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diff --git a/25473-h/25473-h.htm b/25473-h/25473-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..b0a39f6 --- /dev/null +++ b/25473-h/25473-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,8081 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of Frontier Boys on the Coast, by Capt. Wyn Roosevelt. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + p {margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + text-indent: 1.25em; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + img {border: 0;} + .tnote {border: dashed 1px; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; padding-bottom: .5em; padding-top: .5em; + padding-left: .5em; padding-right: .5em;} + ins {text-decoration:none; border-bottom: thin dotted gray;} + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; + } + hr { width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; + } + + table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} + + body{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + + .pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; + } /* page numbers */ + + .blockquot{margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 10%; text-align: justify;} + + .bbox {border: solid 2px; margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; padding-bottom: .5em; padding-top: .5em; + padding-left: .5em; padding-right: .5em;} + + .center {text-align: center;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + + .caption {font-weight: bold;} + + .figcenter {margin: auto; text-align: center;} + + .figleft {float: left; clear: left; margin-left: 0; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: + 1em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + + .figright {float: right; clear: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; + margin-top: 1em; margin-right: 0; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + + .unindent {margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + .right {text-align: right;} + .poem {margin-left: 30%; margin-right: 10%; text-align: left;} + .poem2 {margin-left: 15%; margin-right: 10%; text-align: left;} + .sig {margin-right: 10%; text-align: right;} + .hang1 {text-indent: -3em; margin-left: 3em;} + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +Project Gutenberg's Frontier Boys on the Coast, by Capt. Wyn Roosevelt + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Frontier Boys on the Coast + or in the Pirate's Power + +Author: Capt. Wyn Roosevelt + +Release Date: May 15, 2008 [EBook #25473] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FRONTIER BOYS ON THE COAST *** + + + + +Produced by Robert Cicconetti, Emmy and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + + + + + +</pre> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Title and frontispiece"> +<tr><td align='left'><h1>FRONTIER BOYS<br /> +ON THE COAST</h1> + +<h3>OR</h3> + +<h3><i>IN THE PIRATE'S POWER</i></h3> + +<h3>BY</h3> +<h2>CAPT. WYN ROOSEVELT<br /><br /><br /><br /></h2> + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 53px;"> +<img src="images/002.png" width="53" height="75" alt="Emblem" title="Emblem" /> +</div> +<div class='center'><br /><br /><br /> +<small>NEW YORK</small><br /> +HURST & COMPANY<br /> +<small>PUBLISHERS</small><br /> +</div> +</td><td align='left'><div class="figcenter" style="width: 301px;"> +<img src="images/illo-frontise.jpg" width="301" height="400" alt=""THEY WERE NOW GOING UP THE FACE OF THE CLIFF."—P. 204. Frontier Boys on the Coast." title=""THEY WERE NOW GOING UP THE FACE OF THE CLIFF."—P. 204. Frontier Boys on the Coast" /> +<span class="caption">"THEY WERE NOW GOING UP THE FACE OF THE CLIFF."—P. 204. Frontier Boys on the Coast.</span> +</div></td></tr> +</table></div> + + + + + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><div class='bbox'> +<h2>THE FRONTIER BOYS</h2> + +<h3>By CAPT. WYN ROOSEVELT</h3> + + +<p>This series tells the adventures of Jim, Joe, and +Tom Darlington, first in their camp wagon as they +follow the trail to the great West in the early days. +They are real American boys, resourceful, humorous, +and—but you must meet them. You will find them +interesting company. They meet with thrilling adventures +and encounters, and stirring incidents are +the rule, not exception.</p> + +<p>Historically, these books present a true picture of +a period in our history as important as it was picturesque, +when the nation set its face toward this vast +unknown West, and conquered it.</p> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Frontier Boys Books"> +<tr><td align='right'>1.</td><td align='left'>Frontier Boys on Overland Trail</td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>2.</td><td align='left'>Frontier Boys in Colorado</td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>3.</td><td align='left'>Frontier Boys in the Rockies</td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>4.</td><td align='left'>Frontier Boys in the Grand Canyon</td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>5.</td><td align='left'>Frontier Boys in Mexico</td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>6.</td><td align='left'>Frontier Boys on the Coast</td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>7.</td><td align='left'>Frontier Boys in Hawaii</td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>8.</td><td align='left'>Frontier Boys in the Sierras</td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>9.</td><td align='left'>Frontier Boys in the Saddle</td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>10.</td><td align='left'>Frontier Boys in Frisco.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>11.</td><td align='left'>Frontier Boys in the South Seas</td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<div class='center'> +<i>Illustrated, 12mo, Cloth</i><br /> +<i>Price per Volume, 50 Cents</i><br /> +</div></div> +<div class='center'> +<span class="smcap">Copyright, 1909, by<br /> +The Platt & Peck Co.</span><br /> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> + + + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Contents"> +<tr><td align='left' colspan='2'><small>CHAPTER</small></td><td align='center'><small>PAGE</small></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>I.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Captain Bill Broom</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_9">9</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>II.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Cove and the Cave</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_16">16</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>III.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Barbed Wire</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_23">23</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>IV.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Pete's Yarn</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_30">30</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>V.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Four Boys</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_37">37</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>VI.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Hunchback</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_45">45</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>VII.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Farmer Broom</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_53">53</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>VIII.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Camp in the Pocket</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_60">60</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>IX.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Attack</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_68">68</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>X.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">"Haul In"</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_76">76</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XI.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Missouri's Manœuvre</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_82">82</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XII.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Ranchero</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_90">90</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XIII.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">A New Friend</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_100">100</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XIV.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Pursuit</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_109">109</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XV.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Jim and the Sea Eagle</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_118">118</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XVI.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Boys Put on Style</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_127">127</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XVII.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">On Board the Sea Eagle</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_135">135</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XVIII.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">A Day at Sea</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_144">144</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XIX.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Passenger</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_152">152</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XX.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">To the Rescue</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_161">161</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XXI.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Bandits</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_169">169</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XXII.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Race with the Tide</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_177">177</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XXIII.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Enchanted Isle</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_184">184</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XXIV.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">In the White Boat</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_191">191</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XXV.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">In Peril</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_198">198</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XXVI.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Two Lassoes</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_206">206</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XXVII.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Another Friend</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_214">214</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XXVIII.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">A Tale of Yore</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_220">220</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XXIX.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">A Wonderful Leap</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_232">232</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XXX.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">In the Strait</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_239">239</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XXXI.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Conclusion</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_246">246</a></td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[9]</a></span></p> + +<h2>FRONTIER BOYS ON THE<br /> +COAST</h2> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER I</h2> + +<h3>CAPTAIN BILL BROOM</h3> + + +<p>"What devilment has old Bill got on for tonight, +Pete?"</p> + +<p>The speaker was seated on an old scarred sea +chest in a dimly lighted forecastle.</p> + +<p>"I dunno," replied Pete, "maybe he's lookin' fer a +wreck."</p> + +<p>"I <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'hearn'">heard</ins> the mate say somethin' about a passel of +four boys," put in a third man who was laying back +in his bunk, "that the skipper was a-lookin' for."</p> + +<p>"Kidnapping, eh?" said Cales, the first speaker. +"Hold 'em for ransom, I suppose. Well, the old +man has been in worse games than that. I reckon +the kids' parents are rich and are willin' to pay a +high price for their darlings."</p> + +<p>"You're on the wrong tack, matey," said the man<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[10]</a></span> +in the bunk. "Cap'n Brinks, who landed in San +Diego from a Mexican port put the old man wise. +He told him that those fellars had considerable +money and a raft of jewels with 'em that they +picked up in Mexico."</p> + +<p>"Ho, Ho, that's the game, is it," cried Cales, +thumping his knee with a gnarled fist, "that ought to +be easy then."</p> + +<p>"Looks so, but it ain't," replied the other, "those +four boys have got somethin' of a reputation in the +southwest. Hard fighters and good shots and their +leader is a husky lad and about as crafty as a red +Injun."</p> + +<p>"He ain't met the Old Man yet," said Cales significantly.</p> + +<p>"I don't see where you get all your news from, +Jake," growled Pete from his seat on the chest, +"you ought to be a reporter."</p> + +<p>"I keep my eyes open and my mouth shet," replied +Jake, "any man can get larned if he will do +that."</p> + +<p>"I'd like to have a picter of you with your mouth +shet," remarked Pete. "It's open even when you +are asleep." He dodged just in time to avoid a +heavy shoe flung from Jake's ready hand that +crashed against the wall.</p> + +<p>"Don't do that agin," he warned, a red light<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[11]</a></span> +showing in his eyes. "I'll larn you boys that I +ain't as old as I looks to be."</p> + +<p>Jake laughed harshly.</p> + +<p>"You mustn't keep your own mouth open so wide, +Pop, cause you'll have to swallow your own words +if you do."</p> + +<p>"I guess I'll never git choked," replied Pete, +truculently. "Kin you tell me what the skipper +means snooping down this coast with no lights +showing when it's plumb dark? We are liable to +sink ourselves or Californey all of a suddint."</p> + +<p>"Why don't you ask the Cap'n what he is up to?" +inquired Cales, "that is, if you want some real useful +information, Pop."</p> + +<p>Pop raised himself up and glared at the speaker.</p> + +<p>"I ain't done living," he replied.</p> + +<p>"We are navigating pretty careful," remarked +Jake. "You can hardly feel the Sea Eagle moving."</p> + +<p>"Running for the cove, I reckon," suggested +Cales, "I'm mighty pleased not to be the man at the +wheel. Well, I'm goin' to turn in for a snooze."</p> + +<p>In a brief time the two men were snoring loudly, +while old Pete sat smoking his pipe, as stolid as a +wooden Indian and the forecastle was fogged with +the smoke, through which the swinging lantern +shone dimly. The air is stifling so let us go up on +deck where we can breathe the salt ozone and inci<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[12]</a></span>dentally +get acquainted with Captain Bill Broom, +who is to occupy such a prominent place in this +narrative.</p> + +<p>He is well worth meeting, not only as the opponent +of our old friend, Jim Darlington, but because of +his own unworthy but interesting character. In +those days Skipper Bill Broom was known all up +and down the coast and beyond. His fame, such +as it was, comes down even to this recent day.</p> + +<p>On deck it is muffling dark, with the stars +obscured in some dim way by mist or fog. There +is a breeze blowing steadily from the broad wastes +of the ocean. The bulk of the California coast +looms dimly on the port bow. Not more than a +half mile distant can be seen the white rushing +forward of the breakers towards the rocky coast.</p> + +<p>Dangerous work this, navigating the Sea Eagle +through the thick gloom of the night but the old +man knew his business. He was on the bridge +pacing back and forth like some strange animal and +giving hoarse directions to the man at the wheel. +He knew every inch of that coast, the sunken reefs +and dangerous rocks.</p> + +<p>"Starboard your helm," he growled.</p> + +<p>The sailor spun the wheel obediently. And the +captain resumed his pacing back and forth upon the +bridge. Not much could be seen of him, except<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[13]</a></span> +that he was a powerful man, with a peculiar crouching +stoop, as if he and the sea were engaged in a +mysterious game. One striving to get a dangerous +death-hold upon the other, both wary and using +unceasing watchfulness.</p> + +<p>There was a strange softness in Captain Broom's +tread like that of a padding panther, but his arms +had the loose forward powerful swing of a gorilla's. +Once he stepped into the chart house to +look at something and the light of the lamp will +give us a square look at him.</p> + +<p>"That man a pirate!" you exclaim at the first +glance; one who carried the blackest name along +the coast as a smuggler and wrecker, who had +brought cargoes of wretched slaves from Africa in +the days before the Civil War and who had had +more marvelous escapes than any man in the history +of piracy with the exception of Black Jack +Morgan! Impossible!</p> + +<p>"Why that man is nothing but an old farmer," +you exclaim in disappointment, when you see him. +"He ought to be peddling vegetables on market +day." But just wait.</p> + +<p>True, Skipper Broom had come from a long line +of New England farmers, hard, close-fisted, close-mouthed +men. Young Broom had broken away from +the farm and followed his bent for sea-faring, but<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[14]</a></span> +to the end of his days, he kept his farmerlike appearance +and he affected many of the traits of the +yeoman which he found to be on more than one occasion +a most useful disguise.</p> + +<p>Let's look at him. That heavy winter cap pulled +down on his grizzled head gives him a most "Reuben" +like appearance. Jeans pants are thrust into +heavy cowhide boots. The deadly gray eyes soft +as granite have become red rimmed from fits of +fury and hard through many scenes of coldly calculated +cruelty. A most dangerous customer and +I for one, and I ought to know, consider that he +will have the better of Jim Darlington in their approaching +encounter—and yet Jim is never beaten +until the last shot is fired and so it is impossible for +me to foretell how this contest of wit and daring +will come out.</p> + +<p>After examining his chart closely, Captain Broom +crouched out through the door and on to the deck. +He took one keen look towards the shore, then he +approached the helmsman. "Git below, Bill. I'll +fetch her in."</p> + +<p>The helmsman relinquished the wheel gladly +enough and under the Captain's masterful hand the +Sea Eagle swung slowly around and pointed +in towards the curving shore.</p> + +<p>The dark form of the mate could be seen on the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[15]</a></span> +deck below waiting for the order that he knew must +come soon. The crew of the Sea Eagle though +subordinate enough were necessarily partners in +Captain Broom's wicked enterprises so that the +discipline was somewhat different than in ordinary +vessels.</p> + +<p>"Call 'em up, Mr. Haffen," roared the skipper to +the mate. "It's chore time."</p> + +<p>"Aye, aye, sir," replied Mr. Haffen.</p> + +<p>The watch was called on deck and the dark forms +of the men could be seen in the bow. The pulsing +of the Sea Eagle had stopped and with scarcely a +sound the anchor was dropped into the water.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[16]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER II</h2> + +<h3>THE COVE AND CAVE</h3> + + +<p>The starboard boat was lowered into the water. +First the mate, then Captain Broom and two men +got in. The latter were Cales and Pete who pulled +noiselessly at the oars. The boat glided quietly +through the silent darkness towards the shore. +The Captain was seated in the stern, his great bulk +crouched forward, but there was nothing inert in +his posture. His big hands clasped either side of +the craft.</p> + +<p>In a few minutes the boat grounded softly on +the sand of the beach and all hands got ashore. +Scarcely a word was spoken, though the cove was +so hidden that there seemed to be no possible chance +that the landing of the free-booters would be observed. +However, Captain Bill Broom took no +risk of being discovered. He had many enemies +upon the coast and inland as well. Besides, the +State of California had set a price upon his head.</p> + +<p>Two thousand dollars was the reward for his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span> +capture, and so profitable an investment was apt to +be realized on sooner or later by some enterprising +citizen. So Captain Broom took due care whenever +he went abroad not to attract undue attention.</p> + +<p>This cove was a favorite lurking place of his +when close pressed, where he would take refuge +after some daring adventure upon the high seas, until +such a time as the hubbub along the coast had +died down. Sometimes he lay in hiding there, with +the Sea Eagle screened behind the encircling cliffs, +waiting like a black spider to rush out and capture +some unsuspecting craft.</p> + +<p>"Pick her up, boys," said the Captain, "you know +where she belongs," pointing to the boat.</p> + +<p>"Aye, aye, sir," they replied, and putting it on +their shoulders they carried the boat along a narrow +path that divided the thick undergrowth; until, after +going several hundred yards, they reached a thick +screen of brush through which they shoved, and +came to a cave.</p> + +<p>Although so well hidden, the entrance to the +cavern was quite high, so that the men gained admission +without stooping, and going a short distance +into the dark interior, they placed the boat +gently down against the wall. There was a constant<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span> +and heavy drip of water, so that there was no +chance for the boat to warp, as it would have surely +done if placed outside in the dry California air.</p> + +<p>"I don't like this yere cave," remarked Pete, +when left alone with Cales.</p> + +<p>"What's the matter with it? It's dark and damp, +but that is the nature of caves."</p> + +<p>"It makes me feel creepy, that's all," replied Pete, +"and it takes considerable to do that."</p> + +<p>"Whatever happened?" inquired Cales, grinning, +"something terrible, I reckon, to make your thick +hide chilly."</p> + +<p>"It were before your time," replied Pete somewhat +reluctantly, "we raided a ranch back thar +agin the mountings. Senor Sebastian owned it +and it was said that he could ride all day and never +git off his place, and that he had more sheep and +cattle than thar is folks in Frisco."</p> + +<p>"The Captain shanghied him, I reckon," cut in +Cales.</p> + +<p>"You hold your windlass," commanded the old +man in a querulous tone, "I'm telling this yarn."</p> + +<p>"All right, Pop," said Cales in a conciliating +manner, "have it yer own way." He was really +anxious to hear the story the old man had referred +to.</p> + +<p>"Young fry is always flapping," the older speaker<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</a></span> +mumbled,—then he took up the course of his narrative. +"Waal, as I was telling ye, this Senor had +lots of money and the Cap'n being short of funds +thought that he could use some of it. So one night +we ran into the cove, it was blacker even than this. +I don't see how the old man ever got the craft past +the sharks' teeth at the entrance but he did."</p> + +<p>"He could have brought her in with his eyes +shut," declared Cales. "I never have seen his equal +for navigating."</p> + +<p>"Waal, we made camp here that night, and the +next day, the Cap'n with some of the gang, left for +the ranch and I stayed to look after things. Nothing +happened that day, and I was dozing by the fire +about midnight when I heard them coming back. +They had the Senor, a fine-looking old man with a +gray mustache and as cold and proud-looking as +they make them.</p> + +<p>"The Cap'n was furious because he had not been +able to lay his hand on the coin, and he swore that +he would make the old Senor tell where his money +was or there would be trouble. He took him into +this cave and I don't know what happened there, +and I don't want to know. All I'm sure of is that +I never saw him come out.</p> + +<p>"The Cap'n sent me to the ship to get some +chains on the second day and he took 'em into the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span> +cave. We sailed a couple of days later, but not a +sign did I see of the Senor. That's why this cave +makes me creepy, Cales."</p> + +<p>They were standing near the entrance, when there +came a distinct low moan from the interior. It +was not a ghostly sound, either. There was no +mistaking it.</p> + +<p>"Did you hear that, Cales?" asked old Pete in a +quavering voice.</p> + +<p>"Yes," replied Cales, "I heard it all right. It +can't be the Senor?"</p> + +<p>"No," replied Pete. "He has been dead these +years."</p> + +<p>"Let's find out," said his comrade.</p> + +<p>"There's nothing in this world could make me go +in thar," declared Pete solemnly, "besides, it's agin +the Captain's orders."</p> + +<p>"Well, I'm going," said Cales either more brave +or less experienced than the other. "It sounds to +me like a woman's voice."</p> + +<p>"And I'm goin' to git," declared old Pete, tottering +towards the path.</p> + +<p>"You're a brave old pirate," said Cales contemptuously, +and with that he went slowly back into the +cave. He had to go cautiously, for beyond a certain +point he was not acquainted with the interior. +He could feel the moist ground under foot<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span> +and he kept his hand stretched out, not knowing +what he might run against in the dense damp darkness.</p> + +<p>Then, suddenly, his hand struck a stone wall. +Groping his way, he turned a sharp corner and followed +along a low narrow passageway that obliged +him to stoop. Then came the sound of the moaning +just ahead. Jack Cales was a brave man but +it was all that he could do, to keep from turning +and running in panic for the mouth of the cave. +But though his determination had received a severe +shock, it did not turn to flight.</p> + +<p>He saw a faint light ahead, spreading a glow at +the end of the passage as he came nearer. Then he +saw something that held him stone still with a +clutch of weird fear. He had reached the end of +the narrow passage, and dimly made out a domed +room in the rock, white with translucent encrustation.</p> + +<p>He struck a match. About him, before, to the +right and to the left he could see forms all of +ghostly white, some crouching, others standing. +Hardly had the light flared up than it sizzled out. +Some drops of water falling from the roof had extinguished +the blaze. Then was repeated that +awful sound of distress.</p> + +<p>Cales groped around almost in a frenzy of terror.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a></span> +Where was the exit from that awful room? Round +and round he went, and all the time there were +strange whisperings in his ears, and unseen hands +seemed to clutch his clothes. Once he slipped and +was trembling so that he was hardly able to get to +his feet. Just as he did so, something swept past +him like a breath of wind. Rendered desperate he +made another dash, and this time if he had not +found a passageway, he felt that he could have +knocked a hole through the wall. Then he stood +at the mouth of the cave.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER III</h2> + +<h3>THE BARBED WIRE</h3> + + +<p>Just at that moment was heard the hoarse voice +of Captain Broom booming through the darkness +outside.</p> + +<p>As Cales turned about, some furry animal sprang +past him dashing between his legs and nearly upsetting +him.</p> + +<p>"On deck, you scoundrel, come out of there," +called the Captain.</p> + +<p>"Aye, aye, sir," came the reply of Cales in a +strangely weak tone, though he was now more concerned +by the possible penalty to be meted out by +the Captain for disobedience of orders, than by +thought of the undetermined occupants of the cave. +If it were a cat it was certainly a good joke on old +Pete. This was, had they but known it, the swift +solution of the mystery.</p> + +<p>Oddly enough the Captain said not another word, +a fact suggestive to Cales that there was something +amiss in the cave and the little company at once +took up their line of march. Captain Broom was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span> +in the lead, followed by the mate, then Cales, with +old Pete bringing up the rear. Just as they started +Captain Broom extinguished the lantern and they +took up the trail in total darkness. Every precaution +would now be necessary for they would soon +be in a region where the very name of Broom was +execrated with bitter hatred, and every bush would +grow a poniard if his whereabouts were known.</p> + +<p>It was evident that the skipper was as good a +guide on land as he was a pilot at sea, for he led +his little party at a steady gait by a winding cow-path +through the thick undergrowth. He doubtless +knew this region thoroughly, for he had made +more than one raid in this locality.</p> + +<p>It was soon to be determined, however, that they +were not the only ones abroad that night.</p> + +<p>They had walked in silence for some time, well +on to two hours, when they came to an open space, +with the irregular form of a live oak on the southeast +corner. Then Captain Broom stopped suddenly, +his keen eyesight which no darkness could +baffle had discerned some object moving out from +the shelter of the oak tree.</p> + +<p>It came slowly with uplifted black arms and +white hair falling around its face. There was a +terrible intensity in its advance across the open<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[25]</a></span> +space, withal that it moved so slowly. The figure +stopped directly in front of Captain Broom.</p> + +<p>"Get out of my way, you hag," he roared, but for +the first time in his life a certain tremor crept into +his voice. Perhaps he was growing old. He drew +back his arm as though to strike the woman in his +path.</p> + +<p>As he did so Jack Cales stooped and picked up a +round rock at his feet, intending to hurl it, not at +the woman but at the skipper, for he alone of the +party divined the possible cause of this poor +woman's dementia. But his interference was not +necessary for it seemed as though the Captain's +arm was paralyzed. He declared afterwards that +some invisible hand had seized his arm.</p> + +<p>Then, in a loud, wailing voice the woman put a +curse upon the slayer of her husband, for this spectre +was none other than the Senora Sebastian. It +was terrible to hear her and it must have sent a +shiver into the soul of the hardy skipper.</p> + +<p>When she had finished, the woman moved past +them and vanished in the direction of the ranch. +For a full minute the line of men stood without +moving a step and in absolute silence, Captain +Broom with his arm upraised as he had lifted it to +strike.</p> + +<p>Then, without saying a word, he took the first<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span> +forward step and the others followed him through +the darkness.</p> + +<p>"Say, Cales," growled Pete in a low voice, "what +was it you found in that cave? My old timbers are +shaking yet."</p> + +<p>"Keep your old jaws shut," yelled the Captain, +who had wonderfully keen hearing, when anything +was spoken that concerned him.</p> + +<p>"How do you suppose the old man heard me?" +mumbled Pete to himself. He dropped back a pace +or two, then whispered, "The old man must be crazy. +He is making direct for the Sebastian ranch."</p> + +<p>"Do you reckon that these four boys he is looking +after, are located there?" asked Jack.</p> + +<p>"I dunno," replied Pete, "you can calkerlate on +one thing though and that is that the skipper knows +pretty nigh where those lads are. One of his messengers, +a one-eyed, twisted greaser, came aboard +the other day, and was gabbling in the Captain's +cabin. Then the next thing I knew we was under +sail, and came kiting down to the cove."</p> + +<p>Just then the party halted at the confines of a four +strand barbed wire fence. This was the first indication +that they were entering the great ranch property +that formerly belonged to the Senor Sebastian, +the elderly man the Captain had made captive, +and which was now the property of his only son.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Now, lads," said the leader of the expedition, +"Here's a chance to make yourself small. This yere +barb is like a devil fish if it once gits a holt of your +panties—it won't let go."</p> + +<p>"That's so, Captain," said the mate, a generally +silent and saturnine man.</p> + +<p>"I reckon you know, mate," said the Captain. +"The last time we was through these parts, and that +some considerable years ago, this same fence got +a holt of yer pants and wouldn't let go. I never +heard you talk so much and so earnestly in my life +before. You want to be more keerful this time."</p> + +<p>The mate simply grunted by way of reply and, +lying close to the ground, he very gingerly and +carefully worked his way under the wire and thus +escaped his mentioned former unpleasant detention. +He then held the lower wire up as high as he +could until his chief had wiggled under.</p> + +<p>Pete was the only one of the party who was seriously +detained, for Jack Cales had slid under as +slick as an eel. But Pete's joints were old and +rusty and the venomous wire got a clutch on his +coat and his pants.</p> + +<p>"What's keeping you back?" inquired the Captain, +gruffly, as Cales and his comrade did not put +in an immediate appearance.</p> + +<p>"Pete has got caught, sir," said Jack.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span></p> + +<p>"What are you doing there, you old barnacle?" +inquired the Captain as he came back to the fence.</p> + +<p>There was a certain odd comradeship between the +skipper and the old salt who had been with him +since his African days. Both were New Englanders +and had come from neighboring homesteads.</p> + +<p>"Just resting, sir," replied the captive.</p> + +<p>It certainly did have something of that appearance, +for Pete had kept a decisive grip on his old +black pipe with his stubby teeth and was puffing at +it in apparent peace and resignation.</p> + +<p>"Want me to git you a piller?" inquired the +skipper, sarcastically.</p> + +<p>"Thank ye, sir," replied Pete imperturbably.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile the mate had been at work with deft +fingers and he finally succeeded in extricating the +old man and putting him upon his pins.</p> + +<p>"Now if ye are sufficiently rested," proposed the +skipper, "we will hike along."</p> + +<p>This they did. Their way now lay between two +stretches of fence that enclosed a road not much +traveled for there were only faint traces of wheels +in the turf. It was probably not a public highway +but belonged to the great ranch.</p> + +<p>Everything seemed smooth sailing now, as there +was no more barbed wire to be immediately met but +Pete soon made himself prominent again. He was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</a></span> +rolling along with that gait peculiar to a sailor when +aboard land, when he gave a sudden spring and +clutched Cales convulsively in the back, giving that +individual a big scare.</p> + +<p>"Dad burn it, boys. I've stepped on a rattler." +An investigation was made very carefully and Captain +Broom quickly picked up a short piece of rope.</p> + +<p>"I'll rattle you," he cried, touching up the old +man with the rope's end.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER IV</h2> + +<h3>PETE'S YARN</h3> + + +<p>They went along steadily through the darkness +in an almost directly easterly direction. Being now +clear of the brush they could make good time on the +springy turf.</p> + +<p>"How far are we now from the ranch, Pete?" inquired +Jack.</p> + +<p>"Too durn close to suit me," replied Pete. "I +can't tell exactly for these ranches are as big as all +outside creation, but I guess we must be as close as +a mile to the buildings."</p> + +<p>"I reckon the Captain is going to walk up to the +front door and ask for accommodations."</p> + +<p>"Wouldn't s'prise me a bit, if he done that," replied +Pete querulously. "The old man ain't lacking +in nerve. Back thar was the first time I ever seen +him hang back in my long experience with him."</p> + +<p>"When the old lady was speaking her piece? +Suppose I ask him how much he made when he +captured the Senor," suggested Cales, who had recovered +his flippant humor.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[31]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I wouldn't git gay, lad," said old Pete, warningly. +"She is just as liable to haunt you in your +black spells."</p> + +<p>"Don't have 'em, uncle," replied Cales.</p> + +<p>"You collect the material for 'em when you are +young," said the old man wisely, "and they come +out of your bones like rheumatiz when you git old."</p> + +<p>"Somebody is coming back of us," suddenly whispered +Cales.</p> + +<p>"Take to cover, lads," ordered the skipper, who +was as quick to hear as the younger man. The only +cover was a high and thick growth of wild mustard +growing alongside the fences.