Page:Dave Porter in the Gold Fields.djvu/313

Rh "Jaley, where are you going?" demanded Tom Dillon.

At the sound of the miner's voice the man halted and then threw up his hands. Then he staggered forward once more.

"Save me!" he yelled, wildly. "Save me! Don't shoot me! Save me from the landslide!" And then stumbling, he fell at the feet of Dave and his friends.

"Are you alone?" asked Abe Blower.

"Ye—yes! Save me! Oh, save me!" whined Jaley, and he turned a face full of fear on those before him.

"Where are Merwell and Haskers and Blugg?" asked Dave.

"All gone—swept away by the landslide!" was the whining reply. "Oh, it was awful! It smashed them all up—and smashed up the horses, too! Oh, save me! Save me!" And then Larry Jaley gave a gasp and fell in a heap, unable to say another word.