sent on he was completely +silenced for the time being. + +When he found the use of his tongue he exclaimed: + +"Well, that beats anything yet! So ther galoots wants us ter pay money, +eh? Well, I reckon not! We'll jest git Wild an' ther two gals away from +'em without pain' a thing. Hop, you take my horse an' ride over to ther +camp as fast as yer kin. Jest git ther miners together an' tell 'em +what's up. Then yer kin git some of ther counterfeit money you've got +hid around somewhere an' come back an' take it ter Roche. While you're +talkin' to 'em we'll all creep in an' fix ther galoots fur good an' +all!" + +"Allee light, Misler Charlie." + +Hop was not long in mounting the scout's horse, and then he rode swiftly +to Big Bonanza. + +He went to the camp first and, telling Wing enough to make him +frightened about it, he got a roll of counterfeit money from his +saddlebags. + +This he stuffed in his pocket, and then he rode to the saloon. + +"Misler Hoker," he said; "me wanted allee samee lot of mans to go and +fight um outlaws, so be. Ley allee samee goatee Young Wild West in um +cave, and Missy Anna and Missy Eloise, too, so be." + +The keeper of the saloon was astounded when he heard this. + +He questioned the Chinaman and soon came to the conclusion that he was +telling the truth. + +Then he hastily left the saloon and went out and told the miners as fast +as he could get to the places they were working at. + +Shortly afterward the first of the miners to be notified by Hoker came +running into the saloon. + +Hop had to answer a lot of questions, but he managed to make it plain to +the miners what was wanted of them, so in a few minutes they were +marching for the pass. + +The Chinaman rode on ahead and soon came to the spot where he had left +Charlie, Jim and Arietta. + +But they were not there now, and, thinking that they had ascended the +cliff again, he decided to go on in the cave. + +He went around to the curtain and found the scout lying close to the +cliff near it. + +Charlie motioned for him to go on in, and, without looking at him any +further, Hop lifted the curtain and obeyed. + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +HOW ARIETTA PAID THE TOLL. + +Arietta and Jim had gone to the top of the cliff again, hoping to catch +sight of Wild once more, while Charlie remained near the mouth of the +cave. + +The scout made up his mind to get inside when Hop came back, and he had +managed to creep up close to the concealed opening. + +As the Chinaman passed inside he waited for half a minute, and then he +took the risk of raising the curtain a trifle. + +The coast was clear, so he crawled through. + +Once on the inside, he moved over to a rocky wall and then listened. + +He could hear the Chinaman talking in his bland way to the villains. + +There had been a man watching for Hop's return, but in some way he had +neglected to be looking at the time Charlie crept up, and it was not +until he had escorted the Chinaman to the leader that he went to the +curtain to stand guard again. + +But he did not see the crouching form of the scout, and once he had +passed him Charlie began moving toward the rear of the cave. + +He soon got to within a few feet of the villains in the cave, and when +he peered from behind a rock and saw his wife and Eloise sitting at the +table near Wild; he felt a little easier. + +Hop was standing before the leader of the band, and all eyes were turned +on him. + +He had been talking in a random sort of way, not seeing fit to make a +report just yet. + +"Stop that!" exclaimed Roche, as he started in to give an account as how +smart his uncle in China was. "Did you get the money from Young Wild +West's partners--that's the question?" + +"Me allee samee git tee bigger pile of money and um bottle of tanglefoot, +so be," answered the Chinaman, quickly getting down to business. + +"Give me the money!" + +"You lettee Miss Anna and Missy Eloise go?" Hop went on asking. + +"Yes, I'll let them go right now." + +To make good his words he cut the ropes that held them helpless and told +the two girls to walk on out. + +Surprised at their sudden release, they lost no time in obeying. + +Hop handed over the roll of counterfeit money. + +"Now you can go, too," he said, nodding to the Chinaman. + +"How aboutee Misler Wild?" + +"Well, we'll keep him a little while longer, I reckon." + +Anna and Eloise lost no time in getting out of the cave. + +Just why the villainous leader of the band had seen fit to let them go +they did not know. + +The scout saw them go past him, but he did not offer to attract their +attention. + +He was waiting to get a chance to release Wild. + +But it was not going to come to him just then, for Cap Roche suddenly +called Chuck Snivel and said: + +"Take Young Wild West out and tie him to the post again. I reckon we +can't trust altogether to that Chinaman. It may be that he has told the +miners of Big Bonanza all about this. If he has we will need the +prisoner to make terms with them. There is one thing about it, and that +is that Young Wild West don't go free until I know for a certainty that +we will be allowed a chance to get away." + +As soon as Hop saw that they were going to take Wild outside he made his +way toward the front of the cave. + +"Goodby!" he said. "When you finder lat me allee samee keepee