A DESPERATE CHANCE:

OR

THE WIZARD TRAMP'S REVELATION,

A Thrilling Narrative.

By OLD SLEUTH.

[Illustration: "He Placed the Ladder of Saplings Across the Abyss."]

1897




CHAPTER I.

THE CAMPFIRE IN THE GULCH--AN ALARM--THE SOLITARY
FIGURE--UNDER COVER--A WHITE MAN--"HAIL,
FRIEND!"--A CORDIAL MEETING--A SECOND STRANGE
CHARACTER.


"Well, Desmond, we've taken a desperate chance, and so far appear to be
losers."

The circumstances under which the words above quoted were spoken were
weird and strange. A man and a mere youth were sitting by a campfire