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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/33343-8.txt b/33343-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..a276747 --- /dev/null +++ b/33343-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,7716 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Campmates, by Kirk Munroe + +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: Campmates + A Story of the Plains + +Author: Kirk Munroe + +Release Date: August 3, 2010 [EBook #33343] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CAMPMATES *** + + + + +Produced by David Edwards, Mary Meehan and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + + + + + + + + + + CAMPMATES + + _A Story of the Plains_ + + By KIRK MUNROE + + _Author of_ "THE FLAMINGO FEATHER," "WAKULLA," "DORYMATES," + "DERRICK STERLING" ETC. + + +_Illustrated_ + +HARPER & BROTHERS PUBLISHERS +NEW YORK AND LONDON + + + + +[Illustration: "IT WAS A LIVE BABY."] + + + + +CONTENTS. + + + I. A WEARY RIDE + + II. A RUDE BAPTISM + + III. A BOY WITHOUT A BIRTHDAY + + IV. "I JUST HATE TO STUDY" + + V. SWIMMING INTO A FRIENDSHIP + + VI. RECEIVING AN OFFER AND ACCEPTING IT + + VII. ACROSS THE MISSISSIPPI + + VIII. GLEN RUNS A LOCOMOTIVE + + IX. KANSAS CITY IN EARLY DAYS + + X. AT WORK WITH THE ENGINEER CORPS + + XI. ALMOST TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE + + XII. STARTING ACROSS THE PLAINS + + XIII. BINNEY GIBBS AND HIS MULE + + XIV. ON GUARD AT NIGHT + + XV. THE SUSPICIOUS MOVEMENTS OF CERTAIN COYOTES + + XVI. IN THE HANDS OF THE CHEYENNES + + XVII. ATTACKING A STAGE RANCH + + XVIII. BUFFALO AND THEIR USES + + XIX. GLEN'S ESCAPE FROM THE INDIANS + + XX. A PRESENT THAT WOULD PLEASE ANY BOY + + XXI. LAME WOLF, THE YOUNG CHEYENNE + + XXII. GLEN AND BINNEY GET INTO TROUBLE + + XXIII. FIGHTING THE FINEST HORSEMEN IN THE WORLD + + XXIV. CROSSING THE QUICKSANDS + + XXV. SWEPT AWAY BY A FRESHET + + XXVI. RUNNING THE LINE + + XXVII. "COVERED WITH MUD AND GLORY" + + XXVIII. LOST IN A MOUNTAIN SNOW-STORM + + XXIX. PLUNGING INTO A LAKE OF ICE-WATER + + XXX. DOWN THE LONELY CAŅON + + XXXI. KIT CARSON'S GOLD MINE + + XXXII. A NEW MEXICAN WEDDING + + XXXIII. IN THE VALLEY OF THE RIO GRANDE + + XXXIV. BAITING A WOLF-TRAP + + XXXV. EL MORO + + XXXVI. ZUŅI, THE HOME OF THE AZTECS + + XXXVII. A PRACTICAL USE OF TRIGONOMETRY + + XXXVIII. DYING OF THIRST IN THE DESERT + + XXXIX. CROSSING THE SIERRA NEVADA + + XL. A HOME AND TWO FATHERS + + + + + +ILLUSTRATIONS. + + +"IT WAS A LIVE BABY" + +"TWO STALWART WARRIORS SEIZED HIM BY THE ARMS AND RAISED HIM BETWEEN +THEM AS THEY SWEPT PAST" + +"THE STRANGE CRAFT WAS BORNE SLOWLY DOWN STREAM" + +"'HEAD FOR THAT DARK SPACE, IT MARKS A VALLEY.... IF YOU FIND WATER, +FIRE YOUR PISTOL'" + + + + +_CAMP MATES._ + +_A Story of the Plains._ + + + + +Chapter I. + +A WEARY RIDE. + + +Slowly and heavily the train rumbled on through the night. It was called +an express; but the year was long ago, in the early days of railroading, +and what was then an express would now be considered a very slow and +poky sort of a train. On this particular night too, it ran more slowly +than usual, because of the condition of the track. The season was such a +wet one, that even the oldest traveller on the train declared he could +not remember another like it. Rain, rain, rain, day after day, for +weeks, had been the rule of that spring, until the earth was soaked like +a great sponge. All the rivers had overflowed their banks, and all the +smaller streams were raging torrents, red, yellow, brown, and sometimes +milky white, according to the color of the clays through which they cut +their riotous way. The lowlands and meadows were flooded, so that the +last year's hay-stacks, rising from them here and there, were veritable +islands of refuge for innumerable rabbits, rats, mice, and other small +animals, driven by the waters from their homes. + +And all this water had not helped the railroad one bit. In the cuts the +clay or gravel banks were continually sliding down on the track; while +on the fills they were as continually sliding out from under it. The +section gangs were doubled, and along the whole line they were hard at +work, by night as well as by day, only eating and sleeping by snatches, +trying to keep the track in repair, and the road open for traffic. In +spite of their vigilance and unceasing labor, however, the rains found +plenty of chances to work their mischief undetected. + +Many a time only the keen watchfulness of an engine-driver, or his +assistant, the fireman, saved a train from dashing into some gravel +heap, beneath which the rails were buried, or from plunging into some +yawning opening from which a culvert or small bridge had been washed +out. Nor with all this watchfulness did the trains always get through in +safety. Sometimes a bit of track, that looked all right, would suddenly +sink beneath the weight of a passing train into a quagmire that had been +formed beneath it, and then would follow the pitiful scenes of a +railroad wreck. + +So nobody travelled except those who were compelled to do so, and the +passenger business of this particular road was lighter than it had been +since the opening. It was so light that on this night there were not +more than half a dozen persons in the single passenger coach of the +express, and only one of these was a woman. Another was her baby, a +sturdy, wholesome-looking little fellow, who, though he was but a year +old, appeared large enough to be nearly, if not quite, two. He had great +brown eyes, exactly like those of his mother. She was young and pretty, +but just now she looked utterly worn out, and no wonder. The train was +twelve hours late; and, instead of being comfortably established in a +hotel, at the end of her journey by rail, as she had expected to be +before dark that evening, she was wearily trying to sleep in the same +stuffy, jolting car she had occupied all day and had no hope of leaving +before morning. + +There were no sleeping-cars in those days, nor vestibuled trains, nor +even cars with stuffed easy-chairs in which one could lie back and make +himself comfortable. No, indeed; there were no such luxuries as these +for those who travelled by rail at that time. The passenger coaches were +just long boxes, with low, almost flat roofs, like those of freight +cars. Their windows were small, and generally stuck fast in their +frames, so that they could not be opened. There was no other means of +ventilation, except as one of the end doors was flung open, when there +came such a rush of smoke and cinders and cold air that everybody was +impatient to have it closed again. + +At night the only light was given by three candles that burned inside of +globes to protect them from being extinguished every time a door was +opened. There were no electric lights, nor gas, nor even oil-lamps, for +the cars of those days, only these feeble candles, placed one at each +end, and one in the middle of the coach. But worst of all were the +seats, which must have been invented by somebody who wished to +discourage railroad riding. They were narrow, hard, straight-backed, and +covered with shiny leather. + +In a car of this description the young mother, with her baby, had +travelled a whole day, and nearly a whole night. It is no wonder then +that she looked worn out, or that the baby, who had been so jolly and +happy as to be voted a remarkably fine child by all the passengers, +should have sunk into an exhausted sleep, after a prolonged fit of +screaming and crying, that caused the few remaining inmates of the car +to look daggers at it, and say many unkind things, some of which even +reached the ears of the mother. + +During the day there had been other women in the car, travelling for +shorter or longer distances. To one of these, a lady-like girl who +occupied an adjoining seat for some hours, and who was greatly +interested in the baby, the young mother had confided the fact that this +was his birthday, and also part of her own history. From this it +appeared that she was the wife of an army officer, who was stationed +with his regiment in the far West. She had not seen him for nearly a +year, or just after the baby was born; but at last he had been ordered +to a fort on the upper Mississippi River, where he hoped to remain for +some time. Now his young wife, who had only been waiting until he could +give her any sort of a home with him, had bravely set forth with her +baby to join him. He had written her that, on a certain date in the +spring, a detachment of troops was to start from St. Louis by steamboat +for the fort at which he was stationed. As one of the officers of this +detachment was to take his wife with him, he thought it would be a fine +opportunity for her to come at the same time. She wrote back that she +could not possibly get ready by the date named, but would come by a +later boat. After she had sent the letter, she found that she could get +ready; and, as the aunt with whom she was living was about to break up +her home and go abroad, she decided to start at once for St. Louis. +There she would join her husband's friends, travel with them to the +far-away fort, and give the lonely soldier a joyful surprise. There was +no time to send another letter telling him of her change of plan, and +she was glad of it, for a surprise would be so much nicer. + +The early part of her journey had been accomplished quite easily. There +had been no rains in the East, such as were deluging the whole Ohio +valley. If there had been, it is not likely the soldier's wife would +have undertaken to travel at that time, and expose her precious baby to +such terrible risks, even to carry out the surprise she anticipated so +joyfully. From her aunt's house, in New York city, she had travelled by +steamer up the Hudson to Albany. From there she took cars to Buffalo, +and a lake boat to Cleveland. Now she was travelling by rail again, +across the flooded state of Ohio towards Cincinnati. There she intended +taking a steamboat down the Ohio River, and up the Mississippi to St. +Louis, where she expected to join her husband's friends, on the boat +that would carry them all to their journey's end. + +The details of this plan were fully discussed by the occupants of the +adjoining seats in the car, and when it came time for the one who was +not going through to leave the train, and take another at a small +junction, she had become so greatly interested in her new acquaintance +that she begged the latter to write to her, and tell her how she got +along. She wrote her own name and address on a bit of paper, just before +leaving the car, and gave it to the soldier's wife; but, in her hurry, +neglected to make a note of the name given her in return, and +afterwards, when she tried to recall it, was unable to do so. + +The tediousness of the weary day had been so much lessened by the making +of this pleasant acquaintance, that for some time after her departure +the young mother remained light-hearted and cheerful. The baby, too, was +bright and happy, and a source of constant amusement, not only to her, +but to all those about him. + +After a while, though, when it grew dark, and the feeble candles were +lighted, and most of the passengers had left the car, and the baby at +first fretted and then screamed, refusing to be quieted for more than an +hour, the exhausted young mother grew nervous and frightened. Only the +thought of the glad meeting, and the great happiness awaiting her at the +end of this tedious journey, enabled her to bear it as bravely as she +did. + +At length the babe cried himself to sleep, and the tired arms that had +held him so long gladly laid him down in a nest made of shawls and his +own dainty blanket on the opposite seat. This blanket had the initials +"G. E." embroidered in one corner, though these did not stand for the +baby's name. In fact, he had no first name, nor had he yet been +christened. This ceremony having been postponed until both the father +and mother could take part in it; the question of a name had also been +left undecided until then. The young mother wanted her boy called +"Gerald," after his father, and she had even embroidered the initial +"G." on his blanket to see how it would look. Thus far, however, the +baby was only called "baby," and had no right to any other name. + +As the child slept quietly in spite of the jar and jolt and rumble of +the train, the fair young head of the mother who watched so fondly and +patiently over him gradually drooped lower and lower. The brown eyes, so +like the baby's, closed for longer and longer intervals, until at length +she, too, was fast asleep, and dreaming of the joy that awaited her +journey's end. + + + + +Chapter II. + +A RUDE BAPTISM. + + +There were others on that train equally weary with the young mother, and +even more anxious; for they knew better than she the ever-present +dangers of that water-soaked road-bed, and they bore the weight of a +fearful responsibility. + +The conductor, looking grave and careworn, started nervously at every +lurch of more than ordinary violence, and kept moving uneasily from end +to end of his train. He never passed the young mother and her sleeping +babe without casting sympathetic glances at them. He had done everything +possible for their comfort, but it was little enough that he could do, +and for their sake, more than anything else, he wished the trip were +ended. + +All through the long, dark hours, the brake-men stood on the platforms +of the swaying cars, ready at a moment's warning to spring to the iron +brake-wheels. This crew of train hands had only come on duty at +nightfall, and had little knowledge of the through passengers. + +In the locomotive cab, gazing ahead with strained eyes, were the +engine-driver, Luke Matherson, and his fireman. Every now and then the +latter found a change of occupation in flinging open the furnace door +and tossing chunk after chunk of wood into the glowing interior. As he +closed the door he would stand for a moment and look inquiringly at his +companion, who sat motionless, with his hand on the throttle, and his +eyes fixed steadily on the lines of track gleaming in the light of the +powerful headlight. Occasionally, without turning his head, he exchanged +a few words with the fireman. + +"It's a nasty night, Luke," remarked the latter. + +"Yes. It wouldn't take many more such to make me give up railroading." + +"What do you think of the Beasely cut?" + +"I'm afraid of it, and wish we were well through it." + +"Well, we'll know all about it in five minutes more, and after that +there's nothing serious but Glen Eddy creek." + +The silence that followed was broken, a few minutes later, by two +piercing blasts from the whistle. The fireman had already seen the +danger, and sprung to the brake-wheel on the tender behind him. On every +car the brakes were grinding harshly, set up by nervous, lusty young +arms. The train did not come to a standstill an instant too soon; for, +as it did so, the cow-catcher was already half buried in a slide from +one of the treacherous banks of the Beasely cut. + +An hour's hard work by all the train hands, and some of the passengers, +with shovels and spades, cleared the track, and once more the express +proceeded slowly on its uncertain way. + +Now for the Glen Eddy bridge. Between it and the city that marked the +end of the line was the best stretch of road-bed in the state. It was a +long one, but it presented no dangers that a railroad man need fear. + +The gray dawn was breaking as the train approached Glen Eddy creek. In +the summer-time it was a quiet stream, slipping dreamily along between +its heavily wooded banks. Now it was a furious torrent, swollen beyond +all recognition, and clutching spitefully at the wooden piers of heavy +crib-work that upheld the single span of the bridge. + +The train was stopped and the bridge was examined. It seemed all right, +and the conductor gave the word to go ahead. It was the last order he +ever issued; for, in another minute, the undermined piers had given way, +and the train was piled up in the creek a shapeless wreck. + +From that terrible plunge only two persons escaped unharmed. One was +Luke Matherson, the engine-driver, and the other was the baby. When the +former felt his engine dropping from under him, he sprang from it, with +desperate energy, far out into the muddy waters, that instantly closed +over him. On coming to the surface, the instinct of self-preservation +forced him to swim, but it was wildly and without an idea of direction +or surroundings. For nearly a minute he swam with all his strength +against the current, so that he was still near the wreck, when his +senses were again quickened into action by a smothered cry, close at +hand. At the same time a dark mass drifted towards him, and he seized +hold of it. As the cry seemed to come from this, the man's struggles +became directed by a definite purpose. Partially supporting himself by +the wreckage, he attempted to guide it to the nearest bank; but so swift +was the current that he was swept down stream more than a mile before he +succeeded in accomplishing his purpose. + +Finally his feet touched bottom, and he drew his prize to shore. It was +a car seat, torn from its fastenings. Tightly wedged between it and its +hinged back was a confused bundle, from which came a smothered wailing. +Tearing away the wrappings, Luke Matherson stared for a moment, in a +dazed fashion, at what they had held so safely. He could hardly believe +that it was a live baby, lying there as rosy and unharmed as though in +its cradle. + +The sun had risen when the engine-driver, haggard, exhausted, with +clothing torn and muddy, but holding the babe clasped tightly in his +arms, staggered into the nearest farm-house, two miles back from the +creek. + +After his night of intense mental strain, the shock of the disaster, his +plunge into the chilling waters, and his subsequent struggle to save the +only surviving passenger of the train, it is not surprising that even +Luke Matherson's strong frame yielded, and that for several weeks he was +prostrated by a low fever. All this time the baby was kept at the +farm-house with him, in order that he might be identified and claimed; +but nobody came for him, nor were any inquiries made concerning the +child. He was called "the Glen Eddy baby" by the few settlers of that +sparsely populated region, who came to gaze at him curiously and +pityingly. Thus those who cared for him gradually came to call him +"Glen" for want of a better name; and, as the initials embroidered on +the blanket saved with him were "G. E.," people soon forgot that Glen +Eddy was not his real name. + +Although several bodies were recovered from the wreck of the express, +that of the young mother was not among them; and, as there was no one +left alive who knew that she had been on the train, of course her death +was not reported. Thus the mystery surrounding the Glen Eddy baby was so +impenetrable that, after a while, people gave up trying to solve it, and +finally it was almost forgotten. + +When Luke Matherson recovered from his fever, nothing could induce him +to return to his duties as engine-driver on the railroad. + +"No," he said, "never will I put myself in the way of going through +another such night as that last one." + +He went to Cincinnati as soon as he was able to travel, and while there +was offered a position in the engine-room of a large mill at Brimfield, +in western Pennsylvania, which he accepted. The people of the farm-house +where he had been ill were willing to keep the baby; but Luke Matherson +claimed it, and would not give it up. + +The babe had been given to him, if ever one had, he said; and, if no one +else loved it, he did. Of course, if anybody could prove a better claim +to it than his, he would be the last one to dispute it; but, if not, he +would keep the child and do the very best by him he knew how. He had no +folks of his own in the world, and was only too glad to feel that one +human being would grow up to care for him. + +The farm-house people lost track of Luke Matherson when he left +Cincinnati. Thus when, some four months later, a broken-hearted man, who +had with infinite pains traced his wife and child to that line of +railroad, reached that part of the country, he could gain no further +information except that a baby, who might have been his, was saved from +the Glen Eddy disaster, but what had become of it nobody knew. + + + + +Chapter III. + +A BOY WITHOUT A BIRTHDAY. + + +"It's no use, Glen," said the principal of the Brimfield High School, +kindly, but with real sorrow in his tone. "Your marks in everything +except history are so far below the average that I cannot, with justice +to the others, let you go on with the class any longer. So unless you +can catch up during the vacation, I shall be obliged to drop you into +the class below, and we'll go all over the same ground again next year. +I'm very sorry. It is a bad thing for a boy of your age to lose a whole +year; for this is one of the most important periods of your life. Still, +if you won't study, you can't keep up with those who will, that's +certain." + +The boy to whom these words were spoken was a squarely built, +manly-looking chap, with brown curling hair, and big brown eyes. He was +supposed to be seventeen years old, but appeared younger. Now his cheeks +were flushed, and a hard, almost defiant, expression had settled on his +face. + +"I know you are right, Mr. Meadows," he said, at length. "And you have +been very kind to me. It's no use, though. I just hate to study. I'd +rather work, and work hard at almost anything else, then I would know +what I was doing; but as for grinding away at stupid things like Latin +and geometry and trigonometry and natural philosophy, that can't ever be +of any earthly use to a fellow who doesn't intend to be either a +professor or an astronomer, I can't see the good of it at all." + +"No, I don't suppose you can now," replied the principal, smiling, "but +you will find even those things of use some time, no matter what you may +become in after-life. I will try and talk with you again on this subject +before I go away; but now I must leave you. I hope for your sake, +though, that you will think better about studying, and not throw away +your chance to do so now, while it is comparatively easy. To win success +in life you must study some time, and if you had stood anywhere near as +high as Binney Gibbs I might have managed to offer you--" + +"Excuse me, Mr. Meadows, but I must speak with you just a moment," here +interrupted a voice, and put an end to the conversation between the +principal and the boy who had allowed his distaste for study to bring +him into disgrace. + +As he walked away from the school-house, carrying all his books with +him, for the term was ended and the long vacation had begun, the flush +of mortification, called to his cheeks by Mr. Meadows's remarks, still +reddened them. He felt the disgrace of his position keenly, though he +had told the other boys, and had tried to make himself believe, that he +did not care whether he passed the examinations or not. Now that he had +failed to pass, he found that he did care. What was it that Mr. Meadows +might have offered him? It couldn't be _that_, of course; but if it +should have been! Well, there was no use in crying over it now. Binney +Gibbs had been honored, and he was disgraced. It was bad enough to +realize that, without thinking of things to make it worse. He was +thankful when he reached home and had closed the front door behind him; +for it seemed as though everybody he met must know of his disgrace, and +be smiling scornfully at him. + +He was a sensitive chap, was this Glen Eddy; for that was his name, and +he was the same one who, as a baby, was rescued by Luke Matherson from +the railroad wreck so many years ago. Most people called him Glen +Matherson, and on the school register his name was entered as Glen Eddy +Matherson; but, ever since his last birthday, when Luke had told him +that he was not his real father, and had fully explained their relations +to each other, the boy had thought of himself only as Glen Eddy. + +The master mechanic of the Brimfield Mills, for such Luke Matherson now +was, had meant to keep the secret of the boy's life to himself, at least +for some years longer. Glen had, however, heard rumors of it, and had on +one occasion been taunted by an angry playmate with the sneer that he +was only a nobody who didn't belong to anybody, anyhow. + +Glen had promptly forced this tormentor to acknowledge that he did not +know what he was talking about; but the taunt rankled all the same. A +few days afterwards, which happened to be the one that was kept as his +seventeenth birthday, he told his father of it, and asked what it meant. + +Then Luke Matherson, greatly troubled, but seeing that the secret could +not be kept any longer from the boy, told him what he knew of his +history. He ended with, "It is fifteen years ago this very day, Glen, +that the terrible wreck took place; and, as you were then thought to be +about two years old, I have called this your birthday ever since." + +The boy was amazed and bewildered. No idea that the one whom he had +always called "father" was not such in reality had ever entered his +head; but now that the truth was told him, it seemed strange that he had +not always known it instinctively. He had known that Mrs. Matherson was +not his own mother, for he was five years old when she assumed that +position, and of course he had always known that the two children were +not his own sisters, though he loved them as dearly as though they were. +But now to find out that he did not really belong to anybody was hard. + +Who were his real parents? Were they alive? Could he find them? were +questions that now began to occupy the boy's mind most of the time. + +One of the strangest things about this state of affairs was to discover +that his birthday was not his birthday after all. It seemed as though +some foundation on which he had rested in absolute trust of its security +had suddenly been swept from under him, and left him struggling in a +stormy sea of uncertainty. + +The idea of a boy without a birthday! Who ever heard of such a thing? +How the other fellows would stare and smile if they knew it! Glen had +been so proud of his birthday, too, and it had been made so much of at +home. His favorite dishes were always prepared for the meals of that +day, his tastes were consulted in everything that was done, and his +father always made a point of giving him a more valuable present then +than even at Christmas. Why, on the last one, the very day on which the +boy first learned how unreal the whole thing was, his father--no, his +adopted father--had given him the dearest little silver watch that ever +was seen. + +Many times since learning such a sad lesson in the uncertainties of +life, Glen had pulled this watch from his pocket, simply to assure +himself of its reality, and that it was not a make-believe like his +birthday. + +But for his natural force of character and sweetness of disposition, +Glen would have been a spoiled boy; for Luke Matherson had never been +able, since the moment he first saw him lying helplessly on the floating +car seat, to cross him in anything, or deny him whatever he asked if it +lay in his power to grant it. With his own children Mr. Matherson was +rather strict; but with the orphan lad who had shared with him the +greatest peril of his life, he could not be. + +Thus Glen had grown up to be somewhat impatient of restraint, and very +much inclined to have his own way. He was also a brave, generous boy, +and an acknowledged leader among his young companions. Was he not the +best swimmer, the fastest runner, the most daring climber, and expert +horseback-rider in Brimfield? Was he not captain of the baseball nine? +and did not all the fellows admire him except one or two, who were so +jealous of his popularity that they sought to detract from it? + +One of those who were most envious of him was Binney Gibbs, son of the +wealthy owner of the Brimfield Mills. He was taller than Glen, but was +no match for him in anything that called for muscle or pluck. It was he +who had flung the taunt of Glen's being a nobody at the boy. Binney had +never been noted for his studious habits until both he and Glen entered +the High School at the same time. Then, realizing that he could not +excel at anything else, he determined to beat the other at his studies. +To this end he strained every nerve with such effect that he not only +outranked Glen in his own class, but, by working all through two long +vacations, gained a whole year on him. So now, while poor Glen was +threatened with being turned back from the second class, Binney Gibbs +had just graduated at the head of the first, and was ready to enter +college. And the worst of it all was that everybody believed him to be a +whole year younger than Glen, too. + +To be sure, Binney was pale and thin, and no stronger than a cat. Why, +he couldn't even swim; but what of it? Had he not beaten the most +popular fellow in town away out of sight in this scholarship race? To +crown his triumph another thing had happened to make Binney Gibbs the +envy of all the boys in Brimfield, but particularly of Glen Eddy. + +On that last day of school the diplomas had been awarded, and Binney's +had been handed to him the first of all. As he was about to return to +his seat, amid the loud applause of the spectators, Mr. Meadows asked +him to wait a minute. So Binney stood on the platform while the +principal told of a wonderful exploring expedition that was being fitted +out at that moment, to go across the plains through the almost unknown +territories of New Mexico and Arizona to California. It was to be the +most famous expedition of the kind ever sent into the far West; and, as +it was to be partly a government enterprise, all sorts of political +influence was being used to obtain positions in it. It was to be +commanded by a noted general, who was an old friend of Mr. Meadows. + +"Now," said the principal, "the general writes that he will give a +position in this party to the boy who stands highest in my school this +year, or, if I cannot recommend him, or he does not choose to accept it, +to any other whom I may name." Here Mr. Meadows was interrupted by +prolonged applause. + +When it had subsided, he continued. "There is no question as to which +pupil of the school ranks highest this year. He stands before you now, +with his well-earned diploma in his hand [applause], and it gives me +great pleasure to be able to offer to Master Binney Gibbs a position in +the exploring-party that will start from St. Louis two weeks from +to-day, under command of my friend General Lyle. I hope that he may be +induced to accept it, and that his parents may permit him to do so; for +I cannot imagine a more fascinating or profitable way of spending a year +at his time of life." + + + + +Chapter IV. + +"I JUST HATE TO STUDY." + + +Mr. Meadows's remarks in regard to the famous exploring expedition, +about to be sent across the Western plains, were received with +tremendous applause, and Binney Gibbs at once became an object of envy +to every boy in the school--to say nothing of the girls. What a chance +to have offered one just for doing a little hard study! If the other +boys had known of it, how they, too, would have studied! Binney Gibbs +would have been obliged to work harder than he had for his position! +Yes, sir! ten times harder!--only think of it! Indians and buffalo and +bears, and the Rocky Mountains, and all the other enchanted marvels of +that far-away region. Why, just to contemplate it was better than +reading a dime novel! + +While these thoughts were racing through the minds of his companions, +and while they were cheering and clapping their hands, the lucky boy +himself was talking with Mr. Meadows, and telling him how much he should +like to join that expedition, and how he hoped his father would let him +do so. + +Mr. Gibbs left his seat in the audience and stepped up to the platform, +where he talked for a moment with Mr. Meadows. Then he spoke to Binney, +and then, as he faced the school, they saw that he had something to say +to them. + +It was that he was proud of his son--proud of the honor shown to the +school and to Brimfield through him--and that he should certainly allow +Binney to accept the offered position. + +So it was settled; and all the boys cheered again. To Glen Eddy it +seemed that he would be willing to forego all the other good things that +life held for him if he could only have the prospect of one such year of +adventure as was promised to Binney Gibbs. For the first time in his +life he was genuinely envious of another boy. + +It was that same day, after everybody else had gone, that he had the +talk with Mr. Meadows, in which the latter told him he must go back a +whole year on account of not having studied; though, if he had, he might +have been offered--And then came the interruption. Glen was too +heart-sick and miserable to wait and ask what the offer might have been. +Besides, he thought he knew, and the thought only added to his distress +of mind, until it really seemed as though no boy could be much more +unhappy than he. + +Mr. Matherson knew how the boy stood in school, for the principal had +thought it his duty to inform him; and that evening he and Glen had a +long and serious talk. + +"It's no use, father; I just hate to study!" exclaimed Glen, using the +same words that had caused Mr. Meadows to look grave earlier in the day. + +"I fancy we all hate a great many things that we have to do in this +life," replied the master mechanic, "and you have certainly had a +striking example to-day of the value of study." + +"Yes, that's so," admitted Glen, reluctantly, "and if I had known that +there was anything of that kind to be gained, perhaps I might have tried +for it too." + +"If I had been given your chance to study when I was young," continued +the other, "and had made the most of it, I would have a better position +to-day than the one I now hold. As it is, I have had to study mighty +hard, along with my work, to get even it. I tell you, my boy, the +chances come when you least expect them. The only thing to do is to +prepare for them, and be ready to seize them as they appear. If one +isn't prepared they'll slip right past him--and when once they have done +that, he can never catch them again." + +"But aren't there working chances just as well as studying chances, +father?" + +"Of course there are, and the study must always be followed by +work--hard work, too--but the first is a mighty big help to the other. +Now I will gladly do all that I can to help you on with your studies, if +you will study; but if you won't, you must go to work, for I can't +afford to support you in idleness, and I wouldn't if I could." + +"Well, I'll tell you what, father," said Glen, who was more inclined to +take his own way than one proposed by somebody else, "if you can help me +to the getting of a job, I'll try the work this summer, and when it +comes time for school to open again, I'll decide whether it shall be +work or study." + +"All right, my boy, I'll do what I can to get you a place in the mill or +in Deacon Brown's store, whichever you prefer." + +Now that a definite kind of work was proposed, it did not seem so very +desirable after all, and Glen doubted if he should like either the mill +or the store. Still he did not say so, but asked for a day longer in +which to decide, which was readily granted him. + +At about the same time that evening, Binney Gibbs was saying to his +father, with a self-satisfied air, + +"Isn't it a good thing that I have stuck to my books as I have, and not +wasted my time playing ball, or swimming, or doing the things that Glen +Matherson and the other fellows seem to consider so important?" + +"Well, yes," replied Mr. Gibbs, a little doubtfully, "I suppose it is. +At the same time, Binney, I do wish you were a little stronger. I'm +afraid you'll find roughing it pretty hard." + +"Oh, yes, I suppose physical strength was the most important thing when +you were young, father; but nowadays its brain-work that tells," +answered Binney, with a slight tone of contempt for his father's +old-fashioned ideas. Binney was not a bad-hearted fellow--only spoiled. + +The next day Glen did not feel like meeting any of his young companions. +He wanted to think over the several problems that had been presented to +him. So he wandered down to the river, where a fine new railroad-bridge, +in the building of which he had been greatly interested, was now +receiving its finishing touches. As he walked out towards the centre of +the graceful structure, admiring, as he had a hundred times before, the +details of its construction, its evident strength and airy lightness, he +saw the engineer who had charge of the work standing, with a roll of +plans under his arm, talking with one of the foremen. + +Glen had visited the bridge so often that the engineer knew him by +sight, and had even learned his name, though he had never spoken to him. +He was, however, especially fond of boys, and had been much pleased with +Glen's appearance. Several times he had been on the point of speaking to +him, but had been restrained by the diffidence a man is so apt to feel +in the presence of a stranger so much younger than himself. It is a fear +that he may do or say something to excite the undisguised mirth or +contempt that so often wait upon the ignorance of youth. + +Without suspecting these feelings in him, Glen had been strangely +attracted towards the engineer, whose profession and position seemed to +him alike fascinating and desirable. He wished he could become +acquainted with him, but did not know how to set about it. He, too, was +diffident and fearful of appearing in an unfavorable light before the +other, who was evidently so much older and wiser than he. But he did +long to ask this engineer a great many questions. + +Now he stood at a respectful distance and watched the young man, whose +name he knew to be Hobart, and, wondering whether his position had been +reached by study or work, wished he could think of some good excuse for +speaking to him. + +The floor of the bridge on which they were standing was about +twenty-five feet above Brim River, the deep, swift stream that it +spanned. Glen had swum and fished in it, and boated on it, until he knew +its every current and slack-water pool. He knew it as well as he did the +road to the village, and was almost as much at home in the one as on the +other. + +In order to consult a note-book that he drew from his pocket, Mr. Hobart +laid his roll of plans on a floor-beam, at his feet, for a moment. Just +then a little whirling gust of wind came along, and in an instant the +valuable plans were sailing through the air towards the sparkling +waters, that seemed to laugh at the prospect of bearing them away far +beyond human reach. + +The engineer tried in vain to clutch them as they rolled off the +floor-beam, and uttered an exclamation of vexation as they eluded his +grasp. + +As he looked around to see what could be done towards their recovery, a +boyish figure, without hat, jacket, or shoes, sprang past him, poised +for an instant on the end of the floor-beam, and then leaped into space. +Like a flash of light it shot downward, straight and rigid, with feet +held tightly together, and hands pressed close against the thighs. A +myriad of crystal-drops were flung high in the air and glittered in the +bright sunlight as Glen, striking the water with the impetus of a +twenty-five-foot fall, sank deep beneath its surface. + + + + +Chapter V. + +SWIMMING INTO A FRIENDSHIP. + + +Although Glen found no difficulty in coming to the surface, almost at +the spot where the roll of plans floated, and grasping it, he did not +find it so easy to bring it safely to shore. To begin with, the roll +occupied one hand, so that he had but one for swimming. Then the current +was strong, and the banks steep. He was very near the middle of the +river. Any other Brimfield boy would have been in despair at finding +himself in such a situation. But, then, no other boy in Brimfield would +have taken that leap. + +For a moment Glen wondered what he should do. Then he remembered the +"back-set" at the Bend, a quarter of a mile below the bridge. It would +put him right in to the bank, at a place where it was low, too. The +anxious watchers on the bridge wondered to see the boy turn on his back +and quietly drift away with the current, at the same time holding the +roll of plans, for which he had dared so much, clear of the water. + +They shouted to him to swim towards one or the other bank and they would +fling him a rope; but Glen only smiled without wasting any breath in +answering. Most of the men ran to one end of the bridge, because it +looked to them as though the boy were nearer that bank than the other; +but Mr. Hobart, who had studied the river, remembered the Bend, and +hurried to the other end. When he reached it he ran down along the bank, +towards the place where he felt certain the boy would attempt to land. +He got there in time to see Glen swimming with all his might to get out +of the main current and into the "back-set." With two hands he would +have done it easily; but with only one it was hard work. Then, too, his +clothing dragged heavily. + +Mr. Hobart shouted to him to let go the roll. "Drop it and make sure of +your own safety," he cried. "They are not worth taking any risks for." +But Glen was not the kind of a boy to let go of a thing that he had once +made up his mind to hold on to, so long as he had an ounce of strength +left. + +So he struggled on, and at last had the satisfaction of feeling that +something stronger than his own efforts was carrying him towards shore. +He had gained the "back-set," and, though its direction was rather up +along the bank, than in towards it, the swimmer had still strength +enough left to overcome this difficulty. + +A tree, growing straight out from the bank, overhung the stream, so that +Glen at length drifted under it, and caught hold of a drooping branch. +He had not strength enough to pull himself up; but it was not needed. +With the activity that comes from a life spent in the open air, the +engineer had run out on the horizontal trunk, and now, lying flat on it, +he could just reach the boy's hand. In another minute the strong arms +had drawn Glen up to a secure resting-place, where he might regain his +breath and drip to his heart's content. + +"Here are the plans, Mr. Hobart," he said, shyly, and at the same time +proudly. "I hope they are not spoiled by the water. I held them out of +it as much as I could." + +"I hope you are not spoiled by the water, Glen Matherson," laughed the +engineer, as he took the wet roll from the boy's hand. "You have done +splendidly, and I am sincerely grateful to you for rescuing my plans, +which are indeed of great value. At the same time I wouldn't do such a +thing again, if I were you, for anything less important than the saving +of life. It was a big risk to take, and I should have suffered a +life-long sorrow if anything had gone wrong with you." + +Although it was a warm June day, and Glen laughed at the idea of +catching cold, he had been in the water long enough to be thoroughly +chilled. So, when they regained the bank, Mr. Hobart insisted that he +should take off his clothes, wring them, and let them dry in the hot +sun. In the meantime a workman had come down from the bridge with the +boy's hat, jacket, and shoes. He lent him his overalls, and, thus +comically arrayed, Glen sat and talked with the engineer while his +clothes were drying. + +How kindly the brown-bearded face was, and with what interest the man +listened to all the boy had to say. How pleasant was his voice, and, in +spite of his age (he was about thirty-five) and wisdom, how easy it was +to talk to him! It was so easy, and he proved such a sympathetic +listener, that before Glen knew it he found himself confiding all his +troubles and hopes and perplexities to this new friend. It began with +his name, which he told the engineer was not Matherson, and then he had +to explain why it was not. + +Then they wondered together what sort of a man Glen's real father could +be, provided he were alive; and if, by any strange chance, he and his +son would ever meet and know each other. Mr. Hobart did not think it at +all likely they ever would. From this the boy was led to tell of his +dislike for study, and into what trouble it had led him. He even told of +the decision reached by his adopted father and himself the evening +before, and the undesirable choice of work that had been presented to +him. + +"And so you don't think you would fancy either the mill or the store?" +asked Mr. Hobart. + +"No, sir, I do not. Each one, when I think of it, seems worse than the +other, and they both seem worse than most anything else." + +"Worse than studying?" + +"Just as bad, because either of them means being shut up, and I hate to +stay in the house. I should like some business that would keep me +out-of-doors all the time." + +"Ploughing, for instance, or driving a horse-car, or digging clams, or +civil-engineering, or something nice and easy, like any of those?" +suggested Mr. Hobart, gravely. + +"Civil-engineering is what I think I should like better than anything +else in the world!" exclaimed the boy, eagerly. "That's what you are, +isn't it, sir?" + +"That is what I am trying to be," answered Mr. Hobart, smiling; "and if, +by years of hard work, hard study, and unceasing effort, I can reach a +generally recognized position as an engineer, I shall be satisfied with +my life's work." + +"Do you have to study?" asked Glen, in amazement. + +"Indeed I do," was the answer. "I have to study continually, and fully +as hard as any schoolboy of your acquaintance." + +Glen looked incredulous. It is hard for a boy to realize that his school +is only the place where he is taught how to study, and that his most +important lessons will have to be learned after he leaves it. + +"I think I should like to be a civil-engineer, anyhow," he remarked, +after a thoughtful pause, "because it is an out-of-door business." + +"Yes," admitted the other, "it is to a great extent." + +Then they found that Glen's clothing was dry enough to be worn, and also +that it was dinnertime. So, after Mr. Hobart had shaken hands with the +boy, and said he hoped to see him again before long, they separated. + +That afternoon Glen, still wearing a perplexed expression on his usually +merry face, walked down to the mill and looked in at its open door. It +was so hot and dusty and noisy that he did not care to stay there very +long. He had been familiar with it all his life; but never before had it +struck him as such an unpleasant place to work in, day after day, month +after month, and even year after year, as it did now. How hard people +did have to work, anyway! He had never realized it before. Still, +working in a mill must be a little harder than anything else. At any +rate, he certainly would not choose to earn his living there. + +Then he walked down to Deacon Brown's store. The deacon did a large +retail business; this was a busy afternoon, and the place was filled +with customers. How tired the clerks looked, and what pale faces they +had. How people bothered them with questions, and called on them to +attend to half a dozen things at once. How close and stuffy the air of +the store was. It was almost as bad as that of the mill. Then, too, the +store was kept open hours after the mill had shut down; for its evening +trade was generally very brisk. It did not seem half so attractive a +place to Glen now as it had at other times, when he had visited it +solely with a view of making some small purchase. Perhaps going to +school, and keeping up with one's class, was not the hardest thing in +the world after all. + +So the poor boy returned home, more perplexed as to what he should do +than ever, and he actually dreaded the after-supper talk with his +adopted father that he usually enjoyed so much. + +When the time came, and Mr. Matherson asked, kindly, "Well, my boy, what +have you decided to do?" Glen was obliged to confess that he was just as +far from a decision as he had been the evening before. + + + + +Chapter VI. + +RECEIVING AN OFFER AND ACCEPTING IT. + + +"Well, that is bad," said the master mechanic, when Glen told him that +he had been unable to arrive at any decision in regard to going to work. +"It is bad, for I can't see that there is anything open to you just now, +except one of the two things we talked about last evening. At the same +time, I hate to compel you, or even persuade you, to do anything that is +hard and distasteful. If you were a year younger, I should say, 'Spend +your vacation as you always have done, and have as good a time as you +know how, without worrying about the future.' At seventeen, though, a +boy should begin to look ahead, and take some decisive step in the +direction of his future career. If he decides to study, he should also +decide what he wants to study for. If he decides to work, he should have +some object to work for, and should turn all his energies in that +direction. I declare, Glen, I hardly know how to advise you in this +matter. Do you think of any particular thing you would rather do, or try +to be? If so, and I can help you to it, you know how gladly I will, in +every way that lies in my power." + +"It seems to me I would rather be a civil-engineer than anything else," +answered the boy, a little hesitatingly. + +"A civil-engineer!" exclaimed the other, in surprise; "why, Glen, lad, +don't you know that it takes the hardest kind of study to be that?" + +Just then their conversation was interrupted by the arrival of a +visitor, who, to Glen's surprise, was none other than Mr. Hobart, the +engineer whose position he had been thinking of as one of the most +desirable in the world. + +After a few moments' pleasant chat the visitor asked Mr. Matherson if he +could have a private business talk with him. So Glen left the room, and +wandered restlessly about the house, filled with a lively curiosity as +to what business the engineer could have with his adopted father. + +In the meantime Mr. Hobart was saying, "I have known your son for some +time by sight, Mr. Matherson, and took a fancy to him from the first. We +only got acquainted to-day, when he performed an act of daring in my +presence, and at the same time rendered me an important service. I find +him to be exactly such a boy as I supposed he was; a generous-hearted, +manly fellow, who is just now unhappy and discontented because he has no +particular aim in life, and does not know what he wants to do." + +"Yes," said Mr. Matherson, "that is just the trouble; and the worst of +it is that I don't know what to advise him." + +"Then, perhaps, I am just in time to help you. My work here is about +finished, and in a few days I am to leave for Kansas, where I am to take +charge of a locating-party on one of the Pacific railroads. If you are +willing to let Glen go with me, I can make a place for him in this +party. The pay will only be thirty dollars per month, besides his +expenses; but, by the end of the summer, I believe he will have gained +more valuable knowledge and experience than he could in a year of home +and school life. I believe, too, in that time I can show him the value +of an education and the necessity of studying for it. Now, without +really knowing anything about it, he thinks he would like to become a +civil-engineer. After a few months' experience in the unsettled country +to which I am going he will have seen the rough side of the life, and +can decide intelligently whether he desires to continue in it or not." + +Mr. Matherson could hardly restrain his delight at the prospect of such +an opening for the boy whom he loved so dearly; but he was too honest to +let him start out under false colors; so he said, + +"I can never tell you how grateful I am for this offer, sir; but I don't +want you to think that my boy is any better than he really is. He is not +a good scholar, and seems to lack application. Even now he is in danger +of being turned back a whole year in school because he has failed to +keep up with his class." + +"I know all that," replied Mr. Hobart, smiling; "and it is one of the +reasons why I want him to go with me. I was very much such a boy myself, +and think I understand his state of mind perfectly. He has reached the +most trying period of his life, and the one where he most needs +encouragement and help. He has a sufficiently good education to build +on, and is bright enough to comprehend things that are clearly explained +to him. As for his having no knowledge of the peculiar studies necessary +for an engineer, I am glad that he hasn't. I believe that it is better +for all boys to gain some practical knowledge of the business they +intend to follow before they really begin to study for it. A few months +or a year of practice shows them in what they are deficient and what +they need to learn. I could get plenty of young fellows to go out to +Kansas with me who are crammed with theoretical knowledge of surveying +and engineering, but who are ignorant of its practice. Such chaps think +they know it all, and are impatient of criticism or advice. I can get +along better with one who knows little or nothing to begin with, but who +is bright and willing to learn. In the end I will guarantee to make such +a one the more valuable engineer of the two." + +"It is a new idea to me," said Mr. Matherson, reflectively, "but I +believe you are right." + +"There is another reason why I fancy your boy, and think I can make an +engineer of him," continued Mr. Hobart. "His physical condition seems to +me to be perfect. As they say of prize animals, he seems to be sound in +wind and limb, and without a blemish. Now, the life of an engineer, +particularly in unsettled countries, is a hard one. He is exposed to all +sorts of weather; must often sleep without a shelter of any kind, and +must work hard from early dawn until late at night, sometimes on a +scanty allowance of food. It is as hard as, and in many cases harder +than, active service in the army. It is no life for weaklings, and we do +not want them; but, from what I have seen of your boy, I do not believe +that even you can point out any physical defect in his make-up." + +"No, I certainly cannot," replied Mr. Matherson, heartily, glad of a +chance to praise his boy without qualification, in at least one respect. +"I believe him to be physically perfect, and I know that there is not a +boy of his age in town who is his match in strength, agility, or +daring." + +"So you see," laughed the engineer, "he is exactly the boy I want; and +if you will let him go with me I shall consider that you have conferred +a favor." + +"Of course I will let him go, sir, and shall feel forever grateful to +you for the offer." + +Thus it was all settled, and Glen was summoned to hear the result of the +few minutes' conversation by which the whole course of his life was to +be changed. By it, too, he was to be lifted in a moment from the depths +of despondency and uncertainty to such a height of happiness as he had +not dared dream of, much less hope for. The moment he entered the room +he was assured, by the smiling faces of its occupants, that their topic +of conversation had been a pleasant one; but when its nature was +explained to him he could hardly credit his senses. + +Would he like to go out to Kansas for the summer?--to a land still +occupied by wild Indians and buffalo? The idea of asking him such a +question! There was nothing in the whole world he would like better! +Why, it was almost as good as the position offered to Binney Gibbs; and, +certainly, no boy could ever hope for anything more splendid than that. +In two respects he considered himself even more fortunate than Binney. +One was that he was to go with Mr. Hobart, whom he had come to regard +with an intense admiration as one of the wisest and kindest of men. The +other was that they were to start on the third day from that time, while +Binney would not go for nearly two weeks yet. + +What busy days the next two were! How Glen did fly around with his +preparations! How interested Mr. Hobart was, and how he laughed at many +of the excited boy's questions! Ought he to have a buckskin suit and a +broad-brimmed hat? Should he need any other weapons besides a revolver +and a bowie-knife? Would it be better to take long-legged leather boots +or rubber-boots, or both? How large a trunk ought he to have? + +His outfit, prepared by Mr. Hobart's advice, finally consisted of two +pairs of double blankets, rolled up in a rubber sheet and securely +corded, two pairs of easy, laced walking-shoes, and one pair of leather +leggings, three flannel shirts, three suits of under-clothing, and six +pairs of socks, one warm coat, two pairs of trousers, a soft, gray felt +hat, half a dozen silk handkerchiefs, and the same number of towels. Of +these he would wear, from the start, the hat, coat, one of the flannel +shirts, one of the two pairs of trousers, a suit of under-clothing, one +of the silk handkerchiefs knotted about his neck, and one of the pairs +of shoes. All the rest could easily be got into a small leathern valise, +which would be as much of a trunk as he would be allowed to carry. + +He would need a stout leather belt, to which should be slung a good +revolver in a holster, a common sheath-knife, that need not cost more +than thirty cents, and a small tin cup that could be bought for five. + +Besides these things, Mrs. Matherson, who loved the boy as though he +were her own, tucked into the valise a small case of sewing materials, a +brush, comb, cake of soap, tooth-brush, hand-glass, and a Testament in +which his name was written. + +On the very day of his departure his adopted father presented the +delighted boy with a light rifle of the very latest pattern. It was, of +course, a breech-loader, and carried six extra cartridges in its +magazine. In its neat canvas-case, Glen thought it was the very +handsomest weapon he had ever seen, and the other boys thought so too. + +With them he was the hero of the hour, and even Binney Gibbs's +glittering prospects were almost forgotten, for the time being, in this +more immediate excitement. + +Of course they all gathered at the railway station to see him start on +the morning of the appointed day. It seemed as though almost everybody +else in the village was there, too. Binney Gibbs was among the very few +of Glen's acquaintances who did not come. So, amid tears and laughter, +good wishes and loud cheerings, the train rolled away, bearing Glen Eddy +from the only home he had ever known towards the exciting scenes of the +new life that awaited him in the far West. + + + + +Chapter VII. + +ACROSS THE MISSISSIPPI. + + +Never before, since he was first carried to Brimfield as a baby, had +Glen been away from there; so, from the very outset, the journey on +which he had now started, in company with Mr. Hobart, was a wonderful +one. In school, besides history, he had enjoyed the study of geography, +being especially fond of poring over maps and tracing out imaginary +journeys. In this way he had gained a fair idea of the route Mr. Hobart +and he were to pursue, as well as of the cities and other places of +interest they were to see. There was one place, however, for which he +was not prepared. It was early in the first night of the journey, and +the boy had just fallen into a doze in his sleeping-car berth. As the +night was warm, and there was no dust, the car door was open, and +through it came a sudden shout of "Glen Eddy! Glen Eddy!" + +As Glen started up, wide awake, and answering "Here I am," the train +rumbled over a bridge. Then it stopped, and the meaning of the shout +flashed into the boy's mind. He was at the very place where, so long +ago, he had lost a father or mother, or both. All the details of that +awful scene, as described by his adopted father, appeared vividly before +him, and he seemed to see, through a gray dawn, the mass of splintered +wreckage nearly covered by angry waters, the floating car seat with its +tiny human burden, and the brave swimmer directing it towards land. + +The train stopped but a moment, and then moved on. As it did so, Glen, +who was in an upper berth, heard a deep sigh, that sounded almost like a +groan, coming apparently from a lower berth on the opposite side of the +car. + +Directly afterwards he heard a low voice ask, respectfully, "What is it, +Governor? Are you in pain? Can I do anything?" + +"Nothing, Price, thank you. I had a sort of nightmare, that's all," was +the reply, and then all was again quiet. + +Glen wished he might catch a glimpse of the person who spoke last, for +he had never seen a governor, and wondered in what way he would look +different from other men. He would try and see him in the morning. Thus +thinking, he fell asleep. + +The next morning he was awakened by Mr. Hobart, and told to dress as +quickly as possible, for they were within a few miles of East St. Louis, +and would soon cross the Mississippi. This news drove all other thoughts +from the boy's mind, and he hurried through his toilet, full of +excitement at the prospect of seeing the mightiest of American rivers. + +There was no bridge across the Mississippi then, either at St. Louis or +elsewhere. Great four-horse transfer coaches from the several hotels +were waiting for passengers beside the train where it stopped, and these +were borne to the opposite bank by a steam ferry-boat with a peculiar +name and of peculiar construction. The _Cahokia_ looked like a regular +river steamer, except that she had no visible paddle-wheels, not even +one behind, like a wheelbarrow, as some of the very shoal-draught boats +had. For some time Glen could not discover what made her go, though go +she certainly did, moving swiftly and easily across the broad expanse of +tawny waters towards the smoky city on its farther bank. He would not +ask Mr. Hobart, for he loved to puzzle things out for himself if he +possibly could. At length he discovered that the boat was double-hulled, +and that its single paddle-wheel was located between the two hulls. Glen +was obliged to ask the object of this; but when he was told that it was +to protect the wheel from the great ice-cakes that floated down the +river in winter, he wondered that he had not thought of that himself. + +So he forgot to look for his governor, or ask about him until they +reached the hotel where they were to get breakfast and spend a few +hours. Then he was told that the person in whom he was interested was +probably General Elting, who had just completed a term of office as +governor of one of the territories, and who was now acting as treasurer +of the very railroad company for which he was to work. + +Glen regretted not having seen the ex-governor, but quickly forgot his +slight disappointment in the more novel and interesting things that now +attracted his attention. He had never been in a city before, and was +very glad of a few hours in which to see the sights of this one; for the +train that was to carry them to Kansas City would not leave until +afternoon. + +As the offices of the company by whom Mr. Hobart was employed were in +St. Louis, he was obliged to spend all his time in them, and could not +go about with Glen. So, only charging him to be on hand in time for the +train, the engineer left the boy to his own devices. + +Glen spent most of his time on the broad levee at the river's edge, +where he was fascinated by the great steamboats, with their lofty +pilot-houses, tall chimneys, roaring furnaces, and crews of shouting +negroes, that continually came and went. + +This seemed to be their grand meeting-point. On huge placards, swung +above their gang-planks, Glen read that some of them were bound for New +Orleans and all intermediate ports. Then there were boats for the Red, +Arkansas, Yazoo, Ohio, Illinois, Missouri, and a dozen other rivers, +tributary to the great Father of Waters. Still others were bound for +Northern ports, even as far as distant St. Paul, in Minnesota. + +Two o'clock found the boy at the railway station, standing beside the +car in which all his belongings were already safely deposited, waiting +anxiously for Mr. Hobart. Just as the train was about to start, that +gentleman rushed into the station. + +"Jump aboard, Glen," he said, hurriedly, "and go on to Kansas City with +the baggage. Here is your pass and a note to Mr. Brackett. Report to him +at the Kaw House. I am detained here by business, but will join you +to-morrow or next day. Good-bye." + +The train was already in motion, and in another moment the boy had lost +sight of his only friend in that part of the world, and was whirling +away towards an unknown destination. He felt rather lonely and forlorn +at thus being cast upon his own resources, but at the same time he felt +proud of the confidence reposed in him, and glad of an opportunity to +prove how well he could take care of himself. + +For several hours he was interested in watching the rapidly changing +features of the landscape; but after a while he grew weary of this, and +began to study his fellow-passengers. There were not many in the +sleeper, and the only ones near him in whom he took an interest were a +little girl, five or six years old, who was running up and down the +aisle, and a lady, evidently the child's mother, who sat opposite to +him. As he watched the little one she tripped and would have fallen had +he not sprung forward and caught her. The child smiled at him, the +mother thanked him, and in a few minutes he found himself playing with +the former and amusing himself in entertaining her. + +She told him that her name was Nettie Winn; but that her papa, who lived +a long way off, and whom she was going to see, called her "Nettle." She +was a bright, sunny-haired little thing, who evidently regarded elder +people as having been created especially for her amusement and to obey +her orders. As, in obedience to one of these, the boy carried her in his +arms to the forward end of the car that she might look out of the window +in the door, a fine-looking middle-aged gentleman spoke to him, +remarking that he seemed very fond of children. + +"Yes, sir, I am," answered Glen, "for I have two little sisters at +home." + +They exchanged a few more words, and Glen was so attracted by the +stranger's appearance and manner that after the tired child had gone to +sleep with her head in her mother's lap, he again walked to the end of +the car in hopes that the gentleman might be inclined to renew their +conversation. Nor was he disappointed; for the stranger welcomed him +with a smile, made room on the seat beside him, and they were soon +engaged in a pleasant chat. + +It is not hard for a man of tact to win the confidence of a boy, so +that, before long, the gentleman knew that this was Glen's first journey +from home, and that he was going to Kansas to learn to be an engineer. + +"Do you mean a civil-engineer?" he asked, "or an engine-driver?" + +"Oh, a civil-engineer, of course!" answered the boy; "for I can run a +locomotive now, almost as well as father, and that used to be his +business." + +Then he explained that his father, who was now a master mechanic, had +given him careful instruction in the art of running a pony switch engine +that belonged to the Brimfield Mills, and that once, when the +engine-driver was ill, he had been placed in charge of it for a whole +day. + +"That is a most useful accomplishment," remarked the gentleman, "and one +that I should be glad to acquire myself." + +When the train stopped at an eating station they went in to supper +together, and Glen began to think that, in his new friend, he had found +a second Mr. Hobart, which was the very nicest thing he could think +about anybody. + +The boy did not forget to carry a cup of tea and a glass of milk into +the car for Mrs. Winn and Nettie, for which act of thoughtfulness he was +rewarded by a grateful smile and hearty thanks. + +He wondered somewhat at the several men who every now and then came into +the car and exchanged a few words in low tone with his other train +acquaintance, and also wondered that the gentleman should leave the car +and walk towards the forward end of the train every time it stopped at a +station. + +Glen was so tired that he had his berth made up and turned in very +early; but for a long time found himself unable to sleep, so busy were +his thoughts. At length, however, he fell into a sound, dreamless +slumber, that lasted for hours, though he knew nothing of the passage of +time. + +He was suddenly awakened by a loud noise, and found himself sitting bolt +upright in his berth, listening, bewildered and half frightened, to a +confused sound of pistol-shots, shouts, and screams. The train was +motionless. The screams were evidently those of fright, and came from +the car he was in, while the other and more terrifying sounds reached +his ears from some distance. + + + + +Chapter VIII. + +GLEN RUNS A LOCOMOTIVE. + + +Springing from his berth, Glen began hastily to put on his shoes and the +few articles of clothing he had laid aside. Several other passengers +were doing the same thing, and each was asking the others what had +happened; but nobody knew. All the alarming sounds had now ceased, even +the women who had screamed being quiet, in the hope of discovering the +cause of their terror. + +Glen was the first to leave the car, and, seeing a confused movement of +lanterns at the forward end of the train, he began to run in that +direction. It was still dark, though there were signs of dawn in the +sky. The train was not stopped at a station, but in a thick woods. As +the boy reached the baggage-car, he was horrified to see that several +men were lifting a limp and apparently lifeless body into it. The sight +made him feel sick and faint. He stood for a moment irresolute. Then, +two men, one of whom carried a lantern, came rapidly towards him. + +"Here he is, now!" exclaimed one of them, as the light from the lantern +fell on the boy's face. Glen recognized the voice. It was that of his +recent acquaintance. Now he was coatless and bare-headed. In his hand +was a Colt's revolver. The other man was the conductor of the train. + +"This gentleman says you can run a locomotive. Is that so?" asked the +conductor, holding up his lantern and scanning Glen's face keenly. + +"Yes," answered the boy, "I can." + +"Well, it looks like taking an awful risk to trust a boy as young as +you; but I don't know what else we can do. Our engineer has just been +killed, and the fireman is badly wounded. Two more men are hurt, and +we've got to get them to a doctor as quick as we can. It's fifty miles +to Kansas City, and there's only one telegraph station between here and +there. It's ten miles ahead. We'll stop there, and send a despatch. Will +you undertake to run us in?" + +"Let me look at the engine first, and then I'll tell you," answered +Glen, his voice trembling with excitement in spite of his efforts to +appear calm. + +The three went to the panting locomotive and swung themselves up into +its cab. Glen shuddered as he thought of the tragedy just enacted in +that cab, and almost drew back as he entered it. Then, controlling +himself by a determined effort, he gauged the water, tested the steam, +threw the lever over and back, opened the furnace door, glanced at the +amount of fuel in the tender, and did it all with such a business-like +air and appearance of knowing what he was about as to inspire both the +men, who were watching him closely, with confidence. + +"Yes," he said at length, "I'll take her in; but we shall need some more +water." + +"Good for you, son!" cried the conductor. "You're a trump! and I for one +believe you'll do it." + +"So do I," said the passenger; "and I'm thankful we've got such a plucky +young engine-driver along." + +"But who will fire?" asked Glen, hardly hearing these remarks, though, +at the same time, sufficiently conscious of them to feel gratified that +he had inspired such confidence. + +"I will," replied the passenger, promptly. + +"You, general!" cried the conductor in astonishment. + +"Certainly! Why not I as well as another?" + +"Very well," responded the conductor, "I'm only too glad to have you do +it, if you will; then let us be off at once." And, springing to the +ground, he shouted, "All aboard! Hurry up, gentlemen, we are about to +move on." + +But Glen would not start until he had taken a flaring torch and the +engine-driver's long-nosed oil-can, and walked all around the +locomotive, examining every part of the huge machine, pouring on a +little oil here and there, and making sure that everything was in +perfect working order. + +Then he again swung himself into the cab, pulled the whistle lever for +one short, sharp blast, opened the throttle slowly, and the train was +once more in motion. + +It had hardly gone a hundred yards before two rifle-shots rang out of +the forest, and one ball crashed through both windows of the cab, but +without harming its occupants. Glen started; but his hand did not leave +the throttle, nor did his gaze swerve for an instant from the line of +gleaming track ahead. He had no time then to think of his own safety. He +was too busy thinking of the safety of those so suddenly and +unexpectedly intrusted to him. + +The new fireman glanced at him admiringly, and murmured to himself, +"That boy is made of clear grit. I would that I had a son like him." + +This man, who was heaving great chunks of wood into the roaring furnace +with the strength and ease of a trained athlete, formed no unpleasant +picture to look upon himself. He was tall and straight, with a keen, +resolute face, an iron-gray, military moustache, and close-cropped hair. +He looked not only like a soldier, but like one well accustomed to +command. At the same time he obeyed promptly, and without question, +every order issued by the young engine-driver on the opposite side of +the cab. + +As the train dashed along at full speed there was no chance for +conversation between the two, even had they felt inclined for it. Both +were too fully engaged in peering ahead along the unfamiliar line of +track to pay attention to aught else. + +Presently the conductor clambered over the tender from the baggage-car, +and stood in the cab with them, to post Glen as to the grades and +crossings. + +It lacked a few seconds of fifteen minutes from the time of their +starting, when they slowed down for the telegraph-station, the lights of +which were twinkling just ahead. Here, while the conductor roused the +operator, and sent his despatch, the locomotive was run up to the tank, +and a fresh supply of water was taken aboard. + +Then they were off again--this time for a run of forty miles without a +stop or check. Daylight was coming on so rapidly now that the track was +plainly visible by it, and thus one source of anxiety was removed. + +Up to this time Glen had no idea of what had happened, nor of the cause +of the shooting that had resulted so disastrously. Now, though he did +not turn his head, he learned, from the conversation between the +conductor and his fireman, whom the former called "General," that an +attempt had been made to rob the train of a large sum of money that the +latter had placed in a safe in the express-car. He had received secret +information that such an attempt would probably be made, and had engaged +two detectives in St. Louis to guard his treasure. When the train was +stopped in the woods by a danger signal waved across the track, the +engine-driver had been ordered by the would-be robbers, who had cut the +express-car loose from those behind it, to go ahead. His refusal to obey +them had cost him his life, and the fireman an ugly wound. + +The general, who left the sleeper, and ran ahead at the first alarm, had +shot and severely injured two of the robbers, and with the aid of his +men had driven the rest to the shelter of the forest after a few minutes +sharp fighting. The three wounded men, together with the body of the +dead engine-driver, were now in the baggage-car; while the train-load of +passengers, thanks to the practical knowledge of a sixteen-year-old boy, +and the pluck that enabled him to utilize it, were rapidly nearing their +journey's end in safety. + +An anxious crowd was gathered about the Kansas City station as the train +rolled slowly up to its platform. The general wrung Glen's hand warmly +as he said, + +"God bless you, boy, for what you have just done. I will see you again +in a few minutes. Now I must look after the wounded men." + +Thus saying, he sprang to the platform, leaving Glen in the cab of the +locomotive; but when he returned, fifteen minutes later, the boy had +disappeared, and was nowhere to be found. + + + + +Chapter IX. + +KANSAS CITY IN EARLY DAYS. + + +The reason that Glen Eddy disappeared after running that engine so +splendidly, and bringing the night express safely to its destination, +was that he was diffident and nervous. Now that the strain was relaxed +and he had time to think of the terrible risks run by that train while +under his inexperienced guidance, he was seized with a sudden fright. +Queerly enough, he felt almost guilty, as though he had done something +wrong, or to be ashamed of. Suppose somebody should try to thank him. +Suppose the crowd, now surging about the door of the baggage-car, should +turn their attention to him, and come to gaze at him as a part of the +show that had attracted them. What should he do in either case? It would +be unbearable. He must make good his escape before either of these +things happened. + +The wounded men were being carefully lifted from one side of the +baggage-car. Everybody's attention was for the moment directed to that +spot. So Glen slipped down from the locomotive cab on the opposite side, +and ran back to the sleeper in which were his belongings. The car was +deserted and empty. Its passengers, and everybody connected with it, had +either gone up town or joined the curious throng about the baggage-car. +Thus nobody saw the boy, as, securing his valise and rifle, he slipped +from the rear end of the car and walked rapidly away. He plunged into +one of the tunnel-like streets running back from the railroad, not +knowing, nor caring, where it would lead him. His only idea was to +escape, he did not even know from what. It had so taken possession of +him, that he almost felt as though he were being pursued, with the +danger, at any moment, of being overtaken, and dragged ignominiously +back to be--thanked and made a hero of. + +Kansas City, which has since enjoyed such an astonishing growth and +prosperity, was at that time very young. It was still burrowing through +the high and steep bank of stiff red clay that separated its river front +from the main street of the newer portion perched on the bluff. Several +cross streets, connecting these two parts of the city, had been dug out +with infinite labor, to a great depth through the red clay, and it was +up one of these that Glen now walked. + +He was so far below the level of the airy building-lots on either side +that he could not see whether they were occupied or not. Only an +occasional long flight of wooden steps, leading up from the street, led +him to suppose they might be. He was beginning to wonder where the city +was, or if there were any more of it beyond the straggling business +street that bordered the railroad, when he came to the main thoroughfare +of the new town, and gazed about him with amazement. Although it was yet +so early that the sun had only just risen, the broad avenue presented a +scene of the most lively activity. + +In Brimfield the erection of a new house, or building of any kind, was a +matter of general interest that afforded a topic of conversation for +weeks. Here were dozens, yes, scores of them, springing up in every +direction. A few were of brick; but most of those intended for business +purposes were long and low, though furnished with pretentious false +fronts that towered as high again as the roof itself. Everywhere was +heard the din of hammer and saw, or the ring of the mason's trowel, and +in every direction Glen could see the city growing, spreading, and +assuming new aspects as he gazed. + +At length a pang of hunger recalled him to his present situation, and he +inquired of a man, who was hurrying past, the way to the Kaw House. + +"Up there a piece," answered the man almost without pausing, and +pointing vaguely up the street. "There comes the surveyor's wagon from +there now," he added, nodding his head towards one, drawn by two mules, +that was dashing in their direction at that moment. + +The surveyor's wagon. Then, perhaps, Mr. Brackett was in it, thought +Glen. Acting on the impulse of the moment, he sprang into the middle of +the street, and waved his rifle in the faces of the advancing mules. The +driver reined them in sharply, and the team came to a standstill. +"Hello, young fellow, what do you want now?" he shouted. + +"I want to know if Mr. Brackett is in this wagon," answered Glen. + +"Yes, he is, and that's my name," said a pleasant-faced young man, +dressed in a red-flannel shirt, a pair of army trousers tucked into his +boot-legs, and what had once been a stylish cutaway coat, who sat beside +the driver. "What can I do for you?" + +For answer Glen handed him Mr. Hobart's note, which the young man +glanced quickly through. + +"I see by this that you are to be a member of our party," he said, as he +finished reading it, "and that the chief will not be here for a day or +two yet. I am very glad to make your acquaintance, Mr. Matherson. Boys, +this is Mr. Glen Matherson, our new--Well, we will see what position he +will occupy later. Now, Matherson, we are off for our day's work. Would +you rather accompany us into the thick of the fray, or will you wend +your weary way to the hotel, and while away the hours until our return, +surrounded by its gloomy grandeur?" + +"I think I would rather go with you, sir," replied Glen, who did not +know whether to laugh or not at Mr. Brackett's words and tone. + +"'Tis well, and go with us you shall. So tumble into the chariot, and +stow yourself away wherever you can find room. Then let us on with +speed." + +"But I left Mr. Hobart's things and some of my own on board the train," +said Glen, hesitatingly, "and here are the checks for them." + +This difficulty was settled by the hailing of a dray, and instructing +its driver to get the articles called for by the checks, and carry them, +together with Glen's valise, to the hotel. The boy could not bear to +trust his precious rifle out of his sight, and so carried it with him. + +They had hardly started, when Mr. Brackett turned to Glen and asked him +if he had been to breakfast. + +This was a question in which the boy was greatly interested just at that +moment, and he answered very promptly that he had not. + +"Well, here's a go!" exclaimed the other. "A rule of this party is, +Matherson, and I hope I shall never be obliged to repeat it to you, that +if a man hath not eaten, neither shall he work. It is now too late to +return to Delmonico's, so we must intrust you to the tender mercies of +the Princess, and may she have mercy upon your appetite. Joe, drive to +the palace." + +The "palace" proved to be a patchwork shanty of the most unique and +surprising description. It was constructed of bits of board, pieces of +boxes and barrels, stray shingles and clapboards, roofing-paper, and a +variety of other odds and ends. Its doors and windows had evidently been +taken from some wrecked steamboat. It was overrun with roses and +honeysuckles; while within and without it was scrupulously neat and +clean. + +As the surveyor's wagon with its noisy load drew up before this queer +establishment, its mistress appeared at the door. She was a fat, +jolly-looking negress, wearing a gay calico dress, and a still more +brilliant turban, and she was immediately greeted with shouts of "How +are you, Princess?" "Good-morning, Princess!" "How's her royal nibs +to-day?" etc., to all of which she smiled and bowed, and courtesied with +the utmost good-nature. + +The moment he could make himself heard, Mr. Brackett said, "Princess, we +have here a fainting wayfarer. Can you provide him with a cup of +nectar?" + +"Yes, sah." + +"A dish of peacock's tongues?" + +"Sartin, sah." + +"And a brace of nightingale's eggs on toast?" + +"In about free minutes, sah." + +"Very well, hasten the feast and speed our departure; for we must hence, +ere many nimble hours be flown." + +While waiting for his breakfast to be prepared, Glen had a chance to +examine his new companions somewhat more closely than he had yet done. +There were eight of them, besides the driver of the wagon, mostly young +men, some of them hardly more than boys; but all strong, healthy +looking, and brown from long exposure to sun and wind. Their dress was a +medley of flannel, buckskin, and relics of high civilization. They were +as merry, careless, and good-natured a set of young fellows as could +well be found, always ready for hard work in its time, and equally so +for a frolic when the chance offered. They all seemed to be on a perfect +equality, called each other by their given names, and played practical +jokes upon one another with impunity. As their wagon clattered out of +town in the morning, or dashed in again at dusk, its occupants generally +sang the most rollicking of college or camp songs, at the top of their +voices, and everybody had a kindly word or an indulgent smile for the +young surveyors. + +Foremost in all their fun was their temporary chief, whom Glen only knew +as Mr. Brackett, but who was called "Billy" by all the others. He was +about twenty-five years old, and his position was that of transit-man; +though, until Mr. Hobart should join the party, he was in charge of it. +To Glen, who had thus far only seen him off duty, it was +incomprehensible that so frivolous a young man as "Billy" Brackett +appeared should hold so responsible a position. + +The party had recently returned from the front, where they had been +locating a line of new road since earliest spring. Now, while waiting to +be sent out again, they were engaged in running in the side tracks, Y's, +and switches of what has since become one of the greatest railroad yards +in the world. It was on the state line, between Kansas and Missouri, +about an hour's drive from the Kaw House, where the surveyors made their +headquarters. + +In less than five minutes Glen found himself drinking the most delicious +cup of coffee he had ever tasted; while into his hands were thrust a +couple of sandwiches of hot corn-pones and crisp bacon. These, with two +hard-boiled eggs, furnished a most acceptable meal to the hungry-boy. +Mr. Brackett tossed a quarter to the "Princess," and the wagon rolled +merrily away with Glen eating his breakfast, as best he could, _en +route_. + + + + +Chapter X. + +AT WORK WITH THE ENGINEER CORPS. + + +The "Princess" was a character of those early days, and was celebrated +for her _café au lait_, which "Billy" Brackett said meant "coffee and +eggs;" but which was really the best of coffee and the richest of goat's +milk. Her husband was steward on one of the steamboats that plied up and +down the Missouri, and her exertions, added to his, enabled them to +accumulate a small property, with which they afterwards made some +successful investments in real estate. The boys of the engineer corps +were quick to discover the "Princess" after their arrival in the place, +and with her they were prime favorites. + +Glen had hardly finished his breakfast when the party reached the place +where they were to begin work. Here the boy obtained his first knowledge +of the names and uses of the various objects that had attracted his +curiosity as they lay in the bottom of the wagon. + +From their neat wooden boxes were taken two highly polished brass +instruments, each of which was provided with a telescope. One of these +was a transit, for laying off lines, angles, and curves on the surface +of the earth; and the other was a level for measuring the height of +elevations or the depth of depressions on this same surface. As these +instruments were lifted carefully from their boxes they were screwed +firmly to the tops of wooden tripods, that supported them at the height +of a man's eyes. + +Then came the long rod, divided into feet and the decimal fractions of a +foot, that was to be used with the level, and two slender flag-poles +painted red and white, so as to be seen at long distances. At their +lower ends these poles were tipped with sharp iron points, and at the +other they bore small flags of red flannel. They went with the transit, +and were to designate the points at which the sights were to be taken +through its telescope. + +There was a one-hundred-foot steel chain, having links each one foot +long, with which to measure distances. With it went ten slender steel +pins, each eighteen inches long, to the tops of which bits of red +flannel were tied, so that they could be readily seen. The head chainman +carried all of these to start with, and stuck one into the ground at the +end of each hundred feet. The rear chainman gathered them up as he came +to them, and thus, by counting the number of pins in his hand, he always +knew just what distance had been measured. + +The man having charge of or "running" the transit was called the +transit-man; the one running the level was called the leveller; while +the other members of the party were designated as rodman, front and back +flagmen, or "flags," chainmen, and axemen. There were generally two of +these last named, and their duty was to clear away timber, brush, or +other obstructions on the line, and to make and drive stakes wherever +they were needed. + +As the several members of the party were preparing for their respective +duties, Mr. Brackett put Glen through a sort of an examination, to +discover for what particular task he was best fitted. + +"I don't suppose, Matherson," he began, "that you care to run the +transit to-day?" + +"No," laughed Glen, "I think not to-day." + +"Nor the level?" + +"No, sir. I'd rather not try it." + +"Well, I guess you'd better not. You might get it out of adjustment. Can +you read a rod!" + +No, Glen could not read a rod. + +He proved equally ignorant of the duties of flagman, chainman, and +axeman, which Mr. Brackett said was very fortunate, as all these +positions were already so capably filled in his party that he should +really hate to discharge anybody to make room for the new arrival. +"But," he added, "I have a most important place left, that I believe you +will fill capitally. Can you reproduce the letters of the alphabet and +the Arabic numerals on a bit of white pine with a piece of red chalk?" + +Somewhat bewildered by this banter, Glen answered rather doubtfully that +he believed he could. + +"Good! Then you shall stay with the wagon to-day, and mark stakes with +this bit of 'kiel'" (red chalk). + +So Glen's first day's duty as a civil-engineer was to mark stakes with +figures to denote the distance measured, or with various letters, such +as P. T. (point of tangent), P. C. (point of curve), etc., for the +transit party, and B. M. (bench mark), C. (cut), F. (fill), G. (grade), +etc., for the levellers. + +Mr. Brackett explained the meaning of these signs patiently and clearly +to the boy, whose quick wit enabled him readily to comprehend all that +was told him. By noon he was furnishing stakes, properly marked, for the +various purposes required, as well as though he had been engaged in this +business for a month. It was not a very important position, to be sure; +but he filled it to the very best of his ability, which is the most that +can be expected of any boy. + +One of the things by which the new member was most strongly impressed, +during this first day's experience, was the great difference between Mr. +Brackett on duty and the same gentleman during his hours of relaxation. +While at work he was grave and dignified, nor did he tolerate any +familiarity from those who obeyed his orders. And they did obey them +promptly, without question or hesitation. He was no longer "Billy;" but +was carefully addressed as "Mr. Brackett" by every member of the party. +It was evident that he not only thoroughly understood his business, but +as thoroughly understood the temper of his men. It was clear, also, that +they were well aware that he was not a man to allow his authority to be +questioned or trifled with. With this mutual understanding the work +progressed smoothly and satisfactorily. + +All this was a study in character of which Glen was wise enough to learn +the lesson; and perhaps it was the most valuable one of that day's +schooling. The discipline of a well-drilled engineer corps is very +similar to that maintained on board ship; and, while at certain seasons +it may be greatly relaxed, it can, and must, be resumed at a moment's +notice, if the authority necessary to produce the best results is to be +respected. + +The same merry, rollicking party rode back into Kansas City that evening +that had left it in the morning; and, though Glen was very tired, he had +become well enough acquainted with them to enter heartily into the +spirit of the fun. Thus, whenever they sang a song he knew, his voice +was heard among the loudest. + +At the hotel they learned for the first time of the attempt to rob the +train Glen had come on, and wondered that he had said nothing of the +affair. When they questioned him, he did not know how to talk of it +without proclaiming his share in the night's work, and so only said +that, as he was asleep when the fight took place, he had seen nothing of +it. + +Long after Glen had gone to bed that night, Mr. Brackett, the leveller, +and the rodman sat up hard at work on the maps and profiles of the lines +they had run that day. If Glen had seen this he would have realized what +he afterwards learned, that while the work of most men ends with the +day, that of an engineer in the field only ends with bedtime, and +sometimes a late one at that. + +For two days longer Glen worked with this congenial party, gaining +valuable knowledge with each hour, and thoroughly enjoying his new life. + +On the third day Mr. Hobart came, and it seemed to Glen like seeing one +from home to meet him again. After their first greeting, the engineer +said, + +"Well, my boy, what other wonderful deeds have you been performing since +you and the governor ran the locomotive?" + +"The governor!" almost gasped Glen. "Was he a governor?" + +"Certainly he was, or rather had been. Didn't you know it? He was +General Elting, the ex-governor whom you were inquiring about in St. +Louis, and who is now the treasurer of our road. He returned to St. +Louis almost immediately from here, and there I heard the whole story +from his own lips. He was greatly disappointed at your disappearance, +and much pleased to find out that I knew you; for of course I recognized +you from his description. He hopes to meet you again some time, and I +have promised to see that you do not indulge in any more mysterious +disappearances." + +While they talked of that night, and its tragic incidents, Mr. Hobart +suddenly interrupted himself with, + +"By the way, Glen, I am not going to take charge of this locating-party, +after all, and so cannot give you a position in it." + +Glen felt his face growing pale as he repeated slowly and incredulously, + +"Not going to take charge of it?' + +"No; I have been relieved of my command, and am going to engage in +another kind of work," replied the engineer, smiling at the boy's +startled and distressed expression. + + + + +Chapter XI. + +ALMOST TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE. + + +If Glen had detected that smile on Mr. Hobart's face, he would have been +spared a few moments of very unhappy reflections. He would have known +that his brown-bearded friend could not smile while dashing his high +hopes, and that there must be something pleasant back of it all. But as +the engineer, who could not resist the temptation to try the effects of +a disappointment on the boy's temper, turned away his face at that +moment, his words were heard, while the smile was not noticed. + +Like a great surging wave, the thought of an ignominious return to +Brimfield, and a picture of the mill and the store as he had last seen +them, swept over the boy's mind. Then came the more recent picture of +the happy out-of-door life he had been leading for the past three days. +How could he give up the one and go back to the other? Of course, if Mr. +Hobart said he could no longer have work with the surveying-party, it +must be so. There could be no appeal from that decision. And he had +tried so hard to do well whatever had been given him to do, and to make +himself useful! It was too bad! But surely there must be other work in +this big, bustling, wide-awake West, even for a boy. With this thought +his clouded face cleared, and a look of settled resolve overspread it. + +"I'm awfully sorry, sir," he said; but the tone was almost cheerful, and +Mr. Hobart's face was now the one that expressed surprise. If he had +been able to examine Glen's mind, he would have seen that the boy had +simply decided not to go back, at least not until the summer was over, +but to stay where he was, and attempt to solve the bread-and-butter +problem alone. + +"My new orders came very unexpectedly," continued the engineer, "and +have completely upset my plans. It seems that the company has decided to +send me through to the Pacific with General Lyle's exploring +expedition." + +A lump rose in Glen's throat. General Lyle's expedition! Why, that was +the one Binney Gibbs was to accompany. Was all the world going on that +wonderful trip except himself? It almost seemed so. "It will be a fine +trip, sir," he said, trying to choke down the lump. + +"Yes, I suppose it will; but it will also be a hard and dangerous one, +such as a great many people would not care to undertake. I don't suppose +you would, for instance?" and Mr. Hobart looked quizzically at the boy. + +"Wouldn't I! I'd just like to have somebody offer me a chance to go on +that expedition, that's all!" + +"Very well," replied the engineer, quietly, "I'll offer you the chance, +just to see whether you will accept it or not. Will you go with me on +this long trip?" + +For a few seconds Glen gazed into the brown-bearded face without +answering. Was he awake or dreaming? Had the words been spoken? "Do you +really mean it, sir?" he almost gasped, at length, "or are you only +making fun of me!" + +"Mean it? of course I do," was the reply. "I generally mean what I say, +and if you really care to explore Kansas and Colorado, New Mexico, +Arizona, and Southern California in my company, I shall be most happy to +have you do so. I am also authorized to offer you a position, a humble +one, to be sure, but one that will pay the same salary that you would +have received as a member of the locating-party, in the division I am to +command. I don't suppose there will be many chances for you to run +locomotives out there; but I have no doubt there will be plenty of +swimming to be done, as well as other things in the line of your +peculiar abilities. But you have not answered my question yet. Will you +accept my offer, or do you wish a few days in which to consider it?" + +"Oh, Mr. Hobart!" cried the boy, who was standing up in his excitement. +"It seems almost too good to be true! I can't realize that this splendid +chance, that I've been trying so hard not to think about, has really +come to me. Why, I'd rather go on that trip than do anything else in the +whole world, and if you'll only take me along, in any position, I don't +care what, I'll be grateful to you all my life." + +"But what do you think your father will say? Do you suppose he will let +you go?" inquired the engineer, soberly. + +Glen's face became grave again in an instant. "Oh, yes, he's sure to," +he replied, "but I'll write this very minute, and ask him. + +"There won't be time to receive an answer," said Mr. Hobart, "for we +must start from here to-morrow; but perhaps this letter will make things +all right. You see," he added, "I thought it was just possible that you +might care to accept my offer, and so I took the liberty of writing and +asking your father if he were willing to have you do so. I also asked +him not to say anything about it in Brimfield until after we had +started, for fear I should be flooded with applications from other boys, +who might imagine I had the power to give them positions. Your father's +answer reached me here an hour ago, and with it came this letter for +you." + +No own father could have written a kinder or more satisfactory letter to +a boy than the one Mr. Matherson sent to his adopted son. It readily +granted the required permission, and congratulated Glen upon the +splendid opportunity thus opened to him. At the same time it told him +how they already missed him, and how they hated the thought of not +seeing him for a whole year. It closed with the information that Binney +Gibbs was making extensive preparations for his departure to the far +West, and that the famous expedition, of which he was to be a member, +was the all-absorbing topic of conversation in Brimfield. + +Mr. Hobart watched the boy's glowing face as he read this letter with +genuine pleasure; for he had taken a real liking to him, and was not +only glad of this opportunity for affording him such unalloyed +happiness, but also that they were to be companions on the proposed +trip. + +Matters being thus happily settled, the engineer told Glen that they +would start the following evening for the end of the track, nearly two +hundred miles west of that point, where the expedition was to +rendezvous, and where he was to establish a camp for their reception. + +The information that interested and pleased Glen the most, though, was +that Mr. Brackett was to be assistant engineer of the new division, and +that most of the members of the party with whom the boy was already on +such friendly terms, were also to join it. + +Being dismissed by Mr. Hobart, with orders to be on hand bright and +early in the morning, for the morrow would be a busy day, the happy lad +rushed away to find those who were to be his fellow-explorers, and talk +over with them the wonders and delights of the proposed trip. To his +surprise not one of them was anywhere about the hotel, and he was told +that the entire party had gone down town a few moments before. Too +excited to do anything else, Glen immediately set out to find them. For +some time he searched in vain; but at length, attracted by the sound of +great shouting and laughter, he joined a throng of people who were +gathered about one of the few barber shops of the city, and seemed to be +vastly entertained by something taking place inside. + +Recognizing "Billy" Brackett's voice above all the other sounds that +came from the shop, Glen pushed himself forward until he finally gained +a position inside the door. All the engineers were there. Three of them +occupied the three chairs that the shop boasted, and were having their +hair cut. Another, standing on a table, so that he could overlook the +crowd, was superintending the operation. But for his voice and his +unmistakable costume, Glen would never have recognized in him the +dignified young engineer under whom he had been at work but an hour +before. Every spear of hair had disappeared from his head, and he was as +bald as a billiard cue. Seated on the table, contentedly swinging their +legs, were two other bald-headed figures, whom Glen with difficulty +recognized as the leveller and rodman. + +When the three victims in the chairs had been reduced to a similar state +of baldness, their places were instantly occupied by the remaining +members of the party. The whole performance was conducted amid the most +uproarious fun, of which the recently promoted assistant engineer was +the ruling spirit. + +As the chairs became empty for the third time, and the nine bald-headed +members prepared to depart, each declaring that the others were the most +comical-looking objects he had ever seen, they suddenly caught sight of +Glen, and a rush was made for him. In another moment, despite his +struggles, he too was seated in a barber's chair, and was rapidly +growing as bald as his fellow-explorers. + +"You'll look worse than a boiled owl, Glen," remarked "Billy" Brackett, +encouragingly. + +"And be a living terror to Injuns," cried another. + +"It'll be the greatest comfort in the world, old man, to feel that +though you may be killed, you can't be scalped," shouted a third. + +Realizing that resistance was useless, Glen submitted to the shearing +process with as good a grace as possible. A few minutes later, wearing a +very loose-fitting hat, he was marching up the street with his jovial +comrades, joining with the full strength of his lungs in the popular +chorus of + + "The bald-headed man, who's been always in the van + Of everything that's going, since the world first began." + + + + +Chapter XII. + +STARTING ACROSS THE PLAINS. + + +Transforming themselves into a party of bald-heads was the last of the +absurd pranks with which the young engineers entertained the good people +of Kansas City for many a long day. At the same hour on the following +evening they were well on their way towards the far West in a +dilapidated passenger-coach attached to a freight train loaded with +tents and supplies of every description for their long trip. + +By the next noon, after a hard, rough ride of nearly two hundred miles, +the end of the track was reached. It was on a treeless prairie, sweeping +away as far as the eye could see on all sides. Here was spread a thick +green carpet of short buffalo grass, and into this carpet were woven +exquisite patterns of innumerable flowers. The place was at the junction +of the Kaw River with one of its numerous branches, and where but a few +weeks before wild Indians had camped and vast herds of buffalo had +pastured, a railroad town of several hundred rough frame houses, +shanties, and tents had already sprung into existence. + +Here the overland stages took their departure for the distant mining +town of Denver, and here the long trains of great freight-wagons were +loaded for their toilsome journey over the Santa Fé trail to the +far-away valley of the Rio Grande. Here, on side-tracks, were the +construction-cars, movable houses on wheels, in which lived the graders, +track-layers, and other members of the army of workmen employed in the +building of a railroad. Railroad men, soldiers, teamsters, traders, +Indians, and Mexicans, horses, mules, and oxen mingled here in +picturesque confusion. Nearly every man carried a rifle, and it was rare +to meet one who did not wear one or more revolvers strapped to his +waist. + +It was by far the most novel and bustling scene Glen had ever looked +upon; and, as he stepped from the last railroad-car he was to see for +many months, and stretched his cramped limbs, he gazed about him in +astonishment. But there was no time for idling, and Glen had hardly +given a glance at his unfamiliar surroundings before Mr. Hobart's voice, +saying, "Come, boys, there's plenty to do, and but a few hours to do it +in," set the whole party to work in the liveliest possible manner. + +There was a fine grassy level about a hundred yards from the railroad, +on the opposite side from the settlement. It was skirted by a clear but +sluggish stream, fringed by a slender growth of cottonwood-trees, and +was so evidently the very place for a camp that Mr. Hobart selected it +at once. Here the young engineers worked like beavers all through that +long, hot afternoon, and by nightfall they had pitched twenty +wall-tents, arranged in the form of an open square. One of these was +reserved for Mr. Hobart, while Mr. Brackett and the leveller were given +another, and two more were allowed to the other members of the party. +Into these they had removed all their personal belongings, while in two +other tents, carefully ditched and banked to keep out the water in case +of rain, were stored all the instruments, implements, blank-books, and +stationery provided for the expedition. + +Heartily tired after this novel but interesting labor, how Glen did +enjoy his tin-cup of black coffee without milk, the fried bacon and +hard-tack, that constituted his supper, when, at sundown, one of the +axemen, who had been at work for an hour over a fire, announced that it +was ready! He would have scorned such fare at home; but, with his +present appetite, and under the circumstances, it seemed as though +nothing had ever tasted better. + +As the darkness came on, how cheerful the tent, that had now become his +home, looked in the light of a lantern hung from its ridge-pole! What a +pleasant hour he passed listening to the stories and experiences of his +three tentmates, as they lay luxuriously outstretched on their blankets, +enjoying their well-earned rest! The entire stock of blankets was used +to make one wide, comfortable bed for the four. All the rubbers were, of +course, placed underneath, next the ground, and Glen was greatly pleased +at the praise bestowed upon his rubber-sheet, which was twice as large +as an ordinary blanket, and which he had followed Mr. Hobart's advice in +procuring. + +After the others had finished their evening pipes and dropped off to +sleep, and after the light had been put out, the novelty of this first +night under canvas kept Glen awake for some time. What a fortunate +fellow he felt himself to be, as he lay there recalling the events of +the last ten days, and trying to picture the immediate future! To think +that he, the worst scholar in his class, a boy without an own father or +mother, so far as he knew, nor even a birthday that he was sure of, +should be away out here on the Plains, and about to start on an +expedition that every boy in the country would be thankful to join if he +could. It was simply wonderful; and he resolved that, if hard work and +the promptest possible attention to duty could render him worthy of such +good-fortune, neither of these things should be lacking. + +By daylight the camp was astir; but Glen was the first to roll out of +his blankets, and he had been down to the creek for a plunge in its cool +waters before breakfast-time. Then followed another hard day's work. The +train of twenty heavy canvas-topped army-wagons, each drawn by six +mules, the three four-mule ambulances, and the drove of spare animals +furnished to the expedition by the government, arrived during the +morning. These wagons had to be loaded with the vast quantity of +provisions and various supplies brought thus far by rail. Then the tents +already up had to be ditched, and still others erected for the use of +the engineer-in-chief and other officers of the party who were now +hourly expected to arrive. + +A flag-pole was planted in front of the headquarter tents, and that +evening, when a train came in bringing General Lyle and about half the +members of the expedition, an American flag was run to its top. Both it +and the general were greeted with a volley of rifle-shots and a hearty +cheer, while at the same time the encampment was christened "Camp Lyle." + +Glen's youthful appearance attracted the chief's attention as soon as he +caught sight of the lad, and he was inclined to doubt the advisability +of allowing such a mere boy to accompany the expedition. A few words +from Mr. Hobart satisfied him, however, that Glen would prove a credit +to the party, and after that the general watched the boy with interest. + +With the chief-engineer came a geologist, botanist, surgeon, +photographer, private secretary, quartermaster, the two other division +commanders, and, what was of more immediate interest to all the young +engineers, several good camp-cooks. Thus, on the second night of its +existence, with this large increase in the number of its occupants, Camp +Lyle presented a most cheerful and animated appearance. + +Early the following morning another train arrived from the East, +bringing the remaining members of the expedition. A few minutes after +its arrival Glen was awakened by hearing a voice that sounded very +familiar, calling, + +"Hello! I say! Some of you fellows come out here and help me!" + +As he sat up in his blankets, wondering who could be speaking with such +a tone of authority, and whether he ought to answer the summons or not, +a head was thrust into the tent-door, and the demand was repeated. + +It was Binney Gibbs, who had passed as completely out of Glen's mind as +though he had never existed. He did not recognize Glen's bald head; but, +when the latter stepped from the tent with his hat on, saying, "Hello, +Binney, old man, what can I do for you?" the prize scholar of the +Brimfield High School stood for a moment speechless with amazement. + +"You here?" he finally stammered. "What on earth does it mean?" + +"It means," replied Glen, laughing at the other's incredulous +expression, "that Brimfield is to have two representatives on this +expedition instead of one, and that I am going through to the Pacific +with you." + +Binney had always been jealous of Glen, but at that moment he felt that +he almost hated him. + +In spite of this, he allowed his former schoolmate and another stout +fellow to bring his heavy trunk from the railroad into camp. When the +quartermaster saw it he said that, as there would be no room for trunks +in the wagons, the owner of this one must take from it what would fill a +moderate-sized valise, and either dispose of the trunk with the rest of +its contents or send them back home. To this Binney angrily replied that +he would see General Lyle about it. + +The new arrival gave further offence that morning by turning up his nose +at the breakfast prepared by one of the camp-cooks, and declaring it +unfit for white men to eat. He also refused, point-blank, to help unload +a car when requested to do so by one of the division engineers, saying +that it was not the kind of work he had been engaged to perform. + +He was only brought to a realizing sense of his position by a severe +reprimand from General Lyle himself, who declared that, upon the next +complaint brought to him of the boy's conduct, he should discharge him. +He also said that only the fact of Binney's having been sent there by +his old friend Mr. Meadows prevented him from doing so at once. The +chief closed his remarks by advising Binney to take the other Brimfield +boy of the party as an example worthy of copying. Thereupon all the +prize scholar's bitterness of feeling was directed against unsuspecting +Glen, and he vowed he would get even with that young nobody yet. + + + + +Chapter XIII. + +BINNEY GIBBS AND HIS MULE. + + +The effect on Binney Gibbs of General Lyle's reprimand was good, +inasmuch as it brought him to a realizing sense of his true position in +that party, and showed him that, if he wished to remain a member of it, +he must obey orders, even when they were issued in the form of polite +requests. So, after that, he made a virtue of necessity, and obeyed +every order with a scrupulous exactness, though generally with an +injured air, and a protesting expression of countenance as though he +were being imposed upon. It was a great mortification to him to be +obliged to send home his trunk, and more than half his supply of +clothing, together with a number of other cherished luxuries, such as a +rubber bathtub, a cork mattress, a rubber pillow, half a dozen linen +sheets, several china plates, cups, and saucers, besides some silver and +plated ware, all of which he relinquished with a heavy heart and many +lamentations. + +The only thing in the shape of a valise, with which to replace his +trunk, that he could purchase in the railroad settlement, was one of +those cheap affairs made of glazed leather, such as are often seen in +the hands of newly landed immigrants. As Binney brought this into the +camp, it at once attracted universal attention. The boys crowded about +him, begging to be allowed to examine his new and elegant "grip-sack;" +and, from that day forth, he was known as "Grip" by the entire party. + +For a week longer the expedition remained at Camp Lyle, waiting for +settled weather, and preparing for its great undertaking. It was divided +into four divisions, three of which were regularly equipped +surveying-parties who were to run transit and level lines from a point +near the Colorado border to the Pacific Ocean. The fourth, or +headquarter division, was composed of the commander and his immediate +staff, together with the scientific men and their assistants. + +As Glen hoped and expected, he was assigned to the second division, of +which Mr. Hobart was engineer in charge, and Mr. Brackett was assistant. +He was a little disappointed that the only position found for him in the +division was the very lowest of all in rank and pay. It was that of +tapeman, and his duties were to assist the topographer of the party in +measuring distances to, or taking the bearings of, prominent objects +along the line. Neither could Glen help wishing that Binney Gibbs had +not been assigned to the same division as himself. On account of his +brilliant record for scholarship and skill with figures, Binney was made +rodman, a position that far outranked Glen's and commanded twice his +pay. Still, Glen strove hard not to feel envious of this other Brimfield +boy. He was altogether too proud of being a member of the expedition on +any terms to have room for any other feeling, and he was anxious to be +on a friendly footing with Binney, as he was with everybody else. So, +when the positions were announced, and the prize scholar was found to +hold such a fine one, Glen was the first to tender his congratulations. + +Binney received them coldly, merely remarking that they could not very +well have given him any lower position, and that he should not have +accepted anything less if it had been offered. + +Glen only smiled at this, and thought how fortunate it was that he did +not feel that way. + +As a rodman Binney was allowed the use of a saddle-animal, and a very +small mule was assigned to him as his mount. When he went down to the +wagons to inspect his new acquisition, he thought he had never seen a +more dangerous-looking animal. It laid back its ears and bit at him when +he attempted to pat it on the nose, and manifested every other sign of +mulish antipathy towards its new master. In spite of all this, the +teamster having it in charge assured Binney that it was a perfect lamb, +and the rodman, anxious to prove his ability to ride a mule, which some +of the boys had doubted, ordered the animal to be saddled. + +The man who held the beast while Binney climbed awkwardly into the +saddle winked at some of his fellows who were watching the operation, +and thrust his tongue derisively into his cheek. + +For a few moments the mule did prove a veritable lamb, ambling along so +gently that Binney's spirits rose, and he began to imagine himself the +rider that he claimed to be. Elated by his success, he even dared to +give the bridle reins a shake, say "Get up!" and finally to touch the +side of his steed with the spur that, in his pride, he had fastened to +one of his boot-heels. + +The effect was electrical. In an instant Binney found himself hatless, +with both feet out of the stirrups, clinging for dear life to the pommel +of the saddle, and wishing himself anywhere but on the back of a mule +dashing madly, at full speed, directly into camp. + +"Help! help!" he shouted, breathlessly. "Head him off! stop him +somebody!" + +Once inside that square of tents, the mule did not seem to realize the +possibility of again passing beyond them, but tore frantically round and +round the inner side of the square, as though it were a circus-ring. +Everybody dropped his work and rushed out to witness the comical +spectacle. + +"Freeze to him, Grip!" cried one. + +"Give him his head!" + +"What made you leave Barnum's?" + +"Stand up on his back!" + +"Don't abuse the poor mule! It's a shame to make him run so!" + +These, and a hundred similar cries, mingled with shouts of uproarious +laughter, greeted poor Binney from all sides; while not the slightest +attention was paid to his piteous entreaties that somebody would stop +the mule. + +At length these cries seemed to attract the attention of the animal +himself; for he suddenly planted his fore-feet and stopped so abruptly +that Binney was flung over his head as from a catapult. Then the mule +lifted high his head and uttered a prolonged ear-splitting bray of +defiance. + +Glen had sprung forward and caught the animal's bridle almost the +instant he stopped. Now leading him to where Binney sat, dazed but +unhurt, he asked, soberly, "Do you want to try him again, Binney?" + +"Try him again!" shouted the rodman, angrily. "No, I never want to see +him again; but if you think he's easy to ride, why don't you try him +yourself?" + +"Yes, try him, young 'un! Give him another turn around the ring, Glen!" +shouted the spectators, anxious to have their fun prolonged, but having +no idea that this boy from Brimfield could ride, any more than the +other. + +Glen borrowed a pair of spurs, soothed the mule for a moment, sinched +the girth a trifle tighter, and, with a sudden leap, vaulted into the +saddle. For an instant the animal remained motionless with astonishment; +then he bounded into the air, and came down with all four legs as stiff +as posts. The shock would have been terrible to the boy, had he not +lifted himself from the saddle and supported his whole weight in the +stirrups. The mule repeated this movement several times, and then began +to plunge and kick. But the saddle in which Glen sat was a deeply +hollowed, high-pommelled, Mexican affair, built for just such occasions +as this, and so the plunging might have been kept up all day without +disturbing the rider in the least. + +The mule laid down and tried to roll, while the boy, who had jumped from +his back, stood quietly by, and allowed him to discover the folly of the +attempt. The high pommel of the saddle again interfered; and as the +disgusted animal scrambled to his feet, he again found his burr-like +rider as firmly seated on his back as ever. + +For a moment the mule hung his head in a dejected manner, as though +thinking out some new plan. Suddenly his meditations were interrupted by +a yell directly in one of his long ears, and a sharp pain felt in both +sides at once. He sprang forward to escape these annoyances; but they +clung to him as close as did his new rider. Faster and faster he flew, +while harder and harder spurred Glen, and louder grew his yells. All at +once the animal stopped, as short as on the former occasion; but this +time the rider did not fly over his head. The fact is, the mule was now +so thoroughly frightened and bewildered that he had no idea of stopping +until his lower jaw was jerked back so sharply that had it belonged to +any other kind of an animal it must have been dislocated. Even Glen had +no idea of the power of that cruel Mexican bit, and was almost as +greatly surprised as the mule at its sudden effect. + +Then came more yelling, more spurring, and more frantic dashing around +that tiresome square. At length the mule spied the opening through which +he had entered, and, rushing through it, he sped away over the open +prairie, thankful to be rid of those bewildering tents and shouting +spectators, even though his rider still clung as close as ever to that +Mexican saddle. + +When the two returned to camp, half an hour later, it was evident that +the most perfect understanding existed between them; but the mule was so +crest-fallen by his humiliation that for a long time even Binney Gibbs +could ride and abuse him with impunity. + +As for Glen, his reputation as a horseman was firmly established, and +from that day until he got a horse of his own there was always somebody +willing and anxious to place a mount at his disposal. + + + + +Chapter XIV. + +ON GUARD AT NIGHT. + + +A few mornings after Glen's experience with the mule, the white tents of +Camp Lyle were struck; and at sunrise the long slow-moving trains of +wagons had covered the first mile of the many hundreds lying between it +and the Pacific. The last railroad had been left behind, and the sound +of its whistle was heard no more. Already our young explorer was +learning, from his more experienced comrades, to distinguish an Indian +pony and lodge-pole trail from that of a buffalo, and a buffalo wallow +from an ordinary mud-hole. Already he had seen his first prairie-dog +town, and had gazed curiously at several bleached skulls of the mighty +bison, some of which were still partially covered with shaggy hair. +Already, too, he was filled with that sense of glorious freedom and +boundless possibility that can only be breathed with the air of +unlimited space. Glen was surprised to find that, instead of being +level, as he had always thought them, the Plains rolled, in vast +undulations, having a general north and south direction, so that, as the +wagons were moving west, they were always ascending some long slope, or +descending its farther side. He was almost startled, too, by the intense +silence brooding over them, and unbroken at a short distance from the +train, save by the plaintive song of meadow-larks. + +But nobody was allowed to stray far from the wagons, even to note the +silence of the Plains, for fear lest it might be broken by very +unpleasant sounds. All the "horse Indians" of the country were leagued +together, that summer, to fight the whites. North of the Platte, Sioux, +Blackfeet, and Crows had smoked the peace-pipe, and united to harass the +builders of the Union Pacific. South of that river, Cheyennes, Kiowas, +Comanches, and Arrapahoes were waging common war against those who were +turning the buffalo pastures into farms, and making such alarming +inroads into the vast herds upon which they depended for meat. The +Indians were well armed, well mounted, and determined. Custer, with the +Seventh Cavalry, was ranging the Platte valley, and the country between +it and the Republican, so that, in that vicinity, Indians were becoming +scarce. South of that, however, and particularly along the Smoky Hill, +the valley of which General Lyle's expedition was ascending, Indians had +never been more plentiful or troublesome than now. + +Every day brought its rumors of murdered settlers, captured +wagon-trains, besieged stage stations, and of the heavily guarded stages +themselves turned back, or only reaching their destinations after fierce +running fights, riddled with bullets, and bearing sad loads of dead and +wounded passengers. Along the entire Smoky Hill route, from the end of +the railroad to Denver, a distance of four hundred miles, were only +three small forts, with garrisons of three or four companies each; and +the strength of these garrisons was constantly weakened by the demand +for escorts to stages and emigrant trains. Thus the exploring expedition +was forced to depend largely on its own resources, and must fight its +way through as best it could. Arms were therefore supplied to all its +members who did not possess them, and, from the outset, a strong camp +guard was posted each night. + +At the end of a day's march the wagon-master, or "wagon-boss," who +always rode ahead of the train mounted on a sleek saddle mule, would +select a camping-ground, generally where wood, water, and grass were to +be had, and, turning from the beaten trail, would lead the way to it. +Where he halted the first wagon also stopped. Then he would move on a +short distance, and the second wagon would follow him, until it was +ordered to wheel into line with the first. When all thus occupied their +designated positions, they either formed a semicircle on the bank of the +stream, with their poles pointing inward, were arranged in two parallel +lines facing each other, or, if the place was very much exposed, they +would form a complete circle, with each tongue overlapping the +hind-wheels of the wagon before it. + +The minute the train halted, all the stock was unharnessed or unsaddled, +and, under guard of two mounted teamsters, were allowed to graze on the +sweet buffalo grass, within sight of camp, until sunset, when they were +watered and driven in. Then each team was fastened to its own wagon and +given its ration of corn. All the saddle animals and spare stock were +securely picketed within the line of wagons, thus leaving the smallest +possible chance for an Indian to get anywhere near them. + +While the animals were being thus attended to, the men were hard at work +pitching tents, getting out blankets and such baggage as might be +needed, collecting fuel for the camp-fires, fetching water for the +cooks, and, if the location of the camp was considered especially +dangerous, in digging rifle-pits in which the guards for the night would +be posted. All this work was performed by regular details, changed each +day, and announced each morning at breakfast-time. Thus, one day Glen +would find himself on the detail for pitching headquarter tents, and the +next answering the cook's imperative demands for water. Or, provided +with a gunny-sack, he might be scouring the immediate neighborhood for a +supply of dry buffalo chips, with which to eke out the scanty stock of +fire-wood. He always performed these tasks cheerfully and faithfully; +not that he liked them, but because he realized their necessity, and saw +that all the others, below the rank of assistant