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diff --git a/14647-h/14647-h.htm b/14647-h/14647-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..b621899 --- /dev/null +++ b/14647-h/14647-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,5862 @@ + <!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"> +<html> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" /> +<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Cave in the Mountain, by Lieut. R. H. Jayne</title> +<style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[*/ + <!-- + body {font-family:Georgia,serif;margin-left: 15%; margin-right: 15%;} + p {text-align: justify; text-indent: 1em;} + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 {text-align: center;font-variant:small-caps;} + h1.pg {text-align: center;font-variant:normal;} + h3.pg {text-align: center;font-variant:normal;} + h6.pg {text-align: center;font-variant:normal;} + hr {width: 50%;} + hr.full {width: 100%;} + hr.short {width:25%;} + + ul {list-style-type:none;margin-left:1em;text-indent:-1em;} + ol{list-style-type:upper-roman;margin-left:10%;font-variant:small-caps;} + .figure { margin:auto; text-align: center;} + .figure>p{text-align:center;text-indent: 0; font-size: 0.8em;} + .returnTOC {text-align:right;font-size:.7em;} + + .poem {margin-left:10%; margin-right:10%; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: left;} + .poem .stanza {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;} + .poem p {margin: 0; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem p.i10 {margin-left: 5em;} + .cen {text-align:center;} + .rgt {text-align:right;} + .quote {text-align:justify;text-indent:0em;margin-left:10%;margin-right:10%;} + a:link {color:blue; + text-decoration:none} + link {color:blue; + text-decoration:none} + a:visited {color:blue; + text-decoration:none} + a:hover {color:red} + pre {font-size: 8pt;} + --> +/*]]>*/ +</style> +</head> +<body> +<div>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 14647 ***</div> +<h1 class="pg">The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Cave in the Mountain, by Lieut. R. H. +Jayne</h1> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<h1>The Cave in the Mountain</h1> +<h3>A Sequel to <i>In the Pecos Country</i></h3> +<h4>by</h4> +<h2>Lieut. R. H. Jayne</h2> +<h4>Author of <i>Lost in the Wilderness</i>, <i>Through +Apache Land</i>, <i>In the Pecos Country</i>, etc.</h4> +<p> </p> +<hr class="short" /> +<h6 class="pg">New York<br /> +The Mershon Company</h6> +<h5>1894</h5> +<hr class="full" /> +<h2><a id="Contents" name="Contents">Contents.</a></h2> +<h3>Chapter.</h3> +<ol> +<li><a href="#Ch_1">A Strange Guide</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_2">Alone in the Gloom</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_3">Strange Experiences</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_4">Sunlight and Hope</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_5">Mining and Countermining</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_6">A Daring Exploit</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_7">Fishing for a Friend</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_8">Fishing for a Prize</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_9">Groping in Darkness</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_10">“Here We are Again!”</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_11">Through the Mountains</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_12">Through the Mountains—Continued</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_13">In the Nick of Time</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_14">Between Two Fires</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_15">On the Defensive</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_16">Friend or Enemy?</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_17">Fortunate Diversion</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_18">An Old Acquaintance</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_19">How it was Done</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_20">Sut’s Camp-Fire</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_21">Safety and Sleep</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_22">Two Old Acquaintances</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_23">Border Chivalry</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_24">Night Visitors</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_25">Hunting a Steed</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_26">Lone Wolf’s Tactics</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_27">The End</a></li> +</ol> +<hr class="full" /> +<h2>The Cave in the Mountain.</h2> +<hr /> +<h3><a id="Ch_1" name="Ch_1">Chapter I.</a></h3> +<h2>A Strange Guide.</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>“Well, if he doesn’t beat any one I ever heard +of!”</p> +<p>Mickey O’Rooney and Fred Munson were stretched on the +Apache blanket, carefully watching the eyes of the wild beast +whenever they showed themselves, and had been talking in guarded +tones. The Irishman had been silent for several minutes, when the +lad asked him a question and received no answer. When the thing was +repeated several times, he crawled over to his friend, and, as he +expected, found him sound asleep.</p> +<p>This was not entirely involuntary upon the part of Mickey. He +had shown himself, on more than one occasion, to be a faithful +sentinel, when serious danger threatened; but he believed that +there was nothing to be feared on the present occasion, and, as he +was sorely in need of sleep, he concluded to indulge while the +opportunity was given him.</p> +<p>“Sleep away, old fellow,” said Fred. “You seem +to want it so bad that I won’t wake you up again.”</p> +<p>The boy’s curiosity having been thoroughly aroused, all +tendency to slumber upon his part had departed, and he determined +that if there was any way by which he could profit any by that +wolf, he would do it.</p> +<p>“He may hang around here for a day or two,” he +mused, as he heard the faint tappings upon the sand, +“thinking all the time that he’ll get a chance to make +a meal off of us. So he will, if we don’t keep a bright +look-out. It seems to me that he might be driven out.”</p> +<p>The more he reflected upon this suggestion of his own, the more +reasonable did it become. His plan was to drive out the wolf, to +compel him to show up, as a card player might say. Considering the +dread which all wild animals have of fire, the plan was simple, and +would have occurred to anyone.</p> +<p>“The camp-fire seems to be all out, but there must be some +embers under the ashes. Mickey threw down his torch somewhere near +here.”</p> +<p>Carefully raking off the ashes with a stick, he found plenty of +coals beneath. These were brought together, and some of the twigs +laid over, the heat causing them at once to burst into a crackling +flame. This speedily radiated enough light for his purpose, which +was simply to find one of those “fat” pieces of pine, +which make the best kind of torches. A few minutes search brought +forth the one he needed, and then, shoving his revolver down in his +belt, he was ready.</p> +<p>The light revealed the large beautiful Apache blanket, stretched +out upon the ground, while the Irishman lay half upon it and half +upon the earth, sleeping as soundly as if in his bed at home. +Beyond him and in every direction was the blackness of night. But, +looking to his right, he discovered the two eyes staring at him and +glowing like balls of fire.</p> +<p>The animal was evidently puzzled at the sight before him. Fred +dreaded a shot from the Indians above, and, as soon as he had his +torch ready and had taken all his bearings, he drew the ashes over +the spluttering flame. Save for the torch, all was again wrapped in +impenetrable gloom.</p> +<p>The glowing orbs were still discernible, and, holding the +smoking torch above his head, Fred began moving slowly toward them. +The animal did not stir until the lad was within twenty feet, when +the latter concluded that it would be a good thing for him, also, +to take a rest.</p> +<p>“Wonder if he’s been trained not to be afraid of +torches,” mused the little fellow. “I hope he +hasn’t, and I hope too there won’t be any trouble in +scaring him.”</p> +<p>The lad dreaded another possibility,—that his torch might +be suddenly extinguished. If that should go out, leaving them in +utter darkness, the wolf would immediately rise to a superior +plane, and speedily demonstrate who was master of the +situation.</p> +<p>Fred swung the torch several times around his head, until it was +fanned into a bright flame, after which he resumed his advance upon +his foe. At the very first step the beast vanished. He had wheeled +about and made off in a twinkling.</p> +<p>The lad pressed onward at the same deliberate gait, watching +carefully for the reappearance of the guiding orbs. It was not long +before they were observed a dozen yards or so further on. The wolf +was manifestly retreating. He had no fancy for that terrible torch +bearing down on him, and he was falling back by forced marches. +This being precisely what Fred desired, he was greatly +encouraged.</p> +<p>“He is making his way out, and after awhile he will reach +the place, and away he’ll go. If he’s a wolf or fox, +the hole may be so small that Mickey can’t squeeze through, +but I think I can follow one of the animals anywhere.”</p> +<p>After going some distance further, Fred noticed that the animal +was not proceeding in a straight line. He would appear on his +right, where he would stare at the advancing torch until it was +quite close, when he would scamper off to the left, and go through +the same performance.</p> +<p>“He knows the route better than I do, so I won’t try +to disturb him,” reflected the boy as he followed up his +advantage, with high hopes of discovering the secret which was so +important to himself and friend. “I won’t crowd him too +hard, either, for I may scare him off the track and +fail.”</p> +<p>The wolf was evidently a prey to curiosity—the same +propensity which has caused the death of many bipeds and +quadrupeds. The action of the torch puzzled him, no doubt. He had +seen fire before, and probably had been burnt—so he knew +enough to give it a wide berth; but it is doubtful whether he ever +saw a flaring torch held over the head of a boy and solemnly +bearing down upon him.</p> +<p>Fred’s absorbing interest in the whole affair made him +wholly unmindful of the distance he was traveling. He had already +advanced several hundred yards, and had no idea that he was so far +away from his slumbering friend. The fact was that the singular +cave was only one among a thousand similar ones found among the +wilds of the West and Southwest. Its breadth was not great, but the +distance which it ran back into the mountains was amazing.</p> +<p>The wolf was leading the lad a long distance from the camp, and, +what was more important (and which fact, unfortunately, Fred had +failed to notice), the route was anything but a direct one. It +could not have been more sinuous or winding. The course of the +cavern, in reality, was as winding as that of the ravine in which +he had effected his escape from the Apaches, and from which it +seemed he had irrevocably strayed. Had he attempted to make his +return, he would have found it impossible to rejoin Mickey +O’Rooney, unless the two should call and signal to each +other.</p> +<p>However, the attention of the lad was taken up so entirely with +the task he had laid hold of, and which seemed in such a fair way +of accomplishment, that he took no note of his danger. The wolf was +leading him forward as the <em>ignis fatuus</em> lures the wearied +traveler through swamps and thickets to renewed disappointment.</p> +<p>“He has some way of reaching the outer world which the +Indians haven’t been able to find. Of course not; for, if +they knew, they would have been in here long ago. They +wouldn’t stay fooling around that opening, where +they’re likely to get a shot from Mickey when they +ain’t expecting it. Now, if the wolf will only behave +himself, all will come out all right.”</p> +<p>Fearful of being caught with an extinguished torch, the lad kept +up the practice of swinging it rapidly round his head every few +minutes. When he ceased each performance, the flame was so bright +that he was able to penetrate the darkness much further upon every +hand.</p> +<p>On one or two of these occasions he caught a glimpse of the +creature as it bounded away into the darkness. In shape and action +it was so much like the mountain wolves which had besieged him some +nights before that all doubts were removed. He knew it was one of +those terrible animals beyond question.</p> +<p>“Wonder how it is he’s alone? It wasn’t long +after I saw that old fellow the other night, when there was about +fifty of them under the tree. One of them is enough for me, if he +doesn’t give us the slip. Maybe he has come in to find out +how the land lies, and is going back to report to the +rest.”</p> +<p>Fred could not help reflecting every few minutes on the terrible +situation in which he would be should his torch fail, and the other +bring a pack of ravenous creatures about him. They would make +exceedingly short work of a dozen like him.</p> +<p>“It seems good for hours yet,” he said as he held it +before him, and examined it for the twentieth time.</p> +<p>The stick was a piece of a limb about as thick as his arm, and +fully a yard in length. It felt as heavy as <em>lignum vitae</em>, +and, by looking at the end held in his hand and that which was +burning, it could be seen that it was literally surcharged with +resin—so much so that, after being cut, it had overflowed, +and was sticky on the outside. No doubt this, with others, had been +gathered for that express purpose, and there was no reason to doubt +its capacity.</p> +<p>As Fred advanced he caught occasional glimpses of the jagged +overhanging rocks, which in some places were wet, the water +dripping down upon him as he passed. The fact, too, that more than +once both sides of the cave were visible at the same time, told him +that the dimensions of their prison were altogether different from +what he had supposed.</p> +<p>“There must be an end of this somewhere,” he +muttered, beginning to suspect that he had gone quite a distance, +“and I’m getting tired of this tramping. I hope the +wolf hasn’t gone beyond the door he came in by, and I hope he +has nearly reached it, for it will take me some time before I can +find my way back to Mick.”</p> +<hr /> +<h3><a id="Ch_2" name="Ch_2">Chapter II.</a></h3> +<h2>Alone in the Gloom.</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>Before Fred could complete the sentence his foot struck an +obstruction and he was precipitated headlong over and down a chasm +which had escaped his notice. He fell with such violence that he +was knocked senseless.</p> +<p>When he recovered he was in darkness, his torch having been +extinguished. The smell of the burning resin recalled him to +himself, and it required but a moment for him to remember the +accident which had befallen him. For a time he scarcely dared to +stir, fearing that he might pitch headlong over some precipice. He +felt of his face and hands, but could detect nothing like blood. +The boy had received quite a number of severe bruises, however, and +when he ventured to stir there were sharp, stinging pains in his +shoulders, neck and legs.</p> +<p>“Thank God I am alive!” was his fervent ejaculation, +after he had taken his inventory. “But I don’t know +where I am or how I can get back again. I wonder what has become of +the torch.”</p> +<p>He could find nothing of his flambeau, although he was confident +that it was near at hand. Fred believed that he had fallen about +twenty feet, striking upon his chest and shoulders. At this +juncture, he thought of the wolf which had drawn him into the +mishap, and he turned his head so suddenly to look for him that the +sharp pain in his neck caused him to cry out. But nothing of the +beast was to be seen.</p> +<p>“Maybe he went over here ahead of me, and got +killed,” he thought; “but I don’t think that can +be, for a wolf is a good deal spryer than a boy can be, and he +wouldn’t have tumbled down as I did.”</p> +<p>Fred recollected that he had several matches about him, and he +carefully struck one upon the rock beside him. The tiny flame +showed that he had stumbled into a rocky pit. It was a dozen feet +in length, some three or four in width, and, when he stood erect, +his head was level with the surface of the ground above. In +consequence, it would be a very easy matter for him to climb out +whenever he chose to do so; but above all things he was desirous of +regaining his torch. Just as the match between his fingers burned +out, he caught sight of it, lying a short distance away.</p> +<p>“It’s queer what became of that wolf,” he said +to himself, as he recovered the precious fagot and painfully +climbed up out of the pit. “Maybe he thought I was killed, +and went off to tell the rest of his friends, so that they can all +have a feast over me. I must fire up the torch as soon as I can, +for I’m likely to need it.”</p> +<p>This did not prove a very difficult matter, on account of the +fatness of the torch, which ignited readily, and quickly spread +into the same thick, smoking flame as before. But Fred noted that +it was about half burned up, and he could not expect it to hold out +many hours longer, as it had already done good service.</p> +<p>“I wish I could see the wolf again,” he said to +himself, looking longingly around in the darkness, “for I +believe he entered the cave somewhere near here, and it was a great +pity that I had the accident just at the moment I was about to +learn all about it.”</p> +<p>He moved carefully about the cave, and soon found that he had +reached the furtherest limit. Less than twenty feet away it +terminated, the jagged walls shutting down, and offering an +impassable barrier to any further progress in that direction.</p> +<p>All that he could do, after completing his search, was to turn +back in quest of his friend Mickey. The belief that he was in the +immediate neighborhood of the outlet delayed the lad’s return +until he could assure himself that it was impossible to find that +for which he was hunting, and which had been the means of his +wandering so far away from camp.</p> +<p>Fred occupied fully an hour in the search. Here and there he +observed scratches upon the surface of the rocks in some places. He +was confident that they had been made by the feet of the wolves; +but in spite of these encouraging signs, he was baffled in his main +purpose, and how the visitor made his way in and out of the cave +remained an impenetrable mystery.</p> +<p>“Too bad, too bad!” he muttered, with a great sigh. +“I shall have to give it up, after all. I only wish Mickey +was here to help me. I will call to him, so that he will be sure to +hear.”</p> +<p>As has been intimated in another place, the two friends had a +code of signals understood by both. When they were separated by +quite a distance, and one wished to draw the other to him, he had a +way of placing two of his fingers against his tongue, and emitting +a shrill screech which might well be taken for the scream of a +locomotive whistle, so loud and piercing was its character.</p> +<p>When the lad uttered his signal, he was startled by the result. +A hundred echoes were awakened within the cavern, and the uproar +fairly deafened him. It seemed to him that ten thousand little imps +were perched all around the cavern, with their fingers thrust in +their mouths, waiting for him to start the tumult, when they joined +in, with an effect that was overwhelming and overpowering.</p> +<p>“Good gracious!” he gasped, “I never heard +anything like that. I thought all the rocks were going to tumble +down upon my head, and I believe some must have been +loosened.”</p> +<p>He looked apprehensively at the dark, jagged points overhead. +But they were as grim and motionless as they had been during the +many long years that had rolled over them.</p> +<p>“Mickey must have heard that, if he is anywhere within +twenty miles,” he concluded.</p> +<p>But, if such was the case, he sent back no answering signal, as +was his invariable custom, when that of his friend reached him. +Fred listened long and attentively, but caught no reply.</p> +<p>“I guess I’ll have to try it again,” he added, +with a mingled laugh and shudder. “I think these walls can +stand a little more such serenading.”</p> +<p>He threw his whole soul in the effort, and the screeching +whistle that he sent out was frightful, followed, as it was, by the +innumerable echoes. It seemed as if the walls took up the wave of +sound as if it were a foot-ball and hurled it back and forth, from +side to side, and up and down, in furious sport. The dread of +losing his torch alone prevented the lad from throwing it down and +clapping his hands to his ears, to shut out the horrid din. Some of +the distant echoes, coming in after the others were exhausted, gave +an odd, dropping character to the volleys of sound.</p> +<p>Had the expected reply of Mickey been the same as the call to +him, the lad would have been deceived thereby, for the echoes, as +will be understood, were precisely the same as answering whistles, +uttered in the same manner. But Fred understood that, if the +Irishman heard him, he would reply with a series of short signals, +such as are heard on some railroads when danger is detected. But +none such came, and he knew, therefore, that the ears which he +intended to reach were not reached at all.</p> +<p>“I don’t understand that,” he mused, +perplexedly, “unless he’s asleep yet. When I left him, +it didn’t seem as though he’d wake up in a week. +Perhaps he can hear me better if I shout.”</p> +<p>A similar racket was produced when the boy strained his lungs, +but his straining ear could detect no other result. It never once +occurred to Fred that he and his friend were separated by such a +distance that they could not communicate by sound or signal. And +yet such was the case, he having traveled much further than he +suspected.</p> +<p>Having been forced to the disheartening conclusion that it was +impossible to find the outlet by which the wolf had escaped, Fred +had but one course left. That was, to find his way back to the +camp-fire in the shortest time and by the best means at his +command. If the mountain would not go to Mohammed, then Mohammed +would have to go to the mountain.</p> +<p>The lad began to feel that a great deal of responsibility was on +his shoulders. The remembrance of Mickey O’Rooney going to +sleep was alarming to him. He looked upon him as one regards a +sentinel who sinks into slumber when upon duty. Knowing the cunning +of the redskins, Fred feared that they would discover the fact, and +descend into the cave in such numbers that escape would be out of +the question.</p> +<p>And then again, suppose that their enemies did not disturb them, +what was to be their fate? The venison in the possession of the +Irishman could not last a great deal longer, and, when that was +gone, no means of obtaining food would be left. What were the two +prisoners then to do?</p> +<p>Mickey had hinted to Fred what his intention was, but the lad +felt very little faith in its success. It appeared like throwing +life away to make such a foolhardy attempt to reach the outside as +diving into a stream of water from which there was no withdrawal, +and the length of whose flow beneath the rock could only be +conjectured, with all the chances against success. But Fred +recalled in what a marked manner Providence had favored him in the +past, and he could but feel a strong faith that He would still hold +him in his remembrance. “I wouldn’t have believed I +could go through all that I have had in the last few days; and yet +God remembered me, and I am sure He will not forget me so long as I +try to do His will.”</p> +<p>On the eve of starting he fancied he heard a slight rustling on +his right, and he paused, hoping that the wolf would show himself +again; but he could not discern anything, and concluded that it was +the dropping of a stone or fragment of earth. The lad was further +pleased to find, upon examination, that the revolver in his +possession was uninjured by his fall. In short, the only one that +had received any injuries was himself, and his were not of a +serious character, being simply bruises, the effects of which would +wear off in a short time.</p> +<p>“I hate to leave here without seeing that wolf,” he +said, as he stood hesitating, with his torch in hand. “He may +be sneaking somewhere among these rocks, popping in and out +whenever he has a chance; and if I could only get another sight of +him, I would stick to him till he told me his secret.”</p> +<p>He awaited awhile longer, but the hope was an illusive one, and +he finally started on his return to camp.</p> +<hr /> +<h3><a id="Ch_3" name="Ch_3">Chapter III.</a></h3> +<h2>Strange Experiences.</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>Young Munson was destined to learn ultimately that he had +undertaken an impossible task. The hunter, in the flush and +excitement attending the pursuit of game, can form no correct idea +of the distance passed, and so he, in attempting to run the shadowy +wolf to earth, had traveled twice as far as he supposed. The case +is altogether different when the hunter starts to return. It is +then that the furlongs become miles, and the wearied pursuer feels +disgusted with the enthusiasm which led him so far away from +headquarters.</p> +<p>When the lad was certain that he had labored far enough on the +back track to take him fully to the camp-fire, he really had not +gone more than one-half the distance. Worse than this, he saw, from +the nature of the ground, that he was “off soundings.” +Several times he was forced to leap over openings, or rents, +similar to that into which he had stumbled, and the broadening out +of the cave made it out of his power to confine his path to +anything like reasonable limits. The appearance of unexpected +obstructions directly in his way compelled numerous detours, with +the inevitable result of disarranging the line he intended to +pursue, and causing his course to be a zigzag one of the most +marked character.</p> +<p>There were no landmarks to afford him the least guidance. In +short, he was like the ill-fated steamer caught on a dangerous +coast by an impenetrable fog, where no observations can be made, +and the captain is compelled to “go it blind.” He was +forcibly reminded of this difficulty by unexpectedly finding +himself face to face with the side of the cavern. When he thought +that he was pursuing the right direction, here was evidence that he +was at least going at right angles, and, to all intents and +purposes, he might as well have been going in exactly the opposite +course.</p> +<p>“Well, things are getting mixed,” he exclaimed, more +amused than frightened at this discovery. “I never tramped +over such a place before, and if I ever get out of this, I’ll +never try it again.”</p> +<p>But there was little cause for mirth, and when he had struggled +an hour longer, something like despair began to creep into his +heart. Worse than all, he became aware that his torch was nearly +exhausted, and, under the most favorable circumstances, could not +last more than an hour longer.</p> +<p>While toiling in this manner, he had continued to signal to +Mickey in his usual manner, but with no other result than that of +awakening the same deafening din of echoes. By this time he was +utterly worn out. He had been traveling for hours, or, rather, +working, for nearly every step was absolute labor, so precipitous +was the ground and so frequent were his detours. He had +accomplished nothing. When he expected to find himself in the +immediate vicinity of the campfire, there were no signs of it, and +the loudest shout he could make to his friend brought no reply.</p> +<p>This fact filled the mind of Fred with a hundred misgivings. He +had given up the belief that it was possible for Mickey to remain +asleep all this time. He was sure the night had passed, and, great +as was the capacity of the Irishman in the way of slumber, he could +not remain unconscious all the time. And then nothing seemed more +probable than that he was placed for ever beyond the power of +response. If a dozen Indians quietly let themselves down through +the opening during the darkness of the night, they could easily +discover the sleeping figure, and dispatch him before he could make +any kind of resistance.</p> +<p>It was this fear of the Indians being in the cave that made the +lad apprehensive every time he gave utterance to his signals. He +believed they were as likely to reach the ears of the Apaches as +those of Mickey, and his faith of the extraordinary shrewdness of +those people was such that he did not doubt but that, by some means +or other, they would learn the true signal with which to reply. As +yet, however, no such attempt had been made, so far as his ears +informed him, but his misgivings were none the less on that +account. What was the use of their taking the trouble to answer +when he was walking directly into their hands? There was a +cowering, shrinking sensation from his own noise, caused by the +expectation that a half-dozen crouching figures would leap up and +swoop down upon him.</p> +<p>The darkness remained impenetrable, and, as Fred toiled forward, +he was continually recalling the words of Byron, which he had read +frequently when at school, and had learned to recite for his +father. He found himself repeating them, and there was no doubt +that he realized more vividly than do boys generally of his age the +meaning of the author:</p> +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<p class="i10">“The world was void:</p> +<p>The populous and powerful was a lump,</p> +<p>Seasonless, herbless, treeless, manless, lifeless;</p> +<p>A lump of death, a chaos of hard clay.</p> +<p>The rivers, lakes and ocean, all stood still,</p> +<p>And nothing stirr’d within their silent depths.”</p> +</div> +</div> +<p>Such fancies as these were not calculated to make him feel +particularly comfortable while carrying the torch. Such a person in +such a situation makes an especially inviting target of himself, +and, although Fred dreaded to see it burn itself out, when the +chances were that he was likely to be in sore need of the same, yet +he had wrought himself up to such a pitch that he more than once +meditated extinguishing it altogether, with the purpose of putting +himself on an equality with those of his enemies who might be +prowling in the night around him.</p> +<p>“I wonder whether Mickey would be more likely to hear my +pistol than a shout or whistle?” he said, as he drew the +weapon from his belt and held it up to inspect it in the light of +the flaring torch. “It seems to be all right, although +there’s no telling how long since it has been loaded. Here +goes.”</p> +<p>With this, he pointed the muzzle toward the cavern and pulled +the trigger.</p> +<p>The response was as prompt as though he had charged the chamber +but a short time before, proving not only that the weapon was of +the best quality, but that the ammunition was equally so, and the +slight moisture that characterized the atmosphere of the cave had +not been sufficient to injure the charge. It seemed as if he had +fired a cannon, the echoes rolling, doubling, and repeating on +themselves in the most bewildering and terrifying fashion.</p> +<p>Fred could not understand how it was that such a pandemonium of +sound could escape filling the subterranean world from one end to +the other, and so he sat down on a ledge of rock to listen for some +reply from his friend.</p> +<p>It was several seconds before the trickeries of nature, in the +way of echoes, terminated and matters settled down to their natural +quiet. And then, when quiet came again, it was like that of a +tomb—deep, profound, and impressive. The bent and listening +ear could detect nothing that could be supposed to resemble the +noise of the cascade, which had excited his wonder when he was +stretched out upon the ground directly above it.</p> +<p>“This must be about forty miles round,” he said to +himself, when he had waited for the reply until convinced that it +was not forthcoming, “and I have strayed away +altogether.”</p> +<p>The luxury of rest was so great, after his long, wearying toil, +that he concluded that he might as well spend a half hour in that +fashion as in any other. The echoes and pains of his bruises had +departed,—or, more properly, perhaps they were consolidated +with the aches and pains following upon the overtaxing of his +limbs.</p> +<p>“Oh, dear! How tired I am!” he sighed, as he +stretched out his limbs. “It seems to me that I won’t +be able to walk again for a week. I must rest awhile.”</p> +<p>His fatigue was so great that he was not conscious of any desire +for food or rest.</p> +<p>“Maybe I will need that torch more after a time than I do +now,” he added, as he looked listlessly at it. “It +seems good for a half hour yet, and I don’t want it.” +With this he thrust the burning end in the sand at his feet, and +held it there until it was entirely extinguished, and he was +wrapped again in the same impenetrable darkness. So far as +possible, he had become accustomed to this dreadful state of +affairs. He had been viewing and breathing the atmospheric +blackness for many hours, although it may be doubted whether one +who had spent so much of his life in the sunshine could ever become +accustomed to the total deprivation of it.</p> +<p>Fred had assumed an easy position, where he could lay his head +back, and, straightening out his legs, he made up his mind to enjoy +the rest which he needed so badly. When a lad is thoroughly and +completely tired, it is difficult for him to think of anything +else; and although, while walking, the fugitive was tormented by +all manner of wild fancies and fears, yet when his efforts ceased, +something like a reaction followed, and he sighed for rest, content +to wait until he should be forced to face the difficulties +again.</p> +<p>When he closed his eyes all sorts of lights danced before him, +and strange, indescribable noises filled the air. It seemed that +impish figures were frolicking all around, sometimes grinning in +his face, and then skurrying far away through the aisles of the +gloom. At last he slept. The slumber was sweet and dreamless, +carrying him through the entire night, and affording him the very +rest and refreshment which he so sorely needed.</p> +<p>This sleep was nearly completed when Fred was aroused by some +animal licking his face. He arose with a start of exclamation and +terror, and the animal growled and darted back several feet. A pair +of gleaming eyes flashed in the darkness—the same pair which +he had seen before. The wolf had come back to him.</p> +<p>Fred drew his revolver with the purpose of giving him a shot, +when he reflected that it would be wisdom not to kill the animal +until he was forced to do it in self defense. So he shoved the +weapon back in its place, where it could be seized at a +moment’s warning, and sat still. In a few moments the wolf +ventured softly up to him, and preparing to begin his feast. The +boy, yielding to a strange whim, threw out his arms and made a grab +at him.</p> +<p>The affrighted creature made a leap to escape the embrace, and +Fred grasped his tail with both hands. This made the wolf wild with +terror, and away he leaped. The boy hung on, running with might and +main in his efforts to keep up. The brute, not knowing what he had +in tow, was only intent upon getting away, and he plunged ahead as +furiously as if a blazing torch was tied to his tail. Fred was +fully imbued with the “spirit of the occasion,” and +resolved not to part company with his guide, unless the caudal +appendage should detach itself from its owner. The wolf was +naturally much more fleet of foot, but his efforts of speed only +increased that of the lad, who, still clinging to his support, +labored with might and main.</p> +<p>Away, away they went!</p> +<p>Now he was down on his knees; then clambering up again; then +banging against the rocks—still onward, until he found +himself flat on his face, still holding to his support, while the +wolf was clutching and clawing to get away. They were in such a +narrow passage way that Fred could not rise. Unclasping one hand, +he held on with the other, while he worked along after him. For a +long time this savage scratching, struggling and toiling continued, +and then, all at once, Fred was dazzled by the overpowering flood +of light.</p> +<p>He had escaped from the cave in the mountain, and was in the +outside world again.</p> +<hr /> +<h3><a id="Ch_4" name="Ch_4">Chapter IV.</a></h3> +<h2>Sunlight and Hope.</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>By clinging to the tail of the terrified wolf, Fred Munson had +been assisted, dragged, and pulled from the Cimmerian gloom of the +mountain cave into the glorious sunlight again. When the glare of +light burst upon him, he let go of the queer aid to freedom, and +the mystified animal skurried away with increased speed.</p> +<p>For a time the lad was so dazed and bewildered that he scarcely +comprehended his good fortune. His eyes had been totally +unaccustomed to light for so long a time that the retina was +overpowered by the sudden flood of it and required time to +accommodate itself to the new order of things. A few minutes were +sufficient. And then, when he looked about and saw that he was +indeed outside of the cave which had been such an appalling prison +to him, Fred was fairly wild with joy.</p> +<p>It was all he could do to restrain himself from shouting, +whooping and hurrahing at the top of his voice. It was only the +recollection that there were a number of Apaches near at hand that +sufficed to keep his voice toned down. But he danced and swung his +arms, and threw himself here and there in a way that would have +made a spectator certain that he was hilariously crazy. Not until +he was thoroughly used up did he consent to pause and take a +breathing spell. Then he gasped out, as well as he could, during +his hurried breathing:</p> +<p>“Thank the good Lord! I knew He would not forget me. He +let me hunt around for a while, long enough to make me feel I +couldn’t do anything, and then He stepped in. The wolf came. +I didn’t think I could make anything out of him, but I +grabbed his tail. I held on and here I am. Thank the good Lord +again.”</p> +<p>When able to control himself still further, Fred made a survey +of his surroundings. In the first place, he observed that the +forenoon was only fairly under way, the sun having risen just high +enough to be visible. The sky was clear of clouds and the day +promised to be a beautiful one, without being oppressively +warm.</p> +<p>“It is strange that I could not find the opening when the +wolf scampered straight to it.”</p> +<p>However, he did not stop to puzzle over the matter. It was +sufficient to know and feel that he was back again in the busy, +bustling world, saved from being buried in a living tomb.</p> +<p>An examination of the point where he had debouched from these +Plutonian regions showed Fred that he was considerably below the +general regions of the earth. He was in a sort of valley, +surrounded by rocks and boulders, and the opening through which he +had scrambled was situated sidewise, so that at a distance of ten +feet it could not be seen. This accounted for the fact that none of +the Indians knew any other means of ingress and egress excepting +the opening in the roof of the cave. It was almost impossible to +discover, except by accident or long continued and systematic +search.</p> +<p>Fred’s next thought was regarding Mickey O’Rooney, +and he questioned himself as to the best means of reaching him, and +assisting him to the same remarkably good fortune which had +attended himself. The immediate suggestion, naturally, was to +re-enter the cave and, after hunting up his old friend, conduct +Mickey to the outer world, but it required only brief deliberation +to convince him of the utter folly of such an attempt. In the first +place, should he re-enter the cave, he would be lost again, not +knowing in what direction to turn to find his friend and entirely +unable to communicate with him by signal, as had been their custom +when separated and looking for each other. Should he venture away +from the tunnel to renew his search, it was scarcely possible that +he could find his way back again. He would not only lose Mickey, +but he would lose himself, with not the remotest chance of finding +his way into the outer world again. So it was clearly apparent +that, having been delivered from prison, it would not do for him to +go back under any circumstances. He must remain where he was, and +whatever assistance he could render his friend, must be given from +the outside. How was this to be done?