In This Issue:
ARTICLE
NEWS
BOOK REVIEW
ADVENTURE STORY: THE CAVE DWELLERS
ADVENTURE STORY: THE GALLANT MYSTERY

ARTICLE

Retraining The Brain

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NEWS

Congratulations to Kayden who has successfully completed Lesson Four. You are just flying along!

Congratulations to Seth for successfully completing Lesson Three. Keep up the great work!

BOOK REVIEW

We trust we will see you here next month.

Yours in life building,
Glenn and Diane Davis
Learn To Read Prince George and the World

THE CAVE DWELLERS

When all the arrangements had been made for the departure of the raft, Will Harland said to Antonio: "Do you think that it will be absolutely impossible to approach the hacienda by daylight?"

"It could not be done, senor, and, indeed, I don't see that any good could come of it, for even if we could get in unobserved, there would be no one of whom we could ask questions or find out anything as to what has taken place. It is just possible that in the confusion of the attack some of the workers employed in the house, the stables, or our huts may have escaped and hidden themselves. The Indians are good searchers, but just at first they would be anxious to make their success as complete as possible, and doubtless a large party rode up the valley at once while the others started down it. It was important that they should surprise the men with the various herds before they could gather together, for even if twenty or thirty could have been rallied they would have made a hard fight of it before they lost their scalps. Therefore, any who escaped in the attack on the house may have hidden themselves from the first search, and we may possibly come across them at night. They would assuredly never leave their hiding-places until darkness had fallen.

"I have some hopes of Sancho. If anyone has got out safe he has. He had a good deal of experience in Indian fighting some fifteen years ago, when he was farther east, and is sure to have his wits about him. He was at our hut when I came along this morning. As you know, he got hurt by a young bull in the yard ten days since. He was nearly well again, but the padre said he had better keep quiet for another day or two. I fancy that he was the only man there except for the workers, for it is a busy time. At the first war-whoop he heard he would make for shelter, for he would know that it was no use his trying to fight the whole tribe. There is a thick patch of brush twenty or thirty yards from the huts. I expect that he would make for that straight. There is a tank in the middle that was used at one time, but the water was always muddy, and the master had a fresh one made handy to the huts, and since then the path to the old tank has been overgrown, and no one ever goes there. If Francisco is alive, he is lying in that pond under the bushes that droop over it all around."

"He would not be able to give us any information as to what was done in the house."

"No, senor. But he would be of great assistance to us if we follow the red-skins. He is up to all their ways, and is a good shot with the rifle. At any rate, if we go down to the house I should like to try to find him. We have been comrades a good many years now."

"Certainly, Antonio, you shall see if you can find him. He is a good fellow, and, as you say, would be of great assistance to us. Do you think that we could make a circuit and come down on the river again two or three miles higher up, and cross there and get anywhere near the house?"

"We might do it, senor, but we cannot get near enough to do any good, I think we should be wrong to move from here. You may be sure that there are some of the red-skins hiding on the opposite bank, keeping a sharp watch on us. If any of us were to ride away, one of them would carry the news at once, and they would be on the look-out for us. If we all stay here till it is dark, they would suppose that we have all gone down with the rafts. That will be good for the rafts, too, for the Indians would be unlikely to attack them, believing that there are some fifteen or twenty men with guns on them; and, in the next place, they will think that they are clear of us altogether and be less cautious than they might be if they were to suppose that we were still in their neighbourhood."

"You are right, Antonio, and I will try and be patient."

As soon as it was dark the little party of fifteen men started, moving as noiselessly as possible. They rode two miles up the river to a point where Antonio said they were opposite a path by which they could keep long at the foot of the hills until in line with the hacienda.

"You don't think that there is any fear of there being any red-skins on the farther side?"

"Not the slightest, senor. Long before this they will have their fires lighted and be gorging themselves with meat. They know how small our force is, and will never dream of our venturing back into their midst."

As they rode into the river they slipped off their horses as the latter began to swim, holding on with on hand, and with the other keeping their guns, pistols, and ammunition above the water. The river at this point was some two hundred yards wide, and flowing with a quiet current. In a few minutes they were across. Antonio soon discovered the path, and, following it, they rode in single file for an hour. Then they reached a spot where there was an opening among the trees, and Antonio said that they were abreast of the hacienda, which was some four miles away; the building itself was not visible, but the number of fires which blazed round it was a sufficient indication of its position. At various other points up and down the valley fires also blazed, but there were none much nearer their side of the valley than those round the hacienda.