engineer, were obliged +to do the same things. + +Binney Gibbs, however, considered such duties irksome and demeaning. He +thought it very hard that the son of a wealthy man, a prize scholar, and +a rodman, such as he was, should be compelled to act as a cook's +assistant. To show his contempt for the work he performed it awkwardly +and with much grumbling. The cooks were not slow to discover this; and, +as a cook is a power in camp as well as elsewhere, they began to make +things as unpleasant as possible for him. It was wonderful how much more +water was needed when it was his turn to keep them supplied than it was +when any one else was on duty. Then, too, while Glen's willingness and +good-nature were rewarded by many a tidbit, slyly slipped into his tin +plate, it chanced that Binney always got the toughest pieces of meat, +the odds and ends of everything, and, whenever he asked for a second +helping, was told that there was none of that particular dish left. He +tried to retaliate by complaining of the cooks at headquarters; but, as +he could prove nothing against them, the only result of this unwise +measure was that he got less to eat than ever, and but for a hard-tack +barrel that was always open to everybody would have been on a fair way +to starvation. + +Another thing Binney hated to do was to stand guard. This duty came to +each one in turn, every three or four nights, according to the number of +sentinels required, and on a night of duty each one was obliged to keep +watch "two hours on and four off." That is, if Binney or Glen went on +duty at six o'clock, he would be relieved at eight, and allowed to sleep +until midnight, when he would stand guard again at one of the several +posts beyond the camp limits, until two. Then he might sleep until six, +when, if camp was not already broken, he must again go on duty until it +was, and the wagon-train was in motion. + +Binney declared this was all nonsense. It was well enough, he said, to +talk about Indians attacking a small party, or a stage station here and +there; but as for bothering a large, well-armed party like this, they +simply wouldn't think of doing such a thing. There was as much danger of +their attacking Fort Riley! The idea of waking a fellow up at midnight, +and sending him out on the prairie to listen to coyotes and screech-owls +for two hours! It was ridiculous! He might as well be enlisted in the +army and have done with it! So he growled and grumbled, and tried, in +every way possible, to shirk this guard duty, though generally without +success. + +Even Glen wondered if it were necessary to keep so many men on guard, +and if the disagreeable duty did not come oftener than it need. At +length, however, something happened to convince these boys that no guard +against the wily foes surrounding them could be too strong or too +carefully kept. + +They had been out a week, and were in the heart of the Indian country, +far beyond the most advanced settlements, when, one evening, camp was +pitched on a level bit of valley, bounded on one side by bluffs that +separated it from the higher plains. On the other side flowed a creek +bordered by a growth of cottonwoods, red willows, and tall, rank grass. +Beyond the creek rose still other bluffs, forming the eastern boundary +of this pleasant valley. From time immemorial the place had been a +favorite resort of Indians, as was shown by the abandoned wick-i-ups, +lodge-poles, and quantities of bleached buffalo bones found in a grove +of great cottonwoods a short distance up the stream. There was, however, +nothing to indicate that they had occupied the place recently, and so, +though the one topic of conversation about the camp-fires at supper-time +was Indians, it was rather of those belonging to other times and places +than to the present. + +Suddenly, from the top of the bluff behind the camp, came half a dozen +shots, and the sentinel who had been posted there rushed in, shouting, +"Indians! Indians!" This time the enemy proved to be two overland +stages, loaded with mails and troops, who had fought their way through +from Denver. These had mistaken the sentinel for an Indian, and fired at +him, while he, thinking from this that they certainly must be Indians, +had fired back. + +Late that same night the camp was again alarmed by a shot from one of +its sentries. Everybody sprang from his tent, rifle in hand, and for a +few minutes the excitement was intense. It was succeeded by a feeling of +deep disgust when it was discovered that sentry Binney Gibbs had fired +at a coyote that the light of the newly risen moon had disclosed +prowling about the camp. + +When, therefore, at two o'clock in the morning, Glen went on duty, and +was stationed on the edge of the slope leading down to the stream, Mr. +Brackett, who was officer of the guard, charged him not to fire at +anything unless he was absolutely sure it was an Indian. + +Glen answered that he certainly would not give an alarm without good +cause for so doing; and Mr. Brackett, promising to visit him again at +the end of an hour, went softly away to inspect the next post on his +round. + +When, at the end of an hour, the officer of the guard returned to the +post where he had left Glen, the boy was not to be found. In vain did +Mr. Brackett call his name, at first in low tones, and then louder. In +vain did he question the other sentries. They had neither seen nor heard +anything more suspicious than an occasional coyote. In vain was the +whole camp aroused and a search made through its tents and wagons. Not a +trace of the boy, who was so universally liked, was to be found. He had +disappeared as absolutely, so far as they were concerned, as though the +earth had opened and swallowed him. + + + + +Chapter XV. + +THE SUSPICIOUS MOVEMENTS OF CERTAIN COYOTES. + + +When Glen was left lying on the ground, with his rifle beside him, +peering into the black shadows of the undergrowth, he certainly did not +anticipate seeing any thing more dangerous to his own safety, or that of +the sleeping camp, than coyotes, and he had already learned what +cowardly beasts they were. How absurd it was of Binney Gibbs to fire at +one. He might have known what it was. No wonder the fellows were +provoked. He would like to know as much as Binney did about some things; +but he should hate to be as silly as he in others. How many coyotes +there were to-night anyhow. He had already heard their short, sharp +barks, and long dismal howls from the bluffs behind him, and from those +on the opposite side of the stream. Now another of the weird sounds came +floating down on the damp night air from the direction of the old Indian +camping-ground. Perhaps that fellow was howling because he couldn't find +any meat on those bleached buffalo bones. Well, no wonder. Glen thought +he would be inclined to howl, too, over such a disappointment as that. + +It was not absolutely dark; for, though the moon was in its last +quarter, it gave considerable light when the clouds would let it; but +they were scurrying across the sky at such a rate that they kept it +hidden most of the time. As Glen was facing the east, it lighted the +spot where he lay whenever it was allowed to light any thing, and made +the darkness of the underbrush, at which he gazed, blacker than ever. It +was forlorn and lonely enough without the moonlight; but Glen thought +that perhaps it was better to be in darkness than to be lighted up while +enemies might possibly be gazing at him from the safe cover of those +impenetrable shadows. How easily a rifle-shot from those bushes could +pick him off during one of those uncomfortable little spells of +moonlight. + +All at once Glen saw another light, apparently on the edge of the +opposite bluffs. It showed yellow and steady for a second, and then +disappeared. Was it an Indian signal, or a newly risen star suddenly +obscured by clouds? This was a question calculated to keep even a sleepy +boy wide awake. Perhaps if he watched closely he would see it again. He +had heard a great deal about Indian signals lately, and knew that, by +flashes of fire at night, smokes, waving blankets, and mirror flashes by +day, they could transmit intelligence across the plains almost as +readily as white men could do the same thing by telegraph. How he wished +he understood their signals, and how he would like to see them using +them. + +Glen was very curious concerning Indians--real wild ones--and hoped he +should at least catch a glimpse of some before the trip was ended. It +would be too absurd to return to Brimfield, after crossing the Plains, +and to be obliged to confess that he had not met any. + +Hallo! How near those coyote howls were coming. Wasn't that one of the +brutes now, skulking in the shadow of those willows? Certainly something +was moving down there. Now there were two of them. With what an ugly +snarl they greeted each other. Still, that snarl was a comfort; for it +proved them to be really coyotes. At least so thought Glen. Just then +the boy sneezed. He couldn't have helped it to save him, and at the same +moment the moon shone out. The coyotes had disappeared. Perhaps they +thought he would fire at them, as Binney Gibbs had. But they needn't be +afraid. He wasn't going to alarm the camp on account of coyotes. + +Another cloud swallowed the moon, and again Glen thought he could +distinguish a black object moving through the shadows. Although he +strained his eyes, and watched intently, almost holding his breath in +his excitement, he could see only one object, and it certainly was +moving towards him. Where was the other? If he only dared fire at that +one! The boy clutched his rifle nervously. The coyote came sneaking on, +very slowly, frequently stopping and remaining motionless for several +seconds; but Glen never took his eyes from it. If he only had, just long +enough to give one look at the human figure creeping noiselessly towards +him from behind; but no thought of danger from that direction entered +his head. + +As the Indian, gliding up behind the young sentry, reached a point from +which he could distinguish the outlines of the recumbent figure before +him, he cautiously raised himself on one knee, and fitted a steel-headed +arrow to the bow that had been slung on his back. In another instant it +would have sped on its fatal mission, and Glen's career would have ended +as suddenly as the snuffing of a candle-flame. He was saved by a gleam +of moonlight, that caused the Indian to sink, like a shadow, into the +grass. The coyote also remained motionless. Then the moon was again +obscured, and the Indian again rose to a crouching posture. He had +evidently changed his plans; for he no longer held the bow in his hand. +That gleam of moonlight had showed him that the sentry was only a boy, +instead of the man he had supposed, and he determined to try for a +captive instead of a scalp. + +The next instant he sprang forward with the noiseless bound of a +panther, and the breath was driven from Glen's body as the Indian +lighted on his back, with one hand over the boy's mouth. The coyote rose +on its hind-legs, and leaped forward at the same moment. In a twinkling +its skin was flung over Glen's head, and so tightly fastened about his +neck that he was at once smothered and strangled. He tried to cry out, +but could not. He did not even know what had happened, or who these were +that, swiftly and with resistless force, were half dragging, half +carrying him between them. + +For a moment he entertained the wild hope that it was a practical joke +of some of the boys from camp. That hope was speedily dispelled; for, as +his captors gained the shelter of the trees on the bank of the stream, +they halted long enough to secure his arms firmly behind him, and to +loosen the coyote-skin so that he could breathe a trifle more freely. +Then he was again hurried forward. + +After travelling what seemed to the poor boy like an interminable +distance, and when he was so faint and dizzy with the heat and +suffocation of that horrible wolf-skin that he felt he could not go a +step farther, it was suddenly snatched from his head, and the strong +grasp of his arms was let go. The boy staggered against the trunk of a +tree, and would have fallen but for its support. For a few moments he +saw nothing, and was conscious of nothing save the delicious coolness of +the air and the delight of breathing it freely once more. + +The halt was a short one; for already a faint light, different from that +of the moon, was stealing over the eastern bluffs, and the Indians must +have their prisoner far away from there by sunrise. There were three of +them now, as well as some ponies and a mule. Glen could also see a great +many white objects scattered about the ground. They were bleached +buffalo bones. As he recognized them, he knew he was at the old Indian +camping-ground he had visited the evening before, and from which one of +those coyote howls had seemed to come. So it had; but it had been +uttered by the young Cheyenne left there in charge of the animals, in +answer to the howls of the two other human coyotes, who, prowling about +the engineers' camp, had finally made Glen a prisoner. + +They were Cheyenne scouts, belonging to the Dog Soldier band, at that +time the most famous fighters of that warlike tribe. They had been sent +out from their village, on the American Fork, two days before, to find +out what they could concerning General Lyle's exploring expedition, +rumors of which had already reached the ears of their chiefs. So +successfully had they accomplished their mission that they had not only +discovered all they wanted to know about these new invaders of their +territory, but had actually taken one of their number prisoner. Besides +this they had stolen three fine saddle ponies, and a powerful white +mule, from the corral of a stage station some twenty miles up the trail. +Now, therefore, as they swung their captive on the back of the mule, and +secured him by passing a thong of raw-hide about his ankles and beneath +the animal's belly, their hearts were filled with rejoicing over their +success. + + + + +Chapter XVI. + +IN THE HANDS OF THE CHEYENNES. + + +Especially happy was the youngest of the three Indians, who was a boy of +about Glen's age. This was the first scout he had ever been allowed to +go on; and, as he reflected upon the glory of their return to the +village, with that prisoner, those stolen ponies, and all the valuable +information they had acquired, he wondered if there was any happier or +prouder boy living than he. He even had a kindly feeling towards the +white boy, who, by allowing himself to be captured, had contributed so +largely to the honors that would be showered upon him, and he grinned +good-humoredly in Glen's face as soon as the growing daylight enabled +him to see it plainly. Up to this time the Cheyenne boy had only been +known as "Blackbird;" but he had set forth on this scout with the firm +determination of winning a name more worthy of a young warrior. Had he +not already done so? His companions had complimented him on his +carefully executed imitation of a coyote's howl, and one of them had +suggested that he must have a veritable wolf's tongue in his mouth: +"Wolf-Tongue!" There was a fine name for a young Dog soldier. What if he +should be allowed to keep it for his own? There was not another boy of +his age in the village with such a name as that. Now he began to make +some curious motions with his hands, and poor Glen, who, in spite of his +own wretchedness, could not keep from watching him with some curiosity, +wondered what the young Indian was up to. Dropping the bridle on his +pony's neck, the boy lifted both hands to the level of his shoulders +with the first two fingers of each extended upward and forward, while +the thumbs and other fingers were tightly closed. At the same time he +stuck out his tongue. He was spelling out his new name in the Indian +sign language, just to see how it would look. + +The boy only held his hands in this position for an instant, and then +dropped them to clutch a gun that was slipping from his knees, across +which he had laid it. The movement attracted Glen's attention to the +gun, and his face flushed angrily as he recognized his own precious +rifle, in which he had taken such pride and delight. It was too bad. +Then the thought flashed into his mind, would he ever again care for a +rifle or anything else in this world? What did Indians do with +prisoners? Tortured them, and put them to death, of course. Did not all +the stories he had ever read agree on that point? Could it be possible +that he, Glen Eddy, was to be tortured, perhaps burned at the stake? Was +that what coming out on the Plains meant? Had life with all its hopes +and joys nearly ended for him? It could not be! There must be some +escape from such a horrible fate! The poor boy gazed about him wildly, +but saw only the endless sea of grass stretching to the horizon on all +sides, and the stern faces of his captors, one of whom held the end of a +lariat that was fastened about the mule's neck. + +They all carried bows and arrows slung to their backs, as well as rifles +that lay across their knees. They wore moccasins and leggings of +buckskin, but no clothing above their waists. Their saddles were simply +folded blankets, which would be their covering at night. In place of +stirrups they used strips of buffalo hide with a loop at each end. These +were thrown across the blanket saddles, and the feet of the riders were +supported in the loops. One of them had a pair of field-glasses slung by +a strap from his shoulders. + +Until nearly noon they pushed westward across the trackless undulations +of the prairie, and Glen became so faint from hunger and thirst, and so +stiff from his painful position, that he could hardly retain his seat. +His mule was a long-limbed, raw-boned animal, whose gait never varied +from an excruciatingly hard trot. Finally, the boy's sufferings reached +such a point that it was all he could do to keep from screaming, and he +wondered if any torture could be worse. + +At length they came to a tiny stream, fringed with a slender growth of +willows, and here a long rest was taken. Glen could not stand when his +ankles were unbound, and he was allowed to slip from the mule's back, +but fell heavily to the ground. The Indian boy said something to his +companions, one of whom replied with a grunt, whereupon the lad unbound +the prisoner's arms, and helped him to reach the edge of the stream. He +was wonderfully revived by plunging his head into the cool water, and +the young Indian, who seemed a good-natured sort of a chap, assisted to +restore the circulation in his wrists and ankles by rubbing them +vigorously. The men smiled scornfully at this; but the boy rubbed away +with a hearty good-will, and smiled back at them. He wanted to get this +prisoner into the village in as good a condition as possible, and was +perfectly willing to be laughed at, if he could only accomplish his +object. He even went so far as to kindle a small fire of dry, barkless +wood, that would make but little smoke, and heat a strip of dried +buffalo-meat over its coals for the prisoner to eat, though wondering at +a taste that did not find raw meat just as palatable as cooked. Then he +tried to converse with Glen; but, as the latter did not understand +either Cheyenne or the sign language, and as the only English word +Wolf-Tongue knew was "How," this attempt proved a failure. + +How Glen wished he could talk with this Indian boy. Why were not white +boys taught the Indian language in school, so as to be prepared for such +emergencies? It would be so much more valuable than Latin. He wondered +if he would have studied it any harder than he had other things, if it +had been included in the Brimfield High School course. How far away +Brimfield seemed! What wouldn't he give to be there at this moment? How +would they feel at home if they could see him now? + +At length it was time to go on again. The animals, which had been +hobbled to prevent them from straying, left the juicy grasses of the +bottom-land with reluctance; and, with a heavy heart and still aching +body, Glen again mounted his mule. His saddle was the coyote-skin that +had been thrown over his head when he was captured. Now he was given a +pair of raw-hide Indian stirrups; while, though his hands were again +tied behind his back, his feet were left unbound. He therefore rode much +more comfortably now than before, and Wolf-Tongue, who seemed to +consider the prisoner as his especial property, was allowed to hold the +end of his lariat. + +All the movements of these scouts were as carefully guarded as though +they were surrounded by enemies. They avoided soft places where a trail +might be left, and whenever they ascended a swell of the prairie they +halted just before reaching the top. One of them, dismounting, would +then creep cautiously forward, and, without exposing his body above the +crest, would gaze long and searchingly in every direction. Not until he +was satisfied that no human being was within range of his vision would +he show himself on the summit, and beckon his comrades to join him. + +The afternoon was half gone, when, on one of these occasions, the scout +who had just crept to the top of an elevation was seen by the others to +gaze long and steadily in a particular direction through his +field-glass. At length, apparently satisfied with what he saw, he stood +up, and flashed a dazzling ray of sunlight from a small mirror that he +held in his hand. Again and again did he send that flash over miles of +prairie, before he saw the answering flash for which he was watching. +Then he called the others up; they talked earnestly together for a few +minutes, and, having reached some conclusion, they galloped rapidly +away, almost at right angles to the course they had been following. + +Glen wondered what this movement meant; but it was not until they had +ridden for nearly an hour that his unasked questions were answered. +Then, as though by magic, so unexpectedly did they appear, a score or +more of Indians seemed to spring from the ground and surround them. It +was a Cheyenne war-party. Their ponies, under watchful guard, grazed in +a slight depression to one side of them, and their scouts kept a keen +lookout from a rise of ground beyond. + +While these warriors were exchanging greetings with the new-comers, and +regarding the prisoner with unconcealed satisfaction, two white men, +utterly unsuspicious of their presence so near them, were lounging in +front of the Lost Creek stage station, less than a mile away. From this +station the scouts had stolen their ponies and the white mule two nights +before. + +The ranch and stable stood side by side, and were low, one-story +buildings, with walls of a soft sandstone, quarried near by, and roofs +of poles covered with sods. Behind them was a corral enclosed by a low +stone wall. The ranch and stable were connected by a narrow subterranean +passage, and another led from the house to a "dug-out," or square pit, +some ten yards from it. This "dug-out" had a roof of poles heavily +covered with earth and sods; while, just at the surface of the ground, +port-holes opened on all sides. A similar pit, on the other side, could +be reached from the stable, and another, in the rear of the station, was +connected with the corral. + +Lost Creek Station had suffered greatly at the hands of Indians that +summer. Its inmates had been killed, and its stock run off. Now but two +men were left to guard it. This afternoon they were watching anxiously +for the stage from the east, which was some hours overdue. + +Suddenly, as they gazed along the distant wagon trail, there came a +thunderous rush of hoofs from behind the station. But the men had heard +the sound before, and did not need to look to know what it meant. + +"They're after us again, Joe!" exclaimed one, in a disgusted tone, as +they sprang into the ranch and barred its heavy door behind them. A +moment later they were in the "dug-out" behind the corral, and the +gleaming barrels of two rifles were thrust from two of its narrow +port-holes. + +"I swear, Joe! if one of them hasn't the cheek to ride old Snow-ball, +and he's in the lead, too. You drop him, and I'll take the next one." + +There were two reports. A white mule pitched heavily forward and its +rider was flung to the ground. A wounded Indian clung to his pony. Then +the whole band wheeled and dashed back to where they had come from, +taking both their wounded warrior and the one who had been flung to the +ground with them. + +"Did you notice that the fellow I dropped had a white man's hat on?" +asked Joe, as the two men watched the retreat of their foes. + +"Yes, and white men's clothes on, too. I wonder who he murdered and +robbed to get 'em?" + + + + +Chapter XVII. + +A CHEYENNE WAR-PARTY. + + +The war-party, detected by the wonderful eyesight of the Cheyenne scout +while they were yet miles away from him, had been for more than a week +engaged in attacking stages and wagon-trains on the Smoky Hill Trail. +Hiding behind some slight elevation, or in a cottonwood thicket near the +road, with keen-eyed scouts always on the lookout, they would burst like +a whirlwind on their unsuspecting victims, pour in a withering volley of +bullets and arrows, and disappear, almost before a return shot could be +fired. Sometimes they would maintain a running fight for miles with a +stage, their fleet ponies easily keeping pace with its frantic mules, +and many a one thus fell into their hands. Its fate was always the same. +If any of its defenders survived the fight they were either killed or +reserved for the worse fate of captives. Its mail-sacks were ripped open +and their contents scattered far and wide. Finally it was set on fire +and destroyed. + +Sometimes the stages escaped; in which case their passengers had +marvellous tales to tell. One of these, that reached the safety of +General Lyle's wagon-train just in time to avoid capture, had but one +living passenger, a woman who was not even wounded during the almost +continuous storm of arrows and bullets of a ten-mile running fight. Four +dead men, one of whom was her husband, were inside the coach, and +another was on the box with the driver. The latter was wounded, and the +mules fairly bristled with arrows. The stage itself was shivered and +splintered in every part by the shower of lead that had been poured into +it, and many a blood-stained letter from its mail-sacks afterwards +carried a shudder into distant Eastern homes. + +This, then, was the work of the war-party who were gathered about Glen +Eddy; and, even now, they were impatiently awaiting the appearance of +the stage from the east that was due that day. For this occasion they +had planned a new form of attack. It was not to be made until the stage +reached the ranch. There, while its mules were being changed, and its +occupants were off their guard, the Indians proposed to dash out from +the nearest place of concealment and attempt the capture of both it and +the station at the same time. It was a well-conceived plan, and might +have been successfully carried out, but for the arrival of the three +scouts, who were now so proudly exhibiting their prisoner and telling +the story of his capture. Before they had half finished, a few dazzling +flashes of light from the mirrors of the distant lookouts announced that +the eastern stage was in sight. + +A minute later the warriors were mounted and riding cautiously towards a +point but a short distance from the ranch, where they could still remain +concealed from it until the moment of making their final dash. The three +scouts, being on other duty, were not expected to take part in the +fight, nor had they any intention of so doing, much as they would have +liked to; but they could not resist the temptation to witness it. So +they, with their prisoner, followed close behind the others to their new +place of concealment. When they reached it, these three, with Glen, +stood a little apart from the rest, so as not to interfere with their +movements. + +Up to this moment, the boy had not the least idea of what was about to +take place, nor where he was. There was nothing to indicate that a stage +ranch and a well-travelled wagon road lay just beyond the ridge before +him. He wondered what these Indians were up to; but he wondered still +more when they would go into camp, and give him a chance to dismount +from the back of that hard-trotting mule; for his aches and pains had +again become very hard to bear. In spite of his thoughts being largely +centred upon himself, Glen could not help noticing the uneasy movements +of his steed, and his impatient snuffings of the air, that began as soon +as they came to a halt. The scouts noticed them, too, and watched the +mule narrowly. + +Suddenly the animal threw up his great head, and in another instant +would have announced his presence to all the country thereabout by a +sonorous, far-reaching bray. Before he could open his mouth, however, +one of the scouts sprang from his pony and seized him by the nose. In +the struggle that followed, the end of the lariat held by Wolf-Tongue +was jerked from his hand. At the same moment the mule succeeded in +shaking off the scout with such violence that he staggered for nearly a +rod before recovering his balance. Then, so quickly that Glen was very +nearly flung from his back, the animal sprang to the crest of the little +ridge, and dashed, with astonishing speed, towards the corral that had +been his home for so long, and which he had scented so plainly the +moment he reached its vicinity. + +Of course the entire body of Indians was in instant pursuit--not of the +mule, but of the prisoner that he was bearing from them. Like a +thunderclap out of a clear sky, they rushed down that slope, every pony +doing his best, and their riders yelling like demons. From the first, +Wolf-Tongue took the lead. It was his prisoner who was escaping, his +first one. He must have him again. He would almost rather die than lose +him. So he lashed his pony furiously with the quirt, or Indian +riding-whip of raw-hide fastened to his wrist, and leaned far over on +his neck, and yelled, and beat the animal's sides with his moccasined +feet, until he had gained a lead of all the others and was almost within +reach of the mule. Another moment and he would have that trailing lariat +in his hand. + +Glen, too, was kicking the sides of his ungainly steed, and yelling at +him in a perfect frenzy of excitement. He saw the stage ranch, the +winding wagon trail, and the shining river beyond the instant he was +borne over the crest of the ridge, and knew what they meant for him. To +reach that little clump of buildings first, meant life, liberty, and +restoration to his friends. He must do it, and he fully believed he +could. He leaned as far as possible over the mule's neck, and shouted +encouraging words into his ears. What wonderful speed the long-legged +animal was showing! Who would have thought it was in him? + +"Well done, mule!" yelled Glen. "A few more seconds and we'll be there! +They can't catch us now!" + +Then came a burst of flame from the earth in front of him. The white +mule gave a convulsive bound and fell dead in his tracks, while poor +Glen was flung far over his head to the ground, which he struck so +heavily as to partially stun him. + +Without checking the speed of their ponies in the least, two stalwart +warriors bent over, and, seizing the boy by the arms, raised him between +them as they swept past. A moment later the entire band, minus only +their white mule, had again reached their place of concealment, and poor +Glen, breathless, bruised, and heart-broken with disappointment, was +more of a prisoner than ever. Besides this, Wolf-Tongue, the only one +amid all those stern-featured warriors who had shown the least particle +of pity for him, was wounded--a rifle-ball having passed through the +calf of one of his legs. + +[Illustration: "TWO STALWART WARRIORS SEIZED HIM BY THE ARMS AND RAISED +HIM BETWEEN THEM AS THEY SWEPT PAST"] + +This sudden derangement of his plans caused the leader of the war-party +to abandon them altogether, and decide upon a new one. It would be +useless to attempt to surprise the stage and station now. Besides, it +might be just as well to leave the trail in peace for a few days, in +order that the large party of white men, of whom the scouts had just +brought information, might come on with less caution than they would use +if constantly alarmed. He would send runners to the villages of the +Kiowas, Arrapahoes, and Comanches, and tell them of the rich prize +awaiting their combined action. In the meantime he would return to his +own village and raise a war-party that, in point of numbers and +equipment, should be a credit to the great Cheyenne nation. + +So the runners were despatched, and the rest of the party set out in a +northwesterly direction towards their distant villages on the American +Fork. + +Shortly before the Indians halted for the night, even Glen almost forgot +his heartache and painful weariness of body in the excitement of seeing +his first buffalo, and witnessing an Indian buffalo-hunt on a small +scale. It was just at sunset, when the scout, who rode ahead, signalled, +from the top of an elevation, by waving his blanket in a peculiar +manner, that he had discovered buffalo. + +Obeying a command from their leader, half a dozen warriors at once +dashed ahead of the party; and, joining the scout, disappeared over the +ridge. As the others gained the summit, they saw that the plain beyond +it was covered with a vast herd of buffalo, quietly feeding, singly or +in groups, and spreading over the country as far as the eye could reach. +There were thousands of them, and Glen was amazed at the wonderful +sight. + +Those nearest to the advancing Indians had already taken the alarm, and +in less than a minute more the whole vast mass was in motion, with loud +bellowings and a lumbering gallop, that, shaking the earth, sounded like +the rush and roar of mighty waters. The fleet war-ponies speedily bore +the hunters into the thick of the flying mass, so that for a few seconds +they were swallowed up and lost to view in it. Then they reappeared +surrounding, and driving before them, a fat young cow, that they had cut +out from the rest of the herd. They did not use their rifles, as the +reports might have attracted undesirable attention to their presence. +From their powerful bows arrow after arrow was buried in the body of the +selected victim, some of them even passing completely through it, until +at length the animal fell, and the chase was ended. + + + + +Chapter XVIII. + +BUFFALO AND THEIR USES. + + +If the Cheyennes had been on a regular hunt they would have killed +scores of the mighty beasts before desisting from their bloody work; but +buffalo were too valuable to the Plains Indian to be wasted, or killed +for mere sport. In fact, their very existence, at that time, depended +upon these animals. Not only did their flesh form the chief and almost +the sole article of Indian food, but with the skins they covered their +lodges, and made boats, ropes, lariats, trunks, or _par fléche_ sacks, +saddles, shields, frames for war bonnets, gloves, moccasins, leggings, +shirts, gun-covers, whips, quivers, knife-scabbards, cradles, +saddle-bags and blankets, beds, bridles, boots, glue, and a score of +other necessary articles. + +From the hair they made ropes and pillows; while the horns provided them +with spoons, cups, dishes, powder-flasks, arrow-heads, and even bows. +Buffalo sinews gave the Indians thread and twine for innumerable +purposes; while certain of the bones were fashioned into axes, knives, +arrow-points, and implements for scraping the hides or dressing robes. +The ribs were formed into small dog sledges, and the teeth into +necklaces and rattles. Buffalo chips were a most important article of +fuel on the almost treeless plains, and this is only a partial list of +the useful articles furnished to the Indians by this animal. At that +time buffalo roamed, in countless thousands, from the Missouri River to +the Rocky Mountains, and from Mexico up into British America. Since then +they have been ruthlessly slaughtered and exterminated by skin-butchers, +emigrants, and an army of so-called sportsmen from all parts of the +world. + +While the hunters were cutting up the cow they had killed, the rest of +the party went into camp on the bank of the stream, near which the vast +herd had been feeding. Here Wolf-Tongue's wound, that had only been +rudely bandaged to check the flow of blood, was carefully dressed and +attended to. + +There was no lack of food in the camp that evening, and the warriors +were evidently determined to make up for their days of hard riding and +fighting on scanty rations, by indulging in a regular feast. + +Glen was disgusted to see the liver and kidneys of the buffalo eaten +raw, as was also a quantity of the meat while it was yet warm. Still +there was plenty of cooked meat for those who preferred it. Over small +fires, carefully screened by robes and blankets, so that their light +should not attract attention, ribs were roasted and choice bits were +broiled. Even the prisoner was unbound and allowed to cut and broil for +himself until he could eat no more. + +Wolf-Tongue's wounded leg was smeared with melted tallow; and, though it +was so lame and stiff that he could not use it, his appetite was in no +wise impaired by his wound, nor did it dampen his high spirits in the +least. It rather added to them; for, as he ate buffalo meat raw or +cooked, as it was handed to him, at the same time laughing and chatting +with those of the younger warriors who were nearest his own age, he felt +that an honorable wound had been the only thing needed to crown the +glories of this, his first warpath. Now he would indeed be greeted as a +hero upon his return to the village. He felt more assured than ever that +he would be allowed to keep the fine name of "Wolf-Tongue." Perhaps, but +it was only just within the range of possibility, the head men might +commemorate at once his success as a scout, and the fact that he had +received a wound in battle, by conferring upon him the distinguished +name of "Lame Wolf." Such things had been known. Why might they not +happen to him? + +When the feasting was ended, and the entire band began to feel that to +sleep would be far better than to eat any more, they extinguished their +fires and moved noiselessly away, a hundred yards or so, from the place +where they had been. Here in the tall grass, at the foot of the +cottonwood-trees, or in red willow thickets, the tired warriors laid +down, each man where he happened to be when he thought he had gone far +enough for safety. Each drew his blanket over his head, and also over +the rifle that was his inseparable bedfellow. The ponies had already +been securely fastened, so that they could be had when wanted, and now +they were either lying down or standing motionless with drooping heads. +The camp was as secure as an Indian camp ever is, where every precaution +is taken to guard against surprise, except the simple one of keeping +awake. + +Wolf-Tongue, who was unable to touch his foot to the ground, was carried +to his sleeping-place with his arms about the necks of two of his +stalwart friends. Now, with Glen's rifle clasped tightly to him, and +with his head completely enveloped in a blanket, he was fast forgetting +his pain in sleep. + +Poor Glen was forced to lie without any blanket, either over or under +him, with his wrists bound together, and with one of his arms fastened, +by a short cord, to an arm of one of the scouts who had captured him. +The latter fell asleep almost instantly, as was proved by his breathing; +but it was impossible for the prisoner, weary as he was, to do so. His +mind was too busily engaged in revolving possible means of escape. For a +long time he lay with wide-open eyes, dismissing one project after +another as they presented themselves. Finally he decided that, unless he +could first free his hands and then release his arm from the cord that +bound him to the scout, he could do nothing. + +To accomplish the first of these objects, he began to gnaw, very softly, +at the raw-hide thong by which his wrists were secured. How tough and +hard it was. How his jaws ached after he had worked for an hour or more, +without accomplishing his purpose. Still he could feel that his efforts +were not altogether fruitless. He knew that he could succeed if he were +only given time enough. + +He was obliged to take several rests, and his work was often interrupted +by hearing some wakeful Indian get up and walk about. Twice the scout +wakened, and pulled at the cord fastened to his prisoner's arm to assure +himself that he was still there. + +At length the task was concluded, the hateful thong was bitten in two, +and Glen's hands were free. They were cold, numb, and devoid of feeling; +but after a while their circulation was gradually restored, and the boy +began to work at the knot that secured the cord about his arm. It was a +hard one to untie, but in this, too, he finally succeeded. Just as it +loosened beneath Glen's fingers, the scout woke and gave the cord a +pull. Fortunately the boy still held it, and the other was satisfied +that his prisoner was still beside him. Glen hardly dared breathe until +he felt certain that the Indian again slept. Then he fastened the cord +to a bit of willow, that grew within reach, in order that there might be +some resistance if the scout should pull at it again, and cautiously +rose to his feet. + +Which way should he go? How should he avoid stepping on some recumbent +form if he moved at all? For a moment he stood irresolute. Well, +whatever he did he must do quickly, for the short summer night was far +advanced. He had not a moment to lose. If he only dared take a pony! If +he could drive them all off and leave his pursuers without a horse on +which to follow him! It was a thought worthy of a Cheyenne scout, and +Glen realized in a moment that, hazardous as the undertaking would be, +it offered the only means of ultimate escape. He thought he knew where +the horses were, and began to move with the utmost caution, feeling his +way inch by inch, in that direction. + +Twice he just discovered a motionless human form in time to avoid +stumbling over it, and each time his heart seemed to leap into his mouth +with the narrowness of his escape. Several times, too, he changed his +course in order to avoid some real or fancied obstacle, until at length +he was completely bewildered, and obliged to confess that he had no idea +of what direction he was taking. Still he kept on, trembling with +nervousness, until at length he felt certain that he must be at least +well outside the circle of sleeping Indians, if not at a considerable +distance from them. He began to move more rapidly, when suddenly a human +figure rose up before him, so close that he could not avoid it. He +sprang at it with a blind fury, hoping to overthrow it, and still effect +his escape. Then there came a wild cry, a deafening report, and Glen +found himself engaged in a furious struggle with an unknown antagonist. + + + + +Chapter XIX. + +GLEN'S ESCAPE FROM THE INDIANS. + + +As Glen struggled desperately, but well-nigh hopelessly, with the +assailant who had risen so unexpectedly to bar his escape, there came a +crashing volley of shots, a loud cheer, and a rush of trampling feet +through the willows and tangled undergrowth. The boy only dimly wondered +at these sounds as he was flung to the ground, where he lay breathless, +with his arms pinned tightly to the earth, and expecting that each +instant would be his last. Then he became strangely conscious that his +antagonist was talking in a language that he understood, and was saying, + +"Yez would, would ye? An' yez tho't ye could wrastle wid Terence +O'Boyle? Ye murtherin' rid villin! Bad cess to it I but oi'll tache ye! +Phat's that ye say? Ye're a white man? Oh, no, me omadhoon! yez can't +fool me into lettin' ye up that way!" + +"But I am white!" cried Glen, half choked though he was. "Let me up, and +I'll prove it to you. Can't you understand English?" + +Very slowly and reluctantly the astonished Irishman allowed himself to +become convinced that the assailant he had failed to shoot, but whom he +had overcome after a violent struggle, was not an Indian. It was some +minutes before he would permit Glen to rise from his uncomfortable +position, and even then he held him fast, declaring that nothing short +of an order from the captain himself would induce him to release a +prisoner. + +The explanation of this sudden change in our hero's fortunes and +prospects is that, while the Cheyennes were engaged in their +buffalo-hunt the evening before, they had been discovered by a Pawnee +scout. He was attached to a company of cavalry who were on their way +back to Fort Hayes, on the Smoky Hill, from an expedition against the +Arrapahoes. The captain of this company had determined to surprise the +Indians thus unexpectedly thrown in his way, at daybreak, and had made +his arrangements accordingly. Their movements had been carefully noted +by the scouts, and, having made a start from their own camp at three +o'clock that morning, the troops were cautiously surrounding the place +where they supposed their sleeping foes to be. + +The attack would undoubtedly have proved successful, and the Cheyennes +would have sprung from their grassy couches only to fall beneath the +fire from the cavalry carbines, had not Glen Eddy run into trooper +Terence O'Boyle and been mistaken for an Indian by that honest fellow. +Upon the alarm being thus prematurely given, the soldiers fired a volley +and charged the Cheyenne camp, only to find it deserted. With one +exception, the Indians had made good their escape, and it was never +known whether any of them were even wounded by the volley that gave them +such a rude awakening. The one who failed to escape was the young scout +who hoped to be known as "Wolf-Tongue," and who, on account of his +wound, was unable to fly with the rest. + +He managed to conceal himself in a thicket until daylight. Then he was +discovered by one of the Pawnee scouts, who dragged him out, and would +have put him to death but for the interference of Glen Eddy, who was +just then led to the spot by his Irish captor. + +An hour later Glen was enjoying the happiest breakfast in his life, in +company with Captain Garrett Winn, U.S.A., who was listening with +absorbed interest to the boy's account of his recent thrilling +experiences. + +"Well, my lad," said the captain, when Glen had finished his story, "I +consider your several escapes from being killed, when first captured, +from the bullets of those fellows at the stage ranch, from the Indians, +and, finally, from being killed by that wild Irishman, as being little +short of miraculous." + +Soon afterwards the trumpet sounded "Boots and Saddles," and Glen, +mounted on a handsome bay mare--which, with several other ponies, had +been left behind by the Indians in their hurried flight--trotted happily +away with his new friends in the direction of Fort Hayes. In his hand he +grasped his own rifle, which was recovered when Wolf-Tongue was +captured, and behind him, mounted on a pony led by one of the troopers, +rode that wounded and crest-fallen young Indian himself. + +The future looked very black to Wolf-Tongue just now; for, totally +ignorant of the ways of white men, he expected nothing less than death +as soon as he should reach the fort. He realized that Glen had saved him +from the knife of the Pawnee scout, and wondered if the white boy would +interfere in his behalf with the warriors of his own race, or if they +would listen to him in case he did. He wished he knew just a little of +the white man's language, that he might discover what those soldiers on +each side of him were talking about. Perhaps they were even discussing +him and his fate. But he only knew one word of English, and now he began +to think he did not understand the meaning of that; for, though he heard +the soldiers say "how" several times in the course of their +conversation, they did not seem to use it at all as he would. So the +Indian lad rode along unhappily enough; but, though his thoughts were +very busy, no trace of them was allowed to exhibit itself in his +impassive face. + +In the meantime he was the subject of a conversation between Glen and +Captain Winn, as they rode side by side. The former had a very kindly +feeling towards the young Indian, who had tried to be kind to him when +their present positions were reversed, and now he wanted in some way to +return this kindness if possible. + +"What will be done with him do you think, sir?" he asked. + +"I'm sure I don't know," replied the captain, carelessly. "I suppose he +will be kept as a prisoner at some one of the forts until we have +whipped his tribe and put it on a reservation, and then he will be sent +back to it." + +"But what will become of him then?" persisted the boy. + +"Oh, he will grow up to be one of the regular reservation beggars, +living on government charity, until he finally drinks himself to death +or gets killed in some quarrel. That's the way with most of them on the +reservations. You see they haven't anything else to do, and so they +drink and gamble, and kill each other just to pass away the time." + +"Don't you suppose he could learn to live like white folks if he had the +chance?" + +"Yes, I suppose he could. In fact, I know he could, if he had the +chance; for these Indian boys are about as bright as they make 'em. But +I don't know where he'll get the chance. The government would rather pay +a thousand dollars to keep him on a reservation, or even to kill him, +than a hundred to give him an education, and I don't know of anybody +else, that is able to do anything, who will take an interest in him." + +There the conversation ended; for, after riding some time in silence and +trying to think of a solution of this perplexing Indian problem, Glen +all at once found himself nodding so that he almost fell off his horse. +He was so thoroughly wearied and sleepy that it did not seem as though +he could hold his eyes open another minute. + +Noticing his condition, the captain said, kindly, + +"You look just about used up, young man; and no wonder, after what +you've gone through. The best thing for you to do is to hand your pony +over to one of the men, crawl into the wagon back there, and take a +nap." + +Glen thought this such good advice that he immediately followed it. Two +minutes later he was lying, in what looked like a most uncomfortable +position, on top of a pile of baggage in the only wagon that accompanied +the troops, more soundly asleep than he had ever been before in all his +life. He did not even know when the wagon reached the fort, a few hours +later, nor did he realize what was happening when he was lifted from it +and led by the captain into his own quarters. There the boy was allowed +to tumble down on a pile of robes and blankets, and told to have his +sleep out. + +Not until the rising sun streamed full in his face the next morning did +that sleep come to an end. Then he awoke so hungry that he felt as +though it would take a whole buffalo to satisfy his appetite, and so +bewildered by his surroundings that, for some minutes, he could not +recall what had happened. He had no idea of where he was, for he could +remember nothing since the act of crawling into the wagon and finding a +bed on its load of baggage. + + + + +Chapter XX. + +A PRESENT THAT WOULD PLEASE ANY BOY. + + +Through the open window, by which the sunlight was streaming in, Glen +caught a glimpse of a line of cottonwood-trees, which, as he had long +ago learned, denoted the presence of a stream in that country. To a boy +who dearly loved to bathe, and had not washed for two whole days, +nothing could be more tempting. Nor was Glen long in jumping from the +window, running down to the cottonwoods, throwing off his clothes, and +plunging headforemost into the cool waters. + +With that delicious bath disappeared every trace of his weariness, his +aches, and everything else that remained to remind him of his recent +trials, except his hunger. When he was at length ready to go in search +of something with which to appease that, he walked slowly back towards +the house in which he had slept. He now noticed that it was built of +logs, and was the last one in a row of half a dozen just like it. He +also heard bugle calls, saw soldiers in blue uniforms hurrying in every +direction, and wisely concluded that, in some way, he must have been +brought to Fort Hayes. + +As he stood irresolute near the house, not knowing which way to go or +what to do, a door opened and a little girl, followed by a lady, came +out. The child stopped and looked at the boy for a moment. Then running +back to her mother, she exclaimed, + +"Look mamma! look! It's the very same one we knew on the cars!" + +Glen had recognized her at once as his little acquaintance of the +railroad between St. Louis and Kansas City, and now the lady recognized +him as the boy who had run the locomotive so splendidly that terrible +night, and had then so mysteriously disappeared. + +It was truly a very happy party that gathered about Captain Winn's +hospitable breakfast-table that morning. They had so much to talk about, +and so many questions to ask, and so many experiences to relate, and +Nettie so bubbled over with delight at again finding her play-fellow, +that the meal was prolonged for more than an hour beyond its usual +limits. + +After breakfast Glen asked if he might go and see the prisoner, to which +the captain replied, "Certainly you may." As they walked across the +parade-ground in the direction of the guard-house, Glen was introduced +to several officers, who seemed to take a great interest in him, and +shook hands so cordially, and congratulated him so heartily on his +escape from the Cheyennes, that the boy began to think his rough +experience was not without its compensations after all. + +In the guard-house they found the young Indian peering disconsolately +out between the gratings of his cell window, and looking very forlorn +indeed. He gazed sullenly at the visitors, and wondered why they should +come there to stare at him; but when Glen stepped up to him with +outstretched hand, and said "How?" the boy's face brightened at once. He +took the proffered hand, and answered "How" with an evident air of +pleasure, for he could comprehend the other's sympathetic expression, if +he could not understand his language. Pointing to himself, the white boy +said, "Glen," which the other repeated as though he thoroughly +understood what was meant. Then Glen pointed to him, with an inquiring +look, as much as to ask, "What is your name?" + +The boy understood; but hesitated a moment before drawing himself up +proudly and answering in his own tongue; but the name was so long and +hard to say that Glen could not repeat it. + +"I wish I could understand what he says, for I should so like to have a +talk with him," said Glen. + +"There is an interpreter who speaks Cheyenne somewhere about the place," +answered Captain Winn, "and, if you like, I will send for him." + +When the interpreter came, Glen found out that what the boy had said in +Cheyenne was that his name was "Lame Wolf;" but when the young Indian +tried to repeat it in English, after Glen, he pronounced it "Lem Wolf," +which is what he was called from that day. + +After they had held quite a conversation, that greatly increased Glen's +interest in the boy, he and the captain took their departure, the former +promising to come again very soon. + +Then Captain Winn led Glen down to the corral, in which were a number of +horses, ponies, and mules, and, pointing to one of them, asked the boy +if he recognized it. + +"Of course I do," answered Glen. "It's the one I rode yesterday." + +"And the one I hope you will ride for many days to come," said the +captain with a smile; "for I want you to accept that pony as a present +from my little girl." + +"Really?" cried the delighted boy; "do you really mean that I am to have +it for my very own?" + +"I really do," laughed the captain, "and," he continued more soberly, "I +wish I could offer you something ten times more valuable, as a slight +memento of the service you rendered those so dear to me not long ago." + +"You couldn't give me anything I should value more," exclaimed Glen, +"unless--" Here he hesitated, and his face flushed slightly. + +"Unless what?" asked Captain Winn. + +"Unless you could give me that Indian boy." + +"What on earth would you do with him?" cried the captain, his eyes +opening wide with surprise at such an unheard-of request. + +Then Glen unfolded a plan that had formed itself in his mind within a +few minutes; and, when he had finished, the captain's look of surprise +still remained on his face, but he said, reflectively: + +"Well, I don't know but what it might be done, and if you succeed in +carrying out your part of the scheme, I will see what I can do with the +rest of it." + +This matter being disposed of, Glen asked if he might try his pony. + +"But you tried her yesterday," laughed the captain, who enjoyed the +boyishness of this boy as much as he admired his manliness. + +"Yes, sir; but she wasn't mine then, and you know everything, even a +horse, is very different when it is your own." + +"So it is, and you may try her to your heart's content, only don't ride +far from the post unless you wish for a repetition of your recent +experience." + +With this the captain beckoned to a soldier, who stood near by, and +ordered him to saddle the bay mare, and to tell the stable-sergeant that +she belonged to this young gentleman, who was to take her whenever he +pleased. He also told Glen that the whole outfit of saddle, bridle, and +picket rope, then being placed on the mare, were included in his +present. + +The mare was so well fed, and so thoroughly rested, that she was in high +spirits; and, the moment she found Glen on her back, tried her very best +to throw him off. She reared, and bucked, and plunged, and sprang +sideways, and kicked up her heels, to the great delight of a number of +soldiers who were witnesses of the performance; but all to no purpose. +Her rider clung to the saddle like a burr, and all her efforts to throw +him were quite as unsuccessful as those of Binney Gibbs's mule had been +some days before. + +When Glen, with the breath nearly shaken out of his body, but thoroughly +master of the situation, reined the mare up beside the captain, and +asked his permission to name her "Nettle," the latter readily granted +it, saying, "I think it will be a most appropriate name; for it is +evident that she can only be mastered by a firm and steady hand." + +Then the happy boy rode over to Captain Winn's quarters, anxious to +display his new acquisition to the child after whom she had just been +named. As he did so he passed the guard-house, and was moved to pity by +the sight of a sad-looking young face pressed against the grating of one +of its windows, and gazing wistfully at him. That pony had belonged to +Lame Wolf but the day before. + +After an hour's riding in the immediate vicinity of the fort, Glen was +fully satisfied that no horse in the world had ever combined so many +admirable qualities as this bay mare, or given an owner such complete +cause to be satisfied with his possession. + +As he was about to return her to the corral, his eye caught the gleam of +sunlight on a moving white object, a mile or so distant, along the +wagon-trail leading to the east. Watching intently, he saw that it was +followed by another, and another, until the wagons of a long train were +in plain sight, winding slowly along the road towards the fort. When he +was certain that he could not be mistaken, the boy uttered a joyous +shout, clapped spurs to Nettle, and dashed away to meet them. + +A group of mounted men rode ahead of the train, and they gazed +wonderingly at the reckless rider who approached them with such headlong +impetuosity. Their surprise became incredulous amazement as he reined +sharply up within a few paces of them, and, politely lifting his hat, +disclosed the shaven head and flushed face of the boy whose mysterious +disappearance had caused them such sincere grief and distress. They had +devoted half a day to scouring the country near the camp from which he +had been lost; and, finding plentiful traces of Indians in the creek +bottom, had come to the conclusion that, in some way, he had fallen into +their hands, and would never again be heard from. Now, to meet him here, +safe, and evidently in high spirits, was past comprehension. + +Mr. Hobart was the first to ride forward and grasp his hand. "Is it +really you, Glen?" he exclaimed, his voice choked with feeling; "and +where, in the name of all that is mysterious, have you been?" + +"It is really I," answered the boy, "and I've been a prisoner in the +hands of the Cheyennes, and had a glorious time." + +It really did seem as though he had had a good time, now that it was all +over with, and he was the owner of that beautiful mare. Besides, he +could not fully realize the nature of the fate he had escaped. + +Then the others crowded about him, and General Lyle himself shook hands +with him, and wanted to hear his story at once. While he was telling it +as briefly as possible, the joyful news of his appearance flew back +through the train, and the boys came running up to see him, and shake +hands with him, and nearly pulled him off his horse in their eagerness +to touch him and assure themselves that he was really alive. + +"Hurrah for the Baldheads!" shouted the irrepressible Brackett; "they +don't get left! not much!" + +Even Binney Gibbs came and shook hands with him. + +That evening, after the camp was somewhat quieted from its excitement, +and after Glen had told his story for about the twentieth time, he +disappeared for a short while. When he returned he brought with him an +Indian boy, who limped painfully, and seemed very ill at ease in the +presence of so many strange pale-faces. + +"Who's your friend, Glen?" + +"Where are the rest of the ten little Injuns?" shouted the fellows as +they crowded about this new object of interest. + +When at length a partial quiet was restored, Glen begged them to listen +to him for a few minutes, as he had something to propose that he was +sure would interest them, and they shouted, + +"Fire away, old man, we are all listening!" + + + + +Chapter XXI. + +LAME WOLF, THE YOUNG CHEYENNE. + + +"Look here, fellows," said Glen, as he stood with one hand on the +shoulder of the young Indian, and facing his companions, who, attracted +by curiosity, were gathered to hear what he had to say. "This chap is a +Cheyenne, and is one of the three by whom I was captured; but he was +mighty kind, and did everything he could think of to make things easy +for me. So you see he is my friend, and now that he is in trouble, I am +bound to do what I can to help him. His name is Lame Wolf--" (here the +young Indian stood a little straighter, and his eyes flashed. He had +succeeded in having that name recognized as belonging to him, at any +rate), "and he's the son of a chief, and the only English word he knows +is 'How?' Captain Winn says that if he only had a chance he'd learn as +quick as any white boy, and I believe he'd learn a good deal quicker +than some--" At this point Glen became somewhat confused, and wondered +if Binney Gibbs had told how he had been dropped from his class. "He +says, I mean Captain Winn says, that the only thing for him to do out +here is to go on a reservation and become a worthless good-for-nothing, +and get killed. Now that seems a pretty poor sort of a chance for a +fellow that's been as good a friend to me as Lame Wolf has, and I want +you to help me give him a better one. + +"I want to send him back to my home in Brimfield, and let him live with +my folks a year or two, and be taught things the same as white boys, and +have the same chance they have. Captain Winn says he thinks he can fix +it with the folks at Washington about letting him go; but he don't know +where the money to pay his expenses is to come from. I didn't tell him, +because I thought I'd speak to you first; but I was pretty sure it would +come from this very party. I've only got five dollars in cash myself, +but I'll give that, and I'll save all I can out of my pay for it, too. +Now, what do you say, fellows? Shall Lame Wolf have a chance or not?" + +"Yes! yes! of course he shall! Hurrah for Lame Wolf! Hurrah for Glen's +little Injun! Give him a chance! Put me down for half a month's pay! And +me! and me!" shouted a dozen voices at once. + +"Billy" Brackett jumped up on a box, and, calling the meeting to order, +proposed that a committee of three be appointed, with Mr. Hobart as its +chairman, to receive subscriptions to the Lame Wolf Fund. +"All-in-favor-say-aye-contrary-mind-it-is-a-vote!" he shouted. Then +somebody else nominated him and Glen to be the other members, and they +were elected without a dissenting voice. + +While all this was going on the fellows were crowding about the young +Indian, eager to shake hands with him, and say, "How! Lame Wolf, old +boy! How!" + +All at once Glen found that the boy was leaning heavily on him, and +reproached himself for having allowed him to stand so long on his +wounded leg. He got his charge back to the guard-house as quickly as +possible, and then, leaving him to enjoy a quiet night's rest, hurried +back to camp. + +Here he found "Billy" Brackett presiding, with great dignity, over what +he was pleased to call the "subscription books." They consisted of a +single sheet of paper, fastened with thumb-tacks to a drawing-board that +was placed on top of a barrel in one of the tents. Mr. Hobart, who had +consented to serve on the committee, was also in the tent, and to him +were being handed the cash contributions to the Fund. + +Glen put his name down for five dollars a month, to be paid as long as +he should remain a member of the present expedition. Then he started for +his own tent to get the five dollars in cash that he had promised, out +of his valise. + +As he was hurrying back with it he was stopped by Binney Gibbs, who +thrust a bit of paper into his hand, saying, + +"I want you to take this check for your Indian, Glen. Father sent it to +me to buy a horse with, but I guess a mule is good enough for me, and so +the Indian chap can have it as well as not. You needn't say anything +about it." + +With this, Binney, who had spoken in a confused manner, hurried away +without giving Glen a chance to thank him. + +What had come over the boy? Glen had never known him to do a generous +thing before. He could not understand it. When he reached the tent, and +examined the check, his amazement was so great that he gave a long +whistle. + +"What is it, Glen? Give us a chance to whistle too," shouted "Billy" +Brackett. "Our natural curiosity needs to be checked as well as yours." + +"Binney Gibbs has contributed a hundred dollars," said Glen, slowly, as +though he could not quite believe his own words to be true. + +"Good for Grip! Bravo for Binney! Who would have thought it? He's a +trump, after all!" shouted "Billy" Brackett and the others who heard +this bit of news. + +Far beyond the tent, these shouts reached the ears of a solitary figure +that stood motionless and almost invisible in the night shadows. They +warmed his heart, and caused his cheeks to glow. It was a new sensation +to Binney Gibbs to be cheered and praised for an act of generosity. It +was a very pleasant one as well, and he wondered why he had never +experienced it before. + +The truth is that this rough life, in which every person he met was his +equal, if not his superior, was doing this boy more good than any one +had dared to predict that it would. Although he was a prize scholar, and +the son of a wealthy man, there were many in this exploring-party who +were far better scholars, and more wealthy than he. Yet even these were +often outranked in general estimation by fellows who had neither social +position, money, nor learning. At first Binney could not understand it. +Things were so different in Brimfield; though even there he remembered +that he had not been as popular among the other boys as Glen Eddy. Even +in this party, where Binney had expected to be such a shining light, the +other Brimfield boy was far better liked than he. For this Binney had +hated Glen, and declared he would get even with him. Then he began, +furtively, to watch him in the hope of discovering the secret of his +popularity. Finally it came to him, like a revelation, and he realized +for the first time in his life that, in man or boy, such things as +unselfishness, honesty, bravery, good-nature, generosity, and +cheerfulness, or any one of them, will do more towards securing the +regard, liking, and friendship of his fellows than all the wealth or +book-learning in the world. + +Perhaps if Glen had not been captured by the Cheyennes, Binney would not +have learned this most valuable lesson of his life as quickly as he did. +In the general grief over his schoolmate's disappearance, he heard his +character praised for one or another lovable trait, until at length the +secret of Glen's popularity was disclosed to him. Then, as he looked +back and recalled the incidents of their Brimfield life, he realized +what a manly, fearless, open-hearted boy this one, whom he had regarded +with contempt, because he was not a student, had been. Now that he was +gone, and, as he supposed, lost to him forever, Binney thought there was +nothing he would not give for a chance to recall the past and win the +friendship he had so contemptuously rejected. + +For two days these thoughts exercised so strong a sway on Binney's mind, +that when, on the third, Glen Eddy appeared before him as one risen from +the dead, their influence was not to be shaken off. Although he did not +know exactly how to begin, he was determined not only to win the +friendship of the boy whom he had for so long regarded as his rival, but +also to make every member of the party like him, if he possibly could. + +His first opportunity came that evening; but it was not until after a +long struggle with selfishness and envy that he resolved to contribute +that one-hundred-dollar check to the Lame Wolf Fund. He knew that he cut +an awkward figure on his mule, and imagined that a horse would not only +be much more elegant, but easier to ride. Then, too, Glen had such a +beautiful mare; beside her his wretched mule would appear to a greater +disadvantage than ever. He could buy as fine a pony as roamed the Plains +for a hundred dollars. Then, too, that was what his father had sent him +the money for. Had he a right to use it for any other purpose? To be +sure, Mr. Gibbs had not known of the mule, and supposed his son would be +obliged to go on foot if he did not buy a horse. + +So poor Binney argued with himself, and his old evil influences strove +against the new resolves. It is doubtful if the latter would have +conquered, had not the sight of Glen coming towards him brought a sudden +impulse to the aid of the resolves and decided the struggle in their +favor. + +Thus generosity won, but by so narrow a margin that Binney could not +stand being thanked for it, and so hurried away. But he heard the shouts +and cheers coupled with his name, and it seemed to him that he felt even +happier at that moment than when he stood on the platform of the +Brimfield High School and was told of the prize his scholarship had won. + +So the money was raised to redeem one young Cheyenne from the misery and +wickedness of a government Indian reservation; and, when the grand total +of cash and subscriptions was footed up, it was found to be very nearly +one thousand dollars. Glen was overjoyed at the result, and it is hard +to tell which boy was the happier, as he crept into his blankets that +night, he or Binney Gibbs. + + + + +Chapter XXII. + +GLEN AND BINNEY GET INTO TROUBLE. + + +The next day, when Glen announced the successful result of his efforts +to Captain Winn, that officer informed him that he expected to be +ordered East very shortly on special duty, when he would be willing to +take charge of the Indian boy, and deliver him to Mr. Matherson in +Brimfield. Nothing could have suited Glen's plans better; and he at once +wrote a long letter to his adopted father, telling him of all that had +happened, and begging him to receive the young Indian for his sake. He +also wrote to Mr. Meadows and asked him to announce the coming of the +stranger to the Brimfield boys. Then he hunted up the interpreter, and +went to the guard-house for a long talk with his captive friend. + +Lame Wolf was glad to see him, and at once asked what the white men had +talked of in their council of the evening before. Glen explained it all +as clearly as he knew how. The young Indian was greatly comforted to +learn that he was not to be put to death, but also seemed to think that +it would be nearly as bad to be sent far away from his own country and +people, to the land of the Pale-faces. In his ignorance he regarded the +place of his proposed exile much as we do the interior of Africa or the +North Pole, one only to be reached by a weary journey, that few ever +undertook, and fewer still returned from. + +He was somewhat cheered by Glen's promise to join him at the end of a +year, and that then, if he chose, he should certainly return to his own +people. Still, it was a very melancholy and forlorn young Indian who +shook hands, for the last time, with the white boy at sunrise the next +morning, and said, "How, Glen," in answer to the other's cheery +"Good-by, Lame Wolf. Take care of yourself, and I hope you will be able +to talk English the next time I see you." + +Then, after bidding good-bye to the Winns and his other friends of the +post, the boy sprang on Nettle's back and dashed after the wagon-train +that was just disappearing over a roll of the prairie to the westward. + +All that morning Glen's attention was claimed by Mr. Hobart, or "Billy" +Brackett, or somebody else, who wished to learn more of the details of +his recent experience; but late in the afternoon he found himself riding +beside Binney Gibbs. For the first time in their lives the two boys held +a long and earnest conversation. From it each learned of good qualities +in the other that he had never before suspected; and by it a long step +was taken towards the cementing of a friendship between them. + +So engaged were they in this talk, that the animals they were riding +were allowed insensibly to slacken their pace, until they had fallen a +considerable distance behind the train. They even stopped to snatch an +occasional mouthful of grass from the wayside, without opposition on the +part of their young riders. These knew that, whenever they chose, a +sharp gallop of a minute or two would place them alongside of the +wagons, and so they carelessly permitted the distance between them and +the train to become much greater than it should have been. + +Suddenly a dazzling ray of light flashed, for the fraction of a second, +full in Glen's eyes, causing him to start, as though a pistol had been +fired close beside him. He glanced hurriedly about. Not a wagon was in +sight; but he knew the train must be just over the rise of ground he and +Binney were ascending. At that same moment the mule threw up its head +and sniffed the air uneasily. Glen's second glance was behind him, and +it revealed a sight that, for an instant, stopped the beating of his +heart. The whole country seemed alive with Indians. + +Half a mile in the rear, hundreds of them, in a dense body, were +advancing at the full speed of their ponies. A small party, evidently of +scouts, were coming down the slope of a divide at one side, in the +direction of the mirror-flash that had first attracted his attention. +But the worst danger of all lay in two fierce-looking warriors who had +advanced upon the boys so silently and rapidly that they were already +within bow-shot. + +Fortunately, Glen was close beside his companion. With a quick movement +he grasped Binney by the collar and jerked him to one side, so that he +very nearly fell off his mule. At the same instant the two arrows, that +he had seen fitted to their bowstrings, whizzed harmlessly over the +boys' heads. As Nettle and the mule sprang away up the slope, several +rifle-balls, from the little party of Indians on the right, whistled +past them; while from behind them rose a howl of mingled rage and +disappointment. The first two Indians had used the noiseless arrows, in +the hope of killing the boys without betraying their presence to the +rest of the party, as the moment for the grand charge, that they hoped +would be such a complete and overwhelming surprise, had not yet arrived. +Now that they had failed in this, there was no longer any need for +caution, and they fired shot after shot from their rifles after the +fugitives. + +Glen had seen the Cheyennes dodge from side to side, as they rode away +from the stage-ranch three days before, to disconcert the aim of its +defenders; and now he and Binney employed the same device. + +Nettle was so much fleeter than the mule that Glen could have gained the +top of the slope in advance of his companion if he had so chosen; but he +rather chose to be a little behind him at this point. So, instead of +urging the mare to do her best, he faced about in his saddle and +returned the rifle-shots of the two Indians who were nearest, until his +magazine was emptied. It is not likely that any of his shots took +effect; but they certainly weakened the ardor of the pursuit, and gave +Binney Gibbs a chance to cross the ridge in safety, which he probably +could not have done had not Glen held those Indians in momentary check. + +With his last shot expended, and no chance to reload, it was evidently +high time for Glen to test the speed of his mare to its utmost. His life +depended wholly on her now, and he knew it. There would be no taking of +prisoners this time. Even at this critical moment he reflected grimly, +and with a certain satisfaction, upon the difficulty the Indians would +find in getting a scalp off of his shaven head. + +All this riding and shooting and thinking had been done so rapidly that +it was not two minutes from the time of that first tell-tale +mirror-flash before Nettle had borne her rider to the top of the ridge, +and he could see the wagon-train, not a quarter of a mile from him. + +Binney Gibbs was already half-way to it; and, as Glen caught sight of +him, he was amazed at a most extraordinary performance. Binney suddenly +flew from his saddle, not over his mule's head, as though the animal had +flung him, but sideways, as though he had jumped. Whether he left the +saddle of his own accord or was flung from it the effect was the same; +and the next instant he was sprawling at full length on the soft grass, +while the mule, relieved of his weight, was making better time than ever +towards the wagons. + +Glen had left the trail, thinking to cut off a little distance by so +doing; and, a few moments after Binney's leap into the air, he performed +almost the same act. On his part it was entirely involuntary, and was +caused by one of Nettle's fore-feet sinking into a gopher burrow that +was invisible and not to be avoided. + +As horse and boy rolled over together, a cry of dismay came from one +side, and a wild yell of exultation from the other. + + + + +Chapter XXIII. + +FIGHTING THE FINEST HORSEMEN IN THE WORLD. + + +It did not take many seconds for both Glen and Nettle to scramble to +their feet after the tremendous header caused by the gopher-hole. Badly +shaken though he was, the boy managed to regain his saddle more quickly +than he had ever done before. But seconds are seconds; and, in so close +a race for the most valuable of all earthly prizes, each one might be +worth a minute, an hour, or even a lifetime. Glen had not more than +regained his seat, before the foremost of his pursuers, who had far +outstripped the other, was upon him. With an empty rifle, Glen had not +the faintest hope of escape this time, though Nettle sprang bravely +forward. He involuntarily cringed from the expected blow, for he had +caught a fleeting glimpse of an uplifted tomahawk; but it did not come. +Instead of it, he heard a crash, and turned in time to see the Indian +pony and its rider pitch headlong, as he and Nettle had done a minute +before. They were almost beside him; and, as he dashed away, he was +conscious of wondering if they too had fallen victims to an unseen +gopher-hole. + +He had not noticed the figure running to meet him, nor heard one of the +shots it was firing so wildly as it ran. If he had he might have +realized that his salvation had not depended on a gopher-hole, but on +one of those random shots from Binney Gibbs's rifle. By the merest +chance, for it was fired without aim and almost without direction, it +had pierced the brain of the Indian pony, and decided that race in favor +of Glen. + +When, to Glen's great surprise, the two boys met, he sprang from +Nettle's back and insisted that Binney should take his place, which the +other resolutely refused to do. So Glen simply tossed the bridle rein +into Binney's hand, and started off on a full run. In a moment Nettle, +with Binney on her back, had overtaken him, and the generous dispute +might have been resumed had not a party of mounted men from the +wagon-train just then dashed up and surrounded the boys. They were +headed by "Billy" Brackett, who cried out, + +"Well, you're a pretty pair of babes in the woods, aren't you? And +you've been having lots of fun at the expense of our anxiety! But jump +up behind me, Glen, quick, for I believe every wild Injun of the Plains +is coming down that hill after us at this moment." + +Just before the first shots were heard, some anxiety had been felt in +the train concerning the boys who had lagged behind, and "Billy" +Brackett had already asked if he had not better look them up. Then, as +the sound of firing came over the ridge, and the boys were known to have +got into some sort of trouble, he rode back at full speed, followed by a +dozen of the men. All were equally ready to go, but the rest were +ordered to remain behind for the protection of the train. Then the +wagons were quickly drawn up in double line, and the spare stock was +driven in between them. + +These arrangements were hardly completed before "Billy" Brackett and his +party, with the two rescued boys, came flying back, pursued by the +entire body of Indians. As the former gained the wagons they faced +about, and, with a rattling volley, checked for an instant the further +advance of the dusky pony riders. + +But those Cheyennes and Arrapahoes and Kiowas and Comanches were not +going to let so rich a prize as this wagon-train and all those scalps +escape them without at least making a bold try for it. If they could +only force the train to go into corral, while it was a mile away from +the nearest stream, they would have taken a long step towards its +capture. + +So they divided into two bands; and, circling around, came swooping down +on the train from both sides at once. The Plains Indians are the finest +horsemen in the world, and their everyday feats of daring in the saddle +would render the performance of the best circus-riders tame by +comparison. Now, as the two parties swept obliquely on towards the +motionless wagons, with well-ordered ranks, tossing arms, waving plumes +and fringes, gaudy with vivid colors, yelling like demons, and sitting +their steeds like centaurs, they presented a picture of savage warfare +at once brilliant and terrible. + +At the flash of the white men's rifles every Indian disappeared as +though shot, and the next moment their answering shower of bullets and +arrows came from under their horses' necks. The headlong speed was not +checked for an instant; but after delivering their volley they circled +off beyond rifle-shot for a breathing-spell. + +As they did so, the wagon-train moved ahead. A few mules had been killed +and more wounded by the Indian volley; but their places were quickly +filled from the spare stock. By the time the Indians were ready for +their second charge, the train was several hundred yards nearer the +coveted water than before. + +Again they halted. Again the young engineers, inwardly trembling with +excitement, but outwardly as firm as rocks, took their places under and +behind the wagons, with their shining rifle-barrels steadily pointed +outward. Some of them had been soldiers, while others had encountered +Indians before; but to most of them this was the first battle of any +kind they had ever seen. But they all knew what their fate would be if +overpowered, and they had no idea of letting these Indians get any +nearer than within good rifle-shot. + +"If you can't see an Indian, aim at the horses!" shouted General Lyle, +from his position on horseback midway between the two lines of wagons. +"Don't a man of you fire until I give the word, and then give them as +many shots as possible while they are within range." + +The chief had not the remotest thought of allowing his train to be +captured, nor yet of being compelled to corral it before he was ready to +do so. + +The second charge of the Indians was even bolder than the first, and +they were allowed to come much nearer before the order to fire was +given. The same manoeuvres were repeated as before. One white man, a +member of Mr. Hobart's division, was killed outright, and two others +were wounded. More mules were killed than before, and more were injured; +but still the train moved ahead, and this time its defenders could see +the sparkle of water in the river they longed so ardently to reach. How +thirsty they were getting, and what dry work fighting was! The wagon +mules sniffed the water eagerly, and could hardly be restrained from +rushing towards it. + +But another charge must be repelled first. This time it was so fierce +that the Indians rode straight on in the face of the first and second +volleys from the engineers' rifles. When the third, delivered at less +than two rods' distance, finally shattered their ranks, and sent them +flying across the level bottom-land, they left a dozen wagon mules +transfixed with their lances. + +The Indians left many a pony behind them when they retreated from that +charge; but in every case their riders, killed, wounded, or unhurt, were +borne off by the others, so that no estimate of their loss could be +formed. + +Before another charge could be made, the wagons had been rushed forward, +with their mules on a full gallop, to a point so close to the river-bank +that there was no longer any danger of being cut off from it. Here they +were corralled, and chained together in such a manner as to present an +almost impregnable front to the Indians. At least it was one that those +who viewed it, with feelings of bitter disappointment, from a safe +distance, did not care to attack. After they had noted the disposition +of the train, and satisfied themselves that it was established in that +place for the night, they disappeared so completely that no trace of +them was to be seen, and the explorers were left to take an account of +the losses they had sustained in this brief but fierce encounter. + +Only one man killed! What a comfort it was that no more had shared his +fate, and yet how sad that even this one should be taken from their +number! Glen had known him well; for he was one of those merry young +Kansas City surveyors, one of the "bald heads," as they were known in +the party. An hour before he had been one of the jolliest among them. He +was one of those who had gone out so cheerfully with "Billy" Brackett to +the rescue of the boys. He had been instantly killed while bravely doing +his duty, and had suffered no pain. They had that consolation as they +talked of him in low, awed tones. His body could not be sent home. It +could not be carried with them. So they buried him in a grave dug just +inside the line of wagons. + +The last level beams of the setting sun streamed full on the spot as the +chief-engineer read the solemn burial service, and each member of the +expedition, stepping forward with uncovered head, dropped a handful of +earth into the open grave. Then it was filled, and its mound was beaten +to the level of the surrounding surface. After that, mules and horses +were led back and forth over it, until there was no longer any chance of +its recognition, or disturbance by Indians or prowling beasts. + +None of the wounded suffered from severe injuries; and, though the +bodies of the wagons were splintered in many places, and their canvas +covers gaped with rents, no damage had been sustained that could not be +repaired. + + + + +Chapter XXIV. + +CROSSING THE QUICKSANDS. + + +As soon as Glen found a chance to talk to Binney Gibbs he asked him how +his mule happened to throw him in such a peculiar fashion. + +"He didn't throw me," answered Binney, with a look of surprise; "I +jumped off." + +"What on earth did you do that for?" + +"Because he was running away, and I couldn't stop him. I saw that your +pony couldn't keep up with him, and, of course, I wasn't going to leave +you behind to fight all those Indians alone. So I got off the only way I +could think of, and started back to help you. It was mighty lucky I did, +too. Don't you think so?" + +"Indeed I do!" answered Glen, heartily, though at the same time he could +not help smiling at the idea of Nettle not being able to keep up with +Binney's mule. He would not for the world, though, have belittled the +other's brave act by saying that he had purposely remained behind to +cover his companion's flight. He only said, "Indeed I do, and it was one +of the finest things I ever heard of, Binney. I shall always remember +it, and always be grateful for it. You made a splendid shot, too, and I +owe my life to it; for that Indian was just lifting his hatchet over my +head when you rolled him over. I tell you it was a mighty plucky thing +for anybody to do, especially--" Glen was about to say, "especially for +a fellow who has never been considered very brave;" but he checked +himself in time, and substituted, "for a fellow who never had any +experience with Indians before." + +Binney knew well enough, though, that the Brimfield boys had always +thought him a coward; for they had never hesitated to tell him so. Now, +to be praised for bravery, and that by the bravest boy he had ever +known, was a new and very pleasant sensation. It was even better than to +be called generous, and he mentally vowed, then and there, never again +to forfeit this newly gained reputation. + +There is nothing that will so stimulate a boy or girl to renewed efforts +as a certain amount of praise where it is really deserved. Too much +praise is flattery; and praise that is not deserved is as bad as unjust +censure. + +While the boys were thus talking they received word that General Lyle +wished to see them. They found him sitting, with Mr. Hobart, in an +ambulance; for it had been ordered that no tents should be pitched in +that camp. When they stood before the chief-engineer he said, kindly: + +"Boys, I want both to reprimand and thank you. I am surprised that you +should have so disobeyed my positive orders as to lose sight of the +train when on a march through an Indian country. This applies to you, +Matherson, more than to your companion; for your late experience should +have taught you better. I trust that my speaking to you now will prevent +any repetition of such disobedience. Your carelessness of this afternoon +might have cost many precious lives, including your own. That is all of +the reprimand. The thanks I wish to express are for your timely warning +of the presence of Indians, and for the individual bravery displayed by +both of you during our encounter with them. That is all I have to say +this time, and I hope next time the reprimand may be omitted." + +As the two boys, feeling both ashamed and pleased, bowed and took their +departure, the chief, turning to his companion, said: "They are fine +young fellows, Hobart, and I congratulate you on having them in your +division. Now let us decide on our plans for to-night." + +This last remark referred to the decision General Lyle had formed of +placing the river between his party and the Indians before daylight. He +knew that the Indians of the Plains, like all others of their race, are +extremely averse to undertaking anything of importance in the dark. He +also knew that their favorite time for making an attack is when they can +catch their enemy at a disadvantage, as would be the case while his +wagons were crossing the river and his men and animals were struggling +with its probable quicksands. Another serious consideration was that, +during the summer season, all the rivers of the Plains are liable to +sudden and tremendous freshets, that often render them impassable for +days. Thus it was unwise to linger on the near bank of one that was +fordable a moment longer than necessary. He had, therefore, decided to +make the crossing of this stream that night, as quietly as possible, and +as soon as darkness had set in. For this reason none of the baggage, +except the mess-chests and a sack of corn, had been taken from the +wagons, so that a start could be made at a few minutes' notice. + +With the last of the lingering daylight the chief, accompanied by Mr. +Hobart and the wagon-master, crossed the river on horseback, to discover +its depth, the character of its bottom, the nature of the opposite bank, +and to locate a camping-ground on its farther side. They found the water +to be but a few inches deep, except in one narrow channel, where it had +a depth of about three feet. They also found the bottom to be of that +most treacherous of quicksands which is so hard that a thousand-pound +hammer cannot force a post into it, yet into which that same post would +slowly sink of its own weight until lost to sight, and held with such +terrible tenacity that nothing short of a steam-engine could pull it +out. Such a quicksand as this is not dangerous to the man or animal who +keeps his feet in constant motion while crossing it, but woe to him if +he neglects this precaution for a single minute. In that case, unless +help reaches him, he is as surely lost as though clasped in the +relentless embrace of a tiger. + +The only place on the opposite bank where teams could emerge from the +water was very narrow, and a team striking below it in the dark would +almost certainly be lost. Thus the problem of a safe crossing at night +became a difficult one. It would be unsafe to build fires or use +lanterns, as these would surely draw the attention, and probably the +bullets, of the Indians. + +Finally the plan was adopted of stretching a rope across the river, from +bank to bank, on the lower side of the ford, with a line of men +stationed along its entire length, so that no team could get below it. +These were charged, as they valued their lives, to keep their feet in +constant motion, and on no account to let go of the rope. + +First the ambulances were put across. Then the spare stock and +saddle-animals were led over, and securely fastened. Six spare mules, +harnessed and attached to a loose rope, were held in readiness, on the +farther bank, to assist any team that might get stalled in the river. +Then, one by one, the heavily laden wagons began to cross, with two men +leading each team. There was little difficulty except at the channel, +where the mules were apt to be frightened at the sudden plunge into +deeper water. + +A mule hates the dark almost as much as an Indian; he dislikes to work +in water, and above all he dreads miry places or quicksands, for which +his small, sharp hoofs are peculiarly unfitted. He is easily +panic-stricken, and is then wholly unmanageable. A team of mules, +finding themselves stalled in a stream, will become frantic with terror. +They utter agonized cries, attempt to clamber on one another's back, and +frequently drown themselves before they can be cut loose from the traces +and allowed to escape. + +In spite of all the difficulties to be overcome, the wagons were got +safely over, until only one remained, and it had started on its perilous +journey. Those members of the party who stood in the water holding the +rope were becoming thoroughly chilled, as well as wearied by the +treadmill exercise necessary to keep their feet from sinking in the +quicksand. Thus, though they still stuck manfully to their posts, they +were thankful enough that this was the last wagon, and noted the sound +of its progress with eager interest. They were all volunteers, for +nobody had been ordered to remain in the river, and this fact added to +the strength of purpose with which they maintained their uncomfortable +positions. + +Among them were Glen Eddy and Binney Gibbs, who, when volunteers were +called for to perform this duty, had rushed into the river among the +first. Now they stood, side by side, near the middle of the stream, and +close to the edge of the channel. They rejoiced to see the dim bulk of +the last wagon looming out of the darkness, and to know that their weary +task was nearly ended. + +The mules of this team were unusually nervous, splashing more than any +of the others had done, and snorting loudly. The rope had been cast +loose from the bank the party had so recently quitted, and all those who +had upheld it beyond Glen and Binney had passed by them on their way to +the other side. They, too, would be relieved from duty as soon as the +team crossed the channel. + +But there seemed to be some difficulty about persuading the mules to +cross it. As the leaders felt the water growing deeper and the sandy +bank giving way beneath them, they sprang back in terror, and threw the +whole team into confusion. The wagon came to a standstill, and everybody +in the vicinity realized its danger. The driver, feeling that the need +for silence and caution was past, began to shout at his mules, and the +reports of his blacksnake whip rang out like pistol-shots. + +In the excitement of the moment nobody noticed or paid any attention to +a gleaming line of white froth that came creeping down the river, +stretching from bank to bank like a newly formed snow-drift. Suddenly a +rifle-shot rang out from the bank they had left, then another, and then +a dozen at once. The Indians had discovered their flight, and were +firing angrily in the direction of the sounds in the river. The teamster +sprang from his saddle, and, cutting the traces of his mules, started +them towards the shore, leaving the wagon to its fate. + +"It's time we were off, too, old man," said Glen, as he started to +follow the team. + +"I can't move, Glen! Oh, help me! I'm sinking!" screamed Binney, in a +tone of inexpressible anguish. + +Glen dropped the rope, and sprang to his companion's assistance. + +At the same instant there came a great shout from the bank, "Hurry up, +there's a freshet coming! Hurry! Hurry, or you'll be swept away!" + +With both arms about Binney, Glen was straining every nerve of his +muscular young body to tear his friend loose from the grasp of the +terror that held him. He could not; but a wall of black water four feet +high, that came rushing down on them with an angry roar, was mightier +even than the quicksand, and, seizing both the boys in its irresistible +embrace, it wrenched them loose and overwhelmed them. + + + + +Chapter XXV. + +SWEPT AWAY BY A FRESHET. + + +The rush of waters that wrenched Binney Gibbs loose from the grasp of +the quicksand which had seized him as he remained motionless for a +minute, forgetful of his own danger in the excitement caused by that of +the team, also flung the rope they had been holding against Glen Eddy. +He held to it desperately with one hand, while, with the other arm about +his companion, he prevented him from being swept away. As the mad waters +dashed the boys from their feet and closed over them, it seemed as +though Glen's arms must be torn from their sockets, and he would have +had to let go had not Binney also succeeded in grasping the rope so that +the great strain was somewhat relieved. Gasping for breath, they both +rose to the surface. + +A huge white object was bearing directly down on them. They could not +avoid it. Glen was the first to recognize its nature. "It's the wagon!" +he shouted. "Grab hold of it, and hang on for your life!" + +Then it struck them and tore loose their hold of the rope. They both +managed to clutch it, though Binney's slight strength was so nearly +exhausted that, but for Glen, he must speedily have let go and sunk +again beneath the foam-flecked waters. Now the other's sturdy frame and +athletic training came splendidly to his aid. Obtaining a firm foothold +in the flooded wagon, he pulled Binney up to him by the sheer strength +of his muscular young arms. For a moment they stood together panting for +breath, and the weaker boy clinging to the stronger. + +But the water was still rising; and, as the heavily laden wagon could +not float, it seemed likely to be totally submerged. "It's no use, Glen. +We'll be drowned, anyhow," said Binney, despairingly. + +"Oh, no, we won't. Not just yet, anyway," answered the other, trying to +sustain his companion's spirits by speaking hopefully. "We can get out +of the water entirely, by climbing up on top of the cover, and I guess +it will bear us." + +It was a suggestion worth trying; and, though the undertaking was +perilous and difficult in the extreme, under the circumstances, they +finally succeeded in accomplishing it, and found themselves perched on +the slippery, sagging surface of the canvas cover, that, supported by +stout ash bows, was stretched above the wagon. + +All this time their strange craft, though not floating, was borne slowly +but steadily down stream by the force of the current. Every now and then +it seemed as though about to capsize; and, had it been empty, it must +certainly have done so; but its heavy load, acting like ballast in a +boat, kept it upright. It headed in all directions, and at times, when +its wheels could revolve on the bottom of the river, it moved steadily +and rapidly. It was when it got turned broadside to the current that the +two shivering figures, clutching at their uncertain support, became most +apprehensive, and expected it to be overturned by the great pressure +brought to bear against it. + +[Illustration: "THE STRANGE CRAFT WAS BORNE SLOWLY DOWN STREAM."] + +How slowly the minutes and hours dragged by! It was about midnight when +the freshet struck them and they started on this most extraordinary +voyage; but from that time until they saw the first streaks of rosy +light in the east seemed an eternity. + +More than once during the night the wagon brought up against some +obstruction, and remained motionless for longer or shorter intervals of +time; but it had always been forced ahead again, and made to resume its +uncertain wanderings. + +Now, as the welcome daylight crept slowly over the scene, it found the +strange ark, with its two occupants, again stranded, and this time +immovably so. At length Glen exclaimed, joyfully: "There's the western +bank, the very one we want to reach, close to us. I believe we can swim +to it, as easy as not." + +"But I can't swim, you know," replied Binney, dolefully. + +"That's so; I forgot," said Glen, in a dismayed tone. "But look," he +added, and again there was a hopeful ring to his voice, "there are the +tops of some bushes between us and it. The water can't be very deep +there. Perhaps we can touch bottom, and you can wade if you can't swim. +I'm going over there and take soundings." + +Binney dreaded being left alone, and was about to beg his companion not +to desert him, but the words were checked on his lips by the thought of +the reputation he had to sustain. So, as Glen pulled off his wet +clothing, he said, "All right, only be very careful and don't go too +far, for I think I would rather drown with you than be left here all +alone." + +"Never fear!" cried Glen; "swimming is about the one thing I can do. So, +here goes!" + +He had climbed down, and stood on the edge of the submerged wagon body +as he spoke. Now he sprang far out in the yellow waters, and the next +moment was making his way easily through them towards the bushes. The +swift current carried him down-stream; but at length he caught one of +them, and, letting his feet sink, touched bottom in water up to his +neck. + +"It's all right!" he shouted back to Binney. Pulling himself along from +one bit of willow to another, he waded towards the bank until the water +was not more than up to his waist. Then he made his way up-stream until +he was some distance above the place where the wagon was stranded, and, +two minutes later, he had waded and swum back to it. + +Binney had watched every movement anxiously, and now he said, "That's +all well enough for you; but I don't see how I am going to get there." + +"By resting your hands on my shoulders and letting me swim with you till +you can touch bottom, of course," answered Glen. + +He could not realize Binney's dread of the water, nor what a struggle +against his natural timidity took place in the boy's mind before he +answered, "Very well, if you say so, Glen, I'll trust you." + +While he was laying aside his water-soaked clothing and preparing for +the dreaded undertaking, Glen suddenly uttered an exclamation of dismay. +He had spied several horsemen riding along the river-bank towards them. +Were they white men or Indians? Did their coming mean life or death? + +"I'm afraid they are Indians," said Glen; "for our camp must be ten +miles off." + +Binney agreed with him that they must have come at least that distance +during the night, and the boys watched the oncoming horsemen with heavy +hearts. + +"I'd rather drown than let them get me again," said Glen. + +But Binney had not had the other's experience with Indians, and to him +nothing could be more terrible than water. + +Long and earnestly they watched, filled with alternate hopes and fears. +The riders seemed to move very slowly. All at once, Glen uttered a shout +of joy. "They are white men!" he cried. "I can see their hats;" and, +seizing his wet shirt, he began to wave it frantically above his head. + +That his signal was seen was announced by a distant cheer, and several +shots fired in quick succession. A few minutes later, six white men +reined in their horses on the bank, just abreast the wagon. They were +hardly able to credit their eyes as they recognized, in the two naked +figures clinging to it, those whom they had been so certain were long +ago drowned, and for whose bodies they were searching. As they hurriedly +consulted concerning how best to effect a rescue, they were amazed to +see both boys clamber down from their perch, and drop into the turbid +waters, one after the other. When they realized that Glen and Binney +were swimming, and trying in this way to reach the shore, they forced +their horses down the steep bank and dashed into the shallow overflow of +the bottom-land to meet them. + +At that moment Binney Gibbs, by trusting himself so implicitly to Glen's +strength and skill, in an element where he was so utterly helpless, was +displaying a greater courage than where, acting under impulse, he sprang +from his mule the day before, and ran back to fight Indians. The bravest +deeds are always those that are performed deliberately and after a +careful consideration of their possible consequences. + +As "Billy" Brackett, who was the first to reach the boys, relieved Glen +of his burden, he exclaimed, + +"Well, if I had the luck of you fellows I'd change my name to Vanderbilt +and run for Congress! We were sure you were gone up this time, and the +best I hoped for was to find your bodies. Instead of that, here you are, +hardly out of sight of camp, perched on the top of a wagon, as chipper +as a couple of sparrows after a rainstorm." + +"Where is camp?" inquired Glen, who was now wading easily along beside +the other's horse. + +"Just around that farther bend, up there." + +"What made it come so far down the river, and off the road?" + +"It hasn't. It's right at the ford, where we crossed last night." + +"But I thought that was at least ten miles from here." + +"Ten miles! Why, my son, you must have imagined you were travelling on a +four-wheeled steamboat all night, instead of an old water-logged prairie +schooner. We are not, at this minute, quite a mile from the place where +you started on your cruise." + +It was hard for the boys to realize the truth of this statement; but so +it was; and, during those tedious hours of darkness they had only +travelled rods instead of miles, as they had fancied. + +After the short delay necessary to recover the boys' clothing from the +wagon, they were triumphantly borne back to camp by the rescuing-party. +There the enthusiasm with which they were received was only equalled by +the amazement of those who crowded about them and listened to the +account of their adventure. + +By means of a double team of mules, and some stout ropes, even the wagon +on which they had made their curious voyage was recovered, and found to +be still serviceable, though the greater part of its load was ruined. + +The river was still an impassable stream, as wide as the Mississippi at +St. Louis, and was many feet deep over the place, on its farther side, +where they had camped at sunset. Thus there was no danger of another +attack from Indians. Two hours after sunrise the explorers were again +wending their way westward, rejoicing over their double escape, and over +the recovery of the two members who had been given up as lost. + + + + +Chapter XXVI. + +RUNNING THE LINE. + + +After this day and night, crowded so full of incident, four days of +steady travel brought General Lyle's expedition to a point close to the +boundary-line between Kansas and Colorado, where their surveys were to +begin. The last hundred miles of their journey had been through a region +studded with curious masses of sandstone. These were scattered far and +wide over the Plains, and rose to a height of from one hundred to three +hundred feet, resembling towers, monuments, castles, and ruins of every +description. It was hard to believe that many of them were not the work +of human hands; and to Glen and Binney they formed an inexhaustible +subject for wonder and speculation. + +They were now more than three thousand feet above the sea-level; the +soil became poorer with every mile; there were fewer streams, and along +those that did exist timber was almost unknown. + +The first line of survey was to be a hard one; for it was to run through +the very worst of this country--from the Smoky Hill to the Arkansas, a +region hitherto unexplored, and known only to the few buffalo hunters +who had crossed it at long intervals. The distance was supposed to be +about seventy miles, and there was said to be no water along the entire +route. But both a transit and a level line must be run over this barren +region, and the distance must be carefully measured. A good day's work +for a surveying-party, engaged in running a first, or preliminary, line +in an open country, is eight or ten miles; and, at this rate, the +distance between the Smoky Hill and the Arkansas rivers could be covered +in a week. But a week without water was out of the question, and General +Lyle determined to do it in three days. + +On the night before beginning this remarkable survey, every canteen and +bottle that could be found was filled with water, as were several casks. +Everybody drank as much as he could in the morning, and all the animals +were watered the very last thing. Everything was packed and ready for a +start by daylight, and long before sunrise the working-party was in the +field. The first division was to run the first two miles. Its transit +was set up over the last stake of the old survey that had been ended at +that point, and the telescope was pointed in the direction of the course +now to be taken. The division engineer, with his front flagman, had +already galloped half a mile away across the plain. There they halted, +and the gayly painted staff, with its fluttering red pennon, was held +upright. Then it was moved to the right or left, as the transit-man, +peering through his telescope, waved his right or left arm. Finally, he +waved both at a time, and the front flag was thrust into the ground. It +was on line. + +Now the head chainman starts off on a run, with his eyes fixed on the +distant flag, and dragging a hundred feet of glistening steel-links +behind him. "Stick!" shouts the rear chainman, who stands beside the +transit, as he grasps the end of the chain and pulls it taut. "Stuck!" +answers the man in front, thrusting one of the steel pins that he +carries in his hand into the ground. Then he runs on, and the rear +chainman runs after him, but just a hundred feet behind. + +Two axemen, one with a bundle of marked stakes in his arms, and the +other carrying an axe with which to drive them, follow the chain +closely. At the end of each five hundred feet they drive a stake. If +stakes were not so scarce in this country, they would set one at the end +of every hundred feet. It does not make much difference; for these +stakes will not remain standing very long anyhow. The buffalo will soon +pull them up, by rubbing and scratching their heads against them. At the +end of every half-mile, a mound of earth--or stones, if they can be +found--is thrown up; and these the Indians will level whenever they come +across them. Perhaps some of them will be left, though. + +While the chainmen are measuring the distance to that front flag, and +the axemen are driving stakes and throwing up mounds, the transit-man, +mounted on a steady-going mule, with the transit on his shoulder, is +galloping ahead to where the front flag awaits him. Only the back +flagman is left standing at the place from which the first sight was +taken. + +The front flagman thrust a small stake in the ground, drove a tack in +its centre, and held his flag on it before he waved the transit-man up. +Now the transit is set over this stake so that the centre of the +instrument is directly over the tack; and while it is being made ready +the front flag is again galloping away over the rolling prairie, far in +advance of the rest of the party. + +The transit-man first looks through his telescope at the back flag, now +far behind him, and waves to him to come on. Then the telescope is +reversed, and he is ready to wave the front flag into line as soon as he +stops. + +The leveller, with two rodmen, all well mounted, follow behind the +transit-party, noting, by means of their instruments, the elevation +above sea-level of every stake that is driven. + +So the work goes on with marvellous rapidity--every man and horse and +mule on a run until two miles have been chained and it is time for the +breathless first division to have a rest. + +Mr. Hobart has watched their work carefully. He has also made some +changes in his force, and is going to see what sort of a front flagman +Glen Eddy will make. This is because Nettle has proved herself the +fleetest pony in the whole outfit. + +"Two miles in fifty-two minutes!" shouts Mr. Hobart to his men, as the +stake that marks the end of ten thousand five hundred and sixty feet is +driven. "Boys, we must do better than that." + +"Ay, ay, sir! We will!" shout the "bald heads," as they spring to the +places the first-division men are just leaving. + +Mr. Hobart, Glen, and a mounted axeman are already galloping to the +front. They dash across a shallow valley, lying between two great swells +of the prairie, and mount the gentle slope on its farther side, a mile +away. It is a long transit sight; but "Billy" Brackett can take it. + +The boy who rides beside the division engineer is very proud of his new +position, and sits his spirited mare like a young lancer. The slender, +steel-shod, red-and-white staff of his flag-pole, bearing its gay +pennon, that Glen has cut a little longer than the others, and nicked +with a swallow-tail, looks not unlike a lance. As the cool morning air +whistles past him, the boy's blood tingles, his eyes sparkle, and he +wonders if there can be any more fascinating business in the world than +surveying and learning to become an engineer. He thinks of the mill and +the store with scorn. It beats them away out of sight, anyhow. + +As they reach the crest of the divide, from which they can see far away +on all sides, Mr. Hobart, using his field-glass to watch the movements +of "Billy" Brackett's arms, directs Glen where to place his flag. +"Right--more--more--away over to the right--there--steady! Left, a +little--steady--so! Drive a stake there! Now hold your flag on it! A +trifle to the right--that's good! Drive the tack! Move him up--all +right, he's coming!" Then, leaving the axeman to point out the stake, +just driven, to the transit-man, the engineer and his young flagman +again dash forward. + +"Two miles in thirty-eight minutes! That is quick work! I congratulate +you and your division, Mr. Hobart." So said the chief-engineer as the +men of the second division, dripping with perspiration, completed their +first run, and, turning the work over to those of the third, took their +vacant places in the wagon that followed the line. + +The morning sun was already glowing with heat, and by noon its +perpendicular rays were scorching the arid plain with relentless fury. +Men and animals alike drooped beneath it, but there was no pause in the +work. It must be rushed through in spite of everything. About noon they +passed a large buffalo wallow, half filled with stagnant water, that the +animals drank eagerly. + +That evening, when it was too dark to distinguish the cross-hairs in the +instruments, the weary engineers knocked off work, with a +twenty-one-mile survey to their credit. They were too tired to pitch +tents that night, but spread their blankets anywhere, and fell asleep +almost as soon as they had eaten supper. There was no water, no wood, +and only a scanty supply of sun-dried grass. It was a dry camp. + +The next day was a repetition of the first. The tired animals, suffering +from both hunger and thirst, dragged the heavy wagons wearily over the +long undulations of the sun-baked plain. Occasionally they crossed dry +water-courses; but at sunset they had not found a drop of the precious +fluid, and another dry camp was promised for that night. + +As the men of the second division drove the last stake of another +twenty-one-mile run, and, leaving the line, moved slowly in the +direction of camp, the mule ridden by Binney Gibbs suddenly threw up its +head, sniffed the air, and, without regard to his rider's efforts to +control him, started off on a run. + +"Stop us! We are running away!" shouted Binney; and, without hesitation, +Glen gave spurs to Nettle and dashed away in pursuit. + +"What scrape are those young scatter-brains going to get into now?" +growled Mr. Hobart. + +"I don't know," answered "Billy" Brackett; "but whatever it is they will +come out of it all right, covered with mud and glory. I suppose I might +as well begin to organize the rescuing-party, though." + + + + +Chapter XXVII. + +"COVERED WITH MUD AND GLORY." + + +As "Billy" Brackett predicted they would, the two boys did return to +camp in about fifteen minutes, covered with mud and glory. At least +Binney Gibbs was covered with mud, and they brought the glorious news +that there were several large though shallow pools of water not more +than half a mile away. Binney's mule having scented it, there was no +stopping him until he had rushed to it, and, as usual, flung his rider +over his head into the very middle of one of the shallow ponds. Glen had +reached the place just in time to witness this catastrophe, and to roar +with laughter at the comical sight presented by his companion, as the +latter waded ruefully from the pond, dripping mud and water from every +point. + +"You take to water as naturally as a young duck, Binney!" he shouted, as +soon as his laughter gave him a chance for words. + +"No, indeed, I don't," sputtered poor Binney. "But somehow water always +seems to take to me, and I can get nearly drowned when nobody else can +find a drop to drink. As for that mule, I believe he thinks I wouldn't +know how to get off his back if he didn't pitch me off." + +In less than a minute after the boys got back with their report of +water, half the men in camp were hastening towards it, and the entire +herd of animals, in charge of a couple of teamsters, was galloping madly +in the same direction. The ponds were the result of a heavy local rain +of the night before; and, within a couple of days, would disappear in +the sandy soil as completely as though they had never existed; but they +served an admirable purpose, and the whole party was grateful to Binney +Gibbs's mule for discovering them. + +So refreshed were the men by their unexpected bath, and so strengthened +were the animals by having plenty of water with both their evening and +morning meals, that the survey of the following day covered twenty-four +miles. It was the biggest day's work of transit and level on record, and +could only have been accomplished under extraordinary circumstances. + +This was the hardest day of the three to bear. The heat of the sun, +shining from an unclouded sky, was intolerable. As far as the eye could +reach there was no shadow, nor any object to break the terrible monotony +of its glare. A hot wind from the south whirled the light soil aloft in +suffocating clouds of dust. The men of the three divisions were becoming +desperate. They knew that this killing pace could not be maintained much +longer, and the twenty-four mile run was the result of a tremendous +effort to reach the Arkansas River that day. + +From each eminence, as they crossed it, telescope, field-glasses, and +straining eyes swept the sky-line in the hope of sighting the longed-for +river. Late in the afternoon some far away trees and a ribbon of light +were lifted to view against the horizon by the shimmering heat waves; +but this was at once pronounced to be only the tantalizing vision of the +mirage. + +So, in a dry camp, the exhausted men and thirsty animals passed the +night. The latter, refusing to touch the parched grass or even their +rations of corn, made the hours hideous with their cries, and spent +their time in vain efforts to break their fastenings that they might +escape and seek to quench their burning thirst. + +But even this night came to an end; and, with the first eastern streaks +of pink and gold so exquisitely beautiful through the rarefied +atmosphere of this region, the surveyors were once more in the field. +There was no merriment now, nor life in the work. It went on amid a +dogged silence. The transit and level were lifted slowly, as though they +were made of lead. The chain was dragged wearily along at a walk. It was +evident that the limit of endurance was nearly reached. Scouts were sent +out on both sides to search for water. There was no use sending anybody +ahead to hunt up that mirage, or at least so thought General Lyle. His +maps showed the river to be miles away; but they also showed a large +creek, not far to the westward; and towards this the hopes of the party +were turned. On the maps it was called "Sand Creek," a name made +infamous forever by a massacre of Indians, mostly women and children, +that took place on its banks in November, 1864. Then it had contained +water; but now it was true to its name, and the dispirited scouts, +returning from it, reported that its bed was but a level expanse of dry, +glistening sand. + +As this report was being made, there came a quick succession of shots +from the front, and a thrill of new life instantly pervaded the whole +party. What could they indicate, if not good news of some kind. The +first division had completed its two miles, and the second was running +the line. "Billy" Brackett was preparing for one of his famous mile +sights at the front flag, with which Glen Eddy, riding beside Mr. +Hobart, was wearily toiling up a distant slope. Gazing at them through +his fine telescope, the transit-man could not at first understand their +extraordinary actions as they reached the top. He saw Glen fling up his +hat, and Mr. Hobart fire his pistol into the air. Then Glen waved his +flag, while the division engineer seemed to be pointing to something in +front of them. + +"Well, quit your fooling and give me a sight, can't you?" growled +"Billy" Brackett to himself, but directly afterwards he shouted to those +near him, "I believe they've found water, and shouldn't wonder if they'd +located the Arkansas itself." Then he got his "sight," waved "all right," +mounted his mule, shouldered the transit, and galloped away. + +He was right; they had located the Arkansas, and the alleged mirage of +the evening before had been a reality after all. That night of suffering +had been spent within five miles of one of the largest rivers that cross +the Plains. + +As Glen and Mr. Hobart reached the crest of that long slope they saw its +grassy valley outspread before them. They saw the scattered timber +lining its banks, and, best of all, they saw the broad, brown flood +itself, rolling down to join the distant Mississippi. By shots and +wavings they tried to communicate the joyful intelligence to those who +toiled so wearily behind them, and "Billy" Brackett, watching them +through his transit, had understood. + +They waited on the ridge until he joined them, and then hastened away +towards the tempting river. When the next foresight was taken Glen's +flag was planted on the edge of that famous old wagon-road of the +Arkansas Valley known to generations of Plainsmen as the Santa Fé Trail. + +Glen had hardly waved his "all right" to the transit, before the wagons +came tearing down the slope with their mules on the keen run. The +perishing animals had seen the life-giving waters, and it was with the +greatest difficulty that they were restrained from rushing into the +river, wagons and all. The drivers only just succeeded in casting loose +the trace-chains, when each team, with outstretched necks and husky +brayings, plunged in a body over the bank and into the river, burying +their heads up to their eyes in the cooling flood. It seemed as though +they would drink themselves to death, and when they finally, consented +to leave the river and turn their attention to the rich grasses of its +bottom-lands, they were evidently water-logged. It would be hours before +they were again fit for work. + +But nobody wanted them to work. Not until the next morning would the +wagons move again. The splendid runs of the last three days had earned a +rest for men and animals alike. So it was granted them, and no +schoolboys ever enjoyed a half-holiday more. What a luxury it was to +have plenty of water again, not only to drink, but actually to wash with +and bathe in! And to lie in the shade of a tree! Could anything be more +delicious? + +At sunrise the line was resumed; and, still working together, the three +divisions ran it for fifty miles up the broad valley of the Arkansas. + +A few days after striking the river they passed Bent's Fort, one of the +most famous of the old Plains trading-posts built by individuals long +before troops were sent out to occupy the land. + +Its usefulness as a trading-station had nearly departed, for already the +Indians were leaving that part of the country, and those who remained +were kept too busy fighting to have any time for trading. Its stout log +stockade was, however, valuable to its builder as a protection against +attacks from Indians led by one of his own sons. Their mother was a +Cheyenne squaw, and though they, together with their only sister, had +been educated in St. Louis, the same as white children, they had +preferred to follow the fortunes of their mother's people on returning +to the Plains. Now the Cheyennes had no more daring leader than George +Bent, nor was there a girl in the tribe so beautiful as his sister. The +little fort, admirably located on a high bluff overlooking the river, +was filled with a curious mixture of old Plainsmen, Indians, half-breed +children, ponies, mules, burros, and pet fawns. It was a place of noise +and confusion at once bewildering and interesting. + +At the end of fifty miles from the point at which they entered the +Arkansas Valley, the explorers caught their first glimpse of the Rocky +Mountains, two white clouds that they knew to be the snow-capped summits +of the Spanish Peaks, a hundred miles away. + +Here the expedition was divided. The first and third divisions were to +cross the river and proceed southwesterly, by way of the Raton Mountains +and Fort Union, to Santa Fé; while Mr. Hobart was to take the second +still farther up the Arkansas Valley, and almost due west to the famous +Sangre de Cristo Pass through the mountains, just north of the Spanish +Peaks. For two weeks longer they worked their way slowly but steadily +across the burning Plains, towards the mountains that almost seemed to +recede from them as they advanced; though each day disclosed new peaks, +while those already familiar loomed up higher and grander with every +mile. Finally they were so near at hand that the weary toilers, choked +with the alkaline dust of the Plains, and scorched with their fervent +heat, could feast their eyes on the green slopes, cool, dark valleys, +and tumbling cascades, rushing down from glittering snow-fields. How +they longed to be among them, and with what