</p> +<p>To begin with, he felt the necessity of getting out of the +circumscribing valley and of taking his bearings. He wished to +learn where the opening through which he had fallen was situated. +It was no difficult matter to work his way upward until he found +himself up on a level with the main plateau. There, his view, +although broken and interrupted in many directions, was quite +extended in others, and his eye roamed over a large extent of that +broken section of the country. He was utterly unable to recognize +anything he saw, but he was confident that he was no great distance +from the spot for which he was searching. It was only through the +entrance that he could hold communication with Mickey, whenever the +way should be left clear for him to do so. But he was fully mindful +of the necessity for caution in every movement.</p> +<p>It was not to be supposed that the Apaches, having struck what +might be called a gold-mine, intended to abandon it at the very +time the richest of results were promised. And so, after long +deliberation, the boy decided upon the direction in which the +opening lay, and he made toward a small peak from which, in case +his calculations were correct, he knew he would see it. Strange to +say, his reckoning was correct in this instance; and when he +stealthily made his way to the elevation and looked down over the +slope, he saw the clump of bushes covering the +“skylight,” not more than a hundred yards distant.</p> +<p>He saw something else, which was not quite so pleasant. Six +Apache warriors were guarding the same entrance.</p> +<p>“I wonder if they think Mickey expects to make a jump up +through there!” was the thought which came to Fred, as he +peered down upon the savages, and counted them over several times. +“I don’t see what they are to gain by waiting there, +unless they mean to go down pretty soon.”</p> +<p>He could not be too careful in the vicinity of such characters, +and, stretching out flat upon his face, he peeped over the top, +taking the precaution first to remove his cap, and then to permit +no more of his head than was indispensable to appear above the +surface. The six redskins were lounging in as many different lazy +attitudes. One seemed sound asleep, with his face turned to the +ground, and looking like a warrior that had fallen from some +balloon, and, striking on his stomach, lay just as he was flattened +out. Another was half-sitting and half-reclining, smoking a pipe +with a very long stem. His face was directly toward Fred, who +noticed that his eyes were cast downward, as though he were gazing +into the bowl of his pipe, while Fred could plainly see the ugly +lips, as they parted at intervals and emitted their pulls in a +fashion as indolent as that of some wealthy Turk. A third was +seated a little further off, examining his rifle, which he had +probably injured in some way, and which occupied his attention to +the exclusion of everything else.</p> +<p>The bushes surrounding the opening had been torn away, although +it was difficult to conceive what the Indians expected to +accomplish by such an act, as it only served to make them plainer +targets to the Irishman, whenever he chose to crack away from +below.</p> +<p>The remaining trio of Apaches were occupied in some way with the +cavern. They were stretched out upon the ground, with their heads +close to the orifice, down which they seemed to be peering, and +doing something, the nature of which the lad could not even +guess.</p> +<p>“That don’t look as though they had caught +Mickey,” he muttered, with a feeling of inexpressible relief; +“for, if they had, they wouldn’t be loafing around +there.”</p> +<p>Nothing of their horses could be seen, although he knew they +must have a number of them somewhere in the neighborhood. An Apache +or Comanche without his mustang would be like a soldier in battle +without weapons.</p> +<p>“I’d like to find them,” thought Fred, +lowering his head, and looking back of him. “I’d take +one and start all the others away, and then there would be +fun.”</p> +<p>The lad had it in his power to take an important step toward his +return to his friends. Nothing was more likely than that a little +search through the immediate neighborhood would discover the +mustangs of his enemies, which, as a matter of course, were +unguarded, the owners anticipating no trouble from any such source. +Mounted upon the fleetest of prairie rangers, it would not require +long to reach the open country, when he could speed away +homeward.</p> +<p>But to do this required the abandonment of his friend, Mickey +O’Rooney, who would not have been within the cavern at that +minute but for his efforts to rescue him from the same prison. It +was hard to tell in what way the lad expected to benefit him by +staying, and yet nothing would have persuaded him to do +otherwise.</p> +<p>“I may get a chance to do something for him, and if I +should be gone and never see him again, I should blame myself +forever. So I’ll wait here and watch.”</p> +<p>The three redskins on the edge of the opening remained occupied +with something, but the curiosity of the lad continued unsatisfied +until one of them raised up and moved backward several steps. Then +Fred saw that he had a lasso in his hand, and was drawing it up +from the cave. He pulled it up with one hand, while he caught and +looped it with the other, until he had nearly a score of the coils +in his grasp. This could not have been the cord which held the +blanket when the shot of Mickey O’Rooney cut it and let the +bundle drop, for that was much smaller, while this was sufficient +to bear a weight of several hundred pounds, it having been used to +lasso the fleet-footed and powerful mustangs of the prairies.</p> +<p>“They’ve been fishing with it,” concluded the +youngster; “but I don’t believe that Mickey would bite. +What are they going to do now?”</p> +<p>After drawing up the rope, the whole half dozen Apaches seemed +to become very attentive. They gathered in a group and began +discussing matters in their earnest fashion, gesticulating and +grunting so loud that Fred distinctly heard them from where he lay. +This discussion, however, speedily resulted in action.</p> +<p>Another of the blankets already described was very artistically +doubled and folded into the resemblance of a man, and then the +lasso was attached to it. The Apaches experimented with it for +several minutes before putting it to the test, but at last +everything was satisfactory, and it was launched. The aborigines +seemed to comprehend what the trouble was with the other, and they +avoided repeating the error.</p> +<p>When they began cautiously lowering the bundle, the six gathered +as close to the margin as was prudent to await the result. Their +interest was intense, for they had mapped out their programme, and +much depended upon the result of this venture. But among the half +dozen there was no one who was more nervously interested than Fred +Munson, who felt that the fate of Mickey O’Rooney was +trembling in the balance.</p> +<hr /> +<h3><a id="Ch_5" name="Ch_5">Chapter V.</a></h3> +<h2>Mining and Countermining</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>Fred expected every moment to catch the dull crack of the rifle +from the subterranean regions as a signal that Mickey +O’Rooney had neither closed his eyes to the impending peril, +nor had given way to despair at the trying position in which he was +placed. But the stillness remained unbroken, while the lasso was +steadily paid out by the dusky hands of the swarthy warrior, whose +motions were closely watched by the others.</p> +<p>Lower and lower it descended as the coils lying at his knees +were steadily unwound, until the disturbed lad was certain the +bottom of the cavern was nearly reached, and still all was silent +as the tomb.</p> +<p>“I’m sure I would hear his gun if he fired +it,” he said, worried and distressed by what was taking place +before his eyes; “and if I did not, I could tell by the way +they acted whenever he pulled trigger. What can he be +doing?”</p> +<p>The lad thought it possible that his friend was absent in some +distant part of the cave hunting for him, and was, therefore, +totally unaware of the flank movement that was under way. It could +not be that he was still asleep; he had no fears on that score. It +might be, too, that the Irishman had arrived at the conclusion that +the situation had grown so desperate as to warrant him in the +<em>dernier resorte</em> he had fixed upon. If such was the case, +then, as Mickey himself might have said, “the jig was +up.”</p> +<p>Two or three coils still remained upon the ground when the +Apache stopped lowering the lasso, and, looking in the faces of his +companions, said something.</p> +<p>“It has either reached the bottom of the cave, or else +Mickey has fired at it,” said Fred, who became more excited +than ever.</p> +<p>He had caught no sound resembling a shot, and he concluded that +it must be the former, as was really the case. In a few seconds the +Indian began drawing up the lasso again, and a short time +thereafter the roll of blanket was brought to the surface. It was +carefully examined by all the group. The dirt on it proved that it +had rested on the bottom of the cave, but there were no marks to +show that it had received any attention at the hands of any one +there.</p> +<p>There were grunts of pleasure, as this fact was gathered by the +redskins. The experiments had been satisfactory and they were +prepared to venture upon the more dangerous and decisive +one—the one which they intended should bring matters to a +focus.</p> +<p>Fred was in doubt what this plan was to be until he saw the +blanket unfolded and as carefully wrapped around the form of one of +the Apaches, encasing him from head to foot. Great pains were taken +to hide his head and feet from view, the warrior lying upon his +back, and suffering himself to be “done up” with as +much thoroughness as if he were a choice sample of dry-goods. +Viewed from a disinterested stand-point, the wonder was how he was +to breathe in such wrappings.</p> +<p>“They have tried the blanket, and finding that was not +disturbed, they’re going to send down one of their number, +thinking that if Mickey does see it he’ll believe it is the +same blanket, and won’t fire at it, because he didn’t +fire at the other.”</p> +<p>It looked very venturesome upon the part of the warrior thus to +enter the lion’s den. But while, as a rule, the Indians of +the Southwest are treacherous and cowardly, there are occasional +instances in which they show an intrepidity equal to that of the +most daring white scouts.</p> +<p>When everything was arranged to the satisfaction of all, three +of the most stalwart Apaches braced themselves, with the lasso +grasped between them, while a fourth carefully piloted the body +over the edge of the opening, and began slowly lowering it to the +bottom.</p> +<p>The bravest man, placed in the position of the enwrapped redskin +could not have avoided some tremor, when he knew that he was +hanging in midair, in plain view of the rifleman who had separated +the thong which supported the blanket in the first attempt. The +Indian must have experienced strange emotions; but if he did, he +gave no evidence. He remained as passive as a log, his purpose +being to imitate the appearance of the first bundle.</p> +<p>“Now, if Mickey let’s that go down without sending a +bullet through it, he hasn’t got one half the sense that I +think he has.”</p> +<p>Fred was hasty and impatient at the seeming success which marked +everything that the red-skins undertook. He looked and listened for +some evidence that the Irishman was “there;” but no +dull, subterranean report told him of the fatal rifle-shot, while +the three Apaches continued steadily lowering their comrade with as +much coolness and deliberation as if not the slightest particle of +danger threatened. Minute after minute passed, and the lad was in +deep despair. It could not be, he was compelled to think, that +Mickey O’Rooney was anywhere in the vicinity. He must be a +long distance away, searching for his young friend, not knowing, +and, perhaps, not caring about the Apaches. He might consider that, +within the darkness of the cave, they all had an equal advantage, +and he could hold his own against each and every one. There was no +denying that the defender had a vast advantage over those who might +come into his “castle,” provided he was really aware of +their movements, but it was this doubt that caused the boy his +uneasiness.</p> +<p>“He must be near the bottom,” he concluded, when +this paying-out process had continued some minutes longer, and he +thought he saw very little of the lasso left.</p> +<p>Such was the fact. Only a few seconds more passed, when there +was a general loosening up on the part of the redskins, as in the +case of men who have just finished a laborious job. They looked +into each others faces, and there were guttural exclamations, as if +they were congratulating themselves upon what had been +accomplished.</p> +<p>“And, now, what next?” asked the disgusted watcher. +“Good luck seems to go with everything they undertake, and I +suppose they’ll bring Mickey up by the heels.”</p> +<p>But such was not the sequel, and probably not the expectation of +the Apaches. They had succeeded in planting a man in the breach, +and their purpose was to follow him, as they speedily proved. The +behavior of the group around the opening showed that the Indians +were holding communication with their ally below, probably by a +system of signals with the lasso, such as the man in the +diving-bell employs when below the surface. These, too, must have +been satisfactory, for, in a very brief time thereafter, the +decisive operations were taken up and continued.</p> +<p>There was considerable of the lasso still left above +ground—more than Fred imagined—and this was secured +about a jutting point in a rock near at hand. It was fixed so +immovably that it could not fail. “I wonder if they mean to +roll that thing in upon Mickey’s head, or what is +it?”</p> +<p>They speedily showed what their intentions were. In less than a +minute after the lasso was fastened, one of the Apaches caught hold +of it and slid down through the opening so rapidly, that it looked +as if he had lost his hold and dropped out of sight. A second did +precisely the same thing; then a third, fourth and fifth, until +only one warrior was left above ground.</p> +<p>“Oh! I hope he’ll go,” whispered Fred to +himself; “and then I can do something big.”</p> +<p>But the Apaches had evidently concluded that it would be an +imprudent arrangement not to leave any of their friends on +guard—not because they expected any interference from outside +parties, but to provide against accident. If the lasso should fail +them at a critical moment, they would be in a bad predicament, cut +off from all means of getting out, as the skylight was the only +avenue known to them, while, if a comrade remained above, all such +danger would be escaped. Their purpose had been to send the five +warriors down into the cave to attend to the case of the parties +there.</p> +<p>The redskins were now down below and the whole thing was put in +shape for operations to begin. All that remained was to find their +man, and Fred could not tell what the prospects of success were in +that direction; but he was almost ready to believe that they were +all that the Indians could ask. The sixth Apache, who remained +visible, took matters very comfortably. He stretched himself flat +upon the ground, with his head hanging almost in the opening, so +that he could catch every sound that came up from below. It was +plain that he expected to be called upon to render important +service, and he did not intend to let a signal escape him.</p> +<p>The hour that succeeded made little change in the situation. The +action of this redskin showed that he occasionally received and +sent messages—most probably by the subterranean +telegraph—but he shifted his position very little. While he +was thus engaged, Fred Munson was intently occupied with another +scheme, and he had speedily wrought himself into a high pitch of +excitement.</p> +<p>“I believe I can do it,” he muttered, more than +once, as he revolved the desperate scheme in his mind; but, +whatever his plan was, he waited in the hope that fortune would +appear more propitious.</p> +<p>When the Apache had sat thus for some time, he changed his +position. He had been lying with his side toward the lad, but now +he sat up, with his back to him, and as close to the edge of the +opening as was prudent, while he held the lasso in his hand, like +the fisherman on the bank of a stream, who patiently waits and is +sensitive to the slightest nibbling at the other end of his +line.</p> +<p>He had scarcely settled himself in this position when Fred +Munson changed his own. Rising from the ground where he had lain so +long, he stepped over the ridge, and advanced directly toward the +redskin, who harbored no suspicion that there was any of his race +in his neighborhood. The plan the lad had resolved upon required +nerve, resolution and quickness. He stepped as lightly as was +consistent with speed until he had passed half the distance, when +he began to slacken his gait and to proceed with greater caution +than ever.</p> +<p>All depended upon his ability to keep from being heard or +detected. Of course, he had no wish to engage in a fight with one +of these fierce warriors, but he was prepared, even for that. His +hand rested upon the hilt of his revolver, so that he could whip it +out at an instant’s warning and discharge it, as he meant to +do if necessary.</p> +<p>It was while he was yet some distance from the redskin that Fred +felt that his position was one of frightful peril. His foe had his +rifle within easy reach, and, if he turned too soon, he could pick +off his young assailant before he should arrive within striking +distance,—but each moment raised the hopes of the lad.</p> +<hr /> +<h3><a id="Ch_6" name="Ch_6">Chapter VI.</a></h3> +<h2>A Daring Exploit.</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>A veteran Comanche warrior could not have advanced with greater +skill than did young Munson approach the unconscious Apache. The +warriors who had taken this little business in hand seemed to have +cleared away the treacherous ground surrounding the opening, so +that it was not likely to give way beneath their weight, even when +they advanced close to the edge. The single redskin who remained +seemed to have shifted his position more for the purpose of +relieving himself from his cramped posture than anything else.</p> +<p>He was standing erect, about a foot away from the edge, with the +lasso in both hands, looking down into the cavern of gloom below, +listening and watching, with the sense of touch also on the alert. +His blanket and rifle lay at one side, out of the way, but where +they could be reached at a single leap, if necessary. The end of +the lasso was still fastened to the rock, but the savage held it +loosely, so that the slightest twitch upon it would become known to +him on the instant.</p> +<p>It is not often that an Indian can be taken off the guard. Years +of danger have made the senses of the savages preternaturally +acute, and they are as distant as the timid antelope of the plains. +But, for all that, there was a boy within a dozen yards of a +swarthy warrior whose senses were on the alert, and yet had failed +to detect his proximity.</p> +<p>Fred gazed upon him with the fixed intensity of the jungle tiger +stealing upon his prey. With his right hand resting upon the hilt +of his revolver, he never removed his eyes from the muscular figure +of the Apache, bending over the entrance to the cavern.</p> +<p>“Shall I shoot, or push him over?”</p> +<div class="figure"><a href="images/001_full.png" title= +"“Shall I shoot or push him over?”" target= +"_blank"><img src="images/001_small.png" alt= +"An Indian holds a rope over a hole while another man sneaks up on him." +id="img001" name="img001" width="360" height="591" /></a> +<p>“SHALL I SHOOT OR PUSH HIM OVER?”</p> +</div> +<p>This was the question the lad kept revolving in his mind, as he +advanced step by step. With the pistol he could bury two or three +balls in the body of the redskin before he could suspect where they +came from, and thus completely clear the path before him. But there +were doubts in the way. The revolver might miss fire, in which case +all hope would be gone. In a hand-to-hand tussle the Apache would +be more than a match for a dozen such lads. True, the weapon had +not failed when he pulled the trigger in the cave, but there was no +certainty that it would not do so when he most needed it.</p> +<p>Then, too, he felt a natural repugnance against stealing upon a +foe in this fashion, and shooting him in the back. It had a +cowardly look, even when certain that the threatened party would +have done precisely the same thing, had the opportunity come in his +way.</p> +<p>“I will push him over, if he don’t make me shoot +him.”</p> +<p>But to do this necessitated a much closer approach. He must +literally be within “striking distance.” Could he place +himself there without discovery? If the redskin were asleep, or if +his mind was occupied with something of a different nature, or if +there were some extraneous noise, the case would be different. The +blowing of the wind, the murmur of a waterfall (such as Fred had +heard when lying upon the ground in the same spot) would have been +a most fortunate diversion. But there was nothing of the kind. +There was a dead calm, not a breath of air stirring, and the day +was hot.</p> +<p>Fred had approached within twenty feet, and still the Apache did +not stir. How vivid and indelibly his appearance was impressed upon +the vision of the boy! He could never forget it. The redskin, +although of powerful build, was anything but pleasing in +appearance, even when viewed from the rear.</p> +<p>His blanket being thrown aside, he was naked, with the exception +of a breech-cloth. His feet were of large size, encased in shabby +moccasins, while frowsy leggins dangled between the knee and ankle. +His body, from the breech-cloth to the shoulders, was splashed and +daubed with a half dozen kinds of paint, while his black, thin hair +straggled about his shoulders and was smeared in the same fashion. +Like most of the Indians of the Southwest, he wore no scalp-lock, +but allowed his hair to hang like a woman’s, not even +permitting it to be gathered with a band, nor ornamenting it with +the customary stained eagle-feathers. His arms were also bare, with +the exception of the wrists, around which were tied bracelets, +which, no doubt, he considered very attractive. The boy could fancy +what a repulsive face he possessed.</p> +<p>Step by step, inch by inch, the young hero made his way, his +eyes fixed upon the savage with a burning intensity, until it +seemed that he would burn him through and through. And the Apache +heard him not, although they were no more than ten feet apart.</p> +<p>“He will hear the thumping of my heart,” was the +constant fear of the boy.</p> +<p>Slowly lifting one foot, he put in on the ground as softly as if +it were held in a slipper of eiderdown. He was treading upon a thin +growth of grass, interspersed plentifully with gravel, but he never +once looked to see what he was stepping upon. Indeed, he could not +remove his eyes from the one central figure of his thoughts and +vision.</p> +<p>One obstruction, no matter how slight—the turning of a +pebble, a slip, even the most trivial, and the Apache would turn +like lightning, and be upon him in a flash. Two more steps were +taken, and only eight feet separated the lad and the Indian, and +still the latter remained all unconscious of what was going on. +Fred’s heart was throbbing violently, but he retained control +of himself. He felt that the critical moment was close at hand. A +slight advance more, and the attempt was to be made.</p> +<p>He grasped the handle of the revolver more firmly than ever, but +he raised his foot for another step, feeling that the distance was +still too great. At this juncture the Indian moved!</p> +<p>He stepped one pace backward directly toward the boy, and he +looked up and away. But not behind him. The glance was a mere +casual one. He had heard nothing, and he expected to see nothing, +when he looked off in the manner mentioned.</p> +<p>The Apache remained standing in this attitude for a minute. Then +he stepped forward and resumed his former position on the edge of +the opening, still clinging to the lasso, as if in constant +expectation of some signal.</p> +<p>During this little episode Fred remained as motionless as if +cast in bronze. His eyes were still centred upon the Indian, and he +partially drew his revolver from the girdle he wore about his body, +with the expectation of using it. But when his foe gave his +attention to the cave below, the lad softly shoved the weapon back +in its place, and again raised his foot.</p> +<p>The movement was slow and painful, but it was accomplished +successfully. Only a single step more remained to place him where +he wanted to be. That taken, and one bound was all that he needed +to make. Finally, and for the last time during the advance, the +right foot ascended from the ground, was poised for a few seconds +in the air, and then came down with the same care as before. But it +touched a loose pebble which turned with the lightest imaginable +noise.</p> +<p>As quick as a flash the Apache raised his head, looked in front, +and then darted his vision from left to right, when his keen eyes +detected something crouching behind him.</p> +<p>At the very instant of the discovery, Fred concentrated all his +energies in one effort, and bounded forward like a catapult. The +distance was precisely what it should have been, and, as he threw +out his hands, he struck the Indian squarely in the back with the +whole momentum of the body. In fact, the daring boy nearly overdid +the matter. He not only came near driving the Apache to the other +side of the opening, but he came equally near plunging himself down +it. As it was, the victim, taken completely off his guard, was +thrown against the other side, where his wonderful dexterity +enabled him to throw out his hands and check his downward +descent.</p> +<p>Fred, after his narrow escape from going down into the cave, +scrambled back to his place, and saw the Indian struggling upon the +opposite side, with a good prospect of saving himself. “That +won’t do,” was his thought, as he ran round the opening +so as to bring himself directly before him. “I don’t +want you up here.”</p> +<p>Thrusting his pistol almost against his painted forehead, he +fairly shouted:</p> +<p>“Get down—let go, or I’ll shoot!”</p> +<p>Whether the Apache possessed much knowledge of the English +tongue can only be conjectured, but the gestures accompanying the +command were so expressive that he could not fail to take in the +whole meaning. The Indian, no doubt, considered it preferable to +drop down into the pit rather than run against the bullet. At any +rate, he released his hold, and down he went.</p> +<p>As he drooped into the gloom he made a clutch at the lasso, +doubtless for the purpose of creeping up unawares upon the lad, +who, by a strange providence, had so suddenly become his master. +But the Indian, although a pretty good athlete, had not practiced +that sort of thing, and he failed altogether, going down to join +his comrades much the same as if he had dropped from a balloon.</p> +<p>Fred proved himself equal to the emergency. The moment he saw +that he was relieved from the presence of his enemy, he darted back +to the other side of the opening, caught hold of the lasso, and +hurriedly drew it up out of reach of those below.</p> +<p>“There! they can’t come crawling up that when I +ain’t thinking,” he said, when the end of the thong was +in his hand.</p> +<p>He coiled the whole thing up at his feet, and then, with a +feeling of relief and pleasure which cannot be described, he looked +about to see whether he was alone. Alone he was, and master of the +situation. Where there had been six daring Apache warriors a +half-hour before, not one was now visible. All were in the cave. +Five had gone willingly, while it looked very much as if the sixth +had not been so willing. At any rate, they were all beyond the +power of injuring Fred Munson, who, after considering over the +matter, concluded that he had done a pretty good thing.</p> +<hr /> +<h3><a id="Ch_7" name="Ch_7">Chapter VII.</a></h3> +<h2>Fishing for a Friend.</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>“I think I dumped that Apache down there just as nicely as +any one could have done it,” said Fred, as he sat upon the +ground. “It must have taken him by surprise when I banged +into his back that way. I’d like to know whether he fell on +his head or feet. He hadn’t much time to get ready for the +fall, and so maybe it wasn’t just as he wanted it. I +don’t think it was, either, with Mickey or me. Such things +ain’t generally in this part of the world. Maybe some of the +others were standing around, and this fellow went down on their +heads. If he did, it must have shaken all their dinners up. +That’s a pretty good way to fall down there, and although I +didn’t get hurt much, I wouldn’t want to try it +again.”</p> +<p>Fred had had remarkable success, but there was a question as to +what he was going to do with it. He was on the outside of the +cavern, with the means at command for assisting Mickey to the +surface, but, the Indians being down below, it was not clear how +this was to be done, as they were likely to take a hand in the +matter.</p> +<p>As preliminary to any elaborate attempts in that direction, it +was necessary that he should apprise him of his presence, and +establish some sort of communication with him. This, under the +circumstances, was exceedingly difficult, as it was not likely that +the Irishman would suspect that his young friend had succeeded in +reaching the outside until he had received strong proof of it. Very +fortunately, however, the couple possessed a code of signals which +were easily understood, if they were only heard.</p> +<p>“I will try him on our old call,” said Fred, as he +crept as close to the edge as he deemed safe, and emitted a whistle +that must have extended far within the cave.</p> +<p>“If he hears that, he will understand it,” he added, +turning his ear, so that he could catch any response; but the dim, +soothing murmur of the cascade was the only sound that came up from +the cavernous depths.</p> +<p>“He must be there—he must be there, and he will come +back, so he will catch the signal sooner or later.”</p> +<p>There was one aspect of the business which had not yet occurred +to Fred, and which was likely to inure to the benefit of Mickey +O’Rooney, the gentleman who just then stood in need of +everything that came along in that line. The Apaches were skillful +and wise enough to learn from the trail which had first told them +the story, that a boy and man had been caught in the cavern, and it +was very evident that they all believed that there was no other +avenue of escape except that by which they had entered. At the same +time, their knowledge of the peculiarities of their own country +must have convinced them that it was possible that other openings, +of which they knew nothing, might exist, and might become known to +the prisoners.</p> +<p>The last Indian who went down must have known that the lad who +assisted him was one of the parties for whom they were yearning, +and his presence was proof that he had made the fortunate discovery +which was denied the natives of the territory. If the lad had +emerged by that means into the outer world, the natural supposition +would be that his companion had done the same, and that, therefore, +neither of the fugitives were below, the inevitable conclusion +being that the tables had been completely turned upon them. Such +was certain to be the conclusion of the Apaches, and it remained +for Mickey O’Rooney to use ordinary prudence and keep himself +out of the way of the redskins, to secure a chance of further +outwitting them by a bold piece of generalship.</p> +<p>Fred repeated his whistle four or five times, with an interval +of ten minutes, when his hopes were raised to the highest pitch by +hearing it answered. In his excitement he thrust his head far over +the opening, gave the signal again to prevent mistakes, and +listened.</p> +<p>A full minute elapsed, when the reply came, sounding faint and +far away. It showed that Mickey was at a considerable distance from +the opening, and that he heard and understood the situation. To +make matters still more certain, the lad now shouted at the top of +his voice, holding both hands so as to inclose his mouth like a +tunnel.</p> +<p>“Mickey, I’m up here with a lasso! Nobody else is +here! Whenever you can get the chance, get hold of the lasso, and +climb up! I will let it down after a while!”</p> +<p>It cannot be said that this was a very wise proceeding upon the +part of the lad; for it was likely that some one of the half dozen +Apaches understood English well enough to comprehend what he said. +To clinch the business, Fred yelled a few more words.</p> +<p>“If you understand me, Mickey, whistle!”</p> +<p>The words were no more than fairly uttered when the desired +response was made, faintly, but, nevertheless, distinctly.</p> +<p>“That’s good,” concluded the delighted lad. +“Now all I have to do is to wait for him to get the chance, +and he will come up the lasso, and then we’ll be done with +the cave.”</p> +<p>This, certainly, was all that he had to do, but, at the same +time, this amounted to a good deal.</p> +<p>“Now, if I let this rope down,” added the lad, as he +thought the matter over, “one of those Apaches will try to +climb up it, and I will have to cut it, and that will leave it in +his hands, and then what will become of Mickey?”</p> +<p>He debated a long time as to the best plan of overcoming this +serious difficulty; but none presented itself, and he concluded +that it was an inevitable contingency, which he must prepare +himself to defeat, at all hazards.</p> +<p>Fred had been so absorbed with the business which had succeeded +admirably up to this hour, that he scarcely noted the passage of +time. He was not a little amazed when he came to look at the sun +and to note, from its position, that the afternoon was considerably +advanced, and that night was much nearer than he supposed. Nearly +twenty-four hours had elapsed since he had tasted food, and, +although he felt somewhat faint, he was not troubled with hunger. +He made up his mind to make no effort to obtain food until he +should succeed in bringing the Irishman from his prison—as he +hoped to do before the night should pass away. But he was thirsty, +and, believing that he could quench his thirst without going very +far, and without jeopardizing the safety of his friend, he started +off on a little hunt for water.</p> +<p>“That stream runs out of the cave not very far from here, +and, if I can find that, it will be just what I want.”</p> +<p>Fixing in his mind the direction of the stream, he started off, +taking an almost opposite direction from that which led to the +ridge, where he had lain so long watching the movements of the +Apaches. This led him directly behind a mass of boulders and rocks, +tossed irregularly together, and surrounded by a peculiar growth of +stunted vegetation, with rich, succulent grass beyond.</p> +<p>Fred was hurrying along, with no thought of seeing anything +unusual, when he was startled by coming directly upon a half dozen +mustangs, all bound to the limbs or trunks of trees with strong +lariats, while they were lazily cropping the grass where they had +been left undisturbed for several hours. They were all fine-looking +animals, every one of them—not one having saddle or bridle, +and nothing, indeed, excepting the long thong, which, like the +lasso, was made of bull’s hide, and which prevented them from +straying beyond their appointed limits. There could be no doubt +that the animals belonged to the little party taking an airing in +the cave, and the eyes of the lad sparkled as they rested upon +them.</p> +<p>“Oh! if Mickey were only here!” he exclaimed to +himself; “we couldn’t want anything nicer. We would +just pick out two of the best here, stampede the others, and then +gallop toward home as fast as we could, and we’d be there +inside of two or three days; but I must wait, and so must +he.”</p> +<p>The place selected by the Indians for their horses could not +have been better chosen. In addition to the rich pasture, a rivulet +of clear, cold water flowed by, within reach of each and all, so +that all their wants were supplied in the best manner possible.</p> +<p>Every one of the mustangs raised their heads and looked up at +the stranger, and one or two gave a faint whinney, as if to inquire +the business of such a character with them.</p> +<p>“I don’t believe any of you can go like my Hurricane +that I had to leave at home; but I can’t have him, and I +would be mighty glad to take one of you—that is, if Mickey +could go along, for I don’t intend to leave him, so long as I +know he’s alive. You seem pretty well fixed, so I’ll +let you alone till we get a chance to turn you to account, and you +can eat and get yourself in good condition.”</p> +<p>He took a good long draught of the refreshing water, and then +made a little survey of his surroundings.</p> +<p>“I should like to know whether those six Indians were all +looking for <em>me</em>. Maybe Lone Wolf has found out that I gave +the three the slip, and he sent a half-dozen fresh ones to look me +up. They were all strangers to me, and I am sure I never saw them +before. Lone Wolf seems to want me very bad, and if these +don’t bring me back pretty soon, he may send somebody after +them.”</p> +<p>A careful survey of all the suspicious points failed to show him +anything alarming, and he made his way back to the mouth of the +cavern, where he sat down to await the moment for him to lower the +lasso that he hoped was to give Mickey O’Rooney a chance for +his life. It seemed to him that it would not be safe to attempt it +until the sun went down. His theory was that the Apaches would not +remain directly beneath the opening all the time, but that there +would be a chance for the Irishman to creep up without detection. +He would be looking for the lasso, and in the darkness might be +able to ascend it without discovery.</p> +<p>The lad hoped that all the redskins had reached the conclusion +that both he and the man were outside; and, finding that it was out +of the question for them to escape by the opening, which was at +such a distance over their heads, had scattered to search for some +other egress. It was not impossible that such was the case, and if +it were, it placed the situation in a light by no means +discouraging.</p> +<p>It was hardly dark when Fred Munson carefully shoved the end of +the rope over the edge of the opening, and let it descend slowly, +gently and noiselessly to the bottom, permitting it to pass through +his hands in such a way that he could tell the instant it was +disturbed. When he knew that it had struck, he waited for a +“bite.”</p> +<p>To his astonishment, it came within the next five minutes. He +was startled by feeling a decided pull repeated several times.</p> +<p>The situation was so delicately critical that it would not do to +speak nor whisper, nor even to utter their whistle, no matter how +cautiously made. So, by way of reply, Fred gave the lasso, several +responsive jerks, intended to signify that everything was ready, +and his friend might come ahead.</p> +<p>A moment later the lariat was jerked from his hand, showing that +a heavy weight had suddenly fastened upon it, and the man was +making his way upward from the cave.</p> +<hr /> +<h3><a id="Ch_8" name="Ch_8">Chapter VIII.</a></h3> +<h2>Fishing for a Prize.</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>It is no easy task, even for a trained athlete, to climb forty +or fifty feet of rope. The majority of men, if put to the test of +making their way out of that cave by shinning up the long lariat +suspended from the opening above, would have failed altogether.</p> +<p>Remembering how well his hearing had served him under somewhat +similar circumstances, young Munson, watching so anxiously for the +appearance of his friend, pressed his ear against the tough, +untanned rope and listened. He could hear the scraping of the hands +and the friction of the limbs against the rope, working steadily +and in such a manner as to show that the man was succeeding well in +the excelsior business and was sure to reach the top in time, if +his strength held out.</p> +<p>“I guess that’s Mickey O’Rooney climbing +up,” muttered the boy, “and yet I can’t tell till +I get a sight of him. It may be an Apache, and I’d better get +ready, for I don’t mean to have any of them creeping up on +me.”</p> +<p>Fred did not wish to cut the rope, as that would have ended the +operations, so he concluded to resort to his weapon. There were two +or three chambers of the revolver undischarged and he did not +believe that it would be necessary to use them. The simple +presentation of the muzzle had accomplished his purpose some hours +before, and there was little doubt that it would do the same thing +again.</p> +<p>The sky was absolutely free from clouds, and the moon, near her +full, shed such a light over the scene that the lad almost dreaded +the result.