"Do you mean to go with me, senor?"

"Certainly I mean to go. How had it best be done?"

"I should say that we had better ride to within two miles; it would not be safe to go with so large a party nearer than that; then we will take one of the others with us to hold our horses, and, going at a foot-pace, we might get within half a mile of the house without their hearing us. There will be a good deal of movement in the valley; the cattle will be restless, having been chased all day, and the herds broken up, so I think that we can reckon on getting pretty close. Then we will go forward on foot. We had better make for the huts first; you see, the Indians are thick round the house; I don't think there is any chance of anyone being saved there, because that would be the first point of attack. If we do not find Sancho, possibly we may come upon one or two of the workers, who would be likely enough to make for the same shelter; if not, we can try round the stables. Still, I am afraid there is no chance of hearing what has happened at the house - I mean whether the senorita is killed or a prisoner. If there is no other way we must get hold of an Indian and kill him; I will then dress up in his clothes, and see if I can get into the house. As there are two tribes engaged, one would have more chance of passing unsuspected that if they all know each other personally. At any rate, it must be risked. I know the Indians ways pretty well, and might pass muster, but you would have no chance, senor."

When they dismounted Antonio said: "We had better leave our jackets and sombreors here; their outline would show on the darkest night that we were not Indians."

Before leaving the raft Will had obtained from one of the head men a pair fo the Mexican fringed leggings, as their own white trousers would betray him at once, and now, with a dark blanket thrown over his shoulder, he might at a short distance be easily mistaken for an Indian. He had already left his riding-boots behind him, and had obtained a pair of moccasins from one of the workers.

"I will lead the way, senor, as I know every foot of the ground," Antonio said.

Moving alone noiselessly they came down upon the huts of the white employees of the hacienda. As there were no fires burning here, they had but slight fear of encountering any of the Indians. Each, however, carried a long knife ready for instant action. They had left their rifles and pistols behind them, for if it was necessary to fight, the combat must be a silent one.

They crossed to the clump of bushes of which Antonio had spoken.

"You stop outside, senor; it is of no use two of us making our way into the tangle."

As he parted the bushes before entering, a slight sound was heard.

"Good! There is someone here," he muttered; and then, making his way a few paces forward, he uttered Sancho's name. There was no reply, and he repeated it in a louder tone. At once there was a low reply: "Here am I. Is it you, Tonio?"

"Yes; I have come to look for you. I thought you would have made a bee-line here as soon as you heard the red-skins."

"You were right, and there are two workers here. We were just going to start to make our way down to the river. Are you alone?"

"I have the young senor with me."

"That is good. I was afraid that we had all been wiped out."

In a couple of minutes the four men emerged from the bushes.

"I am glad to see that you are safe, Sancho," Will said warmly. "Now can you tell me what has happened?"

"I know nothing whatever, senor. I was eating my breakfast when I heard a sudden yell, and knew that it was the Apache war-whoop, and that there must be a big force of them. There was evidently no fighting done, so I caught up my rifle and pistols and made for the bush. These two workers who were outside followed me. I told them to hide as best they could, and I went on into the pool, found a good place under some thick bushes, hid my powder-horn and weapons handy for use close by, and lay down with my head out of water, listening. Already they were down at the huts, and I heard the cries of the workers they caught there. Luckily I was the only Mexican above. A few shots were fired up at the hacienda, and I thought I heard screams, but, owing to the yells of the Indians, I could not be sure. Presently it all died away. I don't fancy they suspected that anyone got away, the attack being so sudden; at any rate, they made no search here. I made up my mind to lie down till most of them would be asleep and then to make for the river, and I told the workers that we must each shift ourselves, as we had more chances of getting away singly than if together." All this was spoken in a low voice.

Next week: What is Will going to do? Is the senorita still alive? Don't miss the end of chapter 6 next week!

THE GALLANT MYSTERY

Scott scrambled out from under the shuttle. They had to hide fast, but where? He glanced around. There wasn't much in the garage besides the shuttle and tool chests. There was a door which led to the change room, but if the men were coming to work they would go in there. All at once Scott spied a heavy cloth tarp.