</p> + +<p>Quickly they stepped from the open road into the +shelter of the tall mustard. They had not long to +wait. There was the jingle of spurs and the thud +of horses' feet walking slowly along. Next came +the voices of men talking.</p> + +<p>"It is useless, Senor, to try and find her, I fear," +replied one man to the other.</p> + +<p>"It seems so," replied the other sadly. "My +mother always seems to be worse when the time of +the year approaches that my father disappeared. +In spite of all our care she will escape."</p> + +<p>They had now arrived at a point opposite where +the free-booters were hidden. The man who had +last spoken struck a light and lit a cigarette; the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span> +instantaneous glare showed the dark handsome face +of the Spanish type. There was the high-peaked +sombrero, the striking clothes, the intent face and +then the light died suddenly out.</p> + +<p>"Ah, Manuel," said the young man to his companion, +"if I could only once lay hands on that +cursed Gringo," and he ground his teeth in fury, +unable to express himself.</p> + +<p>"Humph, Gringo," grunted the Captain, disdainfully.</p> + +<p>"Did you hear anything, Senor?" asked Manuel.</p> + +<p>"Nothing."</p> + +<p>"I was sure I heard something," asserted his +companion. They had reined in their horses and +sat listening quietly for a few seconds.</p> + +<p>"It was probably nothing but a calf by the roadside," +said the Senor.</p> + +<p>The other shook his head doubtfully, then they +turned and rode on towards the rancho.</p> + +<p>When they were safely out of range, the party +of pirates took up their line of march once more.</p> + +<p>"So the greaser took me for a calf," remarked +Captain Broom. "If it had been you, Jack Cales, +there might be some excuse fer such a mistake."</p> + +<p>"Aye, sir," replied Cales, glumly.</p> + +<p>"Getting kind of close to the ranch, ain't you, +Cap'n?" ventured old Pete.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[33]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I thought of leaving you there, Pete, while the +rest of us corralled those kids. You are getting too +old for these long tramps."</p> + +<p>No more remarks were heard coming from the +direction of Pete, for he was not at all sure but +that the Captain might, in a moment of irresponsible +humor, do just as he threatened without +regard to the consequences.</p> + +<p>After they had gone on for a mile from the +point where the two men had overtaken them, Captain +Broom led his party away from the road in a +southerly direction, once more undergoing the harrowing +experience of getting through the barbed +wire fence. But this time Jack Cales was especially +detailed by the Captain to get old Pete through so +there would not be any unnecessary delay.</p> + +<p>It was evident that they were getting into a different +section, a short time after they left the road, for +they began going up and winding among little +rocky hills. At last they came to a stopping place. +They climbed up an elevation and sat on some rocks +among a group of dark trees.</p> + +<p>"Now, lads, take it easy," said the Captain, "ye +have had quite a footin' and when morning comes, +there will be some more ahead and at a faster gait."</p> + +<p>"Gosh, Cap'n," declared old Pete, "It's the most +walking we've done together since the time we cor<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a></span>ralled +the last bunch of niggers on the west coast of +Africa."</p> + +<p>"We certainly made money that trip when we sold +that cargo of coons to the traders on that Palmetto +Island below Charleston. But we will clean up +about as much money when we round up those four +boys and twice as easy. Tell the two lads about +that trip, Pete."</p> + +<p>The old sailor sat on a rock, and taking out his +bag of tobacco filled his short black pipe with one +thorny thumb, then he commenced his narrative, +with the glow of his pipe lighting up his weatherbeaten +face.</p> + +<p>"Well, orders is orders, and the Cap'n wants me +to tell this yarn. I might just as well begin it, +lads. I never knew any good to come to sailormen +cruising around on dry land any more than on this +trip." He cast a wary eye at Captain Broom, but +that worthy merely grunted and Pete resumed his +story.</p> + +<p>"Our clipper lay at anchor in a wide bay with +only a couple of men on board and the Captain, +myself and six men trailing inland for to find a +village of naygurs that our guides had told us of.</p> + +<p>"It certainly was hot and steamy going through +the jungles and every once in a while a big snake as +large as my leg would crawl across our path and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span> +rustle away into the undergrowth. Once I felt one +of 'em a-twisting and rolling under my foot like a +big log that had came to life. I guess I must have +jumped twice as high as my own head and I lit on +the back of one of the naygurs that was guiding us.</p> + +<p>"He didn't know what struck him; probably +thought it was a tiger for I sunk my hooks into his +hide. He let out a yell and went ripping and snorting +through that jungle and me not having sense +enough to let go, until a grape vine about as thick +as a manilla rope chucked me under the chin and I +fell flat on my back and I guess that naygur is still +running."</p> + +<p>Here the captain who was evidently enjoying the +narrative hugely, burst into a volcanic roar of +laughter.</p> + +<p>"I can see yer yet, Pete, on that bounding buck +of a nigger, and him a-hiking through the jungle +and a-yelling like a wild Injun."</p> + +<p>"I remember you got out of the way mighty +quick," said Pete, "when you heard us a-coming behind +you."</p> + +<p>"It certainly was a curious spectacle," said the +Captain, "but go on with your yarn, Pete."</p> + +<p>"The further we went into the jungle the worse +it got. The mosquitoes fairly ate us alive and they +wern't the only cannibals in those woods by any<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span> +means. There was a tribe of man-eaters beyond the +Big River and we didn't try to capture any of them. +They wern't our stripe of bacon.</p> + +<p>"We went on for six days, with the monkeys chattering +over our heads all day and the mosquitoes +serenading us at night. Talk about birds, there +was a whole menagerie of them and their colors +beat the handkerchiefs that these greasers wear +around their throats and you can't get ahead of that +for color.</p> + +<p>"One night we got in range of the village we +were after and there was a great pow-wow going +on. There was a big fire in the circle of the grass +huts and some big black bucks were doing a dance +around it. Just then I saw—"</p> + +<p>"Hold on, Pete," said the Captain in a low, gruff +voice, "somebody is coming our way."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[37]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER V</h2> + +<h3>THE FOUR BOYS</h3> + + +<p>"Hey, Jim, where are we going to make camp?" +It was his brother Jo's genial voice.</p> + +<p>"Not until we can strike water," replied Jim. +"No more dry camps for me."</p> + +<p>"I don't think much of the coast range, or the +Sierras, either." It was Juarez Hoskins' well-remembered +voice, with its rather low, deep tones.</p> + +<p>"Give me the Rockies every time."</p> + +<p>Juarez was nothing if not loyal to his mountains.</p> + +<p>"I don't think any of the mountains are much to +brag of."</p> + +<p>It is hardly necessary to say that it is Tom Darlington +who is now speaking, for the discerning +reader is pretty well acquainted with his style by +this time.</p> + +<p>"There's always something to look out for," continued +Tom, "if it isn't Indians it's rattlesnakes, +and you have got to choose between a cloudburst or +no water at all. Give me the East every time."</p> + +<p>"You make me exhausted talking about the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[38]</a></span> +East," said Jim. "Why didn't you stay there when +you were there? I had just as soon take a chance +with a rattlesnake as with an ice cream soda."</p> + +<p>"Tom would like to <i>play</i> Indian," cut in Jo, +"with turkey feathers sticking up from a red flannel +band around his head. And creeping upon a flock +of sheep pretending that they are antelope and that +cows are real live bears."</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Jim, "you have lined it out all right, +Jo. Then when they were tired of playing Injun, +Tom and his little playmates could pretend that +they were Daniel Boone's men with wildskin panties +on."</p> + +<p>"Shut up, boys," said Juarez, coming to Tom's +rescue. "What's the use in rubbing it in? The +East is all right for some folks and if the boys back +there can't have real adventures they have to do the +best they can. After all, Jim, you are an Eastern +boy. You can't get away from that." Jim writhed +under the implication but replied good humoredly.</p> + +<p>"You're right, Juarez, old chap, but I can't help +stirring up Tom once in a while. It is good for him +too. It keeps his liver active, so he won't get +bilious."</p> + +<p>"Juarez has got more sense than you two put together," +said Tom.</p> + +<p>"Forget all about it now, Tommy," urged Juarez<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span> +good-naturedly, getting the aforesaid Tommy by +the nape of the neck with one vigorous brown hand +and giving him a shake.</p> + +<p>Thus under Juarez's straightforward management +the family quarrel was abated.</p> + +<p>"We might just as well ride now, boys," said +Jim. "The horses are good and rested and we will +soon be going down grade instead of up."</p> + +<p>The horses had been following in single file back +of the four boys. They were to be trusted not to +cut up any shindigs or to wander from the narrow +mountain trail. The boys had had them a long time +and together they had gone through the numerous +hardships and adventures. They were as perfectly +trained as Uncle Sam's cavalry horses.</p> + +<p>The horses halted as the boys dropped back to +their sides, and they swung into the saddle simultaneously. +Jim rode in the lead on a splendid gray, +with a powerful arching neck, strong shoulders and +hindquarters made for speed. Him, he called +Caliente. Next rode Tom on a pretty bay. Then +Jo on a black of medium size but finely built for +speed and endurance. Juarez brought up the rear +on his roan, a sinewy animal with a broncho strain +in him which was liable to crop out at unexpected +moments.</p> + +<p>It is to be noticed that there was a certain forma<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span>tion +in the way the column rode. Jim, the strong and +resourceful in front, and Tom, the less experienced +and capable, following, forming the first division. +The second division was composed of Jo and Juarez.</p> + +<p>Juarez having an equally important position with +the leader, for he was rear guard, a more trying +position sometimes than being in front for in their +travels through dangerous regions, it was the man +in the rear who was more apt to be cut off by the +wily Indians. But the cool and crafty Juarez was +not likely to be caught napping.</p> + +<p>Even now you notice as they ride along through +the comparatively safe region of the coast range +that Jim and Juarez are ever on the alert, glancing +this way and that, halting to examine some peculiar +mark on the trail, and not a motion of tree or +bush upon either mountain slope escapes their +attention. They had lived too long in the midst +of treacherous enemies, Indians and outlaws, to be +taken off their guard. They had been in Mexico +on a venture the outcome of which was all their +fondest dreams could wish for. Their expedition +over, Tom was for going home, to at least deposit +the treasure they had gained, but the others had +outvoted him, and now the long pleasure trip to +Hawaii was their object.</p> + +<p>Now, if they but had known it, they were riding<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[41]</a></span> +to meet the most deadly danger that they had yet +encountered. For as you know, Captain Broom +and his party were advancing to meet them. In an +open or running fight, we know perfectly well that +the boys could take care of themselves, but in the +skipper of the Sea Eagle, they were to meet a far +more dangerous opponent than in Eagle Feather, +described in "The Frontier Boys in Colorado" or +Cal Jenkins in Kansas and in Mexico as detailed in +"Overland Trail" and in "Mexico." In compliance +with a determined plan, they were now on their way +to Hawaii.</p> + +<p>Not only had Captain Broom the craftiness and +cruelty of the Indian, but the cool, hard judgment +of the New England Yankee, coupled with a knowledge +of their possessions, supposedly limited to +themselves alone. The Mexican spy, who had reported +the route the boys were going to take, had +given the game into his master's hands.</p> + +<p>"I wonder what has become of our one-eyed +greaser friend," said Jim, "we haven't seen any +sign of him since he gave us the shake a week ago +at the hunting camp. I kind of thought we might +run across him again."</p> + +<p>"It's good riddance to bad rubbish," said Juarez +in a surly tone. "If I had my way I'd hang him to +the first oak tree on general principles and on ac<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[42]</a></span>count +of his personal appearance. I bet he is a +treacherous little rat."</p> + +<p>"He isn't very pretty, that's a fact," admitted Jim, +"but he is a useful little beast about the camp and +can do a lot of chores."</p> + +<p>"I kind of like to hear him play his guitar," put +in Jo, "and sing those Mexican tunes. They certainly +sound pretty."</p> + +<p>"He's a picturesque beggar too," remarked Tom. +"Just the kind that in the old days would have been +made a king's jester. They dressed 'em up in a +blazing bright style then. That hump would have +made his fortune."</p> + +<p>Tom, as you remember, was an authority on +Romance, and as pertaining to which he always +carried two favorite volumes, much worn by hard +travel and frequent usage, but which no amount of +ridicule by his brothers could make him give up.</p> + +<p>"Have it your own way," acceded Juarez, "but +he is not the sort of animal that I would recommend +for a household pet."</p> + +<p>"Well, he is gone," said Jim, "so we don't need +to worry about him."</p> + +<p>"I don't know but that I would a little rather have +him in sight," said Juarez. "Then you know where +he is."</p> + +<p>Jim laughed good-naturedly at the prejudice that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</a></span> +Juarez showed against the little greaser and put it +down to his darkly suspicious nature acquired by his +life among the Indians. It would have been better +if Jim had taken more stock in his comrade's suspicions. +Now, Jim was not to be caught napping +when once an enemy had declared himself, but it +was his nature to be open-minded and unsuspicious.</p> + +<p>The four Frontier Boys were riding up a winding +trail through a narrow mountain valley, having +reached a point almost level with the summits, +which rose several thousand feet above the eastern +plain. It had been a hard, all day climb, and the +horses were tired and the gray dust was caked upon +their sweaty riders.</p> + +<p>Let us take a look at our old acquaintances, Jim, +Tom, Jo and Juarez, to see if they have changed +any since we saw them last. They are dressed +about as we have always known them. In gray +flannel shirts and pants of the same color, moccasins +on their feet and on their heads battered sombreros +with the flaps turned back.</p> + +<p>Their coats are tied back of the saddles, and their +shirts open at the throat for the air is hot and dry +in that California mountain valley. Their rifles are +swung across their shoulders held by straps, revolvers +in the holsters at their hips.</p> + +<p>Jim sits in the saddle tall and sinewy, grown<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</a></span> +somewhat thinner by constant exercise and by the +drying effect of the desert air. His skin is baked +to an absolute brown. Juarez, too, is black as an +Indian and he rather looks like one with his hair +quite long and of a coarse black fibre. The boys +look a little fine-drawn but sinewy and strong and +fit for any adventure.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[45]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER VI</h2> + +<h3>THE HUNCHBACK</h3> + + +<p>The shadows were already falling on that side of +the range as the boys rode slowly into a narrow +pass. The shade was a decided relief from the +glare of the California sun that they had encountered +all day.</p> + +<p>"Gosh, but I should like to have a cool breath +from the Rockies," declared Juarez with emphasis, +"This sort of a climate makes me tired. Nothing +but the sun staring at you all the time. It goes +down clear and comes up with the same kind of a +grin on its face."</p> + +<p>"It will be cooler when we get on the other side," +said Jim, encouragingly, "and it won't be long +now."</p> + +<p>"I hope we will strike water on the other side," +remarked Jo. "I'm tired of looking at that bald-headed +stream down there," indicating the dry +blistered bed of a former water-course.</p> + +<p>Nothing more was said until of a sudden they<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[46]</a></span> +rode to the top of the Pass, and saw a new landscape +spread out before them.</p> + +<p>It was a broad and beautiful view, with the sun +striking the wide Pacific, with a blazing glare of +silver and below the wooded slope of the mountains, +stretched an apparently level plain, where roamed +countless cattle, and innumerable sheep. It had all +the breadth characteristic of the Californian landscape.</p> + +<p>"That's a pretty good looking view," remarked +Jim admiringly. He would have been still more interested +if he could have seen a trim-looking black +vessel in a small cove directly west but a good many +miles distant.</p> + +<p>"I wonder if it isn't going to rain," said Tom. +"See those clouds rolling in over the ocean."</p> + +<p>"Rain!" ejaculated Jim with superior wisdom, +a wisdom that appertains particularly to older +brothers, "I guess not. Those are fog clouds. +That's a sure sign in this country that it won't +rain."</p> + +<p>"Well, I'm glad to see them, anyway," said +Juarez. "It looks sort of stormy even if it isn't."</p> + +<p>It was restful, there was no question about that, +the change from the constant glare of a white sun +in a blue sky, to the soft damp grayness of the fog. +It was already rolling over the level plain towards<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[47]</a></span> +the mountains and, in a short time, a high fog was +spread over the whole sky.</p> + +<p>The boys had ridden down the western side of +the range for a distance of a half mile, when Jim +suddenly waved his hand backward in a sign of caution +for the column to halt. He leaned forward, +looking intently in a northwesterly direction to a +point on the opposite side of the mountain valley. +Juarez followed the direction of the leader's look +with a keen gaze.</p> + +<p>"I was sure that I saw some one slipping through +the undergrowth on the opposite side over there," +Jim finally said, "but I could not make sure whether +it was a man or some sort of animal."</p> + +<p>"I noticed the bushes shaking," said Juarez, "but +I did not see anything."</p> + +<p>"Might have been a brown bear," hazarded Jo.</p> + +<p>"They do have them in this range," put in Tom.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps it is the bear that we hunted for two +days on the other slope," said Juarez, "and he has +come to give himself up."</p> + +<p>"We had better keep our eyes open," advised +Jim, though he did not take the trouble to unsling +his rifle. "Jo, you and Tom watch the upper side, +Juarez will take care of the trail in front."</p> + +<p>"All right, boss," said Juarez, cheerfully.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</a></span></p> + +<p>"How much reward, captain, for the first glimpse +of the lost child?" inquired Jo.</p> + +<p>Jim paid no attention to this sally, but kept his +eye on the trail ahead. The trees were quite thick +on either side of the trail and as dusk was coming +on, it was difficult to make out any object clearly.</p> + +<p>Just as Jim rode around a turn in the trail, +Caliente reared and leaped to one side and a less +skillful rider would have been thrown.</p> + +<p>"Easy, old boy," said the rider, patting his horse's +neck. Caliente stood trembling and snorting and +watching a curious object that was struggling up +the bank towards the trail.</p> + +<p>It was hard to tell what it was, whether man or +beast and the dusk only served to make it more obscure. +Then the object scrambled up on to the +trail and Jim at once recognized the dwarf Mexican +with his high-crowned sombrero and his velvet +suit richly slashed. With his crooked back and one +eye, he was anything but a prepossessing-looking +creature. Caliente, when he, too, recognized who +it was, put back his ears and rushed with bared +teeth for the Mexican.</p> + +<p>Spitting out a curse, the greaser jumped to one +side with a marked agility, and Jim succeeded after +a struggle in bringing his furious steed to terms,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[49]</a></span> +but he had his hands full and there were not very +many men who could manage Caliente when he got +into one of his rages.</p> + +<p>"Hi! Manuel," (every Mexican was Manuel to +the boys), cried Jim, "look out for my Tiger, he +wants to eat that velvet suit of yours."</p> + +<p>"Si, Senor," called Manuel from a safe station +on a granite rock. "He is a tiger as your Honor +says."</p> + +<p>One would have expected to hear the crooked +little greaser speak in a harsh croaking voice, but +instead it had a rich sonorous quality.</p> + +<p>"Do you know where there is any water in this +country?" asked Jo. "We are as dry as a desert."</p> + +<p>"Certainly, Senor, I will show you," replied +Manuel. (It was true that Manuel spoke in Spanish +of which language the boys had a working +knowledge, due to their sojourn in the southwest. +But I shall put his words in English.) "Where is +Senor Juarez?" inquired the dwarf. "I do not see +him."</p> + +<p>"The Senor is still with us," replied Jim, gravely, +"but you cannot see him on account of the dusk, +but you might hear him," he added in a lower +tone.</p> + +<p>It was true that Juarez was growling to himself +about the greaser for whom you know he had a cor<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[50]</a></span>dial +antipathy, a feeling which was reciprocated by +the Mexican.</p> + +<p>"Lead on, Manuel," urged Jim, "we want to +make camp before morning."</p> + +<p>"But, Senor, the tiger will eat me up," objected +the Mexican.</p> + +<p>"I will take care of Caliente. He won't bite you. +Go ahead."</p> + +<p>"Si, Senor," assented Manuel.</p> + +<p>Then he jumped down from the rock and took +the trail at a discreet distance ahead of Jim's +horse, who was held in check by his rider though his +temper seemed in no wise abated. There was +something sinister in the figure of the Mexican as +he led the way down the trail.</p> + +<p>All in black, except the gray of his hat with its +golden cord and the tinsel of his clothes. There +was something malignant in his make-up and even +the unimaginative Jim was affected by the presence +of the Mexican, while Juarez was very uneasy, and +asked Jo and Tom to allow him to move up next +to the Captain. This they did, though it left Jo as +rear guard on that rocky trail.</p> + +<p>He seemed quite isolated but he had become sufficiently +enured to danger and though he kept a +wary eye, he was not nervous. The boys had unholstered +their pistols and Juarez kept a straight<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[51]</a></span> +eye on the moving shadow in the darkness ahead. +At the first sign of attack or treachery, he was +going to get that particular Manuel.</p> + +<p>"I've got my eye on the little varmint," said +Juarez in a low voice to Jim. "He may be leading +us into an ambush."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I guess not," said Jim, with a note of hesitation +in his voice. "We have got to find water anyway. +The horses are suffering for it, and this +beggar can show us where we can locate it."</p> + +<p>Just then Manuel threw up his hand with a shrill +whistle that had every malignant intention in it. +Juarez raised his pistol just ready to fire, when +the Mexican laughed shrilly.</p> + +<p>"Senor Juarez very nervous. I just stretch and +whistle a little and he want to shoot."</p> + +<p>A peculiar smile came over Juarez's face, but he +said nothing. All the stolid Indian in his nature +came to the surface. He merely grunted contemptuously +at the Mexican's remark and this made +the volatile Manuel uneasy in his turn, for he +wanted to realize that his malice had struck home, +but Juarez did not give him that satisfaction. +There was a sort of hidden duel between these two, +the subtle Mexican and the crafty Indian nature of +Juarez. It remained to be seen who would win.</p> + +<p>The four Frontier Boys went silently along down<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[52]</a></span> +the dark canyon, each one occupied with his own +thoughts and the ill-omened Mexican guide in the +lead. Juarez kept a sharp lookout on either side +of the trail expecting an ambush. His horse seemed +to feel something of the strain his rider was under, +as a horse will. Once he shied at something he saw +in a clump of bushes, and nearly went off the trail. +It was only with the aid of Juarez's horsemanship +that he clawed his way back to safety. The Mexican +was much amused at this incident, and Jim +gave him a sharp call down.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[53]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER VII</h2> + +<h3>FARMER BROOM</h3> + + +<p>We must now return to Captain Broom and his +escort, whom we left sitting on a hill covered with +trees near the Sebastian rancho. Old Pete's story +had been interrupted by the skipper's warning,—"Somebody +is coming our way."</p> + +<p>There was no question about that, they could +hear the someone coming towards the hill whistling +cheerfully. Then the form of a man could be seen, +coming up the slope of the elevation.</p> + +<p>"I wonder where those altogether blessed cows +are," he was heard saying in Spanish, but of course, +this is a free and not a literal translation.</p> + +<p>"They are generally hiding under these trees," +he continued. The sailors kept absolutely still and +old Pete covered the bowl of his pipe with his hand +so that its light might not discover them.</p> + +<p>"Carambe!" cried the Mexican as he stopped +about three feet from the recumbent Captain, "I +fear my good master's cows have been smoking,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[54]</a></span> +not like nice Mexican cows, a cigarette, but a pipe +like a vile gringo. Come, get up, you black +brute," noticing the big bulk of the Captain for the +first time, and he hauled off and gave the skipper a +hearty kick on the haunch.</p> + +<p>Never was there a more surprised greaser in the +whole ungainly length of California for this apparently +gentle cow that he kicked, (not for the first +time either) suddenly turned and grabbed him with +a powerful hand before he could yell, though he +was so frightened that he probably could not utter +a squeak. Another hand got him by the throat.</p> + +<p>"Take me for a cow, did you, you bespangled +Manuello?" roared the Captain, and he waved the +aforesaid Manuello about in his great grip as +though he had been a rag.</p> + +<p>"No use killing the beggar, Captain," said the +mate. "Maybe he can tell us something." The +Captain let the Mexican drop and he lay on the +ground perfectly inert.</p> + +<p>"He won't be able to say much right away," said +the Skipper.</p> + +<p>It was now getting light, the first signs of dawn +showing above the mountains. As the darkness +was drawn away, they could see their position more +clearly and there came the sounds of the morning +from the direction of the ranch houses. The bark<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[55]</a></span>ing +of dogs, the crowing of roosters, and the call +of human voices.</p> + +<p>"I guess, lads, it's about time for us to have +something to eat," said the Captain, "because we +have got to do some tall climbing today and I want +to get an early start."</p> + +<p>An expression of disgust showed itself on old +Pete's face at the idea of more walking, which the +Captain was quick to note.</p> + +<p>"How would you like to stay here, Old Bones, +and look after Manuello?" said the skipper. But +Pete shook his head.</p> + +<p>"I'll stay by the ship, Cap'n," said the old fellow +stoutly.</p> + +<p>"Durn my buttons," said the Captain, whose +oaths were as mild as his actions were vicious, +"if you ain't a good old barnacle, Pete. I +wouldn't think of leaving you in such company as +this," and he gave the prostrate Mexican a shove +with his foot. Manuello looked up at the Captain +with an evil eye and a muttered curse.</p> + +<p>This roused the fury of Captain Broom and he +held him off from the ground as if he had been +a rat, his jaws working ominously and a look in his +eyes that made the Mexican shrivel.</p> + +<p>Nothing was said, not even by the Skipper, and +the others watched him fascinated as he glared at<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</a></span> +his victim, and even the iron composure of the +saturnine mate seemed to be moved partially aside. +The Mexican began to whimper and moan as his +eyes shifted to avoid the terrible ones of the Captain. +He was not suffering any special violence, +but a strange tremor filled the soul of the Mexican, +in the grip of the grizzled giant.</p> + +<p>As the greaser began to cry, the Captain gave a +roar of laughter and threw him aside upon the +ground, about all the humanity he had shriveled +out of him. He lay there absolutely without any +power of motion in his body.</p> + +<p>Just then the crew of the Sea Eagle became +aware of the fact that a horned animal with big +brown eyes was looking at them. All the farmer +in the nature of Captain Broom came to the surface.</p> + +<p>"By Gum," he exclaimed, "if here ain't a bovine +cow looking at us. I ain't milked one for forty +years, but I'm not afeard to try. 'Member, Pete, +when we used to milk the cows back in old Connecticut +on the farm. After working in the hay all +day, I'd go down in the side hill pasture, that was +so steep that you had to hold on with your toes and +your teeth to keep from sliding down to the +brook."</p> + +<p>"You bring it back to me just like it was a liv<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[57]</a></span>ing +picture," said Pete, his hard face softening under +the gentle showers of memory.</p> + +<p>"Then I'd drive the black and white one that +was breechy, and the red mooley, the yaller and +white that gave the richest milk. I'd drive them +into the stanchions in the old barn, with the ground +floor stoned up on the side, where it was sunk into +the hill."</p> + +<p>"But it was winter, Cap'n," said Pete, "that it was +interesting doing the chores," and he blew reminiscently +on his fingers, "snow two feet on the level +and the sun a piece of blue ice in the sky. A condemned +sight better place than Californey, where +you don't feel no more alive than a enbalmed +corpse."</p> + +<p>The Captain began now a series of manœuvres to +get within range of one of the cows so that they +might have fresh milk for breakfast. He managed +it finally, and he certainly looked like a peaceful +old farmer as with his gray head against a fat red +cow's flank, he milked into a large tin cup. Pete selected +a black mooley and soothed by the man's +persuasive manner, she consented finally to give +down a thin blue stream. But the saturnine mate +was less successful as he knew much more about +navigating a ship than he did about cows.</p> + +<p>Finally after much awkward manœuvring, he got<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[58]</a></span> +a cow cornered and began operations upon the left +side with the result that the cow landed upon him +with her hoof and sent him sprawling on his back +to the great delight of the Captain.</p> + +<p>"Hurt bad, Bill?" inquired the Skipper with mock +sympathy, "I'm afeard that you will never make a +farmer."</p> + +<p>"I never calkerlated to," replied the mate. "It +ain't my line of business."</p> + +<p>"Don't tell me that," said the Captain, "I can see +that for myself. Come up here and I'll give you a +drink."</p> + +<p>They had scarcely finished their simple breakfast +when Jack Cales gave a sudden alarm.</p> + +<p>"Cap'n," he cried, "I see two men legging it our +way. They are making straight for the hill."</p> + +<p>"I guess they are coming to see why Manuello +doesn't show up with the cows," remarked the Captain, +"we don't want to stir up this hen roost as +we've got other chicken to fry. So we'll git."</p> + +<p>"Take the greaser?" inquired Jack.</p> + +<p>"You and the mate fetch him," said the Captain.</p> + +<p>Just as the two men were mounting the hill, the +Captain and his crew made a swift sneak down the +opposite slope, and were soon making their way +through the bush towards the foot-hills. In a minute +they heard the cries of the two men as they<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[59]</a></span> +drove the herd of cows towards the home ranch for +the morning milking. The sun had now risen +above the eastern range just in front of them and +was blazing down upon the plain and the sea +beyond. There was something exhilarating in the +air in spite of the heat.</p> + +<p>"We don't need the company of that greaser any +further," said Captain Broom, after they had made +some headway up a canyon back of the ranch buildings. +So they took some rope grass, tough as +manilla, and tied him firmly, and, after having +gagged him, they left him to be found later by +some of his countrymen.</p> + +<p>Then they toiled steadily up the trail of the +canyon, until about noon they reached a pocket in +the canyon where there was a pool of clear water +fed by an invisible spring. Coming to meet them +were four boys riding up the trail on the other +side of the range.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[60]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER VIII</h2> + +<h3>THE CAMP IN THE POCKET</h3> + + +<p>Under the guidance of the Mexican dwarf, the +four boys came at last to a halt. It seemed as if +the canyon down which they had been riding had +come to an end for there was a wall of rock directly +in front of them.</p> + +<p>"Down there, Senor, is a pool of clear water," +announced the Mexican.</p> + +<p>"Glad to hear it, Manuel," said Jim heartily.</p> + +<p>"Did you ever see a picture, Jim," put in Juarez +significantly, "of a pool where the thirsty animals +have to come to drink and before they get their +noses in the water the hunter shoots them?"</p> + +<p>But nothing of this dire nature happened and in +a few minutes the famished animals were pumping +the delicious water down their long, baked +throats.</p> + +<p>"My Gracious, but that tastes good!" cried Tom, +drawing in a long, gasping breath, after he had +been drinking steadily for about a minute. "It +makes my head swim."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[61]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I should think it would," said Jo, sarcastically, +"considering the amount you have drunk."</p> + +<p>"You weren't far behind," grumbled Tom. "I +thought that you were not going to leave enough +for the horses."</p> + +<p>"I don't especially like this place to camp in," +said Jim. "We are not accustomed to get in a +pocket like this. But it is too late to pull out tonight +and the horses need a rest, so we will keep +guard."</p> + +<p>"Better drown the brown rat first," remarked +Juarez to Jim. But the latter only shook his head +and laughed.</p> + +<p>The camp was made about twenty feet east of +the spring in a small grove of slender trees backed +by a high wall of steep granite, down which poured +a waterfall in the rainy season.</p> + +<p>The fire was built upon a flat rock in the centre +of the grove where there was no danger of it catching +in the grass and bushes which were dry as tinder. +If once a mountain fire was started at the end +of the dry season there would be no stopping it +until it had devastated the whole country.</p> + +<p>The light of the fire showed the usual cheery and +active scene that goes with making camp. How +many times the Frontier Boys had gone through +these preparations it is impossible to say. They<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[62]</a></span> +had camped on the plains of Kansas, in the mountains +of Colorado, on the Mesas of New Mexico, +the banks of the Colorado river, and the Pampas +of Mexico. Now we find them in the coast range +of California.</p> + +<p>It was not an especially dangerous country in +which they were camped, nothing to compare with +parts of Colorado and Mexico, but never were they +in greater danger than at the present moment and +this camp promised to be their last together, except +they had unusual luck.</p> + +<p>There was a traitor in the company, and even +now four pairs of hostile eyes were watching them +as they moved in the light of the fire. The Captain +of the Sea Eagle and his three trusty men were +hidden in some bushes at the top of the pocket on +the western side.</p> + +<p>Juarez and Jim busied themselves first in looking +after their horses. Removing the saddles they +rubbed down each animal thoroughly, clear to the +fetlocks and then gave them a good feed of grain. +Jo and Tom were on the supper committee and busying +themselves making preparations for a square +meal. Manuello, who had been with the boys on +the other side of the range and was accustomed to +help in odd chores about camp, now offered to aid +in getting the supper.