</p> +<p>While all remained profoundly dark in the cave, at the moment +the man reached the surface and was brought into relief against the +sky beyond, he would be distinctly visible to any one who might be +looking upward, and half a dozen rifles pointed and fired at that +juncture could scarcely fail of fatal results. The lad’s +misgivings increased as the man neared the top. When he again +applied his ear to the lariat, he could understand that the fellow +was working hard, and could only be a few feet below him.</p> +<p>“There’s nothing like being ready,” he +concluded, as he straightened up, and, rising to his feet, stood, +pistol in hand, ready for the issue.</p> +<p>He stepped back several feet, where his vision was entirely +unobstructed.</p> +<p>“If it’s an Indian, he won’t have a chance of +showing anything more than his head, and if he don’t take +that out of the way in a hurry, I’ll let a ray of moonlight +through it.”</p> +<p>He stood thus, as rigid as a statue, fully appreciating the +difficulties of his position and the fatal consequences of allowing +himself to be outwitted.</p> +<p>“Mickey, is that you?” he asked, in a cautions +whisper, a moment later.</p> +<p>As he asked the question he noticed that work upon the rope +instantly ceased.</p> +<p>“It’s Mickey,” he said to himself, “but +he doesn’t think it safe to speak.”</p> +<p>Then to him: “All right old boy, come ahead, and you may +do the speaking after you land. Come ahead—you’re near +the top.”</p> +<p>Again the toiling climber resumed his labor, and he was within a +foot or two of the opening. One more hitch and he would emerge into +the moonlight.</p> +<p>“Come old fellow, give me your hand,” he added; +“you’ve had pretty hard work.”</p> +<p>Just then the bronzed face of an Apache Indian, smeared with +paint and contorted with eager passion, slowly rose in the +moonlight. The exhausted warrior, feeling that the critical moment +was at hand, when all depended upon prompt and decisive work, made +furious efforts to clamber out of the cavern before the lad who +held the key of the situation could prevent.</p> +<p>Although Fred had contemplated this issue, and had prepared for +it, yet he had become so thoroughly imbued with the belief that it +was Mickey O’Rooney who was toiling upward that he was almost +entirely thrown off his guard. Because of this, the cunning Apache +would have secured his foothold and clambered out upon the daring +lad, but for one thing. He had done, tremendous work in climbing a +rope for such a distance, and his strength was nearly gone when he +reached the open air.</p> +<p>Before he could reap the reward of all this labor, Fred +recovered. Whipping out his revolver as before, he shoved it +directly into his face, and said: “You ain’t wanted +here, and you’d better leave mighty quick!”</p> +<p>The warrior made a clutch at the weapon so close to him, but his +exhaustion caused a miscalculation, and he failed altogether. He +was supporting himself at this moment by one hand, and he acted as +if the single effort to secure the pistol was to decide the whole +thing. He failed in that, and gave up.</p> +<p>Instead of letting go and going to the bottom in one plunge, he +began sliding downward, his head vanishing from sight almost as +suddenly as if the lasso had been cut. It is generally easier to go +down than up hill, and the work of twenty minutes was undone in a +twinkling. A rattling <em>descendo</em>, and the Apache was down +the rope again, standing at the bottom of the cave, and Fred was +again master of the situation.</p> +<p>“Goodness!” exclaimed the lad, when he realized this +gratifying state of affairs, “I had no idea that that was an +Indian; but I ought to have suspected it when I called to him and +he didn’t make any answer. That stops that little sort of +thing; but I don’t know when Mickey is going to get a chance +at the rope.”</p> +<p>The lad was disheartened by this great disappointment, for it +looked very much as if the redskins would guard all approaches to +the lower end of the lasso, and his friend be shut out from all +participation in the chance that he was so confident was placed at +his disposal.</p> +<p>“I don’t know what they can do with the rope,” +thought the lad, as he carefully took it in hand, “but then +it’s no use to them, and I may as well keep it out of their +reach while I can.”</p> +<p>He gently pulled it, to test whether it was free.</p> +<p>No one at that juncture seemed to have hold of it, and, fearful +that it would not remain so, the lad gave it a sudden jerk, which +brought it far beyond the reach of any one who might be gathered on +the sand below.</p> +<p>“That upsets all my calculations,” said Fred, with a +sigh. “The chance of getting out of here is poorer than ever. +I am afraid Mickey is in a scrape where there ain’t much show +of his helping himself!”</p> +<p>The lad remembered, however, that his friend still had one +resort—the last one—at his command. When it became +absolutely apparent that no other way was open, he would make the +plunge down the stream, and risk all in the single effort to dive +from the inside to the outside of the cave.</p> +<p>“I don’t want him to try that, just yet,” +added Fred, as he lay upon the ground, carefully considering the +matter; “for I think that will wind up the whole +thing.”</p> +<p>The boy seemed to be considering every phase of the question, +and he debated with himself for a long time whether he +couldn’t do something for his friend. He thought of going +back to the entrance by which he had escaped—thanks to the +assistance of the wolf—reenter it, without going to a +distance which would cause any danger of losing his way, and signal +to him. The great obstacle to this was that, as he could readily +see from the distance he had gone over since emerging therefrom, it +would be utterly impossible to send a signal so far, through such a +chamber of sound as the cave had proven itself to be. There +remained the same probability that the Apaches would hear it as +soon as Mickey, and they would be stupid beyond their kind if they +had not already gained a correct idea of the situation.</p> +<p>Still, it was possible to see how the Irishman could succeed. +Men placed in fully as desperate situations as he had pulled +through by showing nerve and readiness of resource when the +critical moment should arrive.</p> +<p>Mickey O’Rooney possessed originality and pluck. He had +acquired considerable experience and knowledge of Indian +“devilments” on his way across the plains, and, if the +Apaches comprehended the situation, it was not to be supposed that +he was not posted fully as well. If he could see no chance of +getting a pull at the rope, he could easily keep out of the way of +the redskins. He had no fear of meeting any of them singly, and if +he could arrange it so as to encounter them one after another, and +at his own convenience, he might clear the track in that +fashion.</p> +<p>As it was, therefore, Fred Munson could only await for the issue +of events. He was powerless to do anything until the sign should be +made by his friend at the other end of the rope.</p> +<p>For fully two hours things remained in <em>statu quo</em>. The +lad lay upon the ground close to the opening, listening, looking +and thinking so intently that there was no danger of his falling +asleep. The profound stillness remained unbroken during all that +time. The murmur of the cascade had a faint, distant sound, as if +it came from the ocean, many long leagues away, but there was +nothing more—not even a signal from Mickey, who, if he had +any plans, was working them with admirable secrecy. At the end of +that time the lad concluded that it would be best to lower the +lasso again.</p> +<p>“If he is down there, he must have a chance to get hold of +the rope, or he can’t come up here,” was the reasonable +conclusion of the lad, who passed it downward slowly and in perfect +silence.</p> +<p>Fully a score of theories flitted through his head as he lay +thus speculating upon the situation down below. At one time he was +sure that it was useless to attempt to help his friend in that +style. A half-dozen Apaches would not permit a single white to +climb into safety immediately before their eyes, especially when +they could cover him with their rifles if he should succeed in +giving them the slip at the start. Then it appeared anything but +reasonable to suppose that the Indians would remain directly below +him, waiting for their chance to try their fortune in the trapeze +line again. More likely they would scatter and hunt separately for +the outlet which had permitted their intended victim to gain his +safety. They could expect to gain nothing by remaining, and they +were too shrewd to do so.</p> +<p>When the matter presented itself in this shape, Fred was ready +to call down to Mickey, instructing him to grasp the lasso, and +ascend without further delay. Too much precious time was being +wasted. Fortunately, however, before he acted upon this theory, +enough doubts arose to prevent his carrying it out.</p> +<p>He had had enough experience with the rope to know how to gauge +it very well, and he lowered it until the other end was within two +or three feet of the bottom. Having placed it thus within easy +reach, he let it pass over his hand, holding it so delicately +poised that the slightest disturbance was sure to be detected. He +was in the position of the fisherman who is angling for some plump +piscatorial prize, which requires the most skillful kind of +persuasion to induce him to nibble the hook.</p> +<p>For a half-hour nothing touched it, and then Fred fancied that +he felt a slight jerk. He made no response, but instantly became +all attention and waited. A second later the jerk was repeated so +distinctly that there could be no mistake. The lad gave it a twitch +in reply, and then all remained still for a short time. Suddenly +the thong was snapped from his hand, and instantly became taut.</p> +<p>Fred applied his ear as before. Yes; some one was climbing up +the rope again.</p> +<hr /> +<h3><a id="Ch_9" name="Ch_9">Chapter IX.</a></h3> +<h2>Groping in Darkness.</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>It is proper, at this point, to introduce some history of the +movements of Mickey O’Rooney, after the separation between +himself and his young friend. The latter, it will be remembered, +left him sleeping upon the Apache blanket, at the bottom of the +cave, while he, the lad, went off in pursuit of the wolf, which +came so near leading him to destruction, but which, in the end, +conducted him to freedom and safety.</p> +<p>The Irishman slept for several hours longer, as soundly as if he +lay in his own bed at home. He was sorely in need of sleep, and, +having convinced himself that there was no danger to be +apprehended, he transferred all his anxiety over to his young +friend while he sailed off into the land of dreams. When he awoke +and recalled where he was, he spoke to Fred; but, receiving no +reply, supposed he was asleep, and passed his hand about in quest +of him. After groping several minutes in vacancy, he muttered:</p> +<p>“Be the powers! if he hasn’t fell out of bed, as me +brother Tom used to remark to the ould gintleman, after he’d +kicked me out of the same. The fall ain’t far enough to hurt +him seriously, but these laddies have a way of getting hurt, where +a man couldn’t do it, if he tried.”</p> +<p>After calling and searching further, he struck a match and held +it up. A transient glimpse was gained of an area of several hundred +feet, in which, it is needless to say, he saw nothing of his young +friend.</p> +<p>“Be the powers! but he strayed away,” added Mickey, +somewhat impatiently. “He thought there was something that it +would pay to chase, and he’s gone off, and, of course, will +be lost.”</p> +<p>With a view to bringing him back, the Irishman called his name, +whistled, and, after a time, fired his gun. The echoes were not so +loud as when Fred had fired, but the racket was sufficient to make +him confident it would reach the ears of the boy, if he were not +asleep or injured.</p> +<p>Mickey, as will be seen, formed the right opinion of the action +of his young friend, and hoped that he would be able to work his +way back to camp, as they called it, without any mishap or +assistance from him.</p> +<p>“He thinks there’s another door that opens into the +sunshine, and that isn’t locked, and, if it is, he can pick +the kay. He may work away till he becomes weary, and then +he’ll be back here, and we’ll hare to contrive some +other way, or it may be that good luck will lead him to the opening +for which he sighs. Heaven grant that the same may be the +case.”</p> +<p>He waited, and watched, and hoped, as the hours passed by, until +he began to believe that something serious had happened to him. At +intervals he repeated his signals, but on no occasion was there +anything like a response.</p> +<p>It was an odd juxtaposition of events that, at the very moment +he uttered some of the calls, the despairing kid was doing the same +thing, and, although each strained his ears to the utmost, yet +neither suspected the truth.</p> +<p>The hours and the time passed on, until happening to look up at +the opening, Mickey saw the prepared blanket slowly descending, +just as Fred looked upon it from the ridge.</p> +<p>“I’m obliged to yees,” he said, in an +undertone, “but I don’t find myself in pressing naad of +the same. I have one here, but if ye insist on my taking that, +I’ll not quarrel with yees.”</p> +<p>He resolved that when it came down within his reach he would cut +the lasso, and take it, but before it reached the ground he had +changed his mind.</p> +<p>He knew what the intention of the Apaches was, but he was not +deceived for an instant.</p> +<p>“I’ll not do anything at all,” he muttered; +“I’ll not interfere, where it’s so difficult to +decide upon me duty, as the owld lady obsarved when the bear got +her husband down. I’ll let ’em think I’m aslaap, +and see what they’ll do.”</p> +<p>And thus, as the reader already knows, the rolled-up blanket was +lowered and raised again without molestation, almost grazing the +upturned face of the Irishman as it did so.</p> +<p>“And the next will be one of the spalpeens himself. +Begorrah! there he is this minute!”</p> +<p>Just as he anticipated, a short time after the blanket began its +descent, enfolding the form of one of the swarthy warriors, the +Irishman at once detecting the ruse.</p> +<p>His rifle was brought to his shoulder, but yielding to a whim, +which he could hardly explain, he lowered it, without firing, +resolved that he would do nothing at all, unless compelled to in +self-defense. About this time an idea began to dawn upon him that +silence and inaction upon his part might do himself more good than +the most vigorous defense.</p> +<p>He might shoot the first Indian, and then the others would only +keep themselves out of reach, and he would be no nearer escape than +before. On the other hand, if he studiously forced himself into the +background, they might begin to believe that he had discovered the +means of exit which was unknown to them. He had no fear of not +being able to keep out of their way, where he had such abundant +room and where no light possibly could reach the interior and +reveal his presence to a hundred searchers. If they chose to +attempt to carry torches, then he could pick them off at his own +convenience.</p> +<p>And so it came about that Mickey stood quietly by, and permitted +the whole five Apaches to slide down the rope like so many monkeys, +while he raised no hand in the way of protest. Not knowing how many +the party numbered, he could not conjecture how many were left when +the five had come down, and the business stopped for the time, but +he knew, as a matter of course, that they would not enter the cave +without leaving reinforcements upon the surface.</p> +<p>By the time the last man landed, Mickey had moved back to a +point a hundred yards away from where the group were gathered, +where he was seated upon a large rock.</p> +<p>“If any of ’em undertakes to flash a bull’s +eye in me face, I kin dodge down behind the same,” was the +way in which the Irishman reasoned it.</p> +<p>At such a time, and in such a place, the faculty of hearing was +about the only one that could be counted upon, and, sliding softly +off the rock, Mickey applied his ear to the earth. If the Apaches +were moving about, the noise made by their feet was so slight that +he could not be certain whether they were actually branching out +and groping for him, or whether they were the sounds produced by +the natural shifting of the feet of a group of men standing +together.</p> +<p>Matters stood thus for some time, when the last Indian suddenly +came through the opening and plumped down upon the ground below, +his start on this journey being such that he was probably +considerably shaken up by the involuntary trip.</p> +<p>“Ye spalpeens must be more careful in coming +down-stairs,” muttered Mickey, who supposed that the whole +thing was an accident, as in his own case.</p> +<p>But it was not long before he heard the voice of Fred Munson, +calling from above, and, as each word was distinctly heard, there +was no room for any misunderstanding of the situation. The Irishman +was literally dumfounded.</p> +<p>“Be the powers! if it isn’t the most wonderful thing +that ever happened, as Mrs. Murphy remarked when Tim came home +sober one night. That laddy, in hunting around, has struck upon +some hole that leads out, and he’s forgot, or else it was so +hard to find his way back to me, he has gone round to that place, +and now hollers down at me.</p> +<p>“Begorrah,” added Mickey, a moment later, “it +must be that he shoved that spalpeen overboard, and there +isn’t anybody left up there in the way of Apaches but one, +and he ain’t an Apache, but a gintleman named Fred Moonson. +Here’s to his health, and if this thing gets any more +delightful, I’ll have to give a whoop and yell, and strike up +the Tipperary jig.”</p> +<p>The exultant fellow had hard work to keep his spirits under +control when he fairly understood the brilliant exploit that had +been performed by his young friend.</p> +<p>“It is almost aqual to my gineral coorse,” he he +added; “but I must try and hold in till I can get the laddy +by himself. Then I’ll hammer him, out of pure love, as ye may +say.”</p> +<p>Mickey managed to contain himself, but did not attempt to reply +to the direct call which was made upon him. That, in one sense, +would have been fatal, as it would have “uncovered” his +position. The Irishman was quick-witted, and it occurred to him +that the last incident which had happened at the entrance to the +cave might be turned to good account. If he continued to remain in +the background, the Apaches were likely to conclude that he, too, +was beyond their reach.</p> +<p>Thus matters stood until the signal was made to him, when he +deemed it wise to make a cautious reply, merely to apprise the lad +that he was there within call, and understood the situation through +and through.</p> +<p>Mickey was very apprehensive when, some time after, he +discovered that one of the Indians was ascending the rope. He was +not so apprehensive when he came down again. The result of this +repulse was much more decisive than Fred had supposed. The warriors +seemed to suspect that they were throwing away time in attempting +to outwit one who held such an immense advantage over them, and who +was too wide-awake to permit them to steal a march upon him.</p> +<p>The delighted Irishman knew, from the sounds, that the redskins +were moving away from the spot, not with the idea of staying away +altogether, but that they might engage upon a little reconnoissance +which might possibly open the way that they were so anxiously +seeking. One of the redskins passed almost within arm’s +length of him, never suspecting, as a matter of course, that he was +brought into such proximity to a mortal enemy. Mickey only breathed +until assured that there was quite a distance between him and the +Apaches.</p> +<p>“Now it begins to look as though there’s a chance +for me,” he concluded; “and if me laddy will let down +the lasso, I’ll thry the bootiful experiment of shinning up +it, though I much fear me that it will be the same as a greased +pole.”</p> +<p>He moved with the utmost circumspection toward the spot, being +able to locate it by means of the moonlit opening overhead, and +when he was near it he halted and listened.</p> +<p>“I don’t obsarve that any one is loafing about here, +getting in the way of honest folks.”</p> +<p>Just then he ran plump against an Apache, whom he did not +suspect was so near him.</p> +<p>The redskin uttered a grunt of anger, no doubt suspecting that +it was one of his own friends.</p> +<p>As quick as lightning the Irishman drew back and struck a blow +that stretched the warrior senseless.</p> +<p>“I’ll tache ye to be grunting around here when a +gintleman runs again ye. Ye ought to be ashamed of +yourself.”</p> +<p>Mickey had already strapped his rifle to his back, and, groping +about, he felt the end of the lasso dangling in front of his face. +The same instant he grasped it and began the ascent.</p> +<hr /> +<h3><a id="Ch_10" name="Ch_10">Chapter X.</a></h3> +<h2>“Here We are Again!”</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>Fred Munson, having been deceived once by the Apache climbing up +the rope, was not to be caught again in the same way. When he +became certain that a second person was coming up, he grasped his +pistol again, and held himself in readiness to “repel +boarders,” the very instant they appeared.</p> +<p>It soon became evident that this second person, whoever he was, +had a serious time in climbing up the rope. He frequently paused as +if resting, and this fact led the lad to feel more hopeful than +ever that it was his old friend drawing near.</p> +<p>When it became apparent that he was near the top, the curiosity +of Fred became so great that he drew himself forward, and, peering +down the black throat of the cave, asked, in a whisper:</p> +<p>“I say, Mickey, is that you? Speak, if it is, or give a +little whistle.”</p> +<p>“Be the powers, but I’m so tired I’m +spaachless, wid not even the strength to let out a +whistle.”</p> +<p>This established the identity of the climber beyond all +question, and the words were hardly uttered when the familiar face +of the Irishman appeared.</p> +<p>He was exceedingly tired, and the lad reached his hand down to +assist him out. It was at this juncture that the Apache, who had +run against the fist of Mickey O’Rooney, recovered, and +seeing his foe in the act of vanishing, gave a whoop of alarm to +his companions, caught up his rifle and fired away. The hasty aim +alone prevented a fatal result, the bullet clipping the clothing of +the Irishman.</p> +<p>“Fire away, ye spalpeens, for all the good it may do +ye,” called out the Irishman, who at this moment clambered +out of range and sank down upon the ground.</p> +<p>“Begorrah, I’m as tired as Jim O’Shaughnessey +after his friendly match with his wife,” gasped Mickey, +speaking shortly and rapidly, as best he could, while he leaned +over upon his elbow, until he could regain his strength and +wind.</p> +<p>It required but a short time, when he reached his hand to the +lad, and shook it for the third or fourth time, smiling at the same +time in his old jolly way, as he rose rather unsteadily upon his +pins.</p> +<p>“I’ll have to wait a while till the kink gets out of +me legs, before I give ye the Donnybrook jig, but I make the +engagement wid ye, and the thing is down for performance, do ye +mind that? And now, me laddy, we must thravel. Are ye +hungry?”</p> +<p>“Yes.”</p> +<p>“I have a bite saved that’ll do ye till the morrow. +When ye waltzed out the cave and left me to meself, I felt there +was no knowing how long I’d have to stay behind, so I knocked +off both eating and drinking, with the idea of getting used to +going without anything.”</p> +<p>As they were able to talk more understandingly, the two +explained their experiences since they had parted. They could not +fail to be interesting in both cases. When they had finished, +Mickey O’Rooney had about recovered from the terrible strain +he had undergone in clambering out the cave, barring a little ache +in his arms and legs.</p> +<p>“Now, me laddy, we must emigrate, as there ain’t +anything to be gained by loafing round here, as the gals used to +tell the chaps when they tried to cut me out. The first thing to +larn is whether the hoss that I lift some distance away is still +there cropping the grass. If he is, then we shall have small work +in making our way back to New Boston; but if he has emigrated ahead +of us thar, we must hunt for others.”</p> +<p>“There’s no need of going that far.”</p> +<p>“Why not?”</p> +<p>“Because the mustangs of the Apaches are right over yonder +behind those rocks.”</p> +<p>“That’s good; let’s take a look at the +same.”</p> +<p>They hurried over to the spot where the half dozen mustangs were +tethered. They were lying upon the ground, taking their sleep, +having finished a bounteous meal. The intelligent creatures showed +their training by throwing up their heads the instant the two came +in sight, and several gave utterance to whinneys, no doubt with the +purpose of apprising their masters of the approach of strangers. +None of them rose to their feet, however, and Mickey and Fred moved +about, inspecting them as best they could in the moonlight, with +the purpose of selecting the best.</p> +<p>“They’re all a fine lot, as the neighbors used to +say, after inspicting me father’s family, and it’s hard +to make up your mind which is the best, but here is one that +shtrikes me fancy. Get up wid ye.”</p> +<p>The steed, spoken to in this peremptory manner, leaped to his +feet, and stood in all his graceful and beautiful proportions, an +equine gem, which could not fail to command admiration.</p> +<p>“I think he’ll suit,” said the Irishman, after +a careful examination. “I think he can run as well as any of +’em. I’ll tell you what we’ll do, me laddy. +We’ll both mount this one, and ride till we reach the place +where I lift mine, when we’ll have one apiece.”</p> +<p>“But if yours isn’t there?”</p> +<p>“Then we’ll kaap this one betwaan us, as the gals +used to say, when they quarreled over me.”</p> +<p>“Hadn’t I better take one of the horses, and if we +find yours, why, we can turn one of these loose, and we shall be +all right, no matter how the things turn out?”</p> +<p>“It’s not a bad idaa,” assented the Irishman. +“Pick yours out, and then we’ll turn the others +loose.”</p> +<p>“Why will you do that?”</p> +<p>“What’s the use of laving them here? Them spalpeens +will find their way out of the cave before long, and then they will +strike straight for these animals, and, if they happen to get out +pretty soon, they’ll make trouble with us. We might as well +let ’em walk awhile.”</p> +<p>“How are they going to get out?”</p> +<p>“Didn’t ye lave the lasso hanging down into the +cave?”</p> +<p>“I declare, I never thought of that!” exclaimed the +affrighted lad. “Why didn’t you tell me?”</p> +<p>And he started to repair the oversight, when Mickey caught his +arm and checked him.</p> +<p>“Not so, me son; lave it as it is. If we should go away +and lave the spalpeens down there without the rope, they might +never find the way out, and would starve to death, and it would +always grieve me to think I had starved six Apaches to death, +instead of affording meself some enjoyment by cracking ’em +over the head wid a shillelah.”</p> +<p>“I should be sorry to do that,” replied Fred, who +comprehended the cruelty of leaving the poor fellows to perish, as +they were likely to do if left without the means of escape; +“but, if we leave the rope hanging there, the whole party +will be up here before we can get out of the way, and then what +shall we do?”</p> +<p>“Niver fear, niver fear,” said Mickey, with a wave +of his hand and a magisterial shake of the head. “The +spalpeens have got enough of climbing up there for a while. +They’ve gone off on a hunt through the cavern for the place +where you crawled out, and they’ll kaap at that till morning, +and then, if there’s no show for ’em, they’ll +come back, and begin to fool around the rope again.”</p> +<p>The lad had little difficulty in deciding upon his steed, which +was a coal-black mustang, lithe and willowy, and apparently of a +good disposition, although that was necessarily a matter of +conjecture, for the present. There were no saddles upon any of the +horses, and nothing but the rudest kind of bridle, consisting of a +thong of twisted bull’s hide, and reaching away to some limb +or tree, so as to give the animal plenty of grazing area. The +lariats of the other four were cut—so that, when they arose, +they would find themselves at liberty to go whither they +chose—after which the two approached their respective prizes +and prepared to mount.</p> +<p>Both were good riders, although, being compelled to go it +bareback, they felt some misgivings as to the result. Fred’s +mustang was rather under size, so that he was able to vault upon +him from the ground without difficulty. After patting him on the +neck and speaking soothingly to him, with a view to disarming him +of all timidity, the lad leaped lightly upon his back.</p> +<p>The steed showed at once that he did not like this familiarity, +and reared and plunged and shook his head in a vicious way, but he +toned down somewhat after a time, and seemed disposed to compromise +matters until he learned something about his rider.</p> +<p>“Ye’re going to become a good rider—that is, +in the course of twenty or thirty years,” remarked Mickey, +who had been watching his young friend closely, “if ye +practice aich day in those thirty years; but I want you to observe +<em>my</em> shtyle—note how complately I bring the animal +under, how docile he becomes, how mild, how gentle, how +lamblike.”</p> +<p>And with these rather pompous observations, he laid his hand +upon the mane of his mustang, and at one bound bestrode him, +catching the lariat after the manner of one who was determined to +have no nonsense about it.</p> +<p>“Now note how quick I’ll subdue him, how afeard +he’ll be, you can’t goad him into trying to throw me. +Talk about Rarey breaking that old horse Cruiser, that used to ate +his keeper every day for breakfast, he couldn’t compare wid +mesilf.”</p> +<p>Before Mickey had time to finish his observation, the heels of +the mustang went up almost perpendicularly in the air, and with +such suddenness that Mickey was thrown a dozen feet over his head, +alighting upon his hands and knees.</p> +<p>Fred was amused beyond expression at the discomfiture of his +boasting friend, who was not a little astonished at the manner in +which he had been overthrown.</p> +<p>“Turns up,” he said, as he gathered himself on his +feet again, “that I was a little mistook. Such accidents will +happen now and then, and it isn’t very kind for a spalpeen +like yourself to laugh at me sorrow.”</p> +<p>“I can’t help it, Mickey, but I’m afraid I +can’t stick to the back of this horse. He seems scared and +mad, and his back feels mighty slippery without any saddle or +blanket.”</p> +<p>“Maybe, if I get on wid ye, the weight of us both will +hold him down.”</p> +<p>The mustang which hard thrown the Irishman continued to flourish +his heels and disport himself in such a lively style, that his +spirit became contagious, and the four, who were yet upon the +ground, now came to their feet, and after some plunging and +rearing, made a rush down the slope, and were soon out of +sight.</p> +<p>The animal ridden by the lad showed a disposition to join them, +but the rider resisted, and managed to hold him, until at the +opportune moment, Mickey placed himself on his back, and, as he was +really a good horseman, and used vigorous means, he speedily +managed to bring him under control. Turning his head toward the +ridge, they started him forward, pausing near the mouth of the +cavern long enough to gather up one of the blankets lying there, as +it was likely to be useful at no distant time.</p> +<hr /> +<h3><a id="Ch_11" name="Ch_11">Chapter XI.</a></h3> +<h2>Through the Mountains.</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>The moon was high in the sky, and it was near midnight. +O’Rooney, who had taken upon himself the task of guiding the +mustang, continued him on up the ridge, directly toward the spot +where Fred had lain so long watching the action of the Apaches +gathered around the opening of the cave.</p> +<p>The mustang walked along quite obediently, seeming to feel the +load no more than if it was only one half as great. But those +animals are like their native masters—cunning and +treacherous, ready to take advantage of their riders whenever it +happens to come in their way.</p> +<p>“Which is the raison I cautions ye to be riddy for a +fall,” said Mickey, after referring to some of the +peculiarities of these steeds of the Southwest. “The minute +he gits it into his head that we ain’t paying attention, +he’ll rear up on his fore-feet, and walk along that way for +half a mile. Not having any saddle, we’ll have to slide over +his neck, unless I can brace me feet agin his ears, and ride along +standing straight up.”</p> +<p>The constant expectation of being flung over the head of a horse +is not the most comforting sensation that one can have, and the lad +clung fast to his friend in front, determined not to go, unless in +his company. Upon reaching the top of the ridge, the horse was +reined up for a few minutes, as Mickey, like the mariner at sea, +was desirous of taking an observation, so as to prevent himself +going astray.</p> +<p>“Can you remember how you were placed?” asked the +lad, after he had spent several minutes in the survey; “that +is, do you know which way to go for the horse you left eating +grass?”</p> +<p>“I was a little puzzled at first, as me father obsarved to +the school-teacher when he said I had been a good boy, but I see +how it is now. It must have been that I got a little turned round +when I was down in the basemint of these mountains, but I see how +it is now. Right yonder,” he added, pointing toward the +Northwest, “is where I left my hoss, and there is where I +hope I’ll find him again.”</p> +<p>“Is the road so that we can ride the mustang all the way +there, or must we walk?”</p> +<p>“I remember I come right along some kind of a path, made +by animals, after leaving the beast. I s’pose it’s the +route taken by the crathurs in going to the water, for +there’s a splendid spring right there, and the path that I +was just tilling you ’bout leads straight to it.”</p> +<p>“Then keep the horse from throwing us off, and we’re +all right. After we find your horse, Mickey, or don’t find +him, what are we to do, then?”</p> +<p>“Set sail for New Boston.”</p> +<p>“But we can’t ride through these mountains, if we +don’t find the pass.”</p> +<p>“And the same is what we’re going to do, barring +that it hasn’t been lost yet.”</p> +<p>“Are you sure you know the way to it from where you left +your horse? I’ve been hunting for it for hours, but +couldn’t any more tell where it was than the man in the moon. +What course would you have to take to reach it?”</p> +<p>“Right off yonder,” replied Mickey, pointing to the +left.</p> +<p>“And I was sure that it was here,” said Fred, +pointing his hand in nearly an opposite direction.</p> +<p>“Which the same is a good raison why you’re wrong. +When you git lost, and think you’re on the right way, ye may +be sure that ye’re wrong; and after figuring the whole thing +over, and getting sartin of the right coorse, all you’ve got +to do is not to take it, and ye’re sartin of saving +yerself.”</p> +<p>“Then, according to that, you ought not to take the route +which you have said is the right one.”</p> +<p>“I’m spaking for lost spalpeens like +yoursilf,” said Mickey, severely. “I haven’t been +lost since I parted company with Soot Simpson, and, begorrah, that +minds me that we ought to saa something of him. Just look around +and obsarve whether he is standing anywhere beckoning to +us.”</p> +<p>Both used their eyes to the extent of their ability, but were +unable to discover anything that bore a suspicious resemblance to a +man.</p> +<p>So far as they could judge, they were entirely alone in this +vast solitude.</p> +<p>“Do you expect to meet Sut very soon?”’</p> +<p>“Av coorse I do; why shouldn’t I?”</p> +<p>“But he went another way from you altogether after Lone +Wolf.”</p> +<p>“That’s just it. He wint another way, and wint +wrong, and he has been gone long ’nough to find out the +same.”</p> +<p>“When he will turn back and follow you?”</p> +<p>“As soon as he finds he’s wrong, he’ll go +right, and as I wint right, he’ll be on my heels.”</p> +<p>“But you know both of us have strayed a good deal off the +track, and we have traveled in many places, where we haven’t +made the slightest trail. How is he going to follow us +then?”</p> +<p>The Irishman gave utterance to a scornful exclamation.</p> +<p>“I’ve been with that Soot Simpson long enough to +learn something. I’ve saan some specimens of what he kin do. +Rocks don’t make no difference to him. When he gits on the +track of a wild bird, if it don’t take extra pains to dodge +and double, he’ll foller its trail through the air. Oh, +he’s there all the time, and the wonder with me is that he +hasn’t turned up before.”</p> +<p>“What would he have done had he come along and found us +both in the cave, and the Apaches watching?”</p> +<p>“He would have tracked that wolf back to his hole, come in +and fetched us out, and then slipped up behind the six, and tumbled +them all in like so many tenpins.”</p> +<p>“If he’s such a wonderful man as that, it’s a +pity we couldn’t have kept him with us all the time, and if +we do run against him, we can afford to stop thinking about +Apaches, as they will be of no account.”</p> +<p>“Yees are right; but the trouble is to find him, as the +man said when the British Government condemned John Mitchel, and +him thousands of miles away in Ameriky. This thramping about at +night in the mountains isn’t the aisiest way to diskiver a +man, and it’s him that will have to find us, instead of we +him. But we’ll keep it up.”</p> +<p>If the Apache mustang which they were riding meditated any +mischief, he seemed to be of the opinion that the occasion was not +the most suitable. He walked along with great docility and care, +picking his way with a skill that was wonderful. Several times they +approached places where it seemed impossible for an equine to go +forward, but the horse scarcely hesitated, toiling onward like an +Alpine chamois, until, at last, they drew up in a small valley, +through the middle of which ran a small stream, that sparkled +brightly in the moonlight.</p> +<p>“Here we are,” said Mickey. “here’s the +spot where I left my cratur a couple of days ago, and where I +don’t see him just now. Use your eyes a bit, and tell me +whether you obsarve him.”</p> +<p>Fred was scarcely less anxious than his friend to recover the +steed, for, recalling his experience in that line, he had good +reason to mistrust Indian horses. It would be very awkward, when +they should find a party of Apaches howling and rushing down upon +them, to have the animal turn calmly about and trot back to his +former friends, carrying his two riders into captivity, or leaving +them to shift for themselves.</p> +<p>Nothing could be seen of the creature, but there was a fringe of +wood on the opposite side where he might be concealed, and Mickey +slid off the blanket with the intention of hunting for him.</p> +<p>“Don’t let this spalpeen give ye the slip,” he +cautioned the lad, as he gave the lariat into his hand; “for +if mine is gone, this is the only one we have to depend on, and we +can’t spare him.”</p> +<p>Fred felt a little uncomfortable when he found himself alone and +astride of the fiery steed, which pricked up his ears as though he +meditated mischief; but the horse seemed to think better of it, and +continued so quiet that the young rider ventured to transfer his +attention from him to Mickey, who was moving across the open space +in the direction of the wood upon the opposite side.</p> +<p>The moonlight was so clear that he could be as plainly seen, +almost, as if it were midday. As he moved along, he brought his +rifle around to the front, so that he could use it at a +moment’s need, for he could not but see the probability that, +if his horse had been lately disturbed, it was likely that those +who did so were still in the vicinity, and no place was more likely +to be used for a covert than the same patch of timber which he was +approaching.</p> +<p>“Be the powers! but it looks a little pokerish!” he +said to himself, slowing his gait, and surveying the wood with no +little distrust. “There might be a dozen of the spalpeens +slaaping there wid one eye open, or all sitting up and expicting +me.”</p> +<p>He had proceeded so far however, that it was as dangerous to +turn back as it was to go on, for if any enemies were there, they +were so close at hand that they could easily capture or shoot him +before he could reach his horse. He was scarcely moving, and doing +his utmost to penetrate the deep shadow, when, beyond all question, +he heard a movement among the trees. He paused as if he had been +shot and cocked his rifle, looking toward the point from whence +came the noise.