joy did they at length leave +the treeless country of which they were so tired and enter the timbered +foot-hills! + +Now, how deliciously cool were the nights, and how they enjoyed the +roaring camp-fires. What breathless plunges they took in ice-cold +streams of crystal water. How good fresh venison tasted after weeks of +salt bacon and dried buffalo meat, and how eagerly they ate raw onions, +and even raw potatoes, obtained at the occasional Mexican ranches found +nestled here and there in the lower valleys. + +"I tell you," said Glen to Binney Gibbs, who had by this time become his +firm friend, "it pays to go without fresh vegetables for a couple of +months, just to find out what fine things onions and potatoes are." + + + + +Chapter XXVIII. + +LOST IN A MOUNTAIN SNOW-STORM. + + +A week was spent on the eastern slope of the mountains, running lines +through the Mosca and Cuchara passes. Finally, a camp was made in a +forest of balsam-firs, beside a great spring of ice-water, that bubbled +from a granite basin at the summit of the Sangre de Cristo, nine +thousand feet above sea-level. To Glen and Binney, who had always dwelt +in a flat country, and knew nothing of mountains, this was a new and +delightful experience. They never tired of gazing off on the superb +panorama outspread below them. To the east, the view was so vast and +boundless that it seemed as though the distant blue of the horizon must +be that of the ocean itself, and that they were spanning half the +breadth of a continent in a single sight. At their feet lay the Plains +they had just crossed, like a great green map on which dark lines of +timber and gleams of light marked the Arkansas and its tributary +streams, whose waters would mingle with those of the Mississippi. + +On the other hand, they could see, across the broad basin of the San +Luis Valley, other ranges of unknown mountains, whose mysteries they +were yet to explore. Through this western valley, flowing southward, +wound the shining ribbon of the Rio Grande. Both north and south of them +were mountain-peaks. To climb to the very summit of one of these was +Glen's present ambition, and his longing eyes were turned more often to +the snow-capped dome that rose in solemn majesty on the south side of +the pass than in any other direction. He even succeeded in persuading +Binney Gibbs that to climb that mountain would be just a little better +fun than anything else that could be suggested. Still, he did not see +any prospect of their being allowed to make the attempt, and so tried +not to think of it. + +On the first evening, after camp had been pitched on the summit of the +pass, he sat on a chunk of moss-covered granite, gazing meditatively +into the glowing coals of a glorious fire. He imagined he had succeeded +in banishing all thoughts of that desirable mountain-top from his mind, +and yet, all of a sudden, he became aware that it was the very thing he +was thinking of. He gave himself a petulant shake as he realized this, +and was about to move away, when "Billy" Brackett, who sat on the end of +a log near him, spoke up and said, + +"Glen, how would you like to try a bit of mountain climbing with me +to-morrow?" + +"I'd like it better than anything I know of," answered the boy, eagerly. + +"All right, it's a go, then; you see the chief is going off on an +exploration with the topographer; and, as we can't run any lines till he +comes back, he asked me if I'd take a couple of fellows and measure the +height of that peak." + +"Do you mean to chain from here away up there?" asked Glen, in +astonishment, glancing dubiously up at the dim form towering above them. + +"Chain! Not much, I don't!" laughed Brackett. "I mean carry up a +barometer, and measure with it." + +"How?" asked Glen, to whom this was a novel idea. + +"Easy enough. We know that, roughly speaking, a barometer varies a +little less than one tenth of an inch with every hundred feet of +elevation. For instance, if it reads 21.22 where we now are, it will +read 21.14 a hundred feet higher, or 20.40 at an elevation of a thousand +feet above this. There are carefully prepared tables showing the exact +figures." + +"Can't you do it by boiling water, too?" asked Binney Gibbs, who had +approached them unobserved, and was an interested listener of this +explanation. + +"Certainly you can," answered "Billy" Brackett, looking up with some +surprise at the young scholar. "By boiling water we have a neat check on +the barometer; for, on account of the rarefication of the air, water +boils at one degree less of temperature for about every five hundred +feet of elevation." + +"Then what is the use of levelling?" asked Glen. + +"Because these figures are only approximate, and cannot be relied upon +for nice work. But where did you learn about such things, Grip?" + +"At the Brimfield High School," answered Binney with some confusion; for +he was not really so boastful of his scholarship as he had once been. + +"Well, how would you like to join our climbing-party? I'm going to take +Glen along for his muscle, and I'll take you for your brains if you want +to go." + +"I think I'd like to try it, though perhaps I won't be able to get to +the very top," answered Binney. + +The modesty that this boy had learned from his rough Plains experience +would have surprised his Brimfield acquaintances could they have seen +it. + +"Very well, then, we will start at sunrise in the morning. We'll each +carry a hatchet, a knife, matches in water-tight cases, and a good bit +of lunch. I'll carry the barometer, Glen shall take charge of the +thermometer, and 'Grip' shall bring along his brains. Now I'd advise you +both to turn in, and lay up a supply of rest sufficient to carry you +through a harder day's work than any we've done on this trip yet." + +The sun was just lifting his red face above the distant rim of the +Plains, and its scant beams were bathing the snow-capped peak in a +wonderful rosy glow, as the three mountain climbers left camp the next +morning. Each one bore the light weight allotted to him, and, in +addition, Glen carried a raw-hide lariat hung over his shoulders. + +Having noted the compass bearings of their general course, they plunged +directly into the dense fir forest with which this flank of the mountain +was covered to a height of a thousand feet or so above them. For several +hours they struggled through it, sometimes clambering over long lanes of +fallen trees, prostrated by fierce wind-storms, and piled in chaotic +heaps so thickly that often, for half a mile at a time, their feet did +not touch the ground. Then they came to a region of enormous granite +blocks, ten to thirty feet high, over many of which they were obliged to +make their way as best they could. Now they began to find patches of +snow, and the timber only appeared in scattered clumps. + +From here their course led up through an enormous gorge, or cleft, that +grew narrower as they ascended, until it terminated in a long, steep +slope of boulders and loose rocks. Here they encountered the first real +danger of the ascent. Every now and then a boulder, that appeared firmly +seated until burdened with the weight of one of them, would give way and +go crashing and thundering down with great leaps behind them until lost +in the forest below. + +It was noon when they emerged on a narrow, shelf-like plateau above the +gorge. Here stood the last clump of stunted trees. Above them stretched +the glistening snow-fields, pierced by crags of splintered granite. +Rock, ice, and snow to the very summit. Here Binney said he could go no +farther; and here, after building a fire and eating their lunch, the +others left him to await their return. + +A sheer wall of smooth, seamless rock, hundreds of feet in height, +bounded one side of the shelf, and a precipice, almost as sheer, the +other. For half a mile or so did Glen and his companion follow it, +seeking some place at which they might continue their ascent. Finally it +narrowed almost to a point, that terminated in an immense field of snow +sloping down, smooth and spotless, for a thousand feet below them, to a +tiny blue-black lake. Beyond the snow-field the ascent seemed possible; +and, by cutting footholes in it with their hatchets, they managed to +cross it in safety. + +For two hours longer they struggled upward; and then, within a few +hundred feet of the summit, they could get no farther. In vain did they +try every point that offered the faintest hope of success, and at last +were forced to give it up. They noted the reading of the barometer, and +with a few shavings and slivers cut from its outside case they made a +tiny blaze, and, as Glen expressed it, boiled a thermometer in a tin +cup. + +They were now as impatient to descend as they had been to climb upward, +and even more so; for the brightness of the day had departed, and +ominous clouds were gathering about them. The air was bitterly cold; +and, with their few minutes' cessation from violent exercise, they were +chilled to the bone. So they hastened to retrace their rugged way, +sliding, leaping, hanging by their hands, and dropping from ledge to +ledge, taking frightful risks in their eagerness to escape the +threatened storm, or at any rate to meet it in some more sheltered spot. +If they could only reach the shelf-like ledge, at the farther end of +which Binney Gibbs awaited them, they would feel safe. They had nearly +done so, but not quite, when the storm burst upon them in a fierce, +blinding, whirling rush of snow, that took away their breath and stung +like needles. It seemed to penetrate their clothing. It bewildered them. +It was so dense that they could not see a yard ahead of them. They had +already started to cross that long, sloping snow-field, beyond which lay +the rocky shelf. To go back would be as dangerous as to proceed. They +could not stay where they were. The deadly chill of the air would +speedily render them incapable of maintaining their foothold. + +The assistant engineer was leading the way, with his companion a full +rod behind him. The former dared not turn his head; but he shouted +encouragingly that they were almost across, and with a few more steps +would reach a place of safety. + +Then came a swirling, shrieking blast, before which he bowed his head. +He thought he heard a cry; but could not tell. It might only have been +the howl of the fierce wind. He reached the shelf of rock in safety, and +turned to look for his companion; but Glen was not to be seen. + +Blinded by that furious blast, the boy had missed his footing. The next +instant he was sliding, helplessly, and with frightful velocity, down +that smooth slope of unyielding snow, towards the blue lake hidden in +the storm-cloud far beneath him. + + + + +Chapter XXIX. + +PLUNGING INTO A LAKE OF ICE-WATER. + + +As "Billy" Brackett turned and missed the companion whom he supposed was +close behind him, his heart sank like lead. In vain did he shout. Not +even an echo answered him. His loudest tones were snatched from his lips +by the wind, torn into fragments, and indistinguishably mingled with its +mocking laughter. It was barely possible that Glen might have turned +back; and, with the slender hope thus offered, the engineer retraced his +perilous way across the snow-field to the place where they last stood +together. It was empty and awful in its storm-swept loneliness. A great +terror seized hold upon the man's stout heart; and, as he again crossed +the treacherous snow, he trembled so that his reaching the rocky shelf +beyond was little short of a miracle. + +Then he hastened to the place where Binney Gibbs anxiously awaited the +return of his friends. He had kept up a roaring fire, knowing that it +would be a welcome sight to them, especially since the setting-in of the +storm. Its coming had filled him with anxiety and uneasy forebodings, so +that he hailed "Billy" Brackett's appearance with a glad shout of +welcome. It died on his lips as he noted the expression on the engineer's +face; and, with a tremble of fear in his voice, he asked, "Where is +Glen?" + +"I don't know," was the answer. + +"Do you mean that he is lost on the mountain in this storm?" cried +Binney, aghast at the terrible possibilities thus suggested. + +"Not only that, but I have not the faintest hope that he will ever be +found again," replied the other; and then he told all he knew of what +had happened. + +Although, for their own safety, they should already be hurrying towards +camp, Binney insisted on going to the place where his friend had last +been seen. The snow-squall had passed when they reached it, but the +clouds still hung thick about them; and Binney shuddered as he saw the +smooth white slide that vanished in the impenetrable mist but a few rods +below them. In vain they shouted. In vain they fired every shot +contained in the only pistol they had brought with them. There was no +answer. And, finally, without a hope that they would ever see Glen Eddy +again, they sadly retraced their steps and reached camp just as the +complete darkness, that would have rendered their farther progress +impossible, shut in. + +No one was more loved in that camp than Glen, and no loss from the party +could have been more keenly felt. It was with heavy hearts that they +sought their blankets that night; and, the next evening, when the +search-party, that had been out all day without finding the faintest +trace of the missing boy, returned, they talked of him in low tones as +of one who had gone from them forever. + +The following morning the camp in the pass was broken, and two days +later a line had been run down the western slope of the mountains, to +the edge of the San Luis Valley, near Fort Garland--one of the most +charmingly located military posts of the West. + +In the meantime Glen Eddy was not only alive and well, but, at the very +minute his companions were approaching Fort Garland he was actually +assisting to prepare the quarters of its commandant for a wedding that +was to take place in them that evening. + +For a moment, after he missed his foothold on the upper edge of the +treacherous snow-field, and began to shoot down the smooth surface of +its long slope, he imagined that he was about to be dashed in pieces, +and resigned all hope of escape from the fearful peril that had so +suddenly overtaken him. Then the thought of the blue-black lake, with +its walls of purple and red-stained granite, that he had seen lying at +the foot of this very slope, flashed into his mind. A thrill shot +through him as he thought of the icy plunge he was about to take. Still, +that was better than to be hurled over a precipice. The boy had even +sufficient presence of mind to hold his feet close together, and attempt +to guide himself so that they should strike the water first. + +He might have glided down that slope for seconds, or minutes, or even +hours, for all that he knew of the passage of time. He seemed to be +moving with great speed, and yet, in breathless anticipation of the +inevitable plunge that, in fancy, he felt himself to be taking with each +instant, his downward flight seemed indefinitely prolonged. + +At length the suspense was ended. Almost with the quickness of thought +the boy passed into a region of dazzling sunlight, was launched into +space, and found himself sinking down, down, down, as though he would +never stop, in water so cold that its chill pierced him like knives, and +compressed his head as with a band of iron. + +Looking up through the crystal sheet, he could see an apparently endless +line of bubbles rising from where he was to the surface, and, after a +while, he began to follow them. With a breathless gasp he again reached +the blessed air, and, dashing the water from his eyes, began to consider +his situation. He was dazed and bewildered at finding himself still +alive and apparently none the worse for his tremendous slide. Although +he was in bright sunlight, the mountain-side down which he had come was +hidden beneath dense folds of cloud, out of which he seemed to have +dropped. + +Gently paddling with his hands, just enough to keep himself afloat, Glen +looked anxiously about for some beach or other place at which he might +effect a landing, but could discover none. The upper edge of the +snow-field, that bounded the lake on one side, projected far over the +water, so that, while he might swim under it, there was no possibility +of getting on it. On all other sides sheer walls of rock rose from the +water, without a trace of beach, or even of boulders, at their base. + +In all this solid wall there was but one break. Not far from where Glen +swam, and just beyond the snow-field, a narrow cleft appeared; and from +it came an indistinct roar of waters. Glen felt himself growing numbed +and powerless. He must either give up at once, and tamely allow himself +to sink where he was, or he must swim to that cleft, and take his +chances of getting out through it. He fully expected to find a waterfall +just beyond the gloomy portal, and he clearly realized what his fate +would be if it were there. But whatever he did must be done quickly. He +knew that, and began to swim towards the cleft. + +As he approached it, he felt himself impelled onward by a gentle current +that grew stronger with each moment. Now he could not go back if he +would. He passed between two lofty walls of rock, and, instead of +dashing over a waterfall, was borne along by a swift, smooth torrent +that looked black as ink in the gloom of its mysterious channel. + +Ere the swimmer had traversed more than fifty yards of this dim +waterway, the channel turned sharply to the left, and the character of +the lower portion of its wall, on that side, changed from a precipice to +a slope. In another moment Glen's feet touched bottom, and he was slowly +dragging his numbed and exhausted body ashore. + +Although the sun was still shining on the mountain-side, far above him, +it was already twilight where he was, and he had no desire to explore +that stream farther in darkness. It would be bad enough by daylight. In +fact, he was so thankful to escape from that icy water that, had the +light been increasing instead of waning at that moment, he would +probably have lingered long on those blessed rocks before tempting it +further. + +Now, as he gazed about him in search of some place in which, or on +which, to pass the long hours of darkness, his eye fell on a confused +pile of driftwood not far away. Here was a prize indeed. He had matches, +and, thanks to "Billy" Brackett, they were still dry. Now he could have +a fire. He found the driftwood to be a mass of branches and tree-trunks, +bleached to the whiteness of bones, and evidently brought down by some +much higher water than the present. They were lodged in the mouth of a +deep water-worn hollow in the rock, and converted a certain portion of +it into a sort of a cave. Creeping in behind this wooden wall of gnarled +roots, twisted branches, and splintered trunks, the shivering boy felt +for his hatchet; but it had disappeared. His knife still remained in its +sheath, however, and with it he finally managed, though with great +difficulty on account of the numbness of his hands, to cut off a little +pile of slivers and shavings from a bit of pine. + +In another moment the cave was illumined with a bright glow from one of +his precious matches, and a tiny flame was creeping up through the +handful of kindling. With careful nursing and judicious feeding the +little flame rapidly increased in strength and brightness, until it was +lighting the whole place with its cheerful glow, and was leaping, with +many cracklings, through the entire mass of driftwood. + +Before starting that fire, it seemed to Glen that no amount of heat +could be unwelcome, or that he could ever be even comfortably warm +again. He discovered his mistake, however, when he was finally forced to +abandon his cave entirely, and seek refuge in the open air from the +intense heat with which it was filled. Not until his pile of wood had +burned down to a bed of glowing coals could he return. + +His couch that night was certainly a hard one, but it was as warm and +dry as a boy could wish. If he only had something to eat! But he had +not; so he went to sleep instead, and slept soundly until +daylight--which meant about an hour after sunrise in the world beyond +that narrow caņon. + +If he was hungry the night before, how ravenous he was in the morning. +He even cut off a bit of the raw-hide lariat which he still retained, +and tried to chew it. It was so very unsatisfactory a morsel that it +helped him to realize the necessity of speedily getting out of that +place and hunting for some food more nourishing than lariats. + + + + +Chapter XXX. + +DOWN THE LONELY CAŅON. + + +Glen had been conscious, ever since reaching his haven, of a dull, +distant roar coming up from the caņon below him; and now, after an hour +of scrambling, climbing, slipping, but still managing to keep out of the +water, he discovered the fall that he had anticipated, and found himself +on its brink. It was a direct plunge of a hundred feet, and the body of +water very nearly occupied the whole of a narrow chasm between two +cliffs similar to those at the outlet of the lake. A few feet of the +rocky dam, where Glen stood, were bare of water; but its face fell away +as steep and smooth as that over which the stream took its plunge. Only, +in the angle formed by it and the side of the caņon, a mass of débris +had collected that reached about half-way up to where Glen stood, or to +within fifty feet of the brink. On it grew a few stunted trees, the +first vegetation he had seen since taking his slide. Below that place +the way seemed more open, and as though it might be possible to +traverse. But how should he get down? He dared not leap; he could not +fly. But he still had the lariat. It was forty feet long. If he could +only fasten it where he stood, he might slide down its length and then +drop. + +Vainly he searched for some projecting point of rock about which to make +his rope fast. There was none. All was smooth and water-worn. There was +a crack. If he only had a stout bit of wood to thrust into it he might +fasten the lariat to that. But he had not seen the smallest stick since +leaving his sleeping-place. Some unburned branches were still left +there; but the idea of going back over that perilous road, through the +gloom of the caņon, was most unpleasant to contemplate. He hated to +consider it. Still, before long it would be much more unpleasant to +remain where he was, for he was already realizing the first pangs of +starvation. + +So he wearily retraced his steps, procured a stout branch, and, after +two hours of the most arduous toil, again stood on the brink of the +waterfall. Forcing the stick as far as possible into the crack, and +wedging it firmly with bits of rock, he attached the raw-hide rope to +it, and flung the loose end over the precipice. Then, hanging over the +edge, he grasped the rope firmly and slowly slid down. As he reached the +end he hesitated for a moment, and glanced below. His feet dangled on a +level with the top of the upmost tree. He dreaded to drop, but there was +nothing else to do, and the next moment he was rolling and scrambling in +the loose gravel and rounded pebbles of the heap of débris. At last he +brought up against a tree-trunk, bruised and shaken, but with unbroken +bones. + +He had now overcome the most difficult part of his hazardous trip; and, +though the way was still so rough as to demand the exercise of the +utmost care and skill and the use of every ounce of strength he +possessed, it presented no obstacles that these could not surmount. + +Finally, some time in the afternoon, he came to a narrow strip of +meadow-land, where flowers were blooming amid the grass, and on which +warm sunlight was streaming. Here, too, he found a few blueberries, +which he ate ravenously. What should he do for something more +substantial? He was close beside the stream, which here flowed quietly, +with pleasant ripplings, when he was startled by a splash in it. It must +have been a fish jumping. Why had he not thought of fish before? How +should he catch them? + +Necessity is the best sharpener of wits, and, in less than half an hour, +Glen was fishing with a line made of fibres from the inner skin of +spruce bark, a hook formed of a bent pin, baited with a grasshopper, and +the whole attached to a crooked bit of branch. Not only was he fishing, +but he was catching the most beautiful brook-trout he had ever seen +almost as fast as he could re-bait and cast his rude tackle. There was +no art required. Nobody had ever fished in these waters before, and the +trout were apparently as eager to be caught as he was to catch them. + +Glen had not neglected to light a fire before he began his fishing, and +by the time half a dozen of the dainty little fellows were caught a fine +bed of hot coals was awaiting them. The boy knew very little of the art +of cooking, but what he did know was ample for the occasion. His fish +were speedily cleaned, laid on the coals for a minute, turned, left a +minute longer, and eaten. When the first half-dozen had disappeared he +caught more, and treated them in the same way. He had no salt, no +condiments, no accessories of any kind, save the sauce of a hunger +closely allied to starvation; but that supplied everything. It rendered +that feast of half-cooked brook-trout the most satisfactory meal he had +ever eaten. + +When, at last, his hunger was entirely appeased, the sun had set, and +another night without shelter or human companionship was before him; but +what did he care? As he lay in front of his fire, on an elastic, +sweet-scented bed of small spruce boughs, with a semicircle of larger +ones planted in the ground behind him, and their feathery tips drooping +gracefully above his head, he was as happy and well-content as ever in +his life. He had conquered the wilderness, escaped from one of its most +cunningly contrived prison-houses, and won from it the means of +satisfying his immediate wants. He enjoyed a glorious feeling of triumph +and independence. To be sure, he had no idea of where he was, nor where +the stream would lead him; but he had no intention of deserting it. He +realized that his safest plan was to follow it. Eventually it must lead +him to the Rio Grande, and there he would surely be able to rejoin his +party, if he did not find them sooner. + +He was in no hurry to leave the pleasant strip of flower-strewn meadow +the next morning, nor did he, until he had caught and eaten a hearty +breakfast, and laid in a supply of trout for at least one more meal. + +The third night found him still on the bank of his stream, which was +flowing happily, with many a laugh and gurgle, through a narrow but +wonderfully beautiful valley, carpeted with a luxuriant growth of grass +and dotted with clumps of cedars. For this night's camp he constructed a +rude hut of slender poles and branches, similar to the Indian wick-i-ups +he had seen on the Plains. In it he slept on a bed high heaped with soft +grasses and cedar twigs that was a perfect cradle of luxury. + +As Glen emerged from his hut at sunrise he was almost as startled at +seeing a herd of several black-tailed (mule) deer, feeding within a +hundred feet of him, as they were to see him. Pausing for a good stare +at him, for the black-tailed deer is among the most inquisitive animals +in the world, they bounded away with tremendous leaps, and disappeared +behind a cedar thicket. A minute later Glen was again startled; this +time by the report of a rifle from some distance down the valley. He had +just been wishing for his own rifle, the sight of deer having suggested +that venison would be a very pleasant change from a steady fish diet, +and now he hurried away in the direction of the shot. + +He walked nearly half a mile before coming so suddenly upon the hunter +who had fired that shot, and was now engaged in dressing one of those +very black-tailed deer, that the latter discovered him at the same +moment, and paused in his work to examine the new-comer keenly. He was a +man past middle age, squarely built, of medium height, and, as he stood +up, Glen saw that he was somewhat bow-legged. His hair was thin and +light in color, and his face was beardless. It was seamed and +weather-beaten, the cheek-bones were high and prominent, and the keen +eyes were gray. He was dressed in a complete hunting-suit of buckskin, +and the rifle, lying beside him, was of an old-fashioned, +long-barrelled, muzzle-loading pattern. He looked every inch, what he +really was, a typical Plainsman of the best kind, possessed of an +honest, kindly nature, brave and just, a man to be feared by an enemy +and loved by a friend. He gazed earnestly at Glen as the latter walked +up to him, though neither by look nor by word did he betray any +curiosity. + +"I don't know who you are, sir," said the boy, "but I know I was never +more glad to see anybody in my life, for I've been wandering alone in +these mountains for three days." + +"Lost?" asked the other, laconically. + +"Well, not exactly lost," replied Glen. Then, as clearly and briefly as +possible, he related his story, which the other followed with close +attention and evident interest. + +"You did have a close call, and you've had a blind trail to follow +since, for a fact. It sorter looks as though you'd showed sand, and I +shouldn't wonder if you was the right stuff to make a man of," said the +hunter, approvingly, when the recital was ended. "How old are you?" + +"I think I am about sixteen," answered the boy. + +"Just the age I was when I first crossed the Mississip and struck for +this country, where I've been ever since. What are you going to do now?" + +"I'm going to ask you to give me a slice of that venison for my +breakfast, and then tell me the best way to rejoin my party," answered +Glen. + +"Of course I'll give you all the deer-meat you can eat, and we'll have +it broiling inside of five minutes. Then, if you'll come along with me +to the fort, I reckon we'll find your outfit there; or, if they ain't, +the commandant will see to it that you do find them. You know him, don't +you?" + +"No, I don't even know who he is. What is his name?" + +This question seemed, for some reason, to amuse the hunter greatly, and +he laughed silently for a moment before replying: "His name is, rightly, +'Colonel Carson,' and since he's got command of a fort they've given him +the title of 'General Carson;' but all the old Plainsmen and mountainmen +that's travelled with him since he was your age call him 'Kit Carson,' +or just 'Old Kit.' Perhaps you've heard tell of him?" + +Indeed, Glen had heard of the most famous scout the Western Plains ever +produced; and, with the prospect of actually seeing and speaking to him, +he felt amply repaid for his recent trials and sufferings. + + + + +Chapter XXXI. + +KIT CARSON'S GOLD MINE. + + +While the hunter was talking to Glen, he was also preparing some slices +of venison for broiling, and lighting a small fire. Anxious to be of +use, as well as to have breakfast as soon as possible, the boy set about +collecting wood for the fire. This, by the hunter's advice, he broke and +split into small pieces, that it might the sooner be reduced to coals; +and, while he was doing this, he told his new friend of his experience +in cooking trout. + +"I reckon that was better than eating them raw," said the latter, with +an amused smile, "but if we had some now, I think I could show you a +better way than that to cook them, though we haven't got any fry-pan." + +"Perhaps I can catch some," suggested Glen, pulling his rude +fishing-tackle from his pocket, as he looked about for some sort of a +pole. "And I think I could do it quicker if you would lend me your hat +for a few minutes. You see mine got lost while I was coasting down that +mountain-side, or in the lake, I don't know which," he added, +apologetically. + +Here the hunter actually laughed aloud. "You don't expect to catch trout +with a hat, do you?" he asked. + +"Oh, no, indeed. I only want it to catch grasshoppers with. It's such +slow work catching them, one at a time, with your hands; but, with a hat +as big as yours, I could get a great many very quickly," and the boy +gazed admiringly at the broad-brimmed sombrero worn by the other. + +The stranger willingly loaned his hat to Glen, who seemed to amuse him +greatly, and the latter soon had, not only all the grasshoppers he +wanted, but a fine string of fish as well. By this time the fire had +produced a bed of coals, and the slices of venison, spitted on slender +sticks thrust into the ground, so as to be held just above them, were +sending forth most appetizing odors. + +Obeying instructions, Glen cleaned his fish, and gathered a quantity of +grass, which he wet in the stream. The hunter had scooped out a shallow +trench in the earth beside the fire, and had filled it with live coals. +Above these he now spread a layer of damp grass, on which he laid the +fish, covering them in turn with another layer of grass. Over this he +raked a quantity of red-hot embers, and then covered the whole with a +few handfuls of earth. + +Ten minutes later the trout were found to be thoroughly cooked, and Glen +was both thinking and saying that no fish had ever tasted so good. After +eating this most satisfactory breakfast, and having hung the carcase of +the deer to a branch where it would be beyond the reach of wolves until +it could be sent for, Glen and his new companion started down the +valley. As they walked, the latter explained to the boy that, many years +before, while trapping on that very stream, he had discovered gold in +its sands. Recently he had employed a number of Mexicans to work for +him, and had started some placer diggings about a mile below where they +then were. + +This interested Glen greatly; for all of his dreams had been of +discovering gold somewhere in this wonderful Western country, and he was +most desirous of learning something of the process of procuring it. As +they talked, they came in sight of several tents and brush huts, +standing near the inner end of a long sand-bar, that extended diagonally +nearly across the stream. A rude dam built along its upper side had +diverted the water from it, so that a large area of sand and gravel was +left dry. On this a dozen men were at work, digging with shovel and +pick, or rocking cradles. Glen had heard of miners' cradles, or +"rockers," but he had never seen one. Now he laughed at the resemblance +between them and the low wooden cradles babies were rocked in. + +They were rough boxes mounted on rockers, of which the one at the +forward end was a little lower than the other, so as to give the cradle +a slight slope in that direction. Each had an iron grating placed across +its upper end, and a few wooden cleats nailed crosswise of its bottom. A +hole was cut in its foot-board, and a handle, by means of which it was +rocked, was fastened to its head-board. There were two men to each +cradle: one to shovel dirt on to its grating, and the other to rock it +and pour water over this dirt to wash it through. The grating was so +fine that only the smallest pebbles could pass through it. As the dirt +and water fell to the bottom of the cradle, and ran through it to the +opening in the foot-board, the fine particles of gold sank, of their own +weight, and lodged against the cleats. From these it was carefully +gathered several times each day by the white overseer who had charge of +the diggings, and sent to Fort Garland for safe-keeping. + +Glen's guide also showed him how to wash out a panful of gold-bearing +earth, as prospectors do. He picked up a shallow iron pan, filled it +with earth, and, holding it half immersed in the stream with its outer +edge inclined from him, shook it rapidly to and fro, with a semi-rotary +motion. In a minute all the earth had been washed out, and only a +deposit of black sand, containing a number of yellow particles, was left +on the bottom. The hunter said this black sand was iron, and could be +blown away from about the gold after it was dry, or drawn away with a +magnet. + +The boy was greatly pleased to be allowed to attempt this operation for +himself, and felt quite like a successful miner when told that the gold +yielded by his first panful was worth about thirty cents. + +While he was thus engaged a swarthy-complexioned soldier, evidently a +Mexican, though he wore a United States uniform, came riding up the +valley, raised his hand in salute to the hunter, and exchanged a few +words with him. The latter hesitated for a moment, and then, after +speaking again to the soldier, who immediately dismounted, he said to +Glen, "I find that I must return to the fort at once. So if you will +take this man's horse, and ride with me, I shall be glad of your +company." His own horse was standing near by, and in another minute they +were riding rapidly down the little valley, with the mining camp already +out of sight. + +After a mile or so the stream that Glen had followed for so long led +them into the broad expanse of the San Luis Valley, up which they +turned, and speedily came in sight of the low white walls of Fort +Garland, surrounding a tall staff from which an American flag floated +lazily in the warm, sun-lit air. + +Although Glen did not know much about soldiers, or the meaning of +military forms, he was somewhat surprised to see the guard at the main +entrance of the fort turn hurriedly out and present arms as they +clattered in past them. He quickly forgot this incident though, in his +admiration of the interior, now opened before him. It was a large +square, enclosed on all sides by low comfortable-looking buildings of +adobe, neatly whitewashed, and in some cases provided with green blinds +and wide piazzas. A hard, smooth driveway ran in front of them, and the +middle of the enclosure was occupied by a well-turfed parade-ground, at +one end of which stood a battery of light field-pieces. The chief beauty +of the place lay in a little canal of crystal water, that ran entirely +around the parade-ground. It was as cool and sparkling as that of its +parent mountain stream, flowing just beyond the fort, and the refreshing +sound of its rippling pervaded the whole place. + +Riding to the opposite side of the enclosure, the hunter and his +companion dismounted in front of one of the houses with blinds and a +piazza. This the former invited Glen to enter, and at the same moment an +orderly stepped up and took their horses. In a cool, dimly lighted room, +Glen's new friend asked him to be seated and wait a few moments. In +about fifteen minutes the orderly who had taken the horses entered the +room, and saying to Glen that General Carson would like to see him, +ushered him into an adjoining apartment. For a moment the boy did not +recognize the figure, clad in a colonel's uniform, that was seated +beside a writing-table. But, as the latter said, "Well, sir, I was told +that you wished to see the commandant," he at once knew the voice for +that of his friend the hunter, and, with a tone of glad surprise, he +exclaimed, + +"Why, sir, are you--" + +"Yes," replied the other, laughing, "I am old Kit Carson, at your +service, and I bid you a hearty welcome to Fort Garland." + +Then he told Glen that one of his daughters was to be married that +evening to an officer of the post. They had been engaged for some time, +but there had been nobody to marry them until that day, when a priest +from Taos had stopped at the fort on his way to the upper Rio Grande +settlements. As he must continue his journey the next morning, the +colonel had been sent for, and it was decided that the wedding should +come off at once. + +Thus it happened that Glen was assisting to decorate the commandant's +quarters with flags and evergreens when Mr. Hobart and "Billy" Brackett, +who had come on a little in advance of the rest of the party, rode up to +pay their respects to Colonel Carson. He went out to meet them, and, +being fond of giving pleasant surprises, did not say a word concerning +Glen; but, after an exchange of greetings, led them directly into the +room where he was at work. The boy was standing on a box fastening a +flag to the wall above his head, as the men entered. The light from a +window fell full upon him, and they recognized him at once. + + + + +Chapter XXXII. + +A NEW MEXICAN WEDDING. + + +For a moment the amazement of the two men at again beholding the lad +whom they were fully persuaded was dead would neither allow them to +speak nor move. Then "Billy" Brackett walked softly over to where Glen +was standing, and gave one of his legs a sharp pinch. + +The startled boy, who had not noticed his approach, leaped to the floor +with a cry of mingled pain and surprise. + +"I only wanted to be sure you were real, old man, and not a ghost," said +"Billy" Brackett, trying to speak in his usual careless tone; but the +tears that stood in the honest fellow's eyes, as he wrung the boy's +hand, showed how deeply he was affected, and how truly he had mourned +the loss of his young friend. + +Nor was Mr. Hobart less moved, and, as he grasped Glen's hand, he said, +"My dear boy, I honestly believe this is the happiest moment of my +life." + +They did not stop to ask for his story then but insisted on taking him +at once out to the camp that was being pitched just beyond the fort, +that the rest of the party might share their joy as speedily as +possible. + +The boys were so busily engaged with their evening duties that the +little party was not noticed until they were close at hand. Then +somebody, gazing sharply at the middle figure of the three who +approached, cried out, "If that isn't Glen Matherson, it's his twin +brother!" + +Everybody paused in what he was doing, and every eye was turned in the +same direction. For a moment there was a profound silence. Then came a +great shout of joyful amazement. Everything was dropped; and, with one +accord, the entire party made a rush for the boy whom they all loved, +and whom they had never expected to see again. + +How they yelled, and cheered, and failed to find expressions for their +extravagant delight! As for Binney Gibbs, he fairly sobbed as he held +Glen's hand, and gazed into the face of this comrade for whom he had +mourned, and whom he once thought he hated. + +Although, at first sight, it seems almost incredible that so many +adventures should happen to one boy on a single trip, it must be +remembered that, with the exception of Binney, Glen was the youngest of +the party, and consequently more likely to be reckless and careless than +any of the others. He was also one of those persons who, while everybody +around them is moving along quietly and soberly, are always getting into +scrapes, and coming out of each one bright, smiling, and ready for +another. Then, too, he was a stout, fearless fellow, with perfect +confidence in himself that led him into, and out of, situations from +which such boys as Binney Gibbs would steer clear. + +An amusing feature of Glen's adventures was, that while his companions +were ready to sympathize with him on account of his sufferings and +hardships, it never seemed to occur to him that he had had anything but +a good time, and one to be remembered with pleasure. Thus, in the +present instance, according to his own account, his slide down the +mountain-side had been the jolliest coast he ever took. His swim in the +lake had been cold, but then it had not lasted long, and he had enjoyed +the fire and the warmth of the cave all the more for it. As for his +subsequent experiences, he related them in such a way that, before he +finished, his listeners began to regard him as one of the most fortunate +and to-be-envied fellows of their acquaintance. They seemed to be +crossing the Plains and mountains in the most prosaic manner, without +doing anything in particular except work, while, to this boy, the trip +was full of adventures and delightful experiences. Would these incidents +seem so pleasant to him if he were as old as they? Perhaps not. + +They were all to enjoy one novel experience that very evening, though; +for Glen brought an invitation from Colonel Carson for them to attend +the wedding, and of course they promptly accepted it. As it was to be an +early affair, they hurried to the fort as soon as supper was over, and +found the guests already assembling in a large room, from which every +article of furniture had been removed. It was a motley gathering, in +which were seen the gay uniforms of soldiers, the buckskin of trappers, +the gaudy serapes of Mexican Cabelleros, the flannel shirts and big +boots of the engineers, and the blanketed forms of stolid-faced Ute +Indians, for whom Kit Carson was acting as agent at that time. + +The company was ranged about three sides of the room, close against the +walls; and, when they were thus disposed, a door on the vacant side +opened, and a Mexican woman, bearing a large basket of candles, entered. +Giving a candle to each guest, and lighting it for him, she indicated by +signs that he was to hold it above his head. So the guests became living +candlesticks, and, when all their candles were lighted, the illumination +was quite brilliant enough even for a wedding. + +Everything being ready, the door through which the candles had been +brought again opened, and the bridal party entered. First came the +priest, then Kit Carson and his wife, who was a Mexican woman from Taos. +Behind them walked the couple who were to be married. The bride was a +slender, olive-complexioned girl, dressed very simply in white, while +the groom wore the handsome uniform of a lieutenant of cavalry. The rear +of the procession was brought up by a bevy of black-haired and +black-eyed seņoritas, sisters and cousins of the bride. + +The priest read the wedding service in Latin, and the bride made her +responses in Spanish, so that the few English words spoken by the groom +were all that most of the spectators understood. As "Billy" Brackett +afterwards remarked, it was evidently necessary to be liberally educated +to get married in that country. + +At the conclusion of the ceremony the entire wedding-party, with the +exception of the bride's father, disappeared, and were seen no more; +while Colonel Carson led his guests into a neighboring room, where the +wedding supper was served. Here the famous scout, surrounded by the +tried comrades of many a wild campaign, entertained the company by +calling on these for one anecdote after another of the adventures that +had been crowded so thickly into their lives. This was a rare treat to +the new-comers, especially to Glen Eddy and Binney Gibbs, to whom the +thrilling tales, told by the boy trappers, scouts, hunters, and soldiers +who had participated in them, were so real and vivid that, before this +delightful evening was over, it seemed as though they too must have +taken part in the scenes described. + +In spite of the late hours kept by most of the engineers that night, +their camp was broken by daylight, and at sunrise they were off on the +line as usual, for September was now well advanced, and there were +mountain ranges yet to be crossed that would be impassable after winter +had once fairly set in. So, leaving the pleasant army post and their +hospitable entertainers in it, they picked up their line, and, running +it out over the broad San Luis Valley to the Rio Grande, began to follow +that river into the very heart of New Mexico. + +Glen was more than glad to find himself once more on Nettle's back, and +again bearing the front flag in advance of the party. He was also +surprised to find what a barren place the valley that had looked so +beautiful and desirable from the mountains really was. Its sandy soil +only supported a thick growth of sage brush, that yielded a strong +aromatic fragrance when bruised or broken, and which rendered the +running of the line peculiarly toilsome. It was a relief to reach the +great river of New Mexico, and find themselves in the more fertile +country immediately bordering on it. Here, too, they found numbers of +quaint Mexican towns, of which they passed one or more nearly every day. + +These were full of interest to the young explorers. While looking at +their low flat-roofed houses, built of adobe, or great sun-dried bricks +of mud and straw, it was hard to realize that they were still in America +and traversing one of the territories of the United States. All their +surroundings were those of the far East, and the descriptions in the +Bible of life and scenes in Palestine applied perfectly to the valley of +the Rio Grande as they saw it. The people were dark-skinned, with +straight, black hair; and while the young children ran about nearly +naked, their elders wore loose, flowing garments, and, if not +barefooted, were shod with sandals of raw hide or plaited straw. + +The square houses, with thick walls, broken only by occasional narrow +unglazed windows, were exactly like those of the Biblical pictures. +Inside, the floors were of hard-beaten clay, and there were neither +tables nor chairs, only earthen benches covered with sheep-skins or gay +striped blankets. Some of the finer houses enclosed open courts or +plazas, in which were trees and shrubs. The cooking was done in the open +air, or in round-topped earthen ovens, built outside the houses. + +The women washed clothing on flat rocks at the edge of the streams, and +young girls carried all the water used for domestic purposes in tall +earthen jars borne gracefully on their heads. The beasts of burden were +donkeys, or "burros," as the Mexicans call them. Grain was threshed by +being laid on smooth earthen threshing-floors, in the open air, and +having horses, donkeys, cattle, and sheep driven over it for hours. Wine +was kept in skins or great earthen jars. The mountains and hills of the +country were covered with pines and cedars, its cultivated valleys with +vineyards and fruit orchards; while the raising of flocks and herds was +the leading industry of its inhabitants. + +At this season of the year, though the sun shone from an unclouded sky +of the most brilliant blue, the air was dry and bracing in the daytime, +and crisp with the promises of frost at night. It was glorious weather; +and, under its influence, the second division ran a line of a hundred +miles down the river in ten days. As the entire party had looked forward +with eager anticipations to visiting Santa Fé, which is not on the Rio +Grande, but some distance to the east of it, they were greatly +disappointed to be met by a messenger from General Lyle, with orders for +Mr. Hobart to come into that place, while his party continued their line +south to Albuquerque, eighty miles beyond where they were. + +Glen was intensely disappointed at this, for Santa Fé was one of the +places he had been most anxious to visit. His disappointment was doubled +when Mr. Hobart said that he must take somebody with him as private +secretary, and intimated that his choice would have fallen on the young +front flagman if he had only learned to talk Spanish. As it was, Binney +Gibbs was chosen for the envied position; for, though he, like the rest, +had only been for a short time among Mexicans, he was already able to +speak their language with comparative ease. + +"I don't see how you learned it so quickly," said Glen, one day, when, +after he had striven in vain to make a native understand that he wished +to purchase some fruit, Binney had stepped up and explained matters with +a few words of Spanish. + +"Why, it is easy enough," replied Binney, "to anybody who understands +Latin." + +Then Glen wished that he, too, understood Latin, as he might easily have +done as well as his comrade. He wished it ten times more though, when, +on account of it, Binney rode gayly off to Santa Fé with Mr. Hobart, +while he went out to work on the line. + + + + +Chapter XXXIII. + +IN THE VALLEY OF THE RIO GRANDE. + + +Near the close of a mellow autumn day Glen and "Billy" Brackett sat on a +fragment of broken wall and gazed with interest on the scene about them. +On one side, crowning a low bluff that overlooked the Rio Grande twelve +miles below Albuquerque, was the Indian pueblo of Isletta, a picturesque +collection of adobe buildings and stockaded corrals, containing some +eight hundred inhabitants. On the other side were extensive vineyards; +beyond them were vast plains, from which flocks of bleating sheep were +being driven in for the night by Indian boys; and still beyond rose the +blue range of the Sierra Madre. The air was so clear and still that +through it the sounds of children's voices, the barking of dogs, the +bleating of sheep, the lowing of cattle, and the cracked tones of the +bell in the quaint old mission church came to the ears of Glen and his +companion with wonderful distinctness. The Indian women were preparing +their evening meals, and the fragrance of burning cedar drifted down +from the village. Never afterwards could Glen smell the odor of cedar +without having the scene of that evening vividly recalled to his mind. + +Mingled with this fragrance was another, equally distinct and +suggestive. It was that of crushed grapes; and the two explorers were +watching curiously the process of New Mexican wine-making, going on but +a short distance from them. Clumsy ox-carts, constructed without the use +of iron, and having great wooden wheels that screeched as they turned on +their ungreased wooden axles, brought in loads of purple grapes from the +vineyards. On top of the loads, as though the grapes were so much hay, +rode Indian men or boys, armed with wooden pitchforks. With these they +flung the grapes into a great vat of green ox-hides, supported, about +ten feet from the ground, by four heavy posts. The sides of this vat +were drawn to a point at the bottom, where there was a small outlet +left, through which the grape-juice might flow into a second vat, placed +directly beneath the other. It was similar in all respects to the first, +except that it offered no opening for the escape of its contents. + +When a load of grapes had been pitched into the upper vat, two naked +Indians clambered up, and, springing on top of them, began to tread them +with their feet. For hours they continued this performance, while a +steady stream of blood-red juice flowed from the upper vat into the +lower. From there it was dipped into huge earthen jars, and set away to +ferment. + +"Well," said 'Billy' Brackett, at length, as he rose and started towards +camp, "I've seen all the native wine-making I want to. If those beggars +had only washed themselves first it wouldn't be so bad, but I honestly +believe they only take a bath once a year, and that is in grape-juice." + +"It is pretty bad," laughed Glen, "though I don't know as it is any +worse than their milking." This was a sore point with him, for he was +very fond of fresh milk; but, after once witnessing a New Mexican +milking, and seeing cows, mares, asses, sheep, and goats all milked into +the same vessel, he preferred to go without it. + +It was surprising to see what a tall, broad-shouldered fellow Glen was +getting to be; and a single glance was sufficient to show what crossing +the Plains had done for him. His eyes had the clear look of perfect +health; his face, neck, and hands were as brown as sun and wind could +make them, while his hair had entirely recovered from its Kansas City +shearing, and was now plainly visible beneath the broad sombrero that +replaced the hat lost on the Spanish Peak. A heavy blue flannel shirt, a +pair of army trousers tucked into the tops of cowhide boots, a leather +belt supporting a revolver and a sheath-knife, and a silk handkerchief +loosely knotted about his neck, completed his costume. + +"Billy" Brackett was dressed in a similar fashion, except that he still +clung fondly to the shiny cutaway coat in which he was introduced to the +reader, and to which he was deeply attached. + +As they walked towards camp, he and Glen discussed the topic now +uppermost in their minds, namely, that of their future movements. Since +going to Santa Fé, Mr. Hobart had not rejoined them, though a note +received from him at Albuquerque promised that he would do so at +Isletta, to which place he ordered the line to be run. Now they had been +for two days at the Pueblo, but where they were to go next, or whether +they were to go any farther, they did not know, and were anxious to find +out. They had heard vague rumors that General Lyle was to return to the +States, and that all the plans of the expedition might be changed. Thus, +when Mr. Hobart galloped into camp just after supper that evening, he +was heartily welcomed. + +"Where is Binney Gibbs?" was the first question asked. + +"Promoted to be private secretary to General Elting, the new chief," was +the reply. + +"Where is General Elting?" + +"He is still in Santa Fé, but is going across with the other two +divisions by the Gila route." + +"And where are we going?" + +"Going to run a one-thousand-mile line from here to the Pacific Ocean, +in just the shortest time we can accomplish it." + +"Good enough! Hurrah for the Pacific! Hurrah for California!" shouted +every member of the party but one. He was the leveller; and when Mr. +Hobart, after explaining the dangers and hardships of the trip before +them, said that anybody who did not care to encounter them would be +furnished with free transportation from that point back to the States, +this man decided to accept the offer. + +Little, did Glen Eddy imagine, as he bade him good-bye the next day, +what an effect upon his future the decision thus suddenly reached by the +leveller was to have. In the stage from Santa Fé the latter met a +gentleman and his wife who were greatly interested in his description of +the explorations in which he had just taken part. Among other things, he +described Glen Eddy Matherson's remarkable adventures; and the lady, who +seemed struck by the boy's name, asked many questions concerning him. +Fortunately, the leveller was able to answer most of them, and thus she +learned, what Glen had never attempted to conceal, that he was an +adopted son of Luke Matherson, of Brimfield, Pennsylvania, who had saved +him from a railroad wreck in Glen Eddy creek when he was a baby. She did +not explain why she asked these questions, and soon changed the +conversation to other topics. + +The most immediate effect upon Glen of the leveller's departure was to +promote him and increase his pay. As it was impossible, in that country, +to engage men of experience to fill places in an engineer corps, Mr. +Brackett was obliged to take the level, while Mr. Hobart himself took +charge of the transit; and, when the former was asked who he would like +as rodman in place of Binney Gibbs, he promptly answered, "Glen +Matherson." + +In speaking to Glen of this change of position, the division engineer +asked the boy if he was sure he wanted to go through to the Pacific. + +"Of course I do, sir!" answered Glen, in surprise at the question. + +"It is going to be a trip full of danger and all sorts of hardships, +possibly including starvation and freezing. I don't know but what you +really ought to go back." + +"Oh, sir, please don't send me back!" pleaded Glen, earnestly. "I should +feel awfully to have to go home with the trip only half finished." + +"Then you are willing to face all the hardships?" + +"Yes, sir, I'm willing to face anything, rather than going back." + +"All right!" laughed Mr. Hobart; "I suppose I shall have to take you +along. I proposed to the general to take Binney Gibbs with him, or else +send him back to the States, because I did not consider him strong +enough to endure what is ahead of us; but I don't see how I could urge +that in your case, for I actually believe you are one of the toughest +among us." + +How Glen rejoiced in his strength as he heard this! Perhaps it was going +to prove as valuable to him as a scholarship, after all. + +"Mr. Brackett is going to run the level, and wants you for his rodman," +continued Mr. Hobart. "The pay will be double what you are now +receiving, and you can soon fit yourself for the position by a little +hard study; for Mr. Brackett is a capital instructor. I have told him +that he may take you on trial, and see what he can do with you. I also +told him of your aversion to study, and gave him to understand what a +difficult job he had undertaken." + +Glen flushed at this, and gazed at the ground for a moment. Finally he +said, "Studying seems very different when you can look right ahead and +see what good it is going to do." + +"Yes," replied Mr. Hobart, "I know it does. Still, in most cases we have +to trust the word of those who can look ahead when we can't. I've no +doubt but what you were told at school that a knowledge of Latin would +aid you in learning many other languages; but you were not willing to +believe it until you saw for yourself how it helped Binney Gibbs pick up +Spanish." + +Glen did not make any promises aloud in regard to fitting himself for +his new position, for he believed in actions rather than words; but he +made one to himself, and determined to keep it. + +They remained in camp at Isletta one day longer, to prepare for their +arduous undertaking, and to engage several new axemen to fill the places +of those who had been promoted; but on the second morning the transit +was set up over the last stake they had driven, and its telescope was +pointed due west. + +At first Glen missed the excitement of riding in advance of the party +with the front flag. On a preliminary survey, the level can hardly keep +up with the transit; and it was not so pleasant to be always behind, +striving to catch up, as it had been to be in the lead. + +To "Billy" Brackett the change of positions came even harder than to +Glen, because in taking the level he had gone back a step rather than +forward; but he never showed it. Indeed, by his steady cheerfulness and +unceasing flow of good spirits the new leveller soon banished even a +shadow of regret from the mind of his young rodman, and taught him to +feel a real interest in his new work. + +So they slowly climbed the western slope of the Rio Grande Valley, +crossed the barren plateau of the divide between it and the Rio Puerco, +followed that stream and its tributary, the San José, on the banks of +which they saw the ancient pueblos of Laguna and Acoma, into another +region of rugged mountains, and, in about two weeks, found themselves at +the forlorn frontier post of Fort Wingate, where they were to obtain +their final supplies for the winter. + + + + +Chapter XXXIV. + +BAITING A WOLF-TRAP. + + +At Fort Wingate the real hardships of the trip began in an unexpected +manner. Instead of being plentifully supplied with provisions, as had +been reported, the post was found to be very poorly provided, and all +that could be spared to the engineers were condemned quartermaster's +stores. The party must take these or nothing; and when Mr. Hobart left +it to his men whether they should accept the damaged stores and push on, +or go back to the Rio Grande, they unanimously said, "Go on!" So, for +the next two months, they made the best of half-spoiled hams and bacon, +hard-tack filled with white worms, and sugar abounding in little black +bugs, that fortunately floated on top of the coffee and could be skimmed +off. + +The men provided themselves with a number of little luxuries at the +sutler's--the last store they would see for months--and "Billy" Brackett +bought a cheese. This was considered a very queer purchase; but Glen's +was queerer still, for it was a small quantity of strychnine. He only +procured this after giving assurances that he did not propose to commit +suicide and making many promises to be very careful in its use. What he +proposed to do with the poison he did not confide to anybody except his +friend "Billy" Brackett, who agreed with him that it was a capital plan. + +A run of twelve miles from Fort Wingate brought the party to a camp, in +a forest of the most stately yellow-pines they had ever seen, beside a +great spring of ice-cold water--known as the Agua Fria (cold water). +Here, as soon as supper was over, Glen proceeded to put his great plan +into execution. The nights were now very cold, and the boy generally +woke before morning to find himself shivering beneath his insufficient +covering of blankets. Every night, too, since entering the mountains the +party had been annoyed by the sneaking visits and unearthly howlings of +wolves that hung on the outskirts of the camp from dark to daylight, +every now and then making a quick dash through it, if the guard was not +watching sharply, and snatching at bits of food or at anything made of +leather that lay in their path. So Glen thought he would teach the +wolves a lesson, which should at the same time add some of their skins +to his bed-clothing; and it was for this purpose he had procured the +strychnine. + +Now, with "Billy" Brackett's help, he dragged out from one of the wagons +a gunny-sack, containing some kidneys, lungs, and other refuse animal +matter, obtained from the Fort Wingate butcher, and these he smeared +with the deadly powder. Then they prepared several torches of pine +slivers, and, amid the unanswered questionings of their companions, left +camp, carrying the sack of meat between them. Beginning at a point a few +rods from the tents, they strewed the poisoned bait for half a mile +along the banks of the little stream flowing from the spring. It was an +exciting task, for they seemed to hear suspicious sniffs, and the soft +pattering of feet on both sides of them; while Glen felt certain that +his torchlight was reflected from gleaming eyeballs more than once. So +greatly did these things work upon their imaginations that when, as they +started back towards camp, their last torch suddenly went out, leaving +them in blackest darkness, they both took to their heels, and raced +breathlessly for the distant light of the friendly camp-fire. When they +reached it, in perfect safety, they burst out laughing in one another's +faces, and wondered what they had run from. + +Glen was disappointed, as he lay shivering in his blankets that night, +not to hear so many wolves as usual, while the few howls that did reach +his ears seemed to come from a distance. Still, he comforted himself +with the reflection that dead wolves couldn't howl, and doubtless all +those that had ventured near the camp had eaten the poisoned meat, and +had their howlings effectually silenced. + +It seemed to him that he had hardly dropped asleep when he was rudely +awakened by being pulled, feet foremost, out of his blankets, under the +side of the tent, and into the open air. At the same moment "Billy" +Brackett's laughing voice cried, "Come, Glen, here it is broad daylight, +and high time we were gathering in our wolves." + +Whew! how cold it was! and in what a hurry Glen sprang from the frozen +ground, to rush back into the tent for his boots and army overcoat. He +had everything else on, for there was very little undressing at night in +that party. As for being sleepy, the biting air had awakened him as +effectually as a dash of ice-water. + +As they left camp, "Billy" Brackett shouted back to one of the Mexican +axemen to follow after them, and the man answered that he would be along +in a minute. It was light enough, when they reached the place where they +had left the first of the poisoned meat, for them to see it if it had +been there; but it was not. Neither was there any dead wolf to be found +in the vicinity. It was the same along the whole line, where they had +scattered their bait. They could neither discover meat nor wolves. + +"Hello!" exclaimed "Billy" Brackett softly, as they were about to turn +back, "I believe the wolves are cooking their meat;" and with that he +pointed to a thin column of blue smoke rising through the trees at some +distance farther down the stream. + +"Perhaps they are Indians," suggested Glen. + +"Perhaps they are. Let's go and find out. We can take a look at them +without being seen. Besides, the Indians hereabout are peaceful now." + +So they crept cautiously towards the smoke, until at length they were +lying flat on the ground, on the edge of a low bank, with their heads +hidden in tufts of grass, peering into a small encampment of Indians +just below them. They had hardly gained this position when Glen, +uttering a cry of horror, sprang down the bank, rushed in among the +Indians, and, snatching a piece of meat from the hands of one of them, +who was raising it to his mouth, flung it so far away that it was +snapped up and swallowed by a lean, wolfish-looking cur, that had not +dared venture near the fire. + +At Glen's sudden appearance the Indian women and children ran screaming +into the bushes, while the men, springing to their feet, surrounded him +with angry exclamations and significant handlings of their knives. They +received a second surprise, and fell back a little as "Billy" Brackett, +who had not at first understood Glen's precipitate action, came rushing +down the bank after him, shouting, "Stand back, you villains! If you lay +a hand on him, I'll blow the tops of all your heads off!" + +At the same time Glen was making all the faces expressive of extreme +disgust that he could think of, and saying, as he pointed to a pile of +meat lying in a gunny-sack beside the fire: + +"_Carne no bueno! Muy mal! No bueno por hombre!_" which was the best +Spanish he knew for, "The meat is not good. It is very bad, and not at +all good for a man to eat." + +But the Indians could not understand. The meat might not be good enough +for white men, who were so very particular, but it was good enough for +them. The white men had thrown it away and they had found it. They meant +to eat it, too, for they were very hungry. Now, if these uninvited +guests to their camp would not clear out and let them eat their +breakfast in peace, they must suffer the consequences. + +This is what they said; but neither Glen nor "Billy" Brackett understood +a word of it. They were preparing to defend themselves, as well as they +could, from the scowling Indians, who were again advancing upon them +with drawn knives. + +Both Glen and his companion had their rifles, and now, as they stepped +slowly backward, they held them ready for instant use. + +"We won't fire," said "Billy" Brackett, "unless they point a gun or an +arrow at us; for the first shot will be the signal for a rush, and if +they make that we haven't got a living show." + +All this time the Indians, to the number of a dozen or so, advanced +steadily, taking step for step with the whites, as they fell back, and +watching for a chance to get past or around the black muzzles of those +rifles. + + + + +Chapter XXXV. + +EL MORO. + + +To Glen Eddy and "Billy" Brackett the situation looked serious, and +almost desperate, as they confronted that crowd of angry savages who +advanced towards them so steadily, and with such unmistakable meaning. + +"It's a tough outlook for us," muttered the latter. + +"Yes," answered Glen, "it is, but--" Here the boy clinched his teeth, +and clutched his rifle more firmly. + +"Look out!" cried the other, noticing that the Indians were gathering +themselves for a rush. "They're coming!" and he raised his rifle. + +In another instant he would have fired, and their fate would have been +sealed. But their time had not yet come; for, at that same moment, +another figure bounded down the low bank, and stood beside them facing +the Indians, and speaking angrily to them in Spanish. They evidently +understood him, and hesitated. He was the Mexican axeman. + +"What is the trouble, Mr. Brackett?" he asked hurriedly, in English. + +With a few words they made the situation clear to him, and he, in turn, +quickly explained to the Indians that these white men had merely tried +to save their lives by preventing them from eating poisoned meat. + +"Tell them to look at the dog!" cried Glen, pointing to the poor animal +that had swallowed the very bit of meat he had snatched from the Indian, +and which was evidently dying. + +The sight was a powerful argument, worth more than all the words that +could have been spoken. + +The Indians sullenly returned to their fire and sat down, while our +friends, casting many watchful glances over their shoulders as they +went, made good their retreat in the direction of their own camp. + +"What kind of Indians were they?" asked Glen, of the Mexican, when they +had lost sight of their unpleasant acquaintances. + +"Navajos," was the answer. + +They were indeed a wretched band of the once wealthy and powerful tribe +who claimed that whole country as a pasture-land for their countless +flocks and herds. For many years they had been hunted and killed, their +flocks driven off and their growing crops destroyed wherever found, +until now the main body of the tribe was being slowly starved out of +existence on a small reservation in Eastern New Mexico. It was so small +that no more Indians could be crowded into it, and the miserable +remnant, who still lurked in the fastnesses of their own country, +despoiled of all means of procuring a livelihood, prowled about like so +many hungry dogs, gleaning the offal from white men's camps, and hunted +like wild beasts by all whom they were unfortunate enough to meet. + +This band had probably followed Mr. Hobart's party for the sake of what +might be picked up in their abandoned camps, and had evidently regarded +the poisoned meat, discovered that very morning, as a perfect godsend. + +"I reckon we'll have to manage somehow to get along without any wolves," +said "Billy" Brackett. + +"Yes," replied Glen, regretfully, "I suppose we shall." + +Ten miles of line were run that day, through the solemn pine forest, and +darkness overtook the party on the very summit of the great Continental +Divide. They were crossing the Sierra Madre Mountains, through Zuņi +Pass. As Glen subtracted the last reading of his rod for the day from +the last height of instrument, and found that it gave an elevation of +7925 feet, he uttered a shout. For weeks the elevations above sea-level +had been steadily mounting upward. This one was a foot lower than the +last. + +"Hurrah!" he cried, "we are on the Pacific Slope." + +It was hard to realize that water, on one side of where they stood, +would find its way into the Rio Grande, and so on into the Atlantic, +while that but a few feet away would flow through the Colorado into the +Pacific. The country did not look any different, but it seemed so. They +actually seemed to be breathing the air of the mighty sunset ocean, and +this one day's run seemed to place the States, and everything eastern, +farther behind them than all the rest of their journey. About the +camp-fires that evening the conversation was wholly of California and +the golden West, and they sprang to their work the next day with an +added zeal. + +Fifty miles west of this point they came to Zuņi, one of the most +picturesque and by far the most interesting of American towns. First, +though, a few miles east of Zuņi, they halted beside the magnificent +pile of El Moro, or Inscription Rock, that lifted its frowning +battlements, like those of some vast Moorish castle, four hundred feet +above the plain. Its base is covered, on all sides, with Indian +hieroglyphics, Spanish inscriptions, and English names. Curiously, and +almost reverently, our explorers bent down the brushwood near its +left-hand corner, and searched until they found the most ancient +inscription of all: + + "Don Joseph de Basconzeles 1526." + +There is nothing more, and this is the sole existing record of Don +Joseph's having lived and explored this country while Cortez was still +occupying the city of Mexico. Where he came from, who he was, what +companions he had, and whither he went will never be known; but through +all the centuries that have passed since he carved his name on El Moro's +base, the great rock has faithfully preserved the record of his +presence. + +The next inscription was made nearly one hundred years later, and is a +Spanish legend that is translated into, "Passed by this place with +despatches, April 16, 1606." There is no name signed, and who passed by +on that day can never be told. Then follows innumerable names of Spanish +dons, captains, bishops, soldiers, and priests, with varying dates that +come down as late as the beginning of the present century. + +The first English inscription is, "O. R., March 19, 1836." Then came +Whipple, in 1853, followed by many other American soldiers and +gold-seekers. Now Glen Eddy and "Billy" Brackett added their names +beneath those of the others of Mr. Hobart's party. Then they, too, +passed on, leaving a new page of history to be preserved by El Moro for +the eyes of future generations. + +For some hours before reaching Zuņi they could see it crowning the hill +that uplifts it conspicuously above the level of the surrounding plain. +It was the "Cibola" of the earliest Spanish explorers, the chief of the +seven "golden cities" that they believed to exist in that region, and +whose alleged riches led them to undertake the conquest of the country. +They called it "Cibola" until they reached it. Then they adopted the +native name of Zuņi (pronounced _Zoon-ya_), by which it has been known +ever since. + +The town, or city, contained some twelve hundred inhabitants, and the +hill on which it is built slopes gently up from the plain on one side, +but falls away in a precipitous bluff to the narrow waters of the Zuņi +River on the other. + +"Billy" Brackett had read up on this ancient city of Cibola, and had +imparted so much of his information to Glen as to arouse a curiosity in +the boy's mind regarding the place fully equal to his own. So, as soon +as they reached camp, which was on the plain at the foot of the hill, +they hurried off to "do" the town. + + + + +Chapter XXXVI. + +ZUŅI, THE HOME OF THE AZTECS. + + +As the leveller and his rodman ascended the slope on which Zuņi is +built, they saw that the town reached entirely across it, and seemingly +presented a blank wall of irregular heights, containing only two or +three low arched openings. A ladder, here and there, reached from the +ground to a flat terrace on top of the wall; but evidently the means of +entering the place were few, and could readily be made less. Outside of +the wall were long ranges of corrals, fenced with poles, set close +together, and fixed firmly in the ground. These poles, which were of all +lengths, and the tops of ladders projecting everywhere above the roofs +of the town, gave the place a peculiarly ragged and novel appearance. +Glen wondered at the height of the buildings, most of which were of five +or six stories, and what the ladders were for. + +Seeing no other way of gaining an entrance, they followed an Indian, who +led a burro bearing an immense load of fagots on his back, into one of +the dark arched passages through the wall. It was just wide enough to +admit the laden donkey, and so low that, as they followed him, they were +obliged to stoop to avoid striking their heads against its roof. It was +so long that it evidently led beneath an entire block of houses. + +Finally they emerged from its darkness into one of the most novel +plazas, or squares, of the world. It was surrounded by buildings of +several stories in height, but very few of them had any doors, while the +tiny windows of the lower stories were placed high up, beyond a man's +reach. On the flat roof of the lower house, or first story, a second +house was built; but it was so much narrower than the first as to leave +a broad walk on the roof in front of it. Above this second house rose a +third, fourth, fifth, and often a sixth, each one narrower than the one +beneath it, so that the whole looked like a gigantic flight of steps. + +These houses were built either of adobe or of stone, plastered over with +adobe mud; and nearly all those on the ground floor were entered, as +Robinson Crusoe entered his castle, by climbing a ladder to the roof, +and descending another that led down through a skylight. Thus, if an +enemy should succeed in forcing his way through the narrow tunnel into +the plaza, the people would merely retire to their house-tops, draw up +their ladders, and he would find it as hard to get at them as ever. + +The upper tiers of houses had doors opening on the roofs of those below +them; but ladders were necessary to climb up from one terrace to +another, so that they were everywhere the most prominent feature of the +place. + +There were but few of the inhabitants in the plaza, or in the narrow +lanes leading from it to other open squares; but they swarmed on the +flat house-tops, and gazed down on our friends as eagerly as the latter +gazed up at them. Americans were curiosities to the people of Zuņi in +those days. + +"Hello!" exclaimed Glen, as they stood in the middle of the plaza, +wondering which way they should go. "Here come some white fellows +dressed up like Indians. I wonder who they can be?" + +Sure enough, two young men, having white skins, blue eyes, and yellow +hair, but wearing the leggings and striped blankets of Indians, entered +the square as Glen spoke. He shouted to them, both in English and +Mexican, but they only glanced at him in a startled manner, and then, +hurriedly climbing the nearest ladder, they joined a group who were +curiously inspecting Glen and his companion from a roof. + +"Well! that is queer," said the former. "Who do you suppose those chaps +are?" + +"I shouldn't be a bit surprised if they were two of the white Indians I +have read of," answered "Billy" Brackett; "and, if so, they are the +greatest curiosities we'll see in this town." + +"I never heard of them," said Glen. "Where did they come from?" + +"That's more than I can tell, or anybody else. All we know is that the +earliest Spaniards found a race of white people living among the Pueblo +Indians, whom they describe as being exactly like these chaps grinning +at us from that roof. In one respect they are a distinct race, as they +have never been allowed to marry with the dark-skinned Indians; but in +every other respect they are thorough Puebloes, and there is no +tradition going back far enough to show that they were ever anything +else. I believe that the race is nearly extinct, and that they are now +so few in number as to be rarely seen." + +In this "Billy" Brackett was correct; for at that time there were but +three of those white Indians in Zuņi, two men and a woman. + +Before leaving this remarkable town of curious people, Glen discovered +that they kept eagles for pets, and were also very fond of snakes, +especially rattlesnakes, which they did not hesitate to handle freely +and even to hold in their mouths. He saw the entire population turn out +on the flat roofs of their houses at daybreak, and, facing the east, +patiently await the coming of Montezuma, whom they firmly believed would +appear some morning in the place of the sun. He heard of, but was not +allowed to see, the perpetual fire, lighted by Montezuma, that has been +kept burning for ages by a family of priests, set apart and supported by +the people for that particular purpose. He saw women grinding corn into +fine white meal between two stones, and baking it into delicious thin +cakes on another. He saw them weaving blankets, of sheep's wool, so fine +that they will hold water for a whole day, and so strong that they will +last a long lifetime. He ate some of the white dried peaches and other +fruits that these Indians raise in such abundance and prepare with such +skill. And what pleased him more than anything else was that, in +exchange for two flour-sacks and a small piece of bacon, one of the +Indians made him a fine buckskin shirt, very much adorned with fringes, +that he wore all the rest of the winter. + +It certainly was a most interesting place, and the whole party would +gladly have lingered there longer than the three days that could be +spared to it. But it was now November, and they must be beyond the San +Francisco Mountains before the passes were blocked with heavy snows. So +they bade good-bye to Zuņi and New Mexico, and, taking their way past +Jacob's Well, where a fine spring bubbles up at the bottom of a +funnel-shaped pit, six hundred feet across at the top, and a hundred and +fifty feet deep, they entered the little-known region of Northern +Arizona. + +For three months they toiled through that wild country, as lost to the +view and knowledge of white civilization as though they were running +their line through Central Africa. Then they emerged on the bank of the +mighty Colorado, and, looking across its turbid flood, saw the barren +wastes of the Great Colorado Desert; but they gave a shout of joy at the +sight, for, with all its dreariness of aspect, that was California, and +beyond it lay the Pacific, the goal of their hopes. + +The last three months had been filled with toil, hardships, and +adventure. Although in that time they saw no white men, nor men of any +kind beyond catching occasional glimpses of the stealthy Apaches, who +hung on their trail for weeks, and with whom they exchanged more than +one rifle-shot, they were never without evidences that this whole vast +country had once been occupied by a mighty people. Hardly a day passed +that Glen did not hold his rod on the ruined foundation-wall of some +huge structure of long ago, or stumble over heaps of broken pottery +graceful in form and design, or gaze wonderingly at the stone houses of +ancient cliff-dwellers perched on ledges now inaccessible, or walk in +the dry beds of crumbling aqueducts, or select choice specimens from +piles of warlike implements fashioned from shining crystal or milk-white +quartz, or, in some way, have his attention called to the fact that he +was traversing a country in which had dwelt millions of his kind, who +had long since passed away and been forgotten. He had puzzled over miles +of hieroglyphic inscriptions and rude pictures, drawn on the smooth +black walls of rugged caņons, and learned from them fragmentary tales of +ancient battles or of encounters with savage beasts. + +Then, too, he had known hunger and thirst and bitter cold. His Christmas +dinner, eaten during a short pause from work on the line, had been a bit +of spoiled bacon and a couple of wormy hard-tack, with which, in honor +of the day, he had his full share of "Billy" Brackett's treasured +cheese, brought out at last to grace this feast. Not only were their +provisions nearly exhausted at that time, but it was the fifth day on +which they had been unable to wash, for want of water. Two weeks before, +a wagon had been sent to the mining-camp of Prescott, nearly a hundred +miles away, and they had nearly given up all hopes of its safe return. +That night it came into camp, and that night, too, they found a number +of rock cisterns full of water. In the darkness of that same evening, +while hastening from the pool in which he had been bathing, to get his +share of the Christmas supper, poor Glen had run plump into a gigantic +cactus, and filled his body with its tiny, barbed thorns. Altogether it +was a memorable Christmas, and one he will never forget. + +On the last night of December they built a gigantic bonfire of whole +trees, and welcomed in the new year by the light of its leaping flames. + +They had passed through vast tracts of wonderful fertility and beauty, +unknown to white men, and through regions abounding in game that they +had no time to hunt. From the summit of the Aztec Pass they had gazed, +with dismay, over the boundless expanse of the Black Forest, and then +had plunged into its dark depths. They had threaded their way through +labyrinths of precipitous caņons, the walls of which rose thousands of +feet above their heads, and had known of others still more tremendous. + +They had waded through the snows of the San Francisco Mountains, and +revelled in the warmth and beauty of the superb Val de Chino, where snow +and ice are unknown. They had dodged the crashing boulders hurled down +on them in Union Pass by the Hualapi Indians, posted on the inaccessible +heights far above them. Here they had lost a wagon, crushed to splinters +by one of these masses of rock; but no lives had been sacrificed, and +their number was still the same as when they left the Rio Grande. Now +they were on the bank of the Colorado, with only one desert and one +range of mountains yet to cross. These seemed so little, after all they +had gone through; and yet that desert alone was two hundred and fifty +miles wide. Two hundred and fifty miles of sand, sage-brush, and alkali; +the most barren region of country within the limits of the United +States. If they could have looked ahead and seen what the crossing of +that desert meant, they would have entered upon the undertaking with +heavy hearts and but faint hopes of accomplishing it. How fortunate it +is that we cannot look ahead and see the trials that await us. We would +never dare face them if they should all appear to us at once; while, by +meeting them singly, and attacking them one by one, they are overcome +with comparative ease. + +But neither Glen nor his companions were thinking of the trials ahead of +them as they came in sight of the Colorado River. They were only +thinking of those left behind, and what a glorious thing it was to have +got thus far along in their tremendous journey. The transit-party had +run their line to the river's bank and gone to camp a mile or so below, +when the levellers came up, and Glen held his rod, for a final reading, +at the water's edge. + +He had just noted the figures in his book, and waved an "All right" to +"Billy" Brackett, when he was startled by a rush of hoofs and a joyous +shout. The next instant a horse was reined sharply up beside him, while +its rider was wringing his hand and uttering almost incoherent words of +extravagant joy at once more seeing him. + + + + +Chapter XXXVII. + +A PRACTICAL USE OF TRIGONOMETRY. + + +It was Binney Gibbs who had come up the river from Fort Yuma several +days before, with General Elting, to meet the second division, and guide +them to "The Needles," the point at which the line was to cross the +Colorado. The other divisions, which had followed the Gila route, and +crossed the Colorado at Fort Yuma, where the desert was narrower, had +reached the Pacific ere this, and gone on to San Francisco. The hardest +task of all, that of running a line over the desert where it was two +hundred and fifty miles wide, had been reserved for Mr. Hobart's men, +who had proved themselves so capable of enduring and overcoming +hardships. + +Binney had waited impatiently in camp until the transit-party reached +it, expecting to see Glen ride in at its head with the front flag. Then +he had borrowed a horse, and set forth to find the boy whom he had once +considered his rival, but whom he now regarded as one of his best +friends. + +After the first exchange of greetings, they stood and looked at each +other curiously. Glen's hair hung on his shoulders, and the braid that +bound the brim of his sombrero was worn to a picturesque fringe, +matching that of his buckskin shirt. He was broader and browner than +ever; and though his face was still smooth and boyish, these last three +months had stamped it with a look of resolute energy that Binney noticed +at once. + +He, too, was brown, though not nearly so tanned as Glen, in spite of the +burning suns of the Gila Valley; for his work had kept him under cover +as much as Glen's had kept him in the open air. As General Elting's +secretary, Binney had spent most of his time in the ambulance, that, +fitted up with writing-desk and table, was the chief-engineer's +field-office, or in temporary offices established in tents or houses +wherever they had halted for more than a day at a time. He had evidently +met with barbers along the comparatively well-travelled Gila; while, as +compared with Glen's picturesquely ragged costume, his was that of +respectable civilization. Although he, too, was the picture of health, +his frame lacked the breadth and fulness of Glen's, and it was evident +at a glance that, in the matter of physical strength, he was even more +greatly the other's inferior than when they left Brimfield. + +Glen could not help noting this with a feeling of secret satisfaction; +but, as they rode towards camp together, and Binney described his +winter's experiences, Glen began to regard him with vastly increased +respect. He thought he had studied hard, and done well to master the +mysteries of adjusting and running a level, perfecting himself as a +rodman, and learning to plot profile; but his knowledge appeared +insignificant as compared with that which Binney had picked up and +stored away. Not only had he learned to speak Spanish fluently, but he +had become enough of a geologist to talk understandingly of coal-seams +and ore-beds. He had the whole history of the country through which he +had passed, from the date of its Spanish discovery, at his tongue's end. +He spoke familiarly of the notable men to whom, at General Elting's +dictation, he had written letters, and altogether he appeared to be a +self-possessed, well-informed young man of the world. + +Poor Glen was beginning to feel very boyish and quite abashed in the +presence of so much wisdom, and to wonder if he had not been wasting his +opportunities on this trip as he had those of school. His thoughts were +inclining towards a decidedly unpleasant turn, when they were suddenly +set right again by Binney, who exclaimed, "But, I say, old man, what a +fine thing you fellows have done this winter! The general declares that +you have made one of the most notable surveys on record; and it's a +thing every one of you ought to be proud of. You should have heard him +congratulate Mr. Hobart. He asked at once about you, too, and wants to +see you as soon as you get in. He seems to take a great interest in you, +and has spoken of you several times. I expect, if you choose to keep on +in this business, you can always be sure of a job through him. He seems +to think it queer that you should be a year older than I am; but I told +him it was certainly so, because I knew just when your birthday came." + +Glen was on the point of saying that, if Binney knew that, it was more +than he did, but something thing kept him silent. He hated to +acknowledge that he knew nothing of his real birthday, nor how old he +really was, but he wondered if he could truly be a year older than this +wise young secretary. + +At this point the conversation was interrupted by their arrival at camp, +and by General Elting stepping from his tent to give Glen a hearty +handshake as he exclaimed, + +"My dear boy, I am delighted and thankful to see you again. I tried to +persuade our friend Mr. Hobart, when I last saw him at Santa Fé, that, +in spite of your performance on that railroad ride you and I took +together last summer, you were too young to make the trip I had laid out +for him. He said he didn't know anything about your age, but that you +were certainly strong and plucky enough for the trip. I made him +promise, though, to try and induce you to go back from Isletta; but he +doesn't seem to have succeeded." + +"No, sir," laughed Glen, "and I'm awfully glad he didn't, for it's been +the most glorious kind of a trip, and I have enjoyed every minute of +it." + +"I am glad, too, now that it is all over; but I must tell you that, if I +had not been assured that you were a whole year older than my young +secretary here, I should have insisted on your going back, for I +considered it too hard and dangerous a trip for a boy so young as I had +supposed you to be until then." + +Here was another good reason why Glen was glad he had remained silent on +the subject of his birthday. + +"Now what do you think of running a line across the desert ahead of us?" +continued the chief-engineer; "are you as anxious to undertake that as +you were to cross Arizona?" + +"Yes, indeed, I am, sir," replied Glen, earnestly. "I am anxious to go +wherever the second division goes; and if anybody can get a line across +that desert, I know we can." + +"I believe you can," said the chief, smiling at the boy's enthusiasm, +"and I am going along to see how you do it." + +The Colorado was so broad, deep, and swift that Glen wondered how they +were going to measure across it, and had a vague idea that it could be +done by stretching a long rope from bank to bank. He asked "Billy" +Brackett; and when the leveller answered, "By triangulation, of course," +Glen showed, by his puzzled expression, that he was as much in the dark +as ever. + +"You have studied geometry and trigonometry, haven't you?" asked the +leveller. + +Glen was obliged to confess that, as he had not been able to see the use +of those studies, he had not paid much attention to them. + +"Well, then, perhaps you'll have a better opinion of old Euclid when you +see the practical use we'll put him to to-morrow," laughed "Billy" +Brackett. + +Glen did see, the next day, and wondered at the simplicity of the +operation. The front flag was sent across the river in a boat, and on +the opposite side he drove a stake. While he was thus engaged, a line a +quarter of a mile long was measured on the bank where the rest of the +party still remained, and a stake was driven at each end of it. The +transit was set up over one of these stakes, and its telescope was +pointed first at the other and then at the one across the river, by +which means the angle where it stood was taken. It was then set over the +stake at the other end of the measured line, and that angle was also +taken. Then Mr. Hobart drew, on a leaf of his transit-book, a triangle, +of which the base represented the line measured between the two stakes +on his side of the river, and one side represented the distance across +the river that he wished to find. He thus had one side and two angles of +a triangle given to find one of the other two sides, and he solved the +problem as easily as any boy or girl of the trigonometry-class can whose +time in school has not been wasted as Glen Eddy's was. + +It was a simple operation, and one easily performed, but it involved a +knowledge of the four fundamental rules of arithmetic, of proportion, or +the rule of three, of geometry, of trigonometry, and of how to use a +surveyor's transit; all of which, except the last, are included in the +regular course of studies of every boy and girl in America who receives +a common-school education. + +Glen had also been sent across the river, where he held his rod so high +up on the bank that the cross hair in the telescope of the level cut +just one tenth of an inch above its bottom. Then, when "Billy" Brackett +came over, and went on beyond Glen, he set the level up so high on the +bank that, through it, he could just see the top of the rod, extended to +its extreme length. So they climbed slowly up out of the Colorado +Valley, and began to traverse the dreary country that lay between it and +the Sierra Nevada. + +For the first hundred miles or so they got along very well, so far as +water was concerned, though the mules and horses speedily began to grow +thin and weak for want of food. The patches of grass were very few and +far between, and the rations of corn exceedingly small; for in that +country corn was worth its weight in gold, and scarce at that. + + + + +Chapter XXXVIII. + +DYING OF THIRST IN THE DESERT. + + +Matters were bad enough by the time Mr. Hobart's party reached Camp +Cady, nearly half way across the desert; but, from there on, they became +much worse. The line could no longer follow the winding government +trail, but must be run straight for the distant mountains, that were now +plainly to be seen. + +This experience vividly recalled that of the preceding summer, when they +were crossing the Plains towards the Rocky Mountains, and longing so +eagerly to reach them. But this was infinitely worse than that. There +they generally found water that was sweet and fit to drink, and always +had plenty of grass for their stock. Here they rarely found water, and +when they did it was nearly always so strongly impregnated with salt, +soda, and alkali as to be unfit to drink. Here, too, instead of grass, +they found only sand, sage brush, greasewood, and cacti. To be sure the +greasewood was a comfort, because it burned just as readily green as +dry, and in certain of the cacti, round ones covered with long curved +spines, they could nearly always find a mouthful of water, but none of +these things afforded any nourishment for the hungry animals. They +became so ravenous that they gnawed off one another's manes and tails, +chewed up the wagon covers, and every other piece of cloth they could +get hold of. Then they began to die so fast from starvation and +exhaustion that some dead ones were left behind with every camp, and +each day the number was increased. + +At nearly every camp, too, a wagon was abandoned, and for miles they +could look back and see its white cover, looming above the dreary +expanse of sand and sage, like a monument to the faithful animals that +had fallen beside it. At length but one wagon and the two ambulances +were left. Tents, baggage, clothing, all the bedding except one blanket +apiece, and the greater part of their provisions, had been thrown away, +or left in the abandoned wagons. Within forty miles of the mountains +they gave up work on the line. The men had no longer the strength to +drag the chain or carry the instruments. They still noted their course +by compass, and the height of various elevations as they crossed them, +by the barometer. They were even able to measure the distance from one +sad camping-place to another, by means of the odometer, an instrument +that, attached to a wagon-wheel, records the number of revolutions made +by it. This number, multiplied by the circumference of the wheel, gave +them the distance in feet and inches. Everybody was now on foot, even +the chief's saddle-horse, Seņor, and Glen's Nettle being harnessed to +one of the ambulances. + +At last, when the mountains appeared tantalizingly near, but when they +were still nearly twenty miles away, it seemed as though the end had +come. For two days neither men nor animals had tasted a drop of water. +At the close of the second day, a slight elevation had disclosed a lake +lying at their feet, glowing in the red beams of the setting sun. With +feeble strength they had rushed to it, and flung themselves into its +tempting waters. They were as salt as brine, and, with this bitter +disappointment, came despair. They lighted fires and made coffee with +the brackish water that oozed into holes dug in the salt-encrusted sand, +but it sickened them, and they could not drink it. + +Their lips were cracked, their tongues swollen, their throats like dry +leather, and their voices were hardly more than husky whispers. + +As the moon rose that evening, and poured its cold light on the +outstretched forms grouped about the solitary, white-sheeted wagon, a +hand was laid on Glen's shoulder, and the chief's voice bade the boy +rise and follow him. Leading the way to the ambulance in which Binney +Gibbs slept the sleep of utter exhaustion and despair, and to which the +horses Seņor and Nettle were fastened, the general said, + +"There is but one hope left for us, Matherson. It is certain that some +of the party have not strength enough to carry them to the mountains, +and equally so that, without water, the teams can never reach there. In +the valleys of these mountains are streams, and on these streams are +ranches. If we can get word to one of these, the entire party may yet be +saved. I am going to try and ride there to-night, and I want you to come +with me. Our horses, and yours in particular, are the freshest of all +the animals. I have told Mr. Hobart; but there is no need of rousing any +of the others to a sense of their misery. Will you make the attempt with +me?" + +Of course the boy would go; and, for a moment, he almost forgot his +sufferings, in a feeling of pride that he should be selected for such an +undertaking. + +A minute later they rode slowly away, and the desert sands so muffled +the sound of their horses' hoofs that their departure was not noted by +those whom they left. + +With fresh, strong animals, and without that terrible choking thirst, +that night ride over the moonlight plain would have been a rare +pleasure. Under the circumstances it was like a frightful dream. Neither +of the riders cared to talk; the effort was too painful; but both +thought of the last ride they had taken together in the cab of a +locomotive on a Missouri railroad, and the man looked tenderly at the +boy, as he recalled the incidents of that night. For an hour they rode +in silence, their panting steeds maintaining a shambling gait through +the sand, that was neither a trot nor a lope, but a mixture of the two. +Then they dropped into a walk, and, for another hour, were only roused +to greater speed by infinite exertions on the part of their riders. At +last Seņor stumbled heavily, recovered himself, and then fell. + +"There is no use trying to get him up again," said the chief. "I'm +afraid the poor old horse is done for; but you must ride on, and I will +follow on foot. Head for that dark space. It marks a valley. I shall not +be far behind you. If you find water, fire your pistol. The sound will +give me new strength. Good-bye, and may God prosper you." + +[Illustration: "'HEAD FOR THAT DARK SPACE. IT MARKS A VALLEY.... IF YOU +FIND WATER, FIRE YOUR PISTOL.'"] + +"But I hate to leave you, sir." + +"Never mind me; hurry on. A moment wasted now may be at the price of a +life." + +So Glen went on alone, trying, in husky tones, to encourage his brave +little mare, and urge her to renewed efforts. She seemed to realize that +this was a struggle for life, and responded nobly. She even broke into a +lope, as the ground became harder. The sand was disappearing. Water +might be nearer than they thought. + +Five miles farther Nettle carried her rider, and then she staggered +beneath his weight. She could not bear him a rod farther, and he knew +it. A choking sob rose in the boy's parched throat as he dismounted and +left her standing there, the plucky steed that had brought him so far +and so faithfully; but he could not stay with her, he must go on. He +could see the opening to the valley plainly now, though it was still +some miles away; and, summoning all his strength, he walked towards it. + +At half the distance he was skirting a foot-hill, when down its gravelly +side, directly towards him, rushed two animals, like great dogs. They +were mountain-wolves at play, one chasing the other, and they came on, +apparently without seeing him. When, with a hoarse cry, he attracted +their attention, they stopped, and, sitting on their haunches, not more +than a couple of rods away, gazed at him curiously. + +He dared not fire at them, for fear of only wounding one and thus +arousing their fury. Nor did he wish to raise false hopes in the mind of +General Elting, who might hear the shot and think it meant water. + +Some one had told him of the cowardice of wolves. He would try it. +Picking up a stone, he flung it at them, at the same time running +forward, brandishing his arms, and giving a feeble shout. They sprang +aside, hesitated a moment, and then turned tail and fled. + +Soon afterwards Glen reached the valley, which was apparently about half +a mile broad. On its farther side was a line of shadow blacker than the +rest. It might be timber. With tottering footsteps the boy staggered +towards it. As his feet touched a patch of grass he could have knelt and +kissed it, but at the same instant he heard the most blessed sound on +earth, the trickling of a rivulet. He fell as he reached it, and plunged +his head into the life-giving water. It was warm and strongly +impregnated with sulphur; but never had he tasted anything so delicious, +nor will he ever again. + +Had it been cold water, the amount that he drank might have killed him; +as it was, it only made him sick. After a while he recovered, and then +how he gloated in that tiny stream. How he bathed his hands and face, +and, suddenly, how he wished the others were there with him. Perhaps a +shot might bear the joyful news to the ears of the general. + +With the thought he drew his revolver, and roused the mountain echoes +with its six shots, fired in quick succession. Then he tried to walk up +the valley in the hope of finding a ranch. It was all he could do to +keep on his feet, and only a mighty effort of will restrained him from +flinging himself down on the grass and going to sleep beside that stream +of blessed water. + +A few minutes later there came a quick rush of hoofs from up the valley, +and in the moonlight he saw two horsemen galloping towards him. They +dashed up with hurried questions as to the firing they had heard, and, +somehow, he managed to make them understand that a party of white men +were dying of thirst twenty miles out on the desert. + +The next thing he knew, he was in a house, and dropping into a sleep of +such utter weariness that to do anything else would have been beyond his +utmost power of mind or body. + + + + +Chapter XXXIX. + +CROSSING THE SIERRA NEVADA. + + +When Glen next woke to a realizing sense of his surroundings, the +evening shadows had again fallen, and he heard familiar voices near by +him. All were there, General Elting, Mr. Hobart, "Billy" Brackett, +Binney Gibbs, and the rest, just sitting down to a supper at the +hospitable ranch table. It was laden with fresh beef, soft bread, +butter, eggs, milk, boiled cabbage, and tea, all of them luxuries that +they had not tasted for months. And they had plates, cups and saucers, +spoons, knives, and forks. Glen wondered if he should know how to use +them; but he did not wonder if he were hungry. Nor did he wait for an +invitation to join that supper-party. + +He was dirty and ragged and unkempt as he entered the room in which his +comrades were assembled; but what did they care? He was the one who had +found help and sent it to them in the time of their sore need. Some of +them owed their lives to him, perhaps all of them did. Every man in the +room stood up, as the chief took him by the hand and led him to the head +of the table, saying, + +"Here he is, gentlemen. Here is the lad who saved the second division. +Some of us might have got through without his help; others certainly +would not. Right here I wish to thank him, and to thank God for the +strength, pluck, and powers of endurance with which this boy, to whom we +owe so much, is endowed." + +And Glen! How did he take all this praise? Why, he was so hungry, and +his eyes were fixed so eagerly on the table full of good things spread +before him that he hardly knew what the general was talking about. If +they would only let him sit down and eat, and drink some of that +delicious-looking water! He came very near interrupting the proceedings +by doing so. At length, to his great relief, they all sat down, and in a +moment Glen was eating and drinking in a manner only possible to a +hearty boy who has gone without water and almost without food for two +days. + +A little later, seated before a glorious camp-fire of oak logs outside +the ranch, Glen learned how the two ranchmen, after getting him to the +house, had loaded a wagon with barrels of water and gone out on the +desert. They first found General Elting, nearly exhausted, but still +walking, within a couple of miles of the valley, and afterwards +discovered the rest of the party dragging themselves falteringly along +beside one of the ambulances, which, with the notes and maps of the +expedition, was the only thing they had attempted to bring in. + +And Nettle! Oh, yes; the brave little mare was also found, revived, and +brought in to the ranch. She needed a long rest; and both for her sake +and as a token of his gratitude, Glen presented her to one of the +ranchmen. The settlers went out that same night after the other +ambulance and the wagon, abandoned on the shore of the salt lake. When +they returned, General Elting traded his big, nearly exhausted army +mules for their wiry little bronchos, giving two for one, and thus +securing fresh teams to haul all that remained of his wagon-train to the +coast. + +The party spent three days in recruiting at this kindly ranch, to which +they will always look back with grateful hearts, and think of as one of +the most beautiful spots on earth. Then, strengthened and refreshed, +they passed on up the valley, which proved to be that of the Tehachapa, +the very pass towards which they had directed their course from the +moment of leaving the Colorado. + +How beautiful seemed its oak-groves, its meadows, its abounding springs +of cool, sweet water, and its clear, bracing air! How they ate and slept +and worked and enjoyed living! What grand camp-fires they had, and how +much merriment circulated about them! And had they not cause for +rejoicing? Had they not toiled across half the width of a continent? Had +they not traversed vast plains and mountain-ranges and deserts? Had they +not encountered savage men and savage beasts? Had they not suffered from +hunger, thirst, cold, and hardships of all kinds? Had they not conquered +and triumphed over all these? Were they not left far behind, and was not +the journey's end in sight? No wonder they were light-hearted and +excited, and no wonder they seemed to inhale champagne with every breath +of that mountain air! + +General Elting left them at the summit of the pass, and, taking Binney +Gibbs with him in his private ambulance, hastened on to Los Angeles to +make arrangements for the transportation of the party, by steamer, up +the coast to San Francisco; for there were no railroads in California in +those days. + +The rest of the engineers travelled leisurely down the western slope of +the Sierras into a region that became more charming with each mile of +progress. It was spring-time. The rainy season was drawing to its close, +and the Golden State was at its best. The air was filled with the sweet +scents of innumerable flowers, the song of birds, and the music of +rushing waters. The bay-trees wore their new spring robes of vivid +green, from which the soft winds shook out delightfully spicy odors. The +trunks of the manzanitas glowed beneath their wine-red skins, while the +madronos were clad in glossy, fawn-colored satins. To the toil-worn +explorers, just off the alkaline sands of the parched and verdureless +desert, the old mission of San Gabriel, nestled at the base of the +western foot-hills, seemed the very garden-spot of the world. Here were +groves of oranges, lemons, limes, pomegranates, and olives. Here were +roses and jasmines. Here were heliotrope and fuchsias, grown to be +trees, and a bewildering profusion of climbing vines and flowering +shrubs, of which they knew not the names. + +But they recognized the oranges, though none of them had ever seen one +growing before; and, with a shout of joy, the entire party rushed into +the grove, where the trees were laden at once with the luscious fruit +and perfumed blossoms. There was no pause to discuss the proper method +of peeling an orange in this case, for they did not stop to peel them at +all. They just ate them, skin and all, like so many apples. It was such +a treat as they had never enjoyed before, and they made the most of it. + +Not long after leaving San Gabriel, as they were making a night march +towards Los Angeles, Glen suddenly became aware of a strange humming +sound above his head; and, looking up, saw a telegraph wire. With a glad +shout he announced its presence. It was the most civilized thing they +had seen since leaving Kansas. + +At Los Angeles they could not make up their minds to endure the close, +dark rooms of the Fonda, and so camped out for the night in the +government corral beside their wagon. + +The following day they made their last march over twenty miles of level +prairie, dotted with flocks and herds, to San Pedro, on the coast. It +was late in the afternoon, and the sun was setting, when, from a slight +eminence, they caught their first glimpse of the gold-tinted Pacific +waters. For a moment they gazed in silence, with hearts too full for +words. Then everybody shook hands with the one nearest to him, and more +than one tear of joyful emotion trickled down the bronzed and +weather-beaten cheeks of the explorers. As for Glen Eddy, he never +expects to be so thrilled again as he was by the sight of that mighty +ocean gleaming in the red light of the setting sun, and marking the end +of the most notable journey of his life. + +That night they made their last camp, and gathered about their final +camp-fire. Glen and "Billy" Brackett had shared their blankets ever +since leaving the Rio Grande, and had hardly slept, even beneath a +canvas roof, in all those months. Now, as they lay together for the last +time, on their bed of grassy turf, which is of all beds the one that +brings the sweetest and soundest sleep, and gazed at the stars that had +kept faithful watch above them for so long, they talked in low tones +until a gentle sea-breeze set in and they were lulled to sleep by the +murmur of distant breakers, a music now heard by both of them for the +first time in their lives. + +The next day they turned over their sole remaining wagon and their +ambulance to a government quartermaster. Then, having no baggage, they +were ready, without further preparation, to embark on the steamer +_Orizaba_ for San Francisco, to which place General Elting and Binney +Gibbs had gone on, by stage, from Los Angeles, some days before. + +As the great ship entered the Golden Gate and steamed up the bay, past +Tamalpias, past the Presidio, past Alcatraz Island, and into the harbor +of San Francisco, Glen Eddy found it hard to realize that it was all +true, and that this young explorer, who was about to set foot in the +city of his most romantic day dreams, was really the boy who had started +from Brimfield ten months before, without an idea of what was before +him. + + + + +Chapter XL. + +A HOME AND TWO FATHERS. + + +Of course they all went to the Occidental, for everybody went first to +the Occidental in those days. As they drove through the city, in open +carriages, their long hair, buckskin shirts, rags, in some cases +soleless and toeless boots, and generally wild and disreputable +appearance attracted much amused attention from the well-dressed +shoppers of Montgomery Street; and, when they trooped into the marble +rotunda of the great hotel, they excited the universal curiosity of its +other and more civilized guests. + +But they did not mind--they enjoyed the sensation they were creating; +and Glen, who was one of the wildest-looking of them all, rather pitied +Binney Gibbs on account of the fine clothing he had already assumed, as +the two met and exchanged hearty greetings once more. + +"Come up into my room, Glen," said Binney, eagerly, "I've got a lot of +Brimfield news, and there's a pile of letters for you besides. Only +think, Lame Wolf is playing short-stop on the ball nine, and they say +he's going to make one of the best players they've ever had." + +The last news Glen had received from home was in the letters Mr. Hobart +had brought from Santa Fé nearly five months before. He had learned then +of Lame Wolf's safe arrival at Brimfield, and of his beginning to study +English; but now to hear of his being on the ball nine! That was making +progress; and the boy felt very proud of his young Indian. But there was +more startling news than that awaiting him. In one of the letters from +his adopted father, which, though it bore the latest date, had already +been waiting in San Francisco more than a month, he read, with +amazement, the following paragraphs: + +"I have just received a note from a lady who writes that she met a +gentleman in New Mexico who told her all about you. She was intensely +interested, because she thinks she knew your mother, and travelled with +her and you on the day the train was wrecked in Glen Eddy creek, when +you and I were the only survivors. She also says that the mother with +whom she travelled said her baby was just a year old, and that day was +his birthday. So, my dear boy, if it should happen that you and the baby +she mentions are the same, you are a year younger than we have always +thought you, and are just the age of Binney Gibbs. In conclusion, the +lady writes that she believes your real father to be still alive, and +she thinks she knows his name, but prefers not to mention it until she +hears from me all that I know of your history. I, of course, wrote to +her at once, and am anxiously expecting an answer. I never loved you +more than now, and to give you up will well-nigh break my heart; but, if +there is anything better in store for you than I can offer, I would be +the last one to stand in the way of your accepting it. + +"Now, my dear boy, come home as soon as you can, and perhaps you will +find two fathers awaiting you instead of one. We are full of anxiety +concerning you. Be sure and telegraph the moment you arrive in San +Francisco." + +Over and over did Glen read this letter before he could control himself +sufficiently to speak. Binney Gibbs noticed his agitation, and finally +said, + +"No bad news, I hope, old man?" + +For answer the boy handed him the letter, which Binney read with +ever-growing excitement. When he finished he exclaimed, "It's wonderful, +Glen, and I do hope it will come out all right. I always felt sorry for +you at not knowing who you were, even when I was so meanly jealous of +you for being stronger and more popular than I, and now I congratulate +you from the bottom of my heart. What a lucky thing it has been though, +over and over again, not only for you, but for me, and the whole second +division, that you were stronger than I!" he added, with a hearty +sincerity that he would not have exhibited a year before. "I tell you +what, this trip has opened my eyes to some things, and one of them is +that a fellow's body needs just as much training as his mind." + +"It has opened mine too," said Glen, earnestly. "It has taught me that, +no matter how strong a fellow is, he can't expect to amount to much in +this world unless he knows something, and that he can't know much unless +he learns it by hard study. If ever I get a chance to go to school +again, you better believe I'll know how to value it." + +"And if I ever get another chance to learn how to swim, you may be sure +I won't throw it away in a hurry," laughed Binney. + +"Only see what a splendid fellow 'Billy' Brackett is," continued Glen, +"just because he has trained his muscle and his brain at the same time, +without letting either get ahead of the other. And, speaking of 'Billy' +Brackett, I must go and show him this letter, because he is one of the +best friends I have got in the world, and I know he'll be glad to hear +anything that pleases me." + +First, Glen stopped at the telegraph office in the hotel, and sent the +following despatch to Brimfield. + +"Just arrived, safe and sound. Start for home first steamer," for which +he paid eight dollars in gold. + +Then he went to "Billy" Brackett's room, where he found that young +engineer struggling with a new coat that had just been sent in from a +tailor's, and lamenting, more than ever, the loss of his shiny but +well-loved old cutaway that had been eaten by one of the hungry mules on +the desert. + +He was as interested as Glen knew he would be in the letter, and as he +finished it he exclaimed: + +"Well, you are in luck, my boy, and I'm glad of it! Here I am, without a +father to my name, while you seem likely to have two. Well, you deserve +a dozen; and if you had 'em, each one would be prouder of you than the +other." + +After a week spent in San Francisco, during which time the barber, +tailor, and various outfitters made a marvellous change in Glen's +personal appearance, he, together with General Elting and Binney Gibbs, +boarded one of the great Pacific Mail Steamships for Panama. Mr. Hobart, +"Billy" Brackett, and the other members of the second division, had +decided to remain for a while on that coast, and most of them had +already accepted positions on some of the various engineering works then +in progress in California; but they were all at the steamer to see the +homeward-bound travellers off. As the great wheels were set in motion, +and the stately ship moved slowly from the wharf, the quieter spectators +were startled by the tremendous farewell cheer that arose from the +"campmates" who remained behind; and the cries of "good-bye, general! +we'll be on hand whenever you want us again! Good-bye, Grip! Good-bye, +Glen, old man! We won't forget the desert in a hurry! Good-bye!" + +The run down the coast was a smooth and pleasant one; while the several +Mexican and Central American ports at which they touched were full of +interest and delightful novelty to the Brimfield boys. They thoroughly +enjoyed crossing the Isthmus, and would gladly have lingered longer amid +its wonderful tropic scenery. Not until they were on the Atlantic, +however, and steaming northward, did they realize that they were fairly +on their way home. + +One day, as the two boys were sitting on deck, in company with General +Elting, gazing at the coast of Cuba, which they were then passing, +Binney Gibbs broke a long silence with the remark, "Doesn't it seem +queer, Glen, to think that when you get home you will be just the age +you were when you left it, and perhaps your name won't be 'Glen Eddy' +after all?" + +General Elting had not heard of Glen's letter from his adopted father, +nor had he ever heard him called "Glen Eddy" before; and now he asked +Binney what he meant by such a curious speech. + +When it was explained, he sat silent for several minutes, looking at +Glen with such a peculiar expression that the boy grew uneasy beneath +the fixed gaze. Then, without a word, he rose and walked away, nor did +they see him again for several hours. He talked much with Glen during +the remainder of the voyage, and frequently puzzled him by his +questions, and the interest he manifested in everything relating to his +past life. + +As he was going to St. Louis, he took the same train with the boys from +New York; and, though he bade them good-bye as they neared Brimfield, he +said that he hoped and expected to see them again very shortly. + +How natural the place looked as the train rolled up to the little +station, and how impossible it was to realize that they had crossed the +continent and sailed on two oceans since leaving it! + +"There's father!" shouted Glen and Binney at the same instant. + +"And there are all the boys! Who is that dark, good-looking chap with +them? It can't be Lame Wolf! But it is, though! Did you ever see such a +change for the better? Bully for Lame Wolf!" + +"Hurrah for Glen Eddy! Hurrah for Binney Gibbs!" shouted the Brimfield +boys, wild with the excitement of welcoming home two such heroes as the +young explorers were in their eyes. The very first to grasp Glen's hand +was the Indian lad, and he said in good English, though with a Cheyenne +accent, "How Glen! Lem Wolf is very glad. Lem Wolf is short-stop now. He +can play ball." + +Binney Gibbs disappeared in his father's carriage; but Glen walked from +the station with his adopted father, and everybody wanted to shake hands +with him, and ask him questions, and throng about him, so that it seemed +as though they never would reach home. + +It was a happy home-coming, and Glen was touched by the interest and the +kindly feeling manifested towards him; but how he did long to reach the +house, and be alone for a minute with Mr. Matherson. There was one +question that he was so eager, and yet almost afraid, to ask. Had his +own father been discovered? But he could not ask it before all those +people, nor did he have an opportunity for a full hour after they +reached the house. Some of the neighbors were there, and they had to +have supper, and everything seemed to interfere to postpone that quiet +talk for which he was so anxious. + +At length he could wait no longer, and, almost dragging Mr. Matherson +into the little front parlor, he closed the door and said breathlessly, +"Now tell me, father; tell me quick! Is he alive? Have you found him?" + +"Yes, my boy, he is alive, or was a few months ago, and I think we can +find him. In fact, I believe you know him very well, and could tell me +where to find him better than I can tell you." + +"What do you mean?" cried Glen. "Oh, tell me quick! What is his name?" + +There was so much confusion outside that they did not notice the opening +of the front gate, nor the strange step on the walk. As Mr. Matherson +was about to reply to the boy's eager question, the parlor door opened, +and one of the children entered, with a card in her hand, saying, +"Somebody wants to see you, papa." + +As Mr. Matherson glanced at the card he sprang to his feet, trembling +with excitement. + +"Gerald Elting!" he cried. "Why, Glen, that is the name of your own +father!" + +"And here is his own father, eager to claim his son," came from the open +doorway, in the manly tones that Glen had long since learned to love. + +The next moment the man's arms were about the boy's neck, as, in a voice +trembling with long-suppressed emotion, he cried, + +"Oh, my son, my son! Have I found you after all these years? Now is my +long sorrow indeed turned to joy." + + +THE END. + + + + +Books by KIRK MUNROE + + CAMPMATES. + DORYMATES. + CANOEMATES. + RAFTMATES. + WAKULLA. + THE FLAMINGO FEATHER. + DERRICK STERLING. + CHRYSTAL, JACK & CO. + THE COPPER PRINCESS. + FORWARD, MARCH! + THE BLUE DRAGON. + FOR THE MIKADO. + UNDER THE GREAT BEAR. + THE FUR-SEAL'S TOOTH. + SNOW-SHOES AND SLEDGES. + RICK DALE. + THE PAINTED DESERT. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Campmates, by Kirk Munroe + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CAMPMATES *** + +***** This file should be named 33343-8.txt or 33343-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/3/3/4/33343/ + +Produced by David Edwards, Mary Meehan and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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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: Campmates + A Story of the Plains + +Author: Kirk Munroe + +Release Date: August 3, 2010 [EBook #33343] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CAMPMATES *** + + + + +Produced by David Edwards, Mary Meehan and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + + + + + +</pre> + + + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/cover.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + +<h1>CAMPMATES</h1> + +<h3><i>A Story of the Plains</i></h3> + +<h2>By KIRK MUNROE</h2> + +<h4><i>Author of</i> "THE FLAMINGO FEATHER" "WAKULLA" "DORYMATES" "DERRICK +STERLING" ETC.</h4> + + +<h4><i>Illustrated</i></h4> + +<h4>HARPER & BROTHERS PUBLISHERS<br /> +NEW YORK AND LONDON</h4> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="front" id="front"></a> +<img src="images/front.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> + +<h3>"IT WAS A LIVE BABY."</h3> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + +<h2>CONTENTS.</h2> + +<!-- Autogenerated TOC. Modify or delete as required. --> +<p> +<a href="#Chapter_I">Chapter I. <span class="smcap">A Weary Ride</span></a><br /> +<a href="#Chapter_II">Chapter II. <span class="smcap">A Rude Baptism</span></a><br /> +<a href="#Chapter_III">Chapter III. <span class="smcap">A Boy Without a Birthday</span></a><br /> +<a href="#Chapter_IV">Chapter IV. "<span class="smcap">I Just Hate to Study</span>"</a><br /> +<a href="#Chapter_V">Chapter V. <span class="smcap">Swimming Into a Friendship</span></a><br /> +<a href="#Chapter_VI">Chapter VI. <span class="smcap">Receiving an Offer and Accepting It</span></a><br /> +<a href="#Chapter_VII">Chapter VII. <span class="smcap">Across the Mississippi</span></a><br /> +<a href="#Chapter_VIII">Chapter VIII. <span class="smcap">Glen Runs a Locomotive</span></a><br /> +<a href="#Chapter_IX">Chapter IX. <span class="smcap">Kansas City in Early Days</span></a><br /> +<a href="#Chapter_X">Chapter X. <span class="smcap">At Work with the Engineer Corps</span></a><br /> +<a href="#Chapter_XI">Chapter XI. <span class="smcap">Almost too Good to be True</span></a><br /> +<a href="#Chapter_XII">Chapter XII. <span class="smcap">Starting Across the Plains</span></a><br /> +<a href="#Chapter_XIII">Chapter XIII. <span class="smcap">Binney Gibbs and his Mule</span></a><br /> +<a href="#Chapter_XIV">Chapter XIV. <span class="smcap">On Guard at Night</span></a><br /> +<a href="#Chapter_XV">Chapter XV. <span class="smcap">The Suspicious Movements of Certain Coyotes</span></a><br /> +<a href="#Chapter_XVI">Chapter XVI. <span class="smcap">In the Hands of the Cheyennes</span></a><br /> +<a href="#Chapter_XVII">Chapter XVII. <span class="smcap">Attacking a Stage Ranch</span></a><br /> +<a href="#Chapter_XVIII">Chapter XVIII. <span class="smcap">Buffalo and Their Uses</span></a><br /> +<a href="#Chapter_XIX">Chapter XIX. <span class="smcap">Glen's Escape from the Indians</span></a><br /> +<a href="#Chapter_XX">Chapter XX. <span class="smcap">A Present that would Please any Boy</span></a><br /> +<a href="#Chapter_XXI">Chapter XXI. <span class="smcap">Lame Wolf, the Young Cheyenne</span></a><br /> +<a href="#Chapter_XXII">Chapter XXII. <span class="smcap">Glen and Binney Get into Trouble</span></a><br /> +<a href="#Chapter_XXIII">Chapter XXIII. <span class="smcap">Fighting the Finest Horsemen in the World</span></a><br /> +<a href="#Chapter_XXIV">Chapter XXIV. <span class="smcap">Crossing the Quicksands</span></a><br /> +<a href="#Chapter_XXV">Chapter XXV. <span class="smcap">Swept Away by a Freshet</span></a><br /> +<a href="#Chapter_XXVI">Chapter XXVI. <span class="smcap">Running the Line</span></a><br /> +<a href="#Chapter_XXVII">Chapter XXVII. "<span class="smcap">Covered With Mud and Glory</span>"</a><br /> +<a href="#Chapter_XXVIII">Chapter XXVIII. <span class="smcap">Lost in a Mountain Snow-Storm</span></a><br /> +<a href="#Chapter_XXIX">Chapter XXIX. <span class="smcap">Plunging into a Lake of Ice-Water</span></a><br /> +<a href="#Chapter_XXX">Chapter XXX. <span class="smcap">Down the Lonely Caņon</span></a><br /> +<a href="#Chapter_XXXI">Chapter XXXI. <span class="smcap">Kit Carson's Gold Mine</span></a><br /> +<a href="#Chapter_XXXII">Chapter XXXII. <span class="smcap">A New Mexican Wedding</span></a><br /> +<a href="#Chapter_XXXIII">Chapter XXXIII. <span class="smcap">In the Valley of the Rio Grande</span></a><br /> +<a href="#Chapter_XXXIV">Chapter XXXIV. <span class="smcap">Baiting a Wolf-trap</span></a><br /> +<a href="#Chapter_XXXV">Chapter XXXV. <span class="smcap">El Moro</span></a><br /> +<a href="#Chapter_XXXVI">Chapter XXXVI. <span class="smcap">Zuņi, the Home of the Aztecs</span></a><br /> +<a href="#Chapter_XXXVII">Chapter XXXVII. <span class="smcap">A Practical Use of Trigonometry</span></a><br /> +<a href="#Chapter_XXXVIII">Chapter XXXVIII. <span class="smcap">Dying of Thirst in the Desert</span></a><br /> +<a href="#Chapter_XXXIX">Chapter XXXIX. <span class="smcap">Crossing the Sierra Nevada</span></a><br /> +<a href="#Chapter_XL">Chapter XL. <span class="smcap">A Home and Two Fathers</span></a><br /><br /> +<a href="#Books_by_KIRK_MUNROE">Books by KIRK MUNROE</a><br /> +</p> +<!-- End Autogenerated TOC. --> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>ILLUSTRATIONS.</h2> + + +<p><a href="#front">"IT WAS A LIVE BABY"</a></p> + +<p><a href="#illus2">"TWO STALWART WARRIORS SEIZED HIM BY THE ARMS AND RAISED HIM BETWEEN +THEM AS THEY SWEPT PAST"</a></p> + +<p><a href="#illus3">"THE STRANGE CRAFT WAS BORNE SLOWLY DOWN STREAM"</a></p> + +<p><a href="#illus4">"'HEAD FOR THAT DARK SPACE, IT MARKS A VALLEY.... IF YOU FIND WATER, +FIRE YOUR PISTOL'"</a></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><i>CAMP MATES.</i></h2> + +<h3><i>A Story of the Plains.</i></h3> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="Chapter_I" id="Chapter_I"></a><span class="smcap">Chapter I.</span></h2> + +<h3>A WEARY RIDE.</h3> + + +<p>Slowly and heavily the train rumbled on through the night. It was called +an express; but the year was long ago, in the early days of railroading, +and what was then an express would now be considered a very slow and +poky sort of a train. On this particular night too, it ran more slowly +than usual, because of the condition of the track. The season was such a +wet one, that even the oldest traveller on the train declared he could +not remember another like it. Rain, rain, rain, day after day, for +weeks, had been the rule of that spring, until the earth was soaked like +a great sponge. All the rivers had overflowed their banks, and all the +smaller streams were raging torrents, red, yellow, brown, and sometimes +milky white, according to the color of the clays through which they cut +their riotous way. The lowlands and meadows were flooded, so that the +last year's hay-stacks, rising from them here and there, were veritable +islands of refuge for innumerable rabbits, rats, mice, and other small +animals, driven by the waters from their homes.</p> + +<p>And all this water had not helped the railroad one bit. In the cuts the +clay or gravel banks were continually sliding down on the track; while +on the fills they were as continually sliding out from under it. The +section gangs were doubled, and along the whole line they were hard at +work, by night as well as by day, only eating and sleeping by snatches, +trying to keep the track in repair, and the road open for traffic. In +spite of their vigilance and unceasing labor, however, the rains found +plenty of chances to work their mischief undetected.</p> + +<p>Many a time only the keen watchfulness of an engine-driver, or his +assistant, the fireman, saved a train from dashing into some gravel +heap, beneath which the rails were buried, or from plunging into some +yawning opening from which a culvert or small bridge had been washed +out. Nor with all this watchfulness did the trains always get through in +safety. Sometimes a bit of track, that looked all right, would suddenly +sink beneath the weight of a passing train into a quagmire that had been +formed beneath it, and then would follow the pitiful scenes of a +railroad wreck.</p> + +<p>So nobody travelled except those who were compelled to do so, and the +passenger business of this particular road was lighter than it had been +since the opening. It was so light that on this night there were not +more than half a dozen persons in the single passenger coach of the +express, and only one of these was a woman. Another was her baby, a +sturdy, wholesome-looking little fellow, who, though he was but a year +old, appeared large enough to be nearly, if not quite, two. He had great +brown eyes, exactly like those of his mother. She was young and pretty, +but just now she looked utterly worn out, and no wonder. The train was +twelve hours late; and, instead of being comfortably established in a +hotel, at the end of her journey by rail, as she had expected to be +before dark that evening, she was wearily trying to sleep in the same +stuffy, jolting car she had occupied all day and had no hope of leaving +before morning.</p> + +<p>There were no sleeping-cars in those days, nor vestibuled trains, nor +even cars with stuffed easy-chairs in which one could lie back and make +himself comfortable. No, indeed; there were no such luxuries as these +for those who travelled by rail at that time. The passenger coaches were +just long boxes, with low, almost flat roofs, like those of freight +cars. Their windows were small, and generally stuck fast in their +frames, so that they could not be opened. There was no other means of +ventilation, except as one of the end doors was flung open, when there +came such a rush of smoke and cinders and cold air that everybody was +impatient to have it closed again.</p> + +<p>At night the only light was given by three candles that burned inside of +globes to protect them from being extinguished every time a door was +opened. There were no electric lights, nor gas, nor even oil-lamps, for +the cars of those days, only these feeble candles, placed one at each +end, and one in the middle of the coach. But worst of all were the +seats, which must have been invented by somebody who wished to +discourage railroad riding. They were narrow, hard, straight-backed, and +covered with shiny leather.</p> + +<p>In a car of this description the young mother, with her baby, had +travelled a whole day, and nearly a whole night. It is no wonder then +that she looked worn out, or that the baby, who had been so jolly and +happy as to be voted a remarkably fine child by all the passengers, +should have sunk into an exhausted sleep, after a prolonged fit of +screaming and crying, that caused the few remaining inmates of the car +to look daggers at it, and say many unkind things, some of which even +reached the ears of the mother.</p> + +<p>During the day there had been other women in the car, travelling for +shorter or longer distances. To one of these, a lady-like girl who +occupied an adjoining seat for some hours, and who was greatly +interested in the baby, the young mother had confided the fact that this +was his birthday, and also part of her own history. From this it +appeared that she was the wife of an army officer, who was stationed +with his regiment in the far West. She had not seen him for nearly a +year, or just after the baby was born; but at last he had been ordered +to a fort on the upper Mississippi River, where he hoped to remain for +some time. Now his young wife, who had only been waiting until he could +give her any sort of a home with him, had bravely set forth with her +baby to join him. He had written her that, on a certain date in the +spring, a detachment of troops was to start from St. Louis by steamboat +for the fort at which he was stationed. As one of the officers of this +detachment was to take his wife with him, he thought it would be a fine +opportunity for her to come at the same time. She wrote back that she +could not possibly get ready by the date named, but would come by a +later boat. After she had sent the letter, she found that she could get +ready; and, as the aunt with whom she was living was about to break up +her home and go abroad, she decided to start at once for St. Louis. +There she would join her husband's friends, travel with them to the +far-away fort, and give the lonely soldier a joyful surprise. There was +no time to send another letter telling him of her change of plan, and +she was glad of it, for a surprise would be so much nicer.</p> + +<p>The early part of her journey had been accomplished quite easily. There +had been no rains in the East, such as were deluging the whole Ohio +valley. If there had been, it is not likely the soldier's wife would +have undertaken to travel at that time, and expose her precious baby to +such terrible risks, even to carry out the surprise she anticipated so +joyfully. From her aunt's house, in New York city, she had travelled by +steamer up the Hudson to Albany. From there she took cars to Buffalo, +and a lake boat to Cleveland. Now she was travelling by rail again, +across the flooded state of Ohio towards Cincinnati. There she intended +taking a steamboat down the Ohio River, and up the Mississippi to St. +Louis, where she expected to join her husband's friends, on the boat +that would carry them all to their journey's end.</p> + +<p>The details of this plan were fully discussed by the occupants of the +adjoining seats in the car, and when it came time for the one who was +not going through to leave the train, and take another at a small +junction, she had become so greatly interested in her new acquaintance +that she begged the latter to write to her, and tell her how she got +along. She wrote her own name and address on a bit of paper, just before +leaving the car, and gave it to the soldier's wife; but, in her hurry, +neglected to make a note of the name given her in return, and +afterwards, when she tried to recall it, was unable to do so.</p> + +<p>The tediousness of the weary day had been so much lessened by the making +of this pleasant acquaintance, that for some time after her departure +the young mother remained light-hearted and cheerful. The baby, too, was +bright and happy, and a source of constant amusement, not only to her, +but to all those about him.</p> + +<p>After a while, though, when it grew dark, and the feeble candles were +lighted, and most of the passengers had left the car, and the baby at +first fretted and then screamed, refusing to be quieted for more than an +hour, the exhausted young mother grew nervous and frightened. Only the +thought of the glad meeting, and the great happiness awaiting her at the +end of this tedious journey, enabled her to bear it as bravely as she +did.</p> + +<p>At length the babe cried himself to sleep, and the tired arms that had +held him so long gladly laid him down in a nest made of shawls and his +own dainty blanket on the opposite seat. This blanket had the initials +"G. E." embroidered in one corner, though these did not stand for the +baby's name. In fact, he had no first name, nor had he yet been +christened. This ceremony having been postponed until both the father +and mother could take part in it; the question of a name had also been +left undecided until then. The young mother wanted her boy called +"Gerald," after his father, and she had even embroidered the initial +"G." on his blanket to see how it would look. Thus far, however, the +baby was only called "baby," and had no right to any other name.</p> + +<p>As the child slept quietly in spite of the jar and jolt and rumble of +the train, the fair young head of the mother who watched so fondly and +patiently over him gradually drooped lower and lower. The brown eyes, so +like the baby's, closed for longer and longer intervals, until at length +she, too, was fast asleep, and dreaming of the joy that awaited her +journey's end.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="Chapter_II" id="Chapter_II"></a><span class="smcap">Chapter II.</span></h2> + +<h3>A RUDE BAPTISM.</h3> + + +<p>There were others on that train equally weary with the young mother, and +even more anxious; for they knew better than she the ever-present +dangers of that water-soaked road-bed, and they bore the weight of a +fearful responsibility.</p> + +<p>The conductor, looking grave and careworn, started nervously at every +lurch of more than ordinary violence, and kept moving uneasily from end +to end of his train. He never passed the young mother and her sleeping +babe without casting sympathetic glances at them. He had done everything +possible for their comfort, but it was little enough that he could do, +and for their sake, more than anything else, he wished the trip were +ended.</p> + +<p>All through the long, dark hours, the brake-men stood on the platforms +of the swaying cars, ready at a moment's warning to spring to the iron +brake-wheels. This crew of train hands had only come on duty at +nightfall, and had little knowledge of the through passengers.</p> + +<p>In the locomotive cab, gazing ahead with strained eyes, were the +engine-driver, Luke Matherson, and his fireman. Every now and then the +latter found a change of occupation in flinging open the furnace door +and tossing chunk after chunk of wood into the glowing interior. As he +closed the door he would stand for a moment and look inquiringly at his +companion, who sat motionless, with his hand on the throttle, and his +eyes fixed steadily on the lines of track gleaming in the light of the +powerful headlight. Occasionally, without turning his head, he exchanged +a few words with the fireman.</p> + +<p>"It's a nasty night, Luke," remarked the latter.</p> + +<p>"Yes. It wouldn't take many more such to make me give up railroading."</p> + +<p>"What do you think of the Beasely cut?"</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid of it, and wish we were well through it."</p> + +<p>"Well, we'll know all about it in five minutes more, and after that +there's nothing serious but Glen Eddy creek."</p> + +<p>The silence that followed was broken, a few minutes later, by two +piercing blasts from the whistle. The fireman had already seen the +danger, and sprung to the brake-wheel on the tender behind him. On every +car the brakes were grinding harshly, set up by nervous, lusty young +arms. The train did not come to a standstill an instant too soon; for, +as it did so, the cow-catcher was already half buried in a slide from +one of the treacherous banks of the Beasely cut.</p> + +<p>An hour's hard work by all the train hands, and some of the passengers, +with shovels and spades, cleared the track, and once more the express +proceeded slowly on its uncertain way.</p> + +<p>Now for the Glen Eddy bridge. Between it and the city that marked the +end of the line was the best stretch of road-bed in the state. It was a +long one, but it presented no dangers that a railroad man need fear.</p> + +<p>The gray dawn was breaking as the train approached Glen Eddy creek. In +the summer-time it was a quiet stream, slipping dreamily along between +its heavily wooded banks. Now it was a furious torrent, swollen beyond +all recognition, and clutching spitefully at the wooden piers of heavy +crib-work that upheld the single span of the bridge.</p> + +<p>The train was stopped and the bridge was examined. It seemed all right, +and the conductor gave the word to go ahead. It was the last order he +ever issued; for, in another minute, the undermined piers had given way, +and the train was piled up in the creek a shapeless wreck.</p> + +<p>From that terrible plunge only two persons escaped unharmed. One was +Luke Matherson, the engine-driver, and the other was the baby. When the +former felt his engine dropping from under him, he sprang from it, with +desperate energy, far out into the muddy waters, that instantly closed +over him. On coming to the surface, the instinct of self-preservation +forced him to swim, but it was wildly and without an idea of direction +or surroundings. For nearly a minute he swam with all his strength +against the current, so that he was still near the wreck, when his +senses were again quickened into action by a smothered cry, close at +hand. At the same time a dark mass drifted towards him, and he seized +hold of it. As the cry seemed to come from this, the man's struggles +became directed by a definite purpose. Partially supporting himself by +the wreckage, he attempted to guide it to the nearest bank; but so swift +was the current that he was swept down stream more than a mile before he +succeeded in accomplishing his purpose.</p> + +<p>Finally his feet touched bottom, and he drew his prize to shore. It was +a car seat, torn from its fastenings. Tightly wedged between it and its +hinged back was a confused bundle, from which came a smothered wailing. +Tearing away the wrappings, Luke Matherson stared for a moment, in a +dazed fashion, at what they had held so safely. He could hardly believe +that it was a live baby, lying there as rosy and unharmed as though in +its cradle.</p> + +<p>The sun had risen when the engine-driver, haggard, exhausted, with +clothing torn and muddy, but holding the babe clasped tightly in his +arms, staggered into the nearest farm-house, two miles back from the +creek.</p> + +<p>After his night of intense mental strain, the shock of the disaster, his +plunge into the chilling waters, and his subsequent struggle to save the +only surviving passenger of the train, it is not surprising that even +Luke Matherson's strong frame yielded, and that for several weeks he was +prostrated by a low fever. All this time the baby was kept at the +farm-house with him, in order that he might be identified and claimed; +but nobody came for him, nor were any inquiries made concerning the +child. He was called "the Glen Eddy baby" by the few settlers of that +sparsely populated region, who came to gaze at him curiously and +pityingly. Thus those who cared for him gradually came to call him +"Glen" for want of a better name; and, as the initials embroidered on +the blanket saved with him were "G. E.," people soon forgot that Glen +Eddy was not his real name.</p> + +<p>Although several bodies were recovered from the wreck of the express, +that of the young mother was not among them; and, as there was no one +left alive who knew that she had been on the train, of course her death +was not reported. Thus the mystery surrounding the Glen Eddy baby was so +impenetrable that, after a while, people gave up trying to solve it, and +finally it was almost forgotten.</p> + +<p>When Luke Matherson recovered from his fever, nothing could induce him +to return to his duties as engine-driver on the railroad.</p> + +<p>"No," he said, "never will I put myself in the way of going through +another such night as that last one."</p> + +<p>He went to Cincinnati as soon as he was able to travel, and while there +was offered a position in the engine-room of a large mill at Brimfield, +in western Pennsylvania, which he accepted. The people of the farm-house +where he had been ill were willing to keep the baby; but Luke Matherson +claimed it, and would not give it up.</p> + +<p>The babe had been given to him, if ever one had, he said; and, if no one +else loved it, he did. Of course, if anybody could prove a better claim +to it than his, he would be the last one to dispute it; but, if not, he +would keep the child and do the very best by him he knew how. He had no +folks of his own in the world, and was only too glad to feel that one +human being would grow up to care for him.</p> + +<p>The farm-house people lost track of Luke Matherson when he left +Cincinnati. Thus when, some four months later, a broken-hearted man, who +had with infinite pains traced his wife and child to that line of +railroad, reached that part of the country, he could gain no further +information except that a baby, who might have been his, was saved from +the Glen Eddy disaster, but what had become of it nobody knew.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="Chapter_III" id="Chapter_III"></a><span class="smcap">Chapter III.</span></h2> + +<h3>A BOY WITHOUT A BIRTHDAY.</h3> + + +<p>"It's no use, Glen," said the principal of the Brimfield High School, +kindly, but with real sorrow in his tone. "Your marks in everything +except history are so far below the average that I cannot, with justice +to the others, let you go on with the class any longer. So unless you +can catch up during the vacation, I shall be obliged to drop you into +the class below, and we'll go all over the same ground again next year. +I'm very sorry. It is a bad thing for a boy of your age to lose a whole +year; for this is one of the most important periods of your life. Still, +if you won't study, you can't keep up with those who will, that's +certain."</p> + +<p>The boy to whom these words were spoken was a squarely built, +manly-looking chap, with brown curling hair, and big brown eyes. He was +supposed to be seventeen years old, but appeared younger. Now his cheeks +were flushed, and a hard, almost defiant, expression had settled on his +face.</p> + +<p>"I know you are right, Mr. Meadows," he said, at length. "And you have +been very kind to me. It's no use, though. I just hate to study. I'd +rather work, and work hard at almost anything else, then I would know +what I was doing; but as for grinding away at stupid things like Latin +and geometry and trigonometry and natural philosophy, that can't ever be +of any earthly use to a fellow who doesn't intend to be either a +professor or an astronomer, I can't see the good of it at all."</p> + +<p>"No, I don't suppose you can now," replied the principal, smiling, "but +you will find even those things of use some time, no matter what you may +become in after-life. I will try and talk with you again on this subject +before I go away; but now I must leave you. I hope for your sake, +though, that you will think better about studying, and not throw away +your chance to do so now, while it is comparatively easy. To win success +in life you must study some time, and if you had stood anywhere near as +high as Binney Gibbs I might have managed to offer you—"</p> + +<p>"Excuse me, Mr. Meadows, but I must speak with you just a moment," here +interrupted a voice, and put an end to the conversation between the +principal and the boy who had allowed his distaste for study to bring +him into disgrace.</p> + +<p>As he walked away from the school-house, carrying all his books with +him, for the term was ended and the long vacation had begun, the flush +of mortification, called to his cheeks by Mr. Meadows's remarks, still +reddened them. He felt the disgrace of his position keenly, though he +had told the other boys, and had tried to make himself believe, that he +did not care whether he passed the examinations or not. Now that he had +failed to pass, he found that he did care. What was it that Mr. Meadows +might have offered him? It couldn't be <i>that</i>, of course; but if it +should have been! Well, there was no use in crying over it now. Binney +Gibbs had been honored, and he was disgraced. It was bad enough to +realize that, without thinking of things to make it worse. He was +thankful when he reached home and had closed the front door behind him; +for it seemed as though everybody he met must know of his disgrace, and +be smiling scornfully at him.</p> + +<p>He was a sensitive chap, was this Glen Eddy; for that was his name, and +he was the same one who, as a baby, was rescued by Luke Matherson from +the railroad wreck so many years ago. Most people called him Glen +Matherson, and on the school register his name was entered as Glen Eddy +Matherson; but, ever since his last birthday, when Luke had told him +that he was not his real father, and had fully explained their relations +to each other, the boy had thought of himself only as Glen Eddy.</p> + +<p>The master mechanic of the Brimfield Mills, for such Luke Matherson now +was, had meant to keep the secret of the boy's life to himself, at least +for some years longer. Glen had, however, heard rumors of it, and had on +one occasion been taunted by an angry playmate with the sneer that he +was only a nobody who didn't belong to anybody, anyhow.</p> + +<p>Glen had promptly forced this tormentor to acknowledge that he did not +know what he was talking about; but the taunt rankled all the same. A +few days afterwards, which happened to be the one that was kept as his +seventeenth birthday, he told his father of it, and asked what it meant.</p> + +<p>Then Luke Matherson, greatly troubled, but seeing that the secret could +not be kept any longer from the boy, told him what he knew of his +history. He ended with, "It is fifteen years ago this very day, Glen, +that the terrible wreck took place; and, as you were then thought to be +about two years old, I have called this your birthday ever since."</p> + +<p>The boy was amazed and bewildered. No idea that the one whom he had +always called "father" was not such in reality had ever entered his +head; but now that the truth was told him, it seemed strange that he had +not always known it instinctively. He had known that Mrs. Matherson was +not his own mother, for he was five years old when she assumed that +position, and of course he had always known that the two children were +not his own sisters, though he loved them as dearly as though they were. +But now to find out that he did not really belong to anybody was hard.</p> + +<p>Who were his real parents? Were they alive? Could he find them? were +questions that now began to occupy the boy's mind most of the time.</p> + +<p>One of the strangest things about this state of affairs was to discover +that his birthday was not his birthday after all. It seemed as though +some foundation on which he had rested in absolute trust of its security +had suddenly been swept from under him, and left him struggling in a +stormy sea of uncertainty.</p> + +<p>The idea of a boy without a birthday! Who ever heard of such a thing? +How the other fellows would stare and smile if they knew it! Glen had +been so proud of his birthday, too, and it had been made so much of at +home. His favorite dishes were always prepared for the meals of that +day, his tastes were consulted in everything that was done, and his +father always made a point of giving him a more valuable present then +than even at Christmas. Why, on the last one, the very day on which the +boy first learned how unreal the whole thing was, his father—no, his +adopted father—had given him the dearest little silver watch that ever +was seen.</p> + +<p>Many times since learning such a sad lesson in the uncertainties of +life, Glen had pulled this watch from his pocket, simply to assure +himself of its reality, and that it was not a make-believe like his +birthday.</p> + +<p>But for his natural force of character and sweetness of disposition, +Glen would have been a spoiled boy; for Luke Matherson had never been +able, since the moment he first saw him lying helplessly on the floating +car seat, to cross him in anything, or deny him whatever he asked if it +lay in his power to grant it. With his own children Mr. Matherson was +rather strict; but with the orphan lad who had shared with him the +greatest peril of his life, he could not be.</p> + +<p>Thus Glen had grown up to be somewhat impatient of restraint, and very +much inclined to have his own way. He was also a brave, generous boy, +and an acknowledged leader among his young companions. Was he not the +best swimmer, the fastest runner, the most daring climber, and expert +horseback-rider in Brimfield? Was he not captain of the baseball nine? +and did not all the fellows admire him except one or two, who were so +jealous of his popularity that they sought to detract from it?</p> + +<p>One of those who were most envious of him was Binney Gibbs, son of the +wealthy owner of the Brimfield Mills. He was taller than Glen, but was +no match for him in anything that called for muscle or pluck. It was he +who had flung the taunt of Glen's being a nobody at the boy. Binney had +never been noted for his studious habits until both he and Glen entered +the High School at the same time. Then, realizing that he could not +excel at anything else, he determined to beat the other at his studies. +To this end he strained every nerve with such effect that he not only +outranked Glen in his own class, but, by working all through two long +vacations, gained a whole year on him. So now, while poor Glen was +threatened with being turned back from the second class, Binney Gibbs +had just graduated at the head of the first, and was ready to enter +college. And the worst of it all was that everybody believed him to be a +whole year younger than Glen, too.</p> + +<p>To be sure, Binney was pale and thin, and no stronger than a cat. Why, +he couldn't even swim; but what of it? Had he not beaten the most +popular fellow in town away out of sight in this scholarship race? To +crown his triumph another thing had happened to make Binney Gibbs the +envy of all the boys in Brimfield, but particularly of Glen Eddy.</p> + +<p>On that last day of school the diplomas had been awarded, and Binney's +had been handed to him the first of all. As he was about to return to +his seat, amid the loud applause of the spectators, Mr. Meadows asked +him to wait a minute. So Binney stood on the platform while the +principal told of a wonderful exploring expedition that was being fitted +out at that moment, to go across the plains through the almost unknown +territories of New Mexico and Arizona to California. It was to be the +most famous expedition of the kind ever sent into the far West; and, as +it was to be partly a government enterprise, all sorts of political +influence was being used to obtain positions in it. It was to be +commanded by a noted general, who was an old friend of Mr. Meadows.</p> + +<p>"Now," said the principal, "the general writes that he will give a +position in this party to the boy who stands highest in my school this +year, or, if I cannot recommend him, or he does not choose to accept it, +to any other whom I may name." Here Mr. Meadows was interrupted by +prolonged applause.</p> + +<p>When it had subsided, he continued. "There is no question as to which +pupil of the school ranks highest this year. He stands before you now, +with his well-earned diploma in his hand [applause], and it gives me +great pleasure to be able to offer to Master Binney Gibbs a position in +the exploring-party that will start from St. Louis two weeks from +to-day, under command of my friend General Lyle. I hope that he may be +induced to accept it, and that his parents may permit him to do so; for +I cannot imagine a more fascinating or profitable way of spending a year +at his time of life."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="Chapter_IV" id="Chapter_IV"></a><span class="smcap">Chapter IV.</span></h2> + +<h3>"I JUST HATE TO STUDY."</h3> + + +<p>Mr. Meadows's remarks in regard to the famous exploring expedition, +about to be sent across the Western plains, were received with +tremendous applause, and Binney Gibbs at once became an object of envy +to every boy in the school—to say nothing of the girls. What a chance +to have offered one just for doing a little hard study! If the other +boys had known of it, how they, too, would have studied! Binney Gibbs +would have been obliged to work harder than he had for his position! +Yes, sir! ten times harder!—only think of it! Indians and buffalo and +bears, and the Rocky Mountains, and all the other enchanted marvels of +that far-away region. Why, just to contemplate it was better than +reading a dime novel!</p> + +<p>While these thoughts were racing through the minds of his companions, +and while they were cheering and clapping their hands, the lucky boy +himself was talking with Mr. Meadows, and telling him how much he should +like to join that expedition, and how he hoped his father would let him +do so.</p> + +<p>Mr. Gibbs left his seat in the audience and stepped up to the platform, +where he talked for a moment with Mr. Meadows. Then he spoke to Binney, +and then, as he faced the school, they saw that he had something to say +to them.</p> + +<p>It was that he was proud of his son—proud of the honor shown to the +school and to Brimfield through him—and that he should certainly allow +Binney to accept the offered position.</p> + +<p>So it was settled; and all the boys cheered again. To Glen Eddy it +seemed that he would be willing to forego all the other good things that +life held for him if he could only have the prospect of one such year of +adventure as was promised to Binney Gibbs. For the first time in his +life he was genuinely envious of another boy.</p> + +<p>It was that same day, after everybody else had gone, that he had the +talk with Mr. Meadows, in which the latter told him he must go back a +whole year on account of not having studied; though, if he had, he might +have been offered—And then came the interruption. Glen was too +heart-sick and miserable to wait and ask what the offer might have been. +Besides, he thought he knew, and the thought only added to his distress +of mind, until it really seemed as though no boy could be much more +unhappy than he.</p> + +<p>Mr. Matherson knew how the boy stood in school, for the principal had +thought it his duty to inform him; and that evening he and Glen had a +long and serious talk.</p> + +<p>"It's no use, father; I just hate to study!" exclaimed Glen, using the +same words that had caused Mr. Meadows to look grave earlier in the day.</p> + +<p>"I fancy we all hate a great many things that we have to do in this +life," replied the master mechanic, "and you have certainly had a +striking example to-day of the value of study."</p> + +<p>"Yes, that's so," admitted Glen, reluctantly, "and if I had known that +there was anything of that kind to be gained, perhaps I might have tried +for it too."</p> + +<p>"If I had been given your chance to study when I was young," continued +the other, "and had made the most of it, I would have a better position +to-day than the one I now hold. As it is, I have had to study mighty +hard, along with my work, to get even it. I tell you, my boy, the +chances come when you least expect them. The only thing to do is to +prepare for them, and be ready to seize them as they appear. If one +isn't prepared they'll slip right past him—and when once they have done +that, he can never catch them again."</p> + +<p>"But aren't there working chances just as well as studying chances, +father?"</p> + +<p>"Of course there are, and the study must always be followed by +work—hard work, too—but the first is a mighty big help to the other. +Now I will gladly do all that I can to help you on with your studies, if +you will study; but if you won't, you must go to work, for I can't +afford to support you in idleness, and I wouldn't if I could."</p> + +<p>"Well, I'll tell you what, father," said Glen, who was more inclined to +take his own way than one proposed by somebody else, "if you can help me +to the getting of a job, I'll try the work this summer, and when it +comes time for school to open again, I'll decide whether it shall be +work or study."</p> + +<p>"All right, my boy, I'll do what I can to get you a place in the mill or +in Deacon Brown's store, whichever you prefer."</p> + +<p>Now that a definite kind of work was proposed, it did not seem so very +desirable after all, and Glen doubted if he should like either the mill +or the store. Still he did not say so, but asked for a day longer in +which to decide, which was readily granted him.</p> + +<p>At about the same time that evening, Binney Gibbs was saying to his +father, with a self-satisfied air,</p> + +<p>"Isn't it a good thing that I have stuck to my books as I have, and not +wasted my time playing ball, or swimming, or doing the things that Glen +Matherson and the other fellows seem to consider so important?"</p> + +<p>"Well, yes," replied Mr. Gibbs, a little doubtfully, "I suppose it is. +At the same time, Binney, I do wish you were a little stronger. I'm +afraid you'll find roughing it pretty hard."</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, I suppose physical strength was the most important thing when +you were young, father; but nowadays its brain-work that tells," +answered Binney, with a slight tone of contempt for his father's +old-fashioned ideas. Binney was not a bad-hearted fellow—only spoiled.</p> + +<p>The next day Glen did not feel like meeting any of his young companions. +He wanted to think over the several problems that had been presented to +him. So he wandered down to the river, where a fine new railroad-bridge, +in the building of which he had been greatly interested, was now +receiving its finishing touches. As he walked out towards the centre of +the graceful structure, admiring, as he had a hundred times before, the +details of its construction, its evident strength and airy lightness, he +saw the engineer who had charge of the work standing, with a roll of +plans under his arm, talking with one of the foremen.</p> + +<p>Glen had visited the bridge so often that the engineer knew him by +sight, and had even learned his name, though he had never spoken to him. +He was, however, especially fond of boys, and had been much pleased with +Glen's appearance. Several times he had been on the point of speaking to +him, but had been restrained by the diffidence a man is so apt to feel +in the presence of a stranger so much younger than himself. It is a fear +that he may do or say something to excite the undisguised mirth or +contempt that so often wait upon the ignorance of youth.</p> + +<p>Without suspecting these feelings in him, Glen had been strangely +attracted towards the engineer, whose profession and position seemed to +him alike fascinating and desirable. He wished he could become +acquainted with him, but did not know how to set about it. He, too, was +diffident and fearful of appearing in an unfavorable light before the +other, who was evidently so much older and wiser than he. But he did +long to ask this engineer a great many questions.</p> + +<p>Now he stood at a respectful distance and watched the young man, whose +name he knew to be Hobart, and, wondering whether his position had been +reached by study or work, wished he could think of some good excuse for +speaking to him.</p> + +<p>The floor of the bridge on which they were standing was about +twenty-five feet above Brim River, the deep, swift stream that it +spanned. Glen had swum and fished in it, and boated on it, until he knew +its every current and slack-water pool. He knew it as well as he did the +road to the village, and was almost as much at home in the one as on the +other.</p> + +<p>In order to consult a note-book that he drew from his pocket, Mr. Hobart +laid his roll of plans on a floor-beam, at his feet, for a moment. Just +then a little whirling gust of wind came along, and in an instant the +valuable plans were sailing through the air towards the sparkling +waters, that seemed to laugh at the prospect of bearing them away far +beyond human reach.</p> + +<p>The engineer tried in vain to clutch them as they rolled off the +floor-beam, and uttered an exclamation of vexation as they eluded his +grasp.</p> + +<p>As he looked around to see what could be done towards their recovery, a +boyish figure, without hat, jacket, or shoes, sprang past him, poised +for an instant on the end of the floor-beam, and then leaped into space. +Like a flash of light it shot downward, straight and rigid, with feet +held tightly together, and hands pressed close against the thighs. A +myriad of crystal-drops were flung high in the air and glittered in the +bright sunlight as Glen, striking the water with the impetus of a +twenty-five-foot fall, sank deep beneath its surface.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="Chapter_V" id="Chapter_V"></a><span class="smcap">Chapter V.</span></h2> + +<h3>SWIMMING INTO A FRIENDSHIP.</h3> + + +<p>Although Glen found no difficulty in coming to the surface, almost at +the spot where the roll of plans floated, and grasping it, he did not +find it so easy to bring it safely to shore. To begin with, the roll +occupied one hand, so that he had but one for swimming. Then the current +was strong, and the banks steep. He was very near the middle of the +river. Any other Brimfield boy would have been in despair at finding +himself in such a situation. But, then, no other boy in Brimfield would +have taken that leap.</p> + +<p>For a moment Glen wondered what he should do. Then he remembered the +"back-set" at the Bend, a quarter of a mile below the bridge. It would +put him right in to the bank, at a place where it was low, too. The +anxious watchers on the bridge wondered to see the boy turn on his back +and quietly drift away with the current, at the same time holding the +roll of plans, for which he had dared so much, clear of the water.</p> + +<p>They shouted to him to swim towards one or the other bank and they would +fling him a rope; but Glen only smiled without wasting any breath in +answering. Most of the men ran to one end of the bridge, because it +looked to them as though the boy were nearer that bank than the other; +but Mr. Hobart, who had studied the river, remembered the Bend, and +hurried to the other end. When he reached it he ran down along the bank, +towards the place where he felt certain the boy would attempt to land. +He got there in time to see Glen swimming with all his might to get out +of the main current and into the "back-set." With two hands he would +have done it easily; but with only one it was hard work. Then, too, his +clothing dragged heavily.</p> + +<p>Mr. Hobart shouted to him to let go the roll. "Drop it and make sure of +your own safety," he cried. "They are not worth taking any risks for." +But Glen was not the kind of a boy to let go of a thing that he had once +made up his mind to hold on to, so long as he had an ounce of strength +left.</p> + +<p>So he struggled on, and at last had the satisfaction of feeling that +something stronger than his own efforts was carrying him towards shore. +He had gained the "back-set," and, though its direction was rather up +along the bank, than in towards it, the swimmer had still strength +enough left to overcome this difficulty.</p> + +<p>A tree, growing straight out from the bank, overhung the stream, so that +Glen at length drifted under it, and caught hold of a drooping branch. +He had not strength enough to pull himself up; but it was not needed. +With the activity that comes from a life spent in the open air, the +engineer had run out on the horizontal trunk, and now, lying flat on it, +he could just reach the boy's hand. In another minute the strong arms +had drawn Glen up to a secure resting-place, where he might regain his +breath and drip to his heart's content.</p> + +<p>"Here are the plans, Mr. Hobart," he said, shyly, and at the same time +proudly. "I hope they are not spoiled by the water. I held them out of +it as much as I could."</p> + +<p>"I hope you are not spoiled by the water, Glen Matherson," laughed the +engineer, as he took the wet roll from the boy's hand. "You have done +splendidly, and I am sincerely grateful to you for rescuing my plans, +which are indeed of great value. At the same time I wouldn't do such a +thing again, if I were you, for anything less important than the saving +of life. It was a big risk to take, and I should have suffered a +life-long sorrow if anything had gone wrong with you."</p> + +<p>Although it was a warm June day, and Glen laughed at the idea of +catching cold, he had been in the water long enough to be thoroughly +chilled. So, when they regained the bank, Mr. Hobart insisted that he +should take off his clothes, wring them, and let them dry in the hot +sun. In the meantime a workman had come down from the bridge with the +boy's hat, jacket, and shoes. He lent him his overalls, and, thus +comically arrayed, Glen sat and talked with the engineer while his +clothes were drying.</p> + +<p>How kindly the brown-bearded face was, and with what interest the man +listened to all the boy had to say. How pleasant was his voice, and, in +spite of his age (he was about thirty-five) and wisdom, how easy it was +to talk to him! It was so easy, and he proved such a sympathetic +listener, that before Glen knew it he found himself confiding all his +troubles and hopes and perplexities to this new friend. It began with +his name, which he told the engineer was not Matherson, and then he had +to explain why it was not.</p> + +<p>Then they wondered together what sort of a man Glen's real father could +be, provided he were alive; and if, by any strange chance, he and his +son would ever meet and know each other. Mr. Hobart did not think it at +all likely they ever would. From this the boy was led to tell of his +dislike for study, and into what trouble it had led him. He even told of +the decision reached by his adopted father and himself the evening +before, and the undesirable choice of work that had been presented to +him.</p> + +<p>"And so you don't think you would fancy either the mill or the store?" +asked Mr. Hobart.</p> + +<p>"No, sir, I do not. Each one, when I think of it, seems worse than the +other, and they both seem worse than most anything else."</p> + +<p>"Worse than studying?"</p> + +<p>"Just as bad, because either of them means being shut up, and I hate to +stay in the house. I should like some business that would keep me +out-of-doors all the time."</p> + +<p>"Ploughing, for instance, or driving a horse-car, or digging clams, or +civil-engineering, or something nice and easy, like any of those?" +suggested Mr. Hobart, gravely.</p> + +<p>"Civil-engineering is what I think I should like better than anything +else in the world!" exclaimed the boy, eagerly. "That's what you are, +isn't it, sir?"</p> + +<p>"That is what I am trying to be," answered Mr. Hobart, smiling; "and if, +by years of hard work, hard study, and unceasing effort, I can reach a +generally recognized position as an engineer, I shall be satisfied with +my life's work."</p> + +<p>"Do you have to study?" asked Glen, in amazement.</p> + +<p>"Indeed I do," was the answer. "I have to study continually, and fully +as hard as any schoolboy of your acquaintance."</p> + +<p>Glen looked incredulous. It is hard for a boy to realize that his school +is only the place where he is taught how to study, and that his most +important lessons will have to be learned after he leaves it.</p> + +<p>"I think I should like to be a civil-engineer, anyhow," he remarked, +after a thoughtful pause, "because it is an out-of-door business."</p> + +<p>"Yes," admitted the other, "it is to a great extent."</p> + +<p>Then they found that Glen's clothing was dry enough to be worn, and also +that it was dinnertime. So, after Mr. Hobart had shaken hands with the +boy, and said he hoped to see him again before long, they separated.</p> + +<p>That afternoon Glen, still wearing a perplexed expression on his usually +merry face, walked down to the mill and looked in at its open door. It +was so hot and dusty and noisy that he did not care to stay there very +long. He had been familiar with it all his life; but never before had it +struck him as such an unpleasant place to work in, day after day, month +after month, and even year after year, as it did now. How hard people +did have to work, anyway! He had never realized it before. Still, +working in a mill must be a little harder than anything else. At any +rate, he certainly would not choose to earn his living there.</p> + +<p>Then he walked down to Deacon Brown's store. The deacon did a large +retail business; this was a busy afternoon, and the place was filled +with customers. How tired the clerks looked, and what pale faces they +had. How people bothered them with questions, and called on them to +attend to half a dozen things at once. How close and stuffy the air of +the store was. It was almost as bad as that of the mill. Then, too, the +store was kept open hours after the mill had shut down; for its evening +trade was generally very brisk. It did not seem half so attractive a +place to Glen now as it had at other times, when he had visited it +solely with a view of making some small purchase. Perhaps going to +school, and keeping up with one's class, was not the hardest thing in +the world after all.</p> + +<p>So the poor boy returned home, more perplexed as to what he should do +than ever, and he actually dreaded the after-supper talk with his +adopted father that he usually enjoyed so much.</p> + +<p>When the time came, and Mr. Matherson asked, kindly, "Well, my boy, what +have you decided to do?" Glen was obliged to confess that he was just as +far from a decision as he had been the evening before.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="Chapter_VI" id="Chapter_VI"></a><span class="smcap">Chapter VI.</span></h2> + +<h3>RECEIVING AN OFFER AND ACCEPTING IT.</h3> + + +<p>"Well, that is bad," said the master mechanic, when Glen told him that +he had been unable to arrive at any decision in regard to going to work. +"It is bad, for I can't see that there is anything open to you just now, +except one of the two things we talked about last evening. At the same +time, I hate to compel you, or even persuade you, to do anything that is +hard and distasteful. If you were a year younger, I should say, 'Spend +your vacation as you always have done, and have as good a time as you +know how, without worrying about the future.' At seventeen, though, a +boy should begin to look ahead, and take some decisive step in the +direction of his future career. If he decides to study, he should also +decide what he wants to study for. If he decides to work, he should have +some object to work for, and should turn all his energies in that +direction. I declare, Glen, I hardly know how to advise you in this +matter. Do you think of any particular thing you would rather do, or try +to be? If so, and I can help you to it, you know how gladly I will, in +every way that lies in my power."</p> + +<p>"It seems to me I would rather be a civil-engineer than anything else," +answered the boy, a little hesitatingly.</p> + +<p>"A civil-engineer!" exclaimed the other, in surprise; "why, Glen, lad, +don't you know that it takes the hardest kind of study to be that?"</p> + +<p>Just then their conversation was interrupted by the arrival of a +visitor, who, to Glen's surprise, was none other than Mr. Hobart, the +engineer whose position he had been thinking of as one of the most +desirable in the world.</p> + +<p>After a few moments' pleasant chat the visitor asked Mr. Matherson if he +could have a private business talk with him. So Glen left the room, and +wandered restlessly about the house, filled with a lively curiosity as +to what business the engineer could have with his adopted father.</p> + +<p>In the meantime Mr. Hobart was saying, "I have known your son for some +time by sight, Mr. Matherson, and took a fancy to him from the first. We +only got acquainted to-day, when he performed an act of daring in my +presence, and at the same time rendered me an important service. I find +him to be exactly such a boy as I supposed he was; a generous-hearted, +manly fellow, who is just now unhappy and discontented because he has no +particular aim in life, and does not know what he wants to do."</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Mr. Matherson, "that is just the trouble; and the worst of +it is that I don't know what to advise him."</p> + +<p>"Then, perhaps, I am just in time to help you. My work here is about +finished, and in a few days I am to leave for Kansas, where I am to take +charge of a locating-party on one of the Pacific railroads. If you are +willing to let Glen go with me, I can make a place for him in this +party. The pay will only be thirty dollars per month, besides his +expenses; but, by the end of the summer, I believe he will have gained +more valuable knowledge and experience than he could in a year of home +and school life. I believe, too, in that time I can show him the value +of an education and the necessity of studying for it. Now, without +really knowing anything about it, he thinks he would like to become a +civil-engineer. After a few months' experience in the unsettled country +to which I am going he will have seen the rough side of the life, and +can decide intelligently whether he desires to continue in it or not."</p> + +<p>Mr. Matherson could hardly restrain his delight at the prospect of such +an opening for the boy whom he loved so dearly; but he was too honest to +let him start out under false colors; so he said,</p> + +<p>"I can never tell you how grateful I am for this offer, sir; but I don't +want you to think that my boy is any better than he really is. He is not +a good scholar, and seems to lack application. Even now he is in danger +of being turned back a whole year in school because he has failed to +keep up with his class."</p> + +<p>"I know all that," replied Mr. Hobart, smiling; "and it is one of the +reasons why I want him to go with me. I was very much such a boy myself, +and think I understand his state of mind perfectly. He has reached the +most trying period of his life, and the one where he most needs +encouragement and help. He has a sufficiently good education to build +on, and is bright enough to comprehend things that are clearly explained +to him. As for his having no knowledge of the peculiar studies necessary +for an engineer, I am glad that he hasn't. I believe that it is better +for all boys to gain some practical knowledge of the business they +intend to follow before they really begin to study for it. A few months +or a year of practice shows them in what they are deficient and what +they need to learn. I could get plenty of young fellows to go out to +Kansas with me who are crammed with theoretical knowledge of surveying +and engineering, but who are ignorant of its practice. Such chaps think +they know it all, and are impatient of criticism or advice. I can get +along better with one who knows little or nothing to begin with, but who +is bright and willing to learn. In the end I will guarantee to make such +a one the more valuable engineer of the two."</p> + +<p>"It is a new idea to me," said Mr. Matherson, reflectively, "but I +believe you are right."</p> + +<p>"There is another reason why I fancy your boy, and think I can make an +engineer of him," continued Mr. Hobart. "His physical condition seems to +me to be perfect. As they say of prize animals, he seems to be sound in +wind and limb, and without a blemish. Now, the life of an engineer, +particularly in unsettled countries, is a hard one. He is exposed to all +sorts of weather; must often sleep without a shelter of any kind, and +must work hard from early dawn until late at night, sometimes on a +scanty allowance of food. It is as hard as, and in many cases harder +than, active service in the army. It is no life for weaklings, and we do +not want them; but, from what I have seen of your boy, I do not believe +that even you can point out any physical defect in his make-up."</p> + +<p>"No, I certainly cannot," replied Mr. Matherson, heartily, glad of a +chance to praise his boy without qualification, in at least one respect. +"I believe him to be physically perfect, and I know that there is not a +boy of his age in town who is his match in strength, agility, or +daring."</p> + +<p>"So you see," laughed the engineer, "he is exactly the boy I want; and +if you will let him go with me I shall consider that you have conferred +a favor."</p> + +<p>"Of course I will let him go, sir, and shall feel forever grateful to +you for the offer."</p> + +<p>Thus it was all settled, and Glen was summoned to hear the result of the +few minutes' conversation by which the whole course of his life was to +be changed. By it, too, he was to be lifted in a moment from the depths +of despondency and uncertainty to such a height of happiness as he had +not dared dream of, much less hope for. The moment he entered the room +he was assured, by the smiling faces of its occupants, that their topic +of conversation had been a pleasant one; but when its nature was +explained to him he could hardly credit his senses.</p> + +<p>Would he like to go out to Kansas for the summer?—to a land still +occupied by wild Indians and buffalo? The idea of asking him such a +question! There was nothing in the whole world he would like better! +Why, it was almost as good as the position offered to Binney Gibbs; and, +certainly, no boy could ever hope for anything more splendid than that. +In two respects he considered himself even more fortunate than Binney. +One was that he was to go with Mr. Hobart, whom he had come to regard +with an intense admiration as one of the wisest and kindest of men. The +other was that they were to start on the third day from that time, while +Binney would not go for nearly two weeks yet.</p> + +<p>What busy days the next two were! How Glen did fly around with his +preparations! How interested Mr. Hobart was, and how he laughed at many +of the excited boy's questions! Ought he to have a buckskin suit and a +broad-brimmed hat? Should he need any other weapons besides a revolver +and a bowie-knife? Would it be better to take long-legged leather boots +or rubber-boots, or both? How large a trunk ought he to have?</p> + +<p>His outfit, prepared by Mr. Hobart's advice, finally consisted of two +pairs of double blankets, rolled up in a rubber sheet and securely +corded, two pairs of easy, laced walking-shoes, and one pair of leather +leggings, three flannel shirts, three suits of under-clothing, and six +pairs of socks, one warm coat, two pairs of trousers, a soft, gray felt +hat, half a dozen silk handkerchiefs, and the same number of towels. Of +these he would wear, from the start, the hat, coat, one of the flannel +shirts, one of the two pairs of trousers, a suit of under-clothing, one +of the silk handkerchiefs knotted about his neck, and one of the pairs +of shoes. All the rest could easily be got into a small leathern valise, +which would be as much of a trunk as he would be allowed to carry.</p> + +<p>He would need a stout leather belt, to which should be slung a good +revolver in a holster, a common sheath-knife, that need not cost more +than thirty cents, and a small tin cup that could be bought for five.</p> + +<p>Besides these things, Mrs. Matherson, who loved the boy as though he +were her own, tucked into the valise a small case of sewing materials, a +brush, comb, cake of soap, tooth-brush, hand-glass, and a Testament in +which his name was written.</p> + +<p>On the very day of his departure his adopted father presented the +delighted boy with a light rifle of the very latest pattern. It was, of +course, a breech-loader, and carried six extra cartridges in its +magazine. In its neat canvas-case, Glen thought it was the very +handsomest weapon he had ever seen, and the other boys thought so too.</p> + +<p>With them he was the hero of the hour, and even Binney Gibbs's +glittering prospects were almost forgotten, for the time being, in this +more immediate excitement.</p> + +<p>Of course they all gathered at the railway station to see him start on +the morning of the appointed day. It seemed as though almost everybody +else in the village was there, too. Binney Gibbs was among the very few +of Glen's acquaintances who did not come. So, amid tears and laughter, +good wishes and loud cheerings, the train rolled away, bearing Glen Eddy +from the only home he had ever known towards the exciting scenes of the +new life that awaited him in the far West.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="Chapter_VII" id="Chapter_VII"></a><span class="smcap">Chapter VII.</span></h2> + +<h3>ACROSS THE MISSISSIPPI.</h3> + + +<p>Never before, since he was first carried to Brimfield as a baby, had +Glen been away from there; so, from the very outset, the journey on +which he had now started, in company with Mr. Hobart, was a wonderful +one. In school, besides history, he had enjoyed the study of geography, +being especially fond of poring over maps and tracing out imaginary +journeys. In this way he had gained a fair idea of the route Mr. Hobart +and he were to pursue, as well as of the cities and other places of +interest they were to see. There was one place, however, for which he +was not prepared. It was early in the first night of the journey, and +the boy had just fallen into a doze in his sleeping-car berth. As the +night was warm, and there was no dust, the car door was open, and +through it came a sudden shout of "Glen Eddy! Glen Eddy!"</p> + +<p>As Glen started up, wide awake, and answering "Here I am," the train +rumbled over a bridge. Then it stopped, and the meaning of the shout +flashed into the boy's mind. He was at the very place where, so long +ago, he had lost a father or mother, or both. All the details of that +awful scene, as described by his adopted father, appeared vividly before +him, and he seemed to see, through a gray dawn, the mass of splintered +wreckage nearly covered by angry waters, the floating car seat with its +tiny human burden, and the brave swimmer directing it towards land.</p> + +<p>The train stopped but a moment, and then moved on. As it did so, Glen, +who was in an upper berth, heard a deep sigh, that sounded almost like a +groan, coming apparently from a lower berth on the opposite side of the +car.</p> + +<p>Directly afterwards he heard a low voice ask, respectfully, "What is it, +Governor? Are you in pain? Can I do anything?"</p> + +<p>"Nothing, Price, thank you. I had a sort of nightmare, that's all," was +the reply, and then all was again quiet.</p> + +<p>Glen wished he might catch a glimpse of the person who spoke last, for +he had never seen a governor, and wondered in what way he would look +different from other men. He would try and see him in the morning. Thus +thinking, he fell asleep.</p> + +<p>The next morning he was awakened by Mr. Hobart, and told to dress as +quickly as possible, for they were within a few miles of East St. Louis, +and would soon cross the Mississippi. This news drove all other thoughts +from the boy's mind, and he hurried through his toilet, full of +excitement at the prospect of seeing the mightiest of American rivers.</p> + +<p>There was no bridge across the Mississippi then, either at St. Louis or +elsewhere. Great four-horse transfer coaches from the several hotels +were waiting for passengers beside the train where it stopped, and these +were borne to the opposite bank by a steam ferry-boat with a peculiar +name and of peculiar construction. The <i>Cahokia</i> looked like a regular +river steamer, except that she had no visible paddle-wheels, not even +one behind, like a wheelbarrow, as some of the very shoal-draught boats +had. For some time Glen could not discover what made her go, though go +she certainly did, moving swiftly and easily across the broad expanse of +tawny waters towards the smoky city on its farther bank. He would not +ask Mr. Hobart, for he loved to puzzle things out for himself if he +possibly could. At length he discovered that the boat was double-hulled, +and that its single paddle-wheel was located between the two hulls. Glen +was obliged to ask the object of this; but when he was told that it was +to protect the wheel from the great ice-cakes that floated down the +river in winter, he wondered that he had not thought of that himself.</p> + +<p>So he forgot to look for his governor, or ask about him until they +reached the hotel where they were to get breakfast and spend a few +hours. Then he was told that the person in whom he was interested was +probably General Elting, who had just completed a term of office as +governor of one of the territories, and who was now acting as treasurer +of the very railroad company for which he was to work.</p> + +<p>Glen regretted not having seen the ex-governor, but quickly forgot his +slight disappointment in the more novel and interesting things that now +attracted his attention. He had never been in a city before, and was +very glad of a few hours in which to see the sights of this one; for the +train that was to carry them to Kansas City would not leave until +afternoon.</p> + +<p>As the offices of the company by whom Mr. Hobart was employed were in +St. Louis, he was obliged to spend all his time in them, and could not +go about with Glen. So, only charging him to be on hand in time for the +train, the engineer left the boy to his own devices.</p> + +<p>Glen spent most of his time on the broad levee at the river's edge, +where he was fascinated by the great steamboats, with their lofty +pilot-houses, tall chimneys, roaring furnaces, and crews of shouting +negroes, that continually came and went.</p> + +<p>This seemed to be their grand meeting-point. On huge placards, swung +above their gang-planks, Glen read that some of them were bound for New +Orleans and all intermediate ports. Then there were boats for the Red, +Arkansas, Yazoo, Ohio, Illinois, Missouri, and a dozen other rivers, +tributary to the great Father of Waters. Still others were bound for +Northern ports, even as far as distant St. Paul, in Minnesota.</p> + +<p>Two o'clock found the boy at the railway station, standing beside the +car in which all his belongings were already safely deposited, waiting +anxiously for Mr. Hobart. Just as the train was about to start, that +gentleman rushed into the station.</p> + +<p>"Jump aboard, Glen," he said, hurriedly, "and go on to Kansas City with +the baggage. Here is your pass and a note to Mr. Brackett. Report to him +at the Kaw House. I am detained here by business, but will join you +to-morrow or next day. Good-bye."</p> + +<p>The train was already in motion, and in another moment the boy had lost +sight of his only friend in that part of the world, and was whirling +away towards an unknown destination. He felt rather lonely and forlorn +at thus being cast upon his own resources, but at the same time he felt +proud of the confidence reposed in him, and glad of an opportunity to +prove how well he could take care of himself.</p> + +<p>For several hours he was interested in watching the rapidly changing +features of the landscape; but after a while he grew weary of this, and +began to study his fellow-passengers. There were not many in the +sleeper, and the only ones near him in whom he took an interest were a +little girl, five or six years old, who was running up and down the +aisle, and a lady, evidently the child's mother, who sat opposite to +him. As he watched the little one she tripped and would have fallen had +he not sprung forward and caught her. The child smiled at him, the +mother thanked him, and in a few minutes he found himself playing with +the former and amusing himself in entertaining her.</p> + +<p>She told him that her name was Nettie Winn; but that her papa, who lived +a long way off, and whom she was going to see, called her "Nettle." She +was a bright, sunny-haired little thing, who evidently regarded elder +people as having been created especially for her amusement and to obey +her orders. As, in obedience to one of these, the boy carried her in his +arms to the forward end of the car that she might look out of the window +in the door, a fine-looking middle-aged gentleman spoke to him, +remarking that he seemed very fond of children.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir, I am," answered Glen, "for I have two little sisters at +home."</p> + +<p>They exchanged a few more words, and Glen was so attracted by the +stranger's appearance and manner that after the tired child had gone to +sleep with her head in her mother's lap, he again walked to the end of +the car in hopes that the gentleman might be inclined to renew their +conversation. Nor was he disappointed; for the stranger welcomed him +with a smile, made room on the seat beside him, and they were soon +engaged in a pleasant chat.</p> + +<p>It is not hard for a man of tact to win the confidence of a boy, so +that, before long, the gentleman knew that this was Glen's first journey +from home, and that he was going to Kansas to learn to be an engineer.</p> + +<p>"Do you mean a civil-engineer?" he asked, "or an engine-driver?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, a civil-engineer, of course!" answered the boy; "for I can run a +locomotive now, almost as well as father, and that used to be his +business."</p> + +<p>Then he explained that his father, who was now a master mechanic, had +given him careful instruction in the art of running a pony switch engine +that belonged to the Brimfield Mills, and that once, when the +engine-driver was ill, he had been placed in charge of it for a whole +day.</p> + +<p>"That is a most useful accomplishment," remarked the gentleman, "and one +that I should be glad to acquire myself."</p> + +<p>When the train stopped at an eating station they went in to supper +together, and Glen began to think that, in his new friend, he had found +a second Mr. Hobart, which was the very nicest thing he could think +about anybody.</p> + +<p>The boy did not forget to carry a cup of tea and a glass of milk into +the car for Mrs. Winn and Nettie, for which act of thoughtfulness he was +rewarded by a grateful smile and hearty thanks.</p> + +<p>He wondered somewhat at the several men who every now and then came into +the car and exchanged a few words in low tone with his other train +acquaintance, and also wondered that the gentleman should leave the car +and walk towards the forward end of the train every time it stopped at a +station.</p> + +<p>Glen was so tired that he had his berth made up and turned in very +early; but for a long time found himself unable to sleep, so busy were +his thoughts. At length, however, he fell into a sound, dreamless +slumber, that lasted for hours, though he knew nothing of the passage of +time.</p> + +<p>He was suddenly awakened by a loud noise, and found himself sitting bolt +upright in his berth, listening, bewildered and half frightened, to a +confused sound of pistol-shots, shouts, and screams. The train was +motionless. The screams were evidently those of fright, and came from +the car he was in, while the other and more terrifying sounds reached +his ears from some distance.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="Chapter_VIII" id="Chapter_VIII"></a><span class="smcap">Chapter VIII.</span></h2> + +<h3>GLEN RUNS A LOCOMOTIVE.</h3> + + +<p>Springing from his berth, Glen began hastily to put on his shoes and the +few articles of clothing he had laid aside. Several other passengers +were doing the same thing, and each was asking the others what had +happened; but nobody knew. All the alarming sounds had now ceased, even +the women who had screamed being quiet, in the hope of discovering the +cause of their terror.</p> + +<p>Glen was the first to leave the car, and, seeing a confused movement of +lanterns at the forward end of the train, he began to run in that +direction. It was still dark, though there were signs of dawn in the +sky. The train was not stopped at a station, but in a thick woods. As +the boy reached the baggage-car, he was horrified to see that several +men were lifting a limp and apparently lifeless body into it. The sight +made him feel sick and faint. He stood for a moment irresolute. Then, +two men, one of whom carried a lantern, came rapidly towards him.</p> + +<p>"Here he is, now!" exclaimed one of them, as the light from the lantern +fell on the boy's face. Glen recognized the voice. It was that of his +recent acquaintance. Now he was coatless and bare-headed. In his hand +was a Colt's revolver. The other man was the conductor of the train.</p> + +<p>"This gentleman says you can run a locomotive. Is that so?" asked the +conductor, holding up his lantern and scanning Glen's face keenly.</p> + +<p>"Yes," answered the boy, "I can."</p> + +<p>"Well, it looks like taking an awful risk to trust a boy as young as +you; but I don't know what else we can do. Our engineer has just been +killed, and the fireman is badly wounded. Two more men are hurt, and +we've got to get them to a doctor as quick as we can. It's fifty miles +to Kansas City, and there's only one telegraph station between here and +there. It's ten miles ahead. We'll stop there, and send a despatch. Will +you undertake to run us in?"</p> + +<p>"Let me look at the engine first, and then I'll tell you," answered +Glen, his voice trembling with excitement in spite of his efforts to +appear calm.</p> + +<p>The three went to the panting locomotive and swung themselves up into +its cab. Glen shuddered as he thought of the tragedy just enacted in +that cab, and almost drew back as he entered it. Then, controlling +himself by a determined effort, he gauged the water, tested the steam, +threw the lever over and back, opened the furnace door, glanced at the +amount of fuel in the tender, and did it all with such a business-like +air and appearance of knowing what he was about as to inspire both the +men, who were watching him closely, with confidence.</p> + +<p>"Yes," he said at length, "I'll take her in; but we shall need some more +water."</p> + +<p>"Good for you, son!" cried the conductor. "You're a trump! and I for one +believe you'll do it."</p> + +<p>"So do I," said the passenger; "and I'm thankful we've got such a plucky +young engine-driver along."</p> + +<p>"But who will fire?" asked Glen, hardly hearing these remarks, though, +at the same time, sufficiently conscious of them to feel gratified that +he had inspired such confidence.</p> + +<p>"I will," replied the passenger, promptly.</p> + +<p>"You, general!" cried the conductor in astonishment.</p> + +<p>"Certainly! Why not I as well as another?"</p> + +<p>"Very well," responded the conductor, "I'm only too glad to have you do +it, if you will; then let us be off at once." And, springing to the +ground, he shouted, "All aboard! Hurry up, gentlemen, we are about to +move on."</p> + +<p>But Glen would not start until he had taken a flaring torch and the +engine-driver's long-nosed oil-can, and walked all around the +locomotive, examining every part of the huge machine, pouring on a +little oil here and there, and making sure that everything was in +perfect working order.</p> + +<p>Then he again swung himself into the cab, pulled the whistle lever for +one short, sharp blast, opened the throttle slowly, and the train was +once more in motion.</p> + +<p>It had hardly gone a hundred yards before two rifle-shots rang out of +the forest, and one ball crashed through both windows of the cab, but +without harming its occupants. Glen started; but his hand did not leave +the throttle, nor did his gaze swerve for an instant from the line of +gleaming track ahead. He had no time then to think of his own safety. He +was too busy thinking of the safety of those so suddenly and +unexpectedly intrusted to him.</p> + +<p>The new fireman glanced at him admiringly, and murmured to himself, +"That boy is made of clear grit. I would that I had a son like him."</p> + +<p>This man, who was heaving great chunks of wood into the roaring furnace +with the strength and ease of a trained athlete, formed no unpleasant +picture to look upon himself. He was tall and straight, with a keen, +resolute face, an iron-gray, military moustache, and close-cropped hair. +He looked not only like a soldier, but like one well accustomed to +command. At the same time he obeyed promptly, and without question, +every order issued by the young engine-driver on the opposite side of +the cab.</p> + +<p>As the train dashed along at full speed there was no chance for +conversation between the two, even had they felt inclined for it. Both +were too fully engaged in peering ahead along the unfamiliar line of +track to pay attention to aught else.</p> + +<p>Presently the conductor clambered over the tender from the baggage-car, +and stood in the cab with them, to post Glen as to the grades and +crossings.</p> + +<p>It lacked a few seconds of fifteen minutes from the time of their +starting, when they slowed down for the telegraph-station, the lights of +which were twinkling just ahead. Here, while the conductor roused the +operator, and sent his despatch, the locomotive was run up to the tank, +and a fresh supply of water was taken aboard.</p> + +<p>Then they were off again—this time for a run of forty miles without a +stop or check. Daylight was coming on so rapidly now that the track was +plainly visible by it, and thus one source of anxiety was removed.</p> + +<p>Up to this time Glen had no idea of what had happened, nor of the cause +of the shooting that had resulted so disastrously. Now, though he did +not turn his head, he learned, from the conversation between the +conductor and his fireman, whom the former called "General," that an +attempt had been made to rob the train of a large sum of money that the +latter had placed in a safe in the express-car. He had received secret +information that such an attempt would probably be made, and had engaged +two detectives in St. Louis to guard his treasure. When the train was +stopped in the woods by a danger signal waved across the track, the +engine-driver had been ordered by the would-be robbers, who had cut the +express-car loose from those behind it, to go ahead. His refusal to obey +them had cost him his life, and the fireman an ugly wound.</p> + +<p>The general, who left the sleeper, and ran ahead at the first alarm, had +shot and severely injured two of the robbers, and with the aid of his +men had driven the rest to the shelter of the forest after a few minutes +sharp fighting. The three wounded men, together with the body of the +dead engine-driver, were now in the baggage-car; while the train-load of +passengers, thanks to the practical knowledge of a sixteen-year-old boy, +and the pluck that enabled him to utilize it, were rapidly nearing their +journey's end in safety.</p> + +<p>An anxious crowd was gathered about the Kansas City station as the train +rolled slowly up to its platform. The general wrung Glen's hand warmly +as he said,</p> + +<p>"God bless you, boy, for what you have just done. I will see you again +in a few minutes. Now I must look after the wounded men."</p> + +<p>Thus saying, he sprang to the platform, leaving Glen in the cab of the +locomotive; but when he returned, fifteen minutes later, the boy had +disappeared, and was nowhere to be found.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="Chapter_IX" id="Chapter_IX"></a><span class="smcap">Chapter IX.</span></h2> + +<h3>KANSAS CITY IN EARLY DAYS.</h3> + + +<p>The reason that Glen Eddy disappeared after running that engine so +splendidly, and bringing the night express safely to its destination, +was that he was diffident and nervous. Now that the strain was relaxed +and he had time to think of the terrible risks run by that train while +under his inexperienced guidance, he was seized with a sudden fright. +Queerly enough, he felt almost guilty, as though he had done something +wrong, or to be ashamed of. Suppose somebody should try to thank him. +Suppose the crowd, now surging about the door of the baggage-car, should +turn their attention to him, and come to gaze at him as a part of the +show that had attracted them. What should he do in either case? It would +be unbearable. He must make good his escape before either of these +things happened.</p> + +<p>The wounded men were being carefully lifted from one side of the +baggage-car. Everybody's attention was for the moment directed to that +spot. So Glen slipped down from the locomotive cab on the opposite side, +and ran back to the sleeper in which were his belongings. The car was +deserted and empty. Its passengers, and everybody connected with it, had +either gone up town or joined the curious throng about the baggage-car. +Thus nobody saw the boy, as, securing his valise and rifle, he slipped +from the rear end of the car and walked rapidly away. He plunged into +one of the tunnel-like streets running back from the railroad, not +knowing, nor caring, where it would lead him. His only idea was to +escape, he did not even know from what. It had so taken possession of +him, that he almost felt as though he were being pursued, with the +danger, at any moment, of being overtaken, and dragged ignominiously +back to be—thanked and made a hero of.</p> + +<p>Kansas City, which has since enjoyed such an astonishing growth and +prosperity, was at that time very young. It was still burrowing through +the high and steep bank of stiff red clay that separated its river front +from the main street of the newer portion perched on the bluff. Several +cross streets, connecting these two parts of the city, had been dug out +with infinite labor, to a great depth through the red clay, and it was +up one of these that Glen now walked.</p> + +<p>He was so far below the level of the airy building-lots on either side +that he could not see whether they were occupied or not. Only an +occasional long flight of wooden steps, leading up from the street, led +him to suppose they might be. He was beginning to wonder where the city +was, or if there were any more of it beyond the straggling business +street that bordered the railroad, when he came to the main thoroughfare +of the new town, and gazed about him with amazement. Although it was yet +so early that the sun had only just risen, the broad avenue presented a +scene of the most lively activity.</p> + +<p>In Brimfield the erection of a new house, or building of any kind, was a +matter of general interest that afforded a topic of conversation for +weeks. Here were dozens, yes, scores of them, springing up in every +direction. A few were of brick; but most of those intended for business +purposes were long and low, though furnished with pretentious false +fronts that towered as high again as the roof itself. Everywhere was +heard the din of hammer and saw, or the ring of the mason's trowel, and +in every direction Glen could see the city growing, spreading, and +assuming new aspects as he gazed.</p> + +<p>At length a pang of hunger recalled him to his present situation, and he +inquired of a man, who was hurrying past, the way to the Kaw House.</p> + +<p>"Up there a piece," answered the man almost without pausing, and +pointing vaguely up the street. "There comes the surveyor's wagon from +there now," he added, nodding his head towards one, drawn by two mules, +that was dashing in their direction at that moment.</p> + +<p>The surveyor's wagon. Then, perhaps, Mr. Brackett was in it, thought +Glen. Acting on the impulse of the moment, he sprang into the middle of +the street, and waved his rifle in the faces of the advancing mules. The +driver reined them in sharply, and the team came to a standstill. +"Hello, young fellow, what do you want now?" he shouted.</p> + +<p>"I want to know if Mr. Brackett is in this wagon," answered Glen.</p> + +<p>"Yes, he is, and that's my name," said a pleasant-faced young man, +dressed in a red-flannel shirt, a pair of army trousers tucked into his +boot-legs, and what had once been a stylish cutaway coat, who sat beside +the driver. "What can I do for you?"</p> + +<p>For answer Glen handed him Mr. Hobart's note, which the young man +glanced quickly through.</p> + +<p>"I see by this that you are to be a member of our party," he said, as he +finished reading it, "and that the chief will not be here for a day or +two yet. I am very glad to make your acquaintance, Mr. Matherson. Boys, +this is Mr. Glen Matherson, our new—Well, we will see what position he +will occupy later. Now, Matherson, we are off for our day's work. Would +you rather accompany us into the thick of the fray, or will you wend +your weary way to the hotel, and while away the hours until our return, +surrounded by its gloomy grandeur?"</p> + +<p>"I think I would rather go with you, sir," replied Glen, who did not +know whether to laugh or not at Mr. Brackett's words and tone.</p> + +<p>"'Tis well, and go with us you shall. So tumble into the chariot, and +stow yourself away wherever you can find room. Then let us on with +speed."</p> + +<p>"But I left Mr. Hobart's things and some of my own on board the train," +said Glen, hesitatingly, "and here are the checks for them."</p> + +<p>This difficulty was settled by the hailing of a dray, and instructing +its driver to get the articles called for by the checks, and carry them, +together with Glen's valise, to the hotel. The boy could not bear to +trust his precious rifle out of his sight, and so carried it with him.</p> + +<p>They had hardly started, when Mr. Brackett turned to Glen and asked him +if he had been to breakfast.</p> + +<p>This was a question in which the boy was greatly interested just at that +moment, and he answered very promptly that he had not.</p> + +<p>"Well, here's a go!" exclaimed the other. "A rule of this party is, +Matherson, and I hope I shall never be obliged to repeat it to you, that +if a man hath not eaten, neither shall he work. It is now too late to +return to Delmonico's, so we must intrust you to the tender mercies of +the Princess, and may she have mercy upon your appetite. Joe, drive to +the palace."</p> + +<p>The "palace" proved to be a patchwork shanty of the most unique and +surprising description. It was constructed of bits of board, pieces of +boxes and barrels, stray shingles and clapboards, roofing-paper, and a +variety of other odds and ends. Its doors and windows had evidently been +taken from some wrecked steamboat. It was overrun with roses and +honeysuckles; while within and without it was scrupulously neat and +clean.</p> + +<p>As the surveyor's wagon with its noisy load drew up before this queer +establishment, its mistress appeared at the door. She was a fat, +jolly-looking negress, wearing a gay calico dress, and a still more +brilliant turban, and she was immediately greeted with shouts of "How +are you, Princess?" "Good-morning, Princess!" "How's her royal nibs +to-day?" etc., to all of which she smiled and bowed, and courtesied with +the utmost good-nature.</p> + +<p>The moment he could make himself heard, Mr. Brackett said, "Princess, we +have here a fainting wayfarer. Can you provide him with a cup of +nectar?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sah."</p> + +<p>"A dish of peacock's tongues?"</p> + +<p>"Sartin, sah."</p> + +<p>"And a brace of nightingale's eggs on toast?"</p> + +<p>"In about free minutes, sah."</p> + +<p>"Very well, hasten the feast and speed our departure; for we must hence, +ere many nimble hours be flown."</p> + +<p>While waiting for his breakfast to be prepared, Glen had a chance to +examine his new companions somewhat more closely than he had yet done. +There were eight of them, besides the driver of the wagon, mostly young +men, some of them hardly more than boys; but all strong, healthy +looking, and brown from long exposure to sun and wind. Their dress was a +medley of flannel, buckskin, and relics of high civilization. They were +as merry, careless, and good-natured a set of young fellows as could +well be found, always ready for hard work in its time, and equally so +for a frolic when the chance offered. They all seemed to be on a perfect +equality, called each other by their given names, and played practical +jokes upon one another with impunity. As their wagon clattered out of +town in the morning, or dashed in again at dusk, its occupants generally +sang the most rollicking of college or camp songs, at the top of their +voices, and everybody had a kindly word or an indulgent smile for the +young surveyors.</p> + +<p>Foremost in all their fun was their temporary chief, whom Glen only knew +as Mr. Brackett, but who was called "Billy" by all the others. He was +about twenty-five years old, and his position was that of transit-man; +though, until Mr. Hobart should join the party, he was in charge of it. +To Glen, who had thus far only seen him off duty, it was +incomprehensible that so frivolous a young man as "Billy" Brackett +appeared should hold so responsible a position.</p> + +<p>The party had recently returned from the front, where they had been +locating a line of new road since earliest spring. Now, while waiting to +be sent out again, they were engaged in running in the side tracks, Y's, +and switches of what has since become one of the greatest railroad yards +in the world. It was on the state line, between Kansas and Missouri, +about an hour's drive from the Kaw House, where the surveyors made their +headquarters.</p> + +<p>In less than five minutes Glen found himself drinking the most delicious +cup of coffee he had ever tasted; while into his hands were thrust a +couple of sandwiches of hot corn-pones and crisp bacon. These, with two +hard-boiled eggs, furnished a most acceptable meal to the hungry-boy. +Mr. Brackett tossed a quarter to the "Princess," and the wagon rolled +merrily away with Glen eating his breakfast, as best he could, <i>en +route</i>.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="Chapter_X" id="Chapter_X"></a><span class="smcap">Chapter X.</span></h2> + +<h3>AT WORK WITH THE ENGINEER CORPS.</h3> + + +<p>The "Princess" was a character of those early days, and was celebrated +for her <i>café au lait</i>, which "Billy" Brackett said meant "coffee and +eggs;" but which was really the best of coffee and the richest of goat's +milk. Her husband was steward on one of the steamboats that plied up and +down the Missouri, and her exertions, added to his, enabled them to +accumulate a small property, with which they afterwards made some +successful investments in real estate. The boys of the engineer corps +were quick to discover the "Princess" after their arrival in the place, +and with her they were prime favorites.</p> + +<p>Glen had hardly finished his breakfast when the party reached the place +where they were to begin work. Here the boy obtained his first knowledge +of the names and uses of the various objects that had attracted his +curiosity as they lay in the bottom of the wagon.</p> + +<p>From their neat wooden boxes were taken two highly polished brass +instruments, each of which was provided with a telescope. One of these +was a transit, for laying off lines, angles, and curves on the surface +of the earth; and the other was a level for measuring the height of +elevations or the depth of depressions on this same surface. As these +instruments were lifted carefully from their boxes they were screwed +firmly to the tops of wooden tripods, that supported them at the height +of a man's eyes.</p> + +<p>Then came the long rod, divided into feet and the decimal fractions of a +foot, that was to be used with the level, and two slender flag-poles +painted red and white, so as to be seen at long distances. At their +lower ends these poles were tipped with sharp iron points, and at the +other they bore small flags of red flannel. They went with the transit, +and were to designate the points at which the sights were to be taken +through its telescope.</p> + +<p>There was a one-hundred-foot steel chain, having links each one foot +long, with which to measure distances. With it went ten slender steel +pins, each eighteen inches long, to the tops of which bits of red +flannel were tied, so that they could be readily seen. The head chainman +carried all of these to start with, and stuck one into the ground at the +end of each hundred feet. The rear chainman gathered them up as he came +to them, and thus, by counting the number of pins in his hand, he always +knew just what distance had been measured.</p> + +<p>The man having charge of or "running" the transit was called the +transit-man; the one running the level was called the leveller; while +the other members of the party were designated as rodman, front and back +flagmen, or "flags," chainmen, and axemen. There were generally two of +these last named, and their duty was to clear away timber, brush, or +other obstructions on the line, and to make and drive stakes wherever +they were needed.</p> + +<p>As the several members of the party were preparing for their respective +duties, Mr. Brackett put Glen through a sort of an examination, to +discover for what particular task he was best fitted.</p> + +<p>"I don't suppose, Matherson," he began, "that you care to run the +transit to-day?"</p> + +<p>"No," laughed Glen, "I think not to-day."</p> + +<p>"Nor the level?"</p> + +<p>"No, sir. I'd rather not try it."</p> + +<p>"Well, I guess you'd better not. You might get it out of adjustment. Can +you read a rod!"</p> + +<p>No, Glen could not read a rod.</p> + +<p>He proved equally ignorant of the duties of flagman, chainman, and +axeman, which Mr. Brackett said was very fortunate, as all these +positions were already so capably filled in his party that he should +really hate to discharge anybody to make room for the new arrival. +"But," he added, "I have a most important place left, that I believe you +will fill capitally. Can you reproduce the letters of the alphabet and +the Arabic numerals on a bit of white pine with a piece of red chalk?"</p> + +<p>Somewhat bewildered by this banter, Glen answered rather doubtfully that +he believed he could.</p> + +<p>"Good! Then you shall stay with the wagon to-day, and mark stakes with +this bit of 'kiel'" (red chalk).</p> + +<p>So Glen's first day's duty as a civil-engineer was to mark stakes with +figures to denote the distance measured, or with various letters, such +as P. T. (point of tangent), P. C. (point of curve), etc., for the +transit party, and B. M. (bench mark), C. (cut), F. (fill), G. (grade), +etc., for the levellers.</p> + +<p>Mr. Brackett explained the meaning of these signs patiently and clearly +to the boy, whose quick wit enabled him readily to comprehend all that +was told him. By noon he was furnishing stakes, properly marked, for the +various purposes required, as well as though he had been engaged in this +business for a month. It was not a very important position, to be sure; +but he filled it to the very best of his ability, which is the most that +can be expected of any boy.</p> + +<p>One of the things by which the new member was most strongly impressed, +during this first day's experience, was the great difference between Mr. +Brackett on duty and the same gentleman during his hours of relaxation. +While at work he was grave and dignified, nor did he tolerate any +familiarity from those who obeyed his orders. And they did obey them +promptly, without question or hesitation. He was no longer "Billy;" but +was carefully addressed as "Mr. Brackett" by every member of the party. +It was evident that he not only thoroughly understood his business, but +as thoroughly understood the temper of his men. It was clear, also, that +they were well aware that he was not a man to allow his authority to be +questioned or trifled with. With this mutual understanding the work +progressed smoothly and satisfactorily.</p> + +<p>All this was a study in character of which Glen was wise enough to learn +the lesson; and perhaps it was the most valuable one of that day's +schooling. The discipline of a well-drilled engineer corps is very +similar to that maintained on board ship; and, while at certain seasons +it may be greatly relaxed, it can, and must, be resumed at a moment's +notice, if the authority necessary to produce the best results is to be +respected.</p> + +<p>The same merry, rollicking party rode back into Kansas City that evening +that had left it in the morning; and, though Glen was very tired, he had +become well enough acquainted with them to enter heartily into the +spirit of the fun. Thus, whenever they sang a song he knew, his voice +was heard among the loudest.</p> + +<p>At the hotel they learned for the first time of the attempt to rob the +train Glen had come on, and wondered that he had said nothing of the +affair. When they questioned him, he did not know how to talk of it +without proclaiming his share in the night's work, and so only said +that, as he was asleep when the fight took place, he had seen nothing of +it.</p> + +<p>Long after Glen had gone to bed that night, Mr. Brackett, the leveller, +and the rodman sat up hard at work on the maps and profiles of the lines +they had run that day. If Glen had seen this he would have realized what +he afterwards learned, that while the work of most men ends with the +day, that of an engineer in the field only ends with bedtime, and +sometimes a late one at that.</p> + +<p>For two days longer Glen worked with this congenial party, gaining +valuable knowledge with each hour, and thoroughly enjoying his new life.</p> + +<p>On the third day Mr. Hobart came, and it seemed to Glen like seeing one +from home to meet him again. After their first greeting, the engineer +said,</p> + +<p>"Well, my boy, what other wonderful deeds have you been performing since +you and the governor ran the locomotive?"</p> + +<p>"The governor!" almost gasped Glen. "Was he a governor?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly he was, or rather had been. Didn't you know it? He was +General Elting, the ex-governor whom you were inquiring about in St. +Louis, and who is now the treasurer of our road. He returned to St. +Louis almost immediately from here, and there I heard the whole story +from his own lips. He was greatly disappointed at your disappearance, +and much pleased to find out that I knew you; for of course I recognized +you from his description. He hopes to meet you again some time, and I +have promised to see that you do not indulge in any more mysterious +disappearances."</p> + +<p>While they talked of that night, and its tragic incidents, Mr. Hobart +suddenly interrupted himself with,</p> + +<p>"By the way, Glen, I am not going to take charge of this locating-party, +after all, and so cannot give you a position in it."</p> + +<p>Glen felt his face growing pale as he repeated slowly and incredulously,</p> + +<p>"Not going to take charge of it?'</p> + +<p>"No; I have been relieved of my command, and am going to engage in +another kind of work," replied the engineer, smiling at the boy's +startled and distressed expression.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="Chapter_XI" id="Chapter_XI"></a><span class="smcap">Chapter XI.</span></h2> + +<h3>ALMOST TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE.</h3> + + +<p>If Glen had detected that smile on Mr. Hobart's face, he would have been +spared a few moments of very unhappy reflections. He would have known +that his brown-bearded friend could not smile while dashing his high +hopes, and that there must be something pleasant back of it all. But as +the engineer, who could not resist the temptation to try the effects of +a disappointment on the boy's temper, turned away his face at that +moment, his words were heard, while the smile was not noticed.</p> + +<p>Like a great surging wave, the thought of an ignominious return to +Brimfield, and a picture of the mill and the store as he had last seen +them, swept over the boy's mind. Then came the more recent picture of +the happy out-of-door life he had been leading for the past three days. +How could he give up the one and go back to the other? Of course, if Mr. +Hobart said he could no longer have work with the surveying-party, it +must be so. There could be no appeal from that decision. And he had +tried so hard to do well whatever had been given him to do, and to make +himself useful! It was too bad! But surely there must be other work in +this big, bustling, wide-awake West, even for a boy. With this thought +his clouded face cleared, and a look of settled resolve overspread it.</p> + +<p>"I'm awfully sorry, sir," he said; but the tone was almost cheerful, and +Mr. Hobart's face was now the one that expressed surprise. If he had +been able to examine Glen's mind, he would have seen that the boy had +simply decided not to go back, at least not until the summer was over, +but to stay where he was, and attempt to solve the bread-and-butter +problem alone.</p> + +<p>"My new orders came very unexpectedly," continued the engineer, "and +have completely upset my plans. It seems that the company has decided to +send me through to the Pacific with General Lyle's exploring +expedition."</p> + +<p>A lump rose in Glen's throat. General Lyle's expedition! Why, that was +the one Binney Gibbs was to accompany. Was all the world going on that +wonderful trip except himself? It almost seemed so. "It will be a fine +trip, sir," he said, trying to choke down the lump.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I suppose it will; but it will also be a hard and dangerous one, +such as a great many people would not care to undertake. I don't suppose +you would, for instance?" and Mr. Hobart looked quizzically at the boy.</p> + +<p>"Wouldn't I! I'd just like to have somebody offer me a chance to go on +that expedition, that's all!"</p> + +<p>"Very well," replied the engineer, quietly, "I'll offer you the chance, +just to see whether you will accept it or not. Will you go with me on +this long trip?"</p> + +<p>For a few seconds Glen gazed into the brown-bearded face without +answering. Was he awake or dreaming? Had the words been spoken? "Do you +really mean it, sir?" he almost gasped, at length, "or are you only +making fun of me!"</p> + +<p>"Mean it? of course I do," was the reply. "I generally mean what I say, +and if you really care to explore Kansas and Colorado, New Mexico, +Arizona, and Southern California in my company, I shall be most happy to +have you do so. I am also authorized to offer you a position, a humble +one, to be sure, but one that will pay the same salary that you would +have received as a member of the locating-party, in the division I am to +command. I don't suppose there will be many chances for you to run +locomotives out there; but I have no doubt there will be plenty of +swimming to be done, as well as other things in the line of your +peculiar abilities. But you have not answered my question yet. Will you +accept my offer, or do you wish a few days in which to consider it?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, Mr. Hobart!" cried the boy, who was standing up in his excitement. +"It seems almost too good to be true! I can't realize that this splendid +chance, that I've been trying so hard not to think about, has really +come to me. Why, I'd rather go on that trip than do anything else in the +whole world, and if you'll only take me along, in any position, I don't +care what, I'll be grateful to you all my life."</p> + +<p>"But what do you think your father will say? Do you suppose he will let +you go?" inquired the engineer, soberly.</p> + +<p>Glen's face became grave again in an instant. "Oh, yes, he's sure to," +he replied, "but I'll write this very minute, and ask him.</p> + +<p>"There won't be time to receive an answer," said Mr. Hobart, "for we +must start from here to-morrow; but perhaps this letter will make things +all right. You see," he added, "I thought it was just possible that you +might care to accept my offer, and so I took the liberty of writing and +asking your father if he were willing to have you do so. I also asked +him not to say anything about it in Brimfield until after we had +started, for fear I should be flooded with applications from other boys, +who might imagine I had the power to give them positions. Your father's +answer reached me here an hour ago, and with it came this letter for +you."</p> + +<p>No own father could have written a kinder or more satisfactory letter to +a boy than the one Mr. Matherson sent to his adopted son. It readily +granted the required permission, and congratulated Glen upon the +splendid opportunity thus opened to him. At the same time it told him +how they already missed him, and how they hated the thought of not +seeing him for a whole year. It closed with the information that Binney +Gibbs was making extensive preparations for his departure to the far +West, and that the famous expedition, of which he was to be a member, +was the all-absorbing topic of conversation in Brimfield.</p> + +<p>Mr. Hobart watched the boy's glowing face as he read this letter with +genuine pleasure; for he had taken a real liking to him, and was not +only glad of this opportunity for affording him such unalloyed +happiness, but also that they were to be companions on the proposed +trip.</p> + +<p>Matters being thus happily settled, the engineer told Glen that they +would start the following evening for the end of the track, nearly two +hundred miles west of that point, where the expedition was to +rendezvous, and where he was to establish a camp for their reception.</p> + +<p>The information that interested and pleased Glen the most, though, was +that Mr. Brackett was to be assistant engineer of the new division, and +that most of the members of the party with whom the boy was already on +such friendly terms, were also to join it.</p> + +<p>Being dismissed by Mr. Hobart, with orders to be on hand bright and +early in the morning, for the morrow would be a busy day, the happy lad +rushed away to find those who were to be his fellow-explorers, and talk +over with them the wonders and delights of the proposed trip. To his +surprise not one of them was anywhere about the hotel, and he was told +that the entire party had gone down town a few moments before. Too +excited to do anything else, Glen immediately set out to find them. For +some time he searched in vain; but at length, attracted by the sound of +great shouting and laughter, he joined a throng of people who were +gathered about one of the few barber shops of the city, and seemed to be +vastly entertained by something taking place inside.</p> + +<p>Recognizing "Billy" Brackett's voice above all the other sounds that +came from the shop, Glen pushed himself forward until he finally gained +a position inside the door. All the engineers were there. Three of them +occupied the three chairs that the shop boasted, and were having their +hair cut. Another, standing on a table, so that he could overlook the +crowd, was superintending the operation. But for his voice and his +unmistakable costume, Glen would never have recognized in him the +dignified young engineer under whom he had been at work but an hour +before. Every spear of hair had disappeared from his head, and he was as +bald as a billiard cue. Seated on the table, contentedly swinging their +legs, were two other bald-headed figures, whom Glen with difficulty +recognized as the leveller and rodman.</p> + +<p>When the three victims in the chairs had been reduced to a similar state +of baldness, their places were instantly occupied by the remaining +members of the party. The whole performance was conducted amid the most +uproarious fun, of which the recently promoted assistant engineer was +the ruling spirit.</p> + +<p>As the chairs became empty for the third time, and the nine bald-headed +members prepared to depart, each declaring that the others were the most +comical-looking objects he had ever seen, they suddenly caught sight of +Glen, and a rush was made for him. In another moment, despite his +struggles, he too was seated in a barber's chair, and was rapidly +growing as bald as his fellow-explorers.</p> + +<p>"You'll look worse than a boiled owl, Glen," remarked "Billy" Brackett, +encouragingly.</p> + +<p>"And be a living terror to Injuns," cried another.</p> + +<p>"It'll be the greatest comfort in the world, old man, to feel that +though you may be killed, you can't be scalped," shouted a third.</p> + +<p>Realizing that resistance was useless, Glen submitted to the shearing +process with as good a grace as possible. A few minutes later, wearing a +very loose-fitting hat, he was marching up the street with his jovial +comrades, joining with the full strength of his lungs in the popular +chorus of</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"The bald-headed man, who's been always in the van<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Of everything that's going, since the world first began."<br /></span> +</div></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="Chapter_XII" id="Chapter_XII"></a><span class="smcap">Chapter XII.</span></h2> + +<h3>STARTING ACROSS THE PLAINS.</h3> + + +<p>Transforming themselves into a party of bald-heads was the last of the +absurd pranks with which the young engineers entertained the good people +of Kansas City for many a long day. At the same hour on the following +evening they were well on their way towards the far West in a +dilapidated passenger-coach attached to a freight train loaded with +tents and supplies of every description for their long trip.</p> + +<p>By the next noon, after a hard, rough ride of nearly two hundred miles, +the end of the track was reached. It was on a treeless prairie, sweeping +away as far as the eye could see on all sides. Here was spread a thick +green carpet of short buffalo grass, and into this carpet were woven +exquisite patterns of innumerable flowers. The place was at the junction +of the Kaw River with one of its numerous branches, and where but a few +weeks before wild Indians had camped and vast herds of buffalo had +pastured, a railroad town of several hundred rough frame houses, +shanties, and tents had already sprung into existence.</p> + +<p>Here the overland stages took their departure for the distant mining +town of Denver, and here the long trains of great freight-wagons were +loaded for their toilsome journey over the Santa Fé trail to the +far-away valley of the Rio Grande. Here, on side-tracks, were the +construction-cars, movable houses on wheels, in which lived the graders, +track-layers, and other members of the army of workmen employed in the +building of a railroad. Railroad men, soldiers, teamsters, traders, +Indians, and Mexicans, horses, mules, and oxen mingled here in +picturesque confusion. Nearly every man carried a rifle, and it was rare +to meet one who did not wear one or more revolvers strapped to his +waist.</p> + +<p>It was by far the most novel and bustling scene Glen had ever looked +upon; and, as he stepped from the last railroad-car he was to see for +many months, and stretched his cramped limbs, he gazed about him in +astonishment. But there was no time for idling, and Glen had hardly +given a glance at his unfamiliar surroundings before Mr. Hobart's voice, +saying, "Come, boys, there's plenty to do, and but a few hours to do it +in," set the whole party to work in the liveliest possible manner.</p> + +<p>There was a fine grassy level about a hundred yards from the railroad, +on the opposite side from the settlement. It was skirted by a clear but +sluggish stream, fringed by a slender growth of cottonwood-trees, and +was so evidently the very place for a camp that Mr. Hobart selected it +at once. Here the young engineers worked like beavers all through that +long, hot afternoon, and by nightfall they had pitched twenty +wall-tents, arranged in the form of an open square. One of these was +reserved for Mr. Hobart, while Mr. Brackett and the leveller were given +another, and two more were allowed to the other members of the party. +Into these they had removed all their personal belongings, while in two +other tents, carefully ditched and banked to keep out the water in case +of rain, were stored all the instruments, implements, blank-books, and +stationery provided for the expedition.</p> + +<p>Heartily tired after this novel but interesting labor, how Glen did +enjoy his tin-cup of black coffee without milk, the fried bacon and +hard-tack, that constituted his supper, when, at sundown, one of the +axemen, who had been at work for an hour over a fire, announced that it +was ready! He would have scorned such fare at home; but, with his +present appetite, and under the circumstances, it seemed as though +nothing had ever tasted better.</p> + +<p>As the darkness came on, how cheerful the tent, that had now become his +home, looked in the light of a lantern hung from its ridge-pole! What a +pleasant hour he passed listening to the stories and experiences of his +three tentmates, as they lay luxuriously outstretched on their blankets, +enjoying their well-earned rest! The entire stock of blankets was used +to make one wide, comfortable bed for the four. All the rubbers were, of +course, placed underneath, next the ground, and Glen was greatly pleased +at the praise bestowed upon his rubber-sheet, which was twice as large +as an ordinary blanket, and which he had followed Mr. Hobart's advice in +procuring.</p> + +<p>After the others had finished their evening pipes and dropped off to +sleep, and after the light had been put out, the novelty of this first +night under canvas kept Glen awake for some time. What a fortunate +fellow he felt himself to be, as he lay there recalling the events of +the last ten days, and trying to picture the immediate future! To think +that he, the worst scholar in his class, a boy without an own father or +mother, so far as he knew, nor even a birthday that he was sure of, +should be away out here on the Plains, and about to start on an +expedition that every boy in the country would be thankful to join if he +could. It was simply wonderful; and he resolved that, if hard work and +the promptest possible attention to duty could render him worthy of such +good-fortune, neither of these things should be lacking.</p> + +<p>By daylight the camp was astir; but Glen was the first to roll out of +his blankets, and he had been down to the creek for a plunge in its cool +waters before breakfast-time. Then followed another hard day's work. The +train of twenty heavy canvas-topped army-wagons, each drawn by six +mules, the three four-mule ambulances, and the drove of spare animals +furnished to the expedition by the government, arrived during the +morning. These wagons had to be loaded with the vast quantity of +provisions and various supplies brought thus far by rail. Then the tents +already up had to be ditched, and still others erected for the use of +the engineer-in-chief and other officers of the party who were now +hourly expected to arrive.</p> + +<p>A flag-pole was planted in front of the headquarter tents, and that +evening, when a train came in bringing General Lyle and about half the +members of the expedition, an American flag was run to its top. Both it +and the general were greeted with a volley of rifle-shots and a hearty +cheer, while at the same time the encampment was christened "Camp Lyle."</p> + +<p>Glen's youthful appearance attracted the chief's attention as soon as he +caught sight of the lad, and he was inclined to doubt the advisability +of allowing such a mere boy to accompany the expedition. A few words +from Mr. Hobart satisfied him, however, that Glen would prove a credit +to the party, and after that the general watched the boy with interest.</p> + +<p>With the chief-engineer came a geologist, botanist, surgeon, +photographer, private secretary, quartermaster, the two other division +commanders, and, what was of more immediate interest to all the young +engineers, several good camp-cooks. Thus, on the second night of its +existence, with this large increase in the number of its occupants, Camp +Lyle presented a most cheerful and animated appearance.</p> + +<p>Early the following morning another train arrived from the East, +bringing the remaining members of the expedition. A few minutes after +its arrival Glen was awakened by hearing a voice that sounded very +familiar, calling,</p> + +<p>"Hello! I say! Some of you fellows come out here and help me!"</p> + +<p>As he sat up in his blankets, wondering who could be speaking with such +a tone of authority, and whether he ought to answer the summons or not, +a head was thrust into the tent-door, and the demand was repeated.</p> + +<p>It was Binney Gibbs, who had passed as completely out of Glen's mind as +though he had never existed. He did not recognize Glen's bald head; but, +when the latter stepped from the tent with his hat on, saying, "Hello, +Binney, old man, what can I do for you?" the prize scholar of the +Brimfield High School stood for a moment speechless with amazement.</p> + +<p>"You here?" he finally stammered. "What on earth does it mean?"</p> + +<p>"It means," replied Glen, laughing at the other's incredulous +expression, "that Brimfield is to have two representatives on this +expedition instead of one, and that I am going through to the Pacific +with you."</p> + +<p>Binney had always been jealous of Glen, but at that moment he felt that +he almost hated him.</p> + +<p>In spite of this, he allowed his former schoolmate and another stout +fellow to bring his heavy trunk from the railroad into camp. When the +quartermaster saw it he said that, as there would be no room for trunks +in the wagons, the owner of this one must take from it what would fill a +moderate-sized valise, and either dispose of the trunk with the rest of +its contents or send them back home. To this Binney angrily replied that +he would see General Lyle about it.</p> + +<p>The new arrival gave further offence that morning by turning up his nose +at the breakfast prepared by one of the camp-cooks, and declaring it +unfit for white men to eat. He also refused, point-blank, to help unload +a car when requested to do so by one of the division engineers, saying +that it was not the kind of work he had been engaged to perform.</p> + +<p>He was only brought to a realizing sense of his position by a severe +reprimand from General Lyle himself, who declared that, upon the next +complaint brought to him of the boy's conduct, he should discharge him. +He also said that only the fact of Binney's having been sent there by +his old friend Mr. Meadows prevented him from doing so at once. The +chief closed his remarks by advising Binney to take the other Brimfield +boy of the party as an example worthy of copying. Thereupon all the +prize scholar's bitterness of feeling was directed against unsuspecting +Glen, and he vowed he would get even with that young nobody yet.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="Chapter_XIII" id="Chapter_XIII"></a><span class="smcap">Chapter XIII.</span></h2> + +<h3>BINNEY GIBBS AND HIS MULE.</h3> + + +<p>The effect on Binney Gibbs of General Lyle's reprimand was good, +inasmuch as it brought him to a realizing sense of his true position in +that party, and showed him that, if he wished to remain a member of it, +he must obey orders, even when they were issued in the form of polite +requests. So, after that, he made a virtue of necessity, and obeyed +every order with a scrupulous exactness, though generally with an +injured air, and a protesting expression of countenance as though he +were being imposed upon. It was a great mortification to him to be +obliged to send home his trunk, and more than half his supply of +clothing, together with a number of other cherished luxuries, such as a +rubber bathtub, a cork mattress, a rubber pillow, half a dozen linen +sheets, several china plates, cups, and saucers, besides some silver and +plated ware, all of which he relinquished with a heavy heart and many +lamentations.</p> + +<p>The only thing in the shape of a valise, with which to replace his +trunk, that he could purchase in the railroad settlement, was one of +those cheap affairs made of glazed leather, such as are often seen in +the hands of newly landed immigrants. As Binney brought this into the +camp, it at once attracted universal attention. The boys crowded about +him, begging to be allowed to examine his new and elegant "grip-sack;" +and, from that day forth, he was known as "Grip" by the entire party.</p> + +<p>For a week longer the expedition remained at Camp Lyle, waiting for +settled weather, and preparing for its great undertaking. It was divided +into four divisions, three of which were regularly equipped +surveying-parties who were to run transit and level lines from a point +near the Colorado border to the Pacific Ocean. The fourth, or +headquarter division, was composed of the commander and his immediate +staff, together with the scientific men and their assistants.</p> + +<p>As Glen hoped and expected, he was assigned to the second division, of +which Mr. Hobart was engineer in charge, and Mr. Brackett was assistant. +He was a little disappointed that the only position found for him in the +division was the very lowest of all in rank and pay. It was that of +tapeman, and his duties were to assist the topographer of the party in +measuring distances to, or taking the bearings of, prominent objects +along the line. Neither could Glen help wishing that Binney Gibbs had +not been assigned to the same division as himself. On account of his +brilliant record for scholarship and skill with figures, Binney was made +rodman, a position that far outranked Glen's and commanded twice his +pay. Still, Glen strove hard not to feel envious of this other Brimfield +boy. He was altogether too proud of being a member of the expedition on +any terms to have room for any other feeling, and he was anxious to be +on a friendly footing with Binney, as he was with everybody else. So, +when the positions were announced, and the prize scholar was found to +hold such a fine one, Glen was the first to tender his congratulations.</p> + +<p>Binney received them coldly, merely remarking that they could not very +well have given him any lower position, and that he should not have +accepted anything less if it had been offered.</p> + +<p>Glen only smiled at this, and thought how fortunate it was that he did +not feel that way.</p> + +<p>As a rodman Binney was allowed the use of a saddle-animal, and a very +small mule was assigned to him as his mount. When he went down to the +wagons to inspect his new acquisition, he thought he had never seen a +more dangerous-looking animal. It laid back its ears and bit at him when +he attempted to pat it on the nose, and manifested every other sign of +mulish antipathy towards its new master. In spite of all this, the +teamster having it in charge assured Binney that it was a perfect lamb, +and the rodman, anxious to prove his ability to ride a mule, which some +of the boys had doubted, ordered the animal to be saddled.</p> + +<p>The man who held the beast while Binney climbed awkwardly into the +saddle winked at some of his fellows who were watching the operation, +and thrust his tongue derisively into his cheek.</p> + +<p>For a few moments the mule did prove a veritable lamb, ambling along so +gently that Binney's spirits rose, and he began to imagine himself the +rider that he claimed to be. Elated by his success, he even dared to +give the bridle reins a shake, say "Get up!" and finally to touch the +side of his steed with the spur that, in his pride, he had fastened to +one of his boot-heels.</p> + +<p>The effect was electrical. In an instant Binney found himself hatless, +with both feet out of the stirrups, clinging for dear life to the pommel +of the saddle, and wishing himself anywhere but on the back of a mule +dashing madly, at full speed, directly into camp.</p> + +<p>"Help! help!" he shouted, breathlessly. "Head him off! stop him +somebody!"</p> + +<p>Once inside that square of tents, the mule did not seem to realize the +possibility of again passing beyond them, but tore frantically round and +round the inner side of the square, as though it were a circus-ring. +Everybody dropped his work and rushed out to witness the comical +spectacle.</p> + +<p>"Freeze to him, Grip!" cried one.</p> + +<p>"Give him his head!"</p> + +<p>"What made you leave Barnum's?"</p> + +<p>"Stand up on his back!"</p> + +<p>"Don't abuse the poor mule! It's a shame to make him run so!"</p> + +<p>These, and a hundred similar cries, mingled with shouts of uproarious +laughter, greeted poor Binney from all sides; while not the slightest +attention was paid to his piteous entreaties that somebody would stop +the mule.</p> + +<p>At length these cries seemed to attract the attention of the animal +himself; for he suddenly planted his fore-feet and stopped so abruptly +that Binney was flung over his head as from a catapult. Then the mule +lifted high his head and uttered a prolonged ear-splitting bray of +defiance.</p> + +<p>Glen had sprung forward and caught the animal's bridle almost the +instant he stopped. Now leading him to where Binney sat, dazed but +unhurt, he asked, soberly, "Do you want to try him again, Binney?"</p> + +<p>"Try him again!" shouted the rodman, angrily. "No, I never want to see +him again; but if you think he's easy to ride, why don't you try him +yourself?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, try him, young 'un! Give him another turn around the ring, Glen!" +shouted the spectators, anxious to have their fun prolonged, but having +no idea that this boy from Brimfield could ride, any more than the +other.</p> + +<p>Glen borrowed a pair of spurs, soothed the mule for a moment, sinched +the girth a trifle tighter, and, with a sudden leap, vaulted into the +saddle. For an instant the animal remained motionless with astonishment; +then he bounded into the air, and came down with all four legs as stiff +as posts. The shock would have been terrible to the boy, had he not +lifted himself from the saddle and supported his whole weight in the +stirrups. The mule repeated this movement several times, and then began +to plunge and kick. But the saddle in which Glen sat was a deeply +hollowed, high-pommelled, Mexican affair, built for just such occasions +as this, and so the plunging might have been kept up all day without +disturbing the rider in the least.