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was sure they would not come so far from their haunts or from the Sante
Fe train in pursuit of him。 But the Indians roamed the Panhandle； as much
at home there as in their reservationsand here they were much more
dangerous。 Had no savage eye discerned that wagon during the brilliant
August day？ Might it be that even while he slept at the feet of the dead
woman； a feathered head had slipped under the canvas side； a red face had
bent over him？
It was a disquieting fancy。 Willock told himself that； had such been the
case； his scalp…lock would not still adorn his own person； for all that； he
was eager to be gone。 Instead of eating in the wagon； he wrapped up some
food in a bread…cloth； placed this with a few other articles in a tarpaulin
among them； powder and shot and； having lifted the keg of water to one
shoulder； and the rope…bound tarpaulin to the other； he left the wagon with
a loaded gun in his hand。
Twilight had faded to starlight and the mountain range stood blackly
defined against the glittering stars。 It was easy to find his way； for on the
level sands there were no impediments； and when the mountain was
reached； a low divide offered him easy passage up the ascent。 For the most
part the slopes were gradual and in steeper places； ledges of granite；
somewhat like giant stairs； assisted him to the highest ridge。 From this
vantage…point he could see the level plain stretching away on the farther
side； he could count the ridges running parallel to the one on which he had
paused； and note the troughs between； which never descended to the level
ground to deserve the name of valleys。 Looking down upon this tortured
mass of granite； he seemed gazing over a petrified sea that； in the fury of a
storm； had been caught at the highest dashing of its waves； and fixed in
threatening motion which throughout the ages would remain as calm and
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secure as the level waste that stretched from the abrupt walls in every
direction。
On that first ridge he paused but a moment； lest his figure be outlined
against the night for the keen gaze of some hidden foe。 Steadying the keg
with one hand and holding his gun alert； he descended into the first trough
and climbed to the next ridge； meaning to traverse the mile of broken
surface； thus setting a granite wall between him and the telltale wagon。
The second ridge was not so high as the outer wall； and he paused here；
feeling more secure。 The ground was fairly level for perhaps fifty yards
before its descent to the next rolling depression where the shadows lay in
unrelieved gloom。 On the crest； about him； the dim light defined broken
boulders and great blocks of granite in grotesque forms； some suggesting
fantastic monsters； others； in sharp…cut or rounded forms seemingly
dressed by Cyclopean chisels。
The fugitive was not interested in the dimly defined shapes about him；
his attention had been attracted by a crevice in the smooth rock ledge at
his feet。 This ledge； barren of vegetation； and as level as a slab of rough
marble； showed a long black line like a crack in a stone pavement。 At the
man's feet the crevice was perhaps two feet wide； but as it stretched
toward the west it narrowed gradually； and disappeared under a mass of
disorganized stones； as a mere slit in the surface。
Presently he set the keg and the tarpaulin…ball on the ground； not to
rest his shoulders； but in order to sink on his knees beside the crevice。 He
put his face down over it； listening； peering； but making no discovery。
Then he unwound the lariat from about his waist； tied it to the rope that
had been a halter； and having fastened a stone to one end； lowered it into
the black space。 The length of the lariat slipped through his fingers and the
rope was following when suddenly the rock found lodgment at the bottom。
On making this discovery he drew up the lariat； opened the cloth
containing the food； and began to eat rapidly and with evident excitement。
He did not fail to watch on all sides as he enjoyed his long delayed meal；
and while he ate and thus watched； he thought rapidly。 When the first
cravings of appetite were partly satisfied； he left his baker's bread and
bacon on a stone； tied up the rest of the food in its cloth； rolled this in the
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tarpaulin； and lowered it by means of the lariat into the crevice。 Then；
having tied the end of the rope to the gun…barrel； he placed the gun across
the crevice and swung himself down into the gloom。
The walls of the crevice were so close together that he was able to
steady his knees against them； but as he neared the bottom they widened
perceptibly。 His first act on setting foot to the stone flooring was to open
the tarpaulin； draw forth a candle and a box of matches； and strike a light。
The chamber of granite in which he stood was indeed narrow； but full of
interest and romance。 The floor was about the same width in all its length；
wide enough for Willock； tall as he was； to stretch across the passage。 It
extended perhaps a hundred feet into the heart of the rock； showing the
same smooth walls on either side。 The ceiling； however； was varied； as the
outward examination had promised。 Overhead the stars were seen at ease
through the two feet of space at the top； but as he carried his candle
forward； this opening decreased； to be succeeded presently by a roof； at
first of jumbled stones crushed together by outward weight； then of a
smooth red surface extending to the end。
The floor was the same everywhere save at its extremities。 At the point
of Willock's descent； it dipped away in a narrow line that would not have
admitted a man's body。 At the other end； where he now stood； it suddenly
gave way to empty space。 It came to an end so abruptly that there was no
means of discovering how deep was the narrow abyss beyond。 Possibly it
descended a sheer three hundred feet； the depth of the ridge at that place。
On the smooth floor which melted to nothingness with such sinister and
startling suddenness； the candlelight revealed the skeleton of a man lying
at the margin of the unknown depths。 Mingled with the bones that had
fallen apart with the passing of centuries； was a drawn sword of blackened
hilt and rusted bladea sword of old Spanish makeand in the dust of a
rotted purse lay a small heap of gold coins of strange design。
〃Well； pard；〃 said Brick Willock grimly； 〃you come here first and
much obliged to you。 You've told me two things： that once in here； no
getting outunless you bring along your ladder； and what's better still；
nobody has been here since you come； or that wouldn't be my money！ And
now having told me all you got to say； my cavalier； I guess we'd better
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part。〃 He raked the bones into a heap； and dashed them into the black gulf。
He did not hear them when they struck bottom； and the sinister silence
gave him an odd thrill。 He shook his head。 〃If I ever roll out of bed here；〃
he said； 〃me and you will spend the rest of the time together； pardner。〃
He did not linger for idle speculation； hut drew himself up his dangling
rope； and in a short time was once more outside the place of refuge。
Always on the lookout for possible watchers； he snatched up his bread and
meat； and ate as he hastened over the outer ridge and down the rugged side
toward the wagon。 Here he filled a box with canned provisions and a side
of bacon； and on top of this he secured a sack of flour。 It made a heavy
burden； but his long sleep had restored him to his wonted strength； and he
could not be sure but this trip to the wagon would be his last。 With some
difficulty he hoisted the box to his herculean shoulder； and grasping a
spade and an ax in his disengaged hand； toiled upward to his asylum。
When the crevice in the mountain…top was reached； he threw the
contents of