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[63]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I will make the coffee with your permission, +Senor Jo," he proposed.</p> + +<p>"Do you savvy it all right, Manuello?" inquired +Jo.</p> + +<p>"Ah, yes, Senor. I can make such coffee as the +Holy Father would be pleased to drink," he replied +with fervor.</p> + +<p>"Not too strong because it keeps me awake," protested +Tom.</p> + +<p>"No, no, Senor Thomas," replied Manuello +with a sweeping bow, "the coffee I make is very +soothing. It will give you a long, soft sleep." +There was an undertone of subtle irony that was +entirely lost upon the two straightforward boys.</p> + +<p>"That's a good fellow, Manuello," said Jo, cordially, +and he handed the coffee pot filled with +water to the Mexican, who went about the preparation +of it with a deftness that showed that he knew +what he was about. Not one of the boys saw him +slip a white powder into the coffee pot. It quickly +dissolved and the coffee began to bubble innocently +enough under the eyes of the hunchback Manuello.</p> + +<p>Juarez and Jim just then came back from looking +after the horses which were fastened near the wall +of rock. As soon as Juarez saw the Mexican +watching over the coffee pot, his eyes narrowed +with suspicion.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[64]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Who made the coffee?" he asked Jo, bluntly.</p> + +<p>"Manuello," replied Jo.</p> + +<p>"The Senor will find the coffee truly delicious," +said the hunchback with a bow, "only the Mexican +knows how to keep its aroma when boiling it."</p> + +<p>"Humph," grunted Juarez, and he went deliberately +to the fire and lifted the coffee pot off and +poured its contents on the ground.</p> + +<p>"The American does not care for the aroma of +your Mexican coffee," he said coolly.</p> + +<p>The Mexican merely gave a peculiar hitch to his +shoulder, spat on the ground and turned away apparently +mortally offended as he, no doubt, was. +That part of his scheme had been blocked by the +craftiness of Juarez, but the Captain might make +good where his spy had failed.</p> + +<p>The Mexican sat back in the shadow on a rock +smoking a cigarette, while the boys ate their +supper of beans, meat, bread and coffee. He was +the skeleton at the feast as it were, not only his +malignant humor made itself felt, but there was a +sense of depression that they could not shake off, +try as they would.</p> + +<p>This was so unusual that they could not account +for it. As a rule, they were jolly and even when +danger was impending, they felt a certain confidence +and assurance, but not so tonight.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[65]</a></span></p> + +<p>"What makes us feel so on the bum tonight, do +you suppose?" asked Tom.</p> + +<p>"Maybe this canyon is haunted," proposed Jo, +who had an imaginative streak in him.</p> + +<p>"I tell you the way I figure it," said Jim. "We +are not used to camping in a hollow like this, for +before this we have always selected a place that +we could defend, and though there is no particular +danger from outlaws or Indians in these mountains, +we can't shake off our old habits."</p> + +<p>"I believe there is something in that," acquiesced +Jo.</p> + +<p>"It's that rat over there," said Juarez loudly.</p> + +<p>The Mexican laughed coolly and insolently, and +lighted another cigarette. This would have maddened +an excitable person, but Juarez was in a +stoical mood and he contented himself with flinging +a bone that he had been gnawing at, carelessly +over his shoulder, almost striking the Mexican in +the face.</p> + +<p>This set that peppery individual wild and he tore +around considerably, tearing his hair, stamping his +feet and sputtering with maledictions at the insult +that had been offered him.</p> + +<p>"I am no dog that you can throw a bone to," +and he sizzled off into a string of unpleasant remarks.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[66]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Here you, Manuello," roared Jim, rising to his +feet and standing over the Mexican, "not another +yelp out of you."</p> + +<p>Manuello had a respect for this big American +lad much as he despised his simplicity and he +sobered down. Besides he had not finished his +work for the night. He had failed to get the sleeping +drug to the boys in the coffee and now he must +be ready to help his master, Captain Broom of the +Sea Eagle, in some other way.</p> + +<p>There was a person whom he feared and admired +absolutely and he had been a most useful spy and +agent for the Skipper in certain nefarious plots. +It was well for the little hunchback that no one +knew of his share in the betraying of old Juan Sebastian +some years before.</p> + +<p>"You will have the first watch, Jo," ordered Jim. +"It is now nine o'clock. I will relieve you at +eleven and stand guard until two. Juarez from +two until five and Tom can have the short watch."</p> + +<p>According to this arrangement, Jim and Juarez +would be on guard during the danger hours.</p> + +<p>How many times in the past had the boys stood +guard over their camp. Was this to be the last +guard? There were the old Kansas days, when +they had to be on the watch against horse thieves. +Then came the dangerous crisis in their Colorado<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[67]</a></span> +experiences, when they had to guard against the +wiles of the Indians. And most exciting of all, +perhaps, the night in old Mexico when they camped +on the trail of the outlaws. I wonder if Jo, the +first on duty, thought of these old times that night. +Probably not, his mind being fully occupied with +the business in hand.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[68]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER IX</h2> + +<h3>THE ATTACK</h3> + + +<p>So the three boys rolled into their blankets with +the saddles for pillows and dropped immediately to +sleep as they were very tired from the long, hard +ride. They lay at different points around the fire, +which was allowed to die down as the fog seemed +like a warm gray blanket over the whole landscape.</p> + +<p>Jo sat on a log by the slowly dying fire, with his +rifle on his knees looking into the darkness and not +far from him lay the Mexican a mere dark lump +on the ground, apparently asleep, but keeping a +wary eye on all around. Imperceptibly he crept +nearer to where Jo was sitting, but he did not have +the weapon he would have preferred in his hand, +the stiletto, which was as natural to him as the +fangs to a rattlesnake.</p> + +<p>But it did not suit the long-headed Captain +Broom to have the boys killed. He wanted their +life as well as their money, but in a different sense +than the adage has it. From what he had heard of +them, they were boys of unusual mettle and varied<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[69]</a></span> +acquirements. If caught young, he could train +them to good purpose. If they proved worthless, +he would hold them for ransom.</p> + +<p>So Captain Broom had told Manuello briefly and +to the point that there was to be no rib-sticking and +the Mexican would have thought as soon of disobeying +the commands of the Evil One as of going +contrary to the instructions of the Captain. So as +he crept towards Jo, he held not a poniard in his +clenched hand, but a heavy weapon like a black-jack, +made of leather with a weight at the end.</p> + +<p>Jo, however, spoiled his first attempt, for when +the greaser had got within striking distance, Jo got +up and went down to the pool to get a drink. If it +had not been so dark, when they arrived, the boys +would have seen tracks around the pool that would +have aroused their suspicions. But everything +seemed to work against them this time.</p> + +<p>Jo stooped down at the brink and scarcely put +his thirsty lips to the water when some instinct of +warning made him look quickly around and he saw +a small dark object directly back of him.</p> + +<p>"Pardon, Senor, for startling you;" it was the +voice of the dwarf, "but I, too, was very thirsty. It +is in the air."</p> + +<p>"You needn't have been so quiet about it," said +Jo, crossly. This little rat always had a way of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[70]</a></span> +baffling and irritating him, because he did not have +Jim's force, which could beat down the dwarf when +occasion demanded it, or the stoicism of Juarez, +which blocked the hunchback.</p> + +<p>"I came softly, Senor," said the Mexican, imperturbably, +"because I did not wish to disturb the +slumbers of the Senors who are resting."</p> + +<p>"Get down and drink, then," said Jo, who, +though he realized that the Mexican was up to +some hidden deviltry, did not know how to meet +him. Jim and Juarez would have knocked him out +of the camp if they had discovered him trailing +them, with a warning that he would be shot if he +put in an appearance again.</p> + +<p>While the Mexican was pretending to drink, Jo +satisfied his thirst at a point of the pool where he +would be safe from a sudden attack by the hunchback. +For Jo was not a fool by any means. Then +he got to his feet and with the Mexican ahead of +him, he saw to that, he made his way back to the +camp.</p> + +<p>Scarcely had Jo seated himself upon the rock +again than he heard a stick snap upon the mountain +side above the horses, so he got to his feet to investigate.</p> + +<p>"You can stay where you are, Manuello," said<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[71]</a></span> +Jo. "I don't need your company this time." The +Mexican laughed softly to himself.</p> + +<p>"I hope the Senor Americano will not get lonesome," +he said.</p> + +<p>Jo made a careful search in the direction of the +sound but found no sign of a human being lurking +among the trees. Though he felt exceedingly +nervous, he was unable to account therefor or give +a reason.</p> + +<p>Very quietly he went the rounds, so as not to +awake the boys, who, however, were sleeping heavily. +He found the horses all right standing with +drooping heads as though dozing, Jo's black with +his neck over Tom's bay, as these horses were +great chums. But Caliente and Juarez's roan were +not sociable and kept strictly to themselves.</p> + +<p>Then Jo returned to the rock where he had been +sitting. He stirred the dying fire so that it sent up +a feeble spurt of flame by the aid of which he +looked at his watch. It lacked a few minutes of +ten. The Mexican had taken up his old place on +the ground watching for his chance. He was +anxious that the attack should take place during +Jo's watch for he had his doubts in regard to +Juarez or the redoubtable Jim proving easy victims.</p> + +<p>All this time, Captain Bill Broom and his crew +had been keeping watch upon their intended victims<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[72]</a></span> +from the top of the cliff above the pool. They +could see every move from the time the Frontier +Boys had arrived until they lay down near the +smouldering fire.</p> + +<p>"They are a husky lot," was the Captain's first +comment. "That tall fellar, I guess, is a horse +tamer and Injun fighter."</p> + +<p>Some time later when the altercation occurred +about the coffee and Juarez expressed his opinion +about the Mexican, the Captain could scarcely keep +from haw-hawing right out.</p> + +<p>"Them fellars have got some dis'pline," commented +the saturnine mate.</p> + +<p>"You're right they hev," said the Captain.</p> + +<p>"That lad don't know how to handle my pet +rattlesnake," was the Captain's comment when the +Mexican trailed Jo to the drinking pool. After +Jo had returned from making his rounds and had +resumed his guard again, the Captain decided that +the time had come for action.</p> + +<p>"Now, lads," he ordered, "pull off your shoes +and the first man that makes a sound will get his +neck cracked. Knock 'em out, if necessary, but +no killing this time."</p> + +<p>Then they started, the Captain in the lead, and +old Pete bringing up the rear. They had had a +good many hours in that vicinity and had made a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[73]</a></span> +path from their hiding place to the soft dust trail. +So they moved in their sock feet without a sound. +There was an oppressive stillness in that dark canyon +under the heavy blanket of fog.</p> + +<p>Already it had began to lower and as the sailors +advanced with snail-like slowness the heavy white +fog settled down, filling the canyon with its white +opaqueness. You could not see five feet in front, +and the moisture beaded itself upon the eyebrows +and mustaches of the men.</p> + +<p>This dense fog was a great help to the attacking +party. They had now crawled half way down +the main trail, when Pete came near putting all the +fat in the fire, for his eyesight was not overly keen, +and the fog made it more difficult for him. He did +not see a round stone poised on the edge of the +trail until it rolled down towards the pool.</p> + +<p>Although every sound was deadened by the fog, +still the watchful Jo heard it distinctly. He got +quickly to his feet and, with soft moccasined tread +he went in the direction of the sound, his pistol in +his hand.</p> + +<p>No sooner had the stone fallen than the Captain +motioned the mate to halt. This signal was repeated +to Jack Cales, who was so hidden by the +fog that he could not see the Captain. He stopped<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[74]</a></span> +suddenly so that old Pete tumbled over him, making +some noise.</p> + +<p>The Captain almost had a fit of apoplexy because +he did not dare express himself at this interesting +juncture. Jo had heard the noise on the trail and +his suspicions centered in that direction. Noiselessly +he went up with slight footprints in the +damp dust of the trail. The Captain waited his +coming, crouched behind a bend in the trail.</p> + +<p>Then Jo saw a huge figure rising suddenly out +of the fog in front of him and, before he could fire, +a great hand gripped for his throat, but if he could +not shoot in defense, at least he could give his comrades +warning. He fired one shot, and then he was +overpowered.</p> + +<p>Jim and Juarez heard it instantly. Then Manuello +got in some of his work. Before Juarez +could rise, he struck him a vicious blow upon the +head that stunned him, rendering him unconscious. +Cold with fury, Jim picked up the rat of a Mexican +before he could land a blow upon him, whirled +him over his head and dashed him upon the ground.</p> + +<p>Then he sprang through the fog in the direction +of the shot. He heard Jo groan as the ruffians +overpowered him and he leaped up the trail blind +with a fighting rage. The Captain had just got up<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[75]</a></span> +from the struggle with Jo, who lay as good as dead +in the trail.</p> + +<p>Then Jim hurled himself upon him. Powerful +though he was, the Captain could not withstand the +sinewy lurch of that sudden attack and together +boy and man crashed from the trail over rocks +and through brush until with a fearful impact they +struck the trunk of a pine tree.</p> + +<p>The mate sprang swiftly down to the rescue of +his fallen master. He was a strong, sinewy man +and knew how to act in an emergency.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[76]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER X</h2> + +<h3>"HAUL IN"</h3> + + +<p>The jar of the fall had knocked out the Captain +partially and Jim had risen to give him the coup +de grace, when he heard the rush of the mate coming +down through the fog. It was a strange sensation +hearing your enemy but not able to see him.</p> + +<p>Then the mate plunged into view, a dark ball +through the opaqueness. He could not have +stopped if he had so desired and it was evident that +he did not wish to. For, with lowered head, he +came for Jim as he would for an ugly sailor.</p> + +<p>Jim stopped him with his shoulder and ripped in +a right uppercut with his keen hard fist that would +have stopped the heart action of an ordinary man, +and it sent the seasoned mate back upon his +haunches, partially dazed. Feeling the Captain +squirming back to life, he planted a back blow with +his heel in the latter's stomach that took the wind +out of the Captain's sails for the time being. The +mate, a really hardy individual, had made good use<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[77]</a></span> +of the brief respite and, picking up a heavy stick, +came for Jim with it.</p> + +<p>The latter dodged the blow aimed at his head +and it glanced off his shoulder. Then he closed +with the sailor, struggling to put him out. Three +seconds more and Jim would have landed the +proper blow, had not Jack Cales arrived upon the +scene under cover of the mêlée. Before Jim could +turn to meet this new assailant, a stone crashed +against his head—and the frontier boys had lost.</p> + +<p>The Captain had now recovered sufficiently to +get on his feet, and the fallen Jim was kicked until +the Captain himself called a halt.</p> + +<p>"Wait till we get him on board ship, lads," he +said, "and we will finish this job."</p> + +<p>"Better get the other two, Cap'n," advised the +mate.</p> + +<p>So they dragged the prostrate Jim to the foot of +the trail near where the drinking pool was and went +to look for Juarez and Tom. They saw a small +black object crawling towards them through the +fog.</p> + +<p>"What's this a coming?" asked Jack Cales.</p> + +<p>"Why, it's my Mexican ferret," said the Captain. +"What's the matter, Manuello?" he asked as he +turned him over none too gently with his foot.</p> + +<p>"The big Senor throw me over his head and on<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[78]</a></span> +the ground. I think I crack the world open," he +explained. The Captain roared with laughter.</p> + +<p>"Where is the rest of this dangerous gang?" he +asked.</p> + +<p>"I will show you," he said, struggling to his feet. +The presence of his master gave him strength and +confidence. "This way, Senor Captain."</p> + +<p>He brought them to where Juarez lay upon the +ground, partially held up by Tom, who had been +crying and endeavoring to bring his comrade back +to consciousness from the ugly blow that the Mexican +had given him. I am sure that none could +blame Tom for tears upon this occasion for it was +calculated to try the heart of the stoutest.</p> + +<p>"Why, this boy looks like an Indian," said the +Captain regarding Juarez closely.</p> + +<p>"He lived with the Indians when a boy, Senor +Captain," volunteered the dwarf, who by subtle +means of his own had become possessed of the +history of the four boys.</p> + +<p>"He don't seem to be much more than a boy, +now," said the Captain. They had not paid much +attention to Tom because he seemed a mere kid, +but the hunchback was not to be caught napping, +for he had worked around back of Tom, and as +the latter aimed his revolver at the Captain, having +worked it cautiously out of his holster, the dwarf<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[79]</a></span> +grabbed him in the nick of time else the expedition +would have lost its head.</p> + +<p>Instead of being infuriated as one might have +expected, the Captain was decidedly amused at the +temerity of the youngster, for that is all Tom +appeared to him, and, therefore, he did not hand +him a beating.</p> + +<p>"The nerve of the little rooster," guffawed the +Captain. "I'll make a real pirate out of you."</p> + +<p>Tom struggled wildly, but it was no use, as +Jack Cales and the mate disarmed him. Just then +there came a loud yell from up the trail.</p> + +<p>"Haul in, Cap'n!" It was Old Pete's well known +and melodious voice.</p> + +<p>"Jack, go and see what the old cuss wants," ordered +the Captain. "I expect that the lad up there +is trying to kidnap Pete."</p> + +<p>When Jack arrived on the scene, he found that +the Skipper had guessed right. For Jo had been +playing possum and was not nearly so badly hurt +as he had appeared to be.</p> + +<p>He came near escaping from his keeper and it +was only by a quick forward lunge that Pete had +grabbed him and then occurred a short struggle +in which Pete had called for help and just as Jo +had wrestled himself loose, Cales appeared and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[80]</a></span> +grabbed him. It took both Pete and Cales quite a +while to subdue him.</p> + +<p>Finally it was accomplished and they made him +go down the trail, one on either side. At the foot +of the incline he saw the bruised and battered form +of Jim lying on the ground and a big lump came +into his throat.</p> + +<p>"You fellows will pay for this," he said, rendered +desperate by the sight of Jim. But his captors +only laughed, not realizing that the Frontier Boys +were apt to keep their word.</p> + +<p>Then they joined the main gang and Jo saw to +his dismay that Tom and Juarez were in the coils +as well as himself and that Juarez, too, had been +laid out and appeared dazed and only partially +conscious of what was going on. Thus there was +little hope of escape with the two leaders, Jim and +Juarez, done for.</p> + +<p>"Better search these beggars for their money, +Captain," suggested the mate.</p> + +<p>"It hadn't slipped my mind," replied the Skipper.</p> + +<p>Now the money and the jewels that the boys +had found in Mexico were in leather belts around +their bodies. These were soon in the possession +of the Captain, but the crew knew full well that +they would receive their share and thus it was that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[81]</a></span> +the Skipper gave promise of living to a ripe old +age instead of being murdered for his money.</p> + +<p>"It's about time to make a start, Cap'n," announced +the mate, and the Captain consulted his +watch by the light of a lantern. He found that +it was half-past eleven.</p> + +<p>"We won't be so long going back," he said. +"We will use their horses."</p> + +<p>This was easier said than done, for when any of +the crew approached Caliente, that noble animal +became transformed into a tiger and as he came +for them with bared teeth or whirled and kicked +out with his heels, they decided that discretion +was the better part of valor and they left him alone. +Sailors at best are not very clever horsemen.</p> + +<p>"Let me have a chance and I'll quiet him for +you," volunteered Jim gruffly. "I don't want to +see you poor fellows eaten alive."</p> + +<p>"My lad," said the Skipper solemnly, "I'm no +spring chicken and you can't catch me with any +such chaff."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[82]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XI</h2> + +<h3>MISSOURI'S MANŒUVRE</h3> + + +<p>The other three horses proved more tractable than +Caliente, and after some skirmishing they managed +to get their new ships rigged up with the saddles +and other tackle. Now as soon as they got their +cargo aboard, they would be prepared to set sail +and to cruise over the plains. (I must use this +nautical language out of respect for Captain +Broom and his crew.)</p> + +<p>As I have said before, sailors are poor horsemen +and when it came to making fast the double +cinches, they were quite at sea, where sailors should +be, perhaps. Old Pete came near getting his head +kicked off by pulling the back cinch too tight, but +he and Captain Broom profited by their youthful +experience on a New England farm, so the horses +were finally all saddled and bridled and ready for a +flight—except Caliente. He was to be left marooned +in the lonely canyon.</p> + +<p>It was surprising to Jim and his comrades how +quietly Juarez's roan took matters, but there is no +relying on a broncho, because he always does the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[83]</a></span> +unexpected, and the Captain was so pleased with +his behavior that he decided to ride the animal +himself.</p> + +<p>"Now, that's what I call a well broken hoss," +he said. "I ain't so sure of the black so I will let +you cruise on him, Jack, being the most active. +I don't know what I shall do for Pete, unless I +can find him a rocking-horse."</p> + +<p>"What are you going to do with the boys?" +inquired the mate. "Have 'em walk?"</p> + +<p>"They can ride their pack mule," said the Captain +grimly.</p> + +<p>So Jo, Juarez and Jim were securely fastened +on the patient mule, while Tom rode behind the +mate upon his own horse, but no longer as master. +Then the queer procession started up the trail +through the dense fog. The Captain was in the lead, +followed by the mate with Tom, then the mule with +Pete and the Mexican dwarf guarding the animal +and its cargo, while the active Jack Cales was the +rear guard. It was exactly twelve o'clock when +they weighed anchor and sailed from the harbor +or cove in the mountain canyon.</p> + +<p>The three boys said little to each other. They +did not waste their breath with threats of what +they would do to their captors later on, but accepted +the situation with true western stoicism. But you<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[84]</a></span> +may be sure that their minds were active even if +their tongues said little.</p> + +<p>They were so securely tied that there was no +chance for them to make a move as their arms +were corded tight to their bodies and their feet +were tied under the belly of the mule. Unless they +had been experienced riders they would have had +a difficult time of it. But it was terribly humiliating, +especially under the insolence of the malignant +Mexican. But he did not dare do them any actual +injury, because the Skipper had given him a warning +which he did not dare to disregard. Finally, +old Pete put an end to his slurring remarks to the +prisoners, so he had to content himself with ugly +looks and frequent expectoration wherewith to +express his disgust.</p> + +<p>Before they reached the foot of the trail, Jack +Cales changed with Pete, though the latter demurred +at first, at boarding the strange black craft +with four legs, but finally consented under the urging +of Jack and the warm recommendation of the +boys, who had taken somewhat of a fancy to the +old sailor, since he had shut up the Mexican in +their behalf.</p> + +<p>"He won't hurt you, Pop," said Jim, "he is a +good horse. Any lady could ride him."</p> + +<p>"I ain't no lady," replied the old fellow suspi<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[85]</a></span>ciously, +as he slowly and stiffly mounted, while +Jack held his head, that is to say, the horse's +head, not Pete's.</p> + +<p>"What did he do that for?" inquired Pete, +anxiously, preparing to dismount.</p> + +<p>"Stay on, you old Barnacle," roared the Captain +from the head of the procession, for though he +could not see anything in the rear, still he seemed +able to keep an instinctive tab on his old comrade +Pete.</p> + +<p>"That horse is all right, Pop," said Jo, "and I +ought to know. I've ridden him a good many +hundred miles. Don't tickle him with your heels, +that's all."</p> + +<p>"I guess that's what I've done," admitted Pete.</p> + +<p>Then the procession resumed its march with +Pete as rear guard, riding with due caution and +circumspection as though his craft was loaded with +dynamite and liable to explode at any time. Jack +Cales tried to quiz the prisoners on the mule in a +friendly way, but they would not relax in their +attitude of grim, if not sullen, defiance towards +their captors.</p> + +<p>Captain Broom need not think that his prisoners +would ever accept any conditions from him. +Doubtless, he thought that these boys might be +trained to help him in his business for he appre<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[86]</a></span>ciated +their courage and fighting ability, but he did +not fully understand what stuff the frontier boys +were made of.</p> + +<p>The procession of pirates and their prisoners had +now reached the foot of the range and were in close +proximity to the ranch, but everything favored the +plans of the Skipper of the Sea Eagle. The fog +became denser when they reached the level plain +so that it was scarcely possible for the rider to see +the ears of his horse.</p> + +<p>Every sound was deadened, so that they could +have gone directly past the ranch houses and not +even the dogs would have heard them. But the +Captain was determined to take no chances, and +as soon as the party were free of the canyon, he +bore off toward the south, making quite a circuit.</p> + +<p>Anybody but an experienced navigator would +have been lost in the fog upon the plain, but you +could not lose Captain Broom either on the high +seas or the low plains. They passed between two +wooded hills, which the reader will have to take +on faith as he cannot see them. Then across a +gully, on the other side of which they came to a +barb wire fence.</p> + +<p>This did not stop them long, as the Captain cut +it and they rode through. From the footing which +was about all that could be observed, they appeared<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[87]</a></span> +to be in a pasture land with a gentle slope towards +the sea. The fog did not diminish in thickness and +the boys determined to escape. Here was their +chance, if they could be said to have one.</p> + +<p>"Here's where we make a break," said Jim to +Juarez. "Guide the mule alongside of Tom. Then +we will run for it." Jim did not say this in so many +words, but he had ways and means of indicating to +Juarez, who was tied directly back of him, by a sign +and poke language which Juarez was quick to seize.</p> + +<p>It seemed at every turn that his experience with +the Indians was a help to him. The mule was a +protégé of Juarez and with a word he could guide +it in any direction that he wished it to go. The +fog was one thing that favored them. The Mexican +could scarcely be seen and Jack Cales stalked +along looking like a giant through the mist.</p> + +<p>He had grown somewhat lax through the long +march. This was the time, if ever. Jim gave +Juarez the signal that all was ready. A quick word +to the mule and he trotted out from his place in +the column, knocking over the Mexican and before +Cales was fairly awake to the situation, he was +obscured by the fog.</p> + +<p>In about two seconds he had hove alongside of +the horse that the mate was on. Tom was foot-loose, +and no sooner did he see Missouri's long<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[88]</a></span> +ears through the fog, than he was ready for action.</p> + +<p>"Jump, Tom," urged Jim. It took only about +two seconds for Tom to execute the manœuvre.</p> + +<p>"Halt!" roared the Captain, and he tried to turn +the roan to capture the runaways, but right here, +the broncho strain in the animal showed itself.</p> + +<p>He began to buck and never in all his experience +had the redoubtable Captain Broom ever been on +so choppy a sea. It was hard to distinguish fog +from whiskers. At the second hunch upward, the +Captain shot into space. The boys did not tarry to +watch for his descent. A word from Juarez to the +mule, and Missouri turned directly south just as +Jack Cales came rushing up.</p> + +<p>"Touch him with your foot, Tom," said Juarez, +meaning the mule, not Cales. Tom's heel reached +the right spot and up flew the mule's hind feet with +the rapidity of a rapid fire-gun.</p> + +<p>One foot struck Cales on the shoulder with a +sufficient impact to send him down and out. The +mate had been involved in the cyclone of which +Captain Broom was the centre. Tom's horse, considered +the gentlest of the four, had become infected +with the roan's example and he started in +to do a little bucking on his own account. Never +since the mate had rounded Cape Horn, had he +known so much action in so short a time.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[89]</a></span></p> + +<p>The only one left was Old Pete and he came on +right gallantly, but by dodging and turning they +got away in the fog. After putting what they considered +a safe distance between themselves and +their former captors, Juarez persuaded Missouri +to halt, and Tom went to work and with great +difficulty first untied, then lifted, them to the +ground for the boys were as stiff as boards from +being tied hard and fast for so long a time.</p> + +<p>"My, but it certainly hurts," said Jo, stamping +around in an endeavor to get the blood to circulating +again. "It's just like it used to be back home +in the winter when we would go skating and get +our hands numb."</p> + +<p>"What is the matter, Juarez?" asked Jim in +alarm.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I'm all right, I guess," he said in a voice +that sounded faint to the boys and far away to himself. +Then, without warning, he fell over on the +ground and stiffened out.</p> + +<p>"It's from the blow that the greaser gave him," +said Tom. "It would have killed him if it had +struck him fair."</p> + +<p>"Wait until I get my hands on him," cried Jim, +significantly.</p> + +<p>What should they do now? It was not an easy +question to decide.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[90]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XII</h2> + +<h3>THE RANCHERO</h3> + + +<p>They could not desert Juarez and they could not +get far with him. It was enough to stagger them +and it seemed that they had reached the end of their +resources.</p> + +<p>"If it wasn't such an open country," said Jo, +"we might hide until they had got out of range and +then get to the nearest ranch."</p> + +<p>"If they overtake us we can stand them off," +saying this Jim reached for his revolver. To his +astonishment it was gone. Then he remembered +he had been disarmed by Captain Broom, and they +were absolutely defenseless unless they could depend +on Missouri's heels which had furnished them +such active protection.</p> + +<p>Finally they brought Juarez around so that he +was able to sit up.</p> + +<p>"Where am I?" he asked in a sort of daze.</p> + +<p>"You will be all right in a minute, old chap," encouraged +Jim, speaking cheerfully, but he did not +feel so.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[91]</a></span></p> + +<p>"You bet I will," he assented feebly, but with +invincible determination. "What are you holding +me for, Jim? Let's get at those fellows." It was +evident that his mind was not exactly clear yet. +They got him on his feet and he seemed better, +though still very wabbly.</p> + +<p>"There come those fellows," cried Jim, suddenly, +with more of despair in his tone than he had +ever spoken before, no matter how hard pressed +they had been. But before there had always been +something to do, but now they were helpless. Jim +looked hastily around for some weapon. All he +found was a small round stone.</p> + +<p>With a yell of exultation, Jack Cales and the +mate dashed down upon them, followed by the Captain +and old Pete. They had been able to follow +the distinctive mark of the mule's shoes in the soft +earth until they came in hearing of the boys' voices. +Then they jumped upon them. They were out for +blood this time, for they had the boys' revolvers in +their hands, probably because they were better than +their own.</p> + +<p>Missouri, finding himself free, made off. Tom +halted when covered by one of the sailor's revolvers, +but Jim dodged as the mate fired at him. The +lug of lead spattered the mud between his feet, the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[92]</a></span> +next second he was off full speed through the fog, +followed by fleet Jo.</p> + +<p>The sailors soon gave up the useless chase, for +there was no trail to guide them, so they had to +content themselves with half of their original capture +and they started for the cove where the Sea +Eagle was anchored as fast as they could go, +though they were hampered by Juarez.</p> + +<p>"Better leave him, Captain," urged old Pete. +"He is nothing but a nuisance."</p> + +<p>"I'll have use for that fellow yet," said the Captain. +"As for the other lad, he won't feel so lively +after a few days on shipboard."</p> + +<p>This did not have a very cheerful sound for Tom +and he was in anything but a happy frame of mind. +Still he had great confidence in Jim and did not +give up hope of being rescued before the coast was +reached. It was now getting towards daybreak, +and the fog began to lift somewhat so that they +could see a distance of thirty or forty yards.</p> + +<p>Captain Broom's gang had now left the region +of the level pasture and were coming to the brush +section, fringing the coast, and beyond that they +reached the sand dunes. The nearer they came to +the sea the more depressed Tom became. The only +thing that encouraged him was the fact that Juarez +began to seem like himself.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[93]</a></span></p> + +<p>Let us now return to Jo and Jim, who had been +so fortunate as to make their escape. As soon as +they were sure that the pursuit was at an end, they +slowed down to a walk.</p> + +<p>"Well, they didn't give us much of a chase," +remarked Jim.</p> + +<p>"Plenty to suit me. What are we going to do +now?"</p> + +<p>"This fog is beginning to lift," said Jim, "and +then we can take our bearings. I want to locate +this ranch the first thing, and then we can get +help."</p> + +<p>"Here's a wire fence," announced Jo, "I reckon +it's the one the old geser cut."</p> + +<p>"It surely is and a straight course north is our +direction," remarked Jim.</p> + +<p>"Here are hills that look like those we rode +through," said Jo.</p> + +<p>"We will soon be there now," was Jim's cheerful +comment "What's that? It sounds like a dog +barking." They stopped, listening intently, as the +sound came faint, but there was no mistaking it.</p> + +<p>"I suppose it's some big hound, that they usually +keep on these ranches," said Jo, who was beginning +to feel depressed from hunger and fatigue, "and +he will jump at us because we haven't any +weapons."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[94]</a></span></p> + +<p>But in spite of Jo's fear they hurried on in the +direction of the sound. In a short time, they came +to a road between two barb wire fences, which the +reader will remember that the Captain and his crew +took when they were coming through the Sebastian +ranch. But the boys struck it higher up, and were +soon in the pasture that sloped down from the ranch +houses toward the road.