</p> + +<p>The mule laid down and tried to roll, while the boy, who had jumped from +his back, stood quietly by, and allowed him to discover the folly of the +attempt. The high pommel of the saddle again interfered; and as the +disgusted animal scrambled to his feet, he again found his burr-like +rider as firmly seated on his back as ever.</p> + +<p>For a moment the mule hung his head in a dejected manner, as though +thinking out some new plan. Suddenly his meditations were interrupted by +a yell directly in one of his long ears, and a sharp pain felt in both +sides at once. He sprang forward to escape these annoyances; but they +clung to him as close as did his new rider. Faster and faster he flew, +while harder and harder spurred Glen, and louder grew his yells. All at +once the animal stopped, as short as on the former occasion; but this +time the rider did not fly over his head. The fact is, the mule was now +so thoroughly frightened and bewildered that he had no idea of stopping +until his lower jaw was jerked back so sharply that had it belonged to +any other kind of an animal it must have been dislocated. Even Glen had +no idea of the power of that cruel Mexican bit, and was almost as +greatly surprised as the mule at its sudden effect.</p> + +<p>Then came more yelling, more spurring, and more frantic dashing around +that tiresome square. At length the mule spied the opening through which +he had entered, and, rushing through it, he sped away over the open +prairie, thankful to be rid of those bewildering tents and shouting +spectators, even though his rider still clung as close as ever to that +Mexican saddle.</p> + +<p>When the two returned to camp, half an hour later, it was evident that +the most perfect understanding existed between them; but the mule was so +crest-fallen by his humiliation that for a long time even Binney Gibbs +could ride and abuse him with impunity.</p> + +<p>As for Glen, his reputation as a horseman was firmly established, and +from that day until he got a horse of his own there was always somebody +willing and anxious to place a mount at his disposal.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="Chapter_XIV" id="Chapter_XIV"></a><span class="smcap">Chapter XIV.</span></h2> + +<h3>ON GUARD AT NIGHT.</h3> + + +<p>A few mornings after Glen's experience with the mule, the white tents of +Camp Lyle were struck; and at sunrise the long slow-moving trains of +wagons had covered the first mile of the many hundreds lying between it +and the Pacific. The last railroad had been left behind, and the sound +of its whistle was heard no more. Already our young explorer was +learning, from his more experienced comrades, to distinguish an Indian +pony and lodge-pole trail from that of a buffalo, and a buffalo wallow +from an ordinary mud-hole. Already he had seen his first prairie-dog +town, and had gazed curiously at several bleached skulls of the mighty +bison, some of which were still partially covered with shaggy hair. +Already, too, he was filled with that sense of glorious freedom and +boundless possibility that can only be breathed with the air of +unlimited space. Glen was surprised to find that, instead of being +level, as he had always thought them, the Plains rolled, in vast +undulations, having a general north and south direction, so that, as the +wagons were moving west, they were always ascending some long slope, or +descending its farther side. He was almost startled, too, by the intense +silence brooding over them, and unbroken at a short distance from the +train, save by the plaintive song of meadow-larks.</p> + +<p>But nobody was allowed to stray far from the wagons, even to note the +silence of the Plains, for fear lest it might be broken by very +unpleasant sounds. All the "horse Indians" of the country were leagued +together, that summer, to fight the whites. North of the Platte, Sioux, +Blackfeet, and Crows had smoked the peace-pipe, and united to harass the +builders of the Union Pacific. South of that river, Cheyennes, Kiowas, +Comanches, and Arrapahoes were waging common war against those who were +turning the buffalo pastures into farms, and making such alarming +inroads into the vast herds upon which they depended for meat. The +Indians were well armed, well mounted, and determined. Custer, with the +Seventh Cavalry, was ranging the Platte valley, and the country between +it and the Republican, so that, in that vicinity, Indians were becoming +scarce. South of that, however, and particularly along the Smoky Hill, +the valley of which General Lyle's expedition was ascending, Indians had +never been more plentiful or troublesome than now.</p> + +<p>Every day brought its rumors of murdered settlers, captured +wagon-trains, besieged stage stations, and of the heavily guarded stages +themselves turned back, or only reaching their destinations after fierce +running fights, riddled with bullets, and bearing sad loads of dead and +wounded passengers. Along the entire Smoky Hill route, from the end of +the railroad to Denver, a distance of four hundred miles, were only +three small forts, with garrisons of three or four companies each; and +the strength of these garrisons was constantly weakened by the demand +for escorts to stages and emigrant trains. Thus the exploring expedition +was forced to depend largely on its own resources, and must fight its +way through as best it could. Arms were therefore supplied to all its +members who did not possess them, and, from the outset, a strong camp +guard was posted each night.</p> + +<p>At the end of a day's march the wagon-master, or "wagon-boss," who +always rode ahead of the train mounted on a sleek saddle mule, would +select a camping-ground, generally where wood, water, and grass were to +be had, and, turning from the beaten trail, would lead the way to it. +Where he halted the first wagon also stopped. Then he would move on a +short distance, and the second wagon would follow him, until it was +ordered to wheel into line with the first. When all thus occupied their +designated positions, they either formed a semicircle on the bank of the +stream, with their poles pointing inward, were arranged in two parallel +lines facing each other, or, if the place was very much exposed, they +would form a complete circle, with each tongue overlapping the +hind-wheels of the wagon before it.</p> + +<p>The minute the train halted, all the stock was unharnessed or unsaddled, +and, under guard of two mounted teamsters, were allowed to graze on the +sweet buffalo grass, within sight of camp, until sunset, when they were +watered and driven in. Then each team was fastened to its own wagon and +given its ration of corn. All the saddle animals and spare stock were +securely picketed within the line of wagons, thus leaving the smallest +possible chance for an Indian to get anywhere near them.</p> + +<p>While the animals were being thus attended to, the men were hard at work +pitching tents, getting out blankets and such baggage as might be +needed, collecting fuel for the camp-fires, fetching water for the +cooks, and, if the location of the camp was considered especially +dangerous, in digging rifle-pits in which the guards for the night would +be posted. All this work was performed by regular details, changed each +day, and announced each morning at breakfast-time. Thus, one day Glen +would find himself on the detail for pitching headquarter tents, and the +next answering the cook's imperative demands for water. Or, provided +with a gunny-sack, he might be scouring the immediate neighborhood for a +supply of dry buffalo chips, with which to eke out the scanty stock of +fire-wood. He always performed these tasks cheerfully and faithfully; +not that he liked them, but because he realized their necessity, and saw +that all the others, below the rank of assistant engineer, were obliged +to do the same things.</p> + +<p>Binney Gibbs, however, considered such duties irksome and demeaning. He +thought it very hard that the son of a wealthy man, a prize scholar, and +a rodman, such as he was, should be compelled to act as a cook's +assistant. To show his contempt for the work he performed it awkwardly +and with much grumbling. The cooks were not slow to discover this; and, +as a cook is a power in camp as well as elsewhere, they began to make +things as unpleasant as possible for him. It was wonderful how much more +water was needed when it was his turn to keep them supplied than it was +when any one else was on duty. Then, too, while Glen's willingness and +good-nature were rewarded by many a tidbit, slyly slipped into his tin +plate, it chanced that Binney always got the toughest pieces of meat, +the odds and ends of everything, and, whenever he asked for a second +helping, was told that there was none of that particular dish left. He +tried to retaliate by complaining of the cooks at headquarters; but, as +he could prove nothing against them, the only result of this unwise +measure was that he got less to eat than ever, and but for a hard-tack +barrel that was always open to everybody would have been on a fair way +to starvation.</p> + +<p>Another thing Binney hated to do was to stand guard. This duty came to +each one in turn, every three or four nights, according to the number of +sentinels required, and on a night of duty each one was obliged to keep +watch "two hours on and four off." That is, if Binney or Glen went on +duty at six o'clock, he would be relieved at eight, and allowed to sleep +until midnight, when he would stand guard again at one of the several +posts beyond the camp limits, until two. Then he might sleep until six, +when, if camp was not already broken, he must again go on duty until it +was, and the wagon-train was in motion.</p> + +<p>Binney declared this was all nonsense. It was well enough, he said, to +talk about Indians attacking a small party, or a stage station here and +there; but as for bothering a large, well-armed party like this, they +simply wouldn't think of doing such a thing. There was as much danger of +their attacking Fort Riley! The idea of waking a fellow up at midnight, +and sending him out on the prairie to listen to coyotes and screech-owls +for two hours! It was ridiculous! He might as well be enlisted in the +army and have done with it! So he growled and grumbled, and tried, in +every way possible, to shirk this guard duty, though generally without +success.</p> + +<p>Even Glen wondered if it were necessary to keep so many men on guard, +and if the disagreeable duty did not come oftener than it need. At +length, however, something happened to convince these boys that no guard +against the wily foes surrounding them could be too strong or too +carefully kept.</p> + +<p>They had been out a week, and were in the heart of the Indian country, +far beyond the most advanced settlements, when, one evening, camp was +pitched on a level bit of valley, bounded on one side by bluffs that +separated it from the higher plains. On the other side flowed a creek +bordered by a growth of cottonwoods, red willows, and tall, rank grass. +Beyond the creek rose still other bluffs, forming the eastern boundary +of this pleasant valley. From time immemorial the place had been a +favorite resort of Indians, as was shown by the abandoned wick-i-ups, +lodge-poles, and quantities of bleached buffalo bones found in a grove +of great cottonwoods a short distance up the stream. There was, however, +nothing to indicate that they had occupied the place recently, and so, +though the one topic of conversation about the camp-fires at supper-time +was Indians, it was rather of those belonging to other times and places +than to the present.</p> + +<p>Suddenly, from the top of the bluff behind the camp, came half a dozen +shots, and the sentinel who had been posted there rushed in, shouting, +"Indians! Indians!" This time the enemy proved to be two overland +stages, loaded with mails and troops, who had fought their way through +from Denver. These had mistaken the sentinel for an Indian, and fired at +him, while he, thinking from this that they certainly must be Indians, +had fired back.</p> + +<p>Late that same night the camp was again alarmed by a shot from one of +its sentries. Everybody sprang from his tent, rifle in hand, and for a +few minutes the excitement was intense. It was succeeded by a feeling of +deep disgust when it was discovered that sentry Binney Gibbs had fired +at a coyote that the light of the newly risen moon had disclosed +prowling about the camp.</p> + +<p>When, therefore, at two o'clock in the morning, Glen went on duty, and +was stationed on the edge of the slope leading down to the stream, Mr. +Brackett, who was officer of the guard, charged him not to fire at +anything unless he was absolutely sure it was an Indian.</p> + +<p>Glen answered that he certainly would not give an alarm without good +cause for so doing; and Mr. Brackett, promising to visit him again at +the end of an hour, went softly away to inspect the next post on his +round.</p> + +<p>When, at the end of an hour, the officer of the guard returned to the +post where he had left Glen, the boy was not to be found. In vain did +Mr. Brackett call his name, at first in low tones, and then louder. In +vain did he question the other sentries. They had neither seen nor heard +anything more suspicious than an occasional coyote. In vain was the +whole camp aroused and a search made through its tents and wagons. Not a +trace of the boy, who was so universally liked, was to be found. He had +disappeared as absolutely, so far as they were concerned, as though the +earth had opened and swallowed him.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="Chapter_XV" id="Chapter_XV"></a><span class="smcap">Chapter XV.</span></h2> + +<h3>THE SUSPICIOUS MOVEMENTS OF CERTAIN COYOTES.</h3> + + +<p>When Glen was left lying on the ground, with his rifle beside him, +peering into the black shadows of the undergrowth, he certainly did not +anticipate seeing any thing more dangerous to his own safety, or that of +the sleeping camp, than coyotes, and he had already learned what +cowardly beasts they were. How absurd it was of Binney Gibbs to fire at +one. He might have known what it was. No wonder the fellows were +provoked. He would like to know as much as Binney did about some things; +but he should hate to be as silly as he in others. How many coyotes +there were to-night anyhow. He had already heard their short, sharp +barks, and long dismal howls from the bluffs behind him, and from those +on the opposite side of the stream. Now another of the weird sounds came +floating down on the damp night air from the direction of the old Indian +camping-ground. Perhaps that fellow was howling because he couldn't find +any meat on those bleached buffalo bones. Well, no wonder. Glen thought +he would be inclined to howl, too, over such a disappointment as that.</p> + +<p>It was not absolutely dark; for, though the moon was in its last +quarter, it gave considerable light when the clouds would let it; but +they were scurrying across the sky at such a rate that they kept it +hidden most of the time. As Glen was facing the east, it lighted the +spot where he lay whenever it was allowed to light any thing, and made +the darkness of the underbrush, at which he gazed, blacker than ever. It +was forlorn and lonely enough without the moonlight; but Glen thought +that perhaps it was better to be in darkness than to be lighted up while +enemies might possibly be gazing at him from the safe cover of those +impenetrable shadows. How easily a rifle-shot from those bushes could +pick him off during one of those uncomfortable little spells of +moonlight.</p> + +<p>All at once Glen saw another light, apparently on the edge of the +opposite bluffs. It showed yellow and steady for a second, and then +disappeared. Was it an Indian signal, or a newly risen star suddenly +obscured by clouds? This was a question calculated to keep even a sleepy +boy wide awake. Perhaps if he watched closely he would see it again. He +had heard a great deal about Indian signals lately, and knew that, by +flashes of fire at night, smokes, waving blankets, and mirror flashes by +day, they could transmit intelligence across the plains almost as +readily as white men could do the same thing by telegraph. How he wished +he understood their signals, and how he would like to see them using +them.</p> + +<p>Glen was very curious concerning Indians—real wild ones—and hoped he +should at least catch a glimpse of some before the trip was ended. It +would be too absurd to return to Brimfield, after crossing the Plains, +and to be obliged to confess that he had not met any.</p> + +<p>Hallo! How near those coyote howls were coming. Wasn't that one of the +brutes now, skulking in the shadow of those willows? Certainly something +was moving down there. Now there were two of them. With what an ugly +snarl they greeted each other. Still, that snarl was a comfort; for it +proved them to be really coyotes. At least so thought Glen. Just then +the boy sneezed. He couldn't have helped it to save him, and at the same +moment the moon shone out. The coyotes had disappeared. Perhaps they +thought he would fire at them, as Binney Gibbs had. But they needn't be +afraid. He wasn't going to alarm the camp on account of coyotes.</p> + +<p>Another cloud swallowed the moon, and again Glen thought he could +distinguish a black object moving through the shadows. Although he +strained his eyes, and watched intently, almost holding his breath in +his excitement, he could see only one object, and it certainly was +moving towards him. Where was the other? If he only dared fire at that +one! The boy clutched his rifle nervously. The coyote came sneaking on, +very slowly, frequently stopping and remaining motionless for several +seconds; but Glen never took his eyes from it. If he only had, just long +enough to give one look at the human figure creeping noiselessly towards +him from behind; but no thought of danger from that direction entered +his head.</p> + +<p>As the Indian, gliding up behind the young sentry, reached a point from +which he could distinguish the outlines of the recumbent figure before +him, he cautiously raised himself on one knee, and fitted a steel-headed +arrow to the bow that had been slung on his back. In another instant it +would have sped on its fatal mission, and Glen's career would have ended +as suddenly as the snuffing of a candle-flame. He was saved by a gleam +of moonlight, that caused the Indian to sink, like a shadow, into the +grass. The coyote also remained motionless. Then the moon was again +obscured, and the Indian again rose to a crouching posture. He had +evidently changed his plans; for he no longer held the bow in his hand. +That gleam of moonlight had showed him that the sentry was only a boy, +instead of the man he had supposed, and he determined to try for a +captive instead of a scalp.</p> + +<p>The next instant he sprang forward with the noiseless bound of a +panther, and the breath was driven from Glen's body as the Indian +lighted on his back, with one hand over the boy's mouth. The coyote rose +on its hind-legs, and leaped forward at the same moment. In a twinkling +its skin was flung over Glen's head, and so tightly fastened about his +neck that he was at once smothered and strangled. He tried to cry out, +but could not. He did not even know what had happened, or who these were +that, swiftly and with resistless force, were half dragging, half +carrying him between them.</p> + +<p>For a moment he entertained the wild hope that it was a practical joke +of some of the boys from camp. That hope was speedily dispelled; for, as +his captors gained the shelter of the trees on the bank of the stream, +they halted long enough to secure his arms firmly behind him, and to +loosen the coyote-skin so that he could breathe a trifle more freely. +Then he was again hurried forward.</p> + +<p>After travelling what seemed to the poor boy like an interminable +distance, and when he was so faint and dizzy with the heat and +suffocation of that horrible wolf-skin that he felt he could not go a +step farther, it was suddenly snatched from his head, and the strong +grasp of his arms was let go. The boy staggered against the trunk of a +tree, and would have fallen but for its support. For a few moments he +saw nothing, and was conscious of nothing save the delicious coolness of +the air and the delight of breathing it freely once more.</p> + +<p>The halt was a short one; for already a faint light, different from that +of the moon, was stealing over the eastern bluffs, and the Indians must +have their prisoner far away from there by sunrise. There were three of +them now, as well as some ponies and a mule. Glen could also see a great +many white objects scattered about the ground. They were bleached +buffalo bones. As he recognized them, he knew he was at the old Indian +camping-ground he had visited the evening before, and from which one of +those coyote howls had seemed to come. So it had; but it had been +uttered by the young Cheyenne left there in charge of the animals, in +answer to the howls of the two other human coyotes, who, prowling about +the engineers' camp, had finally made Glen a prisoner.</p> + +<p>They were Cheyenne scouts, belonging to the Dog Soldier band, at that +time the most famous fighters of that warlike tribe. They had been sent +out from their village, on the American Fork, two days before, to find +out what they could concerning General Lyle's exploring expedition, +rumors of which had already reached the ears of their chiefs. So +successfully had they accomplished their mission that they had not only +discovered all they wanted to know about these new invaders of their +territory, but had actually taken one of their number prisoner. Besides +this they had stolen three fine saddle ponies, and a powerful white +mule, from the corral of a stage station some twenty miles up the trail. +Now, therefore, as they swung their captive on the back of the mule, and +secured him by passing a thong of raw-hide about his ankles and beneath +the animal's belly, their hearts were filled with rejoicing over their +success.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="Chapter_XVI" id="Chapter_XVI"></a><span class="smcap">Chapter XVI.</span></h2> + +<h3>IN THE HANDS OF THE CHEYENNES.</h3> + + +<p>Especially happy was the youngest of the three Indians, who was a boy of +about Glen's age. This was the first scout he had ever been allowed to +go on; and, as he reflected upon the glory of their return to the +village, with that prisoner, those stolen ponies, and all the valuable +information they had acquired, he wondered if there was any happier or +prouder boy living than he. He even had a kindly feeling towards the +white boy, who, by allowing himself to be captured, had contributed so +largely to the honors that would be showered upon him, and he grinned +good-humoredly in Glen's face as soon as the growing daylight enabled +him to see it plainly. Up to this time the Cheyenne boy had only been +known as "Blackbird;" but he had set forth on this scout with the firm +determination of winning a name more worthy of a young warrior. Had he +not already done so? His companions had complimented him on his +carefully executed imitation of a coyote's howl, and one of them had +suggested that he must have a veritable wolf's tongue in his mouth: +"Wolf-Tongue!" There was a fine name for a young Dog soldier. What if he +should be allowed to keep it for his own? There was not another boy of +his age in the village with such a name as that. Now he began to make +some curious motions with his hands, and poor Glen, who, in spite of his +own wretchedness, could not keep from watching him with some curiosity, +wondered what the young Indian was up to. Dropping the bridle on his +pony's neck, the boy lifted both hands to the level of his shoulders +with the first two fingers of each extended upward and forward, while +the thumbs and other fingers were tightly closed. At the same time he +stuck out his tongue. He was spelling out his new name in the Indian +sign language, just to see how it would look.</p> + +<p>The boy only held his hands in this position for an instant, and then +dropped them to clutch a gun that was slipping from his knees, across +which he had laid it. The movement attracted Glen's attention to the +gun, and his face flushed angrily as he recognized his own precious +rifle, in which he had taken such pride and delight. It was too bad. +Then the thought flashed into his mind, would he ever again care for a +rifle or anything else in this world? What did Indians do with +prisoners? Tortured them, and put them to death, of course. Did not all +the stories he had ever read agree on that point? Could it be possible +that he, Glen Eddy, was to be tortured, perhaps burned at the stake? Was +that what coming out on the Plains meant? Had life with all its hopes +and joys nearly ended for him? It could not be! There must be some +escape from such a horrible fate! The poor boy gazed about him wildly, +but saw only the endless sea of grass stretching to the horizon on all +sides, and the stern faces of his captors, one of whom held the end of a +lariat that was fastened about the mule's neck.</p> + +<p>They all carried bows and arrows slung to their backs, as well as rifles +that lay across their knees. They wore moccasins and leggings of +buckskin, but no clothing above their waists. Their saddles were simply +folded blankets, which would be their covering at night. In place of +stirrups they used strips of buffalo hide with a loop at each end. These +were thrown across the blanket saddles, and the feet of the riders were +supported in the loops. One of them had a pair of field-glasses slung by +a strap from his shoulders.</p> + +<p>Until nearly noon they pushed westward across the trackless undulations +of the prairie, and Glen became so faint from hunger and thirst, and so +stiff from his painful position, that he could hardly retain his seat. +His mule was a long-limbed, raw-boned animal, whose gait never varied +from an excruciatingly hard trot. Finally, the boy's sufferings reached +such a point that it was all he could do to keep from screaming, and he +wondered if any torture could be worse.</p> + +<p>At length they came to a tiny stream, fringed with a slender growth of +willows, and here a long rest was taken. Glen could not stand when his +ankles were unbound, and he was allowed to slip from the mule's back, +but fell heavily to the ground. The Indian boy said something to his +companions, one of whom replied with a grunt, whereupon the lad unbound +the prisoner's arms, and helped him to reach the edge of the stream. He +was wonderfully revived by plunging his head into the cool water, and +the young Indian, who seemed a good-natured sort of a chap, assisted to +restore the circulation in his wrists and ankles by rubbing them +vigorously. The men smiled scornfully at this; but the boy rubbed away +with a hearty good-will, and smiled back at them. He wanted to get this +prisoner into the village in as good a condition as possible, and was +perfectly willing to be laughed at, if he could only accomplish his +object. He even went so far as to kindle a small fire of dry, barkless +wood, that would make but little smoke, and heat a strip of dried +buffalo-meat over its coals for the prisoner to eat, though wondering at +a taste that did not find raw meat just as palatable as cooked. Then he +tried to converse with Glen; but, as the latter did not understand +either Cheyenne or the sign language, and as the only English word +Wolf-Tongue knew was "How," this attempt proved a failure.</p> + +<p>How Glen wished he could talk with this Indian boy. Why were not white +boys taught the Indian language in school, so as to be prepared for such +emergencies? It would be so much more valuable than Latin. He wondered +if he would have studied it any harder than he had other things, if it +had been included in the Brimfield High School course. How far away +Brimfield seemed! What wouldn't he give to be there at this moment? How +would they feel at home if they could see him now?</p> + +<p>At length it was time to go on again. The animals, which had been +hobbled to prevent them from straying, left the juicy grasses of the +bottom-land with reluctance; and, with a heavy heart and still aching +body, Glen again mounted his mule. His saddle was the coyote-skin that +had been thrown over his head when he was captured. Now he was given a +pair of raw-hide Indian stirrups; while, though his hands were again +tied behind his back, his feet were left unbound. He therefore rode much +more comfortably now than before, and Wolf-Tongue, who seemed to +consider the prisoner as his especial property, was allowed to hold the +end of his lariat.</p> + +<p>All the movements of these scouts were as carefully guarded as though +they were surrounded by enemies. They avoided soft places where a trail +might be left, and whenever they ascended a swell of the prairie they +halted just before reaching the top. One of them, dismounting, would +then creep cautiously forward, and, without exposing his body above the +crest, would gaze long and searchingly in every direction. Not until he +was satisfied that no human being was within range of his vision would +he show himself on the summit, and beckon his comrades to join him.</p> + +<p>The afternoon was half gone, when, on one of these occasions, the scout +who had just crept to the top of an elevation was seen by the others to +gaze long and steadily in a particular direction through his +field-glass. At length, apparently satisfied with what he saw, he stood +up, and flashed a dazzling ray of sunlight from a small mirror that he +held in his hand. Again and again did he send that flash over miles of +prairie, before he saw the answering flash for which he was watching. +Then he called the others up; they talked earnestly together for a few +minutes, and, having reached some conclusion, they galloped rapidly +away, almost at right angles to the course they had been following.</p> + +<p>Glen wondered what this movement meant; but it was not until they had +ridden for nearly an hour that his unasked questions were answered. +Then, as though by magic, so unexpectedly did they appear, a score or +more of Indians seemed to spring from the ground and surround them. It +was a Cheyenne war-party. Their ponies, under watchful guard, grazed in +a slight depression to one side of them, and their scouts kept a keen +lookout from a rise of ground beyond.</p> + +<p>While these warriors were exchanging greetings with the new-comers, and +regarding the prisoner with unconcealed satisfaction, two white men, +utterly unsuspicious of their presence so near them, were lounging in +front of the Lost Creek stage station, less than a mile away. From this +station the scouts had stolen their ponies and the white mule two nights +before.</p> + +<p>The ranch and stable stood side by side, and were low, one-story +buildings, with walls of a soft sandstone, quarried near by, and roofs +of poles covered with sods. Behind them was a corral enclosed by a low +stone wall. The ranch and stable were connected by a narrow subterranean +passage, and another led from the house to a "dug-out," or square pit, +some ten yards from it. This "dug-out" had a roof of poles heavily +covered with earth and sods; while, just at the surface of the ground, +port-holes opened on all sides. A similar pit, on the other side, could +be reached from the stable, and another, in the rear of the station, was +connected with the corral.</p> + +<p>Lost Creek Station had suffered greatly at the hands of Indians that +summer. Its inmates had been killed, and its stock run off. Now but two +men were left to guard it. This afternoon they were watching anxiously +for the stage from the east, which was some hours overdue.</p> + +<p>Suddenly, as they gazed along the distant wagon trail, there came a +thunderous rush of hoofs from behind the station. But the men had heard +the sound before, and did not need to look to know what it meant.</p> + +<p>"They're after us again, Joe!" exclaimed one, in a disgusted tone, as +they sprang into the ranch and barred its heavy door behind them. A +moment later they were in the "dug-out" behind the corral, and the +gleaming barrels of two rifles were thrust from two of its narrow +port-holes.</p> + +<p>"I swear, Joe! if one of them hasn't the cheek to ride old Snow-ball, +and he's in the lead, too. You drop him, and I'll take the next one."</p> + +<p>There were two reports. A white mule pitched heavily forward and its +rider was flung to the ground. A wounded Indian clung to his pony. Then +the whole band wheeled and dashed back to where they had come from, +taking both their wounded warrior and the one who had been flung to the +ground with them.</p> + +<p>"Did you notice that the fellow I dropped had a white man's hat on?" +asked Joe, as the two men watched the retreat of their foes.</p> + +<p>"Yes, and white men's clothes on, too. I wonder who he murdered and +robbed to get 'em?"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="Chapter_XVII" id="Chapter_XVII"></a><span class="smcap">Chapter XVII.</span></h2> + +<h3>A CHEYENNE WAR-PARTY.</h3> + + +<p>The war-party, detected by the wonderful eyesight of the Cheyenne scout +while they were yet miles away from him, had been for more than a week +engaged in attacking stages and wagon-trains on the Smoky Hill Trail. +Hiding behind some slight elevation, or in a cottonwood thicket near the +road, with keen-eyed scouts always on the lookout, they would burst like +a whirlwind on their unsuspecting victims, pour in a withering volley of +bullets and arrows, and disappear, almost before a return shot could be +fired. Sometimes they would maintain a running fight for miles with a +stage, their fleet ponies easily keeping pace with its frantic mules, +and many a one thus fell into their hands. Its fate was always the same. +If any of its defenders survived the fight they were either killed or +reserved for the worse fate of captives. Its mail-sacks were ripped open +and their contents scattered far and wide. Finally it was set on fire +and destroyed.</p> + +<p>Sometimes the stages escaped; in which case their passengers had +marvellous tales to tell. One of these, that reached the safety of +General Lyle's wagon-train just in time to avoid capture, had but one +living passenger, a woman who was not even wounded during the almost +continuous storm of arrows and bullets of a ten-mile running fight. Four +dead men, one of whom was her husband, were inside the coach, and +another was on the box with the driver. The latter was wounded, and the +mules fairly bristled with arrows. The stage itself was shivered and +splintered in every part by the shower of lead that had been poured into +it, and many a blood-stained letter from its mail-sacks afterwards +carried a shudder into distant Eastern homes.</p> + +<p>This, then, was the work of the war-party who were gathered about Glen +Eddy; and, even now, they were impatiently awaiting the appearance of +the stage from the east that was due that day. For this occasion they +had planned a new form of attack. It was not to be made until the stage +reached the ranch. There, while its mules were being changed, and its +occupants were off their guard, the Indians proposed to dash out from +the nearest place of concealment and attempt the capture of both it and +the station at the same time. It was a well-conceived plan, and might +have been successfully carried out, but for the arrival of the three +scouts, who were now so proudly exhibiting their prisoner and telling +the story of his capture. Before they had half finished, a few dazzling +flashes of light from the mirrors of the distant lookouts announced that +the eastern stage was in sight.</p> + +<p>A minute later the warriors were mounted and riding cautiously towards a +point but a short distance from the ranch, where they could still remain +concealed from it until the moment of making their final dash. The three +scouts, being on other duty, were not expected to take part in the +fight, nor had they any intention of so doing, much as they would have +liked to; but they could not resist the temptation to witness it. So +they, with their prisoner, followed close behind the others to their new +place of concealment. When they reached it, these three, with Glen, +stood a little apart from the rest, so as not to interfere with their +movements.</p> + +<p>Up to this moment, the boy had not the least idea of what was about to +take place, nor where he was. There was nothing to indicate that a stage +ranch and a well-travelled wagon road lay just beyond the ridge before +him. He wondered what these Indians were up to; but he wondered still +more when they would go into camp, and give him a chance to dismount +from the back of that hard-trotting mule; for his aches and pains had +again become very hard to bear. In spite of his thoughts being largely +centred upon himself, Glen could not help noticing the uneasy movements +of his steed, and his impatient snuffings of the air, that began as soon +as they came to a halt. The scouts noticed them, too, and watched the +mule narrowly.</p> + +<p>Suddenly the animal threw up his great head, and in another instant +would have announced his presence to all the country thereabout by a +sonorous, far-reaching bray. Before he could open his mouth, however, +one of the scouts sprang from his pony and seized him by the nose. In +the struggle that followed, the end of the lariat held by Wolf-Tongue +was jerked from his hand. At the same moment the mule succeeded in +shaking off the scout with such violence that he staggered for nearly a +rod before recovering his balance. Then, so quickly that Glen was very +nearly flung from his back, the animal sprang to the crest of the little +ridge, and dashed, with astonishing speed, towards the corral that had +been his home for so long, and which he had scented so plainly the +moment he reached its vicinity.</p> + +<p>Of course the entire body of Indians was in instant pursuit—not of the +mule, but of the prisoner that he was bearing from them. Like a +thunderclap out of a clear sky, they rushed down that slope, every pony +doing his best, and their riders yelling like demons. From the first, +Wolf-Tongue took the lead. It was his prisoner who was escaping, his +first one. He must have him again. He would almost rather die than lose +him. So he lashed his pony furiously with the quirt, or Indian +riding-whip of raw-hide fastened to his wrist, and leaned far over on +his neck, and yelled, and beat the animal's sides with his moccasined +feet, until he had gained a lead of all the others and was almost within +reach of the mule. Another moment and he would have that trailing lariat +in his hand.</p> + +<p>Glen, too, was kicking the sides of his ungainly steed, and yelling at +him in a perfect frenzy of excitement. He saw the stage ranch, the +winding wagon trail, and the shining river beyond the instant he was +borne over the crest of the ridge, and knew what they meant for him. To +reach that little clump of buildings first, meant life, liberty, and +restoration to his friends. He must do it, and he fully believed he +could. He leaned as far as possible over the mule's neck, and shouted +encouraging words into his ears. What wonderful speed the long-legged +animal was showing! Who would have thought it was in him?</p> + +<p>"Well done, mule!" yelled Glen. "A few more seconds and we'll be there! +They can't catch us now!"</p> + +<p>Then came a burst of flame from the earth in front of him. The white +mule gave a convulsive bound and fell dead in his tracks, while poor +Glen was flung far over his head to the ground, which he struck so +heavily as to partially stun him.</p> + +<p>Without checking the speed of their ponies in the least, two stalwart +warriors bent over, and, seizing the boy by the arms, raised him between +them as they swept past. A moment later the entire band, minus only +their white mule, had again reached their place of concealment, and poor +Glen, breathless, bruised, and heart-broken with disappointment, was +more of a prisoner than ever. Besides this, Wolf-Tongue, the only one +amid all those stern-featured warriors who had shown the least particle +of pity for him, was wounded—a rifle-ball having passed through the +calf of one of his legs.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="illus2" id="illus2"></a> +<img src="images/illus2.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> + +<h3>"TWO STALWART WARRIORS SEIZED HIM BY THE ARMS AND RAISED +HIM BETWEEN THEM AS THEY SWEPT PAST"</h3> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p>This sudden derangement of his plans caused the leader of the war-party +to abandon them altogether, and decide upon a new one. It would be +useless to attempt to surprise the stage and station now. Besides, it +might be just as well to leave the trail in peace for a few days, in +order that the large party of white men, of whom the scouts had just +brought information, might come on with less caution than they would use +if constantly alarmed. He would send runners to the villages of the +Kiowas, Arrapahoes, and Comanches, and tell them of the rich prize +awaiting their combined action. In the meantime he would return to his +own village and raise a war-party that, in point of numbers and +equipment, should be a credit to the great Cheyenne nation.</p> + +<p>So the runners were despatched, and the rest of the party set out in a +northwesterly direction towards their distant villages on the American +Fork.</p> + +<p>Shortly before the Indians halted for the night, even Glen almost forgot +his heartache and painful weariness of body in the excitement of seeing +his first buffalo, and witnessing an Indian buffalo-hunt on a small +scale. It was just at sunset, when the scout, who rode ahead, signalled, +from the top of an elevation, by waving his blanket in a peculiar +manner, that he had discovered buffalo.</p> + +<p>Obeying a command from their leader, half a dozen warriors at once +dashed ahead of the party; and, joining the scout, disappeared over the +ridge. As the others gained the summit, they saw that the plain beyond +it was covered with a vast herd of buffalo, quietly feeding, singly or +in groups, and spreading over the country as far as the eye could reach. +There were thousands of them, and Glen was amazed at the wonderful +sight.</p> + +<p>Those nearest to the advancing Indians had already taken the alarm, and +in less than a minute more the whole vast mass was in motion, with loud +bellowings and a lumbering gallop, that, shaking the earth, sounded like +the rush and roar of mighty waters. The fleet war-ponies speedily bore +the hunters into the thick of the flying mass, so that for a few seconds +they were swallowed up and lost to view in it. Then they reappeared +surrounding, and driving before them, a fat young cow, that they had cut +out from the rest of the herd. They did not use their rifles, as the +reports might have attracted undesirable attention to their presence. +From their powerful bows arrow after arrow was buried in the body of the +selected victim, some of them even passing completely through it, until +at length the animal fell, and the chase was ended.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="Chapter_XVIII" id="Chapter_XVIII"></a><span class="smcap">Chapter XVIII.</span></h2> + +<h3>BUFFALO AND THEIR USES.</h3> + + +<p>If the Cheyennes had been on a regular hunt they would have killed +scores of the mighty beasts before desisting from their bloody work; but +buffalo were too valuable to the Plains Indian to be wasted, or killed +for mere sport. In fact, their very existence, at that time, depended +upon these animals. Not only did their flesh form the chief and almost +the sole article of Indian food, but with the skins they covered their +lodges, and made boats, ropes, lariats, trunks, or <i>par fléche</i> sacks, +saddles, shields, frames for war bonnets, gloves, moccasins, leggings, +shirts, gun-covers, whips, quivers, knife-scabbards, cradles, +saddle-bags and blankets, beds, bridles, boots, glue, and a score of +other necessary articles.</p> + +<p>From the hair they made ropes and pillows; while the horns provided them +with spoons, cups, dishes, powder-flasks, arrow-heads, and even bows. +Buffalo sinews gave the Indians thread and twine for innumerable +purposes; while certain of the bones were fashioned into axes, knives, +arrow-points, and implements for scraping the hides or dressing robes. +The ribs were formed into small dog sledges, and the teeth into +necklaces and rattles. Buffalo chips were a most important article of +fuel on the almost treeless plains, and this is only a partial list of +the useful articles furnished to the Indians by this animal. At that +time buffalo roamed, in countless thousands, from the Missouri River to +the Rocky Mountains, and from Mexico up into British America. Since then +they have been ruthlessly slaughtered and exterminated by skin-butchers, +emigrants, and an army of so-called sportsmen from all parts of the +world.</p> + +<p>While the hunters were cutting up the cow they had killed, the rest of +the party went into camp on the bank of the stream, near which the vast +herd had been feeding. Here Wolf-Tongue's wound, that had only been +rudely bandaged to check the flow of blood, was carefully dressed and +attended to.</p> + +<p>There was no lack of food in the camp that evening, and the warriors +were evidently determined to make up for their days of hard riding and +fighting on scanty rations, by indulging in a regular feast.</p> + +<p>Glen was disgusted to see the liver and kidneys of the buffalo eaten +raw, as was also a quantity of the meat while it was yet warm. Still +there was plenty of cooked meat for those who preferred it. Over small +fires, carefully screened by robes and blankets, so that their light +should not attract attention, ribs were roasted and choice bits were +broiled. Even the prisoner was unbound and allowed to cut and broil for +himself until he could eat no more.</p> + +<p>Wolf-Tongue's wounded leg was smeared with melted tallow; and, though it +was so lame and stiff that he could not use it, his appetite was in no +wise impaired by his wound, nor did it dampen his high spirits in the +least. It rather added to them; for, as he ate buffalo meat raw or +cooked, as it was handed to him, at the same time laughing and chatting +with those of the younger warriors who were nearest his own age, he felt +that an honorable wound had been the only thing needed to crown the +glories of this, his first warpath. Now he would indeed be greeted as a +hero upon his return to the village. He felt more assured than ever that +he would be allowed to keep the fine name of "Wolf-Tongue." Perhaps, but +it was only just within the range of possibility, the head men might +commemorate at once his success as a scout, and the fact that he had +received a wound in battle, by conferring upon him the distinguished +name of "Lame Wolf." Such things had been known. Why might they not +happen to him?</p> + +<p>When the feasting was ended, and the entire band began to feel that to +sleep would be far better than to eat any more, they extinguished their +fires and moved noiselessly away, a hundred yards or so, from the place +where they had been. Here in the tall grass, at the foot of the +cottonwood-trees, or in red willow thickets, the tired warriors laid +down, each man where he happened to be when he thought he had gone far +enough for safety. Each drew his blanket over his head, and also over +the rifle that was his inseparable bedfellow. The ponies had already +been securely fastened, so that they could be had when wanted, and now +they were either lying down or standing motionless with drooping heads. +The camp was as secure as an Indian camp ever is, where every precaution +is taken to guard against surprise, except the simple one of keeping +awake.</p> + +<p>Wolf-Tongue, who was unable to touch his foot to the ground, was carried +to his sleeping-place with his arms about the necks of two of his +stalwart friends. Now, with Glen's rifle clasped tightly to him, and +with his head completely enveloped in a blanket, he was fast forgetting +his pain in sleep.</p> + +<p>Poor Glen was forced to lie without any blanket, either over or under +him, with his wrists bound together, and with one of his arms fastened, +by a short cord, to an arm of one of the scouts who had captured him. +The latter fell asleep almost instantly, as was proved by his breathing; +but it was impossible for the prisoner, weary as he was, to do so. His +mind was too busily engaged in revolving possible means of escape. For a +long time he lay with wide-open eyes, dismissing one project after +another as they presented themselves. Finally he decided that, unless he +could first free his hands and then release his arm from the cord that +bound him to the scout, he could do nothing.</p> + +<p>To accomplish the first of these objects, he began to gnaw, very softly, +at the raw-hide thong by which his wrists were secured. How tough and +hard it was. How his jaws ached after he had worked for an hour or more, +without accomplishing his purpose. Still he could feel that his efforts +were not altogether fruitless. He knew that he could succeed if he were +only given time enough.</p> + +<p>He was obliged to take several rests, and his work was often interrupted +by hearing some wakeful Indian get up and walk about. Twice the scout +wakened, and pulled at the cord fastened to his prisoner's arm to assure +himself that he was still there.</p> + +<p>At length the task was concluded, the hateful thong was bitten in two, +and Glen's hands were free. They were cold, numb, and devoid of feeling; +but after a while their circulation was gradually restored, and the boy +began to work at the knot that secured the cord about his arm. It was a +hard one to untie, but in this, too, he finally succeeded. Just as it +loosened beneath Glen's fingers, the scout woke and gave the cord a +pull. Fortunately the boy still held it, and the other was satisfied +that his prisoner was still beside him. Glen hardly dared breathe until +he felt certain that the Indian again slept. Then he fastened the cord +to a bit of willow, that grew within reach, in order that there might be +some resistance if the scout should pull at it again, and cautiously +rose to his feet.</p> + +<p>Which way should he go? How should he avoid stepping on some recumbent +form if he moved at all? For a moment he stood irresolute. Well, +whatever he did he must do quickly, for the short summer night was far +advanced. He had not a moment to lose. If he only dared take a pony! If +he could drive them all off and leave his pursuers without a horse on +which to follow him! It was a thought worthy of a Cheyenne scout, and +Glen realized in a moment that, hazardous as the undertaking would be, +it offered the only means of ultimate escape. He thought he knew where +the horses were, and began to move with the utmost caution, feeling his +way inch by inch, in that direction.</p> + +<p>Twice he just discovered a motionless human form in time to avoid +stumbling over it, and each time his heart seemed to leap into his mouth +with the narrowness of his escape. Several times, too, he changed his +course in order to avoid some real or fancied obstacle, until at length +he was completely bewildered, and obliged to confess that he had no idea +of what direction he was taking. Still he kept on, trembling with +nervousness, until at length he felt certain that he must be at least +well outside the circle of sleeping Indians, if not at a considerable +distance from them. He began to move more rapidly, when suddenly a human +figure rose up before him, so close that he could not avoid it. He +sprang at it with a blind fury, hoping to overthrow it, and still effect +his escape. Then there came a wild cry, a deafening report, and Glen +found himself engaged in a furious struggle with an unknown antagonist.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="Chapter_XIX" id="Chapter_XIX"></a><span class="smcap">Chapter XIX.</span></h2> + +<h3>GLEN'S ESCAPE FROM THE INDIANS.</h3> + + +<p>As Glen struggled desperately, but well-nigh hopelessly, with the +assailant who had risen so unexpectedly to bar his escape, there came a +crashing volley of shots, a loud cheer, and a rush of trampling feet +through the willows and tangled undergrowth. The boy only dimly wondered +at these sounds as he was flung to the ground, where he lay breathless, +with his arms pinned tightly to the earth, and expecting that each +instant would be his last. Then he became strangely conscious that his +antagonist was talking in a language that he understood, and was saying,</p> + +<p>"Yez would, would ye? An' yez tho't ye could wrastle wid Terence +O'Boyle? Ye murtherin' rid villin! Bad cess to it I but oi'll tache ye! +Phat's that ye say? Ye're a white man? Oh, no, me omadhoon! yez can't +fool me into lettin' ye up that way!"</p> + +<p>"But I am white!" cried Glen, half choked though he was. "Let me up, and +I'll prove it to you. Can't you understand English?"</p> + +<p>Very slowly and reluctantly the astonished Irishman allowed himself to +become convinced that the assailant he had failed to shoot, but whom he +had overcome after a violent struggle, was not an Indian. It was some +minutes before he would permit Glen to rise from his uncomfortable +position, and even then he held him fast, declaring that nothing short +of an order from the captain himself would induce him to release a +prisoner.</p> + +<p>The explanation of this sudden change in our hero's fortunes and +prospects is that, while the Cheyennes were engaged in their +buffalo-hunt the evening before, they had been discovered by a Pawnee +scout. He was attached to a company of cavalry who were on their way +back to Fort Hayes, on the Smoky Hill, from an expedition against the +Arrapahoes. The captain of this company had determined to surprise the +Indians thus unexpectedly thrown in his way, at daybreak, and had made +his arrangements accordingly. Their movements had been carefully noted +by the scouts, and, having made a start from their own camp at three +o'clock that morning, the troops were cautiously surrounding the place +where they supposed their sleeping foes to be.</p> + +<p>The attack would undoubtedly have proved successful, and the Cheyennes +would have sprung from their grassy couches only to fall beneath the +fire from the cavalry carbines, had not Glen Eddy run into trooper +Terence O'Boyle and been mistaken for an Indian by that honest fellow. +Upon the alarm being thus prematurely given, the soldiers fired a volley +and charged the Cheyenne camp, only to find it deserted. With one +exception, the Indians had made good their escape, and it was never +known whether any of them were even wounded by the volley that gave them +such a rude awakening. The one who failed to escape was the young scout +who hoped to be known as "Wolf-Tongue," and who, on account of his +wound, was unable to fly with the rest.</p> + +<p>He managed to conceal himself in a thicket until daylight. Then he was +discovered by one of the Pawnee scouts, who dragged him out, and would +have put him to death but for the interference of Glen Eddy, who was +just then led to the spot by his Irish captor.</p> + +<p>An hour later Glen was enjoying the happiest breakfast in his life, in +company with Captain Garrett Winn, U.S.A., who was listening with +absorbed interest to the boy's account of his recent thrilling +experiences.</p> + +<p>"Well, my lad," said the captain, when Glen had finished his story, "I +consider your several escapes from being killed, when first captured, +from the bullets of those fellows at the stage ranch, from the Indians, +and, finally, from being killed by that wild Irishman, as being little +short of miraculous."</p> + +<p>Soon afterwards the trumpet sounded "Boots and Saddles," and Glen, +mounted on a handsome bay mare—which, with several other ponies, had +been left behind by the Indians in their hurried flight—trotted happily +away with his new friends in the direction of Fort Hayes. In his hand he +grasped his own rifle, which was recovered when Wolf-Tongue was +captured, and behind him, mounted on a pony led by one of the troopers, +rode that wounded and crest-fallen young Indian himself.</p> + +<p>The future looked very black to Wolf-Tongue just now; for, totally +ignorant of the ways of white men, he expected nothing less than death +as soon as he should reach the fort. He realized that Glen had saved him +from the knife of the Pawnee scout, and wondered if the white boy would +interfere in his behalf with the warriors of his own race, or if they +would listen to him in case he did. He wished he knew just a little of +the white man's language, that he might discover what those soldiers on +each side of him were talking about. Perhaps they were even discussing +him and his fate. But he only knew one word of English, and now he began +to think he did not understand the meaning of that; for, though he heard +the soldiers say "how" several times in the course of their +conversation, they did not seem to use it at all as he would. So the +Indian lad rode along unhappily enough; but, though his thoughts were +very busy, no trace of them was allowed to exhibit itself in his +impassive face.</p> + +<p>In the meantime he was the subject of a conversation between Glen and +Captain Winn, as they rode side by side. The former had a very kindly +feeling towards the young Indian, who had tried to be kind to him when +their present positions were reversed, and now he wanted in some way to +return this kindness if possible.</p> + +<p>"What will be done with him do you think, sir?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"I'm sure I don't know," replied the captain, carelessly. "I suppose he +will be kept as a prisoner at some one of the forts until we have +whipped his tribe and put it on a reservation, and then he will be sent +back to it."</p> + +<p>"But what will become of him then?" persisted the boy.</p> + +<p>"Oh, he will grow up to be one of the regular reservation beggars, +living on government charity, until he finally drinks himself to death +or gets killed in some quarrel. That's the way with most of them on the +reservations. You see they haven't anything else to do, and so they +drink and gamble, and kill each other just to pass away the time."</p> + +<p>"Don't you suppose he could learn to live like white folks if he had the +chance?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I suppose he could. In fact, I know he could, if he had the +chance; for these Indian boys are about as bright as they make 'em. But +I don't know where he'll get the chance. The government would rather pay +a thousand dollars to keep him on a reservation, or even to kill him, +than a hundred to give him an education, and I don't know of anybody +else, that is able to do anything, who will take an interest in him."</p> + +<p>There the conversation ended; for, after riding some time in silence and +trying to think of a solution of this perplexing Indian problem, Glen +all at once found himself nodding so that he almost fell off his horse. +He was so thoroughly wearied and sleepy that it did not seem as though +he could hold his eyes open another minute.</p> + +<p>Noticing his condition, the captain said, kindly,</p> + +<p>"You look just about used up, young man; and no wonder, after what +you've gone through. The best thing for you to do is to hand your pony +over to one of the men, crawl into the wagon back there, and take a +nap."</p> + +<p>Glen thought this such good advice that he immediately followed it. Two +minutes later he was lying, in what looked like a most uncomfortable +position, on top of a pile of baggage in the only wagon that accompanied +the troops, more soundly asleep than he had ever been before in all his +life. He did not even know when the wagon reached the fort, a few hours +later, nor did he realize what was happening when he was lifted from it +and led by the captain into his own quarters. There the boy was allowed +to tumble down on a pile of robes and blankets, and told to have his +sleep out.</p> + +<p>Not until the rising sun streamed full in his face the next morning did +that sleep come to an end. Then he awoke so hungry that he felt as +though it would take a whole buffalo to satisfy his appetite, and so +bewildered by his surroundings that, for some minutes, he could not +recall what had happened. He had no idea of where he was, for he could +remember nothing since the act of crawling into the wagon and finding a +bed on its load of baggage.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="Chapter_XX" id="Chapter_XX"></a><span class="smcap">Chapter XX.</span></h2> + +<h3>A PRESENT THAT WOULD PLEASE ANY BOY.</h3> + + +<p>Through the open window, by which the sunlight was streaming in, Glen +caught a glimpse of a line of cottonwood-trees, which, as he had long +ago learned, denoted the presence of a stream in that country. To a boy +who dearly loved to bathe, and had not washed for two whole days, +nothing could be more tempting. Nor was Glen long in jumping from the +window, running down to the cottonwoods, throwing off his clothes, and +plunging headforemost into the cool waters.</p> + +<p>With that delicious bath disappeared every trace of his weariness, his +aches, and everything else that remained to remind him of his recent +trials, except his hunger. When he was at length ready to go in search +of something with which to appease that, he walked slowly back towards +the house in which he had slept. He now noticed that it was built of +logs, and was the last one in a row of half a dozen just like it. He +also heard bugle calls, saw soldiers in blue uniforms hurrying in every +direction, and wisely concluded that, in some way, he must have been +brought to Fort Hayes.</p> + +<p>As he stood irresolute near the house, not knowing which way to go or +what to do, a door opened and a little girl, followed by a lady, came +out. The child stopped and looked at the boy for a moment. Then running +back to her mother, she exclaimed,</p> + +<p>"Look mamma! look! It's the very same one we knew on the cars!"</p> + +<p>Glen had recognized her at once as his little acquaintance of the +railroad between St. Louis and Kansas City, and now the lady recognized +him as the boy who had run the locomotive so splendidly that terrible +night, and had then so mysteriously disappeared.</p> + +<p>It was truly a very happy party that gathered about Captain Winn's +hospitable breakfast-table that morning. They had so much to talk about, +and so many questions to ask, and so many experiences to relate, and +Nettie so bubbled over with delight at again finding her play-fellow, +that the meal was prolonged for more than an hour beyond its usual +limits.</p> + +<p>After breakfast Glen asked if he might go and see the prisoner, to which +the captain replied, "Certainly you may." As they walked across the +parade-ground in the direction of the guard-house, Glen was introduced +to several officers, who seemed to take a great interest in him, and +shook hands so cordially, and congratulated him so heartily on his +escape from the Cheyennes, that the boy began to think his rough +experience was not without its compensations after all.</p> + +<p>In the guard-house they found the young Indian peering disconsolately +out between the gratings of his cell window, and looking very forlorn +indeed. He gazed sullenly at the visitors, and wondered why they should +come there to stare at him; but when Glen stepped up to him with +outstretched hand, and said "How?" the boy's face brightened at once. He +took the proffered hand, and answered "How" with an evident air of +pleasure, for he could comprehend the other's sympathetic expression, if +he could not understand his language. Pointing to himself, the white boy +said, "Glen," which the other repeated as though he thoroughly +understood what was meant. Then Glen pointed to him, with an inquiring +look, as much as to ask, "What is your name?"</p> + +<p>The boy understood; but hesitated a moment before drawing himself up +proudly and answering in his own tongue; but the name was so long and +hard to say that Glen could not repeat it.</p> + +<p>"I wish I could understand what he says, for I should so like to have a +talk with him," said Glen.</p> + +<p>"There is an interpreter who speaks Cheyenne somewhere about the place," +answered Captain Winn, "and, if you like, I will send for him."</p> + +<p>When the interpreter came, Glen found out that what the boy had said in +Cheyenne was that his name was "Lame Wolf;" but when the young Indian +tried to repeat it in English, after Glen, he pronounced it "Lem Wolf," +which is what he was called from that day.</p> + +<p>After they had held quite a conversation, that greatly increased Glen's +interest in the boy, he and the captain took their departure, the former +promising to come again very soon.</p> + +<p>Then Captain Winn led Glen down to the corral, in which were a number of +horses, ponies, and mules, and, pointing to one of them, asked the boy +if he recognized it.</p> + +<p>"Of course I do," answered Glen. "It's the one I rode yesterday."</p> + +<p>"And the one I hope you will ride for many days to come," said the +captain with a smile; "for I want you to accept that pony as a present +from my little girl."</p> + +<p>"Really?" cried the delighted boy; "do you really mean that I am to have +it for my very own?"</p> + +<p>"I really do," laughed the captain, "and," he continued more soberly, "I +wish I could offer you something ten times more valuable, as a slight +memento of the service you rendered those so dear to me not long ago."</p> + +<p>"You couldn't give me anything I should value more," exclaimed Glen, +"unless—" Here he hesitated, and his face flushed slightly.</p> + +<p>"Unless what?" asked Captain Winn.</p> + +<p>"Unless you could give me that Indian boy."</p> + +<p>"What on earth would you do with him?" cried the captain, his eyes +opening wide with surprise at such an unheard-of request.</p> + +<p>Then Glen unfolded a plan that had formed itself in his mind within a +few minutes; and, when he had finished, the captain's look of surprise +still remained on his face, but he said, reflectively:</p> + +<p>"Well, I don't know but what it might be done, and if you succeed in +carrying out your part of the scheme, I will see what I can do with the +rest of it."</p> + +<p>This matter being disposed of, Glen asked if he might try his pony.</p> + +<p>"But you tried her yesterday," laughed the captain, who enjoyed the +boyishness of this boy as much as he admired his manliness.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir; but she wasn't mine then, and you know everything, even a +horse, is very different when it is your own."</p> + +<p>"So it is, and you may try her to your heart's content, only don't ride +far from the post unless you wish for a repetition of your recent +experience."</p> + +<p>With this the captain beckoned to a soldier, who stood near by, and +ordered him to saddle the bay mare, and to tell the stable-sergeant that +she belonged to this young gentleman, who was to take her whenever he +pleased. He also told Glen that the whole outfit of saddle, bridle, and +picket rope, then being placed on the mare, were included in his +present.</p> + +<p>The mare was so well fed, and so thoroughly rested, that she was in high +spirits; and, the moment she found Glen on her back, tried her very best +to throw him off. She reared, and bucked, and plunged, and sprang +sideways, and kicked up her heels, to the great delight of a number of +soldiers who were witnesses of the performance; but all to no purpose. +Her rider clung to the saddle like a burr, and all her efforts to throw +him were quite as unsuccessful as those of Binney Gibbs's mule had been +some days before.</p> + +<p>When Glen, with the breath nearly shaken out of his body, but thoroughly +master of the situation, reined the mare up beside the captain, and +asked his permission to name her "Nettle," the latter readily granted +it, saying, "I think it will be a most appropriate name; for it is +evident that she can only be mastered by a firm and steady hand."</p> + +<p>Then the happy boy rode over to Captain Winn's quarters, anxious to +display his new acquisition to the child after whom she had just been +named. As he did so he passed the guard-house, and was moved to pity by +the sight of a sad-looking young face pressed against the grating of one +of its windows, and gazing wistfully at him. That pony had belonged to +Lame Wolf but the day before.</p> + +<p>After an hour's riding in the immediate vicinity of the fort, Glen was +fully satisfied that no horse in the world had ever combined so many +admirable qualities as this bay mare, or given an owner such complete +cause to be satisfied with his possession.</p> + +<p>As he was about to return her to the corral, his eye caught the gleam of +sunlight on a moving white object, a mile or so distant, along the +wagon-trail leading to the east. Watching intently, he saw that it was +followed by another, and another, until the wagons of a long train were +in plain sight, winding slowly along the road towards the fort. When he +was certain that he could not be mistaken, the boy uttered a joyous +shout, clapped spurs to Nettle, and dashed away to meet them.</p> + +<p>A group of mounted men rode ahead of the train, and they gazed +wonderingly at the reckless rider who approached them with such headlong +impetuosity. Their surprise became incredulous amazement as he reined +sharply up within a few paces of them, and, politely lifting his hat, +disclosed the shaven head and flushed face of the boy whose mysterious +disappearance had caused them such sincere grief and distress. They had +devoted half a day to scouring the country near the camp from which he +had been lost; and, finding plentiful traces of Indians in the creek +bottom, had come to the conclusion that, in some way, he had fallen into +their hands, and would never again be heard from. Now, to meet him here, +safe, and evidently in high spirits, was past comprehension.</p> + +<p>Mr. Hobart was the first to ride forward and grasp his hand. "Is it +really you, Glen?" he exclaimed, his voice choked with feeling; "and +where, in the name of all that is mysterious, have you been?"</p> + +<p>"It is really I," answered the boy, "and I've been a prisoner in the +hands of the Cheyennes, and had a glorious time."</p> + +<p>It really did seem as though he had had a good time, now that it was all +over with, and he was the owner of that beautiful mare. Besides, he +could not fully realize the nature of the fate he had escaped.</p> + +<p>Then the others crowded about him, and General Lyle himself shook hands +with him, and wanted to hear his story at once. While he was telling it +as briefly as possible, the joyful news of his appearance flew back +through the train, and the boys came running up to see him, and shake +hands with him, and nearly pulled him off his horse in their eagerness +to touch him and assure themselves that he was really alive.</p> + +<p>"Hurrah for the Baldheads!" shouted the irrepressible Brackett; "they +don't get left! not much!"</p> + +<p>Even Binney Gibbs came and shook hands with him.</p> + +<p>That evening, after the camp was somewhat quieted from its excitement, +and after Glen had told his story for about the twentieth time, he +disappeared for a short while. When he returned he brought with him an +Indian boy, who limped painfully, and seemed very ill at ease in the +presence of so many strange pale-faces.</p> + +<p>"Who's your friend, Glen?"</p> + +<p>"Where are the rest of the ten little Injuns?" shouted the fellows as +they crowded about this new object of interest.</p> + +<p>When at length a partial quiet was restored, Glen begged them to listen +to him for a few minutes, as he had something to propose that he was +sure would interest them, and they shouted,</p> + +<p>"Fire away, old man, we are all listening!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="Chapter_XXI" id="Chapter_XXI"></a><span class="smcap">Chapter XXI.</span></h2> + +<h3>LAME WOLF, THE YOUNG CHEYENNE.</h3> + + +<p>"Look here, fellows," said Glen, as he stood with one hand on the +shoulder of the young Indian, and facing his companions, who, attracted +by curiosity, were gathered to hear what he had to say. "This chap is a +Cheyenne, and is one of the three by whom I was captured; but he was +mighty kind, and did everything he could think of to make things easy +for me. So you see he is my friend, and now that he is in trouble, I am +bound to do what I can to help him. His name is Lame Wolf—" (here the +young Indian stood a little straighter, and his eyes flashed. He had +succeeded in having that name recognized as belonging to him, at any +rate), "and he's the son of a chief, and the only English word he knows +is 'How?' Captain Winn says that if he only had a chance he'd learn as +quick as any white boy, and I believe he'd learn a good deal quicker +than some—" At this point Glen became somewhat confused, and wondered +if Binney Gibbs had told how he had been dropped from his class. "He +says, I mean Captain Winn says, that the only thing for him to do out +here is to go on a reservation and become a worthless good-for-nothing, +and get killed. Now that seems a pretty poor sort of a chance for a +fellow that's been as good a friend to me as Lame Wolf has, and I want +you to help me give him a better one.</p> + +<p>"I want to send him back to my home in Brimfield, and let him live with +my folks a year or two, and be taught things the same as white boys, and +have the same chance they have. Captain Winn says he thinks he can fix +it with the folks at Washington about letting him go; but he don't know +where the money to pay his expenses is to come from. I didn't tell him, +because I thought I'd speak to you first; but I was pretty sure it would +come from this very party. I've only got five dollars in cash myself, +but I'll give that, and I'll save all I can out of my pay for it, too. +Now, what do you say, fellows? Shall Lame Wolf have a chance or not?"</p> + +<p>"Yes! yes! of course he shall! Hurrah for Lame Wolf! Hurrah for Glen's +little Injun! Give him a chance! Put me down for half a month's pay! And +me! and me!" shouted a dozen voices at once.</p> + +<p>"Billy" Brackett jumped up on a box, and, calling the meeting to order, +proposed that a committee of three be appointed, with Mr. Hobart as its +chairman, to receive subscriptions to the Lame Wolf Fund. +"All-in-favor-say-aye-contrary-mind-it-is-a-vote!" he shouted. Then +somebody else nominated him and Glen to be the other members, and they +were elected without a dissenting voice.</p> + +<p>While all this was going on the fellows were crowding about the young +Indian, eager to shake hands with him, and say, "How! Lame Wolf, old +boy! How!"</p> + +<p>All at once Glen found that the boy was leaning heavily on him, and +reproached himself for having allowed him to stand so long on his +wounded leg. He got his charge back to the guard-house as quickly as +possible, and then, leaving him to enjoy a quiet night's rest, hurried +back to camp.</p> + +<p>Here he found "Billy" Brackett presiding, with great dignity, over what +he was pleased to call the "subscription books." They consisted of a +single sheet of paper, fastened with thumb-tacks to a drawing-board that +was placed on top of a barrel in one of the tents. Mr. Hobart, who had +consented to serve on the committee, was also in the tent, and to him +were being handed the cash contributions to the Fund.</p> + +<p>Glen put his name down for five dollars a month, to be paid as long as +he should remain a member of the present expedition. Then he started for +his own tent to get the five dollars in cash that he had promised, out +of his valise.</p> + +<p>As he was hurrying back with it he was stopped by Binney Gibbs, who +thrust a bit of paper into his hand, saying,</p> + +<p>"I want you to take this check for your Indian, Glen. Father sent it to +me to buy a horse with, but I guess a mule is good enough for me, and so +the Indian chap can have it as well as not. You needn't say anything +about it."</p> + +<p>With this, Binney, who had spoken in a confused manner, hurried away +without giving Glen a chance to thank him.</p> + +<p>What had come over the boy? Glen had never known him to do a generous +thing before. He could not understand it. When he reached the tent, and +examined the check, his amazement was so great that he gave a long +whistle.</p> + +<p>"What is it, Glen? Give us a chance to whistle too," shouted "Billy" +Brackett. "Our natural curiosity needs to be checked as well as yours."</p> + +<p>"Binney Gibbs has contributed a hundred dollars," said Glen, slowly, as +though he could not quite believe his own words to be true.</p> + +<p>"Good for Grip! Bravo for Binney! Who would have thought it? He's a +trump, after all!" shouted "Billy" Brackett and the others who heard +this bit of news.</p> + +<p>Far beyond the tent, these shouts reached the ears of a solitary figure +that stood motionless and almost invisible in the night shadows. They +warmed his heart, and caused his cheeks to glow. It was a new sensation +to Binney Gibbs to be cheered and praised for an act of generosity. It +was a very pleasant one as well, and he wondered why he had never +experienced it before.</p> + +<p>The truth is that this rough life, in which every person he met was his +equal, if not his superior, was doing this boy more good than any one +had dared to predict that it would. Although he was a prize scholar, and +the son of a wealthy man, there were many in this exploring-party who +were far better scholars, and more wealthy than he. Yet even these were +often outranked in general estimation by fellows who had neither social +position, money, nor learning. At first Binney could not understand it. +Things were so different in Brimfield; though even there he remembered +that he had not been as popular among the other boys as Glen Eddy. Even +in this party, where Binney had expected to be such a shining light, the +other Brimfield boy was far better liked than he. For this Binney had +hated Glen, and declared he would get even with him. Then he began, +furtively, to watch him in the hope of discovering the secret of his +popularity. Finally it came to him, like a revelation, and he realized +for the first time in his life that, in man or boy, such things as +unselfishness, honesty, bravery, good-nature, generosity, and +cheerfulness, or any one of them, will do more towards securing the +regard, liking, and friendship of his fellows than all the wealth or +book-learning in the world.</p> + +<p>Perhaps if Glen had not been captured by the Cheyennes, Binney would not +have learned this most valuable lesson of his life as quickly as he did. +In the general grief over his schoolmate's disappearance, he heard his +character praised for one or another lovable trait, until at length the +secret of Glen's popularity was disclosed to him. Then, as he looked +back and recalled the incidents of their Brimfield life, he realized +what a manly, fearless, open-hearted boy this one, whom he had regarded +with contempt, because he was not a student, had been. Now that he was +gone, and, as he supposed, lost to him forever, Binney thought there was +nothing he would not give for a chance to recall the past and win the +friendship he had so contemptuously rejected.</p> + +<p>For two days these thoughts exercised so strong a sway on Binney's mind, +that when, on the third, Glen Eddy appeared before him as one risen from +the dead, their influence was not to be shaken off. Although he did not +know exactly how to begin, he was determined not only to win the +friendship of the boy whom he had for so long regarded as his rival, but +also to make every member of the party like him, if he possibly could.</p> + +<p>His first opportunity came that evening; but it was not until after a +long struggle with selfishness and envy that he resolved to contribute +that one-hundred-dollar check to the Lame Wolf Fund. He knew that he cut +an awkward figure on his mule, and imagined that a horse would not only +be much more elegant, but easier to ride. Then, too, Glen had such a +beautiful mare; beside her his wretched mule would appear to a greater +disadvantage than ever. He could buy as fine a pony as roamed the Plains +for a hundred dollars. Then, too, that was what his father had sent him +the money for. Had he a right to use it for any other purpose? To be +sure, Mr. Gibbs had not known of the mule, and supposed his son would be +obliged to go on foot if he did not buy a horse.</p> + +<p>So poor Binney argued with himself, and his old evil influences strove +against the new resolves. It is doubtful if the latter would have +conquered, had not the sight of Glen coming towards him brought a sudden +impulse to the aid of the resolves and decided the struggle in their +favor.</p> + +<p>Thus generosity won, but by so narrow a margin that Binney could not +stand being thanked for it, and so hurried away. But he heard the shouts +and cheers coupled with his name, and it seemed to him that he felt even +happier at that moment than when he stood on the platform of the +Brimfield High School and was told of the prize his scholarship had won.</p> + +<p>So the money was raised to redeem one young Cheyenne from the misery and +wickedness of a government Indian reservation; and, when the grand total +of cash and subscriptions was footed up, it was found to be very nearly +one thousand dollars. Glen was overjoyed at the result, and it is hard +to tell which boy was the happier, as he crept into his blankets that +night, he or Binney Gibbs.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="Chapter_XXII" id="Chapter_XXII"></a><span class="smcap">Chapter XXII.</span></h2> + +<h3>GLEN AND BINNEY GET INTO TROUBLE.</h3> + + +<p>The next day, when Glen announced the successful result of his efforts +to Captain Winn, that officer informed him that he expected to be +ordered East very shortly on special duty, when he would be willing to +take charge of the Indian boy, and deliver him to Mr. Matherson in +Brimfield. Nothing could have suited Glen's plans better; and he at once +wrote a long letter to his adopted father, telling him of all that had +happened, and begging him to receive the young Indian for his sake. He +also wrote to Mr. Meadows and asked him to announce the coming of the +stranger to the Brimfield boys. Then he hunted up the interpreter, and +went to the guard-house for a long talk with his captive friend.</p> + +<p>Lame Wolf was glad to see him, and at once asked what the white men had +talked of in their council of the evening before. Glen explained it all +as clearly as he knew how. The young Indian was greatly comforted to +learn that he was not to be put to death, but also seemed to think that +it would be nearly as bad to be sent far away from his own country and +people, to the land of the Pale-faces. In his ignorance he regarded the +place of his proposed exile much as we do the interior of Africa or the +North Pole, one only to be reached by a weary journey, that few ever +undertook, and fewer still returned from.</p> + +<p>He was somewhat cheered by Glen's promise to join him at the end of a +year, and that then, if he chose, he should certainly return to his own +people. Still, it was a very melancholy and forlorn young Indian who +shook hands, for the last time, with the white boy at sunrise the next +morning, and said, "How, Glen," in answer to the other's cheery +"Good-by, Lame Wolf. Take care of yourself, and I hope you will be able +to talk English the next time I see you."</p> + +<p>Then, after bidding good-bye to the Winns and his other friends of the +post, the boy sprang on Nettle's back and dashed after the wagon-train +that was just disappearing over a roll of the prairie to the westward.</p> + +<p>All that morning Glen's attention was claimed by Mr. Hobart, or "Billy" +Brackett, or somebody else, who wished to learn more of the details of +his recent experience; but late in the afternoon he found himself riding +beside Binney Gibbs. For the first time in their lives the two boys held +a long and earnest conversation. From it each learned of good qualities +in the other that he had never before suspected; and by it a long step +was taken towards the cementing of a friendship between them.</p> + +<p>So engaged were they in this talk, that the animals they were riding +were allowed insensibly to slacken their pace, until they had fallen a +considerable distance behind the train. They even stopped to snatch an +occasional mouthful of grass from the wayside, without opposition on the +part of their young riders. These knew that, whenever they chose, a +sharp gallop of a minute or two would place them alongside of the +wagons, and so they carelessly permitted the distance between them and +the train to become much greater than it should have been.</p> + +<p>Suddenly a dazzling ray of light flashed, for the fraction of a second, +full in Glen's eyes, causing him to start, as though a pistol had been +fired close beside him. He glanced hurriedly about. Not a wagon was in +sight; but he knew the train must be just over the rise of ground he and +Binney were ascending. At that same moment the mule threw up its head +and sniffed the air uneasily. Glen's second glance was behind him, and +it revealed a sight that, for an instant, stopped the beating of his +heart. The whole country seemed alive with Indians.</p> + +<p>Half a mile in the rear, hundreds of them, in a dense body, were +advancing at the full speed of their ponies. A small party, evidently of +scouts, were coming down the slope of a divide at one side, in the +direction of the mirror-flash that had first attracted his attention. +But the worst danger of all lay in two fierce-looking warriors who had +advanced upon the boys so silently and rapidly that they were already +within bow-shot.</p> + +<p>Fortunately, Glen was close beside his companion. With a quick movement +he grasped Binney by the collar and jerked him to one side, so that he +very nearly fell off his mule. At the same instant the two arrows, that +he had seen fitted to their bowstrings, whizzed harmlessly over the +boys' heads. As Nettle and the mule sprang away up the slope, several +rifle-balls, from the little party of Indians on the right, whistled +past them; while from behind them rose a howl of mingled rage and +disappointment. The first two Indians had used the noiseless arrows, in +the hope of killing the boys without betraying their presence to the +rest of the party, as the moment for the grand charge, that they hoped +would be such a complete and overwhelming surprise, had not yet arrived. +Now that they had failed in this, there was no longer any need for +caution, and they fired shot after shot from their rifles after the +fugitives.</p> + +<p>Glen had seen the Cheyennes dodge from side to side, as they rode away +from the stage-ranch three days before, to disconcert the aim of its +defenders; and now he and Binney employed the same device.</p> + +<p>Nettle was so much fleeter than the mule that Glen could have gained the +top of the slope in advance of his companion if he had so chosen; but he +rather chose to be a little behind him at this point. So, instead of +urging the mare to do her best, he faced about in his saddle and +returned the rifle-shots of the two Indians who were nearest, until his +magazine was emptied. It is not likely that any of his shots took +effect; but they certainly weakened the ardor of the pursuit, and gave +Binney Gibbs a chance to cross the ridge in safety, which he probably +could not have done had not Glen held those Indians in momentary check.</p> + +<p>With his last shot expended, and no chance to reload, it was evidently +high time for Glen to test the speed of his mare to its utmost. His life +depended wholly on her now, and he knew it. There would be no taking of +prisoners this time. Even at this critical moment he reflected grimly, +and with a certain satisfaction, upon the difficulty the Indians would +find in getting a scalp off of his shaven head.</p> + +<p>All this riding and shooting and thinking had been done so rapidly that +it was not two minutes from the time of that first tell-tale +mirror-flash before Nettle had borne her rider to the top of the ridge, +and he could see the wagon-train, not a quarter of a mile from him.</p> + +<p>Binney Gibbs was already half-way to it; and, as Glen caught sight of +him, he was amazed at a most extraordinary performance. Binney suddenly +flew from his saddle, not over his mule's head, as though the animal had +flung him, but sideways, as though he had jumped. Whether he left the +saddle of his own accord or was flung from it the effect was the same; +and the next instant he was sprawling at full length on the soft grass, +while the mule, relieved of his weight, was making better time than ever +towards the wagons.</p> + +<p>Glen had left the trail, thinking to cut off a little distance by so +doing; and, a few moments after Binney's leap into the air, he performed +almost the same act. On his part it was entirely involuntary, and was +caused by one of Nettle's fore-feet sinking into a gopher burrow that +was invisible and not to be avoided.</p> + +<p>As horse and boy rolled over together, a cry of dismay came from one +side, and a wild yell of exultation from the other.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="Chapter_XXIII" id="Chapter_XXIII"></a><span class="smcap">Chapter XXIII.</span></h2> + +<h3>FIGHTING THE FINEST HORSEMEN IN THE WORLD.</h3> + + +<p>It did not take many seconds for both Glen and Nettle to scramble to +their feet after the tremendous header caused by the gopher-hole. Badly +shaken though he was, the boy managed to regain his saddle more quickly +than he had ever done before. But seconds are seconds; and, in so close +a race for the most valuable of all earthly prizes, each one might be +worth a minute, an hour, or even a lifetime. Glen had not more than +regained his seat, before the foremost of his pursuers, who had far +outstripped the other, was upon him. With an empty rifle, Glen had not +the faintest hope of escape this time, though Nettle sprang bravely +forward. He involuntarily cringed from the expected blow, for he had +caught a fleeting glimpse of an uplifted tomahawk; but it did not come. +Instead of it, he heard a crash, and turned in time to see the Indian +pony and its rider pitch headlong, as he and Nettle had done a minute +before. They were almost beside him; and, as he dashed away, he was +conscious of wondering if they too had fallen victims to an unseen +gopher-hole.</p> + +<p>He had not noticed the figure running to meet him, nor heard one of the +shots it was firing so wildly as it ran. If he had he might have +realized that his salvation had not depended on a gopher-hole, but on +one of those random shots from Binney Gibbs's rifle. By the merest +chance, for it was fired without aim and almost without direction, it +had pierced the brain of the Indian pony, and decided that race in favor +of Glen.</p> + +<p>When, to Glen's great surprise, the two boys met, he sprang from +Nettle's back and insisted that Binney should take his place, which the +other resolutely refused to do. So Glen simply tossed the bridle rein +into Binney's hand, and started off on a full run. In a moment Nettle, +with Binney on her back, had overtaken him, and the generous dispute +might have been resumed had not a party of mounted men from the +wagon-train just then dashed up and surrounded the boys. They were +headed by "Billy" Brackett, who cried out,</p> + +<p>"Well, you're a pretty pair of babes in the woods, aren't you? And +you've been having lots of fun at the expense of our anxiety! But jump +up behind me, Glen, quick, for I believe every wild Injun of the Plains +is coming down that hill after us at this moment."</p> + +<p>Just before the first shots were heard, some anxiety had been felt in +the train concerning the boys who had lagged behind, and "Billy" +Brackett had already asked if he had not better look them up. Then, as +the sound of firing came over the ridge, and the boys were known to have +got into some sort of trouble, he rode back at full speed, followed by a +dozen of the men. All were equally ready to go, but the rest were +ordered to remain behind for the protection of the train. Then the +wagons were quickly drawn up in double line, and the spare stock was +driven in between them.</p> + +<p>These arrangements were hardly completed before "Billy" Brackett and his +party, with the two rescued boys, came flying back, pursued by the +entire body of Indians. As the former gained the wagons they faced +about, and, with a rattling volley, checked for an instant the further +advance of the dusky pony riders.</p> + +<p>But those Cheyennes and Arrapahoes and Kiowas and Comanches were not +going to let so rich a prize as this wagon-train and all those scalps +escape them without at least making a bold try for it. If they could +only force the train to go into corral, while it was a mile away from +the nearest stream, they would have taken a long step towards its +capture.</p> + +<p>So they divided into two bands; and, circling around, came swooping down +on the train from both sides at once. The Plains Indians are the finest +horsemen in the world, and their everyday feats of daring in the saddle +would render the performance of the best circus-riders tame by +comparison. Now, as the two parties swept obliquely on towards the +motionless wagons, with well-ordered ranks, tossing arms, waving plumes +and fringes, gaudy with vivid colors, yelling like demons, and sitting +their steeds like centaurs, they presented a picture of savage warfare +at once brilliant and terrible.</p> + +<p>At the flash of the white men's rifles every Indian disappeared as +though shot, and the next moment their answering shower of bullets and +arrows came from under their horses' necks. The headlong speed was not +checked for an instant; but after delivering their volley they circled +off beyond rifle-shot for a breathing-spell.</p> + +<p>As they did so, the wagon-train moved ahead. A few mules had been killed +and more wounded by the Indian volley; but their places were quickly +filled from the spare stock. By the time the Indians were ready for +their second charge, the train was several hundred yards nearer the +coveted water than before.</p> + +<p>Again they halted. Again the young engineers, inwardly trembling with +excitement, but outwardly as firm as rocks, took their places under and +behind the wagons, with their shining rifle-barrels steadily pointed +outward. Some of them had been soldiers, while others had encountered +Indians before; but to most of them this was the first battle of any +kind they had ever seen. But they all knew what their fate would be if +overpowered, and they had no idea of letting these Indians get any +nearer than within good rifle-shot.</p> + +<p>"If you can't see an Indian, aim at the horses!" shouted General Lyle, +from his position on horseback midway between the two lines of wagons. +"Don't a man of you fire until I give the word, and then give them as +many shots as possible while they are within range."</p> + +<p>The chief had not the remotest thought of allowing his train to be +captured, nor yet of being compelled to corral it before he was ready to +do so.</p> + +<p>The second charge of the Indians was even bolder than the first, and +they were allowed to come much nearer before the order to fire was +given. The same manœuvres were repeated as before. One white man, a +member of Mr. Hobart's division, was killed outright, and two others +were wounded. More mules were killed than before, and more were injured; +but still the train moved ahead, and this time its defenders could see +the sparkle of water in the river they longed so ardently to reach. How +thirsty they were getting, and what dry work fighting was! The wagon +mules sniffed the water eagerly, and could hardly be restrained from +rushing towards it.</p> + +<p>But another charge must be repelled first. This time it was so fierce +that the Indians rode straight on in the face of the first and second +volleys from the engineers' rifles. When the third, delivered at less +than two rods' distance, finally shattered their ranks, and sent them +flying across the level bottom-land, they left a dozen wagon mules +transfixed with their lances.</p> + +<p>The Indians left many a pony behind them when they retreated from that +charge; but in every case their riders, killed, wounded, or unhurt, were +borne off by the others, so that no estimate of their loss could be +formed.</p> + +<p>Before another charge could be made, the wagons had been rushed forward, +with their mules on a full gallop, to a point so close to the river-bank +that there was no longer any danger of being cut off from it. Here they +were corralled, and chained together in such a manner as to present an +almost impregnable front to the Indians. At least it was one that those +who viewed it, with feelings of bitter disappointment, from a safe +distance, did not care to attack. After they had noted the disposition +of the train, and satisfied themselves that it was established in that +place for the night, they disappeared so completely that no trace of +them was to be seen, and the explorers were left to take an account of +the losses they had sustained in this brief but fierce encounter.</p> + +<p>Only one man killed! What a comfort it was that no more had shared his +fate, and yet how sad that even this one should be taken from their +number! Glen had known him well; for he was one of those merry young +Kansas City surveyors, one of the "bald heads," as they were known in +the party. An hour before he had been one of the jolliest among them. He +was one of those who had gone out so cheerfully with "Billy" Brackett to +the rescue of the boys. He had been instantly killed while bravely doing +his duty, and had suffered no pain. They had that consolation as they +talked of him in low, awed tones. His body could not be sent home. It +could not be carried with them. So they buried him in a grave dug just +inside the line of wagons.</p> + +<p>The last level beams of the setting sun streamed full on the spot as the +chief-engineer read the solemn burial service, and each member of the +expedition, stepping forward with uncovered head, dropped a handful of +earth into the open grave. Then it was filled, and its mound was beaten +to the level of the surrounding surface. After that, mules and horses +were led back and forth over it, until there was no longer any chance of +its recognition, or disturbance by Indians or prowling beasts.</p> + +<p>None of the wounded suffered from severe injuries; and, though the +bodies of the wagons were splintered in many places, and their canvas +covers gaped with rents, no damage had been sustained that could not be +repaired.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="Chapter_XXIV" id="Chapter_XXIV"></a><span class="smcap">Chapter XXIV.</span></h2> + +<h3>CROSSING THE QUICKSANDS.</h3> + + +<p>As soon as Glen found a chance to talk to Binney Gibbs he asked him how +his mule happened to throw him in such a peculiar fashion.</p> + +<p>"He didn't throw me," answered Binney, with a look of surprise; "I +jumped off."</p> + +<p>"What on earth did you do that for?"</p> + +<p>"Because he was running away, and I couldn't stop him. I saw that your +pony couldn't keep up with him, and, of course, I wasn't going to leave +you behind to fight all those Indians alone. So I got off the only way I +could think of, and started back to help you. It was mighty lucky I did, +too. Don't you think so?"</p> + +<p>"Indeed I do!" answered Glen, heartily, though at the same time he could +not help smiling at the idea of Nettle not being able to keep up with +Binney's mule. He would not for the world, though, have belittled the +other's brave act by saying that he had purposely remained behind to +cover his companion's flight. He only said, "Indeed I do, and it was one +of the finest things I ever heard of, Binney. I shall always remember +it, and always be grateful for it. You made a splendid shot, too, and I +owe my life to it; for that Indian was just lifting his hatchet over my +head when you rolled him over. I tell you it was a mighty plucky thing +for anybody to do, especially—" Glen was about to say, "especially for +a fellow who has never been considered very brave;" but he checked +himself in time, and substituted, "for a fellow who never had any +experience with Indians before."</p> + +<p>Binney knew well enough, though, that the Brimfield boys had always +thought him a coward; for they had never hesitated to tell him so. Now, +to be praised for bravery, and that by the bravest boy he had ever +known, was a new and very pleasant sensation. It was even better than to +be called generous, and he mentally vowed, then and there, never again +to forfeit this newly gained reputation.</p> + +<p>There is nothing that will so stimulate a boy or girl to renewed efforts +as a certain amount of praise where it is really deserved. Too much +praise is flattery; and praise that is not deserved is as bad as unjust +censure.</p> + +<p>While the boys were thus talking they received word that General Lyle +wished to see them. They found him sitting, with Mr. Hobart, in an +ambulance; for it had been ordered that no tents should be pitched in +that camp. When they stood before the chief-engineer he said, kindly:</p> + +<p>"Boys, I want both to reprimand and thank you. I am surprised that you +should have so disobeyed my positive orders as to lose sight of the +train when on a march through an Indian country. This applies to you, +Matherson, more than to your companion; for your late experience should +have taught you better. I trust that my speaking to you now will prevent +any repetition of such disobedience. Your carelessness of this afternoon +might have cost many precious lives, including your own. That is all of +the reprimand. The thanks I wish to express are for your timely warning +of the presence of Indians, and for the individual bravery displayed by +both of you during our encounter with them. That is all I have to say +this time, and I hope next time the reprimand may be omitted."</p> + +<p>As the two boys, feeling both ashamed and pleased, bowed and took their +departure, the chief, turning to his companion, said: "They are fine +young fellows, Hobart, and I congratulate you on having them in your +division. Now let us decide on our plans for to-night."</p> + +<p>This last remark referred to the decision General Lyle had formed of +placing the river between his party and the Indians before daylight. He +knew that the Indians of the Plains, like all others of their race, are +extremely averse to undertaking anything of importance in the dark. He +also knew that their favorite time for making an attack is when they can +catch their enemy at a disadvantage, as would be the case while his +wagons were crossing the river and his men and animals were struggling +with its probable quicksands. Another serious consideration was that, +during the summer season, all the rivers of the Plains are liable to +sudden and tremendous freshets, that often render them impassable for +days. Thus it was unwise to linger on the near bank of one that was +fordable a moment longer than necessary. He had, therefore, decided to +make the crossing of this stream that night, as quietly as possible, and +as soon as darkness had set in. For this reason none of the baggage, +except the mess-chests and a sack of corn, had been taken from the +wagons, so that a start could be made at a few minutes' notice.</p> + +<p>With the last of the lingering daylight the chief, accompanied by Mr. +Hobart and the wagon-master, crossed the river on horseback, to discover +its depth, the character of its bottom, the nature of the opposite bank, +and to locate a camping-ground on its farther side. They found the water +to be but a few inches deep, except in one narrow channel, where it had +a depth of about three feet. They also found the bottom to be of that +most treacherous of quicksands which is so hard that a thousand-pound +hammer cannot force a post into it, yet into which that same post would +slowly sink of its own weight until lost to sight, and held with such +terrible tenacity that nothing short of a steam-engine could pull it +out. Such a quicksand as this is not dangerous to the man or animal who +keeps his feet in constant motion while crossing it, but woe to him if +he neglects this precaution for a single minute. In that case, unless +help reaches him, he is as surely lost as though clasped in the +relentless embrace of a tiger.</p> + +<p>The only place on the opposite bank where teams could emerge from the +water was very narrow, and a team striking below it in the dark would +almost certainly be lost. Thus the problem of a safe crossing at night +became a difficult one. It would be unsafe to build fires or use +lanterns, as these would surely draw the attention, and probably the +bullets, of the Indians.</p> + +<p>Finally the plan was adopted of stretching a rope across the river, from +bank to bank, on the lower side of the ford, with a line of men +stationed along its entire length, so that no team could get below it. +These were charged, as they valued their lives, to keep their feet in +constant motion, and on no account to let go of the rope.</p> + +<p>First the ambulances were put across. Then the spare stock and +saddle-animals were led over, and securely fastened. Six spare mules, +harnessed and attached to a loose rope, were held in readiness, on the +farther bank, to assist any team that might get stalled in the river. +Then, one by one, the heavily laden wagons began to cross, with two men +leading each team. There was little difficulty except at the channel, +where the mules were apt to be frightened at the sudden plunge into +deeper water.</p> + +<p>A mule hates the dark almost as much as an Indian; he dislikes to work +in water, and above all he dreads miry places or quicksands, for which +his small, sharp hoofs are peculiarly unfitted. He is easily +panic-stricken, and is then wholly unmanageable. A team of mules, +finding themselves stalled in a stream, will become frantic with terror. +They utter agonized cries, attempt to clamber on one another's back, and +frequently drown themselves before they can be cut loose from the traces +and allowed to escape.</p> + +<p>In spite of all the difficulties to be overcome, the wagons were got +safely over, until only one remained, and it had started on its perilous +journey. Those members of the party who stood in the water holding the +rope were becoming thoroughly chilled, as well as wearied by the +treadmill exercise necessary to keep their feet from sinking in the +quicksand. Thus, though they still stuck manfully to their posts, they +were thankful enough that this was the last wagon, and noted the sound +of its progress with eager interest. They were all volunteers, for +nobody had been ordered to remain in the river, and this fact added to +the strength of purpose with which they maintained their uncomfortable +positions.</p> + +<p>Among them were Glen Eddy and Binney Gibbs, who, when volunteers were +called for to perform this duty, had rushed into the river among the +first. Now they stood, side by side, near the middle of the stream, and +close to the edge of the channel. They rejoiced to see the dim bulk of +the last wagon looming out of the darkness, and to know that their weary +task was nearly ended.</p> + +<p>The mules of this team were unusually nervous, splashing more than any +of the others had done, and snorting loudly. The rope had been cast +loose from the bank the party had so recently quitted, and all those who +had upheld it beyond Glen and Binney had passed by them on their way to +the other side. They, too, would be relieved from duty as soon as the +team crossed the channel.</p> + +<p>But there seemed to be some difficulty about persuading the mules to +cross it. As the leaders felt the water growing deeper and the sandy +bank giving way beneath them, they sprang back in terror, and threw the +whole team into confusion. The wagon came to a standstill, and everybody +in the vicinity realized its danger. The driver, feeling that the need +for silence and caution was past, began to shout at his mules, and the +reports of his blacksnake whip rang out like pistol-shots.</p> + +<p>In the excitement of the moment nobody noticed or paid any attention to +a gleaming line of white froth that came creeping down the river, +stretching from bank to bank like a newly formed snow-drift. Suddenly a +rifle-shot rang out from the bank they had left, then another, and then +a dozen at once. The Indians had discovered their flight, and were +firing angrily in the direction of the sounds in the river. The teamster +sprang from his saddle, and, cutting the traces of his mules, started +them towards the shore, leaving the wagon to its fate.</p> + +<p>"It's time we were off, too, old man," said Glen, as he started to +follow the team.</p> + +<p>"I can't move, Glen! Oh, help me! I'm sinking!" screamed Binney, in a +tone of inexpressible anguish.</p> + +<p>Glen dropped the rope, and sprang to his companion's assistance.</p> + +<p>At the same instant there came a great shout from the bank, "Hurry up, +there's a freshet coming! Hurry! Hurry, or you'll be swept away!"</p> + +<p>With both arms about Binney, Glen was straining every nerve of his +muscular young body to tear his friend loose from the grasp of the +terror that held him. He could not; but a wall of black water four feet +high, that came rushing down on them with an angry roar, was mightier +even than the quicksand, and, seizing both the boys in its irresistible +embrace, it wrenched them loose and overwhelmed them.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="Chapter_XXV" id="Chapter_XXV"></a><span class="smcap">Chapter XXV.</span></h2> + +<h3>SWEPT AWAY BY A FRESHET.</h3> + + +<p>The rush of waters that wrenched Binney Gibbs loose from the grasp of +the quicksand which had seized him as he remained motionless for a +minute, forgetful of his own danger in the excitement caused by that of +the team, also flung the rope they had been holding against Glen Eddy. +He held to it desperately with one hand, while, with the other arm about +his companion, he prevented him from being swept away. As the mad waters +dashed the boys from their feet and closed over them, it seemed as +though Glen's arms must be torn from their sockets, and he would have +had to let go had not Binney also succeeded in grasping the rope so that +the great strain was somewhat relieved. Gasping for breath, they both +rose to the surface.</p> + +<p>A huge white object was bearing directly down on them. They could not +avoid it. Glen was the first to recognize its nature. "It's the wagon!" +he shouted. "Grab hold of it, and hang on for your life!"</p> + +<p>Then it struck them and tore loose their hold of the rope. They both +managed to clutch it, though Binney's slight strength was so nearly +exhausted that, but for Glen, he must speedily have let go and sunk +again beneath the foam-flecked waters. Now the other's sturdy frame and +athletic training came splendidly to his aid. Obtaining a firm foothold +in the flooded wagon, he pulled Binney up to him by the sheer strength +of his muscular young arms. For a moment they stood together panting for +breath, and the weaker boy clinging to the stronger.</p> + +<p>But the water was still rising; and, as the heavily laden wagon could +not float, it seemed likely to be totally submerged. "It's no use, Glen. +We'll be drowned, anyhow," said Binney, despairingly.</p> + +<p>"Oh, no, we won't. Not just yet, anyway," answered the other, trying to +sustain his companion's spirits by speaking hopefully. "We can get out +of the water entirely, by climbing up on top of the cover, and I guess +it will bear us."</p> + +<p>It was a suggestion worth trying; and, though the undertaking was +perilous and difficult in the extreme, under the circumstances, they +finally succeeded in accomplishing it, and found themselves perched on +the slippery, sagging surface of the canvas cover, that, supported by +stout ash bows, was stretched above the wagon.</p> + +<p>All this time their strange craft, though not floating, was borne slowly +but steadily down stream by the force of the current. Every now and then +it seemed as though about to capsize; and, had it been empty, it must +certainly have done so; but its heavy load, acting like ballast in a +boat, kept it upright. It headed in all directions, and at times, when +its wheels could revolve on the bottom of the river, it moved steadily +and rapidly. It was when it got turned broadside to the current that the +two shivering figures, clutching at their uncertain support, became most +apprehensive, and expected it to be overturned by the great pressure +brought to bear against it.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="illus3" id="illus3"></a> +<img src="images/illus3.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> + +<h3>"THE STRANGE CRAFT WAS BORNE SLOWLY DOWN STREAM."</h3> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p>How slowly the minutes and hours dragged by! It was about midnight when +the freshet struck them and they started on this most extraordinary +voyage; but from that time until they saw the first streaks of rosy +light in the east seemed an eternity.</p> + +<p>More than once during the night the wagon brought up against some +obstruction, and remained motionless for longer or shorter intervals of +time; but it had always been forced ahead again, and made to resume its +uncertain wanderings.</p> + +<p>Now, as the welcome daylight crept slowly over the scene, it found the +strange ark, with its two occupants, again stranded, and this time +immovably so. At length Glen exclaimed, joyfully: "There's the western +bank, the very one we want to reach, close to us. I believe we can swim +to it, as easy as not."</p> + +<p>"But I can't swim, you know," replied Binney, dolefully.</p> + +<p>"That's so; I forgot," said Glen, in a dismayed tone. "But look," he +added, and again there was a hopeful ring to his voice, "there are the +tops of some bushes between us and it. The water can't be very deep +there. Perhaps we can touch bottom, and you can wade if you can't swim. +I'm going over there and take soundings."</p> + +<p>Binney dreaded being left alone, and was about to beg his companion not +to desert him, but the words were checked on his lips by the thought of +the reputation he had to sustain. So, as Glen pulled off his wet +clothing, he said, "All right, only be very careful and don't go too +far, for I think I would rather drown with you than be left here all +alone."</p> + +<p>"Never fear!" cried Glen; "swimming is about the one thing I can do. So, +here goes!"</p> + +<p>He had climbed down, and stood on the edge of the submerged wagon body +as he spoke. Now he sprang far out in the yellow waters, and the next +moment was making his way easily through them towards the bushes. The +swift current carried him down-stream; but at length he caught one of +them, and, letting his feet sink, touched bottom in water up to his +neck.</p> + +<p>"It's all right!" he shouted back to Binney. Pulling himself along from +one bit of willow to another, he waded towards the bank until the water +was not more than up to his waist. Then he made his way up-stream until +he was some distance above the place where the wagon was stranded, and, +two minutes later, he had waded and swum back to it.</p> + +<p>Binney had watched every movement anxiously, and now he said, "That's +all well enough for you; but I don't see how I am going to get there."</p> + +<p>"By resting your hands on my shoulders and letting me swim with you till +you can touch bottom, of course," answered Glen.</p> + +<p>He could not realize Binney's dread of the water, nor what a struggle +against his natural timidity took place in the boy's mind before he +answered, "Very well, if you say so, Glen, I'll trust you."</p> + +<p>While he was laying aside his water-soaked clothing and preparing for +the dreaded undertaking, Glen suddenly uttered an exclamation of dismay. +He had spied several horsemen riding along the river-bank towards them. +Were they white men or Indians? Did their coming mean life or death?</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid they are Indians," said Glen; "for our camp must be ten +miles off."</p> + +<p>Binney agreed with him that they must have come at least that distance +during the night, and the boys watched the oncoming horsemen with heavy +hearts.</p> + +<p>"I'd rather drown than let them get me again," said Glen.</p> + +<p>But Binney had not had the other's experience with Indians, and to him +nothing could be more terrible than water.</p> + +<p>Long and earnestly they watched, filled with alternate hopes and fears. +The riders seemed to move very slowly. All at once, Glen uttered a shout +of joy. "They are white men!" he cried. "I can see their hats;" and, +seizing his wet shirt, he began to wave it frantically above his head.</p> + +<p>That his signal was seen was announced by a distant cheer, and several +shots fired in quick succession. A few minutes later, six white men +reined in their horses on the bank, just abreast the wagon. They were +hardly able to credit their eyes as they recognized, in the two naked +figures clinging to it, those whom they had been so certain were long +ago drowned, and for whose bodies they were searching. As they hurriedly +consulted concerning how best to effect a rescue, they were amazed to +see both boys clamber down from their perch, and drop into the turbid +waters, one after the other. When they realized that Glen and Binney +were swimming, and trying in this way to reach the shore, they forced +their horses down the steep bank and dashed into the shallow overflow of +the bottom-land to meet them.</p> + +<p>At that moment Binney Gibbs, by trusting himself so implicitly to Glen's +strength and skill, in an element where he was so utterly helpless, was +displaying a greater courage than where, acting under impulse, he sprang +from his mule the day before, and ran back to fight Indians. The bravest +deeds are always those that are performed deliberately and after a +careful consideration of their possible consequences.</p> + +<p>As "Billy" Brackett, who was the first to reach the boys, relieved Glen +of his burden, he exclaimed,</p> + +<p>"Well, if I had the luck of you fellows I'd change my name to Vanderbilt +and run for Congress! We were sure you were gone up this time, and the +best I hoped for was to find your bodies. Instead of that, here you are, +hardly out of sight of camp, perched on the top of a wagon, as chipper +as a couple of sparrows after a rainstorm."</p> + +<p>"Where is camp?" inquired Glen, who was now wading easily along beside +the other's horse.</p> + +<p>"Just around that farther bend, up there."</p> + +<p>"What made it come so far down the river, and off the road?"</p> + +<p>"It hasn't. It's right at the ford, where we crossed last night."</p> + +<p>"But I thought that was at least ten miles from here."</p> + +<p>"Ten miles! Why, my son, you must have imagined you were travelling on a +four-wheeled steamboat all night, instead of an old water-logged prairie +schooner. We are not, at this minute, quite a mile from the place where +you started on your cruise."</p> + +<p>It was hard for the boys to realize the truth of this statement; but so +it was; and, during those tedious hours of darkness they had only +travelled rods instead of miles, as they had fancied.</p> + +<p>After the short delay necessary to recover the boys' clothing from the +wagon, they were triumphantly borne back to camp by the rescuing-party. +There the enthusiasm with which they were received was only equalled by +the amazement of those who crowded about them and listened to the +account of their adventure.</p> + +<p>By means of a double team of mules, and some stout ropes, even the wagon +on which they had made their curious voyage was recovered, and found to +be still serviceable, though the greater part of its load was ruined.</p> + +<p>The river was still an impassable stream, as wide as the Mississippi at +St. Louis, and was many feet deep over the place, on its farther side, +where they had camped at sunset. Thus there was no danger of another +attack from Indians. Two hours after sunrise the explorers were again +wending their way westward, rejoicing over their double escape, and over +the recovery of the two members who had been given up as lost.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="Chapter_XXVI" id="Chapter_XXVI"></a><span class="smcap">Chapter XXVI.</span></h2> + +<h3>RUNNING THE LINE.</h3> + + +<p>After this day and night, crowded so full of incident, four days of +steady travel brought General Lyle's expedition to a point close to the +boundary-line between Kansas and Colorado, where their surveys were to +begin. The last hundred miles of their journey had been through a region +studded with curious masses of sandstone. These were scattered far and +wide over the Plains, and rose to a height of from one hundred to three +hundred feet, resembling towers, monuments, castles, and ruins of every +description. It was hard to believe that many of them were not the work +of human hands; and to Glen and Binney they formed an inexhaustible +subject for wonder and speculation.</p> + +<p>They were now more than three thousand feet above the sea-level; the +soil became poorer with every mile; there were fewer streams, and along +those that did exist timber was almost unknown.</p> + +<p>The first line of survey was to be a hard one; for it was to run through +the very worst of this country—from the Smoky Hill to the Arkansas, a +region hitherto unexplored, and known only to the few buffalo hunters +who had crossed it at long intervals. The distance was supposed to be +about seventy miles, and there was said to be no water along the entire +route. But both a transit and a level line must be run over this barren +region, and the distance must be carefully measured. A good day's work +for a surveying-party, engaged in running a first, or preliminary, line +in an open country, is eight or ten miles; and, at this rate, the +distance between the Smoky Hill and the Arkansas rivers could be covered +in a week. But a week without water was out of the question, and General +Lyle determined to do it in three days.</p> + +<p>On the night before beginning this remarkable survey, every canteen and +bottle that could be found was filled with water, as were several casks. +Everybody drank as much as he could in the morning, and all the animals +were watered the very last thing. Everything was packed and ready for a +start by daylight, and long before sunrise the working-party was in the +field. The first division was to run the first two miles. Its transit +was set up over the last stake of the old survey that had been ended at +that point, and the telescope was pointed in the direction of the course +now to be taken. The division engineer, with his front flagman, had +already galloped half a mile away across the plain. There they halted, +and the gayly painted staff, with its fluttering red pennon, was held +upright. Then it was moved to the right or left, as the transit-man, +peering through his telescope, waved his right or left arm. Finally, he +waved both at a time, and the front flag was thrust into the ground. It +was on line.</p> + +<p>Now the head chainman starts off on a run, with his eyes fixed on the +distant flag, and dragging a hundred feet of glistening steel-links +behind him. "Stick!" shouts the rear chainman, who stands beside the +transit, as he grasps the end of the chain and pulls it taut. "Stuck!" +answers the man in front, thrusting one of the steel pins that he +carries in his hand into the ground. Then he runs on, and the rear +chainman runs after him, but just a hundred feet behind.</p> + +<p>Two axemen, one with a bundle of marked stakes in his arms, and the +other carrying an axe with which to drive them, follow the chain +closely. At the end of each five hundred feet they drive a stake. If +stakes were not so scarce in this country, they would set one at the end +of every hundred feet. It does not make much difference; for these +stakes will not remain standing very long anyhow. The buffalo will soon +pull them up, by rubbing and scratching their heads against them. At the +end of every half-mile, a mound of earth—or stones, if they can be +found—is thrown up; and these the Indians will level whenever they come +across them. Perhaps some of them will be left, though.</p> + +<p>While the chainmen are measuring the distance to that front flag, and +the axemen are driving stakes and throwing up mounds, the transit-man, +mounted on a steady-going mule, with the transit on his shoulder, is +galloping ahead to where the front flag awaits him. Only the back +flagman is left standing at the place from which the first sight was +taken.</p> + +<p>The front flagman thrust a small stake in the ground, drove a tack in +its centre, and held his flag on it before he waved the transit-man up. +Now the transit is set over this stake so that the centre of the +instrument is directly over the tack; and while it is being made ready +the front flag is again galloping away over the rolling prairie, far in +advance of the rest of the party.</p> + +<p>The transit-man first looks through his telescope at the back flag, now +far behind him, and waves to him to come on. Then the telescope is +reversed, and he is ready to wave the front flag into line as soon as he +stops.</p> + +<p>The leveller, with two rodmen, all well mounted, follow behind the +transit-party, noting, by means of their instruments, the elevation +above sea-level of every stake that is driven.</p> + +<p>So the work goes on with marvellous rapidity—every man and horse and +mule on a run until two miles have been chained and it is time for the +breathless first division to have a rest.</p> + +<p>Mr. Hobart has watched their work carefully. He has also made some +changes in his force, and is going to see what sort of a front flagman +Glen Eddy will make. This is because Nettle has proved herself the +fleetest pony in the whole outfit.</p> + +<p>"Two miles in fifty-two minutes!" shouts Mr. Hobart to his men, as the +stake that marks the end of ten thousand five hundred and sixty feet is +driven. "Boys, we must do better than that."</p> + +<p>"Ay, ay, sir! We will!" shout the "bald heads," as they spring to the +places the first-division men are just leaving.</p> + +<p>Mr. Hobart, Glen, and a mounted axeman are already galloping to the +front. They dash across a shallow valley, lying between two great swells +of the prairie, and mount the gentle slope on its farther side, a mile +away. It is a long transit sight; but "Billy" Brackett can take it.</p> + +<p>The boy who rides beside the division engineer is very proud of his new +position, and sits his spirited mare like a young lancer. The slender, +steel-shod, red-and-white staff of his flag-pole, bearing its gay +pennon, that Glen has cut a little longer than the others, and nicked +with a swallow-tail, looks not unlike a lance. As the cool morning air +whistles past him, the boy's blood tingles, his eyes sparkle, and he +wonders if there can be any more fascinating business in the world than +surveying and learning to become an engineer. He thinks of the mill and +the store with scorn. It beats them away out of sight, anyhow.</p> + +<p>As they reach the crest of the divide, from which they can see far away +on all sides, Mr. Hobart, using his field-glass to watch the movements +of "Billy" Brackett's arms, directs Glen where to place his flag. +"Right—more—more—away over to the right—there—steady! Left, a +little—steady—so! Drive a stake there! Now hold your flag on it! A +trifle to the right—that's good! Drive the tack! Move him up—all +right, he's coming!" Then, leaving the axeman to point out the stake, +just driven, to the transit-man, the engineer and his young flagman +again dash forward.</p> + +<p>"Two miles in thirty-eight minutes! That is quick work! I congratulate +you and your division, Mr. Hobart." So said the chief-engineer as the +men of the second division, dripping with perspiration, completed their +first run, and, turning the work over to those of the third, took their +vacant places in the wagon that followed the line.</p> + +<p>The morning sun was already glowing with heat, and by noon its +perpendicular rays were scorching the arid plain with relentless fury. +Men and animals alike drooped beneath it, but there was no pause in the +work. It must be rushed through in spite of everything. About noon they +passed a large buffalo wallow, half filled with stagnant water, that the +animals drank eagerly.