</p> +<p>“Aisy there, now,” he said in a solemn voice. +“I won’t stand any of your thricks. I’m savage, +and when I’m that way I’m dangerous, so if yees are +there spake out, or else come out like a man, and tell me your +name, be the token of which mine is Mickey O’Rooney from +Ireland.”</p> +<p>This characteristic summons produced no response, and, feeling +the peculiar peril of his exposed position, the Irishman determined +upon changing it and securing the shelter of a tree for himself. It +was not prudent to move directly toward the spot which gave forth +the rustling sound, as that would be likely to draw out a shot from +a foe if he desired to avoid a personal encounter. Accordingly, the +Irishman made what might be termed a flank movement by turning to +the right, running rapidly several paces and then diving in among +the trees, as though he were plunging into the water for a +bath.</p> +<p>The few minutes occupied in making this change were those which +Mickey felt were of great danger; for, if he should reach the wood +and find himself opposed to but a single man, or even two, the +situation would not be so uneven by any means. No shots were fired, +and he drew a great sigh of relief when he gained the desired +covert.</p> +<p>“Now I can dodge back and forth, and work me way up to +them,” he concluded; “and when they stick their heads +out from behind the trees, I’ll whack ’em for +’em, just as we used to do at Donnybrook when the fun +began.”</p> +<p>He waited where he was for some time, in the expectation that +his foe would reveal himself by an attempt to draw out. But if +there is any one thing which distinguishes a scout, whether white +or red, at such a time, it is his patience. It is like that of the +Esquimaux, who will sit for sixteen hours, without stirring, beside +an airhole in the ice, waiting for a seal to appear. Mickey +O’Rooney was not burdened with overmuch patience, and acted +upon the principle of Mohammed going to the mountain. He began +picking his way through the shadows and among the trees, determined +to keep forward until the mystery was solved.</p> +<hr /> +<h3><a id="Ch_12" name="Ch_12">Chapter XII.</a></h3> +<h2>Through the Mountains—Continued.</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>When Mickey found himself under the shelter of the trees, +something like his old confidence returned.</p> +<p>“As I obsarved some minutes ago, it’s mesilf +that’s not going to stand any fooling,” he added, loud +enough for the redskins to hear. “Whither ye’re there +or not, ye ought to spake, and come out and smoke the calomel of +peace, and give a spalpeen a chance to crack your head, as though +ye’re his brother; but if ye’re up to any of your +thricks, make ready to go to your hunting-grounds.”</p> +<p>By this time he was within a dozen feet of the spot whence came +the rustling that so disturbed him, and was staring with all his +eyes in quest of the redskins. In spite of the bright moonlight, +the Irishman could not be certain of anything he saw. There were +trees of large size, behind any of which an Indian might have +shielded himself effectually, and it was useless for Mickey to look +unless his man chose to show himself.</p> +<p>The Irishman had all the natural recklessness of his race, but +he had been in the Apache country long enough to learn to tone it +down, for that was the country where the most fatal attribute a man +could have was recklessness or rashness. In many instances of +conflict with Indians it is worse than cowardice.</p> +<p>But, in the face of Mickey’s assurance to the contrary, he +did not feel altogether easy about the Apaches he had left at the +cave. His humanity had prevented him from depriving them of means +of escape, and although he was inclined to believe that they were +not likely to climb the lasso until many hours should elapse, there +could be no certainty about it. They might do so within an hour +after the departure of the man and boy.</p> +<p>It was this reflection that caused Mickey to act with something +of his natural rashness. He felt that he could not afford to wait +to fight the thing out on scientific principles, so he determined, +since he was so close, to force it to an issue without delay. +Accordingly, he prepared himself to charge.</p> +<p>“I’ve been too kind already in giving ye +warnings,” he added, gathering himself for the effort, +“and if your indifference causes your ruin, it’s your +own fault, as the bull remarked when he come down on a butt agin +the engine.”</p> +<p>Compressing his lips, Mickey made his start, forcing out a few +words, as he would shoot bullets on the way.</p> +<p>“Nobody but a spalpeen of a coward would keep out of sight +when he saw a head coming down on him in such tempting style as +mine. I can’t understand how he could.”</p> +<p>In his furious hunt for antagonists, the belligerent fellow did +not think of looking upon the ground. He made the blunder of +Captain John Smith, of the Jamestown Colony, who, in retreating +from Powhatan’s warriors, became mired, with the eventual +result of making Pocahontas famous, and securing an infinite number +of namesakes of the captain himself.</p> +<p>Mickey O’Rooney had scarcely begun his charge when his +feet came into violent collision with a body upon the ground, and +he turned a complete somersault over it.</p> +<p>“Be the powers! but that’s a dirty thrick!” he +exclaimed, gathering himself up as hurriedly as possible, and +recovering very speedily from his natural bewilderment. “A +man who drops in the ring without a blow is always ruled out, and +be that token ye’re not entitled to the respect of illegant +gintlemen.”</p> +<p>During the utterance of these words the Irishman had carefully +returned, boiling over with indignation and fight, and at this +juncture he discovered the obstruction which had brought him to +grief.</p> +<p>So far as appearances went, there was no Indian nearer than the +cave. It was his own horse that had made the noise which first +alarmed him. While the equine was stretched upon the ground, +peacefully sleeping, his bumptious owner, in charging over his +body, had stumbled and fallen.</p> +<p>Mickey was thrown “all in a heap” for a minute or +two, when he found how the case stood, and then he laughed to +himself as he fully appreciated the situation.</p> +<p>“Well, well, well, I feel as chape as Jerry McConnell when +he hugged and kissed a gal for two hours, one evening, and found it +was his wife, and she felt chaaper yet, for she thought all the +time that it was Mickey O’Shaughnessy. I suppose me old +swateheart,” he added, as he stooped down and patted the head +of his horse, “that ye’ve been living so high here for +two or three days that ye’re too fat to be good for anything. +Come, up wid ye, ye old spalpeen!”</p> +<p>The mustang recognized the voice of his master, and obeyed as +promptly as a child, coming upon his feet with the nimbleness of a +racer, and ready to do what he was bidden. Mickey led him out into +the moonlight, when he left him standing, while he went a short +distance for the saddle and bridle, which he had concealed at the +time of leaving the spot. They were found just as he had left them, +and he returned in high feather, secured them in a twinkling upon +his animal and galloped back to where the lad was waiting.</p> +<p>“Ye haven’t seen or heard anything of redskins, have +ye, while I was procuring my cratur?”</p> +<p>“Nothing at all,” replied the lad; “but I +heard you talking pretty loud, so I suppose you must have found +several.”</p> +<p>“No,” answered Mickey, who did not care about +explaining the whole affair. “I’m always in the habit +of exchanging a few words wid the cratur when I maats, and such was +the case a short time since, when I met him, after being away so +long.”</p> +<p>“Well, Mickey, we haven’t any time to +spare.”</p> +<p>“Ye’re right, my laddy; all you’ve got to do +is to folly me.”</p> +<p>With this he headed his mustang at precisely right angles to the +course they followed in making their way to the spot; and Fred, who +expected all sorts of trouble in the way of traveling, noticed that +he was following some sort of path or trail, along which his horse +trod as easily as upon the open prairie. While this was an +advantage in one respect it had its disadvantage in another. The +presence of a trail in that part of the world implied that it was +one made and traveled by Indians, who were likely to be encountered +at any moment, and Mickey was not insensible to the peril. But, in +the present instance, there seemed to be no other means of getting +along, and thus, in one sense, they were forced into it. The +probabilities, however, were that they would soon emerge into safer +territory, where it would be possible to take some precautions +against pursuers.</p> +<p>For some time the two galloped along without speaking. The hoofs +of their mustangs rang upon the rocks, and rattled over the gravel, +and, in the still night, could have been heard a long distance +away. While the Irishman kept as good a lookout ahead as possible, +Fred Munson did his best to guard their rear. He kept continually +glancing over his shoulder in the expectation of seeing some of +their enemies, but nothing of the kind occurred, and before he +anticipated it, they emerged into what seemed a deep valley, with +high rocks upon both sides. Mickey drew up, and allowed his young +friend to move alongside.</p> +<p>“Do ye mind ever having seen this place before?” he +asked.</p> +<p>“I don’t remember anything about this country, and +all I ask is that we may get out of it as soon as +possible.”</p> +<p>“But don’t ye mind ever having been here +before?”</p> +<p>Thus questioned, Fred scanned his surroundings as best he could, +but there was nothing that he could identify, and he so said, +adding:</p> +<p>“I’m sure I’ve never been here +before.”</p> +<p>“And I’m sure ye have. This is the path that Lone +Wolf come along, and that ye was hunting for when ye got lost, and +fell into the basement story of the mountain.”</p> +<p>“Oh, this is the pass, is it?” exclaimed the +delighted lad; “then we have a clear road before us straight +to New Boston.”</p> +<p>“Clear of all but one thing.”</p> +<p>“What’s that?”</p> +<p>“The red spalpeens; they’re always turning up when +you don’t expect ’em, and don’t want +’em.”</p> +<p>“How far are we away from the cave, where we left the half +dozen Apaches?”</p> +<p>“I don’t think it’s much more than a mile, +though it may be a mile and a half.”</p> +<p>“Well, that’s very good; we’ve got that much +start, and it’s worth having.”</p> +<p>“And there’s where ye’re mistook, as the gals +used to obsarve when anybody tried to run down my beauty. The path +that we come along, ye’ll mind, makes many turns and twists, +and the ind of it all is that it strikes the pass on the other side +of the cave, and we’ve got to ride right by the spot which we +lift.”</p> +<p>This was not cheering information, although, everything +considered, the two had cause to congratulate themselves upon their +extraordinary success up to this time.</p> +<p>The night was about gone, and, while their mustangs halted, they +observed that it was growing light in the east. They would be +forced to ride through the dangerous territory by day, so that the +risk of detection would be proportionately greater if their enemies +should be in the vicinity. Both the mustangs were fresh and +vigorous, however, having enjoyed an unusually long rest, with +plenty of food, and they were good for many hours of speed and +endurance. The one ridden by Fred had behaved in a very seemly +fashion, and there was ground for the hope that he would keep up +the line of conduct to the end. Still there could be no certainty +of what he would do in the presence of the Apaches.</p> +<p>“We’ll take it aisy,” said Mickey, as the two +started off at an easy gallop. “We’ll not be afther +putting ’em to a run till we have to do the same, so that +when there’s naad for their spaad, we shall have it at +command.” This prudent suggestion was carried out. Their +horses dropped into a sweeping gallop that was as easy as an +ordinary walk. The riders kept their senses awake, talking only a +little, and then in guarded voices.</p> +<p>As they galloped along the sun rose, and the day promised to be +as warm and pleasant as those which had preceded it. The sky was +obscured only by a few fleecy clouds, while the deep blue beyond +was as beautiful as that of Italy. Drawing near the cave in the +mountain, they pulled their horses down to a walk and carefully +guided them into the softest places, so as to make the noise of +their hoofs as slight as possible. Nothing occurred until they were +a short distance beyond the dangerous spot, when Mickey spoke.</p> +<p>“Do you obsarve that stream there?” he asked, +pointing to a rather deep brook which ran across the pass, and lost +itself in the rocks upon the opposite side. “Well, +that’s the water that comes through the cave over the +cascade, and that I expicted to swim out by, and I’m going to +find out what me chances were.”</p> +<hr /> +<h3><a id="Ch_13" name="Ch_13">Chapter XIII.</a></h3> +<h2>In the Nick of Time.</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>Leaving his mustang in charge of Fred, the Irishman turned to +the right, and followed the stream into the rocks. The course was +so winding that he speedily disappeared from sight. The boy, who +was compelled to sit still and await his return, at perhaps the +most dangerous portion of the road, felt anything but comfortable +over the erratic proceeding of his friend. But, fortunately, the +latter had been gone but a short time when he reappeared, hurrying +forward as if somebody was at his heels.</p> +<p>“It’s all right,” he remarked, as he sprang +into the saddle, took up the reins, and started on. “I think +the Apaches are there, though I can’t be sartin; but I found +out what I wanted to l’arn.”</p> +<p>Then he explained that he followed up the stream to the place +where it came from beneath the rocks, which formed a part of the +wall of the cave, where a curious fact attracted his attention. In +its passage beneath the stone the tunnel widened and flattened, so +that, where it shot forth to the sunlight again, its width was some +twenty feet, and its depth only a few inches. The appearance it +presented was very much like that of the gates of a mill-pond when +they have been slightly raised to allow a discharge of water +beneath. Through the passage-way thus afforded no living person +could have forced his way; and, had Mickey O’Rooney attempted +it, nothing in the world could have saved him from drowning. The +Irishman himself realized it, and was thankful enough that he had +refrained from making the desperate attempt.</p> +<p>The two continued their sweeping gallop for several hours, +during which they did not catch a glimpse of Indians, but they were +alarmed by hearing the reports of guns at no great distance on the +right. The firing was irregular, sometimes several shots being +heard together, and then they were more of a dropping character. +This showed that a fight of some kind was going on, but as to its +precise nature they could only conjecture. It might be that a party +of Comanches and Apaches, or Kiowas, or hunters were enjoying a hot +time, but the two friends were glad to get out of the neighborhood +as speedily as possible. At noon they enjoyed the satisfaction of +knowing that they had made good and substantial progress on the way +home. There was an abundance of grass and water, and when the sun +was overhead they went into camp.</p> +<p>“I’m as hungry as a panther that has been fasting +for a month,” said Mickey, as he dismounted; “and I +haven’t got a mouthful of food lift. There ain’t any +use of a chap starving to death to accommodate anybody else, and I +don’t mane to do the same.”</p> +<p>Fred Munson’s hunger was scarcely less than his, but the +boy would have been willing to have undergone still more, rather +than incur the risk that was now inevitable. But Mickey saw nothing +to be gained by such a course and contended that they should give +their attention to the wants of their bodies, before they were +weakened by fasting and fatigue.</p> +<p>Mickey promised not to be absent long, and then started in +search of provender. Game was abundant in that part of the world, +and he was confident that much time would not be required to bring +down some toothsome dainty.</p> +<p>“He has an uncomfortable way of running off and leaving a +fellow alone,” muttered Fred, as he watched the vanishing +figure of his friend. “I haven’t anything but my +revolver, and only two shots left in that, and it seems to me that +this is about the worst place we could stop.”</p> +<p>The point where they camped was in the pass, which, at that +point, widened considerably. The right wall curved far inward in a +semi-circular shape, the opposite remaining the same, the gorge +looking as if an immense slice had been scooped out of its northern +boundary. The rocks on every hand ranged from a dozen to a hundred +feet in height, with numerous openings, through which a horseman +could easily pick his way. The tops were covered with vegetation, +the greater portion of which was vigorous and dense.</p> +<p>Fred found himself standing in an immense amphitheatre, as one +can imagine how the gladiators of Rome stood in the Coliseum, when +an audience of over a hundred thousand were seated and looking down +upon them. He could not but note the helpless situation a party of +men would be in if caught where he was.</p> +<p>“If a company of United States Cavalry should camp here, +and the Indians opened on them from the rocks above, they would +have to stand and be shot down, one after another, or else run the +gauntlet and be picked off in the same way.”</p> +<p>The appearance of the ground showed that the spot was a favorite +camping-site of the Indians. Fred, for a time, suspected that it +was the place where Lone Wolf and his band had spent the first +night out from New Boston; but an examination showed that it did +not correspond in many points. The remains of charred wood, of +bleaching bones and ashes proved that many a camp-fire had been +kindled. And, in all probability, every one of them had warmed the +shins and toasted the food of the red cut-throats of that +section.</p> +<p>The two mustangs were tethered near one side of the space where +there was grass and water, and the lad set about it to select a +proper place in which to build their camp-fire. There was no +trouble in determining this; but, when he started to gather wood, +he was surprised to discover that there was much less than he +supposed. The former tenants of the place had cleared it up pretty +thoroughly.</p> +<p>“There is plenty of wood over yonder,” he said to +himself, looking in the direction taken by Mickey O’Rooney; +“and where there is so much growing there must be some upon +the ground. I’ll go over and gather some, and have the fire +all ready when he comes back.”</p> +<p>It was quite a walk from where he stood to the side of the +semicircular widening of the pass, and as he went over it he was +surprised to find it greater than it appeared. When he picked his +way between the rocks, and began clambering among the trees and +vegetation, he concluded that he was fully two hundred yards from +where the mustangs were grazing.</p> +<p>However, he did not allow himself to lose any time in +speculation and wonderment, but set to work at once to gather wood +with which to kindle a fire in readiness for the return of Mickey. +There was enough around him to afford all he needed and he was +engaged in leisurely collecting an armful when he was startled by +the rattling of the leaves behind him.</p> +<p>The wood was dropped on the instant, and the alarmed lad wheeled +about to face his new danger. Instead of two or three Indians, as +he had anticipated, he saw an enormous grizzly bear, about a dozen +feet in the rear, coming directly toward him, with very little +doubt of his purpose.</p> +<p>Fred had no thought of anything of this character, and for a +time he was paralyzed with terror, unable to speak or stir. These +precious seconds were improved by the huge animal, which continued +lumbering heavily forward toward the boy. Bruin had his jaws apart +and his red tongue lolling out, while a guttural grunt was +occasionally heard, as if the beast was anticipating the crunching +of the tender flesh and bones of the lad.</p> +<p>Before the latter was within reach, however, he had recovered +his usual activity, and, with a bound and a yell of terror, Fred +started in the direction of the clearing, where he had left the +mustangs, and where he had intended to kindle the camp-fire. But +the enormous, bulky creature, although swinging along in his +awkward fashion, still made good speed, and gained so rapidly upon +the boy that he almost abandoned hope of escape.</p> +<p>At this critical moment Fred thought of his revolver, and he +whipped it out in a twinkling. Whirling about, he took quick aim +and discharged both barrels almost in the face of the brute. Then, +flinging the pistol against his leather nose, he turned back and +continued his flight at the utmost bent of his speed. Both bullets +struck the brute and wounded him, but not fatally, nor, indeed, +enough to check his advance.</p> +<div class="figure"><a href="images/130_full.png" title= +"Whirling about he took quick aim." target="_blank"><img src= +"images/130_small.png" alt="A man aims a gun at a bear." id= +"img130" name="img130" width="360" height="586" /></a> +<p>WHIRLING ABOUT HE TOOK QUICK AIM.</p> +</div> +<p>The grizzly bear, as found in his native wilds, is killed with +extreme difficulty, and the only thing that seemed to affect the +monster in the present instance was the flash of the pistol in his +eyes. He paused, and, rearing on his hind legs, snorted, snuffed, +and pawed his nose as if the bullets were splinters which he was +seeking to displace. Then, with an angry growl, he dropped on all +fours and resumed his pursuit of the author of his confusion and +hurts. The wounds incensed the brute, and he plunged along at a +faster rate than before, gaining so rapidly that there could be no +doubt as to the result.</p> +<p>Being without any weapon at all, there seemed but one hope for +Fred, and that was to reach his mustang in time to mount and avail +himself of his speed. For a hundred feet or so he ran down a rapid +slope, between the trees and rocks, until he reached the camping +site, where he had a run of a couple of hundred yards across a +comparatively level plain to reach the point where his animal was +awaiting him.</p> +<p>In going down this wooded slope, the smaller size of the boy +gave him considerable advantage. Yet, so well did the grizzly +succeed that he reached the spot less than twenty feet in his rear, +and, heading directly for him, at once proceeded to decrease the +distance still further. This placed the question of escape by +superior speed upon the part of the lad as among the +impossibilities, and it began to look very much as if his race were +run.</p> +<p>At this juncture, as if all the fates had combined against him, +Fred, while glancing backward over his shoulder, stumbled and fell. +He sprang up as hastily as possible, but the loss of ground was +irreparable. As he looked back he saw that the colossal beast was +so close that it seemed that one sweep of his paw would smite the +terrified fugitive from the face of the earth.</p> +<p>It was a critical moment indeed, and the crack of the rifle from +the wood, which the pursuer and pursued had just left, was not a +breath of time too soon. Aimed by one who knew the vulnerable +points of such a creature, and by someone whose skill was +unsurpassed, the leaden messenger crashed its way through bone and +muscle to the seat of life. The brute, which was ready to fall upon +and devour the young fugitive, pitched heavily forward and rolled +upon the ground in the throes of death.</p> +<p>Fred did not realize his delivery until he had gone some +distance further and looked back and saw the black mass motionless +upon the ground. After some hesitation, he then turned and walked +distrustfully back to where it lay.</p> +<p>He found the beast stone-dead, a rill of blood from beneath the +fore-leg showing where some one’s bullet had done the +business. The lad recalled the sound of the gun which had reached +his ear.</p> +<p>“That was the best shot for me that Mickey ever +made,” he muttered, looking around for his friend.</p> +<p>But he was nowhere to be seen.</p> +<p>“Mickey must always have his fun,” added Fred after +failing to detect him. “Instead of coming out at once and +letting me know how he came to do it, he fires the lucky shot, and +then waits to see how I will act. My gracious! he is a +bouncer!”</p> +<p>This last remark was excited by the carcass, which he kicked, +and which shook like a mountainous mass of jelly; and as he passed +around it he gained a fair idea of the immense proportions of the +bear, in whose grasp he would have been as helpless as in that of a +royal Bengal tiger.</p> +<p>“Whew! but he came mighty close to me! When I fell down I +expected to feel his paws on me before I could get up. In a few +seconds more it would have been all up with me.”</p> +<p>Several minutes passed, and nothing was seen of the Irishman, +whereupon the lad concluded he might as well go back and gather the +wood, which would be needed at the camp-fire.</p> +<p>“I wonder if there’s any more of them,” he +muttered, as he began picking his way among the rocks. “If +there are, why Mickey must look out for me.”</p> +<p>He found the sticks just as he had thrown them down and he +proceeded to regather them, keeping a careful watch for another +dangerous visitor. All remained quiet, however, and, making his way +down the wooded slope into the open area, he looked back and found +that he was still alone. So it continued until he returned to where +the two mustangs were tethered. There he carefully adjusted the +sticks and prepared everything, after which he began to feel some +impatience at the non-appearance of his friend.</p> +<p>“He must see more fun in that kind of thing than I do. +There’s no telling what has become of those six Apaches we +left down in the cave. I feel sure that they’ve got above +ground again. It won’t take long for them to find their +mustangs, or some other horses, and they may be a mile away, and +there may be other parties close by. Halloa!”</p> +<p>Fred thought that he had no matches about his person; but he was +making a sort of aimless hunt when he found a solitary lucifer at +the bottom of his pocket. This he carefully struck against the rock +behind him, and in a few minutes the camp-fire was started and +burning merrily.</p> +<p>As he sat down to wait he looked toward the point where the +Irishman had vanished from sight. There he was, bearing on his +shoulders some choice sections of a young antelope he had shot, +although Fred recalled that he had not heard the report of his gun, +except when the grizzly was shot. As Mickey came along over the +same path taken by the boy, he was forced to make a detour around +the carcass of the bear. He paused to survey it, his whole manner +betraying great astonishment, as if he had never beheld anything of +the kind. He walked around the body several times, punched it with +his foot, and finally, grasping his twenty pounds of meat in his +right hand, approached the camp-fire.</p> +<p>Here he at once began the preparations for broiling it. The +antelope had been of goodly size and he had cut out the most +luscious portions, so as to avoid carrying back any waste material. +He had a great deal more than both could eat, it is true, but it +was a commendable custom with the Irishman to lay in a stock +against emergencies that were likely to arise.</p> +<p>While thus employed, it would have been impossible for Mickey to +hold his tongue.</p> +<p>“Begorrah, but it was queer, was the same, the way I came +to cotch this gintleman. I hunted him a little ways, when he made a +big jump, and I thought had got a long ways off, but when I came to +folly him, I found he had cornered himself among the rocks, where +there was no show of getting out, except by coming back on me. The +minute I showed mesilf, he made a rush for me arms, just as all the +purty gals in Tipperary used to do when I came along the street. An +antelope can’t do much, but I don’t care about their +coming down on me in that style, and so I pulled up and let drive. +He was right on me when I pulled trigger, and he made one big jump +that carried him clear over my head, and landed him stone dead on +the other side.”</p> +<p>“That was a good shot, but not as good as when you brought +down the grizzly bear at my heels.”</p> +<p>Mickey O’Rooney was particularly busy just then with his +culinary operations, and he stared at the lad with an expression of +comical amazement that made the young fellow laugh.</p> +<p>“Begorrah, why don’t ye talk sinse?” added +Mickey, impatiently. “I’ve heard Soot Simpson say that +if ye only put your shot in the right spot, ye don’t want but +one of ’em to trip the biggest grizzly that ever navigated. I +was going to obsarve that ye had been mighty lucky to send in your +two pistol-shots just where they settled the business, though I +s’pose the haythen was so close on ye whin ye fired that ye +almost shoved the weapon into his carcass.”</p> +<p>“I shot him, Mickey, before I fairly started to run, but +he didn’t mind it any more than if I spit in his face. It was +your own shot that did the business.”</p> +<p>“Me own shot!” repeated Mickey, still staring with +an astonished expression. “I never fired any shot at the +baste, and never saw him till a few minutes ago, when I was coming +this way.”</p> +<p>It was Fred Munson’s turn to be astonished, and he asked, +in his amazed, wondering way:</p> +<p>“Who, then, fired the shot that killed him? I +didn’t.”</p> +<p>“I thought ye did the same, for it was not +mesilf.”</p> +<p>The lad was more puzzled than ever. He saw that Mickey was in +earnest, and was telling him the truth, and each, in fact, +understood that <em>he</em> had been under a misapprehension as to +who had slain the grizzly bear.</p> +<p>“The beast was right on me,” continued Fred, +“and I didn’t think there was any chance for me, when I +heard the crack of a rifle from the bushes, and, looking back, saw +that the bear was down on the ground, making his last +kick.”</p> +<p>Mickey let the meat scorch, while he stopped to scratch his +head, as was his custom when he was in a mental fog.</p> +<p>“Begorrah, but that is queer, as me mither used to obsarve +when she found she had not been desaved by belaving what we childer +told her. There was somebody who was kind enough to knock over the +grizzly at the most convanient season for ye, and then he +doesn’t choose to send over his card wid his post-office +address on.”</p> +<p>“Who do you think it was, Mickey?”</p> +<p>“It must have been some red spalpeen that took pity on ye. +Who knows but it was Lone Wolf himself?”</p> +<p>Both looked about them in a scared, inquiring way, but could see +nothing of their unknown friend or enemy, as the case might be.</p> +<p>“I tell you, Mickey, that it makes me feel as if we ought +to get out of here.”</p> +<p>“Ye’re right, and we’ll just swally some of +this stuff, and then we’ll ’light out.”</p> +<p>He tossed the lad a goodly-sized piece of meat, which, if +anything, was overdone. Both ate more rapidly than was consistent +with hygiene, their eyes continually wandering over the rocks and +heights around them, in quest of their seemingly ever-present +enemies, the Apaches. It required but a few moments for them to, +complete their dinner. Mickey, in accordance with his custom, +carefully folded up what was left, and, taking a drink from the +stream which ran near at hand, they sprang upon the backs of their +mustangs, and headed westward in the direction of New Boston, +provided such a settlement was still in existence by the grace of +Lone Wolf, leader of the Apaches.</p> +<p>“Now,” said Mickey, whose spirits seemed to rise +when he found himself astride of his trusty mustang again, +“if we don’t have any bad luck, we ought to be out of +the mountains by dark.”</p> +<p>“And after that?”</p> +<p>“Then a good long ride across the prairie, and we’ll +be back again wid the folks.”</p> +<p>“How glad I am that father isn’t there, that he +staid at Fort Aubray, for when he comes along in a few weeks, he +won’t know anything about this trouble till I tell him the +whole story myself, and then it will be too late for him to +worry.”</p> +<p>“Yes, I’m glad it’s so, for it saams if I had +a spalpeen of a son off wid Lone Wolf, among the mountains, +I’d feel as bad as if he’d gone in swimming where the +water was over his head. And then it will be so nice to sit down +and tell the ould gintleman about it, and have him lambaste ye +’cause you wasn’t more respictful to Lone Wolf. All +them things are cheerful, and make the occasion very plisant. +Begorrah, I should like to know where that old redskin is, for Soot +Simpson tells me that he is the greatest redskin down in this part +of the world. He’s the spalpeen that robbed a government +train and made himself a big blanket out of the new greenbaeks that +he stole. Soot says that there isn’t room on his lodge-pole +for half the scalps that he has taken. Bad luck to the spalpeen, he +will peel the topknot from the head of a lovely woman, or swaat +child, such as I used to be, as quick as he would from the crown of +a man of my size. He’s an old riprobate, is the same, and +Soot says he can niver die resigned and at pace with all mankind +till he shoots him.”</p> +<p>“I’ll be very glad to keep out of his way, if +he’ll keep out of mine. I wonder why he didn’t kill me +when he had the chance, instead of keeping me so long.”</p> +<p>“I s’pose he meant to carry ye up where his little +spalpeens live, and turn ye over to them for their +amusement.”</p> +<p>“How could I amuse them?”</p> +<p>“There be a good many ways. They might have stuck little +wooden pegs in your hide, then set fire to ’em, and then +walked ye round for fireworks; or they might fill your ears with +powder, and tech it off, and then watched the iligant exprission of +your countenance. Or they might lave set ye to running up and down +between two rows of ’em, about eight or ten miles long, while +aich stood with a big shillalah in his hand, and banged ye over the +head with it as ye passed. There be a good many ways, according to +what Soot told me, but that’s enough to show ye that Lone +Wolf and his folks wouldn’t have been at a loss to find +delightful ways of giving the little childher the innocent sport +they must have.”</p> +<p>“I shouldn’t think they would, if that’s the +kind of fun they like,” replied the horrified boy. +“I’ve thanked the Lord hundreds of times that He helped +me get out of Lone Wolf’s clutches, and my dread is that he +may catch us before we can get out of the mountain. I don’t +believe we could find as good a chance as I did the other +night.”</p> +<p>“Ye’re right; that thing couldn’t happen +ag’in. Lightning doesn’t strike twice in the same +place; but we’ve got good horses, and if he don’t pin +us up in the pass, I think our chance is as good as could be +asked.”</p> +<p>“That’s what troubles me,” said Fred, who was +galloping at his side, and who kept continually glancing from the +tops of the rocks upon the right to the tops upon the left. +“You know there are Indians all over, and I wonder that some +of them haven’t seen us already. S’pose they do, and +they’re behind us, they can signal to somebody ahead, and the +first thing we know, they’ve got us shut in on both +sides.”</p> +<p>“That thing may happen,” replied Mickey, who did not +appear as apprehensive as his young friend; “but I have the +best of hope that the same won’t. I don’t think Lone +Wolf knows we’re anywhere around here, and before he can find +out, I also hope we shall be beyond his raich.”</p> +<hr /> +<h3><a id="Ch_14" name="Ch_14">Chapter XIV.</a></h3> +<h2>Between Two Fires.</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>Mickey had scarcely given utterance to this hopeful remark when +he drew up his mustang with a spasmodic jerk and exclaimed, in a +startled in a startled voice:</p> +<p>“Do you see <em>that</em>?”</p> +<p>As he spoke, he pointed some distance ahead, where a faint, thin +column of smoke was seen rising from the top of the rocks on the +opposite side of the canon or pass.</p> +<p>It will be remembered that the pass of which our two friends +availed themselves is the only one leading through the section of +the mountains which lies to the eastward of the Rio Pecos. That +part over which Fred and Mickey were riding showed numerous winding +trails, made by the hoofs of the horses, as they passed back and +forth, bearing Apaches, Comanches, Kiowas, and, very rarely, white +men. At no very distant intervals were observed human skeletons and +bones, while they were scarcely ever out of sight of the remains of +horses or wild animals; all of which told their tale of the scenes +of violence that had taken place in that highway of the +mountains.</p> +<p>Sometimes war-parties of the tribes mentioned encountered each +other in the gorge, and passed each other in sullen silence, or, +perchance, they dashed together like so many wild beasts, fighting +with the fury of a thousand Kilkenny cats. It was as the whim +happened to rule the leaders.</p> +<p>The rocks rose perpendicularly on both sides to the height of +fifty and a hundred feet, the upper contour being irregular, and +varying in every manner imaginable. Along the upper edge of the +pass grew vegetation, while here and there, along the side, some +tree managed to obtain a precarious foothold, and sprouted forth +toward the sun. The floor of the canon was of a varied +nature—rocks, boulders, grass, streams of water, gravel, +sand, and barren soil, alternating with each other and preventing +anything like an accurate description of any particular section. A +survey of this curious specimen of nature’s highway suggested +the idea that the solid mountain had been rent for many leagues by +an earthquake, which, having opened this great seam or rent, had +left it gradually to adjust itself to the changed order of things, +and to be availed of by those who were seeking a safe and speedy +transit through the almost impassable mountains.</p> +<p>Mickey and Fred checked their mustangs and carefully scrutinized +the line of smoke. It was several hundred yards in advance, on +their left, while they were following a trail that led close to the +right of the canon. They could distinguish nothing at all that +could give any additional information.</p> +<p>The fire which gave rise to the vapor had been kindled just far +enough back to cause the edge of the gorge to protrude itself in +such a way as to shut it off from the eyes of those below. Indeed, +it was not to be supposed that those who had the matter in charge +would commit any oversight which would reveal themselves or their +purpose to those from whom they desired to keep them.</p> +<p>“That is the same as the camp-fire which troubled the +three Apaches so much, and which was the means of my giving them +the slip.”</p> +<p>“It must have been started by some other war-party, so +that their ca’c’lations were upsit, and you had a +chance to get away during the muss. It was a sort of free fight, +you see, in which, instead of staying and getting your head +cracked, you stepped down and lift.”</p> +<p>Unable to make anything of this particular signal-fire, the two +friends carefully searched for more. Had they been able to discover +one in the rear, they would have been assured that signaling was +going on, and they would not have dared to venture forward. Here +and there along the sides of the canon were openings or crevices, +generally filled with some sort of a vegetable growth, and into +most of which quite a number of men could have taken refuge, but +which, of course, were inaccessible to their horses.</p> +<p>“I can’t find anything that resimbles the +same,” said Mickey, alluding to the camp-fire, “though +there may be some one that is seen by the gintlemen who are cooking +their shins by yon one.”</p> +<p>“Will it do to go on?”</p> +<p>“It won’t do to do anything else. Like enough the +spalpeen yonder has obsarved us coming, and he knows that +there’s a party behind us, and, being unable to do anything +himsilf, he starts up the fire so as to scare us, and turn us back +into the hands of the spalpeens coming in our rear. Mind, I say +that such may be the case, but I ain’t sure that it +is.”</p> +<p>“I shouldn’t wonder a bit, now, if that isn’t +it exactly,” said Fred, who was quite taken with the +ingenious theory of his friend. “It seems to me that the best +thing that we can do is to ride on as fast as we can.”</p> +<p>“We’ve got to run the risk of it being all wrong, +and fetching up in the bosom of the spalpeens; but it’s +moighty sure we don’t make anything by standing +here.”