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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/31421-8.txt b/31421-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..688c4f0 --- /dev/null +++ b/31421-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,7432 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Through Apache Lands, by R. H. Jayne + +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: Through Apache Lands + +Author: R. H. Jayne + +Release Date: February 27, 2010 [EBook #31421] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THROUGH APACHE LANDS *** + + + + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Mary Meehan and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + + THROUGH APACHE LAND + + BY LIEUT. R. H. JAYNE + +AUTHOR OF "LOST IN THE WILDERNESS," "IN THE PECOS COUNTRY," "THE CAVE IN +THE MOUNTAIN," ETC. + +NEW YORK +THE MERSHON COMPANY +PUBLISHERS + +Copyrighted, 1893, +BY THE PRICE-MCGILL CO. + + + + +[Illustration: THE WARRIOR HAD NOT TIME TO RECOVER * * * WHEN TOM +GRASPED HIM BY THE THROAT.] + + + + +CONTENTS. + + +I--Moonlight on the Rio Gila + +II--Tom Hardynge's Ruse + +III--Pursued by the Apaches + +IV--Outwitted + +V--An Alarming Message + +VI--The Two Scouts + +VII--The Cavalry Escort + +VIII--In Devil's Pass + +IX--Among the Apaches + +X--Lone Wolf + +XI--Surrounded by Danger + +XII--"The Hour has Come" + +XIII--The Flight + +XIV--Pursued + +XV--In the Solitude + +XVI--Among the Mountains + +XVII--A Mysterious Camp Fire + +XVIII--The Indian Fight + +XIX--A Terrible Meeting + +XX--White vs. Red + +XXI--Friends Together + +XXII--Anxious Waiting + +XXIII--The Death Shot + +XXIV--The Buffaloes + +XXV--Alone Again + +XXVI--Capturing a Mustang + +XXVII--A Run for Life + +XXVIII--A Great Misfortune + +XXIX--The Lone Camp Fire + +XXX--Fighting a Grizzly + +XXXI--Sleep + +XXXII--Reunited + +XXXIII--Closing in + +XXXIV--Hurricane Hill + +XXXV--The Sentinel + +XXXVI--A Desperate Scheme + +XXXVII--The Two Defenders + +XXXVIII--Hand to Hand + +XXXIX--Conclusion + + + + +THROUGH APACHE LAND. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +MOONLIGHT ON THE RIO GILA. + + +Along the eastern bank a small Indian canoe, containing a single +individual, was stealing its way--"hugging" the shore so as to take +advantage of the narrow band of shadow that followed the winding of the +stream. There were no trees on either side of the river, but this +portion was walled in by bluffs, rising from three or four to fully +twenty feet in height. The current was sluggish and not a breath of air +wrinkled the surface on this mild summer night. + +It was in the wildest part of the Indian country, and Tom Hardynge, the +hunter, runner and bearer of all dispatches between the frontier posts +in the extreme southwest, knew very well that for three days past it had +been his proverbial good fortune, or rather a special Providence, that +had kept his scalp from ornamenting the lodge of some marauding Comanche +or Apache. Tom was one of the bravest and most skillful of borderers in +those days, and had been up in the Indian country to learn the truth of +numerous rumors which had come to the stations, reports of a general +uprising among the redskins, with whom the peace commissioners had +succeeded in negotiating treaties after months of diplomacy. After +spending more than a week in dodging back and forth, in the disguise of +an Indian he had learned enough to feel that there was good foundation +for these rumors, and that the exposed stations and settlements were in +imminent peril. As soon as he was assured of this fact he started on his +return to Fort Havens, which still lay a good three days' travel to the +southwest. It was Tom's purpose to continue his descent until the +following night, when, if nothing unexpected should intervene, he hoped +to reach the point where he had left his mustang, and thence it would be +plain sailing for the rest of the way. He knew the country thoroughly, +and was confident that it was safer to perform a part of the journey by +water than by land, which explains how it was that he was still in the +paint and garb of an Indian, and still stealing his way down toward the +Gulf of California. + +"Them Apaches are a cute set," he muttered, as he glided along through +the bank of shadow; "I believe they've larned I've been up among them +lookin' around. I can't tell 'zactly how they larned it. I've played +Injun so often that I know I can do it purty well; but they know there's +somethin' in the air, and them signs I spied yesterday showed plain +'nough that they was lookin' for me. They'd give a dozen of their best +warriors, with a chief throwed in to make good weight, to keep me from +reachin' Fort Havens with the news that the Apaches are makin' ready to +raise Old Ned along the border. Fact is, I do carry big news, that's +sartin. Hello!" + +This exclamation was caused by the appearance of a bright point of light +on the edge of the bluff, several hundred yards down the river, and upon +the opposite side. At first glance it resembled some star of the first +magnitude, which a sudden depression of the bluff had made visible. The +scout ceased paddling, and, suffering the canoe to drift slowly with the +tide, fixed his keen gray eyes upon the fiery point. + +"That ain't any more of a star than I am," he added, a second later. +"There she goes again!" + +The torch, for such it was, remained stationary for scarcely a minute, +when it began revolving swiftly from right to left, the gyration being +of such a nature as to prove that it was swung by the hand of some +person. Three revolutions, and then it suddenly reversed and made three +in the opposite direction, then two back, then two forward, then one +back and forth, and then it vanished in the gloom of the night. Tom +scarcely breathed while viewing this pantomime, and when it ended he +still held the paddle motionless while he chuckled to himself, for he +knew what it all meant. He had seen Indian telegraphy before, and had +learned to comprehend a great deal of those mysterious signs and signals +by which news is carried across mountain and prairie with incredible +speed. He had ridden his fleet mustang to death to head off some of +these telegrams, and yet in every case the Indians, by some trickery +unexplained to him, had outsped him. + +"Yes, I can read that," Tom growled, still drifting with the current. +"That ere redskin is signalin' to some other scamp, and it's all about +_me_. It says that I'm on the river somewhere, and a lookout must be +kept for me." + +Such was the fact. The Indian who swayed the torch meant thereby to +appraise some confederate that the scout who had dared to penetrate such +a distance into their country, and to unearth their most important +secrets, was seeking to make his way down the Rio Gila and out of their +country again. This much said the torch in language that could not be +mistaken. Although it added no more, yet the sequence was inevitable, +and Tom needed no one to apprise him that the river both above and below +him was closely watched, and that he was in the greatest peril of his +life. Being entirely shrouded in shadow, he could not see the moon, +which rode high in the sky, scarcely touched by a floating cloud. + +"I wish the moon would go out of sight altogether," he said to himself, +as he viewed the clear sky. "I'd like to see it as black as a wolf's +mouth, and then I'd teach these scamps somethin'; but there's too much +confounded moonlight layin' loose for a chap to show any scientific +tricks." + +The fact that a redskin had indulged in signaling suggested that there +must be some one to whom he had signaled, and the hunter devoted himself +to learning where the second Apache was located. + +"As near as I kin calc'late, the chap must be on this side of the +stream, and purty close to where I'm rockin' in the cradle of the deep +this very minute." + +He now moved his paddle slightly--just enough to hold the boat +motionless while he looked and listened. The stillness was profound; not +even the soft sighing of the wind reaching his ears. He had peered +around in the gloom only a few minutes when he discerned the reply to +the signal already described, and so close that he was startled. +Scarcely fifty feet below him, and on the edge of the bluff, several +yards in height, a light flashed into view. A second glance showed him +that it was a flaming torch held in the hand of an Indian, who began +whirling it around his head with a swiftness that made it seem like a +revolving wheel of fire. The rapid motion of the torch, as the reader +may infer, caused an equally rapid increase of the flame upon it, so +that it revealed the Indian himself; and the hunter, as he looked toward +it, saw the figure of the warrior standing like some pyrotechnist in the +center of his own display. + +A better target could not have been asked, and Tom, quick as thought, +raised his rifle and sighted it; but with his finger upon the trigger, +he refrained, lowered the piece and shook his head, muttering as he did +so: + +"He deserves it, and I'd like to give it to him, but it won't do. They'd +know what the rifle-crack meant, and I'd have a hornet's nest about my +head quick as lightnin'." + +Tom was not certain of the meaning of the exhibition he had just seen, +but believed that it was intended as a mere reply to the other--the same +as if the Apache had shouted "All right!" in response to the +notification. The Indian must have circled the torch in this manner for +more than a score of times, when he threw it from his hand into the +river, where it fell with a hiss, and was instantly extinguished. + +The scout was in a quandary. If he continued down stream he must pass +directly beneath the spot where his foe was standing, and the shadow was +by no means dense enough to make it possible for him to escape +observation. He was confident, however, that if he could change places +with the warrior, he could discern the canoe without any closer +approach. He was at a disadvantage, for the bluff was perfectly +perpendicular and so high that he could not reach the ground above +without retreating up the river for at least a quarter of a mile, where +the bluff was depressed enough to permit him to draw himself upward upon +it. Had the bank been low and wooded, it would have been the easiest +matter in the world to have shoved the canoe into the shelter, or to +have circumvented the Indian by lifting it bodily from the water and +going around him, and striking the river again below. But Tom hesitated +only a few minutes. He was anxious to get forward, for delay was +dangerous and he felt annoyed at the manner in which he was dogged. + +"Here goes," he exclaimed, starting the canoe forward again. "If that +Apache is anxious for a scrimmage, he can have one." + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +TOM HARDYNGE'S RUSE. + + +Hardynge was too skillful a hunter to place himself directly in the way +of the Apache whom he knew to be the most treacherous kind of an enemy. +His purpose was to indulge in a little strategy and to seek to outwit +the redskin, as he had done on many an occasion before. It required but +a second for him to slide his rifle over upon his back, the stock being +hastily wrapped with a leathern sheath, which he always carried for such +an emergency, when he gently let himself over the stern of the canoe, +taking care to make no splash or noise in doing so. He then permitted +his body with the exception of his head to sink entirely beneath the +surface, while he floated with the boat, lying in such a position that +he made it effectually screen him from the view of any one who might be +upon the bank above. It was hardly to be expected, however, that if the +Indian saw the boat, he would permit it to pass unquestioned. Tom did +not anticipate it, and he was prepared for that which followed. For +several minutes the most perfect silence prevailed. At the end of that +time, the scout knew that he was exactly beneath the spot whereon he had +seen the answering signal, and scarcely stirred a muscle, keeping his +head as close as possible to the boat, and so nearly submerged, that he +could scarcely breathe. + +"Hooh! hooh!" + +The Apache had noted the empty canoe drifting below him in the shadow, +and surveyed it with something of the feeling of the detective who +suddenly stumbles upon a clue, the precise meaning of which is at first +a mystery to him. + +It is hardly to be supposed that he intended this outcry as a hail to +the boat, which he must have seen contained no one. Its appearance would +naturally suggest to one in his situation that the occupant had been +alarmed by the signs of danger and had taken to the land. This +supposition was so natural that Hardynge would probably have got safely +by the dangerous point but for a totally unlooked-for mishap. The water, +which up to this time had been fully six feet in depth, suddenly +shallowed to less than a quarter of that, so that he struck his knees +against the bottom. The shock was very slight, and scarcely caused a +ripple; but it takes only the slightest noise to alarm an Indian, +especially when he is on the watch. That faint plash caused by the jar +of the body caught the ear of the listening, peering redskin, who +instantly slid his body over the bluff, and balancing himself for an +instant, dropped with such precision that he struck the canoe in the +very center, and preserved its gravity so well that it tipped neither to +the right nor left. + +At the very moment the Apache dropped, the hunter rose to his feet, +knife in hand. The water rose scarcely to his knees, and the bottom was +hard, so that it was almost the same as if he stood upon dry land. The +warrior had not time to recover from the slight shock of his leap, when +Tom grasped him by the throat and used his weapon with such effect that +it was all over in a few seconds. + +"There! I reckon you won't go into the telegraph business again very +soon!" he growled, as the inanimate body disappeared down the stream, +and he coolly re-entered the canoe, which had floated but a short +distance away. + +He had scarcely done this when a new idea struck him, and, hastening +after the receding body, he carefully drew it into the boat again. Here +it was the work of but a few minutes to place it in a sitting position +in the stern in the most natural posture imaginable, so that any one +looking upon the figure would not have suspected for an instant that it +was anything but an animate being. Making sure that its pose could not +be improved, the scout then turned the boat directly away from the bank, +never changing its course until the very middle of the Gila was reached, +when he began paddling in as leisurely a manner as if no danger +threatened. It was a daring stratagem, but it is only by such means that +men are enabled to escape from peril, and although fully aware of the +danger he was incurring, he kept on his way with that coolness that +years of experience had given him. + +As he approached a point opposite that where he had seen the first +signal he did not turn his head, but he looked sideways and scanned the +bank with the most searching scrutiny. Sure enough, at this moment he +plainly discerned the figures of fully a half-dozen Indians standing +upon the bluff and apparently watching the canoe with a curiosity that +was natural. + +"All right," thought the hunter; "so long as you let me alone I won't +hurt you." + +Had there been but the single occupant of the canoe the Apaches would +not have stood debating in this fashion as to what they should do, if, +indeed, they should do anything at all. Unity in the question would have +shown that it was the identical individual for whom they were searching, +for they knew that he was alone; but the fact that there were two, and +both in the guise of Indians, could be explained upon no other +hypothesis than that they were really what they seemed to be. + +"Hooh! Hooh!" + +It was precisely the same exclamation which had been uttered by the +warrior who sat so cold and inanimate in the stern of the canoe, and +Tom, without the least hesitancy, ceased paddling for the instant, +straightened up, and responded in the same gutteral fashion, resuming +the use of the oar at the same time, as if he meant that that should be +the end of it. But the Apaches immediately followed up their +ejaculations with some other sounds, which were doubtless intended as a +summons for the craft to heave to and "show her papers." Tom did not +understand the Apache tongue well enough to comprehend the precise +meaning of these words, although he was pretty well convinced of what +the others were driving at. He did not dare to attempt to reply, nor did +he dare to move faster; so he did the only dignified thing possible +under the circumstances. He continued that automatic paddling, and, +assisted by the current, was rapidly leaving his enemies in the rear +when they called to him again, moving at the same time down the bank in +a fashion which showed that they meant business. The hunter, not yet +ready to make the desperate dash which he had reserved for the last +final effort, if he should be driven to the wall, ceased work again and +called out: + +"Hooh!" + +He said it as impatiently as he could in the hope of "cutting off +further debate," and resumed paddling, knowing that a comparatively +short distance down the river the banks were so depressed that he could +readily make his way from the boat to the land, so that after getting +fairly below the Apaches his chances of ultimate escape were greatly +increased. + +The Indians must have been exasperated at the refusal, for Tom had taken +scarcely a dozen strokes when he saw the flash of several guns upon the +bank, and the whizzing of the bullets around his head left no doubt of +the target at which they aimed. + +"I can do somethin' of that myself," growled the hunter, as he laid down +his paddle and took up his gun. + +Without the least hesitation, he fired directly into the group, and the +wild cry that instantly followed told with what a fatal result also. All +diplomacy was ended by this act, and without pausing to reload his +piece, he dropped his gun and bent to the task. The long ashen paddle +was dipped deep into the water, and the light vessel shot like an arrow +down stream. It seemed, indeed, to be imbued with life, and fairly +skimmed over the surface. The unexpected and defiant response to the +summons of the Apaches threw them into temporary bewilderment, and the +minutes thus lost to them were golden ones gained to the fugitive, who +shot the canoe as close to the opposite shore as was prudent, and +wielded the paddle with the skill of a veteran. + +Having now no need of the dummy that had stood him so well for the time, +Tom did not hesitate to throw him overboard as a useless incumbrance, +and, thus relieved of the dead weight, he sped forward with wonderful +speed. In a short time after that the redskins had vanished from view, +and almost any one would have supposed that the danger was passed; but +Tom was well aware that it was only a temporary lull in the storm. The +Apaches were like bloodhounds, who, having once taken the trail of their +prey, would relax no effort so long as there was a chance of capturing +him, and so he abated not a jot of his tremendous exertions. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +PURSUED BY THE APACHES. + + +As stealthily as a phantom did the canoe bearing the scout skim along +the shore of the Gila, hugging the banks as closely as possible, so as +to take advantage of the ribbon of shadow which followed the winding of +the stream. The moon was creeping higher up the sky, and this advantage +would soon be denied the fugitive altogether, so every minute was +improved to the utmost. Now and then Tom ceased paddling, and as the +boat shot forward with undiminished speed, bent his head and listened. +This was continued until he had passed fully a quarter of a mile, when +he rested for a longer time than usual. + +"I guess they'll have to give it up," he said to himself, with a +peculiar chuckle. "They ketched me in a bad box, that's sartin, where I +couldn't climb out on either side. But things are a little better here," +he added, as he looked from side to side at the bluffs, which were so +low that the tops could be easily reached from his boat. "I don't much +want to tramp over-land, but if it is necessary I've got somethin' of a +chance, which isn't what I had before." + +He might well prefer the water to the land; for on the former, whether +he went fast or slow, there was no trail left for the keenest bloodhound +to follow; on the latter it was impossible to conceal his most cautious +footsteps from the eyes of the redskins. The surface of this portion of +Arizona was of such a nature that everything was against the hunter. +There was no wood nor tributary streams for miles. If he left the Gila, +and struck across the country, it would be over an open plain, where he +could be seen for miles. He would be on foot, while his enemies would +all be mounted on their fleet mustangs. How, then, could he elude them +by leaving his boat? His only hope was in traveling at night, but night +must always be followed by day. + +"I wonder what ideas will creep into their skulls," he muttered, +reflecting upon the view the Apaches had gained of him a short time +before from the bank. "A dead Injun is a good deal better than a live +one, as that 'ere critter proved to me. If I hadn't fired back agin, +they might have thought I was one of their own warriors--mebbe they'll +think so now. Great Scott!" + +The scout was paddling along in his leisurely manner, when his eyes, by +the merest accident, happened to rest upon the other shore, at a point a +short distance below him. While thus looking, he saw distinctly a point +of light appear and vanish three times! It performed no such gyration as +those which he had first seen, but simply came forward and receded until +it was gone altogether, leaving the same misty darkness as before. More +by instinct than from any other cause, Tom turned his eyes to the point +opposite where he had seen this exhibition. He had scarcely done so when +precisely the same thing was seen! + +"Jest what I expected," he said as he checked the downward progress of +his boat. "The varmints have 'spicioned that one of the chaps in that +'ere canoe which passed before 'em is myself, and they're goin' for me +like lightnin'. They've mounted their horses, and kept it up till they +knowed they'd struck a p'int below me, and there they've signaled to +each other that I'm still above 'em on the river, and still to be +ketched." + +The scout was certain that his theory was correct, and that, distasteful +and dangerous as it might be, the time had come for him to leave the +river. To continue further would be to precipitate a collision in which +there was no possibility of the good fortune that had followed him in +the first place. Besides this the night was so far advanced and the moon +so high up in the sky, that the shadow had narrowed to a band which was +practically useless. + +"No use makin' faces when you've got a dose of medicine to take," he +added, as he ran the canoe close to the shore. + +There he found that by standing upon his feet he could easily reach the +edge of the bluff above and thus draw himself up when he chose. This he +proceeded to do, but he was too skillful a hunter to leave behind him +such tell-tale evidence as the canoe itself would have proven. Were he +to leave that as it was, it would be sure to catch the eye of the +Apaches within a quarter of an hour and tell them precisely what had +been done. And so, as the hunter hung thus by his hands, with his long +rifle secured at his back, he caught the toe of his moccasin in the +craft in such a way that it dipped and took water. He held it thus until +it could contain no more; but its composition was such that even then it +would not sink. There were loose boulders in the bank, and the hunter +proceeded to drop these carefully into the boat below. It required +several for ballast, when it quietly went to the bottom, where it was +certain to stay. This done he addressed himself to the task before him. + +As he straightened up and looked off in the moonlight, a very +discouraging, although familiar sight, met his eye. The moonlight was +quite strong, and he was enabled to see objects indistinctly for a +considerable distance. It was everywhere the same. A level, treeless +prairie, where for miles there was not a drop of water to be obtained, +and over which, as has been already shown, in case he attempted to make +his way, he would be placed at the greatest disadvantage possible, +especially as his own mustang was still a good hundred miles to the +southwest, if he had succeeded in avoiding capture up to that time. But +the life of a frontiersman, besides being perilous at all times, is +hardly ever anything but disagreeable, despite the curious fascination +which it holds for those who follow it. Tom did not hesitate a moment +longer than was necessary, now that a disagreeable expedient was forced +upon him. + +His first precaution was to make sure that none of the Apaches were in +sight. The point at which he had seen the answering signal was so far +below that he was certain it would be beyond his vision, and, this much +determined, gave him just the "leverage" needed to work upon. It needed +but a few seconds to assure himself upon this point, and then he struck +off to the southwest. This course, while it took him away from the Gila, +would eventually bring him back to it, the winding of the stream being +such as to make this junction certain, if continued. The great thing now +required was haste; for a great deal depended upon the ground that could +be passed over during these favoring hours of darkness. He had taken +scarcely a dozen steps when he struck into a long, loping trot, not +particularly rapid in itself, but of such a character that it could be +kept for hours at a stretch. It was the genuine Indian dog trot, which +is so effective in long distances. As the runner went along in this +fashion, his thoughts were busy, and all his senses on the alert. He +concluded that it was nearly midnight, and that he had, consequently, a +number of hours at his command; so he aimed to get as far below the +intercepting Apaches as possible, with the intention of returning to the +river, before daylight, where he was hopeful of discovering some canoe, +or at least of hitting upon some feasible method of hiding his trail +from his lynx-eyed pursuers. + +This loping trot was kept up for fully two hours, at the end of which +time Tom was certain that he was approaching the river again. He still +pressed forward for another hour, when he came to a halt. Although he +had continued this great exertion for so long a time, yet so good was +his wind that when he paused there was no perceptible quickening of the +respiration. Years of training had made him capable of standing far more +trying tests of his strength than this. The scout carefully turned his +head from side to side, looking and listening. All was still, and his +ear caught no ominous sound. Then he moistened his finger and held it +over his head. Yes, there was the least possible breath of air stirring, +as was told him by the fact that one side of the moistened finger was +slightly chilled. Everywhere, right, left, in front or rear, so far as +the bright moonlight permitted his vision to extend, was the same dead +level of treeless plain. Kneeling down he applied his ear to the ground. +Could it be? There _was_ a sound thus carried to his ears--the very +sound which above all others he dreaded to hear. It was a faint, almost +inaudible, tapping upon the earth. Far away it was, but drawing nearer +every minute. + +The scout knew what it meant. It was the sound of horse's hoofs! + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +OUTWITTED. + + +"I'll match them Apaches agin the world for shrewd deviltry," exclaimed +Hardynge, unable to suppress his admiration even in the moment which +told him of his own increased personal danger. "By some hook or crook, +the Old Boy only knows what, they've found out my game, and are after +me. Ah! if I only had my mustang, Thundergust, with me!" + +Tom now changed his direction more to the north, his intention being to +strike the river much sooner than was his original purpose. It was the +only thing he could do to escape the redskins, who showed such a +wonderful skill in following him up. + +As near as he could judge, something like ten miles still intervened +between him and the friendly stream--a distance which he was confident +of passing before daylight, if he did not find his pursuers in his path. +The greatest care was necessary to keep out of the way of these +creatures, and the fugitive had run but a short distance when he paused +and applied his ear to the ground again. Only for an instant, however, +when he bounded up and was off like a shot. The alarming sounds came to +his ear with such distinctness as to prove that the Apaches were close +at hand. Guided by some strange fatality, they were bearing directly +down upon him at full speed. More than all, those pattering footfalls +were such as to indicate that the swarthy horsemen were not approaching +in a compact group. They had separated so as to cover a wide area of +ground, and were advancing in such an array that the difficulty of +escape was increased tenfold. Everything conspired against poor Tom. The +bright moonlight, the broad level stretch of plain, the fact that he was +on foot, and his pursuers, besides being well mounted, were among the +most skillful riders of the Southwest, made his situation about as +desperate as it is possible to imagine. + +A few minutes later the fugitive paused again, but this time it was not +necessary that he should apply his ear to the ground. The sounds of the +mustangs' hoofs came to him very plainly through the midnight air, and +as he looked around he half expected to see the shadowy figures of the +horsemen plunging forward in the gloom toward him! Nothing was to be +seen, however, of them, and, feeling that the situation was becoming +desperate, he changed his course again, his purpose being simply to get +by the approaching marauders without caring in what direction he went. +Had he been five minutes earlier he might have succeeded, but he was +just that much too late. + +He was stealing forward in his cautious manner, with the sound of the +horses' hoofs growing more distinct every second, when, sure enough, the +figure of an Indian horseman suddenly came in sight, bearing down upon +him as straight as an arrow. The very instant Tom saw it he sank down +upon his face, scarcely daring to hope that his pursuer would pass him, +and prepared for whatever he chose to do. + +The scout turned his head so that he could watch every movement and +guard against it, his hand being extended beneath his body in the most +natural position possible, but grasping his loaded revolver. + +It may have been that the Apache would have gone by but for the action +of his mustang. These intelligent animals seem to know, in many cases, +far more than their masters, and the one in question was yet some yards +distant from the prostrate form, when he halted with a snort. This +opened the ball, and the scout anxiously awaited the fight which seemed +inevitable. + +Fortunately, the Indian party had separated to such an extent that no +others were in sight of the fugitive, who thus had but a single man to +contend against, although there was no question but what any number of +others could be summoned to the spot in a twinkling. The foeman +understood the situation at a glance; that is, he knew that the man for +whom he was seeking was prostrate upon the ground before him, but he had +no means of judging whether he was dead, asleep, or feigning. Under +these circumstances he advanced very cautiously, his mustang betraying +considerable reluctance at walking up to a man stretched out at full +length. + +This was precisely what Hardynge desired, as every minute that matters +remained in _statu quo_ placed the friends of his adversary further away +and simplified the encounter, which he considered as certain to take +place. + +Something like ten minutes were occupied in this stealthy advance of the +horse, at the end of which time he stood so that his head was directly +over the shoulders of the prostrate man, who still lay as motionless as +a statue. + +"Hooh!" exclaimed the rider, holding himself ready for any demonstration +upon the part of the suspected white man. But the latter never stirred, +although he shivered a little at the fear that the mustang might place +his hoof upon him. + +Tom's peculiar peril will be understood when it is stated that the +Apache was master of the situation from the instant they came in sight +of each other. Had the fugitive fired at him the moment he caught sight +of his horse, he might have tumbled him to the ground, but it would have +brought the rest of the party around him in an instant. As matters now +stood, the Apache would have fired at the first movement he made, no +matter how dexterous, to draw his hand from beneath his body, and so Tom +bided his time. + +"Hooh!" + +This was repeated several times, when the warrior tried to force his +mustang to step upon him; but the animal was too timid to be forced into +doing such a repugnant thing, and, when angrily urged thereto, leaped +clear of the body with a sniff of terror, and galloped several rods +before he could be brought round and compelled to face the unknown +again. This seemed to convince the Apache that the man was dead, and +without any further hesitation he slid down from the back of his horse, +and advanced to the figure for the purpose of scalping him. + +He had just stooped down, knife in hand, when the form turned like a +flash. There came a blinding flash, then a report and a cry, almost +together, and Tom Hardynge seemed to leap up from the ground as if a +bomb had exploded beneath him, and, dashing toward the mustang, seized +his rein and vaulted upon his back before the animal really knew what +had taken place. + +It was a daring deed, but it succeeded to perfection. The scout had not +only extinguished his foe, but had captured his horse as well. The sound +of the pistol might reach the ears of other Apaches, but he cared +nothing for that. He was as well mounted as they, and, with the start +which he had gained, they were welcome to do all they could. In view of +this, it was impossible for him to restrain his exultation, and the +moment he realized that he was fairly astride of the mustang he let out +a shout that might have been heard a mile away. The steed which bore him +was an excellent one, and he had no fear of being overtaken by any of +them. He knew in what direction to take his flight, and away he sped +with his horse upon a dead run. He scarcely drew rein until daylight +broke over the prairie, when he found himself pursuing a direction +parallel with the river, and making good headway toward the point where +he hoped his own matchless Thundergust was awaiting him. + +Hardynge scarcely halted during the greater portion of the next day, +except when his mustang required it, and shortly after the sun crossed +the meridian he was gratified at catching sight of the rolling prairie +and wooded hills where he had turned his horse loose nearly a week +before. While at a distance he gave utterance to several sharp whistles, +which produced the response he desired, the beautiful glossy mustang +galloping forth to meet him with every appearance of delight. The +creature had taken good care of himself during his absence, having +feasted upon the rich, succulent grass, and was in the best possible +condition. + +Turning the Indian horse loose Tom bestowed no further attention upon +him, but leaped upon his favorite animal and galloped away to the rocks +where he had carefully concealed his saddle and riding gear and where +they had lain untouched while he was gone. + +Just as he dismounted, his eye rested upon a piece of dried buffalo-skin +which was pinned against a tree, the inner side turned outward. The +first glance told him there was something unusual, and his curiosity led +him to approach and scan it closely. There was some writing scrawled +upon it, which he read with little difficulty. The words were startling +enough, and as the hunter finished them he exclaimed, in a frightened +undertone: + +"Thunderation! can it be possible?" + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +AN ALARMING MESSAGE. + + +As the scout rode his mustang up to the tree whereon the buffalo skin +was fastened, he read the following words: + + "To Tom Hardynge:--The stage which left Santa Fe on the 10th inst., + is due at Fort Havens between the 20th and 25th, _but it will never + reach there_. It has an escort of a dozen mounted soldiers, but + they can't save it. The Apaches have arranged to attack it near + Devil's Pass, which you know is about a hundred miles northeast + from this point, among the mountains. You can't do anything to help + it; but Ned Chadmund is with it, and his father, the colonel, + offers you and me a thousand dollars apiece to save _him_. I leave + to day--Thursday--for the pass, and you must follow the minute your + eyes see this. I will be on the lookout for you. Remember there + isn't an hour to spare. + + "Dick Morris." + +Colonel Chadmund was the commandant at Fort Havens, whither he was +hastening with his news from the Indian country. His family dwelt in +Santa Fe, and his only child, a bright boy, about a dozen years of age, +had been permitted to start to join his father in accordance with a +promise made him a long time before. The escort with which he had been +provided would have been ample under ordinary circumstances, and in +fact, was larger than was generally customary; but it was not +sufficient. + +Dick Morris held a position then known as "hunter to the fort" at the +post under the command of Colonel Chadmund. It was similar to that which +the renowned Kit Carson filled for a number of years in the old days at +Bent's Fort. The man was selected on account of his skill in the use of +the rifle, and his knowledge of the habits of the game, his duty being +simply to supply the command with all the fresh food possible--a +position which, it will at once be understood, was no sinecure, +involving constant activity and many long, rapid journeys. + +Dick was as skillful and shrewd a man as could be found in the whole +Southwest. Tom Hardynge, his friend and companion in many a perilous +adventure, understood what it all meant the instant he had finished +reading the writing upon the buffalo skin. By some means--probably +through the Indian runners encountered while hunting his game--he had +learned the particulars of the expedition that had been arranged to +attack and massacre the escort. Very probably these swarthy wretches +were mainly incited to the deed by the knowledge that the son of Colonel +Chadmund was to be with the party. It was under the direction of this +vigilant officer that the marauding Indians of the border had received +such a number of severe blows. They were excited to the highest point of +exasperation, and would seize upon any means of revenge at their +command. + +Alarmed by the danger which threatened his beloved child, the colonel +had sent Dick Morris to the rescue at once. He would have sent a hundred +men from his fort, had he believed it possible that they could do any +good, but it was clearly out of the question for them to reach Devil's +Pass until nearly twenty-four hours after the stage was due there. It +was one of those cases wherein all depended upon shrewdness and +strategy, and where nothing was to be gained by mere force of arms. The +expectation was that the Apaches would hold the boy at an enormous +ransom, or probably as a hostage for the safety of such of their +blood-stained chiefs as were in the hands of the Americans. This will +explain the haste of the hunter, and his anxiety to have the +companionship of Tom, who had tramped so many hundred miles through the +Indian country. + +Ten minutes after reading the dispatch Tom had fastened on the +accoutrements of his mustang and was galloping away to the northeast on +the trail of his friend. He did not pause even to hunt a little game, +after having been so long without food. He was accustomed to privation +and hardship, and, if it were required, was good for twenty-four hours +longer without permitting a particle of food to pass his lips. + +He was leaving the treacherous Gila far to the south. It may be said +that his course along this stream, on his return from the Apache +country, was like the base of a triangle, while he was now following the +hypothenuse. This latter route was preferable in every sense to that +which he had been using for the last few days. The country itself was +more varied, better watered and abounded with vegetation, its only +drawback being the ever-present danger from the marauding redskins. +Another advantage that belonged to the traveler over this path was that +it was really a path--so clearly defined that a stranger could follow it +without trouble. It was, in fact, the trail between Fort Havens and +Santa Fe, over which, at certain intervals, messengers were regularly +dispatched back and forth. + +The money with which the soldiers at Fort Havens and several other posts +were paid came down by express from Sante Fe over this road, in charge +of a proper escort, and the coach which started from that city with +little Ned Chadmund carried also one hundred thousand dollars in crisp, +crackling greenbacks stowed away in the bottom of the vehicle. +Consequently it will be seen that the Apaches, who understood very well +the value of these printed slips, had every inciting cause to organize +an overwhelming expedition against the coach and its escort. + +The day is waning, but his steed was fresh and fleet, and had enjoyed +such a long rest, that it would be a mercy to him to put him through his +best paces. Tom did not hesitate to do it. The glossy black animal gave +a neigh of delight as he felt the familiar hand of his master upon the +bridle, and he stretched away like one of the Arabian coursers of the +desert, fleet as the wind and capable of keeping up the tremendous rate +of speed for hours at a time. + +The greater portion of this journey led through the wildest mountain +scenery, and the afternoon was scarcely half gone when a striking change +in the surface was observable. Instead of that long, dreary expanse of +endless prairie, the hunter was forced to make long detours to escape +the obstructions constantly interposing in the way. Now it was around +some pile of rocks, then winding among a mass of hills, then over a +level plain for some distance, but with the scenery steadily increasing +in ruggedness at every mile traversed. Far ahead could be discerned the +chain of mountains, their peaks looking blue and misty in the distance. +It was among these that the trail wound its way--one portion, in the +very heart of the mountains, being known as Devil's Pass, from its wild +and dangerous character; and, as the scout strained his eye in the +direction and contemplated the blue waving line against the sky, he +almost fancied he could see the smoke from the rifles of the vengeful +Apaches. + +"Shouldn't wonder if they are at it this very minute," he muttered, as +he glanced down at the ground in front of him. + +All the afternoon, as he sped along, he saw constantly in front of him +the footprints of another mustang, such as are made by an animal when +under full speed. So they were, as he knew very well. Dick Morris had +been over the same trail a few hours before, at scarcely less speed than +his own. + +Every time Tom came in sight of an elevation he looked hastily at it in +the hope of catching sight of some signal from his friend. In such a +desperate enterprise as this he felt the need of companionship, +especially of such a tried and daring man as Dick Morris. But the sun +gradually went down in the western sky without bringing him the coveted +sight, and he began to believe that he would not be overtaken before +reaching Devil's Pass, which he hoped to reach on the morrow. Then, as +the sun disappeared and darkness crept over mountain and prairie, Tom +turned the head of his animal in the direction of a clump of trees where +he knew there was an abundance of grass and water, and where, in all +probability, something in the way of food could be had for himself. The +mustang needed rest and refreshment, and the rider required them +scarcely less. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +THE TWO SCOUTS. + + +The hunter was within a hundred yards or so of the clump of trees, when +he suddenly checked his mustang, or rather the mustang checked himself, +at the light of a camp fire, which all at once flashed out from among +them. + +"That's either Dick or a lot of varmints," he muttered. "I think it's +varmints, for I don't b'lieve he meant to wait there." + +However, it was a question easily settled. He slid from his horse, and, +rifle in hand, stole forward in the direction of the grove, moving as +silently and stealthily as a shadow, while his beast stood as if he were +an equestrian statue awaiting the placing of some metallic hero upon his +back. A phantom itself could not have glided forward with less noise +than did he, and yet he was fully twenty yards away from his +destination, with his eyes fixed upon the point of light, when he was +discovered by some horse that belonged to the stranger, or strangers, +which gave out a loud neigh, as a signal to his friends of the approach +of danger. At that moment, Tom dropped flat upon his face, as he had +done before at the approach of the Apaches, and the luxuriant grass +gathered about his form in such a way that he could not be seen by +anyone at a moderate distance. But close upon the heels of the neigh +came a low, tremulous whistle, scarcely uttered when Tom replied in a +precisely similar way, leaped to his feet and trotted toward the grove. + +"That's Dick!" he exclaimed to himself, the signals which they had used +being the same that they had adopted years before, when approaching each +other in a dangerous neighborhood. + +The next minute the two met and shook hands. There were many points of +resemblance and difference between the two comrades. Each was in middle +life, embrowned, hardened, and toughened by years of exposure and the +wild life of the border; but Tom Hardynge was taller, more sinewy and +active than Dick Morris, who was below the medium stature, with a +stunted appearance; but he was a powerful man, wonderfully skillful in +the use of the rifle, and the two friends together made the strongest +possible kind of a team. + +"Ah! that's the talk," exclaimed Tom, as he snuffed the odor of the +cooking meat by the camp fire. "I'm hungry enough to chaw up my +moccasins. What have you there--buffalo, mule or grizzly bar?" + +"Neither one," replied the other. "I fetched down an antelope a couple +of hours ago, and as I was expectin' you, I cooked enough of it for +both." + +"You had to cook his hoofs and all to do that; but why don't you spread +the dining table?" + +Little ceremony was indulged in at such a time. The toasting meat, +brown, crisp and juicy, was served in two equal portions, each of +immense size, and then, with no culinary articles but their keen hunting +knives, and their incisors, almost as keen, they went at the business +with the gusto of famishing wolves. Meanwhile the two mustangs were +feasting upon the rich grass which grew abundantly about them, and so +all members of the party were enjoying themselves to the fullest extent. + +The two hunters scarcely spoke while this piece of mastication was going +on. They understood each other so well that there was no necessity of +any hurry in the way of inquiry or conversation. When at last they had +filled themselves to repletion, they drew their fingers through their +bushy hair, using the latter by way of napkins, and then, after a good +long draught from the brook running near at hand, lit their pipes and +leaned back in the very acme of bliss. + +"How soon shall we start?" asked Tom. + +"In a couple of hours," was the reply. + +"Think the Apaches are through by this time?" + +"No doubt of it." + +If the hunters seemed to exhibit indifference in referring to the +terrible occurrence, it was not because they felt thus; but the lives +which they led had accustomed them to such frightful experiences. + +"S'pose they've spared the younker?" + +"Guess they have." + +The conclusion to which both came was that the Apaches were incited to +this attack more by the desire to get possession of the lad than by +anything else, in view of the intense hatred with which Colonel Chadmund +was viewed by the hostile Indians of the Southwest. He had been +stationed over two years at Fort Havens, during which his administration +had been marked by extreme vigor, and he had retaliated upon the Apaches +especially in the severest way for many outrages committed by them. + +"Yas, they've gone for that little younker," added Dick Morris, after +the discussion had been continued for some time. "Of course they haven't +killed him; for that would have sp'iled their game. The colonel, finding +what they'd done, would come down on 'em harder than ever, and you kin +make up your mind they'd get the worst of the bargain before he was +through with 'em; but as long as they hold the boy, you see, they've got +the hands of the old fellow tied, for he thinks a heap of his boy, and +he'll do anything to save him." + +"And that's why he sends us arter him," said Tom. + +"He knows that if he let a lot of the men go, they might get all chawed +up, and it wouldn't help the boy any, so he thinks we kin get him out of +their hands by some hocus pocus or other." + +"And what do _you_ think, Tom?" asked his companion, in a confidential +voice. "Is there much show for ever saving the skulp of little Ned?" + +His brother hunter looked into the fire for several minutes, with a very +serious expression upon his countenance. He was thinking intently upon +the situation, and trying to extract some comfort from the prospect. + +"Wal, Dick, you know as well as me that it's mighty hard to tell in such +a case. We've both got the best of hosses, that kin hold thar own agin +anythin' the reds can scare up; but if they go to such pains to get the +chap into thar hands, they'll take the same pains to keep him thar." + +"Exactly; but they won't be expectin' any such move as we're at so early +in the day, don't you see? and there's where we gain the advantage by +hurryin' on, afore they kin get off in the mountains with him." + +There seemed to be reason in this conclusion, and both agreed upon it. + +At the end of a couple of hours their horses had rested sufficiently, +and they were mounted again. They had trusted to the mustangs to act as +sentinels while they spent their time in eating and talking, and, no +alarm having been given, they were satisfied that there was no one in +the vicinity, and they rode off toward the northeast, without any +concern of present danger threatening them. By this time the moon was in +the sky; but a few clouds were occasionally scudding before his face, so +that the prairie was not illuminated with as much clearness as upon the +preceding night. The two hunters galloped along at a swinging gallop, a +rate of speed which their mustangs were capable of continuing for hours +and which it was the purpose of the riders to keep up until their +destination was reached. Now and then, through the stillness of the +night, the cries of wild animals came to their ears, and once or twice +these sounded very much like signals from parties of Indians. + +Tom and Dick never once relaxed their vigilance, but, as far as the +gloom would permit, scanned the country about them in every direction. +Besides, they occasionally caught the glimmer of camp fires, but they +were all at such a distance that they paid no attention to them, but +continued on the even tenor of their way. + +Just as day was breaking, they found themselves fairly among the +mountains. The wildest crags and peaks were all about them, and they +were compelled to keep close to the pass they were following. This wound +in and out among the fastnesses, not more than a hundred feet in width +in some places, while in others it was fully a quarter of a mile broad. +Here they were in constant apprehension of meeting with their old +enemies; but there was an air of solitude and desertion about them that +was impressive in the extreme. They halted but a short time to let their +animals "blow," while they themselves made an observation. Still nothing +new or alarming was discovered, and they hurried forward as before. + +Just as the sun reached meridian, the two hunters came upon that place +known as Devil's Pass, which they were certain had witnessed a fearful +tragedy during the previous twenty-four hours. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +THE CAVALRY ESCORT. + + +The stage which left Santa Fe on that beautiful spring morning, bound +for Fort Havens on the journey heretofore referred to, carried two +passengers. One was Corporal Hugg, a soldier who had been engaged a +dozen years upon the plains--a rough, good-natured, chivalrous fellow, +who, having lost a leg in the service of his country, enjoyed a pension, +and had become a sort of family servant in the employ of Colonel +Chadmund. He was devotedly attached to little Ned and his greatest +delight was in watching or joining him at play, exercising a +surveillance over him something like that which a great, shaggy +Newfoundland holds over a pet child. The corporal was able to stump +about upon his cork leg, and when the time came for the lad to make the +journey through the mountains to Fort Havens--a journey which he had +been looking impatiently forward to for fully a year--it followed as a +natural sequence that the corporal should bear him company. + +Ned bade his mother an affectionate good-bye, and she pressed him to her +breast again and again, the tears filling her eyes, and a sad misgiving +chilling her heart. The reports at the time were that the Indians to the +southwest were unusually quiet, no word having yet reached the capital +of New Mexico of the formidable raids that were being organized in the +Apache country. Besides this, the stage, which was properly an +ambulance, drawn by a single powerful horse, was escorted by twelve +Indian fighters armed to the teeth, every one of whom had performed +similar duty before, and so, according to all human probabilities, there +seemed to be less cause than usual for fear. Yet the mother felt a +woeful sinking of the heart, natural, perhaps, under the circumstances; +but she could not break the promise of herself and husband to the boy, +who was overflowing with joy at the prospect of that long journey +through the mountains, and a several months' sojourn at the fort in the +far Southwest. + +Finally, the cavalcade lost sight of Santa Fe, and the first night they +encamped a good distance away from that historic, then primitive, town. +The lieutenant who had charge of the escort was more concerned about the +treasure in their possession than he was about the Indians. So far as +possible, the fact that he was carrying a large sum of money to one of +the frontier posts had been kept a secret from the general public; but +he was apprehensive that they might be followed by some of the desperate +characters which infested Santa Fe at that time. But nothing of danger +or lawlessness was seen during their first day and night, and when they +resumed their journey on the morrow, they began to dismiss all thoughts +of danger from that direction. + +As they progressed toward Arizona, the country gradually grew wilder and +more rugged, but the trail was followed without trouble, and when they +encamped the second night, they had the satisfaction of reflecting that +they had progressed much further than they had counted upon at first. + +Those were days of delight and happiness to young Ned Chadmund. The +weather was not oppressively warm, and the ever-changing scenery was +like the most entrancing panorama passing before his eyes. Sometimes he +rode upon one of the horses with the lieutenant or one of the soldiers. +Then again he ran along-side the ambulance until he was tired, when he +climbed within, and seated himself beside Corporal Hugg, and listened to +his tales of battle and adventures. + +On the second day the Indians began to show themselves. A party of +horsemen would be seen upon the top of some hill or bluff, apparently +contemplating the little cavalcade, or they would circle around at a +distance upon the prairie, whooping and indulging in all sorts of +tantalizing gestures, in the hope of drawing out a portion of the party +in pursuit. Their hearts' delight would have been to get them into some +exposed position, where they could be cut off to a man--and had the +cavalry been unaccustomed to border life, the artifice would have +succeeded; but they were not to be seduced to their ruin by any such +transparent stratagem. + +Now and then these redskins, a number of Comanches, sent in a rifle ball +or two by way of reminding the cavalry that they were accustomed to that +business. The lieutenant commanding permitted his men to reply +occasionally, but no thought of pursuit was entertained. None of the +soldiers were injured by these shots, although a number passed +uncomfortably close, and the ambulance was pierced several times. + +At one time Corporal Hugg checked his horse, and pointing his gun out of +the stage, took deliberate aim at the nearest redskin, who was +displaying his horsemanship by shooting from beneath the neck and belly +of his mustang, and then, as the latter wheeled, flopping upon the other +side of the animal, and firing as before. The corporal held his fire +until he attempted one of these turn-overs, when he pulled the trigger +and "took him on the wing." The result was a whoop, a beating of the air +with a pair of moccasined feet, and the mustang galloped away without a +rider. + +This skillful shot was a good thing for the party, as it taught the +Comanches the very lesson they needed. They instantly retreated to a +further point upon the prairie, and finally vanished from view +altogether. + +The company had been on the road for nearly a week. Six of them, +including the lieutenant, were riding at the head, and the remainder +were in the rear of the ambulance. Corporal Hugg was holding the reins +of his horse, who was stepping along with his heavy, ponderous tread, +while the driver was drowsy and indolent from the long, monotonous ride +in which he had been engaged for so many days, and for so many hours +during this last day. It was near the middle of the afternoon, and Ned +Chadmund was the only one of the company that seemed to be full of life +and spirits. He had run along by the side of the vehicle, until he was +pretty well jaded; he had crawled in again, and was chatting away to the +corporal in a fashion that left no room for his giving way to +drowsiness. The men sat like statues upon their horses, indifferent and +silent, and wishing, in a general way, that the day were over and the +time had come for going into camp, where they might stretch out their +legs and smoke their pipes to their hearts' content. + +"Yes, that 'ere is the place they call Devil's Pass," said the corporal +in reply to a question from the boy. "You see that it was so wide back +there at the beginning that you couldn't see how wide it was, and it +keeps geting narrower and narrower till it reminds me of the canyon of +the upper Yellowstone." + +"How is that?" was the question that came when he paused to take breath. + +"So narrow that you could toss a ball from one side to the other, and a +thousand feet from the top to bottom, clean and square, and there are +some places where it is all of a half mile." + +"But this don't seem as narrow as that." + +"I don't s'pose it is; but don't you notice ahead, yonder, that it ain't +more than a hundred yards broad? Well, it keeps it up for all of two +miles just like that." + +"Why do they call it Devil's Pass, corporal?" + +"I suppose because, if the Old Boy wanted to gobble up a lot of folks, +that is just the place. The walls on each side are straight up and down, +and several hundred feet high, so that a man can't dodge to the right or +left, unless he has a pair of wings to help him. The only thing he can +do is to go forward and backward, and if he happens to have Injuns in +front and rear, you can understand what a purty muss he would be in. +That, I s'pose, is the reason why it's called the Devil's Pass." + +"Do you think they will attack _us_?" asked Ned, in a scared voice. + +"I can't say," replied the corporal, striving to banish the expression +of alarm from his face. "If they've got any idea of disturbing us, just +here is where they'll do it. It's the worst place on the route, and if +we can get through to the other side all right, I'll feel as safe as if +we was inside the stockades of your father's fort." + +"Have you ever been through here before?" + +"Yes; all of half a dozen times." + +"Did you ever get into trouble?" + +"I never traveled through in all my life without having a scrimmage with +some of the redskins. If you'll take a look round as we drive along, +you'll see the bones of men scattered all along. Some belong to white, +and some to redskins; but they all fell fighting." + +"How far ahead is the worst part of the route?" + +"We're close upon it now, and I may as well tell you, Ned, that I think +we're going to have a fight." + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +IN DEVIL'S PASS. + + +By this time Ned Chadmund was pretty well frightened. Corporal Hugg had +said enough to convince him that they were in the greatest danger of the +whole journey. The lieutenant drew his men close together, and two of +the most experienced scouts rode a short distance in advance of the +others, glancing from side to side, and on the watch for the first signs +of the approach of Indians. + +The sides of the pass as already shown, were high and precipitous, so +that there was no possibility of escape except by going backward or +forward. Furthermore, the canyon, as it must have been at some distant +day, wound in and out in such a fashion that there were many places +where it was impossible to see more than a hundred yards in front or +rear. There was no conversation between the soldiers, and even the +corporal spoke in a lower tone to his young friend. + +"If anything _does_ happen," he said, looking down in the handsome +upturned face, "I want you to behave yourself, Ned." + +"Don't I always do it?" + +"I should say not!" was the emphatic response. "Haven't I ordered you to +stay in the wagon, and then looked round to see you slipping out while I +was talking to you? But things are different now. If you see anything +unusual, or hear rifle balls whizzing about you, don't go to poking your +head out to see what the matter is." + +"What shall I do, then?" asked the boy, who was really desirous of +following the directions of his friend. + +"Just lie down in the bottom of the ambulance and wait till I tell you +to get up again. The sides are bullet-proof, and there ain't any danger +of your getting hurt there." + +The afternoon was drawing to a close, and the high walls, rising up on +each side, so shut out the rays of the sun, that a somber twilight gloom +filled Devil's Pass; a deep, oppressive heaviness was in the atmosphere, +that seemed in keeping with the place which had been the scene of so +many tragedies, which was now entered with more or less misgiving upon +the part of the entire company. + +"I'd make a journey of two hundred miles extra if there was any way of +gitting around this infernal place," said the lieutenant; "but as there +isn't, all we can do is to push ahead." + +It was about half an hour after the warning words of the corporal to the +lad, and the eyes of the entire company were fixed upon the lieutenant +and his comrade, who were riding a short distance in advance. All at +once they were seen to rein up their horses simultaneously, as if +something in front had caught their attention. As by a common impulse, +the others did the same, and breathlessly awaited the next signal. It +came in a dozen seconds. While the hunter and his mustang remained +motionless, the lieutenant wheeled his horse about, and rode back and +the others noticed that his face was pale and expressive of great alarm. + +"I knew we shouldn't get through here without a fight. There's a whole +pack of Indians ahead of us. Jake, take a turn back a short distance and +see whether they have fixed it so as to shut us in." + +The man addressed turned to do as ordered, while the others anxiously +awaited his report. He was another Indian fighter, who knew precisely +what to do, and he was gone but a short time when he came thundering +back, calling out the instant he came in view around a curve in the +pass: + +"We're in for the biggest scrimmage of our lives! There's five hundred +Apaches coming up the pass, and they'll be here inside of ten minutes." + +The man who made this terrifying announcement was not one given to +exaggeration, and, although he might have overestimated the number in +this case, every one of his hearers knew that an overwhelming force was +in their rear, and, whatever they did to save themselves, the last thing +to be thought of was to turn back. + +Scarcely had the news been announced when the scout from the other +direction galloped back. + +"Well, what is it?" asked the lieutenant. + +"Some of the redskins are ahead of us, that's certain." + +"What tribe?" + +"The Jiccarilla Apaches, I think; the worst set of scamps this side of +the Llano Estacado." + +"How many?" + +"I can't make out more than a dozen, and there may be less." + +A hasty consultation was held, and all agreed that the appearance of +these few Indians in front was for the purpose of turning the party back +upon the main force in the rear. Consequently, the proper course was to +charge ahead, fighting their way, if necessary, through those before +them, and keeping all the distance possible between themselves and the +war party coming down from the opposite direction. Only a few seconds +were necessary to form this decision, and the cavalry started at a +gallop down the pass, Corporal Hugg lashing his powerful steed into a +much more rapid pace than he was accustomed to, or was agreeable to him. + +"Now, Ned, keep your head down," said the wooden-legged soldier to the +boy. "The bullets will soon be buzzing all around us." + +As he spoke he stretched out on the flat bottom of the ambulance, +allowing his head to be elevated just enough to permit him to peer over +the foreboard and guide the horse, which was now forced into a furious +gallop. Earnest in his desire to obey, Ned Chadmund did the same, +awaiting the result of this desperate attempt to escape from a most +perilous position. + +The bottom of the pass was quite level and hard, but the ambulance +bounded and leaped from side to side in a way that threatened to +overturn it, and made anything like connected conversation impossible. +The speed of the party was about the same, the horsemen retaining their +position a short distance in advance of the vehicle and all nerved to +the fiery charge they believed to be inevitable. The lad, still lying +flat on his face in the bottom of the ambulance, raised his head just +enough to peer over the shoulder of the corporal at the galloping horse +and the figures of the cavalry beyond. + +Suddenly the reports of a score of rifles sounded in the pass, and the +horrified lad saw fully one half of the soldiers topple out of their +saddles, riddled by the balls that had been fired from a skillfully +arranged ambush. At the same time several horses reared, plunged and +fell, fatally wounded by others of the missiles. + +"Down!" shouted the corporal to Ned, who, in the excitement of the +moment, had placed his hands upon the shoulders of his friend and risen +to his knees. "Down, I say! Don't you see that they are firing at us?" + +The rattling sound of the returning fire of the cavalry was heard, each +man being armed with a rifle, and the corporal rose to his knees and +lashed the galloping horse to a still greater speed. + +Instead of a dozen Apaches, fully a hundred came swarming toward the +little band of soldiers, the painted warriors seeming to spring, like +the dragon's teeth of old, from the very ground. Hemmed in on every +hand, the cavalry, throwing away their rifles, which were useless in +such an emergency, and drawing their revolvers, charged straight through +the yelling horde closing in around them. Fascinated by the terrible +scene and scarcely conscious of what he was doing, Ned crawled forward +again and stared out from the front of the ambulance, while the corporal +added his voice to the terrible din by shouting to his horse, which was +plunging forward at a rate that threatened to overturn completely the +bounding vehicle. + +The horsemen that were left were comparatively few and they fought like +Spartans; but Ned saw them drop one by one from their animals, until +there was only the lieutenant left, and he, poor fellow, was lying upon +his steed, both badly wounded, as they strove with the madness of +desperation to escape. But it was useless. The Apaches were all around +them, pouring in their shots with such precision that a moment later the +dying horse sank heavily to the ground and the wretches that dashed +forward to slay his rider found that he was already dead. + +Corporal Hugg saw all this as a huge warrior dashed forward and seized +the rein of his own horse; but the next instant he dropped to the earth, +was trampled upon by the iron hoofs and run over in a twinkling. Still +the Indians swarmed in around and ahead of the team, against which all +the avenues of escape seemed hopelessly closed. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +AMONG THE APACHES. + + +Having run down one Apache warrior, Corporal Hugg, unmindful of his own +personal danger, leaned forward out of the ambulance and shouted and +lashed the furious horse, which was already on a dead run. + +"Go it, good fellow," he yelled, his voice rising above the horrid din +of cracking fire arms and whooping assailants. "Keep it up a little +longer, and we shall be clear of the whole crew." + +They were the last words the brave soldier uttered. Ned Chadmund, who +had again crouched back in the swaying vehicle, was horrified to see his +friend pitch forward upon the foreboard, and then, as the carriage gave +one unusually violent plunge, he went out head foremost, and vanished +from sight. He had been pierced by a dozen balls, and was dead before he +reached the ground. + +The horse, like his human assailants, was frantic, and abated not a jot +of his tremendous speed, though the reins fell slack and dangled around +his feet, and the familiar voice was heard no more. He, too, was wounded +by more than one cruel rifle ball, but he seemed capable of undergoing +far more than his comrades that had fallen at the first fire. + +The situation of the lad was fearful, and he was in imminent danger from +more than one form of death. He was cowering in the bottom of the +ambulance, too much terrified to speak or to attempt to help himself in +any way. Bruised and stunned by the terrific bounds of the vehicle, he +was dazed, bewildered and only dimly conscious of the awful pandemonium +reigning around him. Suddenly he felt himself lifted in the air; then +there was a crushing and grinding, as if he was being ground to atoms +between two millstones, then another terrible crash and his senses +forsook him. + +The ambulance had overturned and smashed. It was dragged a short +distance, when the infuriated steed broke loose, tore a short distance +further down the pass and fell dead. + +When the boy recovered his senses, his eyes opened upon a very different +scene. The sounds of strife had ceased, and the struggle was ended, for +the reason that there were no men left to resist the victorious Apaches. +It was night, and a company of something like fifty were encamped in a +gorge in the mountains. The attacking party, which, including those who +had followed the escort into the pass, but were not in time to +participate in the engagement, numbered several hundred, and had, after +the contest was over, separated and vanished, leaving the chief, +Mountain Wolf, with half a hundred of his best warriors gathered about +him. After securing the treasure in the ambulance, and taking three +horses of the company, which had escaped harm during the massacre, the +Apaches moved on in a westerly direction through the pass for half a +mile, and turned to the left in a sort of ravine or gorge. Several +hundred yards up this the gorge widened into a valley, wherein were a +number of trees and a small stream of water. There they went into camp. +An immense fire was kindled, and as it roared and crackled in the night, +it threw out a glare that made it like midday for many feet away. + +Ned Chadmund had been picked up, limp and apparently lifeless, by the +chief, Mountain Wolf, and carried to this spot with as much care and +tenderness as if he were a pet child of his own. The boy still showed a +certain stupor upon reaching the camp, but after he had lain a short +time upon a buffalo robe he revived, and, with wondering eyes, looked +around upon the strange and weird scene. The Indians were passing to and +fro, as if making preparations for some sort of festivity. There was +little noise, but a great amount of activity. Close by the fire were a +half dozen warriors, engaged in cooking several carcasses, and had the +persons concerned been civilized instead of savage, the scene would have +suggested an old-fashioned barbecue. + +When the lad arose to a sitting position upon the buffalo hide, he +became sensible of a sharp, stinging sensation in the head, and a sore, +bruised feeling along his side, both caused by the shock received at the +overturning of the ambulance. His action was observed by a number of the +Apaches, but none approached, nor did they pay the least attention to +him; so he had every opportunity for a careful observation of what was +going on around him. + +After recovering from the first sensation of terror and amazement, his +thoughts naturally reverted to the tragedy that had been enacted a short +time before in Devil's Pass. It was a fearful scene for a lad like him +to look upon, and he was sure it must remain vividly impressed upon his +memory so long as he lived. + +"I'm the only one alive," he repeated to himself, with a shudder. "Poor +Corporal Hugg was the last man left, and I saw him killed. I wonder why +they spared me?" + +He had no suspicion of the intention of the Apaches in preserving his +life, and which has already been hinted at in another place; so it was +very natural that he should feel puzzled to understand why it was that +he had been selected from such a party to escape the hatred which these +wild Jiccarillo Apaches had shown toward the whites ever since the +latter encroached upon their domains. + +"I guess they're going to make an Indian of me," was his conclusion. "I +wonder what father will think when he hears of it? Poor mother! I know +how she was worried when she bid me good-bye. I hope she won't hear +anything till I carry her the news myself." + +Fortunately for his peace of mind it never occurred to Ned that he might +have been spared for the purpose of torture and indignity. There was no +fear of present danger, as he sat upon the buffalo skin, viewing the +strange scene about him. Something like fifteen minutes had passed while +thus engaged, when the figure of a tall, athletic Indian strode slowly +toward him, apparently attracted by the interest which the boy showed in +the proceedings. This warrior was fully six feet in height, +magnificently formed, with long horse-hair like shreds hanging from his +crown, which, like his face, was daubed with startling colors, giving +him the appearance of a variegated zebra of the hues of the rainbow. + +It was Lone Wolf, one of the most famous leaders of the Jiccarilla +Apaches. + +But the most noticeable feature about this warrior was his dress. He was +enveloped from head to foot in a sort of cloak, of a greenish tinge, +which rattled and crackled as he walked, as if made of paper. And so it +was; for, as he approached, Ned saw that his outer garment was composed +entirely of greenbacks, carefully stitched together in such a way that +they made a blanket of half a dozen feet square. No redskin probably +ever paraded so costly a blanket as this, which included several hundred +new and crisp bank notes, varying in value from twenty to a hundred +dollars each. + +They had been united in such a careful manner that he was able to handle +it with as much ease and facility as if composed of a single sheet of +paper of the tough texture of which our national issues are made. He +seemed quite proud of his novel garment, so unique of its kind, and +strode forward with the pompous tread of an Indian chief until he was +within a few feet of where Ned sat, when he paused a few moments to give +the latter full opportunity to admire his envelope. + +"That must have taken a good deal of the money that belonged to the +soldiers," was his reflection, "but the country can lose it better than +it can the soldiers themselves." + +Lone Wolf was one of the most dreaded, because he was one of the most +skillful and treacherous, of the Apache chiefs. He went to Washington +twice during his life with a delegation from his tribe, visited the +principal cities in the North, was treated in the most hospitable +manner, and professed the most unbounded love for his white brothers. He +announced his deliberate intention of making all haste back to his +tribe, and henceforth devoting his life to peace. He would summon his +brother chiefs about him, he said then, and make known to them the +goodness and love of the whites for the red men. He would explain to +them their invincible power, and make very clear the folly of attempting +to resist their wishes in any way. Furthermore he agreed to show the +numerous gifts that had been showered upon him, and he would explain +that if they conducted themselves aright a similar future was before +them as well. All this Lone Wolf promised; but he had no sooner got +among his own people again than he chose to forget his promises and went +upon the warpath. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +LONE WOLF. + + +Lone Wolf spoke English like a native; and, having waited until the +admiration of Ned Chadmund had been given time to expend itself, he +spoke in a deep, guttural voice: + +"Does the child of my white brother mourn for those who have fallen?" + +The lad was so surprised at hearing himself addressed in this manner, +that he stared wonderingly at him for a moment without making reply. +Then he rose to his feet, and, looking up in the painted face, replied: + +"I am all alone, and long to go to my father." + +"What is the name of your father?" asked the chief, in the same +excellent English. + +"Colonel Edward Chadmund." + +"Is he at the fort, yonder?" continued Lone Wolf, stretching out his +hand so as to point toward the southwest. + +"Yes; he is the commandant there, and has a large number of brave +soldiers, and will send them out to take me to him." + +Had Ned been a few years older, he would not have made this reply. It +was not politic to threaten the chief; and he had no suspicion that the +confession of the identity of his father only intensified the hatred of +these redskins before him. But perhaps, after all, it was as well; for +Lone Wolf was sagacious enough to recollect that he was talking to a +child, from whom he was more likely to hear truth than from an older +person. + +"He has sent some brave soldiers to take you to him," said the chief, +with a wolf-like grin, displaying his long, yellow teeth. "But they have +left you on the way; they have given you to Lone Wolf, and they will not +go back to the fort, nor to Santa Fe. If he sends more, they will do the +same." + +"There were only a dozen of them, while you had hundreds. If they had +had anything like an equal chance, not one of the Apaches would have +been left alive! We would have killed them all!" + +This was a brave answer, in a certain sense, but it was not a very +prudent one; for Lone Wolf was known to be the possessor of a fearful +temper, easily excited into a tempest of passion; and the words of the +boy were not calculated to be very soothing to him. There was too much +paint upon the face of the chieftain for the boy to observe the flush +which overspread it at hearing himself addressed in this manner, but he +could understand the lowering of that gruff voice and the quickening of +the utterance. + +"Lone Wolf and his brave Apaches care nothing for the soldiers of the +Father at Washington. His agents deceive us; they make treaties and do +not keep them; they lie to us, and then we turn upon and rend them. Do +you see that?" + +As he uttered this inquiry in the fiercest kind of language, he whipped +out from beneath his blanket the reeking scalp of one of the soldiers +that had fallen in the gorge a short time before, and shook it in the +face of the terrified lad. The latter could not fail to see what it was, +and drew back in horror and disgust, realizing what a bloodthirsty +monster stood before him. He saw that it would never do to excite the +other's anger, and he endeavored to turn the conversation into another +channel. + +"Do you and your brave warriors mean to stay here till morning?" + +"It is as Lone Wolf wills," was the instant answer, in a voice not quite +so severe, indicating a subsidence of the troubled waters. + +"And what are you going to do with me?" was the next question, which no +one besides a lad of Ned's age would have dared to put, when placed in a +similar position. + +"That, too, is as Lone Wolf wills," was the rather non-committal answer. + +"And that is the reason why I asked you. How soon can I return to my +father? When I reach him I will tell him that it was Lone Wolf that sent +me back and he will be friendly toward him." + +"Lone Wolf asks not his friendship," said the chieftain, with something +of the old fire gleaming in his eye. "He has killed our bravest and best +warriors. He has followed them to the mountains and slain them by their +camp fires, when they dreamed not that the white man was near. He has +murdered their squaws; and Lone Wolf shall not die until he tears his +scalp from his head." + +The poor boy was horrified. He was too young to understand fully the +causes of such deep enmity upon the part of the chieftain, but he was +not too young to understand that his own life had been spared through no +sentiment of mercy. The leader had some other cause, but Ned did not see +much hope of making a favorable impression upon this intractable chief, +and he would have been very much relieved had he taken himself off and +left him alone. + +Some fifteen minutes had passed since the lad had opened his eyes upon +the strange scene by which he was surrounded, and the preparations which +seemed to be going on were completed. The entire Apache troop suddenly +broke out in a series of whoops and yells that would have appalled a +hundred famishing wolves. At the same instant they began dancing--not a +motion of the feet, such as we are accustomed to see in civilized +regions, but a series of demoniac gymnastics, risking the dislocation of +all the bones in their bodies. They leaped up and down, swung their +arms, threw out their legs, and circled around each other--the whole +forming a wild and appalling revelry more like that of wild beasts than +of human beings. + +Boy-like, Ned Chadmund forgot everything else for the time but the scene +which was passing directly before his eyes. There was a weird attraction +in watching the flitting, fantastic figures, whose hands were yet +reeking with the blood of innocent men and whose greatest delight would +have been to scalp every man, woman and child in the territory. + +This hullaballoo lasted all of half an hour, when it died out as +suddenly as it began. It was not from exhaustion, for Indians have been +known to keep up such a performance through the entire night; but it was +in obedience to a signal from Lone Wolf, whose imperious will no one +dared defy. He had simply raised his arm, and, giving utterance to a +single whoop that rose above the horrid din, silence "fell like a +blessing." This lasted but a few minutes, when the bustle began in a +lesser degree, and the Apaches fell to eating the meat which had been +abundantly prepared for them by several of their number. They continued +to act like wolves as they did so, using hands and knives, but more +frequently tearing the meat to shreds without the aid of any implements +except such as nature had furnished them in the shape of teeth. + +The terrific strain, mental and physical, which Ned had undergone during +the last few hours, was succeeded by a reaction which made him feel weak +and faint. He was conscious of the need of food, and was feverish and +thirsty. + +"I don't see as I'm likely to get anything to eat," he muttered, as he +sat down on the blanket, and looked upon the glittering scene. "I ain't +so very hungry, but I would like a good drink of water." + +The firelight shone upon the small stream which ran through the middle +of the valley; and, as it was so near at hand, he thought there would be +no harm in walking to it, and helping himself to a refreshing draught. +He had walked but a few steps, however, when he became aware that some +one was following him. A careless glance over his shoulder showed that +it was Lone Wolf. The lad concluded at once that he suspected an attempt +at escape, and he thought he might do himself some good by a faithful +return to his former position after he had helped himself to a drink, +without appearing to notice that he was watched. This was the more easy +of accomplishment, as the Apache moved off to one side, as if his desire +was to conceal his real purpose. Accordingly, Ned walked quietly forward +until he reached the stream, where he knelt down and took one long, +refreshing drink, which seemed to give him new life and strength. Then, +rising to his feet, he started back to the camp fire. As he did so, he +found himself face to face with Lone Wolf. + +"What do you mean?" demanded the latter, gruffly. + +"I was thirsty and went to get a drink. I thought I would not bother +you." + +"When you try to run away, then you will die!" + +"What's the use of trying to run off, when there isn't any show?" asked +the young prisoner, with a laugh, an assumption of jollity which was far +from genuine. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +SURROUNDED BY DANGER. + + +Lone Wolf no doubt meant to warn Ned against any attempt at escape; for, +where the surveillance was relaxed, as it would probably be now and then +in his case, he was certain to see many occasions when he would be +tempted to give them the slip. + +On the way to this place, Corporal Hugg had given the lad an insight +into the ways of the redmen, and the boy began to use his knowledge. The +perilous position in which he was placed helped to sharpen his wits, for +he began to see things in their true light. The chief had expressed his +hatred of Colonel Chadmund in too vigorous language to be mistaken; and +Ned now believed that in sparing his life the Indian had been actuated +by some other motive than mercy because of his age. + +"He means to strike father through me," he concluded, as he sat upon the +blanket in deep thought. "He will kill me in some way more horrible than +the rest, and he is waiting until he has a good chance to do it, so that +father will be sure and know it. He thinks he has scared me out of +trying to get away, but the next chance I get I'll do it. I believe I +can dodge him. But I'll have to shut his eye up, so as to have the +better show." + +At this juncture Lone Wolf came toward him, bearing in his hand a large +bone, rather bountifully covered with meat, which he was gnawing as he +walked, grasping either end of it with his hand, and fixing his black +eyes upon the lad as he advanced. + +"Do you want something to eat?" + +"I should think I did," replied Ned, with a laugh which he forced so +well that no one would have suspected its sincerity. "I'm about half +starved to death, and was afraid I was not going to get any supper at +all!" + +"Take that, and go to sleep." + +The large bone was given a flirt by the huge warrior, and fell directly +into his lap. It was not very pleasant to take it second-hand, but a boy +in his situation could not be very fastidious, and, thanking the chief +for his princely liberality, Ned fell to and gnawed away like a famished +dog. It struck him as curious that none of the warriors appeared to note +his presence, but he knew better than to believe that such apparent +blindness was real. He was as securely within their power as if bound +hand and foot. + +"He told me to go to sleep," he said, as he stretched out upon his +blanket; "I guess I'll try and do it. I don't see any use of sitting up +and watching such a set of wretches as they are. I'd rather have a pack +of wolves about me than such as they." + +The night was too mild to require the blanket wrapped over him; besides +which the warmth from the camp fire was very perceptible; so he lay upon +his back looking up at the stars and endeavoring to shut out from his +thoughts the hateful beings gathered around, and whose grunting voices +and loud exclamations were never quiet, but continued so long that they +acquired a certain monotony, like the rattle and hum of the mill, which +lulls the miller to sleep. + +"It's strange," he murmured, as his imaginings became as wayward as a +boy's will. "Father is off yonder, I don't know how many hundred miles, +and mother is just the opposite way in Santa Fe, and here I am about +half way between them. We were never so scattered in all the world +before. I wonder what father will do when he finds out about Lone Wolf? +The chief has put his blanket of greenbacks away somewhere, and I guess +he knows how to take care of them. I declare, but that was a big +haul--one hundred thousand dollars at a lick! I should think Lone Wolf +might afford to retire now on what he has made. But the poor men," added +Ned, with that sudden throb of the heart which always came when lie +recalled the fearful attack and massacre in Devil's Pass. "Not one of +them left alive! Oh, I wish I could forget it all! but I never, never +can. The Indians have done such things many a time before, but I never +saw them. It'll kill me if I don't keep it out of my thoughts." + +There seemed to be less moon that night than on the previous evening, +and as the boy lay looking upward, he could see a number of stars +twinkling in the sky. He reflected that beyond them was One who could +not forget his pitiful condition, who could bring him out of all his +troubles, and who was the only Being unto whom he could go in this dark +hour. Ned prayed to Him, as he had been taught to pray at his mother's +knee, and, recalling the words which he had so often heard from her dear +lips, he believed that God could not forsake him, but that all would +come out right. He had lain thus perhaps an hour, when he turned upon +his side for the greater comfort of position. As he did so, he was +reminded of Devil's Pass by a sharp twinge in his side. It was sharp +enough to make him gasp with pain; also to put an idea into his head. + +Having fully made up his mind to attempt to get away from the Apaches at +the very first opportunity which he could seize, it struck him that he +might help himself by engaging in a piece of deception, justifiable +under the circumstances. The bruise which he had received was not severe +enough to interfere with his walking, but Lone Wolf might as well +believe that it did. If he thought his prisoner was too lame to do much +in the way of locomotion, his watchfulness would be certain to become +quite lax, all of which would be a great point in favor of the one +mainly concerned. + +"At any rate, I'll try it on," he said, as he shut his eyes. + +The excessive fatigue of the lad caused him to drop off into a sound +slumber--a slumber filled with sweet dreams of home, father and mother +and all that was pleasant. But it was interrupted in the rudest possible +way. + +The night was nearly gone, when a terrific uproar aroused him as +suddenly as if a cup of cold water had been dashed in his face. Looking +around, he saw two warriors, within six feet of him, engaged in a savage +dispute. From some source, a number of the Apaches had obtained a supply +of fire-water, and several desperate fights had already taken place. A +swarthy redskin, daubed with paint and intoxicated to that degree which +brought to the surface all the deviltry in his nature, was striving, +with knife in hand, to get at the sleeping boy, while another, in about +the same condition, was disputing his right to do this, and claiming +that it was peculiarly his own province to slay the young prisoner. Both +agreed that death should be awarded, and each claimed that justice +demanded that he alone should do the righteous deed. This difference of +opinion had already produced high words, the warriors pulling and +shoving each other, and threatening each instant to go at each other +with their knives. + +Ned could not understand the words spoken, but the actions of the +redskins needed no interpretation. The affrighted boy sprang to his +feet, and, forgetful of the lameness which he had arranged, ran back +several yards to a group of redskins who were squatted upon the ground, +smoking. + +At this instant, the two disputants, wearied with hurling words at each +other, went in with their knives, and the conflict became of the most +desperate and sanguinary nature. + +"Where is Lone Wolf?" was the question he asked, as he paused by the +group of smokers and looked inquiringly at them. + +But if any of them understood the words uttered, they did not choose to +give the information sought, and smoked away as placidly as if seated +around their own firesides at home. + +Just beyond were two other warriors engaged in conversation, and Ned was +sure he had heard one of them speak in broken English during the earlier +part of the evening. Hoping to gain the knowledge he desired, he went to +him. + +"Where is Lone Wolf, the chief?" + +"He go way--much time ago--off in the mountains." + +"When will he come back?" + +The redskin shook his head to signify that he did not know; but added, +the next minute: + +"Be back to-morrer--mebbe--don't know--can't say." + +This rather indefinite information was all that could be obtained by the +lad, who was in a shiver of terror; for he believed now that his life +was not safe for a single moment. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +"THE HOUR HAS COME." + + +Ned Chadmund was too terrified to think of further sleep, nor did he +dare to return to where he had been lying upon the blanket when aroused +in such a startling manner. As he turned his horrified gaze in that +direction, he saw the two combatants clutching and striking each other +upon the ground, their blows growing feebler as their strength rapidly +departed. The most alarming thing about this revolting contest was the +fact that it did not attract the interest of a single spectator beyond +the little fellow. There were plenty of Indians around, some of whom +were within a dozen feet, and yet they paid no more attention to it than +if the two were quietly smoking their pipes. + +This showed, as a matter of course, the indifference of the others as to +what befell the defenseless prisoner. The next Indian who advanced upon +him with drawn knife would not be so likely to find himself disputed by +another, anxious to perform the same job. It seemed certain that no one +would interfere in the interests of the prisoner himself. + +The latter stood debating what he should do, if, indeed, he could do +anything at all. He turned his head and looked back in the gloom, which +appeared so inviting that he was tempted to turn and make a dash for +freedom. If he could only secure a start of a hundred yards, it seemed +to him that he might escape. That would give him a chance to steal away +and hide until he could renew his flight, with a prospect of eluding +them altogether. He glanced at the darkness and then again at the +Apaches. Not a single one of them, so far as he could see, showed any +consciousness of his presence, and none were between him and the gloom +in which he meant to take shelter. + +His heart throbbed with excitement as he stood debating the question, +and he hurriedly concluded to make the attempt. But on the eve of +starting, his straining vision detected the faintest shadowy outline of +a figure, which silently receded in the gloom as he looked toward it. +Ned understood on the instant what this meant. It was Lone Wolf who was +waiting to receive him, whenever he should choose to make his attempt to +get away. + +The whole trick flashed upon him at once. Lone Wolf, with a view of +thoroughly testing the lad, had purposely thrown this opportunity in his +way, and was waiting beyond in the gloom to receive him with open arms. +Poor Ned's heart sank as he realized more vividly than ever that he was +as much a prisoner as if immured within the walls of Sing Sing. Still, +he affected not to notice the presence of the sentinel, but walked back +toward the camp with that affectation of indifference which he had used +on more than one occasion before. He recollected this time to put on the +limp--his lameness being of such a decided character that there could be +no mistaking it by any one who happened to look in that direction. + +"Never mind, I'll get the chance yet," he muttered, putting himself upon +his mettle. "I'll play lame till they think there is no need of watching +me at all, and then, before they know it, I'll be off." + +The knowledge that Lone Wolf was so near at hand gave him enough courage +to go back to where the blanket lay, and seat himself upon it. He had +sat thus but a few minutes, when he noticed that it was growing light in +the East. The night was gone and day was breaking. + +"I'm glad of it, for I'm tired of this place," he exclaimed. "I'll never +get any chance to do anything for myself here." + +Before it was fairly light, the Apaches began their preparations for +leaving the scene of their encampment. Their mustangs were picketed at +some distance up the stream, under charge of a couple of sentinels, +where they had not been disturbed during the entire night. + +"I wonder if they'll give me a horse?" was the next thought of Ned, as +he watched these preparations. + +In a few minutes all were mounted upon their animals, which seemed in a +splendid condition. Among them were three that had belonged to the +cavalry, and which were easily identified by means of the saddles, +bridles and accoutrements. Ned hoped that one of these would be placed +at his disposal, and he looked around for the chief only to find him at +his elbow. + +"You walk or ride?" he asked, his painted countenance as cold and hard +as steel. + +"That depends upon you," replied Ned, "but I do hope you will let me +ride upon somebody's horse for this is mighty rough, I can tell you," +and he emphasized his complaint by limping, apparently with great pain, +for a few steps. The chief looked at him very sharply for a few seconds, +and then showed that he believed him, if indeed, he held any doubt at +all. He motioned to one of the warriors who was leading a captive horse, +which was brought immediately to the spot. The stirrups were shortened, +so as to be in place for the boy's feet when he was helped into the +saddle. + +"Oh! my leg! my leg!" he screamed, with an expression of intense agony, +when, actually, he felt not a particle of pain; "it seems to me, you +would rather hurt a chap than not." + +No attention was paid to his complaint, and a minute later the whole +cavalcade was in motion. + +The boy was a skillful horseman, having been taught to ride from the +time he could walk, and he found himself astride of one of the best +steeds that had belonged to the cavalry, although he could not identify +it. As he looked about him and examined the saddle, he caught sight of +the handle of a revolver in the holster, jammed down in such a way that +it had escaped the notice of their captors. + +"That's to be mine," he whispered to himself, not a little pleased at +the discovery he had made. + +He knew if this caught the eye of Lone Wolf or any of his warriors they +would not permit him to retain it, and he was so fearful that they would +see it that he began maneuvering with a view of getting it into his +possession. No one is more skillful at this sort of business than a boy +about his age. Ned groaned, and twisted forward and backward, as if to +seek relief, and when he finally secured a little more comfort and +resumed his upright position the revolver was safely hid beneath his +waistcoat, he having placed it there without attracting the eye of any +one. The little fellow felt braver on the instant. He suspected that if +he encountered Lone Wolf alone, and the chieftain dared to bar his +passage, he could use the revolver upon him with the same coolness that +Corporal Hugg would have done had he been alive. + +"None of them suspect that I've got such a thing about me, and that +gives me the better chance," was his very sensible conclusion, as he +endeavored to put on an expression of blissful serenity. + +When the sun was fairly up, the fifty Apache warriors were galloping in +a direct line toward the south, Lone Wolf at their head, and Ned +Chadmund riding at his side. The lad had made several inquiries of his +leader, but the latter repelled him so savagely that he wisely held his +peace. He supposed the Indians were going southward toward their +village. He remembered hearing his father speak of Lone Wolf as dwelling +pretty well to the southward, and that he had pronounced him to be one +of the most dangerous leaders among the fierce tribes of the Southwest. + +The Apaches were now in a mountainous region, following a sort of trail +that was generally wide enough to permit a dozen to ride abreast if they +wished to do so. Occasionally it was rough and precipitous, winding in +and out, and now and then difficult to travel; but the wiry little +mustangs went along as unhesitatingly as mountain goats. Although they +were among the mountains, at times the air was oppressively hot, not a +particle of breeze reaching them. + +It was little past noon when the party drew rein in a place very similar +to that wherein they encamped the night before. As the mustangs came to +a halt, their riders leaped to the ground, and, turning them over to the +care of a half dozen of their number, they refreshed themselves at a +stream running near at hand, the water of which was clear and cold, and +equally inviting to man and beast. Ned climbed down from his horse, +apparently with great difficulty and pain. + +"May I go and get a drink?" he asked of Lone Wolf. + +"Go," was the savage reply; "am I a dog to help you?" + +"No; you're a dog without helping me," muttered the lad as he limped +away toward the wood, seeking a point a short distance below where the +others were helping themselves. + +It took but a minute to reach a spot where for the time he was beyond +observation. + +"The hour has come to make a stroke for freedom!" he exclaimed, suiting +the action to the word. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +THE FLIGHT. + + +Ned had enough sense not to undertake to run away from the Apaches until +there was a reasonably good chance of succeeding. He had played the game +of lameness so well that he had secured considerable liberty thereby; +and when, therefore, he went limping beyond the further limit of the +Indians, no one supposed he had any other purpose in view than to obtain +a better place in which to help himself to water. The trees among which +he entered were almost without undergrowth, and, fortunately, were in +exactly the opposite direction from where the mustangs were grazing. +This left the way entirely open for him to do his utmost in the way of +his dash for freedom. It may seem to have been unfortunate in the one +thing, that it caused the lad to go away without his horse; but he would +have left the latter had he been given his chance, for he believed that +while the trail of the animal could be followed without trouble, and +might secure his being run to the ground in the end, yet he could +readily find the means of hiding his own footsteps from the most +skillful of the Apaches. + +It is hardly necessary to say that the instant he found himself beyond +the immediate sight of his captors, his lameness disappeared as if by +magic, and he dashed down the stream with all the speed at his command. +After running nearly two hundred yards he suddenly paused and listened. +Nothing could be heard but his own hurried breathing and throbbing +heart. + +"They haven't found out anything about me yet," was his hurried +exclamation, as he started off again, continually ejaculating a prayer +that he might succeed, for he needed no one to tell him that it was +really a matter of life and death; for, if Lone Wolf should place hands +upon him again, he would never forgive the attempt. + +A hundred yards further in this headlong fashion, and all at once he +found himself at the termination of the wood, which had been such an +advantage to him thus far. On the right and left, over the high, +precipitous mountains back of him, was the small wood, on the other +border of which was the Apache camp. The gorge or valley, in the center +of which he found himself standing, wound in and out among the mountains +before him,--a Devil's Pass on a smaller scale,--so sinuous in its +course that he could trace it only a short distance ahead with the eye. +Directly at his side flowed a mountain stream, varying from a dozen to +twenty feet in width, so clear that in every place he could see +distinctly the bottom. The current was quite swift, and in some places +it dashed and foamed over the rocks almost like a cascade. + +Ned dared not hesitate, but, pausing only an instant to catch breath, he +dashed away again until he reached the curve in the ravine, beyond which +he would be hid from view of the encampment. The moment this was reached +he paused long enough to cast back a searching glance. But all looked as +calm and peaceful as if no human being had ever entered the ravine. + +"They haven't found it out yet! They haven't found it out yet!" he +exclaimed, his heart rising with hope. "That was a pretty smart thing in +me to pretend to be lame, and if it hadn't been for that I wouldn't have +got half the start." + +Passing the turn in the ravine, he felt that it would not do to wait any +longer without some effort to hide his trail. There was but one feasible +way of accomplishing this, and that was by entering the stream and +keeping along it far enough to throw the wolves off the scent. It was +not a very pleasant task to enter the water and move along, where, at +any moment, he was liable to drop down over his head; but he did not +dare to stand upon trifles, and in he went. By keeping close to the +shore, he managed to avoid any such unpleasant ducking, while at the +same time he effectually hid his footsteps from the eyes of the +keenest-sighted Indian. A short distance ahead he found the trees were +growing fully as thickly as in the grove which he had left but a short +time before, and he made all haste thither, continually glancing back, +dreading least he should catch sight of some of the Apaches on the hunt +for him. + +Imagine his consternation, when, on the very margin of the wood, he +looked back and saw the forms of two Indians only a short distance away! +They were mounted upon their mustangs and riding at a walk almost in a +direct line toward him, and, as he stared at them he was sure that their +slow pace was due to their careful scrutiny of the trail which he was +satisfied he must have left. + +"They have found me out," he gasped, as he turned and hurried down +stream again. + +Ned was too frightened to reflect that their actions were such as to +indicate that they were hunters, who were out merely for game, and there +is no telling how far he would have kept up his flight in the stream, +had he not been checked by what he believed to be a providential +interference in his behalf. + +The water was broad, moderately deep, and quite clear; but the +overhanging trees threw out so much shade that the bottom was invisible, +so that, scrutinize as much as they chose, the redskins could not detect +the slightest trace of his footprints upon the bed of the stream. The +only difficulty that remained was to leave the water in such a way that +his pursuers should be baffled in any attempt to discover the point. +This was an exceedingly difficult question to solve, and while he was +searching for some suitable place, and growing terribly frightened lest +his two foes should pounce down upon him, he noticed a large tree that +projected over the water. The foliage was dense and the tree seemed to +be hollow. Besides this, one of the limbs hung so low that, by making an +upward spring, he was able to catch it with both hands. He then drew +himself upward, and carefully crawled along until he reached the trunk. +To his surprise and delight, he found it the very concealment he needed +above all others. The trunk was large and hollow, and on the upper side +was an aperture, probably caused by the rotting away of a limb, large +enough to permit the passage of his body. + +After peering for a few seconds into the impenetrable darkness, Ned +shoved his feet through, and carefully followed with his body. He +cautiously shoved himself along, until his head was below the level of +the opening, when he paused, believing that he was concealed in the best +manner possible. The lad had absolutely left no trace behind him; the +searching Apaches were without any means of discovering what he had +done, and all he had to do was to remain where he was until the hunt was +over. The tree, slanting out over the water, made his posture a half +reclining one, and as comfortable as it is possible to imagine. His +limbs were somewhat chilled by the wetting they had received, but that +troubled him very little, his whole thoughts, naturally, being centered +upon the one of getting away from the Apaches. It seemed to him that his +senses were preternaturally sharpened, and the rustling of a fallen leaf +startled him into the belief that one of the redskins was crawling out +upon the trunk; but a full half hour passed without presenting anything +of a tangible nature, and hope became very strong in his breast again. + +"I wonder whether those horsemen were hunting for me?" he muttered, as +he became more deliberate in his speculations. "I was sure a little +while ago that they were, but it may be that I was mistaken. I don't +think they would come on their mustangs if they wanted to find me, for +they couldn't make much use of them in following me to a place like +this." + +Whether or not these two men were his pursuers mattered very little; for +there could be no doubt that his absence had been noticed or that the +most skillful trailers were in pursuit. They could not fail to learn +that he had taken to the stream and would naturally hunt along the shore +to discover where he had left it. This would be likely to bring them +very close to where he was hidden, and he trembled as he reflected upon +the possible, if not probable, result. + +The sun was going down in the west; the shadows in the wood gradually +deepened; in his reclining position, Ned Chadmund found a heavy +drowsiness stealing over him. The afternoon was no more than half gone +when his eyes closed in a refreshing sleep, which continued several +hours, and might have lasted still longer had it not been broken. It was +far into the night when the sleeping lad suddenly opened his eyes +without understanding the cause of his doing so. Something had aroused +him, but he could not divine what it was. His posture had become +somewhat cramped from his long continuance in it and he shifted about so +as to rest upon the other side. As he did so, he became aware that some +one or something else was near him. The slightest possible rustling at +the base of the trunk directed his attention there, but there was too +much intervening shrubbery for him to detect anything at all. Everything +in that direction was shrouded in the densest gloom. The moon was +directly overhead, and shining so that he was able to see for some +little distance when he turned his glance from the trunk. Remembering +his revolver, the boy reached down and drew it from within his +waistcoat, where he had concealed it. + +"If anybody wants to run against that, let him do so," he said to +himself. "It has five good charges which I will use up before they shall +lay hands upon me or Lone Wolf shall call me his prisoner again." + +It seemed to him that, in case of discovery, his position might place +him at a great disadvantage, so he carefully drew his head and shoulders +out of the trunk, so as to leave his arms free to use. This was scarcely +done when he caught the same sound below him, repeated so distinctly +that he knew on the instant what it meant. It was a scratching, rattling +of bark, such as would be made by the claws of an animal in picking its +way along, and as he strained his eyes through the gloom, he saw very +faintly the outlines of some wild animal approaching him, a low, +threatening growl at the same time establishing the identity of the bear +beyond question. + +Ned was about to give him the contents of one barrel, when he was +restrained by the recollection that his ammunition was exceedingly +precious and that the report of the pistol was likely to bring some one +whom he dreaded more than the fiercest wild beasts of the forest. So he +decided to try milder means at first. Accordingly, the endangered lad +tried to see whether the animal could not be frightened away without +really hurting him. Breaking off a piece of bark, he flung it in his +face, giving utterance, at the same time, to a growl as savage as that +of the beast himself. The latter instantly paused, as if puzzled to +understand what it meant, but he did not retreat. He merely stood his +ground and growled back again. Encouraged even by this dubious success, +Ned threw more bark, made more noise, and flung his arms so wildly that +he came very near throwing his revolver out of his grasp into the creek. + +But it would not work. The bear was not born in the woods to be +frightened by any such trifles, and, halting for scarcely twenty +seconds, he advanced with the calm deliberation of a brute bent upon +clearing up the mystery without any unnecessary delay. Instead of giving +him the contents of one of the chambers of the revolver, the young +hunter drew back within the hollow of the tree, as a turtle is seen to +retreat within his shell when affrighted at the approach of some enemy. +It was a tight squeeze, but he insinuated himself along the open space +until quite sure that he was beyond the reach of the monster. There he +found he had barely room to use his arms, but, pointing his weapon +toward the opening, he awaited the action of bruin. + +There was sufficient moonlight to perceive the opening, but he had +scarcely time to glance at it when it was darkened by the bear, which +thrust its head in with a thunderous growl that made the lad shiver from +head to foot. Certain that it would not do to wait any longer, and +believing that he meant to force his entire body through, the sorely +frightened Ned discharged one barrel squarely in the face of the bear. + +This settled matters. The latter had his snout and enough of his head +shoved into the opening to receive a bad wound from the weapon, +discharged within a foot or two of his face. He gave a sort of snarling +howl, and jerked out his feet so suddenly that he must have injured +himself still more by doing so, and, with a relief that can hardly be +understood, Ned heard him clawing hastily along the trunk until he +reached the land, when he scampered away into the woods, and nothing +more was seen of him. + +"If I had plenty of ammunition, I would not begrudge that shot," +muttered Ned, as he carefully worked his way along the hollow again. +"But that leaves me only four shots, and there's no telling how soon +I'll have to use the rest." + +He found, upon reaching the opening again, that the night was past and +the day was breaking. He had obtained a good night's rest, but he was +anxious to get ahead. + +"I wonder where Lone Wolf is?" he thought, hesitating whether he had +better descend from his hiding place or not. "It is all of twelve hours +since I ran away and they must have done a good deal of hunting. Some of +them have passed close to where I am, and they must be lurking about +this very minute." + +It was this uncertainty which caused the lad to wait some little time +longer before venturing forth. He had been so fortunate up to this time +that he could not afford to throw the chances away. When he found that +the sun was far above the treetops, however, he began to grow impatient, +and finally came to the conclusion that he was losing valuable time. So +he began crawling carefully out, with the idea of resuming his flight +homeward. + +Ned was not yet fairly out from the tree, when he paused, for his ear +detected something alarming. It was the soft splash of water, such as is +made by a person who is carefully wading along, and it sounded fearfully +near to where he was. + +He assumed at once, because of the peculiar sound, that it must be +caused by some one who was hunting for him, and no one could be hunting +for him except some of the Apaches from whom he fled. If any doubt +remained in his mind, it was removed a moment later, when he heard a +whistle from the same quarter whence came the sound of the wading. The +signal was instantly responded to in the same manner by some one upon +shore. + +"They're Indians," he said. "They know that I must be somewhere in this +neighborhood and they've made up their minds to search until they find +me." + +For two or three minutes all was as still as the tomb. It seemed as if +the redskins were listening, in the hope of learning something of the +fugitive through their sense of hearing when their eyes had failed them +so long. If such were the case, they were disappointed, for the boy +crouching in the gnarled tree would have suspended his very breathing, +had it been in his power to do so, lest he should betray himself. + +When the splashing noise was heard again, it sounded almost beneath him, +and, yielding to a most dangerous curiosity, which, however, he could +not restrain, he reached one hand into the foliage, drew it aside and +looked down. + +Not more than twenty feet distant he saw the figure of Lone Wolf, the +Apache chief! + +He stood in the water up to his knees, and, at the moment the fugitive +looked, had passed a short distance beyond the tree, so that his back +only was visible. Had it been a few minutes sooner, the warrior would +have assuredly seen the white, scared face that peered upon him from +among the leaves. But, as it was, he was all unconscious of the fact +that he was so near the prize for which he and several of his best +warriors had been searching for hours. + +Two of them had paused beneath the tree and carefully examined the +branches without discerning the hiding place, and they were now moving +forward again, carefully examining everything on each side of the stream +where it seemed possible for a cat, even, to conceal itself. Lone Wolf +would have given his right arm, almost, rather than have his prisoner +elude him. He had been completely deceived by that little artifice of +lameness, and it was not until a full half hour after Ned's +disappearance that he began to suspect that something was amiss. The +trail was taken up at once and followed without trouble to where it +entered the water. Here the real task began, for the hardness of the bed +of the creek prevented them from tracing the footsteps where the +clearness of the current would have enabled them to do so, had the +circumstances been otherwise. + +Consequently, the only thing possible for them to do was to find the +place where he had taken to the land again. For this they hunted until +dark and renewed the work again in the morning. But as Ned had not yet +placed his foot upon dry land, the enterprise up to that moment was not +a success. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +PURSUED. + + +Ned Chadmund's only fear was that the chief would hear the throbbing of +his heart. He dared not draw his head into the tree, fearing that the +action would attract the notice of the Apache; so he remained as +motionless as the trunk of the tree itself, waiting for the danger to +pass. Finally, the Indian was heard moving forward again, and the +cramped and aching fugitive began to breathe more freely. He could +detect that soft rippling through the water, such as is made by an +angler who is hunting some choice place in the brook, and who examines +every foot of the water which he passes. At last it was beyond hearing, +and all was still again; but our young hero, impatient and anxious as he +was to get forward, dared not leave his concealment while so many of his +enemies were in the immediate neighborhood. He was confident that if he +attempted flight and escaped running against some of these dusky +wretches, they would speedily detect his trail and run him to the +ground. He concluded to remain where he was until dark, when he would +make another start, confident that by traveling all night, and taking +advantage of all the means that came in his way, he could place a goodly +distance between himself and the perilous neighborhood. + +Nothing more was seen or heard of the Apaches during these long waiting +hours, unless the distant report of a gun could be construed as their +work, and the summer day gradually wore away. By this time the condition +of the boy was truly pitiable. He was thirsty and nearly famished, +feverish from his long abstinence. Yet with water within a few feet of +him he refrained, for the reason that he was fearful of imperiling his +safety. + +"I'll wait till it is nearly dark," he said, as he looked down at the +cool water flowing beneath; "for this is the only chance I shall ever +have of giving them the slip." + +The time he had fixed upon to venture forth had not yet arrived when he +observed a large tree floating along below him. It had probably become +displaced at some point up the stream, and would drift along until it +should again catch some obstruction, and remain moored for an indefinite +time. Yielding to a sudden inspiration, Ned crept hastily out of his +concealment, and dropped lightly upon the trunk, which was heavy and +buoyant enough to bear his weight without sinking below the surface. + +The course of the stream was such that this proceeding carried him back +directly over the ground that he had passed, and, in case the Apaches +were in camp, would take him near it. But there was real woodcraft in +this act, imprudent as it seemed; for nothing could be conceived, which, +if successful, would more effectually throw the Indians off his trail. +Knowing that he had gone northward, what inducement could there be for +looking toward the south for him? The next thing after getting upon his +raft was to stoop over and get a drink from the stream, which, having +its source up among the mountains, was cold, clear, and pure. + +Oh! the refreshing draught! None but those whose frames have been +consumed with flaming fever can appreciate the delicious nectar, the +invigorating, permeating life that lay in that wonderful fluid, which is +without smell, taste or color, and to which no other liquid can be +compared. + +"Oh dear!" groaned the lad, as he raised his head. "Another drink like +that and there'll be nothing left in the creek." + +But thirst satisfied left him with such a tormenting sense of hunger +that the question of something to eat speedily became paramount to all +others. He almost ceased to think of Apaches in his wild desire for +something with which to satisfy the cravings within. + +The heavy trunk, covered with a few knotty protuberances, kept very +nearly in the center of the stream and shifted on below the wood, across +the open space and around the curve which has been already referred to, +by which time it was fairly dark. Beyond this he could discern the +outlines of the grove in the encampment of the day before, and where his +own rush for liberty had been made. Were the Apaches still there, +awaiting the conclusion of the hunt for him? This was the question, and, +in his desire to answer it, he carefully steadied himself until he stood +upright upon the log, so as to look across the intervening space to the +wood beyond. + +"If they're there, they'd be sure to have a camp fire," was the truthful +conclusion; "but I can't catch sight of anything." + +Had a point of light twinkled through the foliage, it is doubtful +whether he could have had the courage to continue on down the stream to +the point where it passed so close to the camp. No doubt he would have +dodged it. But all continued dark and silent, and he was quite confident +that they had gone. He crouched upon the raft again, and drifted with +the current. + +As he neared the rapids and narrow places where the water dashed over +its rocky bed, it looked as if he would be unable to keep his seat upon +the raft; but as this was the very section, where, above all others, he +wished to keep his feet off the ground, he grasped the limbs and held +on. He went safely on, although considerable water was splashed over +him, and in a few minutes was in the broad, smooth current below, and so +close to the grove that he trembled with fear. + +In the dim moonlight he easily recognized the place, and for a few +seconds he believed he had committed a fatal error in retracing his +route in this fashion; but the silence remained unbroken, and he began +breathing more freely, when all at once one end of the trunk struck the +shore; the other end swung round, but it remained fast, and his journey +for a time was at an end. + +Ned was dismayed and at a loss what to do, for the only way of breaking +loose that he could see was to step ashore and shove off. He remained +quiescent a moment or two, in the hope that the raft would loosen +itself; but, as it did not, he sprang ashore for that purpose. As he did +so, he looked around for some sign of his enemies, but there was none, +and the fact gave him assurance that they had really gone. + +"They must have had dinner there," was his conclusion, "and maybe they +have left something that I can make use of." + +Encouraged by this hope, he moved over the intervening space, and +speedily reached the spot where Lone Wolf and his band had encamped +twenty hours before. As he had taken his departure from the savages +before dinner, he was not really certain that that important meal had +taken place; but he made diligent search, resolved that he would find +out beyond all peradventure. The very best good fortune attended him. He +had hunted but a few minutes, when he trod among the ashes where the +camp fire had been burning. This proved that a meal had been partaken +of, and in this country, so prodigal in the different species of game, +the Indians were not economical in the use of food. Groping around in +the dark, his hands soon came upon a goodly-sized bone, plentifully +covered with meat, which had not been cooked so that it could be called +overdone. A starving wolf could not have devoured this with greater +gusto than did he, nor could a dozen starving wolves have enjoyed it +more than did the poor fellow who had been so long without any +nourishment. + +When it was gnawed clean he hunted around for more. There was no lack of +the material, and Ned was thankful beyond expression for this wonderful +piece of good fortune, by which he had escaped from Lone Wolf and his +warriors, and then, when starving, had obtained the food he needed from +them. He ate and ate, and then rested and ate again, until he had +gormandized himself to his utmost capacity, when with a sigh of +happiness, he rose to his feet, and stole back toward the stream where +he had left his craft. It was found there as if waiting expressly for +his return, and, shoving it loose, he made his way to near the middle, +where he crouched down and looked around with a feeling of misgiving and +fear. + +"I wonder if it can hold me after such a supper? It is a little lower in +the water, but I guess it can stand it." + +Whither the stream was tending was a question for the wanderer to +consider; but as he was without any possible means of determining, he +did not devote much time to the consideration thereof. His purpose was +to get ahead without leaving a trail behind, and that was what he was +doing. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +IN THE SOLITUDE. + + +Ned designed to drift down stream for a mile or so, by which time he +expected to be at such a distance that there was no further possible +danger of pursuit. It would then be necessary for him to get forward as +fast as he could, taking care to avoid the redskins who were in front, +rather than those in the rear. + +He was a little alarmed to find, after going scarcely half that +distance, that the stream was broadening very rapidly. The current as a +consequence, became slower, and when he descried seemingly a large +forest looming up before him, he concluded that the time had about come +for him to disembark, and use his heels. But, prompted somewhat by +curiosity, he remained a while longer, until, before he was aware, he +discovered that the stream had debouched into a lake, nearly circular in +shape, and fully a couple of hundred yards in diameter. The impetus of +the current kept the tree moving slowly and still more slowly, until it +had reached a point near the middle, when it gradually settled down to a +complete standstill. + +"That's odd!" exclaimed the lad, looking about him, and seeing the broad +sweep of water on every hand. "If I knew this I think I should have got +off." + +It only remained for him to work his way to land, and this he began +doing by using his hands as paddles. It was slow progress; and he was of +the opinion that he had made a rather foolish blunder in permitting +himself to be "carried out to sea" in this fashion. He was disturbed +still further by the appearance of the sky. Dark, threatening clouds +were gathering and sweeping across it, frequently shutting out the light +of the moon and causing the most grotesque shadows to whisk over the +surface of the lake. + +The indications were that a violent storm was close at hand, and he used +both hands with all the vigor at his command, and saw himself gradually +nearing land--the rate being so moderate that it could not keep pace +with his impatience. He was tempted more than once to leap into the +water and swim or wade ashore, but he restrained himself. On one of +these occasions, just as a heavy cloud approached the moon, and while +his raft was a dozen yards or so from shore, he was alarmed at sight of +something approaching him through the water. What it was he could not +conjecture, as it was low down, and very indistinct on account of the +gathering gloom. + +As the cloud touched the moon and obscured the light, this suspicious +object disappeared, and he awaited with no little alarm the outcome of +the mystery. He was sitting motionless, looking and listening, when the +end of the tree was suddenly elevated a full foot, while the other +correspondingly descended. + +With a gasp of terror, Ned clutched the limb near him and held on, not +knowing whither he was about to be flung. A muttering growl at the same +instant explained what it all meant, and he hastily retreated still +further upon the tree, expecting every moment to feel the claws of the +wild animal fastened upon him. + +"It seems to me that these beasts are after me more than the Indians," +was his thought, as he drew out his revolver, and awaited the necessity +of using it. + +Further than placing his paws upon one end of the trunk, and giving out +a threatening growl, the animal did nothing for a few minutes, while the +boy, fully sensible of the value of his ammunition, was equally lacking +in offensive proceedings. Thus matters stood, while the great heavy +cloud floated slowly by the moon, and the head of the unwelcome stranger +gradually came to view. + +It was some wild beast, beyond question, but it wasn't a bear. Its eyes, +shining with a phosphorescent glow, and the cavernous growling that +issued from the red jaws, made it seem the most frightful kind of a +monster. Hoping that it was not particularly hungry, Ned tried the scare +game again, flinging up his arms and shouting, and making noises +horrible enough to frighten any one to whom they remained unexplained. +In this case it succeeded admirably. The creature, whatever it was, must +have concluded that it was something besides a boy with which it had +taken passage, and, after indulging in one prolonged stare, dropped back +into the water and paddled straight for shore. + +[Illustration: NED TRIED THE SCARE GAME AGAIN, FLINGING UP HIS ARMS AND +SHOUTING] + +"I don't think Lone Wolf can follow me all along this route," concluded +the boy, as he resumed his paddling toward shore, and reached it in the +course of the next ten minutes. He had been cramped up in one position +so long that he felt the need of exercise, and started off at a rapid +pace, with no more idea of the precise direction he was following than +if he were blind. + +The clouds sweeping across the sky grew heavier and darker, and the +wind, strong and chilling, soughed through the trees of the forest with +a dismal, wailing sound that would have frightened one of more years +than young Chadmund. Even he would have shrunk from the task of going +through the wood had the circumstances been different, but he was so +actuated by the one all-controlling desire of escape that he forgot the +real danger which encompassed him. Besides the risk of encountering the +Apaches, there was the ever-present peril from wild beasts and venomous +serpents. None of the latter as yet had disturbed him, but he was likely +to step upon some coiling reptile, unseen in the dark, whose sting was +certain death. + +It soon became apparent that a storm of a most violent character was +about to burst forth. The wind grew stronger and colder, lightning +flashed athwart the darkening sky, and the thunder boomed with an +increasing power peculiar to warm countries. The wanderer had been +fortunate thus far in preserving himself from a ducking, and he was +still desirous of doing so. There was nothing to be gained by pressing +forward, and he began groping around for some kind of a shelter. This +was difficult to find, as the gloom was so dense that eyesight was +useless, and he could only use his hands. + +"I guess I'll have to climb a tree," he thought, running his hand along +the bark of one. + +But at this juncture he ran against a rock, striking with such violence +that he saw stars. As soon as he recovered he began an examination, and +was not a little pleased to find that under one portion of it there was +a hollow big enough for him to crawl in and protect himself from the +tempest. He had scarcely done so when the storm burst forth. + +First a few large drops pattered upon the leaves, and then it seemed as +if the windows of Heaven had been opened. The rain descended in +torrents, the firmament flamed with a blinding intensity--and the earth +trembled with the reverberating thunder. The vivid sheets of electric +fire made the darkness and gloom deeper by contrast. The trees, with +their swaying branches, and the spear-like columns of rain, stood out +and vanished again so rapidly that the vision of the appalled lad was +dazzled and bewildered. The terrific shocks coming simultaneously with +the lightning, proved that the thunderbolts were falling all around him, +and again and again he thanked that Providence which had dissuaded him +from taking refuge in some of the trees. + +_Crash!