</p> + +<p>That evening, when it was too dark to distinguish the cross-hairs in the +instruments, the weary engineers knocked off work, with a +twenty-one-mile survey to their credit. They were too tired to pitch +tents that night, but spread their blankets anywhere, and fell asleep +almost as soon as they had eaten supper. There was no water, no wood, +and only a scanty supply of sun-dried grass. It was a dry camp.</p> + +<p>The next day was a repetition of the first. The tired animals, suffering +from both hunger and thirst, dragged the heavy wagons wearily over the +long undulations of the sun-baked plain. Occasionally they crossed dry +water-courses; but at sunset they had not found a drop of the precious +fluid, and another dry camp was promised for that night.</p> + +<p>As the men of the second division drove the last stake of another +twenty-one-mile run, and, leaving the line, moved slowly in the +direction of camp, the mule ridden by Binney Gibbs suddenly threw up its +head, sniffed the air, and, without regard to his rider's efforts to +control him, started off on a run.</p> + +<p>"Stop us! We are running away!" shouted Binney; and, without hesitation, +Glen gave spurs to Nettle and dashed away in pursuit.</p> + +<p>"What scrape are those young scatter-brains going to get into now?" +growled Mr. Hobart.</p> + +<p>"I don't know," answered "Billy" Brackett; "but whatever it is they will +come out of it all right, covered with mud and glory. I suppose I might +as well begin to organize the rescuing-party, though."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="Chapter_XXVII" id="Chapter_XXVII"></a><span class="smcap">Chapter XXVII.</span></h2> + +<h3>"COVERED WITH MUD AND GLORY."</h3> + + +<p>As "Billy" Brackett predicted they would, the two boys did return to +camp in about fifteen minutes, covered with mud and glory. At least +Binney Gibbs was covered with mud, and they brought the glorious news +that there were several large though shallow pools of water not more +than half a mile away. Binney's mule having scented it, there was no +stopping him until he had rushed to it, and, as usual, flung his rider +over his head into the very middle of one of the shallow ponds. Glen had +reached the place just in time to witness this catastrophe, and to roar +with laughter at the comical sight presented by his companion, as the +latter waded ruefully from the pond, dripping mud and water from every +point.</p> + +<p>"You take to water as naturally as a young duck, Binney!" he shouted, as +soon as his laughter gave him a chance for words.</p> + +<p>"No, indeed, I don't," sputtered poor Binney. "But somehow water always +seems to take to me, and I can get nearly drowned when nobody else can +find a drop to drink. As for that mule, I believe he thinks I wouldn't +know how to get off his back if he didn't pitch me off."</p> + +<p>In less than a minute after the boys got back with their report of +water, half the men in camp were hastening towards it, and the entire +herd of animals, in charge of a couple of teamsters, was galloping madly +in the same direction. The ponds were the result of a heavy local rain +of the night before; and, within a couple of days, would disappear in +the sandy soil as completely as though they had never existed; but they +served an admirable purpose, and the whole party was grateful to Binney +Gibbs's mule for discovering them.</p> + +<p>So refreshed were the men by their unexpected bath, and so strengthened +were the animals by having plenty of water with both their evening and +morning meals, that the survey of the following day covered twenty-four +miles. It was the biggest day's work of transit and level on record, and +could only have been accomplished under extraordinary circumstances.</p> + +<p>This was the hardest day of the three to bear. The heat of the sun, +shining from an unclouded sky, was intolerable. As far as the eye could +reach there was no shadow, nor any object to break the terrible monotony +of its glare. A hot wind from the south whirled the light soil aloft in +suffocating clouds of dust. The men of the three divisions were becoming +desperate. They knew that this killing pace could not be maintained much +longer, and the twenty-four mile run was the result of a tremendous +effort to reach the Arkansas River that day.</p> + +<p>From each eminence, as they crossed it, telescope, field-glasses, and +straining eyes swept the sky-line in the hope of sighting the longed-for +river. Late in the afternoon some far away trees and a ribbon of light +were lifted to view against the horizon by the shimmering heat waves; +but this was at once pronounced to be only the tantalizing vision of the +mirage.</p> + +<p>So, in a dry camp, the exhausted men and thirsty animals passed the +night. The latter, refusing to touch the parched grass or even their +rations of corn, made the hours hideous with their cries, and spent +their time in vain efforts to break their fastenings that they might +escape and seek to quench their burning thirst.</p> + +<p>But even this night came to an end; and, with the first eastern streaks +of pink and gold so exquisitely beautiful through the rarefied +atmosphere of this region, the surveyors were once more in the field. +There was no merriment now, nor life in the work. It went on amid a +dogged silence. The transit and level were lifted slowly, as though they +were made of lead. The chain was dragged wearily along at a walk. It was +evident that the limit of endurance was nearly reached. Scouts were sent +out on both sides to search for water. There was no use sending anybody +ahead to hunt up that mirage, or at least so thought General Lyle. His +maps showed the river to be miles away; but they also showed a large +creek, not far to the westward; and towards this the hopes of the party +were turned. On the maps it was called "Sand Creek," a name made +infamous forever by a massacre of Indians, mostly women and children, +that took place on its banks in November, 1864. Then it had contained +water; but now it was true to its name, and the dispirited scouts, +returning from it, reported that its bed was but a level expanse of dry, +glistening sand.</p> + +<p>As this report was being made, there came a quick succession of shots +from the front, and a thrill of new life instantly pervaded the whole +party. What could they indicate, if not good news of some kind. The +first division had completed its two miles, and the second was running +the line. "Billy" Brackett was preparing for one of his famous mile +sights at the front flag, with which Glen Eddy, riding beside Mr. +Hobart, was wearily toiling up a distant slope. Gazing at them through +his fine telescope, the transit-man could not at first understand their +extraordinary actions as they reached the top. He saw Glen fling up his +hat, and Mr. Hobart fire his pistol into the air. Then Glen waved his +flag, while the division engineer seemed to be pointing to something in +front of them.</p> + +<p>"Well, quit your fooling and give me a sight, can't you?" growled +"Billy" Brackett to himself, but directly afterwards he shouted to those +near him, "I believe they've found water, and shouldn't wonder if they'd +located the Arkansas itself." Then he got his "sight," waved "all right," +mounted his mule, shouldered the transit, and galloped away.</p> + +<p>He was right; they had located the Arkansas, and the alleged mirage of +the evening before had been a reality after all. That night of suffering +had been spent within five miles of one of the largest rivers that cross +the Plains.</p> + +<p>As Glen and Mr. Hobart reached the crest of that long slope they saw its +grassy valley outspread before them. They saw the scattered timber +lining its banks, and, best of all, they saw the broad, brown flood +itself, rolling down to join the distant Mississippi. By shots and +wavings they tried to communicate the joyful intelligence to those who +toiled so wearily behind them, and "Billy" Brackett, watching them +through his transit, had understood.</p> + +<p>They waited on the ridge until he joined them, and then hastened away +towards the tempting river. When the next foresight was taken Glen's +flag was planted on the edge of that famous old wagon-road of the +Arkansas Valley known to generations of Plainsmen as the Santa Fé Trail.</p> + +<p>Glen had hardly waved his "all right" to the transit, before the wagons +came tearing down the slope with their mules on the keen run. The +perishing animals had seen the life-giving waters, and it was with the +greatest difficulty that they were restrained from rushing into the +river, wagons and all. The drivers only just succeeded in casting loose +the trace-chains, when each team, with outstretched necks and husky +brayings, plunged in a body over the bank and into the river, burying +their heads up to their eyes in the cooling flood. It seemed as though +they would drink themselves to death, and when they finally, consented +to leave the river and turn their attention to the rich grasses of its +bottom-lands, they were evidently water-logged. It would be hours before +they were again fit for work.</p> + +<p>But nobody wanted them to work. Not until the next morning would the +wagons move again. The splendid runs of the last three days had earned a +rest for men and animals alike. So it was granted them, and no +schoolboys ever enjoyed a half-holiday more. What a luxury it was to +have plenty of water again, not only to drink, but actually to wash with +and bathe in! And to lie in the shade of a tree! Could anything be more +delicious?</p> + +<p>At sunrise the line was resumed; and, still working together, the three +divisions ran it for fifty miles up the broad valley of the Arkansas.</p> + +<p>A few days after striking the river they passed Bent's Fort, one of the +most famous of the old Plains trading-posts built by individuals long +before troops were sent out to occupy the land.</p> + +<p>Its usefulness as a trading-station had nearly departed, for already the +Indians were leaving that part of the country, and those who remained +were kept too busy fighting to have any time for trading. Its stout log +stockade was, however, valuable to its builder as a protection against +attacks from Indians led by one of his own sons. Their mother was a +Cheyenne squaw, and though they, together with their only sister, had +been educated in St. Louis, the same as white children, they had +preferred to follow the fortunes of their mother's people on returning +to the Plains. Now the Cheyennes had no more daring leader than George +Bent, nor was there a girl in the tribe so beautiful as his sister. The +little fort, admirably located on a high bluff overlooking the river, +was filled with a curious mixture of old Plainsmen, Indians, half-breed +children, ponies, mules, burros, and pet fawns. It was a place of noise +and confusion at once bewildering and interesting.</p> + +<p>At the end of fifty miles from the point at which they entered the +Arkansas Valley, the explorers caught their first glimpse of the Rocky +Mountains, two white clouds that they knew to be the snow-capped summits +of the Spanish Peaks, a hundred miles away.</p> + +<p>Here the expedition was divided. The first and third divisions were to +cross the river and proceed southwesterly, by way of the Raton Mountains +and Fort Union, to Santa Fé; while Mr. Hobart was to take the second +still farther up the Arkansas Valley, and almost due west to the famous +Sangre de Cristo Pass through the mountains, just north of the Spanish +Peaks. For two weeks longer they worked their way slowly but steadily +across the burning Plains, towards the mountains that almost seemed to +recede from them as they advanced; though each day disclosed new peaks, +while those already familiar loomed up higher and grander with every +mile. Finally they were so near at hand that the weary toilers, choked +with the alkaline dust of the Plains, and scorched with their fervent +heat, could feast their eyes on the green slopes, cool, dark valleys, +and tumbling cascades, rushing down from glittering snow-fields. How +they longed to be among them, and with what joy did they at length leave +the treeless country of which they were so tired and enter the timbered +foot-hills!</p> + +<p>Now, how deliciously cool were the nights, and how they enjoyed the +roaring camp-fires. What breathless plunges they took in ice-cold +streams of crystal water. How good fresh venison tasted after weeks of +salt bacon and dried buffalo meat, and how eagerly they ate raw onions, +and even raw potatoes, obtained at the occasional Mexican ranches found +nestled here and there in the lower valleys.</p> + +<p>"I tell you," said Glen to Binney Gibbs, who had by this time become his +firm friend, "it pays to go without fresh vegetables for a couple of +months, just to find out what fine things onions and potatoes are."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="Chapter_XXVIII" id="Chapter_XXVIII"></a><span class="smcap">Chapter XXVIII.</span></h2> + +<h3>LOST IN A MOUNTAIN SNOW-STORM.</h3> + + +<p>A week was spent on the eastern slope of the mountains, running lines +through the Mosca and Cuchara passes. Finally, a camp was made in a +forest of balsam-firs, beside a great spring of ice-water, that bubbled +from a granite basin at the summit of the Sangre de Cristo, nine +thousand feet above sea-level. To Glen and Binney, who had always dwelt +in a flat country, and knew nothing of mountains, this was a new and +delightful experience. They never tired of gazing off on the superb +panorama outspread below them. To the east, the view was so vast and +boundless that it seemed as though the distant blue of the horizon must +be that of the ocean itself, and that they were spanning half the +breadth of a continent in a single sight. At their feet lay the Plains +they had just crossed, like a great green map on which dark lines of +timber and gleams of light marked the Arkansas and its tributary +streams, whose waters would mingle with those of the Mississippi.</p> + +<p>On the other hand, they could see, across the broad basin of the San +Luis Valley, other ranges of unknown mountains, whose mysteries they +were yet to explore. Through this western valley, flowing southward, +wound the shining ribbon of the Rio Grande. Both north and south of them +were mountain-peaks. To climb to the very summit of one of these was +Glen's present ambition, and his longing eyes were turned more often to +the snow-capped dome that rose in solemn majesty on the south side of +the pass than in any other direction. He even succeeded in persuading +Binney Gibbs that to climb that mountain would be just a little better +fun than anything else that could be suggested. Still, he did not see +any prospect of their being allowed to make the attempt, and so tried +not to think of it.</p> + +<p>On the first evening, after camp had been pitched on the summit of the +pass, he sat on a chunk of moss-covered granite, gazing meditatively +into the glowing coals of a glorious fire. He imagined he had succeeded +in banishing all thoughts of that desirable mountain-top from his mind, +and yet, all of a sudden, he became aware that it was the very thing he +was thinking of. He gave himself a petulant shake as he realized this, +and was about to move away, when "Billy" Brackett, who sat on the end of +a log near him, spoke up and said,</p> + +<p>"Glen, how would you like to try a bit of mountain climbing with me +to-morrow?"</p> + +<p>"I'd like it better than anything I know of," answered the boy, eagerly.</p> + +<p>"All right, it's a go, then; you see the chief is going off on an +exploration with the topographer; and, as we can't run any lines till he +comes back, he asked me if I'd take a couple of fellows and measure the +height of that peak."</p> + +<p>"Do you mean to chain from here away up there?" asked Glen, in +astonishment, glancing dubiously up at the dim form towering above them.</p> + +<p>"Chain! Not much, I don't!" laughed Brackett. "I mean carry up a +barometer, and measure with it."</p> + +<p>"How?" asked Glen, to whom this was a novel idea.</p> + +<p>"Easy enough. We know that, roughly speaking, a barometer varies a +little less than one tenth of an inch with every hundred feet of +elevation. For instance, if it reads 21.22 where we now are, it will +read 21.14 a hundred feet higher, or 20.40 at an elevation of a thousand +feet above this. There are carefully prepared tables showing the exact +figures."</p> + +<p>"Can't you do it by boiling water, too?" asked Binney Gibbs, who had +approached them unobserved, and was an interested listener of this +explanation.</p> + +<p>"Certainly you can," answered "Billy" Brackett, looking up with some +surprise at the young scholar. "By boiling water we have a neat check on +the barometer; for, on account of the rarefication of the air, water +boils at one degree less of temperature for about every five hundred +feet of elevation."</p> + +<p>"Then what is the use of levelling?" asked Glen.</p> + +<p>"Because these figures are only approximate, and cannot be relied upon +for nice work. But where did you learn about such things, Grip?"</p> + +<p>"At the Brimfield High School," answered Binney with some confusion; for +he was not really so boastful of his scholarship as he had once been.</p> + +<p>"Well, how would you like to join our climbing-party? I'm going to take +Glen along for his muscle, and I'll take you for your brains if you want +to go."</p> + +<p>"I think I'd like to try it, though perhaps I won't be able to get to +the very top," answered Binney.</p> + +<p>The modesty that this boy had learned from his rough Plains experience +would have surprised his Brimfield acquaintances could they have seen +it.</p> + +<p>"Very well, then, we will start at sunrise in the morning. We'll each +carry a hatchet, a knife, matches in water-tight cases, and a good bit +of lunch. I'll carry the barometer, Glen shall take charge of the +thermometer, and 'Grip' shall bring along his brains. Now I'd advise you +both to turn in, and lay up a supply of rest sufficient to carry you +through a harder day's work than any we've done on this trip yet."</p> + +<p>The sun was just lifting his red face above the distant rim of the +Plains, and its scant beams were bathing the snow-capped peak in a +wonderful rosy glow, as the three mountain climbers left camp the next +morning. Each one bore the light weight allotted to him, and, in +addition, Glen carried a raw-hide lariat hung over his shoulders.</p> + +<p>Having noted the compass bearings of their general course, they plunged +directly into the dense fir forest with which this flank of the mountain +was covered to a height of a thousand feet or so above them. For several +hours they struggled through it, sometimes clambering over long lanes of +fallen trees, prostrated by fierce wind-storms, and piled in chaotic +heaps so thickly that often, for half a mile at a time, their feet did +not touch the ground. Then they came to a region of enormous granite +blocks, ten to thirty feet high, over many of which they were obliged to +make their way as best they could. Now they began to find patches of +snow, and the timber only appeared in scattered clumps.</p> + +<p>From here their course led up through an enormous gorge, or cleft, that +grew narrower as they ascended, until it terminated in a long, steep +slope of boulders and loose rocks. Here they encountered the first real +danger of the ascent. Every now and then a boulder, that appeared firmly +seated until burdened with the weight of one of them, would give way and +go crashing and thundering down with great leaps behind them until lost +in the forest below.</p> + +<p>It was noon when they emerged on a narrow, shelf-like plateau above the +gorge. Here stood the last clump of stunted trees. Above them stretched +the glistening snow-fields, pierced by crags of splintered granite. +Rock, ice, and snow to the very summit. Here Binney said he could go no +farther; and here, after building a fire and eating their lunch, the +others left him to await their return.</p> + +<p>A sheer wall of smooth, seamless rock, hundreds of feet in height, +bounded one side of the shelf, and a precipice, almost as sheer, the +other. For half a mile or so did Glen and his companion follow it, +seeking some place at which they might continue their ascent. Finally it +narrowed almost to a point, that terminated in an immense field of snow +sloping down, smooth and spotless, for a thousand feet below them, to a +tiny blue-black lake. Beyond the snow-field the ascent seemed possible; +and, by cutting footholes in it with their hatchets, they managed to +cross it in safety.</p> + +<p>For two hours longer they struggled upward; and then, within a few +hundred feet of the summit, they could get no farther. In vain did they +try every point that offered the faintest hope of success, and at last +were forced to give it up. They noted the reading of the barometer, and +with a few shavings and slivers cut from its outside case they made a +tiny blaze, and, as Glen expressed it, boiled a thermometer in a tin +cup.</p> + +<p>They were now as impatient to descend as they had been to climb upward, +and even more so; for the brightness of the day had departed, and +ominous clouds were gathering about them. The air was bitterly cold; +and, with their few minutes' cessation from violent exercise, they were +chilled to the bone. So they hastened to retrace their rugged way, +sliding, leaping, hanging by their hands, and dropping from ledge to +ledge, taking frightful risks in their eagerness to escape the +threatened storm, or at any rate to meet it in some more sheltered spot. +If they could only reach the shelf-like ledge, at the farther end of +which Binney Gibbs awaited them, they would feel safe. They had nearly +done so, but not quite, when the storm burst upon them in a fierce, +blinding, whirling rush of snow, that took away their breath and stung +like needles. It seemed to penetrate their clothing. It bewildered them. +It was so dense that they could not see a yard ahead of them. They had +already started to cross that long, sloping snow-field, beyond which lay +the rocky shelf. To go back would be as dangerous as to proceed. They +could not stay where they were. The deadly chill of the air would +speedily render them incapable of maintaining their foothold.</p> + +<p>The assistant engineer was leading the way, with his companion a full +rod behind him. The former dared not turn his head; but he shouted +encouragingly that they were almost across, and with a few more steps +would reach a place of safety.</p> + +<p>Then came a swirling, shrieking blast, before which he bowed his head. +He thought he heard a cry; but could not tell. It might only have been +the howl of the fierce wind. He reached the shelf of rock in safety, and +turned to look for his companion; but Glen was not to be seen.</p> + +<p>Blinded by that furious blast, the boy had missed his footing. The next +instant he was sliding, helplessly, and with frightful velocity, down +that smooth slope of unyielding snow, towards the blue lake hidden in +the storm-cloud far beneath him.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="Chapter_XXIX" id="Chapter_XXIX"></a><span class="smcap">Chapter XXIX.</span></h2> + +<h3>PLUNGING INTO A LAKE OF ICE-WATER.</h3> + + +<p>As "Billy" Brackett turned and missed the companion whom he supposed was +close behind him, his heart sank like lead. In vain did he shout. Not +even an echo answered him. His loudest tones were snatched from his lips +by the wind, torn into fragments, and indistinguishably mingled with its +mocking laughter. It was barely possible that Glen might have turned +back; and, with the slender hope thus offered, the engineer retraced his +perilous way across the snow-field to the place where they last stood +together. It was empty and awful in its storm-swept loneliness. A great +terror seized hold upon the man's stout heart; and, as he again crossed +the treacherous snow, he trembled so that his reaching the rocky shelf +beyond was little short of a miracle.</p> + +<p>Then he hastened to the place where Binney Gibbs anxiously awaited the +return of his friends. He had kept up a roaring fire, knowing that it +would be a welcome sight to them, especially since the setting-in of the +storm. Its coming had filled him with anxiety and uneasy forebodings, so +that he hailed "Billy" Brackett's appearance with a glad shout of +welcome. It died on his lips as he noted the expression on the engineer's +face; and, with a tremble of fear in his voice, he asked, "Where is +Glen?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know," was the answer.</p> + +<p>"Do you mean that he is lost on the mountain in this storm?" cried +Binney, aghast at the terrible possibilities thus suggested.</p> + +<p>"Not only that, but I have not the faintest hope that he will ever be +found again," replied the other; and then he told all he knew of what +had happened.</p> + +<p>Although, for their own safety, they should already be hurrying towards +camp, Binney insisted on going to the place where his friend had last +been seen. The snow-squall had passed when they reached it, but the +clouds still hung thick about them; and Binney shuddered as he saw the +smooth white slide that vanished in the impenetrable mist but a few rods +below them. In vain they shouted. In vain they fired every shot +contained in the only pistol they had brought with them. There was no +answer. And, finally, without a hope that they would ever see Glen Eddy +again, they sadly retraced their steps and reached camp just as the +complete darkness, that would have rendered their farther progress +impossible, shut in.</p> + +<p>No one was more loved in that camp than Glen, and no loss from the party +could have been more keenly felt. It was with heavy hearts that they +sought their blankets that night; and, the next evening, when the +search-party, that had been out all day without finding the faintest +trace of the missing boy, returned, they talked of him in low tones as +of one who had gone from them forever.</p> + +<p>The following morning the camp in the pass was broken, and two days +later a line had been run down the western slope of the mountains, to +the edge of the San Luis Valley, near Fort Garland—one of the most +charmingly located military posts of the West.</p> + +<p>In the meantime Glen Eddy was not only alive and well, but, at the very +minute his companions were approaching Fort Garland he was actually +assisting to prepare the quarters of its commandant for a wedding that +was to take place in them that evening.</p> + +<p>For a moment, after he missed his foothold on the upper edge of the +treacherous snow-field, and began to shoot down the smooth surface of +its long slope, he imagined that he was about to be dashed in pieces, +and resigned all hope of escape from the fearful peril that had so +suddenly overtaken him. Then the thought of the blue-black lake, with +its walls of purple and red-stained granite, that he had seen lying at +the foot of this very slope, flashed into his mind. A thrill shot +through him as he thought of the icy plunge he was about to take. Still, +that was better than to be hurled over a precipice. The boy had even +sufficient presence of mind to hold his feet close together, and attempt +to guide himself so that they should strike the water first.</p> + +<p>He might have glided down that slope for seconds, or minutes, or even +hours, for all that he knew of the passage of time. He seemed to be +moving with great speed, and yet, in breathless anticipation of the +inevitable plunge that, in fancy, he felt himself to be taking with each +instant, his downward flight seemed indefinitely prolonged.</p> + +<p>At length the suspense was ended. Almost with the quickness of thought +the boy passed into a region of dazzling sunlight, was launched into +space, and found himself sinking down, down, down, as though he would +never stop, in water so cold that its chill pierced him like knives, and +compressed his head as with a band of iron.</p> + +<p>Looking up through the crystal sheet, he could see an apparently endless +line of bubbles rising from where he was to the surface, and, after a +while, he began to follow them. With a breathless gasp he again reached +the blessed air, and, dashing the water from his eyes, began to consider +his situation. He was dazed and bewildered at finding himself still +alive and apparently none the worse for his tremendous slide. Although +he was in bright sunlight, the mountain-side down which he had come was +hidden beneath dense folds of cloud, out of which he seemed to have +dropped.</p> + +<p>Gently paddling with his hands, just enough to keep himself afloat, Glen +looked anxiously about for some beach or other place at which he might +effect a landing, but could discover none. The upper edge of the +snow-field, that bounded the lake on one side, projected far over the +water, so that, while he might swim under it, there was no possibility +of getting on it. On all other sides sheer walls of rock rose from the +water, without a trace of beach, or even of boulders, at their base.</p> + +<p>In all this solid wall there was but one break. Not far from where Glen +swam, and just beyond the snow-field, a narrow cleft appeared; and from +it came an indistinct roar of waters. Glen felt himself growing numbed +and powerless. He must either give up at once, and tamely allow himself +to sink where he was, or he must swim to that cleft, and take his +chances of getting out through it. He fully expected to find a waterfall +just beyond the gloomy portal, and he clearly realized what his fate +would be if it were there. But whatever he did must be done quickly. He +knew that, and began to swim towards the cleft.</p> + +<p>As he approached it, he felt himself impelled onward by a gentle current +that grew stronger with each moment. Now he could not go back if he +would. He passed between two lofty walls of rock, and, instead of +dashing over a waterfall, was borne along by a swift, smooth torrent +that looked black as ink in the gloom of its mysterious channel.</p> + +<p>Ere the swimmer had traversed more than fifty yards of this dim +waterway, the channel turned sharply to the left, and the character of +the lower portion of its wall, on that side, changed from a precipice to +a slope. In another moment Glen's feet touched bottom, and he was slowly +dragging his numbed and exhausted body ashore.</p> + +<p>Although the sun was still shining on the mountain-side, far above him, +it was already twilight where he was, and he had no desire to explore +that stream farther in darkness. It would be bad enough by daylight. In +fact, he was so thankful to escape from that icy water that, had the +light been increasing instead of waning at that moment, he would +probably have lingered long on those blessed rocks before tempting it +further.</p> + +<p>Now, as he gazed about him in search of some place in which, or on +which, to pass the long hours of darkness, his eye fell on a confused +pile of driftwood not far away. Here was a prize indeed. He had matches, +and, thanks to "Billy" Brackett, they were still dry. Now he could have +a fire. He found the driftwood to be a mass of branches and tree-trunks, +bleached to the whiteness of bones, and evidently brought down by some +much higher water than the present. They were lodged in the mouth of a +deep water-worn hollow in the rock, and converted a certain portion of +it into a sort of a cave. Creeping in behind this wooden wall of gnarled +roots, twisted branches, and splintered trunks, the shivering boy felt +for his hatchet; but it had disappeared. His knife still remained in its +sheath, however, and with it he finally managed, though with great +difficulty on account of the numbness of his hands, to cut off a little +pile of slivers and shavings from a bit of pine.</p> + +<p>In another moment the cave was illumined with a bright glow from one of +his precious matches, and a tiny flame was creeping up through the +handful of kindling. With careful nursing and judicious feeding the +little flame rapidly increased in strength and brightness, until it was +lighting the whole place with its cheerful glow, and was leaping, with +many cracklings, through the entire mass of driftwood.</p> + +<p>Before starting that fire, it seemed to Glen that no amount of heat +could be unwelcome, or that he could ever be even comfortably warm +again. He discovered his mistake, however, when he was finally forced to +abandon his cave entirely, and seek refuge in the open air from the +intense heat with which it was filled. Not until his pile of wood had +burned down to a bed of glowing coals could he return.</p> + +<p>His couch that night was certainly a hard one, but it was as warm and +dry as a boy could wish. If he only had something to eat! But he had +not; so he went to sleep instead, and slept soundly until +daylight—which meant about an hour after sunrise in the world beyond +that narrow caņon.</p> + +<p>If he was hungry the night before, how ravenous he was in the morning. +He even cut off a bit of the raw-hide lariat which he still retained, +and tried to chew it. It was so very unsatisfactory a morsel that it +helped him to realize the necessity of speedily getting out of that +place and hunting for some food more nourishing than lariats.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="Chapter_XXX" id="Chapter_XXX"></a><span class="smcap">Chapter XXX.</span></h2> + +<h3>DOWN THE LONELY CAŅON.</h3> + + +<p>Glen had been conscious, ever since reaching his haven, of a dull, +distant roar coming up from the caņon below him; and now, after an hour +of scrambling, climbing, slipping, but still managing to keep out of the +water, he discovered the fall that he had anticipated, and found himself +on its brink. It was a direct plunge of a hundred feet, and the body of +water very nearly occupied the whole of a narrow chasm between two +cliffs similar to those at the outlet of the lake. A few feet of the +rocky dam, where Glen stood, were bare of water; but its face fell away +as steep and smooth as that over which the stream took its plunge. Only, +in the angle formed by it and the side of the caņon, a mass of débris +had collected that reached about half-way up to where Glen stood, or to +within fifty feet of the brink. On it grew a few stunted trees, the +first vegetation he had seen since taking his slide. Below that place +the way seemed more open, and as though it might be possible to +traverse. But how should he get down? He dared not leap; he could not +fly. But he still had the lariat. It was forty feet long. If he could +only fasten it where he stood, he might slide down its length and then +drop.</p> + +<p>Vainly he searched for some projecting point of rock about which to make +his rope fast. There was none. All was smooth and water-worn. There was +a crack. If he only had a stout bit of wood to thrust into it he might +fasten the lariat to that. But he had not seen the smallest stick since +leaving his sleeping-place. Some unburned branches were still left +there; but the idea of going back over that perilous road, through the +gloom of the caņon, was most unpleasant to contemplate. He hated to +consider it. Still, before long it would be much more unpleasant to +remain where he was, for he was already realizing the first pangs of +starvation.</p> + +<p>So he wearily retraced his steps, procured a stout branch, and, after +two hours of the most arduous toil, again stood on the brink of the +waterfall. Forcing the stick as far as possible into the crack, and +wedging it firmly with bits of rock, he attached the raw-hide rope to +it, and flung the loose end over the precipice. Then, hanging over the +edge, he grasped the rope firmly and slowly slid down. As he reached the +end he hesitated for a moment, and glanced below. His feet dangled on a +level with the top of the upmost tree. He dreaded to drop, but there was +nothing else to do, and the next moment he was rolling and scrambling in +the loose gravel and rounded pebbles of the heap of débris. At last he +brought up against a tree-trunk, bruised and shaken, but with unbroken +bones.</p> + +<p>He had now overcome the most difficult part of his hazardous trip; and, +though the way was still so rough as to demand the exercise of the +utmost care and skill and the use of every ounce of strength he +possessed, it presented no obstacles that these could not surmount.</p> + +<p>Finally, some time in the afternoon, he came to a narrow strip of +meadow-land, where flowers were blooming amid the grass, and on which +warm sunlight was streaming. Here, too, he found a few blueberries, +which he ate ravenously. What should he do for something more +substantial? He was close beside the stream, which here flowed quietly, +with pleasant ripplings, when he was startled by a splash in it. It must +have been a fish jumping. Why had he not thought of fish before? How +should he catch them?</p> + +<p>Necessity is the best sharpener of wits, and, in less than half an hour, +Glen was fishing with a line made of fibres from the inner skin of +spruce bark, a hook formed of a bent pin, baited with a grasshopper, and +the whole attached to a crooked bit of branch. Not only was he fishing, +but he was catching the most beautiful brook-trout he had ever seen +almost as fast as he could re-bait and cast his rude tackle. There was +no art required. Nobody had ever fished in these waters before, and the +trout were apparently as eager to be caught as he was to catch them.</p> + +<p>Glen had not neglected to light a fire before he began his fishing, and +by the time half a dozen of the dainty little fellows were caught a fine +bed of hot coals was awaiting them. The boy knew very little of the art +of cooking, but what he did know was ample for the occasion. His fish +were speedily cleaned, laid on the coals for a minute, turned, left a +minute longer, and eaten. When the first half-dozen had disappeared he +caught more, and treated them in the same way. He had no salt, no +condiments, no accessories of any kind, save the sauce of a hunger +closely allied to starvation; but that supplied everything. It rendered +that feast of half-cooked brook-trout the most satisfactory meal he had +ever eaten.</p> + +<p>When, at last, his hunger was entirely appeased, the sun had set, and +another night without shelter or human companionship was before him; but +what did he care? As he lay in front of his fire, on an elastic, +sweet-scented bed of small spruce boughs, with a semicircle of larger +ones planted in the ground behind him, and their feathery tips drooping +gracefully above his head, he was as happy and well-content as ever in +his life. He had conquered the wilderness, escaped from one of its most +cunningly contrived prison-houses, and won from it the means of +satisfying his immediate wants. He enjoyed a glorious feeling of triumph +and independence. To be sure, he had no idea of where he was, nor where +the stream would lead him; but he had no intention of deserting it. He +realized that his safest plan was to follow it. Eventually it must lead +him to the Rio Grande, and there he would surely be able to rejoin his +party, if he did not find them sooner.</p> + +<p>He was in no hurry to leave the pleasant strip of flower-strewn meadow +the next morning, nor did he, until he had caught and eaten a hearty +breakfast, and laid in a supply of trout for at least one more meal.</p> + +<p>The third night found him still on the bank of his stream, which was +flowing happily, with many a laugh and gurgle, through a narrow but +wonderfully beautiful valley, carpeted with a luxuriant growth of grass +and dotted with clumps of cedars. For this night's camp he constructed a +rude hut of slender poles and branches, similar to the Indian wick-i-ups +he had seen on the Plains. In it he slept on a bed high heaped with soft +grasses and cedar twigs that was a perfect cradle of luxury.</p> + +<p>As Glen emerged from his hut at sunrise he was almost as startled at +seeing a herd of several black-tailed (mule) deer, feeding within a +hundred feet of him, as they were to see him. Pausing for a good stare +at him, for the black-tailed deer is among the most inquisitive animals +in the world, they bounded away with tremendous leaps, and disappeared +behind a cedar thicket. A minute later Glen was again startled; this +time by the report of a rifle from some distance down the valley. He had +just been wishing for his own rifle, the sight of deer having suggested +that venison would be a very pleasant change from a steady fish diet, +and now he hurried away in the direction of the shot.</p> + +<p>He walked nearly half a mile before coming so suddenly upon the hunter +who had fired that shot, and was now engaged in dressing one of those +very black-tailed deer, that the latter discovered him at the same +moment, and paused in his work to examine the new-comer keenly. He was a +man past middle age, squarely built, of medium height, and, as he stood +up, Glen saw that he was somewhat bow-legged. His hair was thin and +light in color, and his face was beardless. It was seamed and +weather-beaten, the cheek-bones were high and prominent, and the keen +eyes were gray. He was dressed in a complete hunting-suit of buckskin, +and the rifle, lying beside him, was of an old-fashioned, +long-barrelled, muzzle-loading pattern. He looked every inch, what he +really was, a typical Plainsman of the best kind, possessed of an +honest, kindly nature, brave and just, a man to be feared by an enemy +and loved by a friend. He gazed earnestly at Glen as the latter walked +up to him, though neither by look nor by word did he betray any +curiosity.</p> + +<p>"I don't know who you are, sir," said the boy, "but I know I was never +more glad to see anybody in my life, for I've been wandering alone in +these mountains for three days."</p> + +<p>"Lost?" asked the other, laconically.</p> + +<p>"Well, not exactly lost," replied Glen. Then, as clearly and briefly as +possible, he related his story, which the other followed with close +attention and evident interest.</p> + +<p>"You did have a close call, and you've had a blind trail to follow +since, for a fact. It sorter looks as though you'd showed sand, and I +shouldn't wonder if you was the right stuff to make a man of," said the +hunter, approvingly, when the recital was ended. "How old are you?"</p> + +<p>"I think I am about sixteen," answered the boy.</p> + +<p>"Just the age I was when I first crossed the Mississip and struck for +this country, where I've been ever since. What are you going to do now?"</p> + +<p>"I'm going to ask you to give me a slice of that venison for my +breakfast, and then tell me the best way to rejoin my party," answered +Glen.</p> + +<p>"Of course I'll give you all the deer-meat you can eat, and we'll have +it broiling inside of five minutes. Then, if you'll come along with me +to the fort, I reckon we'll find your outfit there; or, if they ain't, +the commandant will see to it that you do find them. You know him, don't +you?"</p> + +<p>"No, I don't even know who he is. What is his name?"</p> + +<p>This question seemed, for some reason, to amuse the hunter greatly, and +he laughed silently for a moment before replying: "His name is, rightly, +'Colonel Carson,' and since he's got command of a fort they've given him +the title of 'General Carson;' but all the old Plainsmen and mountainmen +that's travelled with him since he was your age call him 'Kit Carson,' +or just 'Old Kit.' Perhaps you've heard tell of him?"</p> + +<p>Indeed, Glen had heard of the most famous scout the Western Plains ever +produced; and, with the prospect of actually seeing and speaking to him, +he felt amply repaid for his recent trials and sufferings.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="Chapter_XXXI" id="Chapter_XXXI"></a><span class="smcap">Chapter XXXI.</span></h2> + +<h3>KIT CARSON'S GOLD MINE.</h3> + + +<p>While the hunter was talking to Glen, he was also preparing some slices +of venison for broiling, and lighting a small fire. Anxious to be of +use, as well as to have breakfast as soon as possible, the boy set about +collecting wood for the fire. This, by the hunter's advice, he broke and +split into small pieces, that it might the sooner be reduced to coals; +and, while he was doing this, he told his new friend of his experience +in cooking trout.</p> + +<p>"I reckon that was better than eating them raw," said the latter, with +an amused smile, "but if we had some now, I think I could show you a +better way than that to cook them, though we haven't got any fry-pan."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps I can catch some," suggested Glen, pulling his rude +fishing-tackle from his pocket, as he looked about for some sort of a +pole. "And I think I could do it quicker if you would lend me your hat +for a few minutes. You see mine got lost while I was coasting down that +mountain-side, or in the lake, I don't know which," he added, +apologetically.</p> + +<p>Here the hunter actually laughed aloud. "You don't expect to catch trout +with a hat, do you?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Oh, no, indeed. I only want it to catch grasshoppers with. It's such +slow work catching them, one at a time, with your hands; but, with a hat +as big as yours, I could get a great many very quickly," and the boy +gazed admiringly at the broad-brimmed sombrero worn by the other.</p> + +<p>The stranger willingly loaned his hat to Glen, who seemed to amuse him +greatly, and the latter soon had, not only all the grasshoppers he +wanted, but a fine string of fish as well. By this time the fire had +produced a bed of coals, and the slices of venison, spitted on slender +sticks thrust into the ground, so as to be held just above them, were +sending forth most appetizing odors.</p> + +<p>Obeying instructions, Glen cleaned his fish, and gathered a quantity of +grass, which he wet in the stream. The hunter had scooped out a shallow +trench in the earth beside the fire, and had filled it with live coals. +Above these he now spread a layer of damp grass, on which he laid the +fish, covering them in turn with another layer of grass. Over this he +raked a quantity of red-hot embers, and then covered the whole with a +few handfuls of earth.</p> + +<p>Ten minutes later the trout were found to be thoroughly cooked, and Glen +was both thinking and saying that no fish had ever tasted so good. After +eating this most satisfactory breakfast, and having hung the carcase of +the deer to a branch where it would be beyond the reach of wolves until +it could be sent for, Glen and his new companion started down the +valley. As they walked, the latter explained to the boy that, many years +before, while trapping on that very stream, he had discovered gold in +its sands. Recently he had employed a number of Mexicans to work for +him, and had started some placer diggings about a mile below where they +then were.</p> + +<p>This interested Glen greatly; for all of his dreams had been of +discovering gold somewhere in this wonderful Western country, and he was +most desirous of learning something of the process of procuring it. As +they talked, they came in sight of several tents and brush huts, +standing near the inner end of a long sand-bar, that extended diagonally +nearly across the stream. A rude dam built along its upper side had +diverted the water from it, so that a large area of sand and gravel was +left dry. On this a dozen men were at work, digging with shovel and +pick, or rocking cradles. Glen had heard of miners' cradles, or +"rockers," but he had never seen one. Now he laughed at the resemblance +between them and the low wooden cradles babies were rocked in.</p> + +<p>They were rough boxes mounted on rockers, of which the one at the +forward end was a little lower than the other, so as to give the cradle +a slight slope in that direction. Each had an iron grating placed across +its upper end, and a few wooden cleats nailed crosswise of its bottom. A +hole was cut in its foot-board, and a handle, by means of which it was +rocked, was fastened to its head-board. There were two men to each +cradle: one to shovel dirt on to its grating, and the other to rock it +and pour water over this dirt to wash it through. The grating was so +fine that only the smallest pebbles could pass through it. As the dirt +and water fell to the bottom of the cradle, and ran through it to the +opening in the foot-board, the fine particles of gold sank, of their own +weight, and lodged against the cleats. From these it was carefully +gathered several times each day by the white overseer who had charge of +the diggings, and sent to Fort Garland for safe-keeping.</p> + +<p>Glen's guide also showed him how to wash out a panful of gold-bearing +earth, as prospectors do. He picked up a shallow iron pan, filled it +with earth, and, holding it half immersed in the stream with its outer +edge inclined from him, shook it rapidly to and fro, with a semi-rotary +motion. In a minute all the earth had been washed out, and only a +deposit of black sand, containing a number of yellow particles, was left +on the bottom. The hunter said this black sand was iron, and could be +blown away from about the gold after it was dry, or drawn away with a +magnet.</p> + +<p>The boy was greatly pleased to be allowed to attempt this operation for +himself, and felt quite like a successful miner when told that the gold +yielded by his first panful was worth about thirty cents.</p> + +<p>While he was thus engaged a swarthy-complexioned soldier, evidently a +Mexican, though he wore a United States uniform, came riding up the +valley, raised his hand in salute to the hunter, and exchanged a few +words with him. The latter hesitated for a moment, and then, after +speaking again to the soldier, who immediately dismounted, he said to +Glen, "I find that I must return to the fort at once. So if you will +take this man's horse, and ride with me, I shall be glad of your +company." His own horse was standing near by, and in another minute they +were riding rapidly down the little valley, with the mining camp already +out of sight.</p> + +<p>After a mile or so the stream that Glen had followed for so long led +them into the broad expanse of the San Luis Valley, up which they +turned, and speedily came in sight of the low white walls of Fort +Garland, surrounding a tall staff from which an American flag floated +lazily in the warm, sun-lit air.</p> + +<p>Although Glen did not know much about soldiers, or the meaning of +military forms, he was somewhat surprised to see the guard at the main +entrance of the fort turn hurriedly out and present arms as they +clattered in past them. He quickly forgot this incident though, in his +admiration of the interior, now opened before him. It was a large +square, enclosed on all sides by low comfortable-looking buildings of +adobe, neatly whitewashed, and in some cases provided with green blinds +and wide piazzas. A hard, smooth driveway ran in front of them, and the +middle of the enclosure was occupied by a well-turfed parade-ground, at +one end of which stood a battery of light field-pieces. The chief beauty +of the place lay in a little canal of crystal water, that ran entirely +around the parade-ground. It was as cool and sparkling as that of its +parent mountain stream, flowing just beyond the fort, and the refreshing +sound of its rippling pervaded the whole place.</p> + +<p>Riding to the opposite side of the enclosure, the hunter and his +companion dismounted in front of one of the houses with blinds and a +piazza. This the former invited Glen to enter, and at the same moment an +orderly stepped up and took their horses. In a cool, dimly lighted room, +Glen's new friend asked him to be seated and wait a few moments. In +about fifteen minutes the orderly who had taken the horses entered the +room, and saying to Glen that General Carson would like to see him, +ushered him into an adjoining apartment. For a moment the boy did not +recognize the figure, clad in a colonel's uniform, that was seated +beside a writing-table. But, as the latter said, "Well, sir, I was told +that you wished to see the commandant," he at once knew the voice for +that of his friend the hunter, and, with a tone of glad surprise, he +exclaimed,</p> + +<p>"Why, sir, are you—"</p> + +<p>"Yes," replied the other, laughing, "I am old Kit Carson, at your +service, and I bid you a hearty welcome to Fort Garland."</p> + +<p>Then he told Glen that one of his daughters was to be married that +evening to an officer of the post. They had been engaged for some time, +but there had been nobody to marry them until that day, when a priest +from Taos had stopped at the fort on his way to the upper Rio Grande +settlements. As he must continue his journey the next morning, the +colonel had been sent for, and it was decided that the wedding should +come off at once.</p> + +<p>Thus it happened that Glen was assisting to decorate the commandant's +quarters with flags and evergreens when Mr. Hobart and "Billy" Brackett, +who had come on a little in advance of the rest of the party, rode up to +pay their respects to Colonel Carson. He went out to meet them, and, +being fond of giving pleasant surprises, did not say a word concerning +Glen; but, after an exchange of greetings, led them directly into the +room where he was at work. The boy was standing on a box fastening a +flag to the wall above his head, as the men entered. The light from a +window fell full upon him, and they recognized him at once.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="Chapter_XXXII" id="Chapter_XXXII"></a><span class="smcap">Chapter XXXII.</span></h2> + +<h3>A NEW MEXICAN WEDDING.</h3> + + +<p>For a moment the amazement of the two men at again beholding the lad +whom they were fully persuaded was dead would neither allow them to +speak nor move. Then "Billy" Brackett walked softly over to where Glen +was standing, and gave one of his legs a sharp pinch.</p> + +<p>The startled boy, who had not noticed his approach, leaped to the floor +with a cry of mingled pain and surprise.</p> + +<p>"I only wanted to be sure you were real, old man, and not a ghost," said +"Billy" Brackett, trying to speak in his usual careless tone; but the +tears that stood in the honest fellow's eyes, as he wrung the boy's +hand, showed how deeply he was affected, and how truly he had mourned +the loss of his young friend.</p> + +<p>Nor was Mr. Hobart less moved, and, as he grasped Glen's hand, he said, +"My dear boy, I honestly believe this is the happiest moment of my +life."</p> + +<p>They did not stop to ask for his story then but insisted on taking him +at once out to the camp that was being pitched just beyond the fort, +that the rest of the party might share their joy as speedily as +possible.</p> + +<p>The boys were so busily engaged with their evening duties that the +little party was not noticed until they were close at hand. Then +somebody, gazing sharply at the middle figure of the three who +approached, cried out, "If that isn't Glen Matherson, it's his twin +brother!"</p> + +<p>Everybody paused in what he was doing, and every eye was turned in the +same direction. For a moment there was a profound silence. Then came a +great shout of joyful amazement. Everything was dropped; and, with one +accord, the entire party made a rush for the boy whom they all loved, +and whom they had never expected to see again.</p> + +<p>How they yelled, and cheered, and failed to find expressions for their +extravagant delight! As for Binney Gibbs, he fairly sobbed as he held +Glen's hand, and gazed into the face of this comrade for whom he had +mourned, and whom he once thought he hated.</p> + +<p>Although, at first sight, it seems almost incredible that so many +adventures should happen to one boy on a single trip, it must be +remembered that, with the exception of Binney, Glen was the youngest of +the party, and consequently more likely to be reckless and careless than +any of the others. He was also one of those persons who, while everybody +around them is moving along quietly and soberly, are always getting into +scrapes, and coming out of each one bright, smiling, and ready for +another. Then, too, he was a stout, fearless fellow, with perfect +confidence in himself that led him into, and out of, situations from +which such boys as Binney Gibbs would steer clear.</p> + +<p>An amusing feature of Glen's adventures was, that while his companions +were ready to sympathize with him on account of his sufferings and +hardships, it never seemed to occur to him that he had had anything but +a good time, and one to be remembered with pleasure. Thus, in the +present instance, according to his own account, his slide down the +mountain-side had been the jolliest coast he ever took. His swim in the +lake had been cold, but then it had not lasted long, and he had enjoyed +the fire and the warmth of the cave all the more for it. As for his +subsequent experiences, he related them in such a way that, before he +finished, his listeners began to regard him as one of the most fortunate +and to-be-envied fellows of their acquaintance. They seemed to be +crossing the Plains and mountains in the most prosaic manner, without +doing anything in particular except work, while, to this boy, the trip +was full of adventures and delightful experiences. Would these incidents +seem so pleasant to him if he were as old as they? Perhaps not.</p> + +<p>They were all to enjoy one novel experience that very evening, though; +for Glen brought an invitation from Colonel Carson for them to attend +the wedding, and of course they promptly accepted it. As it was to be an +early affair, they hurried to the fort as soon as supper was over, and +found the guests already assembling in a large room, from which every +article of furniture had been removed. It was a motley gathering, in +which were seen the gay uniforms of soldiers, the buckskin of trappers, +the gaudy serapes of Mexican Cabelleros, the flannel shirts and big +boots of the engineers, and the blanketed forms of stolid-faced Ute +Indians, for whom Kit Carson was acting as agent at that time.</p> + +<p>The company was ranged about three sides of the room, close against the +walls; and, when they were thus disposed, a door on the vacant side +opened, and a Mexican woman, bearing a large basket of candles, entered. +Giving a candle to each guest, and lighting it for him, she indicated by +signs that he was to hold it above his head. So the guests became living +candlesticks, and, when all their candles were lighted, the illumination +was quite brilliant enough even for a wedding.</p> + +<p>Everything being ready, the door through which the candles had been +brought again opened, and the bridal party entered. First came the +priest, then Kit Carson and his wife, who was a Mexican woman from Taos. +Behind them walked the couple who were to be married. The bride was a +slender, olive-complexioned girl, dressed very simply in white, while +the groom wore the handsome uniform of a lieutenant of cavalry. The rear +of the procession was brought up by a bevy of black-haired and +black-eyed seņoritas, sisters and cousins of the bride.</p> + +<p>The priest read the wedding service in Latin, and the bride made her +responses in Spanish, so that the few English words spoken by the groom +were all that most of the spectators understood. As "Billy" Brackett +afterwards remarked, it was evidently necessary to be liberally educated +to get married in that country.</p> + +<p>At the conclusion of the ceremony the entire wedding-party, with the +exception of the bride's father, disappeared, and were seen no more; +while Colonel Carson led his guests into a neighboring room, where the +wedding supper was served. Here the famous scout, surrounded by the +tried comrades of many a wild campaign, entertained the company by +calling on these for one anecdote after another of the adventures that +had been crowded so thickly into their lives. This was a rare treat to +the new-comers, especially to Glen Eddy and Binney Gibbs, to whom the +thrilling tales, told by the boy trappers, scouts, hunters, and soldiers +who had participated in them, were so real and vivid that, before this +delightful evening was over, it seemed as though they too must have +taken part in the scenes described.</p> + +<p>In spite of the late hours kept by most of the engineers that night, +their camp was broken by daylight, and at sunrise they were off on the +line as usual, for September was now well advanced, and there were +mountain ranges yet to be crossed that would be impassable after winter +had once fairly set in. So, leaving the pleasant army post and their +hospitable entertainers in it, they picked up their line, and, running +it out over the broad San Luis Valley to the Rio Grande, began to follow +that river into the very heart of New Mexico.</p> + +<p>Glen was more than glad to find himself once more on Nettle's back, and +again bearing the front flag in advance of the party. He was also +surprised to find what a barren place the valley that had looked so +beautiful and desirable from the mountains really was. Its sandy soil +only supported a thick growth of sage brush, that yielded a strong +aromatic fragrance when bruised or broken, and which rendered the +running of the line peculiarly toilsome. It was a relief to reach the +great river of New Mexico, and find themselves in the more fertile +country immediately bordering on it. Here, too, they found numbers of +quaint Mexican towns, of which they passed one or more nearly every day.</p> + +<p>These were full of interest to the young explorers. While looking at +their low flat-roofed houses, built of adobe, or great sun-dried bricks +of mud and straw, it was hard to realize that they were still in America +and traversing one of the territories of the United States. All their +surroundings were those of the far East, and the descriptions in the +Bible of life and scenes in Palestine applied perfectly to the valley of +the Rio Grande as they saw it. The people were dark-skinned, with +straight, black hair; and while the young children ran about nearly +naked, their elders wore loose, flowing garments, and, if not +barefooted, were shod with sandals of raw hide or plaited straw.</p> + +<p>The square houses, with thick walls, broken only by occasional narrow +unglazed windows, were exactly like those of the Biblical pictures. +Inside, the floors were of hard-beaten clay, and there were neither +tables nor chairs, only earthen benches covered with sheep-skins or gay +striped blankets. Some of the finer houses enclosed open courts or +plazas, in which were trees and shrubs. The cooking was done in the open +air, or in round-topped earthen ovens, built outside the houses.</p> + +<p>The women washed clothing on flat rocks at the edge of the streams, and +young girls carried all the water used for domestic purposes in tall +earthen jars borne gracefully on their heads. The beasts of burden were +donkeys, or "burros," as the Mexicans call them. Grain was threshed by +being laid on smooth earthen threshing-floors, in the open air, and +having horses, donkeys, cattle, and sheep driven over it for hours. Wine +was kept in skins or great earthen jars. The mountains and hills of the +country were covered with pines and cedars, its cultivated valleys with +vineyards and fruit orchards; while the raising of flocks and herds was +the leading industry of its inhabitants.</p> + +<p>At this season of the year, though the sun shone from an unclouded sky +of the most brilliant blue, the air was dry and bracing in the daytime, +and crisp with the promises of frost at night. It was glorious weather; +and, under its influence, the second division ran a line of a hundred +miles down the river in ten days. As the entire party had looked forward +with eager anticipations to visiting Santa Fé, which is not on the Rio +Grande, but some distance to the east of it, they were greatly +disappointed to be met by a messenger from General Lyle, with orders for +Mr. Hobart to come into that place, while his party continued their line +south to Albuquerque, eighty miles beyond where they were.</p> + +<p>Glen was intensely disappointed at this, for Santa Fé was one of the +places he had been most anxious to visit. His disappointment was doubled +when Mr. Hobart said that he must take somebody with him as private +secretary, and intimated that his choice would have fallen on the young +front flagman if he had only learned to talk Spanish. As it was, Binney +Gibbs was chosen for the envied position; for, though he, like the rest, +had only been for a short time among Mexicans, he was already able to +speak their language with comparative ease.</p> + +<p>"I don't see how you learned it so quickly," said Glen, one day, when, +after he had striven in vain to make a native understand that he wished +to purchase some fruit, Binney had stepped up and explained matters with +a few words of Spanish.</p> + +<p>"Why, it is easy enough," replied Binney, "to anybody who understands +Latin."</p> + +<p>Then Glen wished that he, too, understood Latin, as he might easily have +done as well as his comrade. He wished it ten times more though, when, +on account of it, Binney rode gayly off to Santa Fé with Mr. Hobart, +while he went out to work on the line.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="Chapter_XXXIII" id="Chapter_XXXIII"></a><span class="smcap">Chapter XXXIII.</span></h2> + +<h3>IN THE VALLEY OF THE RIO GRANDE.</h3> + + +<p>Near the close of a mellow autumn day Glen and "Billy" Brackett sat on a +fragment of broken wall and gazed with interest on the scene about them. +On one side, crowning a low bluff that overlooked the Rio Grande twelve +miles below Albuquerque, was the Indian pueblo of Isletta, a picturesque +collection of adobe buildings and stockaded corrals, containing some +eight hundred inhabitants. On the other side were extensive vineyards; +beyond them were vast plains, from which flocks of bleating sheep were +being driven in for the night by Indian boys; and still beyond rose the +blue range of the Sierra Madre. The air was so clear and still that +through it the sounds of children's voices, the barking of dogs, the +bleating of sheep, the lowing of cattle, and the cracked tones of the +bell in the quaint old mission church came to the ears of Glen and his +companion with wonderful distinctness. The Indian women were preparing +their evening meals, and the fragrance of burning cedar drifted down +from the village. Never afterwards could Glen smell the odor of cedar +without having the scene of that evening vividly recalled to his mind.</p> + +<p>Mingled with this fragrance was another, equally distinct and +suggestive. It was that of crushed grapes; and the two explorers were +watching curiously the process of New Mexican wine-making, going on but +a short distance from them. Clumsy ox-carts, constructed without the use +of iron, and having great wooden wheels that screeched as they turned on +their ungreased wooden axles, brought in loads of purple grapes from the +vineyards. On top of the loads, as though the grapes were so much hay, +rode Indian men or boys, armed with wooden pitchforks. With these they +flung the grapes into a great vat of green ox-hides, supported, about +ten feet from the ground, by four heavy posts. The sides of this vat +were drawn to a point at the bottom, where there was a small outlet +left, through which the grape-juice might flow into a second vat, placed +directly beneath the other. It was similar in all respects to the first, +except that it offered no opening for the escape of its contents.</p> + +<p>When a load of grapes had been pitched into the upper vat, two naked +Indians clambered up, and, springing on top of them, began to tread them +with their feet. For hours they continued this performance, while a +steady stream of blood-red juice flowed from the upper vat into the +lower. From there it was dipped into huge earthen jars, and set away to +ferment.</p> + +<p>"Well," said 'Billy' Brackett, at length, as he rose and started towards +camp, "I've seen all the native wine-making I want to. If those beggars +had only washed themselves first it wouldn't be so bad, but I honestly +believe they only take a bath once a year, and that is in grape-juice."</p> + +<p>"It is pretty bad," laughed Glen, "though I don't know as it is any +worse than their milking." This was a sore point with him, for he was +very fond of fresh milk; but, after once witnessing a New Mexican +milking, and seeing cows, mares, asses, sheep, and goats all milked into +the same vessel, he preferred to go without it.</p> + +<p>It was surprising to see what a tall, broad-shouldered fellow Glen was +getting to be; and a single glance was sufficient to show what crossing +the Plains had done for him. His eyes had the clear look of perfect +health; his face, neck, and hands were as brown as sun and wind could +make them, while his hair had entirely recovered from its Kansas City +shearing, and was now plainly visible beneath the broad sombrero that +replaced the hat lost on the Spanish Peak. A heavy blue flannel shirt, a +pair of army trousers tucked into the tops of cowhide boots, a leather +belt supporting a revolver and a sheath-knife, and a silk handkerchief +loosely knotted about his neck, completed his costume.</p> + +<p>"Billy" Brackett was dressed in a similar fashion, except that he still +clung fondly to the shiny cutaway coat in which he was introduced to the +reader, and to which he was deeply attached.</p> + +<p>As they walked towards camp, he and Glen discussed the topic now +uppermost in their minds, namely, that of their future movements. Since +going to Santa Fé, Mr. Hobart had not rejoined them, though a note +received from him at Albuquerque promised that he would do so at +Isletta, to which place he ordered the line to be run. Now they had been +for two days at the Pueblo, but where they were to go next, or whether +they were to go any farther, they did not know, and were anxious to find +out. They had heard vague rumors that General Lyle was to return to the +States, and that all the plans of the expedition might be changed. Thus, +when Mr. Hobart galloped into camp just after supper that evening, he +was heartily welcomed.</p> + +<p>"Where is Binney Gibbs?" was the first question asked.</p> + +<p>"Promoted to be private secretary to General Elting, the new chief," was +the reply.</p> + +<p>"Where is General Elting?"</p> + +<p>"He is still in Santa Fé, but is going across with the other two +divisions by the Gila route."</p> + +<p>"And where are we going?"</p> + +<p>"Going to run a one-thousand-mile line from here to the Pacific Ocean, +in just the shortest time we can accomplish it."</p> + +<p>"Good enough! Hurrah for the Pacific! Hurrah for California!" shouted +every member of the party but one. He was the leveller; and when Mr. +Hobart, after explaining the dangers and hardships of the trip before +them, said that anybody who did not care to encounter them would be +furnished with free transportation from that point back to the States, +this man decided to accept the offer.</p> + +<p>Little, did Glen Eddy imagine, as he bade him good-bye the next day, +what an effect upon his future the decision thus suddenly reached by the +leveller was to have. In the stage from Santa Fé the latter met a +gentleman and his wife who were greatly interested in his description of +the explorations in which he had just taken part. Among other things, he +described Glen Eddy Matherson's remarkable adventures; and the lady, who +seemed struck by the boy's name, asked many questions concerning him. +Fortunately, the leveller was able to answer most of them, and thus she +learned, what Glen had never attempted to conceal, that he was an +adopted son of Luke Matherson, of Brimfield, Pennsylvania, who had saved +him from a railroad wreck in Glen Eddy creek when he was a baby. She did +not explain why she asked these questions, and soon changed the +conversation to other topics.</p> + +<p>The most immediate effect upon Glen of the leveller's departure was to +promote him and increase his pay. As it was impossible, in that country, +to engage men of experience to fill places in an engineer corps, Mr. +Brackett was obliged to take the level, while Mr. Hobart himself took +charge of the transit; and, when the former was asked who he would like +as rodman in place of Binney Gibbs, he promptly answered, "Glen +Matherson."</p> + +<p>In speaking to Glen of this change of position, the division engineer +asked the boy if he was sure he wanted to go through to the Pacific.</p> + +<p>"Of course I do, sir!" answered Glen, in surprise at the question.</p> + +<p>"It is going to be a trip full of danger and all sorts of hardships, +possibly including starvation and freezing. I don't know but what you +really ought to go back."</p> + +<p>"Oh, sir, please don't send me back!" pleaded Glen, earnestly. "I should +feel awfully to have to go home with the trip only half finished."</p> + +<p>"Then you are willing to face all the hardships?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir, I'm willing to face anything, rather than going back."</p> + +<p>"All right!" laughed Mr. Hobart; "I suppose I shall have to take you +along. I proposed to the general to take Binney Gibbs with him, or else +send him back to the States, because I did not consider him strong +enough to endure what is ahead of us; but I don't see how I could urge +that in your case, for I actually believe you are one of the toughest +among us."</p> + +<p>How Glen rejoiced in his strength as he heard this! Perhaps it was going +to prove as valuable to him as a scholarship, after all.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Brackett is going to run the level, and wants you for his rodman," +continued Mr. Hobart. "The pay will be double what you are now +receiving, and you can soon fit yourself for the position by a little +hard study; for Mr. Brackett is a capital instructor. I have told him +that he may take you on trial, and see what he can do with you. I also +told him of your aversion to study, and gave him to understand what a +difficult job he had undertaken."</p> + +<p>Glen flushed at this, and gazed at the ground for a moment. Finally he +said, "Studying seems very different when you can look right ahead and +see what good it is going to do."</p> + +<p>"Yes," replied Mr. Hobart, "I know it does. Still, in most cases we have +to trust the word of those who can look ahead when we can't. I've no +doubt but what you were told at school that a knowledge of Latin would +aid you in learning many other languages; but you were not willing to +believe it until you saw for yourself how it helped Binney Gibbs pick up +Spanish."</p> + +<p>Glen did not make any promises aloud in regard to fitting himself for +his new position, for he believed in actions rather than words; but he +made one to himself, and determined to keep it.</p> + +<p>They remained in camp at Isletta one day longer, to prepare for their +arduous undertaking, and to engage several new axemen to fill the places +of those who had been promoted; but on the second morning the transit +was set up over the last stake they had driven, and its telescope was +pointed due west.</p> + +<p>At first Glen missed the excitement of riding in advance of the party +with the front flag. On a preliminary survey, the level can hardly keep +up with the transit; and it was not so pleasant to be always behind, +striving to catch up, as it had been to be in the lead.</p> + +<p>To "Billy" Brackett the change of positions came even harder than to +Glen, because in taking the level he had gone back a step rather than +forward; but he never showed it. Indeed, by his steady cheerfulness and +unceasing flow of good spirits the new leveller soon banished even a +shadow of regret from the mind of his young rodman, and taught him to +feel a real interest in his new work.</p> + +<p>So they slowly climbed the western slope of the Rio Grande Valley, +crossed the barren plateau of the divide between it and the Rio Puerco, +followed that stream and its tributary, the San José, on the banks of +which they saw the ancient pueblos of Laguna and Acoma, into another +region of rugged mountains, and, in about two weeks, found themselves at +the forlorn frontier post of Fort Wingate, where they were to obtain +their final supplies for the winter.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="Chapter_XXXIV" id="Chapter_XXXIV"></a><span class="smcap">Chapter XXXIV.</span></h2> + +<h3>BAITING A WOLF-TRAP.</h3> + + +<p>At Fort Wingate the real hardships of the trip began in an unexpected +manner. Instead of being plentifully supplied with provisions, as had +been reported, the post was found to be very poorly provided, and all +that could be spared to the engineers were condemned quartermaster's +stores. The party must take these or nothing; and when Mr. Hobart left +it to his men whether they should accept the damaged stores and push on, +or go back to the Rio Grande, they unanimously said, "Go on!" So, for +the next two months, they made the best of half-spoiled hams and bacon, +hard-tack filled with white worms, and sugar abounding in little black +bugs, that fortunately floated on top of the coffee and could be skimmed +off.</p> + +<p>The men provided themselves with a number of little luxuries at the +sutler's—the last store they would see for months—and "Billy" Brackett +bought a cheese. This was considered a very queer purchase; but Glen's +was queerer still, for it was a small quantity of strychnine. He only +procured this after giving assurances that he did not propose to commit +suicide and making many promises to be very careful in its use. What he +proposed to do with the poison he did not confide to anybody except his +friend "Billy" Brackett, who agreed with him that it was a capital plan.</p> + +<p>A run of twelve miles from Fort Wingate brought the party to a camp, in +a forest of the most stately yellow-pines they had ever seen, beside a +great spring of ice-cold water—known as the Agua Fria (cold water). +Here, as soon as supper was over, Glen proceeded to put his great plan +into execution. The nights were now very cold, and the boy generally +woke before morning to find himself shivering beneath his insufficient +covering of blankets. Every night, too, since entering the mountains the +party had been annoyed by the sneaking visits and unearthly howlings of +wolves that hung on the outskirts of the camp from dark to daylight, +every now and then making a quick dash through it, if the guard was not +watching sharply, and snatching at bits of food or at anything made of +leather that lay in their path. So Glen thought he would teach the +wolves a lesson, which should at the same time add some of their skins +to his bed-clothing; and it was for this purpose he had procured the +strychnine.</p> + +<p>Now, with "Billy" Brackett's help, he dragged out from one of the wagons +a gunny-sack, containing some kidneys, lungs, and other refuse animal +matter, obtained from the Fort Wingate butcher, and these he smeared +with the deadly powder. Then they prepared several torches of pine +slivers, and, amid the unanswered questionings of their companions, left +camp, carrying the sack of meat between them. Beginning at a point a few +rods from the tents, they strewed the poisoned bait for half a mile +along the banks of the little stream flowing from the spring. It was an +exciting task, for they seemed to hear suspicious sniffs, and the soft +pattering of feet on both sides of them; while Glen felt certain that +his torchlight was reflected from gleaming eyeballs more than once. So +greatly did these things work upon their imaginations that when, as they +started back towards camp, their last torch suddenly went out, leaving +them in blackest darkness, they both took to their heels, and raced +breathlessly for the distant light of the friendly camp-fire. When they +reached it, in perfect safety, they burst out laughing in one another's +faces, and wondered what they had run from.</p> + +<p>Glen was disappointed, as he lay shivering in his blankets that night, +not to hear so many wolves as usual, while the few howls that did reach +his ears seemed to come from a distance. Still, he comforted himself +with the reflection that dead wolves couldn't howl, and doubtless all +those that had ventured near the camp had eaten the poisoned meat, and +had their howlings effectually silenced.</p> + +<p>It seemed to him that he had hardly dropped asleep when he was rudely +awakened by being pulled, feet foremost, out of his blankets, under the +side of the tent, and into the open air. At the same moment "Billy" +Brackett's laughing voice cried, "Come, Glen, here it is broad daylight, +and high time we were gathering in our wolves."</p> + +<p>Whew! how cold it was! and in what a hurry Glen sprang from the frozen +ground, to rush back into the tent for his boots and army overcoat. He +had everything else on, for there was very little undressing at night in +that party. As for being sleepy, the biting air had awakened him as +effectually as a dash of ice-water.</p> + +<p>As they left camp, "Billy" Brackett shouted back to one of the Mexican +axemen to follow after them, and the man answered that he would be along +in a minute. It was light enough, when they reached the place where they +had left the first of the poisoned meat, for them to see it if it had +been there; but it was not. Neither was there any dead wolf to be found +in the vicinity. It was the same along the whole line, where they had +scattered their bait. They could neither discover meat nor wolves.</p> + +<p>"Hello!" exclaimed "Billy" Brackett softly, as they were about to turn +back, "I believe the wolves are cooking their meat;" and with that he +pointed to a thin column of blue smoke rising through the trees at some +distance farther down the stream.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps they are Indians," suggested Glen.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps they are. Let's go and find out. We can take a look at them +without being seen. Besides, the Indians hereabout are peaceful now."</p> + +<p>So they crept cautiously towards the smoke, until at length they were +lying flat on the ground, on the edge of a low bank, with their heads +hidden in tufts of grass, peering into a small encampment of Indians +just below them. They had hardly gained this position when Glen, +uttering a cry of horror, sprang down the bank, rushed in among the +Indians, and, snatching a piece of meat from the hands of one of them, +who was raising it to his mouth, flung it so far away that it was +snapped up and swallowed by a lean, wolfish-looking cur, that had not +dared venture near the fire.</p> + +<p>At Glen's sudden appearance the Indian women and children ran screaming +into the bushes, while the men, springing to their feet, surrounded him +with angry exclamations and significant handlings of their knives. They +received a second surprise, and fell back a little as "Billy" Brackett, +who had not at first understood Glen's precipitate action, came rushing +down the bank after him, shouting, "Stand back, you villains! If you lay +a hand on him, I'll blow the tops of all your heads off!"</p> + +<p>At the same time Glen was making all the faces expressive of extreme +disgust that he could think of, and saying, as he pointed to a pile of +meat lying in a gunny-sack beside the fire:</p> + +<p>"<i>Carne no bueno! Muy mal! No bueno por hombre!</i>" which was the best +Spanish he knew for, "The meat is not good. It is very bad, and not at +all good for a man to eat."</p> + +<p>But the Indians could not understand. The meat might not be good enough +for white men, who were so very particular, but it was good enough for +them. The white men had thrown it away and they had found it. They meant +to eat it, too, for they were very hungry. Now, if these uninvited +guests to their camp would not clear out and let them eat their +breakfast in peace, they must suffer the consequences.</p> + +<p>This is what they said; but neither Glen nor "Billy" Brackett understood +a word of it. They were preparing to defend themselves, as well as they +could, from the scowling Indians, who were again advancing upon them +with drawn knives.</p> + +<p>Both Glen and his companion had their rifles, and now, as they stepped +slowly backward, they held them ready for instant use.</p> + +<p>"We won't fire," said "Billy" Brackett, "unless they point a gun or an +arrow at us; for the first shot will be the signal for a rush, and if +they make that we haven't got a living show."</p> + +<p>All this time the Indians, to the number of a dozen or so, advanced +steadily, taking step for step with the whites, as they fell back, and +watching for a chance to get past or around the black muzzles of those +rifles.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="Chapter_XXXV" id="Chapter_XXXV"></a><span class="smcap">Chapter XXXV.</span></h2> + +<h3>EL MORO.</h3> + + +<p>To Glen Eddy and "Billy" Brackett the situation looked serious, and +almost desperate, as they confronted that crowd of angry savages who +advanced towards them so steadily, and with such unmistakable meaning.</p> + +<p>"It's a tough outlook for us," muttered the latter.</p> + +<p>"Yes," answered Glen, "it is, but—" Here the boy clinched his teeth, +and clutched his rifle more firmly.</p> + +<p>"Look out!" cried the other, noticing that the Indians were gathering +themselves for a rush. "They're coming!" and he raised his rifle.</p> + +<p>In another instant he would have fired, and their fate would have been +sealed. But their time had not yet come; for, at that same moment, +another figure bounded down the low bank, and stood beside them facing +the Indians, and speaking angrily to them in Spanish. They evidently +understood him, and hesitated. He was the Mexican axeman.</p> + +<p>"What is the trouble, Mr. Brackett?" he asked hurriedly, in English.</p> + +<p>With a few words they made the situation clear to him, and he, in turn, +quickly explained to the Indians that these white men had merely tried +to save their lives by preventing them from eating poisoned meat.</p> + +<p>"Tell them to look at the dog!" cried Glen, pointing to the poor animal +that had swallowed the very bit of meat he had snatched from the Indian, +and which was evidently dying.</p> + +<p>The sight was a powerful argument, worth more than all the words that +could have been spoken.</p> + +<p>The Indians sullenly returned to their fire and sat down, while our +friends, casting many watchful glances over their shoulders as they +went, made good their retreat in the direction of their own camp.</p> + +<p>"What kind of Indians were they?" asked Glen, of the Mexican, when they +had lost sight of their unpleasant acquaintances.</p> + +<p>"Navajos," was the answer.</p> + +<p>They were indeed a wretched band of the once wealthy and powerful tribe +who claimed that whole country as a pasture-land for their countless +flocks and herds. For many years they had been hunted and killed, their +flocks driven off and their growing crops destroyed wherever found, +until now the main body of the tribe was being slowly starved out of +existence on a small reservation in Eastern New Mexico. It was so small +that no more Indians could be crowded into it, and the miserable +remnant, who still lurked in the fastnesses of their own country, +despoiled of all means of procuring a livelihood, prowled about like so +many hungry dogs, gleaning the offal from white men's camps, and hunted +like wild beasts by all whom they were unfortunate enough to meet.</p> + +<p>This band had probably followed Mr. Hobart's party for the sake of what +might be picked up in their abandoned camps, and had evidently regarded +the poisoned meat, discovered that very morning, as a perfect godsend.</p> + +<p>"I reckon we'll have to manage somehow to get along without any wolves," +said "Billy" Brackett.</p> + +<p>"Yes," replied Glen, regretfully, "I suppose we shall."</p> + +<p>Ten miles of line were run that day, through the solemn pine forest, and +darkness overtook the party on the very summit of the great Continental +Divide. They were crossing the Sierra Madre Mountains, through Zuņi +Pass. As Glen subtracted the last reading of his rod for the day from +the last height of instrument, and found that it gave an elevation of +7925 feet, he uttered a shout. For weeks the elevations above sea-level +had been steadily mounting upward. This one was a foot lower than the +last.</p> + +<p>"Hurrah!" he cried, "we are on the Pacific Slope."</p> + +<p>It was hard to realize that water, on one side of where they stood, +would find its way into the Rio Grande, and so on into the Atlantic, +while that but a few feet away would flow through the Colorado into the +Pacific. The country did not look any different, but it seemed so. They +actually seemed to be breathing the air of the mighty sunset ocean, and +this one day's run seemed to place the States, and everything eastern, +farther behind them than all the rest of their journey. About the +camp-fires that evening the conversation was wholly of California and +the golden West, and they sprang to their work the next day with an +added zeal.</p> + +<p>Fifty miles west of this point they came to Zuņi, one of the most +picturesque and by far the most interesting of American towns. First, +though, a few miles east of Zuņi, they halted beside the magnificent +pile of El Moro, or Inscription Rock, that lifted its frowning +battlements, like those of some vast Moorish castle, four hundred feet +above the plain. Its base is covered, on all sides, with Indian +hieroglyphics, Spanish inscriptions, and English names. Curiously, and +almost reverently, our explorers bent down the brushwood near its +left-hand corner, and searched until they found the most ancient +inscription of all:</p> + +<blockquote><p>"Don Joseph de Basconzeles 1526."</p></blockquote> + +<p>There is nothing more, and this is the sole existing record of Don +Joseph's having lived and explored this country while Cortez was still +occupying the city of Mexico. Where he came from, who he was, what +companions he had, and whither he went will never be known; but through +all the centuries that have passed since he carved his name on El Moro's +base, the great rock has faithfully preserved the record of his +presence.</p> + +<p>The next inscription was made nearly one hundred years later, and is a +Spanish legend that is translated into, "Passed by this place with +despatches, April 16, 1606." There is no name signed, and who passed by +on that day can never be told. Then follows innumerable names of Spanish +dons, captains, bishops, soldiers, and priests, with varying dates that +come down as late as the beginning of the present century.</p> + +<p>The first English inscription is, "O. R., March 19, 1836." Then came +Whipple, in 1853, followed by many other American soldiers and +gold-seekers. Now Glen Eddy and "Billy" Brackett added their names +beneath those of the others of Mr. Hobart's party. Then they, too, +passed on, leaving a new page of history to be preserved by El Moro for +the eyes of future generations.</p> + +<p>For some hours before reaching Zuņi they could see it crowning the hill +that uplifts it conspicuously above the level of the surrounding plain. +It was the "Cibola" of the earliest Spanish explorers, the chief of the +seven "golden cities" that they believed to exist in that region, and +whose alleged riches led them to undertake the conquest of the country. +They called it "Cibola" until they reached it. Then they adopted the +native name of Zuņi (pronounced <i>Zoon-ya</i>), by which it has been known +ever since.</p> + +<p>The town, or city, contained some twelve hundred inhabitants, and the +hill on which it is built slopes gently up from the plain on one side, +but falls away in a precipitous bluff to the narrow waters of the Zuņi +River on the other.</p> + +<p>"Billy" Brackett had read up on this ancient city of Cibola, and had +imparted so much of his information to Glen as to arouse a curiosity in +the boy's mind regarding the place fully equal to his own. So, as soon +as they reached camp, which was on the plain at the foot of the hill, +they hurried off to "do" the town.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="Chapter_XXXVI" id="Chapter_XXXVI"></a><span class="smcap">Chapter XXXVI.</span></h2> + +<h3>ZUŅI, THE HOME OF THE AZTECS.</h3> + + +<p>As the leveller and his rodman ascended the slope on which Zuņi is +built, they saw that the town reached entirely across it, and seemingly +presented a blank wall of irregular heights, containing only two or +three low arched openings. A ladder, here and there, reached from the +ground to a flat terrace on top of the wall; but evidently the means of +entering the place were few, and could readily be made less. Outside of +the wall were long ranges of corrals, fenced with poles, set close +together, and fixed firmly in the ground. These poles, which were of all +lengths, and the tops of ladders projecting everywhere above the roofs +of the town, gave the place a peculiarly ragged and novel appearance. +Glen wondered at the height of the buildings, most of which were of five +or six stories, and what the ladders were for.</p> + +<p>Seeing no other way of gaining an entrance, they followed an Indian, who +led a burro bearing an immense load of fagots on his back, into one of +the dark arched passages through the wall. It was just wide enough to +admit the laden donkey, and so low that, as they followed him, they were +obliged to stoop to avoid striking their heads against its roof. It was +so long that it evidently led beneath an entire block of houses.</p> + +<p>Finally they emerged from its darkness into one of the most novel +plazas, or squares, of the world. It was surrounded by buildings of +several stories in height, but very few of them had any doors, while the +tiny windows of the lower stories were placed high up, beyond a man's +reach. On the flat roof of the lower house, or first story, a second +house was built; but it was so much narrower than the first as to leave +a broad walk on the roof in front of it. Above this second house rose a +third, fourth, fifth, and often a sixth, each one narrower than the one +beneath it, so that the whole looked like a gigantic flight of steps.</p> + +<p>These houses were built either of adobe or of stone, plastered over with +adobe mud; and nearly all those on the ground floor were entered, as +Robinson Crusoe entered his castle, by climbing a ladder to the roof, +and descending another that led down through a skylight. Thus, if an +enemy should succeed in forcing his way through the narrow tunnel into +the plaza, the people would merely retire to their house-tops, draw up +their ladders, and he would find it as hard to get at them as ever.</p> + +<p>The upper tiers of houses had doors opening on the roofs of those below +them; but ladders were necessary to climb up from one terrace to +another, so that they were everywhere the most prominent feature of the +place.</p> + +<p>There were but few of the inhabitants in the plaza, or in the narrow +lanes leading from it to other open squares; but they swarmed on the +flat house-tops, and gazed down on our friends as eagerly as the latter +gazed up at them. Americans were curiosities to the people of Zuņi in +those days.</p> + +<p>"Hello!" exclaimed Glen, as they stood in the middle of the plaza, +wondering which way they should go. "Here come some white fellows +dressed up like Indians. I wonder who they can be?"</p> + +<p>Sure enough, two young men, having white skins, blue eyes, and yellow +hair, but wearing the leggings and striped blankets of Indians, entered +the square as Glen spoke. He shouted to them, both in English and +Mexican, but they only glanced at him in a startled manner, and then, +hurriedly climbing the nearest ladder, they joined a group who were +curiously inspecting Glen and his companion from a roof.</p> + +<p>"Well! that is queer," said the former. "Who do you suppose those chaps +are?"</p> + +<p>"I shouldn't be a bit surprised if they were two of the white Indians I +have read of," answered "Billy" Brackett; "and, if so, they are the +greatest curiosities we'll see in this town."</p> + +<p>"I never heard of them," said Glen. "Where did they come from?"</p> + +<p>"That's more than I can tell, or anybody else. All we know is that the +earliest Spaniards found a race of white people living among the Pueblo +Indians, whom they describe as being exactly like these chaps grinning +at us from that roof. In one respect they are a distinct race, as they +have never been allowed to marry with the dark-skinned Indians; but in +every other respect they are thorough Puebloes, and there is no +tradition going back far enough to show that they were ever anything +else. I believe that the race is nearly extinct, and that they are now +so few in number as to be rarely seen."</p> + +<p>In this "Billy" Brackett was correct; for at that time there were but +three of those white Indians in Zuņi, two men and a woman.</p> + +<p>Before leaving this remarkable town of curious people, Glen discovered +that they kept eagles for pets, and were also very fond of snakes, +especially rattlesnakes, which they did not hesitate to handle freely +and even to hold in their mouths. He saw the entire population turn out +on the flat roofs of their houses at daybreak, and, facing the east, +patiently await the coming of Montezuma, whom they firmly believed would +appear some morning in the place of the sun. He heard of, but was not +allowed to see, the perpetual fire, lighted by Montezuma, that has been +kept burning for ages by a family of priests, set apart and supported by +the people for that particular purpose. He saw women grinding corn into +fine white meal between two stones, and baking it into delicious thin +cakes on another. He saw them weaving blankets, of sheep's wool, so fine +that they will hold water for a whole day, and so strong that they will +last a long lifetime. He ate some of the white dried peaches and other +fruits that these Indians raise in such abundance and prepare with such +skill. And what pleased him more than anything else was that, in +exchange for two flour-sacks and a small piece of bacon, one of the +Indians made him a fine buckskin shirt, very much adorned with fringes, +that he wore all the rest of the winter.</p> + +<p>It certainly was a most interesting place, and the whole party would +gladly have lingered there longer than the three days that could be +spared to it. But it was now November, and they must be beyond the San +Francisco Mountains before the passes were blocked with heavy snows. So +they bade good-bye to Zuņi and New Mexico, and, taking their way past +Jacob's Well, where a fine spring bubbles up at the bottom of a +funnel-shaped pit, six hundred feet across at the top, and a hundred and +fifty feet deep, they entered the little-known region of Northern +Arizona.</p> + +<p>For three months they toiled through that wild country, as lost to the +view and knowledge of white civilization as though they were running +their line through Central Africa. Then they emerged on the bank of the +mighty Colorado, and, looking across its turbid flood, saw the barren +wastes of the Great Colorado Desert; but they gave a shout of joy at the +sight, for, with all its dreariness of aspect, that was California, and +beyond it lay the Pacific, the goal of their hopes.</p> + +<p>The last three months had been filled with toil, hardships, and +adventure. Although in that time they saw no white men, nor men of any +kind beyond catching occasional glimpses of the stealthy Apaches, who +hung on their trail for weeks, and with whom they exchanged more than +one rifle-shot, they were never without evidences that this whole vast +country had once been occupied by a mighty people. Hardly a day passed +that Glen did not hold his rod on the ruined foundation-wall of some +huge structure of long ago, or stumble over heaps of broken pottery +graceful in form and design, or gaze wonderingly at the stone houses of +ancient cliff-dwellers perched on ledges now inaccessible, or walk in +the dry beds of crumbling aqueducts, or select choice specimens from +piles of warlike implements fashioned from shining crystal or milk-white +quartz, or, in some way, have his attention called to the fact that he +was traversing a country in which had dwelt millions of his kind, who +had long since passed away and been forgotten. He had puzzled over miles +of hieroglyphic inscriptions and rude pictures, drawn on the smooth +black walls of rugged caņons, and learned from them fragmentary tales of +ancient battles or of encounters with savage beasts.</p> + +<p>Then, too, he had known hunger and thirst and bitter cold. His Christmas +dinner, eaten during a short pause from work on the line, had been a bit +of spoiled bacon and a couple of wormy hard-tack, with which, in honor +of the day, he had his full share of "Billy" Brackett's treasured +cheese, brought out at last to grace this feast. Not only were their +provisions nearly exhausted at that time, but it was the fifth day on +which they had been unable to wash, for want of water. Two weeks before, +a wagon had been sent to the mining-camp of Prescott, nearly a hundred +miles away, and they had nearly given up all hopes of its safe return. +That night it came into camp, and that night, too, they found a number +of rock cisterns full of water. In the darkness of that same evening, +while hastening from the pool in which he had been bathing, to get his +share of the Christmas supper, poor Glen had run plump into a gigantic +cactus, and filled his body with its tiny, barbed thorns. Altogether it +was a memorable Christmas, and one he will never forget.</p> + +<p>On the last night of December they built a gigantic bonfire of whole +trees, and welcomed in the new year by the light of its leaping flames.</p> + +<p>They had passed through vast tracts of wonderful fertility and beauty, +unknown to white men, and through regions abounding in game that they +had no time to hunt. From the summit of the Aztec Pass they had gazed, +with dismay, over the boundless expanse of the Black Forest, and then +had plunged into its dark depths. They had threaded their way through +labyrinths of precipitous caņons, the walls of which rose thousands of +feet above their heads, and had known of others still more tremendous.</p> + +<p>They had waded through the snows of the San Francisco Mountains, and +revelled in the warmth and beauty of the superb Val de Chino, where snow +and ice are unknown. They had dodged the crashing boulders hurled down +on them in Union Pass by the Hualapi Indians, posted on the inaccessible +heights far above them. Here they had lost a wagon, crushed to splinters +by one of these masses of rock; but no lives had been sacrificed, and +their number was still the same as when they left the Rio Grande. Now +they were on the bank of the Colorado, with only one desert and one +range of mountains yet to cross. These seemed so little, after all they +had gone through; and yet that desert alone was two hundred and fifty +miles wide. Two hundred and fifty miles of sand, sage-brush, and alkali; +the most barren region of country within the limits of the United +States. If they could have looked ahead and seen what the crossing of +that desert meant, they would have entered upon the undertaking with +heavy hearts and but faint hopes of accomplishing it. How fortunate it +is that we cannot look ahead and see the trials that await us. We would +never dare face them if they should all appear to us at once; while, by +meeting them singly, and attacking them one by one, they are overcome +with comparative ease.</p> + +<p>But neither Glen nor his companions were thinking of the trials ahead of +them as they came in sight of the Colorado River. They were only +thinking of those left behind, and what a glorious thing it was to have +got thus far along in their tremendous journey. The transit-party had +run their line to the river's bank and gone to camp a mile or so below, +when the levellers came up, and Glen held his rod, for a final reading, +at the water's edge.</p> + +<p>He had just noted the figures in his book, and waved an "All right" to +"Billy" Brackett, when he was startled by a rush of hoofs and a joyous +shout. The next instant a horse was reined sharply up beside him, while +its rider was wringing his hand and uttering almost incoherent words of +extravagant joy at once more seeing him.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="Chapter_XXXVII" id="Chapter_XXXVII"></a><span class="smcap">Chapter XXXVII.</span></h2> + +<h3>A PRACTICAL USE OF TRIGONOMETRY.</h3> + + +<p>It was Binney Gibbs who had come up the river from Fort Yuma several +days before, with General Elting, to meet the second division, and guide +them to "The Needles," the point at which the line was to cross the +Colorado. The other divisions, which had followed the Gila route, and +crossed the Colorado at Fort Yuma, where the desert was narrower, had +reached the Pacific ere this, and gone on to San Francisco. The hardest +task of all, that of running a line over the desert where it was two +hundred and fifty miles wide, had been reserved for Mr. Hobart's men, +who had proved themselves so capable of enduring and overcoming +hardships.</p> + +<p>Binney had waited impatiently in camp until the transit-party reached +it, expecting to see Glen ride in at its head with the front flag. Then +he had borrowed a horse, and set forth to find the boy whom he had once +considered his rival, but whom he now regarded as one of his best +friends.</p> + +<p>After the first exchange of greetings, they stood and looked at each +other curiously. Glen's hair hung on his shoulders, and the braid that +bound the brim of his sombrero was worn to a picturesque fringe, +matching that of his buckskin shirt. He was broader and browner than +ever; and though his face was still smooth and boyish, these last three +months had stamped it with a look of resolute energy that Binney noticed +at once.</p> + +<p>He, too, was brown, though not nearly so tanned as Glen, in spite of the +burning suns of the Gila Valley; for his work had kept him under cover +as much as Glen's had kept him in the open air. As General Elting's +secretary, Binney had spent most of his time in the ambulance, that, +fitted up with writing-desk and table, was the chief-engineer's +field-office, or in temporary offices established in tents or houses +wherever they had halted for more than a day at a time. He had evidently +met with barbers along the comparatively well-travelled Gila; while, as +compared with Glen's picturesquely ragged costume, his was that of +respectable civilization. Although he, too, was the picture of health, +his frame lacked the breadth and fulness of Glen's, and it was evident +at a glance that, in the matter of physical strength, he was even more +greatly the other's inferior than when they left Brimfield.</p> + +<p>Glen could not help noting this with a feeling of secret satisfaction; +but, as they rode towards camp together, and Binney described his +winter's experiences, Glen began to regard him with vastly increased +respect. He thought he had studied hard, and done well to master the +mysteries of adjusting and running a level, perfecting himself as a +rodman, and learning to plot profile; but his knowledge appeared +insignificant as compared with that which Binney had picked up and +stored away. Not only had he learned to speak Spanish fluently, but he +had become enough of a geologist to talk understandingly of coal-seams +and ore-beds. He had the whole history of the country through which he +had passed, from the date of its Spanish discovery, at his tongue's end. +He spoke familiarly of the notable men to whom, at General Elting's +dictation, he had written letters, and altogether he appeared to be a +self-possessed, well-informed young man of the world.</p> + +<p>Poor Glen was beginning to feel very boyish and quite abashed in the +presence of so much wisdom, and to wonder if he had not been wasting his +opportunities on this trip as he had those of school. His thoughts were +inclining towards a decidedly unpleasant turn, when they were suddenly +set right again by Binney, who exclaimed, "But, I say, old man, what a +fine thing you fellows have done this winter! The general declares that +you have made one of the most notable surveys on record; and it's a +thing every one of you ought to be proud of. You should have heard him +congratulate Mr. Hobart. He asked at once about you, too, and wants to +see you as soon as you get in. He seems to take a great interest in you, +and has spoken of you several times. I expect, if you choose to keep on +in this business, you can always be sure of a job through him. He seems +to think it queer that you should be a year older than I am; but I told +him it was certainly so, because I knew just when your birthday came."</p> + +<p>Glen was on the point of saying that, if Binney knew that, it was more +than he did, but something thing kept him silent. He hated to +acknowledge that he knew nothing of his real birthday, nor how old he +really was, but he wondered if he could truly be a year older than this +wise young secretary.</p> + +<p>At this point the conversation was interrupted by their arrival at camp, +and by General Elting stepping from his tent to give Glen a hearty +handshake as he exclaimed,</p> + +<p>"My dear boy, I am delighted and thankful to see you again. I tried to +persuade our friend Mr. Hobart, when I last saw him at Santa Fé, that, +in spite of your performance on that railroad ride you and I took +together last summer, you were too young to make the trip I had laid out +for him. He said he didn't know anything about your age, but that you +were certainly strong and plucky enough for the trip. I made him +promise, though, to try and induce you to go back from Isletta; but he +doesn't seem to have succeeded."</p> + +<p>"No, sir," laughed Glen, "and I'm awfully glad he didn't, for it's been +the most glorious kind of a trip, and I have enjoyed every minute of +it."</p> + +<p>"I am glad, too, now that it is all over; but I must tell you that, if I +had not been assured that you were a whole year older than my young +secretary here, I should have insisted on your going back, for I +considered it too hard and dangerous a trip for a boy so young as I had +supposed you to be until then."</p> + +<p>Here was another good reason why Glen was glad he had remained silent on +the subject of his birthday.</p> + +<p>"Now what do you think of running a line across the desert ahead of us?" +continued the chief-engineer; "are you as anxious to undertake that as +you were to cross Arizona?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, indeed, I am, sir," replied Glen, earnestly. "I am anxious to go +wherever the second division goes; and if anybody can get a line across +that desert, I know we can."</p> + +<p>"I believe you can," said the chief, smiling at the boy's enthusiasm, +"and I am going along to see how you do it."</p> + +<p>The Colorado was so broad, deep, and swift that Glen wondered how they +were going to measure across it, and had a vague idea that it could be +done by stretching a long rope from bank to bank. He asked "Billy" +Brackett; and when the leveller answered, "By triangulation, of course," +Glen showed, by his puzzled expression, that he was as much in the dark +as ever.</p> + +<p>"You have studied geometry and trigonometry, haven't you?" asked the +leveller.</p> + +<p>Glen was obliged to confess that, as he had not been able to see the use +of those studies, he had not paid much attention to them.</p> + +<p>"Well, then, perhaps you'll have a better opinion of old Euclid when you +see the practical use we'll put him to to-morrow," laughed "Billy" +Brackett.</p> + +<p>Glen did see, the next day, and wondered at the simplicity of the +operation. The front flag was sent across the river in a boat, and on +the opposite side he drove a stake. While he was thus engaged, a line a +quarter of a mile long was measured on the bank where the rest of the +party still remained, and a stake was driven at each end of it. The +transit was set up over one of these stakes, and its telescope was +pointed first at the other and then at the one across the river, by +which means the angle where it stood was taken. It was then set over the +stake at the other end of the measured line, and that angle was also +taken. Then Mr. Hobart drew, on a leaf of his transit-book, a triangle, +of which the base represented the line measured between the two stakes +on his side of the river, and one side represented the distance across +the river that he wished to find. He thus had one side and two angles of +a triangle given to find one of the other two sides, and he solved the +problem as easily as any boy or girl of the trigonometry-class can whose +time in school has not been wasted as Glen Eddy's was.</p> + +<p>It was a simple operation, and one easily performed, but it involved a +knowledge of the four fundamental rules of arithmetic, of proportion, or +the rule of three, of geometry, of trigonometry, and of how to use a +surveyor's transit; all of which, except the last, are included in the +regular course of studies of every boy and girl in America who receives +a common-school education.</p> + +<p>Glen had also been sent across the river, where he held his rod so high +up on the bank that the cross hair in the telescope of the level cut +just one tenth of an inch above its bottom. Then, when "Billy" Brackett +came over, and went on beyond Glen, he set the level up so high on the +bank that, through it, he could just see the top of the rod, extended to +its extreme length. So they climbed slowly up out of the Colorado +Valley, and began to traverse the dreary country that lay between it and +the Sierra Nevada.</p> + +<p>For the first hundred miles or so they got along very well, so far as +water was concerned, though the mules and horses speedily began to grow +thin and weak for want of food. The patches of grass were very few and +far between, and the rations of corn exceedingly small; for in that +country corn was worth its weight in gold, and scarce at that.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="Chapter_XXXVIII" id="Chapter_XXXVIII"></a><span class="smcap">Chapter XXXVIII.</span></h2> + +<h3>DYING OF THIRST IN THE DESERT.</h3> + + +<p>Matters were bad enough by the time Mr. Hobart's party reached Camp +Cady, nearly half way across the desert; but, from there on, they became +much worse. The line could no longer follow the winding government +trail, but must be run straight for the distant mountains, that were now +plainly to be seen.</p> + +<p>This experience vividly recalled that of the preceding summer, when they +were crossing the Plains towards the Rocky Mountains, and longing so +eagerly to reach them. But this was infinitely worse than that. There +they generally found water that was sweet and fit to drink, and always +had plenty of grass for their stock. Here they rarely found water, and +when they did it was nearly always so strongly impregnated with salt, +soda, and alkali as to be unfit to drink. Here, too, instead of grass, +they found only sand, sage brush, greasewood, and cacti. To be sure the +greasewood was a comfort, because it burned just as readily green as +dry, and in certain of the cacti, round ones covered with long curved +spines, they could nearly always find a mouthful of water, but none of +these things afforded any nourishment for the hungry animals. They +became so ravenous that they gnawed off one another's manes and tails, +chewed up the wagon covers, and every other piece of cloth they could +get hold of. Then they began to die so fast from starvation and +exhaustion that some dead ones were left behind with every camp, and +each day the number was increased.</p> + +<p>At nearly every camp, too, a wagon was abandoned, and for miles they +could look back and see its white cover, looming above the dreary +expanse of sand and sage, like a monument to the faithful animals that +had fallen beside it. At length but one wagon and the two ambulances +were left. Tents, baggage, clothing, all the bedding except one blanket +apiece, and the greater part of their provisions, had been thrown away, +or left in the abandoned wagons. Within forty miles of the mountains +they gave up work on the line. The men had no longer the strength to +drag the chain or carry the instruments. They still noted their course +by compass, and the height of various elevations as they crossed them, +by the barometer. They were even able to measure the distance from one +sad camping-place to another, by means of the odometer, an instrument +that, attached to a wagon-wheel, records the number of revolutions made +by it. This number, multiplied by the circumference of the wheel, gave +them the distance in feet and inches. Everybody was now on foot, even +the chief's saddle-horse, Seņor, and Glen's Nettle being harnessed to +one of the ambulances.</p> + +<p>At last, when the mountains appeared tantalizingly near, but when they +were still nearly twenty miles away, it seemed as though the end had +come. For two days neither men nor animals had tasted a drop of water. +At the close of the second day, a slight elevation had disclosed a lake +lying at their feet, glowing in the red beams of the setting sun. With +feeble strength they had rushed to it, and flung themselves into its +tempting waters. They were as salt as brine, and, with this bitter +disappointment, came despair. They lighted fires and made coffee with +the brackish water that oozed into holes dug in the salt-encrusted sand, +but it sickened them, and they could not drink it.</p> + +<p>Their lips were cracked, their tongues swollen, their throats like dry +leather, and their voices were hardly more than husky whispers.</p> + +<p>As the moon rose that evening, and poured its cold light on the +outstretched forms grouped about the solitary, white-sheeted wagon, a +hand was laid on Glen's shoulder, and the chief's voice bade the boy +rise and follow him. Leading the way to the ambulance in which Binney +Gibbs slept the sleep of utter exhaustion and despair, and to which the +horses Seņor and Nettle were fastened, the general said,</p> + +<p>"There is but one hope left for us, Matherson. It is certain that some +of the party have not strength enough to carry them to the mountains, +and equally so that, without water, the teams can never reach there. In +the valleys of these mountains are streams, and on these streams are +ranches. If we can get word to one of these, the entire party may yet be +saved. I am going to try and ride there to-night, and I want you to come +with me. Our horses, and yours in particular, are the freshest of all +the animals. I have told Mr. Hobart; but there is no need of rousing any +of the others to a sense of their misery. Will you make the attempt with +me?"</p> + +<p>Of course the boy would go; and, for a moment, he almost forgot his +sufferings, in a feeling of pride that he should be selected for such an +undertaking.</p> + +<p>A minute later they rode slowly away, and the desert sands so muffled +the sound of their horses' hoofs that their departure was not noted by +those whom they left.</p> + +<p>With fresh, strong animals, and without that terrible choking thirst, +that night ride over the moonlight plain would have been a rare +pleasure. Under the circumstances it was like a frightful dream. Neither +of the riders cared to talk; the effort was too painful; but both +thought of the last ride they had taken together in the cab of a +locomotive on a Missouri railroad, and the man looked tenderly at the +boy, as he recalled the incidents of that night. For an hour they rode +in silence, their panting steeds maintaining a shambling gait through +the sand, that was neither a trot nor a lope, but a mixture of the two. +Then they dropped into a walk, and, for another hour, were only roused +to greater speed by infinite exertions on the part of their riders. At +last Seņor stumbled heavily, recovered himself, and then fell.</p> + +<p>"There is no use trying to get him up again," said the chief. "I'm +afraid the poor old horse is done for; but you must ride on, and I will +follow on foot. Head for that dark space. It marks a valley. I shall not +be far behind you. If you find water, fire your pistol. The sound will +give me new strength. Good-bye, and may God prosper you."</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="illus4" id="illus4"></a> +<img src="images/illus4.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> + +<h3>"'HEAD FOR THAT DARK SPACE. IT MARKS A VALLEY.... IF YOU +FIND WATER, FIRE YOUR PISTOL.'"</h3> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p>"But I hate to leave you, sir."</p> + +<p>"Never mind me; hurry on. A moment wasted now may be at the price of a +life."</p> + +<p>So Glen went on alone, trying, in husky tones, to encourage his brave +little mare, and urge her to renewed efforts. She seemed to realize that +this was a struggle for life, and responded nobly. She even broke into a +lope, as the ground became harder. The sand was disappearing. Water +might be nearer than they thought.</p> + +<p>Five miles farther Nettle carried her rider, and then she staggered +beneath his weight. She could not bear him a rod farther, and he knew +it. A choking sob rose in the boy's parched throat as he dismounted and +left her standing there, the plucky steed that had brought him so far +and so faithfully; but he could not stay with her, he must go on. He +could see the opening to the valley plainly now, though it was still +some miles away; and, summoning all his strength, he walked towards it.</p> + +<p>At half the distance he was skirting a foot-hill, when down its gravelly +side, directly towards him, rushed two animals, like great dogs. They +were mountain-wolves at play, one chasing the other, and they came on, +apparently without seeing him. When, with a hoarse cry, he attracted +their attention, they stopped, and, sitting on their haunches, not more +than a couple of rods away, gazed at him curiously.</p> + +<p>He dared not fire at them, for fear of only wounding one and thus +arousing their fury. Nor did he wish to raise false hopes in the mind of +General Elting, who might hear the shot and think it meant water.</p> + +<p>Some one had told him of the cowardice of wolves. He would try it. +Picking up a stone, he flung it at them, at the same time running +forward, brandishing his arms, and giving a feeble shout. They sprang +aside, hesitated a moment, and then turned tail and fled.</p> + +<p>Soon afterwards Glen reached the valley, which was apparently about half +a mile broad. On its farther side was a line of shadow blacker than the +rest. It might be timber. With tottering footsteps the boy staggered +towards it. As his feet touched a patch of grass he could have knelt and +kissed it, but at the same instant he heard the most blessed sound on +earth, the trickling of a rivulet. He fell as he reached it, and plunged +his head into the life-giving water. It was warm and strongly +impregnated with sulphur; but never had he tasted anything so delicious, +nor will he ever again.</p> + +<p>Had it been cold water, the amount that he drank might have killed him; +as it was, it only made him sick. After a while he recovered, and then +how he gloated in that tiny stream. How he bathed his hands and face, +and, suddenly, how he wished the others were there with him. Perhaps a +shot might bear the joyful news to the ears of the general.</p> + +<p>With the thought he drew his revolver, and roused the mountain echoes +with its six shots, fired in quick succession. Then he tried to walk up +the valley in the hope of finding a ranch. It was all he could do to +keep on his feet, and only a mighty effort of will restrained him from +flinging himself down on the grass and going to sleep beside that stream +of blessed water.</p> + +<p>A few minutes later there came a quick rush of hoofs from up the valley, +and in the moonlight he saw two horsemen galloping towards him. They +dashed up with hurried questions as to the firing they had heard, and, +somehow, he managed to make them understand that a party of white men +were dying of thirst twenty miles out on the desert.</p> + +<p>The next thing he knew, he was in a house, and dropping into a sleep of +such utter weariness that to do anything else would have been beyond his +utmost power of mind or body.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="Chapter_XXXIX" id="Chapter_XXXIX"></a><span class="smcap">Chapter XXXIX.</span></h2> + +<h3>CROSSING THE SIERRA NEVADA.</h3> + + +<p>When Glen next woke to a realizing sense of his surroundings, the +evening shadows had again fallen, and he heard familiar voices near by +him. All were there, General Elting, Mr. Hobart, "Billy" Brackett, +Binney Gibbs, and the rest, just sitting down to a supper at the +hospitable ranch table. It was laden with fresh beef, soft bread, +butter, eggs, milk, boiled cabbage, and tea, all of them luxuries that +they had not tasted for months. And they had plates, cups and saucers, +spoons, knives, and forks. Glen wondered if he should know how to use +them; but he did not wonder if he were hungry. Nor did he wait for an +invitation to join that supper-party.</p> + +<p>He was dirty and ragged and unkempt as he entered the room in which his +comrades were assembled; but what did they care? He was the one who had +found help and sent it to them in the time of their sore need. Some of +them owed their lives to him, perhaps all of them did. Every man in the +room stood up, as the chief took him by the hand and led him to the head +of the table, saying,</p> + +<p>"Here he is, gentlemen. Here is the lad who saved the second division. +Some of us might have got through without his help; others certainly +would not. Right here I wish to thank him, and to thank God for the +strength, pluck, and powers of endurance with which this boy, to whom we +owe so much, is endowed."</p> + +<p>And Glen! How did he take all this praise? Why, he was so hungry, and +his eyes were fixed so eagerly on the table full of good things spread +before him that he hardly knew what the general was talking about. If +they would only let him sit down and eat, and drink some of that +delicious-looking water! He came very near interrupting the proceedings +by doing so. At length, to his great relief, they all sat down, and in a +moment Glen was eating and drinking in a manner only possible to a +hearty boy who has gone without water and almost without food for two +days.</p> + +<p>A little later, seated before a glorious camp-fire of oak logs outside +the ranch, Glen learned how the two ranchmen, after getting him to the +house, had loaded a wagon with barrels of water and gone out on the +desert. They first found General Elting, nearly exhausted, but still +walking, within a couple of miles of the valley, and afterwards +discovered the rest of the party dragging themselves falteringly along +beside one of the ambulances, which, with the notes and maps of the +expedition, was the only thing they had attempted to bring in.</p> + +<p>And Nettle! Oh, yes; the brave little mare was also found, revived, and +brought in to the ranch. She needed a long rest; and both for her sake +and as a token of his gratitude, Glen presented her to one of the +ranchmen. The settlers went out that same night after the other +ambulance and the wagon, abandoned on the shore of the salt lake. When +they returned, General Elting traded his big, nearly exhausted army +mules for their wiry little bronchos, giving two for one, and thus +securing fresh teams to haul all that remained of his wagon-train to the +coast.</p> + +<p>The party spent three days in recruiting at this kindly ranch, to which +they will always look back with grateful hearts, and think of as one of +the most beautiful spots on earth. Then, strengthened and refreshed, +they passed on up the valley, which proved to be that of the Tehachapa, +the very pass towards which they had directed their course from the +moment of leaving the Colorado.</p> + +<p>How beautiful seemed its oak-groves, its meadows, its abounding springs +of cool, sweet water, and its clear, bracing air! How they ate and slept +and worked and enjoyed living! What grand camp-fires they had, and how +much merriment circulated about them! And had they not cause for +rejoicing? Had they not toiled across half the width of a continent? Had +they not traversed vast plains and mountain-ranges and deserts? Had they +not encountered savage men and savage beasts? Had they not suffered from +hunger, thirst, cold, and hardships of all kinds? Had they not conquered +and triumphed over all these? Were they not left far behind, and was not +the journey's end in sight? No wonder they were light-hearted and +excited, and no wonder they seemed to inhale champagne with every breath +of that mountain air!</p> + +<p>General Elting left them at the summit of the pass, and, taking Binney +Gibbs with him in his private ambulance, hastened on to Los Angeles to +make arrangements for the transportation of the party, by steamer, up +the coast to San Francisco; for there were no railroads in California in +those days.