</p> +<p>The Irishman turned his horse as near the middle of the canon as +possible. Fred kept close to his side, his mustang behaving so +splendidly that he gave him his unreserved confidence. The average +width of the pass was about a hundred yards, so it will be +understood that if a detachment of men were caught within it they +would be compelled to fight at a fearful disadvantage.</p> +<p>The plan of Mickey and Fred, as they discussed it while riding +along, was to keep up the moderate gallop until close upon the +fire. They would then put their animals to the highest speed and +pass the dangerous point as speedily as possible. They felt no +little misgiving as they drew near the dangerous place, and they +continually glanced upward at the rocks overhead, expecting that a +party of Indians would suddenly make their appearance and open +fire.</p> +<p>The first plan was, as they drew near, to run in as close as +possible beneath the rocks on the left, in the belief that, as they +overhung so much, the Indians above could not reach them with a +shot. But before the time came to make the attempt, it was seen +that it would not do. Accordingly, Mickey, who had maintained a +line as close as possible to the centre of the canon, suddenly +sheered his mustang to the right, until he nearly grazed the wall +there. Then he put him on a dead run, Fred Munson doing the same, +with very little space between the two steeds. A few plunges +brought them directly opposite the signal-fire, and every nerve was +strained.</p> +<p>Both beasts were capable of magnificent speed and the still air +became like a hurricane as the horsemen cut their way through it. +Fred glanced upward at the crest of the rocks on the left and +fancied that he saw figures standing there, preparing to fire. He +hammered his heels against the ribs of his mustang and leaned +forward upon his neck, in the hope of making the aim as difficult +as possible.</p> +<p>Still no reports of guns were heard; and, after continuing the +terrific gait for a quarter of a mile, they gradually decreased it +until it became a moderate walk, and the riders again found +themselves side by side. Both had looked behind them a dozen times +since passing the dangerous point, but had not obtained a glimpse +of an Indian.</p> +<p>“I thought I saw a number just as we were opposite,” +said Fred; “but, if so, what has become of them?”</p> +<p>“Ye didn’t obsarve any at all, for I kipt raising me +eye that way, and they weren’t there. The whole thing is a +moighty <em>puzzle</em>, as our tacher used to remark when the sum +in addition became so big that he had to set down one number and +carry anither. The spalpeens must have manufactured that fire for +our benefit, and where’s the good that it has done +them?”</p> +<p>“Can’t it be that it was for something else? +Can’t it be that they took us for Indians, or perhaps they +haven’t seen us at all, and don’t know that we’ve +passed?”</p> +<p>“It does seem as if something of the kind might be, and +yet that don’t sthrike me as the Injin style of doing +business.”</p> +<p>They continued their moderate pace for quite a distance further, +continually looking back toward the camp-fire, the smoke from which +continued to ascend with the same distinct regularity as before, +but nothing resembling a warrior was detected. Finally a curve in +the gorge shut out the troublesome signal, and they were left to +continue their way and conjecture as much as they chose as to the +explanation of what had taken place.</p> +<p>A little later, and when the afternoon was about half gone, they +reached a portion of the pass which was remarkably straight, so +that the eye took in a half mile of it, from the beginning to the +point where another turn intervened. The two friends were galloping +over this exact section and speculating as to how soon they would +strike the open prairie, when all their calculations were knocked +topsy-turvy. A party of horsemen charged around the bend in front, +all riding at a sweeping gallop directly toward the alarmed Mickey +and Fred, who instantly halted and surveyed them. A second glance +showed them to be Indians, undoubtedly Apaches, and very probably +Lone Wolf himself and some of his warriors.</p> +<p>“We must turn back,” said the Irishman, wheeling his +horse about and striking him into a rapid gait. “We’ve +got to have a dead run for it, and I think we can win. Holy saints +presarve us!”</p> +<p>This ejaculation was caused by seeing, at that moment, another +party of horsemen appear directly in their front, as they turned on +the back trail. Thus they were shut in on both sides, and fairly +caught between two fires.</p> +<hr /> +<h3><a id="Ch_15" name="Ch_15">Chapter XV.</a></h3> +<h2>On the Defensive.</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>At the moment of reining up their mustangs, the fugitives were +about equidistant between the two fires, and it was just as +dangerous to advance as to retreat. For one second the Irishman +meditated a desperate charge, in the hope of breaking through the +company that first appeared in his path, and, had he been alone, or +accompanied by a man, he would have done so. But, slight as was his +own prospect of escape, he knew there was absolutely none for the +boy in such a desperate effort, and he determined that it should +not be made.</p> +<p>“Can’t we make a dash straight through them?” +asked Fred, reading the thought of Mickey, as he glanced from one +to the other, and noted the fearfully rapid approach of the +redskins.</p> +<p>“It can’t be done,” replied the Irishman. +“There is only one thing left for us.”</p> +<p>“What is that?”</p> +<p>“Do as I do. Yonder is an opening that may serve us for +awhile.”</p> +<p>As he spoke, he slipped off his steed, leaving him to work his +own will. Fred did not hesitate a moment, for there was not a +moment to spare.</p> +<p>As he sprang to the ground, he pulled the beautiful Apache +blanket from the back of the mustang that had served him so well. +Dragging that with him, the two hurried to the right, making for a +wooded crevice between the rocks, which seemingly offered a chance +for them to climb to the surface above, if, in the order of things, +they should gain the opportunity to do so. Mickey O’Rooney, +as a matter of course, took the lead and in a twinkling he was +among the gnarled and twisted saplings, the interlacing vines, and +the rolling stones and rattling gravel. As soon as he had secured a +foothold, he reached out his hand to help his young friend.</p> +<p>“Never mind me. I can keep along behind you. Go as fast as +you can.”</p> +<p>“Let me have the blanket,” said Mickey, drawing it +from his grasp. “Now come ahead, for we have got to go it +like monkeys.”</p> +<p>He turned and bent to his task with the recklessness of despair, +for, even in that dreadful crisis, he thought more of the little +fellow than he did of himself. If he could have been assured of his +safety, he would have been ready to wheel about and meet his score +or more of foes, and fight them single-handed, as Leonidas and his +band did at Thermopylæ. But the fate of the two was linked +together, and, sink or swim, it must be fulfilled in company.</p> +<p>The narrow, wooded ravine, in which they had taken enforced +refuge, was only three or four feet in width, the bottom sloping +irregularly upward, at an angle of forty five degrees. So long as +this continued, so long could they maintain their laboring ascent +to the top. Mickey had strong hopes that, with the advantage of the +start, they might reach that point far enough in advance of their +pursuers to secure some other concealment that would serve them +till nightfall, when they could steal out and try their chances +again.</p> +<p>The saplings growing at every inclination afforded them much +assistance, as they were able to seize hold with one or both hands, +and thus help themselves along. But the vines in many places were +of a peculiar running nature and they frequently caught their feet +and stumbled; but they were instantly up and at it again. All at +once Mickey, who was scarcely an arm’s length in advance, +halted so abruptly that Fred ran plump against him.</p> +<p>“Why don’t you go on?” asked the panting +lad.</p> +<p>“I can’t. Here’s the end.”</p> +<p>So it was, indeed. While pressing forward with undiminished +effort, the Irishman found himself suddenly confronted with a +solid, perpendicular wall of rock. The narrow chasm, or fissure, +terminated.</p> +<p>It was like a fugitive, his heart beating high with hope, +checked in his flight by the obtrusion of the Great Chinese Wall +across his path. Mickey looked upward. As he stood, he could, with +outstretched arms, touch the wall on his right and left, and kick +the one in front—the only open route being in the rear, which +was commanded by the Apache party. As he did so, he saw, through +the interstices of the interweaving, straggling branches, the +clear, blue sky, with the edge of the fissure fully forty feet +above his head. His first hope was that some of the saplings around +him were lofty enough to permit him to use them as a ladder; but +the tallest did not approach within a half dozen yards of the top. +They were shut in on every hand.</p> +<p>“We can’t run any further,” said the Irishman, +after a hasty glance at the situation. “We are cotched as +fairly as ever was a mouse in a trap, and it now remains for us to +peg away, and go under doing the best we can. Have ye your +pistol?”</p> +<p>“Yes; I picked it up again, after throwing it in the face +of the grizzly, but it isn’t loaded.”</p> +<p>“Then it ain’t of much account, as me mither used to +say in her affectionate references to me father; but if one of the +spalpeens happen to come onto ye too suddent like, ye might scare +him by shoving that into his eyes. I’ve got the powder for +the same, but the bullets won’t fit it, so I’ll have to +do the shooting.”</p> +<p>They were at bay and the Irishman was right in his declaration +that they could do nothing but fight it out as best they might. The +question of further flight was settled by the trap in which they +were caught.</p> +<p>They paused, expecting to hear the tramp of the Indians behind +them, but, as it continued quiet, Mickey ventured upon a more +critical inspection of their fortress, as it may be termed. He +found little which has not already been mentioned, except the fact +that the wall on their left sloped inward, as it ascended, to such +a degree that the width at the top was several feet less than at +the bottom. This was an important advantage, for, in case they were +attacked from above, it was in their power to place themselves +beyond the immediate reach of a whole war party by any means at +their command.</p> +<p>“Do ye hear anything?” asked Mickey, bending his +head to listen.</p> +<p>They were silent a few minutes, during which the occasional +tramp of a horse’s hoof was noted. Beyond a doubt, the entire +war-party of Apaches were at the mouth of the fissure and probably +a number had already entered it.</p> +<p>“They haven’t tried to rush in pell-mell, +head-over-heels,” added Mickey, after they had stood thus a +short time; but they are sneaking along, just as they always do +when they’re on the thrack of a gintleman.”</p> +<p>“How soon do you think they will be here?” asked +Fred, who had recovered his breath, and who began to feel something +like a renewal of hope, faint though it might be, at the continued +silence of their foes.</p> +<p>“Can’t say, me laddy; but they may come any minute, +and we must keep eyes and ears open, and be ready to do the last +act in style. Don’t ye mind that we’re very much in the +same fix that we was when cotched in the cave, barring that +we’re worse off here than we were there? If some one should +let a lasso down from the top, we might climb up just as we did +there; but that’s one of the things that ain’t likely +to happen.”</p> +<p>“Suppose we creep back a ways to see what the Indians are +doing,” ventured Fred, who was puzzled at the silence of +their enemies, which had now continued for some time.</p> +<p>“No need of doing that just yet. They’ll let us know +what they’re at and what they mane—whisht!”</p> +<p>At that juncture the Irishman detected a movement among the wood +and undergrowth of the ravine, and his rifle was at his shoulder +like a flash. Fred understood, or, rather, suspected, the cause of +the trouble, though he saw nothing. Only a few seconds elapsed when +the trigger was pulled. The sharp crack of the weapon had scarcely +broke the stillness when the shriek of a warrior was heard only a +few feet away, followed by a threshing of the vines and vegetation, +as the comrades of the slain brave caught and hurriedly dragged him +back toward the greater ravine beyond.</p> +<p>“That’ll taich ’em to be more respictful in +the traitment of gintlemen,” remarked Mickey, who had +recovered something of his natural recklessness, and was reloading +his gun with as much <em>sangfroid</em> as though he had just +dropped an antelope, and wished to be ready for another that was +expected along the same path.</p> +<p>Fred had detected the rustling movement among the shrubbery made +by the redskin in stealing upon them, but he saw nothing of the +savage himself, and was not a little startled when his friend fired +so quickly, and the result was so manifest.</p> +<p>If the victim of this rather hastily fired shot was unable to +appreciate the lesson from its having a too personal application to +himself, his companions appreciated it fully. It taught them that +the way of pursuit was not open and undisputed by any means, and +the few who were hurrying forward rather rashly were not only +checked, but forced backward. Matters, for the moment, were brought +to a stand still.</p> +<p>“They’ll be back again,” added Mickey, after +reloading his piece, “and, as they mean to have our topknots, +as the hunters say, we’ll wipe out as many as we kin before +they git them. And now, me laddy, will ye allow me to make a +suggestion?”</p> +<p>“What is it?”</p> +<p>“That ye kaap a little more out of raich. If one of the +spalpeens craap up, and shoots ye dead, ye’ll be sorry ye +didn’t take me advice, when ye come to think the matter over +coolly. Here’s a sort of boulder which seems to have cared in +from above. Do ye squaze in behind that.”</p> +<p>“And what will you do?” asked Fred, acting upon his +advice.</p> +<p>“Being as there isn’t room to squaze in wid ye, +I’ll take my stand a little out here, where I can secure the +protection of a similar piece of masonry, and where the spalpeens +can’t git by me without giving the countersign and showing a +pass.”</p> +<p>The lad did not specially like this arrangement, as it really +retired him, but their quarters were so cramped that they had to +dispose of themselves as best they could. He was obliged to feel +that practically he was of no account, as his only pistol had +become useless hours before. Accordingly, he forced himself in +behind the boulder pointed out, and found that his position was +safe against any treacherous shot from the front.</p> +<p>He was uneasy, however, about the open space above him, for it +struck him that it would be so easy for any of their foes to roll +the rocks down upon their heads. When he came to examine the +situation more critically, he was not a little relieved to find +that he was protected by the sloping wall, already mentioned. A +heavy stone heaved over the opening above might really weigh a ton, +and come crashing downward with terrific force, but no skill could, +at the start, cause its course to be such as to injure the lad. He +therefore concluded that his friend Mickey was not unwise in +placing him in such a refuge.</p> +<hr /> +<h3><a id="Ch_16" name="Ch_16">Chapter XVI.</a></h3> +<h2>Friend or Enemy?</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>It can scarcely be said that either of the fugitives had any +definite hope of escape, for neither was able to see how the thing +was possible. Mickey knew that occasionally, in the affairs of the +world, seemingly providential interferences had occurred, but he +looked for nothing of the kind. He considered that there would be a +siege, lasting perhaps several days, then a desperate hand-to-hand +struggle, and then.</p> +<p>The summary manner in which the Irishman disposed of the first +Apache who showed himself brought matters to a standstill. In this +condition they probably would have remained but for the Irishman +himself, who saw nothing to be gained by inaction. Turning his +head, he whispered to Fred:</p> +<p>“Do ye kape quiet, me laddy, till my return. I am going to +take a look around.”</p> +<p>The boy offered no objection, for he knew it would not be +heeded, and Mickey moved away. It required the greatest care to +pick his way down the fissure, as the stones and gravel were liable +to turn under his feet and betray his approach, and it was much +easier to go forward than backward.</p> +<p>The fissure which had afforded this temporary refuge was about +fifty feet in length, and the vegetation was so thick that at +almost any portion the view was no greater than three or four +yards. Mickey was in constant expectation of encountering some of +the Apaches at every step he took, and, in accordance with his +principle of hitting a head wherever he saw it, he held his rifle +so as to fire on the very instant the coppery face presented itself +to view. But he saw none, and as he advanced he began to believe +that the place was entirely free of the Apaches, who, if prudent, +would quietly wait on the outside until their prey dropped into +their hands.</p> +<p>It was not to be supposed that they would leave any opening on +the outside by which the most forlorn chance could be obtained, and +Mickey had no thought of any such thing. If he had, it would have +been dissipated by the evidence of his own ears. He could hear +distinctly their peculiar grunting voices, the tramp of their +mustangs, and the evidence which a score of Indian warriors might +be expected to give of their presence, when they had no reason for +concealment.</p> +<p>“It may be that the spalpeens mean to make a rush upon +me,” he muttered, as he halted near the end of the fissure, +“in which case I shall have a delightful employment in +cracking their pates as they come up and take their +turn.”</p> +<p>He remained where he was a few minutes longer, and, seeing no +prospect of learning anything additional, he resumed his advance +until he reached a point where it was only necessary to draw the +branches slightly apart to gain a view of the main ravine. And this +he proceeded to do in the gentlest and most cautious manner +possible.</p> +<p>The view was satisfactory, as it showed him that the Apaches +were gathered at the entrance to the fissure and were taking +matters very coolly and philosophically. Several were on horses, +and a number on foot. Among the mustangs moving about, the Irishman +recognized his own, astride of which was a dirty-looking Apache, +with a wide mouth and broken nose.</p> +<p>“Ye ould spalpeen,” muttered the indignant Irishman, +“if it wasn’t for fear of spoiling your wonderful +booty, I’d turn you somersets off that hoss of mine, which I +shall have to whitewash after getting him back, on account of your +contact wid the same.”</p> +<p>Mickey was strongly tempted to send a bullet after the +tantalizing horse-thief, but he thought he could wait awhile. He +was extremely cautious in making his stealthy view, only moving +enough leaves to permit the service of his eyes and he had not +enjoyed this prospect long before he believed that he had been +detected.</p> +<p>Of the twenty-odd members comprising the Apache party, about a +dozen were constantly in view, the others being too far to the +right or left to be seen. The group was an irregular and straggling +one, the most interesting portion being five or six, who stood +close together, exactly at the base of the fissure, talking with +each other. It was impossible that there should be more than one +subject of discussion; and the dispute, as Mickey suspected, was as +to the precise method of disposing of the job which had been placed +in their hands.</p> +<p>Some, evidently, favored a daring charge directly up the narrow +ravine, with its short, fierce encounter and sure victory. Others +had a different plan, and their gestures led the eavesdropper to +suspect that they advocated reaching them from the roof, while it +was apparent that there were those who insisted upon waiting until +the fruit should become ripe enough to fall into their laps without +shaking. There could be little doubt that the Apaches preferred to +take both prisoners, instead of shooting or tomahawking them in a +fight. They were under the inspiration of Lone Wolf, who believed +that a live man was much more valuable than a dead one.</p> +<p>While Mickey was watching this group with an interest which may +be imagined, he noticed that a short, thick, greasy, filthy warrior +was looking directly toward him, with a steadiness which caused the +Irishman to suspect that his presence was known. The Indian, like +all of them, was as homely as he could be. He, too, had gone +through an attack of smallpox, which had left his broad face so +deeply pitted that it could be noticed through the vari-colored +paint which was daubed thereon. There was scarcely any forehead, +the black, piercing eyes were far apart, and when Mickey saw them +turned toward him, he felt anything but comfortable under their +fire.</p> +<p>“I wonder whether he would keep mum if I should tip him +the wink?” thought Mickey, who suffered the leaves in front +of his face to close until there was just the smallest space +through which he could watch his man.</p> +<p>The latter acted very much as if he suspected the proximity of +the Irishman, even if he was not assured of it. He continued +looking directly at the point where the eyes of the white man +peered out upon him, and by-and-by he raised his arm and pointed in +the same direction, saying something at the same time to a couple +of the warriors near him.</p> +<p>“Be the powers, if that doesn’t mane <em>me</em>, as +me friend Larry O’Toole said when the judge axed for the +biggest rascal in coort. I’ll have to retire.”</p> +<p>At this juncture a strange occurrence took place. Mickey +O’Rooney was looking straight at the man, when he saw him +fling up his arms, yell and pitch forward to the ground, while the +group instantly scattered, as if a bombshell had dropped at their +feet.</p> +<p>Just a second previous to this strange death, Mickey heard the +report of a rifle, showing that the warrior had been shot by some +one at quite a distance from the spot, which shot, at the game +time, caused a temporary panic among the others.</p> +<p>“Well, well, now, if that doesn’t bate +everything!” exclaimed the amazed Irishman. “Just as I +was thinking of raising my gun to give that spalpeen his +walking-papers, up steps some gintleman and saves me the trouble; +<em>but who was the gintleman</em>? is the question.”</p> +<p>The inexplicable occurrence naturally recalled Fred +Munson’s adventure with the grizzly bear. When he needed +assistance most sorely, the shot was fired that saved his life. +Could it be that the same party had interfered in the present +instance? There was plenty of ground for speculation, and the +Irishman was disposed to believe that the diversion came from some +small party of Kiowas or Comanches, who had a special enmity +against this company of Apaches, and who, being too weak to attack +them, took this means of revenging themselves.</p> +<p>It was unsafe, however, to count upon the well-aimed shot as +meant in the interest of the whites, although the one that brought +down the grizzly bear could not have been meant for anything else +than a direct help to the imperiled lad. The Southwest has been +noted for what are termed “triangular fights.” A party +of Americans have been driven at bay by an overwhelming number of +Mexicans or greasers, who have suddenly found themselves attacked +by a party of howling Comanches. The latter have scattered the +Mexicans like chaff, the Americans acting the part of spectators +until the rout was complete, when the Comanches turned about and +sailed into the Americans. The Kiowas, Comanches, Apaches, Mexicans +and Americans afforded just the elements for a complication of +guerilla warfare, in which matters frequently became mixed to a +wonderful degree.</p> +<p>The hand that had fired this shot against a mortal foe of Mickey +O’Rooney might be turned against him the next hour. Who could +tell?</p> +<p>“If that gintleman begins the serenade from the other +side, it’s me bounden duty to kaap it up from this,” +concluded the Irishman, as he cocked his rifle and awaited his +chance.</p> +<p>It was not long in coming. Only a few minutes had passed after +the shot, when a couple of Apaches walked rapidly to view, and, +approaching the remains of their comrade, stooped down to carry him +away.</p> +<p>Mickey allowed them to get fairly started, when he blazed away +at the foremost, and had the satisfaction of seeing the rear Apache +not only deprived of his assistance, but his duty suddenly doubled. +The warrior, however, stuck pluckily to the work, and dragged both +out of view without any assistance from those who were ready to +rush to his help.</p> +<p>These two, or rather three, rifle shots produced the strongest +kind of effect upon the Apaches. They could not well fail to do so, +for they were not only fired with unerring aim, but they came from +such diverse points as to show the redskins that instead of having +their enemies cooped up in this narrow ravine, they had, in one +sense, placed themselves between two fires.</p> +<p>Hurriedly reloading his rifle, Mickey waited several minutes, +determined to fire the instant he got the chance, with the purpose +of enhancing the demoralization of the wretches. But they had +received enough to teach them caution, and as the minutes passed, +they failed to expose themselves. They had taken to shelter +somewhere, and were not yet ready to uncover.</p> +<p>“When Mickey had waited a considerable time, he concluded +to rejoin Fred Munson, who, no doubt, was anxious over the result +of his reconnoissance. When he returned he found him seated upon +the boulder, instead of behind it. The Irishman hastily explained +what had taken place, and added:</p> +<p>“I don’t know what they will do next, but +we’ve give the spalpeens a dose that will kaap them in the +background for a while.”</p> +<p>“No, it won’t, either,” was the significant +response.</p> +<p>“What do you maan, me laddy?”</p> +<p>“I mean that the Apaches, or some of them, anyway, have +changed their base. I’ve heard something overhead that makes +me sure they’re up there, getting up some kind of +deviltry.”</p> +<hr /> +<h3><a id="Ch_17" name="Ch_17">Chapter XVII.</a></h3> +<h2>A Fortunate Diversion.</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>Mickey O’Rooney had not thought of the +“opening” over their heads since the firing of his +rifle-shot, and he now started and looked upward, as if fearful +that he had committed a fatal oversight. But he saw or heard +nothing to excite alarm.</p> +<p>“Where are they?” he asked, in a whisper.</p> +<p>“They’re up there. I’ve seen them peep down +more than once.”</p> +<p>“What were they paaping for?”</p> +<p>“I suppose to find out where we were.”</p> +<p>“Be the powers, but I showed them where I was when I fired +me gun!”</p> +<p>“That maybe; but you didn’t stay there, and perhaps +they were looking for me.”</p> +<p>“Did they find ye?”</p> +<p>“I don’t think they did. You know I was in behind +the boulder, with my head thrown back, so that it was easy for me +to look up, and there wasn’t enough branches and leaves over +my head to shut out my view; so I lay there looking up, watching +and listening, when I saw an Indian peep over the top there, as +though he was looking for us.”</p> +<p>“Did ye see more than one?”</p> +<p>“I am sure there were two, and I think three.”</p> +<p>“They didn’t ax ye any question?”</p> +<p>“I didn’t hear any.”</p> +<p>“What d’ye s’pose they mean to try?”</p> +<p>“I thought they meant to find out where we are hiding, and +then roll stones down on us. They can do that, you know, without +our getting a chance to stop them.”</p> +<p>“If we squaze in under that same place,” said +Mickey, indicating the inward slope of the rock, they can’t +hit us; but I don’t believe that such is their +intention.”</p> +<p>“What do you suppose it to be?”</p> +<p>“That’s hard to say; but these varmints ain’t +ready to shoot us jist yet. Leastaways, they don’t want to do +so, until they’re sure there ain’t anything else lift +for ’em to’do.”</p> +<p>“They wish to make us prisoners?”</p> +<p>“That’s it, exactly.”</p> +<p>“Well, if they are willing to wait, they’ll be sure +to have us, for there isn’t any water here for us to drink, +and we can’t get along without that.”</p> +<p>The Irishman suddenly slapped his chest and side, as though he +missed something from the pocket.</p> +<p>“And be the powers!” he exclaimed, “I’ve +lost that mate, and there must have been enough to last us a wake +or two.”</p> +<p>“How could you have lost that?” asked Fred, who was +much disappointed.</p> +<p>“It must have slid out when we were riding so hard, or +else when we lift our horses.”</p> +<p>“Are you sure it wasn’t lost somewhere among these +trees, where we can get it again?”</p> +<p>But he was confident that such was not the case, and he was not +disposed to mourn the loss a great deal. They could do longer +without food than they could without drink, and he was of the +opinion that this problem would be solved before they were likely +to perish from the want of either.</p> +<p>“Did ye get a fair look at any of the spalpeens that was +so ill-mannered as to paap down on ye?”</p> +<p>“Yes; and there was one—’Sh! there he is +now!”</p> +<p>The two peered upward through the leaves, and saw the head and +shoulders of an Apache, who was looking down into the ravine. He +was not directly above them, but a dozen feet off to the left. He +seemed to be trying to locate the party that had fired two such +fatal shots, and therefore could not have known where he was.</p> +<p>The face of the Indian could be seen very distinctly, and it was +one with more individual character than any Mickey had as yet +noticed. It was not handsome nor very homely, but that of a man in +the prime of life, with a prominent nose—a regular contour of +countenance for an Indian. The face was painted, as was the long +black hair which dangled about his shoulders. His eye was a +powerful black one, which flitted restlessly, as he keenly searched +the ravine below.</p> +<p>Not seeing that which he wished, he arose to his feet, and +walked slowly along and away from where the fugitives were +crouching. That is, his face was turned toward the main ravine or +pass, while he stepped upon the very edge of the fissure, moving +with a certain deliberation and dignity, as he searched the space +below for the man and boy whom he was so anxious to secure.</p> +<p>“I wonder if he ain’t the leader?” said +Mickey, in a whisper. “I never saw better shtyle than +that.”</p> +<p>“I should think he was the leader. Don’t you know +him?”</p> +<p>“How should I know him? I never traveled much in Injun +society. Are ye and him acquainted?”</p> +<p>“He’s Lone Wolf—their great +war-chief.”</p> +<p>“Ye don’t say so?” exclaimed the astonished +Irishman, staring at him. “He’s just the spalpeen I +loaded me gun for, and here goes!”</p> +<p>Softly raising the hammer of his rifle, he lifted the weapon to +his shoulder; but before he could make his aim certain, the red +scamp stepped aside and vanished from view.</p> +<p>“Now, that’s enough to break a man’s +heart!” wailed the chagrined Mickey. “Why wasn’t +the spalpeen thoughtful and kind enough to wait until I could have +made sartin of him? But sorra and disappointment await us all, as +Barney Mulligan said when his friend wouldn’t fight him. +Maybe he’ll show himsilf agin.”</p> +<p>Whether or not Lone Wolf learned of the precise location of the +parties for whom he was searching can only be conjectured; but +during the ten minutes that Mickey held his weapon ready to shoot +him at sight, he took good care to keep altogether invisible.</p> +<p>The Irishman was still looking for his reappearance, when +another singular occurrence took place. There was a whoop, or +rather howl, followed by a fall of a warrior, who was so near the +edge of the narrow ravine that when he came down, a portion of his +body was seen by those below. The dull and rather distant report of +a gun told the curious story.</p> +<p>The same rifle that had picked off one of the Apaches at the +mouth of the fissure had done the same thing in the case of one at +the top. The aim in both instances was unerring.</p> +<p>“Freddy, me lad,” said Mickey, a moment later, +“whin we rushed in here wid the spalpeens snapping at our +heels, I hadn’t any more hope that we’d ever get clear +of ’em than the man who was transported to Botany Bay had of +cutting out Prince Albert in Queen Victoria’s +graces.”</p> +<p>“Have you any more hope <em>now</em>?”</p> +<p>“I have; we’ve got a friend on the outside, and +he’s doing us good sarvice, as he has already proved. If Lone +Wolf wasn’t among that crowd, I don’t belave they would +stay after what has took place; there’s nothing to scare an +Injun like them things which he don’t understand.”</p> +<p>“I should think that that rifle-shot is proof enough that +somebody is firing into them.”</p> +<p>“Be the powers, but ye know little of Injin devilments, as +I’ve larned ’em from Soot Simpson. How do ye know but +that’s a thrick to make these Apaches belave that +there’s but a single Kiowa over there popping at them, when +there may be half a hundred waiting for the chance to clean them +out?”</p> +<p>“Maybe that is Sut himself; you know you have been +expecting him.”</p> +<p>“It can’t be him,” replied Mickey, with a +shake of his head. “He would have showed himself long ago, +when he could be sure of helping us. There must be some redskins +over there that have put up a job on Lone Wolf and his +scamps.”</p> +<p>“Whoever it is, whether one or a dozen, they are helping +us mightily.”</p> +<p>“So it looks, though they don’t mean it for that, +and after driving these spalpeens away, they may come over to clean +us out themselves.”</p> +<p>Nothing was heard of the redskins above for a considerable time +after the shot mentioned. Then the body was suddenly whisked out of +sight. It is a principle with Indians to bring away their dead from +any fight in which they may have fallen. At the imminent risk of +losing his own life a warrior had stolen up and drawn away the +remains of his former comrade.</p> +<p>The mysterious shots seemed to come from the other side of the +ravine, and they naturally had a very demoralizing effect upon the +party. Lone Wolf was not only brave, but sagacious and prudent. He +was not the chief to allow his warriors to stand idly and permit +themselves to be picked off one by one by an unseen enemy. But for +the latter, he would have descended into the fissure, and, with +several of his most reliable braves, captured and secured Mickey +and his companion at all hazards. But what assurance could he have +that after he and his men had entered the little ravine, a whole +party of Kiowas would not swarm in, overwhelm them, and make off +with their horses? So the leader concluded for the time being to +remain outside, where his line of retreat would be open, while he +could arrange his plans for disposing of the whites at his +leisure.</p> +<p>Lone Wolf dispatched two of his most skillful scouts, one to the +right, the other to the left, with orders to get to the rear of the +enemy, no matter how long a detour was necessary. In case they were +unable to extinguish them, they were to signal or return for +assistance. After sending off his trusty messengers, Lone Wolf +concluded to hold back until their return, keeping himself and his +braves pretty well concealed, but guarding against the capture of +their horses in the ravine below, or the escape of the two +fugitives, who might attempt to take advantage of the +diversion.</p> +<p>At the end of an hour, nothing had been seen or heard of the +Apache scouts sent out, and the chief dispatched another to learn +what was going on, and what was the cause of the trouble. During +this hour not a rifle-shot was detected by the waiting, listening +ears. Another half hour passed away, and the third man sent out by +Lone Wolf came back alone, and with astounding tidings.</p> +<p>He had found both of the warriors lying within a few yards of +each other, stone dead. He sought for some explanation of the +strange occurrence, but found none, and returned with the news to +his leader.</p> +<p>The latter was about as furious as a wild Indian could be, +without exploding. Lone Wolf had his own theory of the thing, and +he inquired particularly as to the manner in which the fatal wounds +seemed to have been inflicted. When they were described, all doubt +was removed from the mind of the chieftain.</p> +<p>He knew where the fatal shots came from, and he determined that +there was no better time to “square accounts.” Calling +the larger portion of his company about him, he started backward +and away from the ravine, his purpose being to reach the rear of +his enemy by a long detour.</p> +<hr /> +<h3><a id="Ch_18" name="Ch_18">Chapter XVIII.</a></h3> +<h2>An Old Acquaintance.</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>All this was grist for Mickey and Fred. The long silence and +inaction—so far as these two were concerned—of the +Apaches convinced the fugitives that some important interruption +was going on, and that it could not fail to operate in the most +direct way in their favor. It was well into the afternoon when the +collision occurred between them and the Apaches, and enough time +had already passed to bring the night quite close at hand. An hour +or so more, and darkness would be upon them.</p> +<p>“I don’t belave the spalpeens have found put just +the precise spot where we’ve stowed away,” said Mickey, +in his cautious undertone, to his companion, “for I’ve +no evidence that such is the case.”</p> +<p>“They may take it into their heads to come into the +fissure again, and then where are we?”</p> +<p>“Right here, every time. We couldn’t get a better +spot, unless it might be at the mouth.”</p> +<p>“Don’t you think we had better go there?” +asked the lad, who could not feel the assurance of his friend.</p> +<p>“I see nothing to be gained by the same, as Tim +O’Loony said when some one told him that honesty was the best +policy. If we start to return there, they’ll find out where +we are, and begin to roll stones on us. I don’t want to go +along, dodging rocks as big as a house, wid an occasional +rifle-shot thrown in, by way of variety.”</p> +<p>“Don’t you fear they will creep in and try to +surprise us?”</p> +<p>“Not before dark, and then we can shift our +position.”</p> +<p>“Do you believe there is any hope at all for us in the way +of getting out?”</p> +<p>The Irishman was careful not to arouse too strong hopes in the +breast of the lad, and he tried to be guarded in his reply:</p> +<p>“An hour ago I would have sworn if there war a half-dozen +of us in here, there was no show of our getting away wid our +top-knots, for the raison that there is but one hole through which +we could sneak, and there’s twenty of ’em sitting round +there, and watching for us; but I faal that there is some ground +for hope.”</p> +<p>“What reason for your saying there is hope? Isn’t it +just as hard to get out the front without being seen?”</p> +<p>“It might be just now; but there’s no telling what +them ither spalpeens mane to do arter the sun goes down. +S’pose they get Lone Wolf and his men in such a big fight +that they’d have their hands full, what’s to hinder our +sneaking out the back-door during the rumpus, hunting up our +mustangs, or somebody else’s, and resooming our journey to +New Boston, which these spalpeens were so impertinent as to +interrupt a short time since?”</p> +<p>Fred Munson felt that this was about as rose-colored a view as +could be taken, and indeed a great deal rosier than the situation +warranted—at least, in his opinion.</p> +<p>“Mickey, if that isn’t counting chickens before +they’re hatched, I don’t know what is! While +you’re supposing things, suppose these Indians don’t do +all that, where’s going to come our chance of creeping out +without their knowing it?”</p> +<p>Mickey scratched his head in his puzzled way, and replied:</p> +<p>“I’m sorry to obsarve that ye persist in axing +knotty questions, as I reproved me landlord for doing in the ould +country, when he found me digging praities in his patch. +There’s a good many ways in which we may get a chance to +craap out, and I’m bound to say there be a good many more by +which we can’t; but the good Lord has been so good to us, +that I can’t help belaving He won’t let us drop jist +yet, though He may think that the best thing for us both will be to +let the varmints come in and scalp us.”