Show THE HE prospector AND IUS HIS I US BURRO BURR by will C higgins the next morning said the prospector to his burro we were all up bright and early and had a hearty breakfast for jenkins was nearly famished for he had eaten nothing since the morning before at which time he had imprisoned the five outlaws in the 50 foot shaft in a manner that exhibited great ingenuity on his part as I 1 told you in our last conversation his faithful wife showered every attention upon him as she had believed that the roughnecks rough necks had made away with him and the affection exhibited between them was truly touching and I 1 was not at all sorry for the additions that had been made to our party for jenkins seemed to be an experienced prospector bold and fearless while his mate was his equal in many respects and a fine cook and camp tender how the outlaws had reached this remote and isolated spot was somewhat of an enigma to us and we finally decided after carefully considering the matter that they must have traveled on horses and that their camp could not be very far removed f from rom the cabin in the grove and we were quite sure of this when jenkins told us that some distance further down the canyon from the mine quite a stream existed around which there was good pasture and some heavy timber and which to his mind provided an ideal place for comfortable camping grounds this started us to speculating again and we finally came to the conclusion that the outlaws had camped in the locality mentioned by jenkins and that the intruders had hoofed it to the mine probably having some inkling of its existence as the country was noted for its old and long lost bonanzas it was then decided that we should go to the mine and ascertain to our satisfaction that the prisoners were safe and then take a hike down the canyon to see if we could discover the camp of the outlaws which we believed had probably been left in charge of some member of the gang so we set out for the mine jenkins leading we were careful however not to approach too openly for fear that the camp tender apprehensive because of the long absence of his comrades might have found where they were and might even now be engaged in affecting their escape it was sure the right thing that we were thus cautious for as we neared the mine we surprised a man in the act of hoisting one of his associates from the shaft but he was so intent upon his work that it was an easy thing for us to surround him and jim who was expert with the rope threw a lasso over his head and shoulders dors before he became aware of our presence with a howl he let go of the windlass crank and the man at the end of the rope went dashing down to the bottom of the shaft like a thunderbolt our captive was in an angry mood and fought like a wildcat but we soon had him bound and trussed up like a stuffed turkey when we had him safely gagged and tied to a nearby tree we cautiously approached the shaft and it was well that we exercised this care for when jim took the old shovel handle put his hat on one end and held it over the collar of the shaft a revolver shot rang out and the hat bat flew off the end of the stick with a bullet hole through it that proved to us that the prisoners were in no way subdued and so we decided to pay no more attention to them until hunger had tamed anem and brought them to submission by this time we were hungry again and went back to our cabin in the grove for rest and refreshment taking our lone prisoner with us he was still surley and revengeful but came along with us without giving much trouble he refused to talk and would give us no satisfaction when asked as to the direction and location of the outlaw camp we had removed the gag from his mouth and fed him and gave him water much to his surprise for he had expected rough treatment at our hands after eating we left our captive in charge of jenkins and his wife while jim and I 1 started out to find where the robber gang had made their roost we had traveled about three miles before we found it there were six horses and a number of pack burros on the little meadow below a big spring that emptied into the mountain stream and we were about to make an examination of the camp when we were surprised to see a couple of men coming up the canyon from below leading pack animals and followed by two squaws squads we both laid low until they were near us when we discovered to our astonishment ish ment that the party consisted of art and Top feather lueta and jims squaw they in turn were overjoyed at seeing us and after the warm greetings were over art told us that after we had departed from the camp of the old chief in the blue mountains they had become almost conscience stricken en in seeing us starting out for a country that was almost unknown and after the passing of a couple of days had decided to follow us but that a heavy rain in the val ley had entirely obliterated our trail so that they were taking pot luck in trying to find us during the rest of their journey being fortunate in being able to stumble onto us in such an unexpected manner we then told them of our experiences which interested te them greatly and they were anxious to proceed to the cabin in the grove so that they might make the acquaintance of jenkins and his wife whom they already regarded with friendly feelings in the outlaw camp we found a goodly stock of provisions and also considerable Dl plunder under for it was evident that they had looted the camps of several prospectors in their ma trip this we packed up loaded the camp outfit on the burrows and leading the horses we set out to retrace our steps to our camp in the grove it was almost dark when we reached our destination and jenkins and his devoted wife were almost bewildered with astonishment when we entered the grove with the new additions to our party and with six horses and a number of pack burros As for the outlaw who was still bound to a tree he seemed chagrined beyond measure and at once assumed a more friendly attitude lueta had her with her and it was not long iong before she was on terms of intimacy with mrs jenkins who had also taken a great liking to jims squaw I 1 we were like a happy and harmonious family continued the prospector and it was late that night before we sought our blankets for we had a regular banquet and had much to talk about before retiring we did not forget however to feed our prisoner well and to make him as comfortable as we could under the circumstances nor did we neglect to stand guard over the camp until morning the four men of our party taking turns in watching the outfit while the others slept in the morning we were all up at daybreak and after partaking of a hearty breakfast we held a council in order to make some decision as to the disposal of our prisoners we did not have the heart to kill them as they deserved for they were nothing more than thieves and murderers and we knew they would quickly butcher us all once they had the opportunity our single captive who was tied to a tree not far from fram us now found his voice for the first time and assured us the band would not trouble us if allowed to depart but we could place no reliance upon his statement for we felt sure cure that if allowed to leave us in perfect freedom we would have them to fight for days and weeks we then decided to release the rough necks one at a tinie time at intervals of one hour apart giving each his horse provisions for two days but no arms weapons or ammunition to take each prisoner singly to a place some distance from our camp and to start them off in diff different erent directions ions so that no two should know of the course taken by the other in this way we hoped to scatter them not doubting for a minute however but that some one of the outlaws upon reaching friends would or a gang and come out to capture or kill our entire party we could not consider remote consequences however and so we proceeded upon the course that appeared the most humane to us upon arriving at this decision we set out for the mine and found the prisoners in the shaft nearly starved and willing to surrender if we would agree not to kill them to this request we acce eded and then proceeded to carry out our plans the first man we pulled out of the shaft was the outlaw chief to him we gave provisions and water his horse and blankets but no firearms or weapons taking him out of sight of the mine we started him off in a westerly direction then after waiting an hour and after Tcp feather who had been watching the departing outlaw declared that he had kept on going as far as he could see him we treated another of the gang in the same way only sending him to the east one by one with an hour between we hauled the prisoners from the shaft gave them provisions water and means of travel and sent them on their way each in a different direction until all of our enemies had been disposed of and there is no doubt but that each outlaw believed that he had been sent in the same direction as his predecessor and hoped to soon rejoin his companions in order to plot with one another for our ultimate destruction when the last of our foes had departed and we knew that we would not be molested for some time for they were harmless without weapons we all returned to our camp in the grove with the one idea of enjoying rest and relaxation for we were all somewhat overcome with excitement and worry and felt that we might now have a few days relaxation and enjoyment what happened afterwards I 1 will tell you in our next fireside chat for I 1 am sleepy now and feel like taking advantage of the cool night after such a hot and scorching day I 1 1 I want to tell you old long ears concluded the prospector the fact that art and Top feather had such a deep feeling of affection for both jim and myself as to start out after us when we had gone into the unknown made a deep impression upon me and during the night that followed our adventures of the day I 1 pondered much upon the love that will prompt a man to leave comfort and safety to follow along the trail after his old pard and companion and there you are and then some 0 |