</p> + +<p>Jim and Jo now heard the voices of men as well +as the baying of the dogs. The men were talking +excitedly about the finding of one of their number +in the canyon tied and gagged, and it was evident +that it was not a good time for strangers to +visit the ranch of the Sebastians.</p> + +<p>But Jim and Jo were dulled to danger and did +not care what risk they ran and so they called to the +men in a friendly Spanish greeting. There was +instantly a great hubbub, and two men charged +down upon them, preceded by a couple of fierce-looking +mongrels. These came dashing for them +with red, gaping mouths. The boys defended +themselves gallantly with two stout sticks that they +had picked up. Then the two Mexicans took a +hand.</p> + +<p>"Look out, Jo," cried Jim, who was ever on the +alert. "That fellow is going to throw his lasso." +Jo dodged just in the nick of time, but this gave<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[95]</a></span> +one of the dogs a chance, and if Jim had not +stunned him by a resounding crack on the head it +would have gone hard with his brother.</p> + +<p>Just then another man appeared on the scene, attracted +from the vicinity of the house by the noise +of the encounter. He came full speed on a splendid +sorrel. It was Juan Sebastian, a dark, handsome +young man, a true son of Spain.</p> + +<p>"What's all this?" he cried as he rode up. "Here, +Sancho, Jan, you brutes, come off." The dogs +slunk obediently to heel.</p> + +<p>"We found those insolent Gringoes," said one of +the men, "coming straight for the Senor's house. +We undertook to stop them."</p> + +<p>"Senor," said Jim, bowing low and speaking in +his best Spanish, "we are sorry, my brother and I, +to have caused this disturbance. We are strangers +and unfortunate, and we have heard of your +hospitality, Senor"—Jim bowed again. He was +not so simple, after all.</p> + +<p>The Senor Sebastian returned the bow with +more grace than Jim could command.</p> + +<p>"I regret, Senor—" he hesitated.</p> + +<p>"Darlington," added Jim.</p> + +<p>"Senor Darlington, that you have been attacked +in this manner, but there has been a party +of desperadoes that have been overrunning this<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[96]</a></span> +part of the country for the past two days, and +they took one of my men and bound and gagged +him and so you see, Senors," a smile and bow +completed the Spanish gentleman's apology perfectly.</p> + +<p>"We have just escaped, not more than an hour +ago, from these same desperadoes," said Jim. +"They have taken my brother and friend with +them towards the coast."</p> + +<p>"We will saddle and overtake them," promised +the Senor, "after we have had breakfast."</p> + +<p>Jim was stunned by this gentle sort of procrastination.</p> + +<p>"But, Senor," he said gravely, "we will not be +able to overtake them if we do not start immediately. +Pardon my abruptness, but I cannot rest +while there are two of my party prisoners in the +hands of this gang of cut-throats."</p> + +<p>"It is to be perfectly understood," replied the +Spaniard with no less gravity, "we will make +haste, but first we will eat while the servants are +getting two of the horses ready for you and your +brother."</p> + +<p>This was not Jim's idea of making haste by a +long shot, but he was enough of a traveler to +recognize that the ways of men and nations differed +and that nothing was to be gained by going<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[97]</a></span> +against the grain of a national characteristic. So +while fuming inwardly, he was outwardly quiet +and composed. He argued, too, that it was not +likely the pirate gang would retain the captured +prisoners. Later, when they were themselves at +a safe distance they would set free the others.</p> + +<p>As they went towards the house, the Spaniard +dismounted and walked with them, giving his +horse into the charge of one of the men, with directions +to bring two other horses to the house. +There was an unmistakable courtesy in doing this +and the boys appreciated it. They could not help +but contrast their appearance with that of the +Spaniard. He was not gaudily dressed like a +vaquero, but everything he wore was possessed +of a certain richness and was not lacking in color. +He truly was a Prince of the South in appearance +as well as in courtesy.</p> + +<p>Jim and Jo were disreputable beyond words. +Their clothes were muddy, torn and disheveled, +their faces so grimed that it was hard to tell their +original color, and there were blotches of blood +upon their clothes as well as faces and hands. +But, though they looked worse than tramps, there +was something straightforward in their manner +and their way of speech that the Spaniard was +quick to recognize.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[98]</a></span></p> + +<p>As they walked along the Spaniard explained +that his household had been unusually disturbed +that morning. His mother, he said, was an invalid, +and had escaped from her attendant. Some +mental trouble, he briefly mentioned as the cause +of the elderly lady's worriment. Evidently, he did +not connect the tragedy in his own life, in which +his father's life was sacrificed, with the boys' antagonist. +His mother, he assured them, had been +found and was returned to her home.</p> + +<p>The boys now had a good view of the house, +as they approached it. The fog having lifted, +they could take in the whole situation. The structure +itself was of adobe, of the early California +type, low, with broad verandas, and built on four +sides around a court with a fountain in the centre, +with fish in the basin, and grass around it. +There were beautiful rose-tree bushes with gold +and red clusters growing over the corners of the +house.</p> + +<p>From the verandah there was a beautiful view +looking off over the surrounding country. The +house itself stood on a rise of ground that sloped +gently from the plain below. Back of it rose the +mountains of the coast range, while in the distance +glittered the broad breadths of the Pacific, shining<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[99]</a></span> +like an azure floor. As far as eye could see was +the domain of this great ranch. It was, indeed, a +princely estate, and one of which the Senor Sebastian +might well be proud. Those were the days +of romance and of charm in the land of Southern +California.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[100]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XIII</h2> + +<h3>A NEW FRIEND</h3> + + +<p>The servants eyed the two boys curiously as +they stepped upon the verandah and the brothers +were not reassured by any looks of friendliness, +though they were outwardly courteous. A withered +looking old woman, who looked to Jim as +though she had Indian blood showed the boys to +a room, where they could wash up.</p> + +<p>"Jove! Doesn't it dazzle your eyes, Jo?" exclaimed +Jim, "to see a real room, with a bed and +a white spread, with those starched things where +the pillows ought to be."</p> + +<p>"This room would certainly please Aunt +Maria," remarked Jo. "That four poster bed +with the canopy over it, is an old timer, I'll warrant +you."</p> + +<p>"If I slept in this room," said Jim, "I would +make a low bow to the bed and then roll up in my +blanket and go to sleep on the floor."</p> + +<p>"How do I look?" asked Jo, after he had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[101]</a></span> +rubbed and scrubbed his face for a long time.</p> + +<p>"You have got off the first layer," replied Jim, +"and look about the color of a half-breed. Let +me try my hand at polishing up."</p> + +<p>"It will take you a week," remarked Jo discouragingly.</p> + +<p>It cannot be truly said that they looked ornamental +even when they were clean, for Jim's face +was badly torn, one side of it being scraped raw. +He got this memento when he tackled the Captain +and fell down into the canyon with him. One +eye was blackened and the other cheek bruised. +These disadvantages were not to be overcome in +a short time.</p> + +<p>Jo was somewhat more presentable, but he, too, +showed signs of the rough time that they had had +with the Captain and his "merry" crew. But in +spite of all this, there was something in their bearing, +an honest hardihood and manliness that could +not be discounted by torn clothes and bruised +faces.</p> + +<p>"This room looks dirty, now," said Jo, "I'm +ashamed to leave it like this."</p> + +<p>"We will go outside to brush off our clothes," +proposed Jim, "and I'm going to empty this dirty +water myself." He started out with it when he +met one of the servants in the hall. With many<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[102]</a></span> +explanations, numerous gestures and much excitement, +she took the pail from Jim and disappeared +with it.</p> + +<p>"They won't let you do anything for yourself +here, Jo," reported Jim, returning to the room.</p> + +<p>This was correct and the boys noticed afterwards +that the servants regarded them with odd +expressions of amusement and it was evident to +the sensitive Jo that they were being "guyed" by +them, to use a modern expression. The boys +being American lads, were self-reliant, and were +accustomed to do everything for themselves, and, +unknowingly they had gone counter to a custom +of constant service of the Spaniards. It was to +demean oneself, according to their code, to do any +menial work.</p> + +<p>"Might as well start for the dining room," proposed +Jo. "I hate leaving Tom and Juarez to +their fate this way."</p> + +<p>"I more than hate it," protested Jim, "but as +you can't hurry these people, we will make the +best time by falling in with their way of doing +business."</p> + +<p>Then they went out into a passageway and, taking +the wrong turn, which was quite easy in the +rambling old house, they came to a door that entered +into the courtyard.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[103]</a></span></p> + +<p>"My, but this is beautiful," exclaimed Jo. "It +makes you appreciate California better when you +see a place like this."</p> + +<p>"That hammock looks good to me," said Jim. +"I would like to stretch out in it right now."</p> + +<p>Just then the door opened on the verandah and a +really beautiful young girl stepped out. She was +probably seventeen years of age, dressed in white, +with a black mantilla over her equally black hair +and her dark cheeks glowed with color. A very +romantic meeting, Messieurs, the gallant young +Americans at one end of the verandah and the +Senorita at the other. Then she saw Jim and +Jo with their scarred and bruised faces. With a +little shriek, and clasping her hand to her eyes, +she retreated quickly to her room.</p> + +<p>"What did you do to scare that girl, Jo?" inquired +Jim severely of his brother.</p> + +<p>"Nothing," declared Jo, stoutly. "It was the +sight of your face. It would give a wooden Injun +a chill." Jim felt of the said face reflectively.</p> + +<p>"I guess you are right, Jo," he admitted, "but +you ain't so charming in appearance that you +would do any damage."</p> + +<p>"Let's walk along this side," proposed Jo. +"Perhaps we will locate the breakfast."</p> + +<p>"All right," agreed Jim.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[104]</a></span></p> + +<p>So they stalked along, more or less conscious +that a pair of dark blue eyes were regarding them, +and they thought they heard a trill of +laughter, but it might have been one of the maids. +They need not have felt embarrassed for there +was the grace in their movements that goes with +strength and youth and suppleness.</p> + +<p>They were walking under a perfect bower of +flowers anyway. For this side was beautifully latticed +and over the lattice work grew vines with +purple and golden flowers, that would give a +grateful shade when the California sun would +drive the fog away.</p> + +<p>Under foot there was a double flagging of +stone with trodden dirt on either side.</p> + +<p>"I don't see a broom anywhere," said Jo.</p> + +<p>Just then they heard the voice of Senor Sebastian +behind them and they turned quickly.</p> + +<p>"I had begun to fear, Senors, that you had become +lost again."</p> + +<p>"We were, partially, Senor."</p> + +<p>"Our simple breakfast is ready now if you are," +he said.</p> + +<p>"We will have to brush the dirt off before we +can go in," protested Jim.</p> + +<p>"Antonio bring a brush," called the Senor. In +a moment a gray-haired, bent Mexican came with<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[105]</a></span> +a big kitchen broom. Instantly the Senor flushed +with anger.</p> + +<p>"Stupid one, my guests are not my horses. +Have a care."</p> + +<p>A suspicion flashed through Jim's mind that +the ancient servitor had brought the broom on +purpose. It was clear that the servants did not +have a very high opinion of their American visitors. +The next time he returned he had gotten +the right brush, and made a point of sneezing as +the dust flew from their mud-dried clothes. This +made Jim laugh in spite of himself.</p> + +<p>"More dust than the Sirocco brings," said Jim. +The old servitor regarded him with a cunning eye.</p> + +<p>"Si, Senor," he said, then he was seized with a +perfect convulsion of sneezing. This aroused his +master's ire.</p> + +<p>"No more of that, Antonio," he commanded, +"or it will be the lash." Antonio's cold was cured +from that moment. Jim's mouth twitched at the +corners with the humor of it but he did not laugh +now for that would be discourteous to his host.</p> + +<p>Finally the brushing was finished to the regret +of the servants, who had kept an amused eye on +Antonio's performance, while pretending to be +busy on some trivial tasks near the Patio or +court. In her own room, the Senorita was faint<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[106]</a></span> +with laughter as she watched Antonio dusting the +two American lads.</p> + +<p>It was a simple breakfast that the boys found +prepared for them in a long, low dining-room, +with its dark beams and white plastered walls. +The coffee was excellent, with a delicate aroma, +and was probably the best that Mexico could +afford. There was a large plate of meat garnished +with peppers, and a mixed dish of vegetables +that looked odd, but that tasted deliciously. +You may be sure that Jim and Jo appreciated their +meal, and they felt invigorated when it was finished, +wishing all the while, however, that they +were on the trail of their captured comrades.</p> + +<p>"Now, Senors, the horses are at the door. They +are spirited, but I am sure that you ride well."</p> + +<p>This was a mere expression of courtesy on his +part, for he did not expect any such thing and +thought to see his guests fall off if the horses +should rise on their hind legs, as they no doubt +would, for there was not a horse on the big rancho +but what was peppery and spirited. No sooner +had the Senor spoke than Jim jumped to his feet, +putting his hand to his head.</p> + +<p>"I have forgotten about Caliente!" he exclaimed. +"It is my horse, Senor," he explained to his host.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[107]</a></span> +"He is up the canyon because the gang that attacked +us last night were afraid of him."</p> + +<p>"I will send for him," said the Senor.</p> + +<p>"By the pool in the pocket," said Jim. "But I +think I ought to get him myself, though I appreciate +your offer, but one's horse, you know—"</p> + +<p>"I understand perfectly."</p> + +<p>"I cannot leave him without food and water," +said Jim.</p> + +<p>"I will attend to that. I will send a trustworthy +man," and he spoke to the servant who was waiting +on the table. In a short time he returned +with a tall, sinewy man, with straight black hair +and dark skin. He gave this man the necessary +instructions and with a "Si, Senor," the man went +out.</p> + +<p>"A good reliable fellow," remarked Jim. "He +looks like an Indian."</p> + +<p>"He is an Indian," replied their host, "but of +the right kind. Your horse is in good hands."</p> + +<p>"Tell him to bring him down to the ranch," said +Jim. "I'll trust Caliente with him." The Indian +was called back and under his stolid demeanor +was an appreciation of Jim's confidence.</p> + +<p>Breakfast over they went out on the verandah, +where they could see the horses. They were spirited +looking beasts all right. One was a bay, the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[108]</a></span> +two front legs white stockinged, very trimly built, +with a flashing eye, that he kept rolling around. +The boy who was holding him had his hands full, +as the bay would rise on his hind legs and strike +out viciously with his forefeet.</p> + +<p>The other animal was much heavier than the +bay. A brilliant black, whose coat fairly shone +with careful grooming. He had been standing +comparatively quiet until the three appeared upon +the verandah of the house, then, with a sudden +surge backward, he dragged the Mexican boy off +his feet, shaking his head viciously.</p> + +<p>"We ought to be armed, Senor," advised Jim. +"If we should overtake those men, they will put +up a desperate fight."</p> + +<p>"Certainly, Senor," he answered. "Come into +this room and select your weapon."</p> + +<p>After both Jim and Jo were armed, they went +out to the horses.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[109]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XIV</h2> + +<h3>THE PURSUIT</h3> + + +<p>All the servants seemed just now to find duties +of importance in front of the house or near it. +They had no idea of missing the chance of seeing +these Gringoes, whom they held in contempt, +thrown from their horses.</p> + +<p>Jim took the black and Jo was left the red, the +easiest to manage even if he seemed the liveliest. +Jo was too quick for his horse and before he +could whirl to one side, he was in the saddle. +Then his animal reared and plunged but Jo sat +on him as easily as a cowboy does his steed. There +was no mistaking his horsemanship. The servants +were duly and deeply disappointed.</p> + +<p>But their hopes revived when they saw Jim +tackle the black. He began that steady sideways +movement which Jim knew so well, whenever he +tried to put his foot in the stirrup. The servants +began to smile, here would be some fun. The +"Black Devil," as they called the horse, had been +known to kill men, so they had pleasant anticipa<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[110]</a></span>tions. +When Jim found that he could not mount +by the stirrup, he made a quick, powerful leap +and was in the saddle.</p> + +<p>"Bravo!" cried the Senor Sebastian, but he +knew that the fight had just begun.</p> + +<p>Jo looked on with interest and perfect confidence +in brother Jim's ability. The black stood +perfectly stunned for a moment or two at being +so suddenly mounted, then he sprang into action. +With his back in a hump he shot into the air and +came down stiff-legged.</p> + +<p>Without loss of a second he went into the air +again, higher than before. From the corral the +Mexican cowboys were looking at the duel between +the horse and the boy with lively interest.</p> + +<p>"The Diablo will kill him," said one nonchalantly, +blowing a puff of smoke from his cigarette.</p> + +<p>"Five dollars that the Gringo stays on," said a +second. The wager was made and others followed, +for the Mexicans are inveterate gamblers. +The third time the horse pitched into the air, +Jim swaying with the animal's every motion as the +trained cowboy does. Finding that he could not +dislodge his rider that way, the black rose on his +hind legs to a perpendicular position.</p> + +<p>Jim knew the trick of old, and was prepared for +it. As the horse started to fall backwards, Jim<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[111]</a></span> +who had been sticking like a leech, leaped lightly +to the ground and with all his strength, pulling +upon the bridle, slammed him to the ground. No +sooner was the horse upon his feet again than Jim +was in the saddle.</p> + +<p>Once more he tried that falling back trick and +this time Jim brought him down upon the damp +earth with a thud that jarred things. The black +devil had had enough. He stood quivering and +sweating, but for the time being subdued.</p> + +<p>"Bravo!" cried the Senor Sebastian again, and +he shook his guest by the hand warmly. "You +are a true horseman. Now we shall go. We +shall eat up the miles."</p> + +<p>The crowd of cowboys swung their hats in a +salute to the Gringo, who could conquer the black +devil, while the house servants, disappointed at +the stranger's triumph, went back to their different +tasks.</p> + +<p>The three horsemen galloped away down the +sloping pasture, the Spaniard in advance as he +knew the country and the most direct way to the +coast. His horse was a splendid sorrel, somewhat +taller than the horse that Jim rode. And he was +a gallant figure in his leather riding suit and +peaked sombrero with a brilliant colored band +around it.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[112]</a></span></p> + +<p>Jim and Jo rode few yards behind the Spaniard +and side by side. Jim felt a certain exultation +in his victory over the Black before people +who would have liked to have seen him defeated. +It was exhilarating, too, this plunging gallop +ahead with a chance to rescue Tom and Juarez +and to get even with Captain Broom and his gang, +who had taken away their valuables and had given +the boys such a cruel defeat.</p> + +<p>"This is a fine horse," said Jim, "though he +hasn't the stride of Caliente."</p> + +<p>"He is a beauty, when it comes to bucking," +Jo commented. "There is nothing the matter +with this bay but my black can beat him for +speed."</p> + +<p>So they flew on, the speed of their steeds blowing +back their horses' manes, and the fresh air from +the sea bringing a feeling of hope to their +hearts, that they would yet be able to overtake +the pirates, and rescue their comrades in distress. +Their horses' feet were devouring the +miles.</p> + +<p>"We stand a chance to get 'em at this rate," +shouted Jim.</p> + +<p>"Won't it be fine if we can all sit down to +dinner tonight?" replied Jo. "I bet that Tom and +Juarez would enjoy a square meal with the Senor<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[113]</a></span> +at the ranch house. Ifs kind of nice to be civilized +once in a while."</p> + +<p>"You're right, it is," declared Jim emphatically.</p> + +<p>"I wonder if there isn't a store around here +where we could buy some clothes," inquired Jo, +anxiously. "We look too disreputable to appear +in polite society."</p> + +<p>"Thinking about that girl, I suppose?" remarked +Jim with brotherly intuition.</p> + +<p>"I wouldn't be so sure if I were you," replied +Jo evasively. "How about the Senorita down +in Mexico who threw you the rose at the castle?" +This reference to the Senorita Cordova whom +the Frontier Boys had rescued in Mexico, checked +Jim from getting too gay for he still had a tender +place in his memory for her.</p> + +<p>The fog by this time was entirely dissipated, +and they could see by certain white or rather light +spots in the clouds where the sun was going to +break through and an absolutely clear day would +result. The three riders had now reached the +brush region that began a few miles from the +coast and they were compelled to go more +slowly.</p> + +<p>But if they had only known what was going on +not more than two miles away from where they +were, they would not have slackened speed no<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[114]</a></span> +matter what risk they ran. For Captain Broom +and his crew with the two captives had arrived at +the cove and old Pete and Jack Cales were going +into the cave for the boat.</p> + +<p>There was a chance, but the Senor and his companions +must hurry. Some mishap to the pirates' +expedition just at this point and the frontier boys +would win. Tom and Juarez might have sung the +tune that they had often sung before in camp.</p> + +<div class='poem'> +"Tramp, tramp, tramp, the boys are marching,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Cheer up, comrades, they will come,</span><br /> +And beneath the starry flag<br /> +We will breathe the air again<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Of freedom in our own beloved home."</span><br /> +</div> + +<p>But they did not know and they sat miserable +and dejected upon the damp sand of the beach, +not knowing that Jim and Jo were coming nearer +every second. Then there came an accident, +though a slight one, that gave the pursuers a +chance.</p> + +<p>Old Pete was carrying one end of the boat. He +was nervous, anyway, in regard to the cave and +its grewsome contents, thought he saw some dark +spectre coming for him out of the blackness of the +cave and he dropped his end of the boat and +scudded for the beach.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[115]</a></span></p> + +<p>The Captain was furious, giving him a blow +that sent him spinning half way down to the +water, and he and the mate rushed back to see +what damage the boat had suffered. It was only +slightly stove in, but every second was precious. +The pursuers were only a mile away.</p> + +<p>Jim began to grow restless as they neared the +coast. He seemed to feel that they were nearing +the enemy, and at his urging, the Spaniard, who +had an increased respect and liking for Jim ever +since he had conquered Black Diablo, put his horse +to the gallop, and away they went along the narrow +winding path through the bushes.</p> + +<p>The branches whipt them, but they paid no attention, +but on they went; it was evident that they +made considerable racket and Captain Broom, +with a fierce burst of energy for which he was +famous, got the boat launched, the two prisoners +in, and with himself and the mate at the oars, +made the boat leap forward over the lazy rolling +swell towards the graceful Sea Eagle.</p> + +<p>When they had reached a point half-way to the +vessel, the horsemen came tearing through the +last screen of brush onto the yellow sand. The +enemy had escaped by the skin of its teeth and it +was heart-rending to see Tom and Juarez being<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[116]</a></span> +carried away from them at every stroke of the +oars towards their black prison. Jim put up his +hands to his mouth and yelled:</p> + +<p>"We will rescue you, boys. Don't give up. +We'll get 'em yet."</p> + +<p>A derisive yell greeted this challenge and one of +the men in the boat fired at the group on the +shore, but the bullet fell harmlessly short. They +did not dare to fire in return lest they hit either +Tom or Juarez.</p> + +<p>"They have steam up on board," observed Jim. +"But I see one chance to do some execution."</p> + +<p>It was this. The Sea Eagle was anchored close +under a cliff on the northern side of the cove. So +Jim slipped off his horse, for the way on that side +was impracticable except on foot. It was hard +going at that, especially as there were a good +many cacti with their wretched thorns.</p> + +<p>Jim stepped gingerly along over the rocks, gliding +through the bushes until at last he reached +a point above the vessel where he could almost +look down upon her decks. The boat from the +shore had just come alongside and the prisoners +were hustled into the cabin and the door locked. +Tom and Juarez were a dejected-looking pair and +it made Jim's heart ache to see them.</p> + +<p>The Captain went upon the quarter-deck and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[117]</a></span> +gave an order to the man at the wheel. The +anchor had already been weighed. Slowly and +gracefully the Sea Eagle turned, and there stood +Captain Broom, as big as life upon the bridge. +Why did not Jim fire? Because he had come to +a certain wise conclusion.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[118]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XV</h2> + +<h3>JIM AND THE SEA EAGLE</h3> + + +<p>As Jim had raised his revolver to fire, a sudden +idea came to him. In the first place he rebelled +instinctively from shooting a man down in cold +blood from ambush, even if he was as desperate +and crime-stained a character as Captain Bill +Broom, besides it would not save Tom and Juarez +and only make their captivity harder to endure, +if any injury was done the Captain.</p> + +<p>Another thing, Jim was sure that if he began +the attack that his two comrades would be used +as shields to protect the man at the wheel, so that +the Sea Eagle could be navigated safely out of the +cove. He saw with interest the narrow place between +two lines of foam above hidden ledges +where the boat must pass in order to reach the +open sea. He marvelled at the temerity of Captain +Broom in daring to bring his ship through +such a place.</p> + +<p>Then a brilliant thought came to him, a sudden +stroke that might turn defeat into victory. The<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[119]</a></span> +Sea Eagle was now making straight for the narrow +channel. Jim slipped back for a short distance +an ran as rapidly as he could to a point +a little to the west of where he had first hidden. +He did not have long to wait. The Sea Eagle +was almost directly opposite his place of ambush, +and was just sticking her nose into the narrow +passage.</p> + +<p>Jim raised his revolver and took careful aim +and fired. The man at the wheel gave a yell and +clapped his hand to the shoulder, letting go the +wheel and the nose of the little steamer swung +toward the rock. A swell lifted her bow clear +by a few inches, and the Captain caught the +steamer by the wheel and brought her to a course.</p> + +<p>"Bring those boys up on deck and shoot them +if that black-haired devil," (meaning Jim) "fires +another shot," he called to the mate.</p> + +<p>That worthy was not slow to obey the order, +he had them on deck in full sight in a jiffy and +held a pistol at Tom's head. Jim had raised his +arm to fire at the Captain when he heard his order +and it was as if he had been paralyzed. He knew +that Tom and Juarez would have been killed to a +certainty if he fired another shot.</p> + +<p>Luck had broken against him again, for that +was all that had kept the Sea Eagle from going on<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[120]</a></span> +the reef, where if she had not been wrecked, she +and her crew would have been at the mercy of the +men on shore. Just the lifting of the wave had +saved the vessel by a few inches, that, and Captain +Broom's quick and skillful action.</p> + +<p>The second round of the contest had gone in +favor of the pirate and his crew, but only by a +shade as it were. But it would not surprise me a +bit if Jim evened up matters in the third and final +round. Let us hope so, at least, for that will give +a silver lining to the black cloud that had rolled +over the boys' fortunes at this particular time.</p> + +<p>Jim made his way slowly back to where Jo and +the Senor were waiting for him on the beach. He +was despondent over the failure of his plans by so +close a margin, and the sight of Tom and Juarez +helpless on the deck in the hands of these sea-coast +pirates, was always before his eyes.</p> + +<p>"What were you trying to do, Jim?" inquired +Jo, "Sink the ship?" Before Jim could reply, the +Spaniard gave a cry of warning.</p> + +<p>"Look out, they are going to shoot."</p> + +<p>Glancing toward the Sea Eagle, which was now +a half mile from shore, they saw a puff of smoke, +and then a shell struck into the beach below them +and exploding, sent a shower of sand over them +and the horses. The latter, frightened, reared and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[121]</a></span> +plunged, but the boys soon got their animals under +control, as they quickly tired of acting up in the +heavy sand. Jim shook his fist in the direction of +the Sea Eagle.</p> + +<p>"Curse your insolence!" he yelled. "I'll make +every one of you eat crow, you miserable +hounds!"</p> + +<p>Jim looked ugly, his eyes glared with concentrated +fury and the veins on his temple were swollen +and throbbing. Unthinkingly, he pulled back +hard upon the bit, sending his horse up in the air.</p> + +<p>"Easy, boy," he said, soothingly. "Easy. It +was my fault for yanking you."</p> + +<p>When the horse was quieted, Jim was cooled +down to his normal temperature, and he told his +comrades of his attack upon the Sea Eagle and +how it had turned out.</p> + +<p>"Senor Darlington," said the Spaniard impressively, +"I will take off my hat to you. You are a +natural General. Take my advice, my friend, +and go to Spain. There you might head a revolution +and in time rise to high mark."</p> + +<p>"I appreciate your praise deeply, Senor Sebastian," +responded Jim, "but my own country, +Senor, I could not leave it for another."</p> + +<p>"Right, Senor," replied the Spaniard, "you have +the true spirit."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[122]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Which way will she turn, do you suppose?" +asked Jo, pointing to the vessel that was moving +steadily out on the Pacific in a straight line from +the shore.</p> + +<p>"To the North, doubtless," replied the Spaniard.</p> + +<p>"Wherever she goes we must find her out," +said Jim, with grim determination.</p> + +<p>"I wish we could follow them," sighed Jo. "If +we could only hire a boat."</p> + +<p>"They have our money," replied Jim, briefly.</p> + +<p>"I had forgotten that," said Jo, and his face +showed his disappointment.</p> + +<p>"Permit me to help you," said the Spaniard, "I +am to blame for detaining you at breakfast."</p> + +<p>"That is generous of you, Senor," replied Jim, +"but I do not favor going to the expense of chartering +a steamer. Even if it were possible, my +plan would be to follow along the coast on horseback +and see what can be done when they make a +landing."</p> + +<p>"As you are the General," replied the Spaniard, +"we will allow you to make the plans."</p> + +<p>"Look!" exclaimed Jo, "they are turning South +instead of North."</p> + +<p>"Impossible!" cried the Spaniard. "There is +only one port within two hundred miles. I do<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[123]</a></span> +not understand. Yes, they are surely going +South."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps they have a secret landing place," +hazarded Jim.</p> + +<p>"Not so," replied the Spaniard. "Not a harbor +where they could land save one and there they +would not dare to go."</p> + +<p>The three watchers on horseback gazed until +there was little to be seen other than a smudge of +smoke upon the horizon. It was no use, the Sea +Eagle was holding to her southerly course to some +mysterious port. The sun had now come out and +was shining with sheer brilliance upon the sparkling +ocean.</p> + +<p>"We must return now," said the Spaniard. +"There is nothing more for us to do at present."</p> + +<p>"I think that my brother and I will start this +afternoon and take the trail to the south," announced +Jim, "wherever those fellows set foot, I +want to be waiting for them."</p> + +<p>"I fear it is impossible to start so soon," replied +the Spaniard, "I must go with you as I know the +country to the South, every foot of it."</p> + +<p>"The Senor is right, Jim," put in Jo, quickly, +as he saw a frown on Jim's face and was afraid +that he was going to say something abruptly. +"You will want to give Caliente a good rest, so<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[124]</a></span> +that when we start, we will make the distance +without delay. Then we have to make some preparations +ourselves."</p> + +<p>Jim looked at his brother with a moment's dark +suspicion, but it was evident that Jo was perfectly +sincere in what he said.</p> + +<p>"I will promise, Senor," said the Spaniard with +a peculiar smile, "that when we start which will +be early tomorrow morning, that we will travel +far and fast enough to suit you and your horse." +There was a challenge in his voice that Jim met +smilingly.</p> + +<p>"So be it, Senor," he said, "I will try to be in +sight at the finish."</p> + +<p>"My horse is a remarkable animal for speed +and endurance, I must tell you frankly," said the +Senor gravely. "He has no equal in this country +of California. He has proved it more than once +and against all comers."</p> + +<p>"He is certainly a fine horse," admitted Jim, +looking at the sorrel with admiring eyes. "He +has a splendid stride."</p> + +<p>"Ah, no, Senor," laughed the Spaniard with a +gleam of his white teeth, "I did not mean him," +patting the horse on the neck, "a good animal, indeed, +but more for my little sister to ride than for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[125]</a></span> +me. Wait, my friend, until I introduce you to +Don Fernando and then you will see a horse for +the first time."</p> + +<p>"I should be very much pleased to see him," +said Jim, frankly curious and interested.</p> + +<p>"Tomorrow," said the Spaniard.</p> + +<p>They had now turned into the narrow trail +among the bushes and had only ridden a few steps +when Jo called a sudden halt.</p> + +<p>"What do you think, Jim, there's my horse and +Tom's tied in that thicket."</p> + +<p>Sure enough there they were, utterly worn out, +but with spirit enough to recognize their old comrades +Jim and Jo, and if ever horses expressed a +welcome these two did when they first caught +sight of their two friends.</p> + +<p>"They have cut the saddles to pieces, the +brutes," exclaimed Jo.</p> + +<p>"I'm glad to get the horses," said Jim, "I am +surprised that they didn't cut their throats."</p> + +<p>"They will follow us all right," said Jo, in reply +to the Spaniard's suggestion that they would have +to be led, and they trotted along behind Jo, who +was the last one in line.</p> + +<p>"Do you know of any place where we could buy +things?" asked Jim. "We need a new outfit."</p> + +<p>"But we have no money," put in Jo quickly.