</p> +<p>There was a good deal of hope in the Irishman, and a certain +contagion marked it, which Fred Munson felt, but he could not +entertain as much of it as did his older and more experienced +friend. Still, he was ready to make any attempt which offered the +least chance of flight. He was hungry and thirsty, and there was no +way of supplying the wants, and he dreaded the night of suffering +to be succeeded by the still more tormenting day.</p> +<p>It was very warm in the ravine, where not a stir of air could +reach them. If they suffered themselves to be cooped up there +through the night, they would be certain to continue there during +the following day, for it was not to be expected by the wildest +enthusiast that any way of escape presented itself under the broad +sunlight. The following night must find them more weakened in every +respect; for the chewing of leaves, while it might afford temporary +relief, could not be expected to amount to much in a run of +twenty-four hours. Clearly, if anything at all was to be done or +attempted, it should not be deferred beyond the evening, which was +now so close at hand.</p> +<p>But the objection again came up that whatever Mickey and Fred +decided on, hinged upon the action of parties with whom they had +nothing to do, and with whom, as a matter of course, it was +impossible to communicate. If the Kiowas, as they were suspected to +be, should choose to draw off and have nothing further to do with +the business, the situation of the fugitives must become as +despairing and hopeless as in the first case.</p> +<p>There perhaps was some reason for the declaration of Mickey that +the strangers (their allies for the time being) were a great deal +more likely to perform their mission before the sun should rise +again. Consequently, the next few hours were likely to settle the +question one way or the other.</p> +<p>“Do you know whether any of the Apaches are still up +there?” asked Fred.</p> +<p>“Yes; there be one or two. I’ve seen ’em since +we’ve been talking, but they’re a good deal more +careful of showing their ugly faces. They paap over now and then, +and dodge back agin, before I can get a chance to pop +away.”</p> +<p>“Would you try and shoot them if you had the +chance?”</p> +<p>“Not just yet, for it would show ’em where we are, +and they would be likely to bother us.”</p> +<p>The two carried out this policy of keeping their precise +location from the Indians so long as it was possible, which would +have been a very short time, but for the terror inspired among the +Apaches from the shots across the pass. Mickey had no suspicion +that Lone Wolf and his best warriors were absent on a hunt for the +annoying cause of these shots. Had he known it, he might have been +tempted upon a reconnoissance of his own before sunset, and so it +was well, perhaps, that he remained in ignorance.</p> +<p>Within the next hour night descended, and the ravine, excluding +the rays of the moon, became so dark that Mickey believed it safe +to venture out of their niche and approach the pass, into which +they had no idea of entering until the ground had been thoroughly +reconnoitered.</p> +<p>“The spalpeens will be listening,” whispered Mickey, +as they crept out, “and so ye naadn’t indulge in any +whistling, or hurrahing, or dancing jigs on the way to our +destination.”</p> +<p>Fred appreciated their common peril too well to allow any +betrayal through his remissness. Favored by the darkness, they +crept carefully along over the rocks and boulders, and through the +vines and vegetation, until they were so close that the man +halted.</p> +<p>“Do ye mind and kaap as still as a dead man, for +we’re so close now that it won’t do to go any closer +till we know what the spalpeens are doing.”</p> +<p>The two occupied this position for some time, during which +nothing caught their ears to betray the presence of men or animals. +Feeling the great value of time, Mickey was on the point of +creeping forth, when he became aware that there was somebody moving +near him. The sound was very slight, but the proof was all the more +positive on that account; for it is only by such means that the +professional scout judges of the proceedings of a foe near him.</p> +<p>His first dread was that the individual was in the rear, having +entered the fissure while they were at the opposite end, and then +allowed them to pass by him. But when the faint rustling caught his +ear again there could be no doubt that it was in front of him.</p> +<p>“One of the spalpeens—and maybe Lone Wolf +himself—coming in to larn about our health,” was his +conclusion, though the situation was too critical to allow him to +communicate with the lad behind him.</p> +<p>Reaching his hand back, he touched his arm, as a warning for the +most perfect silence.</p> +<p>The boulder against which he was partly resting was no more +quiet and motionless than Fred, who had nerved himself to meet the +worst or best fortune. A few minutes more listening satisfied +Mickey that the redskin was not a dozen feet in front, and that a +particularly large boulder, which was partly revealed by some stray +moonlight that made its way through the limbs and branches, was +sheltering the scout. Not only that, but he became convinced that +the Indian was moving around the left side of the rock, hugging it +and keeping so close to the ground that the faintest shadowy +resemblance of a human figure could not be detected.</p> +<p>It was at this juncture that the Irishman determined upon a +performance perfectly characteristic and amusing in its +originality. Carefully drawing his knife from his pocket, he +managed to cut a switch, some five or six feet in length, the end +of which was slightly split. He next took one of his matches, and +struck it against the rock, holding and nursing the flame so far +down behind it that not the slightest sign of it could be seen from +the outside. Before the match had cleared itself of the brimstone, +Mickey secured the other end of the stick in his hand. His next +proceeding was to raise this stick, move it around in front, and +then suddenly extend it at arms length. This brought the burning +match into the dense shadow alongside the rock, and directly over +the head of the amazed scout. The Hibernian character of the act +was, that while it revealed to him his man, it also, although in a +less degree, betrayed the location of Mickey himself, whose +delighted astonishment may be imagined, when, instead of discerning +a crouching, painted Apache, he recognized the familiar figure of +Sut Simpson, the scout.</p> +<p>“What in thunder are ye driving at?” growled the no +less astonished Sut, as the flame was almost brought against his +face. “Do yer take me for a kag of powder, and do ye want to +touch me off?”</p> +<p>“No, but I was thinking that that long, red nose of yourn +was so full of whiskey that it would burn, and I wanted to make +sartin.”</p> +<hr /> +<h3><a id="Ch_19" name="Ch_19">Chapter XIX.</a></h3> +<h2>How it was Done.</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>From the very depths of despair, Mickey O’Rooney and Fred +Munson were lifted to the most buoyant heights of hope.</p> +<p>“I always took yer for a hoodlum,” growled the +scout; “but you’ve just showed yerself a bigger one +than I s’posed. Yer orter fetched a lantern with yer, so as +to use nights in walking round the country, and looking for +folks.”</p> +<p>“Begorrah, if that isn’t the idaa!” responded +the Irishman, with mock enthusiasm; “only I was considering +wouldn’t it be as well to call out the name of me friends. Ye +know what a swate voice I have. When I used to thry and sing in +choorch, the ould gintleman always lambasted me for filing the saw +on Sunday. But why don’t ye craap forward and extend me yer +paw, as the bear said to the man?”</p> +<p>Sut, however, did not move, but retained his crouching position +beside the large boulder, speaking in the lowest and most guarded +voice:</p> +<p>“It won’t do; we haven’t any time to fool away +yerabouts. Is that younker wid yer?”</p> +<p>“Right at me heels, as me uncle concluded when the bulldog +nabbed him.”</p> +<p>“Come ahead, then. Shoot me! but this ain’t a +healthy place to loaf in just now. The ’Paches are too plenty +and too close. We must light out.”</p> +<p>“Sha’n’t I shtrike anither match to +<em>light</em> us out by?”</p> +<p>“Hold your tongue, will you? Creep right along behind me, +without making any noise at all, and don’t rise to your feet +till yer see me do it, and don’t open your meat-traps to +speak till I axes yer a question, if it isn’t till a month +from now. Do yer understand me?”</p> +<p>Mickey replied that he had a general idea of his meaning, and he +might as well go ahead with the circus. Fred had caught the +whispered conversation, and, of course, knew what it meant. As +Mickey turned round to see where he was, he found him at his +elbow.</p> +<p>“Sh! Come ahead, now. We’re going to creep straight +across the pass till we reach t’other side, when we’ll +go down that some ways, and I’ll tell yer the +rest.”</p> +<p>A second or two afterward the long, wiry frame of the scout +emerged from the dense shadow at the side of the boulder, and crept +forward in the direction of the middle of the main ravine or pass. +Close behind him followed Mickey and Fred, the trio forming a +curious procession as they carefully picked their way across the +moonlit gorge, the grass for most of the distance being so dense +that they were pretty well screened from view.</p> +<p>The directions of the scout were carefully obeyed to the letter, +for, indeed, there could have been no excuse for disregarding them. +He understood perfectly the nature of the task he had undertaken, +and the risk he ran was entirely for the benefit of his +friends.</p> +<p>One of the first and most important requisites of a scout is +patience, without which he is sure to commit all manner of errors. +In the present case, it seemed to Fred that much valuable time +could be saved if they would simply rise to their feet and make a +dash straight across the ravine. Even Mickey was of the same +opinion, at least to the extent of varying the pace so as to go +slowly part of the time and rapidly the rest, as the ground became +unfavorable or favorable. But it was very clear that Sut Simpson +held very different views.</p> +<p>A piece of machinery could not have advanced with a more regular +movement than did he—a movement that was excessively trying +to an impatient person who could not understand his reason for it. +Mickey could see that he turned his head from side to side, and was +using his eyes and ears to the extent of their ability. At the end +of some fifteen or twenty minutes the base of the perpendicular +wall on the opposite side was reached, and, greatly to the relief +of his companions, he arose to his feet, they following suit.</p> +<p>“Begorrah, but that’s a swate relief, as me Aunt +Bridget obsarved, when her ould man.”</p> +<p>A turn of the head, and an impatient gesture from the scout, +silenced Mickey before he had time to complete the remark. He +subsided instantly, and began a debate with himself as to whether +he ought not to apologize for his forgetfulness, but he concluded +to wait.</p> +<p>The long, lank figure of Sut Simpson looked as if it was a +shadow slowly stealing along the dark face of the rock, followed by +that of Mickey and the lad. They were as silent as phantoms, each +walking as tenderly and carefully as though he was a burglar +breaking into the house of some sleeping merchant, whose slumbers +were as light as down. Mickey had no doubt that this was continued +twice as long as necessary, although he conscientiously strove to +carry out the wishes of the scout in that respect. He stumbled once +or twice, but that was because of the treacherous nature of the +ground.</p> +<p>They must have journeyed fully a quarter of a mile in this +fashion before Sut held up in the least. During all this time, so +far as Mickey could judge, nothing had been seen or heard of the +Apaches, who, supposedly, would have guarded the outlet, in which +the two had taken refuge, with a closeness that could not have +permitted such an escape; but not one had been encountered.</p> +<p>It was a most extraordinary occurrence all through, and Mickey +found it hard to understand how one man, skilled and brave though +he was, could perform such a herculean task, for there could be no +doubt that to him, under Providence, belonged the exclusive credit. +Of course it was Sut who had fired the shot that saved Fred from a +terrible death by the grizzly bear, and his well aimed and +opportune shots had done the fugitives inestimable service when +they were crouching in the fissure and despairing of all hope. But +there must have been something back of all this. The scout must +have possessed a greater power, which had not become manifest to +his friends as yet.</p> +<p>“Now yer can walk with more ease,” he said, as he +dropped back beside his companions; “but, at the same time, +don’t talk too loud. Let us all keep as much in the shadder +as we kin, for there may be other varmints around, and +there’s no telling when you’re likely to run agin +’em.”</p> +<p>“But where are the spalpeens that shut us up in that split +in the rocks?”</p> +<p>“They’re all behind us, every varmint of them, and +thar they’re likely to stay for awhile; but, Mickey, I want +yer to tell me what happened arter we parted among these mountains, +and took different routes far the younker here.”</p> +<p>The Irishman related his experience in as brief a manner as +possible, the scout listening with a great deal of interest, and +asking a question or two.</p> +<p>“The luck was yer’s,” he said, when the +narrator concluded, “of gettin’ on the right track, +while I got on the wrong.”</p> +<p>Mickey scratched his head in his old quizzical way.</p> +<p>“The same luck befell the spalpeens and mesilf. I first +got on their thrack, and then they got on mine, so we’ll call +that square, as Mike Harrigan did when he went back the second +night and took the other goat so as to make a pair.”</p> +<p>“That was nigh onto a bad fix when yer pitched into that +cave, and couldn’t find the way out till the wolf showed the +younker; but it wasn’t so bad as yer think, ’cause +I’d been sure to find yer war thar. I know the way in and out +of it, and I could have got into it and fetched you out, but yer +war lucky ’nough not to need me.”</p> +<p>“How was it that ye were so long turning up arter we +separated?”</p> +<p>“Wal, Lone Wolf and his braves rode so fast that it was a +good while afore I cotched up, and found that he hadn’t the +younker with him. Then, in course, I turned back and found that yer +had flopped so much, off and on yer trail, that there was a good +deal of trouble to keep track of yer.”</p> +<p>“Where did ye first catch the light of Mickey +O’Rooney’s illegant and expressive +countenance?”</p> +<p>“I saw yer stop to camp this morning a good ways up the +pass, whar yer cooked yer piece of antelope meat, and swallowed +enough to last yer for a week.”</p> +<p>“It was you that shot the grizzly bear just as he was +going to kill me?” inquired Fred, with a pleased look in the +scarred face of the scout, who smiled in turn as he answered:</p> +<p>“I have a ’spicion it war me and nobody +else.”</p> +<p>“Why didn’t ye come forward and introduce +yerself?” inquired Mickey, “it was all a mistake to +think that we felt too proud to notice ye, even if ye ain’t +as good-looking as meself.”</p> +<p>“Wal, I thought I’d watch yer awhile, believing I +could do yer more service than by jining in, as was showed by what +took place arterwards. Whar would yer have been if I’d got +shet up in that trap with yer? Lone Wolf would’ve had our +ha’r long ago.”</p> +<p>“But how did ye manage to fool the pack into giving us a +chance to craap out?”</p> +<p>“That was easy enough when yer understand it.”</p> +<p>“I thought it would come aisier to a man who understood +how to do it than it did to one who didn’t know anything +about it.”</p> +<p>“Arter picking off one or two of the varmints, that made +Lone Wolf mad, and he sent out a couple of his warriors to wipe me +out. He didn’t think I knowed his game, but I did, and when +they got round to where I was I just slid ’em under afore +they knowed what the matter was. When he sent a third varmint arter +them, and he went back and told the chief that the first two had +gone to the eternal hunting grounds, he was so all-fired mad that +he left only a half dozen to watch the hole where you was to come +out, while he took the rest and come arter me.”</p> +<p>“I know a good many of Lone Wolf’s signals,” +added the scout, with a chuckle, “and arter he had been on +this side for a while, I dipped down into the pass, and signaled +for the rest of ’em to come. They come, every one of +’em, and then I went for you, not certain whether yer war +mashed or not. We got away in good time to save ourselves running +agin ’em.”</p> +<hr /> +<h3><a id="Ch_20" name="Ch_20">Chapter XX.</a></h3> +<h2>Sut’s Camp-Fire.</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>“But where are Lone Wolf and his warriors?” asked +Fred.</p> +<p>“Back yonder somewhere,” replied the scout, +indifferently. “They came over into the woods this side the +pass to look for the Kiowas that have been picking off thar +warriors. It’ll take ’em some time to find the +varmints, I reckon.”</p> +<p>“It’s mesilf that would like to ax a +conundrum,” said Mickey, “provided that none of the +gintlemin prisent object to the same.”</p> +<p>Sut gave the Irishman to understand that he was always pleased +to hear any inquiry from him, if he asked it respectfully.</p> +<p>“The question is this: How long are we to kape thramping +along in this shtyle? Is it to be for one wake or two, or for a +month? The raison of me making this respictful inquiry is that the +laddy and mesilf have become accustomed to riding upon horses, and +it goes rather rough to make the change, as Jimmy O’Brien +said when he broke through the ice and was forced to take a wash, +arter having done without the same thing for several +months.”</p> +<p>This gentle intimation from Mickey that he preferred to ride was +promptly answered by the scout to the effect that his own mustang +was some distance away in the wood, but he was unable to locate +either of theirs, which they abandoned at the time they took such +hurried refuge in the narrow ravine.</p> +<p>“But what become of all the craturs?” persisted +Mickey, who was anything but satisfied at this plodding along. +“Lone Wolf and his spalpeens did not ride away upon their +horses.”</p> +<p>“No, but yer may skulp me if any of ’em are big +enough fools to leave their animals where there seems to be any +danger of other folks layin’ hands on ’em. When the +rest of his band come over arter him, as they s’posed in +answer to their signal, they took mighty good care not to leave +their hosses where thar war any chance for the Kiowas to put their +claws onto ’em. They rode off up the pass till they could +reach a place whar the brutes could climb up and jine thar +owners.”</p> +<p>“Then I’m to consider the question settled,” +responded Mickey, “and we’re to tramp all the way to +New Bosting, ef the place is still standing. Av coorse we can do +the same, which I take to be three or four thousand miles, provided +we have the time to do it and ain’t disturbed.”</p> +<p>Sut, after permitting his friend to hold this opinion for a +time, corrected it in his own way.</p> +<p>“Thar ain’t no use of tryin’ to reach home on +foot, any more than thar is of climbing up that wall with yer toes. +Arter we strike camp, we’ll stop long enough to eat two or +three bufflers, and rest, and while yer at that sort of biz, +I’ll ’light out, and scare up something in the way of +hoss flish. Thar’s plenty of it in this part of the world, +and a man needn’t hunt long to find it. Are ye satisfied +Mickey?”</p> +<p>The Irishman could not feel otherwise, and he expressed his +profound obligations to the scout for the invaluable services he +had already rendered them.</p> +<p>“Lone Wolf knows me,” said Sut, making a rather +sudden turn in the conversation. “Me and him have had some +tough scrimmages years ago, as I was tellin’ that ar +Barnwell, or Big Fowl, rather, that has had the charge of starting +the place called New Boston. I’ve got ’nough scars to +remember him by, and he carries a few that he got from me. I have a +style of sliding his warriors under, when I run a-foul of +’em, that Lone Wolf understands, and he’s larned long +ago who it was that wiped out them two varmints that he sent out to +look around arter me. Halloa! here we air!”</p> +<p>As he spoke, he reached a break in the continuity of the wall to +which they had been clinging. The opening was somewhat similar to +that into which Mickey and Fred had been driven in such a hurry, +except that it was broader and the slope seemed more gradual.</p> +<p>Simpson turned abruptly to the left, and they began clambering +upward. It took a considerable time to reach the level, and when +they did so the scout led them back to the edge of the pass, which +wound along fifty or a hundred feet below them.</p> +<p>“Thar’s whar we’ve come from,” said he, +as they looked down in the moonlit gorge; “and while +that’s mighty handy at times, yet it’s a bad place to +get cotched in, as yer found out for yerselves.”</p> +<p>“No one will dispoot ye, Soot, especially when Lone Wolf +and a score of spalpeens appears in front of ye, and whin ye turn +about to lave, ye find him and a dozen more in your rear. That was +a smart thrick was the same; but if he hadn’t showed himsilf +in both places at the same time, we would have stood a chance of +giving him the slip, as we had good horses under us.”</p> +<p>“Can’t always be sartin of that. Them varmints have +ways of telegraphing ahead of ye to some of thar friends, so that +ye’r’ll run heels over head into some trap, onless yer +understands thar devilments and tricky ways.”</p> +<p>“When we were in camp,” said Fred, “we saw the +smoke of a little fire near by. Was it yours?”</p> +<p>“It war,” replied Sut, with a curious solemnity. +“I kindled that fire, and nussed it.”</p> +<p>“Well, it bothered us a good deal. We didn’t know +what to make of it, Mickey and I.”</p> +<p>“It bothered the varmints a good deal more, which war what +it war intended for. I meant it far a Kiowa signal-fire, and if it +hadn’t been started ’bout that time, you’d had +some other grizzly b’ars down on ye in the shape of +’Paches.”</p> +<p>“But it didn’t help us all the way through; they +came down on us a little while afterward.”</p> +<p>“That war accident,” said Sut. “the purest +kind of accident—one of them things that is like to happen, +and which we don’t look for—a kinder of surprise +like.”</p> +<p>“As me father obsarved when he found we had twins in the +family,” interrupted Mickey.</p> +<p>“The chances are ten to one that thing couldn’t +happen ag’in; but luck, just then, war t’other way. +Lone Wolf and his men war on their way home, and had no more idea +of meeting yer folks than he had of axing me to come down and act +as bridesmaid for his darter, when she gits married.”</p> +<p>“Do ye s’pose he knowed us, Soot?” asked the +Irishman.</p> +<p>“It isn’t likely that he did at first, but the sight +of the younker must have made him ’spicious, and arter he +rammed you into the rocks, I guess he knowed pretty well how things +stood, and he war bound to have both of yer.”</p> +<p>“What made him want <em>me</em> so bad?” asked Fred. +“I never understood how that was.”</p> +<p>The tall scout, standing on the edge of the broad, deep ravine, +looked down at the handsome face of the boy, to whom he felt +attracted by a stronger affection than either he or the Irishman +suspected.</p> +<p>“Bless your soul, my younker, that ere Lone Wolf that they +call such a great chief (and I may as well own up and say that he +is), is heavy on ransoms and he ain’t the only chief +that’s in that line. That skunk runs off with men, women and +boys, and his rule is not to give ’em up ag’in till he +gits a good round price. He calculated on making a good thing off +you, and I rather think he would.”</p> +<p>“Does he always give up those, then, that their friends +want to ransom?”</p> +<p>“Not by any means; it’s altogether as the notion +takes him. He sports more skulps and topknots than any of his +brother-chiefs, and he never lets his stock run low. As them other +varmints creep up onto him, he shoots ahead by scooping in more +topknots, and thar’s no use of thar trying to butt +ag’in him. He’s ’way ahead of ’em, and +there he’s bound to stay, and they can’t help +it.”</p> +<p>“Then he might have used me the same way, after all the +pains he took to get me.”</p> +<p>“Jest as like as not. He is as ugly as the devil himself. +Two years ago he stole a good-looking gal up near Santa Fe. He had +a chance for the biggest kind of ransom; but the poor gal had long, +golden hair, and the skunk wanted it for an ornament, and he took +it, too, and thinks more of it than any out of his hundred and +more. Arter getting yer home among his people, and arter he’d +found out thar’s a good show fur a big ransom from yer +father, jest as like as not he’d make up his mind that the +best thing he could do would be to knock ye on ther head and raise +yer ha’r, and he’d do it, too.”</p> +<p>“Well, thank heaven, none of us are in his hands now, and +I pray that he may never get us.”</p> +<p>The three were still standing as close to the edge of the ravine +as was prudent, so that the moonlight fell about them. They were +enabled to see quite a long distance up and down the pass, the +uncertain light, however, causing objects to assume a fantastic +contour, which would have made an inexperienced person uncertain +whether he was looking down upon animate or inanimate objects. They +were on the point of moving away, when Fred Munson exclaimed, with +some excitement:</p> +<p>“The country seems to be full of camp-fires or +signal-fires. Yonder is one just started!”</p> +<p>He pointed up the ravine, and to the other side, where an +unusually bright star seemed to be rising over the solitude beyond. +It was about a quarter of a mile away, and its brightness such as +to show its nature.</p> +<p>“Yes, that’s one of ’em,” said the +scout, in a tone which showed that he had no particular interest in +it.</p> +<p>“Can ye rade what the same manes?” asked Mickey, who +was gradually accumulating a wonderful faith in the woodcraft of +the scout.</p> +<p>But the latter laughed. It would have been the height of +absurdity for him to have pretended that he could make anything of +the meaning of a simple fire burning at night. It was only when +actual signals were made that he could tell what they were intended +for.</p> +<p>“It’s some of the ’Paches, I s’pose. +Lone Wolf is in trouble, but I don’t know as we’ve got +anything to do with it. The night is getting along, and we ought to +be back to camp by this time.”</p> +<p>Without waiting longer, he turned about and moved back into the +wood, followed by his two friends.</p> +<p>It seemed strange to both of the latter that he could have left +his mustang so far away from the place where his self-imposed +duties had called him to bring to naught the cunning of his great +enemy, the principal war-chief of the Apaches. But the truth was, +the camps of the scout and the redskins were not so widely +separated as Mickey and Fred believed. He had selected the best +site possible, and took a roundabout course in going to or from it, +as he had more means given him of concealing his trail. There were +places where the soil was so rocky and stony that the foot left not +the slightest imprint of its passage.</p> +<p>They had gone but a short distance from the ravine when they +encountered one of the very stretches so valuable to persons in +their predicament. No grass or vegetation of any kind impeded their +way, and it was like walking over a hard, uncarpeted floor. Making +their way across this, they struck into a wood that was denser than +any they had encountered thus far. There their progress was slow, +but they continued steadily forward, talking but little, and then +in guarded tones. About the hour of midnight the camp of Sut +Simpson was reached.</p> +<hr /> +<h3><a id="Ch_21" name="Ch_21">Chapter XXI.</a></h3> +<h2>Safety and Sleep.</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>There was nothing especially noticeable in the site which the +scout had selected for his camp fire. His principal object had been +secrecy and he had obtained it beyond all peradventure. The place +was more like a cavern than anything else, except that it was open +at the top, but it was walled in on the four sides, so there was +barely room for the three to enter. As the scout explained, he was +perfectly familiar with that section of the country, and he lost no +time in hunting out the spot. He had his horse with him at the time +the Apaches drove Mickey and Fred in among the rocks, and he staid +until pretty certain they could keep the Apaches at bay until dark, +when he made his way to a level spot inclosed by rocks. There he +kindled a fire, cooked some antelope and left his mustang to graze +and browse near by, while he returned to the assistance of his +friends.</p> +<p>“Where did ye shoot that uncleope, or antelope?” +asked Mickey.</p> +<p>“I didn’t shoot him at all; he’s the one you +fetched down. Yer left enough for me, so I didn’t run the +risk of firing my gun when the varmints were so close by, so I +sliced out a hunk or two from the carcass, and fetched it +along.”</p> +<p>“Ye haven’t got any of it about ye?”</p> +<p>“Not enough for yer folks—no more than three or four +pounds.”</p> +<p>“Be the powers but ye’re right. That’s +’nough to stay our stomach, as me sick aunt remarked after +swallowing her twenty-third dumpling.”</p> +<p>At the moment the party walked in among the rocks the smoldering +embers of the camp-fire were plainly seen. They needed but a little +stirring to break forth into flame again, so as to light up the +interior, which was about a dozen feet square, with a height of a +dozen feet, more or less. When the Irishman signified that +something in the way of food would be acceptable, the scout +produced it from among the leaves near at hand, and it was devoured +with the heartiest kind of appetite. They had drank all the water +they needed, and the three assumed easy, lounging attitudes, Mickey +lighting his pipe and enjoying himself immensely.</p> +<p>“This is what I call comfortable,” he remarked, +“as me friend Patsey McFadden observed when the row began at +the fair and the whacks came from every quarter. I enjoy it; +it’s refining, it’s soothing; it makes a man glad that +he’s alive.”</p> +<p>“What do you think of it?” asked the scout, turning +to Fred, who was reclining upon the heavy Apache blanket, with the +appearance of one who was upon the verge of sleep.</p> +<p>“I feel very grateful to you,” said he, rousing up, +“and I am more contented than I have been in a long time; but +I’m afraid all the time that Lone Wolf or some of his braves +might find where we are.”</p> +<p>Sut smiled in a pitying way, as he replied:</p> +<p>“Don’t ye s’pose I’m old ’nough to +fix all that? Haven’t I larned ’nough of the +’Paches and thar devilments to keep ’em back? Wall, I +rather guess I have.”</p> +<p>As the night remained so warm that no comfort at all was derived +from the fire, it was agreed that it should be left to burn out +gradually. It had been kindled originally by Sut for the purpose of +cooking his meat, and he had renewed it that his friends might see +exactly where they were, and, at the same time, look into each +other’s faces.</p> +<p>“Let me ax ye,” said Mickey, puffing away at his +pipe, “whether, whin we start for home, we’re going to +take the pass, which seems as full of the spalpeens as me head is +of grand ideas?”</p> +<p>“I can’t be sartin of that,” replied Sut, +thoughtfully. “We can strike the prairie by going off here in +another course; but it will take a long time, and the road is +harder to travel. I like the pass a good deal the best, and unless +the varmints seem too thick, we’ll take it.”</p> +<p>“If we could get a good, fair start in the pass, we could +kape ahead of ’em all the way till we struck the open +prairie, when it would be illigant to sail away and watch them +falling behind, like a snail trying to catch a hare.”</p> +<p>The scout pointed to the lad, and, turning his head, Mickey saw +that he was sound asleep. The poor fellow was so wearied and worn +that he could not resist the approach “tired nature’s +sweet restorer,” which carried him off so speedily into the +land of dreams.</p> +<p>“I’m glad to obsarve it,” said the Irishman, +“for the poor chap needs it. He’s too young to be in +this sort of business, but he couldn’t prevint the +soorcumstances, and we must help him out of the scrape as best we +can.”</p> +<p>“I’m with yer,” responded the scout. +“He’s one of the most likely youngsters I’ve ever +met, and I’ll risk a good deal to fetch him along. I’m +in hopes that we’re purty well out of the woods, though we +may have some trouble afore we get cl’ar of Lone Wolf and the +rest.”</p> +<p>“As soon as we get the critters to ride, I s’pose we +kin be off.”</p> +<p>“That’s all, and that won’t take me long. +I’m used to finding horses that the varmints are fools +’nough to say are thars. One day last spring, I war over near +the staked plain all alone, when I got cotched in one of them awful +nor’easters, and I never came so near freezin’ to death +in all my life. Them sort of winds go right to the marrer of yer +bones, and it takes yer a week to thaw out. Wall, sir, while I war +tryin’ to start a fire, a couple of Comanches managed to slip +up and steal my mustang. I didn’t find it out till three or +four hours arter, and then I war mad. I couldn’t stand no +such loss, so I took the trail, and started off on a deer-trot +arter ’em. Wall, sir, I chased them infernal varmints close +on to twenty miles afore I run ’em to earth. Then I found +’em down into a deep holler, where I come nigh tumblin’ +heels over head right in atween ’em afore I knowed who they +war. Yer see it war a piece of the meanest kind of business on thar +part, ’cause they each had a mustang, and I hadn’t any, +and they war leadin’ mine.</p> +<p>“I laid low for them varmints till night, when I mounted +my critter, and struck off over the country leadin’ thar two +beasts with me. I expected they’d foller, of course, for the +two animals that I captured were such beauties as you don’t +meet every day, so I kept ’em on the go purty steady for two +days and nights, when I struck into the chapparal, tethered all +three horses, tumbled over onto the ground, and put in four hours +of straight solid sleep, such as makes a new man of a feller. Wall, +sir, would you believe it? When I woke up and went to mount my +hoss, he wasn’t thar. Them same three skunks had managed to +keep so close onto the trail, that, afore I woke, they slipped up, +took all three of the animals, and were miles away when I opened my +eyes.</p> +<p>“Wall, yer may skulp me if I wasn’t mad, and I +couldn’t help laughin’, too, to think how nice they had +come it over me. As the game had begun atween us, I took the trail +and follered it for half a week. Yer see, them skunks didn’t +mean that I shouldn’t get the best of ’em agin. They +rode fast, and kept it up as long as thar horses could stand it, by +which time they had every reason to think they war a hundred miles +ahead of me, and so they went in for a good rest, intending when +they had got that to keep up thar flight till they reached thar +village up near the headwaters of the Canadian. Of course thar +wouldn’t have been any show for me if I hadn’t had a +streak of luck. I know that country like a book, and I war purty +sartin of the trail them thieves meant to take, so I started to cut +across and head ’em off. I hadn’t gone far when I come +upon the camp of a Comanche war-party, numberin’ a hundred. I +hadn’t any trouble in picking out an animal that suited, and +then yer see I war all right, and, for fear I might get off the +track, I come back and took up the trail again, and I kept it so +hot that when they went into camp I warn’t more than two +miles away; I didn’t want to come any closer, for if +they’d found out that I war so near, they wouldn’t have +give me any kind of chance at all.</p> +<p>“I waited till it was dark, and thar wasn’t a bit of +moon that night, when I sneaked into camp and got thar three +animals agin, and heading for Port Severn, I made up my mind to +keep the thing going without giving ’em the slightest chance +to pull up. The weather had toned down so that it was comfortable +to travel, and arter I got out of hearin’ of the camp, I just +swung my hat, and kicked and laughed to think how cheap them +varmints would feel when they’d come to wake up in the +morning, and find out how nice the white man had got ahead of +’em. Yer see, it war just a question as to which of us war +the smartest. We weren’t going for each other’s +hair—though we’d done that any other time—but for +each other’s hosses, and I’d stole thars twice to thar +stealin’ mine once, and I still held ’em, so I had good +reason to crow over ’em. Wal, sir, I made up my mind that +they warn’t going to come any shenanigan over me, and I +struck the shortest line for Fort Severn. I rode through that very +pass in which you come so near getting cotched, and in fact, the +place whar I got the hosses warn’t ten miles from that big +cave.</p> +<p>“I had plain sailin’ all the way into the fort, and +everything went along well. I had only to ride on my critter, when +the others galloped along like so many dogs. Yer see, I meant +business, and I kept a watch for them varmints all the time. When I +stopped for food or rest, I made sartin that they warn’t +anywhar in sight, and during the three or four days that followed I +never slept an hour together. I managed to snatch a few minutes +slumber while riding my mustang on a full gallop, but when I +stopped to give the animals time to rest, I kept watch, for I felt +as though it would break my heart to be outwitted again. I made the +best kind of time, and my last camp was within a dozen miles of +Fort Severn. I was purty well used up by that time, and making sure +that the varmints warn’t anywhar within a day’s ride, I +put in a good two hours sleep. Well I never rightly understood +it,” added Sut, with a sigh, “and I’m allers +ashamed to tell it, but when I went out to mount my mustang, the +whole four war gone, and the moccasin tracks on the ground showed +who had took ’em. I can’t understand to this day how +them varmints kept so close behind me, and how they war ready when +the chance came into their way; but they war, and they beat me as +fairly as the thing was ever done in this world.”</p> +<p>“Didn’t ye try to folly them?”</p> +<p>“No; I thought I might as well give up. I sneaked into the +fort and tried to keep the thing from ’em, but I +couldn’t tell a straight story, and they found out how it was +at last, and I don’t suppose I’ll ever hear the last of +it.”</p> +<p>A short time afterward, the two laid down and slept.</p> +<hr /> +<h3><a id="Ch_22" name="Ch_22">Chapter XXII.</a></h3> +<h2>Two Old Acquaintances.</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>All three of the little party needed rest, and none of them +opened their eyes until morning. As a simple precaution the scout +smothered the fire entirely, by scraping the ashes over the embers. +Not a ray of moonlight could reach them, and they were wrapped in +the most impenetrable darkness.</p> +<p>As might be expected, Sut Simpson was the first to open his +eyes, and by the time the sun was up all three were stirring. +Enough meat remained over from the feast of the night before to +furnish them with a substantial breakfast, and cool, refreshing +water was at hand for drink and ablution. When the preliminaries +had been completed, Sut went out to learn whether any of the +Apaches were threateningly near. He wished, too, to prepare his +horse for a ride to a point a dozen miles away, close to the margin +of the prairie, where he intended to establish himself until he +could procure the two animals that were needed by his companions. +He had not been gone ten minutes when he came back in great +excitement.</p> +<p>“My mustang is stole, or may I be skulped!” and then +he added a general wail: “Them redskins are getting to be the +greatest hoss-thieves in the world. I don’t know what’s +to become of us if they’re going to keep on in that +way.”</p> +<p>Mickey laughed heartily, for he recalled the narrative of the +night before. In the game for horse flesh it looked very much as if +the Apaches could be Sut’s tutors.</p> +<p>“May I respectfully inquire where you got that crathur, in +the first place?”</p> +<p>“Why, I bought him of the varmints.”</p> +<p>“How mooch did you pay?”</p> +<p>“Wall,” laughed Sut, in turn, “I haven’t +paid anything yet.”</p> +<p>“I suppose they’ve sint in their account till +they’re tired. Finding yer doesn’t pay any attention, +they’ve come to take him back again.”</p> +<p>“Are you sure that it was done by the Indians?” +asked Fred, a little frightened at learning that they had been so +close while he slept.</p> +<p>“Thar ain’t a bit of doubt. I’ve looked the +ground over, and thar’s the trail, as plain as the nose on +your face.”</p> +<p>“How many?”</p> +<p>“Two.”