</p> + +<p>The rest of the engineers travelled leisurely down the western slope of +the Sierras into a region that became more charming with each mile of +progress. It was spring-time. The rainy season was drawing to its close, +and the Golden State was at its best. The air was filled with the sweet +scents of innumerable flowers, the song of birds, and the music of +rushing waters. The bay-trees wore their new spring robes of vivid +green, from which the soft winds shook out delightfully spicy odors. The +trunks of the manzanitas glowed beneath their wine-red skins, while the +madronos were clad in glossy, fawn-colored satins. To the toil-worn +explorers, just off the alkaline sands of the parched and verdureless +desert, the old mission of San Gabriel, nestled at the base of the +western foot-hills, seemed the very garden-spot of the world. Here were +groves of oranges, lemons, limes, pomegranates, and olives. Here were +roses and jasmines. Here were heliotrope and fuchsias, grown to be +trees, and a bewildering profusion of climbing vines and flowering +shrubs, of which they knew not the names.</p> + +<p>But they recognized the oranges, though none of them had ever seen one +growing before; and, with a shout of joy, the entire party rushed into +the grove, where the trees were laden at once with the luscious fruit +and perfumed blossoms. There was no pause to discuss the proper method +of peeling an orange in this case, for they did not stop to peel them at +all. They just ate them, skin and all, like so many apples. It was such +a treat as they had never enjoyed before, and they made the most of it.</p> + +<p>Not long after leaving San Gabriel, as they were making a night march +towards Los Angeles, Glen suddenly became aware of a strange humming +sound above his head; and, looking up, saw a telegraph wire. With a glad +shout he announced its presence. It was the most civilized thing they +had seen since leaving Kansas.</p> + +<p>At Los Angeles they could not make up their minds to endure the close, +dark rooms of the Fonda, and so camped out for the night in the +government corral beside their wagon.</p> + +<p>The following day they made their last march over twenty miles of level +prairie, dotted with flocks and herds, to San Pedro, on the coast. It +was late in the afternoon, and the sun was setting, when, from a slight +eminence, they caught their first glimpse of the gold-tinted Pacific +waters. For a moment they gazed in silence, with hearts too full for +words. Then everybody shook hands with the one nearest to him, and more +than one tear of joyful emotion trickled down the bronzed and +weather-beaten cheeks of the explorers. As for Glen Eddy, he never +expects to be so thrilled again as he was by the sight of that mighty +ocean gleaming in the red light of the setting sun, and marking the end +of the most notable journey of his life.</p> + +<p>That night they made their last camp, and gathered about their final +camp-fire. Glen and "Billy" Brackett had shared their blankets ever +since leaving the Rio Grande, and had hardly slept, even beneath a +canvas roof, in all those months. Now, as they lay together for the last +time, on their bed of grassy turf, which is of all beds the one that +brings the sweetest and soundest sleep, and gazed at the stars that had +kept faithful watch above them for so long, they talked in low tones +until a gentle sea-breeze set in and they were lulled to sleep by the +murmur of distant breakers, a music now heard by both of them for the +first time in their lives.</p> + +<p>The next day they turned over their sole remaining wagon and their +ambulance to a government quartermaster. Then, having no baggage, they +were ready, without further preparation, to embark on the steamer +<i>Orizaba</i> for San Francisco, to which place General Elting and Binney +Gibbs had gone on, by stage, from Los Angeles, some days before.</p> + +<p>As the great ship entered the Golden Gate and steamed up the bay, past +Tamalpias, past the Presidio, past Alcatraz Island, and into the harbor +of San Francisco, Glen Eddy found it hard to realize that it was all +true, and that this young explorer, who was about to set foot in the +city of his most romantic day dreams, was really the boy who had started +from Brimfield ten months before, without an idea of what was before +him.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="Chapter_XL" id="Chapter_XL"></a><span class="smcap">Chapter XL.</span></h2> + +<h3>A HOME AND TWO FATHERS.</h3> + + +<p>Of course they all went to the Occidental, for everybody went first to +the Occidental in those days. As they drove through the city, in open +carriages, their long hair, buckskin shirts, rags, in some cases +soleless and toeless boots, and generally wild and disreputable +appearance attracted much amused attention from the well-dressed +shoppers of Montgomery Street; and, when they trooped into the marble +rotunda of the great hotel, they excited the universal curiosity of its +other and more civilized guests.</p> + +<p>But they did not mind—they enjoyed the sensation they were creating; +and Glen, who was one of the wildest-looking of them all, rather pitied +Binney Gibbs on account of the fine clothing he had already assumed, as +the two met and exchanged hearty greetings once more.</p> + +<p>"Come up into my room, Glen," said Binney, eagerly, "I've got a lot of +Brimfield news, and there's a pile of letters for you besides. Only +think, Lame Wolf is playing short-stop on the ball nine, and they say +he's going to make one of the best players they've ever had."</p> + +<p>The last news Glen had received from home was in the letters Mr. Hobart +had brought from Santa Fé nearly five months before. He had learned then +of Lame Wolf's safe arrival at Brimfield, and of his beginning to study +English; but now to hear of his being on the ball nine! That was making +progress; and the boy felt very proud of his young Indian. But there was +more startling news than that awaiting him. In one of the letters from +his adopted father, which, though it bore the latest date, had already +been waiting in San Francisco more than a month, he read, with +amazement, the following paragraphs:</p> + +<p>"I have just received a note from a lady who writes that she met a +gentleman in New Mexico who told her all about you. She was intensely +interested, because she thinks she knew your mother, and travelled with +her and you on the day the train was wrecked in Glen Eddy creek, when +you and I were the only survivors. She also says that the mother with +whom she travelled said her baby was just a year old, and that day was +his birthday. So, my dear boy, if it should happen that you and the baby +she mentions are the same, you are a year younger than we have always +thought you, and are just the age of Binney Gibbs. In conclusion, the +lady writes that she believes your real father to be still alive, and +she thinks she knows his name, but prefers not to mention it until she +hears from me all that I know of your history. I, of course, wrote to +her at once, and am anxiously expecting an answer. I never loved you +more than now, and to give you up will well-nigh break my heart; but, if +there is anything better in store for you than I can offer, I would be +the last one to stand in the way of your accepting it.</p> + +<p>"Now, my dear boy, come home as soon as you can, and perhaps you will +find two fathers awaiting you instead of one. We are full of anxiety +concerning you. Be sure and telegraph the moment you arrive in San +Francisco."</p> + +<p>Over and over did Glen read this letter before he could control himself +sufficiently to speak. Binney Gibbs noticed his agitation, and finally +said,</p> + +<p>"No bad news, I hope, old man?"</p> + +<p>For answer the boy handed him the letter, which Binney read with +ever-growing excitement. When he finished he exclaimed, "It's wonderful, +Glen, and I do hope it will come out all right. I always felt sorry for +you at not knowing who you were, even when I was so meanly jealous of +you for being stronger and more popular than I, and now I congratulate +you from the bottom of my heart. What a lucky thing it has been though, +over and over again, not only for you, but for me, and the whole second +division, that you were stronger than I!" he added, with a hearty +sincerity that he would not have exhibited a year before. "I tell you +what, this trip has opened my eyes to some things, and one of them is +that a fellow's body needs just as much training as his mind."</p> + +<p>"It has opened mine too," said Glen, earnestly. "It has taught me that, +no matter how strong a fellow is, he can't expect to amount to much in +this world unless he knows something, and that he can't know much unless +he learns it by hard study. If ever I get a chance to go to school +again, you better believe I'll know how to value it."</p> + +<p>"And if I ever get another chance to learn how to swim, you may be sure +I won't throw it away in a hurry," laughed Binney.</p> + +<p>"Only see what a splendid fellow 'Billy' Brackett is," continued Glen, +"just because he has trained his muscle and his brain at the same time, +without letting either get ahead of the other. And, speaking of 'Billy' +Brackett, I must go and show him this letter, because he is one of the +best friends I have got in the world, and I know he'll be glad to hear +anything that pleases me."</p> + +<p>First, Glen stopped at the telegraph office in the hotel, and sent the +following despatch to Brimfield.</p> + +<p>"Just arrived, safe and sound. Start for home first steamer," for which +he paid eight dollars in gold.</p> + +<p>Then he went to "Billy" Brackett's room, where he found that young +engineer struggling with a new coat that had just been sent in from a +tailor's, and lamenting, more than ever, the loss of his shiny but +well-loved old cutaway that had been eaten by one of the hungry mules on +the desert.</p> + +<p>He was as interested as Glen knew he would be in the letter, and as he +finished it he exclaimed:</p> + +<p>"Well, you are in luck, my boy, and I'm glad of it! Here I am, without a +father to my name, while you seem likely to have two. Well, you deserve +a dozen; and if you had 'em, each one would be prouder of you than the +other."</p> + +<p>After a week spent in San Francisco, during which time the barber, +tailor, and various outfitters made a marvellous change in Glen's +personal appearance, he, together with General Elting and Binney Gibbs, +boarded one of the great Pacific Mail Steamships for Panama. Mr. Hobart, +"Billy" Brackett, and the other members of the second division, had +decided to remain for a while on that coast, and most of them had +already accepted positions on some of the various engineering works then +in progress in California; but they were all at the steamer to see the +homeward-bound travellers off. As the great wheels were set in motion, +and the stately ship moved slowly from the wharf, the quieter spectators +were startled by the tremendous farewell cheer that arose from the +"campmates" who remained behind; and the cries of "good-bye, general! +we'll be on hand whenever you want us again! Good-bye, Grip! Good-bye, +Glen, old man! We won't forget the desert in a hurry! Good-bye!"</p> + +<p>The run down the coast was a smooth and pleasant one; while the several +Mexican and Central American ports at which they touched were full of +interest and delightful novelty to the Brimfield boys. They thoroughly +enjoyed crossing the Isthmus, and would gladly have lingered longer amid +its wonderful tropic scenery. Not until they were on the Atlantic, +however, and steaming northward, did they realize that they were fairly +on their way home.</p> + +<p>One day, as the two boys were sitting on deck, in company with General +Elting, gazing at the coast of Cuba, which they were then passing, +Binney Gibbs broke a long silence with the remark, "Doesn't it seem +queer, Glen, to think that when you get home you will be just the age +you were when you left it, and perhaps your name won't be 'Glen Eddy' +after all?"</p> + +<p>General Elting had not heard of Glen's letter from his adopted father, +nor had he ever heard him called "Glen Eddy" before; and now he asked +Binney what he meant by such a curious speech.</p> + +<p>When it was explained, he sat silent for several minutes, looking at +Glen with such a peculiar expression that the boy grew uneasy beneath +the fixed gaze. Then, without a word, he rose and walked away, nor did +they see him again for several hours. He talked much with Glen during +the remainder of the voyage, and frequently puzzled him by his +questions, and the interest he manifested in everything relating to his +past life.</p> + +<p>As he was going to St. Louis, he took the same train with the boys from +New York; and, though he bade them good-bye as they neared Brimfield, he +said that he hoped and expected to see them again very shortly.</p> + +<p>How natural the place looked as the train rolled up to the little +station, and how impossible it was to realize that they had crossed the +continent and sailed on two oceans since leaving it!</p> + +<p>"There's father!" shouted Glen and Binney at the same instant.</p> + +<p>"And there are all the boys! Who is that dark, good-looking chap with +them? It can't be Lame Wolf! But it is, though! Did you ever see such a +change for the better? Bully for Lame Wolf!"</p> + +<p>"Hurrah for Glen Eddy! Hurrah for Binney Gibbs!" shouted the Brimfield +boys, wild with the excitement of welcoming home two such heroes as the +young explorers were in their eyes. The very first to grasp Glen's hand +was the Indian lad, and he said in good English, though with a Cheyenne +accent, "How Glen! Lem Wolf is very glad. Lem Wolf is short-stop now. He +can play ball."</p> + +<p>Binney Gibbs disappeared in his father's carriage; but Glen walked from +the station with his adopted father, and everybody wanted to shake hands +with him, and ask him questions, and throng about him, so that it seemed +as though they never would reach home.</p> + +<p>It was a happy home-coming, and Glen was touched by the interest and the +kindly feeling manifested towards him; but how he did long to reach the +house, and be alone for a minute with Mr. Matherson. There was one +question that he was so eager, and yet almost afraid, to ask. Had his +own father been discovered? But he could not ask it before all those +people, nor did he have an opportunity for a full hour after they +reached the house. Some of the neighbors were there, and they had to +have supper, and everything seemed to interfere to postpone that quiet +talk for which he was so anxious.</p> + +<p>At length he could wait no longer, and, almost dragging Mr. Matherson +into the little front parlor, he closed the door and said breathlessly, +"Now tell me, father; tell me quick! Is he alive? Have you found him?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, my boy, he is alive, or was a few months ago, and I think we can +find him. In fact, I believe you know him very well, and could tell me +where to find him better than I can tell you."</p> + +<p>"What do you mean?" cried Glen. "Oh, tell me quick! What is his name?"</p> + +<p>There was so much confusion outside that they did not notice the opening +of the front gate, nor the strange step on the walk. As Mr. Matherson +was about to reply to the boy's eager question, the parlor door opened, +and one of the children entered, with a card in her hand, saying, +"Somebody wants to see you, papa."</p> + +<p>As Mr. Matherson glanced at the card he sprang to his feet, trembling +with excitement.</p> + +<p>"Gerald Elting!" he cried. "Why, Glen, that is the name of your own +father!"</p> + +<p>"And here is his own father, eager to claim his son," came from the open +doorway, in the manly tones that Glen had long since learned to love.</p> + +<p>The next moment the man's arms were about the boy's neck, as, in a voice +trembling with long-suppressed emotion, he cried,</p> + +<p>"Oh, my son, my son! Have I found you after all these years? Now is my +long sorrow indeed turned to joy."</p> + + +<h3>THE END.</h3> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="Books_by_KIRK_MUNROE" id="Books_by_KIRK_MUNROE"></a>Books by KIRK MUNROE</h2> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">CAMPMATES.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">DORYMATES.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">CANOEMATES.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">RAFTMATES.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">WAKULLA.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">THE FLAMINGO FEATHER.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">DERRICK STERLING.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">CHRYSTAL, JACK & CO.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">THE COPPER PRINCESS.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">FORWARD, MARCH!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">THE BLUE DRAGON.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">FOR THE MIKADO.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">UNDER THE GREAT BEAR.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">THE FUR-SEAL'S TOOTH.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">SNOW-SHOES AND SLEDGES.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">RICK DALE.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">THE PAINTED DESERT.<br /></span> +</div></div> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Campmates, by Kirk Munroe + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CAMPMATES *** + +***** This file should be named 33343-h.htm or 33343-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/3/3/4/33343/ + +Produced by David Edwards, Mary Meehan and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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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: Campmates + A Story of the Plains + +Author: Kirk Munroe + +Release Date: August 3, 2010 [EBook #33343] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CAMPMATES *** + + + + +Produced by David Edwards, Mary Meehan and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + + + + + + + + + + CAMPMATES + + _A Story of the Plains_ + + By KIRK MUNROE + + _Author of_ "THE FLAMINGO FEATHER," "WAKULLA," "DORYMATES," + "DERRICK STERLING" ETC. + + +_Illustrated_ + +HARPER & BROTHERS PUBLISHERS +NEW YORK AND LONDON + + + + +[Illustration: "IT WAS A LIVE BABY."] + + + + +CONTENTS. + + + I. A WEARY RIDE + + II. A RUDE BAPTISM + + III. A BOY WITHOUT A BIRTHDAY + + IV. "I JUST HATE TO STUDY" + + V. SWIMMING INTO A FRIENDSHIP + + VI. RECEIVING AN OFFER AND ACCEPTING IT + + VII. ACROSS THE MISSISSIPPI + + VIII. GLEN RUNS A LOCOMOTIVE + + IX. KANSAS CITY IN EARLY DAYS + + X. AT WORK WITH THE ENGINEER CORPS + + XI. ALMOST TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE + + XII. STARTING ACROSS THE PLAINS + + XIII. BINNEY GIBBS AND HIS MULE + + XIV. ON GUARD AT NIGHT + + XV. THE SUSPICIOUS MOVEMENTS OF CERTAIN COYOTES + + XVI. IN THE HANDS OF THE CHEYENNES + + XVII. ATTACKING A STAGE RANCH + + XVIII. BUFFALO AND THEIR USES + + XIX. GLEN'S ESCAPE FROM THE INDIANS + + XX. A PRESENT THAT WOULD PLEASE ANY BOY + + XXI. LAME WOLF, THE YOUNG CHEYENNE + + XXII. GLEN AND BINNEY GET INTO TROUBLE + + XXIII. FIGHTING THE FINEST HORSEMEN IN THE WORLD + + XXIV. CROSSING THE QUICKSANDS + + XXV. SWEPT AWAY BY A FRESHET + + XXVI. RUNNING THE LINE + + XXVII. "COVERED WITH MUD AND GLORY" + + XXVIII. LOST IN A MOUNTAIN SNOW-STORM + + XXIX. PLUNGING INTO A LAKE OF ICE-WATER + + XXX. DOWN THE LONELY CANON + + XXXI. KIT CARSON'S GOLD MINE + + XXXII. A NEW MEXICAN WEDDING + + XXXIII. IN THE VALLEY OF THE RIO GRANDE + + XXXIV. BAITING A WOLF-TRAP + + XXXV. EL MORO + + XXXVI. ZUNI, THE HOME OF THE AZTECS + + XXXVII. A PRACTICAL USE OF TRIGONOMETRY + + XXXVIII. DYING OF THIRST IN THE DESERT + + XXXIX. CROSSING THE SIERRA NEVADA + + XL. A HOME AND TWO FATHERS + + + + + +ILLUSTRATIONS. + + +"IT WAS A LIVE BABY" + +"TWO STALWART WARRIORS SEIZED HIM BY THE ARMS AND RAISED HIM BETWEEN +THEM AS THEY SWEPT PAST" + +"THE STRANGE CRAFT WAS BORNE SLOWLY DOWN STREAM" + +"'HEAD FOR THAT DARK SPACE, IT MARKS A VALLEY.... IF YOU FIND WATER, +FIRE YOUR PISTOL'" + + + + +_CAMP MATES._ + +_A Story of the Plains._ + + + + +Chapter I. + +A WEARY RIDE. + + +Slowly and heavily the train rumbled on through the night. It was called +an express; but the year was long ago, in the early days of railroading, +and what was then an express would now be considered a very slow and +poky sort of a train. On this particular night too, it ran more slowly +than usual, because of the condition of the track. The season was such a +wet one, that even the oldest traveller on the train declared he could +not remember another like it. Rain, rain, rain, day after day, for +weeks, had been the rule of that spring, until the earth was soaked like +a great sponge. All the rivers had overflowed their banks, and all the +smaller streams were raging torrents, red, yellow, brown, and sometimes +milky white, according to the color of the clays through which they cut +their riotous way. The lowlands and meadows were flooded, so that the +last year's hay-stacks, rising from them here and there, were veritable +islands of refuge for innumerable rabbits, rats, mice, and other small +animals, driven by the waters from their homes. + +And all this water had not helped the railroad one bit. In the cuts the +clay or gravel banks were continually sliding down on the track; while +on the fills they were as continually sliding out from under it. The +section gangs were doubled, and along the whole line they were hard at +work, by night as well as by day, only eating and sleeping by snatches, +trying to keep the track in repair, and the road open for traffic. In +spite of their vigilance and unceasing labor, however, the rains found +plenty of chances to work their mischief undetected. + +Many a time only the keen watchfulness of an engine-driver, or his +assistant, the fireman, saved a train from dashing into some gravel +heap, beneath which the rails were buried, or from plunging into some +yawning opening from which a culvert or small bridge had been washed +out. Nor with all this watchfulness did the trains always get through in +safety. Sometimes a bit of track, that looked all right, would suddenly +sink beneath the weight of a passing train into a quagmire that had been +formed beneath it, and then would follow the pitiful scenes of a +railroad wreck. + +So nobody travelled except those who were compelled to do so, and the +passenger business of this particular road was lighter than it had been +since the opening. It was so light that on this night there were not +more than half a dozen persons in the single passenger coach of the +express, and only one of these was a woman. Another was her baby, a +sturdy, wholesome-looking little fellow, who, though he was but a year +old, appeared large enough to be nearly, if not quite, two. He had great +brown eyes, exactly like those of his mother. She was young and pretty, +but just now she looked utterly worn out, and no wonder. The train was +twelve hours late; and, instead of being comfortably established in a +hotel, at the end of her journey by rail, as she had expected to be +before dark that evening, she was wearily trying to sleep in the same +stuffy, jolting car she had occupied all day and had no hope of leaving +before morning. + +There were no sleeping-cars in those days, nor vestibuled trains, nor +even cars with stuffed easy-chairs in which one could lie back and make +himself comfortable. No, indeed; there were no such luxuries as these +for those who travelled by rail at that time. The passenger coaches were +just long boxes, with low, almost flat roofs, like those of freight +cars. Their windows were small, and generally stuck fast in their +frames, so that they could not be opened. There was no other means of +ventilation, except as one of the end doors was flung open, when there +came such a rush of smoke and cinders and cold air that everybody was +impatient to have it closed again. + +At night the only light was given by three candles that burned inside of +globes to protect them from being extinguished every time a door was +opened. There were no electric lights, nor gas, nor even oil-lamps, for +the cars of those days, only these feeble candles, placed one at each +end, and one in the middle of the coach. But worst of all were the +seats, which must have been invented by somebody who wished to +discourage railroad riding. They were narrow, hard, straight-backed, and +covered with shiny leather. + +In a car of this description the young mother, with her baby, had +travelled a whole day, and nearly a whole night. It is no wonder then +that she looked worn out, or that the baby, who had been so jolly and +happy as to be voted a remarkably fine child by all the passengers, +should have sunk into an exhausted sleep, after a prolonged fit of +screaming and crying, that caused the few remaining inmates of the car +to look daggers at it, and say many unkind things, some of which even +reached the ears of the mother. + +During the day there had been other women in the car, travelling for +shorter or longer distances. To one of these, a lady-like girl who +occupied an adjoining seat for some hours, and who was greatly +interested in the baby, the young mother had confided the fact that this +was his birthday, and also part of her own history. From this it +appeared that she was the wife of an army officer, who was stationed +with his regiment in the far West. She had not seen him for nearly a +year, or just after the baby was born; but at last he had been ordered +to a fort on the upper Mississippi River, where he hoped to remain for +some time. Now his young wife, who had only been waiting until he could +give her any sort of a home with him, had bravely set forth with her +baby to join him. He had written her that, on a certain date in the +spring, a detachment of troops was to start from St. Louis by steamboat +for the fort at which he was stationed. As one of the officers of this +detachment was to take his wife with him, he thought it would be a fine +opportunity for her to come at the same time. She wrote back that she +could not possibly get ready by the date named, but would come by a +later boat. After she had sent the letter, she found that she could get +ready; and, as the aunt with whom she was living was about to break up +her home and go abroad, she decided to start at once for St. Louis. +There she would join her husband's friends, travel with them to the +far-away fort, and give the lonely soldier a joyful surprise. There was +no time to send another letter telling him of her change of plan, and +she was glad of it, for a surprise would be so much nicer. + +The early part of her journey had been accomplished quite easily. There +had been no rains in the East, such as were deluging the whole Ohio +valley. If there had been, it is not likely the soldier's wife would +have undertaken to travel at that time, and expose her precious baby to +such terrible risks, even to carry out the surprise she anticipated so +joyfully. From her aunt's house, in New York city, she had travelled by +steamer up the Hudson to Albany. From there she took cars to Buffalo, +and a lake boat to Cleveland. Now she was travelling by rail again, +across the flooded state of Ohio towards Cincinnati. There she intended +taking a steamboat down the Ohio River, and up the Mississippi to St. +Louis, where she expected to join her husband's friends, on the boat +that would carry them all to their journey's end. + +The details of this plan were fully discussed by the occupants of the +adjoining seats in the car, and when it came time for the one who was +not going through to leave the train, and take another at a small +junction, she had become so greatly interested in her new acquaintance +that she begged the latter to write to her, and tell her how she got +along. She wrote her own name and address on a bit of paper, just before +leaving the car, and gave it to the soldier's wife; but, in her hurry, +neglected to make a note of the name given her in return, and +afterwards, when she tried to recall it, was unable to do so. + +The tediousness of the weary day had been so much lessened by the making +of this pleasant acquaintance, that for some time after her departure +the young mother remained light-hearted and cheerful. The baby, too, was +bright and happy, and a source of constant amusement, not only to her, +but to all those about him. + +After a while, though, when it grew dark, and the feeble candles were +lighted, and most of the passengers had left the car, and the baby at +first fretted and then screamed, refusing to be quieted for more than an +hour, the exhausted young mother grew nervous and frightened. Only the +thought of the glad meeting, and the great happiness awaiting her at the +end of this tedious journey, enabled her to bear it as bravely as she +did. + +At length the babe cried himself to sleep, and the tired arms that had +held him so long gladly laid him down in a nest made of shawls and his +own dainty blanket on the opposite seat. This blanket had the initials +"G. E." embroidered in one corner, though these did not stand for the +baby's name. In fact, he had no first name, nor had he yet been +christened. This ceremony having been postponed until both the father +and mother could take part in it; the question of a name had also been +left undecided until then. The young mother wanted her boy called +"Gerald," after his father, and she had even embroidered the initial +"G." on his blanket to see how it would look. Thus far, however, the +baby was only called "baby," and had no right to any other name. + +As the child slept quietly in spite of the jar and jolt and rumble of +the train, the fair young head of the mother who watched so fondly and +patiently over him gradually drooped lower and lower. The brown eyes, so +like the baby's, closed for longer and longer intervals, until at length +she, too, was fast asleep, and dreaming of the joy that awaited her +journey's end. + + + + +Chapter II. + +A RUDE BAPTISM. + + +There were others on that train equally weary with the young mother, and +even more anxious; for they knew better than she the ever-present +dangers of that water-soaked road-bed, and they bore the weight of a +fearful responsibility. + +The conductor, looking grave and careworn, started nervously at every +lurch of more than ordinary violence, and kept moving uneasily from end +to end of his train. He never passed the young mother and her sleeping +babe without casting sympathetic glances at them. He had done everything +possible for their comfort, but it was little enough that he could do, +and for their sake, more than anything else, he wished the trip were +ended. + +All through the long, dark hours, the brake-men stood on the platforms +of the swaying cars, ready at a moment's warning to spring to the iron +brake-wheels. This crew of train hands had only come on duty at +nightfall, and had little knowledge of the through passengers. + +In the locomotive cab, gazing ahead with strained eyes, were the +engine-driver, Luke Matherson, and his fireman. Every now and then the +latter found a change of occupation in flinging open the furnace door +and tossing chunk after chunk of wood into the glowing interior. As he +closed the door he would stand for a moment and look inquiringly at his +companion, who sat motionless, with his hand on the throttle, and his +eyes fixed steadily on the lines of track gleaming in the light of the +powerful headlight. Occasionally, without turning his head, he exchanged +a few words with the fireman. + +"It's a nasty night, Luke," remarked the latter. + +"Yes. It wouldn't take many more such to make me give up railroading." + +"What do you think of the Beasely cut?" + +"I'm afraid of it, and wish we were well through it." + +"Well, we'll know all about it in five minutes more, and after that +there's nothing serious but Glen Eddy creek." + +The silence that followed was broken, a few minutes later, by two +piercing blasts from the whistle. The fireman had already seen the +danger, and sprung to the brake-wheel on the tender behind him. On every +car the brakes were grinding harshly, set up by nervous, lusty young +arms. The train did not come to a standstill an instant too soon; for, +as it did so, the cow-catcher was already half buried in a slide from +one of the treacherous banks of the Beasely cut. + +An hour's hard work by all the train hands, and some of the passengers, +with shovels and spades, cleared the track, and once more the express +proceeded slowly on its uncertain way. + +Now for the Glen Eddy bridge. Between it and the city that marked the +end of the line was the best stretch of road-bed in the state. It was a +long one, but it presented no dangers that a railroad man need fear. + +The gray dawn was breaking as the train approached Glen Eddy creek. In +the summer-time it was a quiet stream, slipping dreamily along between +its heavily wooded banks. Now it was a furious torrent, swollen beyond +all recognition, and clutching spitefully at the wooden piers of heavy +crib-work that upheld the single span of the bridge. + +The train was stopped and the bridge was examined. It seemed all right, +and the conductor gave the word to go ahead. It was the last order he +ever issued; for, in another minute, the undermined piers had given way, +and the train was piled up in the creek a shapeless wreck. + +From that terrible plunge only two persons escaped unharmed. One was +Luke Matherson, the engine-driver, and the other was the baby. When the +former felt his engine dropping from under him, he sprang from it, with +desperate energy, far out into the muddy waters, that instantly closed +over him. On coming to the surface, the instinct of self-preservation +forced him to swim, but it was wildly and without an idea of direction +or surroundings. For nearly a minute he swam with all his strength +against the current, so that he was still near the wreck, when his +senses were again quickened into action by a smothered cry, close at +hand. At the same time a dark mass drifted towards him, and he seized +hold of it. As the cry seemed to come from this, the man's struggles +became directed by a definite purpose. Partially supporting himself by +the wreckage, he attempted to guide it to the nearest bank; but so swift +was the current that he was swept down stream more than a mile before he +succeeded in accomplishing his purpose. + +Finally his feet touched bottom, and he drew his prize to shore. It was +a car seat, torn from its fastenings. Tightly wedged between it and its +hinged back was a confused bundle, from which came a smothered wailing. +Tearing away the wrappings, Luke Matherson stared for a moment, in a +dazed fashion, at what they had held so safely. He could hardly believe +that it was a live baby, lying there as rosy and unharmed as though in +its cradle. + +The sun had risen when the engine-driver, haggard, exhausted, with +clothing torn and muddy, but holding the babe clasped tightly in his +arms, staggered into the nearest farm-house, two miles back from the +creek. + +After his night of intense mental strain, the shock of the disaster, his +plunge into the chilling waters, and his subsequent struggle to save the +only surviving passenger of the train, it is not surprising that even +Luke Matherson's strong frame yielded, and that for several weeks he was +prostrated by a low fever. All this time the baby was kept at the +farm-house with him, in order that he might be identified and claimed; +but nobody came for him, nor were any inquiries made concerning the +child. He was called "the Glen Eddy baby" by the few settlers of that +sparsely populated region, who came to gaze at him curiously and +pityingly. Thus those who cared for him gradually came to call him +"Glen" for want of a better name; and, as the initials embroidered on +the blanket saved with him were "G. E.," people soon forgot that Glen +Eddy was not his real name. + +Although several bodies were recovered from the wreck of the express, +that of the young mother was not among them; and, as there was no one +left alive who knew that she had been on the train, of course her death +was not reported. Thus the mystery surrounding the Glen Eddy baby was so +impenetrable that, after a while, people gave up trying to solve it, and +finally it was almost forgotten. + +When Luke Matherson recovered from his fever, nothing could induce him +to return to his duties as engine-driver on the railroad. + +"No," he said, "never will I put myself in the way of going through +another such night as that last one." + +He went to Cincinnati as soon as he was able to travel, and while there +was offered a position in the engine-room of a large mill at Brimfield, +in western Pennsylvania, which he accepted. The people of the farm-house +where he had been ill were willing to keep the baby; but Luke Matherson +claimed it, and would not give it up. + +The babe had been given to him, if ever one had, he said; and, if no one +else loved it, he did. Of course, if anybody could prove a better claim +to it than his, he would be the last one to dispute it; but, if not, he +would keep the child and do the very best by him he knew how. He had no +folks of his own in the world, and was only too glad to feel that one +human being would grow up to care for him. + +The farm-house people lost track of Luke Matherson when he left +Cincinnati. Thus when, some four months later, a broken-hearted man, who +had with infinite pains traced his wife and child to that line of +railroad, reached that part of the country, he could gain no further +information except that a baby, who might have been his, was saved from +the Glen Eddy disaster, but what had become of it nobody knew. + + + + +Chapter III. + +A BOY WITHOUT A BIRTHDAY. + + +"It's no use, Glen," said the principal of the Brimfield High School, +kindly, but with real sorrow in his tone. "Your marks in everything +except history are so far below the average that I cannot, with justice +to the others, let you go on with the class any longer. So unless you +can catch up during the vacation, I shall be obliged to drop you into +the class below, and we'll go all over the same ground again next year. +I'm very sorry. It is a bad thing for a boy of your age to lose a whole +year; for this is one of the most important periods of your life. Still, +if you won't study, you can't keep up with those who will, that's +certain." + +The boy to whom these words were spoken was a squarely built, +manly-looking chap, with brown curling hair, and big brown eyes. He was +supposed to be seventeen years old, but appeared younger. Now his cheeks +were flushed, and a hard, almost defiant, expression had settled on his +face. + +"I know you are right, Mr. Meadows," he said, at length. "And you have +been very kind to me. It's no use, though. I just hate to study. I'd +rather work, and work hard at almost anything else, then I would know +what I was doing; but as for grinding away at stupid things like Latin +and geometry and trigonometry and natural philosophy, that can't ever be +of any earthly use to a fellow who doesn't intend to be either a +professor or an astronomer, I can't see the good of it at all." + +"No, I don't suppose you can now," replied the principal, smiling, "but +you will find even those things of use some time, no matter what you may +become in after-life. I will try and talk with you again on this subject +before I go away; but now I must leave you. I hope for your sake, +though, that you will think better about studying, and not throw away +your chance to do so now, while it is comparatively easy. To win success +in life you must study some time, and if you had stood anywhere near as +high as Binney Gibbs I might have managed to offer you--" + +"Excuse me, Mr. Meadows, but I must speak with you just a moment," here +interrupted a voice, and put an end to the conversation between the +principal and the boy who had allowed his distaste for study to bring +him into disgrace. + +As he walked away from the school-house, carrying all his books with +him, for the term was ended and the long vacation had begun, the flush +of mortification, called to his cheeks by Mr. Meadows's remarks, still +reddened them. He felt the disgrace of his position keenly, though he +had told the other boys, and had tried to make himself believe, that he +did not care whether he passed the examinations or not. Now that he had +failed to pass, he found that he did care. What was it that Mr. Meadows +might have offered him? It couldn't be _that_, of course; but if it +should have been! Well, there was no use in crying over it now. Binney +Gibbs had been honored, and he was disgraced. It was bad enough to +realize that, without thinking of things to make it worse. He was +thankful when he reached home and had closed the front door behind him; +for it seemed as though everybody he met must know of his disgrace, and +be smiling scornfully at him. + +He was a sensitive chap, was this Glen Eddy; for that was his name, and +he was the same one who, as a baby, was rescued by Luke Matherson from +the railroad wreck so many years ago. Most people called him Glen +Matherson, and on the school register his name was entered as Glen Eddy +Matherson; but, ever since his last birthday, when Luke had told him +that he was not his real father, and had fully explained their relations +to each other, the boy had thought of himself only as Glen Eddy. + +The master mechanic of the Brimfield Mills, for such Luke Matherson now +was, had meant to keep the secret of the boy's life to himself, at least +for some years longer. Glen had, however, heard rumors of it, and had on +one occasion been taunted by an angry playmate with the sneer that he +was only a nobody who didn't belong to anybody, anyhow. + +Glen had promptly forced this tormentor to acknowledge that he did not +know what he was talking about; but the taunt rankled all the same. A +few days afterwards, which happened to be the one that was kept as his +seventeenth birthday, he told his father of it, and asked what it meant. + +Then Luke Matherson, greatly troubled, but seeing that the secret could +not be kept any longer from the boy, told him what he knew of his +history. He ended with, "It is fifteen years ago this very day, Glen, +that the terrible wreck took place; and, as you were then thought to be +about two years old, I have called this your birthday ever since." + +The boy was amazed and bewildered. No idea that the one whom he had +always called "father" was not such in reality had ever entered his +head; but now that the truth was told him, it seemed strange that he had +not always known it instinctively. He had known that Mrs. Matherson was +not his own mother, for he was five years old when she assumed that +position, and of course he had always known that the two children were +not his own sisters, though he loved them as dearly as though they were. +But now to find out that he did not really belong to anybody was hard. + +Who were his real parents? Were they alive? Could he find them? were +questions that now began to occupy the boy's mind most of the time. + +One of the strangest things about this state of affairs was to discover +that his birthday was not his birthday after all. It seemed as though +some foundation on which he had rested in absolute trust of its security +had suddenly been swept from under him, and left him struggling in a +stormy sea of uncertainty. + +The idea of a boy without a birthday! Who ever heard of such a thing? +How the other fellows would stare and smile if they knew it! Glen had +been so proud of his birthday, too, and it had been made so much of at +home. His favorite dishes were always prepared for the meals of that +day, his tastes were consulted in everything that was done, and his +father always made a point of giving him a more valuable present then +than even at Christmas. Why, on the last one, the very day on which the +boy first learned how unreal the whole thing was, his father--no, his +adopted father--had given him the dearest little silver watch that ever +was seen. + +Many times since learning such a sad lesson in the uncertainties of +life, Glen had pulled this watch from his pocket, simply to assure +himself of its reality, and that it was not a make-believe like his +birthday. + +But for his natural force of character and sweetness of disposition, +Glen would have been a spoiled boy; for Luke Matherson had never been +able, since the moment he first saw him lying helplessly on the floating +car seat, to cross him in anything, or deny him whatever he asked if it +lay in his power to grant it. With his own children Mr. Matherson was +rather strict; but with the orphan lad who had shared with him the +greatest peril of his life, he could not be. + +Thus Glen had grown up to be somewhat impatient of restraint, and very +much inclined to have his own way. He was also a brave, generous boy, +and an acknowledged leader among his young companions. Was he not the +best swimmer, the fastest runner, the most daring climber, and expert +horseback-rider in Brimfield? Was he not captain of the baseball nine? +and did not all the fellows admire him except one or two, who were so +jealous of his popularity that they sought to detract from it? + +One of those who were most envious of him was Binney Gibbs, son of the +wealthy owner of the Brimfield Mills. He was taller than Glen, but was +no match for him in anything that called for muscle or pluck. It was he +who had flung the taunt of Glen's being a nobody at the boy. Binney had +never been noted for his studious habits until both he and Glen entered +the High School at the same time. Then, realizing that he could not +excel at anything else, he determined to beat the other at his studies. +To this end he strained every nerve with such effect that he not only +outranked Glen in his own class, but, by working all through two long +vacations, gained a whole year on him. So now, while poor Glen was +threatened with being turned back from the second class, Binney Gibbs +had just graduated at the head of the first, and was ready to enter +college. And the worst of it all was that everybody believed him to be a +whole year younger than Glen, too. + +To be sure, Binney was pale and thin, and no stronger than a cat. Why, +he couldn't even swim; but what of it? Had he not beaten the most +popular fellow in town away out of sight in this scholarship race? To +crown his triumph another thing had happened to make Binney Gibbs the +envy of all the boys in Brimfield, but particularly of Glen Eddy. + +On that last day of school the diplomas had been awarded, and Binney's +had been handed to him the first of all. As he was about to return to +his seat, amid the loud applause of the spectators, Mr. Meadows asked +him to wait a minute. So Binney stood on the platform while the +principal told of a wonderful exploring expedition that was being fitted +out at that moment, to go across the plains through the almost unknown +territories of New Mexico and Arizona to California. It was to be the +most famous expedition of the kind ever sent into the far West; and, as +it was to be partly a government enterprise, all sorts of political +influence was being used to obtain positions in it. It was to be +commanded by a noted general, who was an old friend of Mr. Meadows. + +"Now," said the principal, "the general writes that he will give a +position in this party to the boy who stands highest in my school this +year, or, if I cannot recommend him, or he does not choose to accept it, +to any other whom I may name." Here Mr. Meadows was interrupted by +prolonged applause. + +When it had subsided, he continued. "There is no question as to which +pupil of the school ranks highest this year. He stands before you now, +with his well-earned diploma in his hand [applause], and it gives me +great pleasure to be able to offer to Master Binney Gibbs a position in +the exploring-party that will start from St. Louis two weeks from +to-day, under command of my friend General Lyle. I hope that he may be +induced to accept it, and that his parents may permit him to do so; for +I cannot imagine a more fascinating or profitable way of spending a year +at his time of life." + + + + +Chapter IV. + +"I JUST HATE TO STUDY." + + +Mr. Meadows's remarks in regard to the famous exploring expedition, +about to be sent across the Western plains, were received with +tremendous applause, and Binney Gibbs at once became an object of envy +to every boy in the school--to say nothing of the girls. What a chance +to have offered one just for doing a little hard study! If the other +boys had known of it, how they, too, would have studied! Binney Gibbs +would have been obliged to work harder than he had for his position! +Yes, sir! ten times harder!--only think of it! Indians and buffalo and +bears, and the Rocky Mountains, and all the other enchanted marvels of +that far-away region. Why, just to contemplate it was better than +reading a dime novel! + +While these thoughts were racing through the minds of his companions, +and while they were cheering and clapping their hands, the lucky boy +himself was talking with Mr. Meadows, and telling him how much he should +like to join that expedition, and how he hoped his father would let him +do so. + +Mr. Gibbs left his seat in the audience and stepped up to the platform, +where he talked for a moment with Mr. Meadows. Then he spoke to Binney, +and then, as he faced the school, they saw that he had something to say +to them. + +It was that he was proud of his son--proud of the honor shown to the +school and to Brimfield through him--and that he should certainly allow +Binney to accept the offered position. + +So it was settled; and all the boys cheered again. To Glen Eddy it +seemed that he would be willing to forego all the other good things that +life held for him if he could only have the prospect of one such year of +adventure as was promised to Binney Gibbs. For the first time in his +life he was genuinely envious of another boy. + +It was that same day, after everybody else had gone, that he had the +talk with Mr. Meadows, in which the latter told him he must go back a +whole year on account of not having studied; though, if he had, he might +have been offered--And then came the interruption. Glen was too +heart-sick and miserable to wait and ask what the offer might have been. +Besides, he thought he knew, and the thought only added to his distress +of mind, until it really seemed as though no boy could be much more +unhappy than he. + +Mr. Matherson knew how the boy stood in school, for the principal had +thought it his duty to inform him; and that evening he and Glen had a +long and serious talk. + +"It's no use, father; I just hate to study!" exclaimed Glen, using the +same words that had caused Mr. Meadows to look grave earlier in the day. + +"I fancy we all hate a great many things that we have to do in this +life," replied the master mechanic, "and you have certainly had a +striking example to-day of the value of study." + +"Yes, that's so," admitted Glen, reluctantly, "and if I had known that +there was anything of that kind to be gained, perhaps I might have tried +for it too." + +"If I had been given your chance to study when I was young," continued +the other, "and had made the most of it, I would have a better position +to-day than the one I now hold. As it is, I have had to study mighty +hard, along with my work, to get even it. I tell you, my boy, the +chances come when you least expect them. The only thing to do is to +prepare for them, and be ready to seize them as they appear. If one +isn't prepared they'll slip right past him--and when once they have done +that, he can never catch them again." + +"But aren't there working chances just as well as studying chances, +father?" + +"Of course there are, and the study must always be followed by +work--hard work, too--but the first is a mighty big help to the other. +Now I will gladly do all that I can to help you on with your studies, if +you will study; but if you won't, you must go to work, for I can't +afford to support you in idleness, and I wouldn't if I could." + +"Well, I'll tell you what, father," said Glen, who was more inclined to +take his own way than one proposed by somebody else, "if you can help me +to the getting of a job, I'll try the work this summer, and when it +comes time for school to open again, I'll decide whether it shall be +work or study." + +"All right, my boy, I'll do what I can to get you a place in the mill or +in Deacon Brown's store, whichever you prefer." + +Now that a definite kind of work was proposed, it did not seem so very +desirable after all, and Glen doubted if he should like either the mill +or the store. Still he did not say so, but asked for a day longer in +which to decide, which was readily granted him. + +At about the same time that evening, Binney Gibbs was saying to his +father, with a self-satisfied air, + +"Isn't it a good thing that I have stuck to my books as I have, and not +wasted my time playing ball, or swimming, or doing the things that Glen +Matherson and the other fellows seem to consider so important?" + +"Well, yes," replied Mr. Gibbs, a little doubtfully, "I suppose it is. +At the same time, Binney, I do wish you were a little stronger. I'm +afraid you'll find roughing it pretty hard." + +"Oh, yes, I suppose physical strength was the most important thing when +you were young, father; but nowadays its brain-work that tells," +answered Binney, with a slight tone of contempt for his father's +old-fashioned ideas. Binney was not a bad-hearted fellow--only spoiled. + +The next day Glen did not feel like meeting any of his young companions. +He wanted to think over the several problems that had been presented to +him. So he wandered down to the river, where a fine new railroad-bridge, +in the building of which he had been greatly interested, was now +receiving its finishing touches. As he walked out towards the centre of +the graceful structure, admiring, as he had a hundred times before, the +details of its construction, its evident strength and airy lightness, he +saw the engineer who had charge of the work standing, with a roll of +plans under his arm, talking with one of the foremen. + +Glen had visited the bridge so often that the engineer knew him by +sight, and had even learned his name, though he had never spoken to him. +He was, however, especially fond of boys, and had been much pleased with +Glen's appearance. Several times he had been on the point of speaking to +him, but had been restrained by the diffidence a man is so apt to feel +in the presence of a stranger so much younger than himself. It is a fear +that he may do or say something to excite the undisguised mirth or +contempt that so often wait upon the ignorance of youth. + +Without suspecting these feelings in him, Glen had been strangely +attracted towards the engineer, whose profession and position seemed to +him alike fascinating and desirable. He wished he could become +acquainted with him, but did not know how to set about it. He, too, was +diffident and fearful of appearing in an unfavorable light before the +other, who was evidently so much older and wiser than he. But he did +long to ask this engineer a great many questions. + +Now he stood at a respectful distance and watched the young man, whose +name he knew to be Hobart, and, wondering whether his position had been +reached by study or work, wished he could think of some good excuse for +speaking to him. + +The floor of the bridge on which they were standing was about +twenty-five feet above Brim River, the deep, swift stream that it +spanned. Glen had swum and fished in it, and boated on it, until he knew +its every current and slack-water pool. He knew it as well as he did the +road to the village, and was almost as much at home in the one as on the +other. + +In order to consult a note-book that he drew from his pocket, Mr. Hobart +laid his roll of plans on a floor-beam, at his feet, for a moment. Just +then a little whirling gust of wind came along, and in an instant the +valuable plans were sailing through the air towards the sparkling +waters, that seemed to laugh at the prospect of bearing them away far +beyond human reach. + +The engineer tried in vain to clutch them as they rolled off the +floor-beam, and uttered an exclamation of vexation as they eluded his +grasp. + +As he looked around to see what could be done towards their recovery, a +boyish figure, without hat, jacket, or shoes, sprang past him, poised +for an instant on the end of the floor-beam, and then leaped into space. +Like a flash of light it shot downward, straight and rigid, with feet +held tightly together, and hands pressed close against the thighs. A +myriad of crystal-drops were flung high in the air and glittered in the +bright sunlight as Glen, striking the water with the impetus of a +twenty-five-foot fall, sank deep beneath its surface. + + + + +Chapter V. + +SWIMMING INTO A FRIENDSHIP. + + +Although Glen found no difficulty in coming to the surface, almost at +the spot where the roll of plans floated, and grasping it, he did not +find it so easy to bring it safely to shore. To begin with, the roll +occupied one hand, so that he had but one for swimming. Then the current +was strong, and the banks steep. He was very near the middle of the +river. Any other Brimfield boy would have been in despair at finding +himself in such a situation. But, then, no other boy in Brimfield would +have taken that leap. + +For a moment Glen wondered what he should do. Then he remembered the +"back-set" at the Bend, a quarter of a mile below the bridge. It would +put him right in to the bank, at a place where it was low, too. The +anxious watchers on the bridge wondered to see the boy turn on his back +and quietly drift away with the current, at the same time holding the +roll of plans, for which he had dared so much, clear of the water. + +They shouted to him to swim towards one or the other bank and they would +fling him a rope; but Glen only smiled without wasting any breath in +answering. Most of the men ran to one end of the bridge, because it +looked to them as though the boy were nearer that bank than the other; +but Mr. Hobart, who had studied the river, remembered the Bend, and +hurried to the other end. When he reached it he ran down along the bank, +towards the place where he felt certain the boy would attempt to land. +He got there in time to see Glen swimming with all his might to get out +of the main current and into the "back-set." With two hands he would +have done it easily; but with only one it was hard work. Then, too, his +clothing dragged heavily. + +Mr. Hobart shouted to him to let go the roll. "Drop it and make sure of +your own safety," he cried. "They are not worth taking any risks for." +But Glen was not the kind of a boy to let go of a thing that he had once +made up his mind to hold on to, so long as he had an ounce of strength +left. + +So he struggled on, and at last had the satisfaction of feeling that +something stronger than his own efforts was carrying him towards shore. +He had gained the "back-set," and, though its direction was rather up +along the bank, than in towards it, the swimmer had still strength +enough left to overcome this difficulty. + +A tree, growing straight out from the bank, overhung the stream, so that +Glen at length drifted under it, and caught hold of a drooping branch. +He had not strength enough to pull himself up; but it was not needed. +With the activity that comes from a life spent in the open air, the +engineer had run out on the horizontal trunk, and now, lying flat on it, +he could just reach the boy's hand. In another minute the strong arms +had drawn Glen up to a secure resting-place, where he might regain his +breath and drip to his heart's content. + +"Here are the plans, Mr. Hobart," he said, shyly, and at the same time +proudly. "I hope they are not spoiled by the water. I held them out of +it as much as I could." + +"I hope you are not spoiled by the water, Glen Matherson," laughed the +engineer, as he took the wet roll from the boy's hand. "You have done +splendidly, and I am sincerely grateful to you for rescuing my plans, +which are indeed of great value. At the same time I wouldn't do such a +thing again, if I were you, for anything less important than the saving +of life. It was a big risk to take, and I should have suffered a +life-long sorrow if anything had gone wrong with you." + +Although it was a warm June day, and Glen laughed at the idea of +catching cold, he had been in the water long enough to be thoroughly +chilled. So, when they regained the bank, Mr. Hobart insisted that he +should take off his clothes, wring them, and let them dry in the hot +sun. In the meantime a workman had come down from the bridge with the +boy's hat, jacket, and shoes. He lent him his overalls, and, thus +comically arrayed, Glen sat and talked with the engineer while his +clothes were drying. + +How kindly the brown-bearded face was, and with what interest the man +listened to all the boy had to say. How pleasant was his voice, and, in +spite of his age (he was about thirty-five) and wisdom, how easy it was +to talk to him! It was so easy, and he proved such a sympathetic +listener, that before Glen knew it he found himself confiding all his +troubles and hopes and perplexities to this new friend. It began with +his name, which he told the engineer was not Matherson, and then he had +to explain why it was not. + +Then they wondered together what sort of a man Glen's real father could +be, provided he were alive; and if, by any strange chance, he and his +son would ever meet and know each other. Mr. Hobart did not think it at +all likely they ever would. From this the boy was led to tell of his +dislike for study, and into what trouble it had led him. He even told of +the decision reached by his adopted father and himself the evening +before, and the undesirable choice of work that had been presented to +him. + +"And so you don't think you would fancy either the mill or the store?" +asked Mr. Hobart. + +"No, sir, I do not. Each one, when I think of it, seems worse than the +other, and they both seem worse than most anything else." + +"Worse than studying?" + +"Just as bad, because either of them means being shut up, and I hate to +stay in the house. I should like some business that would keep me +out-of-doors all the time." + +"Ploughing, for instance, or driving a horse-car, or digging clams, or +civil-engineering, or something nice and easy, like any of those?" +suggested Mr. Hobart, gravely. + +"Civil-engineering is what I think I should like better than anything +else in the world!" exclaimed the boy, eagerly. "That's what you are, +isn't it, sir?" + +"That is what I am trying to be," answered Mr. Hobart, smiling; "and if, +by years of hard work, hard study, and unceasing effort, I can reach a +generally recognized position as an engineer, I shall be satisfied with +my life's work." + +"Do you have to study?" asked Glen, in amazement. + +"Indeed I do," was the answer. "I have to study continually, and fully +as hard as any schoolboy of your acquaintance." + +Glen looked incredulous. It is hard for a boy to realize that his school +is only the place where he is taught how to study, and that his most +important lessons will have to be learned after he leaves it. + +"I think I should like to be a civil-engineer, anyhow," he remarked, +after a thoughtful pause, "because it is an out-of-door business." + +"Yes," admitted the other, "it is to a great extent." + +Then they found that Glen's clothing was dry enough to be worn, and also +that it was dinnertime. So, after Mr. Hobart had shaken hands with the +boy, and said he hoped to see him again before long, they separated. + +That afternoon Glen, still wearing a perplexed expression on his usually +merry face, walked down to the mill and looked in at its open door. It +was so hot and dusty and noisy that he did not care to stay there very +long. He had been familiar with it all his life; but never before had it +struck him as such an unpleasant place to work in, day after day, month +after month, and even year after year, as it did now. How hard people +did have to work, anyway! He had never realized it before. Still, +working in a mill must be a little harder than anything else. At any +rate, he certainly would not choose to earn his living there. + +Then he walked down to Deacon Brown's store. The deacon did a large +retail business; this was a busy afternoon, and the place was filled +with customers. How tired the clerks looked, and what pale faces they +had. How people bothered them with questions, and called on them to +attend to half a dozen things at once. How close and stuffy the air of +the store was. It was almost as bad as that of the mill. Then, too, the +store was kept open hours after the mill had shut down; for its evening +trade was generally very brisk. It did not seem half so attractive a +place to Glen now as it had at other times, when he had visited it +solely with a view of making some small purchase. Perhaps going to +school, and keeping up with one's class, was not the hardest thing in +the world after all. + +So the poor boy returned home, more perplexed as to what he should do +than ever, and he actually dreaded the after-supper talk with his +adopted father that he usually enjoyed so much. + +When the time came, and Mr. Matherson asked, kindly, "Well, my boy, what +have you decided to do?" Glen was obliged to confess that he was just as +far from a decision as he had been the evening before. + + + + +Chapter VI. + +RECEIVING AN OFFER AND ACCEPTING IT. + + +"Well, that is bad," said the master mechanic, when Glen told him that +he had been unable to arrive at any decision in regard to going to work. +"It is bad, for I can't see that there is anything open to you just now, +except one of the two things we talked about last evening. At the same +time, I hate to compel you, or even persuade you, to do anything that is +hard and distasteful. If you were a year younger, I should say, 'Spend +your vacation as you always have done, and have as good a time as you +know how, without worrying about the future.' At seventeen, though, a +boy should begin to look ahead, and take some decisive step in the +direction of his future career. If he decides to study, he should also +decide what he wants to study for. If he decides to work, he should have +some object to work for, and should turn all his energies in that +direction. I declare, Glen, I hardly know how to advise you in this +matter. Do you think of any particular thing you would rather do, or try +to be? If so, and I can help you to it, you know how gladly I will, in +every way that lies in my power." + +"It seems to me I would rather be a civil-engineer than anything else," +answered the boy, a little hesitatingly. + +"A civil-engineer!" exclaimed the other, in surprise; "why, Glen, lad, +don't you know that it takes the hardest kind of study to be that?" + +Just then their conversation was interrupted by the arrival of a +visitor, who, to Glen's surprise, was none other than Mr. Hobart, the +engineer whose position he had been thinking of as one of the most +desirable in the world. + +After a few moments' pleasant chat the visitor asked Mr. Matherson if he +could have a private business talk with him. So Glen left the room, and +wandered restlessly about the house, filled with a lively curiosity as +to what business the engineer could have with his adopted father. + +In the meantime Mr. Hobart was saying, "I have known your son for some +time by sight, Mr. Matherson, and took a fancy to him from the first. We +only got acquainted to-day, when he performed an act of daring in my +presence, and at the same time rendered me an important service. I find +him to be exactly such a boy as I supposed he was; a generous-hearted, +manly fellow, who is just now unhappy and discontented because he has no +particular aim in life, and does not know what he wants to do." + +"Yes," said Mr. Matherson, "that is just the trouble; and the worst of +it is that I don't know what to advise him." + +"Then, perhaps, I am just in time to help you. My work here is about +finished, and in a few days I am to leave for Kansas, where I am to take +charge of a locating-party on one of the Pacific railroads. If you are +willing to let Glen go with me, I can make a place for him in this +party. The pay will only be thirty dollars per month, besides his +expenses; but, by the end of the summer, I believe he will have gained +more valuable knowledge and experience than he could in a year of home +and school life. I believe, too, in that time I can show him the value +of an education and the necessity of studying for it. Now, without +really knowing anything about it, he thinks he would like to become a +civil-engineer. After a few months' experience in the unsettled country +to which I am going he will have seen the rough side of the life, and +can decide intelligently whether he desires to continue in it or not." + +Mr. Matherson could hardly restrain his delight at the prospect of such +an opening for the boy whom he loved so dearly; but he was too honest to +let him start out under false colors; so he said, + +"I can never tell you how grateful I am for this offer, sir; but I don't +want you to think that my boy is any better than he really is. He is not +a good scholar, and seems to lack application. Even now he is in danger +of being turned back a whole year in school because he has failed to +keep up with his class." + +"I know all that," replied Mr. Hobart, smiling; "and it is one of the +reasons why I want him to go with me. I was very much such a boy myself, +and think I understand his state of mind perfectly. He has reached the +most trying period of his life, and the one where he most needs +encouragement and help. He has a sufficiently good education to build +on, and is bright enough to comprehend things that are clearly explained +to him. As for his having no knowledge of the peculiar studies necessary +for an engineer, I am glad that he hasn't. I believe that it is better +for all boys to gain some practical knowledge of the business they +intend to follow before they really begin to study for it. A few months +or a year of practice shows them in what they are deficient and what +they need to learn. I could get plenty of young fellows to go out to +Kansas with me who are crammed with theoretical knowledge of surveying +and engineering, but who are ignorant of its practice. Such chaps think +they know it all, and are impatient of criticism or advice. I can get +along better with one who knows little or nothing to begin with, but who +is bright and willing to learn. In the end I will guarantee to make such +a one the more valuable engineer of the two." + +"It is a new idea to me," said Mr. Matherson, reflectively, "but I +believe you are right." + +"There is another reason why I fancy your boy, and think I can make an +engineer of him," continued Mr. Hobart. "His physical condition seems to +me to be perfect. As they say of prize animals, he seems to be sound in +wind and limb, and without a blemish. Now, the life of an engineer, +particularly in unsettled countries, is a hard one. He is exposed to all +sorts of weather; must often sleep without a shelter of any kind, and +must work hard from early dawn until late at night, sometimes on a +scanty allowance of food. It is as hard as, and in many cases harder +than, active service in the army. It is no life for weaklings, and we do +not want them; but, from what I have seen of your boy, I do not believe +that even you can point out any physical defect in his make-up." + +"No, I certainly cannot," replied Mr. Matherson, heartily, glad of a +chance to praise his boy without qualification, in at least one respect. +"I believe him to be physically perfect, and I know that there is not a +boy of his age in town who is his match in strength, agility, or +daring." + +"So you see," laughed the engineer, "he is exactly the boy I want; and +if you will let him go with me I shall consider that you have conferred +a favor." + +"Of course I will let him go, sir, and shall feel forever grateful to +you for the offer." + +Thus it was all settled, and Glen was summoned to hear the result of the +few minutes' conversation by which the whole course of his life was to +be changed. By it, too, he was to be lifted in a moment from the depths +of despondency and uncertainty to such a height of happiness as he had +not dared dream of, much less hope for. The moment he entered the room +he was assured, by the smiling faces of its occupants, that their topic +of conversation had been a pleasant one; but when its nature was +explained to him he could hardly credit his senses. + +Would he like to go out to Kansas for the summer?--to a land still +occupied by wild Indians and buffalo? The idea of asking him such a +question! There was nothing in the whole world he would like better! +Why, it was almost as good as the position offered to Binney Gibbs; and, +certainly, no boy could ever hope for anything more splendid than that. +In two respects he considered himself even more fortunate than Binney. +One was that he was to go with Mr. Hobart, whom he had come to regard +with an intense admiration as one of the wisest and kindest of men. The +other was that they were to start on the third day from that time, while +Binney would not go for nearly two weeks yet. + +What busy days the next two were! How Glen did fly around with his +preparations! How interested Mr. Hobart was, and how he laughed at many +of the excited boy's questions! Ought he to have a buckskin suit and a +broad-brimmed hat? Should he need any other weapons besides a revolver +and a bowie-knife? Would it be better to take long-legged leather boots +or rubber-boots, or both? How large a trunk ought he to have? + +His outfit, prepared by Mr. Hobart's advice, finally consisted of two +pairs of double blankets, rolled up in a rubber sheet and securely +corded, two pairs of easy, laced walking-shoes, and one pair of leather +leggings, three flannel shirts, three suits of under-clothing, and six +pairs of socks, one warm coat, two pairs of trousers, a soft, gray felt +hat, half a dozen silk handkerchiefs, and the same number of towels. Of +these he would wear, from the start, the hat, coat, one of the flannel +shirts, one of the two pairs of trousers, a suit of under-clothing, one +of the silk handkerchiefs knotted about his neck, and one of the pairs +of shoes. All the rest could easily be got into a small leathern valise, +which would be as much of a trunk as he would be allowed to carry. + +He would need a stout leather belt, to which should be slung a good +revolver in a holster, a common sheath-knife, that need not cost more +than thirty cents, and a small tin cup that could be bought for five. + +Besides these things, Mrs. Matherson, who loved the boy as though he +were her own, tucked into the valise a small case of sewing materials, a +brush, comb, cake of soap, tooth-brush, hand-glass, and a Testament in +which his name was written. + +On the very day of his departure his adopted father presented the +delighted boy with a light rifle of the very latest pattern. It was, of +course, a breech-loader, and carried six extra cartridges in its +magazine. In its neat canvas-case, Glen thought it was the very +handsomest weapon he had ever seen, and the other boys thought so too. + +With them he was the hero of the hour, and even Binney Gibbs's +glittering prospects were almost forgotten, for the time being, in this +more immediate excitement. + +Of course they all gathered at the railway station to see him start on +the morning of the appointed day. It seemed as though almost everybody +else in the village was there, too. Binney Gibbs was among the very few +of Glen's acquaintances who did not come. So, amid tears and laughter, +good wishes and loud cheerings, the train rolled away, bearing Glen Eddy +from the only home he had ever known towards the exciting scenes of the +new life that awaited him in the far West. + + + + +Chapter VII. + +ACROSS THE MISSISSIPPI. + + +Never before, since he was first carried to Brimfield as a baby, had +Glen been away from there; so, from the very outset, the journey on +which he had now started, in company with Mr. Hobart, was a wonderful +one. In school, besides history, he had enjoyed the study of geography, +being especially fond of poring over maps and tracing out imaginary +journeys. In this way he had gained a fair idea of the route Mr. Hobart +and he were to pursue, as well as of the cities and other places of +interest they were to see. There was one place, however, for which he +was not prepared. It was early in the first night of the journey, and +the boy had just fallen into a doze in his sleeping-car berth. As the +night was warm, and there was no dust, the car door was open, and +through it came a sudden shout of "Glen Eddy! Glen Eddy!" + +As Glen started up, wide awake, and answering "Here I am," the train +rumbled over a bridge. Then it stopped, and the meaning of the shout +flashed into the boy's mind. He was at the very place where, so long +ago, he had lost a father or mother, or both. All the details of that +awful scene, as described by his adopted father, appeared vividly before +him, and he seemed to see, through a gray dawn, the mass of splintered +wreckage nearly covered by angry waters, the floating car seat with its +tiny human burden, and the brave swimmer directing it towards land. + +The train stopped but a moment, and then moved on. As it did so, Glen, +who was in an upper berth, heard a deep sigh, that sounded almost like a +groan, coming apparently from a lower berth on the opposite side of the +car. + +Directly afterwards he heard a low voice ask, respectfully, "What is it, +Governor? Are you in pain? Can I do anything?" + +"Nothing, Price, thank you. I had a sort of nightmare, that's all," was +the reply, and then all was again quiet. + +Glen wished he might catch a glimpse of the person who spoke last, for +he had never seen a governor, and wondered in what way he would look +different from other men. He would try and see him in the morning. Thus +thinking, he fell asleep. + +The next morning he was awakened by Mr. Hobart, and told to dress as +quickly as possible, for they were within a few miles of East St. Louis, +and would soon cross the Mississippi. This news drove all other thoughts +from the boy's mind, and he hurried through his toilet, full of +excitement at the prospect of seeing the mightiest of American rivers. + +There was no bridge across the Mississippi then, either at St. Louis or +elsewhere. Great four-horse transfer coaches from the several hotels +were waiting for passengers beside the train where it stopped, and these +were borne to the opposite bank by a steam ferry-boat with a peculiar +name and of peculiar construction. The _Cahokia_ looked like a regular +river steamer, except that she had no visible paddle-wheels, not even +one behind, like a wheelbarrow, as some of the very shoal-draught boats +had. For some time Glen could not discover what made her go, though go +she certainly did, moving swiftly and easily across the broad expanse of +tawny waters towards the smoky city on its farther bank. He would not +ask Mr. Hobart, for he loved to puzzle things out for himself if he +possibly could. At length he discovered that the boat was double-hulled, +and that its single paddle-wheel was located between the two hulls. Glen +was obliged to ask the object of this; but when he was told that it was +to protect the wheel from the great ice-cakes that floated down the +river in winter, he wondered that he had not thought of that himself. + +So he forgot to look for his governor, or ask about him until they +reached the hotel where they were to get breakfast and spend a few +hours. Then he was told that the person in whom he was interested was +probably General Elting, who had just completed a term of office as +governor of one of the territories, and who was now acting as treasurer +of the very railroad company for which he was to work. + +Glen regretted not having seen the ex-governor, but quickly forgot his +slight disappointment in the more novel and interesting things that now +attracted his attention. He had never been in a city before, and was +very glad of a few hours in which to see the sights of this one; for the +train that was to carry them to Kansas City would not leave until +afternoon. + +As the offices of the company by whom Mr. Hobart was employed were in +St. Louis, he was obliged to spend all his time in them, and could not +go about with Glen. So, only charging him to be on hand in time for the +train, the engineer left the boy to his own devices. + +Glen spent most of his time on the broad levee at the river's edge, +where he was fascinated by the great steamboats, with their lofty +pilot-houses, tall chimneys, roaring furnaces, and crews of shouting +negroes, that continually came and went. + +This seemed to be their grand meeting-point. On huge placards, swung +above their gang-planks, Glen read that some of them were bound for New +Orleans and all intermediate ports. Then there were boats for the Red, +Arkansas, Yazoo, Ohio, Illinois, Missouri, and a dozen other rivers, +tributary to the great Father of Waters. Still others were bound for +Northern ports, even as far as distant St. Paul, in Minnesota. + +Two o'clock found the boy at the railway station, standing beside the +car in which all his belongings were already safely deposited, waiting +anxiously for Mr. Hobart. Just as the train was about to start, that +gentleman rushed into the station. + +"Jump aboard, Glen," he said, hurriedly, "and go on to Kansas City with +the baggage. Here is your pass and a note to Mr. Brackett. Report to him +at the Kaw House. I am detained here by business, but will join you +to-morrow or next day. Good-bye." + +The train was already in motion, and in another moment the boy had lost +sight of his only friend in that part of the world, and was whirling +away towards an unknown destination. He felt rather lonely and forlorn +at thus being cast upon his own resources, but at the same time he felt +proud of the confidence reposed in him, and glad of an opportunity to +prove how well he could take care of himself. + +For several hours he was interested in watching the rapidly changing +features of the landscape; but after a while he grew weary of this, and +began to study his fellow-passengers. There were not many in the +sleeper, and the only ones near him in whom he took an interest were a +little girl, five or six years old, who was running up and down the +aisle, and a lady, evidently the child's mother, who sat opposite to +him. As he watched the little one she tripped and would have fallen had +he not sprung forward and caught her. The child smiled at him, the +mother thanked him, and in a few minutes he found himself playing with +the former and amusing himself in entertaining her. + +She told him that her name was Nettie Winn; but that her papa, who lived +a long way off, and whom she was going to see, called her "Nettle." She +was a bright, sunny-haired little thing, who evidently regarded elder +people as having been created especially for her amusement and to obey +her orders. As, in obedience to one of these, the boy carried her in his +arms to the forward end of the car that she might look out of the window +in the door, a fine-looking middle-aged gentleman spoke to him, +remarking that he seemed very fond of children. + +"Yes, sir, I am," answered Glen, "for I have two little sisters at +home." + +They exchanged a few more words, and Glen was so attracted by the +stranger's appearance and manner that after the tired child had gone to +sleep with her head in her mother's lap, he again walked to the end of +the car in hopes that the gentleman might be inclined to renew their +conversation. Nor was he disappointed; for the stranger welcomed him +with a smile, made room on the seat beside him, and they were soon +engaged in a pleasant chat. + +It is not hard for a man of tact to win the confidence of a boy, so +that, before long, the gentleman knew that this was Glen's first journey +from home, and that he was going to Kansas to learn to be an engineer. + +"Do you mean a civil-engineer?" he asked, "or an engine-driver?" + +"Oh, a civil-engineer, of course!" answered the boy; "for I can run a +locomotive now, almost as well as father, and that used to be his +business." + +Then he explained that his father, who was now a master mechanic, had +given him careful instruction in the art of running a pony switch engine +that belonged to the Brimfield Mills, and that once, when the +engine-driver was ill, he had been placed in charge of it for a whole +day. + +"That is a most useful accomplishment," remarked the gentleman, "and one +that I should be glad to acquire myself." + +When the train stopped at an eating station they went in to supper +together, and Glen began to think that, in his new friend, he had found +a second Mr. Hobart, which was the very nicest thing he could think +about anybody. + +The boy did not forget to carry a cup of tea and a glass of milk into +the car for Mrs. Winn and Nettie, for which act of thoughtfulness he was +rewarded by a grateful smile and hearty thanks. + +He wondered somewhat at the several men who every now and then came into +the car and exchanged a few words in low tone with his other train +acquaintance, and also wondered that the gentleman should leave the car +and walk towards the forward end of the train every time it stopped at a +station. + +Glen was so tired that he had his berth made up and turned in very +early; but for a long time found himself unable to sleep, so busy were +his thoughts. At length, however, he fell into a sound, dreamless +slumber, that lasted for hours, though he knew nothing of the passage of +time. + +He was suddenly awakened by a loud noise, and found himself sitting bolt +upright in his berth, listening, bewildered and half frightened, to a +confused sound of pistol-shots, shouts, and screams. The train was +motionless. The screams were evidently those of fright, and came from +the car he was in, while the other and more terrifying sounds reached +his ears from some distance. + + + + +Chapter VIII. + +GLEN RUNS A LOCOMOTIVE. + + +Springing from his berth, Glen began hastily to put on his shoes and the +few articles of clothing he had laid aside. Several other passengers +were doing the same thing, and each was asking the others what had +happened; but nobody knew. All the alarming sounds had now ceased, even +the women who had screamed being quiet, in the hope of discovering the +cause of their terror. + +Glen was the first to leave the car, and, seeing a confused movement of +lanterns at the forward end of the train, he began to run in that +direction. It was still dark, though there were signs of dawn in the +sky. The train was not stopped at a station, but in a thick woods. As +the boy reached the baggage-car, he was horrified to see that several +men were lifting a limp and apparently lifeless body into it. The sight +made him feel sick and faint. He stood for a moment irresolute. Then, +two men, one of whom carried a lantern, came rapidly towards him. + +"Here he is, now!" exclaimed one of them, as the light from the lantern +fell on the boy's face. Glen recognized the voice. It was that of his +recent acquaintance. Now he was coatless and bare-headed. In his hand +was a Colt's revolver. The other man was the conductor of the train. + +"This gentleman says you can run a locomotive. Is that so?" asked the +conductor, holding up his lantern and scanning Glen's face keenly. + +"Yes," answered the boy, "I can." + +"Well, it looks like taking an awful risk to trust a boy as young as +you; but I don't know what else we can do. Our engineer has just been +killed, and the fireman is badly wounded. Two more men are hurt, and +we've got to get them to a doctor as quick as we can. It's fifty miles +to Kansas City, and there's only one telegraph station between here and +there. It's ten miles ahead. We'll stop there, and send a despatch. Will +you undertake to run us in?" + +"Let me look at the engine first, and then I'll tell you," answered +Glen, his voice trembling with excitement in spite of his efforts to +appear calm. + +The three went to the panting locomotive and swung themselves up into +its cab. Glen shuddered as he thought of the tragedy just enacted in +that cab, and almost drew back as he entered it. Then, controlling +himself by a determined effort, he gauged the water, tested the steam, +threw the lever over and back, opened the furnace door, glanced at the +amount of fuel in the tender, and did it all with such a business-like +air and appearance of knowing what he was about as to inspire both the +men, who were watching him closely, with confidence. + +"Yes," he said at length, "I'll take her in; but we shall need some more +water." + +"Good for you, son!" cried the conductor. "You're a trump! and I for one +believe you'll do it." + +"So do I," said the passenger; "and I'm thankful we've got such a plucky +young engine-driver along." + +"But who will fire?" asked Glen, hardly hearing these remarks, though, +at the same time, sufficiently conscious of them to feel gratified that +he had inspired such confidence. + +"I will," replied the passenger, promptly. + +"You, general!" cried the conductor in astonishment. + +"Certainly! Why not I as well as another?" + +"Very well," responded the conductor, "I'm only too glad to have you do +it, if you will; then let us be off at once." And, springing to the +ground, he shouted, "All aboard! Hurry up, gentlemen, we are about to +move on." + +But Glen would not start until he had taken a flaring torch and the +engine-driver's long-nosed oil-can, and walked all around the +locomotive, examining every part of the huge machine, pouring on a +little oil here and there, and making sure that everything was in +perfect working order. + +Then he again swung himself into the cab, pulled the whistle lever for +one short, sharp blast, opened the throttle slowly, and the train was +once more in motion. + +It had hardly gone a hundred yards before two rifle-shots rang out of +the forest, and one ball crashed through both windows of the cab, but +without harming its occupants. Glen started; but his hand did not leave +the throttle, nor did his gaze swerve for an instant from the line of +gleaming track ahead. He had no time then to think of his own safety. He +was too busy thinking of the safety of those so suddenly and +unexpectedly intrusted to him. + +The new fireman glanced at him admiringly, and murmured to himself, +"That boy is made of clear grit. I would that I had a son like him." + +This man, who was heaving great chunks of wood into the roaring furnace +with the strength and ease of a trained athlete, formed no unpleasant +picture to look upon himself. He was tall and straight, with a keen, +resolute face, an iron-gray, military moustache, and close-cropped hair. +He looked not only like a soldier, but like one well accustomed to +command. At the same time he obeyed promptly, and without question, +every order issued by the young engine-driver on the opposite side of +the cab. + +As the train dashed along at full speed there was no chance for +conversation between the two, even had they felt inclined for it. Both +were too fully engaged in peering ahead along the unfamiliar line of +track to pay attention to aught else. + +Presently the conductor clambered over the tender from the baggage-car, +and stood in the cab with them, to post Glen as to the grades and +crossings. + +It lacked a few seconds of fifteen minutes from the time of their +starting, when they slowed down for the telegraph-station, the lights of +which were twinkling just ahead. Here, while the conductor roused the +operator, and sent his despatch, the locomotive was run up to the tank, +and a fresh supply of water was taken aboard. + +Then they were off again--this time for a run of forty miles without a +stop or check. Daylight was coming on so rapidly now that the track was +plainly visible by it, and thus one source of anxiety was removed. + +Up to this time Glen had no idea of what had happened, nor of the cause +of the shooting that had resulted so disastrously. Now, though he did +not turn his head, he learned, from the conversation between the +conductor and his fireman, whom the former called "General," that an +attempt had been made to rob the train of a large sum of money that the +latter had placed in a safe in the express-car. He had received secret +information that such an attempt would probably be made, and had engaged +two detectives in St. Louis to guard his treasure. When the train was +stopped in the woods by a danger signal waved across the track, the +engine-driver had been ordered by the would-be robbers, who had cut the +express-car loose from those behind it, to go ahead. His refusal to obey +them had cost him his life, and the fireman an ugly wound. + +The general, who left the sleeper, and ran ahead at the first alarm, had +shot and severely injured two of the robbers, and with the aid of his +men had driven the rest to the shelter of the forest after a few minutes +sharp fighting. The three wounded men, together with the body of the +dead engine-driver, were now in the baggage-car; while the train-load of +passengers, thanks to the practical knowledge of a sixteen-year-old boy, +and the pluck that enabled him to utilize it, were rapidly nearing their +journey's end in safety. + +An anxious crowd was gathered about the Kansas City station as the train +rolled slowly up to its platform. The general wrung Glen's hand warmly +as he said, + +"God bless you, boy, for what you have just done. I will see you again +in a few minutes. Now I must look after the wounded men." + +Thus saying, he sprang to the platform, leaving Glen in the cab of the +locomotive; but when he returned, fifteen minutes later, the boy had +disappeared, and was nowhere to be found. + + + + +Chapter IX. + +KANSAS CITY IN EARLY DAYS. + + +The reason that Glen Eddy disappeared after running that engine so +splendidly, and bringing the night express safely to its destination, +was that he was diffident and nervous. Now that the strain was relaxed +and he had time to think of the terrible risks run by that train while +under his inexperienced guidance, he was seized with a sudden fright. +Queerly enough, he felt almost guilty, as though he had done something +wrong, or to be ashamed of. Suppose somebody should try to thank him. +Suppose the crowd, now surging about the door of the baggage-car, should +turn their attention to him, and come to gaze at him as a part of the +show that had attracted them. What should he do in either case? It would +be unbearable. He must make good his escape before either of these +things happened. + +The wounded men were being carefully lifted from one side of the +baggage-car. Everybody's attention was for the moment directed to that +spot. So Glen slipped down from the locomotive cab on the opposite side, +and ran back to the sleeper in which were his belongings. The car was +deserted and empty. Its passengers, and everybody connected with it, had +either gone up town or joined the curious throng about the baggage-car. +Thus nobody saw the boy, as, securing his valise and rifle, he slipped +from the rear end of the car and walked rapidly away. He plunged into +one of the tunnel-like streets running back from the railroad, not +knowing, nor caring, where it would lead him. His only idea was to +escape, he did not even know from what. It had so taken possession of +him, that he almost felt as though he were being pursued, with the +danger, at any moment, of being overtaken, and dragged ignominiously +back to be--thanked and made a hero of. + +Kansas City, which has since enjoyed such an astonishing growth and +prosperity, was at that time very young. It was still burrowing through +the high and steep bank of stiff red clay that separated its river front +from the main street of the newer portion perched on the bluff. Several +cross streets, connecting these two parts of the city, had been dug out +with infinite labor, to a great depth through the red clay, and it was +up one of these that Glen now walked. + +He was so far below the level of the airy building-lots on either side +that he could not see whether they were occupied or not. Only an +occasional long flight of wooden steps, leading up from the street, led +him to suppose they might be. He was beginning to wonder where the city +was, or if there were any more of it beyond the straggling business +street that bordered the railroad, when he came to the main thoroughfare +of the new town, and gazed about him with amazement. Although it was yet +so early that the sun had only just risen, the broad avenue presented a +scene of the most lively activity. + +In Brimfield the erection of a new house, or building of any kind, was a +matter of general interest that afforded a topic of conversation for +weeks. Here were dozens, yes, scores of them, springing up in every +direction. A few were of brick; but most of those intended for business +purposes were long and low, though furnished with pretentious false +fronts that towered as high again as the roof itself. Everywhere was +heard the din of hammer and saw, or the ring of the mason's trowel, and +in every direction Glen could see the city growing, spreading, and +assuming new aspects as he gazed. + +At length a pang of hunger recalled him to his present situation, and he +inquired of a man, who was hurrying past, the way to the Kaw House. + +"Up there a piece," answered the man almost without pausing, and +pointing vaguely up the street. "There comes the surveyor's wagon from +there now," he added, nodding his head towards one, drawn by two mules, +that was dashing in their direction at that moment. + +The surveyor's wagon. Then, perhaps, Mr. Brackett was in it, thought +Glen. Acting on the impulse of the moment, he sprang into the middle of +the street, and waved his rifle in the faces of the advancing mules. The +driver reined them in sharply, and the team came to a standstill. +"Hello, young fellow, what do you want now?" he shouted. + +"I want to know if Mr. Brackett is in this wagon," answered Glen. + +"Yes, he is, and that's my name," said a pleasant-faced young man, +dressed in a red-flannel shirt, a pair of army trousers tucked into his +boot-legs, and what had once been a stylish cutaway coat, who sat beside +the driver. "What can I do for you?" + +For answer Glen handed him Mr. Hobart's note, which the young man +glanced quickly through. + +"I see by this that you are to be a member of our party," he said, as he +finished reading it, "and that the chief will not be here for a day or +two yet. I am very glad to make your acquaintance, Mr. Matherson. Boys, +this is Mr. Glen Matherson, our new--Well, we will see what position he +will occupy later. Now, Matherson, we are off for our day's work. Would +you rather accompany us into the thick of the fray, or will you wend +your weary way to the hotel, and while away the hours until our return, +surrounded by its gloomy grandeur?" + +"I think I would rather go with you, sir," replied Glen, who did not +know whether to laugh or not at Mr. Brackett's words and tone. + +"'Tis well, and go with us you shall. So tumble into the chariot, and +stow yourself away wherever you can find room. Then let us on with +speed." + +"But I left Mr. Hobart's things and some of my own on board the train," +said Glen, hesitatingly, "and here are the checks for them." + +This difficulty was settled by the hailing of a dray, and instructing +its driver to get the articles called for by the checks, and carry them, +together with Glen's valise, to the hotel. The boy could not bear to +trust his precious rifle out of his sight, and so carried it with him. + +They had hardly started, when Mr. Brackett turned to Glen and asked him +if he had been to breakfast. + +This was a question in which the boy was greatly interested just at that +moment, and he answered very promptly that he had not. + +"Well, here's a go!" exclaimed the other. "A rule of this party is, +Matherson, and I hope I shall never be obliged to repeat it to you, that +if a man hath not eaten, neither shall he work. It is now too late to +return to Delmonico's, so we must intrust you to the tender mercies of +the Princess, and may she have mercy upon your appetite. Joe, drive to +the palace." + +The "palace" proved to be a patchwork shanty of the most unique and +surprising description. It was constructed of bits of board, pieces of +boxes and barrels, stray shingles and clapboards, roofing-paper, and a +variety of other odds and ends. Its doors and windows had evidently been +taken from some wrecked steamboat. It was overrun with roses and +honeysuckles; while within and without it was scrupulously neat and +clean. + +As the surveyor's wagon with its noisy load drew up before this queer +establishment, its mistress appeared at the door. She was a fat, +jolly-looking negress, wearing a gay calico dress, and a still more +brilliant turban, and she was immediately greeted with shouts of "How +are you, Princess?" "Good-morning, Princess!" "How's her royal nibs +to-day?" etc., to all of which she smiled and bowed, and courtesied with +the utmost good-nature. + +The moment he could make himself heard, Mr. Brackett said, "Princess, we +have here a fainting wayfarer. Can you provide him with a cup of +nectar?" + +"Yes, sah." + +"A dish of peacock's tongues?" + +"Sartin, sah." + +"And a brace of nightingale's eggs on toast?" + +"In about free minutes, sah." + +"Very well, hasten the feast and speed our departure; for we must hence, +ere many nimble hours be flown." + +While waiting for his breakfast to be prepared, Glen had a chance to +examine his new companions somewhat more closely than he had yet done. +There were eight of them, besides the driver of the wagon, mostly young +men, some of them hardly more than boys; but all strong, healthy +looking, and brown from long exposure to sun and wind. Their dress was a +medley of flannel, buckskin, and relics of high civilization. They were +as merry, careless, and good-natured a set of young fellows as could +well be found, always ready for hard work in its time, and equally so +for a frolic when the chance offered. They all seemed to be on a perfect +equality, called each other by their given names, and played practical +jokes upon one another with impunity. As their wagon clattered out of +town in the morning, or dashed in again at dusk, its occupants generally +sang the most rollicking of college or camp songs, at the top of their +voices, and everybody had a kindly word or an indulgent smile for the +young surveyors. + +Foremost in all their fun was their temporary chief, whom Glen only knew +as Mr. Brackett, but who was called "Billy" by all the others. He was +about twenty-five years old, and his position was that of transit-man; +though, until Mr. Hobart should join the party, he was in charge of it. +To Glen, who had thus far only seen him off duty, it was +incomprehensible that so frivolous a young man as "Billy" Brackett +appeared should hold so responsible a position. + +The party had recently returned from the front, where they had been +locating a line of new road since earliest spring. Now, while waiting to +be sent out again, they were engaged in running in the side tracks, Y's, +and switches of what has since become one of the greatest railroad yards +in the world. It was on the state line, between Kansas and Missouri, +about an hour's drive from the Kaw House, where the surveyors made their +headquarters. + +In less than five minutes Glen found himself drinking the most delicious +cup of coffee he had ever tasted; while into his hands were thrust a +couple of sandwiches of hot corn-pones and crisp bacon. These, with two +hard-boiled eggs, furnished a most acceptable meal to the hungry-boy. +Mr. Brackett tossed a quarter to the "Princess," and the wagon rolled +merrily away with Glen eating his breakfast, as best he could, _en +route_. + + + + +Chapter X. + +AT WORK WITH THE ENGINEER CORPS. + + +The "Princess" was a character of those early days, and was celebrated +for her _cafe au lait_, which "Billy" Brackett said meant "coffee and +eggs;" but which was really the best of coffee and the richest of goat's +milk. Her husband was steward on one of the steamboats that plied up and +down the Missouri, and her exertions, added to his, enabled them to +accumulate a small property, with which they afterwards made some +successful investments in real estate. The boys of the engineer corps +were quick to discover the "Princess" after their arrival in the place, +and with her they were prime favorites. + +Glen had hardly finished his breakfast when the party reached the place +where they were to begin work. Here the boy obtained his first knowledge +of the names and uses of the various objects that had attracted his +curiosity as they lay in the bottom of the wagon. + +From their neat wooden boxes were taken two highly polished brass +instruments, each of which was provided with a telescope. One of these +was a transit, for laying off lines, angles, and curves on the surface +of the earth; and the other was a level for measuring the height of +elevations or the depth of depressions on this same surface. As these +instruments were lifted carefully from their boxes they were screwed +firmly to the tops of wooden tripods, that supported them at the height +of a man's eyes. + +Then came the long rod, divided into feet and the decimal fractions of a +foot, that was to be used with the level, and two slender flag-poles +painted red and white, so as to be seen at long distances. At their +lower ends these poles were tipped with sharp iron points, and at the +other they bore small flags of red flannel. They went with the transit, +and were to designate the points at which the sights were to be taken +through its telescope. + +There was a one-hundred-foot steel chain, having links each one foot +long, with which to measure distances. With it went ten slender steel +pins, each eighteen inches long, to the tops of which bits of red +flannel were tied, so that they could be readily seen. The head chainman +carried all of these to start with, and stuck one into the ground at the +end of each hundred feet. The rear chainman gathered them up as he came +to them, and thus, by counting the number of pins in his hand, he always +knew just what distance had been measured. + +The man having charge of or "running" the transit was called the +transit-man; the one running the level was called the leveller; while +the other members of the party were designated as rodman, front and back +flagmen, or "flags," chainmen, and axemen. There were generally two of +these last named, and their duty was to clear away timber, brush, or +other obstructions on the line, and to make and drive stakes wherever +they were needed. + +As the several members of the party were preparing for their respective +duties, Mr. Brackett put Glen through a sort of an examination, to +discover for what particular task he was best fitted. + +"I don't suppose, Matherson," he began, "that you care to run the +transit to-day?" + +"No," laughed Glen, "I think not to-day." + +"Nor the level?" + +"No, sir. I'd rather not try it." + +"Well, I guess you'd better not. You might get it out of adjustment. Can +you read a rod!" + +No, Glen could not read a rod. + +He proved equally ignorant of the duties of flagman, chainman, and +axeman, which Mr. Brackett said was very fortunate, as all these +positions were already so capably filled in his party that he should +really hate to discharge anybody to make room for the new arrival. +"But," he added, "I have a most important place left, that I believe you +will fill capitally. Can you reproduce the letters of the alphabet and +the Arabic numerals on a bit of white pine with a piece of red chalk?" + +Somewhat bewildered by this banter, Glen answered rather doubtfully that +he believed he could. + +"Good! Then you shall stay with the wagon to-day, and mark stakes with +this bit of 'kiel'" (red chalk). + +So Glen's first day's duty as a civil-engineer was to mark stakes with +figures to denote the distance measured, or with various letters, such +as P. T. (point of tangent), P. C. (point of curve), etc., for the +transit party, and B. M. (bench mark), C. (cut), F. (fill), G. (grade), +etc., for the levellers. + +Mr. Brackett explained the meaning of these signs patiently and clearly +to the boy, whose quick wit enabled him readily to comprehend all that +was told him. By noon he was furnishing stakes, properly marked, for the +various purposes required, as well as though he had been engaged in this +business for a month. It was not a very important position, to be sure; +but he filled it to the very best of his ability, which is the most that +can be expected of any boy. + +One of the things by which the new member was most strongly impressed, +during this first day's experience, was the great difference between Mr. +Brackett on duty and the same gentleman during his hours of relaxation. +While at work he was grave and dignified, nor did he tolerate any +familiarity from those who obeyed his orders. And they did obey them +promptly, without question or hesitation. He was no longer "Billy;" but +was carefully addressed as "Mr. Brackett" by every member of the party. +It was evident that he not only thoroughly understood his business, but +as thoroughly understood the temper of his men. It was clear, also, that +they were well aware that he was not a man to allow his authority to be +questioned or trifled with. With this mutual understanding the work +progressed smoothly and satisfactorily. + +All this was a study in character of which Glen was wise enough to learn +the lesson; and perhaps it was the most valuable one of that day's +schooling. The discipline of a well-drilled engineer corps is very +similar to that maintained on board ship; and, while at certain seasons +it may be greatly relaxed, it can, and must, be resumed at a moment's +notice, if the authority necessary to produce the best results is to be +respected. + +The same merry, rollicking party rode back into Kansas City that evening +that had left it in the morning; and, though Glen was very tired, he had +become well enough acquainted with them to enter heartily into the +spirit of the fun. Thus, whenever they sang a song he knew, his voice +was heard among the loudest. + +At the hotel they learned for the first time of the attempt to rob the +train Glen had come on, and wondered that he had said nothing of the +affair. When they questioned him, he did not know how to talk of it +without proclaiming his share in the night's work, and so only said +that, as he was asleep when the fight took place, he had seen nothing of +it. + +Long after Glen had gone to bed that night, Mr. Brackett, the leveller, +and the rodman sat up hard at work on the maps and profiles of the lines +they had run that day. If Glen had seen this he would have realized what +he afterwards learned, that while the work of most men ends with the +day, that of an engineer in the field only ends with bedtime, and +sometimes a late one at that. + +For two days longer Glen worked with this congenial party, gaining +valuable knowledge with each hour, and thoroughly enjoying his new life. + +On the third day Mr. Hobart came, and it seemed to Glen like seeing one +from home to meet him again. After their first greeting, the engineer +said, + +"Well, my boy, what other wonderful deeds have you been performing since +you and the governor ran the locomotive?" + +"The governor!" almost gasped Glen. "Was he a governor?" + +"Certainly he was, or rather had been. Didn't you know it? He was +General Elting, the ex-governor whom you were inquiring about in St. +Louis, and who is now the treasurer of our road. He returned to St. +Louis almost immediately from here, and there I heard the whole story +from his own lips. He was greatly disappointed at your disappearance, +and much pleased to find out that I knew you; for of course I recognized +you from his description. He hopes to meet you again some time, and I +have promised to see that you do not indulge in any more mysterious +disappearances." + +While they talked of that night, and its tragic incidents, Mr. Hobart +suddenly interrupted himself with, + +"By the way, Glen, I am not going to take charge of this locating-party, +after all, and so cannot give you a position in it." + +Glen felt his face growing pale as he repeated slowly and incredulously, + +"Not going to take charge of it?' + +"No; I have been relieved of my command, and am going to engage in +another kind of work," replied the engineer, smiling at the boy's +startled and distressed expression. + + + + +Chapter XI. + +ALMOST TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE. + + +If Glen had detected that smile on Mr. Hobart's face, he would have been +spared a few moments of very unhappy reflections. He would have known +that his brown-bearded friend could not smile while dashing his high +hopes, and that there must be something pleasant back of it all. But as +the engineer, who could not resist the temptation to try the effects of +a disappointment on the boy's temper, turned away his face at that +moment, his words were heard, while the smile was not noticed. + +Like a great surging wave, the thought of an ignominious return to +Brimfield, and a picture of the mill and the store as he had last seen +them, swept over the boy's mind. Then came the more recent picture of +the happy out-of-door life he had been leading for the past three days. +How could he give up the one and go back to the other? Of course, if Mr. +Hobart said he could no longer have work with the surveying-party, it +must be so. There could be no appeal from that decision. And he had +tried so hard to do well whatever had been given him to do, and to make +himself useful! It was too bad! But surely there must be other work in +this big, bustling, wide-awake West, even for a boy. With this thought +his clouded face cleared, and a look of settled resolve overspread it. + +"I'm awfully sorry, sir," he said; but the tone was almost cheerful, and +Mr. Hobart's face was now the one that expressed surprise. If he had +been able to examine Glen's mind, he would have seen that the boy had +simply decided not to go back, at least not until the summer was over, +but to stay where he was, and attempt to solve the bread-and-butter +problem alone. + +"My new orders came very unexpectedly," continued the engineer, "and +have completely upset my plans. It seems that the company has decided to +send me through to the Pacific with General Lyle's exploring +expedition." + +A lump rose in Glen's throat. General Lyle's expedition! Why, that was +the one Binney Gibbs was to accompany. Was all the world going on that +wonderful trip except himself? It almost seemed so. "It will be a fine +trip, sir," he said, trying to choke down the lump. + +"Yes, I suppose it will; but it will also be a hard and dangerous one, +such as a great many people would not care to undertake. I don't suppose +you would, for instance?" and Mr. Hobart looked quizzically at the boy. + +"Wouldn't I! I'd just like to have somebody offer me a chance to go on +that expedition, that's all!" + +"Very well," replied the engineer, quietly, "I'll offer you the chance, +just to see whether you will accept it or not. Will you go with me on +this long trip?" + +For a few seconds Glen gazed into the brown-bearded face without +answering. Was he awake or dreaming? Had the words been spoken? "Do you +really mean it, sir?" he almost gasped, at length, "or are you only +making fun of me!" + +"Mean it? of course I do," was the reply. "I generally mean what I say, +and if you really care to explore Kansas and Colorado, New Mexico, +Arizona, and Southern California in my company, I shall be most happy to +have you do so. I am also authorized to offer you a position, a humble +one, to be sure, but one that will pay the same salary that you would +have received as a member of the locating-party, in the division I am to +command. I don't suppose there will be many chances for you to run +locomotives out there; but I have no doubt there will be plenty of +swimming to be done, as well as other things in the line of your +peculiar abilities. But you have not answered my question yet. Will you +accept my offer, or do you wish a few days in which to consider it?" + +"Oh, Mr. Hobart!" cried the boy, who was standing up in his excitement. +"It seems almost too good to be true! I can't realize that this splendid +chance, that I've been trying so hard not to think about, has really +come to me. Why, I'd rather go on that trip than do anything else in the +whole world, and if you'll only take me along, in any position, I don't +care what, I'll be grateful to you all my life." + +"But what do you think your father will say? Do you suppose he will let +you go?" inquired the engineer, soberly. + +Glen's face became grave again in an instant. "Oh, yes, he's sure to," +he replied, "but I'll write this very minute, and ask him. + +"There won't be time to receive an answer," said Mr. Hobart, "for we +must start from here to-morrow; but perhaps this letter will make things +all right. You see," he added, "I thought it was just possible that you +might care to accept my offer, and so I took the liberty of writing and +asking your father if he were willing to have you do so. I also asked +him not to say anything about it in Brimfield until after we had +started, for fear I should be flooded with applications from other boys, +who might imagine I had the power to give them positions. Your father's +answer reached me here an hour ago, and with it came this letter for +you." + +No own father could have written a kinder or more satisfactory letter to +a boy than the one Mr. Matherson sent to his adopted son. It readily +granted the required permission, and congratulated Glen upon the +splendid opportunity thus opened to him. At the same time it told him +how they already missed him, and how they hated the thought of not +seeing him for a whole year. It closed with the information that Binney +Gibbs was making extensive preparations for his departure to the far +West, and that the famous expedition, of which he was to be a member, +was the all-absorbing topic of conversation in Brimfield. + +Mr. Hobart watched the boy's glowing face as he read this letter with +genuine pleasure; for he had taken a real liking to him, and was not +only glad of this opportunity for affording him such unalloyed +happiness, but also that they were to be companions on the proposed +trip. + +Matters being thus happily settled, the engineer told Glen that they +would start the following evening for the end of the track, nearly two +hundred miles west of that point, where the expedition was to +rendezvous, and where he was to establish a camp for their reception. + +The information that interested and pleased Glen the most, though, was +that Mr. Brackett was to be assistant engineer of the new division, and +that most of the members of the party with whom the boy was already on +such friendly terms, were also to join it. + +Being dismissed by Mr. Hobart, with orders to be on hand bright and +early in the morning, for the morrow would be a busy day, the happy lad +rushed away to find those who were to be his fellow-explorers, and talk +over with them the wonders and delights of the proposed trip. To his +surprise not one of them was anywhere about the hotel, and he was told +that the entire party had gone down town a few moments before. Too +excited to do anything else, Glen immediately set out to find them. For +some time he searched in vain; but at length, attracted by the sound of +great shouting and laughter, he joined a throng of people who were +gathered about one of the few barber shops of the city, and seemed to be +vastly entertained by something taking place inside. + +Recognizing "Billy" Brackett's voice above all the other sounds that +came from the shop, Glen pushed himself forward until he finally gained +a position inside the door. All the engineers were there. Three of them +occupied the three chairs that the shop boasted, and were having their +hair cut. Another, standing on a table, so that he could overlook the +crowd, was superintending the operation. But for his voice and his +unmistakable costume, Glen would never have recognized in him the +dignified young engineer under whom he had been at work but an hour +before. Every spear of hair had disappeared from his head, and he was as +bald as a billiard cue. Seated on the table, contentedly swinging their +legs, were two other bald-headed figures, whom Glen with difficulty +recognized as the leveller and rodman. + +When the three victims in the chairs had been reduced to a similar state +of baldness, their places were instantly occupied by the remaining +members of the party. The whole performance was conducted amid the most +uproarious fun, of which the recently promoted assistant engineer was +the ruling spirit. + +As the chairs became empty for the third time, and the nine bald-headed +members prepared to depart, each declaring that the others were the most +comical-looking objects he had ever seen, they suddenly caught sight of +Glen, and a rush was made for him. In another moment, despite his +struggles, he too was seated in a barber's chair, and was rapidly +growing as bald as his fellow-explorers. + +"You'll look worse than a boiled owl, Glen," remarked "Billy" Brackett, +encouragingly. + +"And be a living terror to Injuns," cried another. + +"It'll be the greatest comfort in the world, old man, to feel that +though you may be killed, you can't be scalped," shouted a third. + +Realizing that resistance was useless, Glen submitted to the shearing +process with as good a grace as possible. A few minutes later, wearing a +very loose-fitting hat, he was marching up the street with his jovial +comrades, joining with the full strength of his lungs in the popular +chorus of + + "The bald-headed man, who's been always in the van + Of everything that's going, since the world first began." + + + + +Chapter XII. + +STARTING ACROSS THE PLAINS. + + +Transforming themselves into a party of bald-heads was the last of the +absurd pranks with which the young engineers entertained the good people +of Kansas City for many a long day. At the same hour on the following +evening they were well on their way towards the far West in a +dilapidated passenger-coach attached to a freight train loaded with +tents and supplies of every description for their long trip. + +By the next noon, after a hard, rough ride of nearly two hundred miles, +the end of the track was reached. It was on a treeless prairie, sweeping +away as far as the eye could see on all sides. Here was spread a thick +green carpet of short buffalo grass, and into this carpet were woven +exquisite patterns of innumerable flowers. The place was at the junction +of the Kaw River with one of its numerous branches, and where but a few +weeks before wild Indians had camped and vast herds of buffalo had +pastured, a railroad town of several hundred rough frame houses, +shanties, and tents had already sprung into existence. + +Here the overland stages took their departure for the distant mining +town of Denver, and here the long trains of great freight-wagons were +loaded for their toilsome journey over the Santa Fe trail to the +far-away valley of the Rio Grande. Here, on side-tracks, were the +construction-cars, movable houses on wheels, in which lived the graders, +track-layers, and other members of the army of workmen employed in the +building of a railroad. Railroad men, soldiers, teamsters, traders, +Indians, and Mexicans, horses, mules, and oxen mingled here in +picturesque confusion. Nearly every man carried a rifle, and it was rare +to meet one who did not wear one or more revolvers strapped to his +waist. + +It was by far the most novel and bustling scene Glen had ever looked +upon; and, as he stepped from the last railroad-car he was to see for +many months, and stretched his cramped limbs, he gazed about him in +astonishment. But there was no time for idling, and Glen had hardly +given a glance at his unfamiliar surroundings before Mr. Hobart's voice, +saying, "Come, boys, there's plenty to do, and but a few hours to do it +in," set the whole party to work in the liveliest possible manner. + +There was a fine grassy level about a hundred yards from the railroad, +on the opposite side from the settlement. It was skirted by a clear but +sluggish stream, fringed by a slender growth of cottonwood-trees, and +was so evidently the very place for a camp that Mr. Hobart selected it +at once. Here the young engineers worked like beavers all through that +long, hot afternoon, and by nightfall they had pitched twenty +wall-tents, arranged in the form of an open square. One of these was +reserved for Mr. Hobart, while Mr. Brackett and the leveller were given +another, and two more were allowed to the other members of the party. +Into these they had removed all their personal belongings, while in two +other tents, carefully ditched and banked to keep out the water in case +of rain, were stored all the instruments, implements, blank-books, and +stationery provided for the expedition. + +Heartily tired after this novel but interesting labor, how Glen did +enjoy his tin-cup of black coffee without milk, the fried bacon and +hard-tack, that constituted his supper, when, at sundown, one of the +axemen, who had been at work for an hour over a fire, announced that it +was ready! He would have scorned such fare at home; but, with his +present appetite, and under the circumstances, it seemed as though +nothing had ever tasted better. + +As the darkness came on, how cheerful the tent, that had now become his +home, looked in the light of a lantern hung from its ridge-pole! What a +pleasant hour he passed listening to the stories and experiences of his +three tentmates, as they lay luxuriously outstretched on their blankets, +enjoying their well-earned rest! The entire stock of blankets was used +to make one wide, comfortable bed for the four. All the rubbers were, of +course, placed underneath, next the ground, and Glen was greatly pleased +at the praise bestowed upon his rubber-sheet, which was twice as large +as an ordinary blanket, and which he had followed Mr. Hobart's advice in +procuring. + +After the others had finished their evening pipes and dropped off to +sleep, and after the light had been put out, the novelty of this first +night under canvas kept Glen awake for some time. What a fortunate +fellow he felt himself to be, as he lay there recalling the events of +the last ten days, and trying to picture the immediate future! To think +that he, the worst scholar in his class, a boy without an own father or +mother, so far as he knew, nor even a birthday that he was sure of, +should be away out here on the Plains, and about to start on an +expedition that every boy in the country would be thankful to join if he +could. It was simply wonderful; and he resolved that, if hard work and +the promptest possible attention to duty could render him worthy of such +good-fortune, neither of these things should be lacking. + +By daylight the camp was astir; but Glen was the first to roll out of +his blankets, and he had been down to the creek for a plunge in its cool +waters before breakfast-time. Then followed another hard day's work. The +train of twenty heavy canvas-topped army-wagons, each drawn by six +mules, the three four-mule ambulances, and the drove of spare animals +furnished to the expedition by the government, arrived during the +morning. These wagons had to be loaded with the vast quantity of +provisions and various supplies brought thus far by rail. Then the tents +already up had to be ditched, and still others erected for the use of +the engineer-in-chief and other officers of the party who were now +hourly expected to arrive. + +A flag-pole was planted in front of the headquarter tents, and that +evening, when a train came in bringing General Lyle and about half the +members of the expedition, an American flag was run to its top. Both it +and the general were greeted with a volley of rifle-shots and a hearty +cheer, while at the same time the encampment was christened "Camp Lyle." + +Glen's youthful appearance attracted the chief's attention as soon as he +caught sight of the lad, and he was inclined to doubt the advisability +of allowing such a mere boy to accompany the expedition. A few words +from Mr. Hobart satisfied him, however, that Glen would prove a credit +to the party, and after that the general watched the boy with interest. + +With the chief-engineer came a geologist, botanist, surgeon, +photographer, private secretary, quartermaster, the two other division +commanders, and, what was of more immediate interest to all the young +engineers, several good camp-cooks. Thus, on the second night of its +existence, with this large increase in the number of its occupants, Camp +Lyle presented a most cheerful and