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[126]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I will get the money or its equivalent today," +said Jim. "If there is a store where the Senor can +get me credit."</p> + +<p>"Yes, there is a store where a Portugee sells +about everything that we need in this country," +replied the Spaniard. "It is some distance to the +north. We will ride there before we return to +the ranch. There will be no difficulty about the +credit," he concluded, with a bow to Jim.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[127]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XVI</h2> + +<h3>THE BOYS PUT ON STYLE</h3> + + +<p>"You do not know my ability to spend," said Jim, +"I may have to plunge to the extent of several hundred +dollars. You see my brother has very expensive +tastes. It will cost quite a small fortune when +I buy him a complete trousseau including diamonds."</p> + +<p>"I will pledge my lands if necessary to get the +young Senor diamonds," said the Spaniard laughingly.</p> + +<p>In about an hour's time they came to a large one +story frame building painted a rather light blue, +which color had weathered a good deal. It had a +square, false front with a sign on it that read, "Mr. +Gonsalves, General Trader."</p> + +<p>They hitched their horses to some well graveled +posts, and went inside leaving Jo's and Tom's horses +free to graze at will around, or to stand under +the shelter of some drooping pepper tree across the +road. The proprietor, a short, thick-set Portugee +with a close trimmed black beard, and a gray slouch<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[128]</a></span> +hat which he always wore, apparently, received them +graciously. The contents of the store were entirely +at their service,—if they paid for them.</p> + +<p>"We will miss poor Tom here," said Jo, "he was +always our purchasing agent."</p> + +<p>"And a mighty good one," added Jim. "Not even +a Connecticut Yankee could get the best of him in a +bargain."</p> + +<p>The Spaniard sat in a round armed wooden chair, +gracefully smoking a cigarette, while his guests +busied themselves making purchases. First the boys +bought some new clothes, which they retired behind +a counter to put on, and emerged in proper apparel +for the plains.</p> + +<p>Blue flannel shirts, and pants of the same color, +held up by leather belts, with much glitter of silver +on them, then they bought a sombrero apiece, +not after the Mexican style, but of the American +type. Jim had a red band around his and Jo had a +blue.</p> + +<p>"Now we want some handkerchiefs to tie around +our necks," said Jo.</p> + +<p>"Of course," remarked Jim with a wink, "something +that will catch the eyes of the ladies."</p> + +<p>So M. Gonsalves brought out a brilliant assortment +of handkerchiefs.</p> + +<p>"Here's a very fine article, gents," he said hold<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[129]</a></span>ing +out a red silk handkerchief, clustered with white +horseshoes.</p> + +<p>"Nothing the matter with that," admitted Jim admiringly, +with a droll look at Jo. "But this plain red +one will suit me. My brother would probably like +the horseshoe one." But Jo also declined.</p> + +<p>"I will take the dark blue one," he said, "it +matches my costume better."</p> + +<p>"Gee! but you will look like a color scheme," +laughed Jim, "blue eyes, blue pants, shirt, tie and +socks, and hat band, you ought to be a sailor on the +blue Pacific."</p> + +<p>"The next things are boots," remarked Jo.</p> + +<p>"Not for me," said Jim briefly, "I want moccasins. +Worn 'em all my life, and I am not going to +change to boots now."</p> + +<p>"Fine line of moccasins," said the accommodating +Mr. Gonsalves in his best trade manner. You see he +had been in business in San Francisco and knew +something of the ways of customers.</p> + +<p>"But it gives us more style to wear boots. You +notice that all the inhabitants wear them, we can +buy moccasins too. You wear them all the time and +they will set you down for an Indian."</p> + +<p>"When a fellow once gets the idea of style in his +head," said Jim resignedly, "nothing this side of +matrimony is going to stop him. So lay on Mac<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[130]</a></span>Duff +and cursed be he who first cries hold, enough."</p> + +<p>"I feel like I was anchored," commented Jim, +stepping across the floor with heavy tread. "I +should like to stalk a deer or an Indian in these +things. He could tell you were arriving before you +got above the horizon."</p> + +<p>"But you look fine in 'em," said Jo.</p> + +<p>It was true that he made a striking figure in his +blue togs. The lithe powerful physique, and the +strong, resolute face.</p> + +<p>"Better look out, Jo," grinned Jim. "No Senorita +would look at you, when they see me dashing +over the landscape."</p> + +<p>"I'm a pretty stylish looking guy myself," responded +Jo, confidently. He did make a good appearance, +there was no doubt of that. Though +slighter than his brother he was well set up, and his +frame was well muscled. He was handsomer than +Jim. But there was no nonsense about either of +the two boys and they never gave an unnecessary +thought to their appearance.</p> + +<p>"Now, Mr. Gonsalves," said Jim, "we would like +to look at some of your man-killers."</p> + +<p>"Revolvers?" he questioned, "just step this way. +I can fit you out all right."</p> + +<p>He did have a fine collection and Jim examined<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[131]</a></span> +the different ones carefully, noting their action and +how easily they worked.</p> + +<p>"I see you are no tenderfoot," complimented the +proprietor. "You have handled shooting irons before."</p> + +<p>"I'll be a tenderfoot before long, if I wear these +condemned boots you sold me," said Jim gruffly +ignoring the compliment. He did not care especially +for M. Gonsalves' style. "Now let's have a look at +your rifles." The proprietor actually took off his +hat and bowed.</p> + +<p>It was evident that the distinguished gentlemen +from nowhere in particular were going to buy out +his entire stock.</p> + +<p>"Would you be so gracious as to step this way?" +he said, "I have the rifles in the back of the store."</p> + +<p>They were so gracious, and after due examination +they selected a couple of well balanced guns and +purchased enough ammunition to stand off a few +Indian raids. All the stuff besides what they had +on their backs they packed upon Tom's horse, as +Tom was not present to resent the indignity.</p> + +<p>"Now the last things are some saddles," said +Jim, "seeing that our kind friends, the pirates, cut +up those we owned."</p> + +<p>"Senor Darlington," said the Spaniard coming +forward and touching Jim lightly on the arm, "Do<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[132]</a></span> +not speak of buying saddles. I will see to that." +Jim did not know exactly what their host meant but +he thanked him and deferred to his request.</p> + +<p>Now behold the frontier boys in complete costume, +with glittering revolvers at their hips and +rifles swung across their backs, upon their hands +were fringed buckskin gloves. They had gone the +whole hog as Jim said.</p> + +<p>"I'll take the shine off this costume in about one +day," said Jim grimly, "when I get in the open, I +would rather break a broncho, than a new suit of +clothes." There was no doubt about his impressive +appearance, as the sun flashed on the metal of the accoutrements +and he swung himself into the saddle. +Even their host seemed to hold them in higher regard. +Different people, different manners.</p> + +<p>When they reached the house ranch the first thing +Jim did was to find Caliente. He was in the long +adobe stable that was a half-mile from the house, at +the beginning of a wide mountain valley, where the +air drew through from the sea.</p> + +<p>"How are you, Caliente old fellow," cried Jim, as +he opened the box stall and went in to shake hands +with his old comrade. But the horse leaped to one +side, and then reared up as if to strike Jim.</p> + +<p>"He don't know you," cried Jo who was on the +outside of the stall. "Take off your hat."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[133]</a></span></p> + +<p>Jim whirled it out of the stall, and a change came +over Caliente. He recognized his master, and nickering +in recognition he rubbed his head against +Jim's shoulder, and took playful nips at his fine new +shirt, while Jim fairly hugged him, and gave him +resounding whacks with his open hand upon his +splendid sides and shoulders.</p> + +<p>"A magnificent animal, Senor Darlington," said +Senor Sebastian to Jim, "I congratulate you."</p> + +<p>It was a true word. Caliente with his proud neck, +small but shapely head, powerful but not too heavy +frame, and color of mottled gray was magnificent.</p> + +<p>All that afternoon Jim busied himself grooming +his horse until his coat fairly glistened. He looked +carefully to his feed, and saw to his watering. For +Jim was determined that his horse should not be +beaten by the Spaniard's. He knew that the latter's +horse must be an unusual animal. It was not a short +race, instead, one of two hundred miles that lay before +them on the morrow.</p> + +<p>That evening the American boys presented a better +appearance than they did at breakfast. It was a +pretty scene that evening in the long dining room. +The snowy table lit by light of candles and set with +ancient silver brought from Spain. The young +Senorita was seated at her brother's right, and on +the other side were James Darlington and his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[134]</a></span> +brother Joseph. As to the impression she made +upon them, we will say nothing, as this is not a romance, +but they had a merry and delightful evening.</p> + +<p>Their host and the young Senorita were much +interested in hearing of the adventures of the boys +in Mexico, especially that part that referred to +the rescue of the Senorita Cordova from the hands +of Cal Jenkins and his gang. I do not know that +The Frontier Boys told it with any less fervor +because the eyes of the young girl, seated opposite, +were fixed intently upon them. It appeared +that their host knew of the Senor Cordova, who was +a man of prominence in his country, though he had +not actually met him. So there was one more +bond of sympathy between the Senor Sebastian +and James and Jo Darlington.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[135]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XVII</h2> + +<h3>ON BOARD THE SEA EAGLE</h3> + + +<p>Let us now turn our interest and attention for +a time to the cruise of the Sea Eagle, under the +guidance of that redoubtable free-booter, Captain +Broom. It was a mystery to the three who +watched the ship turn to the South, what her port +could be. We will soon be in a position to solve +that problem.</p> + +<p>No sooner had the Sea Eagle cleared the cove +than Captain Broom went to his cabin to go over +his spoils which he had taken from the frontier +boys. He placed all the belts upon the table, took +up one, and with a keen knife slit the first pouch. +A large heavy Spanish coin rolled out and then +clinked down upon the table.</p> + +<p>The Captain's eyes glistened. "By Gosh!" he exclaimed, +"it was worth while rounding up those +fellows. They must have struck it rich down in +Mexico. I bet the boys will be tickled to death +to get their share." For whatever crimes and +shortcomings Captain Broom could be charged<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[136]</a></span> +with, at least he always divided fairly with his crew. +Thereby he held their loyalty. It was not all +policy, either, for there was a sterling streak in +the bad old fellow.</p> + +<p>Out of the next pouch there glittered upon the +table several diamonds and a small palm full of +rubies, with their rich color and radiance. "The +boys will have enough to start a jewelry store," +commented the Captain. "But I am not surprised +at this haul. I know something about the hidden +treasures myself, and they do say Mexico is the +the place for them."</p> + +<p>Out of another belt he got some ingots of gold +and a girdle that caused the Captain to open his +eyes. At first he did not know what to make of +it. When he held it up he saw that it was formed +of golden disks linked with strings of rubies and +sapphires. In the third belt was a necklace that +might have been worn by some Princess of the +Incas. It was oddly, almost <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'wierdly'">weirdly</ins> beautiful.</p> + +<p>The fourth belt that he picked up chanced to belong +to Jim.</p> + +<p>"This seems lighter than the others," remarked +the Captain. "Three of the pouches are empty." +His face got black with rage. For instantly his +mind leaped to the suspicion that one of his men +had rifled it. If such had been the case, the guilty<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[137]</a></span> +party would have got short shift at the end of a +rope from the yard arm.</p> + +<p>But the second examination showed that the +cut was an old one.</p> + +<p>"So!" he cried, "one of the boys has cached part +of his share. I bet it was that long-legged, black-haired +guy. That fellow would give the best of +us trouble. I wish I had him to train. Maybe, +I can make something of the Injun boy," meaning +Juarez.</p> + +<p>As to the belts, the shrewd old fellow, to make +sure, measured them to see where the worn holes +of the leather came, and the partially empty belt +had been worn two inches longer than any of the +others.</p> + +<p>"It was the big fellow's," said the Captain.</p> + +<p>Then he went upon deck and called the crew +forward.</p> + +<p>"Now, lads, choose your man to get your share +of the goods," he said.</p> + +<p>"It's Jack Cales, sir," they said, knowing that +they would be called upon to select a man to take +their share.</p> + +<p>"All right! Come, lad," said the Captain, and +led the way to his cabin. When Jack Cales saw +the treasures on the table, he opened his eyes and +mouth in astonishment.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[138]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Why, Sir," he exclaimed, "we haven't seen +anything like this since the day two years ago +when—" he stopped suddenly, seeing from a look +in the Captain's eyes that no reminiscences were +desired.</p> + +<p>"This is your share, lad," said the Captain, +gruffly.</p> + +<p>"Thank you, sir," responded Cales, as he swept +the small pile of gold and jewels into the palm of +his big hands.</p> + +<p>"And mind ye, lad," warned the Captain, "I +don't want any quarreling among yourselves or +ye will hear from me."</p> + +<p>"Aye, aye, sir," replied the sailor and backed +out of the cabin.</p> + +<p>There was an interesting gathering in the forecastle +when Jack Cales deposited his handful of +treasures on the top of a sea chest that had been +hauled out for the purpose.</p> + +<p>For once it was not necessary to have the lantern +lit, for a broad band of sunshine shone down +the steep ladder and cut a golden swath through +the dingy gloom and fell athwart the chest and illuminated +the group: the tall and swaggering +Cales, the rugged, grizzled Pete, and the other +sailormen; a typical group and not to be matched +for picturesqueness anywhere; with their faces<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[139]</a></span> +intent upon the center of the old black sea chest, +where glowed and glittered the gold and jewels in +the band of light that shone upon some of the +faces of the intent group, while others were in the +shadow. It was a scene such as Rembrandt—pardon, +kind reader, I forgot for a moment, this +is a simple narrative of Adventure.</p> + +<p>"Pete," said Cales, "how the ladies will love you +when they see a chain of glittering diamonds +around your throat."</p> + +<p>"One thing is certain, lad," replied the grizzled +Pete, "I won't be givin' none of my diamonds +away to the ladies. I'll keep the stones safe in my +jeans."</p> + +<p>"You'll have to be keerful, Pete," rallied another, +"they'll be marrying you for your ill-gotten +wealth, when they find out that you are an heiress. +You can't help yourself, Pete. It won't make any +difference because you are a pirate, that won't +scare 'em. Not when they see them jewels."</p> + +<p>"What's the use of you boys a talkin' to me," +he said with a wise wink, "you're only kittens. I'm +sixty year old and I'm a free man yit."</p> + +<p>"Here's a pill for you, Pop," said Cales, +dropping a diamond into his horny hand.</p> + +<p>"Gee! I'm just as well pleased to get this as I +was to get a bunch of popcorn when I was a kid<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[140]</a></span> +back in New England, off the Christmas tree."</p> + +<p>"Better have it sot in one of your front teeth, +Pop," said Jack. This produced a roar of laughter, +for Pete's front teeth were conspicuous by +their absence.</p> + +<p>So the distribution went on without any bickering +at first, only jovial jokes, but at last there +came a bone of contention over the last diamond. +And in a jiffy Jack Cales and a short, stocky sailor +were all tangled up in a fierce encounter. Their +comrades, none too gently, hoisted them up on +deck. There they continued their fight.</p> + +<p>No sooner did Captain Broom see them than he +cluttered down from the bridge at a furious rate. +The two combatants ought to have taken warning +but they were deaf to everything except their own +struggle. He was livid with anger, and his +wrath was in a large measure justified.</p> + +<p>"I'll larn you!" he yelled, grabbing each by the +back of the neck. "You won't fight any more this +trip."</p> + +<p>They were like children in his hands. He had +not only the arms of a gorilla, but the strength of +one when he was aroused and it was a caution the +way he slammed them around, flaying the deck +with them, and dashing their heads together. It +seemed as if every bone in their bodies would be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[141]</a></span> +broken. Finally he flung them unconscious on the +deck.</p> + +<p>"Put them in the Sagenette," he ordered the +mate.</p> + +<p>"Aye, aye, sir," he replied, and with the aid of +one of the sailors, they were chained in a narrow +cell.</p> + +<p>Here was where Juarez and Tom came in. As +the two fighters were knocked out and locked up, +it made the crew short and they were ordered out +on deck from the cabin where they had been kept. +Almost famished though they were, they had to +jump in and work like nailers, not to say, sailors.</p> + +<p>Fortunately for them, they had experienced a +hard schooling in many different ways since they +came west and were practical masters of several +lines of industry, but this was their first experience +sailoring. It was a hard school, but they +learned more in a few days, than they would have +under months of more gentle tuition. This was +to stand them in good stead when they started on +their cruise to Hawaii.</p> + +<p>"I'll get even with those fellows," growled Tom +as he passed near Juarez who was busy polishing +some brass work. "Yes, if it takes the rest of my +life."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[142]</a></span></p> + +<p>"What do you mean, stopping and gabbing, you +little shrimp?" roared the mate who chanced to see +Tom stop.</p> + +<p>And he rushed up and grabbing Tom by the +back of the neck, shook him ferociously, landing +him a couple of kicks at the same time. This was +too much for Juarez, who poised a stone that he +was using and was about to brain the mate with it +when the Captain's iron grip fell on his arm. He +didn't throw that brick.</p> + +<p>"Easy, lad," said the Captain. "No more fighting +on board this ship, or I'll take a hand again +and don't you two lads pass the time of day either. +You won't be killed if you work hard and keep +cheerful." Then he gave the mate a look, which +that worthy understood and Tom was allowed to +go about his work without further molestation.</p> + +<p>But this was a new and hard doctrine that the +Captain had laid down that the boys had to take +hard usage and unceasing work and keep cheerful +about it. They soon found that the Skipper +meant what he said. It was a bitter lesson, but +perhaps they were the manlier for learning it so +young. For it's something that life hands out to +everyone sooner or later.</p> + +<p>Often the boys looked longingly over the rail +towards the faint, far outline of the California<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[143]</a></span> +coast. The Skipper was keeping his ship far out +from the land for reasons best known to himself. +One thing was favorable in that the sea air had +braced up Juarez so that he felt more like himself +though his head was queer at times. And no +wonder for that blow the Mexican dwarf had +given him was sufficient to have stunned an ox.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[144]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XVIII</h2> + +<h3>A DAY AT SEA</h3> + + +<p>The Sea Eagle was steaming steadily South to her +mysterious harbor. The day was a brilliant one and +as the afternoon wore on the wind from the Northwest +began to blow with fresher force and the white +caps began to jump, here, there and everywhere +over the broad surface of the ocean, and then slide +down on the back of the waves.</p> + +<p>There was a good deal of motion on the part of +the Sea Eagle now, as she plunged into the waves +and threw the spray back over her decks. Both +Juarez and Tom proved themselves good sailors, +which was just as well for if they had been sea sick +together with their other miseries they might have +succumbed.</p> + +<p>Finally the long afternoon wore away and the +time came for supper. The boys being neither +flesh, fish or fowl, were not allowed to eat with the +crew, and they did not mind in the least. When +their rations did arrive, or rather when they went<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[145]</a></span> +to the ship's galley and got their share, they +found the fare not lacking in quality and abundance. +There was a heaping plate of Mexican beans, a big +hunk of bread and a bowl of hot tea. After the +boys had stowed this below in their hatches they felt +a hundred per cent better and more fit to meet any +fate that might await them.</p> + +<p>An hour before sunset a heavy bank of fog began +to roll up from the West, soon covering the +whole sky with its gracious softness, and decided +restfulness, after the glittering blue-diamond beauty +of the day.</p> + +<p>It is the fogs alone that make the climate of California, +especially in the Southern part endurable. +Too much sunshine becomes as unbearable as too +much cloudiness.</p> + +<p>The sea went down, when the fog came up and the +waters took on a steely color under their blanket of +gray, rolling on, in that monotonous meditation +that holds the mystery of forgotten ages in its +brooding.</p> + +<p>"Here's where you will sleep, boys," said Old Pete, +who had been appointed by the Captain to have +special charge over their education. "The men won't +have you in the fo'castle, and it's pretty crowded +there anyway."</p> + +<p>"This will suit us, sir," replied Juarez. He did<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[146]</a></span> +not call him Pop, as he would have on the land. This +was the sea and had its own rules and customs, +therefore Old Pete received his due of respect. But +in his rough way he was not unfriendly towards the +boys, for he remembered that they had given him +friendly advice, when he was aboard that strange +craft, a horse, the night before.</p> + +<p>The place where the boys were to sleep was a sort +of cubby hole in the bow of the boat, that was roofed +over and where anchor chains and other junk was +sometimes kept. It was not over four feet high, +five in width at the broadest and narrowing to the +bow.</p> + +<p>A rude place to sleep in, but what did the Frontier +Boys care for that? They could scarcely count the +nights that they had slept out on the ground, and in +bad weather too. They had a blanket apiece, and a +tarpaulin to pull over them.</p> + +<p>The blankets they had spread out on the floor of +the cubby hole and they found that the tarpaulin +made a mighty warm protective covering, +keeping out the damp sea air in fine style.</p> + +<p>"Where do you suppose we are heading for, +Juarez?" inquired Tom.</p> + +<p>"Maybe a port in Mexico or South America and +then again we may head for Hawaii before we intend +to."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[147]</a></span></p> + +<p>"We are going South now, though," said Tom.</p> + +<p>"If we run in close to the coast, we'll jump overboard, +and swim for it," said Juarez.</p> + +<p>"We could do it if we get within a mile," said +Tom, "if it is not too rough."</p> + +<p>Just then Juarez put his hand over Tom's mouth, +he felt sure that someone was listening or was preparing +to. Juarez ran his fingers carefully over the +boards until he found where a hole had been bored +through the planking a little back of their heads. It +was just as he had suspected, someone was listening +to hear what plans they would make.</p> + +<p>With the noiselessness characteristic of him when +scouting, Juarez crept out partially and cautiously +raised his head until he caught sight of the sole of +a man's boot. Then he crept back to his place and +gave Tom a nudge. Forthwith they began talking in +rather loud tones.</p> + +<p>"Say Tom, do you know I rather like this ship. +These fellows are rough in their way but that is to +be expected."</p> + +<p>"Of course," said Tom, in an equally loud voice, +"but we might as well make the best of it. There is +no chance for the boys to find us."</p> + +<p>"You're right there, Tom."</p> + +<p>Then in a short time they appeared to fall into a +deep and sonorous sleep. This was no fake on the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[148]</a></span> +part of Tom who was actually and thoroughly +tired. But Juarez was more of a veteran and he +kept his eyes open and he was rewarded in a few +minutes by seeing a man's feet hanging <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'ever'">over</ins> the +edge of their bunk house and then he saw the figure +of the mate slouch aft.</p> + +<p>"You sly old rascal, you," remarked Juarez. "We +will 'larn' you to try and be too smart with the +Frontier Boys. We may be young but we are not +fools."</p> + +<p>Nothing happened for a while and the gentle +plunge of the Sea Eagle into the long rolling swell +soon lulled the tired Juarez into a sound sleep, so +that neither he nor Tom were aware that the ship +had suddenly changed her course.</p> + +<p>By and by however, Juarez waked with a start. +Something had happened, he knew not what. He sat +up and struck his head upon the planking overhead. +Fortunately however he did not hit the place where +the Mexican had struck him but at the best his head +was a tender place with him and the blow stunned +him, but as he was now more his rugged self, he +soon recovered.</p> + +<p>He found what had wakened him was the stopping +of the ship. He saw several dark forms moving +aft and he crept out to see what was afoot. He +had to move very carefully but managed to reach the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[149]</a></span> +hood of the forecastle, where he crouched looking +and listening.</p> + +<p>He saw that they were lying to, close in to shore +and could see the white splash of the breakers as +they rolled towards the shore and could hear their +monotonous thunder upon the beach. Here perhaps +was their chance. Just then he heard the heavy +voice of the Captain from the bridge.</p> + +<p>"Lower away there." Then the starboard boat +slid noiselessly down from the davits into the +water.</p> + +<p>Juarez got up and glided back into the cubby hole +to tell Tom the good news. It was their opportunity +to escape and seemingly a good one. The sea was +smooth and the night was dark. They could slip +over the side of the vessel and pull for the shore, +and not a soul on the Sea Eagle would be the wiser +until they looked into their nest in the morning to +find it empty.</p> + +<p>Once they got to the shore it would be an easy +matter to make their way North until they met Jim +and Jo.</p> + +<p>The anticipation of the escape had already thrilled +through every nerve in Juarez's body. But he had +just started to wake Tom, when something made +him look down the deck. There was the tall figure<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[150]</a></span> +of one of the sailors coming directly towards the +bow.</p> + +<p>Juarez lay down quickly as though asleep. Then +the man reached down and caught hold of Tom's +foot and Juarez's and gave them a rough yank. "So +you are here, you young brats. You had better +make a move or the Cap'n will finish you."</p> + +<p>Juarez was fairly sizzling with rage especially as +Tom was really frightened by being wakened in such +rough fashion and after all Tom was but a boy and +it pained Juarez to see him so scared, but he was +helpless, and all he could do was to add one more +black mark to the score he was charging up to the +free-booters.</p> + +<p>Instead of moving away, the man sat on a capstan +a few feet distant from the boys' den, watching for +the slightest move on their part, a marlin spike dangling +playfully in his hands. Juarez had not taken +the crafty and keen sighted Captain Broom into account.</p> + +<p>From the Bridge, that worthy, although he was +watching the launching of the boat, had chanced to +catch sight out of the tail of his eye of a dark +shadow flitting back to the forecastle. He was not +sure it was one of the boys, but he was taking no +chances, for he had a real respect for their prowess +and audacity as he might well have.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[151]</a></span></p> + +<p>So he had sent one of his crew to guard this +young lions' den, while the ship was so close in +shore. He did not intend to stay longer than was +necessary right at this point, and he waited with +some anxiety for the return of the mate and Pete +in the boat.</p> + +<p>It was now two o'clock in the morning and Captain +Broom wanted to be out at sea a good safe +distance before the light broke. The mate's boat +had now been gone over a half-hour, and the Captain +stood at the end of the Bridge looking towards +the shore. There was not a light upon the vessel to +show her position. She lay silent and black upon the +dark waters.</p> + +<p>Then the Captain straightened up. He saw a +moving body approaching the ship and heard the +slight dip of oars. Then the boat was alongside and +instead of two men, there were three in the boat. +The Captain went down to the main deck to meet +them.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[152]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XIX</h2> + +<h3>THE PASSENGER</h3> + + +<p>They met without any formality. The new +passenger was a tall, slightly stooped man, with +long hair falling down to his shoulders. Juarez +was exceedingly anxious to see him, but could +make out only a dark form moving along the deck.</p> + +<p>"Come to the cabin, Jeems," called the Captain. +"I've got something to tell ye."</p> + +<p>They were soon seated in the Captain's cabin. +This was a good-sized room, panelled in light +wood and very neatly kept. There was quite a +broad table of the same wood as the walls and a +swivel chair in front of it. The Captain seated +himself in this chair and whirled to talk to the +visitor from the shore.</p> + +<p>It was evident that he was not a temporary visitor +for scarcely had they seated themselves in the +cabin than the Sea Eagle slowly and gently turned +and they felt the pulsation of her engines as she +headed once more for sea. The man was seated +on a sea chest opposite the Captain.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[153]</a></span></p> + +<p>He wore long cowhide boots, with jeans pants +thrust into their tops, flannel shirt of a nondescript +color and a corduroy jacket. His hat was +of a battered gray. The face was smooth-shaven, +deeply lined and burnt to a dull brown. The hair +which came down to his shoulders had that peculiar +sun-burnt weathered tinge that comes from +continual exposure to the weather. He was not +an old man, probably on the sunny side of forty.</p> + +<p>"Well, Jeems, what is your news?" inquired the +Captain.</p> + +<p>"The government boat is in the harbor, that's +all." The Captain gave a low, peculiar whistle.</p> + +<p>"When did she show up?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Two days ago, Cap'n," he replied.</p> + +<p>"Come from the South?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," replied the man. "Put in for coal, I +reckon."</p> + +<p>"Then put out for us," said the Captain briefly.</p> + +<p>"Any 'baccy, Cap'n? Been out two days," remarked +Jeems.</p> + +<p>"Lift your lanky frame off that chest," replied +the Captain, "and I'll git you some."</p> + +<p>The man sprang up with remarkable alacrity, +and as he unfolded length after length of his long +figure, it seemed as if his head would touch the +ceiling of the cabin. In fact, he did not miss it<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[154]</a></span> +by many inches. It was a comical contrast between +the short stooping figure of the Captain and +the tall stranger.</p> + +<p>"Waal, Jeems, I wouldn't advise you to grow +any more, or I'll have to raise the roof of my +cabin."</p> + +<p>"That's what, Cap'n," replied Jeems imperturbably. +"That's what happens when you grow up in +Californy. You grow all the year around, and not +like in New England where the winters makes you +stubby."</p> + +<p>Then the native philosopher seated himself on +the chest again and took long and delightful pulls +at his recently staked pipe.</p> + +<p>"Hum!" he said. "This tastes right. Did yer +ever know what it war to be starved for yer +'baccy, Cap'n?"</p> + +<p>"No," replied the Captain, "I can't say that I +ever did."</p> + +<p>"Well, I want to tell you, Cap'n, that it is worse +than going without water and I know what that is. +Been on a desert till my tongue was as thick as a +cow's, and hung out between my teeth, black."</p> + +<p>"How long have you been away?" inquired the +Captain.</p> + +<p>"Three weeks, Cap'n."</p> + +<p>"How are the sheep lookin'?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[155]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Pretty fair, Cap'n," he replied. "I think that +they had a whiff of rain over there a few days +ago."</p> + +<p>"It won't be long till we git the rains," suggested +the Captain.</p> + +<p>"I don't know, Cap'n," remarked the lanky one. +"The climate of Californy is a curious proposition. +It's built on the bias down at this end."</p> + +<p>"How's that?" asked the Captain curiously. +He had a certain interest in this particular courier's +theories, however he might laugh at their peculiarities. +For there was apt to be a basis of +reason in them.</p> + +<p>"Well, it's this way, Cap'n," said James Howell, +to give him his correct name, thrusting one lanky +hand deep into his jeans pocket and bending forward +awkwardly. "It's this way. You see the +storms come down from the North to the Tehatchipei +mountains, where there isn't any way for them +to get through to the south. Then the clouds +shift around to Arizony, and if the wind is right +they are blown through the passes of the Sierra +Madre into Southern Californy, then we get the +rain. That's why I said, Cap'n, that this dazzling +climate is built on the bias."</p> + +<p>"Waal, Jeems, as a weather prophet you can't +be beat," said the Skipper.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[156]</a></span></p> + +<p>"In my business I get plenty of time to think, +Cap'n," he remarked, "and as they ain't much to +see except climate I think about that."</p> + +<p>"Waal, I have a good sight more than that to +consider," replied the Skipper. "I'm thinking +right now about that government boat. I'm going +on deck. You can turn in."</p> + +<p>The Captain showed him to an empty cabin and +the lanky stranger proceeded to make himself +comfortable for the balance of the night, while the +Captain went up on the Bridge.</p> + +<p>"Where are you heading this boat to?" he +asked gruffly of the man at the wheel.</p> + +<p>Then he took the helm himself and immediately +the Sea Eagle's prow pointed to the Westward as +if she were heading directly for Japan. However, +she held this course for only an hour and a +half when the Skipper swung her bow once more +to the South.</p> + +<p>Long before the morning broke, Tom and +Juarez, hauled out of their resting place, were set +to scrubbing the decks and rubbing them down +with holy-stone. They waited eagerly for the first +break of day to see where they were.</p> + +<p>Then the light came slowly through the fog-covered +sky, showing a glossy sea with a slight +swell and not a sign of land anywhere. The boys'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[157]</a></span> +hearts sank within them and they felt sure that +they would not see their native land again.</p> + +<p>Once in a while they would glance up at the +Bridge where stood the Captain with his powerful +stooped figure. He was evidently on the lookout, +for with his eye at a long glass, he kept scanning +the sky-line to the east. What was he looking +for? Juarez knew instinctively that he was afraid +of pursuit.</p> + +<p>If only they could be overtaken and captured, +his heart thrilled at the thought and he watched +the Captain eagerly for the first sign of excitement. +About ten o'clock he saw by the Skipper's +actions that something of interest had come under +his observation.</p> + +<p>There were a number of quick, sharp orders +given and Juarez noticed the increased volume of +smoke pouring from the stack. The Sea Eagle +began to show the speed that was in her trim, +black form. Juarez worked around the port side +of the boat as rapidly as he dared, and his heart +leaped with hope.