_ + +Directly in front of him, an immense giant of the forest was smitten +from top to base, the limbs, leaves, and splinters hurled in every +direction, as if a thousand pounds of powder had been exploded within. +The air was so surcharged with electricity that Ned felt the effect. A +prickling sensation down one entire side of his body was followed by a +partial numbness and paralysis that alarmed him. With his other hand he +hastily rubbed his limbs, and turned and twisted, fearing that he was +becoming helpless. + +In a few minutes he regained the strength which had temporarily +departed, and then noticed that the storm was subsiding as rapidly as it +had arisen. The thunder died out in sullen mutterings; the lightning +flashed fitfully, often without any perceptible report following, and +the deluge diminished to a few drops. + +"The storm is over, thank heaven!" he exclaimed. "As I have such a good +bed, I may as well stay here till morning." + +But at this instant his blood almost froze at the sudden discovery of a +new and deadly peril. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +AMONG THE MOUNTAINS. + + +Young Chadmund heard the unmistakable warning of a rattlesnake that was +somewhere near him, and on the very point of striking. Precisely where +it was, it was impossible to determine with any certainty; but there was +no time to consider the matter. It seemed to him in that brief second he +devoted to thought that the venomous reptile lay a little to the left, +and he scrambled out of his place with all the celerity at his command. + +The wonderful quickness of this usually sluggish snake, when about to +deal its deadly blow is well known, and, had the boy moved with twice +the rapidity that he did, Ned could not have escaped that lightning-like +dart of the snake, which was aimed straight at his foot, that being the +part of the body which was nearest his coil. The fangs struck the side +of his shoe, which happened to move at the very instant the blow was +made, and, piercing the leather, held the reptile fast,--"Hoist by his +own petard," as it were,--so that, when Ned scrambled out from his +shelter, he felt the horrid thing dangling at his heels. + +With presence of mind hardly to be expected at such a time, he arose to +his feet, and holding the attached foot motionless, with the other he +hastily stamped all the life from the writhing rattlesnake. This done he +freed the shoe by a jerk, although it tore the fangs of the reptile from +its jaws. + +"I think I'd better dust out of here," said the lad, breathlessly. "I +remember that Corporal Hugg told me that where you found one of those +things you are pretty sure of running against another close by, and I +don't care about seeing any, especially when it's so dark you can't see +at all." + +He stepped carefully forth in the darkness, and, moving a few feet, +paused to listen. The rain had ceased falling entirely, and only the +faintest mutter of the distant thunder reached his ears. The darkness +was absolutely impenetrable, and the wind, as it soughed through the wet +branches, made the most dreary and dismal wailing--enough to strike +despair to the bravest heart. + +The boy had listened but a moment when a slight rustling among the +leaves at his feet filled him with a sudden conviction that a second +rattlesnake was after him. He left the spot expeditiously, not halting +until he was sure that he was beyond reach of the unwelcome visitant, +which, it is well known, is not much given to pursuing its prey. + +"Hang it!" he exclaimed, "there ain't much fun in this. I wish daylight +would come, so that I could see what to do." + +His situation was exceedingly uncomfortable. Everything was soaked with +water, and he could not walk without shaking down the moisture from the +laden branches and undergrowth. He knew of but one place wherein he +could secure protection and that was beneath the rock where he had so +narrowly escaped the rattlesnake, but he was not very anxious to make +his way back there. + +While he stood debating what to do, he noticed that the sky was rapidly +clearing, the black, tumultuous clouds rolling away from the face of the +moon, which soon shone out with all its wonted power. This was a vast +help, for, despite the dense shadows made by the heavy branches +overhead, he was able to see enough to pick his way and noticed that the +forest directly in front was quite open, indicating that he was close to +the termination. Thus encouraged, he pressed ahead and soon had the +satisfaction of finding that he was through the woods and on the border +of an open, rocky ravine, through which he could hear a stream rushing +with great violence, and which he took to be the outlet of the little +lake that had been overcharged by the recent severe storm. So far as he +could see by the moonlight, great masses of rock, boulders and broken +prairie stretched out before him, and he asked himself how he was to +make his way. + +He concluded not to make the attempt just then, but, hunting out a place +among the rocks, he crawled into it, first making sure, by a careful +reconnaissance that no rattlesnakes had crept in ahead of him. He was +permitted to remain undisturbed through the night, and when he opened +his eyes the sun was shining directly in upon him. The boy then hastily +sprang up, his heart full of gratitude to God for the wondrous manner in +which his life had been preserved, and the remarkable success which had +followed his attempt at escape from the Apaches. + +With the coming of the glorious sunlight, Ned naturally felt buoyant and +hopeful. He was not without considerable appetite, but he had eaten so +heartily, on the previous evening, that he felt that he could afford to +wait until night again; and he still had that impatient, almost +unreasoning desire to get forward, which made him feel like breaking +into a run, and keeping it up until he was out of breath. + +But, young as was the little fellow, he was old enough to feel that the +time had come when he must use all the brains in his command. Up to that +hour, as will be understood, he had been journeying entirely at random, +his sole purpose being to get beyond reach of Lone Wolf and his band. He +had accomplished this, and a radical change of tactics must be made. + +If Ned Chadmund had been a half dozen years older, he would have +recoiled at the prospect before him; but he was so young and full of +animal spirits that he did not really comprehend the difficulty and +danger. He had traveled very little more than half the distance between +Santa Fe and Fort Havens, and his purpose was to press ahead until the +latter was reached. To do this, it was necessary that he should make his +way through the mountains in which he now found himself, and then to +journey a couple of hundred miles through or over prairie, and across +streams, before he could reach the frontier post, where his father was +so anxiously awaiting his coming. The project seemed nothing short of +madness; but its justification lay in the fact that the wanderer had the +choice of attempting that or lying down and dying where he was. He could +do nothing but choose the former. + +Ned climbed up to an elevated position and took an observation--his +purpose, after learning whether any present danger threatened, being to +learn the direction it was necessary to follow in order to reach Fort +Havens. + +"Corporal Hugg told me that after we reached Devil's Pass, it was in a +straight line West. The trail winds in and out, as it has to do, but all +one had to do was to dig ahead, and he would be sure to come out right +in the end--that is, if the Indians and wild animals would only let him. +Well, right yonder rose the sun," he continued, very carefully +continuing his observation. "That must be the east, and all I have to do +is to keep that at my back until it gets over my head and wears round to +the front. So off we go." + +There was one favorable accompaniment of this first thoughtful effort to +reach home. The valley-like depression that had caught his eye upon +rising ran precisely in the direction to be desired--due east and +west--so that he had the best facility in the world for getting through +the mountains. Still another favorable augury was that the general +direction pursued by the Apaches was the same, and the fact was, there +was very little still intervening between him and the open prairie +beyond. Should his progress remain uninterrupted through the day, by +nightfall he would be close to the prairie, which stretched away so many +miles in the direction of the frontier post. + +"I don't think it's as much as two hundred miles," he said, as he +started off at a rapid walk. "I can make thirty miles a day, so that I +will be there at the end of a week, if nothing unexpected gets in the +way. Won't father be surprised when he sees me walk up, and won't I be +surprised if I manage to do it, also!" + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +A MYSTERIOUS CAMP FIRE. + + +For a couple of hours young Chadmund had difficulty in traveling. +Despite the fact that he was in a sort of valley, with towering peaks +and bluffs upon either hand, a great many boulders and obstructions +obtruded themselves in his path, and he did some climbing, clambering, +and jumping that would have reflected no discredit upon a mountain goat. +The forenoon was about half gone, and he was felicitating himself upon +the excellent progress he was making, when he was brought up all +standing by finding himself upon the bank of a mountain stream, which +crossed his route exactly at right angles, issuing from the mountains on +the left with a rush and roar and pouring tumultuously forward with +irresistible power and velocity. + +"I can't wade that," said the lad, scratching his head in perplexity, +"and it won't do to try and swim it. If I once got in there it would be +the last of me." + +There could be no doubt of that, for the stream was fully twenty feet in +width, very deep, and sped forward like the volume of a river when +suddenly compressed into a mountain canyon. It was walled in on either +side by solid rock, the surface of the water being a couple of yards +below the level where he stood. + +"I wonder whether I can't go round it?" he said, after spending some +time in mental debate. "It can't run all the way through the mountain, +but must start somewhere not very far away." + +This was not a very plausible theory; but as nothing was to be gained by +standing still, he started out upon his tour of exploration. Better +success followed than he expected. He had started toward the head of the +stream and had clambered along less than a hundred yards, when he +reached a place where it was so narrow that he was confident of his +ability to leap across. + +"Yes, I can do that," he said, approaching close to the edge and looking +over the boiling abyss to the solid rock upon the other side. "But +suppose I should miss my footing, wouldn't I catch it!" + +It was a pretty good leap, but Ned was active, strong and swift, and he +had made many a longer leap than the one before him. For a minute longer +he stood, measuring the distance with his eye. Then going backward a few +steps, he suddenly ran forward with all the speed at his command, and, +concentrating all his strength, made such a leap that he cleared the +chasm by a couple of feet. + +"There!" he exclaimed, with some satisfaction, "if none of the streams +are broader than that, I'll jump them all." + +Still full of hope and in the best of spirits he pressed forward until +the sun was at the meridian and the heat became so oppressive that he +concluded to rest awhile. He was in a section of country where, at +certain seasons, the heat is like that of the Desert of Sahara. There +are portions of Arizona and Lower California where the fervor of the +sun's rays at noonday smite the earth with the withering power of the +sirocco. + +At times, when Ned was down in the lowest portions of the valley, the +heat was almost intolerable; and then, again, when he clambered to the +top of some elevation, and the cool breezes from the upper regions +fanned his cheeks, it was like a draught of water to the fever-parched +patient. + +He had lain on the ground under the protecting shadow of a rock but a +short time when his eye rested upon something which convinced him that +he was not the only one in the valley. Looking dreamily off toward the +west, up the valley, with the mountains sloping down on the right and +left, he noticed what at first seemed a thin bluish cloud, resting +against the sky. Then he observed that its form was a little out of the +usual order, it being column-shaped, tall, and like a shaft of almost +invisible vapor, thrown against the white background beyond. + +"That ain't a cloud," he suddenly exclaimed, starting to his feet and +scrutinizing it more closely. "It's the smoke from a camp fire and I've +got to go right by it." + +There could be no doubt of the truth of what he said, and he became +deeply interested. + +"I wonder whether they're Indians or white men? I suppose it's most +likely they are Apaches, and they may be Lone Wolf and his companions. +I've got to keep a sharp lookout and keep from running into them. If +they are white hunters, that I've heard are sometimes in these +mountains, it will be a lucky thing for me." + +Somehow or other he became impressed with the idea that the camp fire +ahead of him was that of friends instead of enemies--that the assistance +which he so sorely needed was thus placed within his reach. He had +learned, long before, that one is apt to miscalculate the distance when +placed as he was; but, making allowance for all that, he was confident +that the camp fire was not more than a mile away. Yielding to a natural +curiosity to learn its meaning, he shortened the hour which he had +intended to devote to rest, and started ahead again. + +Once or twice it seemed to him that he had dropped into some sort of +trail, which he was following. Here and there were traces showing that +the route had been traveled before. It seemed to be one of those natural +roads or passes which are found at intervals in all great mountain +chains, and without which, many of of them for vast distances would be +literally impassable for man or animal. + +The conviction that he was not the pioneer over that section caused the +young wanderer some misgivings and suggested several discomforting +questions. If Apaches had used the trail already, might not some of them +be upon it? If some of them were coming from the opposite direction, how +was he to avoid running into their arms? These queries were not of the +most cheerful character and they served to tone down the enthusiasm +which had marked his start in the morning. They also caused him to +examine, more times than was really necessary, the revolver which had +already done him such good service, and he went through a preliminary +drill, consisting of placing it inside his waistcoat, a couple of +buttons being left carelessly unfastened; next thrusting his hand +within, in an indifferent manner, then instantly jerking out and +pointing the weapon at an imaginary foe in front of him. This maneuver +he repeated scores of times, narrowly escaping the firing of the weapon, +until he satisfied himself that he could do it to perfection. + +"Now, if Lone Wolf comes at me alone, I think I can manage him. He won't +suspect that I've any weapon, and so won't be prepared for it; but I +hope he won't show himself," he added the next minute. "If there's any +way of avoiding him, I'll do it." + +However, he was bent upon solving the mystery of the distant camp fire, +which he still hoped might belong to some party of white hunters, who +would take him under their protection and conduct him safely over the +wide and dangerous stretch of territory which still intervened between +him and his destination. + +In spite of the careful calculation he had made, he soon learned that he +had committed an error. Although the tell-tale smoke at first seemed +scarcely a mile away, it was more than three times that distance. The +way being more obstructed by rocks and the sinuous winding of the trail, +he saw the sun sinking low in the west and found that he had still no +little traveling to do. + +"It can't be that they are shifting that camp fire all the time," he +growled, as he clambered upon an elevation, and was again disappointed +to find it so far away. "Blamed if it don't look as if somebody was +playing a trick on me. I've heard of a jack-o'-lantern bobbing around in +that style, but nothing else." + +He finally concluded that the laws of nature were not violated in this +case, and with renewed courage pressed ahead again. The sky was clear +and cloudless, the weather remained oppressively warm, and poor Ned was +so jaded that he felt scarcely able to drag one foot after the other, +but he was stout-hearted, and, just as the sun dipped out of sight +behind the mountains, he found himself within a hundred yards of the +mysterious camp. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +THE INDIAN FIGHT. + + +In spite of his great anxiety to learn all there was to be known about +the camp fire, Ned remained where he was for half an hour, until he had +rested somewhat from his severe labor. + +The place in which the fire was kindled was elevated, rocky, uneven, and +inclosed by a few stunted trees and undergrowth, so that while the young +scout could catch a glimmer, now and then, of the fire, he could see +nothing more. The only way in which he could perfect his information was +to crawl up still nearer. This he proceeded to do, using all the care +and caution possible, until, after the lapse of nearly an hour, he +reached a point where his view was unobstructed and perfect. + +A severe disappointment awaited him. He saw four Indian warriors grouped +around the fire, their dress, and the peculiar manner in which they were +painted, proving that they belonged to some tribe other than the +Apaches. Three of them were occupied in cutting up and preparing the +carcass of some animal, which they had shot, while the fourth was on his +knees in front of the fire, carefully doctoring it for culinary +purposes. + +Succeeding Ned's first feeling of disappointment was an undercurrent of +hope that he was in a fair way to obtain another good meal. + +"It isn't likely they'll eat up all they've got," he reflected, "and I +don't suppose they're going to settle down there for life. All I've got +to do, then, is to hang round until they go away, and then, if I can get +the chance, I'll stuff enough to last a week." + +Having made his reconnaissance he withdrew to a more secret place, where +he would not be seen in case some of the warriors should take a look +around before retiring for the night. It was fortunate that he did so, +for he had scarcely crawled away beneath a dense mass of undergrowth +when he made the discovery that he had placed himself in a curious and +singularly dangerous position. + +Twice he fancied he heard a faint rustling in the rear of where he was +crouching, and he was puzzled to know what it meant. He was sharp enough +to protect himself from observation from this direction as well as from +the front, and was no more than fairly secure when he caught the slight +sound again, and the next moment detected the figure of an Indian +stealing along, with his gaze fixed upon the camp fire and the forms +around it. + +The lad was naturally puzzled to understand the meaning of this. There +was just enough fire light penetrating to where he was to show him that +this redskin belonged to a different tribe from those in camp. Only a +few minutes passed when he caught the glimpse of another warrior on the +left, crouching along in the same manner as the other. Then followed the +softest possible hiss, such as is made by the disturbed serpent, and, at +that moment, the truth of the whole matter suddenly broke upon Ned +Chadmund. + +The strange Indians were quietly preparing their supper, unaware of the +fact that, while they were thus employed, a party of Apaches, their +deadly enemies, were closing in upon them. Thus, it was, too, that, +without the knowledge of either side, the lad was directly between them, +where it would seem impossible that he should escape being involved in +the conflict that was rapidly drawing to a head. + +There was no hope of withdrawing, for the slightest movement would be +sure to make known his position, and he could only wait, therefore, the +issue of the encounter with an intensity of interest which it is +impossible to imagine. What could be more painfully interesting, for +instance, than to watch the movements of the strange Indians as they +engaged themselves in preparing their supper, conversing with each other +in their grunting fashion, and to note their unconsciousness that a +circle of death was slowly but surely closing in around them; to know, +which they did not suspect, that the most deadly kind of encounter was +close at hand? The endangered party certainly showed a lack of +precaution which belongs to their people in the most ordinary cases when +they went into camp in this fashion, and left the way open for such a +deadly and fatal assault to be made upon them. It must have been that +while engaged in the chase during the day they had made their +observations, and satisfied themselves that none of their enemies were +in dangerous proximity. + +The odor of the cooking meat crept through the bushes to the nostrils of +the hungry lad, who was almost maddened into charging upon the party +himself in quest of some of the brown, crisp, roasting meat; but he +restrained himself, in the hope that the issue of the unpleasantness +would furnish him an opportunity to procure something for the inner man. + +An Indian upon the warpath is as patient as the Esquimau who watches for +a dozen hours beside the airhole, waiting for the seal to come to the +surface. According to all human reasoning, there was no earthly +necessity for any delay upon the part of the attacking Apaches, and yet, +for full an hour longer, they maneuvered and reconnoitered, without +striking a blow. Despite the tense condition of the lad's nerves, he +began to grow drowsy and weary at the prolonged delay, and had the +attack been deferred a short time longer, he would have dropped into a +sound slumber. + +The four strange Indians were permitted to finish their supper, and to +engage in a comfortable smoke. This, however, was never completed. They +were stretched out upon the ground in the most indolent manner +imaginable, when several rifles suddenly broke the stillness, the Apache +war whoop rang out with startling power, and a number of figures charged +through the bushes like a horde of demons, all converging upon the group +around the camp fire. Two of the latter had been instantly killed by the +first volley poured in upon them. The others were wounded, but they were +on their feet in an instant, fighting with the fury of tigers. + +The battle was of the hurricane order, the third defender going down +within a minute after the assaulting party closed in about them. The +fourth, who was only slightly hurt seemed to have been caught at less +disadvantage. He was a warrior of wonderful activity and strength, and +used his hunting knife with good effect upon his first and second +assailants with lightening-like quickness. Then as they began to crowd +in upon him faster than he could provide against he circled his weapon +around his head several times, so as to clear a brief open space, when, +with a yell of defiance, he bounded high in the air, and vanished in the +forest, his speed so amazing that it was vain for any one to think of +pursuing him. + +The battle ended as abruptly as it began. It was over in an instant, and +the petrified spectator could scarcely realize what had taken place +directly under his own eyes. He lay motionless, peering through the +leaves that shut him in, scarcely daring to breathe as he watched the +movements of the victors. He could scarcely suppress an exclamation of +terror when he recognized among them his old captor and enemy, Lone +Wolf. + +"Just think of it," whispered Chadmund. "I have spent hours and hours, +and have traveled night and day to get away from him, and here he is, +within fifty feet of me again. How can I keep him from seeing my trail +again in the morning? It does beat everything how this thing is getting +mixed." + +He took heart again, however, when he came to reflect that the greater +part of the night was still before him, that Lone Wolf had undoubtedly +given up all expectation of finding him, and, by using ordinary caution, +he could still keep clear of him. + +The Apaches did not remain long upon the scene of the encampment. The +two of their own number that had been killed were lifted up, and then +Lone Wolf and his few intrepid warriors took their departure. Thus it +happened that within fifteen minutes after the first gun had been fired, +and the first yell uttered, the boy found himself alone upon the scene +of the terrible fight. Dreadful as were the place and the associations, +he could not forget that he was nearly famished, and stealing his way to +the fire, he hunted around until he found enough to satisfy the cravings +within. This done, he made up his mind that it was best for him to do +some traveling during the darkness, without waiting for the rising of +the morrow's sun. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +A TERRIBLE MEETING. + + +As he moved along, weary and worn, the memory of the horrid fight he had +seen by the camp fire, and especially the picture of those three stark, +bloody forms that lay stretched upon the earth, seemingly watching every +movement he made, followed and weighed him down like some smothering +incubus. Then he saw, more vividly than ever before, the mountainous +task ahead. With no horse, and the hundreds of miles of mountain and +prairie, with the dangers besetting him on every hand, what possible +hope had he for believing he was ever to reach his destination? The +gloom of the night, the shadow of what he had so recently witnessed, and +his own exhausted condition, no doubt had much to do with the distress; +for his prospects were certainly as good as at morning, when he was so +full of enthusiasm. + +"I can't travel any further," he finally exclaimed, "and what's the use? +It won't do any good." + +When he paused in his wearisome tramp, he happened to be close to a +tree, quite lofty, with numerous limbs, some of which were quite near +the ground. It struck him at once that it would be a good plan to climb +into this, and ensconce himself among the branches. At any rate, he was +certain to be out of the way of the crawling snakes, and no wild animal +could steal upon him while he was unconscious. + +Without pausing more than a moment to consider, he ascended the tree, +and, a short distance from the ground secured the very position he +wanted. Here the limbs crossed and recrossed, and gnarled themselves in +such a way, that the most pleasant kind of bed imaginable was found, and +he stretched out his weary limbs upon it, thanking Heaven that had +guided him to such a favorable place. + +"I hope Lone Wolf won't be able to follow me here," was the wish he +expressed, as he resigned himself to slumber. + +But gentle sleep had not yet closed his eyelids when he was alarmed by +hearing something beneath him. His first supposition was that it was +Lone Wolf, for the sound resembled the stealthy tread of some person +upon the soft earth; but after listening a few minutes he became +satisfied that it was some animal instead. + +"It's a wolf or panther that has scented my trail," was his conclusion, +as he leaned over and peered cautiously down among the branches. + +The moon shone more brightly than upon any night since he had started, +but the shadow of the trees themselves obscured his view so much that +his vision was of little use to him. It seemed to him, however, when he +looked downward in this fashion, that once or twice he caught sight of a +shadowy creature, whisking back and forth, leaping about like a dog, and +apparently ready to make a bound upward among the branches. + +But he could not make certain of what he saw, although there could be no +doubt but that he heard something, and that some kind of a dangerous +creature was close at hand. + +"I guess he isn't going to hurt me," was his conclusion, after watching +and listening a half hour, and after finding a heavy drowsiness was +stealing over him. In this comfortable state of mind, he soon closed his +eyes, and relapsed into a deep, refreshing sleep, which lasted an hour +or more, when it ended in a peculiar manner. Very few boys are apt to +lie quiet in their beds, and Ned Chadmund, in turning over upon his +side, turned completely out of bed, and dropped through the branches to +the ground. + +The fall was so slight that it did not hurt him, except in the +disagreeable shock that was inevitable. It flashed on him on the +instant, and, recalling those stealthy footsteps that had so frightened +him, he instantly sprang for the trunk, and began climbing with all the +haste at his command. He was almost within reach of the limbs, when he +heard a growl, and some denizen of the forest came plunging toward him. + +With a thrill of terror, the lad made a tremendous effort, caught the +limb with one hand, swung his leg over and drew himself up. As he did +so, he felt distinctly the wind made by the body of the beast, as it +leaped upward, and snapped with his huge jaws at his legs, which were +withdrawn from its fangs just as they closed together. The creature, +whatever it was, made a running leap, that carried him some distance +beyond, when he struck the ground and ran a few leaps before turning +about and retracing his steps. + +Without waiting to gain a more distinct view, the lad crept back to his +perch, where he tremblingly awaited the moment when it was to bound up +among the limbs and attack him. After gaining his former position, he +sat for a few minutes shivering like one with the ague, forgetting even +to think of the revolver with which to defend himself in case the brute +assaulted him. But it may have been that the dumb creature believed that +he was already frightened to death, and there was no occasion for +attempting anything further. At any rate nothing more was seen or heard +of him. + +Ned had been too thoroughly shaken up to gain any more sleep. He sat +through the remaining hours of the night without closing his eyes a +moment in slumber. They were the longest and the dreariest that he ever +spent, but when the welcome light of morning came his foe had departed. + +The wanderer waited a half hour or more, and carefully reconnoitered the +grounds before descending; but, assured that the coast was clear, he +came down to _terra firma_ again and took up his line of march. His fear +now was that his presence in the neighborhood might be discovered by +Lone Wolf or some of his band, and, scarcely pausing long enough to +swallow a few mouthfuls of water from a stream near at hand, he hastened +forward, with his face toward the west. + +It became evident, after journeying a short distance, that he was again +following a distinctly-marked trail, one that was originally made by +animals, most probably buffaloes, in their migrations from one section +to another, and had been taken advantage of by men whose business or +inclinations called them in the same direction. Here and there he saw +marks that had been made by the hoofs of horses, and more than once he +was certain he observed the trail of moccasins. The path was more direct +and less laborious to travel, and he began to believe that, if he were +left alone, he might succeed in reaching safety at some time or other. + +For some two hours he tramped along through a section that gradually +lost its mountainous character as he neared the rolling prairie beyond. +He kept continually looking back and around him, on the alert for +Indians; but not a sign was discovered, until he approached an +exceptionally rocky place, where the trail wound round the masses of +stone at such a sharp angle that the view was less than a dozen feet. + +With no thought of danger, Ned walked around this corner, and on the +instant found himself face to face with a swarthy Indian warrior who +must have seen him approaching, and, dismounting from his horse, stood +back and awaited his approach. That astounded look revealed not only +this, but that the Indian was Lone Wolf. + +Fate had brought the two together again, at the very time the heart of +the weary fugitive was beating high with hope. There was no chance for +retreat or hope of avoiding him. The eyes of the painted Apache glowed +with a demoniac light, and his fingers twitched as he placed his right +hand upon the buckhorn handle of a knife at his girdle. + +"You run away--you see well--you lie--now I will cut out your eyes, and +you will not see to run away again!" + +There was no doubt that such was the purpose of the warrior, as he +advanced upon the lad, who suddenly thrust his hand into his waistcoat +for his revolver. + +It was gone! + +During the night it had dropped out without being noticed, and he was +absolutely defenseless. He was breathless, paralyzed with terror. + +"Yes, I will cut out your eyes, and then you will not see to run away," +added the chief, striding toward him. + +"Hold on thar, my copper-colored friend! This 'ere is a little row you +kin settle with me, instead of that boy thar. Try that knife on my eyes, +and while you're doing it, I'll try mine on yourn." + +[Illustration: "THIS 'ERE IS A LITTLE ROW YOU KIN SETTLE WITH ME, +INSTEAD OF THAT BOY THAR."] + +It was Tom Hardynge, the scout, who spoke thus opportunely. + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +WHITE VS. RED. + + +The hunter seemed to step forth from some crevice in the rocks, wherein +he had been concealed, and strode forward in such a manner that Lone +Wolf saw him at the very instant the first word was uttered. + +The latter withdrew his gaze from the boy and turned with lightning-like +swiftness upon his adversary, while the latter, as cool and +self-possessed as if he were about to slice up an antelope or buffalo, +continued approaching with his hunting knife firmly clasped in his right +hand. The Indian, perceiving the character of the fight, flung his rifle +several yards from him, where it was beyond the reach of both, and +recoiling a single step, put himself in form to receive the charge of +his assailant. + +"Ned, my boy," said the latter, without looking at him, "get back. +There's no telling what may happen." + +This was no more than a prudent caution. The fight was over the boy, and +if Lone Wolf should find the battle going against him, he would resort +to any treacherous trick by which to destroy the prize,--such, for +instance, as a sudden dart upon the unsuspecting spectator and the +plunging of his knife to his heart before the active hunter could thwart +him. Ned obeyed his rescuer, whom he had never seen before, and stepped +back full a dozen yards from the combatants, but with his eyes intently +fixed upon them. + +Tom was not the man to advance blindly to the assault, for none knew +better than he did the character of the foe he was about to assail. +When, therefore, he was just within striking distance, he paused, and, +with his grey eyes centered upon the black, snake-like orbs of the +chief, began circling around him in a stealthy cat-like movement, on the +lookout for some opening of which he might take advantage. + +"Lone Wolf is a coward and a dog," he growled between his set teeth. "He +fights with pappooses, but he is afraid of men." + +This was said with the sole purpose of exasperating the warrior, who +would thus have been placed at a slight disadvantage; but he was already +like a concentrated volcano--calm outwardly, but surcharged with fire +and death within. The taunt did not move his nerves an iota, and he +replied in words which were scarcely less irritating. + +"It is the boasting dog which never hurts. If Lone Wolf is a dog, why +are you so afraid to come within his reach?" + +The words were yet in his mouth when the scout dashed forward like a +catapult and struck a tremendous blow, driven with such directness and +swiftness that it could not have been parried. At the very instant +Hardynge made the charge, Lone Wolf did the same, and the two similar +blows, aimed at the same moment, encountered half way with such terrible +violence that both knives were hurled twenty feet beyond over the cliff +at their side, and irrevocably beyond their reach. This left them with +no weapons except such as nature had provided them with, and, now that +their blood was up and each was smarting under the pain of the first +collision, they immediately closed in and grappled each other like a +couple of infuriated gladiators. + +Hardynge was a marvel of strength and activity, and so was the Apache. +The two were nearly evenly matched, a slight superiority in wrestling +attaching to the white man, who, after a furious struggle of a minute or +so, flung his antagonist as flat as could be, upon his back. He struck +like an India-rubber ball, and, before Tom could fasten him down, so as +to hold him, bounded up again and renewed his fight without a second's +hesitation. + +"The devil take you!" growled the maddened hunter, as he let drive a +sledgehammer-like blow straight from the shoulder. + +It encountered the chief fairly upon the forehead, with a force +apparently sufficient to crush his skull, but it only sent him reeling +back several paces, when his sinewy activity saved him from falling. +With the same unhesitating promptness he charged as before. + +"If that skull ain't more than six inches thick, it'll go this time," +muttered Tom, as he gathered all his strength and sent out his fist like +the thrust of a piston rod. + +But Lone Wolf was expecting it and a quick flirt of the head to one side +let the mallet go harmlessly by, while the impetus of his own blow threw +Hardynge forward several steps, and narrowly escaped carrying him off +his feet altogether. With an exasperating taunt the chief landed a blow +upon the face of his antagonist as he shot by, and, catching him about +the shoulder before he could recover, flung him to the ground with great +violence, falling heavily upon him. + +Had the knife of the Apache been in his hand at this juncture he would +have ended the struggle in short order; but he was without the means of +improving his advantage, and before he knew it he was turned from the +chest of the prostrate man. And this critical moment, when the issue of +the contest was very doubtful, a second figure came out from the rocks, +and approached the combatants. It was that of Dick Morris, who coolly +asked: + +"Sha'n't I knock him on the head, Tom, and end this little row?" + +"No," fairly shouted the enraged hunter, as they hammered away at each +other. "If you do it, I'll knock you on the head. This is a fair and +square fight in which the best man wins. If I can't knock thunder and +lightning out of this redskin, let him knock it out of me. Stand back!" + +"All right," replied Dick, very contentedly, walking to where the +enthralled Ned Chadmund stood and asking him whether he wished to stake +a little wager on the result. + +The appearance of this third party ended the contest in a manner neither +of the whites anticipated. The words of Tom Hardynge, declining the +assistance of his friend, were understood by Lone Wolf; but, treacherous +and faithless himself, he regarded them as only a part of a trap in +which he was to be caught, and his whole purpose was to get out of the +dilemma as quickly as possible. However hopeful he might be in a single +hand-to-hand encounter with one of the men, he was not vain enough to +think that he could master both. In their struggling they had approached +quite close to the cliff, and Lone Wolf made a determined attempt to +throw Tom over. By a little feinting and dodging, he managed to get him +between himself and the edge and then began pressing him furiously. + +"That's your game, is it?" exclaimed the scout. "If it is, sail in, and +may the best man win." + +Both were striking very wildly, when, hastily parrying several blows, +Hardynge made a sudden rush, closed in, grasping the chief around the +waist, and, lifting him clear of the ground, ran to the edge of the +cliff and flung him over! + +But Hardynge was outwitted. This was the very thing for which Lone Wolf +had maneuvered so slyly. The cliff was not more than twenty feet in +height, and when the hunter peered over the margin, expecting to see his +enemy dashed to pieces at a great depth below, he saw him land as +lightly as a panther upon his feet and then whisk out of sight among the +rocks. + +"Thunder and blazes!" he exclaimed, when he comprehended the little +trick that had been played upon him. Jerking off his hat, he slammed it +impatiently to the ground, and turning to his comrade, said: + +"Did you ever see a bigger fool than me?" + +"Don't think I ever did," was the serious reply. + +"Never thought what the Injun was after till it was too late to hinder +him." + +"I knowed it all the time. This ere little chap could have seed as much +himself," was the tantalizing reply. + +"Why didn't you sing out, then, when you seed me pick him up and start +to throw him over?" + +"'Cause I thought you was only fooling. Do you know there's a reward of +five hundred dollars offered for Lone Wolf, dead or alive? See what you +have lost?" + +"Who offered it?" demanded Tom. + +"Colonel Chadmund told me that old Captain Alvarez, that owns a big +ranch near Santa Fe, lost a thousand cattle by a stampede that he had +got up, and he's the man that has promised a hundred times to give that +reward to whoever wipes out the chief." + +"Anything else to tell?" said Hardynge, disgustedly. + +"Yes. When Colonel Chadmund told me that, he punched me slyly in the +side, and says, 'And yes, Dick, I'll put another five hundred on top of +it.'" + +"Hain't you got a little more such news?" asked poor Tom, who was +wondering whether it was possible to feel any more angered or disgusted +with himself than he now felt. + +"No--that'll do just now. I think you've had enough." + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +FRIENDS TOGETHER. + + +Up to this stage the two hunters had found no opportunity to pay much +heed to Ned, who had been rescued so narrowly from horrible cruelty. Tom +Hardynge now advanced to where he stood, and thrust out his hand, his +face one broad grin. + +"How are ye, my lad? We've had a long tramp for ye, and come mighty nigh +bein' too late." + +"Have _you_ been looking for me?" asked the boy, in amazement. + +"Yes, sir, we've been on the hunt for some days." + +"How is that?" + +Dick Morris briefly explained how Colonel Chadmund had received warning +through a friendly Indian runner of the projected massacre of the +cavalry escort. Knowing that it was impossible to forward reinforcements +to them in time, and that Lone Wolf was aiming specially to get his +hands upon his little boy, he had sent Dick post-haste with orders to +intercept Tom, if possible, and both had been instructed to secure +possession of the lad by any possible means in their power. + +After a cautious investigation at the outset, when they arrived at +Devil's Pass, they found that the massacre had taken place almost +twenty-four hours before. The sight was a terrible one, such as made +even them shudder. The horses and soldiers lay scattered here and there, +just as they fell. The beasts of the forest had offered them no +disturbance, probably because there were more inviting feasts elsewhere. +But in the warm summer air the bloody, hacked faces were discolored and +swollen beyond recognition. The hunters rode carefully along, and +counted the whole thirteen, and when they found the overturned and +wrecked ambulance and the dead horse a short distance beyond they were +able to hit the right theory. It was in this carriage that young +Chadmund had been riding when he was captured, and the scouts set out at +once upon the trail of the Apache war-party. + +It was all easy enough to follow the warriors, but Tom and Dick were +hopelessly puzzled when they came up with the redskins, saw Lone Wolf +and his brother warriors, and made the discovery that the boy was not +with them. It was a most trying problem to them--the only solution being +that they had grown impatient with the boy and put him to death; and +yet, as the trail had been followed and narrowly watched, it seemed +impossible that such a thing should have taken place without the +pursuers finding it out before this. Dick Morris suggested that the +captive, by some providential interference, had managed to give them the +slip, but Tom could not believe it among the possibilities. If such were +the case, there were no means of learning when or where it had been +done, and the scouts were as completely cut off from pursuit of the boy +as were the Apaches themselves. + +In this dilemma there was little to do except to make a general hunt for +him, keeping all the time within striking distance of the Apaches, as +they did not think that the fugitive could have gotten very far from +them. The hunters carefully secreted their animals, and tramped over the +mountains and through ravines, gorges, and woods, until, on this +eventful forenoon they discovered Lone Wolf ahead of them, acting as +though he had detected something particularly gratifying. The shrewd +scouts suspected the truth on the instant. The Apache was also searching +for the lad, and, guided by a greater knowledge, had discovered him. And +so he crouched down in the rocks, not knowing that two other figures +shortly after crouched behind him. Then, after the story had been told, +as the three moved off together, Dick Morris having picked up the rifle +which Lone Wolf cast from him as the contest was about to open, Ned +Chadmund gave him his version of that terrible attack and slaughter in +Devil's Pass, and of what had followed since. When he came to explain +the clever manner in which he dodged the Apaches, his listeners were +delighted. Dick slapped him upon the back, and Tom insisted upon shaking +hands again. It was a favorite way the old fellow had of expressing his +overwhelming delight at anything he saw or heard. + +"If you'll put yourself under our trainin'," he added, "we'll make a +hunter of ye in the course of a dozen or fifteen years, more or less." + +But Ned had no interest in hunting matters just then. He wanted to get +out of that dangerous neighborhood, and to reach Fort Havens with as +little delay as possible. + +"How far is it?" he asked, as the trio moved along the trail. + +"We can make it in two or three days, I think," said Tom. "Some parts of +the way, though, is rather rough, and it may take us longer." + +"You don't expect to walk it, do you?" + +They assured him that they had no intention of doing any such thing. +Their horses were secreted in a gorge about three miles distant, and as +soon as they could be reached they would mount them and speed away for +Fort Havens. + +"And we'll do it, too, at a gait that'll beat any mustang that Lone Wolf +has ever straddled," added Dick, exultingly. "When a chap goes into the +Injun country, he must fetch the best hoss flesh he can steal." + +"But I haven't any horse," said Ned, with a laugh. "What's to become of +me when you're riding?" + +Tom explained that there could be no difficulty about that. Such a +trifling additional weight would not be suspected by either of the +animals. + +"Where do you suppose Lone Wolf is?" asked the boy, looking furtively +around, unable to free himself of the belief that they were not through +with him yet. + +"He's gone back to his party; they've split since you left 'em. About +thirty started yesterday forenoon for the Apache villages to the +south'ard, and the tother twenty are in camp off here a mile or so." + +As Tom spoke, he pointed to the west, in among the mountains, and in a +direction at right angles to what he was pursuing himself. + +"Our road twists round a little," he added, "and when we get to where we +left the animals, we'll be 'bout as far away from the Apaches as we are +now. What's better, there's some mighty rough travelin' between us and +them, such as no hosses can git over." + +"But Indians can, can't they?" + +"I rather guess so. What's the matter, my boy?" asked Tom, looking down +upon him as they picked along. "You're talkin' as if you was thinkin' +'bout Injuns all the time." + +"That's what I've had to do for the last three or four days. Lone Wolf +managed to get away from you, and where do you think he is? What do you +think he means to do?" + +As the boy asked this question, he glanced around in such a timid, +apprehensive way, that his companions laughed. It was natural that the +lad should have these misgivings, especially as it seemed to him that +his friends were using no precautions at all to prevent a treacherous +surprise upon the part of the Apaches. To relieve his fears, they +convinced him that they were on the alert, and did not fail to note +everything. + +They expected, in the natural course of events, that Lone Wolf would +make all haste back to camp, and take every means of revenging himself +and securing possession of the boy again. Indeed, this was all he could +do. He had no rifle with which to fire a stealthy shot at them, and it +was necessary that he should first return to his warriors before +striking a blow. To do all this required time sufficient to permit the +three to reach the gorge, mount their animals, and get fairly under way +before he and his warriors could possibly put in an appearance. Tom and +Dick, therefore, could not be accused of undue recklessness in taking +matters in such a leisurely fashion. They assured their young friend +still further that they were on the eastern margin of the prairie, and, +after starting with their mustangs, had a clear, open course before +them. + +It was somewhat past noon when they entered the ravine, which had +already been described to Ned, and, while the latter remained to talk +with Morris, Tom moved on further and down in a more secluded place, in +quest of their mustangs, which had been left grazing upon the rich, +succulent grass, beside a running stream of mountain water. All were in +high spirits, and our hero was as buoyant and cheerful as the others, +when they saw their friend returning empty-handed. + +"What's up?" asked Dick. + +"The Injuns have stole our mustangs!" + +"Sure?" + +"Yes--plenty of moccasin tracks--but not cussed sign of a single hoss," +was the sour reply. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + +ANXIOUS WAITING. + + +This was astounding news, indeed, and for a few minutes the two veteran +hunters were completely taken back. They had considered the place where +their animals were picketed as being so secure that the contingency of +losing them was not thought of until it came upon them with the +suddenness mentioned. + +"They didn't find them themselves," growled Tom, as if determined on +finding consolation in that fact; "they've stumbled onto 'em +accidental-like, and then rid off, as though they were smart enough to +be reg'lar hoss-thieves." + +"Have you seen the trail?" asked Dick. + +"Yes." + +"Whereaway does it lead?" + +The hunter replied by pointing toward the northwest, among the hills and +mountains in the wildest portion of the country. + +A hurried consultation now took place between them, and it was resolved +to recover the two mustangs. They counted it easy to secure a couple of +the Indian ponies; but among them all were none which, in their own +estimation, could compare with their own, and they were determined not +to leave the country until they were regained. The most skillful Apache +may succeed in hiding his own trail at times, but he cannot cover that +of his horse so that the trained scout will fail to find it. + +It was found that the mustangs had been ridden away without being +accompanied by other animals. The number of moccasin tracks at a certain +point showed that a party of warriors had accidentally detected the +animals, each of which was mounted by a single Indian and ridden away, +the warriors taking altogether a different direction. This simplified +matters, and was not displeasing to Dick and Tom, for two of these +active redskins could, as a matter of course, be circumvented with much +more ease than could ten times that number. + +Accompanied by Ned, the hunters led the way up out of the hollow, +crossed as it was by the stream of icy cold and clear water and covered +with the richest grass, and entered a more rocky section, where the +horses must have experienced considerable difficulty in traveling, as +numerous places showed where their hoofs had slipped upon the stones. + +"We can beat them on that," said Dick, when they had trailed them for a +short distance. "They can't be many hours ahead of us, and when we do +catch up with 'em, Tom, we'll warm 'em; what do you say?" + +Tom nodded his head to signify that he agreed with these sentiments +exactly, and the trio pressed forward harder than ever. + +There were many places in which the thieves had progressed with no +little trouble, and their pursuers, unimpeded by the mustangs, were +gaining rapidly upon them; but this by no means insured success. A +hundred difficulties remained in the way, and the most that the two +hunters could hope was that the two Apaches had no suspicion of being +followed. If they believed themselves secure, it followed as a matter of +course that they would take no precautions against any surprise from the +rear. The hunters went forward at a rate which was exceedingly trying to +Ned, but he bravely held up until something like a mile was passed, when +Tom, who acted as a leader, suddenly paused. + +"We must wait here till we make an observation," said he, in a low tone. +"I take it that we aren't very far from the scamps, and we must look out +and not spile the whole thing when we've got it all in shape." + +For the entire distance they had been steadily advancing upon higher +ground, and having now reached the culminating point, it was necessary +to look ahead and learn whither they were going before making any rash +venture into an entirely different section. While Dick and Ned, +therefore, remained where they were, Tom stole cautiously forward for +some distance further, until he reached a high, flat rock, the edge of +which he approached on his hands and knees, and stealthily peered over. + +Only a few seconds did he spend thus when he began retrograding, like a +crab. + +"I think I've hit the spot," he said in an undertone, as he rejoined his +friends. "There's a sort of path which leads down into the lower +country, and as that's the only way the hosses can travel, it follers +that they must have gone that way. That 'ere place that I was speakin' +of goes down into a spot a good deal like the one where we expected to +find the animiles and didn't, and there's where I think we'll find 'em +awaitin' for us." + +"Do you see any sign?" inquired Dick. + +"Not yet; they wouldn't be likely to kindle a camp fire at this time of +day, and afore they jined the others. Come ahead, we must be mighty +keerful now, when we're gettin' so close." + +As before, Tom took the lead, and they advanced with the greatest +caution. If the Apaches had any fear of being followed, they were very +likely to detect the men stealing down upon them; but much reliance was +placed upon the likelihood of their holding no such suspicion. + +The afternoon was half gone when the locality pointed out by Hardynge +was reached, and the three halted again. As soon as they had concealed +themselves Tom continued his reconnaissance, making it with such care +that he consumed fully a half hour before concluding it. When he +reappeared, with the silence of a shadow, he whispered: + +"They're there--both of 'em." + +He explained that he had approached close enough to recognize his own +animal as well as Dick's. He saw nothing more, not even an Indian, but +it followed, of course, that they were near at hand. From this point +forward, therefore, the presence of the lad could be nothing but an +incumbrance, and it was agreed that he should stay where he was until +the animals were recaptured, when he could ride away with one of them. + +"Remember, the varmints are close onto you," said Tom, by way of +caution; "and you must keep mighty shady. Don't go to crawling about, +and trying to peep into what's none of your business." + +The boy promised obedience, and the two left him. As near as he could +judge he was within a hundred yards of the camp of the horse thieves, +and there was no certainty that, if they discovered the approach of the +hunters, they might take a course which would bring them back over the +same path. So, to avoid any unpleasant discovery, he crept in beneath +some dense shrubbery, where he felt secure against observation, and +anxiously awaited the result. + +Ned had not been in this place of concealment five minutes, when he was +startled by a slight noise behind him, such as would be made by the +cautious approach of some person or creature. He turned his head, but +his view was too much obstructed by the vegetation around him. The +slight disturbance continued until Ned's curiosity got the better of his +judgment, and he stealthily parted the leaves with one hand sufficiently +to permit him to see out. + +As he dreaded, he detected an Indian warrior, whose actions indicated +that he knew what was going on. He was stepping along as if fearful that +the slight rustling would catch the ears of parties who were far beyond +the range of hearing. Fortunately for Ned, at the moment he looked forth +in this stealthy manner the Apache afforded only what may be termed a +three-quarter view, having passed slightly beyond where he was hidden; +and, as he continued to move in the same direction, nothing but his back +was visible a few minutes afterward. But the lad saw enough to render +him uneasy. At first glimpse he took the Indian to be Lone Wolf, but he +caught sight of enough of his visage to make certain that it was another +warrior altogether; but he was large, powerful, and very formidable +looking, and Ned dreaded an encounter between him and one of the +hunters. + +Curiously enough, he carried no gun with him, and, as the boy still +retained possession of Lone Wolf's, it seemed to young Chadmund that he +could want no better opportunity of wiping out one of those pestilent +redskins. With this purpose in view he cautiously shoved the end of the +weapon through the bushes and aimed at the back of the warrior, who, at +that moment, could not have been more than a dozen yards from him. There +could be no mistaking a target so conspicuous and so close at hand; but +when the aim was sure and Ned's finger was pressing the trigger, he +restrained himself by the self-imposed question whether it was right to +pick off a foe, savage though he was, in that fashion. He was well aware +that no mercy would have been shown him had the position been reversed; +still, he could not justify in his own mind an act that looked so much +like murder. + +"No," said he, when this inward conflict had continued a minute or so. +"I s'pose Tom and Dick would laugh at me if they knew how I acted: but I +don't believe father would like to have me fight that way. Anyhow, my +conscience don't, so I won't." + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + +THE DEATH SHOT. + + +It took Ned about a minute to reach his merciful conclusion and to lower +the hammer of his gun. This done, he looked out to see how the Indian +was getting along. To his amazement nothing was seen of him. He had +vanished as suddenly as if the ground had opened and swallowed him up. +Wondering what it all could mean, the boy rose to his feet, and peered +out, parting the bushes still more and advancing a little from his +concealment. The ground was quite level, covered here and there with +boulders and a scrubby undergrowth, but there was nothing to be seen of +the warrior. During the second or two occupied in lowering the hammer of +his rifle, the Apache had disappeared, flashing out, so to speak, into +nothingness. + +"That's mighty queer," reflected Ned, as he resumed his seat under the +bushes. "I know those redskins are pretty lively, but I didn't think +they could get up and leave as fast as that." + +There was something in the manner of this thing which alarmed him. The +Apache, when last seen, was advancing carefully in the direction taken +by the scouts. Why this sudden diversion? What did it mean but that the +redskin had made an important discovery, and what could that discovery +be but that he was threatened by danger from the rear? Such being the +case, it followed that the peril had been transferred from one to the +other. Instead of the lad threatening the Indian it was _vice versa_. + +"I bet he'll be back here," was the conclusion of our hero, as he once +more raised the hammer of his gun. "He must have heard me when I moved +the bushes, and he'll be trying some of his tricks upon me." + +He concluded that if the Indian made him a visit it would be from +another direction, and so he shifted his position somewhat, managing to +face the other way, while he kept all his senses on the _qui vive_ for +the hostile visit which he was confident would not be long delayed. At +the same time he had a strong hope that the scouts would return in time +to prevent any such encounter as he pictured in his own mind, and which +he thoroughly dreaded. + +In his excited mental condition it was impossible to judge accurately of +the passage of time, but it seemed to him that he had been in waiting +fully fifteen minutes, yet not the slightest sound reached him from that +direction. The lad remained in a state of suspense which was intensified +by his fears of a flank movement upon the part of the Apache whom he had +seen but a short time before. + +"It must take them a long time to make a reconnaissance--" + +He suddenly ceased, for his ear, more than usually alert, caught a +slight but suspicious sound, and quick as a flash he turned his head. He +was not an instant too soon, for there was the crouching figure of the +Apache warrior, no more than a dozen feet distant, his gleaming knife +clutched in his right hand, and his eyes fairly aflame with passion. He +was not moving along inch by inch, but with that soft gliding motion, +which was more like the approach of a serpent than of a person. + +Ned still held his rifle with the hammer raised, and ready for just such +an emergency. Partly expecting the visit, he was fully prepared. When he +turned his head and encountered the gaze of the Indian, the latter gave +utterance to a low gutteral exclamation, and started more rapidly toward +him. + +"If you must have it, there it is." + +The flash from the muzzle of the rifle was almost in the face of the +Apache, who, with a death-shriek horrible to hear, threw both arms above +his head, and, with a spasmodic twitching of the limbs, breathed his +last in a single breath. + +Ned was scarcely less terrified than the redskin must have been at the +first flash of the gun; and, forgetful of the warning of the scouts, he +leaped out from beneath the bushes, and dashed away in the direction +taken by his friends. + +He had run but a rod or two when he suddenly found himself face to face +with Tom Hardynge, who demanded, in a hurried undertone: + +"What's up, now?" + +"I've just shot an Indian." + +"Did you wipe him out?" + +"Oh, yes; oh, yes." + +"Then what are you running away from him for? If you've wiped him out, +he can't hurt you." + +"But I don't want to stay near him," added the lad, who was in a +distressing state of anxiety; "take me away." + +"That's just what I'm going to do," replied the hunter, turning about +and hurrying off. "Keep close to me and I will take care of you." + +Instead of retracing their steps, they kept ahead, and a short distance +further on made an abrupt turn and suddenly came upon Dick Morris, +seated upon the back of his mustang, with Thundergust, as Tom called +him, standing near, and a third one visible in the background. + +"Whose is that?" asked the astonished boy. + +"We fetched him for you. Come, bounce upon his back and let's be off." + +The animal alluded to was a handsome black pony, spirited and fleet, +with a valuable blanket strapped to its back, and a leathern +bridle-rein. He showed some opposition to Ned's mounting him, but with +the assistance of Tom he quieted down and showed as much docility as the +others. + +The hunters, in approaching the camp, used as much care and deliberation +as if they were certain that there were a hundred of the fiercest +warriors there. They speedily learned, however, that there were but the +two Indian horse thieves, who, in bringing the plunder to that place, +had returned to the spot where their own animals had been left previous +to their starting out upon the raid. + +The Apaches were entirely unsuspicious of any pursuit, and they were +lolling upon the ground at such a distance from the mustangs, that the +three were secured without much trouble. Dick Morris insisted upon +sailing in and clearing out the two marauders; but Tom was equally +strenuous in demanding that they should not be disturbed. He was certain +there were other warriors near by, and any such attempt would complicate +matters. Accordingly they stole away with their recaptured animals and +the one which was not exactly recaptured, and as soon as a convenient +spot was selected Hardynge turned back for the boy, encountering him on +the way. + +Since all three were mounted upon good beasts they made all haste +possible to leave the section, which beyond all question was a most +dangerous one in every sense. + +The trio had several important advantages on their side. Although the +Apaches were on every hand, and doubtless would make an attempt to +revenge themselves upon the hunters, yet it was already growing dark, +and between now and morning the Caucasians could accomplish a great +deal. Furthermore, they were close to the prairie, reaching which, they +had all the opportunity they could desire to leave their enemies behind. +In a fair trial of speed, neither of the hunters had any misgivings as +to the fleetness of their animals, even if it should become necessary to +place the additional weight of the lad upon one. Still, the route was +difficult, and in many places it seemed almost impossible to make their +way along, the horses stumbling, and on one or two occasions the party +came to a dead halt. + +But Tom Hardynge had been there before, and insisted each time there was +some way out of the difficulty without turning back. Dismounting from +his animal he groped around for a few minutes in the dark, and on every +occasion called out in an undertone that he had found the path. In this +manner they kept it up for a couple of hours, when the route became much +more easy to travel. Occasionally they paused and listened and looked, +but nothing threatening was discovered. Quite a distance on the left, +the twinkle of a camp fire was discerned, but it was so distant that it +gave no concern. All remained quiet in the rear, though pursuit from +that quarter was to be expected. + +The three rode along in silence for something like half an hour longer, +when Hardynge, who was slightly in advance, abruptly reined up his steed +and said: + +"We're through the mountains. There's the prairie afore us." + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + +THE BUFFALOES. + + +The moon was now well up in the sky, and the members of the party were +enabled to discern objects at a greater distance than at any time since +starting. When Tom Hardynge announced that they had passed through this +spur of mountains, the three instinctively turned their eyes to the +westward, where the prairie stretched away until it vanished in the +gloom. + +"There's a clean hundred miles or more of level plain," added the +hunter. "I've traveled it many a time and I ought to know." + +"You're right," said Dick. "That's a good sweep of prairie, and we ought +to make good time over it, for our horses have had a long rest." + +"There's only one thing that troubles me," ventured Ned Chadmund, when +the heads of all their animals were turned westward; "I'm so hungry and +faint that I can hardly sit on my horse." + +"That's bad," said Tom, feelingly. "I never thought of that when we had +a good chance among the mountains to fetch down some game. We ain't apt +to run agin anythin' in the hash line while riding along on the prairie; +but we'll try it, and if we don't we'll turn off to a little spot where +I know we shall hit it." + +Ned expressed his willingness to do this, and the company started. +Instead of going in Indian file, as they had done while among the +mountains, they rode side by side at an easy swinging gallop, the +prairie lightening up as they advanced, and the surface continuing of +the same impact character, which rendered it the most favorable possible +for horseback riding. To one who, like the boy, had tramped and trudged +along until scarcely able to stand, this change was of the most pleasing +character. He felt comfortable and anxious to ride ahead for hours, the +only drawback being that gnawing hunger, that weary faintness, which +could only be dissipated by food. + +Occasionally, while riding along in this manner, the three would halt +and listen, and then, when certain that they heard nothing, move on +again. This was repeated several times, until the two hunters remained +motionless longer than usual. When Ned asked the cause of this, Tom +replied by asking him whether he heard anything. He answered that he did +not. + +"I hear it," added the scout, as he dismounted and applied his ear to +the ground. + +"What do you make it?" inquired Dick. + +"Can't tell." + +Hardynge remained standing beside his steed for several minutes, looking +off to the southward, and then he knelt down and bent his ear to the +ground again. + +"It is off yonder," he added, pointing to the southward, and leaping at +the same time upon the back of his mustang. + +Ned listened to catch some explanation; but at this interesting +juncture, for some reason only known to themselves, the two men began +talking in the Indian tongue. It was interesting to hear their gutteral +exclamations, but it would have been much more interesting could he have +understood what they were saying, and to know why it was, when talking, +that they laughed and looked meaningly toward him. The lad affected not +to notice all this, although it piqued his curiosity not a little. + +A half mile more was ridden at a leisurely gait, when all three drew up +their mustangs, and Dick Morris looked meaningly at their young comrade. + +"Do you hear anything _now_?" + +Yes, there could be no mistaking it, faint though it was. All three sat +motionless and listened. At first, it might have been taken for the +far-off rumble of thunder--a fluttering, distant rattle, such as is +occasionally heard during the hot summer months. It was not exactly of +that character, either, being more like a continuous rattle, coming from +some point many miles away. + +"What do you suppose it is?" asked Tom, of the lad. + +"I never heard anything like it before. What is it?" + +"Does it sound like the tramp of animals?" + +"Not much, it seems to me. It can't be that." + +"That's just what it is." + +Ned started. + +"So it is--so it is. I can notice it now. I hear the sound of horses +hoofs on the prairie. The sound is growing more distinct, too, and they +must be coming this way, Tom. Is that so?" + +"That's just what's the matter. We'll see 'em all inside of half an +hour, unless we turn tail and run." + +"Let's do it, then, for there can't be much time to spare." + +The hunters showed no disposition to flee from the danger approaching, +and Ned began to grow alarmed. + +"Why do you stay here?" he asked. "If your horses are so fleet that no +one can catch them, what is the use of letting them do it?" + +"Don't get scart, my boy," returned Tom Hardynge. "We'll take care of +you." + +He much preferred that they should all take care of themselves by giving +their animals the rein and permitting the Apaches to make no nearer +approach. But the scouts were obstinate and remained as motionless as +statues. The tramping of myriad feet came nearer and nearer, until the +sound partook of one general, thunderous undertone of the most trying +character to the lad. It seemed to him so much like suicide--this +waiting for a terrible danger as it steadily approached--that he was +strongly tempted to start his horse away on his own account. + +"Look!" called out Morris, pointing toward the southwest. + +Following the direction indicated, the lad saw what appeared to be a +heavy cloud lying low down in the horizon, but creeping slowly upward, +like the sulphurous vapor that sometimes hovers over a battle field. + +"What is it?" he asked, terrified, knowing that it was not the presage +of a storm such as sometimes sweeps over the prairies. + +There was something strange and unnatural in its appearance, +accompanied, as it was, by the tremulous, thunderous rumbling. By and +by, as this uproar came nearer and nearer, a still more curious sight +presented itself. The prairie seemed agitated, trembling and quivering +with a peculiar, wave-like motion, such as the ocean shows when it is +subsiding after a severe storm. There was a sea, a living sea, spreading +tumultuously over the plain. Dark, heaving masses were constantly +verging nearer, as they moved rapidly toward the northeast. Suddenly +light broke in upon the mind of Ned Chadmund. + +"I know what it is!" he exclaimed. "They are buffaloes." + +"Correct," assented Tom, with a laugh. "They are passing pretty close, +but we're out of their way." + +The buffaloes surged so near to where the three horsemen stood that more +than once Ned started with a fear that they would be overwhelmed; but +the hunters showed such calmness and self-possession that he was +reassured. All at once a furious trampling was heard, and two of the +animals that had become separated from the others in some way, dashed +directly by the horsemen and out upon the prairie. + +"Now, Ned," called out Tom; "there's your chance! Take that head one! He +will make you a good supper if you can fetch him down!" + +The lad and his animal were seized with a sudden inspiration seemingly +at the same time. Just as the heart of the young hunter swelled with a +wild desire to bring down the noble game, the mustang bounded away in +pursuit of the very buffalo which had been indicated by the trapper. As +the rider saw himself drawing rapidly near the huge body, lumbering +awkwardly but rapidly along, he was seized with a fluttering which, +perhaps was natural, but which, unless overcome, was fatal to any hopes +of procuring any supper. The mustang drew steadily nearer, Ned's +agitation increasing every minute, until pursuer and pursued were +running side by side. + +This was the critical moment when the rider should have fired, and when +the horse had been taught to expect him to do so; but when our hero +raised the heavy Indian gun to his shoulder, his trembling, together +with the jolting of his mustang, now upon a dead run, told him that it +would be useless to fire, when the only chance of hitting his prey was +by the merest accident. Accordingly, he lowered his gun, in the hopes of +quieting his nerves, so as to bring himself up to the self-appointed +task. As he did so, his horse began shying off from the buffalo. He was +afraid of the horns of the enraged creature, and having given him all +the opportunity he could expect, he was not willing to keep him company +any longer. The paths continued to diverge until they were twenty yards +apart, when the mustang appeared to think all danger was passed. By this +time Ned Chadmund felt that he was master of himself, and he turned the +head of his horse toward the immense fugitive, still gliding forward at +the same terrific rate. + +"I'll fetch him this time," he muttered, with a determined air. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV. + +ALONE AGAIN. + + +The mustang, trained as he was to this sort of hunting, steadily drew up +again to the buffalo, which was plunging forward with unabated speed, +while Ned held his rifle ready to fire whenever the critical moment +should come. He concluded that the proper place at which to aim was the +head, and, drawing his gun to his shoulder, he did not hesitate, +although he knew the aim was anything but a good one. It struck the +bison beyond all question, but did no more than irritate him; for, +without any other warning than a sudden lowering of the head, he +wheeled, and turned directly upon the horse, with the evident purpose of +disemboweling him. + +But the latter had seen this sort of business before, and was prepared +for it. + +Without attempting to turn to the one side or the other, or to check his +speed in the least, he made a terrific flying leap upward, going clear +over the head of the buffalo, landing upon the other side, and +continuing his flight at his leisure, as it may be said. + +This was a clever trick of the mustang, but it proved the undoing of his +rider, who had no other saddle than the Indian blanket strapped to the +horse's back. This was good enough, except in such a sudden emergency as +the present, when Ned was entirely unprepared for it. It was done in a +twinkling, the end of it being that he found himself lying upon the +green sward of the prairie, considerably bruised, and with horse and +buffalo rapidly speeding from view. + +"This is a go," said the lad, rising to his feet and looking about him. +"I don't see where the fun of buffalo hunting comes in." + +During the minutes of excitement when the mustang was coursing with such +speed over the prairie, the rider had no idea of the direction taken, +nor could he conjecture how far he had gone; but the result was that he +was separated by a much greater distance than he supposed from his +friends. Ned stood and gazed carefully about him. Off to the west were +the dust, and thousands upon thousands of buffaloes. The latter were too +far removed to be distinguished, but that tramping and the heavy cloud +indicated where the mass of life was plunging tumultuously forward +toward some destination unknown even to themselves. Nothing was to be +seen of the hunters. They had sent the lad off on this hunt on purpose +to give him a taste of buffalo hunting, not supposing, of course, that +any accident would result. + +"What shall I do?" was the question the boy asked himself, as he stood, +rifle in hand, and looked around him. "If there was some way in which I +could get a good supper, I wouldn't mind this camping out, for Tom and +Dick will be sure to find me in the morning." + +Looking toward the north, he fancied that he dimly discerned the dark +outline of something which resembled a grove of trees, and he turned his +footsteps in that direction. + +"If they are trees," he reflected, as he trudged along, "it's more than +likely there's water there, and now that I've got a gun, I've some +chance of shooting something; and that reminds me of poor Corporal +Hugg's warning, always to reload my gun the first thing after firing +it." + +He had enough sense to carry out this resolution on the spot, and then +he resumed his journey in the direction of the object that had attracted +his attention. A short distance further he was pleased to find his first +impression correct. He was approaching a clump of trees where he could +rest with a much greater sense of security than upon the open prairie. +Thoroughly weary and worn out, faint with hunger, he felt like throwing +himself upon the ground and sleeping for a week. But, continuing, he +entered a grove of trees something like a hundred yards in extent, +through which, in the stillness of the night, he caught distinctly the +ripple of flowing water. It required but a moment to discover this and +he lay down upon the margin, quaffed his full and flung himself upon the +grass to sleep until morning. Five minutes after his eyes were shut he +was wrapped in a sound slumber which remained undisturbed until morning +when, as he opened his eyes, he found the sun shining through the +branches upon him. + +"Gracious!" he exclaimed, starting up. "Where am I?" + +It took several minutes before he could collect his senses and tell +where he was; and then as he recalled the separation from his friends, +he hurried out to the edge of the wood in the hope of discovering them +somewhere near at hand; but, look in whatsoever direction he chose, +nothing was to be seen but the broad sweeping prairie, stretching away +until sky and earth joined in the distance. Far off, low down in the +horizon, the blue wavy outline of a mountain spur was to be seen. Miles +and miles away, it would probably require days of traveling before it +could be reached. + +"That's strange!" murmured Ned, as a feeling of alarm began stealing +over him. "Where can Tom and Dick be? They must be somewhere in this +neighborhood, and yet I cannot see any signs of them." + +He moved around the grove, carefully gazing in every direction; but +after making the complete circuit he came back without having detected +anything that told him what had become of his friends. + +The grove in which he had taken shelter abounded with undergrowth, so +dense in many places, that he made his way with considerable difficulty. +He had no thought of any one else being in the same place, but, while +moving along in his careless manner, he was aroused to a sense of +imprudence by the sound of something on his right. Turning his head, his +surprise may be imagined when he saw a solitary buffalo standing +scarcely a dozen feet distant, and staring straight at him. Ned was so +astonished that for the moment he forgot that he carried a loaded gun, +and stared at the creature in turn, the two forming as striking a +tableau as it is possible to imagine. + +The buffalo may have known the capacity of the weapon which the boy +carried in his hand, for, with a sniff of alarm, he wheeled and started +away on a run. As quick as thought the lad seemed to awake to a sense of +his situation, and, raising his gun, he blazed away. + +The shot, fired at random, could not have been better aimed by the most +veteran of hunters. The ball entered directly behind the fore-leg just +as it was thrown forward in the act of running, and, penetrating to the +heart, the result was that the animal never made another bound. His own +momentum carried him a few feet forward, when he tumbled and rolled over +in a heap. + +"Now I'll have a meal!" exclaimed the delighted lad, as he ran forward +to claim his prize. "I feel as if I could eat the whole buffalo." + +There seemed to be no reason why he should not provide himself with the +most substantial kind of dinner. He knew very little about a buffalo, +but it was no difficult task to cut off a good sized piece, which he +placed upon some green leaves, while he looked about for some means of +starting a fire. + +"Well, there!" he exclaimed in delighted amazement, "if that isn't the +most wonderful thing yet!" + +This exclamation was caused by the sight of a smoking wad lying at his +very feet, just as if Providence had sent it that he might be provided +with the indispensable fire. Picking it up and blowing it, he saw that +it was in a vigorous state, and could be utilized without trouble. A few +leaves were hurriedly gathered together, dried twigs placed upon these, +and then the tiny blaze that required considerable blowing to produce, +was carefully nursed into a larger one until a good roaring, crackling +fire was the result. + +Leaving this to burn by itself, Ned took the meat to the side of the +stream, where he carefully washed and dressed it, ready for cooking. +When this was completed, he skewered it upon some green twigs, and began +toasting it. The process was rather tardy, but as soon as a bite of the +meat had spluttered and crisped for a moment, Ned bit it off, and went +to masticating it. The cooking continued rapidly enough to keep his jaws +going, and was a good arrangement, for it prevented his eating too fast, +and gave him the fullest enjoyment imaginable of the meal. All of an +hour was occupied in this way, during which Ned was in as happy a frame +of mind as can be conceived. For the first half of the time he seemed to +be growing more hungry with each mouthful he swallowed. Then came a +standstill, and soon he began to gain upon it, the end being that he +thoroughly satisfied that appetite which at one time had seemed +unappeasable. With no further necessity of thinking of the wants of the +inner man, the lad began to debate as to what he should do to get out of +the rather unpleasant position in which he was placed. There he was, his +horse gone, his two friends missing, and himself still a long distance +from home. He knew not in what direction to turn to reach Fort Havens, +and, even if he did, he had little assurance of ever reaching it. +Indeed, with the exception of the rather important fact that he had +secured possession of a rifle and some ammunition, it may be said that +his position was very similar to what it was before he came across Dick +Morris and Tom Hardynge. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI. + +CAPTURING A MUSTANG. + + +It struck Ned that there was something very strange in the continued +absence of the two hunters. + +In thinking over the particulars of that rather curious buffalo hunt, he +could not believe it possible that he was more than two miles from where +he had made his start after the creature, and where he separated from +them. All three were upon the easterly side of the herd, so that the +trail made by his own animal could not have been obliterated by the +hoofs of the buffaloes, and nothing could be easier than to follow it. +Where, then, were they? What was the cause of their absence? These were +questions which he asked himself again and again, and which he was +unable to answer in any manner satisfactory to himself. + +Suddenly it occurred to him that by climbing one of the trees near at +hand, he might extend his view, and perhaps gain a portion of the +knowledge he was so desirous of obtaining. He acted upon the thought at +once, and, selecting the tallest, first concealed his rifle, and then +climbed to the very topmost branches. There he was rewarded by a +magnificent view, and one which promised him some of the results he was +seeking. With this extension of his field of vision he discovered more +than one evidence that he was not in a solitude. In the first place, by +looking to the southward, a mass of dust and vapor was visible, +indicating the presence and progress of some sort of herd, perhaps a +drove of sheep from New Mexico, under the convoy of Indians who had shot +the rightful owners and stampeded their property. Looking westward, +another clump of trees was discerned, from the center of which came just +enough smoke to show that there must be a camp fire beneath. + +"I'll bet they are there!" exclaimed Ned, to himself, "and it may be +they have started the fire on purpose to guide me to them." + +The point to which his attention was thus directed was no more than a +mile distant, and he wondered that he had not noted it before. It +resembled in many respects the one in which he passed the night, and he +saw from the course of the stream which ran through the latter, that it +most probably watered the former where he believed the hunters were in +camp. + +Turning his eyes in another direction, the young wanderer was greeted by +a sight which agitated him scarcely less. There, no more than a quarter +of a mile distant, quietly grazing beside the winding stream which +flowed at the base of the tree, was the very mustang which had been +captured by the hunters and from whose back he had been thrown when in +pursuit of the buffalo. He instantly lost all interest in the smoke of +the camp fire in the greater interest he felt in the question of +securing possession of the steed. Could he but remount him he would not +care particularly whether he met the hunters or not, for, once upon the +back of such a steed, he would consider himself competent to make the +rest of the journey alone. + +"What's to hinder?" he asked himself, as he fixed his eyes longingly +upon the steed. "Dick says none of the Apaches have any animal that can +overtake him, and all I have to do is to keep his head turned toward the +southwest. There is a trail through the mountains yonder, and Corporal +Hugg told me that there is a trail all the way. But can I catch him?" + +He enjoyed in anticipation the pleasure he would feel when, possessing +rifle, ammunition and horse he should resume his journey westward and +the delight and joy of his father when he should clasp him in his arms +again. He could have spent several hours building his air-castles in +this manner, had he not checked himself and resolutely faced the +difficulty before him. Looking again at the mustang, he was to be seen +with his beautiful Indian blanket somewhat soiled from contact with the +dirt, but cropping the grass with the air of an equine which expected to +spend the day at it. + +Ned decided to try and steal upon him from the rear, thinking, possibly, +that he might get so close that when the frightened animal discovered +him, he could step forward and grasp the bridle before the mustang could +gallop away. Accordingly, he circled out upon the prairie until he got +directly behind the animal, when he began his approach. The horse +continued quietly eating until he was within a hundred feet, when he +shifted his position so that his side was exposed. Startled lest he +should be seen, Ned dropped down upon the grass and waited for him to +resume his first attitude. After crouching in this manner for something +like ten minutes, without any change taking place, he decided that as +"the mountain would not come to Mohammed then Mohammed should go to the +mountain," and he began crawling through the grass, with his eye upon +his prize. To accomplish this without attracting notice was a delicate +task, but he succeeded perfectly. Getting the mustang in exact range, he +resumed his advance upon him, advancing until he was within twenty feet. + +This was more favorable than he dared hope, and his heart beat high with +expectation. He almost felt the warm body of the noble steed beneath +him. And now, inch by inch, he stole forward, like an Indian scout +moving upon a sleeping enemy until he could reach a point where he could +bury his tomahawk in his skull. + +"I wonder whether he will use those heels upon me?" reflected the lad, +when he had reduced the intervening distance to a dozen feet. "If he +were only blind in one eye, and I could get upon that side; but then he +isn't." + +It seemed to him that the greatest danger was the mustang hearing the +throbbing of his heart, which was now beating like a trip-hammer; but +the horse was as unconscious as if he were made of stone. Still nearer, +until it appeared as if he had to make but a single leap forward, and he +could grasp the long, flowing tail, and he felt that the moment had come +when he must make the attempt. Crouching with one hand thrust out, he +lifted one foot and advanced a few inches. Another step, and he could +lay his hand upon him. At this exciting juncture, the horse abruptly +ceased eating and raised his head. Ned saw it, and paused in an agony of +suspense. + +[Illustration: STILL NEARER, UNTIL IT APPEARED AS IF HE HAD TO MAKE BUT +A SINGLE LEAP FORWARD.] + +Looking straight off upon the prairie, the mustang gave a faint whinney, +as if he scented danger from a point directly opposite to where the +figure of the boy was stealing upon him. For a minute the two held these +stationary positions; and then, as the lad moved a few inches again, the +keen ears of the mustang told him the truth. + +Pricking his ears forward, he turned his head half way round, so that he +saw the crouching figure directly at his heels. Then he turned his head +still further, and gathered himself for a leap. But Ned was expecting +this; and, as quick as a flash, he leaped forward and caught the tuft of +hair hanging over his forehead, dropping his gun and seizing at the same +moment, with the other hand, the bridle-rein. The mustang made his leap, +but the lad held on, and, by a quick, powerful effort threw one leg over +his shoulders and slid upon his back in a twinkling. The horse was +outwitted, defeated, and the boy was his conqueror. + +"Hurrah!" shouted the latter, overflowing with exultation. "Thank the +Lord! I've had better fortune than I expected." + +The mustang was not an ugly-tempered creature, but would have given the +lad the slip, could he have done so. It may have been that because he +was nothing but a boy, he underestimated his capacity too much; but he +had been fairly outgeneraled, and he submitted with a grace which cannot +be too highly commended. He instantly became docile, and turned in ready +obedience to the rein, and trotted back to where the gun lay upon the +ground. Here Ned was obliged to descend again, but he kept a tight grasp +upon the strap, and scrambled back again as soon as he had recovered it. +It seemed to him, as he did so, that there was something like a +mischievous twinkle in the eye of the pony. He appeared to say: + +"It don't do to trust my species too far, my lad; for we prefer to be +free rather than slave. However, you are a brave little fellow, and have +done so well that I think I must stand by you hereafter." + +Now that Ned was himself again, he turned the head of his animal toward +the grove, where the thin smoke could still be seen creeping up through +the tree tops. + +"I will have quite a story to tell Dick and Tom," he reflected, as he +rode along at an easy gallop. "I killed my buffalo, lost my horse, and +caught him again. I don't believe that they themselves could have done +much better." + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII. + +A RUN FOR LIFE. + + +A few minutes' ride at a swinging, easy, gallop brought Ned to the edge +of the grove where the camp fire had first arrested his attention. As he +reached the margin he threw himself from the back of the mustang, +fastened the bridle-rein securely to a limb, and, with his rifle slung +over his shoulder, strode forward toward the center. He was not yet in +sight of the fire when it suddenly occurred to him that possibly he was +mistaken. He checked himself and began moving very much as he did when +approaching his mustang, and it was fortunate that he did so, for the +next moment he discovered that he had committed a most serious mistake +indeed. Instead of seeing the well-known figures of the hunters sitting +by the camp fire and quietly smoking their pipes, he caught a glimpse of +half a dozen warriors very similarly engaged. + +Ned shuddered as he reflected how narrowly he escaped running into +destruction, and then he crept forward until he could get a little +better view. There they were, six Apache Indians lolling and lounging +upon the grass. They had evidently returned from a long and wearisome +ride, and were devoting the early portion of the day to rest, both for +themselves and animals, which were picketed near at hand. The lad +naturally wondered whether any of them belonged to Lone Wolf's band, and +he crept nearer than was prudent in order to make certain. + +"It may be that Lone Wolf himself is there," he reflected, drawn on by +that strange fascination which often seizes a person at the proximity of +some dreaded danger. "It would be queer if the chief had crossed my path +again." + +By and by, after moving along for some distance upon his hands and +knees, he secured a favorable point, where, by waiting a few minutes, he +was able to gain a view of all the faces. They were all strangers. He +had never seen any of them before. + +"That's good," he said to himself, as he began retrograding, "they won't +be expecting me--" + +At this juncture, one of the Indian horses, a short distance away, +raised his head and whinnied. It was instantly responded to by the +mustang which Ned had ridden to the place. The Apaches very naturally +noticed this significant fact, and started to their feet to learn what +it meant. Terribly alarmed at the unexpected mishap, Ned sprang up, not +daring to trust the tardy, crab-like gait he was following, and, +regardless of discovery, dashed away as hard as he could run in the +direction of his steed. He could not mistake the true course, for the +animal seemingly aware that something was wrong, kept up a continual +whinnying, that guided him as unerringly as it did the Apaches who were +hurrying after him. A few seconds and the boy stood beside the creature, +which showed, by its excited manner, that he was as desirous as his +master to leave the spot. He was tugging at the rein so lustily that it +threatened to break every instant, and Ned trembled at the fear that he +would be left alone. + +The impatient, eager haste with which the rein was unfastened, the +seemingly impossibility of getting the loosely fastened knot untied, the +little obstructions that constantly obtruded themselves--these cannot be +described nor imagined. It would have been unnatural in the highest +degree had Ned not found himself "nervous." He was ready to yield to +despair more than once, and what were really seconds were as many +minutes to him. The Indians could be heard moving through the +undergrowth, their progress cautious as it always is when they have +reason to fear that enemies are close at hand. + +It was this deliberation which gave Ned his only chance. The rein was +unfastened at last, and, with a desperate effort he mounted the mustang, +which came very near bounding from beneath him while in the act of +springing upward, and, turning his head toward the southwest, the very +direction he wished to follow, Chadmund struck his sides with his heels, +gave a regular Indian shout and was off. The steed scarcely needed all +this to incite him to his highest efforts. Stretching out his neck, he +sped away like an arrow, while the young rider constantly urged him to +still greater effort. But no urging was required. The fleet-footed +courser was already going with the speed of the wind. + +Scarcely had he gotten under way, however, when the crack! crack! of +rifles was heard, and the singing of bullets around his ears told the +fugitive at whom they were aimed. He instantly threw himself forward +upon the neck of the mustang, and shouted again, in a voice that must +have been heard by the redskins themselves: + +"Go it, my horse! Don't let them catch us! We mustn't lose now!" + +One or two more shots were heard, and then all was quiet again. + +"We've got beyond their range," concluded the boy, "and there's no need +of wasting their powder on us." + +Still he remained with his head bent on the neck of his animal, the +latter upon a dead run, until they had gone a considerable distance +further. Then believing all peril past, he drew him down somewhat, for +the gait was more trying to him than to the steed himself, and it was +simply prudent to husband his strength, when there was no necessity of +putting it forth. + +For the first time since starting, Ned turned and surveyed the ground +over which he had passed. The view was not a reassuring one by any +means. Instead of seeing the Apaches standing in mute despair upon the +margin of the grove, and staring in wonder at his flight, he saw instead +the whole party mounted and in full pursuit. They were adopting what +seemed to him a strange course. Instead of charging along in a body, +they were separating and spreading out like a fan. + +"I wonder what it is for," said the fugitive to himself, as he urged his +horse to a renewal of the arrowy speed he had shown at the beginning. + +When he came to reflect upon it more fully, he divined the cause. The +Apaches had recognized in him a prize worth striving for, and had set +about it in their usual cunning fashion. By separating in this manner, +they could close in again whenever they chose, and at a time, too, when +it might be out of the power of the fugitive to escape by means of the +superior speed of his horse. If he should turn to the right or left, or +to the rear, he would come in collision with some of them, whereas, if +they remained in a compact body, and he should find his way shut in +front, he might elude them by turning to either side. + +Such was young Chadmund's solution of their actions, and such, +undoubtedly, was the true one. He looked ahead; but all remained open +and clear. Only far away in the very horizon could be seen that blue, +misty outline of some mountain chain, seemingly hundreds of miles in +advance. + +"It can't be that _that_ is the place," he mused, as he looked ahead; +"that is too far to be reached before to-morrow, and between now and +then I shall have plenty of chances to give them the slip." + +But the mountains were to be crossed at some time or other, and those +Apaches were likely to follow him with the persistency of bloodhounds. +The mere fact that he had distanced them at the beginning, and obtained +such a favorable start, was no evidence that he was to be relieved from +further danger, even after the night should have come and gone. But Ned +enjoyed to the full the thrilling pleasure of observing that he was +steadily and rapidly drawing away from his pursuers. Every few minutes, +when he looked back, he could see they were dropping further and further +behind. His gain in this respect was clearly perceptible to himself, and +when, at the end of an hour or more, he observed that the Apaches had +ceased the effort to overhaul him, he could scarcely repress his +exultation. + +"They made a good selection!" he exclaimed, alluding to the steed which +the hunters had taken from the Indians in the mountains. "They could not +have done better." + +Drawing his mustang down to a dead halt, he carefully scanned the +prairie behind him. Only three of his pursuers were visible, and, if his +eyes did not deceive him, they were turning back. A few minutes careful +scrutiny assured him of the fact. He had outwitted the redskins again. + +"Now, you may rest yourself, my pet," he said to his horse, fondly +patting the neck of his steed. + +"You have done nobly, and I feel like trusting you alone to graze." + +As near as he could judge it was close upon noon, and his animal was in +need of rest, although capable of continuing his arrowy flight until the +sun should sink in the west. It was wise to indulge him all he could, +and for the next two hours he was permitted to walk at a moderate gait. +At the end of that time he headed toward a ravine, in which a few +stunted trees were growing, and where he hoped to find grass and water. +He did not forget the lesson he had learned, and before trusting himself +in the inviting shade and coolness, he carefully circled about the place +until assured that no peril lurked there, when he rode forward at the +same leisurely pace. + +He was yet a hundred yards distant, when his mustang abruptly paused of +his own accord, pricking up his ears as if he scented danger. + +Ned urged him, and he advanced a few steps, and then halted again, +raising high his head and snuffing the air, accompanied at the same time +by a peculiar stamp of the foot. + +"There must be something wrong," thought the boy in alarm. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII. + +A GREAT MISFORTUNE. + + +Ned Chadmund was too wise to go contrary to the instincts of the +mustang, which, at such a time knew more than did he of the dangers of +the country. The boy, however, supposed that it was some wild animal, +probably a grizzly bear, which alarmed the steed. He wondered however, +that if such were the fact, why the brute did not give some more +tangible evidence of his presence. He sat for a moment debating whether +he should make an attempt to enter the wooded ravine from another +direction. He had fixed upon this place as the one in which to spend a +couple of hours or more, and as no similar resting-place was in sight, +he was reluctant to start ahead again. But something whispered to him +that the best thing he could do would be to leave without an instant's +delay. That strange stillness resting upon those stunted trees and +undergrowth had a meaning more significant than anything in the shape of +a grizzly bear. + +"Come, Pet, we're off again." + +The mustang wheeled to one side, and bounded away with the old speed, +which was more enjoyable to him than a moderate pace. At the very +instant of doing so, a mounted Apache shot out from the far end of the +ravine, and his horse bounded directly across the path of the young +fugitive. The steed of the latter saw the game so well that he needed no +direction, and he turned with such suddenness that Ned narrowly escaped +being thrown off his back. Quick as he was he had scarcely time to +change the direction he was pursuing, when the rider, to his dismay, +observed a second Apache issue from the other end of the ravine, and +thus, in a twinkling, as it may be said, he was placed between two +fires. + +It all took place with such marvelous suddenness that the lad was +completely baffled and bewildered, and, not knowing what to do, wisely +left the course of action to the mustang. At the same moment, he +comprehended how it was that, while he assured himself that he had +outwitted the Apaches, they had completely checkmated him. Their falling +back and giving up the chase was simply a ruse to throw him off his +guard. It had succeeded to perfection. While he was plodding along over +the prairie, the Apaches had circled around, gone ahead of him, and, +ensconcing themselves in the woods, had patiently waited for him to ride +into their arms. + +The sagacious mustang made another quick whirl, and shot to the right, +aiming to pass directly between the two horsemen. Seeing this, they both +did their best to head him off. At the best it was to be a narrow +chance, and Ned again threw himself forward and clasped his arms about +the neck of the faithful pony. He could not shut out the sight of his +ferocious pursuers, and as the three neared each other with the speed of +the whirlwind, he observed that each was loosely swinging several coils +of rope about his head. He knew what that meant. Determined upon +capturing him, they were about to call the lasso into requisition. + +But they could not "noose" him when his head was thrown forward in this +fashion, and resting closely against the soft mane of the mustang. He +was certain of that, for there was nothing for the spinning coil to +seize. And yet he saw distinctly the warrior who was nearest him +whirling the thong in swifter and swifter circles above his head in a +way that showed that he meant to fling it at something. + +What could the target be? + +Whiz--whiz! Out shot the loop like the dart of a rattlesnake, not at the +head of the frightened lad, but at that of the mustang! + +Ah! but the animal was intelligent and equal to the occasion. That +round, clear eye saw what was coming, and he was ready. + +The loop, guided with unerring precision, and thrown with great power, +was scarcely over the ears of the creature, when he dropped his head +like a flash. The coil, instead of passing over his nose, dropped like a +tossed wreath upon the top of his head, slid along his neck, and over +the crown and back of Ned Chadmund, who shivered as if he felt the +squirming of a cobra along his spine. The mustang burst into a +tremendous gait at this moment, and was drawing away from his pursuers +so rapidly that the lasso dropped off his haunches and the flying pony +was almost instantly beyond its reach. + +But the second Apache was near at hand and threw his thong from a closer +point, and with a venomous spitefulness that would not be evaded. He +evidently knew the horse, and was determined upon securing him. The +wonderful mustang, however, was equal to the occasion, and, with the +same flash-like motion, his beautiful head dropped still lower than +before, and the same useless sliding along his back was repeated. + +His speed was now tremendous, and he drew away so rapidly from both +horsemen that neither of them gained a second opportunity to try the +lasso upon him. Ned did not seek to control the motions or direction of +the noble steed. It knew better than did he what to do, and the boy only +clung to him the tighter, and prayed to Heaven to guard them both from +harm. + +It was not to be expected that the Apaches would submit quietly to be +baffled in this manner. Unable to capture either horse or rider, they +still had their rifles, and did not hesitate to call them into +requisition the moment it became apparent that no other recourse was at +their command. + +At the moment of firing perhaps fifty yards separated pursuer and +pursued. The two guns were discharged so nearly simultaneously, that +they might have well been mistaken for one. The escape of Ned was a +narrow one. He felt one of the bullets pierce his clothing, and a sting +in the hand told him that he had been slightly wounded. At the same +moment he felt a peculiar twitch or quiver of the steed, which indicated +that he also had been hit. It was like the jar of the smoothly-moving +machinery when some slight obstruction gets into the works. Still there +was no abatement of the tremendous speed of the magnificent little +animal, and Ned concluded that the hurt was not a serious one. A minute +later two more reports were heard, but they were faint and far away, and +the bullets sped wide of the mark. + +All danger was passed from that quarter, and once more Ned straightened +up, and, looking about him, felt that the Indian mustang he bestrode had +been the means of saving his life. But for him he would have been in the +hands of the Apaches long since. + +"I wonder whether there are Indians in every bush?" he said, as his eyes +roamed over the prairie in search of some place of shelter. "They seem +to be watching for me from every tree in the country. Well, my good +horse, we shall have to keep on the go till dark comes, when we'll get +some chance to creep off and hide." + +Looking to the southward, a wooded section was to be seen, but Ned +concluded to give all such places a wide berth for the present. He had +missed recapture by too narrow a chance to risk it blindly again. A long +distance to the northwest he discerned a range of hills of moderate +elevation, and it occurred to him that there was a suitable place in +which to spend the coming night. By journeying forward at this easy, +swinging pace, he calculated upon reaching them about nightfall, and in +the shelter which they offered he was confident of being able to hide +away beyond the vision of the most vigilant Apache or Comanche. + +"What has become of those fellows?" he abruptly asked himself, as his +eye glanced hastily around in search of the hunters from whom he had now +been separated the better portion of twenty-four hours. "I can't +understand how we got so far apart. If they meant the whole thing as a +joke, I think it is played out by this time." + +He was a little nettled when he came to reflect that the parting was +probably arranged by Dick and Tom for the purpose of giving him a lesson +in prairie traveling and prairie life. Perhaps they believed that some +amusement might be obtained in this way. + +"If they think I can't get along without 'em, I'll show them their +mistake," he said to himself. "There can't be many days' travel between +me and Fort Havens, and so long as I've got such a horse--he knows +better than they can how to keep me out of such scrapes--" + +At this juncture he was startled by the action of the mustang. He was +walking along, when he began staggering from side to side. Then he +paused, as if to steady himself. A groan followed and he sank heavily to +the ground, rolling upon his side so quickly that his rider narrowly +escaped being crushed beneath him. And then, as the dismayed Ned sprang +to his feet, he saw that his loved mustang was dead! + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX. + +THE LONE CAMP FIRE. + + +When the pursuing Apaches first fired their two shots, one of them +slightly wounded the hand of young Chadmund, while the other, +unsuspected by the lad, buried itself in the body of the mustang and +inflicted a fatal wound. It was characteristic of the noble creature +that his indomitable courage should remain to the last. He kept up his +astonishing speed until his rider voluntarily checked him, and then his +gait remained his natural one until nature succumbed and he dropped +dead. + +It would be hard to say which emotion was the most poignant in the +breast of the young wanderer. He had learned to love the noble mustang +during their brief companionship, and he had discovered, too, how +impossible it was for him to make any substantial progress without a +good horse to ride. He had lost the best steed he had ever bestrode, and +was again thrown upon his own resources. It was natural and creditable +to the lad that, as he looked at the fallen steed, and reflected how +faithfully he had served him, his hands should seek his eyes. So they +did, and he spent full ten minutes in a regular old-fashioned cry, such +as he had not enjoyed since receiving a good trouncing at the hands of +his parent. + +When his grief had subsided somewhat, he bade the unconscious form +good-bye, and with his rifle over his shoulder started ahead again. He +could not bear even to remove the blanket which was strapped around the +body of the mustang, and which was likely to be of great service to him +in his wanderings. + +It was already growing dark, when he aimed for the hills, and, as his +eye swept over the the prairie, he saw no Indian or sign of danger. He +was hopeful that for the time being, at least, he was free from +molestation. His greatest trouble was, that he was ravenously hungry +again, and he counted upon considerable difficulty in securing the +wherewithal with which to satisfy his cravings. True, he had gun and +ammunition, but the game which he wished to meet seemed to be, as a +rule, reluctant to put itself within his reach. + +After reaching the hills, the lad's next proceeding was to hunt up some +suitable spot in which to pass the night. The air was so warm and sultry +that he could have made no use of the blanket, had he possessed it. The +place was full of stunted trees and undergrowth, with jagged, irregular +masses of stone lying here and there, and constantly obtruding +themselves in such a way that he received a number of severe bruises. + +After tramping about for a short time he discovered that the hills were +mainly in the form of a ridge, passing over the crest of which he went +down the opposite slope and found himself among a mass of larger rocks, +and in a still wilder section. There, while searching, it occurred to +him that he might find a suitable retreat among the rocks. The sound of +trickling water directed his steps a little to the left, where a tiny +rivulet was found dripping down from the dark stones. After quenching +his thirst he renewed his hunt. + +Although he continued for some time, he was not as successful as he +desired. Nothing in the shape of a regular cavern presented itself, and +he finally nestled down beside one of the largest rocks which could be +discovered, with the intention of sleeping until morning. + +Ned thought it strange that he should feel so frightened. With the +gathering of darkness he grew so nervous that all possibility of sleep +was driven away. He examined his rifle several times--a curious mistrust +taking possession of him--and then arose to his feet and listened. + +All seemed as quiet as at creation's morn. There was a soothing +influence in the faint sound of the dripping water, and an almost +inaudible roar seemed to steal forth from the great prairie, such as is +sometimes noted when in the vicinity of the becalmed ocean. Without any +thought he thrust his hand into an inner pocket, when he felt a small +package wrapped up in paper. Wondering what it could be, he drew it +forth. + +It was a box of matches! + +Suddenly he remembered how they came there. On the day before leaving +Santa Fe it occurred to him that he would be likely to need such a +convenience, and he had carefully wrapped up a box and placed it in this +out-of-the-way corner, where it had lain forgotten. + +"That's lucky!" exclaimed the delighted lad, as he drew them out, +recognizing them more by the touch than by sight. "Now I'll build a big +fire, and fix things splendidly." + +A fire was his great desideratum, and, had he believed it possible +without great trouble and work, he would have kindled one before that. +The capture of a new horse could have pleased him scarcely more than the +discovery of the matches, and he set about reaping the advantage at +once. + +In such a place there was little difficulty in procuring fuel, and it +took Ned but a short time to gather all he could possibly need; but, to +guard against all contingencies, he continued collecting until he had a +huge pile, made up of dead limbs, branches, and a number of green sticks +thrown in. In a few minutes the flames were under way. He had kindled +them against the face of a rock, and they burned with a cheery +heartiness that did much to dispel the gloom which had begun settling +over him. He seated himself as near the fire as he could without being +made uncomfortable by the reflected heat, and then he assumed as easy a +position as was possible in such a place. + +"I wonder if anybody will see that?" he asked himself in a whisper, +after it had continued burning some time. + +Rising and reconnoitering the ground, he was gratified to learn that the +light was better screened than he had reason to expect, considering the +carelessness with which he had kindled it. The rock at the rear shut off +all view from that direction, while the undergrowth was so matted and +dense in front, that it seemed impossible for any one to see it from the +prairie. Having made this survey, he returned to his position, feeling +much easier in mind than before. + +"Strange what has become of Dick and Tom," he muttered, following up +this train of thought, as usual whenever he was left undisturbed for a +few minutes. "Can it be that they have been killed by the Apaches? It +might be, and yet I don't know how it could happen, either." + +He was still meditating upon this ever-interesting query, when he was +roused to a sense of his situation by the sound of something trampling +through the bushes behind him. + +"Indians!" he exclaimed, springing to his feet, rifle in hand, and +casting his terrified glance in the direction from whence came the +sound. + +The words were yet in his mouth, when he felt that he had committed a +blunder. No Indian would approach in that manner. + +"It must be some animal," was his conclusion, as he stepped back, so as +to bring himself as close to the fire as possible. + +The next moment, a huge, dark, unwieldy body advanced from the gloom +with a growl, and he saw an immense grizzly bear lumbering toward him. +As quick as thought his rifle was at his shoulder, and he fired full at +him, the distance being so short that he could not fail to hit the mark; +but the wound, however severe it might have been, was not fatal, and did +not deter bruin's advance in the least. Knowing that it would be sure +death if he were once seized by the powerful monster, and aware of the +dread which all animals have of fire, he dropped his gun and caught up a +blazing brand, which he flung in the very face of the brute. + +This was more than a bear, as courageous as was this giant grizzly, +could stand, and he retreated with an awkward haste which was +ridiculous. For the instant he was panic stricken, and continued falling +back until he was invisible in the gloom. But he was not disposed to +give up the contest by any means. Ned knew he would be back again, and +fortified himself as well as possible by hugging his own camp fire, +stooping down and holding himself ready to hurl another torch in the +brute's face if he should persevere in his attack. + +For several minutes all was quiet, and he began to hope that his fright +was such that he would keep at a respectful distance. Such was not the +case, however. A growl from another direction warned him that the brute +was about to advance from that quarter. The lad peered out into the +gloom, wondering whether the creature would eventually overcome his +dread to such an extent as to press him to the wall. At any rate, he was +not disposed to wait and hastily ran around to the other side of the +blaze, by which maneuver it was interposed directly between him and his +enemy. + +"I wonder what he will do now?" + + + + +CHAPTER XXX. + +FIGHTING A GRIZZLY. + + +The grizzly could not fail to detect the ruse of the boy, and he +countered by moving around to the other side of the fire, so that he +regained his former advantage. The nocturnal visitor had evidently set +his mind upon making his supper upon the little chap, whose plump, +robust appearance must have been a very tempting bait to him. The latter +was reluctant to repeat his maneuver, as, by doing so, he would be +forced to pass so near his foe that a big paw might reach out and grasp +him while on the way. + +"I'll have to fight you with fire," he said, as he seized a large stick, +one end of which was blazing. + +In the hope that he might give him a greater scare than before, the lad +swung it rapidly around his head until it was fanned into a roaring +flame. While this was going on, he was surrounded, as it appeared, by a +fiery circle, his appearance being such that the bravest quadruped +living could not have been induced to approach within his reach. Not +content with this, Ned assumed the aggressive. Stooping low, he emitted +a wild yell, and repeating this, pointed the torch forward and toward +him, moving it more rapidly and in a smaller circle, while at the same +time he kept slowly advancing upon him. + +No bear could be expected to withstand such a demonstration. The figure +of the yelling urchin, with his head surrounded by a blazing serpent, +must have struck terror to his very inmost being. Without pausing to do +more than to utter a short growl, he wheeled around and went crashing +through the undergrowth as if under the belief that a battery had been +suddenly unmasked and was about to open upon him. When he had retreated +a few rods he paused to see how matters appeared, when he again beheld +the horrid figure closer than ever and drawing nearer every moment. It +was appalling, and he plunged away at a greater speed than ever. Ned +pursued him until he was fearful of getting so far away from the camp +fire that he would lose it altogether. When he paused he could hear the +bear still tramping off, as if he already felt the torch blistering his +nose. Turning again, the lad ran with all speed to his "headquarters," +where he flung down his torch and caught up his gun. + +"Now I think I've got time to load it," he said, as he began the +operation at once, a little alarmed, however, to discover that the +supply of ammunition furnished him by Tom Hardynge was growing +alarmingly small. + +He succeeded in ramming the charge home, and then as he placed the cap +upon the tube, he felt something of the old confidence that was his when +astride the mustang and coursing over the prairie at a speed which no +horse could equal. When first charged upon by the monster he had fired +with such haste that he had no time to make any aim; now fortified by +his camp fire, he meant to improve upon that. Everything being ready, he +looked off into the gloom, but nothing was to be seen of the creature, +nor did the slightest sound betray his whereabouts. + +"He'll be sneaking back pretty soon," said the lad to himself, who was +resolved to remain on the watch. + +He was not kept waiting. A minute later he caught the slow crackling and +trampling of some heavy creature through the undergrowth, and he was +confident that his old enemy was close at hand. The lad sank down upon +one knee, so close to the fire that it scorched him, and awaited his +approach. But the grizzly had been so thoroughly scared that he hadn't +entirely recovered from it. When something like twenty feet away he +halted, and evidently began debating whether it would be prudent to +approach. + +Chadmund could not make out his figure distinctly, although he knew +precisely where he was; but, by and by, when the head moved a little, he +caught the phosphorescent glitter of the eyes. As the fire light shone +upon the gun-barrel he wanted no better opportunity, and, supporting the +weapon upon one knee, he pointed it straight at the center--that is, +directly between those glowing orbs, which remained stationary, as if in +waiting for the fatal messenger. It came the next moment. True to its +aim, the tiny sphere of lead entered the head of the bear at the most +vulnerable point, and the life went out from that huge mass. A rasping +growl, a few spasmodic throes, and it was all over. + +Ned was naturally exultant over his exploit, and he reflected that if +matters went on in the same fashion, he could soon lay claim to being +quite a hunter. He had shot an Indian, a buffalo, and a grizzly bear, +besides performing some other exploits not always accomplished by men. + +"I guess the best plan is to load again," he muttered, as he adopted +this precautionary measure. "That isn't the only grizzly bear in the +country." + +By this time the fire was running down, and the lad, throwing some more +fuel upon it, seated himself directly in front, prepared to watch for +further visitors. He had scarcely ensconced himself in this position +when his hair fairly rose on end at hearing a low but distinct, growl, +proving that some other unwelcome caller was about to pay him his +respects. + +He hurriedly looked in every direction, but could see nothing to explain +the cause of this alarming manifestation. It was so different from the +warning uttered by the grizzly that he knew it must be some other sort +of creature. Holding his rifle ready for instant use, he glanced +hurriedly about him, but, although the camp fire was throwing out a long +stream of light, no sign of an animal could be detected. + +"I'm sure I heard something," he repeated, still wondering and looking +around in search of the cause. "Hello! there it goes again. It sounds as +if it were somewhere up in the air--it is in the air!" + +The fire had been kindled against the face of a rock. This rock rose +perpendicularly a dozen feet above the ground below, where the fire was +burning, and where the lad was standing. As he looked up he saw the +gaunt figure of a large mountain wolf standing on the very edge of this, +looking down upon him, its lank jaws distended, its eyes glaring, and +its whole appearance that of a ferocious beast about to leap down upon +his head. The suggestion was so startling, that Ned uttered an +exclamation of terror, and leaped back several feet. + +It must be that when a wild beast comes across a boy, he concludes that +even though he carries a gun there is nothing to be feared from him. The +grizzly bear had shown a sublime indifference to Ned's capacity, and his +life had paid the forfeit. And now, although the mountain wolf must have +seen him raise that rifle and point it as straight as the finger of fate +directly at him, he paid no attention to it whatever; but there he +stood, snarling and growling, and on the very point of leaping. + +Suddenly there was a short, sharp crack, and it was all over with the +wolf. He must have gathered himself for a leap at that very moment; for +the bullet that bored his brittle skull through and through did not +prevent an outward bound. A faint yelp and the creature bounded full a +dozen feet directly out from the rock, and, owing to some curious quirp +of the muscles, turned a complete somerset, and would have landed +directly upon the head of Ned if he hadn't sprung to one side as the +carcass fell to the ground. + +"That settles your case," remarked the boy, with the indifference of an +old hunter. "Now it's time to load up again." + +This done he settled himself to watch and listen and play the part of +his own sentinel for the rest of the night. A faint moaning of the +night-wind was all that reached his ears. Once he fancied he heard the +report of a gun far away in the distance, but it was so faint that he +might have been mistaken. Then a cry, somewhat resembling that made by a +panther, was borne on the wind, but that, too, seemed to come from the +mountains that were miles away to the westward. No sound indicated the +presence of any further danger close at hand. Everything was quiet, and +seemingly at rest. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI. + +SLEEP. + + +The sentinel on his rounds, the watchman upon his beat, or the sailor +pacing the deck of his vessel in mid-ocean, keeps his senses awake by +the constant motion of his body. To sit down to rest for a few minutes +only is fatal. Sleep has the power of stealing over the faculties, and +wrapping them up in its embrace so insidiously, that no watchfulness can +guard against it unless artificial means, such as walking, are resorted +to. When Ned Chadmund resumed an easy position in front of his own camp +fire, the inevitable result followed. He resolved to keep his ears and +eyes open, and almost immediately closed them. A few minutes passed and +then his head began to nod. Several times he narrowly escaped tumbling +over, and, finally rousing, he vigorously rubbed his eyes, yawned, and +arose to his feet. + +"My gracious! this won't do," he exclaimed, with a shuddering sense of +the danger he was running. "A bear might steal right up to me and eat me +up before I could help myself. If I'm going to play sentinel, I must do +it like a man." + +Straightway he began pacing back and forth in front of the blaze, his +beat extending some twenty feet back and forth. He carried his rifle on +his shoulder and proved the thoroughness of his vigilance by an +occasional glance at the top of the rock, from which the mountain wolf +had made its death leap. The coast remained clear. The far-off sounds +which had attracted his attention a short time before were not repeated, +and, as the labor of walking back and forth grew a little wearisome, he +began to argue the question with himself. + +"I wonder whether there isn't some way of resting without working? If +I've got to walk all night, what shall I be good for to-morrow? I don't +see any fun in this sort of business. Ah, I know how I'll fix it; I'll +kindle two fires." + +He acted upon the idea at once. He had gathered such an abundance of +fuel that he had no fear of the supply running out. In a few minutes he +had a second fire started, about a dozen feet from the other, while he +stowed himself away directly between them. His position, he soon +discovered, was rather warmer than he anticipated, but he speedily +remedied this by permitting each fire to subside in a slight degree. + +"This is nice," he muttered, shrinking up against the rock. "I don't +think any wild creature would harm me unless he tumbled over the top of +the rock there and dropped on my head. Even then I think I should wake +up soon enough to use my gun on him. But then, I guess I won't go to +sleep." + +Five minutes later his head was nodding again, and utter unconsciousness +speedily followed. But one of the brands in the fire on his right fell, +and there was a slight crackling explosion of the embers--as is often +the case. A glowing spark flew outward and dropped upon the limp hand of +the sleeping youngster. + +Simultaneously there was a yell, and the lad leaped several feet from +the ground, dancing about like a rejoicing warrior and flinging his hand +as if he were trying to shake off some clinging reptile. + +"I should like to know who did that?" he exclaimed, a little confused by +the startling manner in which he had been aroused. "I guess I understand +how it all came about, though," he added, as he examined the stinging +blister upon the back of his hand. + +The pain from this little wound effectually banished all sleep for the +time. Ned busied himself in replenishing the fire, and then walked out +in the gloom and looked about. Everything was the same. The night was +dark,--no moon being visible,--and an oppressive sultriness was in the +atmosphere. It seemed as if some elemental disturbance were close at +hand, but in looking to the sky no presage of it could be discovered. + +After wandering about for some time, the lad spat upon some earth, and, +plastering it over the smarting blister, succeeded in shutting out the +air from it and secured considerable relief. + +"It must be that I am all alone," he added, standing still and +listening. "No one is near and no one sees me but God. He has taken care +of me in the past, and He will not forsake me in future," he added, +looking reverently upward. + +The old feeling of drowsiness again stole over him and he determined to +secure a night's rest--that is, during the portion of the night that +remained. Still the fact that the fires had run down somewhat raised the +inquiry in his mind as to what was likely to happen in case they went +out altogether. If any more grizzly bears should put in an appearance, +his situation would not be of the most inviting nature, but he had +argued himself into the belief that no further peril of this character +threatened. By placing a goodly amount of fuel upon the fires he hoped +to keep them going until daylight, or until his slumber was over. Had he +been able to find a suitable tree, he would have made his bed in that, +even at the risk of another disagreeable fall, but nothing of the kind +could be seen, and he had already grown weary of hunting for some hiding +place among the rocks. Accordingly, the camp fires were replenished and +he resumed his former position between them, covering his hands very +carefully, lest another spark should drop in the same place. + +"I wish it was colder!" he exclaimed, when he found the place growing +uncomfortably warm. "If it was winter now, I shouldn't want anything +nicer." + +He stood it like a hero, however, and by and by his place became more +pleasant, for the reason that the fuel was rapidly burning down. About +this time sleep regained possession of his senses, and, cramped up +though he was, with his back against the rock, his slumber was scarcely +less sound than if he were stretched out upon his blanket beneath a tree +in the forest. + +At the time young Chadmund relapsed into unconsciousness it was nearly +midnight, and for nearly two hours following there was scarcely the +slightest change in the surroundings. The fires burned low, until the +figure of the lad braced up against the rock grew dim and shadowy in the +deepening gloom. Scarcely a breath of air stirred the vegetation about +him, and everything seemed to be calculated to lull one into a deep, +soothing, dreamless sleep. But at the end of the time mentioned, +something came out of the undergrowth and advanced stealthily toward +him. It was vague, shadowy, and so dimly outlined that at first its form +could not be recognized; but as it glided closer to the fire, there was +enough light remaining to disclose the figure of another wolf. + +Like a phantom born of the gloom itself, it moved toward the unconscious +lad, until scarcely a dozen feet intervened. Then, as if directed by +Providence, one of the embers snapped apart, throwing out a sudden +flame, which momentarily lit up the surrounding darkness. Like a flash +the wolf slunk back, and then, pausing, stood and stared at the lad, +licking his jaws as if in anticipation of the feast he expected to enjoy +upon him. + +As the flames subsided again, and the same gloom crept over the scene, +the hideous creature stole up again, resolved to have the meal displayed +so temptingly before him. Once more he was within reach, still advancing +with jaws distended--ready to leap upon him. The boy slumbered +dreamlessly on. Still nearer crept the wolf until Ned was at his mercy. + +At this critical juncture, something whizzed from the upper surface of +the rock, with the velocity almost of a bullet. It was a tomahawk, +which, speeding true to its aim, struck the unsuspicious wolf fairly and +with such terrific force that his skull was cloven in twain as +completely as if smitten by the headsman's ax. There was scarcely time +for the wild yelp as he tumbled over backward. But, such as it was, it +aroused Ned, who sprang to his feet and gazed about him with an alarmed +and bewildered air. Before he could fairly comprehend what had taken +place he saw figures descending and approaching. It was too late to +retreat. He was surrounded. + +"I'm a goner now!" he muttered. + +But as the firelight brightened, he saw the kindly faces of Tom Hardynge +and Dick Morris. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXII. + +REUNITED. + + +"How was it that you came to leave me for so long a time?" inquired Ned, +after he had welcomed his two friends with boyish enthusiasm and +congratulated himself upon his timely deliverance. + +"Wal," replied Tom, as the three took up a comfortable position before +the fire, "we started you off on that hunt on purpose to give you a +little taste of buffaler huntin', calc'latin' to foller on after ye in +the course of an hour or two. Afore we could do so, a war-party of a +hundred redskins got right atween us--didn't you see 'em?" + +"No such party as that." + +"In course they shut us out altogether. The worst of it was, we +exchanged a few shots back and forth with 'em, and they give us a brush; +so by the time we had dodged out of their way, we was a long ways off +from you. We couldn't do nothin' till mornin', and by that time the +buffaloes and Injuns had trampled out your trail, so that there was +nothin' to be seen of it, and we had to go it on general principles. We +had 'bout made up our mind that some of the varmints had gobbled you, +when we put eyes on this fire, and there ain't any use of tellin' any +more." + +The lad now in compliance with their request, related his entire +experience since their separation. Old and veteran hunters as they were, +and chary of praise as was their custom, they did not hesitate to +compliment him highly upon the courage he had displayed in the most +trying emergencies in which he was placed. His experience had, indeed, +been a most remarkable one, and Providence had protected him in a +wonderful manner. + +Everything being understood, and the past cleared up, it now became them +to look to the future. There were only two horses to three persons, and +as there were no means of obtaining one, it became necessary to divide +the lad between the two hunters--an arrangement which was easily made. + +But, although it might seem that the greatest danger of the company had +passed, the truth was, however, that the greatest was still before them, +and both Dick and Tom knew it. They were pursuing a journey in an almost +due south-westerly direction--precisely the course necessary to take in +order to reach home, as they had come to look upon Fort Havens. But +directly in their path was a broad level patch of country, interspersed, +here and there, with rocks and vegetation, over which both the Comanches +and Apaches were so constantly roaming that it would be impossible for a +white man to cross it without being discovered by some of the +war-parties. + +When Dick and Tom were coming from the other direction, they were seen, +and escaped only by the superior fleetness of their horses. But the +trouble was that while they were not expected and not watched for then, +now they were. The redskins were cunning enough to know that if two +hunters rode at full speed through their country in the direction of +Santa Fe, they would be very likely to return again in the course of a +few days, and, as Dick said, the reds "would be ready for 'em." +Consequently, it became not a question of fleetness; for, if it were, +the hunters could afford to have very little apprehension over the +result; but Tom Hardynge was well convinced that the Apaches, to the +number of a hundred or more, were distributed at different points, and +on the lookout for them. Indeed, he had already seen such evidence of +the fact that it could not be doubted. He did not consider it necessary +to tell their young friend all this, for he would learn it in due time. + +Such being the case it would have been a waste of time for the three to +remain where they were, while they had the sheltering darkness to screen +them in their flight; but the two mustangs had done a good deal of +traveling, and it was wise to give them the rest while it could be +gained. Here were water and grass, of which the animals were taking the +advantage. It was wise to husband their strength and endurance until the +following day. + +The hunters extinguished one camp fire entirely, and toned the other +down so that there was no possibility of its attracting the notice of +any one unless he passed very near at hand. Fortunately for Ned, they +had some very good and substantial lunch with them, with which his +hunger was fully satisfied. There still remained a little stock on hand, +which was reserved more for him than themselves. They were accustomed to +such privations and could stand it very well, but the lad was of too +tender years not to suffer keenly. + +The night was so far gone that no one attempted to obtain any sleep. The +hunters went out and examined the dead grizzly, learning his dimensions +by the sense of feeling alone. Tom picked up the tomahawk, and, wiping +off the blade upon the grass, shoved it down in his belt, with the +remark that it might come handy again before they reached Fort Havens. +The two then made an observation for the purpose of learning whether any +of the Indians were in the neighborhood. Nothing important was +discovered, however, and in due time the night ended and the morning +came again. + +The sun was scarcely up when they were under way. Ned at first was +placed upon the back of the mustang ridden by Dick Morris, and side by +side, the two fleet-limbed creatures left the ridge and took the +shortest route to Fort Havens. The gait was an easy, swinging one, which +the horses were capable of keeping up from rise of morn until set of +sun. The day was warm and sunshiny, but the air was so clear and pure +that the oppressiveness was much less than would have been the case in a +more northern latitude. + +Beyond the ridge, the country remained open, as the prairie was inclined +to be rolling than otherwise, but with a surface which permitted the +utmost swiftness of which an animal was capable. Occasionally patches of +wood and rocky elevations were discernible, but these were given a wide +berth in all cases, as they were the very places where the treacherous +enemies would have wished them to come. A herd of buffaloes, probably +the same seen a short time before, was discerned far to the south, but +they were passed by while still a long distance away. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIII. + +CLOSING IN. + + +The party pushed on until the greater portion of the forenoon was +passed, when Ned was transferred to the back of Tom's horse. The lad had +noticed that the hunters were acting in a strange manner, as though they +were ill at ease, and were apprehensive that peril of some kind was +approaching. + +Dick Morris rode fully a hundred yards in advance of his comrade, and +the motion of his head showed that there was no part of the horizon that +was not under his surveillance. Tom was equally busy while riding in the +rear. Neither of the hunters addressed a word to the other, but the boy +detected a sort of telegraphy occasionally passing between them. They +were working by a preconcerted arrangement, like corresponding parts of +some machine, understanding each other so well that there was no need +for explanation. The boy also used his to the best advantage possible, +often turning his head and scanning the prairie and horizon, but not a +single time did he discern anything that looked like Indians. Had he +been alone, he would have journeyed serenely forward, certain that no +danger of any kind threatened. + +At noon, a brief halt was made as they struck the margin of a small +stream, the water of which was rather warm and muddy, the buffaloes +having probably disturbed it at some point above. The horses quaffed +their fill, and upon the suggestion of Tom, Ned did the same. There was +a good deal of significance when he uttered the words. + +"It may be a good while before you get a chance at another." + +It did not escape the notice of the lad, either, that both his friends +filled to the full their old canteens, after which they repaired to one +side, where they conversed for some time in low tones, and with such +earnest, excited gestures, that it was plain they were in deadly +earnest. + +"I don't see why they keep everything from me," he muttered, as he +observed this. "I think I've seen as big sights as they have for the +last few days, and if there's any trouble coming, I wonder whether I +haven't got to take my chance the same as them? But I'll let them alone +till they get ready to tell me." + +He was watching the two as they were talking to each other, when Tom +beckoned to him to approach. + +"There's no use of talkin'," said the hunter, in a low voice; "we're +gettin' into the worst scrimmage of our lives. We're right in the middle +of a dangerous tract. We've been seen by the Apaches and they're arter +us." + +"Why don't you wait until night and go through when they can't see you?" + +The hunter shook his head at this seemingly reasonable query. + +"The darkness is worse for us than it is for them. They can lay flat on +the perarie and hear the sound of the hosses' feet a good deal further +off than they can see 'em, and the scamps are so cunnin' they would have +drawn us right into some ambush afore we'd knowed anythin' about it. No, +we must try it with our eyes open and the sun shinin'." + +"But what of it?" asked Ned, who did not see why their position need be +looked upon as so critical. "Your mustangs are as fleet as theirs. How +are they going to catch you?" + +The whole difficulty was then made clear to the lad. If the Apaches were +nowhere but in the rear, it would be an easy matter to give them the +slip, but they were on the right and left, and in front, and signs that +had been seen through the day indicated very clearly that the Indians +were carrying out to the letter the plan of which the hunters had +spoken, and which they dreaded so much. They had already surrounded +them, the circle being quite a number of miles in diameter, and were now +simply drawing in their lines. + +This, as a matter of course, made a collision inevitable, unless the +hunters could manage to steal between these redskins, and, by striking +the open country beyond, place the entire company in their rear. Such a +plan as this was scarcely possible of accomplishment. + +If attempted during the daytime, it would be instantly detected by some +of the redskins, who would notify the proper ones, when an immediate +concentration would take place in front of the fugitives. If tried +during the darkness of night, it would fail. The Apaches would take +every imaginable precaution against it and there was no means of +concealing the noise made by hoofs. By going on foot they could get +through the lines without difficulty; but they could not commit the +imprudence of leaving their horses. The situation, therefore, was +critical. Tom made known two most important facts. The first was that +beyond a doubt Lone Wolf was at the head of the whole enterprise, and +they were likely to meet with this treacherous chief again. The second +was that, in case they were driven to the wall, the hunters had +determined upon taking refuge in a place known as Hurricane Hill. + +"It's nothing more than a pile of rocks," added Hardynge. "I've been +there before, and it's just the spot to make a desp'rit stand. Two men +like us, if we can reach the right p'int, can keep a hundred of the +redskins back." + +"Won't they get there ahead of us?" asked Ned. + +"I think not," replied the hunter, in that hesitating manner which +showed that he had thought of the contingency before; "for the reason +that I b'leve they'd like to have us run there; but, come, let's be +off." + +That the mustangs might be relieved, the lad was now taken on the back +of Dick's, and the journey toward the southwest was resumed at the same +sweeping gallop. Tom took the lead, carefully scanning the ground over +which they traveled. For an hour all went well, and then he reined up +his steed with startling suddenness. + +"Look yonder!" he said, pointing to the south. + +Glancing in the direction indicated, the boy saw a number of moving +specks, apparently on the very horizon. + +"Injuns," said Dick, in a low voice, although the boy scarcely needed +the explanation to know they were their old enemies--mounted Apaches. + +"Do you see 'em?" + +"Yes." + +"Now take a peep off there." + +This time the hunter pointed exactly opposite, where almost precisely +the same thing was visible. + +"Now, I s'pose you understand how it all is? They've been keeping along +with us all day, a little ahead, and all the time closing in a little. +They've got things down to a dot, and mean bus'ness, you can bet." + +"But are we anywhere near Hurricane Hill?" + +"Yonder it is." + +Several miles in advance, a dark, mound-like obstruction appeared +against the sky. It was so far away that it was seen only indistinctly, +but its character was evidently such as described by the hunter. + +"Are you going for it?" + +"We are." + +And, suiting action to his words, they immediately broke into a gallop +which was more rapid than before. + +The situation, especially to the boy, became painful in its thrilling +intensity. He required no telling to know that the dreaded programme +described by his friends was being carried out to the letter. The +Apaches were steadily closing in upon them, and it was evident that, if +they chose to do so, they could effectually shut them out from reaching +their vantage ground. Young Chadmund dreaded such a course upon their +part. Somehow or other he had grown to look upon Hurricane Hill as their +haven of safety. The few words of recommendation that Tom Hardynge had +given it caused this belief upon his part. He did not pause to ask +himself what was to be done after reaching it. + +Suppose it could be gained in perfect safety, what then? If they should +prove themselves fully able to keep a whole host of Apaches at bay, how +was the siege to end? If the Indians should content themselves with +merely waiting until hunger and thirst could do their work, what more? +These questions naturally occurred to the men themselves, but it came +back to Hobson's choice after all. And so they dashed ahead, gradually +increasing their speed, while the Apaches, with the regularity of +machine work, as gradually drew in upon them. + +"Will they cut us off?" inquired Ned, when the chase had continued for +some time. + +"Guess not," replied Dick; "but it don't make much difference." + +"Why not?" + +"'Cause it begins to look as if they had a dead sure thing of it," said +the scout, sententiously. + +"I hope not--I hope not," said the trembling lad, who could only pray +that Heaven would not desert them in the peril which was encompassing +them on every hand. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIV. + +HURRICANE HILL. + + +While yet at a considerable distance, the full force of the Indians +became developed. They were divided almost equally, fifty being on +either hand, and their speed still remained such that the main portion +kept ahead of the fugitives, with about half a mile intervening between +them and their pursuers. It may have been fancy, but Tom Hardynge +maintained that he was able to recognize Lone Wolf among the redskins on +the right, and when a short time afterward Dick Morris emphatically +asserted the same thing, it began to look as if the belief were well +founded. + +The sun was quite low in the sky, and the gait of the mustangs began to +tell upon them. The two were galloping side by side, and going nearly at +full speed. Both Tom and Dick were angry at being forced into such a +position, which, to them, was a cowardly flight from a lot of wretches +whom they despised and hated. + +"I must give 'em my compliments," suddenly exclaimed the latter, when +they were within rifle shot of each other. As he spoke, he raised his +gun, and fired into Lone Wolf's band. + +He seemed to take no aim at all, and, indeed, there was little necessity +for it, as the Indians were so numerous and compact. A yell followed and +then a commotion, showing very plainly that the shot had told. + +"I reckon I'll try it again, it works so well," said Dick, repeating the +demonstration, except that he aimed to the company on the left. He took +a little more pains to guard against throwing his shot away and the +result was similar to the first. + +"Now we'll catch it," said the terrified Ned, crouching down beside the +hunter, who like his friend was engaged in reloading his gun. + +But there was no return fire. The Apaches, evidently, had concluded that +they could wait. The shots, however, resulted somewhat advantageously +for the fugitives, who, during the momentary confusion thus created, +managed to crowd a little ahead. The horses were then put to a dead run +and the final rush made for Hurricane Hill, the last refuge for which +the fugitives could flee, seeing which, the Indians converged toward +them, and made every effort to shut them off. + +Although the hunters had apparently used their utmost endeavors up to +this time, they had husbanded the strength of their animals so cleverly +that their pursuers themselves were deceived, and when they expected to +interpose themselves directly across the path, they beheld them flying +like a whirlwind toward the rocks. + +The few hundred yards remaining between the latter and Hurricane Hill +were passed in a few seconds by the fleet-footed mustangs. Ned was +fairly dazed by the bewildering rush of events, and hardly able to keep +track of their order. He saw the hurrying warriors directly behind them, +and the rough, cragged mass of rocks in front. The next moment he was +off the mustang. The scouts had checked their beasts at the same instant +at the base of Hurricane Hill, and, leaping to the ground, skurried up +the steep incline by which its surface was reached. The feet of the lad +did not touch the earth. Dick, who was slightly in advance, carried him +under his arm as if he were an infant snatched up in haste, and the men +bounded toward the top of the hill, the whole howling horde at their +heels. + +Hurricane Hill, it should be stated, was a pile of rocks about one +hundred feet in diameter, with half that height. On one side a narrow +path led upward at an angle of forty-five degrees, and, as it permitted +only one to pass at a time, the place, with a few defenders, was +impregnable against almost any force. This path upward was filled with +loose, rattling stones, which sometimes made one's foothold treacherous, +and it also made several curious turns, so that, after ascending a rod +or so, one was shut out from the view of those upon the ground below. + +The very instant this point was reached Dick Morris dropped the lad and +exclaimed: + +"Now run like thunder, and don't stop till you reach the top." + +Then, wheeling about, he leaped back several paces to the assistance of +Tom, who was defending the pass like a second Leonidas against the +swarming warriors. + +A huge, stalwart redskin, who probably believed his strength to be +superior to that of the scouts, advanced boldly and seized him, with the +evident purpose of drawing him down among the others and making him a +prisoner in spite of himself. But he found he had made a slight +miscalculation when he was lifted like a child from the ground and +hurled over the heads and among the glowering redskins crowding below. +The momentum of his body was such that a half dozen were forced backward +and almost off their feet. Had the Apaches chosen to do so, it would +have been an easy matter to have shot all three of the fugitives, or +even two of them, and taken the lad; but they had some old score against +Tom and Dick, which could not be wiped out by mere death alone. Now that +such a fine opportunity was presented for securing them and indulging in +all the luxury of torture, they were not the ones to throw away the +chance. Hence, they persistently refused to fire and as persistently +forced their way upward. + +This check, which might have been simply temporary, was emphasized and +made more permanent in its character by Dick, who at the critical moment +seized a goodly sized rock, which he drove down among the wretches like +the discharge from a fifty pounder. It made terrible work and the +discomfited Apaches retreated tumultuously to the bottom, while the +hunters hastened away again to the top of the hill. Ned was there +awaiting their coming with the most painful misgiving about their coming +at all. He knew from the uproar that a desperate fight was raging in the +narrow pass, and he feared that the resentful Apaches would overcome the +braver hunters, who were defending themselves so desperately. But there +they were at last, with the announcement that their enemies had fallen +back and a temporary peace was given them. + +"Can't expect it to last long, howsomever," added Tom, who breathed +scarcely any faster from his terrific exertions. "Them skunks are bound +to swallow us whole, and we've got to kick hard to prevent it." + +As soon as a little breathing time had been gained, the besieged made an +examination of their immediate surroundings, to learn the probable form +in which this business was likely to end. The hunters removed all +superfluous articles from their persons,--in the shape of canteens and a +few appurtenances,--like pugilists who are stripping for a fight. + +The surface of Hurricane Hill was generally level, and free from the +boulders and obstructions which one would naturally expect to find +there, which Tom Hardynge explained by saying that they had all been +rolled down upon the Indians below by parties who had been driven to +this _dernier resorte_ years before. The position of the three, +therefore, was very much as if they were upon the extensive top of a +tower which was reached by a narrow stairway, their province being to +defend it against all comers. + +For some time after the repulse of the Apaches, all remained quiet. Of +course, they took charge of the two mustangs that the fugitives had been +compelled to leave behind in their flight and then disposed themselves +around the refuge, like those who had made up their minds to wait until +the fruit dropped into their hands. + +The afternoon was drawing to a close, and Ned naturally viewed the +coming night with distrust. Darkness seemed to be the appropriate time +for the fiends to work, and more than once he shuddered as he pictured +in his imagination the merciless wretches swarming up the narrow path +and spreading over the top, like the rush of waters when bursting up +from some hidden fountain. + +"All we've got to do is to keep our eyes open," said Dick, with a most +reassuring manner. "If I could have plenty to eat and drink, with the +privilege of sleeping a little now and then, I wouldn't want any better +fun than to stay up here for a few months and crack their heads as they +come up." + +"Shall I do the watching to-night?" + +"Not much," grinned Dick. "Tom takes the first half, me the last, and +that's as good a way as we can fix it." + +"And what shall I do to help?" + +"Go to sleep as soon as it is dark, and don't wake up for three or four +days--and even then you must not be dry or hungry." + + + + +CHAPTER XXXV. + +THE SENTINEL. + + +Ned then understood why the two scouts had taken pains to fill their +canteens at the brook during the day, and why, also, they so religiously +preserved the little lunch still remaining in their possession. It was +to guard against just such a contingency. + +As the sun approached the horizon, the lad seated himself upon a rocky +protuberance and looked off over the surrounding country. To the west, +the blue, misty outlines of a moderately high range of mountains shut +off all further view. + +"Just beyond that," he said to himself, as he fixed his eyes upon the +elevation, "Tom tells me is Fort Havens, where father is waiting for me. +If he only knew we were here, he might come to our relief. Wouldn't he +scatter the redskins down there? But I don't know how he will find it +out. Oh! if we were only among those mountains, it wouldn't take us long +to go the rest of the way. I suppose the fort can be seen from their +top." + +To the south, a stratum of yellow vapor stretched for forty degrees +along the horizon. There were no buffaloes there, but there had been, +and it was the evidence of their passage. To the north, the view was +broken by ridges, patches of wood, and curious irregularities of +surface, but there was no sign of life among all, nor could it be +detected except by peering over the edge of Hurricane Hill down upon the +assembled besiegers below. He noticed that Tom Hardynge, shading his +eyes with his hand, was gazing off with a fixed intensity in the +direction of the mountains which intervened between them and Fort +Havens. He said nothing, but there was a significance in his persistency +which aroused the curiosity of the lad in no small degree. Could it be +that his keen vision detected something tangible toward the setting sun, +which was hidden from view by the mountain range? Or was it the mere +searching for something upon which to hang his hopes? + +Dick Morris was very differently occupied, acting, indeed, as if unaware +that anyone else was upon the hill-top besides himself. Crawling to the +edge, he was stretched out flat upon his face, his hat removed, while he +peered stealthily downward upon the crowd below. Probably, he, too, was +searching for something or somebody. There was so much meaning in his +actions that the interest of the lad centered upon him, and he watched +every motion. + +The hunter fidgeted around for a few minutes, as if his posture was not +exactly comfortable, and then hastily projecting his gun over the +margin, he took a quick aim and fired, and then flinging the weapon +aside, looked down again to see the result. All at once, he sprang to +his feet, and stamped back toward the center of the plateau, in a +terrific rage. + +"Ain't it awful!" he exclaimed, adding a forcible expletive. "Did I ever +make a bigger mistake?" + +"What do you mean, Dick?" + +"Hit the wrong skunk." + +"How is that?" asked Tom, turning toward him. + +"I've been figuring around for half an hour so as to draw a bead on Lone +Wolf, and just as I pulled the trigger, I found I'd hit the wrong one. +It's trying to one's feelings to be disappointed that way." + +"I don't b'leve you'll get a chance at him," said Tom, as he seated +himself and resumed his patient scrutiny of the western horizon. + +However the scout was not quite in despair, and, reloading his piece, he +returned to his position and resumed his watch. But the mistake he had +made operated against him in every way. It apprised the Apaches of their +danger from this sort of sharp-shooting, and the whole force fell back, +while Lone Wolf, who was shrewd enough to know that his life was in +special demand, made sure that he was out of range of those fatal +rifles. Besides this, it was rapidly growing dark, and before Dick could +gain any kind of a chance at all, the light was too dim to afford him +the indispensable aim. + +The hunters showed a business-like manner of doing things. As soon as it +was fairly dark, Dick Morris gave up his hunt for Lone Wolf, and, +remarking that there would be no fun until the morrow, rolled over and +away from the margin, and was sound asleep within ten minutes. + +"You'd better do the same," said Tom to the lad, as he left him alone, +and moved down the incline to the position he intended to occupy while +acting as sentinel during the first portion of the night. + +Ned remained up a considerable time, when, as there seemed to be nothing +going on of an alarming nature, he concluded to step out and do the +same, if he could control his nerves enough to do so. He was both hungry +and thirsty, but not to a very great degree, and as his companions said +nothing about eating or drinking, he made up his mind to wait until the +morrow. It was about an hour before he became entirely unconscious, but +when he shut his eyes they were not opened until morning. + +Before that time, however, Tom Hardynge became involved in a little +difficulty. The point where he located was about half way between the +base and top of Hurricane Hill. Here the path made such an abrupt bend +that it was easy to conceal himself, and still keep a sharp watch upon +any one coming from below. It was the hunter's belief that an attempt +would be made by the Apaches to steal upon them before morning; for, +while their enemies were ready to wait three or four days, or as long as +was necessary, yet it was to be expected that they would prefer to force +matters to a conclusion as speedily as possible. If they could crowd up +to the top of the hill and overwhelm the fugitives, they were willing to +incur the risk of losing several lives that they might do so. +Accordingly, when he assumed his position it was with the expectation +that there would be something on the carpet before long. + +Nor was he disappointed. For two hours not the slightest sound reached +his ears, and then a pebble softly rattled down the incline below him. +There might have been no human agency in this slight occurrence, as the +loose _débris_ was likely to do the same thing at any moment, but Tom +believed that it was caused by the moccasin of an Apache stealing +upward. He stealthily peeped around the edge of the rock, but nothing +was to be seen. There was a moon in the sky, but its position was such +that the path was thrown in shadow, and he could not have detected a man +a dozen feet distant. + +Fifteen minutes more passed and then the scout became certain that an +Indian was stealing up the path toward him. It was a wonder how the +thing could be done, without sending streams of gravel and pebbles +rattling to the bottom. Hardynge straightened up, still peering around +in the gloom. + +The moments wore away and still he was able to detect that soft, faint +gliding, as if a rattlesnake were getting into a position to strike its +prey. By and by--yes, he could now make out the crouching figure +approaching through the darkness and he drew back lest he should be +seen. Nearer and nearer it drew, while he remained as motionless as the +solid rock beside him. Finally, after great delay it stood opposite. + +At the very instant it was passing the hand of Tom Hardynge shot +straight out with lightning-like quickness and force, and the knife +clutched in his iron-like grasp did its duty well. No outcry proclaimed +the deed. There was only a gasp and all was over. The moment it was done +the hunter straightened up and listened. + +"Mebbe there's another behind him." + +But the most patient, careful listening failed to detect anything, and, +leaving the body lying where it had fallen, he went noiselessly to the +top where Dick was sleeping. A gentle touch aroused the latter and he +instantly rose to his feet. A few words told him all that had happened +and then the two hurriedly discussed the scheme which had occurred to +Hardynge a short time before. Two minutes only were needed for them to +reach a conclusion. + +"I'll do it," muttered Tom, as they arose and began picking their way +down the path. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVI. + +A DESPERATE SCHEME. + + +The two scouts carefully descended until they reached the spot where the +dead Apache lay. They moved as noiselessly as shadows until they stood +directly by the inanimate form. Then, while Tom Hardynge began adjusting +his outer garments, Dick Morris stooped over and drew forth the blanket +which was crumpled beneath the dead warrior. + +The Apaches and Comanches and different tribes of the southwest nearly +always carry their blankets with them when traveling, and when this +particular Indian essayed his perilous reconnaissance on a sultry summer +night that garment was flung over his shoulders. These savages as a +rule, do not wear their hair done up in the defiant scalp-lock form seen +among their more northern kindred. It hangs loosely about their heads +and shoulders, being ornamented with stained feathers, the hair itself +frequently daubed with brilliant paint. + +Tom gathered the blanket about him precisely as did the warrior, and +then, his own cap being thrown aside, the feathers were stuck in among +the tresses with all the skill of the veteran warrior. As he wore +leggings the same as the redskin, his _tout ensemble_ was complete. +Beneath his blanket he carried his rifle, pistol and knife, and even +took the tomahawk from the girdle of the fallen brave, and managed to +stow that about his clothing. Even now the two comrades spoke not a +word. They merely shook hands in a silent, cordial grasp, and almost +immediately became invisible to each other. Dick remained where he was +for several minutes, listening and looking, and then, hearing nothing, +moved back toward his former position, muttering as he went: + +"If anybody can get through 'em, Tom's the boy--but it's a powerful +desprit scheme--a powerful desprit one!" + +Reaching the top, he crawled again to the margin, and stretched out with +his head partly over. Eye-sight was of no avail now, and he depended +upon hearing alone, believing that by that means he would be able to +learn the success or failure of the maneuver. But not until nearly an +hour had passed did he begin to feel anything like a real hope that his +comrade had succeeded. + +In the meantime, Tom was doing his best. It was no easy task for him to +pass safely through the Apache lines in the guise of an Indian. The +redskins would be on the lookout for the return of their scout, and the +ordeal through which he would have to pass would be a much more severe +one than usual. But he was accustomed to desperate schemes, and ready +for any sort of encounter. If discovered immediately, he meant to dash +back again up the rocks; but if he could get any distance away, he would +make a determined effort to elude his enemies altogether. + +Following out his plan with the deliberation of a veteran, he stole +slowly downward, consuming fully half an hour before he reached the base +of Hurricane Hill. When, at length, he stood upon hard ground below, he +was taken somewhat back by seeing no one near him. + +"That's queer," he said; "what's become of the skunks?" + +He had scarcely uttered the words when a tall form suddenly appeared at +his side, coming up as if he had risen from the very ground. + +"Do the hunters sleep?" + +This question was asked in pure Apache, and Tom, somewhat distrustful of +his own ability in that line, managed to muffle his blanket up in front +of his mouth as he replied in the same tongue: + +"They sleep not." + +"Where is their scalps, Mau-tau-ke?" + +"On their heads." + +The warrior was no more than ten feet distant, and from the moment the +scout detected him he began edging away, the Indian naturally following +along while these words were being uttered, so as to keep within easy +ear-shot. Upon hearing the second reply to his question, he paused, and +Tom, dreading a betrayal, grasped the handle of his knife under his +cloak, and was ready to use it on the instant. But the Indian remained +standing, while Tom, still moving away in his indifferent manner, soon +passed beyond his view. + +"I guess he's stopped to think," was the conclusion of the scout, as he +looked back in the gloom, "and it'll be some time before he's through." + +But the trouble now remained as to how he should pass through the Apache +lines beyond. If the redskins had any suspicion of any such movement, or +if the warrior whom he had just left were suspicious, serious trouble +was at hand. + +The hunter sauntered aimlessly along, using his eyes and ears, and a +walk of something over a hundred yards brought him up against a number +of figures that were stretched out and sitting upon the ground, with +several standing near at hand. + +They showed no surprise at their "brother's" approach, and he was +confident that, if they didn't undertake to cross-question him too +closely, he stood a good chance of getting through. As they were +gathered too closely at this point he made a turn to the right, and, to +his amazement, not a word was said or the least notice taken of him, as +he walked directly by. That was succeeding, indeed; but Tom was not yet +ready to leave the neighborhood. He wanted his horse, Thundergust, and, +once astride of him, his heart would be light as a bird; but in looking +around he could not discern a single horse. + +It would be useless to attempt to reach Fort Havens on foot. The Apaches +would detect his flight by daylight, which was only a few hours away, +and they could overhaul him before he could go any distance at all. No, +he must have his horse, and he began his search for him. This was a +delicate task; but he prosecuted it with the same skill and +_nonchalance_ that he had displayed heretofore. + +He had stolen along for a short distance, when he descried some twenty +horses corraled and cropping the grass, while a still larger number were +lying on the ground. Was his own among them? he asked himself, as he +stood looking in that direction, while he dimly discerned the figures of +the warriors upon his left. Very cautiously he gave utterance to a +slight whistle. There was no response, although he suspected it was +heard by the redskins themselves. Then he repeated it several times, +walking a little nearer the group of equines. + +All at once one of their number rose from the ground with a faint +whinney, and came trotting toward him. At the same time several Indians +came forward from the main group, their suspicions fairly awakened by +these maneuvers. + +One of these suddenly broke into a run, as he descried the mustang +trotting toward the warrior-like figure shrouded in his blanket. There +was no doubt in his mind that something was wrong. The scout stood like +a statue, as though he saw not the approach of the man or horse. The +latter as if distrustful of the shape of things moved so reluctantly +that the redskin beat him in reaching the goal. + +"What means Mau-tau-ke?" he demanded, in a gruff voice, as he clutched +his shoulder. "Is he a dog that--" + +The poor Apache scarcely knew what disposed of him. It was with the +suddenness of the lightning stroke, and, flinging back the dirty blanket +that had enshrouded his form, the scout pointed his revolvers at the +others, fired three shots, accompanied by a screech loud enough to wake +the dead. Then, springing toward his mustang, he vaulted upon his back, +wheeled about, and thundered away, like the whirlwind across the +prairie. + +This demonstration was so unexpected and so appalling that the Apaches +were effectually checked for a time. Before they could recover, mount +their horses, and start in pursuit, the fugitive was beyond their sight. +It was useless to pursue, at any rate, for there was no steed among them +all that could overtake the flying mustang, whose hoofs were plainly +heard upon the prairie, rapidly growing fainter as the distance +increased. In a few minutes it had died out altogether, and, ferocious +as was the hatred of the redskins toward the hunter who had outwitted +and injured them so often, no one made any effort to overhaul him. + +Tom Hardynge, every few seconds, let out a regular Apache war-yell, +intended as exultation, taunt and defiance. He could afford it, for he +had triumphed as completely as heart could covet. The magnificent +Thundergust instinctively knew their destination, and the reins lay +loosely upon his neck as he sped away. He was aiming for Fort Havens. It +was a long distance away, and many hours must pass before its flagstaff +could be detected against the far-off horizon. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVII. + +THE TWO DEFENDERS. + + +Dick Morris, stretched out full length upon the top of Hurricane Hill, +peering down in the impenetrable gloom, understood all that had passed. +There was no mistaking that yell of Tom Hardynge; he had heard it many a +time before in the heat of conflict, and it generally meant something. + +"Go it, old chap!" he shouted, swinging his hat over his head, as he saw +the whole thing in his imagination. "Them 'ere pistol-barks show there's +been some bitin' done. Business is business." + +He noted, too, the sounds of the mustang's hoofs growing fainter and +fainter, until the strained ears could detect them no longer. Tom +Hardynge had safely passed through the Apache lines. It was a daring and +desperate feat indeed, but it had succeeded to perfection. Nothing now +remained to hinder his flight direct to Fort Havens. + +"I rather think somebody's mad," exulted Dick, who was fully as proud +over the exploit of his comrade as was Tom himself. "There ain't much +doubt but what there'll be lively times here before long. They know +there's only two of us, counting in the little chap, and they'll make a +rush. Let 'em do it. If they can get up by that corner where the other +fellow dropped they're welcome, that's all." + +And with this conclusion he left the top of the hill and picked his way +down the path, until he reached the spot where he had parted from his +comrade. Here he stooped down with the purpose of picking up the body of +the warrior and flinging it down upon the heads of those below. To his +astonishment, it was gone! + +He searched around for several minutes, venturing to descend some +distance, but it was missing. + +"I don't think he could have got up and walked away," said the hunter, +as he scratched his head over the occurrence. "No, it couldn't have been +that, for Tom don't strike any such blows any more than I do." + +It followed, then, as a matter of course, that after the discovery of +the trick, some brother Apache had stolen his way up the path and +removed the body, a proceeding which Dick Morris hardly suspected until +he was really compelled to believe it. + +"If I'd only knowed he was coming," he growled, "how I would have lammed +him; but he's come and gone, and there ain't any use in cryin' over it." + +He waited and listened carefully, and once or twice a slight rattling of +the gravel caused him to suspect that some of the redskins were +attempting to steal upon him; but if such were the case, they must have +contented themselves by not approaching within striking distance. + +Finally the night wore away, and the dull light of morning began +stealing over the prairie. As soon as objects could be distinguished, he +returned to his position upon the top of the rock and made his +observations. + +Little, if any, change was discernible in the disposition of the +besieging Indians. Their horses were gathered at some distance, where +the grass was quite rank. The warriors had assumed all the indolent +attitudes which are seen in a body of men that have more time at their +disposal than they know what to do with. They had shifted their position +so far back that they were beyond good rifle range; for although a +hunter like Dick Morris could have picked off a redskin nine times out +of ten, yet he could not "pick his man." Lone Wolf had attired himself +precisely as were the rest of his warriors, and at the distance it was +impossible to distinguish him from them, so the scout wisely concluded +to hold his fire until he could be certain of his target. + +As soon as it was fairly light, Dick naturally turned his eyes off +toward the southwest, in the direction of the hills, whither his comrade +had fled during the night. + +"He is gone," he muttered, when he had made certain that no object was +to be seen. "I might have knowed that before I looked, 'cause the hoss +knows how to travel, and Tom's made him do his purtiest." + +"Hello! what's the news?" + +The query came from Ned Chadmund, who had aroused himself from slumber, +and was standing at his side. + +"Where is Tom?" + +"About fifty miles off yonder, goin' like a streak of greased lightnin' +for Fort Havens." + +"What?" + +Whereupon Dick Morris explained. Of course the lad was astounded to +think that all this had taken place while he was dreaming of home and +friends, and he hardly knew whether to rejoice or to be alarmed at the +shape matters had just then taken. True, Tom Hardynge was speeding away +on his fleet-footed mustang for Fort Havens, but it would take a long +time to reach there and return. There was something startling in the +thought that a man and a boy were all that were left to oppose the +advance of the force of the Apaches from below. What was to prevent +their swarming upward and overwhelming them? Nothing, it may be said, +but the strong arm of Dick Morris. He might have been a Hercules, and +still unable to stem the tide, but for the vast advantage given him by +nature in constructing Hurricane Hill. He could be approached by the +enemy only in single file. Dick, however, was of the opinion that +something of the kind would be attempted, for the Apaches could not but +know the errand of him who had so nicely outwitted them. + +"Ain't there some way of blocking up the way?" asked Ned, as they +discussed the plan. + +"I've been thinkin' it over, and there is," returned Morris, crossing +his legs, and scratching his head in his thoughtful way. "Three years +ago, me and Kit Carson had to scoot up here to get out of the reach of +something like two hundred Comanches, under that prime devil +Valo-Velasquiz. They shot Kit's horse, and mine dropped dead just as we +reached the bottom of the hill, so we couldn't do anythin' more in the +way of hoss-flesh. + +"Them Comanches hated Kit and me like pison; they knowed us both, and +they went for us in a way that made us dance around lively; but it was +no go, and we tumbled 'em back like tenpins, but they kept things so hot +that me and Kit tipped over a big rock in the path. Of course they could +climb that easy enough, but it gave us so much more chance that they +didn't try it often, and they fell back and tried the Apache +dodge--waiting until hunger and thirst made us come down." + +"How was it you got out of the trouble?" + +"It was in a mighty queer way--a mighty queer way. On the next day arter +the brush we had with 'em, a bigger party than ever came up, and we +calc'lated things were goin' to be redhot. But as soon as the two +parties jined, some kind of a rumpus took place. We could see 'em +talkin' in the most excited way, and a high old quarrel was under way. +Kit Carson knowed all about Injins, but he couldn't make out what all +this meant. We was in hope they'd git into a wrangle themselves, and +swaller each other, and I can tell you they came mighty nigh it. + +"Just as it begun to look as if it was goin' that way, one of their +chiefs walked forward, swingin' a dirty rag on the end of his ramrod as +a flag of truce. Kit looked at him very closely, and then exclaimed that +it was Quizto, a great rival of Valo-Velasquiz. They were always at +swords points, and whichever happened to have the strongest party at his +back when they met, outranked the other. The beauty of it all was that +Quizto was a friend all his life to Kit Carson--a regular redskin +friend, who was ready to scalp all his brothers and sisters if they +tried to harm him--and when he came to learn that Kit was treed, he +swore that he'd burn at the stake any Injun that laid a straw in his +way. + +"This made a time, and, as I's tellin' you, the biggest kind of a fight. +At one time it only lacked a word to set it a-goin'; but Quizto's braves +stood by him, every one, and the others had to knock under. + +"When Quizto come forward with his flag of truce, he called out to Kit +and told him that he was at liberty to go wherever he chose without +harm; but as Valo-Velasquiz would be so disappointed, he thought Carson +would turn over his friend, who wasn't of much account, that they might +have the pleasure of torturing him to death. That was lovely for me, and +you ought to have heard Kit laugh. He told Quizto that he couldn't do +that--both would go or stay together. That made another wrangle, but the +friendship of the chief to Carson saved the lives of us both. He +wouldn't consent that the guide should run the least risk, and they told +us to come down and clear out. We expected a big fight, for +Valo-Velasquiz had some ugly men with him, and he was a regular devil +himself; but when we got to the bottom, there was two mustangs awaitin', +and we straddled 'em, and warn't long in leavin' those parts. Old +Valo-Velasquiz and a dozen of his warriors tried to sneak along after +us, but we was as well mounted as they, and we rode into Santa Fe +without tradin' rifle shots with any of 'em. That was a strange thing, +but," added the scout, significantly, "I don't think you've got any +Quizto among them skunks down there." + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVIII. + +HAND TO HAND. + + +The Apaches surrounding Hurricane Hill were more closely watched through +the forenoon, for Dick more than once gave it as his opinion that they +would make a rush before the day was over. To protect themselves as much +as possible, the rock of which the hunter had spoken was forced into the +passage-way, and an unremitting guard maintained, to prevent any sudden +surprise. + +It was near noon, when three Apaches were seen to leap upon their +mustangs, one going north, another south and the third due west. + +"Spies," explained Dick. "Lone Wolf is a little anxious about what Tom +may do, and he sends them out to watch. If they find out anythin' +they'll manage to telegraph him in time to get ready for anythin' +comin'." + +"Can you see Lone Wolf among them?" + +"Can't make sartin of it," returned the hunter. "He knows that if I can +get a crack at him he'll go, and so he takes care not to let me have the +chance. Can you see anythin' off toward the mountains in the west?" + +"Nothing but that Apache horseman going away like an arrow." + +"There's the p'int from which our friends will come, if they ever come +at all. Keep your eye on it while I take a look below." + +The scout moved down the declivity, until he reached the place where it +had been barricaded, when he stationed himself behind the obstruction, +quite certain that something stirring would soon take place. It was his +belief that when the time came, the Apaches, at a preconcerted signal, +would rush tumultuously up the steep in a determined effort to overwhelm +them all. Such a movement, of course, from the very nature of things, +would give timely notice of its coming. His astonishment, therefore, may +be imagined when, after he had stood in his position for a few minutes, +rather listlessly and looking for no immediate demonstration, he +perceived a dark body suddenly pass over his head. Turning about, he saw +an Indian warrior speeding like a deer up the path toward the top of +Hurricane Hill, where Ned Chadmund stood, all unconscious of his coming. + +The hunter, astonished as he was at the daring feat, was not thrown off +his guard. He knew that the Apache was not seeking the life of the lad, +but only to open the way for the rest of the warriors to follow over the +barricade. They believed that in the excitement Dick would turn and dash +after the redskin, leaving the way open for the whole horde to swarm to +the top of the Hill. But the clear-headed Dick maintained his position, +only uttering a shout of warning to Ned Chadmund, in the hope that he +might be prepared and "wing" the redskin the instant he should appear in +view. Then, having done this, he stood back behind the jutting rock and +held his rifle ready. + +Within ten seconds a second Apache scrambled over the barricade, and +started at full speed up the pathway, but he had no more than fairly +started, than he fell headlong to the ground, pierced through and +through by the rifle fired almost in his face. Almost the same instant a +second appeared, when he tumbled backward, driven thence by the revolver +of the hunter, who was as cool as an iceberg. This stemmed the tide, the +crowding warriors hurrying back before the lion that lay in their path. +All this was the work of a very few seconds, but it was scarcely +effected, when a cry from the lad on top of the rock showed that he had +discovered his danger. The next instant, white-faced and scared, he came +dashing down the path, shouting to the hunter: + +"Oh, Dick, save me! save me! there's an Indian after me!" + +The savage, however, did not follow, and Dick, as the lad rushed into +his arms, shook him rather roughly, and said: + +"Keep still! Why do you make such a thunderin' noise?" The lad speedily +controlled himself, and then the scout placed his revolver in his hand, +and said: "Stand right here, and the minute a redskin shows himself, +crack him over. Can you do it?" + +"Haven't I proved it?" + +"Yes; but you made such a racket here that I've lost faith in you." + +"Try me and see." + +Adding a few hasty words, the scout left him, and hurried to the top of +the hill, without pausing to approach with his usual precaution. + +His expectation was to encounter the redskin at once upon reaching it, +but, to his surprise, he was nowhere to be seen, and he paused somewhat +bewildered. + +"I wonder whether he's got scart 'cause none of the rest followed him, +and jumped overboard--" + +At that instant something descended like a ponderous rock, and he +realized that he was in the grip of the very redskin about whom he had +been meditating. The miscreant had managed to crouch behind a rocky +protuberance, and then made a sudden leap upon the shoulders of the +hunter. As the Apache's scheme had miscarried thus far, and instead of +being backed up by the other warriors, he was left alone to fight it +out, he did not pause to attempt to make him prisoner, but went into the +scrimmage with the purpose of ending it as briefly as possible. As he +landed upon the shoulders of Dick the latter caught the gleam of his +knife, and grasped his wrist just in time. Fearful that it would be +wrenched from him, the Apache managed to give his confined hand a flirt, +which threw it beyond the reach of both. By a tremendous effort Dick +then succeeded in flinging him over his shoulder, although the agile +redskin dropped upon his feet, and instantly flew at his antagonist like +a tiger. + +For several minutes the struggle raged with the greatest fury; but the +Apache, in a contest of this kind, was overmatched. The hunter was much +the superior, and he began crowding his foe toward the margin of the +rock. Divining his purpose, he resisted with the fury of desperation; +but it was useless, and the two moved along toward the brink like the +slow, resistless tread of fate. Neither of them spoke a word, nor was a +muscle relaxed. The scout knew that the instant the struggle was +detected by those below, there would be a rush up the incline such as +Ned Chadmund with his loaded and cocked revolver could not withstand. +The fighting, therefore, was of the hurricane order from the beginning +to the close. + +There was one terrific burst of strength, and then, gathering the +writhing savage in his arms, Dick Morris ran to the very edge of the +plateau and hurled him over. + +Down, down from dizzy heights he spun, until he struck the ground far +below, a shapeless, insensible mass, falling almost at the feet of the +horror-bound Apaches, who thus saw the dreadful death of one of their +most intrepid and powerful warriors. + +Without waiting to see the last of the redskin, the scout turned and +hurried down to the relief of his young charge, and to be prepared for +the rush which he was confident would be made the next minute. But it +was not. The redskins had learned, from dear experience, the mettle of +this formidable white man, and they had no wish to encounter it again. + +The time wore away until the sun was at the meridian, and the heat +became almost intolerable. Even the toughened old scout was compelled to +shelter himself as best he could from its intolerable rays, by seeking +the scant shadow of jutting points of the rock. Ned Chadmund suffered +much, and the roiled and warm water in the old canteen was quaffed +again, even though they were compelled to tip it more and more, until, +toward the close of the day, Dick held it mouth downward, and showed +that not a drop was left. + +"No use of keeping it when we are thirsty," was the philosophic remark +of the hunter. "It's made to drink, and we needn't stop so long as any +is left; and bein' there ain't any left, I guess we'll stop. I've a +mouthful or two of meat left, and we may as well surround that." + +So they did; and when the sun sank down in the west, not a particle of +food nor a drop of water remained to them. + +"Now, Ned, my boy," said Dick, who always maintained a certain +cheerfulness, no matter what the circumstances might be, "go to the +lookout and tell me what you see." + +The lad was absent some ten minutes, during which he carefully scanned +every part of the horizon and took a peep down upon their besiegers. + +"I find no sign of a living soul," he said, when he returned, "except +the Apaches, and they're waiting until they can get us without +fighting." + +"Stay here while I take a peep." + +Long and carefully Dick Morris gazed off to the west, in the direction +of the mountains, and then something like a sigh escaped him, as he +shook his head and muttered: + +"It looks bad, it looks bad. If Tom succeeded, he ought to be in sight +by this time. I see nothing of 'em, and from the way the redskins act +down there, they seem to be sartin he's gone under. I don't mind for +myself, for I'm ready to go any time; but I feel powerful sorry for the +little fellow down there." + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIX. + +CONCLUSION. + + +Long and hard rode Tom Hardynge after his escape from the beleaguring +Apaches, for he was determined to save Ned and Dick if the thing were +within the range of human possibility. His mustang seemed to understand +what was expected of him, and he required no urging from his master to +maintain his arrowy flight. It was a literal race between life and +death. If he could reach Fort Havens in time to procure succor, the man +and the boy were saved. If not, then they were doomed. + +At daylight he was among the mountains, and the steed paused a few +seconds to swallow a little water from a tiny stream. An hour later he +ascended an elevation, and from his back the rider took a survey of the +plain stretched out before him. + +Far away in the distance a dark, stationary object was discerned. A keen +eye could detect something fluttering above it in the wind. That was the +star-spangled banner, waving above Fort Havens. Yonder was the +destination toward which the little party had been laboring for days and +which there was no assurance of still reaching. The scout had not yet +passed half the distance intervening between the fort and Hurricane +Hill. Mercy to his beast compelled him to give him a brief rest and an +opportunity to eat a little food. Then, away again. + +It was the middle of the afternoon, and Tom was nearing the fort, which +was in distinct view a few miles ahead, when his attention was arrested +by the sight of a number of men moving along to the north, and in a +contrary direction to that which he himself was following. They suddenly +emerged from some hills, and rode at a sweeping gallop. What surprised +the hunter was the discovery that they were United States cavalry, that +had evidently come from Fort Havens itself! How their appearance could +be explained was more than he could understand; but he saw at once that +if their co-operation could be secured, several hours' valuable time +might be saved. He turned the head of his mustang in that direction and +rode at the same tearing speed as before. + +The cavalry detected his coming, reined up and awaited his approach. The +afternoon was well advanced when the hunter drew rein in front of the +company, and saluted the chief officer, who was Colonel Chadmund +himself, the commandant of Fort Havens, at the head of seventy-five +veteran cavalry. He recognized the scout, and rode forward to meet him. + +"Any news of my little boy, Tom?" he asked, before their palms crossed. + +"Alive and well." + +"Thank God! thank God!" exclaimed the white-faced officer, trembling +with joy. "Have the Indians caught him?" + +"No; but he is in danger. What are you doing with these men here?" + +"An Indian came into the fort several hours ago, with the word that Lone +Wolf and a party of Apaches had driven two or three persons to the top +of Hurricane Hill, where they would soon be caught unless assistance was +sent them. The Indian is one of our regular scouts, in whom we have much +confidence, and thinking it might be you, with possibly my little Ned, I +put myself at the head of the company and started out to see. I had very +little hope, however, of seeing him alive, for news had reached us of +the massacre of the escort party in Devil's Pass." + +Hardynge, in a few minutes, explained the situation, and the colonel was +all excitement to be off again. Every hour--every minute, indeed--was +precious to him, and, as the two rode back, the advance was resumed +without a moment's delay. Instead of proceeding back in a direct line, +however, over the path traveled by the scout, they made a detour to the +northward, the configuration of the country being such that a much +nearer approach, undiscovered, could be made from this direction than +from any other. + +There were several extra horses in the company, one of which was +appropriated by Tom, while he left his own to roam over the plain and +reach the fort whenever his disposition should take him in that +direction. Colonel Chadmund had taken the precaution to mount all his +men upon the best steeds at command, and they were driven into a rapid, +telling pace. They made good progress, but when the sun set they had not +yet reached a point from which the most distant view of Hurricane Hill +could be obtained. A more moderate speed was kept up until midnight, +when they went into camp, picketed their animals, and resumed the march +at daybreak. The horses were forced to the greatest possible endurance, +but never did miles seem so long. It was high noon before a point among +the hills on the north was reached from which a fair view of the pile of +rocks could be obtained. Colonel Chadmund produced his glass, and +scrutinized the towering-like mass, in quest of some sign of the +defenders. Not the least could be obtained; but he saw at the base the +band of Apaches, spread out like a miniature besieging army, and this, +to the minds of all, was proof that the garrison of Hurricane Hill were +still at the post of duty. + +It was necessary to approach as close to the spot as possible without +discovery, and then to charge down upon the Indians with such fiery +impetuosity that they would have no time to inflict any damage upon the +brave defenders. The appearance of the cavalry would apprise them that +the siege was at an end, and in the gnawing rage thereat, they might +charge up the incline and open a fire, which would riddle Dick and Ned +and from which there would be no escape. + +Colonel Chadmund understood Indian warfare so well as to know that Lone +Wolf had his scouts out, and it would be a difficult matter to avoid +them. Still the attempt was made, and by the middle of the afternoon, +the cavalry had reached a point barely two miles away without his +presence being suspected. + +"I've been watching the place for half an hour," said the colonel, as he +lowered his glass, and handed it to Tom Hardynge, standing at his elbow, +"and it seems to me that the top of Hurricane Hill is deserted, although +the Apaches at the base seem to point the other way." + +"Of course, of course," replied the hunter, impatiently. "You don't +'spose they'd stand up in sight all the time, like a couple of spoonies +gettin' their pictures took? They're watchin' the path that leads up to +where they be." + +It required but a few minutes to conclude their preparations, when the +seventy odd cavalrymen, armed to the teeth, burst forth from the hills +like a mountain torrent, and charged straight for Lone Wolf and his +band. The latter, of course, were quick to detect it, and drew up with +the purpose of making a fight; but when they took in the strength of the +company approaching, they changed their minds, and broke and scattered +like chaff before the whirlwind. + +This was a severe disappointment, for the colonel and a dozen of his +best Indian fighters had arranged to make a determined effort to rid the +country of this pest. These were the best mounted in the company, and in +their eagerness they sped straight ahead after the redskins, still +hoping that some turn of fortune's wheel would give them the coveted +chance. But the mustangs of the Apaches were fresh and fleet, and they +had no purpose of meeting the United States cavalry where there was +anything like an equal advantage; so they continued their flight with +such persistent celerity that they soon vanished from view. + +The heart of Colonel Chadmund misgave him as he galloped toward +Hurricane Hill and saw no sign of life there. But while he was +alternating between hope and despair, the figure of a man appeared +around the corner of the rock, and then the form of a little boy was +discerned, as he came running across the prairie with out-stretched +arms. + +"Oh, father! father!" + +Colonel Chadmund leaped from the back of his horse and ran to meet him. + +"My darling boy! God be thanked!" + +The stern old soldier wept like a child as he caught him in his arms and +hugged him to his breast, while more than one rough soldier, looking on, +dashed the tears from his eyes and tried to look as if he were thinking +of something else. + +The danger was passed. Little Ned, carried in triumph to the fort, +remained the appointed time with his father at this advanced frontier +post, and when he returned to Santa Fe to his beloved mother it was with +an escort which guaranteed his safety. + +Thus ended his adventures with what were then the scourges of the great +Southwest, but the memory of them is indelible and not to be subdued by +the lapse of years. In his manhood days he looks back upon those +troublous times when the wild riders left the bones of venturesome white +men to whiten upon the banks of the Gila; and, although remembrance +brings its thrill of excitement, it is coupled with a shudder whenever +Ned Chadmund thinks of his passage "Through Apache Land." + + +Volume III of The War Whoop Series is entitled "In the Pecos Country." + + + + +SPECIAL CIRCULAR TO EDUCATORS + +"Masterpieces of the World's Literature" + +THE PREMIUM LIBRARY + + +Is extensively used by schools and colleges for supplementary reading. +It is issued in attractive 16mo shape, paper covers, printed from clear, +readable type, on good paper. Many of the volumes are illustrated. + + 1. Abbé Constantin. Ludovic Halévy. + + 2. Æsop's Fables. + + 3. Black Beauty. Anna Sewell. + + 4. Bracebridge Hall. Irving. + + 5. Childe Harold's Pilgrimage. Byron. + + 6. Coming Race. Bulwer. + + 7. Cranford. Mrs. Gaskell. + + 8. Crown of Wild Olive. Ruskin. + + 9. Discourses of Epictetus. + + 10. Dreams. Olive Schreiner. + + 11. Dream Life. Ik Marvel. + + 12. Drummond's Addresses. + + 13. Emerson's Earlier Essays. + + 14. Ethics of the Dust. Ruskin. + + 15. Frankenstein. Mrs. Shelley. + + 16. Uncle Tom's Cabin. Mrs. Stowe. + + 17. Lady of the Lake. Scott. + + 18. Lalla Rookh. Thomas Moore. + + 19. Lamb's Essays of Elia. + + 20. Lamb's Last Essays of Elia. + + 21. Lamb's Tales from Shakespeare, I. + + 22. Lamb's Tales from Shakespeare, II. + + 23. Lays of Ancient Rome. Macaulay. + + 24. Lays of Scottish Cavaliers. + + 25. Light of Asia. Sir E. Arnold. + + 26. Longfellow's Poems. + + 27. Lowell's Poems. + + 28. Mornings in Florence. Ruskin. + + 29. One of the Profession. M. White, Jr. + + 30. Paul and Virginia. B. St. Pierre. + + 31. Pleasures of Life. Sir J. Lubbock. + + 32. Poe's Poems. + + 33. Princess. Tennyson. + + 34. Queen of the Air. Ruskin. + + 35. Rab and His Friends. Dr. J. Brown. + + 36. Rasselas. Johnson. + + 37. Reveries of a Bachelor. Ik Marvel. + + 38. Representative Men. Emerson. + + 39. Sartor Resartus. Carlyle. + + 40. Scarlet Letter. Hawthorne. + + 41. Sesame and Lilies. Ruskin. + + 42. Ships that Pass in the Night. Beatrice Harraden. + + 43. St. Mark's Rest. Ruskin. + + 44. Thoughts from Marcus Aurelius Antoninus. + + 45. Tillyloss Scandal. J. M. Barrie. + + 46. Twice-Told Tales, I. Hawthorne. + + 47. Twice-Told Tales, II. Hawthorne. + + 48. In Memoriam. Tennyson. + + 49. Vicar of Wakefield. Goldsmith. + + 50. Whittier's Poems. + + 51. Autocrat of the Breakfast Table. Holmes. + + 52. Heroes and Hero Worship. Carlyle. + + 53. Mosses from an Old Manse, I. Hawthorne. + + 54. Mosses from an Old Manse, II Hawthorne. + + 55. Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin. + + 56. Song of Hiawatha. Longfellow. + + 57. Evangeline, and Poems. Longfellow. + + 58. Sketch Book. Irving. + + 59. Stickit Minister. S. R. Crockett. + + 60. House of the Seven Gables. Hawthorne. + + 61. Poetical Works of Robert Browning. + + 62. Paradise Lost. Milton. + + 63. Hamlet. Shakespeare. + + 64. Julius Caesar. Shakespeare. + + 65. Book of Golden Deeds. Yonge. + + 66. Child's History of England. Dickens. + + 67. Confessions of an Opium Eater. De Quincey. + + 68. Ten Nights in a Barroom. Arthur. + + 69. Treasure Island. Stevenson. + + 70. Tanglewood Tales. Hawthorne. + + 71. In His Steps. Chas. M. Sheldon. + + 72. Natural Law in the Spiritual World. Henry Drummond. + + 73. Imitation of Christ. T. à Kempis. + + 74. Paradise Regained. John Milton. + + 75. Water Babies. Kingsley. + + 76. Flower Fables. L. M. Alcott. + + 77. Blithedale Romance. Hawthorne. + + 78. Prue and I. G. W. Curtis. + + 79. Grandfather's Chair. Hawthorne. + + 80. Bacon's Essays. + + 81. Idylls of the King. Tennyson. + + 82. Wonder Book. Hawthorne. + + 83. Cricket on the Hearth. C. Dickens. + + 84. Idle Thoughts of an Idle Fellow. Jerome K. Jerome. + + 85. Inez. Augusta J. Evans. + + 86. Kidnapped. R. L. Stevenson. + + 87. Lucile. Owen Meredith. + + 88. Phillips Brooks' Addresses. + + 89. Prince of the House of David. Professor Ingraham. + + 90. Three Men in a Boat. J. K. Jerome. + + + + +THE FAMOUS HENTY BOOKS + +The Boys' Own Library + + +G. A. Henty has long held the field as the most popular boys' author. +Age after age of heroic deeds has been the subject of his pen, and the +knights of old seem very real in his pages. Always wholesome and manly, +always heroic and of high ideals, his books are more than popular +wherever the English language is spoken. + +Each volume is printed on excellent paper from new large-type plates, +bound in cloth, assorted colors, with an attractive ink and gold stamp. + + A Final Reckoning + A Tale of Bush Life in Australia + + Among the Malay Pirates + + By England's Aid + The Freeing of the Netherlands + + By Right of Conquest + A Tale of Cortez in Mexico + + Bravest of the Brave + A Tale of Peterborough in Spain + + By Pike and Dyke + The Rise of the Dutch Republic + + By Sheer Pluck + A Tale of the Ashantee War + + Bonnie Prince Charlie + A Tale of Fontenoy and Culloden + + Captain Bayley's Heir + A Tale of the Gold Fields of California + + Cat of Bubastes + A Story of Ancient Egypt + + Colonel Thorndyke's Secret + + Cornet of Horse + A Tale of Marlborough's Wars + + Facing Death + A Tale of the Coal Mines + + Friends, though Divided + A Tale of the Civil War in England + + For Name and Fame + A Tale of Afghan Warfare + + For the Temple + A Tale of the Fall of Jerusalem + + In Freedom's Cause + A Story of Wallace and Bruce + + In the Reign of Terror + The Adventures of a Westminster Boy + + In Times of Peril A Tale of India + + Jack Archer A Tale of the Crimea + + Lion of St. Mark + A Tale of Venice in the XIV. Century + + Lion of the North + A Tale of Gustavus Adolphus + + Maori and Settler + A Tale of the New Zealand War + + Orange and Green + A Tale of the Boyne and Limerick + + One of the 28th A Tale of Waterloo + + Out on the Pampas + A Tale of South America + + Rujub the Juggler + + St. George for England + A Tale of Crécy and Poictiers + + Sturdy and Strong + + True to the Old Flag + A Tale of the Revolution + + The Golden Cañon + + The Lost Heir + + The Young Colonists + A Tale of the Zulu and Boer Wars + + The Young Midshipman + + The Dragon and the Raven + A Tale of King Alfred + + The Boy Knight + A Tale of the Crusades + + Through the Fray + A Story of the Luddite Riots + + Under Drake's Flag + A Tale of the Spanish Main + + With Wolfe in Canada + The Tale of Winning a Continent + + With Clive in India + The Beginning of an Empire + + With Lee in Virginia + A Story of the American Civil War + + Young Carthaginian + A Story of the Times of Hannibal + + Young Buglers + A Tale of the Peninsular War + + Young Franc-Tireurs + A Tale of the Franco-Prussian War + + + + +FLAG OF FREEDOM SERIES + +By CAPTAIN RALPH BONEHILL + + +BOYS OF THE FORT; or, A Young Captain's Pluck + +Captain Bonehill is at his best when relating a tale of military +adventure, and this story of stirring doings at one of our well-known +forts in the Wild West is of more than ordinary interest. The young +captain had a difficult task to accomplish, but he had been drilled to +do his duty, and he did it thoroughly. Gives a good insight into army +life of to-day. + +THE YOUNG BANDMASTER; or, Concert Stage and Battlefield + +In this tale Captain Bonehill touches upon a new field. The hero is a +youth with a passion for music, who, compelled to make his own way in +the world, becomes a cornetist in an orchestra, and works his way up, +first, to the position of a soloist, and then to that of leader of a +brass band. He is carried off to sea and falls in with a secret-service +cutter bound for Cuba, and while in that island joins a military band +which accompanies our soldiers in the never-to-be-forgotten attack on +Santiago. A mystery connected with the hero's inheritance adds to the +interest of the tale. + +OFF FOR HAWAII; or, The Mystery of a Great Volcano + +Here we have fact and romance cleverly interwoven. Several boys start on +a tour of the Hawaiian Islands. They have heard that there is a treasure +located in the vicinity of Kilauea, the largest active volcano in the +world, and go in search of it. Their numerous adventures will be +followed with much interest. + +A SAILOR BOY WITH DEWEY; or, Afloat in the Philippines + +The story of Dewey's victory in Manila Bay will never grow old, but here +we have it told in a new form--not as those in command witnessed the +contest, but as it appeared to a real, live American youth who was in +the navy at the time. Many adventures in Manila and in the interior +follow, giving true-to-life scenes from this remote portion of the +globe. A book that should be in every boy's library. + +WHEN SANTIAGO FELL; or, The War Adventures of Two Chums + +Captain Bonehill has never penned a better tale than this stirring story +of adventures in Cuba. Two boys, an American and his Cuban chum, leave +New York to join their parents in the interior of Cuba. The war between +Spain and the Cubans is on, and the boys are detained at Santiago de +Cuba, but escape by crossing the bay at night. Many adventures between +the lines follow, and a good pen-picture of General Garcia is given. The +American lad, with others, is captured and cast into a dungeon in +Santiago; and then follows the never-to-be-forgotten campaign in Cuba +under General Shafter. How the hero finally escapes makes reading no +wide-awake boy will want to miss. + + * * * * * + +Press Opinions of Captain Bonehill's Books for Boys + +"Captain Bonehill's stories will always be popular with our boys, for +the reason that they are thoroughly up-to-date and true to life. As a +writer of outdoor tales he has no rival."--_Bright Days._ + +"The story is by Captain Ralph Bonehill, and that is all that need be +said about it, for all of our readers know that the captain is one of +America's best story-tellers, so far as stories for young people +go."--_Young People of America._ + +"We understand that Captain Bonehill will soon be turning from sporting +stories to tales of the war. This field is one in which he should feel +thoroughly at home. We are certain that the boys will look eagerly for +the Bonehill war tales."--_Weekly Messenger._ + + + + +MRS. L. T. MEADE'S + +FAMOUS BOOKS FOR GIRLS + + +There are few more favorite authors with American girls than Mrs. L. T. +MEADE, whose copyright works can only be had from us. Essentially a +writer for the home, with the loftiest aims and purest sentiments, Mrs. +Meade's books possess the merit of utility as well as the means of +amusement. They are girls' books--written for girls, and fitted for +every home. + +Here will be found no maudlin nonsense as to the affections. There are +no counts in disguise nor castles in Spain. It is pure and wholesome +literature of a high order with a lofty ideal. + +The volumes are all copyright, excellently printed with clear, open +type, uniformly bound in best cloth, with ink and gold stamp. + +THE FOLLOWING ARE THE TITLES + + The Children of Wilton Chase + Bashful Fifteen + Betty: A Schoolgirl + Four on an Island + Girls New and Old + Out of the Fashion + The Palace Beautiful + Polly, a New-Fashioned Girl + Red Rose and Tiger Lily + Temptation of Olive Latimer + A Ring of Rubies + A Sweet Girl Graduate + A World of Girls + Good Luck + A Girl in Ten Thousand + A Young Mutineer + Wild Kitty + The Children's Pilgrimage + The Girls of St. Wode's + Light o' the Morning + Bad Little Hannah + Rebellion of Lill Carrington + A Little Mother to the Others + Merry Girls of England + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Through Apache Lands, by R. H. 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H. Jayne + +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: Through Apache Lands + +Author: R. H. Jayne + +Release Date: February 27, 2010 [EBook #31421] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THROUGH APACHE LANDS *** + + + + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Mary Meehan and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/cover.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h1>THROUGH APACHE LAND</h1> + +<h2>BY LIEUT. R. H. JAYNE</h2> + +<h3>AUTHOR OF "LOST IN THE WILDERNESS," "IN THE PECOS COUNTRY," "THE CAVE IN +THE MOUNTAIN," ETC.</h3> + + +<h4>NEW YORK<br /> +THE MERSHON COMPANY<br /> +PUBLISHERS</h4> + +<h4><span class="smcap">Copyrighted</span>, 1893,<br /> +BY THE PRICE-MCGILL CO.</h4> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="frontis" id="frontis"></a> +<img src="images/frontis.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> + +<h3>THE WARRIOR HAD NOT TIME TO RECOVER * * * WHEN TOM GRASPED HIM BY THE THROAT.</h3> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CONTENTS.</h2> + +<!-- Autogenerated TOC. Modify or delete as required. --> +<p> +<a href="#CHAPTER_I">CHAPTER I—Moonlight on the Rio Gila</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_II">CHAPTER II—Tom Hardynge's Ruse</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_III">CHAPTER III—Pursued by the Apaches</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_IV">CHAPTER IV—Outwitted</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_V">CHAPTER V—An Alarming Message</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_VI">CHAPTER VI—The Two Scouts</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_VII">CHAPTER VII—The Cavalry Escort</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">CHAPTER VIII—In Devil's Pass</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_IX">CHAPTER IX—Among the Apaches</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_X">CHAPTER X—Lone Wolf</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XI">CHAPTER XI—Surrounded by Danger</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XII">CHAPTER XII—"The Hour has Come"</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">CHAPTER XIII—The Flight</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XIV">CHAPTER XIV—Pursued</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XV">CHAPTER XV—In the Solitude</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XVI">CHAPTER XVI—Among the Mountains</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XVII">CHAPTER XVII—A Mysterious Camp Fire</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XVIII">CHAPTER XVIII—The Indian Fight</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XIX">CHAPTER XIX—A Terrible Meeting</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XX">CHAPTER XX—White vs. Red</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXI">CHAPTER XXI—Friends Together</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXII">CHAPTER XXII—Anxious Waiting</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXIII">CHAPTER XXIII—The Death Shot</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXIV">CHAPTER XXIV—The Buffaloes</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXV">CHAPTER XXV—Alone Again</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXVI">CHAPTER XXVI—Capturing a Mustang</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXVII">CHAPTER XXVII—A Run for Life</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXVIII">CHAPTER XXVIII—A Great Misfortune</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXIX">CHAPTER XXIX—The Lone Camp Fire</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXX">CHAPTER XXX—Fighting a Grizzly</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXXI">CHAPTER XXXI—Sleep</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXXII">CHAPTER XXXII—Reunited</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXXIII">CHAPTER XXXIII—Closing in</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXXIV">CHAPTER XXXIV—Hurricane Hill</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXXV">CHAPTER XXXV—The Sentinel</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXXVI">CHAPTER XXXVI—A Desperate Scheme</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXXVII">CHAPTER XXXVII—The Two Defenders</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXXVIII">CHAPTER XXXVIII—Hand to Hand</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXXIX">CHAPTER XXXIX—Conclusion</a><br /><br /> +<a href="#SPECIAL_CIRCULAR_TO_EDUCATORS">SPECIAL CIRCULAR TO EDUCATORS</a><br /> +<a href="#THE_FAMOUS_HENTY_BOOKS">THE FAMOUS HENTY BOOKS</a><br /> +<a href="#FLAG_OF_FREEDOM_SERIES">FLAG OF FREEDOM SERIES</a><br /> +<a href="#MRS_L_T_MEADES">MRS. L. T. MEADE'S</a><br /> +</p> +<!-- End Autogenerated TOC. --> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h2>LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS</h2> + +<p><a href="#frontis">THE WARRIOR HAD NOT TIME TO RECOVER * * * WHEN TOM GRASPED HIM BY THE THROAT.</a></p> + +<p><a href="#illus1">NED TRIED THE SCARE GAME AGAIN, FLINGING UP HIS ARMS AND SHOUTING</a></p> + +<p><a href="#illus2">"THIS 'ERE IS A LITTLE ROW YOU KIN SETTLE WITH ME, INSTEAD OF THAT BOY THAR."</a></p> + +<p><a href="#illus3">STILL NEARER, UNTIL IT APPEARED AS IF HE HAD TO MAKE BUT A SINGLE LEAP FORWARD.</a></p> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>THROUGH APACHE LAND.</h2> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a>CHAPTER I.</h2> + +<h3>MOONLIGHT ON THE RIO GILA.</h3> + + +<p>Along the eastern bank a small Indian canoe, containing a single +individual, was stealing its way—"hugging" the shore so as to take +advantage of the narrow band of shadow that followed the winding of the +stream. There were no trees on either side of the river, but this +portion was walled in by bluffs, rising from three or four to fully +twenty feet in height. The current was sluggish and not a breath of air +wrinkled the surface on this mild summer night.</p> + +<p>It was in the wildest part of the Indian country, and Tom Hardynge, the +hunter, runner and bearer of all dispatches between the frontier posts +in the extreme southwest, knew very well that for three days past it had +been his proverbial good fortune, or rather a special Providence, that +had kept his scalp from ornamenting the lodge of some marauding Comanche +or Apache. Tom was one of the bravest and most skillful of borderers in +those days, and had been up in the Indian country to learn the truth of +numerous rumors which had come to the stations, reports of a general +uprising among the redskins, with whom the peace commissioners had +succeeded in negotiating treaties after months of diplomacy. After +spending more than a week in dodging back and forth, in the disguise of +an Indian he had learned enough to feel that there was good foundation +for these rumors, and that the exposed stations and settlements were in +imminent peril. As soon as he was assured of this fact he started on his +return to Fort Havens, which still lay a good three days' travel to the +southwest. It was Tom's purpose to continue his descent until the +following night, when, if nothing unexpected should intervene, he hoped +to reach the point where he had left his mustang, and thence it would be +plain sailing for the rest of the way. He knew the country thoroughly, +and was confident that it was safer to perform a part of the journey by +water than by land, which explains how it was that he was still in the +paint and garb of an Indian, and still stealing his way down toward the +Gulf of California.</p> + +<p>"Them Apaches are a cute set," he muttered, as he glided along through +the bank of shadow; "I believe they've larned I've been up among them +lookin' around. I can't tell 'zactly how they larned it. I've played +Injun so often that I know I can do it purty well; but they know there's +somethin' in the air, and them signs I spied yesterday showed plain +'nough that they was lookin' for me. They'd give a dozen of their best +warriors, with a chief throwed in to make good weight, to keep me from +reachin' Fort Havens with the news that the Apaches are makin' ready to +raise Old Ned along the border. Fact is, I do carry big news, that's +sartin. Hello!"</p> + +<p>This exclamation was caused by the appearance of a bright point of light +on the edge of the bluff, several hundred yards down the river, and upon +the opposite side. At first glance it resembled some star of the first +magnitude, which a sudden depression of the bluff had made visible. The +scout ceased paddling, and, suffering the canoe to drift slowly with the +tide, fixed his keen gray eyes upon the fiery point.</p> + +<p>"That ain't any more of a star than I am," he added, a second later. +"There she goes again!"</p> + +<p>The torch, for such it was, remained stationary for scarcely a minute, +when it began revolving swiftly from right to left, the gyration being +of such a nature as to prove that it was swung by the hand of some +person. Three revolutions, and then it suddenly reversed and made three +in the opposite direction, then two back, then two forward, then one +back and forth, and then it vanished in the gloom of the night. Tom +scarcely breathed while viewing this pantomime, and when it ended he +still held the paddle motionless while he chuckled to himself, for he +knew what it all meant. He had seen Indian telegraphy before, and had +learned to comprehend a great deal of those mysterious signs and signals +by which news is carried across mountain and prairie with incredible +speed. He had ridden his fleet mustang to death to head off some of +these telegrams, and yet in every case the Indians, by some trickery +unexplained to him, had outsped him.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I can read that," Tom growled, still drifting with the current. +"That ere redskin is signalin' to some other scamp, and it's all about +<i>me</i>. It says that I'm on the river somewhere, and a lookout must be +kept for me."</p> + +<p>Such was the fact. The Indian who swayed the torch meant thereby to +appraise some confederate that the scout who had dared to penetrate such +a distance into their country, and to unearth their most important +secrets, was seeking to make his way down the Rio Gila and out of their +country again. This much said the torch in language that could not be +mistaken. Although it added no more, yet the sequence was inevitable, +and Tom needed no one to apprise him that the river both above and below +him was closely watched, and that he was in the greatest peril of his +life. Being entirely shrouded in shadow, he could not see the moon, +which rode high in the sky, scarcely touched by a floating cloud.</p> + +<p>"I wish the moon would go out of sight altogether," he said to himself, +as he viewed the clear sky. "I'd like to see it as black as a wolf's +mouth, and then I'd teach these scamps somethin'; but there's too much +confounded moonlight layin' loose for a chap to show any scientific +tricks."</p> + +<p>The fact that a redskin had indulged in signaling suggested that there +must be some one to whom he had signaled, and the hunter devoted himself +to learning where the second Apache was located.</p> + +<p>"As near as I kin calc'late, the chap must be on this side of the +stream, and purty close to where I'm rockin' in the cradle of the deep +this very minute."</p> + +<p>He now moved his paddle slightly—just enough to hold the boat +motionless while he looked and listened. The stillness was profound; not +even the soft sighing of the wind reaching his ears. He had peered +around in the gloom only a few minutes when he discerned the reply to +the signal already described, and so close that he was startled. +Scarcely fifty feet below him, and on the edge of the bluff, several +yards in height, a light flashed into view. A second glance showed him +that it was a flaming torch held in the hand of an Indian, who began +whirling it around his head with a swiftness that made it seem like a +revolving wheel of fire. The rapid motion of the torch, as the reader +may infer, caused an equally rapid increase of the flame upon it, so +that it revealed the Indian himself; and the hunter, as he looked toward +it, saw the figure of the warrior standing like some pyrotechnist in the +center of his own display.</p> + +<p>A better target could not have been asked, and Tom, quick as thought, +raised his rifle and sighted it; but with his finger upon the trigger, +he refrained, lowered the piece and shook his head, muttering as he did +so:</p> + +<p>"He deserves it, and I'd like to give it to him, but it won't do. They'd +know what the rifle-crack meant, and I'd have a hornet's nest about my +head quick as lightnin'."</p> + +<p>Tom was not certain of the meaning of the exhibition he had just seen, +but believed that it was intended as a mere reply to the other—the same +as if the Apache had shouted "All right!" in response to the +notification. The Indian must have circled the torch in this manner for +more than a score of times, when he threw it from his hand into the +river, where it fell with a hiss, and was instantly extinguished.</p> + +<p>The scout was in a quandary. If he continued down stream he must pass +directly beneath the spot where his foe was standing, and the shadow was +by no means dense enough to make it possible for him to escape +observation. He was confident, however, that if he could change places +with the warrior, he could discern the canoe without any closer +approach. He was at a disadvantage, for the bluff was perfectly +perpendicular and so high that he could not reach the ground above +without retreating up the river for at least a quarter of a mile, where +the bluff was depressed enough to permit him to draw himself upward upon +it. Had the bank been low and wooded, it would have been the easiest +matter in the world to have shoved the canoe into the shelter, or to +have circumvented the Indian by lifting it bodily from the water and +going around him, and striking the river again below. But Tom hesitated +only a few minutes. He was anxious to get forward, for delay was +dangerous and he felt annoyed at the manner in which he was dogged.</p> + +<p>"Here goes," he exclaimed, starting the canoe forward again. "If that +Apache is anxious for a scrimmage, he can have one."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II.</h2> + +<h3>TOM HARDYNGE'S RUSE.</h3> + + +<p>Hardynge was too skillful a hunter to place himself directly in the way +of the Apache whom he knew to be the most treacherous kind of an enemy. +His purpose was to indulge in a little strategy and to seek to outwit +the redskin, as he had done on many an occasion before. It required but +a second for him to slide his rifle over upon his back, the stock being +hastily wrapped with a leathern sheath, which he always carried for such +an emergency, when he gently let himself over the stern of the canoe, +taking care to make no splash or noise in doing so. He then permitted +his body with the exception of his head to sink entirely beneath the +surface, while he floated with the boat, lying in such a position that +he made it effectually screen him from the view of any one who might be +upon the bank above. It was hardly to be expected, however, that if the +Indian saw the boat, he would permit it to pass unquestioned. Tom did +not anticipate it, and he was prepared for that which followed. For +several minutes the most perfect silence prevailed. At the end of that +time, the scout knew that he was exactly beneath the spot whereon he had +seen the answering signal, and scarcely stirred a muscle, keeping his +head as close as possible to the boat, and so nearly submerged, that he +could scarcely breathe.</p> + +<p>"Hooh! hooh!"</p> + +<p>The Apache had noted the empty canoe drifting below him in the shadow, +and surveyed it with something of the feeling of the detective who +suddenly stumbles upon a clue, the precise meaning of which is at first +a mystery to him.</p> + +<p>It is hardly to be supposed that he intended this outcry as a hail to +the boat, which he must have seen contained no one. Its appearance would +naturally suggest to one in his situation that the occupant had been +alarmed by the signs of danger and had taken to the land. This +supposition was so natural that Hardynge would probably have got safely +by the dangerous point but for a totally unlooked-for mishap. The water, +which up to this time had been fully six feet in depth, suddenly +shallowed to less than a quarter of that, so that he struck his knees +against the bottom. The shock was very slight, and scarcely caused a +ripple; but it takes only the slightest noise to alarm an Indian, +especially when he is on the watch. That faint plash caused by the jar +of the body caught the ear of the listening, peering redskin, who +instantly slid his body over the bluff, and balancing himself for an +instant, dropped with such precision that he struck the canoe in the +very center, and preserved its gravity so well that it tipped neither to +the right nor left.</p> + +<p>At the very moment the Apache dropped, the hunter rose to his feet, +knife in hand. The water rose scarcely to his knees, and the bottom was +hard, so that it was almost the same as if he stood upon dry land. The +warrior had not time to recover from the slight shock of his leap, when +Tom grasped him by the throat and used his weapon with such effect that +it was all over in a few seconds.</p> + +<p>"There! I reckon you won't go into the telegraph business again very +soon!" he growled, as the inanimate body disappeared down the stream, +and he coolly re-entered the canoe, which had floated but a short +distance away.</p> + +<p>He had scarcely done this when a new idea struck him, and, hastening +after the receding body, he carefully drew it into the boat again. Here +it was the work of but a few minutes to place it in a sitting position +in the stern in the most natural posture imaginable, so that any one +looking upon the figure would not have suspected for an instant that it +was anything but an animate being. Making sure that its pose could not +be improved, the scout then turned the boat directly away from the bank, +never changing its course until the very middle of the Gila was reached, +when he began paddling in as leisurely a manner as if no danger +threatened. It was a daring stratagem, but it is only by such means that +men are enabled to escape from peril, and although fully aware of the +danger he was incurring, he kept on his way with that coolness that +years of experience had given him.</p> + +<p>As he approached a point opposite that where he had seen the first +signal he did not turn his head, but he looked sideways and scanned the +bank with the most searching scrutiny. Sure enough, at this moment he +plainly discerned the figures of fully a half-dozen Indians standing +upon the bluff and apparently watching the canoe with a curiosity that +was natural.</p> + +<p>"All right," thought the hunter; "so long as you let me alone I won't +hurt you."</p> + +<p>Had there been but the single occupant of the canoe the Apaches would +not have stood debating in this fashion as to what they should do, if, +indeed, they should do anything at all. Unity in the question would have +shown that it was the identical individual for whom they were searching, +for they knew that he was alone; but the fact that there were two, and +both in the guise of Indians, could be explained upon no other +hypothesis than that they were really what they seemed to be.</p> + +<p>"Hooh! Hooh!"</p> + +<p>It was precisely the same exclamation which had been uttered by the +warrior who sat so cold and inanimate in the stern of the canoe, and +Tom, without the least hesitancy, ceased paddling for the instant, +straightened up, and responded in the same gutteral fashion, resuming +the use of the oar at the same time, as if he meant that that should be +the end of it. But the Apaches immediately followed up their +ejaculations with some other sounds, which were doubtless intended as a +summons for the craft to heave to and "show her papers." Tom did not +understand the Apache tongue well enough to comprehend the precise +meaning of these words, although he was pretty well convinced of what +the others were driving at. He did not dare to attempt to reply, nor did +he dare to move faster; so he did the only dignified thing possible +under the circumstances. He continued that automatic paddling, and, +assisted by the current, was rapidly leaving his enemies in the rear +when they called to him again, moving at the same time down the bank in +a fashion which showed that they meant business. The hunter, not yet +ready to make the desperate dash which he had reserved for the last +final effort, if he should be driven to the wall, ceased work again and +called out:</p> + +<p>"Hooh!"</p> + +<p>He said it as impatiently as he could in the hope of "cutting off +further debate," and resumed paddling, knowing that a comparatively +short distance down the river the banks were so depressed that he could +readily make his way from the boat to the land, so that after getting +fairly below the Apaches his chances of ultimate escape were greatly +increased.</p> + +<p>The Indians must have been exasperated at the refusal, for Tom had taken +scarcely a dozen strokes when he saw the flash of several guns upon the +bank, and the whizzing of the bullets around his head left no doubt of +the target at which they aimed.</p> + +<p>"I can do somethin' of that myself," growled the hunter, as he laid down +his paddle and took up his gun.</p> + +<p>Without the least hesitation, he fired directly into the group, and the +wild cry that instantly followed told with what a fatal result also. All +diplomacy was ended by this act, and without pausing to reload his +piece, he dropped his gun and bent to the task. The long ashen paddle +was dipped deep into the water, and the light vessel shot like an arrow +down stream. It seemed, indeed, to be imbued with life, and fairly +skimmed over the surface. The unexpected and defiant response to the +summons of the Apaches threw them into temporary bewilderment, and the +minutes thus lost to them were golden ones gained to the fugitive, who +shot the canoe as close to the opposite shore as was prudent, and +wielded the paddle with the skill of a veteran.</p> + +<p>Having now no need of the dummy that had stood him so well for the time, +Tom did not hesitate to throw him overboard as a useless incumbrance, +and, thus relieved of the dead weight, he sped forward with wonderful +speed. In a short time after that the redskins had vanished from view, +and almost any one would have supposed that the danger was passed; but +Tom was well aware that it was only a temporary lull in the storm. The +Apaches were like bloodhounds, who, having once taken the trail of their +prey, would relax no effort so long as there was a chance of capturing +him, and so he abated not a jot of his tremendous exertions.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III.</h2> + +<h3>PURSUED BY THE APACHES.</h3> + + +<p>As stealthily as a phantom did the canoe bearing the scout skim along +the shore of the Gila, hugging the banks as closely as possible, so as +to take advantage of the ribbon of shadow which followed the winding of +the stream. The moon was creeping higher up the sky, and this advantage +would soon be denied the fugitive altogether, so every minute was +improved to the utmost. Now and then Tom ceased paddling, and as the +boat shot forward with undiminished speed, bent his head and listened. +This was continued until he had passed fully a quarter of a mile, when +he rested for a longer time than usual.</p> + +<p>"I guess they'll have to give it up," he said to himself, with a +peculiar chuckle. "They ketched me in a bad box, that's sartin, where I +couldn't climb out on either side. But things are a little better here," +he added, as he looked from side to side at the bluffs, which were so +low that the tops could be easily reached from his boat. "I don't much +want to tramp over-land, but if it is necessary I've got somethin' of a +chance, which isn't what I had before."</p> + +<p>He might well prefer the water to the land; for on the former, whether +he went fast or slow, there was no trail left for the keenest bloodhound +to follow; on the latter it was impossible to conceal his most cautious +footsteps from the eyes of the redskins. The surface of this portion of +Arizona was of such a nature that everything was against the hunter. +There was no wood nor tributary streams for miles. If he left the Gila, +and struck across the country, it would be over an open plain, where he +could be seen for miles. He would be on foot, while his enemies would +all be mounted on their fleet mustangs. How, then, could he elude them +by leaving his boat? His only hope was in traveling at night, but night +must always be followed by day.</p> + +<p>"I wonder what ideas will creep into their skulls," he muttered, +reflecting upon the view the Apaches had gained of him a short time +before from the bank. "A dead Injun is a good deal better than a live +one, as that 'ere critter proved to me. If I hadn't fired back agin, +they might have thought I was one of their own warriors—mebbe they'll +think so now. Great Scott!"</p> + +<p>The scout was paddling along in his leisurely manner, when his eyes, by +the merest accident, happened to rest upon the other shore, at a point a +short distance below him. While thus looking, he saw distinctly a point +of light appear and vanish three times! It performed no such gyration as +those which he had first seen, but simply came forward and receded until +it was gone altogether, leaving the same misty darkness as before. More +by instinct than from any other cause, Tom turned his eyes to the point +opposite where he had seen this exhibition. He had scarcely done so when +precisely the same thing was seen!</p> + +<p>"Jest what I expected," he said as he checked the downward progress of +his boat. "The varmints have 'spicioned that one of the chaps in that +'ere canoe which passed before 'em is myself, and they're goin' for me +like lightnin'. They've mounted their horses, and kept it up till they +knowed they'd struck a p'int below me, and there they've signaled to +each other that I'm still above 'em on the river, and still to be +ketched."</p> + +<p>The scout was certain that his theory was correct, and that, distasteful +and dangerous as it might be, the time had come for him to leave the +river. To continue further would be to precipitate a collision in which +there was no possibility of the good fortune that had followed him in +the first place. Besides this the night was so far advanced and the moon +so high up in the sky, that the shadow had narrowed to a band which was +practically useless.</p> + +<p>"No use makin' faces when you've got a dose of medicine to take," he +added, as he ran the canoe close to the shore.</p> + +<p>There he found that by standing upon his feet he could easily reach the +edge of the bluff above and thus draw himself up when he chose. This he +proceeded to do, but he was too skillful a hunter to leave behind him +such tell-tale evidence as the canoe itself would have proven. Were he +to leave that as it was, it would be sure to catch the eye of the +Apaches within a quarter of an hour and tell them precisely what had +been done. And so, as the hunter hung thus by his hands, with his long +rifle secured at his back, he caught the toe of his moccasin in the +craft in such a way that it dipped and took water. He held it thus until +it could contain no more; but its composition was such that even then it +would not sink. There were loose boulders in the bank, and the hunter +proceeded to drop these carefully into the boat below. It required +several for ballast, when it quietly went to the bottom, where it was +certain to stay. This done he addressed himself to the task before him.</p> + +<p>As he straightened up and looked off in the moonlight, a very +discouraging, although familiar sight, met his eye. The moonlight was +quite strong, and he was enabled to see objects indistinctly for a +considerable distance. It was everywhere the same. A level, treeless +prairie, where for miles there was not a drop of water to be obtained, +and over which, as has been already shown, in case he attempted to make +his way, he would be placed at the greatest disadvantage possible, +especially as his own mustang was still a good hundred miles to the +southwest, if he had succeeded in avoiding capture up to that time. But +the life of a frontiersman, besides being perilous at all times, is +hardly ever anything but disagreeable, despite the curious fascination +which it holds for those who follow it. Tom did not hesitate a moment +longer than was necessary, now that a disagreeable expedient was forced +upon him.</p> + +<p>His first precaution was to make sure that none of the Apaches were in +sight. The point at which he had seen the answering signal was so far +below that he was certain it would be beyond his vision, and, this much +determined, gave him just the "leverage" needed to work upon. It needed +but a few seconds to assure himself upon this point, and then he struck +off to the southwest. This course, while it took him away from the Gila, +would eventually bring him back to it, the winding of the stream being +such as to make this junction certain, if continued. The great thing now +required was haste; for a great deal depended upon the ground that could +be passed over during these favoring hours of darkness. He had taken +scarcely a dozen steps when he struck into a long, loping trot, not +particularly rapid in itself, but of such a character that it could be +kept for hours at a stretch. It was the genuine Indian dog trot, which +is so effective in long distances. As the runner went along in this +fashion, his thoughts were busy, and all his senses on the alert. He +concluded that it was nearly midnight, and that he had, consequently, a +number of hours at his command; so he aimed to get as far below the +intercepting Apaches as possible, with the intention of returning to the +river, before daylight, where he was hopeful of discovering some canoe, +or at least of hitting upon some feasible method of hiding his trail +from his lynx-eyed pursuers.</p> + +<p>This loping trot was kept up for fully two hours, at the end of which +time Tom was certain that he was approaching the river again. He still +pressed forward for another hour, when he came to a halt. Although he +had continued this great exertion for so long a time, yet so good was +his wind that when he paused there was no perceptible quickening of the +respiration. Years of training had made him capable of standing far more +trying tests of his strength than this. The scout carefully turned his +head from side to side, looking and listening. All was still, and his +ear caught no ominous sound. Then he moistened his finger and held it +over his head. Yes, there was the least possible breath of air stirring, +as was told him by the fact that one side of the moistened finger was +slightly chilled. Everywhere, right, left, in front or rear, so far as +the bright moonlight permitted his vision to extend, was the same dead +level of treeless plain. Kneeling down he applied his ear to the ground. +Could it be? There <i>was</i> a sound thus carried to his ears—the very +sound which above all others he dreaded to hear. It was a faint, almost +inaudible, tapping upon the earth. Far away it was, but drawing nearer +every minute.</p> + +<p>The scout knew what it meant. It was the sound of horse's hoofs!</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV.</h2> + +<h3>OUTWITTED.</h3> + + +<p>"I'll match them Apaches agin the world for shrewd deviltry," exclaimed +Hardynge, unable to suppress his admiration even in the moment which +told him of his own increased personal danger. "By some hook or crook, +the Old Boy only knows what, they've found out my game, and are after +me. Ah! if I only had my mustang, Thundergust, with me!"</p> + +<p>Tom now changed his direction more to the north, his intention being to +strike the river much sooner than was his original purpose. It was the +only thing he could do to escape the redskins, who showed such a +wonderful skill in following him up.</p> + +<p>As near as he could judge, something like ten miles still intervened +between him and the friendly stream—a distance which he was confident +of passing before daylight, if he did not find his pursuers in his path. +The greatest care was necessary to keep out of the way of these +creatures, and the fugitive had run but a short distance when he paused +and applied his ear to the ground again. Only for an instant, however, +when he bounded up and was off like a shot. The alarming sounds came to +his ear with such distinctness as to prove that the Apaches were close +at hand. Guided by some strange fatality, they were bearing directly +down upon him at full speed. More than all, those pattering footfalls +were such as to indicate that the swarthy horsemen were not approaching +in a compact group. They had separated so as to cover a wide area of +ground, and were advancing in such an array that the difficulty of +escape was increased tenfold. Everything conspired against poor Tom. The +bright moonlight, the broad level stretch of plain, the fact that he was +on foot, and his pursuers, besides being well mounted, were among the +most skillful riders of the Southwest, made his situation about as +desperate as it is possible to imagine.</p> + +<p>A few minutes later the fugitive paused again, but this time it was not +necessary that he should apply his ear to the ground. The sounds of the +mustangs' hoofs came to him very plainly through the midnight air, and +as he looked around he half expected to see the shadowy figures of the +horsemen plunging forward in the gloom toward him! Nothing was to be +seen, however, of them, and, feeling that the situation was becoming +desperate, he changed his course again, his purpose being simply to get +by the approaching marauders without caring in what direction he went. +Had he been five minutes earlier he might have succeeded, but he was +just that much too late.</p> + +<p>He was stealing forward in his cautious manner, with the sound of the +horses' hoofs growing more distinct every second, when, sure enough, the +figure of an Indian horseman suddenly came in sight, bearing down upon +him as straight as an arrow. The very instant Tom saw it he sank down +upon his face, scarcely daring to hope that his pursuer would pass him, +and prepared for whatever he chose to do.</p> + +<p>The scout turned his head so that he could watch every movement and +guard against it, his hand being extended beneath his body in the most +natural position possible, but grasping his loaded revolver.</p> + +<p>It may have been that the Apache would have gone by but for the action +of his mustang. These intelligent animals seem to know, in many cases, +far more than their masters, and the one in question was yet some yards +distant from the prostrate form, when he halted with a snort. This +opened the ball, and the scout anxiously awaited the fight which seemed +inevitable.</p> + +<p>Fortunately, the Indian party had separated to such an extent that no +others were in sight of the fugitive, who thus had but a single man to +contend against, although there was no question but what any number of +others could be summoned to the spot in a twinkling. The foeman +understood the situation at a glance; that is, he knew that the man for +whom he was seeking was prostrate upon the ground before him, but he had +no means of judging whether he was dead, asleep, or feigning. Under +these circumstances he advanced very cautiously, his mustang betraying +considerable reluctance at walking up to a man stretched out at full +length.</p> + +<p>This was precisely what Hardynge desired, as every minute that matters +remained in <i>statu quo</i> placed the friends of his adversary further away +and simplified the encounter, which he considered as certain to take +place.</p> + +<p>Something like ten minutes were occupied in this stealthy advance of the +horse, at the end of which time he stood so that his head was directly +over the shoulders of the prostrate man, who still lay as motionless as +a statue.</p> + +<p>"Hooh!" exclaimed the rider, holding himself ready for any demonstration +upon the part of the suspected white man. But the latter never stirred, +although he shivered a little at the fear that the mustang might place +his hoof upon him.</p> + +<p>Tom's peculiar peril will be understood when it is stated that the +Apache was master of the situation from the instant they came in sight +of each other. Had the fugitive fired at him the moment he caught sight +of his horse, he might have tumbled him to the ground, but it would have +brought the rest of the party around him in an instant. As matters now +stood, the Apache would have fired at the first movement he made, no +matter how dexterous, to draw his hand from beneath his body, and so Tom +bided his time.</p> + +<p>"Hooh!"</p> + +<p>This was repeated several times, when the warrior tried to force his +mustang to step upon him; but the animal was too timid to be forced into +doing such a repugnant thing, and, when angrily urged thereto, leaped +clear of the body with a sniff of terror, and galloped several rods +before he could be brought round and compelled to face the unknown +again. This seemed to convince the Apache that the man was dead, and +without any further hesitation he slid down from the back of his horse, +and advanced to the figure for the purpose of scalping him.</p> + +<p>He had just stooped down, knife in hand, when the form turned like a +flash. There came a blinding flash, then a report and a cry, almost +together, and Tom Hardynge seemed to leap up from the ground as if a +bomb had exploded beneath him, and, dashing toward the mustang, seized +his rein and vaulted upon his back before the animal really knew what +had taken place.</p> + +<p>It was a daring deed, but it succeeded to perfection. The scout had not +only extinguished his foe, but had captured his horse as well. The sound +of the pistol might reach the ears of other Apaches, but he cared +nothing for that. He was as well mounted as they, and, with the start +which he had gained, they were welcome to do all they could. In view of +this, it was impossible for him to restrain his exultation, and the +moment he realized that he was fairly astride of the mustang he let out +a shout that might have been heard a mile away. The steed which bore him +was an excellent one, and he had no fear of being overtaken by any of +them. He knew in what direction to take his flight, and away he sped +with his horse upon a dead run. He scarcely drew rein until daylight +broke over the prairie, when he found himself pursuing a direction +parallel with the river, and making good headway toward the point where +he hoped his own matchless Thundergust was awaiting him.</p> + +<p>Hardynge scarcely halted during the greater portion of the next day, +except when his mustang required it, and shortly after the sun crossed +the meridian he was gratified at catching sight of the rolling prairie +and wooded hills where he had turned his horse loose nearly a week +before. While at a distance he gave utterance to several sharp whistles, +which produced the response he desired, the beautiful glossy mustang +galloping forth to meet him with every appearance of delight. The +creature had taken good care of himself during his absence, having +feasted upon the rich, succulent grass, and was in the best possible +condition.</p> + +<p>Turning the Indian horse loose Tom bestowed no further attention upon +him, but leaped upon his favorite animal and galloped away to the rocks +where he had carefully concealed his saddle and riding gear and where +they had lain untouched while he was gone.</p> + +<p>Just as he dismounted, his eye rested upon a piece of dried buffalo-skin +which was pinned against a tree, the inner side turned outward. The +first glance told him there was something unusual, and his curiosity led +him to approach and scan it closely. There was some writing scrawled +upon it, which he read with little difficulty. The words were startling +enough, and as the hunter finished them he exclaimed, in a frightened +undertone:</p> + +<p>"Thunderation! can it be possible?"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V.</h2> + +<h3>AN ALARMING MESSAGE.</h3> + + +<p>As the scout rode his mustang up to the tree whereon the buffalo skin +was fastened, he read the following words:</p> + +<blockquote><p>"<span class="smcap">To Tom Hardynge</span>:—The stage which left Santa Fe on the 10th inst., +is due at Fort Havens between the 20th and 25th, <i>but it will never +reach there</i>. It has an escort of a dozen mounted soldiers, but +they can't save it. The Apaches have arranged to attack it near +Devil's Pass, which you know is about a hundred miles northeast +from this point, among the mountains. You can't do anything to help +it; but Ned Chadmund is with it, and his father, the colonel, +offers you and me a thousand dollars apiece to save <i>him</i>. I leave +to day—Thursday—for the pass, and you must follow the minute your +eyes see this. I will be on the lookout for you. Remember there +isn't an hour to spare.</p> + +<p>"<span class="smcap">Dick Morris.</span>"</p></blockquote> + +<p>Colonel Chadmund was the commandant at Fort Havens, whither he was +hastening with his news from the Indian country. His family dwelt in +Santa Fe, and his only child, a bright boy, about a dozen years of age, +had been permitted to start to join his father in accordance with a +promise made him a long time before. The escort with which he had been +provided would have been ample under ordinary circumstances, and in +fact, was larger than was generally customary; but it was not +sufficient.</p> + +<p>Dick Morris held a position then known as "hunter to the fort" at the +post under the command of Colonel Chadmund. It was similar to that which +the renowned Kit Carson filled for a number of years in the old days at +Bent's Fort. The man was selected on account of his skill in the use of +the rifle, and his knowledge of the habits of the game, his duty being +simply to supply the command with all the fresh food possible—a +position which, it will at once be understood, was no sinecure, +involving constant activity and many long, rapid journeys.</p> + +<p>Dick was as skillful and shrewd a man as could be found in the whole +Southwest. Tom Hardynge, his friend and companion in many a perilous +adventure, understood what it all meant the instant he had finished +reading the writing upon the buffalo skin. By some means—probably +through the Indian runners encountered while hunting his game—he had +learned the particulars of the expedition that had been arranged to +attack and massacre the escort. Very probably these swarthy wretches +were mainly incited to the deed by the knowledge that the son of Colonel +Chadmund was to be with the party. It was under the direction of this +vigilant officer that the marauding Indians of the border had received +such a number of severe blows. They were excited to the highest point of +exasperation, and would seize upon any means of revenge at their +command.</p> + +<p>Alarmed by the danger which threatened his beloved child, the colonel +had sent Dick Morris to the rescue at once. He would have sent a hundred +men from his fort, had he believed it possible that they could do any +good, but it was clearly out of the question for them to reach Devil's +Pass until nearly twenty-four hours after the stage was due there. It +was one of those cases wherein all depended upon shrewdness and +strategy, and where nothing was to be gained by mere force of arms. The +expectation was that the Apaches would hold the boy at an enormous +ransom, or probably as a hostage for the safety of such of their +blood-stained chiefs as were in the hands of the Americans. This will +explain the haste of the hunter, and his anxiety to have the +companionship of Tom, who had tramped so many hundred miles through the +Indian country.</p> + +<p>Ten minutes after reading the dispatch Tom had fastened on the +accoutrements of his mustang and was galloping away to the northeast on +the trail of his friend. He did not pause even to hunt a little game, +after having been so long without food. He was accustomed to privation +and hardship, and, if it were required, was good for twenty-four hours +longer without permitting a particle of food to pass his lips.</p> + +<p>He was leaving the treacherous Gila far to the south. It may be said +that his course along this stream, on his return from the Apache +country, was like the base of a triangle, while he was now following the +hypothenuse. This latter route was preferable in every sense to that +which he had been using for the last few days. The country itself was +more varied, better watered and abounded with vegetation, its only +drawback being the ever-present danger from the marauding redskins. +Another advantage that belonged to the traveler over this path was that +it was really a path—so clearly defined that a stranger could follow it +without trouble. It was, in fact, the trail between Fort Havens and +Santa Fe, over which, at certain intervals, messengers were regularly +dispatched back and forth.</p> + +<p>The money with which the soldiers at Fort Havens and several other posts +were paid came down by express from Sante Fe over this road, in charge +of a proper escort, and the coach which started from that city with +little Ned Chadmund carried also one hundred thousand dollars in crisp, +crackling greenbacks stowed away in the bottom of the vehicle. +Consequently it will be seen that the Apaches, who understood very well +the value of these printed slips, had every inciting cause to organize +an overwhelming expedition against the coach and its escort.</p> + +<p>The day is waning, but his steed was fresh and fleet, and had enjoyed +such a long rest, that it would be a mercy to him to put him through his +best paces. Tom did not hesitate to do it. The glossy black animal gave +a neigh of delight as he felt the familiar hand of his master upon the +bridle, and he stretched away like one of the Arabian coursers of the +desert, fleet as the wind and capable of keeping up the tremendous rate +of speed for hours at a time.</p> + +<p>The greater portion of this journey led through the wildest mountain +scenery, and the afternoon was scarcely half gone when a striking change +in the surface was observable. Instead of that long, dreary expanse of +endless prairie, the hunter was forced to make long detours to escape +the obstructions constantly interposing in the way. Now it was around +some pile of rocks, then winding among a mass of hills, then over a +level plain for some distance, but with the scenery steadily increasing +in ruggedness at every mile traversed. Far ahead could be discerned the +chain of mountains, their peaks looking blue and misty in the distance. +It was among these that the trail wound its way—one portion, in the +very heart of the mountains, being known as Devil's Pass, from its wild +and dangerous character; and, as the scout strained his eye in the +direction and contemplated the blue waving line against the sky, he +almost fancied he could see the smoke from the rifles of the vengeful +Apaches.</p> + +<p>"Shouldn't wonder if they are at it this very minute," he muttered, as +he glanced down at the ground in front of him.</p> + +<p>All the afternoon, as he sped along, he saw constantly in front of him +the footprints of another mustang, such as are made by an animal when +under full speed. So they were, as he knew very well. Dick Morris had +been over the same trail a few hours before, at scarcely less speed than +his own.</p> + +<p>Every time Tom came in sight of an elevation he looked hastily at it in +the hope of catching sight of some signal from his friend. In such a +desperate enterprise as this he felt the need of companionship, +especially of such a tried and daring man as Dick Morris. But the sun +gradually went down in the western sky without bringing him the coveted +sight, and he began to believe that he would not be overtaken before +reaching Devil's Pass, which he hoped to reach on the morrow. Then, as +the sun disappeared and darkness crept over mountain and prairie, Tom +turned the head of his animal in the direction of a clump of trees where +he knew there was an abundance of grass and water, and where, in all +probability, something in the way of food could be had for himself. The +mustang needed rest and refreshment, and the rider required them +scarcely less.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI.</h2> + +<h3>THE TWO SCOUTS.</h3> + + +<p>The hunter was within a hundred yards or so of the clump of trees, when +he suddenly checked his mustang, or rather the mustang checked himself, +at the light of a camp fire, which all at once flashed out from among +them.</p> + +<p>"That's either Dick or a lot of varmints," he muttered. "I think it's +varmints, for I don't b'lieve he meant to wait there."</p> + +<p>However, it was a question easily settled. He slid from his horse, and, +rifle in hand, stole forward in the direction of the grove, moving as +silently and stealthily as a shadow, while his beast stood as if he were +an equestrian statue awaiting the placing of some metallic hero upon his +back. A phantom itself could not have glided forward with less noise +than did he, and yet he was fully twenty yards away from his +destination, with his eyes fixed upon the point of light, when he was +discovered by some horse that belonged to the stranger, or strangers, +which gave out a loud neigh, as a signal to his friends of the approach +of danger. At that moment, Tom dropped flat upon his face, as he had +done before at the approach of the Apaches, and the luxuriant grass +gathered about his form in such a way that he could not be seen by +anyone at a moderate distance. But close upon the heels of the neigh +came a low, tremulous whistle, scarcely uttered when Tom replied in a +precisely similar way, leaped to his feet and trotted toward the grove.</p> + +<p>"That's Dick!" he exclaimed to himself, the signals which they had used +being the same that they had adopted years before, when approaching each +other in a dangerous neighborhood.</p> + +<p>The next minute the two met and shook hands. There were many points of +resemblance and difference between the two comrades. Each was in middle +life, embrowned, hardened, and toughened by years of exposure and the +wild life of the border; but Tom Hardynge was taller, more sinewy and +active than Dick Morris, who was below the medium stature, with a +stunted appearance; but he was a powerful man, wonderfully skillful in +the use of the rifle, and the two friends together made the strongest +possible kind of a team.