</p> +<p>“And they did it during the night?”</p> +<p>“No,” replied the scout, displaying his wonderful +woodcraft. “The varmints come yesterday arternoon, or just at +dusk, arter I’d took supper and left.”</p> +<p>“How do you know that?”</p> +<p>“I’d be a fool if I couldn’t tell by the look +of the trail how long ago it war made.”</p> +<p>It seemed impossible that such was the fact, and yet, young as +was Fred, he had heard of such things, and the scout spoke after +the manner of one who meant what he said.</p> +<p>“Begorra, but it’s meself that has it!” +exclaimed Mickey, with a sudden lighting up of the countenance; +“they’re the same two spalpeens that took your hoss +down by the Staked Plain, and then follyed ye up and did the same +thing over again, just as ye was going into Fort Severn.”</p> +<p>But the scout shook his head.</p> +<p>“The varmints don’t know much about pity, but +that’s too rough a thing even for a Comanche to repeat. +I’ve a s’picion that Lone Wolf had a hand in that, and +I’m going for him. Come along.”</p> +<p>And the indignant Sut strode out of camp, followed by his +friends. He was not the man to submit to such a loss, and they saw +that he was in deadly earnest. He neither spoke nor looked behind +him for the next quarter of an hour, nor were his friends able to +tell what direction he was following, for he changed so often, +winding in and out among the trees, that they could form no +conjecture as to the general course taken.</p> +<p>They saw that he was following a trail, for he continually +looked down at the ground in front of him, and then glanced to the +right and left, occasionally inclining his head, as though he was +listening for something which he expected to hear. He appeared to +be altogether unconscious of the fact that he had companions at all +and they sought to imitate his stealthy, cat-like movement, without +venturing to speak. After traveling the distance mentioned, and +while they were moving along in the same cautious way, the scout +suddenly wheeled on his knee, and faced them.</p> +<p>“See yer,” said he; “it won’t do for you +to travel any further.”</p> +<p>“What’s up?” asked Mickey.</p> +<p>“Why, the trail’s getting too hot. I ain’t fur +from them horses.”</p> +<p>“Well, doesn’t ye want us to stand by and obsarve +the shtyle in which you are going to scoop them in?”</p> +<p>Simpson shook his head.</p> +<p>“Ye are both too green to try this kind of business. I +never could get a chance at them varmints if I took yer along. All +you’ve got to do is to stay yer till I get back. That +won’t be long.”</p> +<p>“Suppose you don’t get back at all?” asked +Fred, anxiously.</p> +<p>“Then yer needn’t wait.”</p> +<p>“But ain’t it probable that some of the Apaches will +visit us?”</p> +<p>The scout was quite confident that the contingency would not +occur; but, as long as they were in that part of the world, so long +were they in danger of the redskins. It was never prudent to lay +aside habits of caution; but he did not believe they were liable to +molestation at that time. He charged them to keep quiet and always +on the alert, and to expect his return within a couple of hours, +although he might be delayed until noon. They were not to feel any +apprehension unless the entire day should pass without his coming. +Still, even that would be possible, he said, without implying +anything more than that he had encountered unexpected difficulties +in regaining his horse. They were still to wait for him until the +morrow, and if he continued absent they were at liberty to conclude +that the time had come for him to “pass in his checks.” +and they were to make the effort to reach home the best way they +could. With this understanding they separated.</p> +<p>At the time Sut left his friends the trail was exceedingly +“hot,” as he expressed it, and he was confident that +within the next half hour he could force matters to an issue. The +scout was of the opinion that a couple of Apaches had accidently +struck his trail, or happened directly upon his norse while he was +grazing, and, without suspecting his ownership, aad taken him away. +The trail led toward the Apache camp, although by a winding course, +and that was not far away. He was desirous of coming up with the +marauders before they joined in with the others. In that case he +would consider himself fully equal to the task of getting even with +them; but it was not likely that they would go into camp when they +were so close to the main body.</p> +<p>Shortly after, to his great surprise, he came upon his mustang, +tied by a long lariat to the limb of a tree, and contentedly +grazing upon the grass, which was quite abundant. There was not the +sign of an Indian visible.</p> +<p>“Skulp me! if that ain’t a purty way to manage such +things!” he exclaimed, astonished at the shape the matter had +taken. “Them varmints couldn’t have knowed that Sut +Simpson owned that hoss, or they’d have tied him up tighter +than that, and they’d had somebody down yer to watch him; but +they war a couple of greenys, that’s mighty sartin. +It’s a wonder they didn’t fetch out some of thar +mustangs, and leave ’em whar I could lay my hands onto +’em. But I rather think I’ve got my own hoss this time, +as easy as a chap need expect to get anything in this +world.”</p> +<p>There was something so curious in the fact of the horse being +left alone that Sut was a little suspicious, and decided to +reconnoitre thoroughly before venturing further. He was partly +hidden behind a large tree and had been so cautious and noiseless +in his movements that his mustang, which was one of the quickest to +detect the approach of any one, was unaware of his presence.</p> +<p>Sut was on the point of going forward, when a movement in the +wood, on the other side of where the animal was grazing, attracted +his attention, and he paused. At the same instant his steed lifted +his head. There could be no doubt as to the cause, for within the +next minute the figure of an Indian stepped forward toward the +animal, and proceeded to examine him with a care and minuteness +which showed that he expected to identify his ownership.</p> +<p>The eyes of Simpson lit up, and an expression of exultation +crossed his countenance, not merely because the redskin before him +was in his power, but because he recognized him as no one else but +Lone Wolf, the Apache war-chief.</p> +<p>It looked as if the horse-thieves had approached the vicinity of +camp with their plunder, and then, securing him to the branch of +the tree, had gone in and reported what they had done. Lone Wolf, +suspecting, perhaps, that it was the property of his enemy, Sut +Simpson, had stolen out quietly and alone to satisfy himself. He +knew all the “trade-marks” of the hunter so well that +he could not be deceived. This was the theory which instantly +occurred to Sut, who muttered to himself:</p> +<p>“Oh, it’s <em>mine</em>, and I’m +<em>here</em>, though you don’t think it, and we’ll +soon shake hands over it!”</p> +<p>The scout speedily assured himself that Lone Wolf was +alone—that he had no half-dozen “retainers” who +would immediately precipitate themselves upon him the instant a row +should begin. Lone Wolf had no rifle with him, but carried his huge +knife at his girdle—one of the most formidable instruments +ever seen.</p> +<p>As he walked slowly about the mustang, scrutinizing him very +carefully, he brought himself within a yard or two of where Sut +Simpson crouched. The latter waited until he was the nearest, when +he stepped forward, with his drawn knife in hand, and, placing +himself directly in front of the astounded war-chief, said:</p> +<p>“<em>Now</em>, Lone Wolf, we’ll make our accounts +square!”</p> +<hr /> +<h3><a id="Ch_23" name="Ch_23">Chapter XXIII.</a></h3> +<h2>Border Chivalry.</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>As the scout uttered these words, the Apache whirled like +lightning and drew his knife. His swarthy, painted face glowed with +passion, and his black eyes twinkled with a deadly light. Seeing +that he had no weapon but the knife, Sut Simpson, with a certain +rude chivalry that did him credit, left his rifle leaning against +the tree, while he advanced with a weapon corresponding to that of +his enemy, so that both stood upon the same footing.</p> +<p>“Lone Wolf is glad to meet the white dog that he has +hunted so long,” said the chieftain, speaking English like a +native.</p> +<p>With a sardonic grin Sut replied:</p> +<p>“That’s played out, old +Pockared”—alluding to the chieftain’s pitted +face. “I’m just as mad at yer as I kin be, without yer +getting up any fancy didoes to upset my nerves. I’ve come for +yer this time, and the best thing yer kin do is to proceed to +business.”</p> +<p>They were facing each other with drawn knives—almost toe +to toe, and each waiting for the other to lead off. It would have +been hard to tell which stood the best chance of winning.</p> +<p>Lone Wolf suddenly sprang forward like a panther, and made a +vicious lunge with his knife, Sut easily avoiding it by leaping +back, when, in turn, he made a similar attempt upon his adversary, +who escaped in precisely the same manner. But the scout noticed an +unaccountable thing. Lone Wolf had dropped his knife!</p> +<p>True, he picked it up like a flash, and put himself on guard, +but how it was that a veteran like him could have made such a slip +was totally inexplainable to his foe. But the explanation came the +next moment, when the chief, without removing his eyes from those +of the white man, cautiously changed the knife to his left hand. +His right arm was injured in some way, so that it was unreliable. +He had shown this, first by dropping the weapon while attempting to +use it, and he showed it again by shifting it to his left hand, +thus placing himself at a frightful disadvantage.</p> +<p>Sut saw no wound, yet there could be no doubt of the truth, and +his feelings changed on the instant. He felt himself the meanest of +men to attempt to overcome an almost helpless foe.</p> +<p>“Lone Wolf,” said he, still looking him straight in +the eyes, “why don’t yer hold yer knife in the hand +that yer generally do?”</p> +<p>“Lone Wolf can slay the dog of a white man with which hand +he may choose.”</p> +<p>“Yer haven’t been able to do it with both hands +during all these years that you’ve been tryin’, when +yer’ve had yer whole tribe to help yer; but don’t make +a fool of yerself, Lone Wolf. Are your right arm hurt?”</p> +<p>“Lone Wolf will fight the white dog with his strong +arm.”</p> +<p>“No, yer don’t—that’s played out,” +growled the scout, shoving his knife back in his girdle. “I +don’t love yer ’any more than I love the devil, and I +felt happy to think that I had got a chance at last to git square +with yer; but when I lift the top-knot of Lone Wolf and slide him +under, he’s got to have the same chance that I have. I +don’t believe you’d act that way toward me; but, then, +you’re a redskin, and that makes the difference. Lone Wolf, +we’ll adjourn the fight till you’re yerself +agin.”</p> +<p>And, deliberately turning away, the scout vaulted upon the back +of the mustang, cutting the lariat that held him by a sweep of the +knife.</p> +<p>“I s’pose you’ll own I’ve got some claim +on this beast; so good-by.”</p> +<div class="figure"><a href="images/236_full.png" title= +"“I s’pose you’ll own I’ve got some claim on this beast.”" +target="_blank"><img src="images/236_small.png" alt= +"A man on a horse with a gun talks to an Indian standing with a knife." +id="img236" name="img236" width="360" height="583" /></a> +<p>“I S’POSE YOU’LL OWN I’VE GOT SOME CLAIM +ON THIS BEAST.”</p> +</div> +<p>And, without turning to look at him again, he rode deliberately +away.</p> +<p>The Apache stood like a statute staring at him until he was +hidden from view by the intervening trees. Then he turned and +walked slowly in the opposite direction, no doubt with strange +thoughts in his brain.</p> +<p>“I don’t know how that scamp will take it,” +muttered Sut, as he rode along. “He’s one of the +ugliest dogs that ever wore a painted face; and if he could catch +me with a broken arm or head, he wouldn’t want anything +better than to chop me up into mincemeat; but, as I told the old +varmint himself, he’s an Injin and I ain’t, and +that’s what’s the matter.”</p> +<p>The wood was too dense and the ground too uneven to permit him +to ride at a faster gait than a walk, but long before the appointed +hour was up, he rejoined his friends, who were as surprised as +pleased at his prompt reappearance.</p> +<p>“But where are the bastes that ye promised to furnish +us?” inquired Mickey, who had very little relish for the +prospect of walking any portion of the distance homeward.</p> +<p>“That’s what I’ll have for yer before the sun +goes down,” was the confident reply. “I’ll get +you one hoss, anyway, which, maybe, is just as good as two, for the +weight of the younker don’t make no difference, and we kin +git along with one beast better than two.”</p> +<p>“I submit to your suparior judgment,” said the +Irishman, deferentially, “and would suggist that the sooner +the same quadruped is procured the better all round. I hope the +thing won’t be delayed, as me aunt obsarved when the joodge +sintenced her husband to be hung.”</p> +<p>Sut explained that his plan was to ride some distance further, +to a spot which he had in mind, where they would be safer against +being trailed. There, consequently, they could wait with more +security while he went for the much-needed horse. Time was +precious, and no one realized it more than Sut Simpson. He turned +the head of his mustang toward the left, and, after he had started, +leaped to the ground and walked ahead, acting the part of a guide +for the horse as well as for his friends.</p> +<p>The surface over which they journeyed was of the roughest +nature. The fact of it was, the scout was working the party out +toward the open prairie, without availing himself of the +pass—an undertaking which would have been almost impossible +to any one else. At the same time, by picking his way over the +rocky surface, and using all means possible to conceal their trail, +he hoped to baffle any pursuit that might be attempted.</p> +<p>Lone Wolf was not the redskin to allow such a formidable enemy +as Sut Simpson to walk away unmolested, even though he had received +an unexpected piece of magnanimity at his hands. He had learned +that it was he who had played such havoc among his warriors the day +before, who had deceived them by cunningly uttered signals, and had +drawn away the redskins sufficiently to permit his two intended +victims to walk out of his clutches. It had been a series of +unparalleled exploits, the results of which would have exasperated +the mildest tempered Indian ever known.</p> +<p>These thoughts were constantly in the mind of the scout as he +picked out the path for his equine and human companions. He took +unusual pains, for a great deal depended upon his success in hiding +the trail as much as possible. Perhaps it is not correct to say +that the Apaches could be thrown entirely off the scent, if they +should set themselves to work to run the fugitives under cover. +None knew this better than Sut himself, but he knew also that the +thing could be partially done, and a partial success could be made +a perfect one. That is, by adopting all the artifices at his +command, the work of trailing could be rendered so difficult that +it would be greatly delayed—so that it would require hours +for the Apaches to unearth the hiding-place. And Sut meant to +accomplish his self-imposed task during those few hours, so as to +rejoin his friends, and resume their flight before the sharp-witted +pursuers could overhaul them.</p> +<p>The journey, therefore, was made one of the most difficult +imaginable. The mustang was unshod, and yet he clambered up steep +places, and over rocks, and through gravelly gullies, where the +ordinary horse would have been powerless. The animal seemed to +enter into the spirit of the occasion and his performances again +and again excited the wonder and admiration of Mickey and Fred. The +creature had undergone the severest kind of training at the hands +of an unsurpassed veteran of the frontier.</p> +<p>This laborious journeying continued for a couple of hours, +during which it seemed to the man and lad that they passed over +several miles of the roughest traveling they had ever witnessed. +The mustang had fallen several times, but he sprang up again like a +dog and showed no signs of injury or fatigue. Finally Sut made a +halt, just as Mickey was on the point of protesting, and, turning +about, so as to face his companions, he smiled in his peculiar way +as he spoke.</p> +<p>“You’ve stood it pretty well for greenhorns, and now +I’m going to give yer a good rest.”</p> +<p>“Do you maan to go into camp for a week or a month, or +until the warm season is over?”</p> +<p>“I’m going to leave yer here, while I go for some +hoss flesh, and it’ll take longer time than +before.”</p> +<p>But the Irishman insisted that he should be allowed to accompany +the scout upon this dangerous expedition.</p> +<p>“For the raison that ye are going to pick out this animal +for <em>me</em>,” he added, “how do I know but what +ye’ll pick out some ring-boned, spavined critter that trots +sideways, and is blind in both eyes?”</p> +<p>Fred, who dreaded the long spell of dreary waiting which seemed +before him, asked that he might make one of the company; but Sut +would not consent, and he objected to both. He finally compromised +by agreeing to take the Irishman, but insisted that the lad should +stay behind with his mustang.</p> +<p>“A younker like you couldn’t do us a bit of +good,” added Sut, by way of explanation, “and like as +not yer’d get us into the worst kind of difficulty. Better +stay whar you be, rest and be ready to mount your new animal as +soon as we’re back, and scoot away for New Boston.”</p> +<p>“How soon will you be back?” he asked, feeling that +he ought to make no objection to the decision.</p> +<p>The forenoon was about half gone, and the scout looked up at the +sky, removed his coon-skin cap, and thoughtfully wrinkled his +brows, as though he were solving some important mental problem.</p> +<p>“Yer may skulp me, younker, but it’s a mighty hard +thing to tell. Now I got back with my own animile a good deal +sooner than I expected, but that same thing ain’t likely to +happen agin. More likely it’ll be t’other way, and we +may be gone all day, and p’raps all night.”</p> +<p>“And what am I to do all that time?”</p> +<p>“Wait; that’ll be easy enough, arter such a rough +tramp as I’ve given yer.”</p> +<p>“But suppose some of the Indians come here; I +haven’t got any gun or pistol, so what shall I do?”</p> +<p>“The hoss thar will let you know when any of the varmints +come sneaking round, and he’ll do it, too, afore they know +whar yer be, so you’ll have time to dig out. I ain’t +much in the way of using a knife,” added the scout. “I +depends on me gun for a long range, and when I gets into close +quarters, I throw this yer (tapping the handle of his knife), round +careless like; but I’ve got a little plaything yer that has +stood me well, once or twice, and if it’s any help to yer, +why, yer are welcome to it. It was give to me by an officer down at +Fort Massachusetts.”</p> +<p>As he spoke, the scout drew a small revolver, beautifully +mounted and ornamented with silver, which he handed to the lad, +who, as may be supposed, was delighted with the weapon.</p> +<p>“Just the thing, exactly,” he said, as he turned it +over in his hand. “There are five barrels.”</p> +<p>“And every one is loaded,” added the scout. +“The pill which it gives a redskin ain’t very big, but +it’s sure, and it’ll hunt for him a good ways off; so +the dog is apt to bite better than you expect.”</p> +<p>Sut told him that he expected to return by nightfall, and +possible before, but they might be kept away until morning. Under +any circumstances, whether successful or not, they would be back +within twenty-four hours, for they could better afford to wait and +repeat the attempt than to stay away longer than that. The reason +for this decision was that if any of the Apaches should attempt to +trail them, and there was every reason to believe that they would, +they would not need more than twenty-four hours to track them to +this hiding place. It was especially necessary that a collision +with them should be avoided as long as possible, for the whites had +everything to gain by such a course. As time was valuable, Sut did +not delay the departure, and, as he and Mickey gave the lad a +cheery good-by, they turned off to the right, and a minute later +disappeared from view.</p> +<p>“Here I am alone again,” he said to himself, +“excepting the horse, and I’ve got a loaded revolver. +Sut don’t think those Apaches can get here before to-morrow +morning, and he knows more than I do about it, so I hope he’s +right. We’ve got thus far on our way home, and it would be a +pity if we should fail.”</p> +<p>As he looked around, he saw nothing in the place or surroundings +which would have commended it to him. There was water in the shape +of a trickling stream, and that was plenty everywhere, but there +was scarcely a spear of grass visible. The vegetation was stunted +and unthrifty in appearance. There were stones and rocks +everywhere, with nothing that could serve as a shelter in case of +storm. He searched for a considerable distance around, but was +unable to find even a shelving rock, beneath which he might creep +and gather himself up if one of those terrific tempests peculiar to +this region should happen to strike him. Nor did there seem to be +any suitable refuge if the Apaches should attack him before he +could retreat.</p> +<p>He might crouch down behind some of the boulders and rocks, but +the make-up of the surface around him was so similar that three red +skins could surround him with perfect ease and without any danger +to themselves. Fred therefore made up his mind that he was in about +as uncomfortable a situation as a fugitive could well be.</p> +<hr /> +<h3><a id="Ch_24" name="Ch_24">Chapter XXIV.</a></h3> +<h2>Night Visitors.</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>As young Munson expected to remain where he was for the rest of +the day, and perhaps through the succeeding night, and knew that he +was in great danger, he made it his business to acquaint himself +thoroughly with his position and with all the approaches thereto. +The first natural supposition was that the Apaches, in following +the fugitives to the spot, would, from the force of circumstances, +keep to the trail, that being their only guide.</p> +<p>This trail, for the last two hundred yards, led up a slope to +where he was stationed upon what might have been called a landing +in the ascent of the mountain. At the bottom of this two hundred +yards or so was an irregular plateau, beyond which the trail was +lost.</p> +<p>“If the Apaches should show themselves before dark,” +he concluded, as he looked over the ground, “there is where +they will be seen, and that’s the spot I must watch so long +as I can see it.”</p> +<p>Fred was able to hide himself from view for the time being, but +there was no way in which he could conceal the horse. He was sure +to be the first object that would attract the eye of the redskins +from below, revealing to them the precise position of the +fugitives. This reflection disturbed the lad a good deal, until he +succeeded in convincing himself that, after all, it was fortunate +that it was so.</p> +<p>The redskins, detecting the mustang among the rocks, would +believe that the three whites were there on the defensive. No +matter if their force were a half dozen times as great, they would +make the attack with a great deal of caution, and would probably +manoeuvre around until dark, in the expectation of a desperate +fight—all of which Fred hoped would give him a good chance of +stealing out and escaping them.</p> +<p>This, as a matter of course, was based upon the idea that Sut +Simpson, the veteran scout, had committed a serious error in +believing that the pursuit would be slow. And such a mistake he had +indeed made, as the lad discovered in due time.</p> +<p>The afternoon wore slowly away, and sunset was close at hand, +when Fred was lying upon his face, peering over the upper edge of a +rock at the plateau below. The fact of it was, his eyes had been +roaming over the same place so long, that the stare had become a +dreary, aimless one. He was suddenly aroused, however, to the most +intense attention by the discovery of an Apache warrior, who +drifted very serenely into the field of vision as if he were part +of a moving panorama upon which the lad was gazing.</p> +<p>The boy had been waiting so long for his appearance that he +uttered an exclamation, and half arose to his feet in his +excitement. But he quickly settled back again, and, with an +interest which it would be hard to describe, watched every movement +of the redskin, as the tiger watches the approach of its +victim.</p> +<p>The indian stalked up the other side of the plateau, walking +slowly, looking right and left, in front and rear, and down at the +ground, his manner showing that he was engaged in trailing the +party, using all the care and skill of which he was the master. +Reaching the middle of the plateau, he stopped, looked about, and +made a gesture to some one behind him. A moment later, a second +indian appeared, and then a third, the trio meeting near the centre +of the irregular plot, where they immediately began a +conversation.</p> +<p>Each of the three was liberal with his gestures, and now and +then Fred could catch the sound of their voices. What it was that +could so deeply interest them at such a time, he was at a loss to +conjecture, but there could be no doubt that it related to the +party they were pursuing.</p> +<p>“That must be all there are of them,” he reflected, +after several minutes had passed, without any other Apaches +becoming visible; “but it seems to me it is a small force to +chase us with. I’ve always understood that the Indians wanted +double the number of their enemies, whenever they are going to +attack them, but I suppose they’ve got some plan that I +can’t understand.”</p> +<p>They had been talking but a short time, when Fred understood +from their actions that they had detected the mustang above them on +the mountain side. They looked up several times, and pointed and +gesticulated in the same earnest fashion. It suddenly occurred to +the lad that he might play a good point on the redskins, with the +idea of delaying any offensive movement they might have under +discussion. Pointing his revolver over the rock in front of him, he +pulled the trigger.</p> +<p>The report was as sharp and loud almost as that of a rifle, but +the parties against whom it it was aimed were in no more danger +than if they had been in the city of Newark. The report had no +sooner reached the ears of the Apaches than they scattered as +wildly as if they had heard the whizz of a dozen bullets by their +faces. Fred chuckled over the success of his ruse and made sure to +keep himself hid from view.</p> +<p>“That will make them think that we’re holding a +sharp look-out for them, and they’ll be careful before they +make an attack upon us.”</p> +<p>It seemed strange to him that the Apaches, who must know of the +presence of Sut Simpson, who was equal to half a dozen men in such +a situation, should have sent forward only three of their warriors +to trail him.</p> +<p>“It may be,” he thought, after a while, “that +these men know how to follow a trail faster than the others, and +they have gone on ahead, while the others are coming after them. I +should think Lone Wolf would do anything in the world to catch Sut, +who has done him so much injury.”</p> +<p>Night was drawing on apace, darkness being due in less than an +hour. Fred was naturally perplexed and alarmed, for he could not +help feeling that he was in a most perilous position, regarding +which he should have had more advice from the scout before his +departure. The only thing that seemed prudent for him to do was to +wait until dark and then quietly steel out and shift his position. +It looked very much as if he could take care of himself for the +night, at least, but he did not see how he could take care of the +mustang, which had already changed hands so often, and which was so +necessary to their safety.</p> +<p>“Sut said he expected to be home by dark, and I wish +he’d come,” was the thought that passed through his +mind over and over again as he looked into the gathering darkness +and listened for the sound of his friends.</p> +<p>But the stillness remained unbroken and the shadows deepened, +until he saw that the night was fully come, and he could move about +without danger of being fired upon from a distance. The moon was +late in rising, so that the gloom was deep enough to hide one +person from another, when the distance was extremely slight. +Although aware of this, Fred was afraid of some flank movement upon +the part of the Apaches, before he could get out of their reach. +The suspicion that there were two men besides would make the +redskins very cautious in their movements, but a little manoeuvring +on their part might reveal the truth, in which case the situation +of the lad would be critical in the extreme.</p> +<p>Fred had nerved himself to the task of stealing around the +corner of a large rock and off into the darkness, when he was +startled by a quick, sudden stamp of the horse. There might have +been nothing in this; but, recalling what the scout had said about +the skill of the animal as a sentinel, he had no doubt but that it +meant that he had scented danger and that the redskins were close +at hand. Scarcely pausing to reflect upon the advisability of the +step, the lad began crawling in the direction of the animal, not +more then twenty feet away.</p> +<p>Before he had passed half the distance he was certain that a +redskin was at some deviltry, for the horse stamped and snorted, +and showed such excitement, that Fred forgot his own danger, and, +springing to his feet, ran rapidly toward the animal. Just as he +reached him, he saw that an Indian had him by the bridle, and was +trying to draw him along, the mustang resisting, but still yielding +a step at a time. In a short time, if the thief was not disturbed, +he would have gotten him beyond the possibility of rescue, he +seeming more anxious to secure the steed than the scalp of its +owner. With never a thought of the consequences, Fred raised his +revolver and blazed away with both barrels, aiming as best he could +straight at the marauding Apache, who, with a howl of rage and +terror, dropped the bridle of the mustang and bounded away among +the rocks.</p> +<p>“There! I guess when you want to borrow a horse again, +you’ll ask the owner.”</p> +<p>The lad was reminded of his imprudence by the flash of a rifle +almost in his face, and the whizz of the bullet which grazed his +cheek. But he still had two loaded chambers in his revolver, and he +wheeled for the purpose of sending one of them at least, into the +warrior that had made an attempt upon his life. At this critical +juncture the mustang displayed an intelligence that was +wonderful.</p> +<p>The Apache who was stealing upon him was near the steed, which, +without any preliminary warning, let out both his heels, knocking +the unsuspecting wretch fully a dozen feet and stretching him, +badly wounded, upon the ground.</p> +<p>“I wonder how many more there are?” exclaimed the +lad, looking about him, and expecting to see others rushing forward +from the gloom.</p> +<p>But the repulse for the time being was effectual and the way was +clear.</p> +<p>“I guess I’d better get out of here,” was the +thought of Fred, “for it ain’t likely they will leave +me alone very long when they’ve found out that I’m the +only one left.”</p> +<p>With revolver in hand he moved hurriedly backward among the +rocks, and, after going a few rods, halted and looked for his +pursuers, whom he believed to be close behind him. There was +something coming, but a moment’s listening satisfied him that +it was his mustang, which seemed to comprehend the exigency fully +as well as he did himself.</p> +<p>“I don’t know about that,” he reflected. +“They can follow him better then they can me, and he +can’t sneak along like I can. If they catch him, +they’ll be pretty sure to catch me.”</p> +<p>He started to flee, not from the Indians only, but from the +mustang as well. But the speed of the latter was greater than his +own, and, after several attempts to dodge him, he gave it up.</p> +<p>“If you can travel so well,” reflected Fred, +“you might as well carry me on your back.”</p> +<p>Saying this he leaped upon the animal’s back and gave him +free rein. The animal was going it on his own hook and he plunged +and labored along for some minutes longer, over the rockiest sort +of surface, until he halted of his own accord. The instant he did +so Fred leaped to the ground, paused and listened for his pursuers. +Nothing but the hurried breathing of the mustang could be heard. +The latter held his head well up, with ears thrown forward, in the +attitude of attention. But minute after minute passed and the +stillness remained unbroken. It looked indeed as if the fugitive +horse and boy had found rest for the time, and, so long as the +darkness continued, there was no necessity for further flight.</p> +<hr /> +<h3><a id="Ch_25" name="Ch_25">Chapter XXV.</a></h3> +<h2>Hunting a Steed.</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>Leaving Fred Munson to watch for the approach of the Indians, it +becomes necessary to follow Mickey O’Rooney and Sut Simpson +on their hunt for a horse with which to continue their flight from +the mountains and across the prairies. It cannot be said that the +scout, in starting upon this expedition, had any particular plan in +view. As he remarked, Indians were around them, and, wherever +Indians were found, it was safe to look for the best kind of +horses. Wherever the best opportunity offered, there he intended to +strike. With this view, the first position of their expedition was +in the nature of a survey, by which they intended to locate the +field in which to operate.</p> +<p>The Irishman could not fail to see the necessity of caution and +silence, and, leaving his more experienced companion to take the +lead, he followed him closely, without speaking or halting. The way +continued rough and broken, being very difficult to travel at +times; but after they had tramped a considerable distance, Mickey +noticed that they were going down hill at quite a rapid rate, and +finally they reached the lowermost level, where the scout faced +him.</p> +<p>“Do yer know whar yer be?” he asked, in a +significant tone.</p> +<p>“Know whar I be?” repeated the Irishman, in +amazement. “How should I know, as the spalpeens always said +arter I knocked them down at the fair? What means of information +have I?”</p> +<p>“You’ve been over this spot afore,” continued +the scout, enjoying the perplexity of his friend.</p> +<p>The latter scratched his head and looked about him with a more +puzzled expression than ever.</p> +<p>“The only place that it risimbles in my mind, is a hilly +portion in the north of Ireland. Do you maan to say we’ve +arrived thar?”</p> +<p>“This is the pass which you tramped up and down, and whar +you got into trouble.”</p> +<p>“It don’t look like any part that I ever obsarved; +but why do you have such a hankering for this ravine, in which we +haven’t been used very well?”</p> +<p>“Yer’s whar the Injuns be, and yer’s whar we +must look for hosses—sh!”</p> +<p>Mickey heard not the slightest sound, but he imitated the action +of the scout and dodged down in some undergrowth, which was dense +enough to hide them from the view of any one who did not fairly +trample upon them. They had crouched but a minute or two in this +position, when Mickey fancied he heard the tramp of a single horse, +approaching on a slow walk. He dared not raise his head to look, +although he noticed that the shoulders of the scout in front of him +were slowly rising, as he peered stealthily forward.</p> +<p>The experiences of the last few days had been remarkable in more +than one respect. The two men had set out to secure a horse, +neither deeming it probable that the one which was desired above +all others could be obtained; and yet, while they were crouching in +the bushes, the very animal—the one which had been ridden by +Mickey O’Rooney—walked slowly forth to view, on his way +up the ravine or pass. The most noticeable feature of the scene was +that he was bestrode by an Indian warrior, whose head was bent in a +meditative mood. The redskin, so far as could be seen, was without +a companion, the steed walking at the slowest possible gait and +approaching a point which was no more than a dozen feet away.</p> +<p>The instant Mickey caught sight of the warrior and recognized +his own horse, there was a slight movement on the part of the +scout. The Irishman narrowly escaped uttering an exclamation of +surprise and delight as he identified his property, but he checked +himself in time to notice that Sut was stealthily bringing his gun +around to the front, with the unmistakable purpose of shooting the +Apache. The heart of the Irishman revolted at such a proceeding. +There seemed something so cowardly in thus killing an adversary +without giving him an opportunity to defend himself that he could +not consent to it. Reaching forward, he twitched the sleeve of Sut, +who turned his head in surprise.</p> +<p>“What is it ye’re driving at, me laddy?”</p> +<p>“Sh!—him!” he whispered, in return, darting +his head toward the slowly approaching horseman, winking and +blinking so significantly that it was easy to supply the words +which were omitted.</p> +<p>“But why don’t ye go out and tell him what ye +intend, so that he can inform his friends, and bid them all +good-bye? It ain’t the thing to pop a man over in that style, +without giving him a chance to meditate on the chances of his life, +so be aisy wid him, Soot.”</p> +<div class="figure"><a href="images/261_full.png" title= +"“Be aisy wid him, Soot.”" target="_blank"><img src= +"images/261_small.png" alt="Two men peek around a tree." id= +"img261" name="img261" width="360" height="580" /></a> +<p>“BE AISY WID HIM, SOOT.”</p> +</div> +<p>The scout seemed at a loss to understand the meaning of his +companion, whose waggery and drollery cropped out at such +unexpected times that no one knew when to expect it. The Indian was +approaching and was already close at hand. Keen-eared, and with +their senses always about them, Apaches are likely to detect the +slightest disturbance. The scout glanced at the horseman, and then +at Mickey, who was in earnest.</p> +<p>“It’s the only way to git the hoss, you lunkhead, so +will yer keep yer meat-trap shet?”</p> +<p>“I don’t want a horse if we’ve got to murder a +man to git the same.”</p> +<p>“But the only way out here to treat an Injin is to shoot +him the minute yer see him—that’s sensible.”</p> +<p>“I don’t want ye to do it,” said Mickey, so +pleadingly that the scout could not refuse.</p> +<p>“Wal, keep still and don’t interfere, and I promise +yer I won’t slide him under, onless he gits in the way, and +won’t git out.”</p> +<p>“All right,” responded Mickey, not exactly sure that +he understood him, but willing to trust one who was not without his +rude traits of manhood.</p> +<p>All this took place in a few seconds, during which the Apache +horseman had approached, and another moment’s delay would +have given him a good chance of escape by flight. As noiselessly as +a shadow the scout arose from his knees to a stooping position, +took a couple of long, silent strides forward, and then +straightened up, directly in front of the startled horse, and still +more startled rider. The former snorted, and partly reared up, but +seemed to understand, as if by an instinct, that the stranger was +more entitled to claim him than the one upon his back. Another step +forward and the scout held the bridle in his left hand, while he +addressed the astounded Apache in his own tongue, a liberal +translation being as follows:</p> +<p>“Let my brother, the dog of an Apache, slide off that +animile, and vamoose the ranch, or I’ll lift his ha’r +quicker’n lightning.”</p> +<p>The savage deemed it advisable to “slide.” He +carried a knife at his girdle, and held a rifle in his grasp, but +the scout had come upon him so suddenly that he felt he was master +of the situation. So without attempting to argue the matter with +him, he dropped to the ground, and began retreating up the ravine, +with his face toward his conquerer, as if he mistrusted +treachery.</p> +<p>“Our blessing go wid ye,” said Mickey, rising to his +feet, and waving his hand toward the alarmed Apache; “we +don’t want to harm ye, and ye may go in pace. There, +Soot,” he added, as he came up beside him, “we showed +that spalpeen marcy whin he scarcely had the right to expict it, +and he will appreciate the same.”</p> +<p>“Ye’re right,” grunted the scout. +“He’ll show ye how he’ll appreciate it the minute +he gets a chance to draw bead onto yer; but ye’ve larned that +thar are plenty of varmints in this section, and if we’re +going to get away with this hoss thar ain’t no time to lose. +Up with yer thar and take the bridle.”