my word +you let Misler Wild go. Len you all go 'way, and nobody hurtee you." + +Hop lost no time in getting outside. + +He found the girls where the horses were. + +But Jim and Arietta were nowhere to be seen. + +"Missy Anna," he said to the scout's wife, "you and Missy Eloise allee +samee takee horses and lide to meet um miners. You tellee allee 'boutee. +But makee um stay light here till Misler Charlie or Misler Jim come." + +"All right, Hop," Anna answered. "We will do just as you say. But where +is Charlie?" + +"He in um cave." + +"What!" + +"He come in light after me, so be. He waitee to git tee lillee chance to +git tee Misler Wild outee." + +The girls understood. + +Just then the walking miners from the camp came in sight. + +There were twenty or more of them, and they were all armed to the teeth. + +When they saw the girls they broke into a cheer, but a motion from Hop +quickly silenced them. + +"Don't makee no noise," he said. "Misler Wild no git tee outee yet, so +be." + +Then he told them just how things were, and the men agreed to wait with +the girls until they received orders from either Charlie on Jim. + +Hop now clambered up the cliff to find Arietta and Jim. + +Once at the top he looked around, but could see nothing of them. + +He quickly made his way over to the other side and cautiously peered +over. + +The outlaws had just brought Wild out of the cave, and on a ledge about +twelve feet above him were Arietta and Jim, hiding behind a rock. + +"Young Wild West," said Cap Roche, as the boy was led out to the post, +"are you ready to give your promise that we will not be interfered +with?" + +"I can't give a promise like that until I know for certain that I am to +be freed," was the reply. + +As Wild spoke the words he caught a glimpse of Arietta and Jim on the +ledge. + +But he was so well trained that he did not let the villains know that he +had seen anything out of the ordinary. + +"Tie him to the post, boys," said Roche. "I reckon we've got to figure +this thing out right before we do much. I'll see if we need any more in +the way of toll." + +He pulled out the roll Hop had given him, and the men, eager to see the +money, did not proceed to tie Wild right away. + +The moment Roche opened the roll he saw that it was not good money. + +An oath escaped his lips. + +"Where is that rascal of a Chinaman?" he demanded. "This isn't money. It +is nothing but the rankest kind of counterfeit bills." + +It was just then that our hero saw his sweetheart getting ready to do +something. + +At the same moment Hop was hurrying to the edge of the cliff on the +other side to tell the miners to rush into the cave. + +The critical moment had arrived. + +The villains had just finished tying Wild to the post when a lariat +whizzed through the air and settled over the head and shoulders of the +leader. + +"Here is the way we are going to pay the toll!" cried Arietta. + +Up the side of the cliff went the man. + +The brave girl held a revolver pointed at Snivel, and, in a ringing +voice, she added: + +"Release the prisoner, or your captain will die!" + + +CHAPTER XV. + +CONCLUSION. + +Cheyenne Charlie was just thinking of making his way out of the cave +when a shout rang out from the opening they had taken Wild through. + +Out went the men in a hurry, and, hearing Arietta's voice shouting a +warning to them, the scout drew his revolvers, and with one in either +hand bounded out after the outlaws. + +One of the first things he saw was the form of Cap Roche hanging from +the ledge. + +The rope had looped him about the body and pinioned his arms at the same +time. + +But the villain was making a desperate struggle and the rope showed +signs of slipping. + +However, not one of the men dared to shoot at the girl or Jim. + +Cheyenne Charlie stepped up and walked around behind Wild without being +noticed by the excited and surprised outlaws. + +A quick slash with his knife and the ropes were severed. + +Then he slipped a revolver in the boy's hand. + +Wild coolly stepped from the post. + +"Up with your hands, you sneaking coyotes!" he cried in a ringing voice. +"I reckon ther jig is up now. Arietta has paid ther toll!" + +Then Wild calmly reached out and took another revolver from the belt of +the nearest man to him. + +Two of the villains held up their hands, but the rest made a bolt for +the cave. + +Crack! + +Cheyenne Charlie got at work, as usual, and the foremost one dropped. + +"I reckon you galoots will have ter have a bigger grave dug when we git +through with yer," he called out. "That one you've got here ain't half +big enough!" + +Just then Cap Roche slipped the rope, and down he came in a heap. + +Before he could get upon his feet our hero stood over him. + +"Surrender!" he cried. "It is the easiest way out of it. If you fight it +out there won't be one man left of you, Roche!" + +"I'll never surrender!" was the defiant shout. "Go ahead and shoot me, +if you want to. I am going to die fighting." + +He rolled over and got upon his feet, regardless of the fact that the +finger of the young deadshot was upon the trigger of the revolver that +was aimed at him. + +Roche had lost his revolvers when he tumbled down, but he still hold his +knife. + +Jerking it from the sheath, he prepared to make a rush at the boy, who +stood covering him with a revolver. + +Just