</p> + +<p>"Ah! that's the talk," exclaimed Tom, as he snuffed the odor of the +cooking meat by the camp fire. "I'm hungry enough to chaw up my +moccasins. What have you there—buffalo, mule or grizzly bar?"</p> + +<p>"Neither one," replied the other. "I fetched down an antelope a couple +of hours ago, and as I was expectin' you, I cooked enough of it for +both."</p> + +<p>"You had to cook his hoofs and all to do that; but why don't you spread +the dining table?"</p> + +<p>Little ceremony was indulged in at such a time. The toasting meat, +brown, crisp and juicy, was served in two equal portions, each of +immense size, and then, with no culinary articles but their keen hunting +knives, and their incisors, almost as keen, they went at the business +with the gusto of famishing wolves. Meanwhile the two mustangs were +feasting upon the rich grass which grew abundantly about them, and so +all members of the party were enjoying themselves to the fullest extent.</p> + +<p>The two hunters scarcely spoke while this piece of mastication was going +on. They understood each other so well that there was no necessity of +any hurry in the way of inquiry or conversation. When at last they had +filled themselves to repletion, they drew their fingers through their +bushy hair, using the latter by way of napkins, and then, after a good +long draught from the brook running near at hand, lit their pipes and +leaned back in the very acme of bliss.</p> + +<p>"How soon shall we start?" asked Tom.</p> + +<p>"In a couple of hours," was the reply.</p> + +<p>"Think the Apaches are through by this time?"</p> + +<p>"No doubt of it."</p> + +<p>If the hunters seemed to exhibit indifference in referring to the +terrible occurrence, it was not because they felt thus; but the lives +which they led had accustomed them to such frightful experiences.</p> + +<p>"S'pose they've spared the younker?"</p> + +<p>"Guess they have."</p> + +<p>The conclusion to which both came was that the Apaches were incited to +this attack more by the desire to get possession of the lad than by +anything else, in view of the intense hatred with which Colonel Chadmund +was viewed by the hostile Indians of the Southwest. He had been +stationed over two years at Fort Havens, during which his administration +had been marked by extreme vigor, and he had retaliated upon the Apaches +especially in the severest way for many outrages committed by them.</p> + +<p>"Yas, they've gone for that little younker," added Dick Morris, after +the discussion had been continued for some time. "Of course they haven't +killed him; for that would have sp'iled their game. The colonel, finding +what they'd done, would come down on 'em harder than ever, and you kin +make up your mind they'd get the worst of the bargain before he was +through with 'em; but as long as they hold the boy, you see, they've got +the hands of the old fellow tied, for he thinks a heap of his boy, and +he'll do anything to save him."</p> + +<p>"And that's why he sends us arter him," said Tom.</p> + +<p>"He knows that if he let a lot of the men go, they might get all chawed +up, and it wouldn't help the boy any, so he thinks we kin get him out of +their hands by some hocus pocus or other."</p> + +<p>"And what do <i>you</i> think, Tom?" asked his companion, in a confidential +voice. "Is there much show for ever saving the skulp of little Ned?"</p> + +<p>His brother hunter looked into the fire for several minutes, with a very +serious expression upon his countenance. He was thinking intently upon +the situation, and trying to extract some comfort from the prospect.</p> + +<p>"Wal, Dick, you know as well as me that it's mighty hard to tell in such +a case. We've both got the best of hosses, that kin hold thar own agin +anythin' the reds can scare up; but if they go to such pains to get the +chap into thar hands, they'll take the same pains to keep him thar."</p> + +<p>"Exactly; but they won't be expectin' any such move as we're at so early +in the day, don't you see? and there's where we gain the advantage by +hurryin' on, afore they kin get off in the mountains with him."</p> + +<p>There seemed to be reason in this conclusion, and both agreed upon it.</p> + +<p>At the end of a couple of hours their horses had rested sufficiently, +and they were mounted again. They had trusted to the mustangs to act as +sentinels while they spent their time in eating and talking, and, no +alarm having been given, they were satisfied that there was no one in +the vicinity, and they rode off toward the northeast, without any +concern of present danger threatening them. By this time the moon was in +the sky; but a few clouds were occasionally scudding before his face, so +that the prairie was not illuminated with as much clearness as upon the +preceding night. The two hunters galloped along at a swinging gallop, a +rate of speed which their mustangs were capable of continuing for hours +and which it was the purpose of the riders to keep up until their +destination was reached. Now and then, through the stillness of the +night, the cries of wild animals came to their ears, and once or twice +these sounded very much like signals from parties of Indians.</p> + +<p>Tom and Dick never once relaxed their vigilance, but, as far as the +gloom would permit, scanned the country about them in every direction. +Besides, they occasionally caught the glimmer of camp fires, but they +were all at such a distance that they paid no attention to them, but +continued on the even tenor of their way.</p> + +<p>Just as day was breaking, they found themselves fairly among the +mountains. The wildest crags and peaks were all about them, and they +were compelled to keep close to the pass they were following. This wound +in and out among the fastnesses, not more than a hundred feet in width +in some places, while in others it was fully a quarter of a mile broad. +Here they were in constant apprehension of meeting with their old +enemies; but there was an air of solitude and desertion about them that +was impressive in the extreme. They halted but a short time to let their +animals "blow," while they themselves made an observation. Still nothing +new or alarming was discovered, and they hurried forward as before.</p> + +<p>Just as the sun reached meridian, the two hunters came upon that place +known as Devil's Pass, which they were certain had witnessed a fearful +tragedy during the previous twenty-four hours.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII"></a>CHAPTER VII.</h2> + +<h3>THE CAVALRY ESCORT.</h3> + + +<p>The stage which left Santa Fe on that beautiful spring morning, bound +for Fort Havens on the journey heretofore referred to, carried two +passengers. One was Corporal Hugg, a soldier who had been engaged a +dozen years upon the plains—a rough, good-natured, chivalrous fellow, +who, having lost a leg in the service of his country, enjoyed a pension, +and had become a sort of family servant in the employ of Colonel +Chadmund. He was devotedly attached to little Ned and his greatest +delight was in watching or joining him at play, exercising a +surveillance over him something like that which a great, shaggy +Newfoundland holds over a pet child. The corporal was able to stump +about upon his cork leg, and when the time came for the lad to make the +journey through the mountains to Fort Havens—a journey which he had +been looking impatiently forward to for fully a year—it followed as a +natural sequence that the corporal should bear him company.</p> + +<p>Ned bade his mother an affectionate good-bye, and she pressed him to her +breast again and again, the tears filling her eyes, and a sad misgiving +chilling her heart. The reports at the time were that the Indians to the +southwest were unusually quiet, no word having yet reached the capital +of New Mexico of the formidable raids that were being organized in the +Apache country. Besides this, the stage, which was properly an +ambulance, drawn by a single powerful horse, was escorted by twelve +Indian fighters armed to the teeth, every one of whom had performed +similar duty before, and so, according to all human probabilities, there +seemed to be less cause than usual for fear. Yet the mother felt a +woeful sinking of the heart, natural, perhaps, under the circumstances; +but she could not break the promise of herself and husband to the boy, +who was overflowing with joy at the prospect of that long journey +through the mountains, and a several months' sojourn at the fort in the +far Southwest.</p> + +<p>Finally, the cavalcade lost sight of Santa Fe, and the first night they +encamped a good distance away from that historic, then primitive, town. +The lieutenant who had charge of the escort was more concerned about the +treasure in their possession than he was about the Indians. So far as +possible, the fact that he was carrying a large sum of money to one of +the frontier posts had been kept a secret from the general public; but +he was apprehensive that they might be followed by some of the desperate +characters which infested Santa Fe at that time. But nothing of danger +or lawlessness was seen during their first day and night, and when they +resumed their journey on the morrow, they began to dismiss all thoughts +of danger from that direction.</p> + +<p>As they progressed toward Arizona, the country gradually grew wilder and +more rugged, but the trail was followed without trouble, and when they +encamped the second night, they had the satisfaction of reflecting that +they had progressed much further than they had counted upon at first.</p> + +<p>Those were days of delight and happiness to young Ned Chadmund. The +weather was not oppressively warm, and the ever-changing scenery was +like the most entrancing panorama passing before his eyes. Sometimes he +rode upon one of the horses with the lieutenant or one of the soldiers. +Then again he ran along-side the ambulance until he was tired, when he +climbed within, and seated himself beside Corporal Hugg, and listened to +his tales of battle and adventures.</p> + +<p>On the second day the Indians began to show themselves. A party of +horsemen would be seen upon the top of some hill or bluff, apparently +contemplating the little cavalcade, or they would circle around at a +distance upon the prairie, whooping and indulging in all sorts of +tantalizing gestures, in the hope of drawing out a portion of the party +in pursuit. Their hearts' delight would have been to get them into some +exposed position, where they could be cut off to a man—and had the +cavalry been unaccustomed to border life, the artifice would have +succeeded; but they were not to be seduced to their ruin by any such +transparent stratagem.</p> + +<p>Now and then these redskins, a number of Comanches, sent in a rifle ball +or two by way of reminding the cavalry that they were accustomed to that +business. The lieutenant commanding permitted his men to reply +occasionally, but no thought of pursuit was entertained. None of the +soldiers were injured by these shots, although a number passed +uncomfortably close, and the ambulance was pierced several times.</p> + +<p>At one time Corporal Hugg checked his horse, and pointing his gun out of +the stage, took deliberate aim at the nearest redskin, who was +displaying his horsemanship by shooting from beneath the neck and belly +of his mustang, and then, as the latter wheeled, flopping upon the other +side of the animal, and firing as before. The corporal held his fire +until he attempted one of these turn-overs, when he pulled the trigger +and "took him on the wing." The result was a whoop, a beating of the air +with a pair of moccasined feet, and the mustang galloped away without a +rider.</p> + +<p>This skillful shot was a good thing for the party, as it taught the +Comanches the very lesson they needed. They instantly retreated to a +further point upon the prairie, and finally vanished from view +altogether.</p> + +<p>The company had been on the road for nearly a week. Six of them, +including the lieutenant, were riding at the head, and the remainder +were in the rear of the ambulance. Corporal Hugg was holding the reins +of his horse, who was stepping along with his heavy, ponderous tread, +while the driver was drowsy and indolent from the long, monotonous ride +in which he had been engaged for so many days, and for so many hours +during this last day. It was near the middle of the afternoon, and Ned +Chadmund was the only one of the company that seemed to be full of life +and spirits. He had run along by the side of the vehicle, until he was +pretty well jaded; he had crawled in again, and was chatting away to the +corporal in a fashion that left no room for his giving way to +drowsiness. The men sat like statues upon their horses, indifferent and +silent, and wishing, in a general way, that the day were over and the +time had come for going into camp, where they might stretch out their +legs and smoke their pipes to their hearts' content.</p> + +<p>"Yes, that 'ere is the place they call Devil's Pass," said the corporal +in reply to a question from the boy. "You see that it was so wide back +there at the beginning that you couldn't see how wide it was, and it +keeps geting narrower and narrower till it reminds me of the canyon of +the upper Yellowstone."</p> + +<p>"How is that?" was the question that came when he paused to take breath.</p> + +<p>"So narrow that you could toss a ball from one side to the other, and a +thousand feet from the top to bottom, clean and square, and there are +some places where it is all of a half mile."</p> + +<p>"But this don't seem as narrow as that."</p> + +<p>"I don't s'pose it is; but don't you notice ahead, yonder, that it ain't +more than a hundred yards broad? Well, it keeps it up for all of two +miles just like that."</p> + +<p>"Why do they call it Devil's Pass, corporal?"</p> + +<p>"I suppose because, if the Old Boy wanted to gobble up a lot of folks, +that is just the place. The walls on each side are straight up and down, +and several hundred feet high, so that a man can't dodge to the right or +left, unless he has a pair of wings to help him. The only thing he can +do is to go forward and backward, and if he happens to have Injuns in +front and rear, you can understand what a purty muss he would be in. +That, I s'pose, is the reason why it's called the Devil's Pass."</p> + +<p>"Do you think they will attack <i>us</i>?" asked Ned, in a scared voice.</p> + +<p>"I can't say," replied the corporal, striving to banish the expression +of alarm from his face. "If they've got any idea of disturbing us, just +here is where they'll do it. It's the worst place on the route, and if +we can get through to the other side all right, I'll feel as safe as if +we was inside the stockades of your father's fort."</p> + +<p>"Have you ever been through here before?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; all of half a dozen times."</p> + +<p>"Did you ever get into trouble?"</p> + +<p>"I never traveled through in all my life without having a scrimmage with +some of the redskins. If you'll take a look round as we drive along, +you'll see the bones of men scattered all along. Some belong to white, +and some to redskins; but they all fell fighting."</p> + +<p>"How far ahead is the worst part of the route?"</p> + +<p>"We're close upon it now, and I may as well tell you, Ned, that I think +we're going to have a fight."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII"></a>CHAPTER VIII.</h2> + +<h3>IN DEVIL'S PASS.</h3> + + +<p>By this time Ned Chadmund was pretty well frightened. Corporal Hugg had +said enough to convince him that they were in the greatest danger of the +whole journey. The lieutenant drew his men close together, and two of +the most experienced scouts rode a short distance in advance of the +others, glancing from side to side, and on the watch for the first signs +of the approach of Indians.</p> + +<p>The sides of the pass as already shown, were high and precipitous, so +that there was no possibility of escape except by going backward or +forward. Furthermore, the canyon, as it must have been at some distant +day, wound in and out in such a fashion that there were many places +where it was impossible to see more than a hundred yards in front or +rear. There was no conversation between the soldiers, and even the +corporal spoke in a lower tone to his young friend.</p> + +<p>"If anything <i>does</i> happen," he said, looking down in the handsome +upturned face, "I want you to behave yourself, Ned."</p> + +<p>"Don't I always do it?"</p> + +<p>"I should say not!" was the emphatic response. "Haven't I ordered you to +stay in the wagon, and then looked round to see you slipping out while I +was talking to you? But things are different now. If you see anything +unusual, or hear rifle balls whizzing about you, don't go to poking your +head out to see what the matter is."</p> + +<p>"What shall I do, then?" asked the boy, who was really desirous of +following the directions of his friend.</p> + +<p>"Just lie down in the bottom of the ambulance and wait till I tell you +to get up again. The sides are bullet-proof, and there ain't any danger +of your getting hurt there."</p> + +<p>The afternoon was drawing to a close, and the high walls, rising up on +each side, so shut out the rays of the sun, that a somber twilight gloom +filled Devil's Pass; a deep, oppressive heaviness was in the atmosphere, +that seemed in keeping with the place which had been the scene of so +many tragedies, which was now entered with more or less misgiving upon +the part of the entire company.</p> + +<p>"I'd make a journey of two hundred miles extra if there was any way of +gitting around this infernal place," said the lieutenant; "but as there +isn't, all we can do is to push ahead."</p> + +<p>It was about half an hour after the warning words of the corporal to the +lad, and the eyes of the entire company were fixed upon the lieutenant +and his comrade, who were riding a short distance in advance. All at +once they were seen to rein up their horses simultaneously, as if +something in front had caught their attention. As by a common impulse, +the others did the same, and breathlessly awaited the next signal. It +came in a dozen seconds. While the hunter and his mustang remained +motionless, the lieutenant wheeled his horse about, and rode back and +the others noticed that his face was pale and expressive of great alarm.</p> + +<p>"I knew we shouldn't get through here without a fight. There's a whole +pack of Indians ahead of us. Jake, take a turn back a short distance and +see whether they have fixed it so as to shut us in."</p> + +<p>The man addressed turned to do as ordered, while the others anxiously +awaited his report. He was another Indian fighter, who knew precisely +what to do, and he was gone but a short time when he came thundering +back, calling out the instant he came in view around a curve in the +pass:</p> + +<p>"We're in for the biggest scrimmage of our lives! There's five hundred +Apaches coming up the pass, and they'll be here inside of ten minutes."</p> + +<p>The man who made this terrifying announcement was not one given to +exaggeration, and, although he might have overestimated the number in +this case, every one of his hearers knew that an overwhelming force was +in their rear, and, whatever they did to save themselves, the last thing +to be thought of was to turn back.</p> + +<p>Scarcely had the news been announced when the scout from the other +direction galloped back.</p> + +<p>"Well, what is it?" asked the lieutenant.</p> + +<p>"Some of the redskins are ahead of us, that's certain."</p> + +<p>"What tribe?"</p> + +<p>"The Jiccarilla Apaches, I think; the worst set of scamps this side of +the Llano Estacado."</p> + +<p>"How many?"</p> + +<p>"I can't make out more than a dozen, and there may be less."</p> + +<p>A hasty consultation was held, and all agreed that the appearance of +these few Indians in front was for the purpose of turning the party back +upon the main force in the rear. Consequently, the proper course was to +charge ahead, fighting their way, if necessary, through those before +them, and keeping all the distance possible between themselves and the +war party coming down from the opposite direction. Only a few seconds +were necessary to form this decision, and the cavalry started at a +gallop down the pass, Corporal Hugg lashing his powerful steed into a +much more rapid pace than he was accustomed to, or was agreeable to him.</p> + +<p>"Now, Ned, keep your head down," said the wooden-legged soldier to the +boy. "The bullets will soon be buzzing all around us."</p> + +<p>As he spoke he stretched out on the flat bottom of the ambulance, +allowing his head to be elevated just enough to permit him to peer over +the foreboard and guide the horse, which was now forced into a furious +gallop. Earnest in his desire to obey, Ned Chadmund did the same, +awaiting the result of this desperate attempt to escape from a most +perilous position.</p> + +<p>The bottom of the pass was quite level and hard, but the ambulance +bounded and leaped from side to side in a way that threatened to +overturn it, and made anything like connected conversation impossible. +The speed of the party was about the same, the horsemen retaining their +position a short distance in advance of the vehicle and all nerved to +the fiery charge they believed to be inevitable. The lad, still lying +flat on his face in the bottom of the ambulance, raised his head just +enough to peer over the shoulder of the corporal at the galloping horse +and the figures of the cavalry beyond.</p> + +<p>Suddenly the reports of a score of rifles sounded in the pass, and the +horrified lad saw fully one half of the soldiers topple out of their +saddles, riddled by the balls that had been fired from a skillfully +arranged ambush. At the same time several horses reared, plunged and +fell, fatally wounded by others of the missiles.</p> + +<p>"Down!" shouted the corporal to Ned, who, in the excitement of the +moment, had placed his hands upon the shoulders of his friend and risen +to his knees. "Down, I say! Don't you see that they are firing at us?"</p> + +<p>The rattling sound of the returning fire of the cavalry was heard, each +man being armed with a rifle, and the corporal rose to his knees and +lashed the galloping horse to a still greater speed.</p> + +<p>Instead of a dozen Apaches, fully a hundred came swarming toward the +little band of soldiers, the painted warriors seeming to spring, like +the dragon's teeth of old, from the very ground. Hemmed in on every +hand, the cavalry, throwing away their rifles, which were useless in +such an emergency, and drawing their revolvers, charged straight through +the yelling horde closing in around them. Fascinated by the terrible +scene and scarcely conscious of what he was doing, Ned crawled forward +again and stared out from the front of the ambulance, while the corporal +added his voice to the terrible din by shouting to his horse, which was +plunging forward at a rate that threatened to overturn completely the +bounding vehicle.</p> + +<p>The horsemen that were left were comparatively few and they fought like +Spartans; but Ned saw them drop one by one from their animals, until +there was only the lieutenant left, and he, poor fellow, was lying upon +his steed, both badly wounded, as they strove with the madness of +desperation to escape. But it was useless. The Apaches were all around +them, pouring in their shots with such precision that a moment later the +dying horse sank heavily to the ground and the wretches that dashed +forward to slay his rider found that he was already dead.</p> + +<p>Corporal Hugg saw all this as a huge warrior dashed forward and seized +the rein of his own horse; but the next instant he dropped to the earth, +was trampled upon by the iron hoofs and run over in a twinkling. Still +the Indians swarmed in around and ahead of the team, against which all +the avenues of escape seemed hopelessly closed.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX"></a>CHAPTER IX.</h2> + +<h3>AMONG THE APACHES.</h3> + + +<p>Having run down one Apache warrior, Corporal Hugg, unmindful of his own +personal danger, leaned forward out of the ambulance and shouted and +lashed the furious horse, which was already on a dead run.</p> + +<p>"Go it, good fellow," he yelled, his voice rising above the horrid din +of cracking fire arms and whooping assailants. "Keep it up a little +longer, and we shall be clear of the whole crew."</p> + +<p>They were the last words the brave soldier uttered. Ned Chadmund, who +had again crouched back in the swaying vehicle, was horrified to see his +friend pitch forward upon the foreboard, and then, as the carriage gave +one unusually violent plunge, he went out head foremost, and vanished +from sight. He had been pierced by a dozen balls, and was dead before he +reached the ground.</p> + +<p>The horse, like his human assailants, was frantic, and abated not a jot +of his tremendous speed, though the reins fell slack and dangled around +his feet, and the familiar voice was heard no more. He, too, was wounded +by more than one cruel rifle ball, but he seemed capable of undergoing +far more than his comrades that had fallen at the first fire.</p> + +<p>The situation of the lad was fearful, and he was in imminent danger from +more than one form of death. He was cowering in the bottom of the +ambulance, too much terrified to speak or to attempt to help himself in +any way. Bruised and stunned by the terrific bounds of the vehicle, he +was dazed, bewildered and only dimly conscious of the awful pandemonium +reigning around him. Suddenly he felt himself lifted in the air; then +there was a crushing and grinding, as if he was being ground to atoms +between two millstones, then another terrible crash and his senses +forsook him.</p> + +<p>The ambulance had overturned and smashed. It was dragged a short +distance, when the infuriated steed broke loose, tore a short distance +further down the pass and fell dead.</p> + +<p>When the boy recovered his senses, his eyes opened upon a very different +scene. The sounds of strife had ceased, and the struggle was ended, for +the reason that there were no men left to resist the victorious Apaches. +It was night, and a company of something like fifty were encamped in a +gorge in the mountains. The attacking party, which, including those who +had followed the escort into the pass, but were not in time to +participate in the engagement, numbered several hundred, and had, after +the contest was over, separated and vanished, leaving the chief, +Mountain Wolf, with half a hundred of his best warriors gathered about +him. After securing the treasure in the ambulance, and taking three +horses of the company, which had escaped harm during the massacre, the +Apaches moved on in a westerly direction through the pass for half a +mile, and turned to the left in a sort of ravine or gorge. Several +hundred yards up this the gorge widened into a valley, wherein were a +number of trees and a small stream of water. There they went into camp. +An immense fire was kindled, and as it roared and crackled in the night, +it threw out a glare that made it like midday for many feet away.</p> + +<p>Ned Chadmund had been picked up, limp and apparently lifeless, by the +chief, Mountain Wolf, and carried to this spot with as much care and +tenderness as if he were a pet child of his own. The boy still showed a +certain stupor upon reaching the camp, but after he had lain a short +time upon a buffalo robe he revived, and, with wondering eyes, looked +around upon the strange and weird scene. The Indians were passing to and +fro, as if making preparations for some sort of festivity. There was +little noise, but a great amount of activity. Close by the fire were a +half dozen warriors, engaged in cooking several carcasses, and had the +persons concerned been civilized instead of savage, the scene would have +suggested an old-fashioned barbecue.</p> + +<p>When the lad arose to a sitting position upon the buffalo hide, he +became sensible of a sharp, stinging sensation in the head, and a sore, +bruised feeling along his side, both caused by the shock received at the +overturning of the ambulance. His action was observed by a number of the +Apaches, but none approached, nor did they pay the least attention to +him; so he had every opportunity for a careful observation of what was +going on around him.</p> + +<p>After recovering from the first sensation of terror and amazement, his +thoughts naturally reverted to the tragedy that had been enacted a short +time before in Devil's Pass. It was a fearful scene for a lad like him +to look upon, and he was sure it must remain vividly impressed upon his +memory so long as he lived.</p> + +<p>"I'm the only one alive," he repeated to himself, with a shudder. "Poor +Corporal Hugg was the last man left, and I saw him killed. I wonder why +they spared me?"</p> + +<p>He had no suspicion of the intention of the Apaches in preserving his +life, and which has already been hinted at in another place; so it was +very natural that he should feel puzzled to understand why it was that +he had been selected from such a party to escape the hatred which these +wild Jiccarillo Apaches had shown toward the whites ever since the +latter encroached upon their domains.</p> + +<p>"I guess they're going to make an Indian of me," was his conclusion. "I +wonder what father will think when he hears of it? Poor mother! I know +how she was worried when she bid me good-bye. I hope she won't hear +anything till I carry her the news myself."</p> + +<p>Fortunately for his peace of mind it never occurred to Ned that he might +have been spared for the purpose of torture and indignity. There was no +fear of present danger, as he sat upon the buffalo skin, viewing the +strange scene about him. Something like fifteen minutes had passed while +thus engaged, when the figure of a tall, athletic Indian strode slowly +toward him, apparently attracted by the interest which the boy showed in +the proceedings. This warrior was fully six feet in height, +magnificently formed, with long horse-hair like shreds hanging from his +crown, which, like his face, was daubed with startling colors, giving +him the appearance of a variegated zebra of the hues of the rainbow.</p> + +<p>It was Lone Wolf, one of the most famous leaders of the Jiccarilla +Apaches.</p> + +<p>But the most noticeable feature about this warrior was his dress. He was +enveloped from head to foot in a sort of cloak, of a greenish tinge, +which rattled and crackled as he walked, as if made of paper. And so it +was; for, as he approached, Ned saw that his outer garment was composed +entirely of greenbacks, carefully stitched together in such a way that +they made a blanket of half a dozen feet square. No redskin probably +ever paraded so costly a blanket as this, which included several hundred +new and crisp bank notes, varying in value from twenty to a hundred +dollars each.</p> + +<p>They had been united in such a careful manner that he was able to handle +it with as much ease and facility as if composed of a single sheet of +paper of the tough texture of which our national issues are made. He +seemed quite proud of his novel garment, so unique of its kind, and +strode forward with the pompous tread of an Indian chief until he was +within a few feet of where Ned sat, when he paused a few moments to give +the latter full opportunity to admire his envelope.</p> + +<p>"That must have taken a good deal of the money that belonged to the +soldiers," was his reflection, "but the country can lose it better than +it can the soldiers themselves."</p> + +<p>Lone Wolf was one of the most dreaded, because he was one of the most +skillful and treacherous, of the Apache chiefs. He went to Washington +twice during his life with a delegation from his tribe, visited the +principal cities in the North, was treated in the most hospitable +manner, and professed the most unbounded love for his white brothers. He +announced his deliberate intention of making all haste back to his +tribe, and henceforth devoting his life to peace. He would summon his +brother chiefs about him, he said then, and make known to them the +goodness and love of the whites for the red men. He would explain to +them their invincible power, and make very clear the folly of attempting +to resist their wishes in any way. Furthermore he agreed to show the +numerous gifts that had been showered upon him, and he would explain +that if they conducted themselves aright a similar future was before +them as well. All this Lone Wolf promised; but he had no sooner got +among his own people again than he chose to forget his promises and went +upon the warpath.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X"></a>CHAPTER X.</h2> + +<h3>LONE WOLF.</h3> + + +<p>Lone Wolf spoke English like a native; and, having waited until the +admiration of Ned Chadmund had been given time to expend itself, he +spoke in a deep, guttural voice:</p> + +<p>"Does the child of my white brother mourn for those who have fallen?"</p> + +<p>The lad was so surprised at hearing himself addressed in this manner, +that he stared wonderingly at him for a moment without making reply. +Then he rose to his feet, and, looking up in the painted face, replied:</p> + +<p>"I am all alone, and long to go to my father."</p> + +<p>"What is the name of your father?" asked the chief, in the same +excellent English.</p> + +<p>"Colonel Edward Chadmund."</p> + +<p>"Is he at the fort, yonder?" continued Lone Wolf, stretching out his +hand so as to point toward the southwest.</p> + +<p>"Yes; he is the commandant there, and has a large number of brave +soldiers, and will send them out to take me to him."</p> + +<p>Had Ned been a few years older, he would not have made this reply. It +was not politic to threaten the chief; and he had no suspicion that the +confession of the identity of his father only intensified the hatred of +these redskins before him. But perhaps, after all, it was as well; for +Lone Wolf was sagacious enough to recollect that he was talking to a +child, from whom he was more likely to hear truth than from an older +person.</p> + +<p>"He has sent some brave soldiers to take you to him," said the chief, +with a wolf-like grin, displaying his long, yellow teeth. "But they have +left you on the way; they have given you to Lone Wolf, and they will not +go back to the fort, nor to Santa Fe. If he sends more, they will do the +same."</p> + +<p>"There were only a dozen of them, while you had hundreds. If they had +had anything like an equal chance, not one of the Apaches would have +been left alive! We would have killed them all!"</p> + +<p>This was a brave answer, in a certain sense, but it was not a very +prudent one; for Lone Wolf was known to be the possessor of a fearful +temper, easily excited into a tempest of passion; and the words of the +boy were not calculated to be very soothing to him. There was too much +paint upon the face of the chieftain for the boy to observe the flush +which overspread it at hearing himself addressed in this manner, but he +could understand the lowering of that gruff voice and the quickening of +the utterance.</p> + +<p>"Lone Wolf and his brave Apaches care nothing for the soldiers of the +Father at Washington. His agents deceive us; they make treaties and do +not keep them; they lie to us, and then we turn upon and rend them. Do +you see that?"</p> + +<p>As he uttered this inquiry in the fiercest kind of language, he whipped +out from beneath his blanket the reeking scalp of one of the soldiers +that had fallen in the gorge a short time before, and shook it in the +face of the terrified lad. The latter could not fail to see what it was, +and drew back in horror and disgust, realizing what a bloodthirsty +monster stood before him. He saw that it would never do to excite the +other's anger, and he endeavored to turn the conversation into another +channel.</p> + +<p>"Do you and your brave warriors mean to stay here till morning?"</p> + +<p>"It is as Lone Wolf wills," was the instant answer, in a voice not quite +so severe, indicating a subsidence of the troubled waters.</p> + +<p>"And what are you going to do with me?" was the next question, which no +one besides a lad of Ned's age would have dared to put, when placed in a +similar position.</p> + +<p>"That, too, is as Lone Wolf wills," was the rather non-committal answer.</p> + +<p>"And that is the reason why I asked you. How soon can I return to my +father? When I reach him I will tell him that it was Lone Wolf that sent +me back and he will be friendly toward him."</p> + +<p>"Lone Wolf asks not his friendship," said the chieftain, with something +of the old fire gleaming in his eye. "He has killed our bravest and best +warriors. He has followed them to the mountains and slain them by their +camp fires, when they dreamed not that the white man was near. He has +murdered their squaws; and Lone Wolf shall not die until he tears his +scalp from his head."</p> + +<p>The poor boy was horrified. He was too young to understand fully the +causes of such deep enmity upon the part of the chieftain, but he was +not too young to understand that his own life had been spared through no +sentiment of mercy. The leader had some other cause, but Ned did not see +much hope of making a favorable impression upon this intractable chief, +and he would have been very much relieved had he taken himself off and +left him alone.</p> + +<p>Some fifteen minutes had passed since the lad had opened his eyes upon +the strange scene by which he was surrounded, and the preparations which +seemed to be going on were completed. The entire Apache troop suddenly +broke out in a series of whoops and yells that would have appalled a +hundred famishing wolves. At the same instant they began dancing—not a +motion of the feet, such as we are accustomed to see in civilized +regions, but a series of demoniac gymnastics, risking the dislocation of +all the bones in their bodies. They leaped up and down, swung their +arms, threw out their legs, and circled around each other—the whole +forming a wild and appalling revelry more like that of wild beasts than +of human beings.</p> + +<p>Boy-like, Ned Chadmund forgot everything else for the time but the scene +which was passing directly before his eyes. There was a weird attraction +in watching the flitting, fantastic figures, whose hands were yet +reeking with the blood of innocent men and whose greatest delight would +have been to scalp every man, woman and child in the territory.</p> + +<p>This hullaballoo lasted all of half an hour, when it died out as +suddenly as it began. It was not from exhaustion, for Indians have been +known to keep up such a performance through the entire night; but it was +in obedience to a signal from Lone Wolf, whose imperious will no one +dared defy. He had simply raised his arm, and, giving utterance to a +single whoop that rose above the horrid din, silence "fell like a +blessing." This lasted but a few minutes, when the bustle began in a +lesser degree, and the Apaches fell to eating the meat which had been +abundantly prepared for them by several of their number. They continued +to act like wolves as they did so, using hands and knives, but more +frequently tearing the meat to shreds without the aid of any implements +except such as nature had furnished them in the shape of teeth.</p> + +<p>The terrific strain, mental and physical, which Ned had undergone during +the last few hours, was succeeded by a reaction which made him feel weak +and faint. He was conscious of the need of food, and was feverish and +thirsty.</p> + +<p>"I don't see as I'm likely to get anything to eat," he muttered, as he +sat down on the blanket, and looked upon the glittering scene. "I ain't +so very hungry, but I would like a good drink of water."</p> + +<p>The firelight shone upon the small stream which ran through the middle +of the valley; and, as it was so near at hand, he thought there would be +no harm in walking to it, and helping himself to a refreshing draught. +He had walked but a few steps, however, when he became aware that some +one was following him. A careless glance over his shoulder showed that +it was Lone Wolf. The lad concluded at once that he suspected an attempt +at escape, and he thought he might do himself some good by a faithful +return to his former position after he had helped himself to a drink, +without appearing to notice that he was watched. This was the more easy +of accomplishment, as the Apache moved off to one side, as if his desire +was to conceal his real purpose. Accordingly, Ned walked quietly forward +until he reached the stream, where he knelt down and took one long, +refreshing drink, which seemed to give him new life and strength. Then, +rising to his feet, he started back to the camp fire. As he did so, he +found himself face to face with Lone Wolf.</p> + +<p>"What do you mean?" demanded the latter, gruffly.</p> + +<p>"I was thirsty and went to get a drink. I thought I would not bother +you."</p> + +<p>"When you try to run away, then you will die!"</p> + +<p>"What's the use of trying to run off, when there isn't any show?" asked +the young prisoner, with a laugh, an assumption of jollity which was far +from genuine.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI"></a>CHAPTER XI.</h2> + +<h3>SURROUNDED BY DANGER.</h3> + + +<p>Lone Wolf no doubt meant to warn Ned against any attempt at escape; for, +where the surveillance was relaxed, as it would probably be now and then +in his case, he was certain to see many occasions when he would be +tempted to give them the slip.</p> + +<p>On the way to this place, Corporal Hugg had given the lad an insight +into the ways of the redmen, and the boy began to use his knowledge. The +perilous position in which he was placed helped to sharpen his wits, for +he began to see things in their true light. The chief had expressed his +hatred of Colonel Chadmund in too vigorous language to be mistaken; and +Ned now believed that in sparing his life the Indian had been actuated +by some other motive than mercy because of his age.</p> + +<p>"He means to strike father through me," he concluded, as he sat upon the +blanket in deep thought. "He will kill me in some way more horrible than +the rest, and he is waiting until he has a good chance to do it, so that +father will be sure and know it. He thinks he has scared me out of +trying to get away, but the next chance I get I'll do it. I believe I +can dodge him. But I'll have to shut his eye up, so as to have the +better show."</p> + +<p>At this juncture Lone Wolf came toward him, bearing in his hand a large +bone, rather bountifully covered with meat, which he was gnawing as he +walked, grasping either end of it with his hand, and fixing his black +eyes upon the lad as he advanced.</p> + +<p>"Do you want something to eat?"</p> + +<p>"I should think I did," replied Ned, with a laugh which he forced so +well that no one would have suspected its sincerity. "I'm about half +starved to death, and was afraid I was not going to get any supper at +all!"</p> + +<p>"Take that, and go to sleep."</p> + +<p>The large bone was given a flirt by the huge warrior, and fell directly +into his lap. It was not very pleasant to take it second-hand, but a boy +in his situation could not be very fastidious, and, thanking the chief +for his princely liberality, Ned fell to and gnawed away like a famished +dog. It struck him as curious that none of the warriors appeared to note +his presence, but he knew better than to believe that such apparent +blindness was real. He was as securely within their power as if bound +hand and foot.</p> + +<p>"He told me to go to sleep," he said, as he stretched out upon his +blanket; "I guess I'll try and do it. I don't see any use of sitting up +and watching such a set of wretches as they are. I'd rather have a pack +of wolves about me than such as they."</p> + +<p>The night was too mild to require the blanket wrapped over him; besides +which the warmth from the camp fire was very perceptible; so he lay upon +his back looking up at the stars and endeavoring to shut out from his +thoughts the hateful beings gathered around, and whose grunting voices +and loud exclamations were never quiet, but continued so long that they +acquired a certain monotony, like the rattle and hum of the mill, which +lulls the miller to sleep.</p> + +<p>"It's strange," he murmured, as his imaginings became as wayward as a +boy's will. "Father is off yonder, I don't know how many hundred miles, +and mother is just the opposite way in Santa Fe, and here I am about +half way between them. We were never so scattered in all the world +before. I wonder what father will do when he finds out about Lone Wolf? +The chief has put his blanket of greenbacks away somewhere, and I guess +he knows how to take care of them. I declare, but that was a big +haul—one hundred thousand dollars at a lick! I should think Lone Wolf +might afford to retire now on what he has made. But the poor men," added +Ned, with that sudden throb of the heart which always came when lie +recalled the fearful attack and massacre in Devil's Pass. "Not one of +them left alive! Oh, I wish I could forget it all! but I never, never +can. The Indians have done such things many a time before, but I never +saw them. It'll kill me if I don't keep it out of my thoughts."</p> + +<p>There seemed to be less moon that night than on the previous evening, +and as the boy lay looking upward, he could see a number of stars +twinkling in the sky. He reflected that beyond them was One who could +not forget his pitiful condition, who could bring him out of all his +troubles, and who was the only Being unto whom he could go in this dark +hour. Ned prayed to Him, as he had been taught to pray at his mother's +knee, and, recalling the words which he had so often heard from her dear +lips, he believed that God could not forsake him, but that all would +come out right. He had lain thus perhaps an hour, when he turned upon +his side for the greater comfort of position. As he did so, he was +reminded of Devil's Pass by a sharp twinge in his side. It was sharp +enough to make him gasp with pain; also to put an idea into his head.</p> + +<p>Having fully made up his mind to attempt to get away from the Apaches at +the very first opportunity which he could seize, it struck him that he +might help himself by engaging in a piece of deception, justifiable +under the circumstances. The bruise which he had received was not severe +enough to interfere with his walking, but Lone Wolf might as well +believe that it did. If he thought his prisoner was too lame to do much +in the way of locomotion, his watchfulness would be certain to become +quite lax, all of which would be a great point in favor of the one +mainly concerned.</p> + +<p>"At any rate, I'll try it on," he said, as he shut his eyes.</p> + +<p>The excessive fatigue of the lad caused him to drop off into a sound +slumber—a slumber filled with sweet dreams of home, father and mother +and all that was pleasant. But it was interrupted in the rudest possible +way.</p> + +<p>The night was nearly gone, when a terrific uproar aroused him as +suddenly as if a cup of cold water had been dashed in his face. Looking +around, he saw two warriors, within six feet of him, engaged in a savage +dispute. From some source, a number of the Apaches had obtained a supply +of fire-water, and several desperate fights had already taken place. A +swarthy redskin, daubed with paint and intoxicated to that degree which +brought to the surface all the deviltry in his nature, was striving, +with knife in hand, to get at the sleeping boy, while another, in about +the same condition, was disputing his right to do this, and claiming +that it was peculiarly his own province to slay the young prisoner. Both +agreed that death should be awarded, and each claimed that justice +demanded that he alone should do the righteous deed. This difference of +opinion had already produced high words, the warriors pulling and +shoving each other, and threatening each instant to go at each other +with their knives.</p> + +<p>Ned could not understand the words spoken, but the actions of the +redskins needed no interpretation. The affrighted boy sprang to his +feet, and, forgetful of the lameness which he had arranged, ran back +several yards to a group of redskins who were squatted upon the ground, +smoking.</p> + +<p>At this instant, the two disputants, wearied with hurling words at each +other, went in with their knives, and the conflict became of the most +desperate and sanguinary nature.</p> + +<p>"Where is Lone Wolf?" was the question he asked, as he paused by the +group of smokers and looked inquiringly at them.</p> + +<p>But if any of them understood the words uttered, they did not choose to +give the information sought, and smoked away as placidly as if seated +around their own firesides at home.</p> + +<p>Just beyond were two other warriors engaged in conversation, and Ned was +sure he had heard one of them speak in broken English during the earlier +part of the evening. Hoping to gain the knowledge he desired, he went to +him.</p> + +<p>"Where is Lone Wolf, the chief?"</p> + +<p>"He go way—much time ago—off in the mountains."</p> + +<p>"When will he come back?"</p> + +<p>The redskin shook his head to signify that he did not know; but added, +the next minute:</p> + +<p>"Be back to-morrer—mebbe—don't know—can't say."</p> + +<p>This rather indefinite information was all that could be obtained by the +lad, who was in a shiver of terror; for he believed now that his life +was not safe for a single moment.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII"></a>CHAPTER XII.</h2> + +<h3>"THE HOUR HAS COME."</h3> + + +<p>Ned Chadmund was too terrified to think of further sleep, nor did he +dare to return to where he had been lying upon the blanket when aroused +in such a startling manner. As he turned his horrified gaze in that +direction, he saw the two combatants clutching and striking each other +upon the ground, their blows growing feebler as their strength rapidly +departed. The most alarming thing about this revolting contest was the +fact that it did not attract the interest of a single spectator beyond +the little fellow. There were plenty of Indians around, some of whom +were within a dozen feet, and yet they paid no more attention to it than +if the two were quietly smoking their pipes.</p> + +<p>This showed, as a matter of course, the indifference of the others as to +what befell the defenseless prisoner. The next Indian who advanced upon +him with drawn knife would not be so likely to find himself disputed by +another, anxious to perform the same job. It seemed certain that no one +would interfere in the interests of the prisoner himself.</p> + +<p>The latter stood debating what he should do, if, indeed, he could do +anything at all. He turned his head and looked back in the gloom, which +appeared so inviting that he was tempted to turn and make a dash for +freedom. If he could only secure a start of a hundred yards, it seemed +to him that he might escape. That would give him a chance to steal away +and hide until he could renew his flight, with a prospect of eluding +them altogether. He glanced at the darkness and then again at the +Apaches. Not a single one of them, so far as he could see, showed any +consciousness of his presence, and none were between him and the gloom +in which he meant to take shelter.</p> + +<p>His heart throbbed with excitement as he stood debating the question, +and he hurriedly concluded to make the attempt. But on the eve of +starting, his straining vision detected the faintest shadowy outline of +a figure, which silently receded in the gloom as he looked toward it. +Ned understood on the instant what this meant. It was Lone Wolf who was +waiting to receive him, whenever he should choose to make his attempt to +get away.</p> + +<p>The whole trick flashed upon him at once. Lone Wolf, with a view of +thoroughly testing the lad, had purposely thrown this opportunity in his +way, and was waiting beyond in the gloom to receive him with open arms. +Poor Ned's heart sank as he realized more vividly than ever that he was +as much a prisoner as if immured within the walls of Sing Sing. Still, +he affected not to notice the presence of the sentinel, but walked back +toward the camp with that affectation of indifference which he had used +on more than one occasion before. He recollected this time to put on the +limp—his lameness being of such a decided character that there could be +no mistaking it by any one who happened to look in that direction.</p> + +<p>"Never mind, I'll get the chance yet," he muttered, putting himself upon +his mettle. "I'll play lame till they think there is no need of watching +me at all, and then, before they know it, I'll be off."</p> + +<p>The knowledge that Lone Wolf was so near at hand gave him enough courage +to go back to where the blanket lay, and seat himself upon it. He had +sat thus but a few minutes, when he noticed that it was growing light in +the East. The night was gone and day was breaking.</p> + +<p>"I'm glad of it, for I'm tired of this place," he exclaimed. "I'll never +get any chance to do anything for myself here."</p> + +<p>Before it was fairly light, the Apaches began their preparations for +leaving the scene of their encampment. Their mustangs were picketed at +some distance up the stream, under charge of a couple of sentinels, +where they had not been disturbed during the entire night.</p> + +<p>"I wonder if they'll give me a horse?" was the next thought of Ned, as +he watched these preparations.</p> + +<p>In a few minutes all were mounted upon their animals, which seemed in a +splendid condition. Among them were three that had belonged to the +cavalry, and which were easily identified by means of the saddles, +bridles and accoutrements. Ned hoped that one of these would be placed +at his disposal, and he looked around for the chief only to find him at +his elbow.</p> + +<p>"You walk or ride?" he asked, his painted countenance as cold and hard +as steel.</p> + +<p>"That depends upon you," replied Ned, "but I do hope you will let me +ride upon somebody's horse for this is mighty rough, I can tell you," +and he emphasized his complaint by limping, apparently with great pain, +for a few steps. The chief looked at him very sharply for a few seconds, +and then showed that he believed him, if indeed, he held any doubt at +all. He motioned to one of the warriors who was leading a captive horse, +which was brought immediately to the spot. The stirrups were shortened, +so as to be in place for the boy's feet when he was helped into the +saddle.</p> + +<p>"Oh! my leg! my leg!" he screamed, with an expression of intense agony, +when, actually, he felt not a particle of pain; "it seems to me, you +would rather hurt a chap than not."</p> + +<p>No attention was paid to his complaint, and a minute later the whole +cavalcade was in motion.</p> + +<p>The boy was a skillful horseman, having been taught to ride from the +time he could walk, and he found himself astride of one of the best +steeds that had belonged to the cavalry, although he could not identify +it. As he looked about him and examined the saddle, he caught sight of +the handle of a revolver in the holster, jammed down in such a way that +it had escaped the notice of their captors.</p> + +<p>"That's to be mine," he whispered to himself, not a little pleased at +the discovery he had made.</p> + +<p>He knew if this caught the eye of Lone Wolf or any of his warriors they +would not permit him to retain it, and he was so fearful that they would +see it that he began maneuvering with a view of getting it into his +possession. No one is more skillful at this sort of business than a boy +about his age. Ned groaned, and twisted forward and backward, as if to +seek relief, and when he finally secured a little more comfort and +resumed his upright position the revolver was safely hid beneath his +waistcoat, he having placed it there without attracting the eye of any +one. The little fellow felt braver on the instant. He suspected that if +he encountered Lone Wolf alone, and the chieftain dared to bar his +passage, he could use the revolver upon him with the same coolness that +Corporal Hugg would have done had he been alive.</p> + +<p>"None of them suspect that I've got such a thing about me, and that +gives me the better chance," was his very sensible conclusion, as he +endeavored to put on an expression of blissful serenity.</p> + +<p>When the sun was fairly up, the fifty Apache warriors were galloping in +a direct line toward the south, Lone Wolf at their head, and Ned +Chadmund riding at his side. The lad had made several inquiries of his +leader, but the latter repelled him so savagely that he wisely held his +peace. He supposed the Indians were going southward toward their +village. He remembered hearing his father speak of Lone Wolf as dwelling +pretty well to the southward, and that he had pronounced him to be one +of the most dangerous leaders among the fierce tribes of the Southwest.</p> + +<p>The Apaches were now in a mountainous region, following a sort of trail +that was generally wide enough to permit a dozen to ride abreast if they +wished to do so. Occasionally it was rough and precipitous, winding in +and out, and now and then difficult to travel; but the wiry little +mustangs went along as unhesitatingly as mountain goats. Although they +were among the mountains, at times the air was oppressively hot, not a +particle of breeze reaching them.</p> + +<p>It was little past noon when the party drew rein in a place very similar +to that wherein they encamped the night before. As the mustangs came to +a halt, their riders leaped to the ground, and, turning them over to the +care of a half dozen of their number, they refreshed themselves at a +stream running near at hand, the water of which was clear and cold, and +equally inviting to man and beast. Ned climbed down from his horse, +apparently with great difficulty and pain.</p> + +<p>"May I go and get a drink?" he asked of Lone Wolf.</p> + +<p>"Go," was the savage reply; "am I a dog to help you?"</p> + +<p>"No; you're a dog without helping me," muttered the lad as he limped +away toward the wood, seeking a point a short distance below where the +others were helping themselves.</p> + +<p>It took but a minute to reach a spot where for the time he was beyond +observation.</p> + +<p>"The hour has come to make a stroke for freedom!" he exclaimed, suiting +the action to the word.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIII" id="CHAPTER_XIII"></a>CHAPTER XIII.</h2> + +<h3>THE FLIGHT.</h3> + + +<p>Ned had enough sense not to undertake to run away from the Apaches until +there was a reasonably good chance of succeeding. He had played the game +of lameness so well that he had secured considerable liberty thereby; +and when, therefore, he went limping beyond the further limit of the +Indians, no one supposed he had any other purpose in view than to obtain +a better place in which to help himself to water. The trees among which +he entered were almost without undergrowth, and, fortunately, were in +exactly the opposite direction from where the mustangs were grazing. +This left the way entirely open for him to do his utmost in the way of +his dash for freedom. It may seem to have been unfortunate in the one +thing, that it caused the lad to go away without his horse; but he would +have left the latter had he been given his chance, for he believed that +while the trail of the animal could be followed without trouble, and +might secure his being run to the ground in the end, yet he could +readily find the means of hiding his own footsteps from the most +skillful of the Apaches.</p> + +<p>It is hardly necessary to say that the instant he found himself beyond +the immediate sight of his captors, his lameness disappeared as if by +magic, and he dashed down the stream with all the speed at his command. +After running nearly two hundred yards he suddenly paused and listened. +Nothing could be heard but his own hurried breathing and throbbing +heart.</p> + +<p>"They haven't found out anything about me yet," was his hurried +exclamation, as he started off again, continually ejaculating a prayer +that he might succeed, for he needed no one to tell him that it was +really a matter of life and death; for, if Lone Wolf should place hands +upon him again, he would never forgive the attempt.</p> + +<p>A hundred yards further in this headlong fashion, and all at once he +found himself at the termination of the wood, which had been such an +advantage to him thus far. On the right and left, over the high, +precipitous mountains back of him, was the small wood, on the other +border of which was the Apache camp. The gorge or valley, in the center +of which he found himself standing, wound in and out among the mountains +before him,—a Devil's Pass on a smaller scale,—so sinuous in its +course that he could trace it only a short distance ahead with the eye. +Directly at his side flowed a mountain stream, varying from a dozen to +twenty feet in width, so clear that in every place he could see +distinctly the bottom. The current was quite swift, and in some places +it dashed and foamed over the rocks almost like a cascade.</p> + +<p>Ned dared not hesitate, but, pausing only an instant to catch breath, he +dashed away again until he reached the curve in the ravine, beyond which +he would be hid from view of the encampment. The moment this was reached +he paused long enough to cast back a searching glance. But all looked as +calm and peaceful as if no human being had ever entered the ravine.</p> + +<p>"They haven't found it out yet! They haven't found it out yet!" he +exclaimed, his heart rising with hope. "That was a pretty smart thing in +me to pretend to be lame, and if it hadn't been for that I wouldn't have +got half the start."</p> + +<p>Passing the turn in the ravine, he felt that it would not do to wait any +longer without some effort to hide his trail. There was but one feasible +way of accomplishing this, and that was by entering the stream and +keeping along it far enough to throw the wolves off the scent. It was +not a very pleasant task to enter the water and move along, where, at +any moment, he was liable to drop down over his head; but he did not +dare to stand upon trifles, and in he went. By keeping close to the +shore, he managed to avoid any such unpleasant ducking, while at the +same time he effectually hid his footsteps from the eyes of the +keenest-sighted Indian. A short distance ahead he found the trees were +growing fully as thickly as in the grove which he had left but a short +time before, and he made all haste thither, continually glancing back, +dreading least he should catch sight of some of the Apaches on the hunt +for him.</p> + +<p>Imagine his consternation, when, on the very margin of the wood, he +looked back and saw the forms of two Indians only a short distance away! +They were mounted upon their mustangs and riding at a walk almost in a +direct line toward him, and, as he stared at them he was sure that their +slow pace was due to their careful scrutiny of the trail which he was +satisfied he must have left.</p> + +<p>"They have found me out," he gasped, as he turned and hurried down +stream again.</p> + +<p>Ned was too frightened to reflect that their actions were such as to +indicate that they were hunters, who were out merely for game, and there +is no telling how far he would have kept up his flight in the stream, +had he not been checked by what he believed to be a providential +interference in his behalf.</p> + +<p>The water was broad, moderately deep, and quite clear; but the +overhanging trees threw out so much shade that the bottom was invisible, +so that, scrutinize as much as they chose, the redskins could not detect +the slightest trace of his footprints upon the bed of the stream. The +only difficulty that remained was to leave the water in such a way that +his pursuers should be baffled in any attempt to discover the point. +This was an exceedingly difficult question to solve, and while he was +searching for some suitable place, and growing terribly frightened lest +his two foes should pounce down upon him, he noticed a large tree that +projected over the water. The foliage was dense and the tree seemed to +be hollow. Besides this, one of the limbs hung so low that, by making an +upward spring, he was able to catch it with both hands. He then drew +himself upward, and carefully crawled along until he reached the trunk. +To his surprise and delight, he found it the very concealment he needed +above all others. The trunk was large and hollow, and on the upper side +was an aperture, probably caused by the rotting away of a limb, large +enough to permit the passage of his body.</p> + +<p>After peering for a few seconds into the impenetrable darkness, Ned +shoved his feet through, and carefully followed with his body. He +cautiously shoved himself along, until his head was below the level of +the opening, when he paused, believing that he was concealed in the best +manner possible. The lad had absolutely left no trace behind him; the +searching Apaches were without any means of discovering what he had +done, and all he had to do was to remain where he was until the hunt was +over. The tree, slanting out over the water, made his posture a half +reclining one, and as comfortable as it is possible to imagine. His +limbs were somewhat chilled by the wetting they had received, but that +troubled him very little, his whole thoughts, naturally, being centered +upon the one of getting away from the Apaches. It seemed to him that his +senses were preternaturally sharpened, and the rustling of a fallen leaf +startled him into the belief that one of the redskins was crawling out +upon the trunk; but a full half hour passed without presenting anything +of a tangible nature, and hope became very strong in his breast again.</p> + +<p>"I wonder whether those horsemen were hunting for me?" he muttered, as +he became more deliberate in his speculations. "I was sure a little +while ago that they were, but it may be that I was mistaken. I don't +think they would come on their mustangs if they wanted to find me, for +they couldn't make much use of them in following me to a place like +this."</p> + +<p>Whether or not these two men were his pursuers mattered very little; for +there could be no doubt that his absence had been noticed or that the +most skillful trailers were in pursuit. They could not fail to learn +that he had taken to the stream and would naturally hunt along the shore +to discover where he had left it. This would be likely to bring them +very close to where he was hidden, and he trembled as he reflected upon +the possible, if not probable, result.</p> + +<p>The sun was going down in the west; the shadows in the wood gradually +deepened; in his reclining position, Ned Chadmund found a heavy +drowsiness stealing over him. The afternoon was no more than half gone +when his eyes closed in a refreshing sleep, which continued several +hours, and might have lasted still longer had it not been broken. It was +far into the night when the sleeping lad suddenly opened his eyes +without understanding the cause of his doing so. Something had aroused +him, but he could not divine what it was. His posture had become +somewhat cramped from his long continuance in it and he shifted about so +as to rest upon the other side. As he did so, he became aware that some +one or something else was near him. The slightest possible rustling at +the base of the trunk directed his attention there, but there was too +much intervening shrubbery for him to detect anything at all. Everything +in that direction was shrouded in the densest gloom. The moon was +directly overhead, and shining so that he was able to see for some +little distance when he turned his glance from the trunk. Remembering +his revolver, the boy reached down and drew it from within his +waistcoat, where he had concealed it.</p> + +<p>"If anybody wants to run against that, let him do so," he said to +himself. "It has five good charges which I will use up before they shall +lay hands upon me or Lone Wolf shall call me his prisoner again."</p> + +<p>It seemed to him that, in case of discovery, his position might place +him at a great disadvantage, so he carefully drew his head and shoulders +out of the trunk, so as to leave his arms free to use. This was scarcely +done when he caught the same sound below him, repeated so distinctly +that he knew on the instant what it meant. It was a scratching, rattling +of bark, such as would be made by the claws of an animal in picking its +way along, and as he strained his eyes through the gloom, he saw very +faintly the outlines of some wild animal approaching him, a low, +threatening growl at the same time establishing the identity of the bear +beyond question.</p> + +<p>Ned was about to give him the contents of one barrel, when he was +restrained by the recollection that his ammunition was exceedingly +precious and that the report of the pistol was likely to bring some one +whom he dreaded more than the fiercest wild beasts of the forest. So he +decided to try milder means at first. Accordingly, the endangered lad +tried to see whether the animal could not be frightened away without +really hurting him. Breaking off a piece of bark, he flung it in his +face, giving utterance, at the same time, to a growl as savage as that +of the beast himself. The latter instantly paused, as if puzzled to +understand what it meant, but he did not retreat. He merely stood his +ground and growled back again. Encouraged even by this dubious success, +Ned threw more bark, made more noise, and flung his arms so wildly that +he came very near throwing his revolver out of his grasp into the creek.</p> + +<p>But it would not work. The bear was not born in the woods to be +frightened by any such trifles, and, halting for scarcely twenty +seconds, he advanced with the calm deliberation of a brute bent upon +clearing up the mystery without any unnecessary delay. Instead of giving +him the contents of one of the chambers of the revolver, the young +hunter drew back within the hollow of the tree, as a turtle is seen to +retreat within his shell when affrighted at the approach of some enemy. +It was a tight squeeze, but he insinuated himself along the open space +until quite sure that he was beyond the reach of the monster. There he +found he had barely room to use his arms, but, pointing his weapon +toward the opening, he awaited the action of bruin.</p> + +<p>There was sufficient moonlight to perceive the opening, but he had +scarcely time to glance at it when it was darkened by the bear, which +thrust its head in with a thunderous growl that made the lad shiver from +head to foot. Certain that it would not do to wait any longer, and +believing that he meant to force his entire body through, the sorely +frightened Ned discharged one barrel squarely in the face of the bear.</p> + +<p>This settled matters. The latter had his snout and enough of his head +shoved into the opening to receive a bad wound from the weapon, +discharged within a foot or two of his face. He gave a sort of snarling +howl, and jerked out his feet so suddenly that he must have injured +himself still more by doing so, and, with a relief that can hardly be +understood, Ned heard him clawing hastily along the trunk until he +reached the land, when he scampered away into the woods, and nothing +more was seen of him.</p> + +<p>"If I had plenty of ammunition, I would not begrudge that shot," +muttered Ned, as he carefully worked his way along the hollow again. +"But that leaves me only four shots, and there's no telling how soon +I'll have to use the rest."</p> + +<p>He found, upon reaching the opening again, that the night was past and +the day was breaking. He had obtained a good night's rest, but he was +anxious to get ahead.</p> + +<p>"I wonder where Lone Wolf is?" he thought, hesitating whether he had +better descend from his hiding place or not. "It is all of twelve hours +since I ran away and they must have done a good deal of hunting. Some of +them have passed close to where I am, and they must be lurking about +this very minute."</p> + +<p>It was this uncertainty which caused the lad to wait some little time +longer before venturing forth. He had been so fortunate up to this time +that he could not afford to throw the chances away. When he found that +the sun was far above the treetops, however, he began to grow impatient, +and finally came to the conclusion that he was losing valuable time. So +he began crawling carefully out, with the idea of resuming his flight +homeward.</p> + +<p>Ned was not yet fairly out from the tree, when he paused, for his ear +detected something alarming. It was the soft splash of water, such as is +made by a person who is carefully wading along, and it sounded fearfully +near to where he was.</p> + +<p>He assumed at once, because of the peculiar sound, that it must be +caused by some one who was hunting for him, and no one could be hunting +for him except some of the Apaches from whom he fled. If any doubt +remained in his mind, it was removed a moment later, when he heard a +whistle from the same quarter whence came the sound of the wading. The +signal was instantly responded to in the same manner by some one upon +shore.</p> + +<p>"They're Indians," he said. "They know that I must be somewhere in this +neighborhood and they've made up their minds to search until they find +me."</p> + +<p>For two or three minutes all was as still as the tomb. It seemed as if +the redskins were listening, in the hope of learning something of the +fugitive through their sense of hearing when their eyes had failed them +so long. If such were the case, they were disappointed, for the boy +crouching in the gnarled tree would have suspended his very breathing, +had it been in his power to do so, lest he should betray himself.</p> + +<p>When the splashing noise was heard again, it sounded almost beneath him, +and, yielding to a most dangerous curiosity, which, however, he could +not restrain, he reached one hand into the foliage, drew it aside and +looked down.</p> + +<p>Not more than twenty feet distant he saw the figure of Lone Wolf, the +Apache chief!</p> + +<p>He stood in the water up to his knees, and, at the moment the fugitive +looked, had passed a short distance beyond the tree, so that his back +only was visible. Had it been a few minutes sooner, the warrior would +have assuredly seen the white, scared face that peered upon him from +among the leaves. But, as it was, he was all unconscious of the fact +that he was so near the prize for which he and several of his best +warriors had been searching for hours.</p> + +<p>Two of them had paused beneath the tree and carefully examined the +branches without discerning the hiding place, and they were now moving +forward again, carefully examining everything on each side of the stream +where it seemed possible for a cat, even, to conceal itself. Lone Wolf +would have given his right arm, almost, rather than have his prisoner +elude him. He had been completely deceived by that little artifice of +lameness, and it was not until a full half hour after Ned's +disappearance that he began to suspect that something was amiss. The +trail was taken up at once and followed without trouble to where it +entered the water. Here the real task began, for the hardness of the bed +of the creek prevented them from tracing the footsteps where the +clearness of the current would have enabled them to do so, had the +circumstances been otherwise.</p> + +<p>Consequently, the only thing possible for them to do was to find the +place where he had taken to the land again. For this they hunted until +dark and renewed the work again in the morning. But as Ned had not yet +placed his foot upon dry land, the enterprise up to that moment was not +a success.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIV" id="CHAPTER_XIV"></a>CHAPTER XIV.</h2> + +<h3>PURSUED.</h3> + + +<p>Ned Chadmund's only fear was that the chief would hear the throbbing of +his heart. He dared not draw his head into the tree, fearing that the +action would attract the notice of the Apache; so he remained as +motionless as the trunk of the tree itself, waiting for the danger to +pass. Finally, the Indian was heard moving forward again, and the +cramped and aching fugitive began to breathe more freely. He could +detect that soft rippling through the water, such as is made by an +angler who is hunting some choice place in the brook, and who examines +every foot of the water which he passes. At last it was beyond hearing, +and all was still again; but our young hero, impatient and anxious as he +was to get forward, dared not leave his concealment while so many of his +enemies were in the immediate neighborhood. He was confident that if he +attempted flight and escaped running against some of these dusky +wretches, they would speedily detect his trail and run him to the +ground. He concluded to remain where he was until dark, when he would +make another start, confident that by traveling all night, and taking +advantage of all the means that came in his way, he could place a goodly +distance between himself and the perilous neighborhood.</p> + +<p>Nothing more was seen or heard of the Apaches during these long waiting +hours, unless the distant report of a gun could be construed as their +work, and the summer day gradually wore away. By this time the condition +of the boy was truly pitiable. He was thirsty and nearly famished, +feverish from his long abstinence. Yet with water within a few feet of +him he refrained, for the reason that he was fearful of imperiling his +safety.</p> + +<p>"I'll wait till it is nearly dark," he said, as he looked down at the +cool water flowing beneath; "for this is the only chance I shall ever +have of giving them the slip."</p> + +<p>The time he had fixed upon to venture forth had not yet arrived when he +observed a large tree floating along below him. It had probably become +displaced at some point up the stream, and would drift along until it +should again catch some obstruction, and remain moored for an indefinite +time. Yielding to a sudden inspiration, Ned crept hastily out of his +concealment, and dropped lightly upon the trunk, which was heavy and +buoyant enough to bear his weight without sinking below the surface.</p> + +<p>The course of the stream was such that this proceeding carried him back +directly over the ground that he had passed, and, in case the Apaches +were in camp, would take him near it. But there was real woodcraft in +this act, imprudent as it seemed; for nothing could be conceived, which, +if successful, would more effectually throw the Indians off his trail. +Knowing that he had gone northward, what inducement could there be for +looking toward the south for him? The next thing after getting upon his +raft was to stoop over and get a drink from the stream, which, having +its source up among the mountains, was cold, clear, and pure.</p> + +<p>Oh! the refreshing draught! None but those whose frames have been +consumed with flaming fever can appreciate the delicious nectar, the +invigorating, permeating life that lay in that wonderful fluid, which is +without smell, taste or color, and to which no other liquid can be +compared.</p> + +<p>"Oh dear!" groaned the lad, as he raised his head. "Another drink like +that and there'll be nothing left in the creek."</p> + +<p>But thirst satisfied left him with such a tormenting sense of hunger +that the question of something to eat speedily became paramount to all +others. He almost ceased to think of Apaches in his wild desire for +something with which to satisfy the cravings within.</p> + +<p>The heavy trunk, covered with a few knotty protuberances, kept very +nearly in the center of the stream and shifted on below the wood, across +the open space and around the curve which has been already referred to, +by which time it was fairly dark. Beyond this he could discern the +outlines of the grove in the encampment of the day before, and where his +own rush for liberty had been made. Were the Apaches still there, +awaiting the conclusion of the hunt for him? This was the question, and, +in his desire to answer it, he carefully steadied himself until he stood +upright upon the log, so as to look across the intervening space to the +wood beyond.</p> + +<p>"If they're there, they'd be sure to have a camp fire," was the truthful +conclusion; "but I can't catch sight of anything."</p> + +<p>Had a point of light twinkled through the foliage, it is doubtful +whether he could have had the courage to continue on down the stream to +the point where it passed so close to the camp. No doubt he would have +dodged it. But all continued dark and silent, and he was quite confident +that they had gone. He crouched upon the raft again, and drifted with +the current.</p> + +<p>As he neared the rapids and narrow places where the water dashed over +its rocky bed, it looked as if he would be unable to keep his seat upon +the raft; but as this was the very section, where, above all others, he +wished to keep his feet off the ground, he grasped the limbs and held +on. He went safely on, although considerable water was splashed over +him, and in a few minutes was in the broad, smooth current below, and so +close to the grove that he trembled with fear.</p> + +<p>In the dim moonlight he easily recognized the place, and for a few +seconds he believed he had committed a fatal error in retracing his +route in this fashion; but the silence remained unbroken, and he began +breathing more freely, when all at once one end of the trunk struck the +shore; the other end swung round, but it remained fast, and his journey +for a time was at an end.</p> + +<p>Ned was dismayed and at a loss what to do, for the only way of breaking +loose that he could see was to step ashore and shove off. He remained +quiescent a moment or two, in the hope that the raft would loosen +itself; but, as it did not, he sprang ashore for that purpose. As he did +so, he looked around for some sign of his enemies, but there was none, +and the fact gave him assurance that they had really gone.</p> + +<p>"They must have had dinner there," was his conclusion, "and maybe they +have left something that I can make use of."</p> + +<p>Encouraged by this hope, he moved over the intervening space, and +speedily reached the spot where Lone Wolf and his band had encamped +twenty hours before. As he had taken his departure from the savages +before dinner, he was not really certain that that important meal had +taken place; but he made diligent search, resolved that he would find +out beyond all peradventure. The very best good fortune attended him. He +had hunted but a few minutes, when he trod among the ashes where the +camp fire had been burning. This proved that a meal had been partaken +of, and in this country, so prodigal in the different species of game, +the Indians were not economical in the use of food. Groping around in +the dark, his hands soon came upon a goodly-sized bone, plentifully +covered with meat, which had not been cooked so that it could be called +overdone. A starving wolf could not have devoured this with greater +gusto than did he, nor could a dozen starving wolves have enjoyed it +more than did the poor fellow who had been so long without any +nourishment.</p> + +<p>When it was gnawed clean he hunted around for more. There was no lack of +the material, and Ned was thankful beyond expression for this wonderful +piece of good fortune, by which he had escaped from Lone Wolf and his +warriors, and then, when starving, had obtained the food he needed from +them. He ate and ate, and then rested and ate again, until he had +gormandized himself to his utmost capacity, when with a sigh of +happiness, he rose to his feet, and stole back toward the stream where +he had left his craft. It was found there as if waiting expressly for +his return, and, shoving it loose, he made his way to near the middle, +where he crouched down and looked around with a feeling of misgiving and +fear.</p> + +<p>"I wonder if it can hold me after such a supper? It is a little lower in +the water, but I guess it can stand it."</p> + +<p>Whither the stream was tending was a question for the wanderer to +consider; but as he was without any possible means of determining, he +did not devote much time to the consideration thereof. His purpose was +to get ahead without leaving a trail behind, and that was what he was +doing.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XV" id="CHAPTER_XV"></a>CHAPTER XV.</h2> + +<h3>IN THE SOLITUDE.</h3> + + +<p>Ned designed to drift down stream for a mile or so, by which time he +expected to be at such a distance that there was no further possible +danger of pursuit. It would then be necessary for him to get forward as +fast as he could, taking care to avoid the redskins who were in front, +rather than those in the rear.</p> + +<p>He was a little alarmed to find, after going scarcely half that +distance, that the stream was broadening very rapidly. The current as a +consequence, became slower, and when he descried seemingly a large +forest looming up before him, he concluded that the time had about come +for him to disembark, and use his heels. But, prompted somewhat by +curiosity, he remained a while longer, until, before he was aware, he +discovered that the stream had debouched into a lake, nearly circular in +shape, and fully a couple of hundred yards in diameter. The impetus of +the current kept the tree moving slowly and still more slowly, until it +had reached a point near the middle, when it gradually settled down to a +complete standstill.</p> + +<p>"That's odd!" exclaimed the lad, looking about him, and seeing the broad +sweep of water on every hand. "If I knew this I think I should have got +off."</p> + +<p>It only remained for him to work his way to land, and this he began +doing by using his hands as paddles. It was slow progress; and he was of +the opinion that he had made a rather foolish blunder in permitting +himself to be "carried out to sea" in this fashion. He was disturbed +still further by the appearance of the sky. Dark, threatening clouds +were gathering and sweeping across it, frequently shutting out the light +of the moon and causing the most grotesque shadows to whisk over the +surface of the lake.</p> + +<p>The indications were that a violent storm was close at hand, and he used +both hands with all the vigor at his command, and saw himself gradually +nearing land—the rate being so moderate that it could not keep pace +with his impatience. He was tempted more than once to leap into the +water and swim or wade ashore, but he restrained himself. On one of +these occasions, just as a heavy cloud approached the moon, and while +his raft was a dozen yards or so from shore, he was alarmed at sight of +something approaching him through the water. What it was he could not +conjecture, as it was low down, and very indistinct on account of the +gathering gloom.</p> + +<p>As the cloud touched the moon and obscured the light, this suspicious +object disappeared, and he awaited with no little alarm the outcome of +the mystery. He was sitting motionless, looking and listening, when the +end of the tree was suddenly elevated a full foot, while the other +correspondingly descended.</p> + +<p>With a gasp of terror, Ned clutched the limb near him and held on, not +knowing whither he was about to be flung. A muttering growl at the same +instant explained what it all meant, and he hastily retreated still +further upon the tree, expecting every moment to feel the claws of the +wild animal fastened upon him.</p> + +<p>"It seems to me that these beasts are after me more than the Indians," +was his thought, as he drew out his revolver, and awaited the necessity +of using it.</p> + +<p>Further than placing his paws upon one end of the trunk, and giving out +a threatening growl, the animal did nothing for a few minutes, while the +boy, fully sensible of the value of his ammunition, was equally lacking +in offensive proceedings. Thus matters stood, while the great heavy +cloud floated slowly by the moon, and the head of the unwelcome stranger +gradually came to view.</p> + +<p>It was some wild beast, beyond question, but it wasn't a bear. Its eyes, +shining with a phosphorescent glow, and the cavernous growling that +issued from the red jaws, made it seem the most frightful kind of a +monster. Hoping that it was not particularly hungry, Ned tried the scare +game again, flinging up his arms and shouting, and making noises +horrible enough to frighten any one to whom they remained unexplained. +In this case it succeeded admirably. The creature, whatever it was, must +have concluded that it was something besides a boy with which it had +taken passage, and, after indulging in one prolonged stare, dropped back +into the water and paddled straight for shore.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="illus1" id="illus1"></a> +<img src="images/illus1.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> + +<h3>NED TRIED THE SCARE GAME AGAIN, FLINGING UP HIS ARMS AND SHOUTING</h3> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p>"I don't think Lone Wolf can follow me all along this route," concluded +the boy, as he resumed his paddling toward shore, and reached it in the +course of the next ten minutes. He had been cramped up in one position +so long that he felt the need of exercise, and started off at a rapid +pace, with no more idea of the precise direction he was following than +if he were blind.</p> + +<p>The clouds sweeping across the sky grew heavier and darker, and the +wind, strong and chilling, soughed through the trees of the forest with +a dismal, wailing sound that would have frightened one of more years +than young Chadmund. Even he would have shrunk from the task of going +through the wood had the circumstances been different, but he was so +actuated by the one all-controlling desire of escape that he forgot the +real danger which encompassed him. Besides the risk of encountering the +Apaches, there was the ever-present peril from wild beasts and venomous +serpents. None of the latter as yet had disturbed him, but he was likely +to step upon some coiling reptile, unseen in the dark, whose sting was +certain death.</p> + +<p>It soon became apparent that a storm of a most violent character was +about to burst forth. The wind grew stronger and colder, lightning +flashed athwart the darkening sky, and the thunder boomed with an +increasing power peculiar to warm countries. The wanderer had been +fortunate thus far in preserving himself from a ducking, and he was +still desirous of doing so. There was nothing to be gained by pressing +forward, and he began groping around for some kind of a shelter. This +was difficult to find, as the gloom was so dense that eyesight was +useless, and he could only use his hands.</p> + +<p>"I guess I'll have to climb a tree," he thought, running his hand along +the bark of one.</p> + +<p>But at this juncture he ran against a rock, striking with such violence +that he saw stars. As soon as he recovered he began an examination, and +was not a little pleased to find that under one portion of it there was +a hollow big enough for him to crawl in and protect himself from the +tempest. He had scarcely done so when the storm burst forth.</p> + +<p>First a few large drops pattered upon the leaves, and then it seemed as +if the windows of Heaven had been opened. The rain descended in +torrents, the firmament flamed with a blinding intensity—and the earth +trembled with the reverberating thunder. The vivid sheets of electric +fire made the darkness and gloom deeper by contrast. The trees, with +their swaying branches, and the spear-like columns of rain, stood out +and vanished again so rapidly that the vision of the appalled lad was +dazzled and bewildered. The terrific shocks coming simultaneously with +the lightning, proved that the thunderbolts were falling all around him, +and again and again he thanked that Providence which had dissuaded him +from taking refuge in some of the trees.</p> + +<p><i>Crash!</i></p> + +<p>Directly in front of him, an immense giant of the forest was smitten +from top to base, the limbs, leaves, and splinters hurled in every +direction, as if a thousand pounds of powder had been exploded within. +The air was so surcharged with electricity that Ned felt the effect. A +prickling sensation down one entire side of his body was followed by a +partial numbness and paralysis that alarmed him. With his other hand he +hastily rubbed his limbs, and turned and twisted, fearing that he was +becoming helpless.</p> + +<p>In a few minutes he regained the strength which had temporarily +departed, and then noticed that the storm was subsiding as rapidly as it +had arisen. The thunder died out in sullen mutterings; the lightning +flashed fitfully, often without any perceptible report following, and +the deluge diminished to a few drops.</p> + +<p>"The storm is over, thank heaven!" he exclaimed. "As I have such a good +bed, I may as well stay here till morning."</p> + +<p>But at this instant his blood almost froze at the sudden discovery of a +new and deadly peril.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVI" id="CHAPTER_XVI"></a>CHAPTER XVI.</h2> + +<h3>AMONG THE MOUNTAINS.</h3> + + +<p>Young Chadmund heard the unmistakable warning of a rattlesnake that was +somewhere near him, and on the very point of striking. Precisely where +it was, it was impossible to determine with any certainty; but there was +no time to consider the matter. It seemed to him in that brief second he +devoted to thought that the venomous reptile lay a little to the left, +and he scrambled out of his place with all the celerity at his command.</p> + +<p>The wonderful quickness of this usually sluggish snake, when about to +deal its deadly blow is well known, and, had the boy moved with twice +the rapidity that he did, Ned could not have escaped that lightning-like +dart of the snake, which was aimed straight at his foot, that being the +part of the body which was nearest his coil. The fangs struck the side +of his shoe, which happened to move at the very instant the blow was +made, and, piercing the leather, held the reptile fast,—"Hoist by his +own petard," as it were,—so that, when Ned scrambled out from his +shelter, he felt the horrid thing dangling at his heels.</p> + +<p>With presence of mind hardly to be expected at such a time, he arose to +his feet, and holding the attached foot motionless, with the other he +hastily stamped all the life from the writhing rattlesnake. This done he +freed the shoe by a jerk, although it tore the fangs of the reptile from +its jaws.</p> + +<p>"I think I'd better dust out of here," said the lad, breathlessly. "I +remember that Corporal Hugg told me that where you found one of those +things you are pretty sure of running against another close by, and I +don't care about seeing any, especially when it's so dark you can't see +at all."</p> + +<p>He stepped carefully forth in the darkness, and, moving a few feet, +paused to listen. The rain had ceased falling entirely, and only the +faintest mutter of the distant thunder reached his ears. The darkness +was absolutely impenetrable, and the wind, as it soughed through the wet +branches, made the most dreary and dismal wailing—enough to strike +despair to the bravest heart.</p> + +<p>The boy had listened but a moment when a slight rustling among the +leaves at his feet filled him with a sudden conviction that a second +rattlesnake was after him. He left the spot expeditiously, not halting +until he was sure that he was beyond reach of the unwelcome visitant, +which, it is well known, is not much given to pursuing its prey.</p> + +<p>"Hang it!" he exclaimed, "there ain't much fun in this. I wish daylight +would come, so that I could see what to do."</p> + +<p>His situation was exceedingly uncomfortable. Everything was soaked with +water, and he could not walk without shaking down the moisture from the +laden branches and undergrowth. He knew of but one place wherein he +could secure protection and that was beneath the rock where he had so +narrowly escaped the rattlesnake, but he was not very anxious to make +his way back there.</p> + +<p>While he stood debating what to do, he noticed that the sky was rapidly +clearing, the black, tumultuous clouds rolling away from the face of the +moon, which soon shone out with all its wonted power. This was a vast +help, for, despite the dense shadows made by the heavy branches +overhead, he was able to see enough to pick his way and noticed that the +forest directly in front was quite open, indicating that he was close to +the termination. Thus encouraged, he pressed ahead and soon had the +satisfaction of finding that he was through the woods and on the border +of an open, rocky ravine, through which he could hear a stream rushing +with great violence, and which he took to be the outlet of the little +lake that had been overcharged by the recent severe storm. So far as he +could see by the moonlight, great masses of rock, boulders and broken +prairie stretched out before him, and he asked himself how he was to +make his way.</p> + +<p>He concluded not to make the attempt just then, but, hunting out a place +among the rocks, he crawled into it, first making sure, by a careful +reconnaissance that no rattlesnakes had crept in ahead of him. He was +permitted to remain undisturbed through the night, and when he opened +his eyes the sun was shining directly in upon him. The boy then hastily +sprang up, his heart full of gratitude to God for the wondrous manner in +which his life had been preserved, and the remarkable success which had +followed his attempt at escape from the Apaches.</p> + +<p>With the coming of the glorious sunlight, Ned naturally felt buoyant and +hopeful. He was not without considerable appetite, but he had eaten so +heartily, on the previous evening, that he felt that he could afford to +wait until night again; and he still had that impatient, almost +unreasoning desire to get forward, which made him feel like breaking +into a run, and keeping it up until he was out of breath.</p> + +<p>But, young as was the little fellow, he was old enough to feel that the +time had come when he must use all the brains in his command. Up to that +hour, as will be understood, he had been journeying entirely at random, +his sole purpose being to get beyond reach of Lone Wolf and his band. He +had accomplished this, and a radical change of tactics must be made.</p> + +<p>If Ned Chadmund had been a half dozen years older, he would have +recoiled at the prospect before him; but he was so young and full of +animal spirits that he did not really comprehend the difficulty and +danger. He had traveled very little more than half the distance between +Santa Fe and Fort Havens, and his purpose was to press ahead until the +latter was reached. To do this, it was necessary that he should make his +way through the mountains in which he now found himself, and then to +journey a couple of hundred miles through or over prairie, and across +streams, before he could reach the frontier post, where his father was +so anxiously awaiting his coming. The project seemed nothing short of +madness; but its justification lay in the fact that the wanderer had the +choice of attempting that or lying down and dying where he was. He could +do nothing but choose the former.</p> + +<p>Ned climbed up to an elevated position and took an observation—his +purpose, after learning whether any present danger threatened, being to +learn the direction it was necessary to follow in order to reach Fort +Havens.</p> + +<p>"Corporal Hugg told me that after we reached Devil's Pass, it was in a +straight line West. The trail winds in and out, as it has to do, but all +one had to do was to dig ahead, and he would be sure to come out right +in the end—that is, if the Indians and wild animals would only let him. +Well, right yonder rose the sun," he continued, very carefully +continuing his observation. "That must be the east, and all I have to do +is to keep that at my back until it gets over my head and wears round to +the front. So off we go."</p> + +<p>There was one favorable accompaniment of this first thoughtful effort to +reach home. The valley-like depression that had caught his eye upon +rising ran precisely in the direction to be desired—due east and +west—so that he had the best facility in the world for getting through +the mountains. Still another favorable augury was that the general +direction pursued by the Apaches was the same, and the fact was, there +was very little still intervening between him and the open prairie +beyond. Should his progress remain uninterrupted through the day, by +nightfall he would be close to the prairie, which stretched away so many +miles in the direction of the frontier post.</p> + +<p>"I don't think it's as much as two hundred miles," he said, as he +started off at a rapid walk. "I can make thirty miles a day, so that I +will be there at the end of a week, if nothing unexpected gets in the +way. Won't father be surprised when he sees me walk up, and won't I be +surprised if I manage to do it, also!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVII" id="CHAPTER_XVII"></a>CHAPTER XVII.</h2> + +<h3>A MYSTERIOUS CAMP FIRE.</h3> + + +<p>For a couple of hours young Chadmund had difficulty in traveling. +Despite the fact that he was in a sort of valley, with towering peaks +and bluffs upon either hand, a great many boulders and obstructions +obtruded themselves in his path, and he did some climbing, clambering, +and jumping that would have reflected no discredit upon a mountain goat. +The forenoon was about half gone, and he was felicitating himself upon +the excellent progress he was making, when he was brought up all +standing by finding himself upon the bank of a mountain stream, which +crossed his route exactly at right angles, issuing from the mountains on +the left with a rush and roar and pouring tumultuously forward with +irresistible power and velocity.</p> + +<p>"I can't wade that," said the lad, scratching his head in perplexity, +"and it won't do to try and swim it. If I once got in there it would be +the last of me."</p> + +<p>There could be no doubt of that, for the stream was fully twenty feet in +width, very deep, and sped forward like the volume of a river when +suddenly compressed into a mountain canyon. It was walled in on either +side by solid rock, the surface of the water being a couple of yards +below the level where he stood.</p> + +<p>"I wonder whether I can't go round it?" he said, after spending some +time in mental debate. "It can't run all the way through the mountain, +but must start somewhere not very far away."</p> + +<p>This was not a very plausible theory; but as nothing was to be gained by +standing still, he started out upon his tour of exploration. Better +success followed than he expected. He had started toward the head of the +stream and had clambered along less than a hundred yards, when he +reached a place where it was so narrow that he was confident of his +ability to leap across.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I can do that," he said, approaching close to the edge and looking +over the boiling abyss to the solid rock upon the other side. "But +suppose I should miss my footing, wouldn't I catch it!"</p> + +<p>It was a pretty good leap, but Ned was active, strong and swift, and he +had made many a longer leap than the one before him. For a minute longer +he stood, measuring the distance with his eye. Then going backward a few +steps, he suddenly ran forward with all the speed at his command, and, +concentrating all his strength, made such a leap that he cleared the +chasm by a couple of feet.</p> + +<p>"There!" he exclaimed, with some satisfaction, "if none of the streams +are broader than that, I'll jump them all."</p> + +<p>Still full of hope and in the best of spirits he pressed forward until +the sun was at the meridian and the heat became so oppressive that he +concluded to rest awhile. He was in a section of country where, at +certain seasons, the heat is like that of the Desert of Sahara. There +are portions of Arizona and Lower California where the fervor of the +sun's rays at noonday smite the earth with the withering power of the +sirocco.</p> + +<p>At times, when Ned was down in the lowest portions of the valley, the +heat was almost intolerable; and then, again, when he clambered to the +top of some elevation, and the cool breezes from the upper regions +fanned his cheeks, it was like a draught of water to the fever-parched +patient.</p> + +<p>He had lain on the ground under the protecting shadow of a rock but a +short time when his eye rested upon something which convinced him that +he was not the only one in the valley. Looking dreamily off toward the +west, up the valley, with the mountains sloping down on the right and +left, he noticed what at first seemed a thin bluish cloud, resting +against the sky. Then he observed that its form was a little out of the +usual order, it being column-shaped, tall, and like a shaft of almost +invisible vapor, thrown against the white background beyond.</p> + +<p>"That ain't a cloud," he suddenly exclaimed, starting to his feet and +scrutinizing it more closely. "It's the smoke from a camp fire and I've +got to go right by it."</p> + +<p>There could be no doubt of the truth of what he said, and he became +deeply interested.</p> + +<p>"I wonder whether they're Indians or white men? I suppose it's most +likely they are Apaches, and they may be Lone Wolf and his companions. +I've got to keep a sharp lookout and keep from running into them. If +they are white hunters, that I've heard are sometimes in these +mountains, it will be a lucky thing for me."</p> + +<p>Somehow or other he became impressed with the idea that the camp fire +ahead of him was that of friends instead of enemies—that the assistance +which he so sorely needed was thus placed within his reach. He had +learned, long before, that one is apt to miscalculate the distance when +placed as he was; but, making allowance for all that, he was confident +that the camp fire was not more than a mile away. Yielding to a natural +curiosity to learn its meaning, he shortened the hour which he had +intended to devote to rest, and started ahead again.</p> + +<p>Once or twice it seemed to him that he had dropped into some sort of +trail, which he was following. Here and there were traces showing that +the route had been traveled before. It seemed to be one of those natural +roads or passes which are found at intervals in all great mountain +chains, and without which, many of of them for vast distances would be +literally impassable for man or animal.</p> + +<p>The conviction that he was not the pioneer over that section caused the +young wanderer some misgivings and suggested several discomforting +questions. If Apaches had used the trail already, might not some of them +be upon it? If some of them were coming from the opposite direction, how +was he to avoid running into their arms? These queries were not of the +most cheerful character and they served to tone down the enthusiasm +which had marked his start in the morning. They also caused him to +examine, more times than was really necessary, the revolver which had +already done him such good service, and he went through a preliminary +drill, consisting of placing it inside his waistcoat, a couple of +buttons being left carelessly unfastened; next thrusting his hand +within, in an indifferent manner, then instantly jerking out and +pointing the weapon at an imaginary foe in front of him. This maneuver +he repeated scores of times, narrowly escaping the firing of the weapon, +until he satisfied himself that he could do it to perfection.</p> + +<p>"Now, if Lone Wolf comes at me alone, I think I can manage him. He won't +suspect that I've any weapon, and so won't be prepared for it; but I +hope he won't show himself," he added the next minute. "If there's any +way of avoiding him, I'll do it."</p> + +<p>However, he was bent upon solving the mystery of the distant camp fire, +which he still hoped might belong to some party of white hunters, who +would take him under their protection and conduct him safely over the +wide and dangerous stretch of territory which still intervened between +him and his destination.</p> + +<p>In spite of the careful calculation he had made, he soon learned that he +had committed an error. Although the tell-tale smoke at first seemed +scarcely a mile away, it was more than three times that distance. The +way being more obstructed by rocks and the sinuous winding of the trail, +he saw the sun sinking low in the west and found that he had still no +little traveling to do.</p> + +<p>"It can't be that they are shifting that camp fire all the time," he +growled, as he clambered upon an elevation, and was again disappointed +to find it so far away. "Blamed if it don't look as if somebody was +playing a trick on me. I've heard of a jack-o'-lantern bobbing around in +that style, but nothing else."</p> + +<p>He finally concluded that the laws of nature were not violated in this +case, and with renewed courage pressed ahead again. The sky was clear +and cloudless, the weather remained oppressively warm, and poor Ned was +so jaded that he felt scarcely able to drag one foot after the other, +but he was stout-hearted, and, just as the sun dipped out of sight +behind the mountains, he found himself within a hundred yards of the +mysterious camp.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVIII" id="CHAPTER_XVIII"></a>CHAPTER XVIII.</h2> + +<h3>THE INDIAN FIGHT.</h3> + + +<p>In spite of his great anxiety to learn all there was to be known about +the camp fire, Ned remained where he was for half an hour, until he had +rested somewhat from his severe labor.</p> + +<p>The place in which the fire was kindled was elevated, rocky, uneven, and +inclosed by a few stunted trees and undergrowth, so that while the young +scout could catch a glimmer, now and then, of the fire, he could see +nothing more. The only way in which he could perfect his information was +to crawl up still nearer. This he proceeded to do, using all the care +and caution possible, until, after the lapse of nearly an hour, he +reached a point where his view was unobstructed and perfect.</p> + +<p>A severe disappointment awaited him. He saw four Indian warriors grouped +around the fire, their dress, and the peculiar manner in which they were +painted, proving that they belonged to some tribe other than the +Apaches. Three of them were occupied in cutting up and preparing the +carcass of some animal, which they had shot, while the fourth was on his +knees in front of the fire, carefully doctoring it for culinary +purposes.</p> + +<p>Succeeding Ned's first feeling of disappointment was an undercurrent of +hope that he was in a fair way to obtain another good meal.</p> + +<p>"It isn't likely they'll eat up all they've got," he reflected, "and I +don't suppose they're going to settle down there for life. All I've got +to do, then, is to hang round until they go away, and then, if I can get +the chance, I'll stuff enough to last a week."</p> + +<p>Having made his reconnaissance he withdrew to a more secret place, where +he would not be seen in case some of the warriors should take a look +around before retiring for the night. It was fortunate that he did so, +for he had scarcely crawled away beneath a dense mass of undergrowth +when he made the discovery that he had placed himself in a curious and +singularly dangerous position.</p> + +<p>Twice he fancied he heard a faint rustling in the rear of where he was +crouching, and he was puzzled to know what it meant. He was sharp enough +to protect himself from observation from this direction as well as from +the front, and was no more than fairly secure when he caught the slight +sound again, and the next moment detected the figure of an Indian +stealing along, with his gaze fixed upon the camp fire and the forms +around it.</p> + +<p>The lad was naturally puzzled to understand the meaning of this. There +was just enough fire light penetrating to where he was to show him that +this redskin belonged to a different tribe from those in camp. Only a +few minutes passed when he caught the glimpse of another warrior on the +left, crouching along in the same manner as the other. Then followed the +softest possible hiss, such as is made by the disturbed serpent, and, at +that moment, the truth of the whole matter suddenly broke upon Ned +Chadmund.</p> + +<p>The strange Indians were quietly preparing their supper, unaware of the +fact that, while they were thus employed, a party of Apaches, their +deadly enemies, were closing in upon them. Thus, it was, too, that, +without the knowledge of either side, the lad was directly between them, +where it would seem impossible that he should escape being involved in +the conflict that was rapidly drawing to a head.</p> + +<p>There was no hope of withdrawing, for the slightest movement would be +sure to make known his position, and he could only wait, therefore, the +issue of the encounter with an intensity of interest which it is +impossible to imagine. What could be more painfully interesting, for +instance, than to watch the movements of the strange Indians as they +engaged themselves in preparing their supper, conversing with each other +in their grunting fashion, and to note their unconsciousness that a +circle of death was slowly but surely closing in around them; to know, +which they did not suspect, that the most deadly kind of encounter was +close at hand? The endangered party certainly showed a lack of +precaution which belongs to their people in the most ordinary cases when +they went into camp in this fashion, and left the way open for such a +deadly and fatal assault to be made upon them. It must have been that +while engaged in the chase during the day they had made their +observations, and satisfied themselves that none of their enemies were +in dangerous proximity.</p> + +<p>The odor of the cooking meat crept through the bushes to the nostrils of +the hungry lad, who was almost maddened into charging upon the party +himself in quest of some of the brown, crisp, roasting meat; but he +restrained himself, in the hope that the issue of the unpleasantness +would furnish him an opportunity to procure something for the inner man.</p> + +<p>An Indian upon the warpath is as patient as the Esquimau who watches for +a dozen hours beside the airhole, waiting for the seal to come to the +surface. According to all human reasoning, there was no earthly +necessity for any delay upon the part of the attacking Apaches, and yet, +for full an hour longer, they maneuvered and reconnoitered, without +striking a blow. Despite the tense condition of the lad's nerves, he +began to grow drowsy and weary at the prolonged delay, and had the +attack been deferred a short time longer, he would have dropped into a +sound slumber.</p> + +<p>The four strange Indians were permitted to finish their supper, and to +engage in a comfortable smoke. This, however, was never completed. They +were stretched out upon the ground in the most indolent manner +imaginable, when several rifles suddenly broke the stillness, the Apache +war whoop rang out with startling power, and a number of figures charged +through the bushes like a horde of demons, all converging upon the group +around the camp fire. Two of the latter had been instantly killed by the +first volley poured in upon them. The others were wounded, but they were +on their feet in an instant, fighting with the fury of tigers.</p> + +<p>The battle was of the hurricane order, the third defender going down +within a minute after the assaulting party closed in about them. The +fourth, who was only slightly hurt seemed to have been caught at less +disadvantage. He was a warrior of wonderful activity and strength, and +used his hunting knife with good effect upon his first and second +assailants with lightening-like quickness. Then as they began to crowd +in upon him faster than he could provide against he circled his weapon +around his head several times, so as to clear a brief open space, when, +with a yell of defiance, he bounded high in the air, and vanished in the +forest, his speed so amazing that it was vain for any one to think of +pursuing him.</p> + +<p>The battle ended as abruptly as it began. It was over in an instant, and +the petrified spectator could scarcely realize what had taken place +directly under his own eyes. He lay motionless, peering through the +leaves that shut him in, scarcely daring to breathe as he watched the +movements of the victors. He could scarcely suppress an exclamation of +terror when he recognized among them his old captor and enemy, Lone +Wolf.</p> + +<p>"Just think of it," whispered Chadmund. "I have spent hours and hours, +and have traveled night and day to get away from him, and here he is, +within fifty feet of me again. How can I keep him from seeing my trail +again in the morning? It does beat everything how this thing is getting +mixed."</p> + +<p>He took heart again, however, when he came to reflect that the greater +part of the night was still before him, that Lone Wolf had undoubtedly +given up all expectation of finding him, and, by using ordinary caution, +he could still keep clear of him.</p> + +<p>The Apaches did not remain long upon the scene of the encampment. The +two of their own number that had been killed were lifted up, and then +Lone Wolf and his few intrepid warriors took their departure. Thus it +happened that within fifteen minutes after the first gun had been fired, +and the first yell uttered, the boy found himself alone upon the scene +of the terrible fight. Dreadful as were the place and the associations, +he could not forget that he was nearly famished, and stealing his way to +the fire, he hunted around until he found enough to satisfy the cravings +within. This done, he made up his mind that it was best for him to do +some traveling during the darkness, without waiting for the rising of +the morrow's sun.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIX" id="CHAPTER_XIX"></a>CHAPTER XIX.</h2> + +<h3>A TERRIBLE MEETING.</h3> + + +<p>As he moved along, weary and worn, the memory of the horrid fight he had +seen by the camp fire, and especially the picture of those three stark, +bloody forms that lay stretched upon the earth, seemingly watching every +movement he made, followed and weighed him down like some smothering +incubus. Then he saw, more vividly than ever before, the mountainous +task ahead. With no horse, and the hundreds of miles of mountain and +prairie, with the dangers besetting him on every hand, what possible +hope had he for believing he was ever to reach his destination? The +gloom of the night, the shadow of what he had so recently witnessed, and +his own exhausted condition, no doubt had much to do with the distress; +for his prospects were certainly as good as at morning, when he was so +full of enthusiasm.</p> + +<p>"I can't travel any further," he finally exclaimed, "and what's the use? +It won't do any good."</p> + +<p>When he paused in his wearisome tramp, he happened to be close to a +tree, quite lofty, with numerous limbs, some of which were quite near +the ground. It struck him at once that it would be a good plan to climb +into this, and ensconce himself among the branches. At any rate, he was +certain to be out of the way of the crawling snakes, and no wild animal +could steal upon him while he was unconscious.</p> + +<p>Without pausing more than a moment to consider, he ascended the tree, +and, a short distance from the ground secured the very position he +wanted. Here the limbs crossed and recrossed, and gnarled themselves in +such a way, that the most pleasant kind of bed imaginable was found, and +he stretched out his weary limbs upon it, thanking Heaven that had +guided him to such a favorable place.</p> + +<p>"I hope Lone Wolf won't be able to follow me here," was the wish he +expressed, as he resigned himself to slumber.</p> + +<p>But gentle sleep had not yet closed his eyelids when he was alarmed by +hearing something beneath him. His first supposition was that it was +Lone Wolf, for the sound resembled the stealthy tread of some person +upon the soft earth; but after listening a few minutes he became +satisfied that it was some animal instead.</p> + +<p>"It's a wolf or panther that has scented my trail," was his conclusion, +as he leaned over and peered cautiously down among the branches.</p> + +<p>The moon shone more brightly than upon any night since he had started, +but the shadow of the trees themselves obscured his view so much that +his vision was of little use to him. It seemed to him, however, when he +looked downward in this fashion, that once or twice he caught sight of a +shadowy creature, whisking back and forth, leaping about like a dog, and +apparently ready to make a bound upward among the branches.</p> + +<p>But he could not make certain of what he saw, although there could be no +doubt but that he heard something, and that some kind of a dangerous +creature was close at hand.</p> + +<p>"I guess he isn't going to hurt me," was his conclusion, after watching +and listening a half hour, and after finding a heavy drowsiness was +stealing over him. In this comfortable state of mind, he soon closed his +eyes, and relapsed into a deep, refreshing sleep, which lasted an hour +or more, when it ended in a peculiar manner. Very few boys are apt to +lie quiet in their beds, and Ned Chadmund, in turning over upon his +side, turned completely out of bed, and dropped through the branches to +the ground.</p> + +<p>The fall was so slight that it did not hurt him, except in the +disagreeable shock that was inevitable. It flashed on him on the +instant, and, recalling those stealthy footsteps that had so frightened +him, he instantly sprang for the trunk, and began climbing with all the +haste at his command. He was almost within reach of the limbs, when he +heard a growl, and some denizen of the forest came plunging toward him.</p> + +<p>With a thrill of terror, the lad made a tremendous effort, caught the +limb with one hand, swung his leg over and drew himself up. As he did +so, he felt distinctly the wind made by the body of the beast, as it +leaped upward, and snapped with his huge jaws at his legs, which were +withdrawn from its fangs just as they closed together. The creature, +whatever it was, made a running leap, that carried him some distance +beyond, when he struck the ground and ran a few leaps before turning +about and retracing his steps.</p> + +<p>Without waiting to gain a more distinct view, the lad crept back to his +perch, where he tremblingly awaited the moment when it was to bound up +among the limbs and attack him. After gaining his former position, he +sat for a few minutes shivering like one with the ague, forgetting even +to think of the revolver with which to defend himself in case the brute +assaulted him. But it may have been that the dumb creature believed that +he was already frightened to death, and there was no occasion for +attempting anything further. At any rate nothing more was seen or heard +of him.</p> + +<p>Ned had been too thoroughly shaken up to gain any more sleep. He sat +through the remaining hours of the night without closing his eyes a +moment in slumber. They were the longest and the dreariest that he ever +spent, but when the welcome light of morning came his foe had departed.</p> + +<p>The wanderer waited a half hour or more, and carefully reconnoitered the +grounds before descending; but, assured that the coast was clear, he +came down to <i>terra firma</i> again and took up his line of march. His fear +now was that his presence in the neighborhood might be discovered by +Lone Wolf or some of his band, and, scarcely pausing long enough to +swallow a few mouthfuls of water from a stream near at hand, he hastened +forward, with his face toward the west.</p> + +<p>It became evident, after journeying a short distance, that he was again +following a distinctly-marked trail, one that was originally made by +animals, most probably buffaloes, in their migrations from one section +to another, and had been taken advantage of by men whose business or +inclinations called them in the same direction. Here and there he saw +marks that had been made by the hoofs of horses, and more than once he +was certain he observed the trail of moccasins. The path was more direct +and less laborious to travel, and he began to believe that, if he were +left alone, he might succeed in reaching safety at some time or other.</p> + +<p>For some two hours he tramped along through a section that gradually +lost its mountainous character as he neared the rolling prairie beyond. +He kept continually looking back and around him, on the alert for +Indians; but not a sign was discovered, until he approached an +exceptionally rocky place, where the trail wound round the masses of +stone at such a sharp angle that the view was less than a dozen feet.</p> + +<p>With no thought of danger, Ned walked around this corner, and on the +instant found himself face to face with a swarthy Indian warrior who +must have seen him approaching, and, dismounting from his horse, stood +back and awaited his approach. That astounded look revealed not only +this, but that the Indian was Lone Wolf.</p> + +<p>Fate had brought the two together again, at the very time the heart of +the weary fugitive was beating high with hope. There was no chance for +retreat or hope of avoiding him. The eyes of the painted Apache glowed +with a demoniac light, and his fingers twitched as he placed his right +hand upon the buckhorn handle of a knife at his girdle.</p> + +<p>"You run away—you see well—you lie—now I will cut out your eyes, and +you will not see to run away again!"</p> + +<p>There was no doubt that such was the purpose of the warrior, as he +advanced upon the lad, who suddenly thrust his hand into his waistcoat +for his revolver.</p> + +<p>It was gone!</p> + +<p>During the night it had dropped out without being noticed, and he was +absolutely defenseless. He was breathless, paralyzed with terror.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I will cut out your eyes, and then you will not see to run away," +added the chief, striding toward him.</p> + +<p>"Hold on thar, my copper-colored friend! This 'ere is a little row you +kin settle with me, instead of that boy thar. Try that knife on my eyes, +and while you're doing it, I'll try mine on yourn."</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="illus2" id="illus2"></a> +<img src="images/illus2.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> + +<h3>"THIS 'ERE IS A LITTLE ROW YOU KIN SETTLE WITH ME, INSTEAD OF THAT BOY THAR."</h3> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + +<p>It was Tom Hardynge, the scout, who spoke thus opportunely.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XX" id="CHAPTER_XX"></a>CHAPTER XX.</h2> + +<h3>WHITE VS. RED.</h3> + + +<p>The hunter seemed to step forth from some crevice in the rocks, wherein +he had been concealed, and strode forward in such a manner that Lone +Wolf saw him at the very instant the first word was uttered.</p> + +<p>The latter withdrew his gaze from the boy and turned with lightning-like +swiftness upon his adversary, while the latter, as cool and +self-possessed as if he were about to slice up an antelope or buffalo, +continued approaching with his hunting knife firmly clasped in his right +hand. The Indian, perceiving the character of the fight, flung his rifle +several yards from him, where it was beyond the reach of both, and +recoiling a single step, put himself in form to receive the charge of +his assailant.</p> + +<p>"Ned, my boy," said the latter, without looking at him, "get back. +There's no telling what may happen."</p> + +<p>This was no more than a prudent caution. The fight was over the boy, and +if Lone Wolf should find the battle going against him, he would resort +to any treacherous trick by which to destroy the prize,—such, for +instance, as a sudden dart upon the unsuspecting spectator and the +plunging of his knife to his heart before the active hunter could thwart +him. Ned obeyed his rescuer, whom he had never seen before, and stepped +back full a dozen yards from the combatants, but with his eyes intently +fixed upon them.</p> + +<p>Tom was not the man to advance blindly to the assault, for none knew +better than he did the character of the foe he was about to assail. +When, therefore, he was just within striking distance, he paused, and, +with his grey eyes centered upon the black, snake-like orbs of the +chief, began circling around him in a stealthy cat-like movement, on the +lookout for some opening of which he might take advantage.</p> + +<p>"Lone Wolf is a coward and a dog," he growled between his set teeth. "He +fights with pappooses, but he is afraid of men."</p> + +<p>This was said with the sole purpose of exasperating the warrior, who +would thus have been placed at a slight disadvantage; but he was already +like a concentrated volcano—calm outwardly, but surcharged with fire +and death within. The taunt did not move his nerves an iota, and he +replied in words which were scarcely less irritating.</p> + +<p>"It is the boasting dog which never hurts. If Lone Wolf is a dog, why +are you so afraid to come within his reach?"</p> + +<p>The words were yet in his mouth when the scout dashed forward like a +catapult and struck a tremendous blow, driven with such directness and +swiftness that it could not have been parried. At the very instant +Hardynge made the charge, Lone Wolf did the same, and the two similar +blows, aimed at the same moment, encountered half way with such terrible +violence that both knives were hurled twenty feet beyond over the cliff +at their side, and irrevocably beyond their reach. This left them with +no weapons except such as nature had provided them with, and, now that +their blood was up and each was smarting under the pain of the first +collision, they immediately closed in and grappled each other like a +couple of infuriated gladiators.</p> + +<p>Hardynge was a marvel of strength and activity, and so was the Apache. +The two were nearly evenly matched, a slight superiority in wrestling +attaching to the white man, who, after a furious struggle of a minute or +so, flung his antagonist as flat as could be, upon his back. He struck +like an India-rubber ball, and, before Tom could fasten him down, so as +to hold him, bounded up again and renewed his fight without a second's +hesitation.</p> + +<p>"The devil take you!" growled the maddened hunter, as he let drive a +sledgehammer-like blow straight from the shoulder.</p> + +<p>It encountered the chief fairly upon the forehead, with a force +apparently sufficient to crush his skull, but it only sent him reeling +back several paces, when his sinewy activity saved him from falling. +With the same unhesitating promptness he charged as before.</p> + +<p>"If that skull ain't more than six inches thick, it'll go this time," +muttered Tom, as he gathered all his strength and sent out his fist like +the thrust of a piston rod.</p> + +<p>But Lone Wolf was expecting it and a quick flirt of the head to one side +let the mallet go harmlessly by, while the impetus of his own blow threw +Hardynge forward several steps, and narrowly escaped carrying him off +his feet altogether. With an exasperating taunt the chief landed a blow +upon the face of his antagonist as he shot by, and, catching him about +the shoulder before he could recover, flung him to the ground with great +violence, falling heavily upon him.</p> + +<p>Had the knife of the Apache been in his hand at this juncture he would +have ended the struggle in short order; but he was without the means of +improving his advantage, and before he knew it he was turned from the +chest of the prostrate man. And this critical moment, when the issue of +the contest was very doubtful, a second figure came out from the rocks, +and approached the combatants. It was that of Dick Morris, who coolly +asked:</p> + +<p>"Sha'n't I knock him on the head, Tom, and end this little row?"</p> + +<p>"No," fairly shouted the enraged hunter, as they hammered away at each +other. "If you do it, I'll knock you on the head. This is a fair and +square fight in which the best man wins. If I can't knock thunder and +lightning out of this redskin, let him knock it out of me. Stand back!"</p> + +<p>"All right," replied Dick, very contentedly, walking to where the +enthralled Ned Chadmund stood and asking him whether he wished to stake +a little wager on the result.</p> + +<p>The appearance of this third party ended the contest in a manner neither +of the whites anticipated. The words of Tom Hardynge, declining the +assistance of his friend, were understood by Lone Wolf; but, treacherous +and faithless himself, he regarded them as only a part of a trap in +which he was to be caught, and his whole purpose was to get out of the +dilemma as quickly as possible. However hopeful he might be in a single +hand-to-hand encounter with one of the men, he was not vain enough to +think that he could master both. In their struggling they had approached +quite close to the cliff, and Lone Wolf made a determined attempt to +throw Tom over. By a little feinting and dodging, he managed to get him +between himself and the edge and then began pressing him furiously.</p> + +<p>"That's your game, is it?" exclaimed the scout. "If it is, sail in, and +may the best man win."</p> + +<p>Both were striking very wildly, when, hastily parrying several blows, +Hardynge made a sudden rush, closed in, grasping the chief around the +waist, and, lifting him clear of the ground, ran to the edge of the +cliff and flung him over!</p> + +<p>But Hardynge was outwitted. This was the very thing for which Lone Wolf +had maneuvered so slyly. The cliff was not more than twenty feet in +height, and when the hunter peered over the margin, expecting to see his +enemy dashed to pieces at a great depth below, he saw him land as +lightly as a panther upon his feet and then whisk out of sight among the +rocks.