</p> + +<p>He saw low upon the eastern horizon a smudge +of black smoke. If he only had known what the +Skipper knew, his hopes would have risen still +higher. Certain preparations were going on upon +deck. The three cannon, one in the stern,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[158]</a></span> +that had fired the salute to the group on the shore, +one on either side of the quarter-deck, were divested +of their canvas jackets.</p> + +<p>They certainly gleamed bravely in their polished +brass. Then the ammunition was got ready <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'besiide'">beside</ins> +each separate gun. It begin to look like +business. The Sea Eagle began to justify her +name and fly through the water. Still the spot +upon the horizon grew bigger.</p> + +<p>Then Juarez began to have a paralyzing feeling +of doubt. The steamer, though coming up +fast, did not seem to be steering the proper course +to head the Sea Eagle, bearing on her port-quarter +instead of across her bows as would have been +the natural course if she wished to intercept her.</p> + +<p>Then the doubt in his mind was changed to disappointed +certainty for the Skipper waved his +hand to the mate, who was busy on the deck below. +It was after he had taken a pull at the spyglass, +which this time seemed to have an intoxicating +effect upon the Captain.</p> + +<p>"It's all right, Bill," he yelled, "It's nothing but +a steamer bound for 'Frisco. It looks like the +Panama."</p> + +<p>Juarez and Tom resumed their work doggedly. +That was all that was left for them to do. They<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[159]</a></span> +scarcely glanced at the big steamer as she appeared, +growing constantly larger above the horizon, +and then diminishing as she steamed North +towards San Francisco.</p> + +<p>Juarez was scrubbing the deck near a cabin door +when it suddenly opened, and a tall, long-legged +figure stepped out and fairly over him. He came +to the conclusion that it was the man who had +come aboard the night before.</p> + +<p>He took in the tall, gaunt man with the smooth-shaven +face and long hair at two glances—one +not being sufficient to his height.</p> + +<p>"Well, who are you?" he inquired lounging on +the rail and regarding Juarez with mild-eyed interest.</p> + +<p>"I'm Juarez Hopkins, deck scrubber. Who are +you?"</p> + +<p>"I'm James Howell, sheep farmer. I'll add +you two lambs to my flock," he replied, whimsically, +glancing at Tom who was down the deck +a way.</p> + +<p>"You are more apt to find us wolves in lamb's +hide," retorted Juarez. "Where's your farm?"</p> + +<p>"There," said the stranger, pointing with a long, +bony finger on the port-quarter, "that nigh island."</p> + +<p>Then Juarez saw to his surprise, two islands<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[160]</a></span> +that seemed to have sprung like magic upon the +South-eastern horizon. The further one lay long +and low and dark but distant beneath the fog-lined +sky, the "nigh one" was more short and dumpy in +appearance.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[161]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XX</h2> + +<h3>TO THE RESCUE</h3> + + +<p>During the afternoon, everything had been made +ready for the journey of the morrow. There was +not a great deal to be done for the three rescuers +would travel light. There would be no need of a +pack animal, because the Senor had assured the +boys that they would find hospitality on the way.</p> + +<p>Jo however was in mourning because when he +gave his black a trial gallop, it was discovered that +he was badly lamed in the right knee. It would not +have been safe for any of the pirate gang to come +within range of Jo's wrath.</p> + +<p>"The cursed brutes stove him up for fair," he declared +grinding his teeth.</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid it will take a month's rest before he +will be fit," determined Jim.</p> + +<p>"Then I'm out of it," exclaimed Jo sorrowfully.</p> + +<p>"Not so, my friend," interrupted the Spaniard. +"Take the bay. He is not as good a horse as yours, +but he has great endurance. He is yours to use as +long as you wish."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[162]</a></span></p> + +<p>Jo thanked the Spaniard heartily for his kindness +and generosity. Then he spoke in a low voice to his +brother. "How about that money, Jim? Don't forget +to pay the Spaniard for those goods we bought +at the store." Jim spoke up.</p> + +<p>"Senor, I wish to show you a little something of +interest."</p> + +<p>Then Jim got his heavy saddle, on which he had +ridden so many hundred miles. And the Senor regarded +it with interest, because of the carved leather +workmanship which was of the finest and he was a +connoisseur of such matters.</p> + +<p>"How much would you give for it, Senor Sebastian," +inquired Jim, "if it were put up for purchase?"</p> + +<p>"It is a beautiful saddle. I would be willing to +give a hundred dollars. It is worth it."</p> + +<p>"That saddle is worth several thousand, Senor," +replied Jim confidently.</p> + +<p>"I do not understand," replied the Spaniard. "It +is the personal value, I suppose."</p> + +<p>"I will show you," said Jim.</p> + +<p>Then he took from his hip pocket a heavy bone +handled knife which he had bought at the store and +pulled back the hoof cleaner, an instrument attached +to the knife that was used to get a pebble or +anything that had got into the horse's hoof.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[163]</a></span></p> + +<p>With this he worked at the leather that covered +the high and rather thick horn of the saddle. Finally +he pried the top leather flap off. There was a heavy +piece fitted into the top of the horn. With some +difficulty Jim got this out disclosing a hollow, in +which was concealed most of the jewels he had +found in Mexico.</p> + +<p>"Hold your hands, Jo. Tight now." And with +the word he emptied the contents of the horn into +Jo's palms. Diamonds, rubies, turquoises and some +heavy gold pieces.</p> + +<p>"That is what you might call a horn of plenty," +said Jim jocosely.</p> + +<p>"But!" cried the Spaniard in amazement, "where +did you get these?"</p> + +<p>"In Mexico," replied Jim. "This was what the +Pirates were after. And they got all but this. +Sometime I will tell you the story of its discovery. +Now take this to reimburse you, Senor, for the +money we spent at the store." And he held out the +diamond.</p> + +<p>"That is far too much. That stone is worth five +hundred dollars at least," said the Spaniard. "These +three rubies would be more exact and I will take +them."</p> + +<p>Jim, handing over the three stones selected, said,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[164]</a></span> +"Now, Senor, you shall take the diamond as a token +of good will from my brother and myself."</p> + +<p>"We insist upon it," chimed in Jo.</p> + +<p>Finally the Spaniard accepted the gifts with many +protestations of obligation and appreciation. Jo +was about to urge him to accept a jewel for his +sister, but Jim stopped him, knowing that the proud +Spaniard would not hear to such a present.</p> + +<p>The next morning they were up an hour before +daylight and ate a hearty breakfast by the light of +the candles. Veterans though they were, the boys +felt a thrill go through their pulses as they thought +of the expedition that lay before them. Outside they +could hear the pawing of the impatient horses.</p> + +<p>"To the success of our expedition and the rescue +of our friends!" was the toast the Spaniard proposed +as they rose from the table. The Frontier Boys +drank it, but not in wine. They felt just a little +foolish too, but such is the reward that often comes +with doing what is right. But they were sturdy in +their determination to stick to their principles.</p> + +<p>If they had only known it, down in his heart the +Spaniard respected them the more, even though it +seemed odd to him.</p> + +<p>Then they went out on the verandah, fully armed +and ready to take their departure. Two oil lamps +near the door and fastened to the wall, backed by<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[165]</a></span> +shining reflectors sent a strong light across the +verandah and into the darkness outside.</p> + +<p>There stood the three horses, eager to be off, each +one held by a Mexican groom. Caliente we already +know, and the horse that Jo is to ride also. So let +us take a glance at the third animal, Don Fernando. +He evidently justified all the enthusiasm of his master, +a truly splendid creature.</p> + +<p>A dark chestnut, as large as Caliente and built on +something the same lines. They were beautifully +matched except in color. It was with a thrill of +pleasure that Jim swung himself into the saddle. His +mount was in fine fettle and ready for the long pull +ahead.</p> + +<p>They started from the home ranch with a thunder +of hoofs in unison, the riders checking their +horses to a slow gallop with a heavy hand. Together +they pressed through the waning darkness. There +was a wonderful exhilaration, as they leaped forward, +the horses powerful and fresh.</p> + +<p>Instead of following in the direction of the morning +before, the Spaniard turned to the East until +they came near the foot of the range. In a short time +they came to a gate, which seemed to open mysteriously +as they approached, but the motive power +proved to be a small Mexican boy, whom the Senor +had sent on ahead.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[166]</a></span></p> + +<p>Now they were on a turf road with bushes on +either side and down this they thundered, Caliente +the gray, and Don Fernando the dark, matching +stride for stride, with Jo well in the rear. For he +found if he rode close up he was blinded and stung +by sods and stones thrown back from the flying +hoofs of the two horses in the front.</p> + +<p>It was a bit lonely for Jo and he wished that one +of the other boys was here to keep him company. As +they rode, the bushes seemed to fly by as they do +when you look from a railroad train and Jo was +afraid lest his horse would be unable to keep the +pace indefinitely. One thing in Jo's favor was that +he was the lightest of the three and what is more to +the purpose a very light rider.</p> + +<p>So like the good horseman he was, he determined +to save his horse all he could and make him last out. +For eight miles or more they rode without a stop +until they came to another gate. This the Spaniard +unfastened and swung open without dismounting, +then closed it after Jo.</p> + +<p>The morning light was now distinct, although +the fog was over the sky. Before them stretched a +long level plain that broke into sand dunes near the +sea. They could see the ocean lying dark in its +monotonous level of color, to the Western horizon.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[167]</a></span></p> + +<p>"We have just left the Sebastian ranch," called +the Spaniard.</p> + +<p>"It is immense," commented Jim. "May I ask +how many acres it embraces?"</p> + +<p>"It was immense in the old days," replied the +Spaniard. "Before your people took possession of +the land. It was held by no fences then. But your +laws were not ours and we lost many square miles. +Now there are fifty thousand acres under fence."</p> + +<p>"Fifty thousand acres!" exclaimed Jo.</p> + +<p>"Ah, but it was double that before the Americans +came," replied the Spaniard. Then he glanced critically +at Caliente. "Your horse looks as cool as +though he had been standing in the stable. The pace +does not affect his wind either. Splendid condition!"</p> + +<p>"Caliente is as hard as nails," said Jim proudly. +"But your horse has wonderful speed."</p> + +<p>The chestnut seemed more on edge than the old +warrior, Caliente, and tossed the foam from his bit, +until his dark coat was speckled with it.</p> + +<p>"He is high strung," said the Spaniard, "but I +would back him against any horse flesh in California. +We can let them out here for a half dozen miles."</p> + +<p>"Let her go, Senor. I won't let you lose me."</p> + +<p>At the word the Spaniard gave his chafing horse +his head and away the chestnut sprang in the lead.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[168]</a></span> +It was slightly down grade for a mile, then there +was a gulch twelve feet wide and of considerable +depth. It was a good jump and to make it saved a +little distance. Going at top speed the chestnut took +the jump in fine style. His rider half turned in his +saddle to watch Jim's effort. Caliente had faced +worse leaps than that, he rose to it and swept over +it as gracefully as a bird.</p> + +<p>"Good fellow!" exclaimed Jim patting him affectionately +on the neck.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[169]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XXI</h2> + +<h3>THE BANDITS</h3> + + +<p>When Jo saw the gulch ahead, he decided that +discretion was the better part of valor as he did not +know his mount well enough to risk the leap, so he +galloped a few hundred feet below, where the gulch +narrowed and then he took the jump nicely, and +scampered after the other two riders who were quite +a way ahead.</p> + +<p>Jim purposely held Caliente in check, keeping a +hundred yards in the rear of the Spaniard. Ahead +a few miles, there was a perfect sea of yellow where +the tall mustard covered the plain for a great distance. +Into this they charged full tilt, the mustard +reaching as high as their heads.</p> + +<p>There was a swish of its blossoms in their faces as +the powerful horses charged into it and in spite of +their strength they began to tire after going some +distance.</p> + +<p>"Where is Jo?" inquired Jim suddenly after they +had slowed down, "I don't see a sign of him." And<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[170]</a></span> +he rose in his stirrups looking over the level lake of +mustard.</p> + +<p>"Hello, Jo," he yelled at the top of his voice. No +answer came. Could he be drowned in this lake? +There was not a motion to indicate his whereabouts, +no waving of the yellow tops.</p> + +<p>"It is very strange," said the Spaniard. "Did he +cross the gully all right?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I saw him take the jump below us a ways." +Then Jim raised his revolver above his head and +fired.</p> + +<p>"That ought to fetch him," he said. Then they +listened intently. Suddenly about a quarter of a +mile ahead of them they saw a sombrero rise like +a gray mushroom above the yellow surface of the +mustard, and Jo's voice came back to them.</p> + +<p>They both gave their horses the rein, this time Jim +did nothing to hold Caliente back, and with their +powerful speed the two great horses tore forward, +on even terms until in the last hundred yards Caliente +forged ahead by half a length.<sup>[<a name="tn" id="tn"></a><a href="#note">1</a>]</sup></p> + +<p>"Hold on boys," yelled Jo in warning. There was Jo sitting +quietly on his horse.</p> + +<p>"That's how you beat us," exclaimed Jim, pointing +to a cow trail running diagonally through the +growth of mustard.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[171]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Yes," laughed Jo, "I struck it further down after +I jumped the gully. Otherwise you fellows would +have lost me."</p> + +<p>"Good work, Jo," said Jim. "Now we will have it +easier going."</p> + +<p>So in single file they galloped along the path, until +they found themselves by noon, at the foot of a spur +of mountains that extended from the main coast +range to the ocean. Jim regarded this barrier in +their way with a practised eye.</p> + +<p>"This will slow us down, Senor," he said. "It +looks like a pass below there, about two miles."</p> + +<p>"Yes," said the Senor, "we can get through there +all right, but it is pretty rough going."</p> + +<p>They had to advance more slowly now, as the +ground was broken into stony ravines, and there was +a good deal of brush. In this kind of country Jo's +horse more than held its own with the bigger animals, +for he was as nimble as a goat.</p> + +<p>"I hope we will find water, Senor," remarked Jim. +"Our horses are pretty dry now."</p> + +<p>"Yes," replied the Spaniard, "there is a good +spring at the foot of the Pass."</p> + +<p>They found it all right, in the entrance to the +Pass, where there was a small green cove, surrounded +with bushes, and on one side was a sheep +herder's shanty. Jo investigated this immediately<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[172]</a></span> +and found nothing in it but the charred remnants +of a fire and a pair of discarded overalls.</p> + +<p>Jim, who had himself been looking around, made +a more important find.</p> + +<p>"There has been somebody here recently," he announced. +"Here are some tracks around the spring +and not over twelve hours old."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I have no doubt," said the Spaniard carelessly +puffing at his cigarette. "This Pass is used +occasionally by ranchmen and herders."</p> + +<p>"There have been five or six horses here," said +Jim, whose experiences had made him suspicious.</p> + +<p>"There are no Indians," said Jo, "in this section, +at least none who are on the warpath."</p> + +<p>"I <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'supose'">suppose</ins> you do have cattle rustlers, Senor?" +inquired Jim.</p> + +<p>"Yes, there is a band of outlaws," replied the +Spaniard, "that raids from as far north as our +ranch, south to San Diego, but we have seen no +trace of them for many months."</p> + +<p>"Then, Senor," remarked Jim, "it is about time +that they paid you another visit."</p> + +<p>"Ah, Senor Darlington," exclaimed the Spaniard. +"We Castilians do not reason so. We say that there +is no trouble today, why worry about tomorrow. +Perhaps these bandits may have starved to death, or +been hung, or the good Padres may have persuaded<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[173]</a></span> +them by the fear of Hell, to become quiet, sheep raising +citizens. God knows."</p> + +<p>"I fear that they are raising sheep in their old +style," grinned Jo. The pun glanced off the Spaniard +harmlessly.</p> + +<p>"The theory that they may be hung, sounds plausible, +Senor," admitted Jim. "But before we advance +into the Pass, I will scout a little."</p> + +<p>"If the Senor pleases," responded the Spaniard +courteously.</p> + +<p>"Do you chance to know of a small, hunchbacked +Mexican who is more or less in this section of the +country, Senor?" Jim suddenly inquired.</p> + +<p>The Spaniard flushed with red anger and spit emphatically +on the ground.</p> + +<p>"You give him into my hands and I will reward +you well," cried the Spaniard.</p> + +<p>Jim made no immediate reply but gazed thoughtfully +at the ground. He was considering the case. +This was not the time to turn aside in a chase for +even so desperate a criminal as the hunchbacked +greaser. So he made no definite reply to the Spaniard.</p> + +<p>After the horses were fed, and watered, and while +Jo was looking after the coffee, Jim started off, to +do a little scouting up the Pass. The first thing that +he did was to slip off his heavy riding boots, which<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[174]</a></span> +the stylish Jo had forced him to buy, and to put on +his noiseless footed moccasins.</p> + +<p>Then with his revolver loaded and ready to his +hand, he went swiftly and silently up the trail that +followed through thick brush, gradually working up +the side of the mountain. It was no difficult task to +follow the tracks of the horses. In a half hour's +swift climbing he came to the top of a stony ridge, +over which the trail curved, and dipped down the +other side.</p> + +<p>Jim now saw that the Pass was an irregular one +with recurrent spurs, thrusting out from the +mountains on either side, at quite frequent intervals. +There were innumerable chances for ambuscades. +Jim did not stand in the trail but to one side +partially hidden in a thicket.</p> + +<p>All the time his keen eyes were taking in the canyon +below, not however admiring the scenery. In +fact there was nothing particularly beautiful, or interesting +in the view. In the Rockies and further +South too he had seen canyons incomparable to the +rather ordinary ones that he had seen in California.</p> + +<p>Jim was watching for some slight movement of a +living creature in the canyon. Finally he gave it up, +and was about to turn away, then he gave a start, +he saw one, two, three, men crouch across the trail, +a quarter of a mile below, and disappear into the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[175]</a></span> +thick brush. He was almost certain that the first +one was the hunchback.</p> + +<p>That was all that Jim wanted to see. He noiselessly +took the back trail, thinking over the best +course to pursue. He would have liked nothing better +under ordinary circumstances than to fight it out +with the outlaws and to capture the hunchback. +But their first object must be the rescue of Tom and +Juarez.</p> + +<p>Was there not some way by which they could get +to the South without going through this bandit infested +Pass?</p> + +<p>"Well brother, what didst thou find?" inquired Jo, +who was at times pleased to be dramatic.</p> + +<p>"Very few specimens in the way of bandits," replied +Jim.</p> + +<p>"As I said, Senor," remarked the Spaniard, "they +have become good citizens."</p> + +<p>"Not yet, I am sure, because they are alive."</p> + +<p>"That is a good one, Jim," remarked Jo, appreciatively, +but the Spaniard was politely mystified. +"Same as Indians."</p> + +<p>"I found one thing out," said the diplomatic Jim, +"and that is, that the Pass is a hard one on horses. +Are you sure, Senor, that there is no easier way +than this to get through?"</p> + +<p>"Positive," briefly responded the Spaniard.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[176]</a></span></p> + +<p>Jim who was seated on a rock digging his heel +into the soft earth, looked up as a sudden idea struck +him,—but without knocking him out.</p> + +<p>"How far is it from here to the sea, Senor?" he +asked.</p> + +<p>"Not over five miles."</p> + +<p>"Can we not get around that way?" Jim inquired +eagerly.</p> + +<p>"Why, yes," replied the Spaniard slowly, "if the +tide is not coming in. In that case we should be +drowned." Jim glanced hastily at his watch.</p> + +<p>"We can try for it and make it, if we do not +waste any time," he said. "The horses have had a +good rest."</p> + +<p>"Very well, Senor," said the Spaniard resignedly. +He regarded Jim as an amiable hurricane whom it +was not worth while battering to resist. Jim hastily +swallowed his coffee and a hunk of bread and in five +minutes the three musketeers were in the saddle +again.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[177]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XXII</h2> + +<h3>RACE WITH THE TIDE</h3> + + +<p>In spite of the rough going, they made good +time for the five miles, spurred on by the constant +anxiety lest they should not reach the beach before +the tide began coming in. There were several +gathered to see them off when they left the mouth +of the Pass, but not to give them a send off.</p> + +<p>A short explanation will prove this. It is not +to be supposed that the hunchbacked Mexican +and the bandits did not know that the three horsemen +were coming over the plain of the mustard +growth. Indeed, their scout, the Mexican dwarf, +saw Jim, Jo and the Spaniard when they first +landed in the entrance to the canyon.</p> + +<p>He had gone back to report to the bandits +their coming, and after Jim had returned, they +had prepared the nicest trap imaginable near +where Jim had been hiding. They had had numerous +experiences in that line and were perfectly +qualified experts. The spider and the fly was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[178]</a></span> +nothing to the arrangements they had made to receive +their supposably unsuspicious guests.</p> + +<p>You can imagine the surprise and disgust of the +bandits and their scout when they saw the three +horsemen ride in an entirely different direction +than that they had looked for. Talk about convulsions, +you should have seen these desperadoes +express their disappointment. It was terrific. +Not a saint in the long calendar was left unscathed.</p> + +<p>How Jim would have enjoyed the performance. +But entirely oblivious to this, Jo, Jim and the +Spaniard were riding rapidly towards the sea. +Before an hour had passed, they had ridden between +the rounded sand dunes and then out upon +the hard, smooth sand of the beach.</p> + +<p>"This is splendid going, Senor Sebastian," exclaimed +Jim.</p> + +<p>"It is all right," he replied, "if the sea does not +get hungry too soon." But the sea appeared to be +in a very pleasant mood and the white breakers +had withdrawn as far out as it was possible to get. +It was such a smooth smiling sea with the laugh +of its little sparkling waves that it seemed that +there could be no possible harm in it.</p> + +<p>"I never saw a road that was better than this!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[179]</a></span> +exclaimed Jo in delight. "It is perfectly springy +and no dust or mud."</p> + +<p>It deserved all of Jo's praises, this broad, firm +California beach. The brown sand, that had been +pounded down by the force of the great rollers +some hours before, showed scarcely a sign of the +shoes of the horses.</p> + +<p>There was plenty of width and the three horses +pressed on abreast, the powerful sweep of the +gray Caliente and the chestnut Don Fernando, +and the snappy, nervous leaps of the little bay that +Jo was riding. With the bracing sea air and the +exhilarating speed, the three musketeers were invigorated.</p> + +<p>The Spaniard hummed a gay ballad, while at +times Jim's heavy bass and Jo's lighter treble +were joined in a rollicking American song. They +laughed without reason, for the simple joy of being +alive and on the move; but as pride sometimes +goes before destruction, so happiness often goes +before disaster.</p> + +<p>It was a small matter too, but it made for +trouble. The Spaniard's horse stepped between +two small rocks that were close together and +wrenched one of his hind shoes nearly off. Jim +and Senor Sebastian hastily dismounted. Of +course they carried with them the necessary things<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[180]</a></span> +to fix the shoe on again, but even then it was a +question of a number of minutes.</p> + +<p>"You had better ride ahead, Jo," urged Jim. +"Your horse is beginning to tire and we will overtake +you, when we once get started."</p> + +<p>"It is a good idea," joined in the Spaniard.</p> + +<p>"All right," acquiesced Jo readily enough, and +he gave his bay the rein, riding slowly down the +beach.</p> + +<p>Then the two began operations on Don Fernando's +hind foot. Here they found their first real +delay. At the point where the accident happened, +the mountains came down quite close to the sea, +so that they were crowded in much closer than +they had been. The nearness of the water made +the big chestnut restless and hard to handle.</p> + +<p>The Spaniard had great difficulty in getting +near enough to his horse to get hold of his hind +foot. When he did succeed in doing this, and +was just starting to peg the shoe on, an extra big +wave slapped down upon the beach, though at a +safe distance and caused the big chestnut to jump +and hurl his master to a distance of a dozen feet.</p> + +<p>"This won't do," cried Jim. "I'll take my horse +around to the sea side of yours and close up. Perhaps +that will give your animal confidence."</p> + +<p>It worked like a charm, for though Caliente was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[181]</a></span> +high-spirited, he was not flighty and he steadied +his comrade so that the two workers were able to +fasten the shoe.</p> + +<p>"We have lost a good half hour," said Jim, looking +at his watch with a grave face.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps we shall have to turn back," remarked +the Spaniard with gravity. "We may not escape +the incoming tide if we go on."</p> + +<p>"Don't you believe it," cried Jim, impetuously. +"I've got business ahead and must go."</p> + +<p>"Have it your way," said the Spaniard with a +peculiar smile. He knew what dangers lay ahead +with a rising tide and Jim did not or he probably +would not have been so insistent.</p> + +<p>"I see no sign of Jo," remarked Jim, as they +swung into the saddles.</p> + +<p>"Ah, we will not catch him. He is safe," replied +the Spaniard.</p> + +<p>Then with tremendous speed, they swept down +the beach, the splendid horses responding to the +crisis. It was their fleetness against the steadily +rising rush of the inexorable sea. They actually +gained ten minutes on the first two miles and a +half. Then Jim saw ahead the dark form of a +headland thrusting out towards the sea.</p> + +<p>Already the rush of a long wave would send the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[182]</a></span> +water lapping around their horses' feet. Jim +recognized the danger. They must get around +that promontory or give up beaten. Then he gave +Caliente a touch with a spur, the first that day. +With a snort, the spirited animal sprang forward +faster than before and at his shoulder was the +chestnut with flaming nostril.</p> + +<p>None too soon had they reached the headland, +for the recurrent waves were beginning to surge +against it, with full force and gnawing foam. In +the fierce fury of their charge, they sent their +horses against the sea. It was at the long withdrawal +that made bare the scattered black rocks, +that they rounded the headland.</p> + +<p>But too soon a great thundering wave with the +force of the Pacific behind it came roaring in +and swelled to the horses' throats, almost submerging +the riders. But the animals held against +its withdrawing power and before the ocean could +return to the attack, they had got beyond the headland +to a safe place on the beach.</p> + +<p>The horses were trembling and quivering with +their exertions and with the fear of the sea +which is the most terrible and paralyzing of +all fears. Jim drew a long breath of relief and +looked ahead to see if there was any sign of Jo.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[183]</a></span> +Then to his consternation he saw that the beach +curved inland and at the further end of the curve +was another frowning headland thrusting itself +out somewhat further than the one they had but +just rounded.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[184]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XXIII</h2> + +<h3>THE ENCHANTED ISLE</h3> + + +<p>Let us now return to the Sea Eagle, and find out +what is happening there.</p> + +<p>You recollect that Juarez had just discovered two +islands lying on the South-eastern horizon, the one, +long and low, the other comparatively short and +dumpy. He had been conversing with the tall shepherd +of the island, who seemed to take an interest in +Juarez. But because of his isolated life during a +greater part of the year, he would have taken an +interest in a stone idol, if he had chanced to discover +one.</p> + +<p>"Which of these islands are we making for?" inquired +Juarez.</p> + +<p>"The one where we land," replied the sheep farmer +oracularly. "I might ask the Cap'n, only I never +pester him with questions. You aren't a Yankee, +are you?"</p> + +<p>"No," replied Juarez, "I'm not. My folks live in +Western Kansas."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[185]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I'm glad to hear it, son. But what are you doing +here?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"You aren't a Yankee, are you?" inquired Juarez, +quizzically. The man laughed softly to himself.</p> + +<p>"You've got me there, lad," he said. "It looks to +me," he continued, "that the old man is going to +steer for the further island."</p> + +<p>"Then you will have to swim for your home," remarked +Juarez.</p> + +<p>"I can wade," he replied whimsically, looking +down at his long legs.</p> + +<p>"You are a humorist," said Juarez.</p> + +<p>"No, you can put me down for a philosopher, +that is to say, a man who has much time to think +and nothing to do."</p> + +<p>"I should like to be one," said Juarez. "Suppose +you holy-stone these decks while I try it."</p> + +<p>"No, my friend," replied the shepherd, "I am too +much of a philosopher to make any such swap."</p> + +<p>"Is Captain Broom one?" asked Juarez.</p> + +<p>"Well, he is a sort of a philosopher till he gets +mad, then he becomes a living active volcano, belching +out a lava of hot language and scorching things +generally. I guess that I had better be moving along. +I see that he is eyeing me from the Bridge, and he is +likely to get active any moment if I keep you from +working." With this the lanky shepherd strolled<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[186]</a></span> +forward and seating himself upon the top of the +boys' sleeping place in the bow, smoked his pipe in +meditative comfort.</p> + +<p>His estimate in regard to the destination of the +Sea Eagle proved to be correct. For in the early +afternoon the ship passed under the lee of the long +island and was steaming up the channel between it +and the mainland, which was distant some thirty-five +miles.</p> + +<p>The fog had cleared by noon, and there was that +complete transition to brilliant, sunny weather. +There was a sort of a white haze along the distant +coast and beyond far inland, rose the faint summits +of the high mountains.</p> + +<p>Fortunately Juarez and Tom had a chance to +observe their new surroundings for they had been +set to work sewing on a small sail that was to be +used in one of the boats. They sat upon the top of +one of the hatches, under the watchful eyes of old +Pete and the philosophic gaze of the shepherd. +Sewing was one of the accomplishments of the +Frontier Boys. They had been obliged to learn.</p> + +<p>"What is that particular bronze looking weed, +floating in these waters?" asked Tom. It was as +Tom phrased it, bronze and a most beautiful color.</p> + +<p>It was indeed a giant among weeds; just such as +the garden of the ocean would grow. The stems<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[187]</a></span> +were fifty to eighty feet long, with peculiar colored +leaves eight to ten inches in length, growing on little +boughs from the parent stem. The whole structure +was held up by small bronze buoys, of a round shape.</p> + +<p>"Well as ye seem likely boys and want to learn, +I'll tell you about this plant," said the shepherd. +"The scientific fellows call it Algae. When the +world was first made this algae covered the whole +surface of the ocean."</p> + +<p>"How did you learn this?" asked Juarez.</p> + +<p>"You know that the Captain is quite a collector, +and in his travels has gotten together among many +other things some interesting books. He gives them +to me when convenient." The face of the lanky +shepherd was perfectly grave when he spoke of +Captain Broom as a collector.</p> + +<p>"What makes the water so clear around here?" +asked Juarez. "I never saw anything like it."</p> + +<p>"Well, you see," replied their mentor, "this island +is placed peculiarly, I mean this side of it. You +see how quiet the water is?"</p> + +<p>"It is certainly smooth and blue," said Juarez. +"More like a lake than the ocean."</p> + +<p>"That's only true of this side," resumed the +shepherd, "the other is rough enough, but you see +the prevailing winds are from the Northwest and +this shore is never disturbed. So on the beaches<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[188]</a></span> +you will find not sand, but smooth round pebbles, +because there is no action of the water, no breakers +or waves to grind them into sand."</p> + +<p>About four o'clock the Sea Eagle came into a perfectly +beautiful little harbor, at the South-eastern +end of the island. There was a small level plot +back from the beach and on all sides rose steep hills +and back of them the mountains. It was the most +picturesque scene the boys had ever beheld in all +their travels.</p> + +<p>What would they not have given to have been free +to roam that island, hunting inland, or fishing or +bathing along those quiet, enchanted shores. But this +was no pleasure excursion. Far from it. Captain +Broom had his own ideas, and he did not intend +to make a landing at all.</p> + +<p>"Get the whale boat ready, lads!" he ordered. +"And put her over, we've got no time to lose."</p> + +<p>They lost no time either, under Captain Broom's +commanding eye.</p> + +<p>What was necessary for the cruise was already in +the boat. Two casks of water, several guns, and a +lot of provisions. Then the boat was hove overboard +into the quiet bay. The captain was ready +with a much battered satchel in his hand. Not for +one second did he entrust it to any one else.</p> + +<p>"Now over with you, you two lads," he com<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[189]</a></span>manded +and Juarez and Tom, with a sinking of the +heart, got into the boat. This was the last leg of their +mysterious journey, and it boded them no good +they felt sure of that. The mate they noticed stayed +aboard in charge of the ship.</p> + +<p>They were put in the stern where old Pete had the +steering oar. Near them sat the shepherd on one of +the casks of water, his long legs getting uncertain +accommodation. The captain had his position in the +bow and two powerful sailors were at the oars, one +on either side. They did not sit down, but stood up +to their work.</p> + +<p>Without any loss of time the boat got under way +proceeding seaward from the shelter of the beautiful +little harbor. In spite of their depression, the two +boys could not help being interested in the absolutely +clear water in which they could look down for +eighty feet.</p> + +<p>They could see the straight slender columns of the +Algae rising to the surface, starting from where +they were rooted in the bottom of the bay and swaying +to the slow pulsation of the tide. These strange +plants of this marine garden were marvels indeed. +Between their stalks and among the encrusted rocks +swam in absolute unconsciousness of being watched, +many beautiful, and strange fishes.