The Argosy, Vol. XXIV No. 2 — page 62: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

254 THE TRACK OF MIDNIGHT. ‘“But where are we? It is as dark as a pit,’’ Johnson whispered. ‘“By and by sun come up,’’ the black answered when they asked him. ‘‘And I suppose we can sit down and wait.’’ “ Plenty quiet,’’ Warrigal replied. They sat down with their rifles on their knees as the only thing to be done until enough light should come for them to see where they were and what they were doing. The place was wonderfully still and quiet. ‘“T wonder where we are. Is it near the big cave?’’ Johnson said in a very soft whisper. A gentle rustle of some leaves checked him, and for the remainder of the night they sat still and silent. At last the sky directly overhead began to grow a little less dark and the forms of the trees to stand out from the pre- vailing shadow, and they knew that dawy was at hand. They glanced round for their guide, but he had disappeared in the darkness. ‘They were in a place that was apparently entirely surrounded by vegetation, thick and im- penetrable. In front of them there was a low boulder, standing close to a vine covered face of rock, and round it a narrow track curved. ‘“ Are we trapped ?’’ Johnson said as soon as they could make out their surroundings. ‘“No; I believe in Warrigal,’’ Wilton answered. ‘* But where is he?’’ Johnson asked. A rustle sounded from somewhere among the trees, and Wilton held up his hand. - ‘“‘ Quick, be ready !’’ he whispered. ‘‘I will stand there,’’ he went on, indicating the shelter of the boulder. ‘‘ He may come along that path. You hide as : Before he could finish a footstep sounded distinctly on the pathway, and Wilton sprang forward with his rifle ready as round the boulder the unmis- takable form of Midnight appeared. He stopped in his stride as he caught sight of Wilton, and for a moment the two men stood watching each other. With a quick movement, Wilton raised his rifle to his shoulder, and, covering the outlaw, cried out, ‘‘ Surrender or you’re a dead man.’’ Midnight’s lips parted in a loud laugh as he drew a pistol from his coat pocket and took deliberate aim at his opponent. Wilton heard a report almost beside his ear, and, at the same moment, his finger pressed the trigger. ‘“Toad! Quick! Yoad!’’ Johnson cried behind him, and both hastily began to recharge their rifles while yet the smoke from the two shots hung between them and Midnight. As it slowly dispersed they saw the man still standing with leveled pistol. But at the same instant that they could see him, he was also able to see them, and the flash and report of the pistol told Johnson that advantage had been taken of the opportunity to reply to their shots. Wilton, engrossed in the reloading of his rifle, had not looked up, -and he uttered a sharp cry as he felt a numbing twinge in his chest and stag- gered back under the force of the blow. The cry following upon the shot aroused Johnson to the danger of his EGom boo (@) S) CO