then several shots rang out from inside the cave, following by +yells of triumph. + +Arietta now slid down by means of the lariat Jim had hold of. + +Then Jim dropped the distance himself. + +Out of the cave came the miners, dragging the prisoners they had taken +with them. + +Roche turned deathly pale when he saw that it was all up with him. + +"Young Wild West," he hissed, "I want to kill you before I die myself! I +will never be taken alive, so if you have got the nerve to fight me, +come on!" + +Wild dropped his revolvers into the holsters and took Jim's knife. + +"I'm after you, Cap!" he exclaimed, a smile playing about his mouth. "If +you want to kill me, come on!" + +Clash! + +The knives came together in the air, and then the fight was on. + +Young Wild West kept slapping him on the face with the flat of his knife +blade, and this was galling to the outlaw. + +"What are you, a young fiend?" he cried, savagely, as he received a +scratch on the neck, which he knew could have been his finish if the boy +had so willed it. + +"No," answered Wild; "I am simply a boy who has practiced this sort of +business a great deal. Look, out for yourself, Cap! I am going to make +you drop that knife!" + +The words were hardly out of his mouth when the back of Wild's blade +struck the villain's wrist. + +Uttering a cry of pain, Roche dropped his weapon. + +Then he staggered back and picked up a stone. + +Crack! + +One of the miners fired and the man reeled, and, letting go the stone, +dropped to the ground, dead. + +Our hero now went into the cave, for the twelve men who had survived +were all tied hard and fast. + +It was only natural that he should want to look around the cave, and one +of the first things he came across was the paint that had been used to +make the signs, or some just like it. + +A brush was found, and he painted the following across the entire +breadth of the curtain: + +"Closed for Repairs--No More Toll Collected in the Pass!" + +"I reckon that looks all right, don't it, boys?" he called out to the +miners. + +"You bet!" cried John Sedgwick. "Boys, give three cheers fur Young Wild +West!" + +The cheering echoed through the pass. + +It was now near noon, but Wild was bent on doing the work he had in +view, so he started in. + +He sent the miners on with the prisoners, and then he painted a couple +of signs to take the places of those at either end of the pass. + +The signs when finished bore the words: + + "Short Cut Pass--No danger!" + + (Signed) "Young Wild West." + +"There! I reckon as soon as we have put these up we will call the job +complete," he said. + +Not until they were up did our friends return to their camp. + +There was a big time in Big Bonanza, as might be supposed. + +A messenger had been sent over to Silver Bend to spread the news of the +capture of the outlaw band, and, with the prisoners locked in a shanty, +the miners danced around it in delight. + +It was the middle of the afternoon when a crowd came over from Silver +Bend, and then the prisoners were turned over to the Vigilantes who were +with them. + +Everybody was surprised when they heard that Cap Roche was dead, and +that he had been the leader of the outlaws. + +The next day Young Wild West and his friends left Big Bonanza. + +They rode through the pass that had been forbidden to travelers unless +they paid toll, and stopped at Silver Bend, for a day and night. + +They received a big ovation there, and the next morning they set out for +Arizona, where our hero had some business to attend to. + +They all were willing to allow that it was one of the liveliest mornings +they had ever put in when they went to Forbidden Pass, however. + +But Arietta had paid the toll, so that was sufficient. + +THE END. + + +Read "YOUNG WILD WEST AND THE INDIAN TRAITOR; or, THE CHARGE OF THE +'RED' BRIGADE" which will be the next number (290) of "Wild West +Weekly." + + +SPECIAL NOTICE: All back numbers of this weekly are always in print. If +you cannot obtain them from any newsdealer, send the price in money or +postage stamps by mail to FRANK TOUSEY, PUBLISHER. 24 UNION SQUARE, NEW +YORK, and you will receive the copies you order by return mail. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Young Wild West at "Forbidden Pass", by +An Old Scout + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK YOUNG WILD WEST *** + +***** This file should be named 20617.txt or 20617.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/0/6/1/20617/ + +Produced by Richard Halsey + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +https://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at https://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +https://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at https://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit https://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including including checks, online payments and credit card +donations. To donate, please visit: https://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/20617.zip b/20617.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..963e307 --- /dev/null +++ b/20617.zip diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..5b40f65 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #20617 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/20617) |