</p> + +<p>Some were small of golden hue, with little spots<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[190]</a></span> +of a marvelous blue (poetry) that flashed like keen +electric dew, (that will do). Others were like gold +fishes, a foot in length and of corresponding +breadth. There were long mackerel, and innumerable +minnows, and over the rocks a peculiar little +fish crawled or rather walked on thin rat-like feet.</p> + +<p>Before they had time to observe further the boat +had got out of the harbor where the water sunk away +to blue unfathomed depth. When clear of the harbor, +they turned to the South, passing near a cove +with a symmetrical pebbly beach, built up for five +feet, above the level of the water. The ocean was +perfectly smooth, with not a ripple upon its surface. +They were evidently making to round the Southern +extremity of the Island.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[191]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XXIV</h2> + +<h3>IN THE WHITE BOAT</h3> + + +<p>Ahead of them was a rock rising fifty or sixty +feet out of the water. It was evident that the rock +was inhabited for there could be seen dark forms +moving around upon it. Nothing had been said +since they started, for the Captain was not in a +talkative mood. Jeems Howell, the shepherd, had +sat silently smoking his pipe in philosophic contentment.</p> + +<p>"What are those things on that rock?" inquired +Tom, his curiosity getting the best of his reserve.</p> + +<p>"Two yankees in this boat," commented the +shepherd. "Those are seals, son. Didn't you ever +see any before?"</p> + +<p>"No!" admitted Tom.</p> + +<p>"You didn't know that seals, next to humans, are +the smartest animals, in the world."</p> + +<p>"Is that so?" inquired Juarez. "They certainly +are sleek."</p> + +<p>"They have got the most brain room, that's a +fact."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[192]</a></span></p> + +<p>The boys regarded the seals with peculiar interest +as the boat passed near the rock. They were moving +about awkwardly by means of their flippers, moving +their sinuous necks this way and that and regarding +the strange boat with their soft brown eyes. +Then they dived headlong into the sea, swimming +about with a peculiar grace.</p> + +<p>"Queer animals," remarked Tom, "belong half to +the sea and half to the land."</p> + +<p>"Something like sailors," remarked the shepherd.</p> + +<p>"What's the Captain going to do with us?" asked +Juarez in a low voice. The shepherd's face took on +a solemn expression, but before he could reply the +Captain's voice roared.</p> + +<p>"None of that, you'll find out soon enough. You +can talk about the flory and fauny, with long shanks, +but don't let me hear anything else out of you," such +was the Captain's ultimatum.</p> + +<p>But soon matters grew so interesting that they lost +all inclination for talking. When they got near the +Southern end of the island they began to notice +white caps to the Southward, dotting the darkness +of the sea.</p> + +<p>"You lads will have to hold tight now in a few +minutes," remarked Howell. "Do you get seasick?"</p> + +<p>"No," replied the boys.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[193]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Well, you will have a chance soon, and if it don't +fetch you, nothing will."</p> + +<p>So far they had been rowing under the sheltering +lee of the island whose huge rocky bulk had shouldered +off the charge of the wind-driven seas. Now +before they had fairly rounded the island the character +of the water began to change. The boat began to +toss on the great rollers. Then as they cleared the +land for good and were in the channel, a fresh gust +of wind struck them, drenching the occupants of the +boat with spray.</p> + +<p>The Captain stood up in the bow of the boat and +steadying himself took in the conditions of the sea +and wind. There was nothing in his grim weatherbeaten +face to show what he felt. The men at the +oars now made hard work of it against the headwind +and the running sea.</p> + +<p>They would climb up a steep wave and then with +a sickening slide, go down into the hollow, then with +a lusty pull the sailors would bring the heavy boat +over the toppling crest of wave to find another rushing +to meet them. No rest, this was what made it +such heart breaking work.</p> + +<p>The early fog had come, covering the sea with +gloom, and the waves did not go down perceptibly. +At times, they shipped a good deal of water and +Tom and Juarez were kept busy bailing out. After<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[194]</a></span> +an hour's hard struggle the sailors were about all +in and seemed hardly able to hold their own against +the sea and wind. The Captain was quick to notice +this.</p> + +<p>"Can you row, lad?" he inquired of Juarez. Now +the latter's experience had been confined to his work +going down the Grand Canyon of Colorado, on the +raft-boat that the Frontier Boys had built.</p> + +<p>Even the old ocean itself could not show anything +worse than some of the rapids that the boys had run. +As for rocks, nothing could beat the canyon for +them.</p> + +<p>"I'll try, sir," he replied, "I've never rowed on the +ocean."</p> + +<p>"Humph!" grunted the Captain, "take the starboard. +And you, you lazy long shanks, you take the +other oar."</p> + +<p>"All right, sir," replied cheerfully, the one addressed.</p> + +<p>"Get out of here, Pete," he cried, giving that +worthy a lift with his foot that landed him on top of +Tom, "I'll do the steering. You boys will only have +to pull, that's all. I'll keep her headed up right."</p> + +<p>Fortunately Juarez was in fine condition, or he +could never have stood the gruelling work ahead. +He weighed one hundred and sixty pounds and there +was not an ounce of fat on him. Likewise he had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[195]</a></span> +had a sound night's sleep and three square meals +so that he was fortified for what was ahead.</p> + +<p>Juarez buckled to the task with all his strength, +and he was glad of the chance to get his blood in +circulation for he was chilled to the bone by the flying +spray, and then too, anything was better than +thinking of the fate ahead. He was surprised to +find out that the shepherd who appeared rather +frail in physique was able to keep up the pace.</p> + +<p>But he had that sinewy length of muscles that +counts for more than mere bunchy thickness. +Juarez was crafty enough not to spend all of his +strength in the first fifteen minutes of work. He +liked this, fighting the sea and standing on his feet +he was able to put the whole leverage of his body into +the stroke.</p> + +<p>The change in speed was noticeable right away, +and the boat began to pull ahead steadily. The two +sailors who had been laid off from exhaustion, had +watched Juarez with a sneering grin as he took the +oar. They were sure that the first wave that came +along would wrench the oar out of his hand. Great +was their surprise when they saw him buckle to the +oar, rising and pulling at the right time to meet +the toppling, rustling seas.</p> + +<p>"That little shrimp will last about ten minutes," +said one of them to his mate.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[196]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Sure, Bill," replied the other.</p> + +<p>Juarez choked back a hot reply, for he knew that +it would not be good for him to say anything to them. +They were in the majority and would get him if he +did, besides making it bad for Tom. The ten minutes +passed and Juarez was just beginning to warm to +his work. This took the wind out of their sails +completely.</p> + +<p>The powerful hand of the Skipper at the steering +oar was a great help, for now all that the two men +at the oars had to do was to pull and not to worry +about keeping her headed right. Juarez kept +steadily at it for an hour and then darkness began +to fall over the channel but not until the island that +they were approaching had begun to loom up, dead +ahead.</p> + +<p>They were now getting in the lee of the strange +island and the sea was moderating perceptibly. At +this juncture the two sailors who had become +thoroughly rested took the oars from Juarez and his +co-worker and pulled steadily through the gathering +gloom. In a short time the bulk of the island +loomed above them in the darkness.</p> + +<p>Not a word was said, only the swish of the sea +was heard and the groaning of the oars in the locks. +Tom and Juarez were deeply depressed and gloomy. +They felt exactly as though they were being taken<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[197]</a></span> +to prison and could sympathize with sailors who had +been marooned on lonely and desolate islands.</p> + +<p>"Easy now, lads," called the Captain, as he brought +the boat's head squarely around towards the shore.</p> + +<p>"Two strokes," he yelled, "and let her run."</p> + +<p>With great force they pulled the oars in succession, +then they shipped them in a hurry. Juarez +could see the dashing of foam on either side of the +boat where the waves smote the rocks. There was a +roar in his ears as the boat rushed toward seeming +sure destruction. It was going with great speed +from the impetus of the sailors' strokes.</p> + +<p>The Captain was standing taut at the steering +oars, his eyes piercing the darkness ahead, then the +foam of the breakers dashed in their faces, there +was a quick sliding past of dark rocks and before +they could draw breath again the boat was in quiet +water, under some black cliffs. At last they had +reached the mysterious goal of their mysterious +journey.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[198]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XXV</h2> + +<h3>IN PERIL</h3> + + +<p>We must now go back in our narrative to where +we left Jim Darlington and the Spaniard, Senor +Sebastian, in a position of extreme peril, between +the cliffs and the deep sea, with the white-fanged +tide coming in like a devouring monster eager for +its prey.</p> + +<p>"Is there a chance, Senor?" cried Jim as soon +as his horse gained his footing.</p> + +<p>"It is the fatal day, I fear," replied the Spaniard +with resigned hopelessness. "The sea is hungry."</p> + +<p>"As for that, so am I," declared Jim coolly. "So +let us try to get around the headland and after that, +supper."</p> + +<p>"As you please," acquiesced the Spaniard quietly.</p> + +<p>Then Jim turned Caliente's head and with a +quick touch of the spur sent him full stride along +the curving beach, followed closely by the Spaniard. +Already the heavy waves were licking far<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[199]</a></span> +up the slant of the sand. Even the veteran Caliente +seemed nervous at its approach, while Don +Fernando would jump and shy as the hissing water +crept around his feet.</p> + +<p>In about two minutes the two horsemen reached +the base of the rocky headland that barred their +way. It was a desperate moment, there was +but one thing to do and that was to take the +chance.</p> + +<p>"Better be drowned quick, Caliente, old boy," +cried Jim, "than slowly, but we'll beat you yet," +and he shook his clenched fist at the ocean, and +whirled his horse to meet a wave that struck +Caliente breast high. So for a moment, the two, +boy and horse, stood facing their powerful enemy, +The Sea, that came with the recurring charge, +its evenly separated files robed in blue with white +crests. Thus they stood getting a full free breath +before they leaped into the ranks of the foe.</p> + +<p>Jim's strained, keen gaze took in every detail of +the situation, noting the position of the rocks that +a receding wave left bare, so that he might find a +clear path or trail in his dash for life. Nor did +his gaze flinch as he saw the advancing wave +break against the front of the cliff.</p> + +<p>"Now, Caliente," yelled Jim, with a sense of +fierce determination and exultation that communi<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[200]</a></span>cated +itself to his horse, and lifting his feet free +from the stirrups so that he would not be entangled, +if Caliente should fall, he headed him +seaward, galloping fast down the beach upon the +heels of the withdrawing wave.</p> + +<p>Meeting a smaller inrush of water and dashing +through its foaming crest, his gallant horse swam +until he got a foothold upon the rocks at the base +of the cliff. Now was the crucial moment. With +absolute recklessness, Jim urged his powerful +horse over the foam-covered rocks, striving to +get around the prow of the headland before the +charge of the next wave. Not one look did Jim +give seaward, all his energies were bent upon +using every precious second, and Caliente was +filled with his rider's indomitable spirit.</p> + +<p>Then above them towered the fatal wave, and +with a confused roar, it broke over them in sweltering +foam and they were swept towards the +black front of the cliff. Then came the impact +against the rock and the next moment, stunned +and bruised, Jim holding to the pommel of the +saddle, with a death-grip, was carried out to sea +with Caliente in the grasp of the retreating wave.</p> + +<p>It was all over, as like pieces of drift, horse +and rider were swept away, but fortune does +sometime favor the brave and, being caught in a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[201]</a></span> +powerful current, Caliente was carried South of +the headland and his progress towards the sea was +stayed by a rock that rose high, an outer-guard of +the headland. So then the next great wave bore +them toward the beach, and once Caliente got his +feet upon the sandy bottom he braced himself +against the fierce pull of the retreating sea, striving +to drag him back again.</p> + +<p>Though almost unconscious, Jim clung to the +saddle with his body half-drooping over the pommel. +Then Caliente plunged blindly forward until +he stood with head bent down and nose almost +touching the sand, his great sides heaving, but +safe at last.</p> + +<p>In the distance, a horseman could be seen coming +at full gallop along the straight line of the +beach. It was Jo, who finally had become frightened +by the non-appearance of his two comrades +and had turned back. His fright had been increased +by seeing a horse and rider coming apparently +out of the sea.</p> + +<p>When he came up, he found his brother Jim +sitting on the sand still half dazed but slowly coming +to himself.</p> + +<p>"Where's the Senor, Jim?" cried Jo. This +question served to bring Jim completely to himself. +He got up, looking pale, with one side of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[202]</a></span> +his face bruised to a real blackness, and the flesh +of his left hand badly torn, where it had struck +the cliff, but he was not thinking of these matters.</p> + +<p>"Why, Jo, the Senor came after me. Where is +he?" Then it came over him all at once, that his +companion was even now caught between the jaws +of the black cliff.</p> + +<p>"We must get to him, Jo," he cried.</p> + +<p>"But how did you ever get around that cliff?" +asked Jo.</p> + +<p>Already it was an awesome sight as the waves +crashed in foam against its front and rushed shoreward +along its black sides. It seemed impossible +that only fifteen minutes before Jim had actually +come around that foaming headland.</p> + +<p>In reply to Jo's question, Jim threw his arms +around Caliente's neck with warm affection.</p> + +<p>"This is the old fellow that pulled me through," +he cried. "But we must go to the help of our +Spanish friend."</p> + +<p>"How can we?" inquired Jo. "We can't get +around the headland unless we become fishes."</p> + +<p>Jim considered the problem carefully. One +thing he was determined on and that was not to +leave the Spaniard who had been so hospitable +and helpful to them.</p> + +<p>"No, we can't go around by the headland," he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[203]</a></span> +determined, "but we might be able to find a way +over the rocks and down on the other side."</p> + +<p>"All right, I'm ready."</p> + +<p>"Let's find a place for Caliente first," advised +his owner. Back a short distance from the beach +there were some trees on a lower spur of the +mountain. Here Jim brought Caliente and took +off the saddle and bridle.</p> + +<p>"Now make yourself comfortable," said Jim.</p> + +<p>Caliente, in seeming recognition of what was +said, took immediate advantage of the invitation +and rolled heartily in a dry and dusty spot.</p> + +<p>"Get your lasso, Jo," urged Jim, "and we will +start."</p> + +<p>So together they made for the steep rock and +soon reached the base of it, and now began a hard +climb, but no more difficult than they had encountered +before in their travels.</p> + +<p>"Do you recollect, Jim," inquired Jo, "that day +you got stalled in our first canyon in Colorado, +when you tried to imitate an eagle and fly up +a precipitous cliff and we had to get you +down?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, I remember," replied Jim, "and how +I scared you and Tom by pretending that an Injun +was after me, when I went down to the creek +for water."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[204]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Poor Tom," said Jo sadly, "I wonder when we +will see him again."</p> + +<p>"In a couple of days," stoutly declared the optimistic +Jim.</p> + +<p>They were now going up the face of the cliff, +the lariats over their shoulders, and searching +with careful feet for a foothold, while their hands +clutched some piece of projecting rock.</p> + +<p>"Lucky this rock isn't rotten," cried Jo, "or we +would find ourselves stuck headfirst in the sand +below."</p> + +<p>"Like an ostrich," said Jim. "We couldn't do +much in a place like this without our moccasins, +that's certain."</p> + +<p>The moccasins did make them nimble as goats, +and they not only made possible a secure hold, +but they protected as well the feet. At first they +were not in any grave danger of a fall because the +drifted sand at the bottom of the cliff would have +made a soft landing. But after a while they were +forced to work their way out over the rushing water, +then if they had slipped and fallen it would +have been all up with them.</p> + +<p>It seemed as if the sea, furious at having lost +Jim a short while ago, was making fierce efforts +to get at them now. The great waves foamed +against the cliff and the spray dashed over the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[205]</a></span> +boys, making the surface of the rock treacherous +and slippery.</p> + +<p>"I can't bear to look down," said Jo. "It makes +me dizzy."</p> + +<p>"Look up, then," Jim called back.</p> + +<p>"That's almost as bad," replied Jo.</p> + +<p>"Keep 'em shut then," was Jim's command.</p> + +<p>Finally they came to a place that stopped Jo entirely. +Jim was able to get over it, because of his +superior height and reach, and he attained a point +of safety above Jo.</p> + +<p>"What am I going to do now?" cried Jo. "I +can't go any higher and it is impossible for me to +go back."</p> + +<p>"You wait," urged Jim, "till I get a secure foothold +above here."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I'll wait," said Jo grimly, "you don't observe +any anxiety on my part to move, do you?"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[206]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XXVI</h2> + +<h3>TWO LASSOES</h3> + + +<p>Finally Jim reached a broad ledge, that gave +him an excellent foothold, and he got his lariat +ready and dangled the loop under Jo's nose.</p> + +<p>"What are you going to hang me for?" inquired +Jo.</p> + +<p>"For a horse thief, I reckon," replied Jim, "that +bay don't belong to you does it, Mister?"</p> + +<p>"Meaning this ocean bay?" queried Jo.</p> + +<p>"I certainly will hang you for that," retorted +Jim, "Now get the loop under your armpits."</p> + +<p>"All ready," cried Jo.</p> + +<p>Then Jim, bracing himself, kept a taut line on +his brother, and with this help he was able quite +easily to get over the slippery, bare belt of rock, +and in a few moments was safe with Jim on the +ledge.</p> + +<p>"It won't take us long now," said Jo, "to get +to the other side."</p> + +<p>"Let's give him a yell," suggested Jim, "to let +him know that we are coming."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[207]</a></span></p> + +<p>Then Jim put his hands to his lips and cried:</p> + +<p>"Senor, ahoy." They listened breathlessly and +in a few moments came a faint reply. This put +renewed energy into the boys and as the way was +now easier, they leaped ahead, agile as goats, and +had soon reached the top of the cliff. They looked +eagerly down.</p> + +<p>There was the deep short semi-circle of the +little bay with the waves heaving in against the +cliffs and at the point midway between the two +head-lands, where the beach was highest, they saw +the Spaniard on Don Fernando. Already the encroaching +waves were gnawing at them.</p> + +<p>It was only a question of minutes now, and +horse and rider would be carried out to sea. The +Spaniard sat like a statute. It was seemingly possible +for him to have made his escape up the cliffs, +which were not overly precipitous, like those Jim +and Jo had just scaled, but he was a fatalist and +believed that his day had come. Perhaps he did +not want to abandon his horse, in which his pride +was centered.</p> + +<p>"Cheer up, Senor, we'll be there," yelled Jim.</p> + +<p>Then followed by Jo, he sprang forward, leaping +from rock to rock, and from jutting point to +opportune foothold. It was dangerous and daring +work, but the life of their friend was at stake and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[208]</a></span> +the boys were not the kind to consider their own +safety at such a time.</p> + +<p>It was only their sure-footedness and varied experience +in climbing that saved them from broken +limbs or possible death. In a remarkably short +time, they stood upon a ledge above the Spaniard.</p> + +<p>"Here, Senor," yelled Jim, "catch the rope."</p> + +<p>He did as ordered but called up, "Is there no +way to save my horse?"</p> + +<p>Jim considered a moment, then shouted: "All +right, yes, we will save your horse, too. Tie the +ends of the lasso to the iron rings at the ends of the +front cinch." This was a broad, strong band, +which would furnish a good purchase, when Jim +tossed down the lariat. The Spaniard caught it +and made it fast as ordered.</p> + +<p>"Now, fasten this under your arms," ordered +Jim, as he cast down the second lariat, which belonged +to Jo. They then drew up the Spaniard to +safety and he appeared to be pleased in a quiet way +but not at all enthusiastic.</p> + +<p>"I am your eternal debtor, Senors," he said with +a courteous bow.</p> + +<p>"How was it you did not follow me, Senor?" +questioned Jim, "when I sailed around the headland?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[209]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Don Fernando balked," replied the Senor. "I +thought, too, that you had been drowned."</p> + +<p>"Came near it," replied Jim. "I would, too, if +it had not been for Caliente."</p> + +<p>"But my poor Fernando, he will be drowned," +cried the Spaniard, now much more excited about +the safety of his steed than he had been for his +own. It did look rather bad for the big chestnut, +as a large wave swelling in, almost took him off +his feet. He began to neigh wildly.</p> + +<p>"Don't worry, Don, old boy," cried Jim to the +frightened horse. "If you will help yourself." +There was something in his voice that seemed to +reassure the animal.</p> + +<p>"Now, Jo, we will let you down by the lariat +and get the bridle reins over his head and help +him get a foothold on that ledge below us. He +will be safe enough there, even if he does get +somewhat damp."</p> + +<p>"Let me go. It is my risk for my horse," urged +the Spaniard.</p> + +<p>"It is no risk, Senor," replied Jim. "You are +heavier than my brother and stronger and can do +more good on this ledge with me."</p> + +<p>"The commands of the General!" said the Spaniard +with a low bow. "I see your plan is good."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[210]</a></span></p> + +<p>"We will tie this end of the lasso to the tree," +said Jim, "so you will feel perfectly safe, Jo."</p> + +<p>The tree referred to was a sturdy, gnarled cedar, +growing on the ledge. Then Jim swung his +brother off and with every confidence in the +strength of the lariat to hold, Jo made his way +quickly and safely down, while if he had been +without the rope he would have doubtless fallen +into the water below.</p> + +<p>A wave surged in, submerging him, and then +started triumphantly to carry him out to sea, but +when the lariat pulled taut Jo struggled safely +back on the rock, while the wave went grumbling +back.</p> + +<p>"Catch the bridle now, Jo," urged Jim. "Don't +waste any more time swimming."</p> + +<p>Thus adjured, Jo grabbed the bridle reins and +pulled them over Don Fernando's head, and braced +himself on the rock above. All was ready now, +and the two above held the loop of the lasso that +had been tied at the cinch, with both hands, and +they pulled together. Again a big wave swelled +in towards the cliff, which gave the frightened +horse a big boost.</p> + +<p>Then, with Jim and the Spaniard pulling mightily +from the ledge above, and Jo giving the big +chestnut a purchase by a steady pull upon his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[211]</a></span> +bridle, the horse scrambled with a mighty clatter +and all his frightened energy up the sloping rock. +The lariat and Jo's work helped a whole lot. +Without the three, he would never have made it.</p> + +<p>Before the next wave swept in, Don Fernando +stood, trembling and dripping, but safe, upon the +lower ledge. He seemed above the danger point +now, though an unusually big wave welled up +around the horse's fetlocks and the spray was continually +dashing upwards.</p> + +<p>"He is all right now," cried Jim, "better come +up, Jo, where it is dryer."</p> + +<p>"Haul in then," replied Jo, and then he was +landed safely on the ledge.</p> + +<p>"Caught a speckled trout," exclaimed Jim in +happy humor again.</p> + +<p>"Referring to my freckles, I suppose," grinned +Jo. "If I'm a fish, I reckon Don Fernando is a +whale."</p> + +<p>"Do you suppose he is safe?" inquired the Spaniard +anxiously.</p> + +<p>"Who, Jo?"</p> + +<p>"Ah, no," said the Spaniard smilingly. "I mean +the Don. The water seems to be rising."</p> + +<p>"You may rest assured that he is safe," replied +Jim. "It is the turn of the tide now, and it is only<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[212]</a></span> +a westerly wind that makes it appear higher. All +we will have to do now is to wait."</p> + +<p>"It is a great pity, this delay," said the Spaniard +warmly. "You are anxious to be on to the +rescue of your brother and his friend. Anyway, +I hope you will succeed as well in their case as +you did in mine."</p> + +<p>"In another hour we will be able to start," said +Jim, "the tide will then commence to run out."</p> + +<p>"Where shall we stop tonight?" inquired Jo.</p> + +<p>"Camp in the open as usual," replied Jim.</p> + +<p>"I hope we will get up above the sea so high +that it won't come within a mile of us," said Jo, +fervently.</p> + +<p>"As to a place to stop, I will see to that," said +the Spaniard. "Do not give yourselves any uneasiness +on that score."</p> + +<p>"It's getting kind of chilly roosting up here," +remarked Jo, plaintively, "especially as the fog is +coming in."</p> + +<p>"I'll warm you," said Jim. "Put up your +Dukes."</p> + +<p>"You'll take the counts if I put up my Dukes," +said Jo, who was an inveterate punnist.</p> + +<p>"Shut up," yelled Jim, giving his brother a +hearty chug in the chest. Then they went at it +hammer and tongs, giving and receiving good<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[213]</a></span> +hard blows, and after ten minutes of whaling at +each other, both were plenty warm. The Spaniard +looked on in mild wonder.</p> + +<p>"You Americans love the hard exercise," he +said. "I should think you would have great pleasure +in resting awhile."</p> + +<p>"I got the best of the bout," declared Jo. "See +how black and blue your face is on this side."</p> + +<p>"You didn't do that," protested Jim. "That +was a wallop that old Neptune handed me when he +bumped my head against yonder cliff."</p> + +<p>"Neptune! Yonder cliff!" jeered Jo. "You +ought to be a story writer and use fine words."</p> + +<p>"Me a story writer!" growled Jim. "I <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'aint'">ain't</ins> got +so low as that, not so long as I have got two hands +to steal chickens with."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[214]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XXVII</h2> + +<h3>ANOTHER FRIEND</h3> + + +<p>"Do you not think, Senor Darlington, that it is +now safe to start?" inquired the Spaniard, who was +fearful of bloodshed, not quite understanding the +boys.</p> + +<p>"Certainly," responded Jim, "we will get Don +Fernando down from his perch and proceed."</p> + +<p>This proved to be an easier task than getting him +up. His master lowered by the rope to his side, one +scrambling leap and the horse was on the firm wet +sand of the beach, almost knocking his master over +in his eagerness to be on safe footing again. Don +Sebastian now showed the gay side of his nature, as +he vaulted into the saddle.</p> + +<p>He swung his hat wildly, the blood mounting to +his face, and the horse seemed to feel the sting and +excitement of his master's mood, as he pranced, +danced and caracoled upon the sand and ended up +by bowing in unison with his master to the two +American lads, who were looking on with interest +and amusement.</p> + +<p>Then the party made their way quickly along the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[215]</a></span> +curve of the beach and went around the fateful +headland with perfect safety, while quite a distance +out among the hidden rocks snarled the defeated +ocean. Then Caliente heard them coming and he +quickly raised his head, neighing in welcome to Jim +and his comrade, Don Fernando.</p> + +<p>Jim gave him a vigorous hug for more than ever +he was fond of his faithful horse. In a few minutes +he had him saddled and away the three horsemen +thudded in a swift gallop down the beach. The +horses fairly flew, the wind of their speed tossing +their manes back. It was cool beneath the fog +laden sky and the refreshing sea air seemed to +give the horses tireless endurance.</p> + +<p>Soon three miles had spun backwards under their +hoofs and the boys were filled with the joyous excitement +of the run. It seemed now that every stride +of the horses was bringing them nearer to the +hoped-for rescue of Tom and Juarez. And this was +an incentive to their energy.</p> + +<p>"Here, friends, is where we branch off from the +beach," cried the Spaniard.</p> + +<p>Then he turned his horse to the left and headed +straight for a wooded spur that extended from the +range to the shore. In a short time the three came +to a well-traveled trail and were soon riding through<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[216]</a></span> +the semi-dusk of the woods. For two miles they +went up a steady grade.</p> + +<p>Then they rounded the summit of the wooded +ridge and saw stretching far below them in the indistinct +dusk, a wide plain bounded on the West by +the blue darkness of the level sea with its rim of +yellow sand.</p> + +<p>"We will soon be at the home of my friend, Senor +Valdez," said the Spaniard, "where we will spend +the night."</p> + +<p>"I'm a lovely looking object to present itself in a +civilized home," protested Jim, "I look like a tough +who has been in a bar-room rush."</p> + +<p>"You are my brave friend," said Senor Sebastian, +quietly, "and will be welcome."</p> + +<p>Jim blushed, at least one side of his face did, the +other was already too deeply colored to show any +emotion, and he grinned sheepishly. Before he had +time to reply they swept into an open driveway, +carefully sanded, and drew rein in front of a long, +low white adobe house, that from its mountain terrace +looked over Plain and Sea.</p> + +<p>Out came Senor Valdez to receive them, a stately +Spaniard, who furnished the boys with an ideal of +perfect courtesy ever after. To the end of their +days they remembered their first visit to the home +of Senor Valdez. How they did enjoy their dinner<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[217]</a></span> +that evening in the long, pleasantly lighted dining-room.</p> + +<p>It was an excellent meal, with delicious soup, a +salad garnished with peppers of the Spanish style, +and garlic. Jim and Jo had never tasted anything +equal to it. Besides there were frijoles and lamb, +while the dessert was some slight and delicate confection +of jelly and cream, made by the hands of +the Senora Valdez.</p> + +<p>"I feel wicked sitting here and eating this fine +meal," said Jo, addressing Jim in a low voice, +"when Tom and Juarez are being ill used and probably +starved."</p> + +<p>"Well," replied Jim, who was always practical, +"I think it is better to eat, and to keep my strength +up."</p> + +<p>"I guess it won't fail," commented Jo slyly.</p> + +<p>The boys bore themselves well, and without any +diffidence though Jim had a whimsical recollection +of his bruised side face and blackened eye, and he +tried to keep it turned from the Senora Valdez, the +fragile little woman who sat at the end of the table +opposite her husband. She had snow white hair, +parted low over her ears and the pallid face was +lined with years. Very gentle was the Senora Valdez, +but she had in her time beheld scenes of car<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[218]</a></span>nage +and terror, so Jim need not have worried +about his bruised face. But the wise old lady +noticed his solicitude and understanding, was the +more gracious to the young Americano because +of it.</p> + +<p>That evening they sat on the piazza, that looked +out towards the sea, the Spaniards smoking and +Jim and Jo enjoying the music of a guitar played +by a Mexican in a dim corner of the verandah and +the boys heard a bit of important news.</p> + +<p>"There was a mysterious ship put into shore +several miles South of here, late last night, Senor," +said their host, "one of my shepherds brought me +word."</p> + +<p>"The first scent of the trail," cried Jim eagerly. +Then the Senor Sebastian explained to his friend +more fully the objects of their search. Immediately +the listener was deeply interested. Then he sent for +an Indian, one of his trusted men, to come to him, +and gave him minute instructions about some matters. +Without a word the Indian turned and disappeared +in the darkness, and in a short time there +came the sound of a horse galloping full speed down +the road.</p> + +<p>"Tomorrow, Senor Darlington, this Indian will +meet you at a point near the Puebla de los Angeles,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[219]</a></span> +which my friend knows and he will have all the information +there is obtainable as to the location of +this ship and its crew," thus spoke the Senor Valdez. +Jim thanked him with deep fervor for his unusual +kindness, but the Spaniard made light of it.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[220]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XXVIII</h2> + +<h3>A TALE OF YORE</h3> + + +<p>As they sat there in the dusk of the verandah, +Jim would have liked to ask his host to relate +some of his experiences in southern California +for he felt sure that the Senor Valdez had +known something of adventure not only because +those early days were full of marvels of interest, +but there was something in the bearing of the +old Spaniard that spoke of former days of romance +and of stirring incidents.</p> + +<p>Then, too, there was something in the after-dinner +content and quiet, following the perilous +adventure which they had been through that predisposed +the boys to listen to a good story of adventure. +Their friend, the Senor Sebastian, seemed +to divine what was passing through Jim's mind, +for he suddenly spoke, breaking the meditative +spell that had fallen upon the group on the piazza.</p> + +<p>"It just occurred to me, Senor Valdez, that our +friends here might like to hear something of the +early days in this part of the country, for you of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[221]</a></span> +all men know it thoroughly and I am sure it would +interest them."</p> + +<p>"Indeed, it would, Senor," cried Jim enthusiastically, +"it was in my mind to ask Senor Valdez to +tell us of the early days but I was afraid to impose +upon him."</p> + +<p>"I feel greatly honored to think that you young +men would care to hear anything my poor tongue +could relate. It would hardly be worth your distinguished +attention." Jim made due allowance +for the courteous exaggeration characteristic of the +Spaniard.</p> + +<p>"Try us, Senor," he said briefly, "we would +want nothing better."</p> + +<p>"I will have the coffee brought first," replied +the Senor, "that may serve to stimulate my dull +imagination."</p> + +<p>In a short time a softly moving servant brought +out a tray of coffee cups, and placed one before +each guest on a small wicker table. Jim noticed +these cups with immediate interest. They were +certainly beautiful and he had never seen anything +like them before. They were of a wonderful +blue, each one, and had a coat of arms +in gold with raised figures on it; a scroll above +with a Latin motto, and beneath the representation +of a wild animal couchant. The Senor Valdez was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[222]</a></span> +quick to see Jim's interest and respond to it. "That +is the coat of arms of my family," he explained.</p> + +<p>"I am not a scholar, Senor," said Jim, "and +all I can make of the motto is that it has something +to do with a lion."