They ran over and slid underneath it...just in time. Two men walked through the door. Then a bright light flooded the room. Peeking out from under the tarp, Scott glimpsed the men's faces. One was John Rillian, the other he didn't recognize.

"Sorry we had to wait until night, Ben. Those dumb kids have got Security on my back. I think I've convinced them that the Langlish brat was mistaken, but it never hurts to be safe."

"I quite agree You can't be too careful when our lives are on the line. How's the compartment coming?"

"See for yourself. If Security does inspect this shuttle, they'll never find it. The blocker I put in will disguise our cargo from any scanner sweeps they might do. All you have to do is press this button."

Scott risked another peek. Unfortunately, he couldn't see the men. Sandy was having problems of her own. Some of the fibers of the cloth had gotten in her nose. It was taking all her effort not to sneeze.

"Looks good," said the man called Ben.

"We still have to make a few finishing touches."

"Just be sure it is perfect by the time we get to Vaug IV."

Then it happened. Sandy couldn't help it. A gigantic sneeze escaped her. To her it sounded more like a small explosion. At first the men were too shocked to do anything thing. Then one of them ripped the tarp back. Scott and Sandy lay on the floor looking up at two angry faces. Sandy let out another sneeze as rough hands yanked them to their feet.

Shaking Scott, Ben demanded, "How much did you hear?"

Scott stammered a few words which no one could make out.

"It doesn't matter," said Mr. Rillian. "They know too much." He drew his gun. "We might as well take care of them now."

"You can't just shoot them. That will set off the Security alarms."

"It won't matter if the kid jumped and tried to get my gun. If it goes off in the struggle and hits his sister and then when I grab the gun he slips and hits his head went he falls... Not my fault. The kids snuck into my shuttle bay and ambushed me because they have some crazy idea that I'm a bad guy."

Ben grinned, "That might work. After all I am a witness."

Scott yanked himself free from Ben's grasp and kicked Mr. Rillian's leg. Mr. Rillian yelped and released Sandy. Scott stepped between Sandy and the men. His heart was beating like the fastest combat Flyer. He fervently wished he had never had the dumb idea to look at the shuttle or to bring Sandy with him.

Out of the corner of his eyes he saw the change room door slide noiselessly open. Out stepped Dick. He stood behind the men with his hands on his hips.

"The first one who moves is dead!" Dick barked out roughly in his best "adult" voice.

Instinctively Mr. Rillian began to turn around.

Dick's voice stopped him, "So you want it to be you. You two kids get over here and get out."

Scott and Sandy obeyed. If one of the men were to even glance around they would be caught and killed. Sandy opened the door. All three of them fled across the main shuttle bay, leaving the two men in the maintenance bay thinking a gunman was still behind them.

When they were safely in the ElLift and speeding to their floor, Dick laughed," I'ld like to see their faces when they realize nobody's behind them."

The ElLift door opened and they stepped out near their homes.

"I wouldn't want to be anywhere near them," said Sandy, her face still white from the scare.

"How did you get there?" asked Scott.

"I was there before you, but I didn't find anything. I heard you coming and hid in the change room. I was about to come out and join you when I saw those two baffons coming."

"You were sure brave to talk to them like that," said Sandy.

"You just have to know how to treat fools like that. The next time we meet I;ll pulverize them," Dick boasted.

"I bet," muttered Scott.

Dick shrugged, "What were you two doing up there anyway?"

"The same think you were, I suspect," answered Scott. "I wonder what Vaug IV is?"

"I'ld say it was a place...and we'll have to look it up, won't we?"

Scott and Sandy were about to enter their apartment and Dick was across the hall at his door when a terrible idea occurred to Sandy, "Do you think Mr. Rillian is going to come after us?" The thought of being stalked by Mr. Rillian sent shivers down her back.

Dick turned around, "There's no point in it now that we've escaped." He sounded confident. "He won't risk a murder charge for nothing."

They each entered their apartments and quietly slipped into their bedrooms.

Next week we will finish Chapter Six: Attempted Murder. Is Mr. Rillian really going to give up? What is going to happen on Vaug IV?