</p> + +<p>"Thunder and blazes!" he exclaimed, when he comprehended the little +trick that had been played upon him. Jerking off his hat, he slammed it +impatiently to the ground, and turning to his comrade, said:</p> + +<p>"Did you ever see a bigger fool than me?"</p> + +<p>"Don't think I ever did," was the serious reply.</p> + +<p>"Never thought what the Injun was after till it was too late to hinder +him."</p> + +<p>"I knowed it all the time. This ere little chap could have seed as much +himself," was the tantalizing reply.</p> + +<p>"Why didn't you sing out, then, when you seed me pick him up and start +to throw him over?"</p> + +<p>"'Cause I thought you was only fooling. Do you know there's a reward of +five hundred dollars offered for Lone Wolf, dead or alive? See what you +have lost?"</p> + +<p>"Who offered it?" demanded Tom.</p> + +<p>"Colonel Chadmund told me that old Captain Alvarez, that owns a big +ranch near Santa Fe, lost a thousand cattle by a stampede that he had +got up, and he's the man that has promised a hundred times to give that +reward to whoever wipes out the chief."</p> + +<p>"Anything else to tell?" said Hardynge, disgustedly.</p> + +<p>"Yes. When Colonel Chadmund told me that, he punched me slyly in the +side, and says, 'And yes, Dick, I'll put another five hundred on top of +it.'"</p> + +<p>"Hain't you got a little more such news?" asked poor Tom, who was +wondering whether it was possible to feel any more angered or disgusted +with himself than he now felt.</p> + +<p>"No—that'll do just now. I think you've had enough."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXI" id="CHAPTER_XXI"></a>CHAPTER XXI.</h2> + +<h3>FRIENDS TOGETHER.</h3> + + +<p>Up to this stage the two hunters had found no opportunity to pay much +heed to Ned, who had been rescued so narrowly from horrible cruelty. Tom +Hardynge now advanced to where he stood, and thrust out his hand, his +face one broad grin.</p> + +<p>"How are ye, my lad? We've had a long tramp for ye, and come mighty nigh +bein' too late."</p> + +<p>"Have <i>you</i> been looking for me?" asked the boy, in amazement.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir, we've been on the hunt for some days."</p> + +<p>"How is that?"</p> + +<p>Dick Morris briefly explained how Colonel Chadmund had received warning +through a friendly Indian runner of the projected massacre of the +cavalry escort. Knowing that it was impossible to forward reinforcements +to them in time, and that Lone Wolf was aiming specially to get his +hands upon his little boy, he had sent Dick post-haste with orders to +intercept Tom, if possible, and both had been instructed to secure +possession of the lad by any possible means in their power.</p> + +<p>After a cautious investigation at the outset, when they arrived at +Devil's Pass, they found that the massacre had taken place almost +twenty-four hours before. The sight was a terrible one, such as made +even them shudder. The horses and soldiers lay scattered here and there, +just as they fell. The beasts of the forest had offered them no +disturbance, probably because there were more inviting feasts elsewhere. +But in the warm summer air the bloody, hacked faces were discolored and +swollen beyond recognition. The hunters rode carefully along, and +counted the whole thirteen, and when they found the overturned and +wrecked ambulance and the dead horse a short distance beyond they were +able to hit the right theory. It was in this carriage that young +Chadmund had been riding when he was captured, and the scouts set out at +once upon the trail of the Apache war-party.</p> + +<p>It was all easy enough to follow the warriors, but Tom and Dick were +hopelessly puzzled when they came up with the redskins, saw Lone Wolf +and his brother warriors, and made the discovery that the boy was not +with them. It was a most trying problem to them—the only solution being +that they had grown impatient with the boy and put him to death; and +yet, as the trail had been followed and narrowly watched, it seemed +impossible that such a thing should have taken place without the +pursuers finding it out before this. Dick Morris suggested that the +captive, by some providential interference, had managed to give them the +slip, but Tom could not believe it among the possibilities. If such were +the case, there were no means of learning when or where it had been +done, and the scouts were as completely cut off from pursuit of the boy +as were the Apaches themselves.</p> + +<p>In this dilemma there was little to do except to make a general hunt for +him, keeping all the time within striking distance of the Apaches, as +they did not think that the fugitive could have gotten very far from +them. The hunters carefully secreted their animals, and tramped over the +mountains and through ravines, gorges, and woods, until, on this +eventful forenoon they discovered Lone Wolf ahead of them, acting as +though he had detected something particularly gratifying. The shrewd +scouts suspected the truth on the instant. The Apache was also searching +for the lad, and, guided by a greater knowledge, had discovered him. And +so he crouched down in the rocks, not knowing that two other figures +shortly after crouched behind him. Then, after the story had been told, +as the three moved off together, Dick Morris having picked up the rifle +which Lone Wolf cast from him as the contest was about to open, Ned +Chadmund gave him his version of that terrible attack and slaughter in +Devil's Pass, and of what had followed since. When he came to explain +the clever manner in which he dodged the Apaches, his listeners were +delighted. Dick slapped him upon the back, and Tom insisted upon shaking +hands again. It was a favorite way the old fellow had of expressing his +overwhelming delight at anything he saw or heard.</p> + +<p>"If you'll put yourself under our trainin'," he added, "we'll make a +hunter of ye in the course of a dozen or fifteen years, more or less."</p> + +<p>But Ned had no interest in hunting matters just then. He wanted to get +out of that dangerous neighborhood, and to reach Fort Havens with as +little delay as possible.</p> + +<p>"How far is it?" he asked, as the trio moved along the trail.</p> + +<p>"We can make it in two or three days, I think," said Tom. "Some parts of +the way, though, is rather rough, and it may take us longer."</p> + +<p>"You don't expect to walk it, do you?"</p> + +<p>They assured him that they had no intention of doing any such thing. +Their horses were secreted in a gorge about three miles distant, and as +soon as they could be reached they would mount them and speed away for +Fort Havens.</p> + +<p>"And we'll do it, too, at a gait that'll beat any mustang that Lone Wolf +has ever straddled," added Dick, exultingly. "When a chap goes into the +Injun country, he must fetch the best hoss flesh he can steal."</p> + +<p>"But I haven't any horse," said Ned, with a laugh. "What's to become of +me when you're riding?"</p> + +<p>Tom explained that there could be no difficulty about that. Such a +trifling additional weight would not be suspected by either of the +animals.</p> + +<p>"Where do you suppose Lone Wolf is?" asked the boy, looking furtively +around, unable to free himself of the belief that they were not through +with him yet.</p> + +<p>"He's gone back to his party; they've split since you left 'em. About +thirty started yesterday forenoon for the Apache villages to the +south'ard, and the tother twenty are in camp off here a mile or so."</p> + +<p>As Tom spoke, he pointed to the west, in among the mountains, and in a +direction at right angles to what he was pursuing himself.</p> + +<p>"Our road twists round a little," he added, "and when we get to where we +left the animals, we'll be 'bout as far away from the Apaches as we are +now. What's better, there's some mighty rough travelin' between us and +them, such as no hosses can git over."</p> + +<p>"But Indians can, can't they?"</p> + +<p>"I rather guess so. What's the matter, my boy?" asked Tom, looking down +upon him as they picked along. "You're talkin' as if you was thinkin' +'bout Injuns all the time."</p> + +<p>"That's what I've had to do for the last three or four days. Lone Wolf +managed to get away from you, and where do you think he is? What do you +think he means to do?"</p> + +<p>As the boy asked this question, he glanced around in such a timid, +apprehensive way, that his companions laughed. It was natural that the +lad should have these misgivings, especially as it seemed to him that +his friends were using no precautions at all to prevent a treacherous +surprise upon the part of the Apaches. To relieve his fears, they +convinced him that they were on the alert, and did not fail to note +everything.</p> + +<p>They expected, in the natural course of events, that Lone Wolf would +make all haste back to camp, and take every means of revenging himself +and securing possession of the boy again. Indeed, this was all he could +do. He had no rifle with which to fire a stealthy shot at them, and it +was necessary that he should first return to his warriors before +striking a blow. To do all this required time sufficient to permit the +three to reach the gorge, mount their animals, and get fairly under way +before he and his warriors could possibly put in an appearance. Tom and +Dick, therefore, could not be accused of undue recklessness in taking +matters in such a leisurely fashion. They assured their young friend +still further that they were on the eastern margin of the prairie, and, +after starting with their mustangs, had a clear, open course before +them.</p> + +<p>It was somewhat past noon when they entered the ravine, which had +already been described to Ned, and, while the latter remained to talk +with Morris, Tom moved on further and down in a more secluded place, in +quest of their mustangs, which had been left grazing upon the rich, +succulent grass, beside a running stream of mountain water. All were in +high spirits, and our hero was as buoyant and cheerful as the others, +when they saw their friend returning empty-handed.</p> + +<p>"What's up?" asked Dick.</p> + +<p>"The Injuns have stole our mustangs!"</p> + +<p>"Sure?"</p> + +<p>"Yes—plenty of moccasin tracks—but not cussed sign of a single hoss," +was the sour reply.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXII" id="CHAPTER_XXII"></a>CHAPTER XXII.</h2> + +<h3>ANXIOUS WAITING.</h3> + + +<p>This was astounding news, indeed, and for a few minutes the two veteran +hunters were completely taken back. They had considered the place where +their animals were picketed as being so secure that the contingency of +losing them was not thought of until it came upon them with the +suddenness mentioned.</p> + +<p>"They didn't find them themselves," growled Tom, as if determined on +finding consolation in that fact; "they've stumbled onto 'em +accidental-like, and then rid off, as though they were smart enough to +be reg'lar hoss-thieves."</p> + +<p>"Have you seen the trail?" asked Dick.</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"Whereaway does it lead?"</p> + +<p>The hunter replied by pointing toward the northwest, among the hills and +mountains in the wildest portion of the country.</p> + +<p>A hurried consultation now took place between them, and it was resolved +to recover the two mustangs. They counted it easy to secure a couple of +the Indian ponies; but among them all were none which, in their own +estimation, could compare with their own, and they were determined not +to leave the country until they were regained. The most skillful Apache +may succeed in hiding his own trail at times, but he cannot cover that +of his horse so that the trained scout will fail to find it.</p> + +<p>It was found that the mustangs had been ridden away without being +accompanied by other animals. The number of moccasin tracks at a certain +point showed that a party of warriors had accidentally detected the +animals, each of which was mounted by a single Indian and ridden away, +the warriors taking altogether a different direction. This simplified +matters, and was not displeasing to Dick and Tom, for two of these +active redskins could, as a matter of course, be circumvented with much +more ease than could ten times that number.</p> + +<p>Accompanied by Ned, the hunters led the way up out of the hollow, +crossed as it was by the stream of icy cold and clear water and covered +with the richest grass, and entered a more rocky section, where the +horses must have experienced considerable difficulty in traveling, as +numerous places showed where their hoofs had slipped upon the stones.</p> + +<p>"We can beat them on that," said Dick, when they had trailed them for a +short distance. "They can't be many hours ahead of us, and when we do +catch up with 'em, Tom, we'll warm 'em; what do you say?"</p> + +<p>Tom nodded his head to signify that he agreed with these sentiments +exactly, and the trio pressed forward harder than ever.</p> + +<p>There were many places in which the thieves had progressed with no +little trouble, and their pursuers, unimpeded by the mustangs, were +gaining rapidly upon them; but this by no means insured success. A +hundred difficulties remained in the way, and the most that the two +hunters could hope was that the two Apaches had no suspicion of being +followed. If they believed themselves secure, it followed as a matter of +course that they would take no precautions against any surprise from the +rear. The hunters went forward at a rate which was exceedingly trying to +Ned, but he bravely held up until something like a mile was passed, when +Tom, who acted as a leader, suddenly paused.</p> + +<p>"We must wait here till we make an observation," said he, in a low tone. +"I take it that we aren't very far from the scamps, and we must look out +and not spile the whole thing when we've got it all in shape."</p> + +<p>For the entire distance they had been steadily advancing upon higher +ground, and having now reached the culminating point, it was necessary +to look ahead and learn whither they were going before making any rash +venture into an entirely different section. While Dick and Ned, +therefore, remained where they were, Tom stole cautiously forward for +some distance further, until he reached a high, flat rock, the edge of +which he approached on his hands and knees, and stealthily peered over.</p> + +<p>Only a few seconds did he spend thus when he began retrograding, like a +crab.</p> + +<p>"I think I've hit the spot," he said in an undertone, as he rejoined his +friends. "There's a sort of path which leads down into the lower +country, and as that's the only way the hosses can travel, it follers +that they must have gone that way. That 'ere place that I was speakin' +of goes down into a spot a good deal like the one where we expected to +find the animiles and didn't, and there's where I think we'll find 'em +awaitin' for us."</p> + +<p>"Do you see any sign?" inquired Dick.</p> + +<p>"Not yet; they wouldn't be likely to kindle a camp fire at this time of +day, and afore they jined the others. Come ahead, we must be mighty +keerful now, when we're gettin' so close."</p> + +<p>As before, Tom took the lead, and they advanced with the greatest +caution. If the Apaches had any fear of being followed, they were very +likely to detect the men stealing down upon them; but much reliance was +placed upon the likelihood of their holding no such suspicion.</p> + +<p>The afternoon was half gone when the locality pointed out by Hardynge +was reached, and the three halted again. As soon as they had concealed +themselves Tom continued his reconnaissance, making it with such care +that he consumed fully a half hour before concluding it. When he +reappeared, with the silence of a shadow, he whispered:</p> + +<p>"They're there—both of 'em."</p> + +<p>He explained that he had approached close enough to recognize his own +animal as well as Dick's. He saw nothing more, not even an Indian, but +it followed, of course, that they were near at hand. From this point +forward, therefore, the presence of the lad could be nothing but an +incumbrance, and it was agreed that he should stay where he was until +the animals were recaptured, when he could ride away with one of them.</p> + +<p>"Remember, the varmints are close onto you," said Tom, by way of +caution; "and you must keep mighty shady. Don't go to crawling about, +and trying to peep into what's none of your business."</p> + +<p>The boy promised obedience, and the two left him. As near as he could +judge he was within a hundred yards of the camp of the horse thieves, +and there was no certainty that, if they discovered the approach of the +hunters, they might take a course which would bring them back over the +same path. So, to avoid any unpleasant discovery, he crept in beneath +some dense shrubbery, where he felt secure against observation, and +anxiously awaited the result.</p> + +<p>Ned had not been in this place of concealment five minutes, when he was +startled by a slight noise behind him, such as would be made by the +cautious approach of some person or creature. He turned his head, but +his view was too much obstructed by the vegetation around him. The +slight disturbance continued until Ned's curiosity got the better of his +judgment, and he stealthily parted the leaves with one hand sufficiently +to permit him to see out.</p> + +<p>As he dreaded, he detected an Indian warrior, whose actions indicated +that he knew what was going on. He was stepping along as if fearful that +the slight rustling would catch the ears of parties who were far beyond +the range of hearing. Fortunately for Ned, at the moment he looked forth +in this stealthy manner the Apache afforded only what may be termed a +three-quarter view, having passed slightly beyond where he was hidden; +and, as he continued to move in the same direction, nothing but his back +was visible a few minutes afterward. But the lad saw enough to render +him uneasy. At first glimpse he took the Indian to be Lone Wolf, but he +caught sight of enough of his visage to make certain that it was another +warrior altogether; but he was large, powerful, and very formidable +looking, and Ned dreaded an encounter between him and one of the +hunters.</p> + +<p>Curiously enough, he carried no gun with him, and, as the boy still +retained possession of Lone Wolf's, it seemed to young Chadmund that he +could want no better opportunity of wiping out one of those pestilent +redskins. With this purpose in view he cautiously shoved the end of the +weapon through the bushes and aimed at the back of the warrior, who, at +that moment, could not have been more than a dozen yards from him. There +could be no mistaking a target so conspicuous and so close at hand; but +when the aim was sure and Ned's finger was pressing the trigger, he +restrained himself by the self-imposed question whether it was right to +pick off a foe, savage though he was, in that fashion. He was well aware +that no mercy would have been shown him had the position been reversed; +still, he could not justify in his own mind an act that looked so much +like murder.</p> + +<p>"No," said he, when this inward conflict had continued a minute or so. +"I s'pose Tom and Dick would laugh at me if they knew how I acted: but I +don't believe father would like to have me fight that way. Anyhow, my +conscience don't, so I won't."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIII" id="CHAPTER_XXIII"></a>CHAPTER XXIII.</h2> + +<h3>THE DEATH SHOT.</h3> + + +<p>It took Ned about a minute to reach his merciful conclusion and to lower +the hammer of his gun. This done, he looked out to see how the Indian +was getting along. To his amazement nothing was seen of him. He had +vanished as suddenly as if the ground had opened and swallowed him up. +Wondering what it all could mean, the boy rose to his feet, and peered +out, parting the bushes still more and advancing a little from his +concealment. The ground was quite level, covered here and there with +boulders and a scrubby undergrowth, but there was nothing to be seen of +the warrior. During the second or two occupied in lowering the hammer of +his rifle, the Apache had disappeared, flashing out, so to speak, into +nothingness.</p> + +<p>"That's mighty queer," reflected Ned, as he resumed his seat under the +bushes. "I know those redskins are pretty lively, but I didn't think +they could get up and leave as fast as that."</p> + +<p>There was something in the manner of this thing which alarmed him. The +Apache, when last seen, was advancing carefully in the direction taken +by the scouts. Why this sudden diversion? What did it mean but that the +redskin had made an important discovery, and what could that discovery +be but that he was threatened by danger from the rear? Such being the +case, it followed that the peril had been transferred from one to the +other. Instead of the lad threatening the Indian it was <i>vice versa</i>.</p> + +<p>"I bet he'll be back here," was the conclusion of our hero, as he once +more raised the hammer of his gun. "He must have heard me when I moved +the bushes, and he'll be trying some of his tricks upon me."</p> + +<p>He concluded that if the Indian made him a visit it would be from +another direction, and so he shifted his position somewhat, managing to +face the other way, while he kept all his senses on the <i>qui vive</i> for +the hostile visit which he was confident would not be long delayed. At +the same time he had a strong hope that the scouts would return in time +to prevent any such encounter as he pictured in his own mind, and which +he thoroughly dreaded.</p> + +<p>In his excited mental condition it was impossible to judge accurately of +the passage of time, but it seemed to him that he had been in waiting +fully fifteen minutes, yet not the slightest sound reached him from that +direction. The lad remained in a state of suspense which was intensified +by his fears of a flank movement upon the part of the Apache whom he had +seen but a short time before.</p> + +<p>"It must take them a long time to make a reconnaissance—"</p> + +<p>He suddenly ceased, for his ear, more than usually alert, caught a +slight but suspicious sound, and quick as a flash he turned his head. He +was not an instant too soon, for there was the crouching figure of the +Apache warrior, no more than a dozen feet distant, his gleaming knife +clutched in his right hand, and his eyes fairly aflame with passion. He +was not moving along inch by inch, but with that soft gliding motion, +which was more like the approach of a serpent than of a person.</p> + +<p>Ned still held his rifle with the hammer raised, and ready for just such +an emergency. Partly expecting the visit, he was fully prepared. When he +turned his head and encountered the gaze of the Indian, the latter gave +utterance to a low gutteral exclamation, and started more rapidly toward +him.</p> + +<p>"If you must have it, there it is."</p> + +<p>The flash from the muzzle of the rifle was almost in the face of the +Apache, who, with a death-shriek horrible to hear, threw both arms above +his head, and, with a spasmodic twitching of the limbs, breathed his +last in a single breath.</p> + +<p>Ned was scarcely less terrified than the redskin must have been at the +first flash of the gun; and, forgetful of the warning of the scouts, he +leaped out from beneath the bushes, and dashed away in the direction +taken by his friends.</p> + +<p>He had run but a rod or two when he suddenly found himself face to face +with Tom Hardynge, who demanded, in a hurried undertone:</p> + +<p>"What's up, now?"</p> + +<p>"I've just shot an Indian."</p> + +<p>"Did you wipe him out?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes; oh, yes."</p> + +<p>"Then what are you running away from him for? If you've wiped him out, +he can't hurt you."</p> + +<p>"But I don't want to stay near him," added the lad, who was in a +distressing state of anxiety; "take me away."</p> + +<p>"That's just what I'm going to do," replied the hunter, turning about +and hurrying off. "Keep close to me and I will take care of you."</p> + +<p>Instead of retracing their steps, they kept ahead, and a short distance +further on made an abrupt turn and suddenly came upon Dick Morris, +seated upon the back of his mustang, with Thundergust, as Tom called +him, standing near, and a third one visible in the background.</p> + +<p>"Whose is that?" asked the astonished boy.</p> + +<p>"We fetched him for you. Come, bounce upon his back and let's be off."</p> + +<p>The animal alluded to was a handsome black pony, spirited and fleet, +with a valuable blanket strapped to its back, and a leathern +bridle-rein. He showed some opposition to Ned's mounting him, but with +the assistance of Tom he quieted down and showed as much docility as the +others.</p> + +<p>The hunters, in approaching the camp, used as much care and deliberation +as if they were certain that there were a hundred of the fiercest +warriors there. They speedily learned, however, that there were but the +two Indian horse thieves, who, in bringing the plunder to that place, +had returned to the spot where their own animals had been left previous +to their starting out upon the raid.</p> + +<p>The Apaches were entirely unsuspicious of any pursuit, and they were +lolling upon the ground at such a distance from the mustangs, that the +three were secured without much trouble. Dick Morris insisted upon +sailing in and clearing out the two marauders; but Tom was equally +strenuous in demanding that they should not be disturbed. He was certain +there were other warriors near by, and any such attempt would complicate +matters. Accordingly they stole away with their recaptured animals and +the one which was not exactly recaptured, and as soon as a convenient +spot was selected Hardynge turned back for the boy, encountering him on +the way.</p> + +<p>Since all three were mounted upon good beasts they made all haste +possible to leave the section, which beyond all question was a most +dangerous one in every sense.</p> + +<p>The trio had several important advantages on their side. Although the +Apaches were on every hand, and doubtless would make an attempt to +revenge themselves upon the hunters, yet it was already growing dark, +and between now and morning the Caucasians could accomplish a great +deal. Furthermore, they were close to the prairie, reaching which, they +had all the opportunity they could desire to leave their enemies behind. +In a fair trial of speed, neither of the hunters had any misgivings as +to the fleetness of their animals, even if it should become necessary to +place the additional weight of the lad upon one. Still, the route was +difficult, and in many places it seemed almost impossible to make their +way along, the horses stumbling, and on one or two occasions the party +came to a dead halt.</p> + +<p>But Tom Hardynge had been there before, and insisted each time there was +some way out of the difficulty without turning back. Dismounting from +his animal he groped around for a few minutes in the dark, and on every +occasion called out in an undertone that he had found the path. In this +manner they kept it up for a couple of hours, when the route became much +more easy to travel. Occasionally they paused and listened and looked, +but nothing threatening was discovered. Quite a distance on the left, +the twinkle of a camp fire was discerned, but it was so distant that it +gave no concern. All remained quiet in the rear, though pursuit from +that quarter was to be expected.</p> + +<p>The three rode along in silence for something like half an hour longer, +when Hardynge, who was slightly in advance, abruptly reined up his steed +and said:</p> + +<p>"We're through the mountains. There's the prairie afore us."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIV" id="CHAPTER_XXIV"></a>CHAPTER XXIV.</h2> + +<h3>THE BUFFALOES.</h3> + + +<p>The moon was now well up in the sky, and the members of the party were +enabled to discern objects at a greater distance than at any time since +starting. When Tom Hardynge announced that they had passed through this +spur of mountains, the three instinctively turned their eyes to the +westward, where the prairie stretched away until it vanished in the +gloom.</p> + +<p>"There's a clean hundred miles or more of level plain," added the +hunter. "I've traveled it many a time and I ought to know."</p> + +<p>"You're right," said Dick. "That's a good sweep of prairie, and we ought +to make good time over it, for our horses have had a long rest."</p> + +<p>"There's only one thing that troubles me," ventured Ned Chadmund, when +the heads of all their animals were turned westward; "I'm so hungry and +faint that I can hardly sit on my horse."</p> + +<p>"That's bad," said Tom, feelingly. "I never thought of that when we had +a good chance among the mountains to fetch down some game. We ain't apt +to run agin anythin' in the hash line while riding along on the prairie; +but we'll try it, and if we don't we'll turn off to a little spot where +I know we shall hit it."</p> + +<p>Ned expressed his willingness to do this, and the company started. +Instead of going in Indian file, as they had done while among the +mountains, they rode side by side at an easy swinging gallop, the +prairie lightening up as they advanced, and the surface continuing of +the same impact character, which rendered it the most favorable possible +for horseback riding. To one who, like the boy, had tramped and trudged +along until scarcely able to stand, this change was of the most pleasing +character. He felt comfortable and anxious to ride ahead for hours, the +only drawback being that gnawing hunger, that weary faintness, which +could only be dissipated by food.</p> + +<p>Occasionally, while riding along in this manner, the three would halt +and listen, and then, when certain that they heard nothing, move on +again. This was repeated several times, until the two hunters remained +motionless longer than usual. When Ned asked the cause of this, Tom +replied by asking him whether he heard anything. He answered that he did +not.</p> + +<p>"I hear it," added the scout, as he dismounted and applied his ear to +the ground.</p> + +<p>"What do you make it?" inquired Dick.</p> + +<p>"Can't tell."</p> + +<p>Hardynge remained standing beside his steed for several minutes, looking +off to the southward, and then he knelt down and bent his ear to the +ground again.</p> + +<p>"It is off yonder," he added, pointing to the southward, and leaping at +the same time upon the back of his mustang.</p> + +<p>Ned listened to catch some explanation; but at this interesting +juncture, for some reason only known to themselves, the two men began +talking in the Indian tongue. It was interesting to hear their gutteral +exclamations, but it would have been much more interesting could he have +understood what they were saying, and to know why it was, when talking, +that they laughed and looked meaningly toward him. The lad affected not +to notice all this, although it piqued his curiosity not a little.</p> + +<p>A half mile more was ridden at a leisurely gait, when all three drew up +their mustangs, and Dick Morris looked meaningly at their young comrade.</p> + +<p>"Do you hear anything <i>now</i>?"</p> + +<p>Yes, there could be no mistaking it, faint though it was. All three sat +motionless and listened. At first, it might have been taken for the +far-off rumble of thunder—a fluttering, distant rattle, such as is +occasionally heard during the hot summer months. It was not exactly of +that character, either, being more like a continuous rattle, coming from +some point many miles away.</p> + +<p>"What do you suppose it is?" asked Tom, of the lad.</p> + +<p>"I never heard anything like it before. What is it?"</p> + +<p>"Does it sound like the tramp of animals?"</p> + +<p>"Not much, it seems to me. It can't be that."</p> + +<p>"That's just what it is."</p> + +<p>Ned started.</p> + +<p>"So it is—so it is. I can notice it now. I hear the sound of horses +hoofs on the prairie. The sound is growing more distinct, too, and they +must be coming this way, Tom. Is that so?"</p> + +<p>"That's just what's the matter. We'll see 'em all inside of half an +hour, unless we turn tail and run."</p> + +<p>"Let's do it, then, for there can't be much time to spare."</p> + +<p>The hunters showed no disposition to flee from the danger approaching, +and Ned began to grow alarmed.</p> + +<p>"Why do you stay here?" he asked. "If your horses are so fleet that no +one can catch them, what is the use of letting them do it?"</p> + +<p>"Don't get scart, my boy," returned Tom Hardynge. "We'll take care of +you."</p> + +<p>He much preferred that they should all take care of themselves by giving +their animals the rein and permitting the Apaches to make no nearer +approach. But the scouts were obstinate and remained as motionless as +statues. The tramping of myriad feet came nearer and nearer, until the +sound partook of one general, thunderous undertone of the most trying +character to the lad. It seemed to him so much like suicide—this +waiting for a terrible danger as it steadily approached—that he was +strongly tempted to start his horse away on his own account.</p> + +<p>"Look!" called out Morris, pointing toward the southwest.</p> + +<p>Following the direction indicated, the lad saw what appeared to be a +heavy cloud lying low down in the horizon, but creeping slowly upward, +like the sulphurous vapor that sometimes hovers over a battle field.</p> + +<p>"What is it?" he asked, terrified, knowing that it was not the presage +of a storm such as sometimes sweeps over the prairies.</p> + +<p>There was something strange and unnatural in its appearance, +accompanied, as it was, by the tremulous, thunderous rumbling. By and +by, as this uproar came nearer and nearer, a still more curious sight +presented itself. The prairie seemed agitated, trembling and quivering +with a peculiar, wave-like motion, such as the ocean shows when it is +subsiding after a severe storm. There was a sea, a living sea, spreading +tumultuously over the plain. Dark, heaving masses were constantly +verging nearer, as they moved rapidly toward the northeast. Suddenly +light broke in upon the mind of Ned Chadmund.</p> + +<p>"I know what it is!" he exclaimed. "They are buffaloes."</p> + +<p>"Correct," assented Tom, with a laugh. "They are passing pretty close, +but we're out of their way."</p> + +<p>The buffaloes surged so near to where the three horsemen stood that more +than once Ned started with a fear that they would be overwhelmed; but +the hunters showed such calmness and self-possession that he was +reassured. All at once a furious trampling was heard, and two of the +animals that had become separated from the others in some way, dashed +directly by the horsemen and out upon the prairie.</p> + +<p>"Now, Ned," called out Tom; "there's your chance! Take that head one! He +will make you a good supper if you can fetch him down!"</p> + +<p>The lad and his animal were seized with a sudden inspiration seemingly +at the same time. Just as the heart of the young hunter swelled with a +wild desire to bring down the noble game, the mustang bounded away in +pursuit of the very buffalo which had been indicated by the trapper. As +the rider saw himself drawing rapidly near the huge body, lumbering +awkwardly but rapidly along, he was seized with a fluttering which, +perhaps was natural, but which, unless overcome, was fatal to any hopes +of procuring any supper. The mustang drew steadily nearer, Ned's +agitation increasing every minute, until pursuer and pursued were +running side by side.</p> + +<p>This was the critical moment when the rider should have fired, and when +the horse had been taught to expect him to do so; but when our hero +raised the heavy Indian gun to his shoulder, his trembling, together +with the jolting of his mustang, now upon a dead run, told him that it +would be useless to fire, when the only chance of hitting his prey was +by the merest accident. Accordingly, he lowered his gun, in the hopes of +quieting his nerves, so as to bring himself up to the self-appointed +task. As he did so, his horse began shying off from the buffalo. He was +afraid of the horns of the enraged creature, and having given him all +the opportunity he could expect, he was not willing to keep him company +any longer. The paths continued to diverge until they were twenty yards +apart, when the mustang appeared to think all danger was passed. By this +time Ned Chadmund felt that he was master of himself, and he turned the +head of his horse toward the immense fugitive, still gliding forward at +the same terrific rate.</p> + +<p>"I'll fetch him this time," he muttered, with a determined air.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXV" id="CHAPTER_XXV"></a>CHAPTER XXV.</h2> + +<h3>ALONE AGAIN.</h3> + + +<p>The mustang, trained as he was to this sort of hunting, steadily drew up +again to the buffalo, which was plunging forward with unabated speed, +while Ned held his rifle ready to fire whenever the critical moment +should come. He concluded that the proper place at which to aim was the +head, and, drawing his gun to his shoulder, he did not hesitate, +although he knew the aim was anything but a good one. It struck the +bison beyond all question, but did no more than irritate him; for, +without any other warning than a sudden lowering of the head, he +wheeled, and turned directly upon the horse, with the evident purpose of +disemboweling him.</p> + +<p>But the latter had seen this sort of business before, and was prepared +for it.</p> + +<p>Without attempting to turn to the one side or the other, or to check his +speed in the least, he made a terrific flying leap upward, going clear +over the head of the buffalo, landing upon the other side, and +continuing his flight at his leisure, as it may be said.</p> + +<p>This was a clever trick of the mustang, but it proved the undoing of his +rider, who had no other saddle than the Indian blanket strapped to the +horse's back. This was good enough, except in such a sudden emergency as +the present, when Ned was entirely unprepared for it. It was done in a +twinkling, the end of it being that he found himself lying upon the +green sward of the prairie, considerably bruised, and with horse and +buffalo rapidly speeding from view.</p> + +<p>"This is a go," said the lad, rising to his feet and looking about him. +"I don't see where the fun of buffalo hunting comes in."</p> + +<p>During the minutes of excitement when the mustang was coursing with such +speed over the prairie, the rider had no idea of the direction taken, +nor could he conjecture how far he had gone; but the result was that he +was separated by a much greater distance than he supposed from his +friends. Ned stood and gazed carefully about him. Off to the west were +the dust, and thousands upon thousands of buffaloes. The latter were too +far removed to be distinguished, but that tramping and the heavy cloud +indicated where the mass of life was plunging tumultuously forward +toward some destination unknown even to themselves. Nothing was to be +seen of the hunters. They had sent the lad off on this hunt on purpose +to give him a taste of buffalo hunting, not supposing, of course, that +any accident would result.</p> + +<p>"What shall I do?" was the question the boy asked himself, as he stood, +rifle in hand, and looked around him. "If there was some way in which I +could get a good supper, I wouldn't mind this camping out, for Tom and +Dick will be sure to find me in the morning."</p> + +<p>Looking toward the north, he fancied that he dimly discerned the dark +outline of something which resembled a grove of trees, and he turned his +footsteps in that direction.</p> + +<p>"If they are trees," he reflected, as he trudged along, "it's more than +likely there's water there, and now that I've got a gun, I've some +chance of shooting something; and that reminds me of poor Corporal +Hugg's warning, always to reload my gun the first thing after firing +it."</p> + +<p>He had enough sense to carry out this resolution on the spot, and then +he resumed his journey in the direction of the object that had attracted +his attention. A short distance further he was pleased to find his first +impression correct. He was approaching a clump of trees where he could +rest with a much greater sense of security than upon the open prairie. +Thoroughly weary and worn out, faint with hunger, he felt like throwing +himself upon the ground and sleeping for a week. But, continuing, he +entered a grove of trees something like a hundred yards in extent, +through which, in the stillness of the night, he caught distinctly the +ripple of flowing water. It required but a moment to discover this and +he lay down upon the margin, quaffed his full and flung himself upon the +grass to sleep until morning. Five minutes after his eyes were shut he +was wrapped in a sound slumber which remained undisturbed until morning +when, as he opened his eyes, he found the sun shining through the +branches upon him.</p> + +<p>"Gracious!" he exclaimed, starting up. "Where am I?"</p> + +<p>It took several minutes before he could collect his senses and tell +where he was; and then as he recalled the separation from his friends, +he hurried out to the edge of the wood in the hope of discovering them +somewhere near at hand; but, look in whatsoever direction he chose, +nothing was to be seen but the broad sweeping prairie, stretching away +until sky and earth joined in the distance. Far off, low down in the +horizon, the blue wavy outline of a mountain spur was to be seen. Miles +and miles away, it would probably require days of traveling before it +could be reached.</p> + +<p>"That's strange!" murmured Ned, as a feeling of alarm began stealing +over him. "Where can Tom and Dick be? They must be somewhere in this +neighborhood, and yet I cannot see any signs of them."</p> + +<p>He moved around the grove, carefully gazing in every direction; but +after making the complete circuit he came back without having detected +anything that told him what had become of his friends.</p> + +<p>The grove in which he had taken shelter abounded with undergrowth, so +dense in many places, that he made his way with considerable difficulty. +He had no thought of any one else being in the same place, but, while +moving along in his careless manner, he was aroused to a sense of +imprudence by the sound of something on his right. Turning his head, his +surprise may be imagined when he saw a solitary buffalo standing +scarcely a dozen feet distant, and staring straight at him. Ned was so +astonished that for the moment he forgot that he carried a loaded gun, +and stared at the creature in turn, the two forming as striking a +tableau as it is possible to imagine.</p> + +<p>The buffalo may have known the capacity of the weapon which the boy +carried in his hand, for, with a sniff of alarm, he wheeled and started +away on a run. As quick as thought the lad seemed to awake to a sense of +his situation, and, raising his gun, he blazed away.</p> + +<p>The shot, fired at random, could not have been better aimed by the most +veteran of hunters. The ball entered directly behind the fore-leg just +as it was thrown forward in the act of running, and, penetrating to the +heart, the result was that the animal never made another bound. His own +momentum carried him a few feet forward, when he tumbled and rolled over +in a heap.</p> + +<p>"Now I'll have a meal!" exclaimed the delighted lad, as he ran forward +to claim his prize. "I feel as if I could eat the whole buffalo."</p> + +<p>There seemed to be no reason why he should not provide himself with the +most substantial kind of dinner. He knew very little about a buffalo, +but it was no difficult task to cut off a good sized piece, which he +placed upon some green leaves, while he looked about for some means of +starting a fire.</p> + +<p>"Well, there!" he exclaimed in delighted amazement, "if that isn't the +most wonderful thing yet!"</p> + +<p>This exclamation was caused by the sight of a smoking wad lying at his +very feet, just as if Providence had sent it that he might be provided +with the indispensable fire. Picking it up and blowing it, he saw that +it was in a vigorous state, and could be utilized without trouble. A few +leaves were hurriedly gathered together, dried twigs placed upon these, +and then the tiny blaze that required considerable blowing to produce, +was carefully nursed into a larger one until a good roaring, crackling +fire was the result.</p> + +<p>Leaving this to burn by itself, Ned took the meat to the side of the +stream, where he carefully washed and dressed it, ready for cooking. +When this was completed, he skewered it upon some green twigs, and began +toasting it. The process was rather tardy, but as soon as a bite of the +meat had spluttered and crisped for a moment, Ned bit it off, and went +to masticating it. The cooking continued rapidly enough to keep his jaws +going, and was a good arrangement, for it prevented his eating too fast, +and gave him the fullest enjoyment imaginable of the meal. All of an +hour was occupied in this way, during which Ned was in as happy a frame +of mind as can be conceived. For the first half of the time he seemed to +be growing more hungry with each mouthful he swallowed. Then came a +standstill, and soon he began to gain upon it, the end being that he +thoroughly satisfied that appetite which at one time had seemed +unappeasable. With no further necessity of thinking of the wants of the +inner man, the lad began to debate as to what he should do to get out of +the rather unpleasant position in which he was placed. There he was, his +horse gone, his two friends missing, and himself still a long distance +from home. He knew not in what direction to turn to reach Fort Havens, +and, even if he did, he had little assurance of ever reaching it. +Indeed, with the exception of the rather important fact that he had +secured possession of a rifle and some ammunition, it may be said that +his position was very similar to what it was before he came across Dick +Morris and Tom Hardynge.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXVI" id="CHAPTER_XXVI"></a>CHAPTER XXVI.</h2> + +<h3>CAPTURING A MUSTANG.</h3> + + +<p>It struck Ned that there was something very strange in the continued +absence of the two hunters.</p> + +<p>In thinking over the particulars of that rather curious buffalo hunt, he +could not believe it possible that he was more than two miles from where +he had made his start after the creature, and where he separated from +them. All three were upon the easterly side of the herd, so that the +trail made by his own animal could not have been obliterated by the +hoofs of the buffaloes, and nothing could be easier than to follow it. +Where, then, were they? What was the cause of their absence? These were +questions which he asked himself again and again, and which he was +unable to answer in any manner satisfactory to himself.</p> + +<p>Suddenly it occurred to him that by climbing one of the trees near at +hand, he might extend his view, and perhaps gain a portion of the +knowledge he was so desirous of obtaining. He acted upon the thought at +once, and, selecting the tallest, first concealed his rifle, and then +climbed to the very topmost branches. There he was rewarded by a +magnificent view, and one which promised him some of the results he was +seeking. With this extension of his field of vision he discovered more +than one evidence that he was not in a solitude. In the first place, by +looking to the southward, a mass of dust and vapor was visible, +indicating the presence and progress of some sort of herd, perhaps a +drove of sheep from New Mexico, under the convoy of Indians who had shot +the rightful owners and stampeded their property. Looking westward, +another clump of trees was discerned, from the center of which came just +enough smoke to show that there must be a camp fire beneath.</p> + +<p>"I'll bet they are there!" exclaimed Ned, to himself, "and it may be +they have started the fire on purpose to guide me to them."</p> + +<p>The point to which his attention was thus directed was no more than a +mile distant, and he wondered that he had not noted it before. It +resembled in many respects the one in which he passed the night, and he +saw from the course of the stream which ran through the latter, that it +most probably watered the former where he believed the hunters were in +camp.</p> + +<p>Turning his eyes in another direction, the young wanderer was greeted by +a sight which agitated him scarcely less. There, no more than a quarter +of a mile distant, quietly grazing beside the winding stream which +flowed at the base of the tree, was the very mustang which had been +captured by the hunters and from whose back he had been thrown when in +pursuit of the buffalo. He instantly lost all interest in the smoke of +the camp fire in the greater interest he felt in the question of +securing possession of the steed. Could he but remount him he would not +care particularly whether he met the hunters or not, for, once upon the +back of such a steed, he would consider himself competent to make the +rest of the journey alone.</p> + +<p>"What's to hinder?" he asked himself, as he fixed his eyes longingly +upon the steed. "Dick says none of the Apaches have any animal that can +overtake him, and all I have to do is to keep his head turned toward the +southwest. There is a trail through the mountains yonder, and Corporal +Hugg told me that there is a trail all the way. But can I catch him?"</p> + +<p>He enjoyed in anticipation the pleasure he would feel when, possessing +rifle, ammunition and horse he should resume his journey westward and +the delight and joy of his father when he should clasp him in his arms +again. He could have spent several hours building his air-castles in +this manner, had he not checked himself and resolutely faced the +difficulty before him. Looking again at the mustang, he was to be seen +with his beautiful Indian blanket somewhat soiled from contact with the +dirt, but cropping the grass with the air of an equine which expected to +spend the day at it.</p> + +<p>Ned decided to try and steal upon him from the rear, thinking, possibly, +that he might get so close that when the frightened animal discovered +him, he could step forward and grasp the bridle before the mustang could +gallop away. Accordingly, he circled out upon the prairie until he got +directly behind the animal, when he began his approach. The horse +continued quietly eating until he was within a hundred feet, when he +shifted his position so that his side was exposed. Startled lest he +should be seen, Ned dropped down upon the grass and waited for him to +resume his first attitude. After crouching in this manner for something +like ten minutes, without any change taking place, he decided that as +"the mountain would not come to Mohammed then Mohammed should go to the +mountain," and he began crawling through the grass, with his eye upon +his prize. To accomplish this without attracting notice was a delicate +task, but he succeeded perfectly. Getting the mustang in exact range, he +resumed his advance upon him, advancing until he was within twenty feet.</p> + +<p>This was more favorable than he dared hope, and his heart beat high with +expectation. He almost felt the warm body of the noble steed beneath +him. And now, inch by inch, he stole forward, like an Indian scout +moving upon a sleeping enemy until he could reach a point where he could +bury his tomahawk in his skull.</p> + +<p>"I wonder whether he will use those heels upon me?" reflected the lad, +when he had reduced the intervening distance to a dozen feet. "If he +were only blind in one eye, and I could get upon that side; but then he +isn't."</p> + +<p>It seemed to him that the greatest danger was the mustang hearing the +throbbing of his heart, which was now beating like a trip-hammer; but +the horse was as unconscious as if he were made of stone. Still nearer, +until it appeared as if he had to make but a single leap forward, and he +could grasp the long, flowing tail, and he felt that the moment had come +when he must make the attempt. Crouching with one hand thrust out, he +lifted one foot and advanced a few inches. Another step, and he could +lay his hand upon him. At this exciting juncture, the horse abruptly +ceased eating and raised his head. Ned saw it, and paused in an agony of +suspense.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="illus3" id="illus3"></a> +<img src="images/illus3.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> + +<h3>STILL NEARER, UNTIL IT APPEARED AS IF HE HAD TO MAKE BUT A SINGLE LEAP FORWARD.</h3> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + +<p>Looking straight off upon the prairie, the mustang gave a faint whinney, +as if he scented danger from a point directly opposite to where the +figure of the boy was stealing upon him. For a minute the two held these +stationary positions; and then, as the lad moved a few inches again, the +keen ears of the mustang told him the truth.</p> + +<p>Pricking his ears forward, he turned his head half way round, so that he +saw the crouching figure directly at his heels. Then he turned his head +still further, and gathered himself for a leap. But Ned was expecting +this; and, as quick as a flash, he leaped forward and caught the tuft of +hair hanging over his forehead, dropping his gun and seizing at the same +moment, with the other hand, the bridle-rein. The mustang made his leap, +but the lad held on, and, by a quick, powerful effort threw one leg over +his shoulders and slid upon his back in a twinkling. The horse was +outwitted, defeated, and the boy was his conqueror.</p> + +<p>"Hurrah!" shouted the latter, overflowing with exultation. "Thank the +Lord! I've had better fortune than I expected."</p> + +<p>The mustang was not an ugly-tempered creature, but would have given the +lad the slip, could he have done so. It may have been that because he +was nothing but a boy, he underestimated his capacity too much; but he +had been fairly outgeneraled, and he submitted with a grace which cannot +be too highly commended. He instantly became docile, and turned in ready +obedience to the rein, and trotted back to where the gun lay upon the +ground. Here Ned was obliged to descend again, but he kept a tight grasp +upon the strap, and scrambled back again as soon as he had recovered it. +It seemed to him, as he did so, that there was something like a +mischievous twinkle in the eye of the pony. He appeared to say:</p> + +<p>"It don't do to trust my species too far, my lad; for we prefer to be +free rather than slave. However, you are a brave little fellow, and have +done so well that I think I must stand by you hereafter."</p> + +<p>Now that Ned was himself again, he turned the head of his animal toward +the grove, where the thin smoke could still be seen creeping up through +the tree tops.</p> + +<p>"I will have quite a story to tell Dick and Tom," he reflected, as he +rode along at an easy gallop. "I killed my buffalo, lost my horse, and +caught him again. I don't believe that they themselves could have done +much better."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXVII" id="CHAPTER_XXVII"></a>CHAPTER XXVII.</h2> + +<h3>A RUN FOR LIFE.</h3> + + +<p>A few minutes' ride at a swinging, easy, gallop brought Ned to the edge +of the grove where the camp fire had first arrested his attention. As he +reached the margin he threw himself from the back of the mustang, +fastened the bridle-rein securely to a limb, and, with his rifle slung +over his shoulder, strode forward toward the center. He was not yet in +sight of the fire when it suddenly occurred to him that possibly he was +mistaken. He checked himself and began moving very much as he did when +approaching his mustang, and it was fortunate that he did so, for the +next moment he discovered that he had committed a most serious mistake +indeed. Instead of seeing the well-known figures of the hunters sitting +by the camp fire and quietly smoking their pipes, he caught a glimpse of +half a dozen warriors very similarly engaged.</p> + +<p>Ned shuddered as he reflected how narrowly he escaped running into +destruction, and then he crept forward until he could get a little +better view. There they were, six Apache Indians lolling and lounging +upon the grass. They had evidently returned from a long and wearisome +ride, and were devoting the early portion of the day to rest, both for +themselves and animals, which were picketed near at hand. The lad +naturally wondered whether any of them belonged to Lone Wolf's band, and +he crept nearer than was prudent in order to make certain.</p> + +<p>"It may be that Lone Wolf himself is there," he reflected, drawn on by +that strange fascination which often seizes a person at the proximity of +some dreaded danger. "It would be queer if the chief had crossed my path +again."</p> + +<p>By and by, after moving along for some distance upon his hands and +knees, he secured a favorable point, where, by waiting a few minutes, he +was able to gain a view of all the faces. They were all strangers. He +had never seen any of them before.</p> + +<p>"That's good," he said to himself, as he began retrograding, "they won't +be expecting me—"</p> + +<p>At this juncture, one of the Indian horses, a short distance away, +raised his head and whinnied. It was instantly responded to by the +mustang which Ned had ridden to the place. The Apaches very naturally +noticed this significant fact, and started to their feet to learn what +it meant. Terribly alarmed at the unexpected mishap, Ned sprang up, not +daring to trust the tardy, crab-like gait he was following, and, +regardless of discovery, dashed away as hard as he could run in the +direction of his steed. He could not mistake the true course, for the +animal seemingly aware that something was wrong, kept up a continual +whinnying, that guided him as unerringly as it did the Apaches who were +hurrying after him. A few seconds and the boy stood beside the creature, +which showed, by its excited manner, that he was as desirous as his +master to leave the spot. He was tugging at the rein so lustily that it +threatened to break every instant, and Ned trembled at the fear that he +would be left alone.</p> + +<p>The impatient, eager haste with which the rein was unfastened, the +seemingly impossibility of getting the loosely fastened knot untied, the +little obstructions that constantly obtruded themselves—these cannot be +described nor imagined. It would have been unnatural in the highest +degree had Ned not found himself "nervous." He was ready to yield to +despair more than once, and what were really seconds were as many +minutes to him. The Indians could be heard moving through the +undergrowth, their progress cautious as it always is when they have +reason to fear that enemies are close at hand.</p> + +<p>It was this deliberation which gave Ned his only chance. The rein was +unfastened at last, and, with a desperate effort he mounted the mustang, +which came very near bounding from beneath him while in the act of +springing upward, and, turning his head toward the southwest, the very +direction he wished to follow, Chadmund struck his sides with his heels, +gave a regular Indian shout and was off. The steed scarcely needed all +this to incite him to his highest efforts. Stretching out his neck, he +sped away like an arrow, while the young rider constantly urged him to +still greater effort. But no urging was required. The fleet-footed +courser was already going with the speed of the wind.</p> + +<p>Scarcely had he gotten under way, however, when the crack! crack! of +rifles was heard, and the singing of bullets around his ears told the +fugitive at whom they were aimed. He instantly threw himself forward +upon the neck of the mustang, and shouted again, in a voice that must +have been heard by the redskins themselves:</p> + +<p>"Go it, my horse! Don't let them catch us! We mustn't lose now!"</p> + +<p>One or two more shots were heard, and then all was quiet again.</p> + +<p>"We've got beyond their range," concluded the boy, "and there's no need +of wasting their powder on us."</p> + +<p>Still he remained with his head bent on the neck of his animal, the +latter upon a dead run, until they had gone a considerable distance +further. Then believing all peril past, he drew him down somewhat, for +the gait was more trying to him than to the steed himself, and it was +simply prudent to husband his strength, when there was no necessity of +putting it forth.</p> + +<p>For the first time since starting, Ned turned and surveyed the ground +over which he had passed. The view was not a reassuring one by any +means. Instead of seeing the Apaches standing in mute despair upon the +margin of the grove, and staring in wonder at his flight, he saw instead +the whole party mounted and in full pursuit. They were adopting what +seemed to him a strange course. Instead of charging along in a body, +they were separating and spreading out like a fan.</p> + +<p>"I wonder what it is for," said the fugitive to himself, as he urged his +horse to a renewal of the arrowy speed he had shown at the beginning.</p> + +<p>When he came to reflect upon it more fully, he divined the cause. The +Apaches had recognized in him a prize worth striving for, and had set +about it in their usual cunning fashion. By separating in this manner, +they could close in again whenever they chose, and at a time, too, when +it might be out of the power of the fugitive to escape by means of the +superior speed of his horse. If he should turn to the right or left, or +to the rear, he would come in collision with some of them, whereas, if +they remained in a compact body, and he should find his way shut in +front, he might elude them by turning to either side.</p> + +<p>Such was young Chadmund's solution of their actions, and such, +undoubtedly, was the true one. He looked ahead; but all remained open +and clear. Only far away in the very horizon could be seen that blue, +misty outline of some mountain chain, seemingly hundreds of miles in +advance.</p> + +<p>"It can't be that <i>that</i> is the place," he mused, as he looked ahead; +"that is too far to be reached before to-morrow, and between now and +then I shall have plenty of chances to give them the slip."</p> + +<p>But the mountains were to be crossed at some time or other, and those +Apaches were likely to follow him with the persistency of bloodhounds. +The mere fact that he had distanced them at the beginning, and obtained +such a favorable start, was no evidence that he was to be relieved from +further danger, even after the night should have come and gone. But Ned +enjoyed to the full the thrilling pleasure of observing that he was +steadily and rapidly drawing away from his pursuers. Every few minutes, +when he looked back, he could see they were dropping further and further +behind. His gain in this respect was clearly perceptible to himself, and +when, at the end of an hour or more, he observed that the Apaches had +ceased the effort to overhaul him, he could scarcely repress his +exultation.</p> + +<p>"They made a good selection!" he exclaimed, alluding to the steed which +the hunters had taken from the Indians in the mountains. "They could not +have done better."</p> + +<p>Drawing his mustang down to a dead halt, he carefully scanned the +prairie behind him. Only three of his pursuers were visible, and, if his +eyes did not deceive him, they were turning back. A few minutes careful +scrutiny assured him of the fact. He had outwitted the redskins again.</p> + +<p>"Now, you may rest yourself, my pet," he said to his horse, fondly +patting the neck of his steed.</p> + +<p>"You have done nobly, and I feel like trusting you alone to graze."</p> + +<p>As near as he could judge it was close upon noon, and his animal was in +need of rest, although capable of continuing his arrowy flight until the +sun should sink in the west. It was wise to indulge him all he could, +and for the next two hours he was permitted to walk at a moderate gait. +At the end of that time he headed toward a ravine, in which a few +stunted trees were growing, and where he hoped to find grass and water. +He did not forget the lesson he had learned, and before trusting himself +in the inviting shade and coolness, he carefully circled about the place +until assured that no peril lurked there, when he rode forward at the +same leisurely pace.</p> + +<p>He was yet a hundred yards distant, when his mustang abruptly paused of +his own accord, pricking up his ears as if he scented danger.</p> + +<p>Ned urged him, and he advanced a few steps, and then halted again, +raising high his head and snuffing the air, accompanied at the same time +by a peculiar stamp of the foot.</p> + +<p>"There must be something wrong," thought the boy in alarm.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXVIII" id="CHAPTER_XXVIII"></a>CHAPTER XXVIII.</h2> + +<h3>A GREAT MISFORTUNE.</h3> + + +<p>Ned Chadmund was too wise to go contrary to the instincts of the +mustang, which, at such a time knew more than did he of the dangers of +the country. The boy, however, supposed that it was some wild animal, +probably a grizzly bear, which alarmed the steed. He wondered however, +that if such were the fact, why the brute did not give some more +tangible evidence of his presence. He sat for a moment debating whether +he should make an attempt to enter the wooded ravine from another +direction. He had fixed upon this place as the one in which to spend a +couple of hours or more, and as no similar resting-place was in sight, +he was reluctant to start ahead again. But something whispered to him +that the best thing he could do would be to leave without an instant's +delay. That strange stillness resting upon those stunted trees and +undergrowth had a meaning more significant than anything in the shape of +a grizzly bear.</p> + +<p>"Come, Pet, we're off again."</p> + +<p>The mustang wheeled to one side, and bounded away with the old speed, +which was more enjoyable to him than a moderate pace. At the very +instant of doing so, a mounted Apache shot out from the far end of the +ravine, and his horse bounded directly across the path of the young +fugitive. The steed of the latter saw the game so well that he needed no +direction, and he turned with such suddenness that Ned narrowly escaped +being thrown off his back. Quick as he was he had scarcely time to +change the direction he was pursuing, when the rider, to his dismay, +observed a second Apache issue from the other end of the ravine, and +thus, in a twinkling, as it may be said, he was placed between two +fires.</p> + +<p>It all took place with such marvelous suddenness that the lad was +completely baffled and bewildered, and, not knowing what to do, wisely +left the course of action to the mustang. At the same moment, he +comprehended how it was that, while he assured himself that he had +outwitted the Apaches, they had completely checkmated him. Their falling +back and giving up the chase was simply a ruse to throw him off his +guard. It had succeeded to perfection. While he was plodding along over +the prairie, the Apaches had circled around, gone ahead of him, and, +ensconcing themselves in the woods, had patiently waited for him to ride +into their arms.</p> + +<p>The sagacious mustang made another quick whirl, and shot to the right, +aiming to pass directly between the two horsemen. Seeing this, they both +did their best to head him off. At the best it was to be a narrow +chance, and Ned again threw himself forward and clasped his arms about +the neck of the faithful pony. He could not shut out the sight of his +ferocious pursuers, and as the three neared each other with the speed of +the whirlwind, he observed that each was loosely swinging several coils +of rope about his head. He knew what that meant. Determined upon +capturing him, they were about to call the lasso into requisition.</p> + +<p>But they could not "noose" him when his head was thrown forward in this +fashion, and resting closely against the soft mane of the mustang. He +was certain of that, for there was nothing for the spinning coil to +seize. And yet he saw distinctly the warrior who was nearest him +whirling the thong in swifter and swifter circles above his head in a +way that showed that he meant to fling it at something.</p> + +<p>What could the target be?</p> + +<p>Whiz—whiz! Out shot the loop like the dart of a rattlesnake, not at the +head of the frightened lad, but at that of the mustang!</p> + +<p>Ah! but the animal was intelligent and equal to the occasion. That +round, clear eye saw what was coming, and he was ready.</p> + +<p>The loop, guided with unerring precision, and thrown with great power, +was scarcely over the ears of the creature, when he dropped his head +like a flash. The coil, instead of passing over his nose, dropped like a +tossed wreath upon the top of his head, slid along his neck, and over +the crown and back of Ned Chadmund, who shivered as if he felt the +squirming of a cobra along his spine. The mustang burst into a +tremendous gait at this moment, and was drawing away from his pursuers +so rapidly that the lasso dropped off his haunches and the flying pony +was almost instantly beyond its reach.</p> + +<p>But the second Apache was near at hand and threw his thong from a closer +point, and with a venomous spitefulness that would not be evaded. He +evidently knew the horse, and was determined upon securing him. The +wonderful mustang, however, was equal to the occasion, and, with the +same flash-like motion, his beautiful head dropped still lower than +before, and the same useless sliding along his back was repeated.</p> + +<p>His speed was now tremendous, and he drew away so rapidly from both +horsemen that neither of them gained a second opportunity to try the +lasso upon him. Ned did not seek to control the motions or direction of +the noble steed. It knew better than did he what to do, and the boy only +clung to him the tighter, and prayed to Heaven to guard them both from +harm.</p> + +<p>It was not to be expected that the Apaches would submit quietly to be +baffled in this manner. Unable to capture either horse or rider, they +still had their rifles, and did not hesitate to call them into +requisition the moment it became apparent that no other recourse was at +their command.</p> + +<p>At the moment of firing perhaps fifty yards separated pursuer and +pursued. The two guns were discharged so nearly simultaneously, that +they might have well been mistaken for one. The escape of Ned was a +narrow one. He felt one of the bullets pierce his clothing, and a sting +in the hand told him that he had been slightly wounded. At the same +moment he felt a peculiar twitch or quiver of the steed, which indicated +that he also had been hit. It was like the jar of the smoothly-moving +machinery when some slight obstruction gets into the works. Still there +was no abatement of the tremendous speed of the magnificent little +animal, and Ned concluded that the hurt was not a serious one. A minute +later two more reports were heard, but they were faint and far away, and +the bullets sped wide of the mark.</p> + +<p>All danger was passed from that quarter, and once more Ned straightened +up, and, looking about him, felt that the Indian mustang he bestrode had +been the means of saving his life. But for him he would have been in the +hands of the Apaches long since.</p> + +<p>"I wonder whether there are Indians in every bush?" he said, as his eyes +roamed over the prairie in search of some place of shelter. "They seem +to be watching for me from every tree in the country. Well, my good +horse, we shall have to keep on the go till dark comes, when we'll get +some chance to creep off and hide."</p> + +<p>Looking to the southward, a wooded section was to be seen, but Ned +concluded to give all such places a wide berth for the present. He had +missed recapture by too narrow a chance to risk it blindly again. A long +distance to the northwest he discerned a range of hills of moderate +elevation, and it occurred to him that there was a suitable place in +which to spend the coming night. By journeying forward at this easy, +swinging pace, he calculated upon reaching them about nightfall, and in +the shelter which they offered he was confident of being able to hide +away beyond the vision of the most vigilant Apache or Comanche.</p> + +<p>"What has become of those fellows?" he abruptly asked himself, as his +eye glanced hastily around in search of the hunters from whom he had now +been separated the better portion of twenty-four hours. "I can't +understand how we got so far apart. If they meant the whole thing as a +joke, I think it is played out by this time."</p> + +<p>He was a little nettled when he came to reflect that the parting was +probably arranged by Dick and Tom for the purpose of giving him a lesson +in prairie traveling and prairie life. Perhaps they believed that some +amusement might be obtained in this way.</p> + +<p>"If they think I can't get along without 'em, I'll show them their +mistake," he said to himself. "There can't be many days' travel between +me and Fort Havens, and so long as I've got such a horse—he knows +better than they can how to keep me out of such scrapes—"</p> + +<p>At this juncture he was startled by the action of the mustang. He was +walking along, when he began staggering from side to side. Then he +paused, as if to steady himself. A groan followed and he sank heavily to +the ground, rolling upon his side so quickly that his rider narrowly +escaped being crushed beneath him. And then, as the dismayed Ned sprang +to his feet, he saw that his loved mustang was dead!</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIX" id="CHAPTER_XXIX"></a>CHAPTER XXIX.</h2> + +<h3>THE LONE CAMP FIRE.</h3> + + +<p>When the pursuing Apaches first fired their two shots, one of them +slightly wounded the hand of young Chadmund, while the other, +unsuspected by the lad, buried itself in the body of the mustang and +inflicted a fatal wound. It was characteristic of the noble creature +that his indomitable courage should remain to the last. He kept up his +astonishing speed until his rider voluntarily checked him, and then his +gait remained his natural one until nature succumbed and he dropped +dead.</p> + +<p>It would be hard to say which emotion was the most poignant in the +breast of the young wanderer. He had learned to love the noble mustang +during their brief companionship, and he had discovered, too, how +impossible it was for him to make any substantial progress without a +good horse to ride. He had lost the best steed he had ever bestrode, and +was again thrown upon his own resources. It was natural and creditable +to the lad that, as he looked at the fallen steed, and reflected how +faithfully he had served him, his hands should seek his eyes. So they +did, and he spent full ten minutes in a regular old-fashioned cry, such +as he had not enjoyed since receiving a good trouncing at the hands of +his parent.</p> + +<p>When his grief had subsided somewhat, he bade the unconscious form +good-bye, and with his rifle over his shoulder started ahead again. He +could not bear even to remove the blanket which was strapped around the +body of the mustang, and which was likely to be of great service to him +in his wanderings.</p> + +<p>It was already growing dark, when he aimed for the hills, and, as his +eye swept over the the prairie, he saw no Indian or sign of danger. He +was hopeful that for the time being, at least, he was free from +molestation. His greatest trouble was, that he was ravenously hungry +again, and he counted upon considerable difficulty in securing the +wherewithal with which to satisfy his cravings. True, he had gun and +ammunition, but the game which he wished to meet seemed to be, as a +rule, reluctant to put itself within his reach.</p> + +<p>After reaching the hills, the lad's next proceeding was to hunt up some +suitable spot in which to pass the night. The air was so warm and sultry +that he could have made no use of the blanket, had he possessed it. The +place was full of stunted trees and undergrowth, with jagged, irregular +masses of stone lying here and there, and constantly obtruding +themselves in such a way that he received a number of severe bruises.</p> + +<p>After tramping about for a short time he discovered that the hills were +mainly in the form of a ridge, passing over the crest of which he went +down the opposite slope and found himself among a mass of larger rocks, +and in a still wilder section. There, while searching, it occurred to +him that he might find a suitable retreat among the rocks. The sound of +trickling water directed his steps a little to the left, where a tiny +rivulet was found dripping down from the dark stones. After quenching +his thirst he renewed his hunt.</p> + +<p>Although he continued for some time, he was not as successful as he +desired. Nothing in the shape of a regular cavern presented itself, and +he finally nestled down beside one of the largest rocks which could be +discovered, with the intention of sleeping until morning.</p> + +<p>Ned thought it strange that he should feel so frightened. With the +gathering of darkness he grew so nervous that all possibility of sleep +was driven away. He examined his rifle several times—a curious mistrust +taking possession of him—and then arose to his feet and listened.</p> + +<p>All seemed as quiet as at creation's morn. There was a soothing +influence in the faint sound of the dripping water, and an almost +inaudible roar seemed to steal forth from the great prairie, such as is +sometimes noted when in the vicinity of the becalmed ocean. Without any +thought he thrust his hand into an inner pocket, when he felt a small +package wrapped up in paper. Wondering what it could be, he drew it +forth.</p> + +<p>It was a box of matches!</p> + +<p>Suddenly he remembered how they came there. On the day before leaving +Santa Fe it occurred to him that he would be likely to need such a +convenience, and he had carefully wrapped up a box and placed it in this +out-of-the-way corner, where it had lain forgotten.</p> + +<p>"That's lucky!" exclaimed the delighted lad, as he drew them out, +recognizing them more by the touch than by sight. "Now I'll build a big +fire, and fix things splendidly."</p> + +<p>A fire was his great desideratum, and, had he believed it possible +without great trouble and work, he would have kindled one before that. +The capture of a new horse could have pleased him scarcely more than the +discovery of the matches, and he set about reaping the advantage at +once.</p> + +<p>In such a place there was little difficulty in procuring fuel, and it +took Ned but a short time to gather all he could possibly need; but, to +guard against all contingencies, he continued collecting until he had a +huge pile, made up of dead limbs, branches, and a number of green sticks +thrown in. In a few minutes the flames were under way. He had kindled +them against the face of a rock, and they burned with a cheery +heartiness that did much to dispel the gloom which had begun settling +over him. He seated himself as near the fire as he could without being +made uncomfortable by the reflected heat, and then he assumed as easy a +position as was possible in such a place.</p> + +<p>"I wonder if anybody will see that?" he asked himself in a whisper, +after it had continued burning some time.</p> + +<p>Rising and reconnoitering the ground, he was gratified to learn that the +light was better screened than he had reason to expect, considering the +carelessness with which he had kindled it. The rock at the rear shut off +all view from that direction, while the undergrowth was so matted and +dense in front, that it seemed impossible for any one to see it from the +prairie. Having made this survey, he returned to his position, feeling +much easier in mind than before.</p> + +<p>"Strange what has become of Dick and Tom," he muttered, following up +this train of thought, as usual whenever he was left undisturbed for a +few minutes. "Can it be that they have been killed by the Apaches? It +might be, and yet I don't know how it could happen, either."</p> + +<p>He was still meditating upon this ever-interesting query, when he was +roused to a sense of his situation by the sound of something trampling +through the bushes behind him.</p> + +<p>"Indians!" he exclaimed, springing to his feet, rifle in hand, and +casting his terrified glance in the direction from whence came the +sound.</p> + +<p>The words were yet in his mouth, when he felt that he had committed a +blunder. No Indian would approach in that manner.</p> + +<p>"It must be some animal," was his conclusion, as he stepped back, so as +to bring himself as close to the fire as possible.</p> + +<p>The next moment, a huge, dark, unwieldy body advanced from the gloom +with a growl, and he saw an immense grizzly bear lumbering toward him. +As quick as thought his rifle was at his shoulder, and he fired full at +him, the distance being so short that he could not fail to hit the mark; +but the wound, however severe it might have been, was not fatal, and did +not deter bruin's advance in the least. Knowing that it would be sure +death if he were once seized by the powerful monster, and aware of the +dread which all animals have of fire, he dropped his gun and caught up a +blazing brand, which he flung in the very face of the brute.</p> + +<p>This was more than a bear, as courageous as was this giant grizzly, +could stand, and he retreated with an awkward haste which was +ridiculous. For the instant he was panic stricken, and continued falling +back until he was invisible in the gloom. But he was not disposed to +give up the contest by any means. Ned knew he would be back again, and +fortified himself as well as possible by hugging his own camp fire, +stooping down and holding himself ready to hurl another torch in the +brute's face if he should persevere in his attack.</p> + +<p>For several minutes all was quiet, and he began to hope that his fright +was such that he would keep at a respectful distance. Such was not the +case, however. A growl from another direction warned him that the brute +was about to advance from that quarter. The lad peered out into the +gloom, wondering whether the creature would eventually overcome his +dread to such an extent as to press him to the wall. At any rate, he was +not disposed to wait and hastily ran around to the other side of the +blaze, by which maneuver it was interposed directly between him and his +enemy.</p> + +<p>"I wonder what he will do now?"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXX" id="CHAPTER_XXX"></a>CHAPTER XXX.</h2> + +<h3>FIGHTING A GRIZZLY.</h3> + + +<p>The grizzly could not fail to detect the ruse of the boy, and he +countered by moving around to the other side of the fire, so that he +regained his former advantage. The nocturnal visitor had evidently set +his mind upon making his supper upon the little chap, whose plump, +robust appearance must have been a very tempting bait to him. The latter +was reluctant to repeat his maneuver, as, by doing so, he would be +forced to pass so near his foe that a big paw might reach out and grasp +him while on the way.</p> + +<p>"I'll have to fight you with fire," he said, as he seized a large stick, +one end of which was blazing.</p> + +<p>In the hope that he might give him a greater scare than before, the lad +swung it rapidly around his head until it was fanned into a roaring +flame. While this was going on, he was surrounded, as it appeared, by a +fiery circle, his appearance being such that the bravest quadruped +living could not have been induced to approach within his reach. Not +content with this, Ned assumed the aggressive. Stooping low, he emitted +a wild yell, and repeating this, pointed the torch forward and toward +him, moving it more rapidly and in a smaller circle, while at the same +time he kept slowly advancing upon him.</p> + +<p>No bear could be expected to withstand such a demonstration. The figure +of the yelling urchin, with his head surrounded by a blazing serpent, +must have struck terror to his very inmost being. Without pausing to do +more than to utter a short growl, he wheeled around and went crashing +through the undergrowth as if under the belief that a battery had been +suddenly unmasked and was about to open upon him. When he had retreated +a few rods he paused to see how matters appeared, when he again beheld +the horrid figure closer than ever and drawing nearer every moment. It +was appalling, and he plunged away at a greater speed than ever. Ned +pursued him until he was fearful of getting so far away from the camp +fire that he would lose it altogether. When he paused he could hear the +bear still tramping off, as if he already felt the torch blistering his +nose. Turning again, the lad ran with all speed to his "headquarters," +where he flung down his torch and caught up his gun.</p> + +<p>"Now I think I've got time to load it," he said, as he began the +operation at once, a little alarmed, however, to discover that the +supply of ammunition furnished him by Tom Hardynge was growing +alarmingly small.</p> + +<p>He succeeded in ramming the charge home, and then as he placed the cap +upon the tube, he felt something of the old confidence that was his when +astride the mustang and coursing over the prairie at a speed which no +horse could equal. When first charged upon by the monster he had fired +with such haste that he had no time to make any aim; now fortified by +his camp fire, he meant to improve upon that. Everything being ready, he +looked off into the gloom, but nothing was to be seen of the creature, +nor did the slightest sound betray his whereabouts.</p> + +<p>"He'll be sneaking back pretty soon," said the lad to himself, who was +resolved to remain on the watch.</p> + +<p>He was not kept waiting. A minute later he caught the slow crackling and +trampling of some heavy creature through the undergrowth, and he was +confident that his old enemy was close at hand. The lad sank down upon +one knee, so close to the fire that it scorched him, and awaited his +approach. But the grizzly had been so thoroughly scared that he hadn't +entirely recovered from it. When something like twenty feet away he +halted, and evidently began debating whether it would be prudent to +approach.</p> + +<p>Chadmund could not make out his figure distinctly, although he knew +precisely where he was; but, by and by, when the head moved a little, he +caught the phosphorescent glitter of the eyes. As the fire light shone +upon the gun-barrel he wanted no better opportunity, and, supporting the +weapon upon one knee, he pointed it straight at the center—that is, +directly between those glowing orbs, which remained stationary, as if in +waiting for the fatal messenger. It came the next moment. True to its +aim, the tiny sphere of lead entered the head of the bear at the most +vulnerable point, and the life went out from that huge mass. A rasping +growl, a few spasmodic throes, and it was all over.</p> + +<p>Ned was naturally exultant over his exploit, and he reflected that if +matters went on in the same fashion, he could soon lay claim to being +quite a hunter. He had shot an Indian, a buffalo, and a grizzly bear, +besides performing some other exploits not always accomplished by men.</p> + +<p>"I guess the best plan is to load again," he muttered, as he adopted +this precautionary measure. "That isn't the only grizzly bear in the +country."</p> + +<p>By this time the fire was running down, and the lad, throwing some more +fuel upon it, seated himself directly in front, prepared to watch for +further visitors. He had scarcely ensconced himself in this position +when his hair fairly rose on end at hearing a low but distinct, growl, +proving that some other unwelcome caller was about to pay him his +respects.</p> + +<p>He hurriedly looked in every direction, but could see nothing to explain +the cause of this alarming manifestation. It was so different from the +warning uttered by the grizzly that he knew it must be some other sort +of creature. Holding his rifle ready for instant use, he glanced +hurriedly about him, but, although the camp fire was throwing out a long +stream of light, no sign of an animal could be detected.</p> + +<p>"I'm sure I heard something," he repeated, still wondering and looking +around in search of the cause. "Hello! there it goes again. It sounds as +if it were somewhere up in the air—it is in the air!"</p> + +<p>The fire had been kindled against the face of a rock. This rock rose +perpendicularly a dozen feet above the ground below, where the fire was +burning, and where the lad was standing. As he looked up he saw the +gaunt figure of a large mountain wolf standing on the very edge of this, +looking down upon him, its lank jaws distended, its eyes glaring, and +its whole appearance that of a ferocious beast about to leap down upon +his head. The suggestion was so startling, that Ned uttered an +exclamation of terror, and leaped back several feet.</p> + +<p>It must be that when a wild beast comes across a boy, he concludes that +even though he carries a gun there is nothing to be feared from him. The +grizzly bear had shown a sublime indifference to Ned's capacity, and his +life had paid the forfeit. And now, although the mountain wolf must have +seen him raise that rifle and point it as straight as the finger of fate +directly at him, he paid no attention to it whatever; but there he +stood, snarling and growling, and on the very point of leaping.</p> + +<p>Suddenly there was a short, sharp crack, and it was all over with the +wolf. He must have gathered himself for a leap at that very moment; for +the bullet that bored his brittle skull through and through did not +prevent an outward bound. A faint yelp and the creature bounded full a +dozen feet directly out from the rock, and, owing to some curious quirp +of the muscles, turned a complete somerset, and would have landed +directly upon the head of Ned if he hadn't sprung to one side as the +carcass fell to the ground.</p> + +<p>"That settles your case," remarked the boy, with the indifference of an +old hunter. "Now it's time to load up again."</p> + +<p>This done he settled himself to watch and listen and play the part of +his own sentinel for the rest of the night. A faint moaning of the +night-wind was all that reached his ears. Once he fancied he heard the +report of a gun far away in the distance, but it was so faint that he +might have been mistaken. Then a cry, somewhat resembling that made by a +panther, was borne on the wind, but that, too, seemed to come from the +mountains that were miles away to the westward. No sound indicated the +presence of any further danger close at hand. Everything was quiet, and +seemingly at rest.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXI" id="CHAPTER_XXXI"></a>CHAPTER XXXI.</h2> + +<h3>SLEEP.</h3> + + +<p>The sentinel on his rounds, the watchman upon his beat, or the sailor +pacing the deck of his vessel in mid-ocean, keeps his senses awake by +the constant motion of his body. To sit down to rest for a few minutes +only is fatal. Sleep has the power of stealing over the faculties, and +wrapping them up in its embrace so insidiously, that no watchfulness can +guard against it unless artificial means, such as walking, are resorted +to. When Ned Chadmund resumed an easy position in front of his own camp +fire, the inevitable result followed. He resolved to keep his ears and +eyes open, and almost immediately closed them. A few minutes passed and +then his head began to nod. Several times he narrowly escaped tumbling +over, and, finally rousing, he vigorously rubbed his eyes, yawned, and +arose to his feet.</p> + +<p>"My gracious! this won't do," he exclaimed, with a shuddering sense of +the danger he was running. "A bear might steal right up to me and eat me +up before I could help myself. If I'm going to play sentinel, I must do +it like a man."</p> + +<p>Straightway he began pacing back and forth in front of the blaze, his +beat extending some twenty feet back and forth. He carried his rifle on +his shoulder and proved the thoroughness of his vigilance by an +occasional glance at the top of the rock, from which the mountain wolf +had made its death leap. The coast remained clear. The far-off sounds +which had attracted his attention a short time before were not repeated, +and, as the labor of walking back and forth grew a little wearisome, he +began to argue the question with himself.</p> + +<p>"I wonder whether there isn't some way of resting without working? If +I've got to walk all night, what shall I be good for to-morrow? I don't +see any fun in this sort of business. Ah, I know how I'll fix it; I'll +kindle two fires."</p> + +<p>He acted upon the idea at once. He had gathered such an abundance of +fuel that he had no fear of the supply running out. In a few minutes he +had a second fire started, about a dozen feet from the other, while he +stowed himself away directly between them. His position, he soon +discovered, was rather warmer than he anticipated, but he speedily +remedied this by permitting each fire to subside in a slight degree.</p> + +<p>"This is nice," he muttered, shrinking up against the rock. "I don't +think any wild creature would harm me unless he tumbled over the top of +the rock there and dropped on my head. Even then I think I should wake +up soon enough to use my gun on him. But then, I guess I won't go to +sleep."</p> + +<p>Five minutes later his head was nodding again, and utter unconsciousness +speedily followed. But one of the brands in the fire on his right fell, +and there was a slight crackling explosion of the embers—as is often +the case. A glowing spark flew outward and dropped upon the limp hand of +the sleeping youngster.</p> + +<p>Simultaneously there was a yell, and the lad leaped several feet from +the ground, dancing about like a rejoicing warrior and flinging his hand +as if he were trying to shake off some clinging reptile.</p> + +<p>"I should like to know who did that?" he exclaimed, a little confused by +the startling manner in which he had been aroused. "I guess I understand +how it all came about, though," he added, as he examined the stinging +blister upon the back of his hand.</p> + +<p>The pain from this little wound effectually banished all sleep for the +time. Ned busied himself in replenishing the fire, and then walked out +in the gloom and looked about. Everything was the same. The night was +dark,—no moon being visible,—and an oppressive sultriness was in the +atmosphere. It seemed as if some elemental disturbance were close at +hand, but in looking to the sky no presage of it could be discovered.</p> + +<p>After wandering about for some time, the lad spat upon some earth, and, +plastering it over the smarting blister, succeeded in shutting out the +air from it and secured considerable relief.</p> + +<p>"It must be that I am all alone," he added, standing still and +listening. "No one is near and no one sees me but God. He has taken care +of me in the past, and He will not forsake me in future," he added, +looking reverently upward.</p> + +<p>The old feeling of drowsiness again stole over him and he determined to +secure a night's rest—that is, during the portion of the night that +remained. Still the fact that the fires had run down somewhat raised the +inquiry in his mind as to what was likely to happen in case they went +out altogether. If any more grizzly bears should put in an appearance, +his situation would not be of the most inviting nature, but he had +argued himself into the belief that no further peril of this character +threatened. By placing a goodly amount of fuel upon the fires he hoped +to keep them going until daylight, or until his slumber was over. Had he +been able to find a suitable tree, he would have made his bed in that, +even at the risk of another disagreeable fall, but nothing of the kind +could be seen, and he had already grown weary of hunting for some hiding +place among the rocks. Accordingly, the camp fires were replenished and +he resumed his former position between them, covering his hands very +carefully, lest another spark should drop in the same place.</p> + +<p>"I wish it was colder!" he exclaimed, when he found the place growing +uncomfortably warm. "If it was winter now, I shouldn't want anything +nicer."</p> + +<p>He stood it like a hero, however, and by and by his place became more +pleasant, for the reason that the fuel was rapidly burning down. About +this time sleep regained possession of his senses, and, cramped up +though he was, with his back against the rock, his slumber was scarcely +less sound than if he were stretched out upon his blanket beneath a tree +in the forest.</p> + +<p>At the time young Chadmund relapsed into unconsciousness it was nearly +midnight, and for nearly two hours following there was scarcely the +slightest change in the surroundings. The fires burned low, until the +figure of the lad braced up against the rock grew dim and shadowy in the +deepening gloom. Scarcely a breath of air stirred the vegetation about +him, and everything seemed to be calculated to lull one into a deep, +soothing, dreamless sleep. But at the end of the time mentioned, +something came out of the undergrowth and advanced stealthily toward +him. It was vague, shadowy, and so dimly outlined that at first its form +could not be recognized; but as it glided closer to the fire, there was +enough light remaining to disclose the figure of another wolf.</p> + +<p>Like a phantom born of the gloom itself, it moved toward the unconscious +lad, until scarcely a dozen feet intervened. Then, as if directed by +Providence, one of the embers snapped apart, throwing out a sudden +flame, which momentarily lit up the surrounding darkness. Like a flash +the wolf slunk back, and then, pausing, stood and stared at the lad, +licking his jaws as if in anticipation of the feast he expected to enjoy +upon him.</p> + +<p>As the flames subsided again, and the same gloom crept over the scene, +the hideous creature stole up again, resolved to have the meal displayed +so temptingly before him. Once more he was within reach, still advancing +with jaws distended—ready to leap upon him. The boy slumbered +dreamlessly on. Still nearer crept the wolf until Ned was at his mercy.</p> + +<p>At this critical juncture, something whizzed from the upper surface of +the rock, with the velocity almost of a bullet. It was a tomahawk, +which, speeding true to its aim, struck the unsuspicious wolf fairly and +with such terrific force that his skull was cloven in twain as +completely as if smitten by the headsman's ax. There was scarcely time +for the wild yelp as he tumbled over backward. But, such as it was, it +aroused Ned, who sprang to his feet and gazed about him with an alarmed +and bewildered air. Before he could fairly comprehend what had taken +place he saw figures descending and approaching. It was too late to +retreat. He was surrounded.</p> + +<p>"I'm a goner now!" he muttered.</p> + +<p>But as the firelight brightened, he saw the kindly faces of Tom Hardynge +and Dick Morris.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXII" id="CHAPTER_XXXII"></a>CHAPTER XXXII.</h2> + +<h3>REUNITED.</h3> + + +<p>"How was it that you came to leave me for so long a time?" inquired Ned, +after he had welcomed his two friends with boyish enthusiasm and +congratulated himself upon his timely deliverance.</p> + +<p>"Wal," replied Tom, as the three took up a comfortable position before +the fire, "we started you off on that hunt on purpose to give you a +little taste of buffaler huntin', calc'latin' to foller on after ye in +the course of an hour or two. Afore we could do so, a war-party of a +hundred redskins got right atween us—didn't you see 'em?"</p> + +<p>"No such party as that."</p> + +<p>"In course they shut us out altogether. The worst of it was, we +exchanged a few shots back and forth with 'em, and they give us a brush; +so by the time we had dodged out of their way, we was a long ways off +from you. We couldn't do nothin' till mornin', and by that time the +buffaloes and Injuns had trampled out your trail, so that there was +nothin' to be seen of it, and we had to go it on general principles. We +had 'bout made up our mind that some of the varmints had gobbled you, +when we put eyes on this fire, and there ain't any use of tellin' any +more."</p> + +<p>The lad now in compliance with their request, related his entire +experience since their separation. Old and veteran hunters as they were, +and chary of praise as was their custom, they did not hesitate to +compliment him highly upon the courage he had displayed in the most +trying emergencies in which he was placed. His experience had, indeed, +been a most remarkable one, and Providence had protected him in a +wonderful manner.</p> + +<p>Everything being understood, and the past cleared up, it now became them +to look to the future. There were only two horses to three persons, and +as there were no means of obtaining one, it became necessary to divide +the lad between the two hunters—an arrangement which was easily made.</p> + +<p>But, although it might seem that the greatest danger of the company had +passed, the truth was, however, that the greatest was still before them, +and both Dick and Tom knew it. They were pursuing a journey in an almost +due south-westerly direction—precisely the course necessary to take in +order to reach home, as they had come to look upon Fort Havens. But +directly in their path was a broad level patch of country, interspersed, +here and there, with rocks and vegetation, over which both the Comanches +and Apaches were so constantly roaming that it would be impossible for a +white man to cross it without being discovered by some of the +war-parties.</p> + +<p>When Dick and Tom were coming from the other direction, they were seen, +and escaped only by the superior fleetness of their horses. But the +trouble was that while they were not expected and not watched for then, +now they were. The redskins were cunning enough to know that if two +hunters rode at full speed through their country in the direction of +Santa Fe, they would be very likely to return again in the course of a +few days, and, as Dick said, the reds "would be ready for 'em." +Consequently, it became not a question of fleetness; for, if it were, +the hunters could afford to have very little apprehension over the +result; but Tom Hardynge was well convinced that the Apaches, to the +number of a hundred or more, were distributed at different points, and +on the lookout for them. Indeed, he had already seen such evidence of +the fact that it could not be doubted. He did not consider it necessary +to tell their young friend all this, for he would learn it in due time.</p> + +<p>Such being the case it would have been a waste of time for the three to +remain where they were, while they had the sheltering darkness to screen +them in their flight; but the two mustangs had done a good deal of +traveling, and it was wise to give them the rest while it could be +gained. Here were water and grass, of which the animals were taking the +advantage. It was wise to husband their strength and endurance until the +following day.</p> + +<p>The hunters extinguished one camp fire entirely, and toned the other +down so that there was no possibility of its attracting the notice of +any one unless he passed very near at hand. Fortunately for Ned, they +had some very good and substantial lunch with them, with which his +hunger was fully satisfied. There still remained a little stock on hand, +which was reserved more for him than themselves. They were accustomed to +such privations and could stand it very well, but the lad was of too +tender years not to suffer keenly.</p> + +<p>The night was so far gone that no one attempted to obtain any sleep. The +hunters went out and examined the dead grizzly, learning his dimensions +by the sense of feeling alone. Tom picked up the tomahawk, and, wiping +off the blade upon the grass, shoved it down in his belt, with the +remark that it might come handy again before they reached Fort Havens. +The two then made an observation for the purpose of learning whether any +of the Indians were in the neighborhood. Nothing important was +discovered, however, and in due time the night ended and the morning +came again.</p> + +<p>The sun was scarcely up when they were under way. Ned at first was +placed upon the back of the mustang ridden by Dick Morris, and side by +side, the two fleet-limbed creatures left the ridge and took the +shortest route to Fort Havens. The gait was an easy, swinging one, which +the horses were capable of keeping up from rise of morn until set of +sun. The day was warm and sunshiny, but the air was so clear and pure +that the oppressiveness was much less than would have been the case in a +more northern latitude.</p> + +<p>Beyond the ridge, the country remained open, as the prairie was inclined +to be rolling than otherwise, but with a surface which permitted the +utmost swiftness of which an animal was capable. Occasionally patches of +wood and rocky elevations were discernible, but these were given a wide +berth in all cases, as they were the very places where the treacherous +enemies would have wished them to come. A herd of buffaloes, probably +the same seen a short time before, was discerned far to the south, but +they were passed by while still a long distance away.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXIII" id="CHAPTER_XXXIII"></a>CHAPTER XXXIII.</h2> + +<h3>CLOSING IN.</h3> + + +<p>The party pushed on until the greater portion of the forenoon was +passed, when Ned was transferred to the back of Tom's horse. The lad had +noticed that the hunters were acting in a strange manner, as though they +were ill at ease, and were apprehensive that peril of some kind was +approaching.</p> + +<p>Dick Morris rode fully a hundred yards in advance of his comrade, and +the motion of his head showed that there was no part of the horizon that +was not under his surveillance. Tom was equally busy while riding in the +rear. Neither of the hunters addressed a word to the other, but the boy +detected a sort of telegraphy occasionally passing between them. They +were working by a preconcerted arrangement, like corresponding parts of +some machine, understanding each other so well that there was no need +for explanation. The boy also used his to the best advantage possible, +often turning his head and scanning the prairie and horizon, but not a +single time did he discern anything that looked like Indians. Had he +been alone, he would have journeyed serenely forward, certain that no +danger of any kind threatened.</p> + +<p>At noon, a brief halt was made as they struck the margin of a small +stream, the water of which was rather warm and muddy, the buffaloes +having probably disturbed it at some point above. The horses quaffed +their fill, and upon the suggestion of Tom, Ned did the same. There was +a good deal of significance when he uttered the words.</p> + +<p>"It may be a good while before you get a chance at another."</p> + +<p>It did not escape the notice of the lad, either, that both his friends +filled to the full their old canteens, after which they repaired to one +side, where they conversed for some time in low tones, and with such +earnest, excited gestures, that it was plain they were in deadly +earnest.</p> + +<p>"I don't see why they keep everything from me," he muttered, as he +observed this. "I think I've seen as big sights as they have for the +last few days, and if there's any trouble coming, I wonder whether I +haven't got to take my chance the same as them? But I'll let them alone +till they get ready to tell me."</p> + +<p>He was watching the two as they were talking to each other, when Tom +beckoned to him to approach.</p> + +<p>"There's no use of talkin'," said the hunter, in a low voice; "we're +gettin' into the worst scrimmage of our lives. We're right in the middle +of a dangerous tract. We've been seen by the Apaches and they're arter +us."</p> + +<p>"Why don't you wait until night and go through when they can't see you?"</p> + +<p>The hunter shook his head at this seemingly reasonable query.</p> + +<p>"The darkness is worse for us than it is for them. They can lay flat on +the perarie and hear the sound of the hosses' feet a good deal further +off than they can see 'em, and the scamps are so cunnin' they would have +drawn us right into some ambush afore we'd knowed anythin' about it. No, +we must try it with our eyes open and the sun shinin'."</p> + +<p>"But what of it?" asked Ned, who did not see why their position need be +looked upon as so critical. "Your mustangs are as fleet as theirs. How +are they going to catch you?"</p> + +<p>The whole difficulty was then made clear to the lad. If the Apaches were +nowhere but in the rear, it would be an easy matter to give them the +slip, but they were on the right and left, and in front, and signs that +had been seen through the day indicated very clearly that the Indians +were carrying out to the letter the plan of which the hunters had +spoken, and which they dreaded so much. They had already surrounded +them, the circle being quite a number of miles in diameter, and were now +simply drawing in their lines.</p> + +<p>This, as a matter of course, made a collision inevitable, unless the +hunters could manage to steal between these redskins, and, by striking +the open country beyond, place the entire company in their rear. Such a +plan as this was scarcely possible of accomplishment.</p> + +<p>If attempted during the daytime, it would be instantly detected by some +of the redskins, who would notify the proper ones, when an immediate +concentration would take place in front of the fugitives. If tried +during the darkness of night, it would fail. The Apaches would take +every imaginable precaution against it and there was no means of +concealing the noise made by hoofs. By going on foot they could get +through the lines without difficulty; but they could not commit the +imprudence of leaving their horses. The situation, therefore, was +critical. Tom made known two most important facts. The first was that +beyond a doubt Lone Wolf was at the head of the whole enterprise, and +they were likely to meet with this treacherous chief again. The second +was that, in case they were driven to the wall, the hunters had +determined upon taking refuge in a place known as Hurricane Hill.</p> + +<p>"It's nothing more than a pile of rocks," added Hardynge. "I've been +there before, and it's just the spot to make a desp'rit stand. Two men +like us, if we can reach the right p'int, can keep a hundred of the +redskins back."</p> + +<p>"Won't they get there ahead of us?" asked Ned.</p> + +<p>"I think not," replied the hunter, in that hesitating manner which +showed that he had thought of the contingency before; "for the reason +that I b'leve they'd like to have us run there; but, come, let's be +off."</p> + +<p>That the mustangs might be relieved, the lad was now taken on the back +of Dick's, and the journey toward the southwest was resumed at the same +sweeping gallop. Tom took the lead, carefully scanning the ground over +which they traveled. For an hour all went well, and then he reined up +his steed with startling suddenness.</p> + +<p>"Look yonder!" he said, pointing to the south.</p> + +<p>Glancing in the direction indicated, the boy saw a number of moving +specks, apparently on the very horizon.</p> + +<p>"Injuns," said Dick, in a low voice, although the boy scarcely needed +the explanation to know they were their old enemies—mounted Apaches.</p> + +<p>"Do you see 'em?"</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"Now take a peep off there."</p> + +<p>This time the hunter pointed exactly opposite, where almost precisely +the same thing was visible.</p> + +<p>"Now, I s'pose you understand how it all is? They've been keeping along +with us all day, a little ahead, and all the time closing in a little. +They've got things down to a dot, and mean bus'ness, you can bet."</p> + +<p>"But are we anywhere near Hurricane Hill?"</p> + +<p>"Yonder it is."</p> + +<p>Several miles in advance, a dark, mound-like obstruction appeared +against the sky. It was so far away that it was seen only indistinctly, +but its character was evidently such as described by the hunter.</p> + +<p>"Are you going for it?"</p> + +<p>"We are."</p> + +<p>And, suiting action to his words, they immediately broke into a gallop +which was more rapid than before.</p> + +<p>The situation, especially to the boy, became painful in its thrilling +intensity. He required no telling to know that the dreaded programme +described by his friends was being carried out to the letter. The +Apaches were steadily closing in upon them, and it was evident that, if +they chose to do so, they could effectually shut them out from reaching +their vantage ground. Young Chadmund dreaded such a course upon their +part. Somehow or other he had grown to look upon Hurricane Hill as their +haven of safety. The few words of recommendation that Tom Hardynge had +given it caused this belief upon his part. He did not pause to ask +himself what was to be done after reaching it.</p> + +<p>Suppose it could be gained in perfect safety, what then? If they should +prove themselves fully able to keep a whole host of Apaches at bay, how +was the siege to end? If the Indians should content themselves with +merely waiting until hunger and thirst could do their work, what more? +These questions naturally occurred to the men themselves, but it came +back to Hobson's choice after all. And so they dashed ahead, gradually +increasing their speed, while the Apaches, with the regularity of +machine work, as gradually drew in upon them.</p> + +<p>"Will they cut us off?" inquired Ned, when the chase had continued for +some time.</p> + +<p>"Guess not," replied Dick; "but it don't make much difference."</p> + +<p>"Why not?"</p> + +<p>"'Cause it begins to look as if they had a dead sure thing of it," said +the scout, sententiously.</p> + +<p>"I hope not—I hope not," said the trembling lad, who could only pray +that Heaven would not desert them in the peril which was encompassing +them on every hand.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXIV" id="CHAPTER_XXXIV"></a>CHAPTER XXXIV.</h2> + +<h3>HURRICANE HILL.</h3> + + +<p>While yet at a considerable distance, the full force of the Indians +became developed. They were divided almost equally, fifty being on +either hand, and their speed still remained such that the main portion +kept ahead of the fugitives, with about half a mile intervening between +them and their pursuers. It may have been fancy, but Tom Hardynge +maintained that he was able to recognize Lone Wolf among the redskins on +the right, and when a short time afterward Dick Morris emphatically +asserted the same thing, it began to look as if the belief were well +founded.</p> + +<p>The sun was quite low in the sky, and the gait of the mustangs began to +tell upon them. The two were galloping side by side, and going nearly at +full speed. Both Tom and Dick were angry at being forced into such a +position, which, to them, was a cowardly flight from a lot of wretches +whom they despised and hated.</p> + +<p>"I must give 'em my compliments," suddenly exclaimed the latter, when +they were within rifle shot of each other. As he spoke, he raised his +gun, and fired into Lone Wolf's band.</p> + +<p>He seemed to take no aim at all, and, indeed, there was little necessity +for it, as the Indians were so numerous and compact. A yell followed and +then a commotion, showing very plainly that the shot had told.</p> + +<p>"I reckon I'll try it again, it works so well," said Dick, repeating the +demonstration, except that he aimed to the company on the left. He took +a little more pains to guard against throwing his shot away and the +result was similar to the first.</p> + +<p>"Now we'll catch it," said the terrified Ned, crouching down beside the +hunter, who like his friend was engaged in reloading his gun.</p> + +<p>But there was no return fire. The Apaches, evidently, had concluded that +they could wait. The shots, however, resulted somewhat advantageously +for the fugitives, who, during the momentary confusion thus created, +managed to crowd a little ahead. The horses were then put to a dead run +and the final rush made for Hurricane Hill, the last refuge for which +the fugitives could flee, seeing which, the Indians converged toward +them, and made every effort to shut them off.</p> + +<p>Although the hunters had apparently used their utmost endeavors up to +this time, they had husbanded the strength of their animals so cleverly +that their pursuers themselves were deceived, and when they expected to +interpose themselves directly across the path, they beheld them flying +like a whirlwind toward the rocks.</p> + +<p>The few hundred yards remaining between the latter and Hurricane Hill +were passed in a few seconds by the fleet-footed mustangs. Ned was +fairly dazed by the bewildering rush of events, and hardly able to keep +track of their order. He saw the hurrying warriors directly behind them, +and the rough, cragged mass of rocks in front. The next moment he was +off the mustang. The scouts had checked their beasts at the same instant +at the base of Hurricane Hill, and, leaping to the ground, skurried up +the steep incline by which its surface was reached. The feet of the lad +did not touch the earth. Dick, who was slightly in advance, carried him +under his arm as if he were an infant snatched up in haste, and the men +bounded toward the top of the hill, the whole howling horde at their +heels.</p> + +<p>Hurricane Hill, it should be stated, was a pile of rocks about one +hundred feet in diameter, with half that height. On one side a narrow +path led upward at an angle of forty-five degrees, and, as it permitted +only one to pass at a time, the place, with a few defenders, was +impregnable against almost any force. This path upward was filled with +loose, rattling stones, which sometimes made one's foothold treacherous, +and it also made several curious turns, so that, after ascending a rod +or so, one was shut out from the view of those upon the ground below.</p> + +<p>The very instant this point was reached Dick Morris dropped the lad and +exclaimed:</p> + +<p>"Now run like thunder, and don't stop till you reach the top."</p> + +<p>Then, wheeling about, he leaped back several paces to the assistance of +Tom, who was defending the pass like a second Leonidas against the +swarming warriors.</p> + +<p>A huge, stalwart redskin, who probably believed his strength to be +superior to that of the scouts, advanced boldly and seized him, with the +evident purpose of drawing him down among the others and making him a +prisoner in spite of himself. But he found he had made a slight +miscalculation when he was lifted like a child from the ground and +hurled over the heads and among the glowering redskins crowding below. +The momentum of his body was such that a half dozen were forced backward +and almost off their feet. Had the Apaches chosen to do so, it would +have been an easy matter to have shot all three of the fugitives, or +even two of them, and taken the lad; but they had some old score against +Tom and Dick, which could not be wiped out by mere death alone. Now that +such a fine opportunity was presented for securing them and indulging in +all the luxury of torture, they were not the ones to throw away the +chance. Hence, they persistently refused to fire and as persistently +forced their way upward.</p> + +<p>This check, which might have been simply temporary, was emphasized and +made more permanent in its character by Dick, who at the critical moment +seized a goodly sized rock, which he drove down among the wretches like +the discharge from a fifty pounder. It made terrible work and the +discomfited Apaches retreated tumultuously to the bottom, while the +hunters hastened away again to the top of the hill. Ned was there +awaiting their coming with the most painful misgiving about their coming +at all. He knew from the uproar that a desperate fight was raging in the +narrow pass, and he feared that the resentful Apaches would overcome the +braver hunters, who were defending themselves so desperately. But there +they were at last, with the announcement that their enemies had fallen +back and a temporary peace was given them.</p> + +<p>"Can't expect it to last long, howsomever," added Tom, who breathed +scarcely any faster from his terrific exertions. "Them skunks are bound +to swallow us whole, and we've got to kick hard to prevent it."</p> + +<p>As soon as a little breathing time had been gained, the besieged made an +examination of their immediate surroundings, to learn the probable form +in which this business was likely to end. The hunters removed all +superfluous articles from their persons,—in the shape of canteens and a +few appurtenances,—like pugilists who are stripping for a fight.</p> + +<p>The surface of Hurricane Hill was generally level, and free from the +boulders and obstructions which one would naturally expect to find +there, which Tom Hardynge explained by saying that they had all been +rolled down upon the Indians below by parties who had been driven to +this <i>dernier resorte</i> years before. The position of the three, +therefore, was very much as if they were upon the extensive top of a +tower which was reached by a narrow stairway, their province being to +defend it against all comers.</p> + +<p>For some time after the repulse of the Apaches, all remained quiet. Of +course, they took charge of the two mustangs that the fugitives had been +compelled to leave behind in their flight and then disposed themselves +around the refuge, like those who had made up their minds to wait until +the fruit dropped into their hands.</p> + +<p>The afternoon was drawing to a close, and Ned naturally viewed the +coming night with distrust. Darkness seemed to be the appropriate time +for the fiends to work, and more than once he shuddered as he pictured +in his imagination the merciless wretches swarming up the narrow path +and spreading over the top, like the rush of waters when bursting up +from some hidden fountain.</p> + +<p>"All we've got to do is to keep our eyes open," said Dick, with a most +reassuring manner. "If I could have plenty to eat and drink, with the +privilege of sleeping a little now and then, I wouldn't want any better +fun than to stay up here for a few months and crack their heads as they +come up."</p> + +<p>"Shall I do the watching to-night?"</p> + +<p>"Not much," grinned Dick. "Tom takes the first half, me the last, and +that's as good a way as we can fix it."</p> + +<p>"And what shall I do to help?"</p> + +<p>"Go to sleep as soon as it is dark, and don't wake up for three or four +days—and even then you must not be dry or hungry."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXV" id="CHAPTER_XXXV"></a>CHAPTER XXXV.</h2> + +<h3>THE SENTINEL.</h3> + + +<p>Ned then understood why the two scouts had taken pains to fill their +canteens at the brook during the day, and why, also, they so religiously +preserved the little lunch still remaining in their possession. It was +to guard against just such a contingency.</p> + +<p>As the sun approached the horizon, the lad seated himself upon a rocky +protuberance and looked off over the surrounding country. To the west, +the blue, misty outlines of a moderately high range of mountains shut +off all further view.</p> + +<p>"Just beyond that," he said to himself, as he fixed his eyes upon the +elevation, "Tom tells me is Fort Havens, where father is waiting for me. +If he only knew we were here, he might come to our relief. Wouldn't he +scatter the redskins down there? But I don't know how he will find it +out. Oh! if we were only among those mountains, it wouldn't take us long +to go the rest of the way. I suppose the fort can be seen from their +top."</p> + +<p>To the south, a stratum of yellow vapor stretched for forty degrees +along the horizon. There were no buffaloes there, but there had been, +and it was the evidence of their passage. To the north, the view was +broken by ridges, patches of wood, and curious irregularities of +surface, but there was no sign of life among all, nor could it be +detected except by peering over the edge of Hurricane Hill down upon the +assembled besiegers below. He noticed that Tom Hardynge, shading his +eyes with his hand, was gazing off with a fixed intensity in the +direction of the mountains which intervened between them and Fort +Havens. He said nothing, but there was a significance in his persistency +which aroused the curiosity of the lad in no small degree. Could it be +that his keen vision detected something tangible toward the setting sun, +which was hidden from view by the mountain range? Or was it the mere +searching for something upon which to hang his hopes?</p> + +<p>Dick Morris was very differently occupied, acting, indeed, as if unaware +that anyone else was upon the hill-top besides himself. Crawling to the +edge, he was stretched out flat upon his face, his hat removed, while he +peered stealthily downward upon the crowd below. Probably, he, too, was +searching for something or somebody. There was so much meaning in his +actions that the interest of the lad centered upon him, and he watched +every motion.</p> + +<p>The hunter fidgeted around for a few minutes, as if his posture was not +exactly comfortable, and then hastily projecting his gun over the +margin, he took a quick aim and fired, and then flinging the weapon +aside, looked down again to see the result. All at once, he sprang to +his feet, and stamped back toward the center of the plateau, in a +terrific rage.</p> + +<p>"Ain't it awful!" he exclaimed, adding a forcible expletive. "Did I ever +make a bigger mistake?"</p> + +<p>"What do you mean, Dick?"</p> + +<p>"Hit the wrong skunk."</p> + +<p>"How is that?" asked Tom, turning toward him.</p> + +<p>"I've been figuring around for half an hour so as to draw a bead on Lone +Wolf, and just as I pulled the trigger, I found I'd hit the wrong one. +It's trying to one's feelings to be disappointed that way."</p> + +<p>"I don't b'leve you'll get a chance at him," said Tom, as he seated +himself and resumed his patient scrutiny of the western horizon.</p> + +<p>However the scout was not quite in despair, and, reloading his piece, he +returned to his position and resumed his watch. But the mistake he had +made operated against him in every way. It apprised the Apaches of their +danger from this sort of sharp-shooting, and the whole force fell back, +while Lone Wolf, who was shrewd enough to know that his life was in +special demand, made sure that he was out of range of those fatal +rifles. Besides this, it was rapidly growing dark, and before Dick could +gain any kind of a chance at all, the light was too dim to afford him +the indispensable aim.</p> + +<p>The hunters showed a business-like manner of doing things. As soon as it +was fairly dark, Dick Morris gave up his hunt for Lone Wolf, and, +remarking that there would be no fun until the morrow, rolled over and +away from the margin, and was sound asleep within ten minutes.</p> + +<p>"You'd better do the same," said Tom to the lad, as he left him alone, +and moved down the incline to the position he intended to occupy while +acting as sentinel during the first portion of the night.</p> + +<p>Ned remained up a considerable time, when, as there seemed to be nothing +going on of an alarming nature, he concluded to step out and do the +same, if he could control his nerves enough to do so. He was both hungry +and thirsty, but not to a very great degree, and as his companions said +nothing about eating or drinking, he made up his mind to wait until the +morrow. It was about an hour before he became entirely unconscious, but +when he shut his eyes they were not opened until morning.</p> + +<p>Before that time, however, Tom Hardynge became involved in a little +difficulty. The point where he located was about half way between the +base and top of Hurricane Hill. Here the path made such an abrupt bend +that it was easy to conceal himself, and still keep a sharp watch upon +any one coming from below. It was the hunter's belief that an attempt +would be made by the Apaches to steal upon them before morning; for, +while their enemies were ready to wait three or four days, or as long as +was necessary, yet it was to be expected that they would prefer to force +matters to a conclusion as speedily as possible. If they could crowd up +to the top of the hill and overwhelm the fugitives, they were willing to +incur the risk of losing several lives that they might do so. +Accordingly, when he assumed his position it was with the expectation +that there would be something on the carpet before long.</p> + +<p>Nor was he disappointed. For two hours not the slightest sound reached +his ears, and then a pebble softly rattled down the incline below him. +There might have been no human agency in this slight occurrence, as the +loose <i>débris</i> was likely to do the same thing at any moment, but Tom +believed that it was caused by the moccasin of an Apache stealing +upward. He stealthily peeped around the edge of the rock, but nothing +was to be seen. There was a moon in the sky, but its position was such +that the path was thrown in shadow, and he could not have detected a man +a dozen feet distant.</p> + +<p>Fifteen minutes more passed and then the scout became certain that an +Indian was stealing up the path toward him. It was a wonder how the +thing could be done, without sending streams of gravel and pebbles +rattling to the bottom. Hardynge straightened up, still peering around +in the gloom.</p> + +<p>The moments wore away and still he was able to detect that soft, faint +gliding, as if a rattlesnake were getting into a position to strike its +prey. By and by—yes, he could now make out the crouching figure +approaching through the darkness and he drew back lest he should be +seen. Nearer and nearer it drew, while he remained as motionless as the +solid rock beside him. Finally, after great delay it stood opposite.</p> + +<p>At the very instant it was passing the hand of Tom Hardynge shot +straight out with lightning-like quickness and force, and the knife +clutched in his iron-like grasp did its duty well. No outcry proclaimed +the deed. There was only a gasp and all was over. The moment it was done +the hunter straightened up and listened.</p> + +<p>"Mebbe there's another behind him."</p> + +<p>But the most patient, careful listening failed to detect anything, and, +leaving the body lying where it had fallen, he went noiselessly to the +top where Dick was sleeping. A gentle touch aroused the latter and he +instantly rose to his feet. A few words told him all that had happened +and then the two hurriedly discussed the scheme which had occurred to +Hardynge a short time before. Two minutes only were needed for them to +reach a conclusion.</p> + +<p>"I'll do it," muttered Tom, as they arose and began picking their way +down the path.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXVI" id="CHAPTER_XXXVI"></a>CHAPTER XXXVI.</h2> + +<h3>A DESPERATE SCHEME.</h3> + + +<p>The two scouts carefully descended until they reached the spot where the +dead Apache lay. They moved as noiselessly as shadows until they stood +directly by the inanimate form. Then, while Tom Hardynge began adjusting +his outer garments, Dick Morris stooped over and drew forth the blanket +which was crumpled beneath the dead warrior.</p> + +<p>The Apaches and Comanches and different tribes of the southwest nearly +always carry their blankets with them when traveling, and when this +particular Indian essayed his perilous reconnaissance on a sultry summer +night that garment was flung over his shoulders. These savages as a +rule, do not wear their hair done up in the defiant scalp-lock form seen +among their more northern kindred. It hangs loosely about their heads +and shoulders, being ornamented with stained feathers, the hair itself +frequently daubed with brilliant paint.</p> + +<p>Tom gathered the blanket about him precisely as did the warrior, and +then, his own cap being thrown aside, the feathers were stuck in among +the tresses with all the skill of the veteran warrior. As he wore +leggings the same as the redskin, his <i>tout ensemble</i> was complete. +Beneath his blanket he carried his rifle, pistol and knife, and even +took the tomahawk from the girdle of the fallen brave, and managed to +stow that about his clothing. Even now the two comrades spoke not a +word. They merely shook hands in a silent, cordial grasp, and almost +immediately became invisible to each other. Dick remained where he was +for several minutes, listening and looking, and then, hearing nothing, +moved back toward his former position, muttering as he went:</p> + +<p>"If anybody can get through 'em, Tom's the boy—but it's a powerful +desprit scheme—a powerful desprit one!"</p> + +<p>Reaching the top, he crawled again to the margin, and stretched out with +his head partly over. Eye-sight was of no avail now, and he depended +upon hearing alone, believing that by that means he would be able to +learn the success or failure of the maneuver. But not until nearly an +hour had passed did he begin to feel anything like a real hope that his +comrade had succeeded.</p> + +<p>In the meantime, Tom was doing his best. It was no easy task for him to +pass safely through the Apache lines in the guise of an Indian. The +redskins would be on the lookout for the return of their scout, and the +ordeal through which he would have to pass would be a much more severe +one than usual. But he was accustomed to desperate schemes, and ready +for any sort of encounter. If discovered immediately, he meant to dash +back again up the rocks; but if he could get any distance away, he would +make a determined effort to elude his enemies altogether.</p> + +<p>Following out his plan with the deliberation of a veteran, he stole +slowly downward, consuming fully half an hour before he reached the base +of Hurricane Hill. When, at length, he stood upon hard ground below, he +was taken somewhat back by seeing no one near him.