</p> + +<p>"You are quite right," the ghost of a smile +hovered around the white-fringed lips of the +Spaniard, at Jim's innate boyishness.</p> + +<p>"That figure does not look exactly like a lion," +remarked Jo frankly.</p> + +<p>"Not like an African lion certainly," replied the +Spaniard, "but a lion nevertheless, such as one finds +yet in the mountain fastnesses of Spain, something +like a panther only larger and much more fierce."</p> + +<p>"The lion seems to have a rope or chain around +his neck," commented Jim, "and fastened to a +collar."</p> + +<p>"Quite so," responded the Spaniard, "likewise +the motto translated reads, 'Gentle as a Lion.'"</p> + +<p>"Rather strange way of putting it," said Jim curiously.</p> + +<p>"I will explain, for you would naturally be +puzzled by the phrase, 'Gentle as a Lion,' as it +seems to contradict common knowledge," said +Senor Valdez. "You see my family has the distinction, +if such it can be called, in these modern<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[223]</a></span> +days, the distinction of being old. This coat-of-arms +dates back to the eleventh century."</p> + +<p>Jo was about to give a prolonged whistle of surprise +when Jim gripped his knee to enforce silence, +for though Jo might mean all right, the Spaniard +might not understand.</p> + +<p>"The founder of the family who flourished at +that time was a rather rugged character, and I am +afraid would regard the family representatives of +this day as very puny and unworthy specimens. +This Rodriquez de Valdez had his castle in a +rugged mountainous part of Spain, where there +were plenty of wild animals and of wilder and +fiercer men, bandits and free-booters without number.</p> + +<p>"His castle was a very powerful one, not only +in construction but likewise in location, as it was +built on a shelf of rock above a deep chasm, with +precipitous cliffs behind it. However, Rodriquez +de Valdez spent but very little time behind the protection +of its powerful walls. It would take the +forces of some strong Duke from the lowland to +cause him to seek the shelter of his castle and to +raise his war banner of crimson with a blue cross +upon it, above the turret.</p> + +<p>"He spent his days hunting among the mountains +for wild beasts or for marauding bands of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[224]</a></span> +lawless men. Rodriquez was a man of wonderful +strength, even for those days, when there were +giants in the land. In stature six feet five and +powerful in proportion and likewise very fleet of +foot. If I should tell you of some of the legends +of his strength and swiftness, you would probably +laugh.</p> + +<p>"But the one that has to do with the coat-of-arms +of my family I will tell you. It chanced one day +that he was out in the wilds of the mountains +and quite alone. Intent upon the trail of a deer +that he was following along a shelving mountain +side, he did not see a lion half grown, but nevertheless +very dangerous, which was crouching on +the branch of a tree ready to spring upon him when +he got beneath it.</p> + +<p>"When he had passed by under the tree a pace +or two, the lion sprang with distended claws. +Some instinct of danger made Rodriquez turn and +he was just in time to grapple with the brute, +clutching it by the throat. The lion had some +advantage in weight but not a great deal, for my +brave ancestor was probably three hundred pounds +of sinew, bone and muscle. So that the struggle +was not such an unequal one, but it was terrific +while it did last. Finally, though torn and bleed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[225]</a></span>ing, +the man subdued the beast, and had it in abject +fear of him.</p> + +<p>"Then instead of killing the lion as one would +naturally expect, Rodriquez took a strange humorous +notion into his head. He would make a pet of +this same lion and it should be his dog to follow +obediently at its master's heels wherever he went. +This idea he carried out and he even had a heavy +brass collar placed upon its neck, and it followed +him on all his trips, slouching with padded tread +at his heel, or behind his war horse as he rode +abroad, like a powerful yellow dog.</p> + +<p>"I do not imagine that the beast ever had any +great amount of affection for his master, but he +no doubt was in great fear of him, which seemed +to answer the purpose quite as well. So, my +friends, you have a full and complete explanation +of the coat-of-arms of my family. My only fear is +that I have wearied you with what could not have +the same interest for you as it does for me."</p> + +<p>"Indeed, you have not wearied us, Senor," exclaimed +Jo enthusiastically.</p> + +<p>"That is one of the most interesting accounts +that I have ever listened to," said Jim. "I only +wish I could have lived in those days when there +was plenty of adventure."</p> + +<p>"I do not think that you have any reason to com<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[226]</a></span>plain," +remarked the Spaniard laughingly. "Perhaps +your descendants in future years will be +pointing out your daring deeds as emblazoned on +their coat-of-arms."</p> + +<p>"No danger of that, I guess," laughed Jim, +"though they might have a picture of Jo and me +tied to a mule. That was the way old Captain +Broom treated us." The Spaniard joined in the +merriment at this unheroic representation of Jo and +Jim.</p> + +<p>"Now, Senor Valdez, you have told us a tale +of old Spain, tell us something of new Spain here +in California," urged Jo.</p> + +<p>"It seems to me that it is now someone else's +turn," said the Senor. "I would not do all the +talking. A host should sometimes listen. Perhaps +Senor Darlington will tell us of some of his experiences. +They will be much more stirring than +any musty tales of mine." But Jim shook his head +firmly, not to say obstinately.</p> + +<p>"I would not think of telling our adventures," +he replied. "Perhaps after we have travelled more, +we will have something worth while relating."</p> + +<p>"That's right," said Jo, "we would much rather +listen to you, Senor."</p> + +<p>The Senor Valdez sipped slowly at his coffee, +looking out into the semi-darkness beyond the ve<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[227]</a></span>randah, +where over the plain below stretched the +gray blanket of the fog-clouds. Then he rolled +another cigarette, lit it and took a few meditative +puffs. The Senor now began his next story at a +peculiar angle, and did not commence with the +stereotyped form of "once upon a time," so dear +to the days of one's childhood.</p> + +<p>"I see you do not take cream in your coffee," +he said addressing Jim.</p> + +<p>"No, but I like some sugar, not too much."</p> + +<p>"It has seemed to me," said the Spaniard, "that +the seasoning of coffee is in a way an indication +of character."</p> + +<p>"Where the party uses milk in his coffee that +indicates weakness, does it not, Senor?" inquired +Jim with a sly look at Jo, but the subtle Spaniard +was not to be trapped.</p> + +<p>"Not necessarily," he replied, "only mildness."</p> + +<p>"And when it is taken straight and black that +means a strong character," remarked Jo.</p> + +<p>"You have stated it," replied the Spaniard.</p> + +<p>"But I would like to know how I would be sized +up?" questioned Jim, "you see I use a little sugar."</p> + +<p>"My friend," said the Spaniard with playful +earnestness, putting his hand lightly on Jim's knee, +"that shows a character of great strength, tempered +with mercy and human kindness. All of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[228]</a></span> +which leads one to speak of a man who was once +famous in this part of the country, but not popular. +He always had the reputation for taking a strong +liquor in his coffee, Fernet, if I remember right. +His name was Alverado, but I judge that you are +not acquainted with it."</p> + +<p>"No," replied Jim, "but I should say that he was +a very fierce character."</p> + +<p>"He was. He was a bandit."</p> + +<p>"I thought so," agreed Jim.</p> + +<p>"This Don Alverado came from a well known +Spanish family, of ancient lineage, but impoverished +fortune. He was such a wild and unruly blade +that his family were decidedly relieved when he +left Spain and came to the new world to mend his +fortune, if not his ways. He landed first in Mexico, +and after a series of more or less remarkable adventures, +he came to this part of California. I +knew him, or rather I knew of his family in Spain, +and for their sake I made him welcome here at my +home.</p> + +<p>"He was really a charming fellow in manner and +appearance, tall, slight, with dark eyes and hair, a +typical cavalier. But the graces of his manner did +not reach down to his heart, and after a disagreeable +episode which I need not revive here, he left +my rancho never to return except as an enemy.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[229]</a></span> +I heard nothing further of him after his departure +for some six months. My next introduction to him +was an unpleasant one.</p> + +<p>"It consisted in the loss of a band of horses and +a herd of cattle which were driven off by a gang +of raiders, thirteen in number, at the head of which +was this fellow Alverado. His depredations went +on for years among the ranchmen in this part of +California. So resourceful and crafty was this desperado +that he evaded trap after trap laid for his +capture.</p> + +<p>"He had several very close calls and there were +numerous battles between the outlaws and the ranch +owners, but though some of his men were shot, +he seemed to bear a charmed life. I remember +one running fight over the plain yonder, when, believing +me to be absent from home, as I had been, +but returned unexpectedly from the north, this +Alverado and his gang made a bold dash to capture +some horses from a field directly below the house.</p> + +<p>"It did not take long to get my men together +and I gave the bandits a surprise indeed. Nothing +but the speed of Alverado's horse, a splendid +black stallion, saved him from capture. We got +several of his men however. At last there came +the turning of the lane. Through the treachery of +one of the band we found that their rendezvous was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[230]</a></span> +at the head of a small canyon in a range of foot-hills +several miles south of here.</p> + +<p>"You will go through it tomorrow on your way +south, if you carry out your speed schedule, which +with your remarkable horses you ought to be able +to. We came upon the gang about noon, where +they were resting after a long chase. In a corral +near by were a number of stolen stock. They +were not expecting trouble of any kind. Some +were playing cards, a few cooking, most, however, +were enjoying the siesta, their leader among the +number lay under the shadow of a tree, his head +resting on a saddle, sound asleep.</p> + +<p>"There were fifty of us, and we had them surrounded, +so that there was no chance of escape. +Alverado himself made a desperate dash, but the +cordon was too strong. The rest surrendered. +That afternoon we took the bunch to the lower +end of the canyon, where there was a giant sycamore +tree. There we hanged the whole thirteen, +and by them no more were troubled not even by +their ghosts."</p> + +<p>Jim and Jo expressed their appreciation of their +host's kindness in entertaining them as he truly +had done in relating his tales. Then they said +good night and went to their room.</p> + +<p>That night the boys slept in a comfortable bed in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[231]</a></span> +a quaint old bedroom with roses nodding in at the +half open casement windows. By the light of the +candles they could see the strange old and carved +furniture and tired as they were how they did +sleep.</p> + +<p>The next morning they started hours before daylight. +"I will be prepared to welcome more of you +in a few days," said the Senor Valdez, and the boys +thanked him heartily. Promising to return soon +they galloped away through the darkness.</p> + +<p>All day they rode, hardly drawing rein at all. At +first through the foot-hills and then over the wide +plains. Jo had a fresh horse, a powerful black, as +his other mount could not stand the strain of the +long trip that meant three score and ten of miles before +evening.</p> + +<p>Early in the afternoon they left the plain and rode +into the deep and rugged gorges of a mountain +chain, running East and West. Thence into a broad +valley leading South-easterly, and about four <span class="smcap">p. m.</span> +they turned directly South entering a Pass in the +Southern side of the valley, from which they +emerged on a plain. Where the trail left the Pass +stood a large <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'scycamore'">sycamore</ins> tree, when they reached it, +the Indian messenger rose from its shelter.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[232]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XXIX</h2> + +<h3>A WONDERFUL LEAP</h3> + + +<p>Now without <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'hestitation'">hesitation</ins> we must take up the fortunes +or rather misfortunes of Tom and Juarez as +they landed in the darkness upon the mysterious +island, for our narrative presses to its conclusion. +Never did they feel more hopeless than on this occasion, +when they were going to a dubious and uncertain +fate.</p> + +<p>"You boys come with me," called the Captain +gruffly.</p> + +<p>"How about me, Cap'n?" asked Jeems Howell, +the lanky shepherd.</p> + +<p>"What's your business?" inquired Captain Broom +briefly.</p> + +<p>"Looking after the sheeps."</p> + +<p>"Then attend to it," said the Captain grimly.</p> + +<p>"Certainly, Cap'n," replied the shepherd, who was +incapable of taking offense.</p> + +<p>"You come, Jake," called the Captain, to one of +the sailors, "and be quick about it, we haven't<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[233]</a></span> +much time." Tom shivered, for in the gloom and +tired as he was he felt that his time too was +short.</p> + +<p>Then with the Captain in the lead, carrying a +lantern, which was muffled in his great coat, they +started, the sailor bringing up the rear.</p> + +<p>"Look out sharp, that these lads don't spring +something on you, Jake. They are a bad lot."</p> + +<p>"Aye, aye, sir," replied the sailor, "they'll have to +be quick to get the jump on me, sir."</p> + +<p>"It's the Injun one's the worst. Don't let him +scalp you," warned the Captain jocosely.</p> + +<p>"I'm no Indian," said Juarez, hoarsely and utterly +reckless of his fate, "I'm an American, and was +proud of it, till I found you were one, you cursed +yankee barnacle."</p> + +<p>"Ho, ho, lad!" roared the Captain, "you won't +talk so tall in a few minutes. Nothing like a slow +fire for stewing the nonsense out of a fresh kid."</p> + +<p>"How far is this cave of yours, you are taking us +to, old salt horse?" said Juarez insolently, and utterly +unwise.</p> + +<p>This was too much for Captain Broom, and with +an imprecation he turned to strike Juarez. This +was what Juarez was looking for and as the furious +Skipper whirled facing him, Juarez dodged his huge +fist, and sent a fierce hook to the Captain's jaw.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[234]</a></span> +There was anger, desperation and strength behind +that blow and the Captain fell, striking his head on +a rock. That time the Frontier Boys scored.</p> + +<p>"Follow me, Tom," yelled Juarez, and he sprang +away through the darkness. It seemed like a hopeless +undertaking to make an escape with the sea on +one side and the cliffs on the other, and a desperate +enemy near at hand. But Juarez thought it +was best to take a chance. Anything was better +than captivity, that was seemingly just ahead of +them.</p> + +<p>One thing he was determined on and that was, +that he would not be taken alive. He ran splashing +through the water, leaping rocks, with the two +sailors in fast pursuit. Not far ahead to the right +was the white dash of the breakers that shut off +escape in that direction, to the left was the cliffs.</p> + +<p>Then before him rose a steep but not precipitous +rock that had been divided from the main cliff by +the action of the water. Instantly Juarez abandoned +his desperate plan of plunging into the sea, +and without lessening his speed, he sprang up the +rock, in his moccasined feet.</p> + +<p>The sailor who was following most closely, got up +ten feet when he slipped and rolled violently to the +bottom, knocking down the one who came after.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[235]</a></span> +Once Juarez came near falling but he caught himself, +and kept going up, driven by a desperation that +seemed to carry him over every obstacle.</p> + +<p>"We've got yer, ye little shrimp," exultantly +cried the sailors at the base of the rock, "Ye can't +get away unless you fly."</p> + +<p>"Shoot the blasted little varmint," roared the Captain, +who, still dizzy, had struggled to his feet. In +obedience to the order a flash punctured the darkness +and there was a roar like artillery echoing +among the hollow cliffs. A slug of lead whistled +past Juarez's head.</p> + +<p>The boy had now reached the top of the rock and +was at the crisis of his fate, a distance of ten feet +separated him from the main cliff, not an impossible +jump but the foothold was precarious and uncertain, +and fifty feet or more below were the jagged rocks, +and enemies equally as hard, but Juarez did not hesitate.</p> + +<p>He dodged down just as the sailors fired another +shot, then he sprang to the narrow pinnacle of the +rock and bending slightly forward with bent knees +and swinging hand, poised for the leap.</p> + +<p>"The condemned fool is going to jump," roared +the Captain. "Shoot him on the wing."</p> + +<p>But the sailors were not ready and the skipper +ran between the rock and the cliff to be at hand to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[236]</a></span> +stamp the life out of Juarez when he should fall as +he knew he would. Then he leaped, a dark object +flying through space, his hands caught the edge of +the cliff, the roots of a small bush held him for a +moment, then he slipped. Below him was certain +death.</p> + +<p>Two strong hands caught his arms, and he was +drawn in safety to the cliff above. The Captain and +the two sailors watched in open mouthed +wonder, all they could see was the dim figure of +Juarez crawl in safety over the top of the cliff, but +they could not determine the means of his escape.</p> + +<p>It struck a superstitious chord in their natures +and the skipper became moody and silent.</p> + +<p>Juarez breathlessly followed the lanky figure of +the shepherd through the darkness, for it was no +other who had extended the rescuing hand. Hardly +a word was spoken, and they started off. After going +a considerable distance they came to a slab hut built +at the foot of a high range of hills that formed the +backbone of the island.</p> + +<p>Two shepherd dogs rushed forth and gave their +master a boisterous welcome, and were soon good +friends with Juarez. Everything in the hut was +neat; with Indian rugs on the floor which gave a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[237]</a></span> +warm touch of color to the interior and one side of +the hut was lined with books.</p> + +<p>"What am I thinking of," suddenly cried Juarez +in dismay, "to leave Tom in the hands of that crew? +My head is wrong." With that, he grew pale and +slid unconscious to the floor. He had evidently not +recovered from the blow that the Mexican had dealt +him a few days before, and the strain he had been +under brought on a relapse. The shepherd worked +over him a long time before he finally brought him +around.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile what had become of Tom? He had +not been quick enough to make his escape, and his +fate was in the balance when the Skipper came up +to him just after Juarez had disappeared over the +cliff.</p> + +<p>"You don't get away, I promise you that, lad," +growled the Captain. Roughly seizing the boy by +the shoulder he dragged him toward the cliff. Then +the two disappeared into the entrance of a cave, the +Captain still holding in one hand his battered leather +satchel.</p> + +<p>The sailor who stood on guard at the entrance, +saw just then the lights of a steamer that was just +entering the channel and he rushed into the cave, +called to the Captain, and in a few minutes that +worthy appeared. If he felt any alarm he showed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[238]</a></span> +none, but without any loss of time he assembled his +crew, got his boat free of land and rowed silently +out to sea. Whatever he had intended to do with +Tom, evidently passed from his mind, now awakened +to the solution of some other problem.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[239]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XXX</h2> + +<h3>IN THE STRAIT</h3> + + +<p>As Juarez and Tom were under the kindly escort +of Captain Broom and his sailors in the whale +boat on their cruise to the mysterious island, Jo, +Jim and the Spaniard had stopped at an old sycamore +tree, where, as had been promised, the Indian +messenger was awaiting their coming.</p> + +<p>"What news, Yaquis?" asked the Spaniard, +who knew the Indian well.</p> + +<p>"I saw the boat by my own eyes," he replied, +"heading for the Big Island," pointing to the +South. "By her smoke she stopped in the Bow Harbor +near the lower end." So spoke the Indian, +standing straight and tall. He was a picturesque +sight with his coarse, black hair cut square and +long.</p> + +<p>"The trail is getting warm," exclaimed Jim +eagerly. "Where can we get a boat?"</p> + +<p>"There is a small boat at the Harbor of San +Pedro," replied the Spaniard, "that is the property +of a friend of mine. I doubt not we can have +the use of it."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[240]</a></span></p> + +<p>"It is now a little after six," said Jim. "How +far is it to the Harbor?"</p> + +<p>"A dozen miles," replied the Indian.</p> + +<p>"Is your horse too tired, Senor Sebastian, +to make it by eight?" The Spaniard's eyes +flashed.</p> + +<p>"Senor, Don Fernando is never tired. Let us +start."</p> + +<p>"We are ready," replied Jim. "Which is the +shortest cut?"</p> + +<p>"I will guide you," was the Indian's response.</p> + +<p>"He knows this country like the foot does the +shoe," assured the Spaniard.</p> + +<p>Without more ado, the new guide took the lead +and they rode at a rapid gait in single file. At +first they went down a gentle grade for several +miles until they came to a perfectly level plain +that stretched in three directions to the sea. At +the end of the land was a perfectly rounded rise +like a huge long bolster.</p> + +<p>The party of rescuers left the Puebla de los +Angeles several miles to the East, taking the +shortest way to the harbor. There was no let-up +to the speed, if anything, they seemed to be +going faster, with sweaty sides and shoulders, but +with unaffected stamina. The going was fine,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[241]</a></span> +over a springy turf and sometimes they tore +through wide belts of tall mustard.</p> + +<p>Jo and Jim were in fine fettle as the end of the +journey came in sight and there was promise of +their coming to close quarters with the pirates and +possibly rescuing their oppressed brothers from +captivity. Then, too, the passage of the strait in +an open boat appealed to their sense of adventure.</p> + +<p>About eight o'clock, they came to a ranch two +miles from the harbor, where Senor Sebastian had +a short talk with a man who owned the small boat +that had been referred to. He was perfectly +willing to lend them the boat and also sent a +Mexican servant to bring back their horses and +put them up in his stables. Not forgetting to +thank him for his great kindness to them, the boys +turned their horses' heads for the harbor, the last +lap of their long journey had begun.</p> + +<p>In a half hour, they stood on the shore of a +long, narrow inlet, at a point where a craft was +moored. From a small boat-house, they got the +oars, the mast and the sail to be used if the wind +was right. Then they were ready to get aboard. +Jim looked at his watch. "It lacks ten minutes of +nine," he said.</p> + +<p>Then they embarked. The boat was not a +mere row-boat, but was found to be of good size<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[242]</a></span> +and about equal to a whale boat. It was staunch, +too, and sea worthy. The mooring was cast off. +Jim was at the bow oar, and Jo at the one back of +him on the other side, while the Indian, Yaquis, +steered. The tide favored them as they glided +quickly between the banks, and they were not long +in reaching the channel.</p> + +<p>At first, there was a slow, heavy swell, while in +the lee of the land, that did not bother the boys +but within a half hour they were in a choppy sea +with breaking crests, and now the real work for Jo +and Jim began. Fortunately, the Indian was a +most skillful oar, and he kept them from being +swamped. As yet there was no breeze to help +them.</p> + +<p>"This is almost as good as running the Rapids +in the Grand Canyon," cried Jim joyously.</p> + +<p>The boys were in fine fettle for their work, notwithstanding +their long day in the saddle, and they +buckled to it with a will, although wet through +with flying spray. They had enjoyed a good rest +the night before and after their long ride they +were glad to get the kinks out of their muscles. +They really made remarkably good headway +against the sea and the stoical Indian grunted +approval of their work. Ah, but it was fine, bat<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[243]</a></span>tling +with the waves through the darkness, while +the boat thrashed and beat its way ahead.</p> + +<p>The boys stood to their oars and put all the +strength of their lithe young bodies into the stroke +and they seemed tireless. The Spaniard had made +himself comfortable in the bow, where, sheltered +by a short overhead deck, he was soon fast asleep.</p> + +<p>"Wake me when it is time to be drowned," he +said. "I know it is my fate." Jim remembered +the Spaniard's melancholy of the day before, and +laughed heartily, as he promised.</p> + +<p>"There are the lights of a vessel," cried Yaquis, +who, though silent, was ever on the watch. +"Ahead of us to the Southwest."</p> + +<p>"You are right," said Jim. The lights were like +two faint, moving stars, one aloft and the other +below.</p> + +<p>"That isn't the Pirate ship," declared Jo. "She +wouldn't be showing any light." After a while, +the lights of the vessel were suddenly eclipsed, but +by the dull light of the moon, now risen, the vessel's +bulk could still be made out.</p> + +<p>"She has gone into the further straits," said Yaquis, +"between the two islands."</p> + +<p>A gentle breeze sprang up, but blowing directly +toward them, it lent no aid. Before midnight, +the westerly breeze had died absolutely<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">[244]</a></span> +down, and in a not very long time, the sea followed +suit, leaving a long swell and the rowing became +much easier. Nothing occurred to break the +monotony for a while. There was the steady +grinding of the oars in the row-locks and the lapping +of the waves in the gloom, for the moon was +now obscured by clouds. Then, of a sudden, the +Indian called a halt.</p> + +<p>"Do you hear footsteps?" inquired Jim, jocosely.</p> + +<p>"A steamer coming, I hear her, no lights. Pull +hard." In a minute, even the boys could hear +the beat of her engines and saw the occasional +flare from her stacks, then a dark form took shape +through the night. They pulled lustily for they +knew their danger and who it was. How quickly +they would be run down, if discovered, and left to +drown in the wide strait, when Captain Broom +found out their identity. No wonder they pulled.</p> + +<p>"Stop now, draw in your oars. Lie down," +warned the Indian.</p> + +<p>Not a hundred yards to the Eastward came The +Sea Eagle and she was on an even line with the +boat that lay a black patch on the dark water. If +Captain Broom was not on the Bridge they would +be safe.</p> + +<p>"Boat ahoy," boomed out his voice.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">[245]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Indian fishermen," cried Yaquis. "Stop, take +me ashore."</p> + +<p>With a growl, the Captain sent his ship ahead, +paying no attention to the "Indian fisherman" in +distress. There was a gleam of white teeth as +the Indian smiled at the hearty congratulations of +the boys and their glee at his stratagem. Then +the Spaniard and Yaquis took the oars while Jim +steered and Jo slept.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">[246]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XXXI</h2> + +<h3>CONCLUSION</h3> + + +<p>When morning came, they were but a few miles +from the Northern end of the longer Island and +the fog was over the whole sky. The sea was +glassy with a sullen glaze. Nowhere was there +sign of any steamer or ship. The Sea Eagle +had made good her escape.</p> + +<p>"I wish we had a stiff breeze to help us along," +said the Spaniard, who loved not manual labor, as +did the boys.</p> + +<p>"It will come, the strong breeze, soon," said the +Indian.</p> + +<p>"When we make the Island, what are we to do?" +asked Jo.</p> + +<p>"Who can tell, maybe Tom and Juarez have been +taken along with the Skipper, instead of being +marooned."</p> + +<p>"That's so," replied Jo, and gloom settled down +upon his spirits, heavier than the fog upon the +sea.</p> + +<p>"We will keep after them," said the never de<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">[247]</a></span>spondent +Jim, "even if we have to chase them +around the world."</p> + +<p>The boat seemed to crawl so slowly along, and +the boys began to fret in their eagerness to find +out whether their comrades were on the island or +not, but they were not yet close enough to make +out any object upon its surface. Then from the +West there came a breeze rippling the glassy water.</p> + +<p>"Up with the sail," cried Jim. "Here's where +we fly."</p> + +<p>As the breeze strengthened to a wind, they went +towards the island at a clipping gait. When they +got within a half mile of the shore, they began to +look eagerly for some sign of a living being and +they were disappointed at first, but they drove +their boat along as near the shore as they dared.</p> + +<p>"Say, did you hear that?" cried Jim in excitement. +"That was a rifle shot, or my name is +Dennis."</p> + +<p>"Three men on the shore," said the Indian, imperturbably.</p> + +<p>"I see them," cried Jo, "on that beach yonder. +I believe it is Tom and Juarez. Hurrah for the +Frontier Boys."</p> + +<p>"It is they," declared Jim as they drew closer,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">[248]</a></span> +"but how Tom has grown. He looks over six +feet."</p> + +<p>"That isn't Tom," said Jo. "It's some one else. +The short one is Tom." Then he saw Jim grin +and realized that he had been kidded.</p> + +<p>"If this wasn't my busy day," said Jo, "I'd give +you a punching for being so smart."</p> + +<p>Five minutes later, the boat had grounded on +the pebbly beach and The Frontier Boys were +again united. There was a great jubilee for a +while with the Spaniard, the Indian, and the +lanky shepherd on the outskirts of the family celebration, +but in a short time they were all good +friends, each according to his different nature; the +Spaniard, suave and courteous, the Indian stolid, +but with his share in the general good-will, and +Jeems Howell, the shepherd, lankily humorous.</p> + +<p>"We met our old friend Captain Broom in the +channel, boys," said Jim, "steaming along like the +Devil was after him."</p> + +<p>"I'll give him reason to think so," growled +Juarez sullenly, "if I ever get on his trail."</p> + +<p>The Indian, Yaquis, grunted approval, for there +seemed to be a bond of sympathy between him +and Juarez, as the reader can well understand.</p> + +<p>"How far is that cave, Tom, where the old +codger left you?" inquired Jo.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">[249]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Just around the bend," said Tom. "Here's the +rock where Juarez made his famous jump."</p> + +<p>"How did you ever get up there?" asked Jo in +wonder, looking up at the pinnacle of rock.</p> + +<p>"You'd a done the same if those fellows had +been chasing you," replied Juarez, "but if it +hadn't been for Jeems here catching me when I +jumped they would have got me after all."</p> + +<p>"I was afeard you might have fallen on the +Skipper and a hurt him. He's a kind of a tender +plant you know." The Shepherd made this remark +with a perfectly sober face, in no wise disturbed +by the hilarity of the boys, over the idea +of the tenderness of the Skipper.</p> + +<p>"Here's the cave," said Juarez, and he led the +way through an arched opening in the wall of the +cliff. Picking up a lantern, he went ahead as +guide.</p> + +<p>"This is certainly a dry cave," said Jim.</p> + +<p>"It ought to be," said Jeems Howell. "It don't +rain on this Island more than twice a year, but I +feel it in my bones that it is coming on to storm +today."</p> + +<p>"I hope you don't feel it in <i>all</i> your bones," remarked +Jim, quizzically, "because it is liable to be +a long drawn out storm if you do."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250">[250]</a></span></p> + +<p>The lanky Shepherd gave himself over to +spasms of silent mirth at Jim's queer humor.</p> + +<p>"Here's where we found Tom," said Juarez. +"Just discovered him a couple of hours before you +discovered us."</p> + +<p>When the Captain had made his sudden change +of plans, Tom made himself as comfortable as he +could for the night, intending to search for Juarez +in the morning.</p> + +<p>"Sometime I hope that this wretched Captain +will be captured and imprisoned right here," said +the Spaniard with a cold, vindictiveness.</p> + +<p>"If he comes snooping around here again, that +is what will happen to him," remarked Jim quietly. +"I suppose, Tom, that he hid some of the loot he +took from us in this cave somewhere. I bet this +is his safe deposit vault, all right."</p> + +<p>"He went back in there with his small satchel," +said Tom, indicating the depths of the cave as yet +unexplored.</p> + +<p>"It will keep," said Jim, "but before I leave this +island for Hawaii, I am going to search every corner +of this cave and see if I cannot find our property."</p> + +<p>"We discovered it in a cave and perhaps we will +lose our treasure in a cave," said Juarez, who was +something of a fatalist.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251">[251]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Don't you believe that we won't find it," declared +Jim stoutly, "but no work for me for a while. I'm +going to take a good rest."</p> + +<p>"So say we all of us," chanted the boys.</p> + +<p>"Gentlemen," said Jeems Howell oracularly, "If +it pleases you, and Christopher Columbus," with a +wave of his hand toward Jim, "who discovered this +savage group, we will now adjourn to my castle on +the distant hillside."</p> + +<p>"We are with you," declared those assembled in +unison, and in a short time they were making +their way up the slope towards the "castle" on the +hillside, where they made themselves at home.</p> + +<p>All the new arrivals at the island were soon fast +asleep.</p> + +<p>Later after several hours of rest, they occupied +themselves according to their different ideas of comfort.</p> + +<p>The Spaniard amused himself thrumming on a +guitar, that belonged to one of the Mexican herders +on the island. Tom got a book, and stretched out +on a rug forgetful of all his recent troubles, while +Jim and Juarez borrowed a couple of guns and went +for an hour's hunting, in the woods which at that +time covered the mountain ridges of the island.</p> + +<p>That evening they were all gathered in the cabin +before the blazing fire on the stone hearth, while<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252">[252]</a></span> +outside raged the Easterly storm that Jeems Howell +had predicted, with rush of wind and sweep of rain. +But the slab cabin was storm proof and comfortable. +It is a good place to leave the boys after their days +of trial and bitter hardship. In our next book we +will meet "The Frontier Boys in Hawaii, or The +mystery of The Hollow Mountain." There, I feel +confident they will cope with adventures as unusual +and as remarkable as they have heretofore encountered. +I am sure that the Reader will be anxious to +accompany them on their journey. But we must +permit the Frontier Boys to have the last word, in +this volume.</p> + +<p>"Do you think that Captain Broom, will return +here, before we get away for Hawaii, Jim?" inquired +brother Jo.</p> + +<p>"I certainly do," replied Jim, "and we will be +right here, to give him a warm and hearty Welcome, +you can rest assured of that."</p> + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<div class='tnote'><h3>Transcriber's Notes:</h3> +<p>Obvious punctuation errors repaired.</p> + +<p><a name="note" id="note"></a><a href="#tn">Page 170</a>, text was both missing and +repeated in the original. The original read:<br /></p> + +<div class='blockquot'>on even terms until in the last hundred yards Cal-<br /> +iente forged ahead by half a length.<br /> +<br /> +<p>"Hold on boys," yelled Jo in warning. <i>"Don't<br /> +on even terms until in the last hundred yards Cal-<br /> +horses up.</i> There was Jo sitting quietly on his horse.<br /></p></div> + +<p>The italicized text was removed to try to assist readability.</p> +<p>The remaining corrections made are indicated by dotted lines under the corrections. Scroll the mouse over the word and the original text will <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'apprear'">appear</ins>.</p></div> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Frontier Boys on the Coast, by Capt. 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