</p> +<p>Mickey did as he requested, not exactly understanding what the +intention was.</p> +<p>“What is to be done?” he asked, as the head of the +animal was turned back over the route that he had just traveled. +“Am I to ride alone, while ye walk beside me?”</p> +<p>“That’s the idea for the present, so as to save the +strength of the horse. A half mile or so up the pass is a trail +which leads down inter it. The mustang can go over that like a +streak of greased lightning, and thar’s whar we’ll +leave the pass, and make off through the woods and mountains, till +we can jine in with the younker and go it without +trouble.”</p> +<p>A few words of hurried consultation completed the plans. As they +were very likely to encounter danger, it was agreed that the scout +should go ahead of the horseman, keeping some distance in advance, +and carefully reconnoitering the way before him with a view of +detecting anything amiss in time to notify his friend, and prevent +his running into it. There might come a chance where it would not +be prudent for Sut Simpson to press forward, but where, if the +intervening distance was short, Mickey might be able to make a dash +for the opening in the pass and escape with his mustang. The +Apache, being unhorsed in the manner described, had fled in the +opposite direction from that which they intended to follow. Of +course he could get around in front, and signal those who were +there of what was coming, provided the two whites were tardy in +their movements, which they didn’t propose to be.</p> +<p>It required only a few minutes to effect a perfect +understanding, when the scout went a hundred yards or so ahead, +moving forward at an ordinary walk, scanning the ravine right, left +and in front, and on the watch for the first sign of danger. He had +previously so located and described the opening by which they +expected to leave the pass, that Mickey was sure he would recognize +it the instant they came in sight of it. This was a rather curious +method of procedure, but it was continued for a time, and the +avenue alluded to was nearly in sight when Sut Simpson, who was a +little further than usual in advance, suddenly stopped and raised +his hand as a signal for his friend to stop.</p> +<p>Mickey did so at once, holding the mustang in check, while he +watched the scout with the vigilance of a cat. Sut never once +looked behind him, but his long form gradually sank down in the +grass, until little more than his broad shoulders and a coon-skin +cap were visible. The pass at that place was anything but straight, +so that the view of Mickey was much less than that of the scout; +and, had it been otherwise, it is not likely that the former would +have been able to read the signs which were as legible to the +latter as the printed pages of a book.</p> +<p>“Begorrah, but that’s onplisant!” muttered the +Irishman to himself, “We must be moighty close onto the door, +when some of the spalpeens stick up their heads and object to our +going out. Be the powers! but they may object, for all I care. +I’m going to make a run for it!”</p> +<p>At this juncture the figure of the scout was seen approaching in +the same guarded manner.</p> +<p>“Well, Soot, me laddy, what do ye make of it?”</p> +<p>“Thar’s a party of the varmints just beyont the +place we meant to ride out.”</p> +<p>“Well, what of that? You can lave the pass somewhere along +here, where there seem plenty of places that ye can climb out, +while I make a dash out of that, and we’ll meet agin after we +get clear of the spalpeens.”</p> +<p>“Thar’s a mighty risk about it, and yer be likelier +to get shot than to be missed.”</p> +<p>“That’s all right,” responded Mickey. +“I’m reddy to take the chances in that kind of +business. Lead on, and we’ll try it. It’ll soon be +dark, and I’m getting tired of this fooling.”</p> +<p>Sut liked that kind of talk. There was a business ring about it, +and he responded:</p> +<p>“I’ll go ahead, and when it’s time to stop +I’ll make yer the signal. Keep watch of my +motions.”</p> +<p>Ten minutes later they had reached a spot so near the opening +that Mickey easily recognized it. He compressed his lips and his +eyes flashed with a stern determination as he surveyed it. The +scout was still in the advance, proceeding in the same careful +manner, all his wits about him, when he again paused, and motioned +for the Irishman to stop. The latter saw and recognized the +gesture, but he declined to obey it. He permitted his mustang to +walk on until he had reached the spot where Sut was crouching, +making the most furious kind of motions, and telling him to stay +where he was.</p> +<p>“Why didn’t yer stop when I tell yer, blast +ye?” he demanded angrily.</p> +<p>“Is that the place where ye expected to go out?” +asked Mickey, without noticing the question, as he pointed off to +the spot which he had fixed upon as the one for which they were +searching.</p> +<p>“Of course it is; but what of it? You can’t do +anything thar.”</p> +<p>“I’ll show ye, me laddy; I’m going there as +sure as me name’s Mickey O’Rooney, and me.”</p> +<p>“Yer ain’t going to try any such thing; if yer do, +I’ll bore yer.”</p> +<p>But the Irishman had already given the word to his horse. The +latter bounded forward, passing by the dumbfounded hunter, who +raised his rifle, angered enough to tumble the reckless fellow from +the saddle. But, of course, he could not do that, and he stared in +a sort of a wondering amazement at the course of the Irishman. The +latter, instead of seeking to conceal his identity, seemed to take +every means to make it known. He put the mustang on a dead run, sat +bolt upright on his back, and Sut even fancied that he could see +that his cap was set a little to one side, so as to give himself a +saucy, defiant air to whomsoever might look upon him.</p> +<p>“Skulp me! if he ain’t a good rider!” +exclaimed the scout, anxious to assist him in the trouble with +which he was certain to environ himself. “But he is riding to +his death. Thar! what next? He’s crazy.”</p> +<p>This exclamation was caused by seeing Mickey lift his cap and +swing it about his head, emitting at the same time a number of +yells such as no Apache among them all could have surpassed.</p> +<p>“Whoop! whoop! ye bloody spalpeens! it’s meself, +Mickey O’Rooney, that’s on the war-path, and do ye kape +out of the way, or there’ll be some heads broken.”</p> +<p>Could madness further go? Instead of trying to avoid an +encounter with the Apaches, the belligerent Irishman seemed +actually to be seeking it. And there was no danger of his being +disappointed. Certain of this, Sut Simpson hurried on after him, +for the purpose of giving what assistance he could in the desperate +encounter soon to take place.</p> +<p>Mickey was still yelling in his defiant way, with the long, lank +figure of the scout trotting along in the rear, when one, two, +three, fully a half dozen Apaches sprang from the ground ahead of +the Irishman, and, as if they divined his purpose, all began +converging toward the opening which was the goal of the fugitive. +But it would have made no difference to the latter if a score had +appeared across his path. He hammered the ribs of his mustang with +his heels, urging him to the highest possible speed of which he was +capable. Then he replaced his cap, added an extra yell or two, +raised his rifle and sighted best as he could at the nearest +Indian. When he pulled the trigger, he missed the mark probably +twenty feet, for it was a kind of business to which Mickey was +unaccustomed.</p> +<p>The Apaches threw themselves across his path, in the hope of +checking the mustang so as to secure the capture of the rider; but +the animal abated not a tittle, and strained every nerve to carry +his owner through the terrible gauntlet. One of the redskins, +fearful that the fugitive was going to escape in spite of all they +could do, raised his gun, with the purpose of tumbling him to the +ground. Before he could do anything, he dropped his gun, threw up +his arms with a howl, and tumbled over backward. Sut Simpson was +near enough at hand to send in the shot that wound up his +career.</p> +<p>By this time, something like a sober second thought came to +Mickey, who saw that his horse comprehended what was expected of +him, and needing do further direction or urging. He realized, +furthermore, that he had, by the impetuous movement of the animal, +thrown all his foes in the rear, and they being unmounted, and +anxious to check his flight, were certain to give him the contents +of their rifles. Accordingly he threw himself forward upon the neck +of the steed, scarcely a second before the crack of the rifles were +heard in every direction. The hurtling bullets passed fearfully +near, and more than once Mickey believed he was struck. But his +horse kept on with unabated speed, and a minute after thundered up +the slope, and he and his rider were beyond the reach of all their +bullets.</p> +<hr /> +<h3><a id="Ch_26" name="Ch_26">Chapter XXVI.</a></h3> +<h2>Lone Wolf’s Tactics.</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>Mickey O’Rooney gave a yell of defiance as he vanished +from view, horse and rider unharmed by the scattering shots which +followed them, even after they were lost to sight. It was well and +bravely done, and yet it would have failed altogether but for the +wonderful cunning and shrewd courage of Simpson, who had kept close +to the heels of the flying horse. It was when the crisis +came—when the Apaches were closing around the fugitive, and +it seemed inevitable that he should reap the natural reward of his +own foolhardiness that Sut had acted. When the warriors were +confident of their success, he discharged his rifle with marvelous +quickness, and with a more important result than the mere tumbling +over of his man.</p> +<p>There was a momentary check, a sudden stoppage, lasting but a +few seconds, when the foe rallied and made for the fugitive. But +that brief interval of time was precisely what was needed, and it +secured the safety of Mickey and his steed. It mattered not that +Sut Simpson as good as threw away his life by his chivalrous act. +He knew that full well, while awaiting the opportunity, as much as +he did when he raised his faithful weapon and discharged it into +the group.</p> +<p>The moment the piece was fired he knew that his mission was +accomplished, and he began a retreat, moving stealthily and rapidly +backward, for the purpose of getting beyond the range of the +redskins before they should fairly recover from the escape of the +horseman. But events were proceeding rather too rapidly. Before he +could cover any appreciable distance, the baffled wretches turned +upon him and it was flight or fight, or, more likely, both.</p> +<p>The Apaches were brave, they knew the character of the dreaded +scout and they were not desirous of rushing, one after another, to +their doom. Sut was certain that, if he should turn and run, the +howling horde would be at his heels. The instant there should +appear any possibility of his escape, they would all open upon him, +and it was impossible that any such good fortune should attend him +as had marked the flight of Mickey. It was his purpose, therefore, +to keep up his retreat with his face to his foe, forcing all to +maintain their distance, until he could reach the side of the +ravine, where, possibly, a sudden desperate effort might enable him +to outwit the redskins.</p> +<p>The scout had not yet been given time in which to reload his +piece, but the uncertainty whether it contained another charge +prevented them from making an impetuous rush upon him. Besides, +they knew that he carried a formidable knife, and, like every +border character, he was a professor of the art of using it. All at +once it occurred to Sut that he might thin out his assailants by +the use of his revolver. If he could drop three or four, or more, +and then follow it up with a savage onslaught, he believed he could +open the way. He felt for the weapon, and was terribly disappointed +to find it gone.</p> +<p>He recalled that he had given it to Fred Munson when he was left +alone with the mustang. So, as he had nothing but his knife, he +placed his hand upon the haft, glaring defiantly at his enemies, +while he continued walking slowly backward, and gradually edging +toward the side of the grove. But Apaches were plenty in that +latitude, and the business had scarcely opened when three or four +warriors commenced a stealthy approach upon the scout from the +rear. He glanced hastily over his shoulder several times, while +slowly retreating, to guard against this very danger; but the +Indians, seeing the point for which the fugitive was making, +ensconced themselves near it and waited.</p> +<p>At the moment Sut placed his hand upon the knife, he was within +twenty feet of the three Indians crouching in the grass, with no +suspicion of their proximity. One of them arose to his feet, +quietly swung a coiled lasso about his head (the distance being so +slight that no great effort was necessary), and then with great +dexterity dropped it over the head of the unsuspicious scout, +inclosing his arms, when he jerked it taut with the suddenness of +lightning.</p> +<p>A few seconds only were necessary for Sut to free himself, but +ere those seconds could be taken advantage of, he was drawn over +backward. The entire party sprang upon him and seized his gun and +knife.</p> +<p>“Skulp me, if this don’t look as though I’d +made a slip of it this time!” muttered Sut, as he bounded +like lightning to his feet. “When yer varmints undertake a +job of this kind, yer show that yer ain’t no slouches, but +have a good knowledge of the business.”</p> +<p>As if anxious to deserve the complimentary opinion of their +distinguished prisoner, they coiled the lasso again and again about +him, until he was fastened by a dozen rounds and was no more able +to contend against his captors then if he were an infant.</p> +<p>As all the warriors recognized the prisoner, their delight was +something extraordinary. They danced about him in the most +grotesque and frantic manner, screeching, yelling, and indulging in +all sorts of tantalizing gestures and signs at Simpson, who was +unable to resist them or help himself.</p> +<p>There was a certain dignity in the carriage of Sut under these +trying circumstances. Instead of replying by taunts to the taunts +of his enemies, he maintained silence, permitting them to wag on to +their heart’s content.</p> +<p>It was wonderful how rapidly the tidings of the capture spread. +The hootings and yellings that marked the rejoicings of the party +were heard by those who were further away, and they signaled it to +the warriors beyond. The redskins came from every direction, and, +within half an hour from the time Sut Simpson was lassoed, there +must have been nearly a hundred Apaches gathered around him. These +all continued their frantic rejoicings, while, as before, the +prisoner remained silent.</p> +<p>His eyes were wandering over the company in search of Lone Wolf, +their great leader; but that redoubtable chieftain was nowhere to +be seen. Sut was certain that he was somewhere near at hand, and +must know of all that had happened on this spot.</p> +<p>Did Simpson expect anything like mercy from the Apaches? Not a +whit of it. He had fought them too long, had inflicted too much +injury, and understood them too thoroughly to look for anything of +the kind. Besides, even if he was innocent of having ever harmed a +redskin, he would not have received the slightest indulgence at +their hands. The Apaches are like all the rest of their species, in +their inherent opposition to mercy on general principles.</p> +<p>The afternoon was well spent, and, as a means of occupying his +mind until his case was disposed of, he set himself speculating as +to what their precise intentions were. Being quite familiar with +the Apache tongue, he caught the meaning of many of their +expressions; but for a considerable time these were confined to +mere exultations over his capture. The excitement was too great for +anything like deliberation, or concerted council.</p> +<p>“It may be the skunks are waitin’ fur Lone +Wolf,” he muttered, as he stood with his arms bound to his +side. “They wouldn’t dare to do much without axing him, +though I ’spose they might a skulp any man wharever they got +the chance, without stopping to ax questions. Helloa! thar he +comes!”</p> +<p>This exclamation was caused by the sudden turning of heads, and +a sort of hush that fell upon the group for the moment, close to +the approach of someone on horseback. It was already so close to +dusk that he could not be identified until he came closer, when Sut +was surprised to find that it was not the chieftain, after all. It +was a man altogether different in appearance, probably a +subordinate chief, who had performed some daring deed which had won +him the admiration of his comrades. The indications, too, were that +he brought interesting news about something.</p> +<p>“That varmint has been away somewhar,” concluded +Sut, carefully noting everything, “and they expect him to +tell something worth hearin’, and I guess they’re about +kerrect, so I’ll see what I kin do in the way of listening +myself.”</p> +<p>The scout was right in his supposition. The Indian was the +<em>avant courier</em> of a party three or four times as great as +that which had gathered about him in the ravine. His companions had +separated and gone in other directions, while he, learning the +course taken by his chief, Lone Wolf, had hastened to report +directly to him.</p> +<p>Sut Simpson suspected what all this meant. He saw a number of +scalps hanging at the girdle of the Apache, and he had not listened +long when his fears where more than confirmed. The embryo town of +New Boston, planted in the valley of the Rio Pecos, was no more. +Repulsed bloodily at the first, Lone Wolf had gathered together the +best of his warriors, placed them under one of his youngest and +most daring chiefs, and sent them forth with orders to clean out +the settlement that had been planted so defiantly in the heart of +their country. And now this chief had returned to say that the work +had been completed, precisely as commanded.</p> +<p>“I knowed it war coming,” muttered the scout. +“I told that Barnwell that Lone Wolf would bounce him afore +he knowed what the the matter was, and I urged ’em to make +for Fort Severn, which war only fifty miles away, and save their +top-knots. He did not say so, but I could see he thought I war a +big fool, and now he’s found out who the fool was. Wonder +whether any of the poor cusses got away? Thar couldn’t have +been much chance. ’Twon’t do to ax this rooster, cause +he wouldn’t be likely to answer me, and, if he did, he would +be sartin’ to tell me a lot of lies.”</p> +<p>The young chief having communicated his good tidings, and +exchanged congratulations with those about him, started his mustang +forward, heading him directly up the ravine or pass. This brought +him within arm’s length of the scout, who was standing mute +and motionless. The redskin drew up his horse and stared fixedly at +him, as if, for the moment, uncertain of his identity.</p> +<p>“I’m Sut Simpson, the man that has slain so many +Apache warriors that he cannot number them,” said the scout, +with a view of helping the Indian to recognize him.</p> +<p>There was no real braggadocio about this. As Sut could not hide +his personality, the best plan for him was to make an open avowal, +backed up by a rather high-sounding vaunt. This was more pleasing +to the Indians, who were addicted to the most extravagant kind of +expression.</p> +<p>Rather curiously, the young chief made no reply. The observation +of the prisoner seemed to have settled all doubts that were in his +mind, and perhaps he was desirous of seeing Lone Wolf without any +further delay. His steed struck into a rapid gallop, and speedily +vanished in the gloom, leaving the captive with the howling +hundred.</p> +<p>Sut was brave, but there was a certain feeling of disappointment +that began to make itself felt. Although he would not have admitted +it, yet the termination of the recent meeting with Lone Wolf, had +led him to hope, not that the chieftain would liberate him, but +that he would give him some kind of a show for his life—an +opportunity, no matter how desperate, in which he might make a +fight for his existence. He had spared Lone Wolf when he was at his +mercy, refusing to fight the chief because he was so disabled that +his defeat was assured. It would seem that the chief, in return, +might offer the scout a chance to fight some of the best warriors; +and such probably would have been the case with any set of people +except the American Indians. The absence of Lone Wolf impressed Sut +very unfavorably. He believed the chief meant to remain away until +after his important prisoner was killed.</p> +<p>By the time night was descended, the wild rejoicing in a great +measure ceased. One of the Apaches started a fire, and the others +lent their assistance. A roaring, crackling flame lit up a large +area of the ravine, revealing the figure of every savage, as well +as that of the scout, who, having grown weary of continual +standing, seated himself upon the ground. Had Sut possessed the use +of his arms, he would have made an effort to get away at this time. +A short run would have carried him to the place which he had in +mind at the time he began his retreat. Without the aid of his +hands, however, he was certain to be entrapped again, so he +concluded to remain where he was, with the hope that something more +inviting would present itself.</p> +<p>The frontiersman never despairs; and, although it was difficult +to figure out the basis of much hope in the present case, yet Sut +held on, and determined to do so to the end. He made several +cautious tests of his bonds, but the lariat of buffalo-hide was +wound around his arms so continuously, and tied so well, that the +strength of twenty men could not have broken it. The exploit of +cutting them by abrasion against a sharp stone (which he had once +done), could not be accomplished in the present instance, for the +reason that there was no suitable stone at hand, and he was under +too strict surveillance. And so it only remained for him to wait +and hope, and hold himself in readiness.</p> +<p>When the fire had crackled and flamed for a while, the Apaches +clustered in groups upon the ground, where they smoked and talked +incessantly. They seemed to be paying no attention to their +prisoner, and yet they took pains to group themselves around him in +such a way that if he should attempt flight he would be forced into +collision with some of them. Sut was surprised that as yet no +indignity had been offered him. As the Apaches had every reason to +hate him with the very intensity of hatred, it would have been in +keeping with their character to have made his lot as uncomfortable +as possible.</p> +<p>“It’ll come by-and-bye,” he sighed, as the +cramped position of his arms pained him. “I don’t know +what they’re waitin’ fur. Mebbe they want to get up +such a high old time with me that they’re writin’ out a +programme, and have sent to New Orleans fur a band of music. +Thar’s nothing like doing these things up in style, and I +s’pose Lone Wolf means to honor me in that way.”</p> +<p>At a late hour, the moon arose, and the light penetrated the +ravine, where the strange, motley crowd congregated. The fire still +burned, and no one showed any disposition to sleep. By way of +relief, the scout lay over upon his side, and was looking up at the +clear moon-lit sky when he heard the tramp of horses, and +immediately rose up again.</p> +<p>He saw the chieftain, whom he had observed a few hours before, +as he came in with his news of the destruction of New Boston, +accompanied by two others, all mounted. They rode up in such a +position that they surrounded the captive, who was suddenly lifted +by a couple of Apaches, and placed astride of the mustang in front +of the young chief. The next minute the quartette moved off.</p> +<p>“Skulp me! if I know what this means!” muttered Sut, +who felt uneasy over the new turn of affairs. “Things are +getting sort of mixed just now.”</p> +<p>He hoped that he would learn something of the purpose of the +three redskins from their conversation as they rode along; but +unfortunately for that hope, they did not exchange a word. When +they had ridden a fourth of a mile, Sut caught the flash of a knife +in the chieftain’s hand. The next instant, it moved swiftly +along his back, and the lariat was cut in many pieces. The arms of +the scout were freed, although for some minutes they were so +benumbed that he could scarcely move them.</p> +<p>What did all this mean? Fully another quarter of a mile was +ridden in silence, when the three halted, and Sut felt that the +critical moment had arrived. The chief dismounted from the horse, +leaving the scout seated thereon. One of the others reached over +and handed him his own gun, while the third passed him back his +long knife.</p> +<p>“Wall, if I’m to fight all three of yer, sail +in!” called out Sut, gathering himself for a charge from +them.</p> +<p>They made no reply. The chief vaulted upon one of the other +horses, behind the warrior, and, as he did so, a fourth figure +advanced and leaped upon the other, so that there were two Indians +upon each mustang. The scout scrutinized the new comer, as well as +he could in the moonlight.</p> +<p>Yes, there was no mistake about his identity. It was Lone Wolf, +who remained as silent as the others.</p> +<p>The heads of the mustangs were turned down the ravine again, and +they struck into a gallop, the sound of their hoofs coming back +fainter and more faintly, until they died in the night. Sut Simpson +was free, and free without a fight, as he realized, when he gave +his horse the word, and he dropped into an easy gait in a direction +opposite to that taken by the Apaches.</p> +<hr /> +<h3><a id="Ch_27" name="Ch_27">Chapter XXVII.</a></h3> +<h2>The End.</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>“Wall, that ere little matter was settled without any hard +words,” muttered the scout, as he rode up the ravine. +“It ain’t the way Lone Wolf generally manages them +things, but that affair me and him had, when I took my hoss away +from him, I s’pose had something to do with it.”</p> +<p>The scout had considerable cause to feel grateful and pleased +over the turn of events. He had his horse and gun, and it now only +remained for him to rejoin his companions. He had already passed +the point where Mickey O’Rooney had left the ravine, and he +felt the impropriety of turning back and presuming upon any further +indulgence of the Apaches.</p> +<p>Accordingly, he slackened the speed of his mustang until he +reached an avenue of escape. He was forced to go quite a distance +before finding one, but he did, at last, and turned his horse into +it.</p> +<p>“I don’t know whether that ar Irishman can find the +way back to whar we left the younker, but I suppose he’ll +try, so I’ll aim at the same p’int.”</p> +<p>The night was pretty well gone, and his mustang had struggled +nobly until he showed signs of weariness, and the scout concluded +to wait until daylight before pushing his hunt any further. They +were miles away from the Apache camp, and he had no fears of +disturbance from that quarter. So he drew rein in a secluded spot, +and sprang to the ground.</p> +<p>At the very moment of doing so, his horse gave a whinny, which +was instantly responded to by a whinny from another horse, less +than a hundred feet away.</p> +<p>“That’s qua’ar,” muttered the scout, as +he grasped his rifle. “Whar thar’s a hoss in these +parts, thar’s generally a man, and whar thar’s a man, +you kin set him down as an Injun. And as this can’t be Lone +Wolf, I’ll find out who he is.”</p> +<p>His own mustang being a strayer, he managed to tie him to a +small, scrubby bush, after which he moved forward, with caution and +stealth, in the direction whence came the whinny that had arrested +his attention. His purpose was to prevent the other animal +discovering his approach—an exceedingly difficult task, as +the mustangs of the Southwest are among the very best sentinels +that are known, frequently detecting the approach of danger when +their masters fail to do so. However, Sut succeeded in getting so +close, that he could plainly detect the outlines of the animal, +which was standing motionless, with head erect, and his nose turned +in the direction of the other mustang, as though he were all +attention, and on the look-out for danger.</p> +<p>The scout paused to study the matter, for he did not understand +the precise situation of things. The mustang which he saw might be +only one of a dozen others, whose owners were near at hand, with +possible several searching for him. The conclusion was inevitable +that it was necessary for him to reconnoitre a little further +before allowing his own position to be uncovered.</p> +<p>Before he could advance any further, he caught sight of a man, +who moved silently forward between him and the horse, where he +could be seen with greater distinctness. He held his rifle in hand, +and seemed disturbed at the action of his horse, which was clearly +an admonition for him to be on his guard.</p> +<p>The scout studied him for a minute, and then cautiously raised +the hammer of his rifle. Guarded as was the movement, the faint +click caught the ear of the other, who started, and was on the +point of leaping back, when Sut called out:</p> +<p>“Stop, or I’ll bore a hole through yer!”</p> +<p>The figure did not move.</p> +<p>“Come forward and surrender.”</p> +<p>The form remained like a statue.</p> +<p>“Throw down that gun or I’ll shoot.”</p> +<p>This brought a response, which came in the shape of a well-known +voice:</p> +<p>“Not while I have the spirit of a man left, as me uncle +obsarved when his wife commanded him to come down from a tree that +she might pummel him. How are ye, old boy?”</p> +<p>The scout had suspected the identity of his friend from the +first, and had made the attempt to frighten him from the innate +love of the thing. The two grasped hands cordially and were +rejoiced beyond measure at this fortunate meeting.</p> +<p>Mickey explained that he had not been scratched by a bullet, nor +had his horse suffered injury. It was a most singular escape +indeed. But no more singular than that of the scout himself, who +had received mercy at the hands of Lone Wolf, who had never been +known to be guilty of such a weakness. It had been a providential +deliverance all around, and the men could not be otherwise than in +the best sprits.</p> +<p>“The next thing is to hunt up the younker,” said the +scout, as they sat upon the the ground discussing incidents of the +past few days. “I’m a little troubled about him, +’cause we’ve been away longer than we expected, and +some of the varmints may have got on his trail.”</p> +<p>“How far from this place do ye reckon him to +be?”</p> +<p>“That’s powerful hard to tell, but it can’t be +much less than a mile, and that’s a good ways in such a hilly +country as this. Yer can’t git over it faster than yer kin +run.”</p> +<p>“But ye know the way thar, as I understand ye to +remark?”</p> +<p>The scout signified that he would have no more trouble in +reaching it then in making his way across a room. They decided, +though, that the best thing they could do was to wait where they +were until daylight, and then take up the hunt. They remained +talking and smoking for an hour or two longer, neither closing +their eyes in slumber, although the occasion was improved to its +utmost by their animals. The scout was capable of losing a couple +of nights’ rest without being materially effected thereby, +while Mickey’s experience almost enabled him to do the +same.</p> +<p>As soon as it was fairly light the two were on the move, Sut +leading the course in the direction of the spot where they had left +Fred Munson the day before, and which he had vacated very suddenly. +They were picking their way along as best they could, when they +struck a small stream, when the scout paused so suddenly that his +comrade inquired the cause.</p> +<p>“That’s quar, powerful quar,” he said looking +down at the ground and speaking as if to himself.</p> +<p>“One horse has been ’long har, and I think it war +mine, and that he had that younker on his back.”</p> +<p>“Which way was the young spalpeen traveling?”</p> +<p>The scout indicated the course, and then added, in an excited +undertone:</p> +<p>“It looks to me as if he got scared out and had to leave, +and it ain’t no ways likely that anything would have scared +him short of Injuns—so it’s time we j’ined +him.”</p> +<p>The Irishman was decidedly of the same opinion, and the trail +was at once taken.</p> +<p>“Be the powers! do you mind that?” demanded Mickey, +in an excited voice.</p> +<p>“Mind what?” asked the scout, somewhat startled at +his manner.</p> +<p>“Jes’ look yonder, will ye?”</p> +<p>As he spoke, he pointed up the slope ahead of them. There, but a +comparatively short distance away, was Fred Munson, in plain sight, +seated upon the back of his mustang, apparently scrutinizing the +two horsemen, as if in doubt as to their identity. The parties +recognized each other at the same moment, and Fred waved his hat, +which salutation was returned by his friends. The scout motioned to +him to ride down to where he and Mickey were waiting.</p> +<p>“He’s off the trail altogether, and if he keeps on +that course, he’ll fetch up in New Orleans, or +Galveston,” he added, by way of explanation.</p> +<p>The lad lost no time in rejoining them, and the trio formed a +joyous party. Not one was injured, each had a good swift horse, and +a weapon of some kind, and was far better equipped for a homeward +journey than they had dared to hope.</p> +<p>“Thar’s only one thing to make a slight +delay,” said the Irishman, after pretty much everything had +been explained.</p> +<p>His friends looked to him for an explanation.</p> +<p>“I resaved notice from me family physician in London this +mornin’, that it was dangerous when in this part of the world +to travel on an empty stomach.”</p> +<p>All three felt the need of food and Sut considered the spot +where they were as good for camping purposes as any they were +likely to find. So they dismounted, and while Mickey and Fred +busied themselves in gathering wood, and preparing the fire, the +scout went off in search of game.</p> +<p>“Do ye mind,” called out Mickey, “that ye +mustn’t return till ye bring something wid ye? I’m so +hungry that I’m not particular. A biled Apache will answer, +if ye can’t find anything else.”</p> +<p>“If he gets anything,” said Fred, “we must +make away with all we can, and try to eat enough to last us two or +three days.”</p> +<p>“That’s what I always do at each meal,” +promptly replied his friend. “Thar’s nothing like being +prepared for emergencies, as me cousin, Butt O’Norghoghon, +remarked when he presented the gal he was coortin’ with a set +of teeth and a whig, which she didn’t naad any more than does +me hoss out thar.”</p> +<p>The scout returned before he was expected, and with a +superabundance of food, which was cooked and fully enjoyed, and as +speedily as possible they were mounted and on the road again. The +traveling was exceedingly difficult, and although they struck the +main pass near noon, and put their horses to their best speed, yet +it was dark when they succeeded in clearing themselves of the +mountains and reached the edge of the prairies, which stretched +away almost unbrokenly for hundreds of miles. They saw Indians +several times but did not exchange shots during the day. It was not +a general rule with Sut Simpson to avoid an encounter with +redskins, but he did it on the present occasion on account of his +companions, and especially for the lad’s sake. A safe place +for the encampment was selected, the mustangs so placed that they +would be certain to detect the approach of any enemies during the +night, and all laid down to slumber.</p> +<p>Providence, that had so kindly watched over them through all +their perils, did not forget them when they lay stretched helpless +upon the ground.</p> +<p>The night passed away without molestation, and, making a +breakfast from the cooked meat that they had preserved, they struck +out upon the prairie in the direction of New Boston.</p> +<p>They had scarcely started, when a party of Indians, probably +Comanches, saw them and gave chase. The pursuers were well mounted, +and, for a time, the danger was critical, as they numbered fully +twenty; but the mustangs of the fugitives were also fleet of foot, +and, at last, they carried them beyond all danger from that +source.</p> +<p>As the friends galloped along at an easy pace, Sut Simpson +struck them with horror by telling them the story of the massacre, +which he had heard discussed among the Apaches when he was a +prisoner. All were anxious to learn the extent of the horrible +tale, and they pressed their steeds to the utmost.</p> +<p>The site of the town was reached late in the afternoon, when it +was speedily seen that the young chief had told the truth. New +Boston was among the things of the past, having actually died while +in the struggles of birth. The unfinished houses had been burned to +the ground, the stock run off, and most of the inhabitants +massacred. The fight had been a desperate one, but when Lone Wolf +sent his warriors a second time they were resistless, and carried +everything before them.</p> +<p>“If any of ’em got away, they’ve reached Fort +Severn,” said the scout, who was impressed by the evidences +of the terrible scenes that had been enacted here, within a +comparatively few hours; “but I don’t think +thar’s much chance.”</p> +<p>The remains of those who had fallen on the spot were so +mutilated, and in many cases partly burned, that they could not be +recognized. Among the wreck and ruin of matter were discovered a +number of shovels. The three set themselves to dig a trench, into +which all these remains were placed and carefully covered over with +earth.</p> +<p>“We’ll take a shovel along,” said Sut, as he +threw one over his shoulder, and sprang upon his horse. +“We’ll be likely to find need for it afore we reach the +fort.”</p> +<p>This prediction was verified. As they rode along they constantly +came upon bodies of men and women, whose horses had given out, or +who had been shot while fleeing for life. In every case the poor +fugitives had been scalped and mutilated. They were gathered up and +tenderly buried, with no headstone to mark their remains, there to +sleep until the last trump shall sound.</p> +<p>Fort Severn was reached in the afternoon of the second day. +There were found, just six men and two women, the fleetness of +whose steeds had enabled them to win in the race for life. All the +others had fallen, among them Caleb Barnwell, the leader of the +Quixotic scheme, and the founder of the town which died with him. +The valley of the Rio Pecos was not prepared for any settlement +unless one organized upon a scale calculated to overawe all +combinations of the Apaches, Commanches, and Kiowas.</p> +<p>From Fort Severn, Mickey O’Rooney and Fred Munson, under +the escort, or rather guidance, of Sut Simpson, made their way +overland to Fort Aubray, where Mr. Munson, the father of Fred, was +found. The latter thanked heaven for the sickness which had +detained him and could not fully express his gratitude for the +wonderful preservation of Mickey and his son. Sut Simpson, the +scout, was well paid for his services, and, bidding them good-bye, +he went to his field of duty in the southwest, while Mr. Munson, +Mickey and Fred were glad enough to return east.</p> + +<p> </p> +<div>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 14647 ***</div> +</body> +</html> diff --git a/14647-h/images/001_full.png b/14647-h/images/001_full.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..2f17dcb --- /dev/null +++ b/14647-h/images/001_full.png diff --git a/14647-h/images/001_small.png b/14647-h/images/001_small.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..fe20ad8 --- /dev/null +++ b/14647-h/images/001_small.png diff --git a/14647-h/images/130_full.png b/14647-h/images/130_full.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..d5e9e1f --- /dev/null +++ b/14647-h/images/130_full.png diff --git a/14647-h/images/130_small.png b/14647-h/images/130_small.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..5abd95e --- /dev/null +++ b/14647-h/images/130_small.png diff --git a/14647-h/images/236_full.png b/14647-h/images/236_full.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..3d159ae --- /dev/null +++ b/14647-h/images/236_full.png diff --git a/14647-h/images/236_small.png b/14647-h/images/236_small.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..aafecbf --- /dev/null +++ b/14647-h/images/236_small.png diff --git a/14647-h/images/261_full.png b/14647-h/images/261_full.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..283340b --- /dev/null +++ b/14647-h/images/261_full.png diff --git a/14647-h/images/261_small.png b/14647-h/images/261_small.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..7a1ca67 --- /dev/null +++ b/14647-h/images/261_small.png |