</p> + +<p>"That's queer," he said; "what's become of the skunks?"</p> + +<p>He had scarcely uttered the words when a tall form suddenly appeared at +his side, coming up as if he had risen from the very ground.</p> + +<p>"Do the hunters sleep?"</p> + +<p>This question was asked in pure Apache, and Tom, somewhat distrustful of +his own ability in that line, managed to muffle his blanket up in front +of his mouth as he replied in the same tongue:</p> + +<p>"They sleep not."</p> + +<p>"Where is their scalps, Mau-tau-ke?"</p> + +<p>"On their heads."</p> + +<p>The warrior was no more than ten feet distant, and from the moment the +scout detected him he began edging away, the Indian naturally following +along while these words were being uttered, so as to keep within easy +ear-shot. Upon hearing the second reply to his question, he paused, and +Tom, dreading a betrayal, grasped the handle of his knife under his +cloak, and was ready to use it on the instant. But the Indian remained +standing, while Tom, still moving away in his indifferent manner, soon +passed beyond his view.</p> + +<p>"I guess he's stopped to think," was the conclusion of the scout, as he +looked back in the gloom, "and it'll be some time before he's through."</p> + +<p>But the trouble now remained as to how he should pass through the Apache +lines beyond. If the redskins had any suspicion of any such movement, or +if the warrior whom he had just left were suspicious, serious trouble +was at hand.</p> + +<p>The hunter sauntered aimlessly along, using his eyes and ears, and a +walk of something over a hundred yards brought him up against a number +of figures that were stretched out and sitting upon the ground, with +several standing near at hand.</p> + +<p>They showed no surprise at their "brother's" approach, and he was +confident that, if they didn't undertake to cross-question him too +closely, he stood a good chance of getting through. As they were +gathered too closely at this point he made a turn to the right, and, to +his amazement, not a word was said or the least notice taken of him, as +he walked directly by. That was succeeding, indeed; but Tom was not yet +ready to leave the neighborhood. He wanted his horse, Thundergust, and, +once astride of him, his heart would be light as a bird; but in looking +around he could not discern a single horse.</p> + +<p>It would be useless to attempt to reach Fort Havens on foot. The Apaches +would detect his flight by daylight, which was only a few hours away, +and they could overhaul him before he could go any distance at all. No, +he must have his horse, and he began his search for him. This was a +delicate task; but he prosecuted it with the same skill and +<i>nonchalance</i> that he had displayed heretofore.</p> + +<p>He had stolen along for a short distance, when he descried some twenty +horses corraled and cropping the grass, while a still larger number were +lying on the ground. Was his own among them? he asked himself, as he +stood looking in that direction, while he dimly discerned the figures of +the warriors upon his left. Very cautiously he gave utterance to a +slight whistle. There was no response, although he suspected it was +heard by the redskins themselves. Then he repeated it several times, +walking a little nearer the group of equines.</p> + +<p>All at once one of their number rose from the ground with a faint +whinney, and came trotting toward him. At the same time several Indians +came forward from the main group, their suspicions fairly awakened by +these maneuvers.</p> + +<p>One of these suddenly broke into a run, as he descried the mustang +trotting toward the warrior-like figure shrouded in his blanket. There +was no doubt in his mind that something was wrong. The scout stood like +a statue, as though he saw not the approach of the man or horse. The +latter as if distrustful of the shape of things moved so reluctantly +that the redskin beat him in reaching the goal.</p> + +<p>"What means Mau-tau-ke?" he demanded, in a gruff voice, as he clutched +his shoulder. "Is he a dog that—"</p> + +<p>The poor Apache scarcely knew what disposed of him. It was with the +suddenness of the lightning stroke, and, flinging back the dirty blanket +that had enshrouded his form, the scout pointed his revolvers at the +others, fired three shots, accompanied by a screech loud enough to wake +the dead. Then, springing toward his mustang, he vaulted upon his back, +wheeled about, and thundered away, like the whirlwind across the +prairie.</p> + +<p>This demonstration was so unexpected and so appalling that the Apaches +were effectually checked for a time. Before they could recover, mount +their horses, and start in pursuit, the fugitive was beyond their sight. +It was useless to pursue, at any rate, for there was no steed among them +all that could overtake the flying mustang, whose hoofs were plainly +heard upon the prairie, rapidly growing fainter as the distance +increased. In a few minutes it had died out altogether, and, ferocious +as was the hatred of the redskins toward the hunter who had outwitted +and injured them so often, no one made any effort to overhaul him.</p> + +<p>Tom Hardynge, every few seconds, let out a regular Apache war-yell, +intended as exultation, taunt and defiance. He could afford it, for he +had triumphed as completely as heart could covet. The magnificent +Thundergust instinctively knew their destination, and the reins lay +loosely upon his neck as he sped away. He was aiming for Fort Havens. It +was a long distance away, and many hours must pass before its flagstaff +could be detected against the far-off horizon.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXVII" id="CHAPTER_XXXVII"></a>CHAPTER XXXVII.</h2> + +<h3>THE TWO DEFENDERS.</h3> + + +<p>Dick Morris, stretched out full length upon the top of Hurricane Hill, +peering down in the impenetrable gloom, understood all that had passed. +There was no mistaking that yell of Tom Hardynge; he had heard it many a +time before in the heat of conflict, and it generally meant something.</p> + +<p>"Go it, old chap!" he shouted, swinging his hat over his head, as he saw +the whole thing in his imagination. "Them 'ere pistol-barks show there's +been some bitin' done. Business is business."</p> + +<p>He noted, too, the sounds of the mustang's hoofs growing fainter and +fainter, until the strained ears could detect them no longer. Tom +Hardynge had safely passed through the Apache lines. It was a daring and +desperate feat indeed, but it had succeeded to perfection. Nothing now +remained to hinder his flight direct to Fort Havens.</p> + +<p>"I rather think somebody's mad," exulted Dick, who was fully as proud +over the exploit of his comrade as was Tom himself. "There ain't much +doubt but what there'll be lively times here before long. They know +there's only two of us, counting in the little chap, and they'll make a +rush. Let 'em do it. If they can get up by that corner where the other +fellow dropped they're welcome, that's all."</p> + +<p>And with this conclusion he left the top of the hill and picked his way +down the path, until he reached the spot where he had parted from his +comrade. Here he stooped down with the purpose of picking up the body of +the warrior and flinging it down upon the heads of those below. To his +astonishment, it was gone!</p> + +<p>He searched around for several minutes, venturing to descend some +distance, but it was missing.</p> + +<p>"I don't think he could have got up and walked away," said the hunter, +as he scratched his head over the occurrence. "No, it couldn't have been +that, for Tom don't strike any such blows any more than I do."</p> + +<p>It followed, then, as a matter of course, that after the discovery of +the trick, some brother Apache had stolen his way up the path and +removed the body, a proceeding which Dick Morris hardly suspected until +he was really compelled to believe it.</p> + +<p>"If I'd only knowed he was coming," he growled, "how I would have lammed +him; but he's come and gone, and there ain't any use in cryin' over it."</p> + +<p>He waited and listened carefully, and once or twice a slight rattling of +the gravel caused him to suspect that some of the redskins were +attempting to steal upon him; but if such were the case, they must have +contented themselves by not approaching within striking distance.</p> + +<p>Finally the night wore away, and the dull light of morning began +stealing over the prairie. As soon as objects could be distinguished, he +returned to his position upon the top of the rock and made his +observations.</p> + +<p>Little, if any, change was discernible in the disposition of the +besieging Indians. Their horses were gathered at some distance, where +the grass was quite rank. The warriors had assumed all the indolent +attitudes which are seen in a body of men that have more time at their +disposal than they know what to do with. They had shifted their position +so far back that they were beyond good rifle range; for although a +hunter like Dick Morris could have picked off a redskin nine times out +of ten, yet he could not "pick his man." Lone Wolf had attired himself +precisely as were the rest of his warriors, and at the distance it was +impossible to distinguish him from them, so the scout wisely concluded +to hold his fire until he could be certain of his target.</p> + +<p>As soon as it was fairly light, Dick naturally turned his eyes off +toward the southwest, in the direction of the hills, whither his comrade +had fled during the night.</p> + +<p>"He is gone," he muttered, when he had made certain that no object was +to be seen. "I might have knowed that before I looked, 'cause the hoss +knows how to travel, and Tom's made him do his purtiest."</p> + +<p>"Hello! what's the news?"</p> + +<p>The query came from Ned Chadmund, who had aroused himself from slumber, +and was standing at his side.</p> + +<p>"Where is Tom?"</p> + +<p>"About fifty miles off yonder, goin' like a streak of greased lightnin' +for Fort Havens."</p> + +<p>"What?"</p> + +<p>Whereupon Dick Morris explained. Of course the lad was astounded to +think that all this had taken place while he was dreaming of home and +friends, and he hardly knew whether to rejoice or to be alarmed at the +shape matters had just then taken. True, Tom Hardynge was speeding away +on his fleet-footed mustang for Fort Havens, but it would take a long +time to reach there and return. There was something startling in the +thought that a man and a boy were all that were left to oppose the +advance of the force of the Apaches from below. What was to prevent +their swarming upward and overwhelming them? Nothing, it may be said, +but the strong arm of Dick Morris. He might have been a Hercules, and +still unable to stem the tide, but for the vast advantage given him by +nature in constructing Hurricane Hill. He could be approached by the +enemy only in single file. Dick, however, was of the opinion that +something of the kind would be attempted, for the Apaches could not but +know the errand of him who had so nicely outwitted them.</p> + +<p>"Ain't there some way of blocking up the way?" asked Ned, as they +discussed the plan.</p> + +<p>"I've been thinkin' it over, and there is," returned Morris, crossing +his legs, and scratching his head in his thoughtful way. "Three years +ago, me and Kit Carson had to scoot up here to get out of the reach of +something like two hundred Comanches, under that prime devil +Valo-Velasquiz. They shot Kit's horse, and mine dropped dead just as we +reached the bottom of the hill, so we couldn't do anythin' more in the +way of hoss-flesh.</p> + +<p>"Them Comanches hated Kit and me like pison; they knowed us both, and +they went for us in a way that made us dance around lively; but it was +no go, and we tumbled 'em back like tenpins, but they kept things so hot +that me and Kit tipped over a big rock in the path. Of course they could +climb that easy enough, but it gave us so much more chance that they +didn't try it often, and they fell back and tried the Apache +dodge—waiting until hunger and thirst made us come down."</p> + +<p>"How was it you got out of the trouble?"</p> + +<p>"It was in a mighty queer way—a mighty queer way. On the next day arter +the brush we had with 'em, a bigger party than ever came up, and we +calc'lated things were goin' to be redhot. But as soon as the two +parties jined, some kind of a rumpus took place. We could see 'em +talkin' in the most excited way, and a high old quarrel was under way. +Kit Carson knowed all about Injins, but he couldn't make out what all +this meant. We was in hope they'd git into a wrangle themselves, and +swaller each other, and I can tell you they came mighty nigh it.</p> + +<p>"Just as it begun to look as if it was goin' that way, one of their +chiefs walked forward, swingin' a dirty rag on the end of his ramrod as +a flag of truce. Kit looked at him very closely, and then exclaimed that +it was Quizto, a great rival of Valo-Velasquiz. They were always at +swords points, and whichever happened to have the strongest party at his +back when they met, outranked the other. The beauty of it all was that +Quizto was a friend all his life to Kit Carson—a regular redskin +friend, who was ready to scalp all his brothers and sisters if they +tried to harm him—and when he came to learn that Kit was treed, he +swore that he'd burn at the stake any Injun that laid a straw in his +way.</p> + +<p>"This made a time, and, as I's tellin' you, the biggest kind of a fight. +At one time it only lacked a word to set it a-goin'; but Quizto's braves +stood by him, every one, and the others had to knock under.</p> + +<p>"When Quizto come forward with his flag of truce, he called out to Kit +and told him that he was at liberty to go wherever he chose without +harm; but as Valo-Velasquiz would be so disappointed, he thought Carson +would turn over his friend, who wasn't of much account, that they might +have the pleasure of torturing him to death. That was lovely for me, and +you ought to have heard Kit laugh. He told Quizto that he couldn't do +that—both would go or stay together. That made another wrangle, but the +friendship of the chief to Carson saved the lives of us both. He +wouldn't consent that the guide should run the least risk, and they told +us to come down and clear out. We expected a big fight, for +Valo-Velasquiz had some ugly men with him, and he was a regular devil +himself; but when we got to the bottom, there was two mustangs awaitin', +and we straddled 'em, and warn't long in leavin' those parts. Old +Valo-Velasquiz and a dozen of his warriors tried to sneak along after +us, but we was as well mounted as they, and we rode into Santa Fe +without tradin' rifle shots with any of 'em. That was a strange thing, +but," added the scout, significantly, "I don't think you've got any +Quizto among them skunks down there."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXVIII" id="CHAPTER_XXXVIII"></a>CHAPTER XXXVIII.</h2> + +<h3>HAND TO HAND.</h3> + + +<p>The Apaches surrounding Hurricane Hill were more closely watched through +the forenoon, for Dick more than once gave it as his opinion that they +would make a rush before the day was over. To protect themselves as much +as possible, the rock of which the hunter had spoken was forced into the +passage-way, and an unremitting guard maintained, to prevent any sudden +surprise.</p> + +<p>It was near noon, when three Apaches were seen to leap upon their +mustangs, one going north, another south and the third due west.</p> + +<p>"Spies," explained Dick. "Lone Wolf is a little anxious about what Tom +may do, and he sends them out to watch. If they find out anythin' +they'll manage to telegraph him in time to get ready for anythin' +comin'."</p> + +<p>"Can you see Lone Wolf among them?"</p> + +<p>"Can't make sartin of it," returned the hunter. "He knows that if I can +get a crack at him he'll go, and so he takes care not to let me have the +chance. Can you see anythin' off toward the mountains in the west?"</p> + +<p>"Nothing but that Apache horseman going away like an arrow."</p> + +<p>"There's the p'int from which our friends will come, if they ever come +at all. Keep your eye on it while I take a look below."</p> + +<p>The scout moved down the declivity, until he reached the place where it +had been barricaded, when he stationed himself behind the obstruction, +quite certain that something stirring would soon take place. It was his +belief that when the time came, the Apaches, at a preconcerted signal, +would rush tumultuously up the steep in a determined effort to overwhelm +them all. Such a movement, of course, from the very nature of things, +would give timely notice of its coming. His astonishment, therefore, may +be imagined when, after he had stood in his position for a few minutes, +rather listlessly and looking for no immediate demonstration, he +perceived a dark body suddenly pass over his head. Turning about, he saw +an Indian warrior speeding like a deer up the path toward the top of +Hurricane Hill, where Ned Chadmund stood, all unconscious of his coming.</p> + +<p>The hunter, astonished as he was at the daring feat, was not thrown off +his guard. He knew that the Apache was not seeking the life of the lad, +but only to open the way for the rest of the warriors to follow over the +barricade. They believed that in the excitement Dick would turn and dash +after the redskin, leaving the way open for the whole horde to swarm to +the top of the Hill. But the clear-headed Dick maintained his position, +only uttering a shout of warning to Ned Chadmund, in the hope that he +might be prepared and "wing" the redskin the instant he should appear in +view. Then, having done this, he stood back behind the jutting rock and +held his rifle ready.</p> + +<p>Within ten seconds a second Apache scrambled over the barricade, and +started at full speed up the pathway, but he had no more than fairly +started, than he fell headlong to the ground, pierced through and +through by the rifle fired almost in his face. Almost the same instant a +second appeared, when he tumbled backward, driven thence by the revolver +of the hunter, who was as cool as an iceberg. This stemmed the tide, the +crowding warriors hurrying back before the lion that lay in their path. +All this was the work of a very few seconds, but it was scarcely +effected, when a cry from the lad on top of the rock showed that he had +discovered his danger. The next instant, white-faced and scared, he came +dashing down the path, shouting to the hunter:</p> + +<p>"Oh, Dick, save me! save me! there's an Indian after me!"</p> + +<p>The savage, however, did not follow, and Dick, as the lad rushed into +his arms, shook him rather roughly, and said:</p> + +<p>"Keep still! Why do you make such a thunderin' noise?" The lad speedily +controlled himself, and then the scout placed his revolver in his hand, +and said: "Stand right here, and the minute a redskin shows himself, +crack him over. Can you do it?"</p> + +<p>"Haven't I proved it?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; but you made such a racket here that I've lost faith in you."</p> + +<p>"Try me and see."</p> + +<p>Adding a few hasty words, the scout left him, and hurried to the top of +the hill, without pausing to approach with his usual precaution.</p> + +<p>His expectation was to encounter the redskin at once upon reaching it, +but, to his surprise, he was nowhere to be seen, and he paused somewhat +bewildered.</p> + +<p>"I wonder whether he's got scart 'cause none of the rest followed him, +and jumped overboard—"</p> + +<p>At that instant something descended like a ponderous rock, and he +realized that he was in the grip of the very redskin about whom he had +been meditating. The miscreant had managed to crouch behind a rocky +protuberance, and then made a sudden leap upon the shoulders of the +hunter. As the Apache's scheme had miscarried thus far, and instead of +being backed up by the other warriors, he was left alone to fight it +out, he did not pause to attempt to make him prisoner, but went into the +scrimmage with the purpose of ending it as briefly as possible. As he +landed upon the shoulders of Dick the latter caught the gleam of his +knife, and grasped his wrist just in time. Fearful that it would be +wrenched from him, the Apache managed to give his confined hand a flirt, +which threw it beyond the reach of both. By a tremendous effort Dick +then succeeded in flinging him over his shoulder, although the agile +redskin dropped upon his feet, and instantly flew at his antagonist like +a tiger.</p> + +<p>For several minutes the struggle raged with the greatest fury; but the +Apache, in a contest of this kind, was overmatched. The hunter was much +the superior, and he began crowding his foe toward the margin of the +rock. Divining his purpose, he resisted with the fury of desperation; +but it was useless, and the two moved along toward the brink like the +slow, resistless tread of fate. Neither of them spoke a word, nor was a +muscle relaxed. The scout knew that the instant the struggle was +detected by those below, there would be a rush up the incline such as +Ned Chadmund with his loaded and cocked revolver could not withstand. +The fighting, therefore, was of the hurricane order from the beginning +to the close.</p> + +<p>There was one terrific burst of strength, and then, gathering the +writhing savage in his arms, Dick Morris ran to the very edge of the +plateau and hurled him over.</p> + +<p>Down, down from dizzy heights he spun, until he struck the ground far +below, a shapeless, insensible mass, falling almost at the feet of the +horror-bound Apaches, who thus saw the dreadful death of one of their +most intrepid and powerful warriors.</p> + +<p>Without waiting to see the last of the redskin, the scout turned and +hurried down to the relief of his young charge, and to be prepared for +the rush which he was confident would be made the next minute. But it +was not. The redskins had learned, from dear experience, the mettle of +this formidable white man, and they had no wish to encounter it again.</p> + +<p>The time wore away until the sun was at the meridian, and the heat +became almost intolerable. Even the toughened old scout was compelled to +shelter himself as best he could from its intolerable rays, by seeking +the scant shadow of jutting points of the rock. Ned Chadmund suffered +much, and the roiled and warm water in the old canteen was quaffed +again, even though they were compelled to tip it more and more, until, +toward the close of the day, Dick held it mouth downward, and showed +that not a drop was left.</p> + +<p>"No use of keeping it when we are thirsty," was the philosophic remark +of the hunter. "It's made to drink, and we needn't stop so long as any +is left; and bein' there ain't any left, I guess we'll stop. I've a +mouthful or two of meat left, and we may as well surround that."</p> + +<p>So they did; and when the sun sank down in the west, not a particle of +food nor a drop of water remained to them.</p> + +<p>"Now, Ned, my boy," said Dick, who always maintained a certain +cheerfulness, no matter what the circumstances might be, "go to the +lookout and tell me what you see."</p> + +<p>The lad was absent some ten minutes, during which he carefully scanned +every part of the horizon and took a peep down upon their besiegers.</p> + +<p>"I find no sign of a living soul," he said, when he returned, "except +the Apaches, and they're waiting until they can get us without +fighting."</p> + +<p>"Stay here while I take a peep."</p> + +<p>Long and carefully Dick Morris gazed off to the west, in the direction +of the mountains, and then something like a sigh escaped him, as he +shook his head and muttered:</p> + +<p>"It looks bad, it looks bad. If Tom succeeded, he ought to be in sight +by this time. I see nothing of 'em, and from the way the redskins act +down there, they seem to be sartin he's gone under. I don't mind for +myself, for I'm ready to go any time; but I feel powerful sorry for the +little fellow down there."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXIX" id="CHAPTER_XXXIX"></a>CHAPTER XXXIX.</h2> + +<h3>CONCLUSION.</h3> + + +<p>Long and hard rode Tom Hardynge after his escape from the beleaguring +Apaches, for he was determined to save Ned and Dick if the thing were +within the range of human possibility. His mustang seemed to understand +what was expected of him, and he required no urging from his master to +maintain his arrowy flight. It was a literal race between life and +death. If he could reach Fort Havens in time to procure succor, the man +and the boy were saved. If not, then they were doomed.</p> + +<p>At daylight he was among the mountains, and the steed paused a few +seconds to swallow a little water from a tiny stream. An hour later he +ascended an elevation, and from his back the rider took a survey of the +plain stretched out before him.</p> + +<p>Far away in the distance a dark, stationary object was discerned. A keen +eye could detect something fluttering above it in the wind. That was the +star-spangled banner, waving above Fort Havens. Yonder was the +destination toward which the little party had been laboring for days and +which there was no assurance of still reaching. The scout had not yet +passed half the distance intervening between the fort and Hurricane +Hill. Mercy to his beast compelled him to give him a brief rest and an +opportunity to eat a little food. Then, away again.</p> + +<p>It was the middle of the afternoon, and Tom was nearing the fort, which +was in distinct view a few miles ahead, when his attention was arrested +by the sight of a number of men moving along to the north, and in a +contrary direction to that which he himself was following. They suddenly +emerged from some hills, and rode at a sweeping gallop. What surprised +the hunter was the discovery that they were United States cavalry, that +had evidently come from Fort Havens itself! How their appearance could +be explained was more than he could understand; but he saw at once that +if their co-operation could be secured, several hours' valuable time +might be saved. He turned the head of his mustang in that direction and +rode at the same tearing speed as before.</p> + +<p>The cavalry detected his coming, reined up and awaited his approach. The +afternoon was well advanced when the hunter drew rein in front of the +company, and saluted the chief officer, who was Colonel Chadmund +himself, the commandant of Fort Havens, at the head of seventy-five +veteran cavalry. He recognized the scout, and rode forward to meet him.</p> + +<p>"Any news of my little boy, Tom?" he asked, before their palms crossed.</p> + +<p>"Alive and well."</p> + +<p>"Thank God! thank God!" exclaimed the white-faced officer, trembling +with joy. "Have the Indians caught him?"</p> + +<p>"No; but he is in danger. What are you doing with these men here?"</p> + +<p>"An Indian came into the fort several hours ago, with the word that Lone +Wolf and a party of Apaches had driven two or three persons to the top +of Hurricane Hill, where they would soon be caught unless assistance was +sent them. The Indian is one of our regular scouts, in whom we have much +confidence, and thinking it might be you, with possibly my little Ned, I +put myself at the head of the company and started out to see. I had very +little hope, however, of seeing him alive, for news had reached us of +the massacre of the escort party in Devil's Pass."</p> + +<p>Hardynge, in a few minutes, explained the situation, and the colonel was +all excitement to be off again. Every hour—every minute, indeed—was +precious to him, and, as the two rode back, the advance was resumed +without a moment's delay. Instead of proceeding back in a direct line, +however, over the path traveled by the scout, they made a detour to the +northward, the configuration of the country being such that a much +nearer approach, undiscovered, could be made from this direction than +from any other.</p> + +<p>There were several extra horses in the company, one of which was +appropriated by Tom, while he left his own to roam over the plain and +reach the fort whenever his disposition should take him in that +direction. Colonel Chadmund had taken the precaution to mount all his +men upon the best steeds at command, and they were driven into a rapid, +telling pace. They made good progress, but when the sun set they had not +yet reached a point from which the most distant view of Hurricane Hill +could be obtained. A more moderate speed was kept up until midnight, +when they went into camp, picketed their animals, and resumed the march +at daybreak. The horses were forced to the greatest possible endurance, +but never did miles seem so long. It was high noon before a point among +the hills on the north was reached from which a fair view of the pile of +rocks could be obtained. Colonel Chadmund produced his glass, and +scrutinized the towering-like mass, in quest of some sign of the +defenders. Not the least could be obtained; but he saw at the base the +band of Apaches, spread out like a miniature besieging army, and this, +to the minds of all, was proof that the garrison of Hurricane Hill were +still at the post of duty.</p> + +<p>It was necessary to approach as close to the spot as possible without +discovery, and then to charge down upon the Indians with such fiery +impetuosity that they would have no time to inflict any damage upon the +brave defenders. The appearance of the cavalry would apprise them that +the siege was at an end, and in the gnawing rage thereat, they might +charge up the incline and open a fire, which would riddle Dick and Ned +and from which there would be no escape.</p> + +<p>Colonel Chadmund understood Indian warfare so well as to know that Lone +Wolf had his scouts out, and it would be a difficult matter to avoid +them. Still the attempt was made, and by the middle of the afternoon, +the cavalry had reached a point barely two miles away without his +presence being suspected.</p> + +<p>"I've been watching the place for half an hour," said the colonel, as he +lowered his glass, and handed it to Tom Hardynge, standing at his elbow, +"and it seems to me that the top of Hurricane Hill is deserted, although +the Apaches at the base seem to point the other way."</p> + +<p>"Of course, of course," replied the hunter, impatiently. "You don't +'spose they'd stand up in sight all the time, like a couple of spoonies +gettin' their pictures took? They're watchin' the path that leads up to +where they be."</p> + +<p>It required but a few minutes to conclude their preparations, when the +seventy odd cavalrymen, armed to the teeth, burst forth from the hills +like a mountain torrent, and charged straight for Lone Wolf and his +band. The latter, of course, were quick to detect it, and drew up with +the purpose of making a fight; but when they took in the strength of the +company approaching, they changed their minds, and broke and scattered +like chaff before the whirlwind.</p> + +<p>This was a severe disappointment, for the colonel and a dozen of his +best Indian fighters had arranged to make a determined effort to rid the +country of this pest. These were the best mounted in the company, and in +their eagerness they sped straight ahead after the redskins, still +hoping that some turn of fortune's wheel would give them the coveted +chance. But the mustangs of the Apaches were fresh and fleet, and they +had no purpose of meeting the United States cavalry where there was +anything like an equal advantage; so they continued their flight with +such persistent celerity that they soon vanished from view.</p> + +<p>The heart of Colonel Chadmund misgave him as he galloped toward +Hurricane Hill and saw no sign of life there. But while he was +alternating between hope and despair, the figure of a man appeared +around the corner of the rock, and then the form of a little boy was +discerned, as he came running across the prairie with out-stretched +arms.</p> + +<p>"Oh, father! father!"</p> + +<p>Colonel Chadmund leaped from the back of his horse and ran to meet him.</p> + +<p>"My darling boy! God be thanked!"</p> + +<p>The stern old soldier wept like a child as he caught him in his arms and +hugged him to his breast, while more than one rough soldier, looking on, +dashed the tears from his eyes and tried to look as if he were thinking +of something else.</p> + +<p>The danger was passed. Little Ned, carried in triumph to the fort, +remained the appointed time with his father at this advanced frontier +post, and when he returned to Santa Fe to his beloved mother it was with +an escort which guaranteed his safety.</p> + +<p>Thus ended his adventures with what were then the scourges of the great +Southwest, but the memory of them is indelible and not to be subdued by +the lapse of years. In his manhood days he looks back upon those +troublous times when the wild riders left the bones of venturesome white +men to whiten upon the banks of the Gila; and, although remembrance +brings its thrill of excitement, it is coupled with a shudder whenever +Ned Chadmund thinks of his passage "Through Apache Land."</p> + + +<p>Volume III of The War Whoop Series is entitled "In the Pecos Country."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="SPECIAL_CIRCULAR_TO_EDUCATORS" id="SPECIAL_CIRCULAR_TO_EDUCATORS"></a>SPECIAL CIRCULAR TO EDUCATORS</h2> + +<h3>"Masterpieces of the World's Literature"</h3> + +<h3>THE PREMIUM LIBRARY</h3> + + +<p>Is extensively used by schools and colleges for supplementary reading. +It is issued in attractive 16mo shape, paper covers, printed from clear, +readable type, on good paper. Many of the volumes are illustrated.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">1. Abbé Constantin. Ludovic Halévy.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">2. Æsop's Fables.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">3. Black Beauty. Anna Sewell.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">4. Bracebridge Hall. Irving.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">5. Childe Harold's Pilgrimage. Byron.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">6. Coming Race. Bulwer.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">7. Cranford. Mrs. Gaskell.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">8. Crown of Wild Olive. Ruskin.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">9. Discourses of Epictetus.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">10. Dreams. Olive Schreiner.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">11. Dream Life. Ik Marvel.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">12. Drummond's Addresses.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">13. Emerson's Earlier Essays.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">14. Ethics of the Dust. Ruskin.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">15. Frankenstein. Mrs. Shelley.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">16. Uncle Tom's Cabin. Mrs. Stowe.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">17. Lady of the Lake. Scott.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">18. Lalla Rookh. Thomas Moore.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">19. Lamb's Essays of Elia.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">20. Lamb's Last Essays of Elia.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">21. Lamb's Tales from Shakespeare, I.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">22. Lamb's Tales from Shakespeare, II.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">23. Lays of Ancient Rome. Macaulay.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">24. Lays of Scottish Cavaliers.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">25. Light of Asia. Sir E. Arnold.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">26. Longfellow's Poems.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">27. Lowell's Poems.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">28. Mornings in Florence. Ruskin.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">29. One of the Profession. M. White, Jr.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">30. Paul and Virginia. B. St. Pierre.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">31. Pleasures of Life. Sir J. Lubbock.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">32. Poe's Poems.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">33. Princess. Tennyson.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">34. Queen of the Air. Ruskin.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">35. Rab and His Friends. Dr. J. Brown.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">36. Rasselas. Johnson.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">37. Reveries of a Bachelor. Ik Marvel.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">38. Representative Men. Emerson.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">39. Sartor Resartus. Carlyle.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">40. Scarlet Letter. Hawthorne.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">41. Sesame and Lilies. Ruskin.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">42. Ships that Pass in the Night. Beatrice Harraden.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">43. St. Mark's Rest. Ruskin.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">44. Thoughts from Marcus Aurelius Antoninus.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">45. Tillyloss Scandal. J. M. Barrie.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">46. Twice-Told Tales, I. Hawthorne.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">47. Twice-Told Tales, II. Hawthorne.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">48. In Memoriam. Tennyson.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">49. Vicar of Wakefield. Goldsmith.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">50. Whittier's Poems.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">51. Autocrat of the Breakfast Table. Holmes.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">52. Heroes and Hero Worship. Carlyle.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">53. Mosses from an Old Manse, I. Hawthorne.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">54. Mosses from an Old Manse, II Hawthorne.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">55. Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">56. Song of Hiawatha. Longfellow.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">57. Evangeline, and Poems. Longfellow.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">58. Sketch Book. Irving.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">59. Stickit Minister. S. R. Crockett.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">60. House of the Seven Gables. Hawthorne.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">61. Poetical Works of Robert Browning.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">62. Paradise Lost. Milton.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">63. Hamlet. Shakespeare.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">64. Julius Caesar. Shakespeare.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">65. Book of Golden Deeds. Yonge.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">66. Child's History of England. Dickens.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">67. Confessions of an Opium Eater. De Quincey.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">68. Ten Nights in a Barroom. Arthur.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">69. Treasure Island. Stevenson.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">70. Tanglewood Tales. Hawthorne.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">71. In His Steps. Chas. M. Sheldon.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">72. Natural Law in the Spiritual World. Henry Drummond.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">73. Imitation of Christ. T. à Kempis.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">74. Paradise Regained. John Milton.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">75. Water Babies. Kingsley.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">76. Flower Fables. L. M. Alcott.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">77. Blithedale Romance. Hawthorne.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">78. Prue and I. G. W. Curtis.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">79. Grandfather's Chair. Hawthorne.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">80. Bacon's Essays.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">81. Idylls of the King. Tennyson.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">82. Wonder Book. Hawthorne.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">83. Cricket on the Hearth. C. Dickens.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">84. Idle Thoughts of an Idle Fellow. Jerome K. Jerome.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">85. Inez. Augusta J. Evans.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">86. Kidnapped. R. L. Stevenson.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">87. Lucile. Owen Meredith.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">88. Phillips Brooks' Addresses.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">89. Prince of the House of David. Professor Ingraham.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">90. Three Men in a Boat. J. K. Jerome.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h2><a name="THE_FAMOUS_HENTY_BOOKS" id="THE_FAMOUS_HENTY_BOOKS"></a>THE FAMOUS HENTY BOOKS</h2> + +<h3>The Boys' Own Library</h3> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/ad1.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> + + +<p>G. A. Henty has long held the field as the most popular boys' author. +Age after age of heroic deeds has been the subject of his pen, and the +knights of old seem very real in his pages. Always wholesome and manly, +always heroic and of high ideals, his books are more than popular +wherever the English language is spoken.</p> + +<p>Each volume is printed on excellent paper from new large-type plates, +bound in cloth, assorted colors, with an attractive ink and gold stamp.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">A Final Reckoning<br /></span> +<span class="i0">A Tale of Bush Life in Australia<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Among the Malay Pirates<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">By England's Aid<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The Freeing of the Netherlands<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">By Right of Conquest<br /></span> +<span class="i0">A Tale of Cortez in Mexico<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Bravest of the Brave<br /></span> +<span class="i0">A Tale of Peterborough in Spain<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">By Pike and Dyke<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The Rise of the Dutch Republic<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">By Sheer Pluck<br /></span> +<span class="i0">A Tale of the Ashantee War<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Bonnie Prince Charlie<br /></span> +<span class="i0">A Tale of Fontenoy and Culloden<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Captain Bayley's Heir<br /></span> +<span class="i0">A Tale of the Gold Fields of California<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Cat of Bubastes<br /></span> +<span class="i0">A Story of Ancient Egypt<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Colonel Thorndyke's Secret<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Cornet of Horse<br /></span> +<span class="i0">A Tale of Marlborough's Wars<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Facing Death<br /></span> +<span class="i0">A Tale of the Coal Mines<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Friends, though Divided<br /></span> +<span class="i0">A Tale of the Civil War in England<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">For Name and Fame<br /></span> +<span class="i0">A Tale of Afghan Warfare<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">For the Temple<br /></span> +<span class="i0">A Tale of the Fall of Jerusalem<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">In Freedom's Cause<br /></span> +<span class="i0">A Story of Wallace and Bruce<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">In the Reign of Terror<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The Adventures of a Westminster Boy<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">In Times of Peril A Tale of India<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Jack Archer A Tale of the Crimea<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Lion of St. Mark<br /></span> +<span class="i0">A Tale of Venice in the XIV. Century<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Lion of the North<br /></span> +<span class="i0">A Tale of Gustavus Adolphus<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Maori and Settler<br /></span> +<span class="i0">A Tale of the New Zealand War<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Orange and Green<br /></span> +<span class="i0">A Tale of the Boyne and Limerick<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">One of the 28th A Tale of Waterloo<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Out on the Pampas<br /></span> +<span class="i0">A Tale of South America<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Rujub the Juggler<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">St. George for England<br /></span> +<span class="i0">A Tale of Crécy and Poictiers<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Sturdy and Strong<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">True to the Old Flag<br /></span> +<span class="i0">A Tale of the Revolution<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">The Golden Cañon<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">The Lost Heir<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">The Young Colonists<br /></span> +<span class="i0">A Tale of the Zulu and Boer Wars<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">The Young Midshipman<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">The Dragon and the Raven<br /></span> +<span class="i0">A Tale of King Alfred<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">The Boy Knight<br /></span> +<span class="i0">A Tale of the Crusades<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Through the Fray<br /></span> +<span class="i0">A Story of the Luddite Riots<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Under Drake's Flag<br /></span> +<span class="i0">A Tale of the Spanish Main<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">With Wolfe in Canada<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The Tale of Winning a Continent<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">With Clive in India<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The Beginning of an Empire<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">With Lee in Virginia<br /></span> +<span class="i0">A Story of the American Civil War<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Young Carthaginian<br /></span> +<span class="i0">A Story of the Times of Hannibal<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Young Buglers<br /></span> +<span class="i0">A Tale of the Peninsular War<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Young Franc-Tireurs<br /></span> +<span class="i0">A Tale of the Franco-Prussian War<br /></span> +</div></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="FLAG_OF_FREEDOM_SERIES" id="FLAG_OF_FREEDOM_SERIES"></a>FLAG OF FREEDOM SERIES</h2> + +<h3>By CAPTAIN RALPH BONEHILL</h3> + + +<h3>BOYS OF THE FORT; or, A Young Captain's Pluck</h3> + +<p>Captain Bonehill is at his best when relating a tale of military +adventure, and this story of stirring doings at one of our well-known +forts in the Wild West is of more than ordinary interest. The young +captain had a difficult task to accomplish, but he had been drilled to +do his duty, and he did it thoroughly. Gives a good insight into army +life of to-day.</p> + +<h3>THE YOUNG BANDMASTER; or, Concert Stage and Battlefield</h3> + +<p>In this tale Captain Bonehill touches upon a new field. The hero is a +youth with a passion for music, who, compelled to make his own way in +the world, becomes a cornetist in an orchestra, and works his way up, +first, to the position of a soloist, and then to that of leader of a +brass band. He is carried off to sea and falls in with a secret-service +cutter bound for Cuba, and while in that island joins a military band +which accompanies our soldiers in the never-to-be-forgotten attack on +Santiago. A mystery connected with the hero's inheritance adds to the +interest of the tale.</p> + +<h3>OFF FOR HAWAII; or, The Mystery of a Great Volcano</h3> + +<p>Here we have fact and romance cleverly interwoven. Several boys start on +a tour of the Hawaiian Islands. They have heard that there is a treasure +located in the vicinity of Kilauea, the largest active volcano in the +world, and go in search of it. Their numerous adventures will be +followed with much interest.</p> + +<h3>A SAILOR BOY WITH DEWEY; or, Afloat in the Philippines</h3> + +<p>The story of Dewey's victory in Manila Bay will never grow old, but here +we have it told in a new form—not as those in command witnessed the +contest, but as it appeared to a real, live American youth who was in +the navy at the time. Many adventures in Manila and in the interior +follow, giving true-to-life scenes from this remote portion of the +globe. A book that should be in every boy's library.</p> + +<h3>WHEN SANTIAGO FELL; or, The War Adventures of Two Chums</h3> + +<p>Captain Bonehill has never penned a better tale than this stirring story +of adventures in Cuba. Two boys, an American and his Cuban chum, leave +New York to join their parents in the interior of Cuba. The war between +Spain and the Cubans is on, and the boys are detained at Santiago de +Cuba, but escape by crossing the bay at night. Many adventures between +the lines follow, and a good pen-picture of General Garcia is given. The +American lad, with others, is captured and cast into a dungeon in +Santiago; and then follows the never-to-be-forgotten campaign in Cuba +under General Shafter. How the hero finally escapes makes reading no +wide-awake boy will want to miss.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<h3>Press Opinions of Captain Bonehill's Books for Boys</h3> + +<p>"Captain Bonehill's stories will always be popular with our boys, for +the reason that they are thoroughly up-to-date and true to life. As a +writer of outdoor tales he has no rival."—<i>Bright Days.</i></p> + +<p>"The story is by Captain Ralph Bonehill, and that is all that need be +said about it, for all of our readers know that the captain is one of +America's best story-tellers, so far as stories for young people +go."—<i>Young People of America.</i></p> + +<p>"We understand that Captain Bonehill will soon be turning from sporting +stories to tales of the war. This field is one in which he should feel +thoroughly at home. We are certain that the boys will look eagerly for +the Bonehill war tales."—<i>Weekly Messenger.</i></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="MRS_L_T_MEADES" id="MRS_L_T_MEADES"></a>MRS. L. T. MEADE'S</h2> + +<h3>FAMOUS BOOKS FOR GIRLS</h3> + + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/ad2.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> + +<p>There are few more favorite authors with American girls than Mrs. L. T. +<span class="smcap">Meade</span>, whose copyright works can only be had from us. Essentially a +writer for the home, with the loftiest aims and purest sentiments, Mrs. +Meade's books possess the merit of utility as well as the means of +amusement. They are girls' books—written for girls, and fitted for +every home.</p> + +<p>Here will be found no maudlin nonsense as to the affections. There are +no counts in disguise nor castles in Spain. It is pure and wholesome +literature of a high order with a lofty ideal.</p> + +<p>The volumes are all copyright, excellently printed with clear, open +type, uniformly bound in best cloth, with ink and gold stamp.</p> + +<h3>THE FOLLOWING ARE THE TITLES</h3> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">The Children of Wilton Chase<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Bashful Fifteen<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Betty: A Schoolgirl<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Four on an Island<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Girls New and Old<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Out of the Fashion<br /></span> +<span class="i4">The Palace Beautiful<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Polly, a New-Fashioned Girl<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Red Rose and Tiger Lily<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Temptation of Olive Latimer<br /></span> +<span class="i4">A Ring of Rubies<br /></span> +<span class="i4">A Sweet Girl Graduate<br /></span> +<span class="i4">A World of Girls<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Good Luck<br /></span> +<span class="i4">A Girl in Ten Thousand<br /></span> +<span class="i4">A Young Mutineer<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Wild Kitty<br /></span> +<span class="i4">The Children's Pilgrimage<br /></span> +<span class="i4">The Girls of St. Wode's<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Light o' the Morning<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Bad Little Hannah<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Rebellion of Lill Carrington<br /></span> +<span class="i4">A Little Mother to the Others<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Merry Girls of England<br /></span> +</div></div> + + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Through Apache Lands, by R. 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H. Jayne + +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: Through Apache Lands + +Author: R. H. Jayne + +Release Date: February 27, 2010 [EBook #31421] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THROUGH APACHE LANDS *** + + + + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Mary Meehan and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + + THROUGH APACHE LAND + + BY LIEUT. R. H. JAYNE + +AUTHOR OF "LOST IN THE WILDERNESS," "IN THE PECOS COUNTRY," "THE CAVE IN +THE MOUNTAIN," ETC. + +NEW YORK +THE MERSHON COMPANY +PUBLISHERS + +Copyrighted, 1893, +BY THE PRICE-MCGILL CO. + + + + +[Illustration: THE WARRIOR HAD NOT TIME TO RECOVER * * * WHEN TOM +GRASPED HIM BY THE THROAT.] + + + + +CONTENTS. + + +I--Moonlight on the Rio Gila + +II--Tom Hardynge's Ruse + +III--Pursued by the Apaches + +IV--Outwitted + +V--An Alarming Message + +VI--The Two Scouts + +VII--The Cavalry Escort + +VIII--In Devil's Pass + +IX--Among the Apaches + +X--Lone Wolf + +XI--Surrounded by Danger + +XII--"The Hour has Come" + +XIII--The Flight + +XIV--Pursued + +XV--In the Solitude + +XVI--Among the Mountains + +XVII--A Mysterious Camp Fire + +XVIII--The Indian Fight + +XIX--A Terrible Meeting + +XX--White vs. Red + +XXI--Friends Together + +XXII--Anxious Waiting + +XXIII--The Death Shot + +XXIV--The Buffaloes + +XXV--Alone Again + +XXVI--Capturing a Mustang + +XXVII--A Run for Life + +XXVIII--A Great Misfortune + +XXIX--The Lone Camp Fire + +XXX--Fighting a Grizzly + +XXXI--Sleep + +XXXII--Reunited + +XXXIII--Closing in + +XXXIV--Hurricane Hill + +XXXV--The Sentinel + +XXXVI--A Desperate Scheme + +XXXVII--The Two Defenders + +XXXVIII--Hand to Hand + +XXXIX--Conclusion + + + + +THROUGH APACHE LAND. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +MOONLIGHT ON THE RIO GILA. + + +Along the eastern bank a small Indian canoe, containing a single +individual, was stealing its way--"hugging" the shore so as to take +advantage of the narrow band of shadow that followed the winding of the +stream. There were no trees on either side of the river, but this +portion was walled in by bluffs, rising from three or four to fully +twenty feet in height. The current was sluggish and not a breath of air +wrinkled the surface on this mild summer night. + +It was in the wildest part of the Indian country, and Tom Hardynge, the +hunter, runner and bearer of all dispatches between the frontier posts +in the extreme southwest, knew very well that for three days past it had +been his proverbial good fortune, or rather a special Providence, that +had kept his scalp from ornamenting the lodge of some marauding Comanche +or Apache. Tom was one of the bravest and most skillful of borderers in +those days, and had been up in the Indian country to learn the truth of +numerous rumors which had come to the stations, reports of a general +uprising among the redskins, with whom the peace commissioners had +succeeded in negotiating treaties after months of diplomacy. After +spending more than a week in dodging back and forth, in the disguise of +an Indian he had learned enough to feel that there was good foundation +for these rumors, and that the exposed stations and settlements were in +imminent peril. As soon as he was assured of this fact he started on his +return to Fort Havens, which still lay a good three days' travel to the +southwest. It was Tom's purpose to continue his descent until the +following night, when, if nothing unexpected should intervene, he hoped +to reach the point where he had left his mustang, and thence it would be +plain sailing for the rest of the way. He knew the country thoroughly, +and was confident that it was safer to perform a part of the journey by +water than by land, which explains how it was that he was still in the +paint and garb of an Indian, and still stealing his way down toward the +Gulf of California. + +"Them Apaches are a cute set," he muttered, as he glided along through +the bank of shadow; "I believe they've larned I've been up among them +lookin' around. I can't tell 'zactly how they larned it. I've played +Injun so often that I know I can do it purty well; but they know there's +somethin' in the air, and them signs I spied yesterday showed plain +'nough that they was lookin' for me. They'd give a dozen of their best +warriors, with a chief throwed in to make good weight, to keep me from +reachin' Fort Havens with the news that the Apaches are makin' ready to +raise Old Ned along the border. Fact is, I do carry big news, that's +sartin. Hello!" + +This exclamation was caused by the appearance of a bright point of light +on the edge of the bluff, several hundred yards down the river, and upon +the opposite side. At first glance it resembled some star of the first +magnitude, which a sudden depression of the bluff had made visible. The +scout ceased paddling, and, suffering the canoe to drift slowly with the +tide, fixed his keen gray eyes upon the fiery point. + +"That ain't any more of a star than I am," he added, a second later. +"There she goes again!" + +The torch, for such it was, remained stationary for scarcely a minute, +when it began revolving swiftly from right to left, the gyration being +of such a nature as to prove that it was swung by the hand of some +person. Three revolutions, and then it suddenly reversed and made three +in the opposite direction, then two back, then two forward, then one +back and forth, and then it vanished in the gloom of the night. Tom +scarcely breathed while viewing this pantomime, and when it ended he +still held the paddle motionless while he chuckled to himself, for he +knew what it all meant. He had seen Indian telegraphy before, and had +learned to comprehend a great deal of those mysterious signs and signals +by which news is carried across mountain and prairie with incredible +speed. He had ridden his fleet mustang to death to head off some of +these telegrams, and yet in every case the Indians, by some trickery +unexplained to him, had outsped him. + +"Yes, I can read that," Tom growled, still drifting with the current. +"That ere redskin is signalin' to some other scamp, and it's all about +_me_. It says that I'm on the river somewhere, and a lookout must be +kept for me." + +Such was the fact. The Indian who swayed the torch meant thereby to +appraise some confederate that the scout who had dared to penetrate such +a distance into their country, and to unearth their most important +secrets, was seeking to make his way down the Rio Gila and out of their +country again. This much said the torch in language that could not be +mistaken. Although it added no more, yet the sequence was inevitable, +and Tom needed no one to apprise him that the river both above and below +him was closely watched, and that he was in the greatest peril of his +life. Being entirely shrouded in shadow, he could not see the moon, +which rode high in the sky, scarcely touched by a floating cloud. + +"I wish the moon would go out of sight altogether," he said to himself, +as he viewed the clear sky. "I'd like to see it as black as a wolf's +mouth, and then I'd teach these scamps somethin'; but there's too much +confounded moonlight layin' loose for a chap to show any scientific +tricks." + +The fact that a redskin had indulged in signaling suggested that there +must be some one to whom he had signaled, and the hunter devoted himself +to learning where the second Apache was located. + +"As near as I kin calc'late, the chap must be on this side of the +stream, and purty close to where I'm rockin' in the cradle of the deep +this very minute." + +He now moved his paddle slightly--just enough to hold the boat +motionless while he looked and listened. The stillness was profound; not +even the soft sighing of the wind reaching his ears. He had peered +around in the gloom only a few minutes when he discerned the reply to +the signal already described, and so close that he was startled. +Scarcely fifty feet below him, and on the edge of the bluff, several +yards in height, a light flashed into view. A second glance showed him +that it was a flaming torch held in the hand of an Indian, who began +whirling it around his head with a swiftness that made it seem like a +revolving wheel of fire. The rapid motion of the torch, as the reader +may infer, caused an equally rapid increase of the flame upon it, so +that it revealed the Indian himself; and the hunter, as he looked toward +it, saw the figure of the warrior standing like some pyrotechnist in the +center of his own display. + +A better target could not have been asked, and Tom, quick as thought, +raised his rifle and sighted it; but with his finger upon the trigger, +he refrained, lowered the piece and shook his head, muttering as he did +so: + +"He deserves it, and I'd like to give it to him, but it won't do. They'd +know what the rifle-crack meant, and I'd have a hornet's nest about my +head quick as lightnin'." + +Tom was not certain of the meaning of the exhibition he had just seen, +but believed that it was intended as a mere reply to the other--the same +as if the Apache had shouted "All right!" in response to the +notification. The Indian must have circled the torch in this manner for +more than a score of times, when he threw it from his hand into the +river, where it fell with a hiss, and was instantly extinguished. + +The scout was in a quandary. If he continued down stream he must pass +directly beneath the spot where his foe was standing, and the shadow was +by no means dense enough to make it possible for him to escape +observation. He was confident, however, that if he could change places +with the warrior, he could discern the canoe without any closer +approach. He was at a disadvantage, for the bluff was perfectly +perpendicular and so high that he could not reach the ground above +without retreating up the river for at least a quarter of a mile, where +the bluff was depressed enough to permit him to draw himself upward upon +it. Had the bank been low and wooded, it would have been the easiest +matter in the world to have shoved the canoe into the shelter, or to +have circumvented the Indian by lifting it bodily from the water and +going around him, and striking the river again below. But Tom hesitated +only a few minutes. He was anxious to get forward, for delay was +dangerous and he felt annoyed at the manner in which he was dogged. + +"Here goes," he exclaimed, starting the canoe forward again. "If that +Apache is anxious for a scrimmage, he can have one." + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +TOM HARDYNGE'S RUSE. + + +Hardynge was too skillful a hunter to place himself directly in the way +of the Apache whom he knew to be the most treacherous kind of an enemy. +His purpose was to indulge in a little strategy and to seek to outwit +the redskin, as he had done on many an occasion before. It required but +a second for him to slide his rifle over upon his back, the stock being +hastily wrapped with a leathern sheath, which he always carried for such +an emergency, when he gently let himself over the stern of the canoe, +taking care to make no splash or noise in doing so. He then permitted +his body with the exception of his head to sink entirely beneath the +surface, while he floated with the boat, lying in such a position that +he made it effectually screen him from the view of any one who might be +upon the bank above. It was hardly to be expected, however, that if the +Indian saw the boat, he would permit it to pass unquestioned. Tom did +not anticipate it, and he was prepared for that which followed. For +several minutes the most perfect silence prevailed. At the end of that +time, the scout knew that he was exactly beneath the spot whereon he had +seen the answering signal, and scarcely stirred a muscle, keeping his +head as close as possible to the boat, and so nearly submerged, that he +could scarcely breathe. + +"Hooh! hooh!" + +The Apache had noted the empty canoe drifting below him in the shadow, +and surveyed it with something of the feeling of the detective who +suddenly stumbles upon a clue, the precise meaning of which is at first +a mystery to him. + +It is hardly to be supposed that he intended this outcry as a hail to +the boat, which he must have seen contained no one. Its appearance would +naturally suggest to one in his situation that the occupant had been +alarmed by the signs of danger and had taken to the land. This +supposition was so natural that Hardynge would probably have got safely +by the dangerous point but for a totally unlooked-for mishap. The water, +which up to this time had been fully six feet in depth, suddenly +shallowed to less than a quarter of that, so that he struck his knees +against the bottom. The shock was very slight, and scarcely caused a +ripple; but it takes only the slightest noise to alarm an Indian, +especially when he is on the watch. That faint plash caused by the jar +of the body caught the ear of the listening, peering redskin, who +instantly slid his body over the bluff, and balancing himself for an +instant, dropped with such precision that he struck the canoe in the +very center, and preserved its gravity so well that it tipped neither to +the right nor left. + +At the very moment the Apache dropped, the hunter rose to his feet, +knife in hand. The water rose scarcely to his knees, and the bottom was +hard, so that it was almost the same as if he stood upon dry land. The +warrior had not time to recover from the slight shock of his leap, when +Tom grasped him by the throat and used his weapon with such effect that +it was all over in a few seconds. + +"There! I reckon you won't go into the telegraph business again very +soon!" he growled, as the inanimate body disappeared down the stream, +and he coolly re-entered the canoe, which had floated but a short +distance away. + +He had scarcely done this when a new idea struck him, and, hastening +after the receding body, he carefully drew it into the boat again. Here +it was the work of but a few minutes to place it in a sitting position +in the stern in the most natural posture imaginable, so that any one +looking upon the figure would not have suspected for an instant that it +was anything but an animate being. Making sure that its pose could not +be improved, the scout then turned the boat directly away from the bank, +never changing its course until the very middle of the Gila was reached, +when he began paddling in as leisurely a manner as if no danger +threatened. It was a daring stratagem, but it is only by such means that +men are enabled to escape from peril, and although fully aware of the +danger he was incurring, he kept on his way with that coolness that +years of experience had given him. + +As he approached a point opposite that where he had seen the first +signal he did not turn his head, but he looked sideways and scanned the +bank with the most searching scrutiny. Sure enough, at this moment he +plainly discerned the figures of fully a half-dozen Indians standing +upon the bluff and apparently watching the canoe with a curiosity that +was natural. + +"All right," thought the hunter; "so long as you let me alone I won't +hurt you." + +Had there been but the single occupant of the canoe the Apaches would +not have stood debating in this fashion as to what they should do, if, +indeed, they should do anything at all. Unity in the question would have +shown that it was the identical individual for whom they were searching, +for they knew that he was alone; but the fact that there were two, and +both in the guise of Indians, could be explained upon no other +hypothesis than that they were really what they seemed to be. + +"Hooh! Hooh!" + +It was precisely the same exclamation which had been uttered by the +warrior who sat so cold and inanimate in the stern of the canoe, and +Tom, without the least hesitancy, ceased paddling for the instant, +straightened up, and responded in the same gutteral fashion, resuming +the use of the oar at the same time, as if he meant that that should be +the end of it. But the Apaches immediately followed up their +ejaculations with some other sounds, which were doubtless intended as a +summons for the craft to heave to and "show her papers." Tom did not +understand the Apache tongue well enough to comprehend the precise +meaning of these words, although he was pretty well convinced of what +the others were driving at. He did not dare to attempt to reply, nor did +he dare to move faster; so he did the only dignified thing possible +under the circumstances. He continued that automatic paddling, and, +assisted by the current, was rapidly leaving his enemies in the rear +when they called to him again, moving at the same time down the bank in +a fashion which showed that they meant business. The hunter, not yet +ready to make the desperate dash which he had reserved for the last +final effort, if he should be driven to the wall, ceased work again and +called out: + +"Hooh!" + +He said it as impatiently as he could in the hope of "cutting off +further debate," and resumed paddling, knowing that a comparatively +short distance down the river the banks were so depressed that he could +readily make his way from the boat to the land, so that after getting +fairly below the Apaches his chances of ultimate escape were greatly +increased. + +The Indians must have been exasperated at the refusal, for Tom had taken +scarcely a dozen strokes when he saw the flash of several guns upon the +bank, and the whizzing of the bullets around his head left no doubt of +the target at which they aimed. + +"I can do somethin' of that myself," growled the hunter, as he laid down +his paddle and took up his gun. + +Without the least hesitation, he fired directly into the group, and the +wild cry that instantly followed told with what a fatal result also. All +diplomacy was ended by this act, and without pausing to reload his +piece, he dropped his gun and bent to the task. The long ashen paddle +was dipped deep into the water, and the light vessel shot like an arrow +down stream. It seemed, indeed, to be imbued with life, and fairly +skimmed over the surface. The unexpected and defiant response to the +summons of the Apaches threw them into temporary bewilderment, and the +minutes thus lost to them were golden ones gained to the fugitive, who +shot the canoe as close to the opposite shore as was prudent, and +wielded the paddle with the skill of a veteran. + +Having now no need of the dummy that had stood him so well for the time, +Tom did not hesitate to throw him overboard as a useless incumbrance, +and, thus relieved of the dead weight, he sped forward with wonderful +speed. In a short time after that the redskins had vanished from view, +and almost any one would have supposed that the danger was passed; but +Tom was well aware that it was only a temporary lull in the storm. The +Apaches were like bloodhounds, who, having once taken the trail of their +prey, would relax no effort so long as there was a chance of capturing +him, and so he abated not a jot of his tremendous exertions. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +PURSUED BY THE APACHES. + + +As stealthily as a phantom did the canoe bearing the scout skim along +the shore of the Gila, hugging the banks as closely as possible, so as +to take advantage of the ribbon of shadow which followed the winding of +the stream. The moon was creeping higher up the sky, and this advantage +would soon be denied the fugitive altogether, so every minute was +improved to the utmost. Now and then Tom ceased paddling, and as the +boat shot forward with undiminished speed, bent his head and listened. +This was continued until he had passed fully a quarter of a mile, when +he rested for a longer time than usual. + +"I guess they'll have to give it up," he said to himself, with a +peculiar chuckle. "They ketched me in a bad box, that's sartin, where I +couldn't climb out on either side. But things are a little better here," +he added, as he looked from side to side at the bluffs, which were so +low that the tops could be easily reached from his boat. "I don't much +want to tramp over-land, but if it is necessary I've got somethin' of a +chance, which isn't what I had before." + +He might well prefer the water to the land; for on the former, whether +he went fast or slow, there was no trail left for the keenest bloodhound +to follow; on the latter it was impossible to conceal his most cautious +footsteps from the eyes of the redskins. The surface of this portion of +Arizona was of such a nature that everything was against the hunter. +There was no wood nor tributary streams for miles. If he left the Gila, +and struck across the country, it would be over an open plain, where he +could be seen for miles. He would be on foot, while his enemies would +all be mounted on their fleet mustangs. How, then, could he elude them +by leaving his boat? His only hope was in traveling at night, but night +must always be followed by day. + +"I wonder what ideas will creep into their skulls," he muttered, +reflecting upon the view the Apaches had gained of him a short time +before from the bank. "A dead Injun is a good deal better than a live +one, as that 'ere critter proved to me. If I hadn't fired back agin, +they might have thought I was one of their own warriors--mebbe they'll +think so now. Great Scott!" + +The scout was paddling along in his leisurely manner, when his eyes, by +the merest accident, happened to rest upon the other shore, at a point a +short distance below him. While thus looking, he saw distinctly a point +of light appear and vanish three times! It performed no such gyration as +those which he had first seen, but simply came forward and receded until +it was gone altogether, leaving the same misty darkness as before. More +by instinct than from any other cause, Tom turned his eyes to the point +opposite where he had seen this exhibition. He had scarcely done so when +precisely the same thing was seen! + +"Jest what I expected," he said as he checked the downward progress of +his boat. "The varmints have 'spicioned that one of the chaps in that +'ere canoe which passed before 'em is myself, and they're goin' for me +like lightnin'. They've mounted their horses, and kept it up till they +knowed they'd struck a p'int below me, and there they've signaled to +each other that I'm still above 'em on the river, and still to be +ketched." + +The scout was certain that his theory was correct, and that, distasteful +and dangerous as it might be, the time had come for him to leave the +river. To continue further would be to precipitate a collision in which +there was no possibility of the good fortune that had followed him in +the first place. Besides this the night was so far advanced and the moon +so high up in the sky, that the shadow had narrowed to a band which was +practically useless. + +"No use makin' faces when you've got a dose of medicine to take," he +added, as he ran the canoe close to the shore. + +There he found that by standing upon his feet he could easily reach the +edge of the bluff above and thus draw himself up when he chose. This he +proceeded to do, but he was too skillful a hunter to leave behind him +such tell-tale evidence as the canoe itself would have proven. Were he +to leave that as it was, it would be sure to catch the eye of the +Apaches within a quarter of an hour and tell them precisely what had +been done. And so, as the hunter hung thus by his hands, with his long +rifle secured at his back, he caught the toe of his moccasin in the +craft in such a way that it dipped and took water. He held it thus until +it could contain no more; but its composition was such that even then it +would not sink. There were loose boulders in the bank, and the hunter +proceeded to drop these carefully into the boat below. It required +several for ballast, when it quietly went to the bottom, where it was +certain to stay. This done he addressed himself to the task before him. + +As he straightened up and looked off in the moonlight, a very +discouraging, although familiar sight, met his eye. The moonlight was +quite strong, and he was enabled to see objects indistinctly for a +considerable distance. It was everywhere the same. A level, treeless +prairie, where for miles there was not a drop of water to be obtained, +and over which, as has been already shown, in case he attempted to make +his way, he would be placed at the greatest disadvantage possible, +especially as his own mustang was still a good hundred miles to the +southwest, if he had succeeded in avoiding capture up to that time. But +the life of a frontiersman, besides being perilous at all times, is +hardly ever anything but disagreeable, despite the curious fascination +which it holds for those who follow it. Tom did not hesitate a moment +longer than was necessary, now that a disagreeable expedient was forced +upon him. + +His first precaution was to make sure that none of the Apaches were in +sight. The point at which he had seen the answering signal was so far +below that he was certain it would be beyond his vision, and, this much +determined, gave him just the "leverage" needed to work upon. It needed +but a few seconds to assure himself upon this point, and then he struck +off to the southwest. This course, while it took him away from the Gila, +would eventually bring him back to it, the winding of the stream being +such as to make this junction certain, if continued. The great thing now +required was haste; for a great deal depended upon the ground that could +be passed over during these favoring hours of darkness. He had taken +scarcely a dozen steps when he struck into a long, loping trot, not +particularly rapid in itself, but of such a character that it could be +kept for hours at a stretch. It was the genuine Indian dog trot, which +is so effective in long distances. As the runner went along in this +fashion, his thoughts were busy, and all his senses on the alert. He +concluded that it was nearly midnight, and that he had, consequently, a +number of hours at his command; so he aimed to get as far below the +intercepting Apaches as possible, with the intention of returning to the +river, before daylight, where he was hopeful of discovering some canoe, +or at least of hitting upon some feasible method of hiding his trail +from his lynx-eyed pursuers. + +This loping trot was kept up for fully two hours, at the end of which +time Tom was certain that he was approaching the river again. He still +pressed forward for another hour, when he came to a halt. Although he +had continued this great exertion for so long a time, yet so good was +his wind that when he paused there was no perceptible quickening of the +respiration. Years of training had made him capable of standing far more +trying tests of his strength than this. The scout carefully turned his +head from side to side, looking and listening. All was still, and his +ear caught no ominous sound. Then he moistened his finger and held it +over his head. Yes, there was the least possible breath of air stirring, +as was told him by the fact that one side of the moistened finger was +slightly chilled. Everywhere, right, left, in front or rear, so far as +the bright moonlight permitted his vision to extend, was the same dead +level of treeless plain. Kneeling down he applied his ear to the ground. +Could it be? There _was_ a sound thus carried to his ears--the very +sound which above all others he dreaded to hear. It was a faint, almost +inaudible, tapping upon the earth. Far away it was, but drawing nearer +every minute. + +The scout knew what it meant. It was the sound of horse's hoofs! + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +OUTWITTED. + + +"I'll match them Apaches agin the world for shrewd deviltry," exclaimed +Hardynge, unable to suppress his admiration even in the moment which +told him of his own increased personal danger. "By some hook or crook, +the Old Boy only knows what, they've found out my game, and are after +me. Ah! if I only had my mustang, Thundergust, with me!" + +Tom now changed his direction more to the north, his intention being to +strike the river much sooner than was his original purpose. It was the +only thing he could do to escape the redskins, who showed such a +wonderful skill in following him up. + +As near as he could judge, something like ten miles still intervened +between him and the friendly stream--a distance which he was confident +of passing before daylight, if he did not find his pursuers in his path. +The greatest care was necessary to keep out of the way of these +creatures, and the fugitive had run but a short distance when he paused +and applied his ear to the ground again. Only for an instant, however, +when he bounded up and was off like a shot. The alarming sounds came to +his ear with such distinctness as to prove that the Apaches were close +at hand. Guided by some strange fatality, they were bearing directly +down upon him at full speed. More than all, those pattering footfalls +were such as to indicate that the swarthy horsemen were not approaching +in a compact group. They had separated so as to cover a wide area of +ground, and were advancing in such an array that the difficulty of +escape was increased tenfold. Everything conspired against poor Tom. The +bright moonlight, the broad level stretch of plain, the fact that he was +on foot, and his pursuers, besides being well mounted, were among the +most skillful riders of the Southwest, made his situation about as +desperate as it is possible to imagine. + +A few minutes later the fugitive paused again, but this time it was not +necessary that he should apply his ear to the ground. The sounds of the +mustangs' hoofs came to him very plainly through the midnight air, and +as he looked around he half expected to see the shadowy figures of the +horsemen plunging forward in the gloom toward him! Nothing was to be +seen, however, of them, and, feeling that the situation was becoming +desperate, he changed his course again, his purpose being simply to get +by the approaching marauders without caring in what direction he went. +Had he been five minutes earlier he might have succeeded, but he was +just that much too late. + +He was stealing forward in his cautious manner, with the sound of the +horses' hoofs growing more distinct every second, when, sure enough, the +figure of an Indian horseman suddenly came in sight, bearing down upon +him as straight as an arrow. The very instant Tom saw it he sank down +upon his face, scarcely daring to hope that his pursuer would pass him, +and prepared for whatever he chose to do. + +The scout turned his head so that he could watch every movement and +guard against it, his hand being extended beneath his body in the most +natural position possible, but grasping his loaded revolver. + +It may have been that the Apache would have gone by but for the action +of his mustang. These intelligent animals seem to know, in many cases, +far more than their masters, and the one in question was yet some yards +distant from the prostrate form, when he halted with a snort. This +opened the ball, and the scout anxiously awaited the fight which seemed +inevitable. + +Fortunately, the Indian party had separated to such an extent that no +others were in sight of the fugitive, who thus had but a single man to +contend against, although there was no question but what any number of +others could be summoned to the spot in a twinkling. The foeman +understood the situation at a glance; that is, he knew that the man for +whom he was seeking was prostrate upon the ground before him, but he had +no means of judging whether he was dead, asleep, or feigning. Under +these circumstances he advanced very cautiously, his mustang betraying +considerable reluctance at walking up to a man stretched out at full +length. + +This was precisely what Hardynge desired, as every minute that matters +remained in _statu quo_ placed the friends of his adversary further away +and simplified the encounter, which he considered as certain to take +place. + +Something like ten minutes were occupied in this stealthy advance of the +horse, at the end of which time he stood so that his head was directly +over the shoulders of the prostrate man, who still lay as motionless as +a statue. + +"Hooh!" exclaimed the rider, holding himself ready for any demonstration +upon the part of the suspected white man. But the latter never stirred, +although he shivered a little at the fear that the mustang might place +his hoof upon him. + +Tom's peculiar peril will be understood when it is stated that the +Apache was master of the situation from the instant they came in sight +of each other. Had the fugitive fired at him the moment he caught sight +of his horse, he might have tumbled him to the ground, but it would have +brought the rest of the party around him in an instant. As matters now +stood, the Apache would have fired at the first movement he made, no +matter how dexterous, to draw his hand from beneath his body, and so Tom +bided his time. + +"Hooh!" + +This was repeated several times, when the warrior tried to force his +mustang to step upon him; but the animal was too timid to be forced into +doing such a repugnant thing, and, when angrily urged thereto, leaped +clear of the body with a sniff of terror, and galloped several rods +before he could be brought round and compelled to face the unknown +again. This seemed to convince the Apache that the man was dead, and +without any further hesitation he slid down from the back of his horse, +and advanced to the figure for the purpose of scalping him. + +He had just stooped down, knife in hand, when the form turned like a +flash. There came a blinding flash, then a report and a cry, almost +together, and Tom Hardynge seemed to leap up from the ground as if a +bomb had exploded beneath him, and, dashing toward the mustang, seized +his rein and vaulted upon his back before the animal really knew what +had taken place. + +It was a daring deed, but it succeeded to perfection. The scout had not +only extinguished his foe, but had captured his horse as well. The sound +of the pistol might reach the ears of other Apaches, but he cared +nothing for that. He was as well mounted as they, and, with the start +which he had gained, they were welcome to do all they could. In view of +this, it was impossible for him to restrain his exultation, and the +moment he realized that he was fairly astride of the mustang he let out +a shout that might have been heard a mile away. The steed which bore him +was an excellent one, and he had no fear of being overtaken by any of +them. He knew in what direction to take his flight, and away he sped +with his horse upon a dead run. He scarcely drew rein until daylight +broke over the prairie, when he found himself pursuing a direction +parallel with the river, and making good headway toward the point where +he hoped his own matchless Thundergust was awaiting him. + +Hardynge scarcely halted during the greater portion of the next day, +except when his mustang required it, and shortly after the sun crossed +the meridian he was gratified at catching sight of the rolling prairie +and wooded hills where he had turned his horse loose nearly a week +before. While at a distance he gave utterance to several sharp whistles, +which produced the response he desired, the beautiful glossy mustang +galloping forth to meet him with every appearance of delight. The +creature had taken good care of himself during his absence, having +feasted upon the rich, succulent grass, and was in the best possible +condition. + +Turning the Indian horse loose Tom bestowed no further attention upon +him, but leaped upon his favorite animal and galloped away to the rocks +where he had carefully concealed his saddle and riding gear and where +they had lain untouched while he was gone. + +Just as he dismounted, his eye rested upon a piece of dried buffalo-skin +which was pinned against a tree, the inner side turned outward. The +first glance told him there was something unusual, and his curiosity led +him to approach and scan it closely. There was some writing scrawled +upon it, which he read with little difficulty. The words were startling +enough, and as the hunter finished them he exclaimed, in a frightened +undertone: + +"Thunderation! can it be possible?" + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +AN ALARMING MESSAGE. + + +As the scout rode his mustang up to the tree whereon the buffalo skin +was fastened, he read the following words: + + "To Tom Hardynge:--The stage which left Santa Fe on the 10th inst., + is due at Fort Havens between the 20th and 25th, _but it will never + reach there_. It has an escort of a dozen mounted soldiers, but + they can't save it. The Apaches have arranged to attack it near + Devil's Pass, which you know is about a hundred miles northeast + from this point, among the mountains. You can't do anything to help + it; but Ned Chadmund is with it, and his father, the colonel, + offers you and me a thousand dollars apiece to save _him_. I leave + to day--Thursday--for the pass, and you must follow the minute your + eyes see this. I will be on the lookout for you. Remember there + isn't an hour to spare. + + "Dick Morris." + +Colonel Chadmund was the commandant at Fort Havens, whither he was +hastening with his news from the Indian country. His family dwelt in +Santa Fe, and his only child, a bright boy, about a dozen years of age, +had been permitted to start to join his father in accordance with a +promise made him a long time before. The escort with which he had been +provided would have been ample under ordinary circumstances, and in +fact, was larger than was generally customary; but it was not +sufficient. + +Dick Morris held a position then known as "hunter to the fort" at the +post under the command of Colonel Chadmund. It was similar to that which +the renowned Kit Carson filled for a number of years in the old days at +Bent's Fort. The man was selected on account of his skill in the use of +the rifle, and his knowledge of the habits of the game, his duty being +simply to supply the command with all the fresh food possible--a +position which, it will at once be understood, was no sinecure, +involving constant activity and many long, rapid journeys. + +Dick was as skillful and shrewd a man as could be found in the whole +Southwest. Tom Hardynge, his friend and companion in many a perilous +adventure, understood what it all meant the instant he had finished +reading the writing upon the buffalo skin. By some means--probably +through the Indian runners encountered while hunting his game--he had +learned the particulars of the expedition that had been arranged to +attack and massacre the escort. Very probably these swarthy wretches +were mainly incited to the deed by the knowledge that the son of Colonel +Chadmund was to be with the party. It was under the direction of this +vigilant officer that the marauding Indians of the border had received +such a number of severe blows. They were excited to the highest point of +exasperation, and would seize upon any means of revenge at their +command. + +Alarmed by the danger which threatened his beloved child, the colonel +had sent Dick Morris to the rescue at once. He would have sent a hundred +men from his fort, had he believed it possible that they could do any +good, but it was clearly out of the question for them to reach Devil's +Pass until nearly twenty-four hours after the stage was due there. It +was one of those cases wherein all depended upon shrewdness and +strategy, and where nothing was to be gained by mere force of arms. The +expectation was that the Apaches would hold the boy at an enormous +ransom, or probably as a hostage for the safety of such of their +blood-stained chiefs as were in the hands of the Americans. This will +explain the haste of the hunter, and his anxiety to have the +companionship of Tom, who had tramped so many hundred miles through the +Indian country. + +Ten minutes after reading the dispatch Tom had fastened on the +accoutrements of his mustang and was galloping away to the northeast on +the trail of his friend. He did not pause even to hunt a little game, +after having been so long without food. He was accustomed to privation +and hardship, and, if it were required, was good for twenty-four hours +longer without permitting a particle of food to pass his lips. + +He was leaving the treacherous Gila far to the south. It may be said +that his course along this stream, on his return from the Apache +country, was like the base of a triangle, while he was now following the +hypothenuse. This latter route was preferable in every sense to that +which he had been using for the last few days. The country itself was +more varied, better watered and abounded with vegetation, its only +drawback being the ever-present danger from the marauding redskins. +Another advantage that belonged to the traveler over this path was that +it was really a path--so clearly defined that a stranger could follow it +without trouble. It was, in fact, the trail between Fort Havens and +Santa Fe, over which, at certain intervals, messengers were regularly +dispatched back and forth. + +The money with which the soldiers at Fort Havens and several other posts +were paid came down by express from Sante Fe over this road, in charge +of a proper escort, and the coach which started from that city with +little Ned Chadmund carried also one hundred thousand dollars in crisp, +crackling greenbacks stowed away in the bottom of the vehicle. +Consequently it will be seen that the Apaches, who understood very well +the value of these printed slips, had every inciting cause to organize +an overwhelming expedition against the coach and its escort. + +The day is waning, but his steed was fresh and fleet, and had enjoyed +such a long rest, that it would be a mercy to him to put him through his +best paces. Tom did not hesitate to do it. The glossy black animal gave +a neigh of delight as he felt the familiar hand of his master upon the +bridle, and he stretched away like one of the Arabian coursers of the +desert, fleet as the wind and capable of keeping up the tremendous rate +of speed for hours at a time. + +The greater portion of this journey led through the wildest mountain +scenery, and the afternoon was scarcely half gone when a striking change +in the surface was observable. Instead of that long, dreary expanse of +endless prairie, the hunter was forced to make long detours to escape +the obstructions constantly interposing in the way. Now it was around +some pile of rocks, then winding among a mass of hills, then over a +level plain for some distance, but with the scenery steadily increasing +in ruggedness at every mile traversed. Far ahead could be discerned the +chain of mountains, their peaks looking blue and misty in the distance. +It was among these that the trail wound its way--one portion, in the +very heart of the mountains, being known as Devil's Pass, from its wild +and dangerous character; and, as the scout strained his eye in the +direction and contemplated the blue waving line against the sky, he +almost fancied he could see the smoke from the rifles of the vengeful +Apaches. + +"Shouldn't wonder if they are at it this very minute," he muttered, as +he glanced down at the ground in front of him. + +All the afternoon, as he sped along, he saw constantly in front of him +the footprints of another mustang, such as are made by an animal when +under full speed. So they were, as he knew very well. Dick Morris had +been over the same trail a few hours before, at scarcely less speed than +his own. + +Every time Tom came in sight of an elevation he looked hastily at it in +the hope of catching sight of some signal from his friend. In such a +desperate enterprise as this he felt the need of companionship, +especially of such a tried and daring man as Dick Morris. But the sun +gradually went down in the western sky without bringing him the coveted +sight, and he began to believe that he would not be overtaken before +reaching Devil's Pass, which he hoped to reach on the morrow. Then, as +the sun disappeared and darkness crept over mountain and prairie, Tom +turned the head of his animal in the direction of a clump of trees where +he knew there was an abundance of grass and water, and where, in all +probability, something in the way of food could be had for himself. The +mustang needed rest and refreshment, and the rider required them +scarcely less. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +THE TWO SCOUTS. + + +The hunter was within a hundred yards or so of the clump of trees, when +he suddenly checked his mustang, or rather the mustang checked himself, +at the light of a camp fire, which all at once flashed out from among +them. + +"That's either Dick or a lot of varmints," he muttered. "I think it's +varmints, for I don't b'lieve he meant to wait there." + +However, it was a question easily settled. He slid from his horse, and, +rifle in hand, stole forward in the direction of the grove, moving as +silently and stealthily as a shadow, while his beast stood as if he were +an equestrian statue awaiting the placing of some metallic hero upon his +back. A phantom itself could not have glided forward with less noise +than did he, and yet he was fully twenty yards away from his +destination, with his eyes fixed upon the point of light, when he was +discovered by some horse that belonged to the stranger, or strangers, +which gave out a loud neigh, as a signal to his friends of the approach +of danger. At that moment, Tom dropped flat upon his face, as he had +done before at the approach of the Apaches, and the luxuriant grass +gathered about his form in such a way that he could not be seen by +anyone at a moderate distance. But close upon the heels of the neigh +came a low, tremulous whistle, scarcely uttered when Tom replied in a +precisely similar way, leaped to his feet and trotted toward the grove. + +"That's Dick!" he exclaimed to himself, the signals which they had used +being the same that they had adopted years before, when approaching each +other in a dangerous neighborhood. + +The next minute the two met and shook hands. There were many points of +resemblance and difference between the two comrades. Each was in middle +life, embrowned, hardened, and toughened by years of exposure and the +wild life of the border; but Tom Hardynge was taller, more sinewy and +active than Dick Morris, who was below the medium stature, with a +stunted appearance; but he was a powerful man, wonderfully skillful in +the use of the rifle, and the two friends together made the strongest +possible kind of a team. + +"Ah! that's the talk," exclaimed Tom, as he snuffed the odor of the +cooking meat by the camp fire. "I'm hungry enough to chaw up my +moccasins. What have you there--buffalo, mule or grizzly bar?" + +"Neither one," replied the other. "I fetched down an antelope a couple +of hours ago, and as I was expectin' you, I cooked enough of it for +both." + +"You had to cook his hoofs and all to do that; but why don't you spread +the dining table?" + +Little ceremony was indulged in at such a time. The toasting meat, +brown, crisp and juicy, was served in two equal portions, each of +immense size, and then, with no culinary articles but their keen hunting +knives, and their incisors, almost as keen, they went at the business +with the gusto of famishing wolves. Meanwhile the two mustangs were +feasting upon the rich grass which grew abundantly about them, and so +all members of the party were enjoying themselves to the fullest extent. + +The two hunters scarcely spoke while this piece of mastication was going +on. They understood each other so well that there was no necessity of +any hurry in the way of inquiry or conversation. When at last they had +filled themselves to repletion, they drew their fingers through their +bushy hair, using the latter by way of napkins, and then, after a good +long draught from the brook running near at hand, lit their pipes and +leaned back in the very acme of bliss. + +"How soon shall we start?" asked Tom. + +"In a couple of hours," was the reply. + +"Think the Apaches are through by this time?" + +"No doubt of it." + +If the hunters seemed to exhibit indifference in referring to the +terrible occurrence, it was not because they felt thus; but the lives +which they led had accustomed them to such frightful experiences. + +"S'pose they've spared the younker?" + +"Guess they have." + +The conclusion to which both came was that the Apaches were incited to +this attack more by the desire to get possession of the lad than by +anything else, in view of the intense hatred with which Colonel Chadmund +was viewed by the hostile Indians of the Southwest. He had been +stationed over two years at Fort Havens, during which his administration +had been marked by extreme vigor, and he had retaliated upon the Apaches +especially in the severest way for many outrages committed by them. + +"Yas, they've gone for that little younker," added Dick Morris, after +the discussion had been continued for some time. "Of course they haven't +killed him; for that would have sp'iled their game. The colonel, finding +what they'd done, would come down on 'em harder than ever, and you kin +make up your mind they'd get the worst of the bargain before he was +through with 'em; but as long as they hold the boy, you see, they've got +the hands of the old fellow tied, for he thinks a heap of his boy, and +he'll do anything to save him." + +"And that's why he sends us arter him," said Tom. + +"He knows that if he let a lot of the men go, they might get all chawed +up, and it wouldn't help the boy any, so he thinks we kin get him out of +their hands by some hocus pocus or other." + +"And what do _you_ think, Tom?" asked his companion, in a confidential +voice. "Is there much show for ever saving the skulp of little Ned?" + +His brother hunter looked into the fire for several minutes, with a very +serious expression upon his countenance. He was thinking intently upon +the situation, and trying to extract some comfort from the prospect. + +"Wal, Dick, you know as well as me that it's mighty hard to tell in such +a case. We've both got the best of hosses, that kin hold thar own agin +anythin' the reds can scare up; but if they go to such pains to get the +chap into thar hands, they'll take the same pains to keep him thar." + +"Exactly; but they won't be expectin' any such move as we're at so early +in the day, don't you see? and there's where we gain the advantage by +hurryin' on, afore they kin get off in the mountains with him." + +There seemed to be reason in this conclusion, and both agreed upon it. + +At the end of a couple of hours their horses had rested sufficiently, +and they were mounted again. They had trusted to the mustangs to act as +sentinels while they spent their time in eating and talking, and, no +alarm having been given, they were satisfied that there was no one in +the vicinity, and they rode off toward the northeast, without any +concern of present danger threatening them. By this time the moon was in +the sky; but a few clouds were occasionally scudding before his face, so +that the prairie was not illuminated with as much clearness as upon the +preceding night. The two hunters galloped along at a swinging gallop, a +rate of speed which their mustangs were capable of continuing for hours +and which it was the purpose of the riders to keep up until their +destination was reached. Now and then, through the stillness of the +night, the cries of wild animals came to their ears, and once or twice +these sounded very much like signals from parties of Indians. + +Tom and Dick never once relaxed their vigilance, but, as far as the +gloom would permit, scanned the country about them in every direction. +Besides, they occasionally caught the glimmer of camp fires, but they +were all at such a distance that they paid no attention to them, but +continued on the even tenor of their way. + +Just as day was breaking, they found themselves fairly among the +mountains. The wildest crags and peaks were all about them, and they +were compelled to keep close to the pass they were following. This wound +in and out among the fastnesses, not more than a hundred feet in width +in some places, while in others it was fully a quarter of a mile broad. +Here they were in constant apprehension of meeting with their old +enemies; but there was an air of solitude and desertion about them that +was impressive in the extreme. They halted but a short time to let their +animals "blow," while they themselves made an observation. Still nothing +new or alarming was discovered, and they hurried forward as before. + +Just as the sun reached meridian, the two hunters came upon that place +known as Devil's Pass, which they were certain had witnessed a fearful +tragedy during the previous twenty-four hours. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +THE CAVALRY ESCORT. + + +The stage which left Santa Fe on that beautiful spring morning, bound +for Fort Havens on the journey heretofore referred to, carried two +passengers. One was Corporal Hugg, a soldier who had been engaged a +dozen years upon the plains--a rough, good-natured, chivalrous fellow, +who, having lost a leg in the service of his country, enjoyed a pension, +and had become a sort of family servant in the employ of Colonel +Chadmund. He was devotedly attached to little Ned and his greatest +delight was in watching or joining him at play, exercising a +surveillance over him something like that which a great, shaggy +Newfoundland holds over a pet child. The corporal was able to stump +about upon his cork leg, and when the time came for the lad to make the +journey through the mountains to Fort Havens--a journey which he had +been looking impatiently forward to for fully a year--it followed as a +natural sequence that the corporal should bear him company. + +Ned bade his mother an affectionate good-bye, and she pressed him to her +breast again and again, the tears filling her eyes, and a sad misgiving +chilling her heart. The reports at the time were that the Indians to the +southwest were unusually quiet, no word having yet reached the capital +of New Mexico of the formidable raids that were being organized in the +Apache country. Besides this, the stage, which was properly an +ambulance, drawn by a single powerful horse, was escorted by twelve +Indian fighters armed to the teeth, every one of whom had performed +similar duty before, and so, according to all human probabilities, there +seemed to be less cause than usual for fear. Yet the mother felt a +woeful sinking of the heart, natural, perhaps, under the circumstances; +but she could not break the promise of herself and husband to the boy, +who was overflowing with joy at the prospect of that long journey +through the mountains, and a several months' sojourn at the fort in the +far Southwest. + +Finally, the cavalcade lost sight of Santa Fe, and the first night they +encamped a good distance away from that historic, then primitive, town. +The lieutenant who had charge of the escort was more concerned about the +treasure in their possession than he was about the Indians. So far as +possible, the fact that he was carrying a large sum of money to one of +the frontier posts had been kept a secret from the general public; but +he was apprehensive that they might be followed by some of the desperate +characters which infested Santa Fe at that time. But nothing of danger +or lawlessness was seen during their first day and night, and when they +resumed their journey on the morrow, they began to dismiss all thoughts +of danger from that direction. + +As they progressed toward Arizona, the country gradually grew wilder and +more rugged, but the trail was followed without trouble, and when they +encamped the second night, they had the satisfaction of reflecting that +they had progressed much further than they had counted upon at first. + +Those were days of delight and happiness to young Ned Chadmund. The +weather was not oppressively warm, and the ever-changing scenery was +like the most entrancing panorama passing before his eyes. Sometimes he +rode upon one of the horses with the lieutenant or one of the soldiers. +Then again he ran along-side the ambulance until he was tired, when he +climbed within, and seated himself beside Corporal Hugg, and listened to +his tales of battle and adventures. + +On the second day the Indians began to show themselves. A party of +horsemen would be seen upon the top of some hill or bluff, apparently +contemplating the little cavalcade, or they would circle around at a +distance upon the prairie, whooping and indulging in all sorts of +tantalizing gestures, in the hope of drawing out a portion of the party +in pursuit. Their hearts' delight would have been to get them into some +exposed position, where they could be cut off to a man--and had the +cavalry been unaccustomed to border life, the artifice would have +succeeded; but they were not to be seduced to their ruin by any such +transparent stratagem. + +Now and then these redskins, a number of Comanches, sent in a rifle ball +or two by way of reminding the cavalry that they were accustomed to that +business. The lieutenant commanding permitted his men to reply +occasionally, but no thought of pursuit was entertained. None of the +soldiers were injured by these shots, although a number passed +uncomfortably close, and the ambulance was pierced several times. + +At one time Corporal Hugg checked his horse, and pointing his gun out of +the stage, took deliberate aim at the nearest redskin, who was +displaying his horsemanship by shooting from beneath the neck and belly +of his mustang, and then, as the latter wheeled, flopping upon the other +side of the animal, and firing as before. The corporal held his fire +until he attempted one of these turn-overs, when he pulled the trigger +and "took him on the wing." The result was a whoop, a beating of the air +with a pair of moccasined feet, and the mustang galloped away without a +rider. + +This skillful shot was a good thing for the party, as it taught the +Comanches the very lesson they needed. They instantly retreated to a +further point upon the prairie, and finally vanished from view +altogether. + +The company had been on the road for nearly a week. Six of them, +including the lieutenant, were riding at the head, and the remainder +were in the rear of the ambulance. Corporal Hugg was holding the reins +of his horse, who was stepping along with his heavy, ponderous tread, +while the driver was drowsy and indolent from the long, monotonous ride +in which he had been engaged for so many days, and for so many hours +during this last day. It was near the middle of the afternoon, and Ned +Chadmund was the only one of the company that seemed to be full of life +and spirits. He had run along by the side of the vehicle, until he was +pretty well jaded; he had crawled in again, and was chatting away to the +corporal in a fashion that left no room for his giving way to +drowsiness. The men sat like statues upon their horses, indifferent and +silent, and wishing, in a general way, that the day were over and the +time had come for going into camp, where they might stretch out their +legs and smoke their pipes to their hearts' content. + +"Yes, that 'ere is the place they call Devil's Pass," said the corporal +in reply to a question from the boy. "You see that it was so wide back +there at the beginning that you couldn't see how wide it was, and it +keeps geting narrower and narrower till it reminds me of the canyon of +the upper Yellowstone." + +"How is that?" was the question that came when he paused to take breath. + +"So narrow that you could toss a ball from one side to the other, and a +thousand feet from the top to bottom, clean and square, and there are +some places where it is all of a half mile." + +"But this don't seem as narrow as that." + +"I don't s'pose it is; but don't you notice ahead, yonder, that it ain't +more than a hundred yards broad? Well, it keeps it up for all of two +miles just like that." + +"Why do they call it Devil's Pass, corporal?" + +"I suppose because, if the Old Boy wanted to gobble up a lot of folks, +that is just the place. The walls on each side are straight up and down, +and several hundred feet high, so that a man can't dodge to the right or +left, unless he has a pair of wings to help him. The only thing he can +do is to go forward and backward, and if he happens to have Injuns in +front and rear, you can understand what a purty muss he would be in. +That, I s'pose, is the reason why it's called the Devil's Pass." + +"Do you think they will attack _us_?" asked Ned, in a scared voice. + +"I can't say," replied the corporal, striving to banish the expression +of alarm from his face. "If they've got any idea of disturbing us, just +here is where they'll do it. It's the worst place on the route, and if +we can get through to the other side all right, I'll feel as safe as if +we was inside the stockades of your father's fort." + +"Have you ever been through here before?" + +"Yes; all of half a dozen times." + +"Did you ever get into trouble?" + +"I never traveled through in all my life without having a scrimmage with +some of the redskins. If you'll take a look round as we drive along, +you'll see the bones of men scattered all along. Some belong to white, +and some to redskins; but they all fell fighting." + +"How far ahead is the worst part of the route?" + +"We're close upon it now, and I may as well tell you, Ned, that I think +we're going to have a fight." + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +IN DEVIL'S PASS. + + +By this time Ned Chadmund was pretty well frightened. Corporal Hugg had +said enough to convince him that they were in the greatest danger of the +whole journey. The lieutenant drew his men close together, and two of +the most experienced scouts rode a short distance in advance of the +others, glancing from side to side, and on the watch for the first signs +of the approach of Indians. + +The sides of the pass as already shown, were high and precipitous, so +that there was no possibility of escape except by going backward or +forward. Furthermore, the canyon, as it must have been at some distant +day, wound in and out in such a fashion that there were many places +where it was impossible to see more than a hundred yards in front or +rear. There was no conversation between the soldiers, and even the +corporal spoke in a lower tone to his young friend. + +"If anything _does_ happen," he said, looking down in the handsome +upturned face, "I want you to behave yourself, Ned." + +"Don't I always do it?" + +"I should say not!" was the emphatic response. "Haven't I ordered you to +stay in the wagon, and then looked round to see you slipping out while I +was talking to you? But things are different now. If you see anything +unusual, or hear rifle balls whizzing about you, don't go to poking your +head out to see what the matter is." + +"What shall I do, then?" asked the boy, who was really desirous of +following the directions of his friend. + +"Just lie down in the bottom of the ambulance and wait till I tell you +to get up again. The sides are bullet-proof, and there ain't any danger +of your getting hurt there." + +The afternoon was drawing to a close, and the high walls, rising up on +each side, so shut out the rays of the sun, that a somber twilight gloom +filled Devil's Pass; a deep, oppressive heaviness was in the atmosphere, +that seemed in keeping with the place which had been the scene of so +many tragedies, which was now entered with more or less misgiving upon +the part of the entire company. + +"I'd make a journey of two hundred miles extra if there was any way of +gitting around this infernal place," said the lieutenant; "but as there +isn't, all we can do is to push ahead." + +It was about half an hour after the warning words of the corporal to the +lad, and the eyes of the entire company were fixed upon the lieutenant +and his comrade, who were riding a short distance in advance. All at +once they were seen to rein up their horses simultaneously, as if +something in front had caught their attention. As by a common impulse, +the others did the same, and breathlessly awaited the next signal. It +came in a dozen seconds. While the hunter and his mustang remained +motionless, the lieutenant wheeled his horse about, and rode back and +the others noticed that his face was pale and expressive of great alarm. + +"I knew we shouldn't get through here without a fight. There's a whole +pack of Indians ahead of us. Jake, take a turn back a short distance and +see whether they have fixed it so as to shut us in." + +The man addressed turned to do as ordered, while the others anxiously +awaited his report. He was another Indian fighter, who knew precisely +what to do, and he was gone but a short time when he came thundering +back, calling out the instant he came in view around a curve in the +pass: + +"We're in for the biggest scrimmage of our lives! There's five hundred +Apaches coming up the pass, and they'll be here inside of ten minutes." + +The man who made this terrifying announcement was not one given to +exaggeration, and, although he might have overestimated the number in +this case, every one of his hearers knew that an overwhelming force was +in their rear, and, whatever they did to save themselves, the last thing +to be thought of was to turn back. + +Scarcely had the news been announced when the scout from the other +direction galloped back. + +"Well, what is it?" asked the lieutenant. + +"Some of the redskins are ahead of us, that's certain." + +"What tribe?" + +"The Jiccarilla Apaches, I think; the worst set of scamps this side of +the Llano Estacado." + +"How many?" + +"I can't make out more than a dozen, and there may be less." + +A hasty consultation was held, and all agreed that the appearance of +these few Indians in front was for the purpose of turning the party back +upon the main force in the rear. Consequently, the proper course was to +charge ahead, fighting their way, if necessary, through those before +them, and keeping all the distance possible between themselves and the +war party coming down from the opposite direction. Only a few seconds +were necessary to form this decision, and the cavalry started at a +gallop down the pass, Corporal Hugg lashing his powerful steed into a +much more rapid pace than he was accustomed to, or was agreeable to him. + +"Now, Ned, keep your head down," said the wooden-legged soldier to the +boy. "The bullets will soon be buzzing all around us." + +As he spoke he stretched out on the flat bottom of the ambulance, +allowing his head to be elevated just enough to permit him to peer over +the foreboard and guide the horse, which was now forced into a furious +gallop. Earnest in his desire to obey, Ned Chadmund did the same, +awaiting the result of this desperate attempt to escape from a most +perilous position. + +The bottom of the pass was quite level and hard, but the ambulance +bounded and leaped from side to side in a way that threatened to +overturn it, and made anything like connected conversation impossible. +The speed of the party was about the same, the horsemen retaining their +position a short distance in advance of the vehicle and all nerved to +the fiery charge they believed to be inevitable. The lad, still lying +flat on his face in the bottom of the ambulance, raised his head just +enough to peer over the shoulder of the corporal at the galloping horse +and the figures of the cavalry beyond. + +Suddenly the reports of a score of rifles sounded in the pass, and the +horrified lad saw fully one half of the soldiers topple out of their +saddles, riddled by the balls that had been fired from a skillfully +arranged ambush. At the same time several horses reared, plunged and +fell, fatally wounded by others of the missiles. + +"Down!" shouted the corporal to Ned, who, in the excitement of the +moment, had placed his hands upon the shoulders of his friend and risen +to his knees. "Down, I say! Don't you see that they are firing at us?" + +The rattling sound of the returning fire of the cavalry was heard, each +man being armed with a rifle, and the corporal rose to his knees and +lashed the galloping horse to a still greater speed. + +Instead of a dozen Apaches, fully a hundred came swarming toward the +little band of soldiers, the painted warriors seeming to spring, like +the dragon's teeth of old, from the very ground. Hemmed in on every +hand, the cavalry, throwing away their rifles, which were useless in +such an emergency, and drawing their revolvers, charged straight through +the yelling horde closing in around them. Fascinated by the terrible +scene and scarcely conscious of what he was doing, Ned crawled forward +again and stared out from the front of the ambulance, while the corporal +added his voice to the terrible din by shouting to his horse, which was +plunging forward at a rate that threatened to overturn completely the +bounding vehicle. + +The horsemen that were left were comparatively few and they fought like +Spartans; but Ned saw them drop one by one from their animals, until +there was only the lieutenant left, and he, poor fellow, was lying upon +his steed, both badly wounded, as they strove with the madness of +desperation to escape. But it was useless. The Apaches were all around +them, pouring in their shots with such precision that a moment later the +dying horse sank heavily to the ground and the wretches that dashed +forward to slay his rider found that he was already dead. + +Corporal Hugg saw all this as a huge warrior dashed forward and seized +the rein of his own horse; but the next instant he dropped to the earth, +was trampled upon by the iron hoofs and run over in a twinkling. Still +the Indians swarmed in around and ahead of the team, against which all +the avenues of escape seemed hopelessly closed. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +AMONG THE APACHES. + + +Having run down one Apache warrior, Corporal Hugg, unmindful of his own +personal danger, leaned forward out of the ambulance and shouted and +lashed the furious horse, which was already on a dead run. + +"Go it, good fellow," he yelled, his voice rising above the horrid din +of cracking fire arms and whooping assailants. "Keep it up a little +longer, and we shall be clear of the whole crew." + +They were the last words the brave soldier uttered. Ned Chadmund, who +had again crouched back in the swaying vehicle, was horrified to see his +friend pitch forward upon the foreboard, and then, as the carriage gave +one unusually violent plunge, he went out head foremost, and vanished +from sight. He had been pierced by a dozen balls, and was dead before he +reached the ground. + +The horse, like his human assailants, was frantic, and abated not a jot +of his tremendous speed, though the reins fell slack and dangled around +his feet, and the familiar voice was heard no more. He, too, was wounded +by more than one cruel rifle ball, but he seemed capable of undergoing +far more than his comrades that had fallen at the first fire. + +The situation of the lad was fearful, and he was in imminent danger from +more than one form of death. He was cowering in the bottom of the +ambulance, too much terrified to speak or to attempt to help himself in +any way. Bruised and stunned by the terrific bounds of the vehicle, he +was dazed, bewildered and only dimly conscious of the awful pandemonium +reigning around him. Suddenly he felt himself lifted in the air; then +there was a crushing and grinding, as if he was being ground to atoms +between two millstones, then another terrible crash and his senses +forsook him. + +The ambulance had overturned and smashed. It was dragged a short +distance, when the infuriated steed broke loose, tore a short distance +further down the pass and fell dead. + +When the boy recovered his senses, his eyes opened upon a very different +scene. The sounds of strife had ceased, and the struggle was ended, for +the reason that there were no men left to resist the victorious Apaches. +It was night, and a company of something like fifty were encamped in a +gorge in the mountains. The attacking party, which, including those who +had followed the escort into the pass, but were not in time to +participate in the engagement, numbered several hundred, and had, after +the contest was over, separated and vanished, leaving the chief, +Mountain Wolf, with half a hundred of his best warriors gathered about +him. After securing the treasure in the ambulance, and taking three +horses of the company, which had escaped harm during the massacre, the +Apaches moved on in a westerly direction through the pass for half a +mile, and turned to the left in a sort of ravine or gorge. Several +hundred yards up this the gorge widened into a valley, wherein were a +number of trees and a small stream of water. There they went into camp. +An immense fire was kindled, and as it roared and crackled in the night, +it threw out a glare that made it like midday for many feet away. + +Ned Chadmund had been picked up, limp and apparently lifeless, by the +chief, Mountain Wolf, and carried to this spot with as much care and +tenderness as if he were a pet child of his own. The boy still showed a +certain stupor upon reaching the camp, but after he had lain a short +time upon a buffalo robe he revived, and, with wondering eyes, looked +around upon the strange and weird scene. The Indians were passing to and +fro, as if making preparations for some sort of festivity. There was +little noise, but a great amount of activity. Close by the fire were a +half dozen warriors, engaged in cooking several carcasses, and had the +persons concerned been civilized instead of savage, the scene would have +suggested an old-fashioned barbecue. + +When the lad arose to a sitting position upon the buffalo hide, he +became sensible of a sharp, stinging sensation in the head, and a sore, +bruised feeling along his side, both caused by the shock received at the +overturning of the ambulance. His action was observed by a number of the +Apaches, but none approached, nor did they pay the least attention to +him; so he had every opportunity for a careful observation of what was +going on around him. + +After recovering from the first sensation of terror and amazement, his +thoughts naturally reverted to the tragedy that had been enacted a short +time before in Devil's Pass. It was a fearful scene for a lad like him +to look upon, and he was sure it must remain vividly impressed upon his +memory so long as he lived. + +"I'm the only one alive," he repeated to himself, with a shudder. "Poor +Corporal Hugg was the last man left, and I saw him killed. I wonder why +they spared me?" + +He had no suspicion of the intention of the Apaches in preserving his +life, and which has already been hinted at in another place; so it was +very natural that he should feel puzzled to understand why it was that +he had been selected from such a party to escape the hatred which these +wild Jiccarillo Apaches had shown toward the whites ever since the +latter encroached upon their domains. + +"I guess they're going to make an Indian of me," was his conclusion. "I +wonder what father will think when he hears of it? Poor mother! I know +how she was worried when she bid me good-bye. I hope she won't hear +anything till I carry her the news myself." + +Fortunately for his peace of mind it never occurred to Ned that he might +have been spared for the purpose of torture and indignity. There was no +fear of present danger, as he sat upon the buffalo skin, viewing the +strange scene about him. Something like fifteen minutes had passed while +thus engaged, when the figure of a tall, athletic Indian strode slowly +toward him, apparently attracted by the interest which the boy showed in +the proceedings. This warrior was fully six feet in height, +magnificently formed, with long horse-hair like shreds hanging from his +crown, which, like his face, was daubed with startling colors, giving +him the appearance of a variegated zebra of the hues of the rainbow. + +It was Lone Wolf, one of the most famous leaders of the Jiccarilla +Apaches. + +But the most noticeable feature about this warrior was his dress. He was +enveloped from head to foot in a sort of cloak, of a greenish tinge, +which rattled and crackled as he walked, as if made of paper. And so it +was; for, as he approached, Ned saw that his outer garment was composed +entirely of greenbacks, carefully stitched together in such a way that +they made a blanket of half a dozen feet square. No redskin probably +ever paraded so costly a blanket as this, which included several hundred +new and crisp bank notes, varying in value from twenty to a hundred +dollars each. + +They had been united in such a careful manner that he was able to handle +it with as much ease and facility as if composed of a single sheet of +paper of the tough texture of which our national issues are made. He +seemed quite proud of his novel garment, so unique of its kind, and +strode forward with the pompous tread of an Indian chief until he was +within a few feet of where Ned sat, when he paused a few moments to give +the latter full opportunity to admire his envelope. + +"That must have taken a good deal of the money that belonged to the +soldiers," was his reflection, "but the country can lose it better than +it can the soldiers themselves." + +Lone Wolf was one of the most dreaded, because he was one of the most +skillful and treacherous, of the Apache chiefs. He went to Washington +twice during his life with a delegation from his tribe, visited the +principal cities in the North, was treated in the most hospitable +manner, and professed the most unbounded love for his white brothers. He +announced his deliberate intention of making all haste back to his +tribe, and henceforth devoting his life to peace. He would summon his +brother chiefs about him, he said then, and make known to them the +goodness and love of the whites for the red men. He would explain to +them their invincible power, and make very clear the folly of attempting +to resist their wishes in any way. Furthermore he agreed to show the +numerous gifts that had been showered upon him, and he would explain +that if they conducted themselves aright a similar future was before +them as well. All this Lone Wolf promised; but he had no sooner got +among his own people again than he chose to forget his promises and went +upon the warpath. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +LONE WOLF. + + +Lone Wolf spoke English like a native; and, having waited until the +admiration of Ned Chadmund had been given time to expend itself, he +spoke in a deep, guttural voice: + +"Does the child of my white brother mourn for those who have fallen?" + +The lad was so surprised at hearing himself addressed in this manner, +that he stared wonderingly at him for a moment without making reply. +Then he rose to his feet, and, looking up in the painted face, replied: + +"I am all alone, and long to go to my father." + +"What is the name of your father?" asked the chief, in the same +excellent English. + +"Colonel Edward Chadmund." + +"Is he at the fort, yonder?" continued Lone Wolf, stretching out his +hand so as to point toward the southwest. + +"Yes; he is the commandant there, and has a large number of brave +soldiers, and will send them out to take me to him." + +Had Ned been a few years older, he would not have made this reply. It +was not politic to threaten the chief; and he had no suspicion that the +confession of the identity of his father only intensified the hatred of +these redskins before him. But perhaps, after all, it was as well; for +Lone Wolf was sagacious enough to recollect that he was talking to a +child, from whom he was more likely to hear truth than from an older +person. + +"He has sent some brave soldiers to take you to him," said the chief, +with a wolf-like grin, displaying his long, yellow teeth. "But they have +left you on the way; they have given you to Lone Wolf, and they will not +go back to the fort, nor to Santa Fe. If he sends more, they will do the +same." + +"There were only a dozen of them, while you had hundreds. If they had +had anything like an equal chance, not one of the Apaches would have +been left alive! We would have killed them all!" + +This was a brave answer, in a certain sense, but it was not a very +prudent one; for Lone Wolf was known to be the possessor of a fearful +temper, easily excited into a tempest of passion; and the words of the +boy were not calculated to be very soothing to him. There was too much +paint upon the face of the chieftain for the boy to observe the flush +which overspread it at hearing himself addressed in this manner, but he +could understand the lowering of that gruff voice and the quickening of +the utterance. + +"Lone Wolf and his brave Apaches care nothing for the soldiers of the +Father at Washington. His agents deceive us; they make treaties and do +not keep them; they lie to us, and then we turn upon and rend them. Do +you see that?" + +As he uttered this inquiry in the fiercest kind of language, he whipped +out from beneath his blanket the reeking scalp of one of the soldiers +that had fallen in the gorge a short time before, and shook it in the +face of the terrified lad. The latter could not fail to see what it was, +and drew back in horror and disgust, realizing what a bloodthirsty +monster stood before him. He saw that it would never do to excite the +other's anger, and he endeavored to turn the conversation into another +channel. + +"Do you and your brave warriors mean to stay here till morning?" + +"It is as Lone Wolf wills," was the instant answer, in a voice not quite +so severe, indicating a subsidence of the troubled waters. + +"And what are you going to do with me?" was the next question, which no +one besides a lad of Ned's age would have dared to put, when placed in a +similar position. + +"That, too, is as Lone Wolf wills," was the rather non-committal answer. + +"And that is the reason why I asked you. How soon can I return to my +father? When I reach him I will tell him that it was Lone Wolf that sent +me back and he will be friendly toward him." + +"Lone Wolf asks not his friendship," said the chieftain, with something +of the old fire gleaming in his eye. "He has killed our bravest and best +warriors. He has followed them to the mountains and slain them by their +camp fires, when they dreamed not that the white man was near. He has +murdered their squaws; and Lone Wolf shall not die until he tears his +scalp from his head." + +The poor boy was horrified. He was too young to understand fully the +causes of such deep enmity upon the part of the chieftain, but he was +not too young to understand that his own life had been spared through no +sentiment of mercy. The leader had some other cause, but Ned did not see +much hope of making a favorable impression upon this intractable chief, +and he would have been very much relieved had he taken himself off and +left him alone. + +Some fifteen minutes had passed since the lad had opened his eyes upon +the strange scene by which he was surrounded, and the preparations which +seemed to be going on were completed. The entire Apache troop suddenly +broke out in a series of whoops and yells that would have appalled a +hundred famishing wolves. At the same instant they began dancing--not a +motion of the feet, such as we are accustomed to see in civilized +regions, but a series of demoniac gymnastics, risking the dislocation of +all the bones in their bodies. They leaped up and down, swung their +arms, threw out their legs, and circled around each other--the whole +forming a wild and appalling revelry more like that of wild beasts than +of human beings. + +Boy-like, Ned Chadmund forgot everything else for the time but the scene +which was passing directly before his eyes. There was a weird attraction +in watching the flitting, fantastic figures, whose hands were yet +reeking with the blood of innocent men and whose greatest delight would +have been to scalp every man, woman and child in the territory. + +This hullaballoo lasted all of half an hour, when it died out as +suddenly as it began. It was not from exhaustion, for Indians have been +known to keep up such a performance through the entire night; but it was +in obedience to a signal from Lone Wolf, whose imperious will no one +dared defy. He had simply raised his arm, and, giving utterance to a +single whoop that rose above the horrid din, silence "fell like a +blessing." This lasted but a few minutes, when the bustle began in a +lesser degree, and the Apaches fell to eating the meat which had been +abundantly prepared for them by several of their number. They continued +to act like wolves as they did so, using hands and knives, but more +frequently tearing the meat to shreds without the aid of any implements +except such as nature had furnished them in the shape of teeth. + +The terrific strain, mental and physical, which Ned had undergone during +the last few hours, was succeeded by a reaction which made him feel weak +and faint. He was conscious of the need of food, and was feverish and +thirsty. + +"I don't see as I'm likely to get anything to eat," he muttered, as he +sat down on the blanket, and looked upon the glittering scene. "I ain't +so very hungry, but I would like a good drink of water." + +The firelight shone upon the small stream which ran through the middle +of the valley; and, as it was so near at hand, he thought there would be +no harm in walking to it, and helping himself to a refreshing draught. +He had walked but a few steps, however, when he became aware that some +one was following him. A careless glance over his shoulder showed that +it was Lone Wolf. The lad concluded at once that he suspected an attempt +at escape, and he thought he might do himself some good by a faithful +return to his former position after he had helped himself to a drink, +without appearing to notice that he was watched. This was the more easy +of accomplishment, as the Apache moved off to one side, as if his desire +was to conceal his real purpose. Accordingly, Ned walked quietly forward +until he reached the stream, where he knelt down and took one long, +refreshing drink, which seemed to give him new life and strength. Then, +rising to his feet, he started back to the camp fire. As he did so, he +found himself face to face with Lone Wolf. + +"What do you mean?" demanded the latter, gruffly. + +"I was thirsty and went to get a drink. I thought I would not bother +you." + +"When you try to run away, then you will die!" + +"What's the use of trying to run off, when there isn't any show?" asked +the young prisoner, with a laugh, an assumption of jollity which was far +from genuine. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +SURROUNDED BY DANGER. + + +Lone Wolf no doubt meant to warn Ned against any attempt at escape; for, +where the surveillance was relaxed, as it would probably be now and then +in his case, he was certain to see many occasions when he would be +tempted to give them the slip. + +On the way to this place, Corporal Hugg had given the lad an insight +into the ways of the redmen, and the boy began to use his knowledge. The +perilous position in which he was placed helped to sharpen his wits, for +he began to see things in their true light. The chief had expressed his +hatred of Colonel Chadmund in too vigorous language to be mistaken; and +Ned now believed that in sparing his life the Indian had been actuated +by some other motive than mercy because of his age. + +"He means to strike father through me," he concluded, as he sat upon the +blanket in deep thought. "He will kill me in some way more horrible than +the rest, and he is waiting until he has a good chance to do it, so that +father will be sure and know it. He thinks he has scared me out of +trying to get away, but the next chance I get I'll do it. I believe I +can dodge him. But I'll have to shut his eye up, so as to have the +better show." + +At this juncture Lone Wolf came toward him, bearing in his hand a large +bone, rather bountifully covered with meat, which he was gnawing as he +walked, grasping either end of it with his hand, and fixing his black +eyes upon the lad as he advanced. + +"Do you want something to eat?" + +"I should think I did," replied Ned, with a laugh which he forced so +well that no one would have suspected its sincerity. "I'm about half +starved to death, and was afraid I was not going to get any supper at +all!" + +"Take that, and go to sleep." + +The large bone was given a flirt by the huge warrior, and fell directly +into his lap. It was not very pleasant to take it second-hand, but a boy +in his situation could not be very fastidious, and, thanking the chief +for his princely liberality, Ned fell to and gnawed away like a famished +dog. It struck him as curious that none of the warriors appeared to note +his presence, but he knew better than to believe that such apparent +blindness was real. He was as securely within their power as if bound +hand and foot. + +"He told me to go to sleep," he said, as he stretched out upon his +blanket; "I guess I'll try and do it. I don't see any use of sitting up +and watching such a set of wretches as they are. I'd rather have a pack +of wolves about me than such as they." + +The night was too mild to require the blanket wrapped over him; besides +which the warmth from the camp fire was very perceptible; so he lay upon +his back looking up at the stars and endeavoring to shut out from his +thoughts the hateful beings gathered around, and whose grunting voices +and loud exclamations were never quiet, but continued so long that they +acquired a certain monotony, like the rattle and hum of the mill, which +lulls the miller to sleep. + +"It's strange," he murmured, as his imaginings became as wayward as a +boy's will. "Father is off yonder, I don't know how many hundred miles, +and mother is just the opposite way in Santa Fe, and here I am about +half way between them. We were never so scattered in all the world +before. I wonder what father will do when he finds out about Lone Wolf? +The chief has put his blanket of greenbacks away somewhere, and I guess +he knows how to take care of them. I declare, but that was a big +haul--one hundred thousand dollars at a lick! I should think Lone Wolf +might afford to retire now on what he has made. But the poor men," added +Ned, with that sudden throb of the heart which always came when lie +recalled the fearful attack and massacre in Devil's Pass. "Not one of +them left alive! Oh, I wish I could forget it all! but I never, never +can. The Indians have done such things many a time before, but I never +saw them. It'll kill me if I don't keep it out of my thoughts." + +There seemed to be less moon that night than on the previous evening, +and as the boy lay looking upward, he could see a number of stars +twinkling in the sky. He reflected that beyond them was One who could +not forget his pitiful condition, who could bring him out of all his +troubles, and who was the only Being unto whom he could go in this dark +hour. Ned prayed to Him, as he had been taught to pray at his mother's +knee, and, recalling the words which he had so often heard from her dear +lips, he believed that God could not forsake him, but that all would +come out right. He had lain thus perhaps an hour, when he turned upon +his side for the greater comfort of position. As he did so, he was +reminded of Devil's Pass by a sharp twinge in his side. It was sharp +enough to make him gasp with pain; also to put an idea into his head. + +Having fully made up his mind to attempt to get away from the Apaches at +the very first opportunity which he could seize, it struck him that he +might help himself by engaging in a piece of deception, justifiable +under the circumstances. The bruise which he had received was not severe +enough to interfere with his walking, but Lone Wolf might as well +believe that it did. If he thought his prisoner was too lame to do much +in the way of locomotion, his watchfulness would be certain to become +quite lax, all of which would be a great point in favor of the one +mainly concerned. + +"At any rate, I'll try it on," he said, as he shut his eyes. + +The excessive fatigue of the lad caused him to drop off into a sound +slumber--a slumber filled with sweet dreams of home, father and mother +and all that was pleasant. But it was interrupted in the rudest possible +way. + +The night was nearly gone, when a terrific uproar aroused him as +suddenly as if a cup of cold water had been dashed in his face. Looking +around, he saw two warriors, within six feet of him, engaged in a savage +dispute. From some source, a number of the Apaches had obtained a supply +of fire-water, and several desperate fights had already taken place. A +swarthy redskin, daubed with paint and intoxicated to that degree which +brought to the surface all the deviltry in his nature, was striving, +with knife in hand, to get at the sleeping boy, while another, in about +the same condition, was disputing his right to do this, and claiming +that it was peculiarly his own province to slay the young prisoner. Both +agreed that death should be awarded, and each claimed that justice +demanded that he alone should do the righteous deed. This difference of +opinion had already produced high words, the warriors pulling and +shoving each other, and threatening each instant to go at each other +with their knives. + +Ned could not understand the words spoken, but the actions of the +redskins needed no interpretation. The affrighted boy sprang to his +feet, and, forgetful of the lameness which he had arranged, ran back +several yards to a group of redskins who were squatted upon the ground, +smoking. + +At this instant, the two disputants, wearied with hurling words at each +other, went in with their knives, and the conflict became of the most +desperate and sanguinary nature. + +"Where is Lone Wolf?" was the question he asked, as he paused by the +group of smokers and looked inquiringly at them. + +But if any of them understood the words uttered, they did not choose to +give the information sought, and smoked away as placidly as if seated +around their own firesides at home. + +Just beyond were two other warriors engaged in conversation, and Ned was +sure he had heard one of them speak in broken English during the earlier +part of the evening. Hoping to gain the knowledge he desired, he went to +him. + +"Where is Lone Wolf, the chief?" + +"He go way--much time ago--off in the mountains." + +"When will he come back?" + +The redskin shook his head to signify that he did not know; but added, +the next minute: + +"Be back to-morrer--mebbe--don't know--can't say." + +This rather indefinite information was all that could be obtained by the +lad, who was in a shiver of terror; for he believed now that his life +was not safe for a single moment. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +"THE HOUR HAS COME." + + +Ned Chadmund was too terrified to think of further sleep, nor did he +dare to return to where he had been lying upon the blanket when aroused +in such a startling manner. As he turned his horrified gaze in that +direction, he saw the two combatants clutching and striking each other +upon the ground, their blows growing feebler as their strength rapidly +departed. The most alarming thing about this revolting contest was the +fact that it did not attract the interest of a single spectator beyond +the little fellow. There were plenty of Indians around, some of whom +were within a dozen feet, and yet they paid no more attention to it than +if the two were quietly smoking their pipes. + +This showed, as a matter of course, the indifference of the others as to +what befell the defenseless prisoner. The next Indian who advanced upon +him with drawn knife would not be so likely to find himself disputed by +another, anxious to perform the same job. It seemed certain that no one +would interfere in the interests of the prisoner himself. + +The latter stood debating what he should do, if, indeed, he could do +anything at all. He turned his head and looked back in the gloom, which +appeared so inviting that he was tempted to turn and make a dash for +freedom. If he could only secure a start of a hundred yards, it seemed +to him that he might escape. That would give him a chance to steal away +and hide until he could renew his flight, with a prospect of eluding +them altogether. He glanced at the darkness and then again at the +Apaches. Not a single one of them, so far as he could see, showed any +consciousness of his presence, and none were between him and the gloom +in which he meant to take shelter. + +His heart throbbed with excitement as he stood debating the question, +and he hurriedly concluded to make the attempt. But on the eve of +starting, his straining vision detected the faintest shadowy outline of +a figure, which silently receded in the gloom as he looked toward it. +Ned understood on the instant what this meant. It was Lone Wolf who was +waiting to receive him, whenever he should choose to make his attempt to +get away. + +The whole trick flashed upon him at once. Lone Wolf, with a view of +thoroughly testing the lad, had purposely thrown this opportunity in his +way, and was waiting beyond in the gloom to receive him with open arms. +Poor Ned's heart sank as he realized more vividly than ever that he was +as much a prisoner as if immured within the walls of Sing Sing. Still, +he affected not to notice the presence of the sentinel, but walked back +toward the camp with that affectation of indifference which he had used +on more than one occasion before. He recollected this time to put on the +limp--his lameness being of such a decided character that there could be +no mistaking it by any one who happened to look in that direction. + +"Never mind, I'll get the chance yet," he muttered, putting himself upon +his mettle. "I'll play lame till they think there is no need of watching +me at all, and then, before they know it, I'll be off." + +The knowledge that Lone Wolf was so near at hand gave him enough courage +to go back to where the blanket lay, and seat himself upon it. He had +sat thus but a few minutes, when he noticed that it was growing light in +the East. The night was gone and day was breaking. + +"I'm glad of it, for I'm tired of this place," he exclaimed. "I'll never +get any chance to do anything for myself here." + +Before it was fairly light, the Apaches began their preparations for +leaving the scene of their encampment. Their mustangs were picketed at +some distance up the stream, under charge of a couple of sentinels, +where they had not been disturbed during the entire night. + +"I wonder if they'll give me a horse?" was the next thought of Ned, as +he watched these preparations. + +In a few minutes all were mounted upon their animals, which seemed in a +splendid condition. Among them were three that had belonged to the +cavalry, and which were easily identified by means of the saddles, +bridles and accoutrements. Ned hoped that one of these would be placed +at his disposal, and he looked around for the chief only to find him at +his elbow. + +"You walk or ride?" he asked, his painted countenance as cold and hard +as steel. + +"That depends upon you," replied Ned, "but I do hope you will let me +ride upon somebody's horse for this is mighty rough, I can tell you," +and he emphasized his complaint by limping, apparently with great pain, +for a few steps. The chief looked at him very sharply for a few seconds, +and then showed that he believed him, if indeed, he held any doubt at +all. He motioned to one of the warriors who was leading a captive horse, +which was brought immediately to the spot. The stirrups were shortened, +so as to be in place for the boy's feet when he was helped into the +saddle. + +"Oh! my leg! my leg!" he screamed, with an expression of intense agony, +when, actually, he felt not a particle of pain; "it seems to me, you +would rather hurt a chap than not." + +No attention was paid to his complaint, and a minute later the whole +cavalcade was in motion. + +The boy was a skillful horseman, having been taught to ride from the +time he could walk, and he found himself astride of one of the best +steeds that had belonged to the cavalry, although he could not identify +it. As he looked about him and examined the saddle, he caught sight of +the handle of a revolver in the holster, jammed down in such a way that +it had escaped the notice of their captors. + +"That's to be mine," he whispered to himself, not a little pleased at +the discovery he had made. + +He knew if this caught the eye of Lone Wolf or any of his warriors they +would not permit him to retain it, and he was so fearful that they would +see it that he began maneuvering with a view of getting it into his +possession. No one is more skillful at this sort of business than a boy +about his age. Ned groaned, and twisted forward and backward, as if to +seek relief, and when he finally secured a little more comfort and +resumed his upright position the revolver was safely hid beneath his +waistcoat, he having placed it there without attracting the eye of any +one. The little fellow felt braver on the instant. He suspected that if +he encountered Lone Wolf alone, and the chieftain dared to bar his +passage, he could use the revolver upon him with the same coolness that +Corporal Hugg would have done had he been alive. + +"None of them suspect that I've got such a thing about me, and that +gives me the better chance," was his very sensible conclusion, as he +endeavored to put on an expression of blissful serenity. + +When the sun was fairly up, the fifty Apache warriors were galloping in +a direct line toward the south, Lone Wolf at their head, and Ned +Chadmund riding at his side. The lad had made several inquiries of his +leader, but the latter repelled him so savagely that he wisely held his +peace. He supposed the Indians were going southward toward their +village. He remembered hearing his father speak of Lone Wolf as dwelling +pretty well to the southward, and that he had pronounced him to be one +of the most dangerous leaders among the fierce tribes of the Southwest. + +The Apaches were now in a mountainous region, following a sort of trail +that was generally wide enough to permit a dozen to ride abreast if they +wished to do so. Occasionally it was rough and precipitous, winding in +and out, and now and then difficult to travel; but the wiry little +mustangs went along as unhesitatingly as mountain goats. Although they +were among the mountains, at times the air was oppressively hot, not a +particle of breeze reaching them. + +It was little past noon when the party drew rein in a place very similar +to that wherein they encamped the night before. As the mustangs came to +a halt, their riders leaped to the ground, and, turning them over to the +care of a half dozen of their number, they refreshed themselves at a +stream running near at hand, the water of which was clear and cold, and +equally inviting to man and beast. Ned climbed down from his horse, +apparently with great difficulty and pain. + +"May I go and get a drink?" he asked of Lone Wolf. + +"Go," was the savage reply; "am I a dog to help you?" + +"No; you're a dog without helping me," muttered the lad as he limped +away toward the wood, seeking a point a short distance below where the +others were helping themselves. + +It took but a minute to reach a spot where for the time he was beyond +observation. + +"The hour has come to make a stroke for freedom!" he exclaimed, suiting +the action to the word. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +THE FLIGHT. + + +Ned had enough sense not to undertake to run away from the Apaches until +there was a reasonably good chance of succeeding. He had played the game +of lameness so well that he had secured considerable liberty thereby; +and when, therefore, he went limping beyond the further limit of the +Indians, no one supposed he had any other purpose in view than to obtain +a better place in which to help himself to water. The trees among which +he entered were almost without undergrowth, and, fortunately, were in +exactly the opposite direction from where the mustangs were grazing. +This left the way entirely open for him to do his utmost in the way of +his dash for freedom. It may seem to have been unfortunate in the one +thing, that it caused the lad to go away without his horse; but he would +have left the latter had he been given his chance, for he believed that +while the trail of the animal could be followed without trouble, and +might secure his being run to the ground in the end, yet he could +readily find the means of hiding his own footsteps from the most +skillful of the Apaches. + +It is hardly necessary to say that the instant he found himself beyond +the immediate sight of his captors, his lameness disappeared as if by +magic, and he dashed down the stream with all the speed at his command. +After running nearly two hundred yards he suddenly paused and listened. +Nothing could be heard but his own hurried breathing and throbbing +heart. + +"They haven't found out anything about me yet," was his hurried +exclamation, as he started off again, continually ejaculating a prayer +that he might succeed, for he needed no one to tell him that it was +really a matter of life and death; for, if Lone Wolf should place hands +upon him again, he would never forgive the attempt. + +A hundred yards further in this headlong fashion, and all at once he +found himself at the termination of the wood, which had been such an +advantage to him thus far. On the right and left, over the high, +precipitous mountains back of him, was the small wood, on the other +border of which was the Apache camp. The gorge or valley, in the center +of which he found himself standing, wound in and out among the mountains +before him,--a Devil's Pass on a smaller scale,--so sinuous in its +course that he could trace it only a short distance ahead with the eye. +Directly at his side flowed a mountain stream, varying from a dozen to +twenty feet in width, so clear that in every place he could see +distinctly the bottom. The current was quite swift, and in some places +it dashed and foamed over the rocks almost like a cascade. + +Ned dared not hesitate, but, pausing only an instant to catch breath, he +dashed away again until he reached the curve in the ravine, beyond which +he would be hid from view of the encampment. The moment this was reached +he paused long enough to cast back a searching glance. But all looked as +calm and peaceful as if no human being had ever entered the ravine. + +"They haven't found it out yet! They haven't found it out yet!" he +exclaimed, his heart rising with hope. "That was a pretty smart thing in +me to pretend to be lame, and if it hadn't been for that I wouldn't have +got half the start." + +Passing the turn in the ravine, he felt that it would not do to wait any +longer without some effort to hide his trail. There was but one feasible +way of accomplishing this, and that was by entering the stream and +keeping along it far enough to throw the wolves off the scent. It was +not a very pleasant task to enter the water and move along, where, at +any moment, he was liable to drop down over his head; but he did not +dare to stand upon trifles, and in he went. By keeping close to the +shore, he managed to avoid any such unpleasant ducking, while at the +same time he effectually hid his footsteps from the eyes of the +keenest-sighted Indian. A short distance ahead he found the trees were +growing fully as thickly as in the grove which he had left but a short +time before, and he made all haste thither, continually glancing back, +dreading least he should catch sight of some of the Apaches on the hunt +for him. + +Imagine his consternation, when, on the very margin of the wood, he +looked back and saw the forms of two Indians only a short distance away! +They were mounted upon their mustangs and riding at a walk almost in a +direct line toward him, and, as he stared at them he was sure that their +slow pace was due to their careful scrutiny of the trail which he was +satisfied he must have left. + +"They have found me out," he gasped, as he turned and hurried down +stream again. + +Ned was too frightened to reflect that their actions were such as to +indicate that they were hunters, who were out merely for game, and there +is no telling how far he would have kept up his flight in the stream, +had he not been checked by what he believed to be a providential +interference in his behalf. + +The water was broad, moderately deep, and quite clear; but the +overhanging trees threw out so much shade that the bottom was invisible, +so that, scrutinize as much as they chose, the redskins could not detect +the slightest trace of his footprints upon the bed of the stream. The +only difficulty that remained was to leave the water in such a way that +his pursuers should be baffled in any attempt to discover the point. +This was an exceedingly difficult question to solve, and while he was +searching for some suitable place, and growing terribly frightened lest +his two foes should pounce down upon him, he noticed a large tree that +projected over the water. The foliage was dense and the tree seemed to +be hollow. Besides this, one of the limbs hung so low that, by making an +upward spring, he was able to catch it with both hands. He then drew +himself upward, and carefully crawled along until he reached the trunk. +To his surprise and delight, he found it the very concealment he needed +above all others. The trunk was large and hollow, and on the upper side +was an aperture, probably caused by the rotting away of a limb, large +enough to permit the passage of his body. + +After peering for a few seconds into the impenetrable darkness, Ned +shoved his feet through, and carefully followed with his body. He +cautiously shoved himself along, until his head was below the level of +the opening, when he paused, believing that he was concealed in the best +manner possible. The lad had absolutely left no trace behind him; the +searching Apaches were without any means of discovering what he had +done, and all he had to do was to remain where he was until the hunt was +over. The tree, slanting out over the water, made his posture a half +reclining one, and as comfortable as it is possible to imagine. His +limbs were somewhat chilled by the wetting they had received, but that +troubled him very little, his whole thoughts, naturally, being centered +upon the one of getting away from the Apaches. It seemed to him that his +senses were preternaturally sharpened, and the rustling of a fallen leaf +startled him into the belief that one of the redskins was crawling out +upon the trunk; but a full half hour passed without presenting anything +of a tangible nature, and hope became very strong in his breast again. + +"I wonder whether those horsemen were hunting for me?" he muttered, as +he became more deliberate in his speculations. "I was sure a little +while ago that they were, but it may be that I was mistaken. I don't +think they would come on their mustangs if they wanted to find me, for +they couldn't make much use of them in following me to a place like +this." + +Whether or not these two men were his pursuers mattered very little; for +there could be no doubt that his absence had been noticed or that the +most skillful trailers were in pursuit. They could not fail to learn +that he had taken to the stream and would naturally hunt along the shore +to discover where he had left it. This would be likely to bring them +very close to where he was hidden, and he trembled as he reflected upon +the possible, if not probable, result. + +The sun was going down in the west; the shadows in the wood gradually +deepened; in his reclining position, Ned Chadmund found a heavy +drowsiness stealing over him. The afternoon was no more than half gone +when his eyes closed in a refreshing sleep, which continued several +hours, and might have lasted still longer had it not been broken. It was +far into the night when the sleeping lad suddenly opened his eyes +without understanding the cause of his doing so. Something had aroused +him, but he could not divine what it was. His posture had become +somewhat cramped from his long continuance in it and he shifted about so +as to rest upon the other side. As he did so, he became aware that some +one or something else was near him. The slightest possible rustling at +the base of the trunk directed his attention there, but there was too +much intervening shrubbery for him to detect anything at all. Everything +in that direction was shrouded in the densest gloom. The moon was +directly overhead, and shining so that he was able to see for some +little distance when he turned his glance from the trunk. Remembering +his revolver, the boy reached down and drew it from within his +waistcoat, where he had concealed it. + +"If anybody wants to run against that, let him do so," he said to +himself. "It has five good charges which I will use up before they shall +lay hands upon me or Lone Wolf shall call me his prisoner again." + +It seemed to him that, in case of discovery, his position might place +him at a great disadvantage, so he carefully drew his head and shoulders +out of the trunk, so as to leave his arms free to use. This was scarcely +done when he caught the same sound below him, repeated so distinctly +that he knew on the instant what it meant. It was a scratching, rattling +of bark, such as would be made by the claws of an animal in picking its +way along, and as he strained his eyes through the gloom, he saw very +faintly the outlines of some wild animal approaching him, a low, +threatening growl at the same time establishing the identity of the bear +beyond question. + +Ned was about to give him the contents of one barrel, when he was +restrained by the recollection that his ammunition was exceedingly +precious and that the report of the pistol was likely to bring some one +whom he dreaded more than the fiercest wild beasts of the forest. So he +decided to try milder means at first. Accordingly, the endangered lad +tried to see whether the animal could not be frightened away without +really hurting him. Breaking off a piece of bark, he flung it in his +face, giving utterance, at the same time, to a growl as savage as that +of the beast himself. The latter instantly paused, as if puzzled to +understand what it meant, but he did not retreat. He merely stood his +ground and growled back again. Encouraged even by this dubious success, +Ned threw more bark, made more noise, and flung his arms so wildly that +he came very near throwing his revolver out of his grasp into the creek. + +But it would not work. The bear was not born in the woods to be +frightened by any such trifles, and, halting for scarcely twenty +seconds, he advanced with the calm deliberation of a brute bent upon +clearing up the mystery without any unnecessary delay. Instead of giving +him the contents of one of the chambers of the revolver, the young +hunter drew back within the hollow of the tree, as a turtle is seen to +retreat within his shell when affrighted at the approach of some enemy. +It was a tight squeeze, but he insinuated himself along the open space +until quite sure that he was beyond the reach of the monster. There he +found he had barely room to use his arms, but, pointing his weapon +toward the opening, he awaited the action of bruin. + +There was sufficient moonlight to perceive the opening, but he had +scarcely time to glance at it when it was darkened by the bear, which +thrust its head in with a thunderous growl that made the lad shiver from +head to foot. Certain that it would not do to wait any longer, and +believing that he meant to force his entire body through, the sorely +frightened Ned discharged one barrel squarely in the face of the bear. + +This settled matters. The latter had his snout and enough of his head +shoved into the opening to receive a bad wound from the weapon, +discharged within a foot or two of his face. He gave a sort of snarling +howl, and jerked out his feet so suddenly that he must have injured +himself still more by doing so, and, with a relief that can hardly be +understood, Ned heard him clawing hastily along the trunk until he +reached the land, when he scampered away into the woods, and nothing +more was seen of him. + +"If I had plenty of ammunition, I would not begrudge that shot," +muttered Ned, as he carefully worked his way along the hollow again. +"But that leaves me only four shots, and there's no telling how soon +I'll have to use the rest." + +He found, upon reaching the opening again, that the night was past and +the day was breaking. He had obtained a good night's rest, but he was +anxious to get ahead. + +"I wonder where Lone Wolf is?" he thought, hesitating whether he had +better descend from his hiding place or not. "It is all of twelve hours +since I ran away and they must have done a good deal of hunting. Some of +them have passed close to where I am, and they must be lurking about +this very minute." + +It was this uncertainty which caused the lad to wait some little time +longer before venturing forth. He had been so fortunate up to this time +that he could not afford to throw the chances away. When he found that +the sun was far above the treetops, however, he began to grow impatient, +and finally came to the conclusion that he was losing valuable time. So +he began crawling carefully out, with the idea of resuming his flight +homeward. + +Ned was not yet fairly out from the tree, when he paused, for his ear +detected something alarming. It was the soft splash of water, such as is +made by a person who is carefully wading along, and it sounded fearfully +near to where he was. + +He assumed at once, because of the peculiar sound, that it must be +caused by some one who was hunting for him, and no one could be hunting +for him except some of the Apaches from whom he fled. If any doubt +remained in his mind, it was removed a moment later, when he heard a +whistle from the same quarter whence came the sound of the wading. The +signal was instantly responded to in the same manner by some one upon +shore. + +"They're Indians," he said. "They know that I must be somewhere in this +neighborhood and they've made up their minds to search until they find +me." + +For two or three minutes all was as still as the tomb. It seemed as if +the redskins were listening, in the hope of learning something of the +fugitive through their sense of hearing when their eyes had failed them +so long. If such were the case, they were disappointed, for the boy +crouching in the gnarled tree would have suspended his very breathing, +had it been in his power to do so, lest he should betray himself. + +When the splashing noise was heard again, it sounded almost beneath him, +and, yielding to a most dangerous curiosity, which, however, he could +not restrain, he reached one hand into the foliage, drew it aside and +looked down. + +Not more than twenty feet distant he saw the figure of Lone Wolf, the +Apache chief! + +He stood in the water up to his knees, and, at the moment the fugitive +looked, had passed a short distance beyond the tree, so that his back +only was visible. Had it been a few minutes sooner, the warrior would +have assuredly seen the white, scared face that peered upon him from +among the leaves. But, as it was, he was all unconscious of the fact +that he was so near the prize for which he and several of his best +warriors had been searching for hours. + +Two of them had paused beneath the tree and carefully examined the +branches without discerning the hiding place, and they were now moving +forward again, carefully examining everything on each side of the stream +where it seemed possible for a cat, even, to conceal itself. Lone Wolf +would have given his right arm, almost, rather than have his prisoner +elude him. He had been completely deceived by that little artifice of +lameness, and it was not until a full half hour after Ned's +disappearance that he began to suspect that something was amiss. The +trail was taken up at once and followed without trouble to where it +entered the water. Here the real task began, for the hardness of the bed +of the creek prevented them from tracing the footsteps where the +clearness of the current would have enabled them to do so, had the +circumstances been otherwise. + +Consequently, the only thing possible for them to do was to find the +place where he had taken to the land again. For this they hunted until +dark and renewed the work again in the morning. But as Ned had not yet +placed his foot upon dry land, the enterprise up to that moment was not +a success. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +PURSUED. + + +Ned Chadmund's only fear was that the chief would hear the throbbing of +his heart. He dared not draw his head into the tree, fearing that the +action would attract the notice of the Apache; so he remained as +motionless as the trunk of the tree itself, waiting for the danger to +pass. Finally, the Indian was heard moving forward again, and the +cramped and aching fugitive began to breathe more freely. He could +detect that soft rippling through the water, such as is made by an +angler who is hunting some choice place in the brook, and who examines +every foot of the water which he passes. At last it was beyond hearing, +and all was still again; but our young hero, impatient and anxious as he +was to get forward, dared not leave his concealment while so many of his +enemies were in the immediate neighborhood. He was confident that if he +attempted flight and escaped running against some of these dusky +wretches, they would speedily detect his trail and run him to the +ground. He concluded to remain where he was until dark, when he would +make another start, confident that by traveling all night, and taking +advantage of all the means that came in his way, he could place a goodly +distance between himself and the perilous neighborhood. + +Nothing more was seen or heard of the Apaches during these long waiting +hours, unless the distant report of a gun could be construed as their +work, and the summer day gradually wore away. By this time the condition +of the boy was truly pitiable. He was thirsty and nearly famished, +feverish from his long abstinence. Yet with water within a few feet of +him he refrained, for the reason that he was fearful of imperiling his +safety. + +"I'll wait till it is nearly dark," he said, as he looked down at the +cool water flowing beneath; "for this is the only chance I shall ever +have of giving them the slip." + +The time he had fixed upon to venture forth had not yet arrived when he +observed a large tree floating along below him. It had probably become +displaced at some point up the stream, and would drift along until it +should again catch some obstruction, and remain moored for an indefinite +time. Yielding to a sudden inspiration, Ned crept hastily out of his +concealment, and dropped lightly upon the trunk, which was heavy and +buoyant enough to bear his weight without sinking below the surface. + +The course of the stream was such that this proceeding carried him back +directly over the ground that he had passed, and, in case the Apaches +were in camp, would take him near it. But there was real woodcraft in +this act, imprudent as it seemed; for nothing could be conceived, which, +if successful, would more effectually throw the Indians off his trail. +Knowing that he had gone northward, what inducement could there be for +looking toward the south for him? The next thing after getting upon his +raft was to stoop over and get a drink from the stream, which, having +its source up among the mountains, was cold, clear, and pure. + +Oh! the refreshing draught! None but those whose frames have been +consumed with flaming fever can appreciate the delicious nectar, the +invigorating, permeating life that lay in that wonderful fluid, which is +without smell, taste or color, and to which no other liquid can be +compared. + +"Oh dear!" groaned the lad, as he raised his head. "Another drink like +that and there'll be nothing left in the creek." + +But thirst satisfied left him with such a tormenting sense of hunger +that the question of something to eat speedily became paramount to all +others. He almost ceased to think of Apaches in his wild desire for +something with which to satisfy the cravings within. + +The heavy trunk, covered with a few knotty protuberances, kept very +nearly in the center of the stream and shifted on below the wood, across +the open space and around the curve which has been already referred to, +by which time it was fairly dark. Beyond this he could discern the +outlines of the grove in the encampment of the day before, and where his +own rush for liberty had been made. Were the Apaches still there, +awaiting the conclusion of the hunt for him? This was the question, and, +in his desire to answer it, he carefully steadied himself until he stood +upright upon the log, so as to look across the intervening space to the +wood beyond. + +"If they're there, they'd be sure to have a camp fire," was the truthful +conclusion; "but I can't catch sight of anything." + +Had a point of light twinkled through the foliage, it is doubtful +whether he could have had the courage to continue on down the stream to +the point where it passed so close to the camp. No doubt he would have +dodged it. But all continued dark and silent, and he was quite confident +that they had gone. He crouched upon the raft again, and drifted with +the current. + +As he neared the rapids and narrow places where the water dashed over +its rocky bed, it looked as if he would be unable to keep his seat upon +the raft; but as this was the very section, where, above all others, he +wished to keep his feet off the ground, he grasped the limbs and held +on. He went safely on, although considerable water was splashed over +him, and in a few minutes was in the broad, smooth current below, and so +close to the grove that he trembled with fear. + +In the dim moonlight he easily recognized the place, and for a few +seconds he believed he had committed a fatal error in retracing his +route in this fashion; but the silence remained unbroken, and he began +breathing more freely, when all at once one end of the trunk struck the +shore; the other end swung round, but it remained fast, and his journey +for a time was at an end. + +Ned was dismayed and at a loss what to do, for the only way of breaking +loose that he could see was to step ashore and shove off. He remained +quiescent a moment or two, in the hope that the raft would loosen +itself; but, as it did not, he sprang ashore for that purpose. As he did +so, he looked around for some sign of his enemies, but there was none, +and the fact gave him assurance that they had really gone. + +"They must have had dinner there," was his conclusion, "and maybe they +have left something that I can make use of." + +Encouraged by this hope, he moved over the intervening space, and +speedily reached the spot where Lone Wolf and his band had encamped +twenty hours before. As he had taken his departure from the savages +before dinner, he was not really certain that that important meal had +taken place; but he made diligent search, resolved that he would find +out beyond all peradventure. The very best good fortune attended him. He +had hunted but a few minutes, when he trod among the ashes where the +camp fire had been burning. This proved that a meal had been partaken +of, and in this country, so prodigal in the different species of game, +the Indians were not economical in the use of food. Groping around in +the dark, his hands soon came upon a goodly-sized bone, plentifully +covered with meat, which had not been cooked so that it could be called +overdone. A starving wolf could not have devoured this with greater +gusto than did he, nor could a dozen starving wolves have enjoyed it +more than did the poor fellow who had been so long without any +nourishment. + +When it was gnawed clean he hunted around for more. There was no lack of +the material, and Ned was thankful beyond expression for this wonderful +piece of good fortune, by which he had escaped from Lone Wolf and his +warriors, and then, when starving, had obtained the food he needed from +them. He ate and ate, and then rested and ate again, until he had +gormandized himself to his utmost capacity, when with a sigh of +happiness, he rose to his feet, and stole back toward the stream where +he had left his craft. It was found there as if waiting expressly for +his return, and, shoving it loose, he made his way to near the middle, +where he crouched down and looked around with a feeling of misgiving and +fear. + +"I wonder if it can hold me after such a supper? It is a little lower in +the water, but I guess it can stand it." + +Whither the stream was tending was a question for the wanderer to +consider; but as he was without any possible means of determining, he +did not devote much time to the consideration thereof. His purpose was +to get ahead without leaving a trail behind, and that was what he was +doing. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +IN THE SOLITUDE. + + +Ned designed to drift down stream for a mile or so, by which time he +expected to be at such a distance that there was no further possible +danger of pursuit. It would then be necessary for him to get forward as +fast as he could, taking care to avoid the redskins who were in front, +rather than those in the rear. + +He was a little alarmed to find, after going scarcely half that +distance, that the stream was broadening very rapidly. The current as a +consequence, became slower, and when he descried seemingly a large +forest looming up before him, he concluded that the time had about come +for him to disembark, and use his heels. But, prompted somewhat by +curiosity, he remained a while longer, until, before he was aware, he +discovered that the stream had debouched into a lake, nearly circular in +shape, and fully a couple of hundred yards in diameter. The impetus of +the current kept the tree moving slowly and still more slowly, until it +had reached a point near the middle, when it gradually settled down to a +complete standstill. + +"That's odd!" exclaimed the lad, looking about him, and seeing the broad +sweep of water on every hand. "If I knew this I think I should have got +off." + +It only remained for him to work his way to land, and this he began +doing by using his hands as paddles. It was slow progress; and he was of +the opinion that he had made a rather foolish blunder in permitting +himself to be "carried out to sea" in this fashion. He was disturbed +still further by the appearance of the sky. Dark, threatening clouds +were gathering and sweeping across it, frequently shutting out the light +of the moon and causing the most grotesque shadows to whisk over the +surface of the lake. + +The indications were that a violent storm was close at hand, and he used +both hands with all the vigor at his command, and saw himself gradually +nearing land--the rate being so moderate that it could not keep pace +with his impatience. He was tempted more than once to leap into the +water and swim or wade ashore, but he restrained himself. On one of +these occasions, just as a heavy cloud approached the moon, and while +his raft was a dozen yards or so from shore, he was alarmed at sight of +something approaching him through the water. What it was he could not +conjecture, as it was low down, and very indistinct on account of the +gathering gloom. + +As the cloud touched the moon and obscured the light, this suspicious +object disappeared, and he awaited with no little alarm the outcome of +the mystery. He was sitting motionless, looking and listening, when the +end of the tree was suddenly elevated a full foot, while the other +correspondingly descended. + +With a gasp of terror, Ned clutched the limb near him and held on, not +knowing whither he was about to be flung. A muttering growl at the same +instant explained what it all meant, and he hastily retreated still +further upon the tree, expecting every moment to feel the claws of the +wild animal fastened upon him. + +"It seems to me that these beasts are after me more than the Indians," +was his thought, as he drew out his revolver, and awaited the necessity +of using it. + +Further than placing his paws upon one end of the trunk, and giving out +a threatening growl, the animal did nothing for a few minutes, while the +boy, fully sensible of the value of his ammunition, was equally lacking +in offensive proceedings. Thus matters stood, while the great heavy +cloud floated slowly by the moon, and the head of the unwelcome stranger +gradually came to view. + +It was some wild beast, beyond question, but it wasn't a bear. Its eyes, +shining with a phosphorescent glow, and the cavernous growling that +issued from the red jaws, made it seem the most frightful kind of a +monster. Hoping that it was not particularly hungry, Ned tried the scare +game again, flinging up his arms and shouting, and making noises +horrible enough to frighten any one to whom they remained unexplained. +In this case it succeeded admirably. The creature, whatever it was, must +have concluded that it was something besides a boy with which it had +taken passage, and, after indulging in one prolonged stare, dropped back +into the water and paddled straight for shore. + +[Illustration: NED TRIED THE SCARE GAME AGAIN, FLINGING UP HIS ARMS AND +SHOUTING] + +"I don't think Lone Wolf can follow me all along this route," concluded +the boy, as he resumed his paddling toward shore, and reached it in the +course of the next ten minutes. He had been cramped up in one position +so long that he felt the need of exercise, and started off at a rapid +pace, with no more idea of the precise direction he was following than +if he were blind. + +The clouds sweeping across the sky grew heavier and darker, and the +wind, strong and chilling, soughed through the trees of the forest with +a dismal, wailing sound that would have frightened one of more years +than young Chadmund. Even he would have shrunk from the task of going +through the wood had the circumstances been different, but he was so +actuated by the one all-controlling desire of escape that he forgot the +real danger which encompassed him. Besides the risk of encountering the +Apaches, there was the ever-present peril from wild beasts and venomous +serpents. None of the latter as yet had disturbed him, but he was likely +to step upon some coiling reptile, unseen in the dark, whose sting was +certain death. + +It soon became apparent that a storm of a most violent character was +about to burst forth. The wind grew stronger and colder, lightning +flashed athwart the darkening sky, and the thunder boomed with an +increasing power peculiar to warm countries. The wanderer had been +fortunate thus far in preserving himself from a ducking, and he was +still desirous of doing so. There was nothing to be gained by pressing +forward, and he began groping around for some kind of a shelter. This +was difficult to find, as the gloom was so dense that eyesight was +useless, and he could only use his hands. + +"I guess I'll have to climb a tree," he thought, running his hand along +the bark of one. + +But at this juncture he ran against a rock, striking with such violence +that he saw stars. As soon as he recovered he began an examination, and +was not a little pleased to find that under one portion of it there was +a hollow big enough for him to crawl in and protect himself from the +tempest. He had scarcely done so when the storm burst forth. + +First a few large drops pattered upon the leaves, and then it seemed as +if the windows of Heaven had been opened. The rain descended in +torrents, the firmament flamed with a blinding intensity--and the earth +trembled with the reverberating thunder. The vivid sheets of electric +fire made the darkness and gloom deeper by contrast. The trees, with +their swaying branches, and the spear-like columns of rain, stood out +and vanished again so rapidly that the vision of the appalled lad was +dazzled and bewildered. The terrific shocks coming simultaneously with +the lightning, proved that the thunderbolts were falling all around him, +and again and again he thanked that Providence which had dissuaded him +from taking refuge in some of the trees. + +_Crash!_ + +Directly in front of him, an immense giant of the forest was smitten +from top to base, the limbs, leaves, and splinters hurled in every +direction, as if a thousand pounds of powder had been exploded within. +The air was so surcharged with electricity that Ned felt the effect. A +prickling sensation down one entire side of his body was followed by a +partial numbness and paralysis that alarmed him. With his other hand he +hastily rubbed his limbs, and turned and twisted, fearing that he was +becoming helpless. + +In a few minutes he regained the strength which had temporarily +departed, and then noticed that the storm was subsiding as rapidly as it +had arisen. The thunder died out in sullen mutterings; the lightning +flashed fitfully, often without any perceptible report following, and +the deluge diminished to a few drops. + +"The storm is over, thank heaven!" he exclaimed. "As I have such a good +bed, I may as well stay here till morning." + +But at this instant his blood almost froze at the sudden discovery of a +new and deadly peril. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +AMONG THE MOUNTAINS. + + +Young Chadmund heard the unmistakable warning of a rattlesnake that was +somewhere near him, and on the very point of striking. Precisely where +it was, it was impossible to determine with any certainty; but there was +no time to consider the matter. It seemed to him in that brief second he +devoted to thought that the venomous reptile lay a little to the left, +and he scrambled out of his place with all the celerity at his command. + +The wonderful quickness of this usually sluggish snake, when about to +deal its deadly blow is well known, and, had the boy moved with twice +the rapidity that he did, Ned could not have escaped that lightning-like +dart of the snake, which was aimed straight at his foot, that being the +part of the body which was nearest his coil. The fangs struck the side +of his shoe, which happened to move at the very instant the blow was +made, and, piercing the leather, held the reptile fast,--"Hoist by his +own petard," as it were,--so that, when Ned scrambled out from his +shelter, he felt the horrid thing dangling at his heels. + +With presence of mind hardly to be expected at such a time, he arose to +his feet, and holding the attached foot motionless, with the other he +hastily stamped all the life from the writhing rattlesnake. This done he +freed the shoe by a jerk, although it tore the fangs of the reptile from +its jaws. + +"I think I'd better dust out of here," said the lad, breathlessly. "I +remember that Corporal Hugg told me that where you found one of those +things you are pretty sure of running against another close by, and I +don't care about seeing any, especially when it's so dark you can't see +at all." + +He stepped carefully forth in the darkness, and, moving a few feet, +paused to listen. The rain had ceased falling entirely, and only the +faintest mutter of the distant thunder reached his ears. The darkness +was absolutely impenetrable, and the wind, as it soughed through the wet +branches, made the most dreary and dismal wailing--enough to strike +despair to the bravest heart. + +The boy had listened but a moment when a slight rustling among the +leaves at his feet filled him with a sudden conviction that a second +rattlesnake was after him. He left the spot expeditiously, not halting +until he was sure that he was beyond reach of the unwelcome visitant, +which, it is well known, is not much given to pursuing its prey. + +"Hang it!" he exclaimed, "there ain't much fun in this. I wish daylight +would come, so that I could see what to do." + +His situation was exceedingly uncomfortable. Everything was soaked with +water, and he could not walk without shaking down the moisture from the +laden branches and undergrowth. He knew of but one place wherein he +could secure protection and that was beneath the rock where he had so +narrowly escaped the rattlesnake, but he was not very anxious to make +his way back there. + +While he stood debating what to do, he noticed that the sky was rapidly +clearing, the black, tumultuous clouds rolling away from the face of the +moon, which soon shone out with all its wonted power. This was a vast +help, for, despite the dense shadows made by the heavy branches +overhead, he was able to see enough to pick his way and noticed that the +forest directly in front was quite open, indicating that he was close to +the termination. Thus encouraged, he pressed ahead and soon had the +satisfaction of finding that he was through the woods and on the border +of an open, rocky ravine, through which he could hear a stream rushing +with great violence, and which he took to be the outlet of the little +lake that had been overcharged by the recent severe storm. So far as he +could see by the moonlight, great masses of rock, boulders and broken +prairie stretched out before him, and he asked himself how he was to +make his way. + +He concluded not to make the attempt just then, but, hunting out a place +among the rocks, he crawled into it, first making sure, by a careful +reconnaissance that no rattlesnakes had crept in ahead of him. He was +permitted to remain undisturbed through the night, and when he opened +his eyes the sun was shining directly in upon him. The boy then hastily +sprang up, his heart full of gratitude to God for the wondrous manner in +which his life had been preserved, and the remarkable success which had +followed his attempt at escape from the Apaches. + +With the coming of the glorious sunlight, Ned naturally felt buoyant and +hopeful. He was not without considerable appetite, but he had eaten so +heartily, on the previous evening, that he felt that he could afford to +wait until night again; and he still had that impatient, almost +unreasoning desire to get forward, which made him feel like breaking +into a run, and keeping it up until he was out of breath. + +But, young as was the little fellow, he was old enough to feel that the +time had come when he must use all the brains in his command. Up to that +hour, as will be understood, he had been journeying entirely at random, +his sole purpose being to get beyond reach of Lone Wolf and his band. He +had accomplished this, and a radical change of tactics must be made. + +If Ned Chadmund had been a half dozen years older, he would have +recoiled at the prospect before him; but he was so young and full of +animal spirits that he did not really comprehend the difficulty and +danger. He had traveled very little more than half the distance between +Santa Fe and Fort Havens, and his purpose was to press ahead until the +latter was reached. To do this, it was necessary that he should make his +way through the mountains in which he now found himself, and then to +journey a couple of hundred miles through or over prairie, and across +streams, before he could reach the frontier post, where his father was +so anxiously awaiting his coming. The project seemed nothing short of +madness; but its justification lay in the fact that the wanderer had the +choice of attempting that or lying down and dying where he was. He could +do nothing but choose the former. + +Ned climbed up to an elevated position and took an observation--his +purpose, after learning whether any present danger threatened, being to +learn the direction it was necessary to follow in order to reach Fort +Havens. + +"Corporal Hugg told me that after we reached Devil's Pass, it was in a +straight line West. The trail winds in and out, as it has to do, but all +one had to do was to dig ahead, and he would be sure to come out right +in the end--that is, if the Indians and wild animals would only let him. +Well, right yonder rose the sun," he continued, very carefully +continuing his observation. "That must be the east, and all I have to do +is to keep that at my back until it gets over my head and wears round to +the front. So off we go." + +There was one favorable accompaniment of this first thoughtful effort to +reach home. The valley-like depression that had caught his eye upon +rising ran precisely in the direction to be desired--due east and +west--so that he had the best facility in the world for getting through +the mountains. Still another favorable augury was that the general +direction pursued by the Apaches was the same, and the fact was, there +was very little still intervening between him and the open prairie +beyond. Should his progress remain uninterrupted through the day, by +nightfall he would be close to the prairie, which stretched away so many +miles in the direction of the frontier post. + +"I don't think it's as much as two hundred miles," he said, as he +started off at a rapid walk. "I can make thirty miles a day, so that I +will be there at the end of a week, if nothing unexpected gets in the +way. Won't father be surprised when he sees me walk up, and won't I be +surprised if I manage to do it, also!" + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +A MYSTERIOUS CAMP FIRE. + + +For a couple of hours young Chadmund had difficulty in traveling. +Despite the fact that he was in a sort of valley, with towering peaks +and bluffs upon either hand, a great many boulders and obstructions +obtruded themselves in his path, and he did some climbing, clambering, +and jumping that would have reflected no discredit upon a mountain goat. +The forenoon was about half gone, and he was felicitating himself upon +the excellent progress he was making, when he was brought up all +standing by finding himself upon the bank of a mountain stream, which +crossed his route exactly at right angles, issuing from the mountains on +the left with a rush and roar and pouring tumultuously forward with +irresistible power and velocity. + +"I can't wade that," said the lad, scratching his head in perplexity, +"and it won't do to try and swim it. If I once got in there it would be +the last of me." + +There could be no doubt of that, for the stream was fully twenty feet in +width, very deep, and sped forward like the volume of a river when +suddenly compressed into a mountain canyon. It was walled in on either +side by solid rock, the surface of the water being a couple of yards +below the level where he stood. + +"I wonder whether I can't go round it?" he said, after spending some +time in mental debate. "It can't run all the way through the mountain, +but must start somewhere not very far away." + +This was not a very plausible theory; but as nothing was to be gained by +standing still, he started out upon his tour of exploration. Better +success followed than he expected. He had started toward the head of the +stream and had clambered along less than a hundred yards, when he +reached a place where it was so narrow that he was confident of his +ability to leap across. + +"Yes, I can do that," he said, approaching close to the edge and looking +over the boiling abyss to the solid rock upon the other side. "But +suppose I should miss my footing, wouldn't I catch it!" + +It was a pretty good leap, but Ned was active, strong and swift, and he +had made many a longer leap than the one before him. For a minute longer +he stood, measuring the distance with his eye. Then going backward a few +steps, he suddenly ran forward with all the speed at his command, and, +concentrating all his strength, made such a leap that he cleared the +chasm by a couple of feet. + +"There!" he exclaimed, with some satisfaction, "if none of the streams +are broader than that, I'll jump them all." + +Still full of hope and in the best of spirits he pressed forward until +the sun was at the meridian and the heat became so oppressive that he +concluded to rest awhile. He was in a section of country where, at +certain seasons, the heat is like that of the Desert of Sahara. There +are portions of Arizona and Lower California where the fervor of the +sun's rays at noonday smite the earth with the withering power of the +sirocco. + +At times, when Ned was down in the lowest portions of the valley, the +heat was almost intolerable; and then, again, when he clambered to the +top of some elevation, and the cool breezes from the upper regions +fanned his cheeks, it was like a draught of water to the fever-parched +patient. + +He had lain on the ground under the protecting shadow of a rock but a +short time when his eye rested upon something which convinced him that +he was not the only one in the valley. Looking dreamily off toward the +west, up the valley, with the mountains sloping down on the right and +left, he noticed what at first seemed a thin bluish cloud, resting +against the sky. Then he observed that its form was a little out of the +usual order, it being column-shaped, tall, and like a shaft of almost +invisible vapor, thrown against the white background beyond. + +"That ain't a cloud," he suddenly exclaimed, starting to his feet and +scrutinizing it more closely. "It's the smoke from a camp fire and I've +got to go right by it." + +There could be no doubt of the truth of what he said, and he became +deeply interested. + +"I wonder whether they're Indians or white men? I suppose it's most +likely they are Apaches, and they may be Lone Wolf and his companions. +I've got to keep a sharp lookout and keep from running into them. If +they are white hunters, that I've heard are sometimes in these +mountains, it will be a lucky thing for me." + +Somehow or other he became impressed with the idea that the camp fire +ahead of him was that of friends instead of enemies--that the assistance +which he so sorely needed was thus placed within his reach. He had +learned, long before, that one is apt to miscalculate the distance when +placed as he was; but, making allowance for all that, he was confident +that the camp fire was not more than a mile away. Yielding to a natural +curiosity to learn its meaning, he shortened the hour which he had +intended to devote to rest, and started ahead again. + +Once or twice it seemed to him that he had dropped into some sort of +trail, which he was following. Here and there were traces showing that +the route had been traveled before. It seemed to be one of those natural +roads or passes which are found at intervals in all great mountain +chains, and without which, many of of them for vast distances would be +literally impassable for man or animal. + +The conviction that he was not the pioneer over that section caused the +young wanderer some misgivings and suggested several discomforting +questions. If Apaches had used the trail already, might not some of them +be upon it? If some of them were coming from the opposite direction, how +was he to avoid running into their arms? These queries were not of the +most cheerful character and they served to tone down the enthusiasm +which had marked his start in the morning. They also caused him to +examine, more times than was really necessary, the revolver which had +already done him such good service, and he went through a preliminary +drill, consisting of placing it inside his waistcoat, a couple of +buttons being left carelessly unfastened; next thrusting his hand +within, in an indifferent manner, then instantly jerking out and +pointing the weapon at an imaginary foe in front of him. This maneuver +he repeated scores of times, narrowly escaping the firing of the weapon, +until he satisfied himself that he could do it to perfection. + +"Now, if Lone Wolf comes at me alone, I think I can manage him. He won't +suspect that I've any weapon, and so won't be prepared for it; but I +hope he won't show himself," he added the next minute. "If there's any +way of avoiding him, I'll do it." + +However, he was bent upon solving the mystery of the distant camp fire, +which he still hoped might belong to some party of white hunters, who +would take him under their protection and conduct him safely over the +wide and dangerous stretch of territory which still intervened between +him and his destination. + +In spite of the careful calculation he had made, he soon learned that he +had committed an error. Although the tell-tale smoke at first seemed +scarcely a mile away, it was more than three times that distance. The +way being more obstructed by rocks and the sinuous winding of the trail, +he saw the sun sinking low in the west and found that he had still no +little traveling to do. + +"It can't be that they are shifting that camp fire all the time," he +growled, as he clambered upon an elevation, and was again disappointed +to find it so far away. "Blamed if it don't look as if somebody was +playing a trick on me. I've heard of a jack-o'-lantern bobbing around in +that style, but nothing else." + +He finally concluded that the laws of nature were not violated in this +case, and with renewed courage pressed ahead again. The sky was clear +and cloudless, the weather remained oppressively warm, and poor Ned was +so jaded that he felt scarcely able to drag one foot after the other, +but he was stout-hearted, and, just as the sun dipped out of sight +behind the mountains, he found himself within a hundred yards of the +mysterious camp. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +THE INDIAN FIGHT. + + +In spite of his great anxiety to learn all there was to be known about +the camp fire, Ned remained where he was for half an hour, until he had +rested somewhat from his severe labor. + +The place in which the fire was kindled was elevated, rocky, uneven, and +inclosed by a few stunted trees and undergrowth, so that while the young +scout could catch a glimmer, now and then, of the fire, he could see +nothing more. The only way in which he could perfect his information was +to crawl up still nearer. This he proceeded to do, using all the care +and caution possible, until, after the lapse of nearly an hour, he +reached a point where his view was unobstructed and perfect. + +A severe disappointment awaited him. He saw four Indian warriors grouped +around the fire, their dress, and the peculiar manner in which they were +painted, proving that they belonged to some tribe other than the +Apaches. Three of them were occupied in cutting up and preparing the +carcass of some animal, which they had shot, while the fourth was on his +knees in front of the fire, carefully doctoring it for culinary +purposes. + +Succeeding Ned's first feeling of disappointment was an undercurrent of +hope that he was in a fair way to obtain another good meal. + +"It isn't likely they'll eat up all they've got," he reflected, "and I +don't suppose they're going to settle down there for life. All I've got +to do, then, is to hang round until they go away, and then, if I can get +the chance, I'll stuff enough to last a week." + +Having made his reconnaissance he withdrew to a more secret place, where +he would not be seen in case some of the warriors should take a look +around before retiring for the night. It was fortunate that he did so, +for he had scarcely crawled away beneath a dense mass of undergrowth +when he made the discovery that he had placed himself in a curious and +singularly dangerous position. + +Twice he fancied he heard a faint rustling in the rear of where he was +crouching, and he was puzzled to know what it meant. He was sharp enough +to protect himself from observation from this direction as well as from +the front, and was no more than fairly secure when he caught the slight +sound again, and the next moment detected the figure of an Indian +stealing along, with his gaze fixed upon the camp fire and the forms +around it. + +The lad was naturally puzzled to understand the meaning of this. There +was just enough fire light penetrating to where he was to show him that +this redskin belonged to a different tribe from those in camp. Only a +few minutes passed when he caught the glimpse of another warrior on the +left, crouching along in the same manner as the other. Then followed the +softest possible hiss, such as is made by the disturbed serpent, and, at +that moment, the truth of the whole matter suddenly broke upon Ned +Chadmund. + +The strange Indians were quietly preparing their supper, unaware of the +fact that, while they were thus employed, a party of Apaches, their +deadly enemies, were closing in upon them. Thus, it was, too, that, +without the knowledge of either side, the lad was directly between them, +where it would seem impossible that he should escape being involved in +the conflict that was rapidly drawing to a head. + +There was no hope of withdrawing, for the slightest movement would be +sure to make known his position, and he could only wait, therefore, the +issue of the encounter with an intensity of interest which it is +impossible to imagine. What could be more painfully interesting, for +instance, than to watch the movements of the strange Indians as they +engaged themselves in preparing their supper, conversing with each other +in their grunting fashion, and to note their unconsciousness that a +circle of death was slowly but surely closing in around them; to know, +which they did not suspect, that the most deadly kind of encounter was +close at hand? The endangered party certainly showed a lack of +precaution which belongs to their people in the most ordinary cases when +they went into camp in this fashion, and left the way open for such a +deadly and fatal assault to be made upon them. It must have been that +while engaged in the chase during the day they had made their +observations, and satisfied themselves that none of their enemies were +in dangerous proximity. + +The odor of the cooking meat crept through the bushes to the nostrils of +the hungry lad, who was almost maddened into charging upon the party +himself in quest of some of the brown, crisp, roasting meat; but he +restrained himself, in the hope that the issue of the unpleasantness +would furnish him an opportunity to procure something for the inner man. + +An Indian upon the warpath is as patient as the Esquimau who watches for +a dozen hours beside the airhole, waiting for the seal to come to the +surface. According to all human reasoning, there was no earthly +necessity for any delay upon the part of the attacking Apaches, and yet, +for full an hour longer, they maneuvered and reconnoitered, without +striking a blow. Despite the tense condition of the lad's nerves, he +began to grow drowsy and weary at the prolonged delay, and had the +attack been deferred a short time longer, he would have dropped into a +sound slumber. + +The four strange Indians were permitted to finish their supper, and to +engage in a comfortable smoke. This, however, was never completed. They +were stretched out upon the ground in the most indolent manner +imaginable, when several rifles suddenly broke the stillness, the Apache +war whoop rang out with startling power, and a number of figures charged +through the bushes like a horde of demons, all converging upon the group +around the camp fire. Two of the latter had been instantly killed by the +first volley poured in upon them. The others were wounded, but they were +on their feet in an instant, fighting with the fury of tigers. + +The battle was of the hurricane order, the third defender going down +within a minute after the assaulting party closed in about them. The +fourth, who was only slightly hurt seemed to have been caught at less +disadvantage. He was a warrior of wonderful activity and strength, and +used his hunting knife with good effect upon his first and second +assailants with lightening-like quickness. Then as they began to crowd +in upon him faster than he could provide against he circled his weapon +around his head several times, so as to clear a brief open space, when, +with a yell of defiance, he bounded high in the air, and vanished in the +forest, his speed so amazing that it was vain for any one to think of +pursuing him. + +The battle ended as abruptly as it began. It was over in an instant, and +the petrified spectator could scarcely realize what had taken place +directly under his own eyes. He lay motionless, peering through the +leaves that shut him in, scarcely daring to breathe as he watched the +movements of the victors. He could scarcely suppress an exclamation of +terror when he recognized among them his old captor and enemy, Lone +Wolf. + +"Just think of it," whispered Chadmund. "I have spent hours and hours, +and have traveled night and day to get away from him, and here he is, +within fifty feet of me again. How can I keep him from seeing my trail +again in the morning? It does beat everything how this thing is getting +mixed." + +He took heart again, however, when he came to reflect that the greater +part of the night was still before him, that Lone Wolf had undoubtedly +given up all expectation of finding him, and, by using ordinary caution, +he could still keep clear of him. + +The Apaches did not remain long upon the scene of the encampment. The +two of their own number that had been killed were lifted up, and then +Lone Wolf and his few intrepid warriors took their departure. Thus it +happened that within fifteen minutes after the first gun had been fired, +and the first yell uttered, the boy found himself alone upon the scene +of the terrible fight. Dreadful as were the place and the associations, +he could not forget that he was nearly famished, and stealing his way to +the fire, he hunted around until he found enough to satisfy the cravings +within. This done, he made up his mind that it was best for him to do +some traveling during the darkness, without waiting for the rising of +the morrow's sun. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +A TERRIBLE MEETING. + + +As he moved along, weary and worn, the memory of the horrid fight he had +seen by the camp fire, and especially the picture of those three stark, +bloody forms that lay stretched upon the earth, seemingly watching every +movement he made, followed and weighed him down like some smothering +incubus. Then he saw, more vividly than ever before, the mountainous +task ahead. With no horse, and the hundreds of miles of mountain and +prairie, with the dangers besetting him on every hand, what possible +hope had he for believing he was ever to reach his destination? The +gloom of the night, the shadow of what he had so recently witnessed, and +his own exhausted condition, no doubt had much to do with the distress; +for his prospects were certainly as good as at morning, when he was so +full of enthusiasm. + +"I can't travel any further," he finally exclaimed, "and what's the use? +It won't do any good." + +When he paused in his wearisome tramp, he happened to be close to a +tree, quite lofty, with numerous limbs, some of which were quite near +the ground. It struck him at once that it would be a good plan to climb +into this, and ensconce himself among the branches. At any rate, he was +certain to be out of the way of the crawling snakes, and no wild animal +could steal upon him while he was unconscious. + +Without pausing more than a moment to consider, he ascended the tree, +and, a short distance from the ground secured the very position he +wanted. Here the limbs crossed and recrossed, and gnarled themselves in +such a way, that the most pleasant kind of bed imaginable was found, and +he stretched out his weary limbs upon it, thanking Heaven that had +guided him to such a favorable place. + +"I hope Lone Wolf won't be able to follow me here," was the wish he +expressed, as he resigned himself to slumber. + +But gentle sleep had not yet closed his eyelids when he was alarmed by +hearing something beneath him. His first supposition was that it was +Lone Wolf, for the sound resembled the stealthy tread of some person +upon the soft earth; but after listening a few minutes he became +satisfied that it was some animal instead. + +"It's a wolf or panther that has scented my trail," was his conclusion, +as he leaned over and peered cautiously down among the branches. + +The moon shone more brightly than upon any night since he had started, +but the shadow of the trees themselves obscured his view so much that +his vision was of little use to him. It seemed to him, however, when he +looked downward in this fashion, that once or twice he caught sight of a +shadowy creature, whisking back and forth, leaping about like a dog, and +apparently ready to make a bound upward among the branches. + +But he could not make certain of what he saw, although there could be no +doubt but that he heard something, and that some kind of a dangerous +creature was close at hand. + +"I guess he isn't going to hurt me," was his conclusion, after watching +and listening a half hour, and after finding a heavy drowsiness was +stealing over him. In this comfortable state of mind, he soon closed his +eyes, and relapsed into a deep, refreshing sleep, which lasted an hour +or more, when it ended in a peculiar manner. Very few boys are apt to +lie quiet in their beds, and Ned Chadmund, in turning over upon his +side, turned completely out of bed, and dropped through the branches to +the ground. + +The fall was so slight that it did not hurt him, except in the +disagreeable shock that was inevitable. It flashed on him on the +instant, and, recalling those stealthy footsteps that had so frightened +him, he instantly sprang for the trunk, and began climbing with all the +haste at his command. He was almost within reach of the limbs, when he +heard a growl, and some denizen of the forest came plunging toward him. + +With a thrill of terror, the lad made a tremendous effort, caught the +limb with one hand, swung his leg over and drew himself up. As he did +so, he felt distinctly the wind made by the body of the beast, as it +leaped upward, and snapped with his huge jaws at his legs, which were +withdrawn from its fangs just as they closed together. The creature, +whatever it was, made a running leap, that carried him some distance +beyond, when he struck the ground and ran a few leaps before turning +about and retracing his steps. + +Without waiting to gain a more distinct view, the lad crept back to his +perch, where he tremblingly awaited the moment when it was to bound up +among the limbs and attack him. After gaining his former position, he +sat for a few minutes shivering like one with the ague, forgetting even +to think of the revolver with which to defend himself in case the brute +assaulted him. But it may have been that the dumb creature believed that +he was already frightened to death, and there was no occasion for +attempting anything further. At any rate nothing more was seen or heard +of him. + +Ned had been too thoroughly shaken up to gain any more sleep. He sat +through the remaining hours of the night without closing his eyes a +moment in slumber. They were the longest and the dreariest that he ever +spent, but when the welcome light of morning came his foe had departed. + +The wanderer waited a half hour or more, and carefully reconnoitered the +grounds before descending; but, assured that the coast was clear, he +came down to _terra firma_ again and took up his line of march. His fear +now was that his presence in the neighborhood might be discovered by +Lone Wolf or some of his band, and, scarcely pausing long enough to +swallow a few mouthfuls of water from a stream near at hand, he hastened +forward, with his face toward the west. + +It became evident, after journeying a short distance, that he was again +following a distinctly-marked trail, one that was originally made by +animals, most probably buffaloes, in their migrations from one section +to another, and had been taken advantage of by men whose business or +inclinations called them in the same direction. Here and there he saw +marks that had been made by the hoofs of horses, and more than once he +was certain he observed the trail of moccasins. The path was more direct +and less laborious to travel, and he began to believe that, if he were +left alone, he might succeed in reaching safety at some time or other. + +For some two hours he tramped along through a section that gradually +lost its mountainous character as he neared the rolling prairie beyond. +He kept continually looking back and around him, on the alert for +Indians; but not a sign was discovered, until he approached an +exceptionally rocky place, where the trail wound round the masses of +stone at such a sharp angle that the view was less than a dozen feet. + +With no thought of danger, Ned walked around this corner, and on the +instant found himself face to face with a swarthy Indian warrior who +must have seen him approaching, and, dismounting from his horse, stood +back and awaited his approach. That astounded look revealed not only +this, but that the Indian was Lone Wolf. + +Fate had brought the two together again, at the very time the heart of +the weary fugitive was beating high with hope. There was no chance for +retreat or hope of avoiding him. The eyes of the painted Apache glowed +with a demoniac light, and his fingers twitched as he placed his right +hand upon the buckhorn handle of a knife at his girdle. + +"You run away--you see well--you lie--now I will cut out your eyes, and +you will not see to run away again!" + +There was no doubt that such was the purpose of the warrior, as he +advanced upon the lad, who suddenly thrust his hand into his waistcoat +for his revolver. + +It was gone! + +During the night it had dropped out without being noticed, and he was +absolutely defenseless. He was breathless, paralyzed with terror. + +"Yes, I will cut out your eyes, and then you will not see to run away," +added the chief, striding toward him. + +"Hold on thar, my copper-colored friend! This 'ere is a little row you +kin settle with me, instead of that boy thar. Try that knife on my eyes, +and while you're doing it, I'll try mine on yourn." + +[Illustration: "THIS 'ERE IS A LITTLE ROW YOU KIN SETTLE WITH ME, +INSTEAD OF THAT BOY THAR."] + +It was Tom Hardynge, the scout, who spoke thus opportunely. + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +WHITE VS. RED. + + +The hunter seemed to step forth from some crevice in the rocks, wherein +he had been concealed, and strode forward in such a manner that Lone +Wolf saw him at the very instant the first word was uttered. + +The latter withdrew his gaze from the boy and turned with lightning-like +swiftness upon his adversary, while the latter, as cool and +self-possessed as if he were about to slice up an antelope or buffalo, +continued approaching with his hunting knife firmly clasped in his right +hand. The Indian, perceiving the character of the fight, flung his rifle +several yards from him, where it was beyond the reach of both, and +recoiling a single step, put himself in form to receive the charge of +his assailant. + +"Ned, my boy," said the latter, without looking at him, "get back. +There's no telling what may happen." + +This was no more than a prudent caution. The fight was over the boy, and +if Lone Wolf should find the battle going against him, he would resort +to any treacherous trick by which to destroy the prize,--such, for +instance, as a sudden dart upon the unsuspecting spectator and the +plunging of his knife to his heart before the active hunter could thwart +him. Ned obeyed his rescuer, whom he had never seen before, and stepped +back full a dozen yards from the combatants, but with his eyes intently +fixed upon them. + +Tom was not the man to advance blindly to the assault, for none knew +better than he did the character of the foe he was about to assail. +When, therefore, he was just within striking distance, he paused, and, +with his grey eyes centered upon the black, snake-like orbs of the +chief, began circling around him in a stealthy cat-like movement, on the +lookout for some opening of which he might take advantage. + +"Lone Wolf is a coward and a dog," he growled between his set teeth. "He +fights with pappooses, but he is afraid of men." + +This was said with the sole purpose of exasperating the warrior, who +would thus have been placed at a slight disadvantage; but he was already +like a concentrated volcano--calm outwardly, but surcharged with fire +and death within. The taunt did not move his nerves an iota, and he +replied in words which were scarcely less irritating. + +"It is the boasting dog which never hurts. If Lone Wolf is a dog, why +are you so afraid to come within his reach?" + +The words were yet in his mouth when the scout dashed forward like a +catapult and struck a tremendous blow, driven with such directness and +swiftness that it could not have been parried. At the very instant +Hardynge made the charge, Lone Wolf did the same, and the two similar +blows, aimed at the same moment, encountered half way with such terrible +violence that both knives were hurled twenty feet beyond over the cliff +at their side, and irrevocably beyond their reach. This left them with +no weapons except such as nature had provided them with, and, now that +their blood was up and each was smarting under the pain of the first +collision, they immediately closed in and grappled each other like a +couple of infuriated gladiators. + +Hardynge was a marvel of strength and activity, and so was the Apache. +The two were nearly evenly matched, a slight superiority in wrestling +attaching to the white man, who, after a furious struggle of a minute or +so, flung his antagonist as flat as could be, upon his back. He struck +like an India-rubber ball, and, before Tom could fasten him down, so as +to hold him, bounded up again and renewed his fight without a second's +hesitation. + +"The devil take you!" growled the maddened hunter, as he let drive a +sledgehammer-like blow straight from the shoulder. + +It encountered the chief fairly upon the forehead, with a force +apparently sufficient to crush his skull, but it only sent him reeling +back several paces, when his sinewy activity saved him from falling. +With the same unhesitating promptness he charged as before. + +"If that skull ain't more than six inches thick, it'll go this time," +muttered Tom, as he gathered all his strength and sent out his fist like +the thrust of a piston rod. + +But Lone Wolf was expecting it and a quick flirt of the head to one side +let the mallet go harmlessly by, while the impetus of his own blow threw +Hardynge forward several steps, and narrowly escaped carrying him off +his feet altogether. With an exasperating taunt the chief landed a blow +upon the face of his antagonist as he shot by, and, catching him about +the shoulder before he could recover, flung him to the ground with great +violence, falling heavily upon him. + +Had the knife of the Apache been in his hand at this juncture he would +have ended the struggle in short order; but he was without the means of +improving his advantage, and before he knew it he was turned from the +chest of the prostrate man. And this critical moment, when the issue of +the contest was very doubtful, a second figure came out from the rocks, +and approached the combatants. It was that of Dick Morris, who coolly +asked: + +"Sha'n't I knock him on the head, Tom, and end this little row?" + +"No," fairly shouted the enraged hunter, as they hammered away at each +other. "If you do it, I'll knock you on the head. This is a fair and +square fight in which the best man wins. If I can't knock thunder and +lightning out of this redskin, let him knock it out of me. Stand back!" + +"All right," replied Dick, very contentedly, walking to where the +enthralled Ned Chadmund stood and asking him whether he wished to stake +a little wager on the result. + +The appearance of this third party ended the contest in a manner neither +of the whites anticipated. The words of Tom Hardynge, declining the +assistance of his friend, were understood by Lone Wolf; but, treacherous +and faithless himself, he regarded them as only a part of a trap in +which he was to be caught, and his whole purpose was to get out of the +dilemma as quickly as possible. However hopeful he might be in a single +hand-to-hand encounter with one of the men, he was not vain enough to +think that he could master both. In their struggling they had approached +quite close to the cliff, and Lone Wolf made a determined attempt to +throw Tom over. By a little feinting and dodging, he managed to get him +between himself and the edge and then began pressing him furiously. + +"That's your game, is it?" exclaimed the scout. "If it is, sail in, and +may the best man win." + +Both were striking very wildly, when, hastily parrying several blows, +Hardynge made a sudden rush, closed in, grasping the chief around the +waist, and, lifting him clear of the ground, ran to the edge of the +cliff and flung him over! + +But Hardynge was outwitted. This was the very thing for which Lone Wolf +had maneuvered so slyly. The cliff was not more than twenty feet in +height, and when the hunter peered over the margin, expecting to see his +enemy dashed to pieces at a great depth below, he saw him land as +lightly as a panther upon his feet and then whisk out of sight among the +rocks. + +"Thunder and blazes!" he exclaimed, when he comprehended the little +trick that had been played upon him. Jerking off his hat, he slammed it +impatiently to the ground, and turning to his comrade, said: + +"Did you ever see a bigger fool than me?" + +"Don't think I ever did," was the serious reply. + +"Never thought what the Injun was after till it was too late to hinder +him." + +"I knowed it all the time. This ere little chap could have seed as much +himself," was the tantalizing reply. + +"Why didn't you sing out, then, when you seed me pick him up and start +to throw him over?" + +"'Cause I thought you was only fooling. Do you know there's a reward of +five hundred dollars offered for Lone Wolf, dead or alive? See what you +have lost?" + +"Who offered it?" demanded Tom. + +"Colonel Chadmund told me that old Captain Alvarez, that owns a big +ranch near Santa Fe, lost a thousand cattle by a stampede that he had +got up, and he's the man that has promised a hundred times to give that +reward to whoever wipes out the chief." + +"Anything else to tell?" said Hardynge, disgustedly. + +"Yes. When Colonel Chadmund told me that, he punched me slyly in the +side, and says, 'And yes, Dick, I'll put another five hundred on top of +it.'" + +"Hain't you got a little more such news?" asked poor Tom, who was +wondering whether it was possible to feel any more angered or disgusted +with himself than he now felt. + +"No--that'll do just now. I think you've had enough." + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +FRIENDS TOGETHER. + + +Up to this stage the two hunters had found no opportunity to pay much +heed to Ned, who had been rescued so narrowly from horrible cruelty. Tom +Hardynge now advanced to where he stood, and thrust out his hand, his +face one broad grin. + +"How are ye, my lad? We've had a long tramp for ye, and come mighty nigh +bein' too late." + +"Have _you_ been looking for me?" asked the boy, in amazement. + +"Yes, sir, we've been on the hunt for some days." + +"How is that?" + +Dick Morris briefly explained how Colonel Chadmund had received warning +through a friendly Indian runner of the projected massacre of the +cavalry escort. Knowing that it was impossible to forward reinforcements +to them in time, and that Lone Wolf was aiming specially to get his +hands upon his little boy, he had sent Dick post-haste with orders to +intercept Tom, if possible, and both had been instructed to secure +possession of the lad by any possible means in their power. + +After a cautious investigation at the outset, when they arrived at +Devil's Pass, they found that the massacre had taken place almost +twenty-four hours before. The sight was a terrible one, such as made +even them shudder. The horses and soldiers lay scattered here and there, +just as they fell. The beasts of the forest had offered them no +disturbance, probably because there were more inviting feasts elsewhere. +But in the warm summer air the bloody, hacked faces were discolored and +swollen beyond recognition. The hunters rode carefully along, and +counted the whole thirteen, and when they found the overturned and +wrecked ambulance and the dead horse a short distance beyond they were +able to hit the right theory. It was in this carriage that young +Chadmund had been riding when he was captured, and the scouts set out at +once upon the trail of the Apache war-party. + +It was all easy enough to follow the warriors, but Tom and Dick were +hopelessly puzzled when they came up with the redskins, saw Lone Wolf +and his brother warriors, and made the discovery that the boy was not +with them. It was a most trying problem to them--the only solution being +that they had grown impatient with the boy and put him to death; and +yet, as the trail had been followed and narrowly watched, it seemed +impossible that such a thing should have taken place without the +pursuers finding it out before this. Dick Morris suggested that the +captive, by some providential interference, had managed to give them the +slip, but Tom could not believe it among the possibilities. If such were +the case, there were no means of learning when or where it had been +done, and the scouts were as completely cut off from pursuit of the boy +as were the Apaches themselves. + +In this dilemma there was little to do except to make a general hunt for +him, keeping all the time within striking distance of the Apaches, as +they did not think that the fugitive could have gotten very far from +them. The hunters carefully secreted their animals, and tramped over the +mountains and through ravines, gorges, and woods, until, on this +eventful forenoon they discovered Lone Wolf ahead of them, acting as +though he had detected something particularly gratifying. The shrewd +scouts suspected the truth on the instant. The Apache was also searching +for the lad, and, guided by a greater knowledge, had discovered him. And +so he crouched down in the rocks, not knowing that two other figures +shortly after crouched behind him. Then, after the story had been told, +as the three moved off together, Dick Morris having picked up the rifle +which Lone Wolf cast from him as the contest was about to open, Ned +Chadmund gave him his version of that terrible attack and slaughter in +Devil's Pass, and of what had followed since. When he came to explain +the clever manner in which he dodged the Apaches, his listeners were +delighted. Dick slapped him upon the back, and Tom insisted upon shaking +hands again. It was a favorite way the old fellow had of expressing his +overwhelming delight at anything he saw or heard. + +"If you'll put yourself under our trainin'," he added, "we'll make a +hunter of ye in the course of a dozen or fifteen years, more or less." + +But Ned had no interest in hunting matters just then. He wanted to get +out of that dangerous neighborhood, and to reach Fort Havens with as +little delay as possible. + +"How far is it?" he asked, as the trio moved along the trail. + +"We can make it in two or three days, I think," said Tom. "Some parts of +the way, though, is rather rough, and it may take us longer." + +"You don't expect to walk it, do you?" + +They assured him that they had no intention of doing any such thing. +Their horses were secreted in a gorge about three miles distant, and as +soon as they could be reached they would mount them and speed away for +Fort Havens. + +"And we'll do it, too, at a gait that'll beat any mustang that Lone Wolf +has ever straddled," added Dick, exultingly. "When a chap goes into the +Injun country, he must fetch the best hoss flesh he can steal." + +"But I haven't any horse," said Ned, with a laugh. "What's to become of +me when you're riding?" + +Tom explained that there could be no difficulty about that. Such a +trifling additional weight would not be suspected by either of the +animals. + +"Where do you suppose Lone Wolf is?" asked the boy, looking furtively +around, unable to free himself of the belief that they were not through +with him yet. + +"He's gone back to his party; they've split since you left 'em. About +thirty started yesterday forenoon for the Apache villages to the +south'ard, and the tother twenty are in camp off here a mile or so." + +As Tom spoke, he pointed to the west, in among the mountains, and in a +direction at right angles to what he was pursuing himself. + +"Our road twists round a little," he added, "and when we get to where we +left the animals, we'll be 'bout as far away from the Apaches as we are +now. What's better, there's some mighty rough travelin' between us and +them, such as no hosses can git over." + +"But Indians can, can't they?" + +"I rather guess so. What's the matter, my boy?" asked Tom, looking down +upon him as they picked along. "You're talkin' as if you was thinkin' +'bout Injuns all the time." + +"That's what I've had to do for the last three or four days. Lone Wolf +managed to get away from you, and where do you think he is? What do you +think he means to do?" + +As the boy asked this question, he glanced around in such a timid, +apprehensive way, that his companions laughed. It was natural that the +lad should have these misgivings, especially as it seemed to him that +his friends were using no precautions at all to prevent a treacherous +surprise upon the part of the Apaches. To relieve his fears, they +convinced him that they were on the alert, and did not fail to note +everything. + +They expected, in the natural course of events, that Lone Wolf would +make all haste back to camp, and take every means of revenging himself +and securing possession of the boy again. Indeed, this was all he could +do. He had no rifle with which to fire a stealthy shot at them, and it +was necessary that he should first return to his warriors before +striking a blow. To do all this required time sufficient to permit the +three to reach the gorge, mount their animals, and get fairly under way +before he and his warriors could possibly put in an appearance. Tom and +Dick, therefore, could not be accused of undue recklessness in taking +matters in such a leisurely fashion. They assured their young friend +still further that they were on the eastern margin of the prairie, and, +after starting with their mustangs, had a clear, open course before +them. + +It was somewhat past noon when they entered the ravine, which had +already been described to Ned, and, while the latter remained to talk +with Morris, Tom moved on further and down in a more secluded place, in +quest of their mustangs, which had been left grazing upon the rich, +succulent grass, beside a running stream of mountain water. All were in +high spirits, and our hero was as buoyant and cheerful as the others, +when they saw their friend returning empty-handed. + +"What's up?" asked Dick. + +"The Injuns have stole our mustangs!" + +"Sure?" + +"Yes--plenty of moccasin tracks--but not cussed sign of a single hoss," +was the sour reply. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + +ANXIOUS WAITING. + + +This was astounding news, indeed, and for a few minutes the two veteran +hunters were completely taken back. They had considered the place where +their animals were picketed as being so secure that the contingency of +losing them was not thought of until it came upon them with the +suddenness mentioned. + +"They didn't find them themselves," growled Tom, as if determined on +finding consolation in that fact; "they've stumbled onto 'em +accidental-like, and then rid off, as though they were smart enough to +be reg'lar hoss-thieves." + +"Have you seen the trail?" asked Dick. + +"Yes." + +"Whereaway does it lead?" + +The hunter replied by pointing toward the northwest, among the hills and +mountains in the wildest portion of the country. + +A hurried consultation now took place between them, and it was resolved +to recover the two mustangs. They counted it easy to secure a couple of +the Indian ponies; but among them all were none which, in their own +estimation, could compare with their own, and they were determined not +to leave the country until they were regained. The most skillful Apache +may succeed in hiding his own trail at times, but he cannot cover that +of his horse so that the trained scout will fail to find it. + +It was found that the mustangs had been ridden away without being +accompanied by other animals. The number of moccasin tracks at a certain +point showed that a party of warriors had accidentally detected the +animals, each of which was mounted by a single Indian and ridden away, +the warriors taking altogether a different direction. This simplified +matters, and was not displeasing to Dick and Tom, for two of these +active redskins could, as a matter of course, be circumvented with much +more ease than could ten times that number. + +Accompanied by Ned, the hunters led the way up out of the hollow, +crossed as it was by the stream of icy cold and clear water and covered +with the richest grass, and entered a more rocky section, where the +horses must have experienced considerable difficulty in traveling, as +numerous places showed where their hoofs had slipped upon the stones. + +"We can beat them on that," said Dick, when they had trailed them for a +short distance. "They can't be many hours ahead of us, and when we do +catch up with 'em, Tom, we'll warm 'em; what do you say?" + +Tom nodded his head to signify that he agreed with these sentiments +exactly, and the trio pressed forward harder than ever. + +There were many places in which the thieves had progressed with no +little trouble, and their pursuers, unimpeded by the mustangs, were +gaining rapidly upon them; but this by no means insured success. A +hundred difficulties remained in the way, and the most that the two +hunters could hope was that the two Apaches had no suspicion of being +followed. If they believed themselves secure, it followed as a matter of +course that they would take no precautions against any surprise from the +rear. The hunters went forward at a rate which was exceedingly trying to +Ned, but he bravely held up until something like a mile was passed, when +Tom, who acted as a leader, suddenly paused. + +"We must wait here till we make an observation," said he, in a low tone. +"I take it that we aren't very far from the scamps, and we must look out +and not spile the whole thing when we've got it all in shape." + +For the entire distance they had been steadily advancing upon higher +ground, and having now reached the culminating point, it was necessary +to look ahead and learn whither they were going before making any rash +venture into an entirely different section. While Dick and Ned, +therefore, remained where they were, Tom stole cautiously forward for +some distance further, until he reached a high, flat rock, the edge of +which he approached on his hands and knees, and stealthily peered over. + +Only a few seconds did he spend thus when he began retrograding, like a +crab. + +"I think I've hit the spot," he said in an undertone, as he rejoined his +friends. "There's a sort of path which leads down into the lower +country, and as that's the only way the hosses can travel, it follers +that they must have gone that way. That 'ere place that I was speakin' +of goes down into a spot a good deal like the one where we expected to +find the animiles and didn't, and there's where I think we'll find 'em +awaitin' for us." + +"Do you see any sign?" inquired Dick. + +"Not yet; they wouldn't be likely to kindle a camp fire at this time of +day, and afore they jined the others. Come ahead, we must be mighty +keerful now, when we're gettin' so close." + +As before, Tom took the lead, and they advanced with the greatest +caution. If the Apaches had any fear of being followed, they were very +likely to detect the men stealing down upon them; but much reliance was +placed upon the likelihood of their holding no such suspicion. + +The afternoon was half gone when the locality pointed out by Hardynge +was reached, and the three halted again. As soon as they had concealed +themselves Tom continued his reconnaissance, making it with such care +that he consumed fully a half hour before concluding it. When he +reappeared, with the silence of a shadow, he whispered: + +"They're there--both of 'em." + +He explained that he had approached close enough to recognize his own +animal as well as Dick's. He saw nothing more, not even an Indian, but +it followed, of course, that they were near at hand. From this point +forward, therefore, the presence of the lad could be nothing but an +incumbrance, and it was agreed that he should stay where he was until +the animals were recaptured, when he could ride away with one of them. + +"Remember, the varmints are close onto you," said Tom, by way of +caution; "and you must keep mighty shady. Don't go to crawling about, +and trying to peep into what's none of your business." + +The boy promised obedience, and the two left him. As near as he could +judge he was within a hundred yards of the camp of the horse thieves, +and there was no certainty that, if they discovered the approach of the +hunters, they might take a course which would bring them back over the +same path. So, to avoid any unpleasant discovery, he crept in beneath +some dense shrubbery, where he felt secure against observation, and +anxiously awaited the result. + +Ned had not been in this place of concealment five minutes, when he was +startled by a slight noise behind him, such as would be made by the +cautious approach of some person or creature. He turned his head, but +his view was too much obstructed by the vegetation around him. The +slight disturbance continued until Ned's curiosity got the better of his +judgment, and he stealthily parted the leaves with one hand sufficiently +to permit him to see out. + +As he dreaded, he detected an Indian warrior, whose actions indicated +that he knew what was going on. He was stepping along as if fearful that +the slight rustling would catch the ears of parties who were far beyond +the range of hearing. Fortunately for Ned, at the moment he looked forth +in this stealthy manner the Apache afforded only what may be termed a +three-quarter view, having passed slightly beyond where he was hidden; +and, as he continued to move in the same direction, nothing but his back +was visible a few minutes afterward. But the lad saw enough to render +him uneasy. At first glimpse he took the Indian to be Lone Wolf, but he +caught sight of enough of his visage to make certain that it was another +warrior altogether; but he was large, powerful, and very formidable +looking, and Ned dreaded an encounter between him and one of the +hunters. + +Curiously enough, he carried no gun with him, and, as the boy still +retained possession of Lone Wolf's, it seemed to young Chadmund that he +could want no better opportunity of wiping out one of those pestilent +redskins. With this purpose in view he cautiously shoved the end of the +weapon through the bushes and aimed at the back of the warrior, who, at +that moment, could not have been more than a dozen yards from him. There +could be no mistaking a target so conspicuous and so close at hand; but +when the aim was sure and Ned's finger was pressing the trigger, he +restrained himself by the self-imposed question whether it was right to +pick off a foe, savage though he was, in that fashion. He was well aware +that no mercy would have been shown him had the position been reversed; +still, he could not justify in his own mind an act that looked so much +like murder. + +"No," said he, when this inward conflict had continued a minute or so. +"I s'pose Tom and Dick would laugh at me if they knew how I acted: but I +don't believe father would like to have me fight that way. Anyhow, my +conscience don't, so I won't." + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + +THE DEATH SHOT. + + +It took Ned about a minute to reach his merciful conclusion and to lower +the hammer of his gun. This done, he looked out to see how the Indian +was getting along. To his amazement nothing was seen of him. He had +vanished as suddenly as if the ground had opened and swallowed him up. +Wondering what it all could mean, the boy rose to his feet, and peered +out, parting the bushes still more and advancing a little from his +concealment. The ground was quite level, covered here and there with +boulders and a scrubby undergrowth, but there was nothing to be seen of +the warrior. During the second or two occupied in lowering the hammer of +his rifle, the Apache had disappeared, flashing out, so to speak, into +nothingness. + +"That's mighty queer," reflected Ned, as he resumed his seat under the +bushes. "I know those redskins are pretty lively, but I didn't think +they could get up and leave as fast as that." + +There was something in the manner of this thing which alarmed him. The +Apache, when last seen, was advancing carefully in the direction taken +by the scouts. Why this sudden diversion? What did it mean but that the +redskin had made an important discovery, and what could that discovery +be but that he was threatened by danger from the rear? Such being the +case, it followed that the peril had been transferred from one to the +other. Instead of the lad threatening the Indian it was _vice versa_. + +"I bet he'll be back here," was the conclusion of our hero, as he once +more raised the hammer of his gun. "He must have heard me when I moved +the bushes, and he'll be trying some of his tricks upon me." + +He concluded that if the Indian made him a visit it would be from +another direction, and so he shifted his position somewhat, managing to +face the other way, while he kept all his senses on the _qui vive_ for +the hostile visit which he was confident would not be long delayed. At +the same time he had a strong hope that the scouts would return in time +to prevent any such encounter as he pictured in his own mind, and which +he thoroughly dreaded. + +In his excited mental condition it was impossible to judge accurately of +the passage of time, but it seemed to him that he had been in waiting +fully fifteen minutes, yet not the slightest sound reached him from that +direction. The lad remained in a state of suspense which was intensified +by his fears of a flank movement upon the part of the Apache whom he had +seen but a short time before. + +"It must take them a long time to make a reconnaissance--" + +He suddenly ceased, for his ear, more than usually alert, caught a +slight but suspicious sound, and quick as a flash he turned his head. He +was not an instant too soon, for there was the crouching figure of the +Apache warrior, no more than a dozen feet distant, his gleaming knife +clutched in his right hand, and his eyes fairly aflame with passion. He +was not moving along inch by inch, but with that soft gliding motion, +which was more like the approach of a serpent than of a person. + +Ned still held his rifle with the hammer raised, and ready for just such +an emergency. Partly expecting the visit, he was fully prepared. When he +turned his head and encountered the gaze of the Indian, the latter gave +utterance to a low gutteral exclamation, and started more rapidly toward +him. + +"If you must have it, there it is." + +The flash from the muzzle of the rifle was almost in the face of the +Apache, who, with a death-shriek horrible to hear, threw both arms above +his head, and, with a spasmodic twitching of the limbs, breathed his +last in a single breath. + +Ned was scarcely less terrified than the redskin must have been at the +first flash of the gun; and, forgetful of the warning of the scouts, he +leaped out from beneath the bushes, and dashed away in the direction +taken by his friends. + +He had run but a rod or two when he suddenly found himself face to face +with Tom Hardynge, who demanded, in a hurried undertone: + +"What's up, now?" + +"I've just shot an Indian." + +"Did you wipe him out?" + +"Oh, yes; oh, yes." + +"Then what are you running away from him for? If you've wiped him out, +he can't hurt you." + +"But I don't want to stay near him," added the lad, who was in a +distressing state of anxiety; "take me away." + +"That's just what I'm going to do," replied the hunter, turning about +and hurrying off. "Keep close to me and I will take care of you." + +Instead of retracing their steps, they kept ahead, and a short distance +further on made an abrupt turn and suddenly came upon Dick Morris, +seated upon the back of his mustang, with Thundergust, as Tom called +him, standing near, and a third one visible in the background. + +"Whose is that?" asked the astonished boy. + +"We fetched him for you. Come, bounce upon his back and let's be off." + +The animal alluded to was a handsome black pony, spirited and fleet, +with a valuable blanket strapped to its back, and a leathern +bridle-rein. He showed some opposition to Ned's mounting him, but with +the assistance of Tom he quieted down and showed as much docility as the +others. + +The hunters, in approaching the camp, used as much care and deliberation +as if they were certain that there were a hundred of the fiercest +warriors there. They speedily learned, however, that there were but the +two Indian horse thieves, who, in bringing the plunder to that place, +had returned to the spot where their own animals had been left previous +to their starting out upon the raid. + +The Apaches were entirely unsuspicious of any pursuit, and they were +lolling upon the ground at such a distance from the mustangs, that the +three were secured without much trouble. Dick Morris insisted upon +sailing in and clearing out the two marauders; but Tom was equally +strenuous in demanding that they should not be disturbed. He was certain +there were other warriors near by, and any such attempt would complicate +matters. Accordingly they stole away with their recaptured animals and +the one which was not exactly recaptured, and as soon as a convenient +spot was selected Hardynge turned back for the boy, encountering him on +the way. + +Since all three were mounted upon good beasts they made all haste +possible to leave the section, which beyond all question was a most +dangerous one in every sense. + +The trio had several important advantages on their side. Although the +Apaches were on every hand, and doubtless would make an attempt to +revenge themselves upon the hunters, yet it was already growing dark, +and between now and morning the Caucasians could accomplish a great +deal. Furthermore, they were close to the prairie, reaching which, they +had all the opportunity they could desire to leave their enemies behind. +In a fair trial of speed, neither of the hunters had any misgivings as +to the fleetness of their animals, even if it should become necessary to +place the additional weight of the lad upon one. Still, the route was +difficult, and in many places it seemed almost impossible to make their +way along, the horses stumbling, and on one or two occasions the party +came to a dead halt. + +But Tom Hardynge had been there before, and insisted each time there was +some way out of the difficulty without turning back. Dismounting from +his animal he groped around for a few minutes in the dark, and on every +occasion called out in an undertone that he had found the path. In this +manner they kept it up for a couple of hours, when the route became much +more easy to travel. Occasionally they paused and listened and looked, +but nothing threatening was discovered. Quite a distance on the left, +the twinkle of a camp fire was discerned, but it was so distant that it +gave no concern. All remained quiet in the rear, though pursuit from +that quarter was to be expected. + +The three rode along in silence for something like half an hour longer, +when Hardynge, who was slightly in advance, abruptly reined up his steed +and said: + +"We're through the mountains. There's the prairie afore us." + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + +THE BUFFALOES. + + +The moon was now well up in the sky, and the members of the party were +enabled to discern objects at a greater distance than at any time since +starting. When Tom Hardynge announced that they had passed through this +spur of mountains, the three instinctively turned their eyes to the +westward, where the prairie stretched away until it vanished in the +gloom. + +"There's a clean hundred miles or more of level plain," added the +hunter. "I've traveled it many a time and I ought to know." + +"You're right," said Dick. "That's a good sweep of prairie, and we ought +to make good time over it, for our horses have had a long rest." + +"There's only one thing that troubles me," ventured Ned Chadmund, when +the heads of all their animals were turned westward; "I'm so hungry and +faint that I can hardly sit on my horse." + +"That's bad," said Tom, feelingly. "I never thought of that when we had +a good chance among the mountains to fetch down some game. We ain't apt +to run agin anythin' in the hash line while riding along on the prairie; +but we'll try it, and if we don't we'll turn off to a little spot where +I know we shall hit it." + +Ned expressed his willingness to do this, and the company started. +Instead of going in Indian file, as they had done while among the +mountains, they rode side by side at an easy swinging gallop, the +prairie lightening up as they advanced, and the surface continuing of +the same impact character, which rendered it the most favorable possible +for horseback riding. To one who, like the boy, had tramped and trudged +along until scarcely able to stand, this change was of the most pleasing +character. He felt comfortable and anxious to ride ahead for hours, the +only drawback being that gnawing hunger, that weary faintness, which +could only be dissipated by food. + +Occasionally, while riding along in this manner, the three would halt +and listen, and then, when certain that they heard nothing, move on +again. This was repeated several times, until the two hunters remained +motionless longer than usual. When Ned asked the cause of this, Tom +replied by asking him whether he heard anything. He answered that he did +not. + +"I hear it," added the scout, as he dismounted and applied his ear to +the ground. + +"What do you make it?" inquired Dick. + +"Can't tell." + +Hardynge remained standing beside his steed for several minutes, looking +off to the southward, and then he knelt down and bent his ear to the +ground again. + +"It is off yonder," he added, pointing to the southward, and leaping at +the same time upon the back of his mustang. + +Ned listened to catch some explanation; but at this interesting +juncture, for some reason only known to themselves, the two men began +talking in the Indian tongue. It was interesting to hear their gutteral +exclamations, but it would have been much more interesting could he have +understood what they were saying, and to know why it was, when talking, +that they laughed and looked meaningly toward him. The lad affected not +to notice all this, although it piqued his curiosity not a little. + +A half mile more was ridden at a leisurely gait, when all three drew up +their mustangs, and Dick Morris looked meaningly at their young comrade. + +"Do you hear anything _now_?" + +Yes, there could be no mistaking it, faint though it was. All three sat +motionless and listened. At first, it might have been taken for the +far-off rumble of thunder--a fluttering, distant rattle, such as is +occasionally heard during the hot summer months. It was not exactly of +that character, either, being more like a continuous rattle, coming from +some point many miles away. + +"What do you suppose it is?" asked Tom, of the lad. + +"I never heard anything like it before. What is it?" + +"Does it sound like the tramp of animals?" + +"Not much, it seems to me. It can't be that." + +"That's just what it is." + +Ned started. + +"So it is--so it is. I can notice it now. I hear the sound of horses +hoofs on the prairie. The sound is growing more distinct, too, and they +must be coming this way, Tom. Is that so?" + +"That's just what's the matter. We'll see 'em all inside of half an +hour, unless we turn tail and run." + +"Let's do it, then, for there can't be much time to spare." + +The hunters showed no disposition to flee from the danger approaching, +and Ned began to grow alarmed. + +"Why do you stay here?" he asked. "If your horses are so fleet that no +one can catch them, what is the use of letting them do it?" + +"Don't get scart, my boy," returned Tom Hardynge. "We'll take care of +you." + +He much preferred that they should all take care of themselves by giving +their animals the rein and permitting the Apaches to make no nearer +approach. But the scouts were obstinate and remained as motionless as +statues. The tramping of myriad feet came nearer and nearer, until the +sound partook of one general, thunderous undertone of the most trying +character to the lad. It seemed to him so much like suicide--this +waiting for a terrible danger as it steadily approached--that he was +strongly tempted to start his horse away on his own account. + +"Look!" called out Morris, pointing toward the southwest. + +Following the direction indicated, the lad saw what appeared to be a +heavy cloud lying low down in the horizon, but creeping slowly upward, +like the sulphurous vapor that sometimes hovers over a battle field. + +"What is it?" he asked, terrified, knowing that it was not the presage +of a storm such as sometimes sweeps over the prairies. + +There was something strange and unnatural in its appearance, +accompanied, as it was, by the tremulous, thunderous rumbling. By and +by, as this uproar came nearer and nearer, a still more curious sight +presented itself. The prairie seemed agitated, trembling and quivering +with a peculiar, wave-like motion, such as the ocean shows when it is +subsiding after a severe storm. There was a sea, a living sea, spreading +tumultuously over the plain. Dark, heaving masses were constantly +verging nearer, as they moved rapidly toward the northeast. Suddenly +light broke in upon the mind of Ned Chadmund. + +"I know what it is!" he exclaimed. "They are buffaloes." + +"Correct," assented Tom, with a laugh. "They are passing pretty close, +but we're out of their way." + +The buffaloes surged so near to where the three horsemen stood that more +than once Ned started with a fear that they would be overwhelmed; but +the hunters showed such calmness and self-possession that he was +reassured. All at once a furious trampling was heard, and two of the +animals that had become separated from the others in some way, dashed +directly by the horsemen and out upon the prairie. + +"Now, Ned," called out Tom; "there's your chance! Take that head one! He +will make you a good supper if you can fetch him down!" + +The lad and his animal were seized with a sudden inspiration seemingly +at the same time. Just as the heart of the young hunter swelled with a +wild desire to bring down the noble game, the mustang bounded away in +pursuit of the very buffalo which had been indicated by the trapper. As +the rider saw himself drawing rapidly near the huge body, lumbering +awkwardly but rapidly along, he was seized with a fluttering which, +perhaps was natural, but which, unless overcome, was fatal to any hopes +of procuring any supper. The mustang drew steadily nearer, Ned's +agitation increasing every minute, until pursuer and pursued were +running side by side. + +This was the critical moment when the rider should have fired, and when +the horse had been taught to expect him to do so; but when our hero +raised the heavy Indian gun to his shoulder, his trembling, together +with the jolting of his mustang, now upon a dead run, told him that it +would be useless to fire, when the only chance of hitting his prey was +by the merest accident. Accordingly, he lowered his gun, in the hopes of +quieting his nerves, so as to bring himself up to the self-appointed +task. As he did so, his horse began shying off from the buffalo. He was +afraid of the horns of the enraged creature, and having given him all +the opportunity he could expect, he was not willing to keep him company +any longer. The paths continued to diverge until they were twenty yards +apart, when the mustang appeared to think all danger was passed. By this +time Ned Chadmund felt that he was master of himself, and he turned the +head of his horse toward the immense fugitive, still gliding forward at +the same terrific rate. + +"I'll fetch him this time," he muttered, with a determined air. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV. + +ALONE AGAIN. + + +The mustang, trained as he was to this sort of hunting, steadily drew up +again to the buffalo, which was plunging forward with unabated speed, +while Ned held his rifle ready to fire whenever the critical moment +should come. He concluded that the proper place at which to aim was the +head, and, drawing his gun to his shoulder, he did not hesitate, +although he knew the aim was anything but a good one. It struck the +bison beyond all question, but did no more than irritate him; for, +without any other warning than a sudden lowering of the head, he +wheeled, and turned directly upon the horse, with the evident purpose of +disemboweling him. + +But the latter had seen this sort of business before, and was prepared +for it. + +Without attempting to turn to the one side or the other, or to check his +speed in the least, he made a terrific flying leap upward, going clear +over the head of the buffalo, landing upon the other side, and +continuing his flight at his leisure, as it may be said. + +This was a clever trick of the mustang, but it proved the undoing of his +rider, who had no other saddle than the Indian blanket strapped to the +horse's back. This was good enough, except in such a sudden emergency as +the present, when Ned was entirely unprepared for it. It was done in a +twinkling, the end of it being that he found himself lying upon the +green sward of the prairie, considerably bruised, and with horse and +buffalo rapidly speeding from view. + +"This is a go," said the lad, rising to his feet and looking about him. +"I don't see where the fun of buffalo hunting comes in." + +During the minutes of excitement when the mustang was coursing with such +speed over the prairie, the rider had no idea of the direction taken, +nor could he conjecture how far he had gone; but the result was that he +was separated by a much greater distance than he supposed from his +friends. Ned stood and gazed carefully about him. Off to the west were +the dust, and thousands upon thousands of buffaloes. The latter were too +far removed to be distinguished, but that tramping and the heavy cloud +indicated where the mass of life was plunging tumultuously forward +toward some destination unknown even to themselves. Nothing was to be +seen of the hunters. They had sent the lad off on this hunt on purpose +to give him a taste of buffalo hunting, not supposing, of course, that +any accident would result. + +"What shall I do?" was the question the boy asked himself, as he stood, +rifle in hand, and looked around him. "If there was some way in which I +could get a good supper, I wouldn't mind this camping out, for Tom and +Dick will be sure to find me in the morning." + +Looking toward the north, he fancied that he dimly discerned the dark +outline of something which resembled a grove of trees, and he turned his +footsteps in that direction. + +"If they are trees," he reflected, as he trudged along, "it's more than +likely there's water there, and now that I've got a gun, I've some +chance of shooting something; and that reminds me of poor Corporal +Hugg's warning, always to reload my gun the first thing after firing +it." + +He had enough sense to carry out this resolution on the spot, and then +he resumed his journey in the direction of the object that had attracted +his attention. A short distance further he was pleased to find his first +impression correct. He was approaching a clump of trees where he could +rest with a much greater sense of security than upon the open prairie. +Thoroughly weary and worn out, faint with hunger, he felt like throwing +himself upon the ground and sleeping for a week. But, continuing, he +entered a grove of trees something like a hundred yards in extent, +through which, in the stillness of the night, he caught distinctly the +ripple of flowing water. It required but a moment to discover this and +he lay down upon the margin, quaffed his full and flung himself upon the +grass to sleep until morning. Five minutes after his eyes were shut he +was wrapped in a sound slumber which remained undisturbed until morning +when, as he opened his eyes, he found the sun shining through the +branches upon him. + +"Gracious!" he exclaimed, starting up. "Where am I?" + +It took several minutes before he could collect his senses and tell +where he was; and then as he recalled the separation from his friends, +he hurried out to the edge of the wood in the hope of discovering them +somewhere near at hand; but, look in whatsoever direction he chose, +nothing was to be seen but the broad sweeping prairie, stretching away +until sky and earth joined in the distance. Far off, low down in the +horizon, the blue wavy outline of a mountain spur was to be seen. Miles +and miles away, it would probably require days of traveling before it +could be reached. + +"That's strange!" murmured Ned, as a feeling of alarm began stealing +over him. "Where can Tom and Dick be? They must be somewhere in this +neighborhood, and yet I cannot see any signs of them." + +He moved around the grove, carefully gazing in every direction; but +after making the complete circuit he came back without having detected +anything that told him what had become of his friends. + +The grove in which he had taken shelter abounded with undergrowth, so +dense in many places, that he made his way with considerable difficulty. +He had no thought of any one else being in the same place, but, while +moving along in his careless manner, he was aroused to a sense of +imprudence by the sound of something on his right. Turning his head, his +surprise may be imagined when he saw a solitary buffalo standing +scarcely a dozen feet distant, and staring straight at him. Ned was so +astonished that for the moment he forgot that he carried a loaded gun, +and stared at the creature in turn, the two forming as striking a +tableau as it is possible to imagine. + +The buffalo may have known the capacity of the weapon which the boy +carried in his hand, for, with a sniff of alarm, he wheeled and started +away on a run. As quick as thought the lad seemed to awake to a sense of +his situation, and, raising his gun, he blazed away. + +The shot, fired at random, could not have been better aimed by the most +veteran of hunters. The ball entered directly behind the fore-leg just +as it was thrown forward in the act of running, and, penetrating to the +heart, the result was that the animal never made another bound. His own +momentum carried him a few feet forward, when he tumbled and rolled over +in a heap. + +"Now I'll have a meal!" exclaimed the delighted lad, as he ran forward +to claim his prize. "I feel as if I could eat the whole buffalo." + +There seemed to be no reason why he should not provide himself with the +most substantial kind of dinner. He knew very little about a buffalo, +but it was no difficult task to cut off a good sized piece, which he +placed upon some green leaves, while he looked about for some means of +starting a fire. + +"Well, there!" he exclaimed in delighted amazement, "if that isn't the +most wonderful thing yet!" + +This exclamation was caused by the sight of a smoking wad lying at his +very feet, just as if Providence had sent it that he might be provided +with the indispensable fire. Picking it up and blowing it, he saw that +it was in a vigorous state, and could be utilized without trouble. A few +leaves were hurriedly gathered together, dried twigs placed upon these, +and then the tiny blaze that required considerable blowing to produce, +was carefully nursed into a larger one until a good roaring, crackling +fire was the result. + +Leaving this to burn by itself, Ned took the meat to the side of the +stream, where he carefully washed and dressed it, ready for cooking. +When this was completed, he skewered it upon some green twigs, and began +toasting it. The process was rather tardy, but as soon as a bite of the +meat had spluttered and crisped for a moment, Ned bit it off, and went +to masticating it. The cooking continued rapidly enough to keep his jaws +going, and was a good arrangement, for it prevented his eating too fast, +and gave him the fullest enjoyment imaginable of the meal. All of an +hour was occupied in this way, during which Ned was in as happy a frame +of mind as can be conceived. For the first half of the time he seemed to +be growing more hungry with each mouthful he swallowed. Then came a +standstill, and soon he began to gain upon it, the end being that he +thoroughly satisfied that appetite which at one time had seemed +unappeasable. With no further necessity of thinking of the wants of the +inner man, the lad began to debate as to what he should do to get out of +the rather unpleasant position in which he was placed. There he was, his +horse gone, his two friends missing, and himself still a long distance +from home. He knew not in what direction to turn to reach Fort Havens, +and, even if he did, he had little assurance of ever reaching it. +Indeed, with the exception of the rather important fact that he had +secured possession of a rifle and some ammunition, it may be said that +his position was very similar to what it was before he came across Dick +Morris and Tom Hardynge. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI. + +CAPTURING A MUSTANG. + + +It struck Ned that there was something very strange in the continued +absence of the two hunters. + +In thinking over the particulars of that rather curious buffalo hunt, he +could not believe it possible that he was more than two miles from where +he had made his start after the creature, and where he separated from +them. All three were upon the easterly side of the herd, so that the +trail made by his own animal could not have been obliterated by the +hoofs of the buffaloes, and nothing could be easier than to follow it. +Where, then, were they? What was the cause of their absence? These were +questions which he asked himself again and again, and which he was +unable to answer in any manner satisfactory to himself. + +Suddenly it occurred to him that by climbing one of the trees near at +hand, he might extend his view, and perhaps gain a portion of the +knowledge he was so desirous of obtaining. He acted upon the thought at +once, and, selecting the tallest, first concealed his rifle, and then +climbed to the very topmost branches. There he was rewarded by a +magnificent view, and one which promised him some of the results he was +seeking. With this extension of his field of vision he discovered more +than one evidence that he was not in a solitude. In the first place, by +looking to the southward, a mass of dust and vapor was visible, +indicating the presence and progress of some sort of herd, perhaps a +drove of sheep from New Mexico, under the convoy of Indians who had shot +the rightful owners and stampeded their property. Looking westward, +another clump of trees was discerned, from the center of which came just +enough smoke to show that there must be a camp fire beneath. + +"I'll bet they are there!" exclaimed Ned, to himself, "and it may be +they have started the fire on purpose to guide me to them." + +The point to which his attention was thus directed was no more than a +mile distant, and he wondered that he had not noted it before. It +resembled in many respects the one in which he passed the night, and he +saw from the course of the stream which ran through the latter, that it +most probably watered the former where he believed the hunters were in +camp. + +Turning his eyes in another direction, the young wanderer was greeted by +a sight which agitated him scarcely less. There, no more than a quarter +of a mile distant, quietly grazing beside the winding stream which +flowed at the base of the tree, was the very mustang which had been +captured by the hunters and from whose back he had been thrown when in +pursuit of the buffalo. He instantly lost all interest in the smoke of +the camp fire in the greater interest he felt in the question of +securing possession of the steed. Could he but remount him he would not +care particularly whether he met the hunters or not, for, once upon the +back of such a steed, he would consider himself competent to make the +rest of the journey alone. + +"What's to hinder?" he asked himself, as he fixed his eyes longingly +upon the steed. "Dick says none of the Apaches have any animal that can +overtake him, and all I have to do is to keep his head turned toward the +southwest. There is a trail through the mountains yonder, and Corporal +Hugg told me that there is a trail all the way. But can I catch him?" + +He enjoyed in anticipation the pleasure he would feel when, possessing +rifle, ammunition and horse he should resume his journey westward and +the delight and joy of his father when he should clasp him in his arms +again. He could have spent several hours building his air-castles in +this manner, had he not checked himself and resolutely faced the +difficulty before him. Looking again at the mustang, he was to be seen +with his beautiful Indian blanket somewhat soiled from contact with the +dirt, but cropping the grass with the air of an equine which expected to +spend the day at it. + +Ned decided to try and steal upon him from the rear, thinking, possibly, +that he might get so close that when the frightened animal discovered +him, he could step forward and grasp the bridle before the mustang could +gallop away. Accordingly, he circled out upon the prairie until he got +directly behind the animal, when he began his approach. The horse +continued quietly eating until he was within a hundred feet, when he +shifted his position so that his side was exposed. Startled lest he +should be seen, Ned dropped down upon the grass and waited for him to +resume his first attitude. After crouching in this manner for something +like ten minutes, without any change taking place, he decided that as +"the mountain would not come to Mohammed then Mohammed should go to the +mountain," and he began crawling through the grass, with his eye upon +his prize. To accomplish this without attracting notice was a delicate +task, but he succeeded perfectly. Getting the mustang in exact range, he +resumed his advance upon him, advancing until he was within twenty feet. + +This was more favorable than he dared hope, and his heart beat high with +expectation. He almost felt the warm body of the noble steed beneath +him. And now, inch by inch, he stole forward, like an Indian scout +moving upon a sleeping enemy until he could reach a point where he could +bury his tomahawk in his skull. + +"I wonder whether he will use those heels upon me?" reflected the lad, +when he had reduced the intervening distance to a dozen feet. "If he +were only blind in one eye, and I could get upon that side; but then he +isn't." + +It seemed to him that the greatest danger was the mustang hearing the +throbbing of his heart, which was now beating like a trip-hammer; but +the horse was as unconscious as if he were made of stone. Still nearer, +until it appeared as if he had to make but a single leap forward, and he +could grasp the long, flowing tail, and he felt that the moment had come +when he must make the attempt. Crouching with one hand thrust out, he +lifted one foot and advanced a few inches. Another step, and he could +lay his hand upon him. At this exciting juncture, the horse abruptly +ceased eating and raised his head. Ned saw it, and paused in an agony of +suspense. + +[Illustration: STILL NEARER, UNTIL IT APPEARED AS IF HE HAD TO MAKE BUT +A SINGLE LEAP FORWARD.] + +Looking straight off upon the prairie, the mustang gave a faint whinney, +as if he scented danger from a point directly opposite to where the +figure of the boy was stealing upon him. For a minute the two held these +stationary positions; and then, as the lad moved a few inches again, the +keen ears of the mustang told him the truth. + +Pricking his ears forward, he turned his head half way round, so that he +saw the crouching figure directly at his heels. Then he turned his head +still further, and gathered himself for a leap. But Ned was expecting +this; and, as quick as a flash, he leaped forward and caught the tuft of +hair hanging over his forehead, dropping his gun and seizing at the same +moment, with the other hand, the bridle-rein. The mustang made his leap, +but the lad held on, and, by a quick, powerful effort threw one leg over +his shoulders and slid upon his back in a twinkling. The horse was +outwitted, defeated, and the boy was his conqueror. + +"Hurrah!" shouted the latter, overflowing with exultation. "Thank the +Lord! I've had better fortune than I expected." + +The mustang was not an ugly-tempered creature, but would have given the +lad the slip, could he have done so. It may have been that because he +was nothing but a boy, he underestimated his capacity too much; but he +had been fairly outgeneraled, and he submitted with a grace which cannot +be too highly commended. He instantly became docile, and turned in ready +obedience to the rein, and trotted back to where the gun lay upon the +ground. Here Ned was obliged to descend again, but he kept a tight grasp +upon the strap, and scrambled back again as soon as he had recovered it. +It seemed to him, as he did so, that there was something like a +mischievous twinkle in the eye of the pony. He appeared to say: + +"It don't do to trust my species too far, my lad; for we prefer to be +free rather than slave. However, you are a brave little fellow, and have +done so well that I think I must stand by you hereafter." + +Now that Ned was himself again, he turned the head of his animal toward +the grove, where the thin smoke could still be seen creeping up through +the tree tops. + +"I will have quite a story to tell Dick and Tom," he reflected, as he +rode along at an easy gallop. "I killed my buffalo, lost my horse, and +caught him again. I don't believe that they themselves could have done +much better." + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII. + +A RUN FOR LIFE. + + +A few minutes' ride at a swinging, easy, gallop brought Ned to the edge +of the grove where the camp fire had first arrested his attention. As he +reached the margin he threw himself from the back of the mustang, +fastened the bridle-rein securely to a limb, and, with his rifle slung +over his shoulder, strode forward toward the center. He was not yet in +sight of the fire when it suddenly occurred to him that possibly he was +mistaken. He checked himself and began moving very much as he did when +approaching his mustang, and it was fortunate that he did so, for the +next moment he discovered that he had committed a most serious mistake +indeed. Instead of seeing the well-known figures of the hunters sitting +by the camp fire and quietly smoking their pipes, he caught a glimpse of +half a dozen warriors very similarly engaged. + +Ned shuddered as he reflected how narrowly he escaped running into +destruction, and then he crept forward until he could get a little +better view. There they were, six Apache Indians lolling and lounging +upon the grass. They had evidently returned from a long and wearisome +ride, and were devoting the early portion of the day to rest, both for +themselves and animals, which were picketed near at hand. The lad +naturally wondered whether any of them belonged to Lone Wolf's band, and +he crept nearer than was prudent in order to make certain. + +"It may be that Lone Wolf himself is there," he reflected, drawn on by +that strange fascination which often seizes a person at the proximity of +some dreaded danger. "It would be queer if the chief had crossed my path +again." + +By and by, after moving along for some distance upon his hands and +knees, he secured a favorable point, where, by waiting a few minutes, he +was able to gain a view of all the faces. They were all strangers. He +had never seen any of them before. + +"That's good," he said to himself, as he began retrograding, "they won't +be expecting me--" + +At this juncture, one of the Indian horses, a short distance away, +raised his head and whinnied. It was instantly responded to by the +mustang which Ned had ridden to the place. The Apaches very naturally +noticed this significant fact, and started to their feet to learn what +it meant. Terribly alarmed at the unexpected mishap, Ned sprang up, not +daring to trust the tardy, crab-like gait he was following, and, +regardless of discovery, dashed away as hard as he could run in the +direction of his steed. He could not mistake the true course, for the +animal seemingly aware that something was wrong, kept up a continual +whinnying, that guided him as unerringly as it did the Apaches who were +hurrying after him. A few seconds and the boy stood beside the creature, +which showed, by its excited manner, that he was as desirous as his +master to leave the spot. He was tugging at the rein so lustily that it +threatened to break every instant, and Ned trembled at the fear that he +would be left alone. + +The impatient, eager haste with which the rein was unfastened, the +seemingly impossibility of getting the loosely fastened knot untied, the +little obstructions that constantly obtruded themselves--these cannot be +described nor imagined. It would have been unnatural in the highest +degree had Ned not found himself "nervous." He was ready to yield to +despair more than once, and what were really seconds were as many +minutes to him. The Indians could be heard moving through the +undergrowth, their progress cautious as it always is when they have +reason to fear that enemies are close at hand. + +It was this deliberation which gave Ned his only chance. The rein was +unfastened at last, and, with a desperate effort he mounted the mustang, +which came very near bounding from beneath him while in the act of +springing upward, and, turning his head toward the southwest, the very +direction he wished to follow, Chadmund struck his sides with his heels, +gave a regular Indian shout and was off. The steed scarcely needed all +this to incite him to his highest efforts. Stretching out his neck, he +sped away like an arrow, while the young rider constantly urged him to +still greater effort. But no urging was required. The fleet-footed +courser was already going with the speed of the wind. + +Scarcely had he gotten under way, however, when the crack! crack! of +rifles was heard, and the singing of bullets around his ears told the +fugitive at whom they were aimed. He instantly threw himself forward +upon the neck of the mustang, and shouted again, in a voice that must +have been heard by the redskins themselves: + +"Go it, my horse! Don't let them catch us! We mustn't lose now!" + +One or two more shots were heard, and then all was quiet again. + +"We've got beyond their range," concluded the boy, "and there's no need +of wasting their powder on us." + +Still he remained with his head bent on the neck of his animal, the +latter upon a dead run, until they had gone a considerable distance +further. Then believing all peril past, he drew him down somewhat, for +the gait was more trying to him than to the steed himself, and it was +simply prudent to husband his strength, when there was no necessity of +putting it forth. + +For the first time since starting, Ned turned and surveyed the ground +over which he had passed. The view was not a reassuring one by any +means. Instead of seeing the Apaches standing in mute despair upon the +margin of the grove, and staring in wonder at his flight, he saw instead +the whole party mounted and in full pursuit. They were adopting what +seemed to him a strange course. Instead of charging along in a body, +they were separating and spreading out like a fan. + +"I wonder what it is for," said the fugitive to himself, as he urged his +horse to a renewal of the arrowy speed he had shown at the beginning. + +When he came to reflect upon it more fully, he divined the cause. The +Apaches had recognized in him a prize worth striving for, and had set +about it in their usual cunning fashion. By separating in this manner, +they could close in again whenever they chose, and at a time, too, when +it might be out of the power of the fugitive to escape by means of the +superior speed of his horse. If he should turn to the right or left, or +to the rear, he would come in collision with some of them, whereas, if +they remained in a compact body, and he should find his way shut in +front, he might elude them by turning to either side. + +Such was young Chadmund's solution of their actions, and such, +undoubtedly, was the true one. He looked ahead; but all remained open +and clear. Only far away in the very horizon could be seen that blue, +misty outline of some mountain chain, seemingly hundreds of miles in +advance. + +"It can't be that _that_ is the place," he mused, as he looked ahead; +"that is too far to be reached before to-morrow, and between now and +then I shall have plenty of chances to give them the slip." + +But the mountains were to be crossed at some time or other, and those +Apaches were likely to follow him with the persistency of bloodhounds. +The mere fact that he had distanced them at the beginning, and obtained +such a favorable start, was no evidence that he was to be relieved from +further danger, even after the night should have come and gone. But Ned +enjoyed to the full the thrilling pleasure of observing that he was +steadily and rapidly drawing away from his pursuers. Every few minutes, +when he looked back, he could see they were dropping further and further +behind. His gain in this respect was clearly perceptible to himself, and +when, at the end of an hour or more, he observed that the Apaches had +ceased the effort to overhaul him, he could scarcely repress his +exultation. + +"They made a good selection!" he exclaimed, alluding to the steed which +the hunters had taken from the Indians in the mountains. "They could not +have done better." + +Drawing his mustang down to a dead halt, he carefully scanned the +prairie behind him. Only three of his pursuers were visible, and, if his +eyes did not deceive him, they were turning back. A few minutes careful +scrutiny assured him of the fact. He had outwitted the redskins again. + +"Now, you may rest yourself, my pet," he said to his horse, fondly +patting the neck of his steed. + +"You have done nobly, and I feel like trusting you alone to graze." + +As near as he could judge it was close upon noon, and his animal was in +need of rest, although capable of continuing his arrowy flight until the +sun should sink in the west. It was wise to indulge him all he could, +and for the next two hours he was permitted to walk at a moderate gait. +At the end of that time he headed toward a ravine, in which a few +stunted trees were growing, and where he hoped to find grass and water. +He did not forget the lesson he had learned, and before trusting himself +in the inviting shade and coolness, he carefully circled about the place +until assured that no peril lurked there, when he rode forward at the +same leisurely pace. + +He was yet a hundred yards distant, when his mustang abruptly paused of +his own accord, pricking up his ears as if he scented danger. + +Ned urged him, and he advanced a few steps, and then halted again, +raising high his head and snuffing the air, accompanied at the same time +by a peculiar stamp of the foot. + +"There must be something wrong," thought the boy in alarm. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII. + +A GREAT MISFORTUNE. + + +Ned Chadmund was too wise to go contrary to the instincts of the +mustang, which, at such a time knew more than did he of the dangers of +the country. The boy, however, supposed that it was some wild animal, +probably a grizzly bear, which alarmed the steed. He wondered however, +that if such were the fact, why the brute did not give some more +tangible evidence of his presence. He sat for a moment debating whether +he should make an attempt to enter the wooded ravine from another +direction. He had fixed upon this place as the one in which to spend a +couple of hours or more, and as no similar resting-place was in sight, +he was reluctant to start ahead again. But something whispered to him +that the best thing he could do would be to leave without an instant's +delay. That strange stillness resting upon those stunted trees and +undergrowth had a meaning more significant than anything in the shape of +a grizzly bear. + +"Come, Pet, we're off again." + +The mustang wheeled to one side, and bounded away with the old speed, +which was more enjoyable to him than a moderate pace. At the very +instant of doing so, a mounted Apache shot out from the far end of the +ravine, and his horse bounded directly across the path of the young +fugitive. The steed of the latter saw the game so well that he needed no +direction, and he turned with such suddenness that Ned narrowly escaped +being thrown off his back. Quick as he was he had scarcely time to +change the direction he was pursuing, when the rider, to his dismay, +observed a second Apache issue from the other end of the ravine, and +thus, in a twinkling, as it may be said, he was placed between two +fires. + +It all took place with such marvelous suddenness that the lad was +completely baffled and bewildered, and, not knowing what to do, wisely +left the course of action to the mustang. At the same moment, he +comprehended how it was that, while he assured himself that he had +outwitted the Apaches, they had completely checkmated him. Their falling +back and giving up the chase was simply a ruse to throw him off his +guard. It had succeeded to perfection. While he was plodding along over +the prairie, the Apaches had circled around, gone ahead of him, and, +ensconcing themselves in the woods, had patiently waited for him to ride +into their arms. + +The sagacious mustang made another quick whirl, and shot to the right, +aiming to pass directly between the two horsemen. Seeing this, they both +did their best to head him off. At the best it was to be a narrow +chance, and Ned again threw himself forward and clasped his arms about +the neck of the faithful pony. He could not shut out the sight of his +ferocious pursuers, and as the three neared each other with the speed of +the whirlwind, he observed that each was loosely swinging several coils +of rope about his head. He knew what that meant. Determined upon +capturing him, they were about to call the lasso into requisition. + +But they could not "noose" him when his head was thrown forward in this +fashion, and resting closely against the soft mane of the mustang. He +was certain of that, for there was nothing for the spinning coil to +seize. And yet he saw distinctly the warrior who was nearest him +whirling the thong in swifter and swifter circles above his head in a +way that showed that he meant to fling it at something. + +What could the target be? + +Whiz--whiz! Out shot the loop like the dart of a rattlesnake, not at the +head of the frightened lad, but at that of the mustang! + +Ah! but the animal was intelligent and equal to the occasion. That +round, clear eye saw what was coming, and he was ready. + +The loop, guided with unerring precision, and thrown with great power, +was scarcely over the ears of the creature, when he dropped his head +like a flash. The coil, instead of passing over his nose, dropped like a +tossed wreath upon the top of his head, slid along his neck, and over +the crown and back of Ned Chadmund, who shivered as if he felt the +squirming of a cobra along his spine. The mustang burst into a +tremendous gait at this moment, and was drawing away from his pursuers +so rapidly that the lasso dropped off his haunches and the flying pony +was almost instantly beyond its reach. + +But the second Apache was near at hand and threw his thong from a closer +point, and with a venomous spitefulness that would not be evaded. He +evidently knew the horse, and was determined upon securing him. The +wonderful mustang, however, was equal to the occasion, and, with the +same flash-like motion, his beautiful head dropped still lower than +before, and the same useless sliding along his back was repeated. + +His speed was now tremendous, and he drew away so rapidly from both +horsemen that neither of them gained a second opportunity to try the +lasso upon him. Ned did not seek to control the motions or direction of +the noble steed. It knew better than did he what to do, and the boy only +clung to him the tighter, and prayed to Heaven to guard them both from +harm. + +It was not to be expected that the Apaches would submit quietly to be +baffled in this manner. Unable to capture either horse or rider, they +still had their rifles, and did not hesitate to call them into +requisition the moment it became apparent that no other recourse was at +their command. + +At the moment of firing perhaps fifty yards separated pursuer and +pursued. The two guns were discharged so nearly simultaneously, that +they might have well been mistaken for one. The escape of Ned was a +narrow one. He felt one of the bullets pierce his clothing, and a sting +in the hand told him that he had been slightly wounded. At the same +moment he felt a peculiar twitch or quiver of the steed, which indicated +that he also had been hit. It was like the jar of the smoothly-moving +machinery when some slight obstruction gets into the works. Still there +was no abatement of the tremendous speed of the magnificent little +animal, and Ned concluded that the hurt was not a serious one. A minute +later two more reports were heard, but they were faint and far away, and +the bullets sped wide of the mark. + +All danger was passed from that quarter, and once more Ned straightened +up, and, looking about him, felt that the Indian mustang he bestrode had +been the means of saving his life. But for him he would have been in the +hands of the Apaches long since. + +"I wonder whether there are Indians in every bush?" he said, as his eyes +roamed over the prairie in search of some place of shelter. "They seem +to be watching for me from every tree in the country. Well, my good +horse, we shall have to keep on the go till dark comes, when we'll get +some chance to creep off and hide." + +Looking to the southward, a wooded section was to be seen, but Ned +concluded to give all such places a wide berth for the present. He had +missed recapture by too narrow a chance to risk it blindly again. A long +distance to the northwest he discerned a range of hills of moderate +elevation, and it occurred to him that there was a suitable place in +which to spend the coming night. By journeying forward at this easy, +swinging pace, he calculated upon reaching them about nightfall, and in +the shelter which they offered he was confident of being able to hide +away beyond the vision of the most vigilant Apache or Comanche. + +"What has become of those fellows?" he abruptly asked himself, as his +eye glanced hastily around in search of the hunters from whom he had now +been separated the better portion of twenty-four hours. "I can't +understand how we got so far apart. If they meant the whole thing as a +joke, I think it is played out by this time." + +He was a little nettled when he came to reflect that the parting was +probably arranged by Dick and Tom for the purpose of giving him a lesson +in prairie traveling and prairie life. Perhaps they believed that some +amusement might be obtained in this way. + +"If they think I can't get along without 'em, I'll show them their +mistake," he said to himself. "There can't be many days' travel between +me and Fort Havens, and so long as I've got such a horse--he knows +better than they can how to keep me out of such scrapes--" + +At this juncture he was startled by the action of the mustang. He was +walking along, when he began staggering from side to side. Then he +paused, as if to steady himself. A groan followed and he sank heavily to +the ground, rolling upon his side so quickly that his rider narrowly +escaped being crushed beneath him. And then, as the dismayed Ned sprang +to his feet, he saw that his loved mustang was dead! + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX. + +THE LONE CAMP FIRE. + + +When the pursuing Apaches first fired their two shots, one of them +slightly wounded the hand of young Chadmund, while the other, +unsuspected by the lad, buried itself in the body of the mustang and +inflicted a fatal wound. It was characteristic of the noble creature +that his indomitable courage should remain to the last. He kept up his +astonishing speed until his rider voluntarily checked him, and then his +gait remained his natural one until nature succumbed and he dropped +dead. + +It would be hard to say which emotion was the most poignant in the +breast of the young wanderer. He had learned to love the noble mustang +during their brief companionship, and he had discovered, too, how +impossible it was for him to make any substantial progress without a +good horse to ride. He had lost the best steed he had ever bestrode, and +was again thrown upon his own resources. It was natural and creditable +to the lad that, as he looked at the fallen steed, and reflected how +faithfully he had served him, his hands should seek his eyes. So they +did, and he spent full ten minutes in a regular old-fashioned cry, such +as he had not enjoyed since receiving a good trouncing at the hands of +his parent. + +When his grief had subsided somewhat, he bade the unconscious form +good-bye, and with his rifle over his shoulder started ahead again. He +could not bear even to remove the blanket which was strapped around the +body of the mustang, and which was likely to be of great service to him +in his wanderings. + +It was already growing dark, when he aimed for the hills, and, as his +eye swept over the the prairie, he saw no Indian or sign of danger. He +was hopeful that for the time being, at least, he was free from +molestation. His greatest trouble was, that he was ravenously hungry +again, and he counted upon considerable difficulty in securing the +wherewithal with which to satisfy his cravings. True, he had gun and +ammunition, but the game which he wished to meet seemed to be, as a +rule, reluctant to put itself within his reach. + +After reaching the hills, the lad's next proceeding was to hunt up some +suitable spot in which to pass the night. The air was so warm and sultry +that he could have made no use of the blanket, had he possessed it. The +place was full of stunted trees and undergrowth, with jagged, irregular +masses of stone lying here and there, and constantly obtruding +themselves in such a way that he received a number of severe bruises. + +After tramping about for a short time he discovered that the hills were +mainly in the form of a ridge, passing over the crest of which he went +down the opposite slope and found himself among a mass of larger rocks, +and in a still wilder section. There, while searching, it occurred to +him that he might find a suitable retreat among the rocks. The sound of +trickling water directed his steps a little to the left, where a tiny +rivulet was found dripping down from the dark stones. After quenching +his thirst he renewed his hunt. + +Although he continued for some time, he was not as successful as he +desired. Nothing in the shape of a regular cavern presented itself, and +he finally nestled down beside one of the largest rocks which could be +discovered, with the intention of sleeping until morning. + +Ned thought it strange that he should feel so frightened. With the +gathering of darkness he grew so nervous that all possibility of sleep +was driven away. He examined his rifle several times--a curious mistrust +taking possession of him--and then arose to his feet and listened. + +All seemed as quiet as at creation's morn. There was a soothing +influence in the faint sound of the dripping water, and an almost +inaudible roar seemed to steal forth from the great prairie, such as is +sometimes noted when in the vicinity of the becalmed ocean. Without any +thought he thrust his hand into an inner pocket, when he felt a small +package wrapped up in paper. Wondering what it could be, he drew it +forth. + +It was a box of matches! + +Suddenly he remembered how they came there. On the day before leaving +Santa Fe it occurred to him that he would be likely to need such a +convenience, and he had carefully wrapped up a box and placed it in this +out-of-the-way corner, where it had lain forgotten. + +"That's lucky!" exclaimed the delighted lad, as he drew them out, +recognizing them more by the touch than by sight. "Now I'll build a big +fire, and fix things splendidly." + +A fire was his great desideratum, and, had he believed it possible +without great trouble and work, he would have kindled one before that. +The capture of a new horse could have pleased him scarcely more than the +discovery of the matches, and he set about reaping the advantage at +once. + +In such a place there was little difficulty in procuring fuel, and it +took Ned but a short time to gather all he could possibly need; but, to +guard against all contingencies, he continued collecting until he had a +huge pile, made up of dead limbs, branches, and a number of green sticks +thrown in. In a few minutes the flames were under way. He had kindled +them against the face of a rock, and they burned with a cheery +heartiness that did much to dispel the gloom which had begun settling +over him. He seated himself as near the fire as he could without being +made uncomfortable by the reflected heat, and then he assumed as easy a +position as was possible in such a place. + +"I wonder if anybody will see that?" he asked himself in a whisper, +after it had continued burning some time. + +Rising and reconnoitering the ground, he was gratified to learn that the +light was better screened than he had reason to expect, considering the +carelessness with which he had kindled it. The rock at the rear shut off +all view from that direction, while the undergrowth was so matted and +dense in front, that it seemed impossible for any one to see it from the +prairie. Having made this survey, he returned to his position, feeling +much easier in mind than before. + +"Strange what has become of Dick and Tom," he muttered, following up +this train of thought, as usual whenever he was left undisturbed for a +few minutes. "Can it be that they have been killed by the Apaches? It +might be, and yet I don't know how it could happen, either." + +He was still meditating upon this ever-interesting query, when he was +roused to a sense of his situation by the sound of something trampling +through the bushes behind him. + +"Indians!" he exclaimed, springing to his feet, rifle in hand, and +casting his terrified glance in the direction from whence came the +sound. + +The words were yet in his mouth, when he felt that he had committed a +blunder. No Indian would approach in that manner. + +"It must be some animal," was his conclusion, as he stepped back, so as +to bring himself as close to the fire as possible. + +The next moment, a huge, dark, unwieldy body advanced from the gloom +with a growl, and he saw an immense grizzly bear lumbering toward him. +As quick as thought his rifle was at his shoulder, and he fired full at +him, the distance being so short that he could not fail to hit the mark; +but the wound, however severe it might have been, was not fatal, and did +not deter bruin's advance in the least. Knowing that it would be sure +death if he were once seized by the powerful monster, and aware of the +dread which all animals have of fire, he dropped his gun and caught up a +blazing brand, which he flung in the very face of the brute. + +This was more than a bear, as courageous as was this giant grizzly, +could stand, and he retreated with an awkward haste which was +ridiculous. For the instant he was panic stricken, and continued falling +back until he was invisible in the gloom. But he was not disposed to +give up the contest by any means. Ned knew he would be back again, and +fortified himself as well as possible by hugging his own camp fire, +stooping down and holding himself ready to hurl another torch in the +brute's face if he should persevere in his attack. + +For several minutes all was quiet, and he began to hope that his fright +was such that he would keep at a respectful distance. Such was not the +case, however. A growl from another direction warned him that the brute +was about to advance from that quarter. The lad peered out into the +gloom, wondering whether the creature would eventually overcome his +dread to such an extent as to press him to the wall. At any rate, he was +not disposed to wait and hastily ran around to the other side of the +blaze, by which maneuver it was interposed directly between him and his +enemy. + +"I wonder what he will do now?" + + + + +CHAPTER XXX. + +FIGHTING A GRIZZLY. + + +The grizzly could not fail to detect the ruse of the boy, and he +countered by moving around to the other side of the fire, so that he +regained his former advantage. The nocturnal visitor had evidently set +his mind upon making his supper upon the little chap, whose plump, +robust appearance must have been a very tempting bait to him. The latter +was reluctant to repeat his maneuver, as, by doing so, he would be +forced to pass so near his foe that a big paw might reach out and grasp +him while on the way. + +"I'll have to fight you with fire," he said, as he seized a large stick, +one end of which was blazing. + +In the hope that he might give him a greater scare than before, the lad +swung it rapidly around his head until it was fanned into a roaring +flame. While this was going on, he was surrounded, as it appeared, by a +fiery circle, his appearance being such that the bravest quadruped +living could not have been induced to approach within his reach. Not +content with this, Ned assumed the aggressive. Stooping low, he emitted +a wild yell, and repeating this, pointed the torch forward and toward +him, moving it more rapidly and in a smaller circle, while at the same +time he kept slowly advancing upon him. + +No bear could be expected to withstand such a demonstration. The figure +of the yelling urchin, with his head surrounded by a blazing serpent, +must have struck terror to his very inmost being. Without pausing to do +more than to utter a short growl, he wheeled around and went crashing +through the undergrowth as if under the belief that a battery had been +suddenly unmasked and was about to open upon him. When he had retreated +a few rods he paused to see how matters appeared, when he again beheld +the horrid figure closer than ever and drawing nearer every moment. It +was appalling, and he plunged away at a greater speed than ever. Ned +pursued him until he was fearful of getting so far away from the camp +fire that he would lose it altogether. When he paused he could hear the +bear still tramping off, as if he already felt the torch blistering his +nose. Turning again, the lad ran with all speed to his "headquarters," +where he flung down his torch and caught up his gun. + +"Now I think I've got time to load it," he said, as he began the +operation at once, a little alarmed, however, to discover that the +supply of ammunition furnished him by Tom Hardynge was growing +alarmingly small. + +He succeeded in ramming the charge home, and then as he placed the cap +upon the tube, he felt something of the old confidence that was his when +astride the mustang and coursing over the prairie at a speed which no +horse could equal. When first charged upon by the monster he had fired +with such haste that he had no time to make any aim; now fortified by +his camp fire, he meant to improve upon that. Everything being ready, he +looked off into the gloom, but nothing was to be seen of the creature, +nor did the slightest sound betray his whereabouts. + +"He'll be sneaking back pretty soon," said the lad to himself, who was +resolved to remain on the watch. + +He was not kept waiting. A minute later he caught the slow crackling and +trampling of some heavy creature through the undergrowth, and he was +confident that his old enemy was close at hand. The lad sank down upon +one knee, so close to the fire that it scorched him, and awaited his +approach. But the grizzly had been so thoroughly scared that he hadn't +entirely recovered from it. When something like twenty feet away he +halted, and evidently began debating whether it would be prudent to +approach. + +Chadmund could not make out his figure distinctly, although he knew +precisely where he was; but, by and by, when the head moved a little, he +caught the phosphorescent glitter of the eyes. As the fire light shone +upon the gun-barrel he wanted no better opportunity, and, supporting the +weapon upon one knee, he pointed it straight at the center--that is, +directly between those glowing orbs, which remained stationary, as if in +waiting for the fatal messenger. It came the next moment. True to its +aim, the tiny sphere of lead entered the head of the bear at the most +vulnerable point, and the life went out from that huge mass. A rasping +growl, a few spasmodic throes, and it was all over. + +Ned was naturally exultant over his exploit, and he reflected that if +matters went on in the same fashion, he could soon lay claim to being +quite a hunter. He had shot an Indian, a buffalo, and a grizzly bear, +besides performing some other exploits not always accomplished by men. + +"I guess the best plan is to load again," he muttered, as he adopted +this precautionary measure. "That isn't the only grizzly bear in the +country." + +By this time the fire was running down, and the lad, throwing some more +fuel upon it, seated himself directly in front, prepared to watch for +further visitors. He had scarcely ensconced himself in this position +when his hair fairly rose on end at hearing a low but distinct, growl, +proving that some other unwelcome caller was about to pay him his +respects. + +He hurriedly looked in every direction, but could see nothing to explain +the cause of this alarming manifestation. It was so different from the +warning uttered by the grizzly that he knew it must be some other sort +of creature. Holding his rifle ready for instant use, he glanced +hurriedly about him, but, although the camp fire was throwing out a long +stream of light, no sign of an animal could be detected. + +"I'm sure I heard something," he repeated, still wondering and looking +around in search of the cause. "Hello! there it goes again. It sounds as +if it were somewhere up in the air--it is in the air!" + +The fire had been kindled against the face of a rock. This rock rose +perpendicularly a dozen feet above the ground below, where the fire was +burning, and where the lad was standing. As he looked up he saw the +gaunt figure of a large mountain wolf standing on the very edge of this, +looking down upon him, its lank jaws distended, its eyes glaring, and +its whole appearance that of a ferocious beast about to leap down upon +his head. The suggestion was so startling, that Ned uttered an +exclamation of terror, and leaped back several feet. + +It must be that when a wild beast comes across a boy, he concludes that +even though he carries a gun there is nothing to be feared from him. The +grizzly bear had shown a sublime indifference to Ned's capacity, and his +life had paid the forfeit. And now, although the mountain wolf must have +seen him raise that rifle and point it as straight as the finger of fate +directly at him, he paid no attention to it whatever; but there he +stood, snarling and growling, and on the very point of leaping. + +Suddenly there was a short, sharp crack, and it was all over with the +wolf. He must have gathered himself for a leap at that very moment; for +the bullet that bored his brittle skull through and through did not +prevent an outward bound. A faint yelp and the creature bounded full a +dozen feet directly out from the rock, and, owing to some curious quirp +of the muscles, turned a complete somerset, and would have landed +directly upon the head of Ned if he hadn't sprung to one side as the +carcass fell to the ground. + +"That settles your case," remarked the boy, with the indifference of an +old hunter. "Now it's time to load up again." + +This done he settled himself to watch and listen and play the part of +his own sentinel for the rest of the night. A faint moaning of the +night-wind was all that reached his ears. Once he fancied he heard the +report of a gun far away in the distance, but it was so faint that he +might have been mistaken. Then a cry, somewhat resembling that made by a +panther, was borne on the wind, but that, too, seemed to come from the +mountains that were miles away to the westward. No sound indicated the +presence of any further danger close at hand. Everything was quiet, and +seemingly at rest. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI. + +SLEEP. + + +The sentinel on his rounds, the watchman upon his beat, or the sailor +pacing the deck of his vessel in mid-ocean, keeps his senses awake by +the constant motion of his body. To sit down to rest for a few minutes +only is fatal. Sleep has the power of stealing over the faculties, and +wrapping them up in its embrace so insidiously, that no watchfulness can +guard against it unless artificial means, such as walking, are resorted +to. When Ned Chadmund resumed an easy position in front of his own camp +fire, the inevitable result followed. He resolved to keep his ears and +eyes open, and almost immediately closed them. A few minutes passed and +then his head began to nod. Several times he narrowly escaped tumbling +over, and, finally rousing, he vigorously rubbed his eyes, yawned, and +arose to his feet. + +"My gracious! this won't do," he exclaimed, with a shuddering sense of +the danger he was running. "A bear might steal right up to me and eat me +up before I could help myself. If I'm going to play sentinel, I must do +it like a man." + +Straightway he began pacing back and forth in front of the blaze, his +beat extending some twenty feet back and forth. He carried his rifle on +his shoulder and proved the thoroughness of his vigilance by an +occasional glance at the top of the rock, from which the mountain wolf +had made its death leap. The coast remained clear. The far-off sounds +which had attracted his attention a short time before were not repeated, +and, as the labor of walking back and forth grew a little wearisome, he +began to argue the question with himself. + +"I wonder whether there isn't some way of resting without working? If +I've got to walk all night, what shall I be good for to-morrow? I don't +see any fun in this sort of business. Ah, I know how I'll fix it; I'll +kindle two fires." + +He acted upon the idea at once. He had gathered such an abundance of +fuel that he had no fear of the supply running out. In a few minutes he +had a second fire started, about a dozen feet from the other, while he +stowed himself away directly between them. His position, he soon +discovered, was rather warmer than he anticipated, but he speedily +remedied this by permitting each fire to subside in a slight degree. + +"This is nice," he muttered, shrinking up against the rock. "I don't +think any wild creature would harm me unless he tumbled over the top of +the rock there and dropped on my head. Even then I think I should wake +up soon enough to use my gun on him. But then, I guess I won't go to +sleep." + +Five minutes later his head was nodding again, and utter unconsciousness +speedily followed. But one of the brands in the fire on his right fell, +and there was a slight crackling explosion of the embers--as is often +the case. A glowing spark flew outward and dropped upon the limp hand of +the sleeping youngster. + +Simultaneously there was a yell, and the lad leaped several feet from +the ground, dancing about like a rejoicing warrior and flinging his hand +as if he were trying to shake off some clinging reptile. + +"I should like to know who did that?" he exclaimed, a little confused by +the startling manner in which he had been aroused. "I guess I understand +how it all came about, though," he added, as he examined the stinging +blister upon the back of his hand. + +The pain from this little wound effectually banished all sleep for the +time. Ned busied himself in replenishing the fire, and then walked out +in the gloom and looked about. Everything was the same. The night was +dark,--no moon being visible,--and an oppressive sultriness was in the +atmosphere. It seemed as if some elemental disturbance were close at +hand, but in looking to the sky no presage of it could be discovered. + +After wandering about for some time, the lad spat upon some earth, and, +plastering it over the smarting blister, succeeded in shutting out the +air from it and secured considerable relief. + +"It must be that I am all alone," he added, standing still and +listening. "No one is near and no one sees me but God. He has taken care +of me in the past, and He will not forsake me in future," he added, +looking reverently upward. + +The old feeling of drowsiness again stole over him and he determined to +secure a night's rest--that is, during the portion of the night that +remained. Still the fact that the fires had run down somewhat raised the +inquiry in his mind as to what was likely to happen in case they went +out altogether. If any more grizzly bears should put in an appearance, +his situation would not be of the most inviting nature, but he had +argued himself into the belief that no further peril of this character +threatened. By placing a goodly amount of fuel upon the fires he hoped +to keep them going until daylight, or until his slumber was over. Had he +been able to find a suitable tree, he would have made his bed in that, +even at the risk of another disagreeable fall, but nothing of the kind +could be seen, and he had already grown weary of hunting for some hiding +place among the rocks. Accordingly, the camp fires were replenished and +he resumed his former position between them, covering his hands very +carefully, lest another spark should drop in the same place. + +"I wish it was colder!" he exclaimed, when he found the place growing +uncomfortably warm. "If it was winter now, I shouldn't want anything +nicer." + +He stood it like a hero, however, and by and by his place became more +pleasant, for the reason that the fuel was rapidly burning down. About +this time sleep regained possession of his senses, and, cramped up +though he was, with his back against the rock, his slumber was scarcely +less sound than if he were stretched out upon his blanket beneath a tree +in the forest. + +At the time young Chadmund relapsed into unconsciousness it was nearly +midnight, and for nearly two hours following there was scarcely the +slightest change in the surroundings. The fires burned low, until the +figure of the lad braced up against the rock grew dim and shadowy in the +deepening gloom. Scarcely a breath of air stirred the vegetation about +him, and everything seemed to be calculated to lull one into a deep, +soothing, dreamless sleep. But at the end of the time mentioned, +something came out of the undergrowth and advanced stealthily toward +him. It was vague, shadowy, and so dimly outlined that at first its form +could not be recognized; but as it glided closer to the fire, there was +enough light remaining to disclose the figure of another wolf. + +Like a phantom born of the gloom itself, it moved toward the unconscious +lad, until scarcely a dozen feet intervened. Then, as if directed by +Providence, one of the embers snapped apart, throwing out a sudden +flame, which momentarily lit up the surrounding darkness. Like a flash +the wolf slunk back, and then, pausing, stood and stared at the lad, +licking his jaws as if in anticipation of the feast he expected to enjoy +upon him. + +As the flames subsided again, and the same gloom crept over the scene, +the hideous creature stole up again, resolved to have the meal displayed +so temptingly before him. Once more he was within reach, still advancing +with jaws distended--ready to leap upon him. The boy slumbered +dreamlessly on. Still nearer crept the wolf until Ned was at his mercy. + +At this critical juncture, something whizzed from the upper surface of +the rock, with the velocity almost of a bullet. It was a tomahawk, +which, speeding true to its aim, struck the unsuspicious wolf fairly and +with such terrific force that his skull was cloven in twain as +completely as if smitten by the headsman's ax. There was scarcely time +for the wild yelp as he tumbled over backward. But, such as it was, it +aroused Ned, who sprang to his feet and gazed about him with an alarmed +and bewildered air. Before he could fairly comprehend what had taken +place he saw figures descending and approaching. It was too late to +retreat. He was surrounded. + +"I'm a goner now!" he muttered. + +But as the firelight brightened, he saw the kindly faces of Tom Hardynge +and Dick Morris. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXII. + +REUNITED. + + +"How was it that you came to leave me for so long a time?" inquired Ned, +after he had welcomed his two friends with boyish enthusiasm and +congratulated himself upon his timely deliverance. + +"Wal," replied Tom, as the three took up a comfortable position before +the fire, "we started you off on that hunt on purpose to give you a +little taste of buffaler huntin', calc'latin' to foller on after ye in +the course of an hour or two. Afore we could do so, a war-party of a +hundred redskins got right atween us--didn't you see 'em?" + +"No such party as that." + +"In course they shut us out altogether. The worst of it was, we +exchanged a few shots back and forth with 'em, and they give us a brush; +so by the time we had dodged out of their way, we was a long ways off +from you. We couldn't do nothin' till mornin', and by that time the +buffaloes and Injuns had trampled out your trail, so that there was +nothin' to be seen of it, and we had to go it on general principles. We +had 'bout made up our mind that some of the varmints had gobbled you, +when we put eyes on this fire, and there ain't any use of tellin' any +more." + +The lad now in compliance with their request, related his entire +experience since their separation. Old and veteran hunters as they were, +and chary of praise as was their custom, they did not hesitate to +compliment him highly upon the courage he had displayed in the most +trying emergencies in which he was placed. His experience had, indeed, +been a most remarkable one, and Providence had protected him in a +wonderful manner. + +Everything being understood, and the past cleared up, it now became them +to look to the future. There were only two horses to three persons, and +as there were no means of obtaining one, it became necessary to divide +the lad between the two hunters--an arrangement which was easily made. + +But, although it might seem that the greatest danger of the company had +passed, the truth was, however, that the greatest was still before them, +and both Dick and Tom knew it. They were pursuing a journey in an almost +due south-westerly direction--precisely the course necessary to take in +order to reach home, as they had come to look upon Fort Havens. But +directly in their path was a broad level patch of country, interspersed, +here and there, with rocks and vegetation, over which both the Comanches +and Apaches were so constantly roaming that it would be impossible for a +white man to cross it without being discovered by some of the +war-parties. + +When Dick and Tom were coming from the other direction, they were seen, +and escaped only by the superior fleetness of their horses. But the +trouble was that while they were not expected and not watched for then, +now they were. The redskins were cunning enough to know that if two +hunters rode at full speed through their country in the direction of +Santa Fe, they would be very likely to return again in the course of a +few days, and, as Dick said, the reds "would be ready for 'em." +Consequently, it became not a question of fleetness; for, if it were, +the hunters could afford to have very little apprehension over the +result; but Tom Hardynge was well convinced that the Apaches, to the +number of a hundred or more, were distributed at different points, and +on the lookout for them. Indeed, he had already seen such evidence of +the fact that it could not be doubted. He did not consider it necessary +to tell their young friend all this, for he would learn it in due time. + +Such being the case it would have been a waste of time for the three to +remain where they were, while they had the sheltering darkness to screen +them in their flight; but the two mustangs had done a good deal of +traveling, and it was wise to give them the rest while it could be +gained. Here were water and grass, of which the animals were taking the +advantage. It was wise to husband their strength and endurance until the +following day. + +The hunters extinguished one camp fire entirely, and toned the other +down so that there was no possibility of its attracting the notice of +any one unless he passed very near at hand. Fortunately for Ned, they +had some very good and substantial lunch with them, with which his +hunger was fully satisfied. There still remained a little stock on hand, +which was reserved more for him than themselves. They were accustomed to +such privations and could stand it very well, but the lad was of too +tender years not to suffer keenly. + +The night was so far gone that no one attempted to obtain any sleep. The +hunters went out and examined the dead grizzly, learning his dimensions +by the sense of feeling alone. Tom picked up the tomahawk, and, wiping +off the blade upon the grass, shoved it down in his belt, with the +remark that it might come handy again before they reached Fort Havens. +The two then made an observation for the purpose of learning whether any +of the Indians were in the neighborhood. Nothing important was +discovered, however, and in due time the night ended and the morning +came again. + +The sun was scarcely up when they were under way. Ned at first was +placed upon the back of the mustang ridden by Dick Morris, and side by +side, the two fleet-limbed creatures left the ridge and took the +shortest route to Fort Havens. The gait was an easy, swinging one, which +the horses were capable of keeping up from rise of morn until set of +sun. The day was warm and sunshiny, but the air was so clear and pure +that the oppressiveness was much less than would have been the case in a +more northern latitude. + +Beyond the ridge, the country remained open, as the prairie was inclined +to be rolling than otherwise, but with a surface which permitted the +utmost swiftness of which an animal was capable. Occasionally patches of +wood and rocky elevations were discernible, but these were given a wide +berth in all cases, as they were the very places where the treacherous +enemies would have wished them to come. A herd of buffaloes, probably +the same seen a short time before, was discerned far to the south, but +they were passed by while still a long distance away. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIII. + +CLOSING IN. + + +The party pushed on until the greater portion of the forenoon was +passed, when Ned was transferred to the back of Tom's horse. The lad had +noticed that the hunters were acting in a strange manner, as though they +were ill at ease, and were apprehensive that peril of some kind was +approaching. + +Dick Morris rode fully a hundred yards in advance of his comrade, and +the motion of his head showed that there was no part of the horizon that +was not under his surveillance. Tom was equally busy while riding in the +rear. Neither of the hunters addressed a word to the other, but the boy +detected a sort of telegraphy occasionally passing between them. They +were working by a preconcerted arrangement, like corresponding parts of +some machine, understanding each other so well that there was no need +for explanation. The boy also used his to the best advantage possible, +often turning his head and scanning the prairie and horizon, but not a +single time did he discern anything that looked like Indians. Had he +been alone, he would have journeyed serenely forward, certain that no +danger of any kind threatened. + +At noon, a brief halt was made as they struck the margin of a small +stream, the water of which was rather warm and muddy, the buffaloes +having probably disturbed it at some point above. The horses quaffed +their fill, and upon the suggestion of Tom, Ned did the same. There was +a good deal of significance when he uttered the words. + +"It may be a good while before you get a chance at another." + +It did not escape the notice of the lad, either, that both his friends +filled to the full their old canteens, after which they repaired to one +side, where they conversed for some time in low tones, and with such +earnest, excited gestures, that it was plain they were in deadly +earnest. + +"I don't see why they keep everything from me," he muttered, as he +observed this. "I think I've seen as big sights as they have for the +last few days, and if there's any trouble coming, I wonder whether I +haven't got to take my chance the same as them? But I'll let them alone +till they get ready to tell me." + +He was watching the two as they were talking to each other, when Tom +beckoned to him to approach. + +"There's no use of talkin'," said the hunter, in a low voice; "we're +gettin' into the worst scrimmage of our lives. We're right in the middle +of a dangerous tract. We've been seen by the Apaches and they're arter +us." + +"Why don't you wait until night and go through when they can't see you?" + +The hunter shook his head at this seemingly reasonable query. + +"The darkness is worse for us than it is for them. They can lay flat on +the perarie and hear the sound of the hosses' feet a good deal further +off than they can see 'em, and the scamps are so cunnin' they would have +drawn us right into some ambush afore we'd knowed anythin' about it. No, +we must try it with our eyes open and the sun shinin'." + +"But what of it?" asked Ned, who did not see why their position need be +looked upon as so critical. "Your mustangs are as fleet as theirs. How +are they going to catch you?" + +The whole difficulty was then made clear to the lad. If the Apaches were +nowhere but in the rear, it would be an easy matter to give them the +slip, but they were on the right and left, and in front, and signs that +had been seen through the day indicated very clearly that the Indians +were carrying out to the letter the plan of which the hunters had +spoken, and which they dreaded so much. They had already surrounded +them, the circle being quite a number of miles in diameter, and were now +simply drawing in their lines. + +This, as a matter of course, made a collision inevitable, unless the +hunters could manage to steal between these redskins, and, by striking +the open country beyond, place the entire company in their rear. Such a +plan as this was scarcely possible of accomplishment. + +If attempted during the daytime, it would be instantly detected by some +of the redskins, who would notify the proper ones, when an immediate +concentration would take place in front of the fugitives. If tried +during the darkness of night, it would fail. The Apaches would take +every imaginable precaution against it and there was no means of +concealing the noise made by hoofs. By going on foot they could get +through the lines without difficulty; but they could not commit the +imprudence of leaving their horses. The situation, therefore, was +critical. Tom made known two most important facts. The first was that +beyond a doubt Lone Wolf was at the head of the whole enterprise, and +they were likely to meet with this treacherous chief again. The second +was that, in case they were driven to the wall, the hunters had +determined upon taking refuge in a place known as Hurricane Hill. + +"It's nothing more than a pile of rocks," added Hardynge. "I've been +there before, and it's just the spot to make a desp'rit stand. Two men +like us, if we can reach the right p'int, can keep a hundred of the +redskins back." + +"Won't they get there ahead of us?" asked Ned. + +"I think not," replied the hunter, in that hesitating manner which +showed that he had thought of the contingency before; "for the reason +that I b'leve they'd like to have us run there; but, come, let's be +off." + +That the mustangs might be relieved, the lad was now taken on the back +of Dick's, and the journey toward the southwest was resumed at the same +sweeping gallop. Tom took the lead, carefully scanning the ground over +which they traveled. For an hour all went well, and then he reined up +his steed with startling suddenness. + +"Look yonder!" he said, pointing to the south. + +Glancing in the direction indicated, the boy saw a number of moving +specks, apparently on the very horizon. + +"Injuns," said Dick, in a low voice, although the boy scarcely needed +the explanation to know they were their old enemies--mounted Apaches. + +"Do you see 'em?" + +"Yes." + +"Now take a peep off there." + +This time the hunter pointed exactly opposite, where almost precisely +the same thing was visible. + +"Now, I s'pose you understand how it all is? They've been keeping along +with us all day, a little ahead, and all the time closing in a little. +They've got things down to a dot, and mean bus'ness, you can bet." + +"But are we anywhere near Hurricane Hill?" + +"Yonder it is." + +Several miles in advance, a dark, mound-like obstruction appeared +against the sky. It was so far away that it was seen only indistinctly, +but its character was evidently such as described by the hunter. + +"Are you going for it?" + +"We are." + +And, suiting action to his words, they immediately broke into a gallop +which was more rapid than before. + +The situation, especially to the boy, became painful in its thrilling +intensity. He required no telling to know that the dreaded programme +described by his friends was being carried out to the letter. The +Apaches were steadily closing in upon them, and it was evident that, if +they chose to do so, they could effectually shut them out from reaching +their vantage ground. Young Chadmund dreaded such a course upon their +part. Somehow or other he had grown to look upon Hurricane Hill as their +haven of safety. The few words of recommendation that Tom Hardynge had +given it caused this belief upon his part. He did not pause to ask +himself what was to be done after reaching it. + +Suppose it could be gained in perfect safety, what then? If they should +prove themselves fully able to keep a whole host of Apaches at bay, how +was the siege to end? If the Indians should content themselves with +merely waiting until hunger and thirst could do their work, what more? +These questions naturally occurred to the men themselves, but it came +back to Hobson's choice after all. And so they dashed ahead, gradually +increasing their speed, while the Apaches, with the regularity of +machine work, as gradually drew in upon them. + +"Will they cut us off?" inquired Ned, when the chase had continued for +some time. + +"Guess not," replied Dick; "but it don't make much difference." + +"Why not?" + +"'Cause it begins to look as if they had a dead sure thing of it," said +the scout, sententiously. + +"I hope not--I hope not," said the trembling lad, who could only pray +that Heaven would not desert them in the peril which was encompassing +them on every hand. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIV. + +HURRICANE HILL. + + +While yet at a considerable distance, the full force of the Indians +became developed. They were divided almost equally, fifty being on +either hand, and their speed still remained such that the main portion +kept ahead of the fugitives, with about half a mile intervening between +them and their pursuers. It may have been fancy, but Tom Hardynge +maintained that he was able to recognize Lone Wolf among the redskins on +the right, and when a short time afterward Dick Morris emphatically +asserted the same thing, it began to look as if the belief were well +founded. + +The sun was quite low in the sky, and the gait of the mustangs began to +tell upon them. The two were galloping side by side, and going nearly at +full speed. Both Tom and Dick were angry at being forced into such a +position, which, to them, was a cowardly flight from a lot of wretches +whom they despised and hated. + +"I must give 'em my compliments," suddenly exclaimed the latter, when +they were within rifle shot of each other. As he spoke, he raised his +gun, and fired into Lone Wolf's band. + +He seemed to take no aim at all, and, indeed, there was little necessity +for it, as the Indians were so numerous and compact. A yell followed and +then a commotion, showing very plainly that the shot had told. + +"I reckon I'll try it again, it works so well," said Dick, repeating the +demonstration, except that he aimed to the company on the left. He took +a little more pains to guard against throwing his shot away and the +result was similar to the first. + +"Now we'll catch it," said the terrified Ned, crouching down beside the +hunter, who like his friend was engaged in reloading his gun. + +But there was no return fire. The Apaches, evidently, had concluded that +they could wait. The shots, however, resulted somewhat advantageously +for the fugitives, who, during the momentary confusion thus created, +managed to crowd a little ahead. The horses were then put to a dead run +and the final rush made for Hurricane Hill, the last refuge for which +the fugitives could flee, seeing which, the Indians converged toward +them, and made every effort to shut them off. + +Although the hunters had apparently used their utmost endeavors up to +this time, they had husbanded the strength of their animals so cleverly +that their pursuers themselves were deceived, and when they expected to +interpose themselves directly across the path, they beheld them flying +like a whirlwind toward the rocks. + +The few hundred yards remaining between the latter and Hurricane Hill +were passed in a few seconds by the fleet-footed mustangs. Ned was +fairly dazed by the bewildering rush of events, and hardly able to keep +track of their order. He saw the hurrying warriors directly behind them, +and the rough, cragged mass of rocks in front. The next moment he was +off the mustang. The scouts had checked their beasts at the same instant +at the base of Hurricane Hill, and, leaping to the ground, skurried up +the steep incline by which its surface was reached. The feet of the lad +did not touch the earth. Dick, who was slightly in advance, carried him +under his arm as if he were an infant snatched up in haste, and the men +bounded toward the top of the hill, the whole howling horde at their +heels. + +Hurricane Hill, it should be stated, was a pile of rocks about one +hundred feet in diameter, with half that height. On one side a narrow +path led upward at an angle of forty-five degrees, and, as it permitted +only one to pass at a time, the place, with a few defenders, was +impregnable against almost any force. This path upward was filled with +loose, rattling stones, which sometimes made one's foothold treacherous, +and it also made several curious turns, so that, after ascending a rod +or so, one was shut out from the view of those upon the ground below. + +The very instant this point was reached Dick Morris dropped the lad and +exclaimed: + +"Now run like thunder, and don't stop till you reach the top." + +Then, wheeling about, he leaped back several paces to the assistance of +Tom, who was defending the pass like a second Leonidas against the +swarming warriors. + +A huge, stalwart redskin, who probably believed his strength to be +superior to that of the scouts, advanced boldly and seized him, with the +evident purpose of drawing him down among the others and making him a +prisoner in spite of himself. But he found he had made a slight +miscalculation when he was lifted like a child from the ground and +hurled over the heads and among the glowering redskins crowding below. +The momentum of his body was such that a half dozen were forced backward +and almost off their feet. Had the Apaches chosen to do so, it would +have been an easy matter to have shot all three of the fugitives, or +even two of them, and taken the lad; but they had some old score against +Tom and Dick, which could not be wiped out by mere death alone. Now that +such a fine opportunity was presented for securing them and indulging in +all the luxury of torture, they were not the ones to throw away the +chance. Hence, they persistently refused to fire and as persistently +forced their way upward. + +This check, which might have been simply temporary, was emphasized and +made more permanent in its character by Dick, who at the critical moment +seized a goodly sized rock, which he drove down among the wretches like +the discharge from a fifty pounder. It made terrible work and the +discomfited Apaches retreated tumultuously to the bottom, while the +hunters hastened away again to the top of the hill. Ned was there +awaiting their coming with the most painful misgiving about their coming +at all. He knew from the uproar that a desperate fight was raging in the +narrow pass, and he feared that the resentful Apaches would overcome the +braver hunters, who were defending themselves so desperately. But there +they were at last, with the announcement that their enemies had fallen +back and a temporary peace was given them. + +"Can't expect it to last long, howsomever," added Tom, who breathed +scarcely any faster from his terrific exertions. "Them skunks are bound +to swallow us whole, and we've got to kick hard to prevent it." + +As soon as a little breathing time had been gained, the besieged made an +examination of their immediate surroundings, to learn the probable form +in which this business was likely to end. The hunters removed all +superfluous articles from their persons,--in the shape of canteens and a +few appurtenances,--like pugilists who are stripping for a fight. + +The surface of Hurricane Hill was generally level, and free from the +boulders and obstructions which one would naturally expect to find +there, which Tom Hardynge explained by saying that they had all been +rolled down upon the Indians below by parties who had been driven to +this _dernier resorte_ years before. The position of the three, +therefore, was very much as if they were upon the extensive top of a +tower which was reached by a narrow stairway, their province being to +defend it against all comers. + +For some time after the repulse of the Apaches, all remained quiet. Of +course, they took charge of the two mustangs that the fugitives had been +compelled to leave behind in their flight and then disposed themselves +around the refuge, like those who had made up their minds to wait until +the fruit dropped into their hands. + +The afternoon was drawing to a close, and Ned naturally viewed the +coming night with distrust. Darkness seemed to be the appropriate time +for the fiends to work, and more than once he shuddered as he pictured +in his imagination the merciless wretches swarming up the narrow path +and spreading over the top, like the rush of waters when bursting up +from some hidden fountain. + +"All we've got to do is to keep our eyes open," said Dick, with a most +reassuring manner. "If I could have plenty to eat and drink, with the +privilege of sleeping a little now and then, I wouldn't want any better +fun than to stay up here for a few months and crack their heads as they +come up." + +"Shall I do the watching to-night?" + +"Not much," grinned Dick. "Tom takes the first half, me the last, and +that's as good a way as we can fix it." + +"And what shall I do to help?" + +"Go to sleep as soon as it is dark, and don't wake up for three or four +days--and even then you must not be dry or hungry." + + + + +CHAPTER XXXV. + +THE SENTINEL. + + +Ned then understood why the two scouts had taken pains to fill their +canteens at the brook during the day, and why, also, they so religiously +preserved the little lunch still remaining in their possession. It was +to guard against just such a contingency. + +As the sun approached the horizon, the lad seated himself upon a rocky +protuberance and looked off over the surrounding country. To the west, +the blue, misty outlines of a moderately high range of mountains shut +off all further view. + +"Just beyond that," he said to himself, as he fixed his eyes upon the +elevation, "Tom tells me is Fort Havens, where father is waiting for me. +If he only knew we were here, he might come to our relief. Wouldn't he +scatter the redskins down there? But I don't know how he will find it +out. Oh! if we were only among those mountains, it wouldn't take us long +to go the rest of the way. I suppose the fort can be seen from their +top." + +To the south, a stratum of yellow vapor stretched for forty degrees +along the horizon. There were no buffaloes there, but there had been, +and it was the evidence of their passage. To the north, the view was +broken by ridges, patches of wood, and curious irregularities of +surface, but there was no sign of life among all, nor could it be +detected except by peering over the edge of Hurricane Hill down upon the +assembled besiegers below. He noticed that Tom Hardynge, shading his +eyes with his hand, was gazing off with a fixed intensity in the +direction of the mountains which intervened between them and Fort +Havens. He said nothing, but there was a significance in his persistency +which aroused the curiosity of the lad in no small degree. Could it be +that his keen vision detected something tangible toward the setting sun, +which was hidden from view by the mountain range? Or was it the mere +searching for something upon which to hang his hopes? + +Dick Morris was very differently occupied, acting, indeed, as if unaware +that anyone else was upon the hill-top besides himself. Crawling to the +edge, he was stretched out flat upon his face, his hat removed, while he +peered stealthily downward upon the crowd below. Probably, he, too, was +searching for something or somebody. There was so much meaning in his +actions that the interest of the lad centered upon him, and he watched +every motion. + +The hunter fidgeted around for a few minutes, as if his posture was not +exactly comfortable, and then hastily projecting his gun over the +margin, he took a quick aim and fired, and then flinging the weapon +aside, looked down again to see the result. All at once, he sprang to +his feet, and stamped back toward the center of the plateau, in a +terrific rage. + +"Ain't it awful!" he exclaimed, adding a forcible expletive. "Did I ever +make a bigger mistake?" + +"What do you mean, Dick?" + +"Hit the wrong skunk." + +"How is that?" asked Tom, turning toward him. + +"I've been figuring around for half an hour so as to draw a bead on Lone +Wolf, and just as I pulled the trigger, I found I'd hit the wrong one. +It's trying to one's feelings to be disappointed that way." + +"I don't b'leve you'll get a chance at him," said Tom, as he seated +himself and resumed his patient scrutiny of the western horizon. + +However the scout was not quite in despair, and, reloading his piece, he +returned to his position and resumed his watch. But the mistake he had +made operated against him in every way. It apprised the Apaches of their +danger from this sort of sharp-shooting, and the whole force fell back, +while Lone Wolf, who was shrewd enough to know that his life was in +special demand, made sure that he was out of range of those fatal +rifles. Besides this, it was rapidly growing dark, and before Dick could +gain any kind of a chance at all, the light was too dim to afford him +the indispensable aim. + +The hunters showed a business-like manner of doing things. As soon as it +was fairly dark, Dick Morris gave up his hunt for Lone Wolf, and, +remarking that there would be no fun until the morrow, rolled over and +away from the margin, and was sound asleep within ten minutes. + +"You'd better do the same," said Tom to the lad, as he left him alone, +and moved down the incline to the position he intended to occupy while +acting as sentinel during the first portion of the night. + +Ned remained up a considerable time, when, as there seemed to be nothing +going on of an alarming nature, he concluded to step out and do the +same, if he could control his nerves enough to do so. He was both hungry +and thirsty, but not to a very great degree, and as his companions said +nothing about eating or drinking, he made up his mind to wait until the +morrow. It was about an hour before he became entirely unconscious, but +when he shut his eyes they were not opened until morning. + +Before that time, however, Tom Hardynge became involved in a little +difficulty. The point where he located was about half way between the +base and top of Hurricane Hill. Here the path made such an abrupt bend +that it was easy to conceal himself, and still keep a sharp watch upon +any one coming from below. It was the hunter's belief that an attempt +would be made by the Apaches to steal upon them before morning; for, +while their enemies were ready to wait three or four days, or as long as +was necessary, yet it was to be expected that they would prefer to force +matters to a conclusion as speedily as possible. If they could crowd up +to the top of the hill and overwhelm the fugitives, they were willing to +incur the risk of losing several lives that they might do so. +Accordingly, when he assumed his position it was with the expectation +that there would be something on the carpet before long. + +Nor was he disappointed. For two hours not the slightest sound reached +his ears, and then a pebble softly rattled down the incline below him. +There might have been no human agency in this slight occurrence, as the +loose _debris_ was likely to do the same thing at any moment, but Tom +believed that it was caused by the moccasin of an Apache stealing +upward. He stealthily peeped around the edge of the rock, but nothing +was to be seen. There was a moon in the sky, but its position was such +that the path was thrown in shadow, and he could not have detected a man +a dozen feet distant. + +Fifteen minutes more passed and then the scout became certain that an +Indian was stealing up the path toward him. It was a wonder how the +thing could be done, without sending streams of gravel and pebbles +rattling to the bottom. Hardynge straightened up, still peering around +in the gloom. + +The moments wore away and still he was able to detect that soft, faint +gliding, as if a rattlesnake were getting into a position to strike its +prey. By and by--yes, he could now make out the crouching figure +approaching through the darkness and he drew back lest he should be +seen. Nearer and nearer it drew, while he remained as motionless as the +solid rock beside him. Finally, after great delay it stood opposite. + +At the very instant it was passing the hand of Tom Hardynge shot +straight out with lightning-like quickness and force, and the knife +clutched in his iron-like grasp did its duty well. No outcry proclaimed +the deed. There was only a gasp and all was over. The moment it was done +the hunter straightened up and listened. + +"Mebbe there's another behind him." + +But the most patient, careful listening failed to detect anything, and, +leaving the body lying where it had fallen, he went noiselessly to the +top where Dick was sleeping. A gentle touch aroused the latter and he +instantly rose to his feet. A few words told him all that had happened +and then the two hurriedly discussed the scheme which had occurred to +Hardynge a short time before. Two minutes only were needed for them to +reach a conclusion. + +"I'll do it," muttered Tom, as they arose and began picking their way +down the path. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVI. + +A DESPERATE SCHEME. + + +The two scouts carefully descended until they reached the spot where the +dead Apache lay. They moved as noiselessly as shadows until they stood +directly by the inanimate form. Then, while Tom Hardynge began adjusting +his outer garments, Dick Morris stooped over and drew forth the blanket +which was crumpled beneath the dead warrior. + +The Apaches and Comanches and different tribes of the southwest nearly +always carry their blankets with them when traveling, and when this +particular Indian essayed his perilous reconnaissance on a sultry summer +night that garment was flung over his shoulders. These savages as a +rule, do not wear their hair done up in the defiant scalp-lock form seen +among their more northern kindred. It hangs loosely about their heads +and shoulders, being ornamented with stained feathers, the hair itself +frequently daubed with brilliant paint. + +Tom gathered the blanket about him precisely as did the warrior, and +then, his own cap being thrown aside, the feathers were stuck in among +the tresses with all the skill of the veteran warrior. As he wore +leggings the same as the redskin, his _tout ensemble_ was complete. +Beneath his blanket he carried his rifle, pistol and knife, and even +took the tomahawk from the girdle of the fallen brave, and managed to +stow that about his clothing. Even now the two comrades spoke not a +word. They merely shook hands in a silent, cordial grasp, and almost +immediately became invisible to each other. Dick remained where he was +for several minutes, listening and looking, and then, hearing nothing, +moved back toward his former position, muttering as he went: + +"If anybody can get through 'em, Tom's the boy--but it's a powerful +desprit scheme--a powerful desprit one!" + +Reaching the top, he crawled again to the margin, and stretched out with +his head partly over. Eye-sight was of no avail now, and he depended +upon hearing alone, believing that by that means he would be able to +learn the success or failure of the maneuver. But not until nearly an +hour had passed did he begin to feel anything like a real hope that his +comrade had succeeded. + +In the meantime, Tom was doing his best. It was no easy task for him to +pass safely through the Apache lines in the guise of an Indian. The +redskins would be on the lookout for the return of their scout, and the +ordeal through which he would have to pass would be a much more severe +one than usual. But he was accustomed to desperate schemes, and ready +for any sort of encounter. If discovered immediately, he meant to dash +back again up the rocks; but if he could get any distance away, he would +make a determined effort to elude his enemies altogether. + +Following out his plan with the deliberation of a veteran, he stole +slowly downward, consuming fully half an hour before he reached the base +of Hurricane Hill. When, at length, he stood upon hard ground below, he +was taken somewhat back by seeing no one near him. + +"That's queer," he said; "what's become of the skunks?" + +He had scarcely uttered the words when a tall form suddenly appeared at +his side, coming up as if he had risen from the very ground. + +"Do the hunters sleep?" + +This question was asked in pure Apache, and Tom, somewhat distrustful of +his own ability in that line, managed to muffle his blanket up in front +of his mouth as he replied in the same tongue: + +"They sleep not." + +"Where is their scalps, Mau-tau-ke?" + +"On their heads." + +The warrior was no more than ten feet distant, and from the moment the +scout detected him he began edging away, the Indian naturally following +along while these words were being uttered, so as to keep within easy +ear-shot. Upon hearing the second reply to his question, he paused, and +Tom, dreading a betrayal, grasped the handle of his knife under his +cloak, and was ready to use it on the instant. But the Indian remained +standing, while Tom, still moving away in his indifferent manner, soon +passed beyond his view. + +"I guess he's stopped to think," was the conclusion of the scout, as he +looked back in the gloom, "and it'll be some time before he's through." + +But the trouble now remained as to how he should pass through the Apache +lines beyond. If the redskins had any suspicion of any such movement, or +if the warrior whom he had just left were suspicious, serious trouble +was at hand. + +The hunter sauntered aimlessly along, using his eyes and ears, and a +walk of something over a hundred yards brought him up against a number +of figures that were stretched out and sitting upon the ground, with +several standing near at hand. + +They showed no surprise at their "brother's" approach, and he was +confident that, if they didn't undertake to cross-question him too +closely, he stood a good chance of getting through. As they were +gathered too closely at this point he made a turn to the right, and, to +his amazement, not a word was said or the least notice taken of him, as +he walked directly by. That was succeeding, indeed; but Tom was not yet +ready to leave the neighborhood. He wanted his horse, Thundergust, and, +once astride of him, his heart would be light as a bird; but in looking +around he could not discern a single horse. + +It would be useless to attempt to reach Fort Havens on foot. The Apaches +would detect his flight by daylight, which was only a few hours away, +and they could overhaul him before he could go any distance at all. No, +he must have his horse, and he began his search for him. This was a +delicate task; but he prosecuted it with the same skill and +_nonchalance_ that he had displayed heretofore. + +He had stolen along for a short distance, when he descried some twenty +horses corraled and cropping the grass, while a still larger number were +lying on the ground. Was his own among them? he asked himself, as he +stood looking in that direction, while he dimly discerned the figures of +the warriors upon his left. Very cautiously he gave utterance to a +slight whistle. There was no response, although he suspected it was +heard by the redskins themselves. Then he repeated it several times, +walking a little nearer the group of equines. + +All at once one of their number rose from the ground with a faint +whinney, and came trotting toward him. At the same time several Indians +came forward from the main group, their suspicions fairly awakened by +these maneuvers. + +One of these suddenly broke into a run, as he descried the mustang +trotting toward the warrior-like figure shrouded in his blanket. There +was no doubt in his mind that something was wrong. The scout stood like +a statue, as though he saw not the approach of the man or horse. The +latter as if distrustful of the shape of things moved so reluctantly +that the redskin beat him in reaching the goal. + +"What means Mau-tau-ke?" he demanded, in a gruff voice, as he clutched +his shoulder. "Is he a dog that--" + +The poor Apache scarcely knew what disposed of him. It was with the +suddenness of the lightning stroke, and, flinging back the dirty blanket +that had enshrouded his form, the scout pointed his revolvers at the +others, fired three shots, accompanied by a screech loud enough to wake +the dead. Then, springing toward his mustang, he vaulted upon his back, +wheeled about, and thundered away, like the whirlwind across the +prairie. + +This demonstration was so unexpected and so appalling that the Apaches +were effectually checked for a time. Before they could recover, mount +their horses, and start in pursuit, the fugitive was beyond their sight. +It was useless to pursue, at any rate, for there was no steed among them +all that could overtake the flying mustang, whose hoofs were plainly +heard upon the prairie, rapidly growing fainter as the distance +increased. In a few minutes it had died out altogether, and, ferocious +as was the hatred of the redskins toward the hunter who had outwitted +and injured them so often, no one made any effort to overhaul him. + +Tom Hardynge, every few seconds, let out a regular Apache war-yell, +intended as exultation, taunt and defiance. He could afford it, for he +had triumphed as completely as heart could covet. The magnificent +Thundergust instinctively knew their destination, and the reins lay +loosely upon his neck as he sped away. He was aiming for Fort Havens. It +was a long distance away, and many hours must pass before its flagstaff +could be detected against the far-off horizon. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVII. + +THE TWO DEFENDERS. + + +Dick Morris, stretched out full length upon the top of Hurricane Hill, +peering down in the impenetrable gloom, understood all that had passed. +There was no mistaking that yell of Tom Hardynge; he had heard it many a +time before in the heat of conflict, and it generally meant something. + +"Go it, old chap!" he shouted, swinging his hat over his head, as he saw +the whole thing in his imagination. "Them 'ere pistol-barks show there's +been some bitin' done. Business is business." + +He noted, too, the sounds of the mustang's hoofs growing fainter and +fainter, until the strained ears could detect them no longer. Tom +Hardynge had safely passed through the Apache lines. It was a daring and +desperate feat indeed, but it had succeeded to perfection. Nothing now +remained to hinder his flight direct to Fort Havens. + +"I rather think somebody's mad," exulted Dick, who was fully as proud +over the exploit of his comrade as was Tom himself. "There ain't much +doubt but what there'll be lively times here before long. They know +there's only two of us, counting in the little chap, and they'll make a +rush. Let 'em do it. If they can get up by that corner where the other +fellow dropped they're welcome, that's all." + +And with this conclusion he left the top of the hill and picked his way +down the path, until he reached the spot where he had parted from his +comrade. Here he stooped down with the purpose of picking up the body of +the warrior and flinging it down upon the heads of those below. To his +astonishment, it was gone! + +He searched around for several minutes, venturing to descend some +distance, but it was missing. + +"I don't think he could have got up and walked away," said the hunter, +as he scratched his head over the occurrence. "No, it couldn't have been +that, for Tom don't strike any such blows any more than I do." + +It followed, then, as a matter of course, that after the discovery of +the trick, some brother Apache had stolen his way up the path and +removed the body, a proceeding which Dick Morris hardly suspected until +he was really compelled to believe it. + +"If I'd only knowed he was coming," he growled, "how I would have lammed +him; but he's come and gone, and there ain't any use in cryin' over it." + +He waited and listened carefully, and once or twice a slight rattling of +the gravel caused him to suspect that some of the redskins were +attempting to steal upon him; but if such were the case, they must have +contented themselves by not approaching within striking distance. + +Finally the night wore away, and the dull light of morning began +stealing over the prairie. As soon as objects could be distinguished, he +returned to his position upon the top of the rock and made his +observations. + +Little, if any, change was discernible in the disposition of the +besieging Indians. Their horses were gathered at some distance, where +the grass was quite rank. The warriors had assumed all the indolent +attitudes which are seen in a body of men that have more time at their +disposal than they know what to do with. They had shifted their position +so far back that they were beyond good rifle range; for although a +hunter like Dick Morris could have picked off a redskin nine times out +of ten, yet he could not "pick his man." Lone Wolf had attired himself +precisely as were the rest of his warriors, and at the distance it was +impossible to distinguish him from them, so the scout wisely concluded +to hold his fire until he could be certain of his target. + +As soon as it was fairly light, Dick naturally turned his eyes off +toward the southwest, in the direction of the hills, whither his comrade +had fled during the night. + +"He is gone," he muttered, when he had made certain that no object was +to be seen. "I might have knowed that before I looked, 'cause the hoss +knows how to travel, and Tom's made him do his purtiest." + +"Hello! what's the news?" + +The query came from Ned Chadmund, who had aroused himself from slumber, +and was standing at his side. + +"Where is Tom?" + +"About fifty miles off yonder, goin' like a streak of greased lightnin' +for Fort Havens." + +"What?" + +Whereupon Dick Morris explained. Of course the lad was astounded to +think that all this had taken place while he was dreaming of home and +friends, and he hardly knew whether to rejoice or to be alarmed at the +shape matters had just then taken. True, Tom Hardynge was speeding away +on his fleet-footed mustang for Fort Havens, but it would take a long +time to reach there and return. There was something startling in the +thought that a man and a boy were all that were left to oppose the +advance of the force of the Apaches from below. What was to prevent +their swarming upward and overwhelming them? Nothing, it may be said, +but the strong arm of Dick Morris. He might have been a Hercules, and +still unable to stem the tide, but for the vast advantage given him by +nature in constructing Hurricane Hill. He could be approached by the +enemy only in single file. Dick, however, was of the opinion that +something of the kind would be attempted, for the Apaches could not but +know the errand of him who had so nicely outwitted them. + +"Ain't there some way of blocking up the way?" asked Ned, as they +discussed the plan. + +"I've been thinkin' it over, and there is," returned Morris, crossing +his legs, and scratching his head in his thoughtful way. "Three years +ago, me and Kit Carson had to scoot up here to get out of the reach of +something like two hundred Comanches, under that prime devil +Valo-Velasquiz. They shot Kit's horse, and mine dropped dead just as we +reached the bottom of the hill, so we couldn't do anythin' more in the +way of hoss-flesh. + +"Them Comanches hated Kit and me like pison; they knowed us both, and +they went for us in a way that made us dance around lively; but it was +no go, and we tumbled 'em back like tenpins, but they kept things so hot +that me and Kit tipped over a big rock in the path. Of course they could +climb that easy enough, but it gave us so much more chance that they +didn't try it often, and they fell back and tried the Apache +dodge--waiting until hunger and thirst made us come down." + +"How was it you got out of the trouble?" + +"It was in a mighty queer way--a mighty queer way. On the next day arter +the brush we had with 'em, a bigger party than ever came up, and we +calc'lated things were goin' to be redhot. But as soon as the two +parties jined, some kind of a rumpus took place. We could see 'em +talkin' in the most excited way, and a high old quarrel was under way. +Kit Carson knowed all about Injins, but he couldn't make out what all +this meant. We was in hope they'd git into a wrangle themselves, and +swaller each other, and I can tell you they came mighty nigh it. + +"Just as it begun to look as if it was goin' that way, one of their +chiefs walked forward, swingin' a dirty rag on the end of his ramrod as +a flag of truce. Kit looked at him very closely, and then exclaimed that +it was Quizto, a great rival of Valo-Velasquiz. They were always at +swords points, and whichever happened to have the strongest party at his +back when they met, outranked the other. The beauty of it all was that +Quizto was a friend all his life to Kit Carson--a regular redskin +friend, who was ready to scalp all his brothers and sisters if they +tried to harm him--and when he came to learn that Kit was treed, he +swore that he'd burn at the stake any Injun that laid a straw in his +way. + +"This made a time, and, as I's tellin' you, the biggest kind of a fight. +At one time it only lacked a word to set it a-goin'; but Quizto's braves +stood by him, every one, and the others had to knock under. + +"When Quizto come forward with his flag of truce, he called out to Kit +and told him that he was at liberty to go wherever he chose without +harm; but as Valo-Velasquiz would be so disappointed, he thought Carson +would turn over his friend, who wasn't of much account, that they might +have the pleasure of torturing him to death. That was lovely for me, and +you ought to have heard Kit laugh. He told Quizto that he couldn't do +that--both would go or stay together. That made another wrangle, but the +friendship of the chief to Carson saved the lives of us both. He +wouldn't consent that the guide should run the least risk, and they told +us to come down and clear out. We expected a big fight, for +Valo-Velasquiz had some ugly men with him, and he was a regular devil +himself; but when we got to the bottom, there was two mustangs awaitin', +and we straddled 'em, and warn't long in leavin' those parts. Old +Valo-Velasquiz and a dozen of his warriors tried to sneak along after +us, but we was as well mounted as they, and we rode into Santa Fe +without tradin' rifle shots with any of 'em. That was a strange thing, +but," added the scout, significantly, "I don't think you've got any +Quizto among them skunks down there." + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVIII. + +HAND TO HAND. + + +The Apaches surrounding Hurricane Hill were more closely watched through +the forenoon, for Dick more than once gave it as his opinion that they +would make a rush before the day was over. To protect themselves as much +as possible, the rock of which the hunter had spoken was forced into the +passage-way, and an unremitting guard maintained, to prevent any sudden +surprise. + +It was near noon, when three Apaches were seen to leap upon their +mustangs, one going north, another south and the third due west. + +"Spies," explained Dick. "Lone Wolf is a little anxious about what Tom +may do, and he sends them out to watch. If they find out anythin' +they'll manage to telegraph him in time to get ready for anythin' +comin'." + +"Can you see Lone Wolf among them?" + +"Can't make sartin of it," returned the hunter. "He knows that if I can +get a crack at him he'll go, and so he takes care not to let me have the +chance. Can you see anythin' off toward the mountains in the west?" + +"Nothing but that Apache horseman going away like an arrow." + +"There's the p'int from which our friends will come, if they ever come +at all. Keep your eye on it while I take a look below." + +The scout moved down the declivity, until he reached the place where it +had been barricaded, when he stationed himself behind the obstruction, +quite certain that something stirring would soon take place. It was his +belief that when the time came, the Apaches, at a preconcerted signal, +would rush tumultuously up the steep in a determined effort to overwhelm +them all. Such a movement, of course, from the very nature of things, +would give timely notice of its coming. His astonishment, therefore, may +be imagined when, after he had stood in his position for a few minutes, +rather listlessly and looking for no immediate demonstration, he +perceived a dark body suddenly pass over his head. Turning about, he saw +an Indian warrior speeding like a deer up the path toward the top of +Hurricane Hill, where Ned Chadmund stood, all unconscious of his coming. + +The hunter, astonished as he was at the daring feat, was not thrown off +his guard. He knew that the Apache was not seeking the life of the lad, +but only to open the way for the rest of the warriors to follow over the +barricade. They believed that in the excitement Dick would turn and dash +after the redskin, leaving the way open for the whole horde to swarm to +the top of the Hill. But the clear-headed Dick maintained his position, +only uttering a shout of warning to Ned Chadmund, in the hope that he +might be prepared and "wing" the redskin the instant he should appear in +view. Then, having done this, he stood back behind the jutting rock and +held his rifle ready. + +Within ten seconds a second Apache scrambled over the barricade, and +started at full speed up the pathway, but he had no more than fairly +started, than he fell headlong to the ground, pierced through and +through by the rifle fired almost in his face. Almost the same instant a +second appeared, when he tumbled backward, driven thence by the revolver +of the hunter, who was as cool as an iceberg. This stemmed the tide, the +crowding warriors hurrying back before the lion that lay in their path. +All this was the work of a very few seconds, but it was scarcely +effected, when a cry from the lad on top of the rock showed that he had +discovered his danger. The next instant, white-faced and scared, he came +dashing down the path, shouting to the hunter: + +"Oh, Dick, save me! save me! there's an Indian after me!" + +The savage, however, did not follow, and Dick, as the lad rushed into +his arms, shook him rather roughly, and said: + +"Keep still! Why do you make such a thunderin' noise?" The lad speedily +controlled himself, and then the scout placed his revolver in his hand, +and said: "Stand right here, and the minute a redskin shows himself, +crack him over. Can you do it?" + +"Haven't I proved it?" + +"Yes; but you made such a racket here that I've lost faith in you." + +"Try me and see." + +Adding a few hasty words, the scout left him, and hurried to the top of +the hill, without pausing to approach with his usual precaution. + +His expectation was to encounter the redskin at once upon reaching it, +but, to his surprise, he was nowhere to be seen, and he paused somewhat +bewildered. + +"I wonder whether he's got scart 'cause none of the rest followed him, +and jumped overboard--" + +At that instant something descended like a ponderous rock, and he +realized that he was in the grip of the very redskin about whom he had +been meditating. The miscreant had managed to crouch behind a rocky +protuberance, and then made a sudden leap upon the shoulders of the +hunter. As the Apache's scheme had miscarried thus far, and instead of +being backed up by the other warriors, he was left alone to fight it +out, he did not pause to attempt to make him prisoner, but went into the +scrimmage with the purpose of ending it as briefly as possible. As he +landed upon the shoulders of Dick the latter caught the gleam of his +knife, and grasped his wrist just in time. Fearful that it would be +wrenched from him, the Apache managed to give his confined hand a flirt, +which threw it beyond the reach of both. By a tremendous effort Dick +then succeeded in flinging him over his shoulder, although the agile +redskin dropped upon his feet, and instantly flew at his antagonist like +a tiger. + +For several minutes the struggle raged with the greatest fury; but the +Apache, in a contest of this kind, was overmatched. The hunter was much +the superior, and he began crowding his foe toward the margin of the +rock. Divining his purpose, he resisted with the fury of desperation; +but it was useless, and the two moved along toward the brink like the +slow, resistless tread of fate. Neither of them spoke a word, nor was a +muscle relaxed. The scout knew that the instant the struggle was +detected by those below, there would be a rush up the incline such as +Ned Chadmund with his loaded and cocked revolver could not withstand. +The fighting, therefore, was of the hurricane order from the beginning +to the close. + +There was one terrific burst of strength, and then, gathering the +writhing savage in his arms, Dick Morris ran to the very edge of the +plateau and hurled him over. + +Down, down from dizzy heights he spun, until he struck the ground far +below, a shapeless, insensible mass, falling almost at the feet of the +horror-bound Apaches, who thus saw the dreadful death of one of their +most intrepid and powerful warriors. + +Without waiting to see the last of the redskin, the scout turned and +hurried down to the relief of his young charge, and to be prepared for +the rush which he was confident would be made the next minute. But it +was not. The redskins had learned, from dear experience, the mettle of +this formidable white man, and they had no wish to encounter it again. + +The time wore away until the sun was at the meridian, and the heat +became almost intolerable. Even the toughened old scout was compelled to +shelter himself as best he could from its intolerable rays, by seeking +the scant shadow of jutting points of the rock. Ned Chadmund suffered +much, and the roiled and warm water in the old canteen was quaffed +again, even though they were compelled to tip it more and more, until, +toward the close of the day, Dick held it mouth downward, and showed +that not a drop was left. + +"No use of keeping it when we are thirsty," was the philosophic remark +of the hunter. "It's made to drink, and we needn't stop so long as any +is left; and bein' there ain't any left, I guess we'll stop. I've a +mouthful or two of meat left, and we may as well surround that." + +So they did; and when the sun sank down in the west, not a particle of +food nor a drop of water remained to them. + +"Now, Ned, my boy," said Dick, who always maintained a certain +cheerfulness, no matter what the circumstances might be, "go to the +lookout and tell me what you see." + +The lad was absent some ten minutes, during which he carefully scanned +every part of the horizon and took a peep down upon their besiegers. + +"I find no sign of a living soul," he said, when he returned, "except +the Apaches, and they're waiting until they can get us without +fighting." + +"Stay here while I take a peep." + +Long and carefully Dick Morris gazed off to the west, in the direction +of the mountains, and then something like a sigh escaped him, as he +shook his head and muttered: + +"It looks bad, it looks bad. If Tom succeeded, he ought to be in sight +by this time. I see nothing of 'em, and from the way the redskins act +down there, they seem to be sartin he's gone under. I don't mind for +myself, for I'm ready to go any time; but I feel powerful sorry for the +little fellow down there." + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIX. + +CONCLUSION. + + +Long and hard rode Tom Hardynge after his escape from the beleaguring +Apaches, for he was determined to save Ned and Dick if the thing were +within the range of human possibility. His mustang seemed to understand +what was expected of him, and he required no urging from his master to +maintain his arrowy flight. It was a literal race between life and +death. If he could reach Fort Havens in time to procure succor, the man +and the boy were saved. If not, then they were doomed. + +At daylight he was among the mountains, and the steed paused a few +seconds to swallow a little water from a tiny stream. An hour later he +ascended an elevation, and from his back the rider took a survey of the +plain stretched out before him. + +Far away in the distance a dark, stationary object was discerned. A keen +eye could detect something fluttering above it in the wind. That was the +star-spangled banner, waving above Fort Havens. Yonder was the +destination toward which the little party had been laboring for days and +which there was no assurance of still reaching. The scout had not yet +passed half the distance intervening between the fort and Hurricane +Hill. Mercy to his beast compelled him to give him a brief rest and an +opportunity to eat a little food. Then, away again. + +It was the middle of the afternoon, and Tom was nearing the fort, which +was in distinct view a few miles ahead, when his attention was arrested +by the sight of a number of men moving along to the north, and in a +contrary direction to that which he himself was following. They suddenly +emerged from some hills, and rode at a sweeping gallop. What surprised +the hunter was the discovery that they were United States cavalry, that +had evidently come from Fort Havens itself! How their appearance could +be explained was more than he could understand; but he saw at once that +if their co-operation could be secured, several hours' valuable time +might be saved. He turned the head of his mustang in that direction and +rode at the same tearing speed as before. + +The cavalry detected his coming, reined up and awaited his approach. The +afternoon was well advanced when the hunter drew rein in front of the +company, and saluted the chief officer, who was Colonel Chadmund +himself, the commandant of Fort Havens, at the head of seventy-five +veteran cavalry. He recognized the scout, and rode forward to meet him. + +"Any news of my little boy, Tom?" he asked, before their palms crossed. + +"Alive and well." + +"Thank God! thank God!" exclaimed the white-faced officer, trembling +with joy. "Have the Indians caught him?" + +"No; but he is in danger. What are you doing with these men here?" + +"An Indian came into the fort several hours ago, with the word that Lone +Wolf and a party of Apaches had driven two or three persons to the top +of Hurricane Hill, where they would soon be caught unless assistance was +sent them. The Indian is one of our regular scouts, in whom we have much +confidence, and thinking it might be you, with possibly my little Ned, I +put myself at the head of the company and started out to see. I had very +little hope, however, of seeing him alive, for news had reached us of +the massacre of the escort party in Devil's Pass." + +Hardynge, in a few minutes, explained the situation, and the colonel was +all excitement to be off again. Every hour--every minute, indeed--was +precious to him, and, as the two rode back, the advance was resumed +without a moment's delay. Instead of proceeding back in a direct line, +however, over the path traveled by the scout, they made a detour to the +northward, the configuration of the country being such that a much +nearer approach, undiscovered, could be made from this direction than +from any other. + +There were several extra horses in the company, one of which was +appropriated by Tom, while he left his own to roam over the plain and +reach the fort whenever his disposition should take him in that +direction. Colonel Chadmund had taken the precaution to mount all his +men upon the best steeds at command, and they were driven into a rapid, +telling pace. They made good progress, but when the sun set they had not +yet reached a point from which the most distant view of Hurricane Hill +could be obtained. A more moderate speed was kept up until midnight, +when they went into camp, picketed their animals, and resumed the march +at daybreak. The horses were forced to the greatest possible endurance, +but never did miles seem so long. It was high noon before a point among +the hills on the north was reached from which a fair view of the pile of +rocks could be obtained. Colonel Chadmund produced his glass, and +scrutinized the towering-like mass, in quest of some sign of the +defenders. Not the least could be obtained; but he saw at the base the +band of Apaches, spread out like a miniature besieging army, and this, +to the minds of all, was proof that the garrison of Hurricane Hill were +still at the post of duty. + +It was necessary to approach as close to the spot as possible without +discovery, and then to charge down upon the Indians with such fiery +impetuosity that they would have no time to inflict any damage upon the +brave defenders. The appearance of the cavalry would apprise them that +the siege was at an end, and in the gnawing rage thereat, they might +charge up the incline and open a fire, which would riddle Dick and Ned +and from which there would be no escape. + +Colonel Chadmund understood Indian warfare so well as to know that Lone +Wolf had his scouts out, and it would be a difficult matter to avoid +them. Still the attempt was made, and by the middle of the afternoon, +the cavalry had reached a point barely two miles away without his +presence being suspected. + +"I've been watching the place for half an hour," said the colonel, as he +lowered his glass, and handed it to Tom Hardynge, standing at his elbow, +"and it seems to me that the top of Hurricane Hill is deserted, although +the Apaches at the base seem to point the other way." + +"Of course, of course," replied the hunter, impatiently. "You don't +'spose they'd stand up in sight all the time, like a couple of spoonies +gettin' their pictures took? They're watchin' the path that leads up to +where they be." + +It required but a few minutes to conclude their preparations, when the +seventy odd cavalrymen, armed to the teeth, burst forth from the hills +like a mountain torrent, and charged straight for Lone Wolf and his +band. The latter, of course, were quick to detect it, and drew up with +the purpose of making a fight; but when they took in the strength of the +company approaching, they changed their minds, and broke and scattered +like chaff before the whirlwind. + +This was a severe disappointment, for the colonel and a dozen of his +best Indian fighters had arranged to make a determined effort to rid the +country of this pest. These were the best mounted in the company, and in +their eagerness they sped straight ahead after the redskins, still +hoping that some turn of fortune's wheel would give them the coveted +chance. But the mustangs of the Apaches were fresh and fleet, and they +had no purpose of meeting the United States cavalry where there was +anything like an equal advantage; so they continued their flight with +such persistent celerity that they soon vanished from view. + +The heart of Colonel Chadmund misgave him as he galloped toward +Hurricane Hill and saw no sign of life there. But while he was +alternating between hope and despair, the figure of a man appeared +around the corner of the rock, and then the form of a little boy was +discerned, as he came running across the prairie with out-stretched +arms. + +"Oh, father! father!" + +Colonel Chadmund leaped from the back of his horse and ran to meet him. + +"My darling boy! God be thanked!" + +The stern old soldier wept like a child as he caught him in his arms and +hugged him to his breast, while more than one rough soldier, looking on, +dashed the tears from his eyes and tried to look as if he were thinking +of something else. + +The danger was passed. Little Ned, carried in triumph to the fort, +remained the appointed time with his father at this advanced frontier +post, and when he returned to Santa Fe to his beloved mother it was with +an escort which guaranteed his safety. + +Thus ended his adventures with what were then the scourges of the great +Southwest, but the memory of them is indelible and not to be subdued by +the lapse of years. In his manhood days he looks back upon those +troublous times when the wild riders left the bones of venturesome white +men to whiten upon the banks of the Gila; and, although remembrance +brings its thrill of excitement, it is coupled with a shudder whenever +Ned Chadmund thinks of his passage "Through Apache Land." + + +Volume III of The War Whoop Series is entitled "In the Pecos Country." + + + + +SPECIAL CIRCULAR TO EDUCATORS + +"Masterpieces of the World's Literature" + +THE PREMIUM LIBRARY + + +Is extensively used by schools and colleges for supplementary reading. +It is issued in attractive 16mo shape, paper covers, printed from clear, +readable type, on good paper. Many of the volumes are illustrated. + + 1. Abbe Constantin. Ludovic Halevy. + + 2. AEsop's Fables. + + 3. Black Beauty. Anna Sewell. + + 4. Bracebridge Hall. Irving. + + 5. Childe Harold's Pilgrimage. Byron. + + 6. Coming Race. Bulwer. + + 7. Cranford. Mrs. Gaskell. + + 8. Crown of Wild Olive. Ruskin. + + 9. Discourses of Epictetus. + + 10. Dreams. Olive Schreiner. + + 11. Dream Life. Ik Marvel. + + 12. Drummond's Addresses. + + 13. Emerson's Earlier Essays. + + 14. Ethics of the Dust. Ruskin. + + 15. Frankenstein. Mrs. Shelley. + + 16. Uncle Tom's Cabin. Mrs. Stowe. + + 17. Lady of the Lake. Scott. + + 18. Lalla Rookh. Thomas Moore. + + 19. Lamb's Essays of Elia. + + 20. Lamb's Last Essays of Elia. + + 21. Lamb's Tales from Shakespeare, I. + + 22. Lamb's Tales from Shakespeare, II. + + 23. Lays of Ancient Rome. Macaulay. + + 24. Lays of Scottish Cavaliers. + + 25. Light of Asia. Sir E. Arnold. + + 26. Longfellow's Poems. + + 27. Lowell's Poems. + + 28. Mornings in Florence. Ruskin. + + 29. One of the Profession. M. White, Jr. + + 30. Paul and Virginia. B. St. Pierre. + + 31. Pleasures of Life. Sir J. Lubbock. + + 32. Poe's Poems. + + 33. Princess. Tennyson. + + 34. Queen of the Air. Ruskin. + + 35. Rab and His Friends. Dr. J. Brown. + + 36. Rasselas. Johnson. + + 37. Reveries of a Bachelor. Ik Marvel. + + 38. Representative Men. Emerson. + + 39. Sartor Resartus. Carlyle. + + 40. Scarlet Letter. Hawthorne. + + 41. Sesame and Lilies. Ruskin. + + 42. Ships that Pass in the Night. Beatrice Harraden. + + 43. St. Mark's Rest. Ruskin. + + 44. Thoughts from Marcus Aurelius Antoninus. + + 45. Tillyloss Scandal. J. M. Barrie. + + 46. Twice-Told Tales, I. Hawthorne. + + 47. Twice-Told Tales, II. Hawthorne. + + 48. In Memoriam. Tennyson. + + 49. Vicar of Wakefield. Goldsmith. + + 50. Whittier's Poems. + + 51. Autocrat of the Breakfast Table. Holmes. + + 52. Heroes and Hero Worship. Carlyle. + + 53. Mosses from an Old Manse, I. Hawthorne. + + 54. Mosses from an Old Manse, II Hawthorne. + + 55. Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin. + + 56. Song of Hiawatha. Longfellow. + + 57. Evangeline, and Poems. Longfellow. + + 58. Sketch Book. Irving. + + 59. Stickit Minister. S. R. Crockett. + + 60. House of the Seven Gables. Hawthorne. + + 61. Poetical Works of Robert Browning. + + 62. Paradise Lost. Milton. + + 63. Hamlet. Shakespeare. + + 64. Julius Caesar. Shakespeare. + + 65. Book of Golden Deeds. Yonge. + + 66. Child's History of England. Dickens. + + 67. Confessions of an Opium Eater. De Quincey. + + 68. Ten Nights in a Barroom. Arthur. + + 69. Treasure Island. Stevenson. + + 70. Tanglewood Tales. Hawthorne. + + 71. In His Steps. Chas. M. Sheldon. + + 72. Natural Law in the Spiritual World. Henry Drummond. + + 73. Imitation of Christ. T. a Kempis. + + 74. Paradise Regained. John Milton. + + 75. Water Babies. Kingsley. + + 76. Flower Fables. L. M. Alcott. + + 77. Blithedale Romance. Hawthorne. + + 78. Prue and I. G. W. Curtis. + + 79. Grandfather's Chair. Hawthorne. + + 80. Bacon's Essays. + + 81. Idylls of the King. Tennyson. + + 82. Wonder Book. Hawthorne. + + 83. Cricket on the Hearth. C. Dickens. + + 84. Idle Thoughts of an Idle Fellow. Jerome K. Jerome. + + 85. Inez. Augusta J. Evans. + + 86. Kidnapped. R. L. Stevenson. + + 87. Lucile. Owen Meredith. + + 88. Phillips Brooks' Addresses. + + 89. Prince of the House of David. Professor Ingraham. + + 90. Three Men in a Boat. J. K. Jerome. + + + + +THE FAMOUS HENTY BOOKS + +The Boys' Own Library + + +G. A. Henty has long held the field as the most popular boys' author. +Age after age of heroic deeds has been the subject of his pen, and the +knights of old seem very real in his pages. 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The young +captain had a difficult task to accomplish, but he had been drilled to +do his duty, and he did it thoroughly. Gives a good insight into army +life of to-day. + +THE YOUNG BANDMASTER; or, Concert Stage and Battlefield + +In this tale Captain Bonehill touches upon a new field. The hero is a +youth with a passion for music, who, compelled to make his own way in +the world, becomes a cornetist in an orchestra, and works his way up, +first, to the position of a soloist, and then to that of leader of a +brass band. He is carried off to sea and falls in with a secret-service +cutter bound for Cuba, and while in that island joins a military band +which accompanies our soldiers in the never-to-be-forgotten attack on +Santiago. A mystery connected with the hero's inheritance adds to the +interest of the tale. + +OFF FOR HAWAII; or, The Mystery of a Great Volcano + +Here we have fact and romance cleverly interwoven. Several boys start on +a tour of the Hawaiian Islands. They have heard that there is a treasure +located in the vicinity of Kilauea, the largest active volcano in the +world, and go in search of it. Their numerous adventures will be +followed with much interest. + +A SAILOR BOY WITH DEWEY; or, Afloat in the Philippines + +The story of Dewey's victory in Manila Bay will never grow old, but here +we have it told in a new form--not as those in command witnessed the +contest, but as it appeared to a real, live American youth who was in +the navy at the time. Many adventures in Manila and in the interior +follow, giving true-to-life scenes from this remote portion of the +globe. A book that should be in every boy's library. + +WHEN SANTIAGO FELL; or, The War Adventures of Two Chums + +Captain Bonehill has never penned a better tale than this stirring story +of adventures in Cuba. Two boys, an American and his Cuban chum, leave +New York to join their parents in the interior of Cuba. The war between +Spain and the Cubans is on, and the boys are detained at Santiago de +Cuba, but escape by crossing the bay at night. Many adventures between +the lines follow, and a good pen-picture of General Garcia is given. The +American lad, with others, is captured and cast into a dungeon in +Santiago; and then follows the never-to-be-forgotten campaign in Cuba +under General Shafter. How the hero finally escapes makes reading no +wide-awake boy will want to miss. + + * * * * * + +Press Opinions of Captain Bonehill's Books for Boys + +"Captain Bonehill's stories will always be popular with our boys, for +the reason that they are thoroughly up-to-date and true to life. As a +writer of outdoor tales he has no rival."--_Bright Days._ + +"The story is by Captain Ralph Bonehill, and that is all that need be +said about it, for all of our readers know that the captain is one of +America's best story-tellers, so far as stories for young people +go."--_Young People of America._ + +"We understand that Captain Bonehill will soon be turning from sporting +stories to tales of the war. This field is one in which he should feel +thoroughly at home. We are certain that the boys will look eagerly for +the Bonehill war tales."--_Weekly Messenger._ + + + + +MRS. L. T. MEADE'S + +FAMOUS BOOKS FOR GIRLS + + +There are few more favorite authors with American girls than Mrs. L. T. +MEADE, whose copyright works can only be had from us. Essentially a +writer for the home, with the loftiest aims and purest sentiments, Mrs. +Meade's books possess the merit of utility as well as the means of +amusement. They are girls' books--written for girls, and fitted for +every home. + +Here will be found no maudlin nonsense as to the affections. There are +no counts in disguise nor castles in Spain. It is pure and wholesome +literature of a high order with a lofty ideal. + +The volumes are all copyright, excellently printed with clear, open +type, uniformly bound in best cloth, with ink and gold stamp. + +THE FOLLOWING ARE THE TITLES + + The Children of Wilton Chase + Bashful Fifteen + Betty: A Schoolgirl + Four on an Island + Girls New and Old + Out of the Fashion + The Palace Beautiful + Polly, a New-Fashioned Girl + Red Rose and Tiger Lily + Temptation of Olive Latimer + A Ring of Rubies + A Sweet Girl Graduate + A World of Girls + Good Luck + A Girl in Ten Thousand + A Young Mutineer + Wild Kitty + The Children's Pilgrimage + The Girls of St. Wode's + Light o' the Morning + Bad Little Hannah + Rebellion of Lill Carrington + A Little Mother to the Others + Merry Girls of England + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Through Apache Lands, by R. H. 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