animated appearance. + +Early the following morning another train arrived from the East, +bringing the remaining members of the expedition. A few minutes after +its arrival Glen was awakened by hearing a voice that sounded very +familiar, calling, + +"Hello! I say! Some of you fellows come out here and help me!" + +As he sat up in his blankets, wondering who could be speaking with such +a tone of authority, and whether he ought to answer the summons or not, +a head was thrust into the tent-door, and the demand was repeated. + +It was Binney Gibbs, who had passed as completely out of Glen's mind as +though he had never existed. He did not recognize Glen's bald head; but, +when the latter stepped from the tent with his hat on, saying, "Hello, +Binney, old man, what can I do for you?" the prize scholar of the +Brimfield High School stood for a moment speechless with amazement. + +"You here?" he finally stammered. "What on earth does it mean?" + +"It means," replied Glen, laughing at the other's incredulous +expression, "that Brimfield is to have two representatives on this +expedition instead of one, and that I am going through to the Pacific +with you." + +Binney had always been jealous of Glen, but at that moment he felt that +he almost hated him. + +In spite of this, he allowed his former schoolmate and another stout +fellow to bring his heavy trunk from the railroad into camp. When the +quartermaster saw it he said that, as there would be no room for trunks +in the wagons, the owner of this one must take from it what would fill a +moderate-sized valise, and either dispose of the trunk with the rest of +its contents or send them back home. To this Binney angrily replied that +he would see General Lyle about it. + +The new arrival gave further offence that morning by turning up his nose +at the breakfast prepared by one of the camp-cooks, and declaring it +unfit for white men to eat. He also refused, point-blank, to help unload +a car when requested to do so by one of the division engineers, saying +that it was not the kind of work he had been engaged to perform. + +He was only brought to a realizing sense of his position by a severe +reprimand from General Lyle himself, who declared that, upon the next +complaint brought to him of the boy's conduct, he should discharge him. +He also said that only the fact of Binney's having been sent there by +his old friend Mr. Meadows prevented him from doing so at once. The +chief closed his remarks by advising Binney to take the other Brimfield +boy of the party as an example worthy of copying. Thereupon all the +prize scholar's bitterness of feeling was directed against unsuspecting +Glen, and he vowed he would get even with that young nobody yet. + + + + +Chapter XIII. + +BINNEY GIBBS AND HIS MULE. + + +The effect on Binney Gibbs of General Lyle's reprimand was good, +inasmuch as it brought him to a realizing sense of his true position in +that party, and showed him that, if he wished to remain a member of it, +he must obey orders, even when they were issued in the form of polite +requests. So, after that, he made a virtue of necessity, and obeyed +every order with a scrupulous exactness, though generally with an +injured air, and a protesting expression of countenance as though he +were being imposed upon. It was a great mortification to him to be +obliged to send home his trunk, and more than half his supply of +clothing, together with a number of other cherished luxuries, such as a +rubber bathtub, a cork mattress, a rubber pillow, half a dozen linen +sheets, several china plates, cups, and saucers, besides some silver and +plated ware, all of which he relinquished with a heavy heart and many +lamentations. + +The only thing in the shape of a valise, with which to replace his +trunk, that he could purchase in the railroad settlement, was one of +those cheap affairs made of glazed leather, such as are often seen in +the hands of newly landed immigrants. As Binney brought this into the +camp, it at once attracted universal attention. The boys crowded about +him, begging to be allowed to examine his new and elegant "grip-sack;" +and, from that day forth, he was known as "Grip" by the entire party. + +For a week longer the expedition remained at Camp Lyle, waiting for +settled weather, and preparing for its great undertaking. It was divided +into four divisions, three of which were regularly equipped +surveying-parties who were to run transit and level lines from a point +near the Colorado border to the Pacific Ocean. The fourth, or +headquarter division, was composed of the commander and his immediate +staff, together with the scientific men and their assistants. + +As Glen hoped and expected, he was assigned to the second division, of +which Mr. Hobart was engineer in charge, and Mr. Brackett was assistant. +He was a little disappointed that the only position found for him in the +division was the very lowest of all in rank and pay. It was that of +tapeman, and his duties were to assist the topographer of the party in +measuring distances to, or taking the bearings of, prominent objects +along the line. Neither could Glen help wishing that Binney Gibbs had +not been assigned to the same division as himself. On account of his +brilliant record for scholarship and skill with figures, Binney was made +rodman, a position that far outranked Glen's and commanded twice his +pay. Still, Glen strove hard not to feel envious of this other Brimfield +boy. He was altogether too proud of being a member of the expedition on +any terms to have room for any other feeling, and he was anxious to be +on a friendly footing with Binney, as he was with everybody else. So, +when the positions were announced, and the prize scholar was found to +hold such a fine one, Glen was the first to tender his congratulations. + +Binney received them coldly, merely remarking that they could not very +well have given him any lower position, and that he should not have +accepted anything less if it had been offered. + +Glen only smiled at this, and thought how fortunate it was that he did +not feel that way. + +As a rodman Binney was allowed the use of a saddle-animal, and a very +small mule was assigned to him as his mount. When he went down to the +wagons to inspect his new acquisition, he thought he had never seen a +more dangerous-looking animal. It laid back its ears and bit at him when +he attempted to pat it on the nose, and manifested every other sign of +mulish antipathy towards its new master. In spite of all this, the +teamster having it in charge assured Binney that it was a perfect lamb, +and the rodman, anxious to prove his ability to ride a mule, which some +of the boys had doubted, ordered the animal to be saddled. + +The man who held the beast while Binney climbed awkwardly into the +saddle winked at some of his fellows who were watching the operation, +and thrust his tongue derisively into his cheek. + +For a few moments the mule did prove a veritable lamb, ambling along so +gently that Binney's spirits rose, and he began to imagine himself the +rider that he claimed to be. Elated by his success, he even dared to +give the bridle reins a shake, say "Get up!" and finally to touch the +side of his steed with the spur that, in his pride, he had fastened to +one of his boot-heels. + +The effect was electrical. In an instant Binney found himself hatless, +with both feet out of the stirrups, clinging for dear life to the pommel +of the saddle, and wishing himself anywhere but on the back of a mule +dashing madly, at full speed, directly into camp. + +"Help! help!" he shouted, breathlessly. "Head him off! stop him +somebody!" + +Once inside that square of tents, the mule did not seem to realize the +possibility of again passing beyond them, but tore frantically round and +round the inner side of the square, as though it were a circus-ring. +Everybody dropped his work and rushed out to witness the comical +spectacle. + +"Freeze to him, Grip!" cried one. + +"Give him his head!" + +"What made you leave Barnum's?" + +"Stand up on his back!" + +"Don't abuse the poor mule! It's a shame to make him run so!" + +These, and a hundred similar cries, mingled with shouts of uproarious +laughter, greeted poor Binney from all sides; while not the slightest +attention was paid to his piteous entreaties that somebody would stop +the mule. + +At length these cries seemed to attract the attention of the animal +himself; for he suddenly planted his fore-feet and stopped so abruptly +that Binney was flung over his head as from a catapult. Then the mule +lifted high his head and uttered a prolonged ear-splitting bray of +defiance. + +Glen had sprung forward and caught the animal's bridle almost the +instant he stopped. Now leading him to where Binney sat, dazed but +unhurt, he asked, soberly, "Do you want to try him again, Binney?" + +"Try him again!" shouted the rodman, angrily. "No, I never want to see +him again; but if you think he's easy to ride, why don't you try him +yourself?" + +"Yes, try him, young 'un! Give him another turn around the ring, Glen!" +shouted the spectators, anxious to have their fun prolonged, but having +no idea that this boy from Brimfield could ride, any more than the +other. + +Glen borrowed a pair of spurs, soothed the mule for a moment, sinched +the girth a trifle tighter, and, with a sudden leap, vaulted into the +saddle. For an instant the animal remained motionless with astonishment; +then he bounded into the air, and came down with all four legs as stiff +as posts. The shock would have been terrible to the boy, had he not +lifted himself from the saddle and supported his whole weight in the +stirrups. The mule repeated this movement several times, and then began +to plunge and kick. But the saddle in which Glen sat was a deeply +hollowed, high-pommelled, Mexican affair, built for just such occasions +as this, and so the plunging might have been kept up all day without +disturbing the rider in the least. + +The mule laid down and tried to roll, while the boy, who had jumped from +his back, stood quietly by, and allowed him to discover the folly of the +attempt. The high pommel of the saddle again interfered; and as the +disgusted animal scrambled to his feet, he again found his burr-like +rider as firmly seated on his back as ever. + +For a moment the mule hung his head in a dejected manner, as though +thinking out some new plan. Suddenly his meditations were interrupted by +a yell directly in one of his long ears, and a sharp pain felt in both +sides at once. He sprang forward to escape these annoyances; but they +clung to him as close as did his new rider. Faster and faster he flew, +while harder and harder spurred Glen, and louder grew his yells. All at +once the animal stopped, as short as on the former occasion; but this +time the rider did not fly over his head. The fact is, the mule was now +so thoroughly frightened and bewildered that he had no idea of stopping +until his lower jaw was jerked back so sharply that had it belonged to +any other kind of an animal it must have been dislocated. Even Glen had +no idea of the power of that cruel Mexican bit, and was almost as +greatly surprised as the mule at its sudden effect. + +Then came more yelling, more spurring, and more frantic dashing around +that tiresome square. At length the mule spied the opening through which +he had entered, and, rushing through it, he sped away over the open +prairie, thankful to be rid of those bewildering tents and shouting +spectators, even though his rider still clung as close as ever to that +Mexican saddle. + +When the two returned to camp, half an hour later, it was evident that +the most perfect understanding existed between them; but the mule was so +crest-fallen by his humiliation that for a long time even Binney Gibbs +could ride and abuse him with impunity. + +As for Glen, his reputation as a horseman was firmly established, and +from that day until he got a horse of his own there was always somebody +willing and anxious to place a mount at his disposal. + + + + +Chapter XIV. + +ON GUARD AT NIGHT. + + +A few mornings after Glen's experience with the mule, the white tents of +Camp Lyle were struck; and at sunrise the long slow-moving trains of +wagons had covered the first mile of the many hundreds lying between it +and the Pacific. The last railroad had been left behind, and the sound +of its whistle was heard no more. Already our young explorer was +learning, from his more experienced comrades, to distinguish an Indian +pony and lodge-pole trail from that of a buffalo, and a buffalo wallow +from an ordinary mud-hole. Already he had seen his first prairie-dog +town, and had gazed curiously at several bleached skulls of the mighty +bison, some of which were still partially covered with shaggy hair. +Already, too, he was filled with that sense of glorious freedom and +boundless possibility that can only be breathed with the air of +unlimited space. Glen was surprised to find that, instead of being +level, as he had always thought them, the Plains rolled, in vast +undulations, having a general north and south direction, so that, as the +wagons were moving west, they were always ascending some long slope, or +descending its farther side. He was almost startled, too, by the intense +silence brooding over them, and unbroken at a short distance from the +train, save by the plaintive song of meadow-larks. + +But nobody was allowed to stray far from the wagons, even to note the +silence of the Plains, for fear lest it might be broken by very +unpleasant sounds. All the "horse Indians" of the country were leagued +together, that summer, to fight the whites. North of the Platte, Sioux, +Blackfeet, and Crows had smoked the peace-pipe, and united to harass the +builders of the Union Pacific. South of that river, Cheyennes, Kiowas, +Comanches, and Arrapahoes were waging common war against those who were +turning the buffalo pastures into farms, and making such alarming +inroads into the vast herds upon which they depended for meat. The +Indians were well armed, well mounted, and determined. Custer, with the +Seventh Cavalry, was ranging the Platte valley, and the country between +it and the Republican, so that, in that vicinity, Indians were becoming +scarce. South of that, however, and particularly along the Smoky Hill, +the valley of which General Lyle's expedition was ascending, Indians had +never been more plentiful or troublesome than now. + +Every day brought its rumors of murdered settlers, captured +wagon-trains, besieged stage stations, and of the heavily guarded stages +themselves turned back, or only reaching their destinations after fierce +running fights, riddled with bullets, and bearing sad loads of dead and +wounded passengers. Along the entire Smoky Hill route, from the end of +the railroad to Denver, a distance of four hundred miles, were only +three small forts, with garrisons of three or four companies each; and +the strength of these garrisons was constantly weakened by the demand +for escorts to stages and emigrant trains. Thus the exploring expedition +was forced to depend largely on its own resources, and must fight its +way through as best it could. Arms were therefore supplied to all its +members who did not possess them, and, from the outset, a strong camp +guard was posted each night. + +At the end of a day's march the wagon-master, or "wagon-boss," who +always rode ahead of the train mounted on a sleek saddle mule, would +select a camping-ground, generally where wood, water, and grass were to +be had, and, turning from the beaten trail, would lead the way to it. +Where he halted the first wagon also stopped. Then he would move on a +short distance, and the second wagon would follow him, until it was +ordered to wheel into line with the first. When all thus occupied their +designated positions, they either formed a semicircle on the bank of the +stream, with their poles pointing inward, were arranged in two parallel +lines facing each other, or, if the place was very much exposed, they +would form a complete circle, with each tongue overlapping the +hind-wheels of the wagon before it. + +The minute the train halted, all the stock was unharnessed or unsaddled, +and, under guard of two mounted teamsters, were allowed to graze on the +sweet buffalo grass, within sight of camp, until sunset, when they were +watered and driven in. Then each team was fastened to its own wagon and +given its ration of corn. All the saddle animals and spare stock were +securely picketed within the line of wagons, thus leaving the smallest +possible chance for an Indian to get anywhere near them. + +While the animals were being thus attended to, the men were hard at work +pitching tents, getting out blankets and such baggage as might be +needed, collecting fuel for the camp-fires, fetching water for the +cooks, and, if the location of the camp was considered especially +dangerous, in digging rifle-pits in which the guards for the night would +be posted. All this work was performed by regular details, changed each +day, and announced each morning at breakfast-time. Thus, one day Glen +would find himself on the detail for pitching headquarter tents, and the +next answering the cook's imperative demands for water. Or, provided +with a gunny-sack, he might be scouring the immediate neighborhood for a +supply of dry buffalo chips, with which to eke out the scanty stock of +fire-wood. He always performed these tasks cheerfully and faithfully; +not that he liked them, but because he realized their necessity, and saw +that all the others, below the rank of assistant engineer, were obliged +to do the same things. + +Binney Gibbs, however, considered such duties irksome and demeaning. He +thought it very hard that the son of a wealthy man, a prize scholar, and +a rodman, such as he was, should be compelled to act as a cook's +assistant. To show his contempt for the work he performed it awkwardly +and with much grumbling. The cooks were not slow to discover this; and, +as a cook is a power in camp as well as elsewhere, they began to make +things as unpleasant as possible for him. It was wonderful how much more +water was needed when it was his turn to keep them supplied than it was +when any one else was on duty. Then, too, while Glen's willingness and +good-nature were rewarded by many a tidbit, slyly slipped into his tin +plate, it chanced that Binney always got the toughest pieces of meat, +the odds and ends of everything, and, whenever he asked for a second +helping, was told that there was none of that particular dish left. He +tried to retaliate by complaining of the cooks at headquarters; but, as +he could prove nothing against them, the only result of this unwise +measure was that he got less to eat than ever, and but for a hard-tack +barrel that was always open to everybody would have been on a fair way +to starvation. + +Another thing Binney hated to do was to stand guard. This duty came to +each one in turn, every three or four nights, according to the number of +sentinels required, and on a night of duty each one was obliged to keep +watch "two hours on and four off." That is, if Binney or Glen went on +duty at six o'clock, he would be relieved at eight, and allowed to sleep +until midnight, when he would stand guard again at one of the several +posts beyond the camp limits, until two. Then he might sleep until six, +when, if camp was not already broken, he must again go on duty until it +was, and the wagon-train was in motion. + +Binney declared this was all nonsense. It was well enough, he said, to +talk about Indians attacking a small party, or a stage station here and +there; but as for bothering a large, well-armed party like this, they +simply wouldn't think of doing such a thing. There was as much danger of +their attacking Fort Riley! The idea of waking a fellow up at midnight, +and sending him out on the prairie to listen to coyotes and screech-owls +for two hours! It was ridiculous! He might as well be enlisted in the +army and have done with it! So he growled and grumbled, and tried, in +every way possible, to shirk this guard duty, though generally without +success. + +Even Glen wondered if it were necessary to keep so many men on guard, +and if the disagreeable duty did not come oftener than it need. At +length, however, something happened to convince these boys that no guard +against the wily foes surrounding them could be too strong or too +carefully kept. + +They had been out a week, and were in the heart of the Indian country, +far beyond the most advanced settlements, when, one evening, camp was +pitched on a level bit of valley, bounded on one side by bluffs that +separated it from the higher plains. On the other side flowed a creek +bordered by a growth of cottonwoods, red willows, and tall, rank grass. +Beyond the creek rose still other bluffs, forming the eastern boundary +of this pleasant valley. From time immemorial the place had been a +favorite resort of Indians, as was shown by the abandoned wick-i-ups, +lodge-poles, and quantities of bleached buffalo bones found in a grove +of great cottonwoods a short distance up the stream. There was, however, +nothing to indicate that they had occupied the place recently, and so, +though the one topic of conversation about the camp-fires at supper-time +was Indians, it was rather of those belonging to other times and places +than to the present. + +Suddenly, from the top of the bluff behind the camp, came half a dozen +shots, and the sentinel who had been posted there rushed in, shouting, +"Indians! Indians!" This time the enemy proved to be two overland +stages, loaded with mails and troops, who had fought their way through +from Denver. These had mistaken the sentinel for an Indian, and fired at +him, while he, thinking from this that they certainly must be Indians, +had fired back. + +Late that same night the camp was again alarmed by a shot from one of +its sentries. Everybody sprang from his tent, rifle in hand, and for a +few minutes the excitement was intense. It was succeeded by a feeling of +deep disgust when it was discovered that sentry Binney Gibbs had fired +at a coyote that the light of the newly risen moon had disclosed +prowling about the camp. + +When, therefore, at two o'clock in the morning, Glen went on duty, and +was stationed on the edge of the slope leading down to the stream, Mr. +Brackett, who was officer of the guard, charged him not to fire at +anything unless he was absolutely sure it was an Indian. + +Glen answered that he certainly would not give an alarm without good +cause for so doing; and Mr. Brackett, promising to visit him again at +the end of an hour, went softly away to inspect the next post on his +round. + +When, at the end of an hour, the officer of the guard returned to the +post where he had left Glen, the boy was not to be found. In vain did +Mr. Brackett call his name, at first in low tones, and then louder. In +vain did he question the other sentries. They had neither seen nor heard +anything more suspicious than an occasional coyote. In vain was the +whole camp aroused and a search made through its tents and wagons. Not a +trace of the boy, who was so universally liked, was to be found. He had +disappeared as absolutely, so far as they were concerned, as though the +earth had opened and swallowed him. + + + + +Chapter XV. + +THE SUSPICIOUS MOVEMENTS OF CERTAIN COYOTES. + + +When Glen was left lying on the ground, with his rifle beside him, +peering into the black shadows of the undergrowth, he certainly did not +anticipate seeing any thing more dangerous to his own safety, or that of +the sleeping camp, than coyotes, and he had already learned what +cowardly beasts they were. How absurd it was of Binney Gibbs to fire at +one. He might have known what it was. No wonder the fellows were +provoked. He would like to know as much as Binney did about some things; +but he should hate to be as silly as he in others. How many coyotes +there were to-night anyhow. He had already heard their short, sharp +barks, and long dismal howls from the bluffs behind him, and from those +on the opposite side of the stream. Now another of the weird sounds came +floating down on the damp night air from the direction of the old Indian +camping-ground. Perhaps that fellow was howling because he couldn't find +any meat on those bleached buffalo bones. Well, no wonder. Glen thought +he would be inclined to howl, too, over such a disappointment as that. + +It was not absolutely dark; for, though the moon was in its last +quarter, it gave considerable light when the clouds would let it; but +they were scurrying across the sky at such a rate that they kept it +hidden most of the time. As Glen was facing the east, it lighted the +spot where he lay whenever it was allowed to light any thing, and made +the darkness of the underbrush, at which he gazed, blacker than ever. It +was forlorn and lonely enough without the moonlight; but Glen thought +that perhaps it was better to be in darkness than to be lighted up while +enemies might possibly be gazing at him from the safe cover of those +impenetrable shadows. How easily a rifle-shot from those bushes could +pick him off during one of those uncomfortable little spells of +moonlight. + +All at once Glen saw another light, apparently on the edge of the +opposite bluffs. It showed yellow and steady for a second, and then +disappeared. Was it an Indian signal, or a newly risen star suddenly +obscured by clouds? This was a question calculated to keep even a sleepy +boy wide awake. Perhaps if he watched closely he would see it again. He +had heard a great deal about Indian signals lately, and knew that, by +flashes of fire at night, smokes, waving blankets, and mirror flashes by +day, they could transmit intelligence across the plains almost as +readily as white men could do the same thing by telegraph. How he wished +he understood their signals, and how he would like to see them using +them. + +Glen was very curious concerning Indians--real wild ones--and hoped he +should at least catch a glimpse of some before the trip was ended. It +would be too absurd to return to Brimfield, after crossing the Plains, +and to be obliged to confess that he had not met any. + +Hallo! How near those coyote howls were coming. Wasn't that one of the +brutes now, skulking in the shadow of those willows? Certainly something +was moving down there. Now there were two of them. With what an ugly +snarl they greeted each other. Still, that snarl was a comfort; for it +proved them to be really coyotes. At least so thought Glen. Just then +the boy sneezed. He couldn't have helped it to save him, and at the same +moment the moon shone out. The coyotes had disappeared. Perhaps they +thought he would fire at them, as Binney Gibbs had. But they needn't be +afraid. He wasn't going to alarm the camp on account of coyotes. + +Another cloud swallowed the moon, and again Glen thought he could +distinguish a black object moving through the shadows. Although he +strained his eyes, and watched intently, almost holding his breath in +his excitement, he could see only one object, and it certainly was +moving towards him. Where was the other? If he only dared fire at that +one! The boy clutched his rifle nervously. The coyote came sneaking on, +very slowly, frequently stopping and remaining motionless for several +seconds; but Glen never took his eyes from it. If he only had, just long +enough to give one look at the human figure creeping noiselessly towards +him from behind; but no thought of danger from that direction entered +his head. + +As the Indian, gliding up behind the young sentry, reached a point from +which he could distinguish the outlines of the recumbent figure before +him, he cautiously raised himself on one knee, and fitted a steel-headed +arrow to the bow that had been slung on his back. In another instant it +would have sped on its fatal mission, and Glen's career would have ended +as suddenly as the snuffing of a candle-flame. He was saved by a gleam +of moonlight, that caused the Indian to sink, like a shadow, into the +grass. The coyote also remained motionless. Then the moon was again +obscured, and the Indian again rose to a crouching posture. He had +evidently changed his plans; for he no longer held the bow in his hand. +That gleam of moonlight had showed him that the sentry was only a boy, +instead of the man he had supposed, and he determined to try for a +captive instead of a scalp. + +The next instant he sprang forward with the noiseless bound of a +panther, and the breath was driven from Glen's body as the Indian +lighted on his back, with one hand over the boy's mouth. The coyote rose +on its hind-legs, and leaped forward at the same moment. In a twinkling +its skin was flung over Glen's head, and so tightly fastened about his +neck that he was at once smothered and strangled. He tried to cry out, +but could not. He did not even know what had happened, or who these were +that, swiftly and with resistless force, were half dragging, half +carrying him between them. + +For a moment he entertained the wild hope that it was a practical joke +of some of the boys from camp. That hope was speedily dispelled; for, as +his captors gained the shelter of the trees on the bank of the stream, +they halted long enough to secure his arms firmly behind him, and to +loosen the coyote-skin so that he could breathe a trifle more freely. +Then he was again hurried forward. + +After travelling what seemed to the poor boy like an interminable +distance, and when he was so faint and dizzy with the heat and +suffocation of that horrible wolf-skin that he felt he could not go a +step farther, it was suddenly snatched from his head, and the strong +grasp of his arms was let go. The boy staggered against the trunk of a +tree, and would have fallen but for its support. For a few moments he +saw nothing, and was conscious of nothing save the delicious coolness of +the air and the delight of breathing it freely once more. + +The halt was a short one; for already a faint light, different from that +of the moon, was stealing over the eastern bluffs, and the Indians must +have their prisoner far away from there by sunrise. There were three of +them now, as well as some ponies and a mule. Glen could also see a great +many white objects scattered about the ground. They were bleached +buffalo bones. As he recognized them, he knew he was at the old Indian +camping-ground he had visited the evening before, and from which one of +those coyote howls had seemed to come. So it had; but it had been +uttered by the young Cheyenne left there in charge of the animals, in +answer to the howls of the two other human coyotes, who, prowling about +the engineers' camp, had finally made Glen a prisoner. + +They were Cheyenne scouts, belonging to the Dog Soldier band, at that +time the most famous fighters of that warlike tribe. They had been sent +out from their village, on the American Fork, two days before, to find +out what they could concerning General Lyle's exploring expedition, +rumors of which had already reached the ears of their chiefs. So +successfully had they accomplished their mission that they had not only +discovered all they wanted to know about these new invaders of their +territory, but had actually taken one of their number prisoner. Besides +this they had stolen three fine saddle ponies, and a powerful white +mule, from the corral of a stage station some twenty miles up the trail. +Now, therefore, as they swung their captive on the back of the mule, and +secured him by passing a thong of raw-hide about his ankles and beneath +the animal's belly, their hearts were filled with rejoicing over their +success. + + + + +Chapter XVI. + +IN THE HANDS OF THE CHEYENNES. + + +Especially happy was the youngest of the three Indians, who was a boy of +about Glen's age. This was the first scout he had ever been allowed to +go on; and, as he reflected upon the glory of their return to the +village, with that prisoner, those stolen ponies, and all the valuable +information they had acquired, he wondered if there was any happier or +prouder boy living than he. He even had a kindly feeling towards the +white boy, who, by allowing himself to be captured, had contributed so +largely to the honors that would be showered upon him, and he grinned +good-humoredly in Glen's face as soon as the growing daylight enabled +him to see it plainly. Up to this time the Cheyenne boy had only been +known as "Blackbird;" but he had set forth on this scout with the firm +determination of winning a name more worthy of a young warrior. Had he +not already done so? His companions had complimented him on his +carefully executed imitation of a coyote's howl, and one of them had +suggested that he must have a veritable wolf's tongue in his mouth: +"Wolf-Tongue!" There was a fine name for a young Dog soldier. What if he +should be allowed to keep it for his own? There was not another boy of +his age in the village with such a name as that. Now he began to make +some curious motions with his hands, and poor Glen, who, in spite of his +own wretchedness, could not keep from watching him with some curiosity, +wondered what the young Indian was up to. Dropping the bridle on his +pony's neck, the boy lifted both hands to the level of his shoulders +with the first two fingers of each extended upward and forward, while +the thumbs and other fingers were tightly closed. At the same time he +stuck out his tongue. He was spelling out his new name in the Indian +sign language, just to see how it would look. + +The boy only held his hands in this position for an instant, and then +dropped them to clutch a gun that was slipping from his knees, across +which he had laid it. The movement attracted Glen's attention to the +gun, and his face flushed angrily as he recognized his own precious +rifle, in which he had taken such pride and delight. It was too bad. +Then the thought flashed into his mind, would he ever again care for a +rifle or anything else in this world? What did Indians do with +prisoners? Tortured them, and put them to death, of course. Did not all +the stories he had ever read agree on that point? Could it be possible +that he, Glen Eddy, was to be tortured, perhaps burned at the stake? Was +that what coming out on the Plains meant? Had life with all its hopes +and joys nearly ended for him? It could not be! There must be some +escape from such a horrible fate! The poor boy gazed about him wildly, +but saw only the endless sea of grass stretching to the horizon on all +sides, and the stern faces of his captors, one of whom held the end of a +lariat that was fastened about the mule's neck. + +They all carried bows and arrows slung to their backs, as well as rifles +that lay across their knees. They wore moccasins and leggings of +buckskin, but no clothing above their waists. Their saddles were simply +folded blankets, which would be their covering at night. In place of +stirrups they used strips of buffalo hide with a loop at each end. These +were thrown across the blanket saddles, and the feet of the riders were +supported in the loops. One of them had a pair of field-glasses slung by +a strap from his shoulders. + +Until nearly noon they pushed westward across the trackless undulations +of the prairie, and Glen became so faint from hunger and thirst, and so +stiff from his painful position, that he could hardly retain his seat. +His mule was a long-limbed, raw-boned animal, whose gait never varied +from an excruciatingly hard trot. Finally, the boy's sufferings reached +such a point that it was all he could do to keep from screaming, and he +wondered if any torture could be worse. + +At length they came to a tiny stream, fringed with a slender growth of +willows, and here a long rest was taken. Glen could not stand when his +ankles were unbound, and he was allowed to slip from the mule's back, +but fell heavily to the ground. The Indian boy said something to his +companions, one of whom replied with a grunt, whereupon the lad unbound +the prisoner's arms, and helped him to reach the edge of the stream. He +was wonderfully revived by plunging his head into the cool water, and +the young Indian, who seemed a good-natured sort of a chap, assisted to +restore the circulation in his wrists and ankles by rubbing them +vigorously. The men smiled scornfully at this; but the boy rubbed away +with a hearty good-will, and smiled back at them. He wanted to get this +prisoner into the village in as good a condition as possible, and was +perfectly willing to be laughed at, if he could only accomplish his +object. He even went so far as to kindle a small fire of dry, barkless +wood, that would make but little smoke, and heat a strip of dried +buffalo-meat over its coals for the prisoner to eat, though wondering at +a taste that did not find raw meat just as palatable as cooked. Then he +tried to converse with Glen; but, as the latter did not understand +either Cheyenne or the sign language, and as the only English word +Wolf-Tongue knew was "How," this attempt proved a failure. + +How Glen wished he could talk with this Indian boy. Why were not white +boys taught the Indian language in school, so as to be prepared for such +emergencies? It would be so much more valuable than Latin. He wondered +if he would have studied it any harder than he had other things, if it +had been included in the Brimfield High School course. How far away +Brimfield seemed! What wouldn't he give to be there at this moment? How +would they feel at home if they could see him now? + +At length it was time to go on again. The animals, which had been +hobbled to prevent them from straying, left the juicy grasses of the +bottom-land with reluctance; and, with a heavy heart and still aching +body, Glen again mounted his mule. His saddle was the coyote-skin that +had been thrown over his head when he was captured. Now he was given a +pair of raw-hide Indian stirrups; while, though his hands were again +tied behind his back, his feet were left unbound. He therefore rode much +more comfortably now than before, and Wolf-Tongue, who seemed to +consider the prisoner as his especial property, was allowed to hold the +end of his lariat. + +All the movements of these scouts were as carefully guarded as though +they were surrounded by enemies. They avoided soft places where a trail +might be left, and whenever they ascended a swell of the prairie they +halted just before reaching the top. One of them, dismounting, would +then creep cautiously forward, and, without exposing his body above the +crest, would gaze long and searchingly in every direction. Not until he +was satisfied that no human being was within range of his vision would +he show himself on the summit, and beckon his comrades to join him. + +The afternoon was half gone, when, on one of these occasions, the scout +who had just crept to the top of an elevation was seen by the others to +gaze long and steadily in a particular direction through his +field-glass. At length, apparently satisfied with what he saw, he stood +up, and flashed a dazzling ray of sunlight from a small mirror that he +held in his hand. Again and again did he send that flash over miles of +prairie, before he saw the answering flash for which he was watching. +Then he called the others up; they talked earnestly together for a few +minutes, and, having reached some conclusion, they galloped rapidly +away, almost at right angles to the course they had been following. + +Glen wondered what this movement meant; but it was not until they had +ridden for nearly an hour that his unasked questions were answered. +Then, as though by magic, so unexpectedly did they appear, a score or +more of Indians seemed to spring from the ground and surround them. It +was a Cheyenne war-party. Their ponies, under watchful guard, grazed in +a slight depression to one side of them, and their scouts kept a keen +lookout from a rise of ground beyond. + +While these warriors were exchanging greetings with the new-comers, and +regarding the prisoner with unconcealed satisfaction, two white men, +utterly unsuspicious of their presence so near them, were lounging in +front of the Lost Creek stage station, less than a mile away. From this +station the scouts had stolen their ponies and the white mule two nights +before. + +The ranch and stable stood side by side, and were low, one-story +buildings, with walls of a soft sandstone, quarried near by, and roofs +of poles covered with sods. Behind them was a corral enclosed by a low +stone wall. The ranch and stable were connected by a narrow subterranean +passage, and another led from the house to a "dug-out," or square pit, +some ten yards from it. This "dug-out" had a roof of poles heavily +covered with earth and sods; while, just at the surface of the ground, +port-holes opened on all sides. A similar pit, on the other side, could +be reached from the stable, and another, in the rear of the station, was +connected with the corral. + +Lost Creek Station had suffered greatly at the hands of Indians that +summer. Its inmates had been killed, and its stock run off. Now but two +men were left to guard it. This afternoon they were watching anxiously +for the stage from the east, which was some hours overdue. + +Suddenly, as they gazed along the distant wagon trail, there came a +thunderous rush of hoofs from behind the station. But the men had heard +the sound before, and did not need to look to know what it meant. + +"They're after us again, Joe!" exclaimed one, in a disgusted tone, as +they sprang into the ranch and barred its heavy door behind them. A +moment later they were in the "dug-out" behind the corral, and the +gleaming barrels of two rifles were thrust from two of its narrow +port-holes. + +"I swear, Joe! if one of them hasn't the cheek to ride old Snow-ball, +and he's in the lead, too. You drop him, and I'll take the next one." + +There were two reports. A white mule pitched heavily forward and its +rider was flung to the ground. A wounded Indian clung to his pony. Then +the whole band wheeled and dashed back to where they had come from, +taking both their wounded warrior and the one who had been flung to the +ground with them. + +"Did you notice that the fellow I dropped had a white man's hat on?" +asked Joe, as the two men watched the retreat of their foes. + +"Yes, and white men's clothes on, too. I wonder who he murdered and +robbed to get 'em?" + + + + +Chapter XVII. + +A CHEYENNE WAR-PARTY. + + +The war-party, detected by the wonderful eyesight of the Cheyenne scout +while they were yet miles away from him, had been for more than a week +engaged in attacking stages and wagon-trains on the Smoky Hill Trail. +Hiding behind some slight elevation, or in a cottonwood thicket near the +road, with keen-eyed scouts always on the lookout, they would burst like +a whirlwind on their unsuspecting victims, pour in a withering volley of +bullets and arrows, and disappear, almost before a return shot could be +fired. Sometimes they would maintain a running fight for miles with a +stage, their fleet ponies easily keeping pace with its frantic mules, +and many a one thus fell into their hands. Its fate was always the same. +If any of its defenders survived the fight they were either killed or +reserved for the worse fate of captives. Its mail-sacks were ripped open +and their contents scattered far and wide. Finally it was set on fire +and destroyed. + +Sometimes the stages escaped; in which case their passengers had +marvellous tales to tell. One of these, that reached the safety of +General Lyle's wagon-train just in time to avoid capture, had but one +living passenger, a woman who was not even wounded during the almost +continuous storm of arrows and bullets of a ten-mile running fight. Four +dead men, one of whom was her husband, were inside the coach, and +another was on the box with the driver. The latter was wounded, and the +mules fairly bristled with arrows. The stage itself was shivered and +splintered in every part by the shower of lead that had been poured into +it, and many a blood-stained letter from its mail-sacks afterwards +carried a shudder into distant Eastern homes. + +This, then, was the work of the war-party who were gathered about Glen +Eddy; and, even now, they were impatiently awaiting the appearance of +the stage from the east that was due that day. For this occasion they +had planned a new form of attack. It was not to be made until the stage +reached the ranch. There, while its mules were being changed, and its +occupants were off their guard, the Indians proposed to dash out from +the nearest place of concealment and attempt the capture of both it and +the station at the same time. It was a well-conceived plan, and might +have been successfully carried out, but for the arrival of the three +scouts, who were now so proudly exhibiting their prisoner and telling +the story of his capture. Before they had half finished, a few dazzling +flashes of light from the mirrors of the distant lookouts announced that +the eastern stage was in sight. + +A minute later the warriors were mounted and riding cautiously towards a +point but a short distance from the ranch, where they could still remain +concealed from it until the moment of making their final dash. The three +scouts, being on other duty, were not expected to take part in the +fight, nor had they any intention of so doing, much as they would have +liked to; but they could not resist the temptation to witness it. So +they, with their prisoner, followed close behind the others to their new +place of concealment. When they reached it, these three, with Glen, +stood a little apart from the rest, so as not to interfere with their +movements. + +Up to this moment, the boy had not the least idea of what was about to +take place, nor where he was. There was nothing to indicate that a stage +ranch and a well-travelled wagon road lay just beyond the ridge before +him. He wondered what these Indians were up to; but he wondered still +more when they would go into camp, and give him a chance to dismount +from the back of that hard-trotting mule; for his aches and pains had +again become very hard to bear. In spite of his thoughts being largely +centred upon himself, Glen could not help noticing the uneasy movements +of his steed, and his impatient snuffings of the air, that began as soon +as they came to a halt. The scouts noticed them, too, and watched the +mule narrowly. + +Suddenly the animal threw up his great head, and in another instant +would have announced his presence to all the country thereabout by a +sonorous, far-reaching bray. Before he could open his mouth, however, +one of the scouts sprang from his pony and seized him by the nose. In +the struggle that followed, the end of the lariat held by Wolf-Tongue +was jerked from his hand. At the same moment the mule succeeded in +shaking off the scout with such violence that he staggered for nearly a +rod before recovering his balance. Then, so quickly that Glen was very +nearly flung from his back, the animal sprang to the crest of the little +ridge, and dashed, with astonishing speed, towards the corral that had +been his home for so long, and which he had scented so plainly the +moment he reached its vicinity. + +Of course the entire body of Indians was in instant pursuit--not of the +mule, but of the prisoner that he was bearing from them. Like a +thunderclap out of a clear sky, they rushed down that slope, every pony +doing his best, and their riders yelling like demons. From the first, +Wolf-Tongue took the lead. It was his prisoner who was escaping, his +first one. He must have him again. He would almost rather die than lose +him. So he lashed his pony furiously with the quirt, or Indian +riding-whip of raw-hide fastened to his wrist, and leaned far over on +his neck, and yelled, and beat the animal's sides with his moccasined +feet, until he had gained a lead of all the others and was almost within +reach of the mule. Another moment and he would have that trailing lariat +in his hand. + +Glen, too, was kicking the sides of his ungainly steed, and yelling at +him in a perfect frenzy of excitement. He saw the stage ranch, the +winding wagon trail, and the shining river beyond the instant he was +borne over the crest of the ridge, and knew what they meant for him. To +reach that little clump of buildings first, meant life, liberty, and +restoration to his friends. He must do it, and he fully believed he +could. He leaned as far as possible over the mule's neck, and shouted +encouraging words into his ears. What wonderful speed the long-legged +animal was showing! Who would have thought it was in him? + +"Well done, mule!" yelled Glen. "A few more seconds and we'll be there! +They can't catch us now!" + +Then came a burst of flame from the earth in front of him. The white +mule gave a convulsive bound and fell dead in his tracks, while poor +Glen was flung far over his head to the ground, which he struck so +heavily as to partially stun him. + +Without checking the speed of their ponies in the least, two stalwart +warriors bent over, and, seizing the boy by the arms, raised him between +them as they swept past. A moment later the entire band, minus only +their white mule, had again reached their place of concealment, and poor +Glen, breathless, bruised, and heart-broken with disappointment, was +more of a prisoner than ever. Besides this, Wolf-Tongue, the only one +amid all those stern-featured warriors who had shown the least particle +of pity for him, was wounded--a rifle-ball having passed through the +calf of one of his legs. + +[Illustration: "TWO STALWART WARRIORS SEIZED HIM BY THE ARMS AND RAISED +HIM BETWEEN THEM AS THEY SWEPT PAST"] + +This sudden derangement of his plans caused the leader of the war-party +to abandon them altogether, and decide upon a new one. It would be +useless to attempt to surprise the stage and station now. Besides, it +might be just as well to leave the trail in peace for a few days, in +order that the large party of white men, of whom the scouts had just +brought information, might come on with less caution than they would use +if constantly alarmed. He would send runners to the villages of the +Kiowas, Arrapahoes, and Comanches, and tell them of the rich prize +awaiting their combined action. In the meantime he would return to his +own village and raise a war-party that, in point of numbers and +equipment, should be a credit to the great Cheyenne nation. + +So the runners were despatched, and the rest of the party set out in a +northwesterly direction towards their distant villages on the American +Fork. + +Shortly before the Indians halted for the night, even Glen almost forgot +his heartache and painful weariness of body in the excitement of seeing +his first buffalo, and witnessing an Indian buffalo-hunt on a small +scale. It was just at sunset, when the scout, who rode ahead, signalled, +from the top of an elevation, by waving his blanket in a peculiar +manner, that he had discovered buffalo. + +Obeying a command from their leader, half a dozen warriors at once +dashed ahead of the party; and, joining the scout, disappeared over the +ridge. As the others gained the summit, they saw that the plain beyond +it was covered with a vast herd of buffalo, quietly feeding, singly or +in groups, and spreading over the country as far as the eye could reach. +There were thousands of them, and Glen was amazed at the wonderful +sight. + +Those nearest to the advancing Indians had already taken the alarm, and +in less than a minute more the whole vast mass was in motion, with loud +bellowings and a lumbering gallop, that, shaking the earth, sounded like +the rush and roar of mighty waters. The fleet war-ponies speedily bore +the hunters into the thick of the flying mass, so that for a few seconds +they were swallowed up and lost to view in it. Then they reappeared +surrounding, and driving before them, a fat young cow, that they had cut +out from the rest of the herd. They did not use their rifles, as the +reports might have attracted undesirable attention to their presence. +From their powerful bows arrow after arrow was buried in the body of the +selected victim, some of them even passing completely through it, until +at length the animal fell, and the chase was ended. + + + + +Chapter XVIII. + +BUFFALO AND THEIR USES. + + +If the Cheyennes had been on a regular hunt they would have killed +scores of the mighty beasts before desisting from their bloody work; but +buffalo were too valuable to the Plains Indian to be wasted, or killed +for mere sport. In fact, their very existence, at that time, depended +upon these animals. Not only did their flesh form the chief and almost +the sole article of Indian food, but with the skins they covered their +lodges, and made boats, ropes, lariats, trunks, or _par fleche_ sacks, +saddles, shields, frames for war bonnets, gloves, moccasins, leggings, +shirts, gun-covers, whips, quivers, knife-scabbards, cradles, +saddle-bags and blankets, beds, bridles, boots, glue, and a score of +other necessary articles. + +From the hair they made ropes and pillows; while the horns provided them +with spoons, cups, dishes, powder-flasks, arrow-heads, and even bows. +Buffalo sinews gave the Indians thread and twine for innumerable +purposes; while certain of the bones were fashioned into axes, knives, +arrow-points, and implements for scraping the hides or dressing robes. +The ribs were formed into small dog sledges, and the teeth into +necklaces and rattles. Buffalo chips were a most important article of +fuel on the almost treeless plains, and this is only a partial list of +the useful articles furnished to the Indians by this animal. At that +time buffalo roamed, in countless thousands, from the Missouri River to +the Rocky Mountains, and from Mexico up into British America. Since then +they have been ruthlessly slaughtered and exterminated by skin-butchers, +emigrants, and an army of so-called sportsmen from all parts of the +world. + +While the hunters were cutting up the cow they had killed, the rest of +the party went into camp on the bank of the stream, near which the vast +herd had been feeding. Here Wolf-Tongue's wound, that had only been +rudely bandaged to check the flow of blood, was carefully dressed and +attended to. + +There was no lack of food in the camp that evening, and the warriors +were evidently determined to make up for their days of hard riding and +fighting on scanty rations, by indulging in a regular feast. + +Glen was disgusted to see the liver and kidneys of the buffalo eaten +raw, as was also a quantity of the meat while it was yet warm. Still +there was plenty of cooked meat for those who preferred it. Over small +fires, carefully screened by robes and blankets, so that their light +should not attract attention, ribs were roasted and choice bits were +broiled. Even the prisoner was unbound and allowed to cut and broil for +himself until he could eat no more. + +Wolf-Tongue's wounded leg was smeared with melted tallow; and, though it +was so lame and stiff that he could not use it, his appetite was in no +wise impaired by his wound, nor did it dampen his high spirits in the +least. It rather added to them; for, as he ate buffalo meat raw or +cooked, as it was handed to him, at the same time laughing and chatting +with those of the younger warriors who were nearest his own age, he felt +that an honorable wound had been the only thing needed to crown the +glories of this, his first warpath. Now he would indeed be greeted as a +hero upon his return to the village. He felt more assured than ever that +he would be allowed to keep the fine name of "Wolf-Tongue." Perhaps, but +it was only just within the range of possibility, the head men might +commemorate at once his success as a scout, and the fact that he had +received a wound in battle, by conferring upon him the distinguished +name of "Lame Wolf." Such things had been known. Why might they not +happen to him? + +When the feasting was ended, and the entire band began to feel that to +sleep would be far better than to eat any more, they extinguished their +fires and moved noiselessly away, a hundred yards or so, from the place +where they had been. Here in the tall grass, at the foot of the +cottonwood-trees, or in red willow thickets, the tired warriors laid +down, each man where he happened to be when he thought he had gone far +enough for safety. Each drew his blanket over his head, and also over +the rifle that was his inseparable bedfellow. The ponies had already +been securely fastened, so that they could be had when wanted, and now +they were either lying down or standing motionless with drooping heads. +The camp was as secure as an Indian camp ever is, where every precaution +is taken to guard against surprise, except the simple one of keeping +awake. + +Wolf-Tongue, who was unable to touch his foot to the ground, was carried +to his sleeping-place with his arms about the necks of two of his +stalwart friends. Now, with Glen's rifle clasped tightly to him, and +with his head completely enveloped in a blanket, he was fast forgetting +his pain in sleep. + +Poor Glen was forced to lie without any blanket, either over or under +him, with his wrists bound together, and with one of his arms fastened, +by a short cord, to an arm of one of the scouts who had captured him. +The latter fell asleep almost instantly, as was proved by his breathing; +but it was impossible for the prisoner, weary as he was, to do so. His +mind was too busily engaged in revolving possible means of escape. For a +long time he lay with wide-open eyes, dismissing one project after +another as they presented themselves. Finally he decided that, unless he +could first free his hands and then release his arm from the cord that +bound him to the scout, he could do nothing. + +To accomplish the first of these objects, he began to gnaw, very softly, +at the raw-hide thong by which his wrists were secured. How tough and +hard it was. How his jaws ached after he had worked for an hour or more, +without accomplishing his purpose. Still he could feel that his efforts +were not altogether fruitless. He knew that he could succeed if he were +only given time enough. + +He was obliged to take several rests, and his work was often interrupted +by hearing some wakeful Indian get up and walk about. Twice the scout +wakened, and pulled at the cord fastened to his prisoner's arm to assure +himself that he was still there. + +At length the task was concluded, the hateful thong was bitten in two, +and Glen's hands were free. They were cold, numb, and devoid of feeling; +but after a while their circulation was gradually restored, and the boy +began to work at the knot that secured the cord about his arm. It was a +hard one to untie, but in this, too, he finally succeeded. Just as it +loosened beneath Glen's fingers, the scout woke and gave the cord a +pull. Fortunately the boy still held it, and the other was satisfied +that his prisoner was still beside him. Glen hardly dared breathe until +he felt certain that the Indian again slept. Then he fastened the cord +to a bit of willow, that grew within reach, in order that there might be +some resistance if the scout should pull at it again, and cautiously +rose to his feet. + +Which way should he go? How should he avoid stepping on some recumbent +form if he moved at all? For a moment he stood irresolute. Well, +whatever he did he must do quickly, for the short summer night was far +advanced. He had not a moment to lose. If he only dared take a pony! If +he could drive them all off and leave his pursuers without a horse on +which to follow him! It was a thought worthy of a Cheyenne scout, and +Glen realized in a moment that, hazardous as the undertaking would be, +it offered the only means of ultimate escape. He thought he knew where +the horses were, and began to move with the utmost caution, feeling his +way inch by inch, in that direction. + +Twice he just discovered a motionless human form in time to avoid +stumbling over it, and each time his heart seemed to leap into his mouth +with the narrowness of his escape. Several times, too, he changed his +course in order to avoid some real or fancied obstacle, until at length +he was completely bewildered, and obliged to confess that he had no idea +of what direction he was taking. Still he kept on, trembling with +nervousness, until at length he felt certain that he must be at least +well outside the circle of sleeping Indians, if not at a considerable +distance from them. He began to move more rapidly, when suddenly a human +figure rose up before him, so close that he could not avoid it. He +sprang at it with a blind fury, hoping to overthrow it, and still effect +his escape. Then there came a wild cry, a deafening report, and Glen +found himself engaged in a furious struggle with an unknown antagonist. + + + + +Chapter XIX. + +GLEN'S ESCAPE FROM THE INDIANS. + + +As Glen struggled desperately, but well-nigh hopelessly, with the +assailant who had risen so unexpectedly to bar his escape, there came a +crashing volley of shots, a loud cheer, and a rush of trampling feet +through the willows and tangled undergrowth. The boy only dimly wondered +at these sounds as he was flung to the ground, where he lay breathless, +with his arms pinned tightly to the earth, and expecting that each +instant would be his last. Then he became strangely conscious that his +antagonist was talking in a language that he understood, and was saying, + +"Yez would, would ye? An' yez tho't ye could wrastle wid Terence +O'Boyle? Ye murtherin' rid villin! Bad cess to it I but oi'll tache ye! +Phat's that ye say? Ye're a white man? Oh, no, me omadhoon! yez can't +fool me into lettin' ye up that way!" + +"But I am white!" cried Glen, half choked though he was. "Let me up, and +I'll prove it to you. Can't you understand English?" + +Very slowly and reluctantly the astonished Irishman allowed himself to +become convinced that the assailant he had failed to shoot, but whom he +had overcome after a violent struggle, was not an Indian. It was some +minutes before he would permit Glen to rise from his uncomfortable +position, and even then he held him fast, declaring that nothing short +of an order from the captain himself would induce him to release a +prisoner. + +The explanation of this sudden change in our hero's fortunes and +prospects is that, while the Cheyennes were engaged in their +buffalo-hunt the evening before, they had been discovered by a Pawnee +scout. He was attached to a company of cavalry who were on their way +back to Fort Hayes, on the Smoky Hill, from an expedition against the +Arrapahoes. The captain of this company had determined to surprise the +Indians thus unexpectedly thrown in his way, at daybreak, and had made +his arrangements accordingly. Their movements had been carefully noted +by the scouts, and, having made a start from their own camp at three +o'clock that morning, the troops were cautiously surrounding the place +where they supposed their sleeping foes to be. + +The attack would undoubtedly have proved successful, and the Cheyennes +would have sprung from their grassy couches only to fall beneath the +fire from the cavalry carbines, had not Glen Eddy run into trooper +Terence O'Boyle and been mistaken for an Indian by that honest fellow. +Upon the alarm being thus prematurely given, the soldiers fired a volley +and charged the Cheyenne camp, only to find it deserted. With one +exception, the Indians had made good their escape, and it was never +known whether any of them were even wounded by the volley that gave them +such a rude awakening. The one who failed to escape was the young scout +who hoped to be known as "Wolf-Tongue," and who, on account of his +wound, was unable to fly with the rest. + +He managed to conceal himself in a thicket until daylight. Then he was +discovered by one of the Pawnee scouts, who dragged him out, and would +have put him to death but for the interference of Glen Eddy, who was +just then led to the spot by his Irish captor. + +An hour later Glen was enjoying the happiest breakfast in his life, in +company with Captain Garrett Winn, U.S.A., who was listening with +absorbed interest to the boy's account of his recent thrilling +experiences. + +"Well, my lad," said the captain, when Glen had finished his story, "I +consider your several escapes from being killed, when first captured, +from the bullets of those fellows at the stage ranch, from the Indians, +and, finally, from being killed by that wild Irishman, as being little +short of miraculous." + +Soon afterwards the trumpet sounded "Boots and Saddles," and Glen, +mounted on a handsome bay mare--which, with several other ponies, had +been left behind by the Indians in their hurried flight--trotted happily +away with his new friends in the direction of Fort Hayes. In his hand he +grasped his own rifle, which was recovered when Wolf-Tongue was +captured, and behind him, mounted on a pony led by one of the troopers, +rode that wounded and crest-fallen young Indian himself. + +The future looked very black to Wolf-Tongue just now; for, totally +ignorant of the ways of white men, he expected nothing less than death +as soon as he should reach the fort. He realized that Glen had saved him +from the knife of the Pawnee scout, and wondered if the white boy would +interfere in his behalf with the warriors of his own race, or if they +would listen to him in case he did. He wished he knew just a little of +the white man's language, that he might discover what those soldiers on +each side of him were talking about. Perhaps they were even discussing +him and his fate. But he only knew one word of English, and now he began +to think he did not understand the meaning of that; for, though he heard +the soldiers say "how" several times in the course of their +conversation, they did not seem to use it at all as he would. So the +Indian lad rode along unhappily enough; but, though his thoughts were +very busy, no trace of them was allowed to exhibit itself in his +impassive face. + +In the meantime he was the subject of a conversation between Glen and +Captain Winn, as they rode side by side. The former had a very kindly +feeling towards the young Indian, who had tried to be kind to him when +their present positions were reversed, and now he wanted in some way to +return this kindness if possible. + +"What will be done with him do you think, sir?" he asked. + +"I'm sure I don't know," replied the captain, carelessly. "I suppose he +will be kept as a prisoner at some one of the forts until we have +whipped his tribe and put it on a reservation, and then he will be sent +back to it." + +"But what will become of him then?" persisted the boy. + +"Oh, he will grow up to be one of the regular reservation beggars, +living on government charity, until he finally drinks himself to death +or gets killed in some quarrel. That's the way with most of them on the +reservations. You see they haven't anything else to do, and so they +drink and gamble, and kill each other just to pass away the time." + +"Don't you suppose he could learn to live like white folks if he had the +chance?" + +"Yes, I suppose he could. In fact, I know he could, if he had the +chance; for these Indian boys are about as bright as they make 'em. But +I don't know where he'll get the chance. The government would rather pay +a thousand dollars to keep him on a reservation, or even to kill him, +than a hundred to give him an education, and I don't know of anybody +else, that is able to do anything, who will take an interest in him." + +There the conversation ended; for, after riding some time in silence and +trying to think of a solution of this perplexing Indian problem, Glen +all at once found himself nodding so that he almost fell off his horse. +He was so thoroughly wearied and sleepy that it did not seem as though +he could hold his eyes open another minute. + +Noticing his condition, the captain said, kindly, + +"You look just about used up, young man; and no wonder, after what +you've gone through. The best thing for you to do is to hand your pony +over to one of the men, crawl into the wagon back there, and take a +nap." + +Glen thought this such good advice that he immediately followed it. Two +minutes later he was lying, in what looked like a most uncomfortable +position, on top of a pile of baggage in the only wagon that accompanied +the troops, more soundly asleep than he had ever been before in all his +life. He did not even know when the wagon reached the fort, a few hours +later, nor did he realize what was happening when he was lifted from it +and led by the captain into his own quarters. There the boy was allowed +to tumble down on a pile of robes and blankets, and told to have his +sleep out. + +Not until the rising sun streamed full in his face the next morning did +that sleep come to an end. Then he awoke so hungry that he felt as +though it would take a whole buffalo to satisfy his appetite, and so +bewildered by his surroundings that, for some minutes, he could not +recall what had happened. He had no idea of where he was, for he could +remember nothing since the act of crawling into the wagon and finding a +bed on its load of baggage. + + + + +Chapter XX. + +A PRESENT THAT WOULD PLEASE ANY BOY. + + +Through the open window, by which the sunlight was streaming in, Glen +caught a glimpse of a line of cottonwood-trees, which, as he had long +ago learned, denoted the presence of a stream in that country. To a boy +who dearly loved to bathe, and had not washed for two whole days, +nothing could be more tempting. Nor was Glen long in jumping from the +window, running down to the cottonwoods, throwing off his clothes, and +plunging headforemost into the cool waters. + +With that delicious bath disappeared every trace of his weariness, his +aches, and everything else that remained to remind him of his recent +trials, except his hunger. When he was at length ready to go in search +of something with which to appease that, he walked slowly back towards +the house in which he had slept. He now noticed that it was built of +logs, and was the last one in a row of half a dozen just like it. He +also heard bugle calls, saw soldiers in blue uniforms hurrying in every +direction, and wisely concluded that, in some way, he must have been +brought to Fort Hayes. + +As he stood irresolute near the house, not knowing which way to go or +what to do, a door opened and a little girl, followed by a lady, came +out. The child stopped and looked at the boy for a moment. Then running +back to her mother, she exclaimed, + +"Look mamma! look! It's the very same one we knew on the cars!" + +Glen had recognized her at once as his little acquaintance of the +railroad between St. Louis and Kansas City, and now the lady recognized +him as the boy who had run the locomotive so splendidly that terrible +night, and had then so mysteriously disappeared. + +It was truly a very happy party that gathered about Captain Winn's +hospitable breakfast-table that morning. They had so much to talk about, +and so many questions to ask, and so many experiences to relate, and +Nettie so bubbled over with delight at again finding her play-fellow, +that the meal was prolonged for more than an hour beyond its usual +limits. + +After breakfast Glen asked if he might go and see the prisoner, to which +the captain replied, "Certainly you may." As they walked across the +parade-ground in the direction of the guard-house, Glen was introduced +to several officers, who seemed to take a great interest in him, and +shook hands so cordially, and congratulated him so heartily on his +escape from the Cheyennes, that the boy began to think his rough +experience was not without its compensations after all. + +In the guard-house they found the young Indian peering disconsolately +out between the gratings of his cell window, and looking very forlorn +indeed. He gazed sullenly at the visitors, and wondered why they should +come there to stare at him; but when Glen stepped up to him with +outstretched hand, and said "How?" the boy's face brightened at once. He +took the proffered hand, and answered "How" with an evident air of +pleasure, for he could comprehend the other's sympathetic expression, if +he could not understand his language. Pointing to himself, the white boy +said, "Glen," which the other repeated as though he thoroughly +understood what was meant. Then Glen pointed to him, with an inquiring +look, as much as to ask, "What is your name?" + +The boy understood; but hesitated a moment before drawing himself up +proudly and answering in his own tongue; but the name was so long and +hard to say that Glen could not repeat it. + +"I wish I could understand what he says, for I should so like to have a +talk with him," said Glen. + +"There is an interpreter who speaks Cheyenne somewhere about the place," +answered Captain Winn, "and, if you like, I will send for him." + +When the interpreter came, Glen found out that what the boy had said in +Cheyenne was that his name was "Lame Wolf;" but when the young Indian +tried to repeat it in English, after Glen, he pronounced it "Lem Wolf," +which is what he was called from that day. + +After they had held quite a conversation, that greatly increased Glen's +interest in the boy, he and the captain took their departure, the former +promising to come again very soon. + +Then Captain Winn led Glen down to the corral, in which were a number of +horses, ponies, and mules, and, pointing to one of them, asked the boy +if he recognized it. + +"Of course I do," answered Glen. "It's the one I rode yesterday." + +"And the one I hope you will ride for many days to come," said the +captain with a smile; "for I want you to accept that pony as a present +from my little girl." + +"Really?" cried the delighted boy; "do you really mean that I am to have +it for my very own?" + +"I really do," laughed the captain, "and," he continued more soberly, "I +wish I could offer you something ten times more valuable, as a slight +memento of the service you rendered those so dear to me not long ago." + +"You couldn't give me anything I should value more," exclaimed Glen, +"unless--" Here he hesitated, and his face flushed slightly. + +"Unless what?" asked Captain Winn. + +"Unless you could give me that Indian boy." + +"What on earth would you do with him?" cried the captain, his eyes +opening wide with surprise at such an unheard-of request. + +Then Glen unfolded a plan that had formed itself in his mind within a +few minutes; and, when he had finished, the captain's look of surprise +still remained on his face, but he said, reflectively: + +"Well, I don't know but what it might be done, and if you succeed in +carrying out your part of the scheme, I will see what I can do with the +rest of it." + +This matter being disposed of, Glen asked if he might try his pony. + +"But you tried her yesterday," laughed the captain, who enjoyed the +boyishness of this boy as much as he admired his manliness. + +"Yes, sir; but she wasn't mine then, and you know everything, even a +horse, is very different when it is your own." + +"So it is, and you may try her to your heart's content, only don't ride +far from the post unless you wish for a repetition of your recent +experience." + +With this the captain beckoned to a soldier, who stood near by, and +ordered him to saddle the bay mare, and to tell the stable-sergeant that +she belonged to this young gentleman, who was to take her whenever he +pleased. He also told Glen that the whole outfit of saddle, bridle, and +picket rope, then being placed on the mare, were included in his +present. + +The mare was so well fed, and so thoroughly rested, that she was in high +spirits; and, the moment she found Glen on her back, tried her very best +to throw him off. She reared, and bucked, and plunged, and sprang +sideways, and kicked up her heels, to the great delight of a number of +soldiers who were witnesses of the performance; but all to no purpose. +Her rider clung to the saddle like a burr, and all her efforts to throw +him were quite as unsuccessful as those of Binney Gibbs's mule had been +some days before. + +When Glen, with the breath nearly shaken out of his body, but thoroughly +master of the situation, reined the mare up beside the captain, and +asked his permission to name her "Nettle," the latter readily granted +it, saying, "I think it will be a most appropriate name; for it is +evident that she can only be mastered by a firm and steady hand." + +Then the happy boy rode over to Captain Winn's quarters, anxious to +display his new acquisition to the child after whom she had just been +named. As he did so he passed the guard-house, and was moved to pity by +the sight of a sad-looking young face pressed against the grating of one +of its windows, and gazing wistfully at him. That pony had belonged to +Lame Wolf but the day before. + +After an hour's riding in the immediate vicinity of the fort, Glen was +fully satisfied that no horse in the world had ever combined so many +admirable qualities as this bay mare, or given an owner such complete +cause to be satisfied with his possession. + +As he was about to return her to the corral, his eye caught the gleam of +sunlight on a moving white object, a mile or so distant, along the +wagon-trail leading to the east. Watching intently, he saw that it was +followed by another, and another, until the wagons of a long train were +in plain sight, winding slowly along the road towards the fort. When he +was certain that he could not be mistaken, the boy uttered a joyous +shout, clapped spurs to Nettle, and dashed away to meet them. + +A group of mounted men rode ahead of the train, and they gazed +wonderingly at the reckless rider who approached them with such headlong +impetuosity. Their surprise became incredulous amazement as he reined +sharply up within a few paces of them, and, politely lifting his hat, +disclosed the shaven head and flushed face of the boy whose mysterious +disappearance had caused them such sincere grief and distress. They had +devoted half a day to scouring the country near the camp from which he +had been lost; and, finding plentiful traces of Indians in the creek +bottom, had come to the conclusion that, in some way, he had fallen into +their hands, and would never again be heard from. Now, to meet him here, +safe, and evidently in high spirits, was past comprehension. + +Mr. Hobart was the first to ride forward and grasp his hand. "Is it +really you, Glen?" he exclaimed, his voice choked with feeling; "and +where, in the name of all that is mysterious, have you been?" + +"It is really I," answered the boy, "and I've been a prisoner in the +hands of the Cheyennes, and had a glorious time." + +It really did seem as though he had had a good time, now that it was all +over with, and he was the owner of that beautiful mare. Besides, he +could not fully realize the nature of the fate he had escaped. + +Then the others crowded about him, and General Lyle himself shook hands +with him, and wanted to hear his story at once. While he was telling it +as briefly as possible, the joyful news of his appearance flew back +through the train, and the boys came running up to see him, and shake +hands with him, and nearly pulled him off his horse in their eagerness +to touch him and assure themselves that he was really alive. + +"Hurrah for the Baldheads!" shouted the irrepressible Brackett; "they +don't get left! not much!" + +Even Binney Gibbs came and shook hands with him. + +That evening, after the camp was somewhat quieted from its excitement, +and after Glen had told his story for about the twentieth time, he +disappeared for a short while. When he returned he brought with him an +Indian boy, who limped painfully, and seemed very ill at ease in the +presence of so many strange pale-faces. + +"Who's your friend, Glen?" + +"Where are the rest of the ten little Injuns?" shouted the fellows as +they crowded about this new object of interest. + +When at length a partial quiet was restored, Glen begged them to listen +to him for a few minutes, as he had something to propose that he was +sure would interest them, and they shouted, + +"Fire away, old man, we are all listening!" + + + + +Chapter XXI. + +LAME WOLF, THE YOUNG CHEYENNE. + + +"Look here, fellows," said Glen, as he stood with one hand on the +shoulder of the young Indian, and facing his companions, who, attracted +by curiosity, were gathered to hear what he had to say. "This chap is a +Cheyenne, and is one of the three by whom I was captured; but he was +mighty kind, and did everything he could think of to make things easy +for me. So you see he is my friend, and now that he is in trouble, I am +bound to do what I can to help him. His name is Lame Wolf--" (here the +young Indian stood a little straighter, and his eyes flashed. He had +succeeded in having that name recognized as belonging to him, at any +rate), "and he's the son of a chief, and the only English word he knows +is 'How?' Captain Winn says that if he only had a chance he'd learn as +quick as any white boy, and I believe he'd learn a good deal quicker +than some--" At this point Glen became somewhat confused, and wondered +if Binney Gibbs had told how he had been dropped from his class. "He +says, I mean Captain Winn says, that the only thing for him to do out +here is to go on a reservation and become a worthless good-for-nothing, +and get killed. Now that seems a pretty poor sort of a chance for a +fellow that's been as good a friend to me as Lame Wolf has, and I want +you to help me give him a better one. + +"I want to send him back to my home in Brimfield, and let him live with +my folks a year or two, and be taught things the same as white boys, and +have the same chance they have. Captain Winn says he thinks he can fix +it with the folks at Washington about letting him go; but he don't know +where the money to pay his expenses is to come from. I didn't tell him, +because I thought I'd speak to you first; but I was pretty sure it would +come from this very party. I've only got five dollars in cash myself, +but I'll give that, and I'll save all I can out of my pay for it, too. +Now, what do you say, fellows? Shall Lame Wolf have a chance or not?" + +"Yes! yes! of course he shall! Hurrah for Lame Wolf! Hurrah for Glen's +little Injun! Give him a chance! Put me down for half a month's pay! And +me! and me!" shouted a dozen voices at once. + +"Billy" Brackett jumped up on a box, and, calling the meeting to order, +proposed that a committee of three be appointed, with Mr. Hobart as its +chairman, to receive subscriptions to the Lame Wolf Fund. +"All-in-favor-say-aye-contrary-mind-it-is-a-vote!" he shouted. Then +somebody else nominated him and Glen to be the other members, and they +were elected without a dissenting voice. + +While all this was going on the fellows were crowding about the young +Indian, eager to shake hands with him, and say, "How! Lame Wolf, old +boy! How!" + +All at once Glen found that the boy was leaning heavily on him, and +reproached himself for having allowed him to stand so long on his +wounded leg. He got his charge back to the guard-house as quickly as +possible, and then, leaving him to enjoy a quiet night's rest, hurried +back to camp. + +Here he found "Billy" Brackett presiding, with great dignity, over what +he was pleased to call the "subscription books." They consisted of a +single sheet of paper, fastened with thumb-tacks to a drawing-board that +was placed on top of a barrel in one of the tents. Mr. Hobart, who had +consented to serve on the committee, was also in the tent, and to him +were being handed the cash contributions to the Fund. + +Glen put his name down for five dollars a month, to be paid as long as +he should remain a member of the present expedition. Then he started for +his own tent to get the five dollars in cash that he had promised, out +of his valise. + +As he was hurrying back with it he was stopped by Binney Gibbs, who +thrust a bit of paper into his hand, saying, + +"I want you to take this check for your Indian, Glen. Father sent it to +me to buy a horse with, but I guess a mule is good enough for me, and so +the Indian chap can have it as well as not. You needn't say anything +about it." + +With this, Binney, who had spoken in a confused manner, hurried away +without giving Glen a chance to thank him. + +What had come over the boy? Glen had never known him to do a generous +thing before. He could not understand it. When he reached the tent, and +examined the check, his amazement was so great that he gave a long +whistle. + +"What is it, Glen? Give us a chance to whistle too," shouted "Billy" +Brackett. "Our natural curiosity needs to be checked as well as yours." + +"Binney Gibbs has contributed a hundred dollars," said Glen, slowly, as +though he could not quite believe his own words to be true. + +"Good for Grip! Bravo for Binney! Who would have thought it? He's a +trump, after all!" shouted "Billy" Brackett and the others who heard +this bit of news. + +Far beyond the tent, these shouts reached the ears of a solitary figure +that stood motionless and almost invisible in the night shadows. They +warmed his heart, and caused his cheeks to glow. It was a new sensation +to Binney Gibbs to be cheered and praised for an act of generosity. It +was a very pleasant one as well, and he wondered why he had never +experienced it before. + +The truth is that this rough life, in which every person he met was his +equal, if not his superior, was doing this boy more good than any one +had dared to predict that it would. Although he was a prize scholar, and +the son of a wealthy man, there were many in this exploring-party who +were far better scholars, and more wealthy than he. Yet even these were +often outranked in general estimation by fellows who had neither social +position, money, nor learning. At first Binney could not understand it. +Things were so different in Brimfield; though even there he remembered +that he had not been as popular among the other boys as Glen Eddy. Even +in this party, where Binney had expected to be such a shining light, the +other Brimfield boy was far better liked than he. For this Binney had +hated Glen, and declared he would get even with him. Then he began, +furtively, to watch him in the hope of discovering the secret of his +popularity. Finally it came to him, like a revelation, and he realized +for the first time in his life that, in man or boy, such things as +unselfishness, honesty, bravery, good-nature, generosity, and +cheerfulness, or any one of them, will do more towards securing the +regard, liking, and friendship of his fellows than all the wealth or +book-learning in the world. + +Perhaps if Glen had not been captured by the Cheyennes, Binney would not +have learned this most valuable lesson of his life as quickly as he did. +In the general grief over his schoolmate's disappearance, he heard his +character praised for one or another lovable trait, until at length the +secret of Glen's popularity was disclosed to him. Then, as he looked +back and recalled the incidents of their Brimfield life, he realized +what a manly, fearless, open-hearted boy this one, whom he had regarded +with contempt, because he was not a student, had been. Now that he was +gone, and, as he supposed, lost to him forever, Binney thought there was +nothing he would not give for a chance to recall the past and win the +friendship he had so contemptuously rejected. + +For two days these thoughts exercised so strong a sway on Binney's mind, +that when, on the third, Glen Eddy appeared before him as one risen from +the dead, their influence was not to be shaken off. Although he did not +know exactly how to begin, he was determined not only to win the +friendship of the boy whom he had for so long regarded as his rival, but +also to make every member of the party like him, if he possibly could. + +His first opportunity came that evening; but it was not until after a +long struggle with selfishness and envy that he resolved to contribute +that one-hundred-dollar check to the Lame Wolf Fund. He knew that he cut +an awkward figure on his mule, and imagined that a horse would not only +be much more elegant, but easier to ride. Then, too, Glen had such a +beautiful mare; beside her his wretched mule would appear to a greater +disadvantage than ever. He could buy as fine a pony as roamed the Plains +for a hundred dollars. Then, too, that was what his father had sent him +the money for. Had he a right to use it for any other purpose? To be +sure, Mr. Gibbs had not known of the mule, and supposed his son would be +obliged to go on foot if he did not buy a horse. + +So poor Binney argued with himself, and his old evil influences strove +against the new resolves. It is doubtful if the latter would have +conquered, had not the sight of Glen coming towards him brought a sudden +impulse to the aid of the resolves and decided the struggle in their +favor. + +Thus generosity won, but by so narrow a margin that Binney could not +stand being thanked for it, and so hurried away. But he heard the shouts +and cheers coupled with his name, and it seemed to him that he felt even +happier at that moment than when he stood on the platform of the +Brimfield High School and was told of the prize his scholarship had won. + +So the money was raised to redeem one young Cheyenne from the misery and +wickedness of a government Indian reservation; and, when the grand total +of cash and subscriptions was footed up, it was found to be very nearly +one thousand dollars. Glen was overjoyed at the result, and it is hard +to tell which boy was the happier, as he crept into his blankets that +night, he or Binney Gibbs. + + + + +Chapter XXII. + +GLEN AND BINNEY GET INTO TROUBLE. + + +The next day, when Glen announced the successful result of his efforts +to Captain Winn, that officer informed him that he expected to be +ordered East very shortly on special duty, when he would be willing to +take charge of the Indian boy, and deliver him to Mr. Matherson in +Brimfield. Nothing could have suited Glen's plans better; and he at once +wrote a long letter to his adopted father, telling him of all that had +happened, and begging him to receive the young Indian for his sake. He +also wrote to Mr. Meadows and asked him to announce the coming of the +stranger to the Brimfield boys. Then he hunted up the interpreter, and +went to the guard-house for a long talk with his captive friend. + +Lame Wolf was glad to see him, and at once asked what the white men had +talked of in their council of the evening before. Glen explained it all +as clearly as he knew how. The young Indian was greatly comforted to +learn that he was not to be put to death, but also seemed to think that +it would be nearly as bad to be sent far away from his own country and +people, to the land of the Pale-faces. In his ignorance he regarded the +place of his proposed exile much as we do the interior of Africa or the +North Pole, one only to be reached by a weary journey, that few ever +undertook, and fewer still returned from. + +He was somewhat cheered by Glen's promise to join him at the end of a +year, and that then, if he chose, he should certainly return to his own +people. Still, it was a very melancholy and forlorn young Indian who +shook hands, for the last time, with the white boy at sunrise the next +morning, and said, "How, Glen," in answer to the other's cheery +"Good-by, Lame Wolf. Take care of yourself, and I hope you will be able +to talk English the next time I see you." + +Then, after bidding good-bye to the Winns and his other friends of the +post, the boy sprang on Nettle's back and dashed after the wagon-train +that was just disappearing over a roll of the prairie to the westward. + +All that morning Glen's attention was claimed by Mr. Hobart, or "Billy" +Brackett, or somebody else, who wished to learn more of the details of +his recent experience; but late in the afternoon he found himself riding +beside Binney Gibbs. For the first time in their lives the two boys held +a long and earnest conversation. From it each learned of good qualities +in the other that he had never before suspected; and by it a long step +was taken towards the cementing of a friendship between them. + +So engaged were they in this talk, that the animals they were riding +were allowed insensibly to slacken their pace, until they had fallen a +considerable distance behind the train. They even stopped to snatch an +occasional mouthful of grass from the wayside, without opposition on the +part of their young riders. These knew that, whenever they chose, a +sharp gallop of a minute or two would place them alongside of the +wagons, and so they carelessly permitted the distance between them and +the train to become much greater than it should have been. + +Suddenly a dazzling ray of light flashed, for the fraction of a second, +full in Glen's eyes, causing him to start, as though a pistol had been +fired close beside him. He glanced hurriedly about. Not a wagon was in +sight; but he knew the train must be just over the rise of ground he and +Binney were ascending. At that same moment the mule threw up its head +and sniffed the air uneasily. Glen's second glance was behind him, and +it revealed a sight that, for an instant, stopped the beating of his +heart. The whole country seemed alive with Indians. + +Half a mile in the rear, hundreds of them, in a dense body, were +advancing at the full speed of their ponies. A small party, evidently of +scouts, were coming down the slope of a divide at one side, in the +direction of the mirror-flash that had first attracted his attention. +But the worst danger of all lay in two fierce-looking warriors who had +advanced upon the boys so silently and rapidly that they were already +within bow-shot. + +Fortunately, Glen was close beside his companion. With a quick movement +he grasped Binney by the collar and jerked him to one side, so that he +very nearly fell off his mule. At the same instant the two arrows, that +he had seen fitted to their bowstrings, whizzed harmlessly over the +boys' heads. As Nettle and the mule sprang away up the slope, several +rifle-balls, from the little party of Indians on the right, whistled +past them; while from behind them rose a howl of mingled rage and +disappointment. The first two Indians had used the noiseless arrows, in +the hope of killing the boys without betraying their presence to the +rest of the party, as the moment for the grand charge, that they hoped +would be such a complete and overwhelming surprise, had not yet arrived. +Now that they had failed in this, there was no longer any need for +caution, and they fired shot after shot from their rifles after the +fugitives. + +Glen had seen the Cheyennes dodge from side to side, as they rode away +from the stage-ranch three days before, to disconcert the aim of its +defenders; and now he and Binney employed the same device. + +Nettle was so much fleeter than the mule that Glen could have gained the +top of the slope in advance of his companion if he had so chosen; but he +rather chose to be a little behind him at this point. So, instead of +urging the mare to do her best, he faced about in his saddle and +returned the rifle-shots of the two Indians who were nearest, until his +magazine was emptied. It is not likely that any of his shots took +effect; but they certainly weakened the ardor of the pursuit, and gave +Binney Gibbs a chance to cross the ridge in safety, which he probably +could not have done had not Glen held those Indians in momentary check. + +With his last shot expended, and no chance to reload, it was evidently +high time for Glen to test the speed of his mare to its utmost. His life +depended wholly on her now, and he knew it. There would be no taking of +prisoners this time. Even at this critical moment he reflected grimly, +and with a certain satisfaction, upon the difficulty the Indians would +find in getting a scalp off of his shaven head. + +All this riding and shooting and thinking had been done so rapidly that +it was not two minutes from the time of that first tell-tale +mirror-flash before Nettle had borne her rider to the top of the ridge, +and he could see the wagon-train, not a quarter of a mile from him. + +Binney Gibbs was already half-way to it; and, as Glen caught sight of +him, he was amazed at a most extraordinary performance. Binney suddenly +flew from his saddle, not over his mule's head, as though the animal had +flung him, but sideways, as though he had jumped. Whether he left the +saddle of his own accord or was flung from it the effect was the same; +and the next instant he was sprawling at full length on the soft grass, +while the mule, relieved of his weight, was making better time than ever +towards the wagons. + +Glen had left the trail, thinking to cut off a little distance by so +doing; and, a few moments after Binney's leap into the air, he performed +almost the same act. On his part it was entirely involuntary, and was +caused by one of Nettle's fore-feet sinking into a gopher burrow that +was invisible and not to be avoided. + +As horse and boy rolled over together, a cry of dismay came from one +side, and a wild yell of exultation from the other. + + + + +Chapter XXIII. + +FIGHTING THE FINEST HORSEMEN IN THE WORLD. + + +It did not take many seconds for both Glen and Nettle to scramble to +their feet after the tremendous header caused by the gopher-hole. Badly +shaken though he was, the boy managed to regain his saddle more quickly +than he had ever done before. But seconds are seconds; and, in so close +a race for the most valuable of all earthly prizes, each one might be +worth a minute, an hour, or even a lifetime. Glen had not more than +regained his seat, before the foremost of his pursuers, who had far +outstripped the other, was upon him. With an empty rifle, Glen had not +the faintest hope of escape this time, though Nettle sprang bravely +forward. He involuntarily cringed from the expected blow, for he had +caught a fleeting glimpse of an uplifted tomahawk; but it did not come. +Instead of it, he heard a crash, and turned in time to see the Indian +pony and its rider pitch headlong, as he and Nettle had done a minute +before. They were almost beside him; and, as he dashed away, he was +conscious of wondering if they too had fallen victims to an unseen +gopher-hole. + +He had not noticed the figure running to meet him, nor heard one of the +shots it was firing so wildly as it ran. If he had he might have +realized that his salvation had not depended on a gopher-hole, but on +one of those random shots from Binney Gibbs's rifle. By the merest +chance, for it was fired without aim and almost without direction, it +had pierced the brain of the Indian pony, and decided that race in favor +of Glen. + +When, to Glen's great surprise, the two boys met, he sprang from +Nettle's back and insisted that Binney should take his place, which the +other resolutely refused to do. So Glen simply tossed the bridle rein +into Binney's hand, and started off on a full run. In a moment Nettle, +with Binney on her back, had overtaken him, and the generous dispute +might have been resumed had not a party of mounted men from the +wagon-train just then dashed up and surrounded the boys. They were +headed by "Billy" Brackett, who cried out, + +"Well, you're a pretty pair of babes in the woods, aren't you? And +you've been having lots of fun at the expense of our anxiety! But jump +up behind me, Glen, quick, for I believe every wild Injun of the Plains +is coming down that hill after us at this moment." + +Just before the first shots were heard, some anxiety had been felt in +the train concerning the boys who had lagged behind, and "Billy" +Brackett had already asked if he had not better look them up. Then, as +the sound of firing came over the ridge, and the boys were known to have +got into some sort of trouble, he rode back at full speed, followed by a +dozen of the men. All were equally ready to go, but the rest were +ordered to remain behind for the protection of the train. Then the +wagons were quickly drawn up in double line, and the spare stock was +driven in between them. + +These arrangements were hardly completed before "Billy" Brackett and his +party, with the two rescued boys, came flying back, pursued by the +entire body of Indians. As the former gained the wagons they faced +about, and, with a rattling volley, checked for an instant the further +advance of the dusky pony riders. + +But those Cheyennes and Arrapahoes and Kiowas and Comanches were not +going to let so rich a prize as this wagon-train and all those scalps +escape them without at least making a bold try for it. If they could +only force the train to go into corral, while it was a mile away from +the nearest stream, they would have taken a long step towards its +capture. + +So they divided into two bands; and, circling around, came swooping down +on the train from both sides at once. The Plains Indians are the finest +horsemen in the world, and their everyday feats of daring in the saddle +would render the performance of the best circus-riders tame by +comparison. Now, as the two parties swept obliquely on towards the +motionless wagons, with well-ordered ranks, tossing arms, waving plumes +and fringes, gaudy with vivid colors, yelling like demons, and sitting +their steeds like centaurs, they presented a picture of savage warfare +at once brilliant and terrible. + +At the flash of the white men's rifles every Indian disappeared as +though shot, and the next moment their answering shower of bullets and +arrows came from under their horses' necks. The headlong speed was not +checked for an instant; but after delivering their volley they circled +off beyond rifle-shot for a breathing-spell. + +As they did so, the wagon-train moved ahead. A few mules had been killed +and more wounded by the Indian volley; but their places were quickly +filled from the spare stock. By the time the Indians were ready for +their second charge, the train was several hundred yards nearer the +coveted water than before. + +Again they halted. Again the young engineers, inwardly trembling with +excitement, but outwardly as firm as rocks, took their places under and +behind the wagons, with their shining rifle-barrels steadily pointed +outward. Some of them had been soldiers, while others had encountered +Indians before; but to most of them this was the first battle of any +kind they had ever seen. But they all knew what their fate would be if +overpowered, and they had no idea of letting these Indians get any +nearer than within good rifle-shot. + +"If you can't see an Indian, aim at the horses!" shouted General Lyle, +from his position on horseback midway between the two lines of wagons. +"Don't a man of you fire until I give the word, and then give them as +many shots as possible while they are within range." + +The chief had not the remotest thought of allowing his train to be +captured, nor yet of being compelled to corral it before he was ready to +do so. + +The second charge of the Indians was even bolder than the first, and +they were allowed to come much nearer before the order to fire was +given. The same manoeuvres were repeated as before. One white man, a +member of Mr. Hobart's division, was killed outright, and two others +were wounded. More mules were killed than before, and more were injured; +but still the train moved ahead, and this time its defenders could see +the sparkle of water in the river they longed so ardently to reach. How +thirsty they were getting, and what dry work fighting was! The wagon +mules sniffed the water eagerly, and could hardly be restrained from +rushing towards it. + +But another charge must be repelled first. This time it was so fierce +that the Indians rode straight on in the face of the first and second +volleys from the engineers' rifles. When the third, delivered at less +than two rods' distance, finally shattered their ranks, and sent them +flying across the level bottom-land, they left a dozen wagon mules +transfixed with their lances. + +The Indians left many a pony behind them when they retreated from that +charge; but in every case their riders, killed, wounded, or unhurt, were +borne off by the others, so that no estimate of their loss could be +formed. + +Before another charge could be made, the wagons had been rushed forward, +with their mules on a full gallop, to a point so close to the river-bank +that there was no longer any danger of being cut off from it. Here they +were corralled, and chained together in such a manner as to present an +almost impregnable front to the Indians. At least it was one that those +who viewed it, with feelings of bitter disappointment, from a safe +distance, did not care to attack. After they had noted the disposition +of the train, and satisfied themselves that it was established in that +place for the night, they disappeared so completely that no trace of +them was to be seen, and the explorers were left to take an account of +the losses they had sustained in this brief but fierce encounter. + +Only one man killed! What a comfort it was that no more had shared his +fate, and yet how sad that even this one should be taken from their +number! Glen had known him well; for he was one of those merry young +Kansas City surveyors, one of the "bald heads," as they were known in +the party. An hour before he had been one of the jolliest among them. He +was one of those who had gone out so cheerfully with "Billy" Brackett to +the rescue of the boys. He had been instantly killed while bravely doing +his duty, and had suffered no pain. They had that consolation as they +talked of him in low, awed tones. His body could not be sent home. It +could not be carried with them. So they buried him in a grave dug just +inside the line of wagons. + +The last level beams of the setting sun streamed full on the spot as the +chief-engineer read the solemn burial service, and each member of the +expedition, stepping forward with uncovered head, dropped a handful of +earth into the open grave. Then it was filled, and its mound was beaten +to the level of the surrounding surface. After that, mules and horses +were led back and forth over it, until there was no longer any chance of +its recognition, or disturbance by Indians or prowling beasts. + +None of the wounded suffered from severe injuries; and, though the +bodies of the wagons were splintered in many places, and their canvas +covers gaped with rents, no damage had been sustained that could not be +repaired. + + + + +Chapter XXIV. + +CROSSING THE QUICKSANDS. + + +As soon as Glen found a chance to talk to Binney Gibbs he asked him how +his mule happened to throw him in such a peculiar fashion. + +"He didn't throw me," answered Binney, with a look of surprise; "I +jumped off." + +"What on earth did you do that for?" + +"Because he was running away, and I couldn't stop him. I saw that your +pony couldn't keep up with him, and, of course, I wasn't going to leave +you behind to fight all those Indians alone. So I got off the only way I +could think of, and started back to help you. It was mighty lucky I did, +too. Don't you think so?" + +"Indeed I do!" answered Glen, heartily, though at the same time he could +not help smiling at the idea of Nettle not being able to keep up with +Binney's mule. He would not for the world, though, have belittled the +other's brave act by saying that he had purposely remained behind to +cover his companion's flight. He only said, "Indeed I do, and it was one +of the finest things I ever heard of, Binney. I shall always remember +it, and always be grateful for it. You made a splendid shot, too, and I +owe my life to it; for that Indian was just lifting his hatchet over my +head when you rolled him over. I tell you it was a mighty plucky thing +for anybody to do, especially--" Glen was about to say, "especially for +a fellow who has never been considered very brave;" but he checked +himself in time, and substituted, "for a fellow who never had any +experience with Indians before." + +Binney knew well enough, though, that the Brimfield boys had always +thought him a coward; for they had never hesitated to tell him so. Now, +to be praised for bravery, and that by the bravest boy he had ever +known, was a new and very pleasant sensation. It was even better than to +be called generous, and he mentally vowed, then and there, never again +to forfeit this newly gained reputation. + +There is nothing that will so stimulate a boy or girl to renewed efforts +as a certain amount of praise where it is really deserved. Too much +praise is flattery; and praise that is not deserved is as bad as unjust +censure. + +While the boys were thus talking they received word that General Lyle +wished to see them. They found him sitting, with Mr. Hobart, in an +ambulance; for it had been ordered that no tents should be pitched in +that camp. When they stood before the chief-engineer he said, kindly: + +"Boys, I want both to reprimand and thank you. I am surprised that you +should have so disobeyed my positive orders as to lose sight of the +train when on a march through an Indian country. This applies to you, +Matherson, more than to your companion; for your late experience should +have taught you better. I trust that my speaking to you now will prevent +any repetition of such disobedience. Your carelessness of this afternoon +might have cost many precious lives, including your own. That is all of +the reprimand. The thanks I wish to express are for your timely warning +of the presence of Indians, and for the individual bravery displayed by +both of you during our encounter with them. That is all I have to say +this time, and I hope next time the reprimand may be omitted." + +As the two boys, feeling both ashamed and pleased, bowed and took their +departure, the chief, turning to his companion, said: "They are fine +young fellows, Hobart, and I congratulate you on having them in your +division. Now let us decide on our plans for to-night." + +This last remark referred to the decision General Lyle had formed of +placing the river between his party and the Indians before daylight. He +knew that the Indians of the Plains, like all others of their race, are +extremely averse to undertaking anything of importance in the dark. He +also knew that their favorite time for making an attack is when they can +catch their enemy at a disadvantage, as would be the case while his +wagons were crossing the river and his men and animals were struggling +with its probable quicksands. Another serious consideration was that, +during the summer season, all the rivers of the Plains are liable to +sudden and tremendous freshets, that often render them impassable for +days. Thus it was unwise to linger on the near bank of one that was +fordable a moment longer than necessary. He had, therefore, decided to +make the crossing of this stream that night, as quietly as possible, and +as soon as darkness had set in. For this reason none of the baggage, +except the mess-chests and a sack of corn, had been taken from the +wagons, so that a start could be made at a few minutes' notice. + +With the last of the lingering daylight the chief, accompanied by Mr. +Hobart and the wagon-master, crossed the river on horseback, to discover +its depth, the character of its bottom, the nature of the opposite bank, +and to locate a camping-ground on its farther side. They found the water +to be but a few inches deep, except in one narrow channel, where it had +a depth of about three feet. They also found the bottom to be of that +most treacherous of quicksands which is so hard that a thousand-pound +hammer cannot force a post into it, yet into which that same post would +slowly sink of its own weight until lost to sight, and held with such +terrible tenacity that nothing short of a steam-engine could pull it +out. Such a quicksand as this is not dangerous to the man or animal who +keeps his feet in constant motion while crossing it, but woe to him if +he neglects this precaution for a single minute. In that case, unless +help reaches him, he is as surely lost as though clasped in the +relentless embrace of a tiger. + +The only place on the opposite bank where teams could emerge from the +water was very narrow, and a team striking below it in the dark would +almost certainly be lost. Thus the problem of a safe crossing at night +became a difficult one. It would be unsafe to build fires or use +lanterns, as these would surely draw the attention, and probably the +bullets, of the Indians. + +Finally the plan was adopted of stretching a rope across the river, from +bank to bank, on the lower side of the ford, with a line of men +stationed along its entire length, so that no team could get below it. +These were charged, as they valued their lives, to keep their feet in +constant motion, and on no account to let go of the rope. + +First the ambulances were put across. Then the spare stock and +saddle-animals were led over, and securely fastened. Six spare mules, +harnessed and attached to a loose rope, were held in readiness, on the +farther bank, to assist any team that might get stalled in the river. +Then, one by one, the heavily laden wagons began to cross, with two men +leading each team. There was little difficulty except at the channel, +where the mules were apt to be frightened at the sudden plunge into +deeper water. + +A mule hates the dark almost as much as an Indian; he dislikes to work +in water, and above all he dreads miry places or quicksands, for which +his small, sharp hoofs are peculiarly unfitted. He is easily +panic-stricken, and is then wholly unmanageable. A team of mules, +finding themselves stalled in a stream, will become frantic with terror. +They utter agonized cries, attempt to clamber on one another's back, and +frequently drown themselves before they can be cut loose from the traces +and allowed to escape. + +In spite of all the difficulties to be overcome, the wagons were got +safely over, until only one remained, and it had started on its perilous +journey. Those members of the party who stood in the water holding the +rope were becoming thoroughly chilled, as well as wearied by the +treadmill exercise necessary to keep their feet from sinking in the +quicksand. Thus, though they still stuck manfully to their posts, they +were thankful enough that this was the last wagon, and noted the sound +of its progress with eager interest. They were all volunteers, for +nobody had been ordered to remain in the river, and this fact added to +the strength of purpose with which they maintained their uncomfortable +positions. + +Among them were Glen Eddy and Binney Gibbs, who, when volunteers were +called for to perform this duty, had rushed into the river among the +first. Now they stood, side by side, near the middle of the stream, and +close to the edge of the channel. They rejoiced to see the dim bulk of +the last wagon looming out of the darkness, and to know that their weary +task was nearly ended. + +The mules of this team were unusually nervous, splashing more than any +of the others had done, and snorting loudly. The rope had been cast +loose from the bank the party had so recently quitted, and all those who +had upheld it beyond Glen and Binney had passed by them on their way to +the other side. They, too, would be relieved from duty as soon as the +team crossed the channel. + +But there seemed to be some difficulty about persuading the mules to +cross it. As the leaders felt the water growing deeper and the sandy +bank giving way beneath them, they sprang back in terror, and threw the +whole team into confusion. The wagon came to a standstill, and everybody +in the vicinity realized its danger. The driver, feeling that the need +for silence and caution was past, began to shout at his mules, and the +reports of his blacksnake whip rang out like pistol-shots. + +In the excitement of the moment nobody noticed or paid any attention to +a gleaming line of white froth that came creeping down the river, +stretching from bank to bank like a newly formed snow-drift. Suddenly a +rifle-shot rang out from the bank they had left, then another, and then +a dozen at once. The Indians had discovered their flight, and were +firing angrily in the direction of the sounds in the river. The teamster +sprang from his saddle, and, cutting the traces of his mules, started +them towards the shore, leaving the wagon to its fate. + +"It's time we were off, too, old man," said Glen, as he started to +follow the team. + +"I can't move, Glen! Oh, help me! I'm sinking!" screamed Binney, in a +tone of inexpressible anguish. + +Glen dropped the rope, and sprang to his companion's assistance. + +At the same instant there came a great shout from the bank, "Hurry up, +there's a freshet coming! Hurry! Hurry, or you'll be swept away!" + +With both arms about Binney, Glen was straining every nerve of his +muscular young body to tear his friend loose from the grasp of the +terror that held him. He could not; but a wall of black water four feet +high, that came rushing down on them with an angry roar, was mightier +even than the quicksand, and, seizing both the boys in its irresistible +embrace, it wrenched them loose and overwhelmed them. + + + + +Chapter XXV. + +SWEPT AWAY BY A FRESHET. + + +The rush of waters that wrenched Binney Gibbs loose from the grasp of +the quicksand which had seized him as he remained motionless for a +minute, forgetful of his own danger in the excitement caused by that of +the team, also flung the rope they had been holding against Glen Eddy. +He held to it desperately with one hand, while, with the other arm about +his companion, he prevented him from being swept away. As the mad waters +dashed the boys from their feet and closed over them, it seemed as +though Glen's arms must be torn from their sockets, and he would have +had to let go had not Binney also succeeded in grasping the rope so that +the great strain was somewhat relieved. Gasping for breath, they both +rose to the surface. + +A huge white object was bearing directly down on them. They could not +avoid it. Glen was the first to recognize its nature. "It's the wagon!" +he shouted. "Grab hold of it, and hang on for your life!" + +Then it struck them and tore loose their hold of the rope. They both +managed to clutch it, though Binney's slight strength was so nearly +exhausted that, but for Glen, he must speedily have let go and sunk +again beneath the foam-flecked waters. Now the other's sturdy frame and +athletic training came splendidly to his aid. Obtaining a firm foothold +in the flooded wagon, he pulled Binney up to him by the sheer strength +of his muscular young arms. For a moment they stood together panting for +breath, and the weaker boy clinging to the stronger. + +But the water was still rising; and, as the heavily laden wagon could +not float, it seemed likely to be totally submerged. "It's no use, Glen. +We'll be drowned, anyhow," said Binney, despairingly. + +"Oh, no, we won't. Not just yet, anyway," answered the other, trying to +sustain his companion's spirits by speaking hopefully. "We can get out +of the water entirely, by climbing up on top of the cover, and I guess +it will bear us." + +It was a suggestion worth trying; and, though the undertaking was +perilous and difficult in the extreme, under the circumstances, they +finally succeeded in accomplishing it, and found themselves perched on +the slippery, sagging surface of the canvas cover, that, supported by +stout ash bows, was stretched above the wagon. + +All this time their strange craft, though not floating, was borne slowly +but steadily down stream by the force of the current. Every now and then +it seemed as though about to capsize; and, had it been empty, it must +certainly have done so; but its heavy load, acting like ballast in a +boat, kept it upright. It headed in all directions, and at times, when +its wheels could revolve on the bottom of the river, it moved steadily +and rapidly. It was when it got turned broadside to the current that the +two shivering figures, clutching at their uncertain support, became most +apprehensive, and expected it to be overturned by the great pressure +brought to bear against it. + +[Illustration: "THE STRANGE CRAFT WAS BORNE SLOWLY DOWN STREAM."] + +How slowly the minutes and hours dragged by! It was about midnight when +the freshet struck them and they started on this most extraordinary +voyage; but from that time until they saw the first streaks of rosy +light in the east seemed an eternity. + +More than once during the night the wagon brought up against some +obstruction, and remained motionless for longer or shorter intervals of +time; but it had always been forced ahead again, and made to resume its +uncertain wanderings. + +Now, as the welcome daylight crept slowly over the scene, it found the +strange ark, with its two occupants, again stranded, and this time +immovably so. At length Glen exclaimed, joyfully: "There's the western +bank, the very one we want to reach, close to us. I believe we can swim +to it, as easy as not." + +"But I can't swim, you know," replied Binney, dolefully. + +"That's so; I forgot," said Glen, in a dismayed tone. "But look," he +added, and again there was a hopeful ring to his voice, "there are the +tops of some bushes between us and it. The water can't be very deep +there. Perhaps we can touch bottom, and you can wade if you can't swim. +I'm going over there and take soundings." + +Binney dreaded being left alone, and was about to beg his companion not +to desert him, but the words were checked on his lips by the thought of +the reputation he had to sustain. So, as Glen pulled off his wet +clothing, he said, "All right, only be very careful and don't go too +far, for I think I would rather drown with you than be left here all +alone." + +"Never fear!" cried Glen; "swimming is about the one thing I can do. So, +here goes!" + +He had climbed down, and stood on the edge of the submerged wagon body +as he spoke. Now he sprang far out in the yellow waters, and the next +moment was making his way easily through them towards the bushes. The +swift current carried him down-stream; but at length he caught one of +them, and, letting his feet sink, touched bottom in water up to his +neck. + +"It's all right!" he shouted back to Binney. Pulling himself along from +one bit of willow to another, he waded towards the bank until the water +was not more than up to his waist. Then he made his way up-stream until +he was some distance above the place where the wagon was stranded, and, +two minutes later, he had waded and swum back to it. + +Binney had watched every movement anxiously, and now he said, "That's +all well enough for you; but I don't see how I am going to get there." + +"By resting your hands on my shoulders and letting me swim with you till +you can touch bottom, of course," answered Glen. + +He could not realize Binney's dread of the water, nor what a struggle +against his natural timidity took place in the boy's mind before he +answered, "Very well, if you say so, Glen, I'll trust you." + +While he was laying aside his water-soaked clothing and preparing for +the dreaded undertaking, Glen suddenly uttered an exclamation of dismay. +He had spied several horsemen riding along the river-bank towards them. +Were they white men or Indians? Did their coming mean life or death? + +"I'm afraid they are Indians," said Glen; "for our camp must be ten +miles off." + +Binney agreed with him that they must have come at least that distance +during the night, and the boys watched the oncoming horsemen with heavy +hearts. + +"I'd rather drown than let them get me again," said Glen. + +But Binney had not had the other's experience with Indians, and to him +nothing could be more terrible than water. + +Long and earnestly they watched, filled with alternate hopes and fears. +The riders seemed to move very slowly. All at once, Glen uttered a shout +of joy. "They are white men!" he cried. "I can see their hats;" and, +seizing his wet shirt, he began to wave it frantically above his head. + +That his signal was seen was announced by a distant cheer, and several +shots fired in quick succession. A few minutes later, six white men +reined in their horses on the bank, just abreast the wagon. They were +hardly able to credit their eyes as they recognized, in the two naked +figures clinging to it, those whom they had been so certain were long +ago drowned, and for whose bodies they were searching. As they hurriedly +consulted concerning how best to effect a rescue, they were amazed to +see both boys clamber down from their perch, and drop into the turbid +waters, one after the other. When they realized that Glen and Binney +were swimming, and trying in this way to reach the shore, they forced +their horses down the steep bank and dashed into the shallow overflow of +the bottom-land to meet them. + +At that moment Binney Gibbs, by trusting himself so implicitly to Glen's +strength and skill, in an element where he was so utterly helpless, was +displaying a greater courage than where, acting under impulse, he sprang +from his mule the day before, and ran back to fight Indians. The bravest +deeds are always those that are performed deliberately and after a +careful consideration of their possible consequences. + +As "Billy" Brackett, who was the first to reach the boys, relieved Glen +of his burden, he exclaimed, + +"Well, if I had the luck of you fellows I'd change my name to Vanderbilt +and run for Congress! We were sure you were gone up this time, and the +best I hoped for was to find your bodies. Instead of that, here you are, +hardly out of sight of camp, perched on the top of a wagon, as chipper +as a couple of sparrows after a rainstorm." + +"Where is camp?" inquired Glen, who was now wading easily along beside +the other's horse. + +"Just around that farther bend, up there." + +"What made it come so far down the river, and off the road?" + +"It hasn't. It's right at the ford, where we crossed last night." + +"But I thought that was at least ten miles from here." + +"Ten miles! Why, my son, you must have imagined you were travelling on a +four-wheeled steamboat all night, instead of an old water-logged prairie +schooner. We are not, at this minute, quite a mile from the place where +you started on your cruise." + +It was hard for the boys to realize the truth of this statement; but so +it was; and, during those tedious hours of darkness they had only +travelled rods instead of miles, as they had fancied. + +After the short delay necessary to recover the boys' clothing from the +wagon, they were triumphantly borne back to camp by the rescuing-party. +There the enthusiasm with which they were received was only equalled by +the amazement of those who crowded about them and listened to the +account of their adventure. + +By means of a double team of mules, and some stout ropes, even the wagon +on which they had made their curious voyage was recovered, and found to +be still serviceable, though the greater part of its load was ruined. + +The river was still an impassable stream, as wide as the Mississippi at +St. Louis, and was many feet deep over the place, on its farther side, +where they had camped at sunset. Thus there was no danger of another +attack from Indians. Two hours after sunrise the explorers were again +wending their way westward, rejoicing over their double escape, and over +the recovery of the two members who had been given up as lost. + + + + +Chapter XXVI. + +RUNNING THE LINE. + + +After this day and night, crowded so full of incident, four days of +steady travel brought General Lyle's expedition to a point close to the +boundary-line between Kansas and Colorado, where their surveys were to +begin. The last hundred miles of their journey had been through a region +studded with curious masses of sandstone. These were scattered far and +wide over the Plains, and rose to a height of from one hundred to three +hundred feet, resembling towers, monuments, castles, and ruins of every +description. It was hard to believe that many of them were not the work +of human hands; and to Glen and Binney they formed an inexhaustible +subject for wonder and speculation. + +They were now more than three thousand feet above the sea-level; the +soil became poorer with every mile; there were fewer streams, and along +those that did exist timber was almost unknown. + +The first line of survey was to be a hard one; for it was to run through +the very worst of this country--from the Smoky Hill to the Arkansas, a +region hitherto unexplored, and known only to the few buffalo hunters +who had crossed it at long intervals. The distance was supposed to be +about seventy miles, and there was said to be no water along the entire +route. But both a transit and a level line must be run over this barren +region, and the distance must be carefully measured. A good day's work +for a surveying-party, engaged in running a first, or preliminary, line +in an open country, is eight or ten miles; and, at this rate, the +distance between the Smoky Hill and the Arkansas rivers could be covered +in a week. But a week without water was out of the question, and General +Lyle determined to do it in three days. + +On the night before beginning this remarkable survey, every canteen and +bottle that could be found was filled with water, as were several casks. +Everybody drank as much as he could in the morning, and all the animals +were watered the very last thing. Everything was packed and ready for a +start by daylight, and long before sunrise the working-party was in the +field. The first division was to run the first two miles. Its transit +was set up over the last stake of the old survey that had been ended at +that point, and the telescope was pointed in the direction of the course +now to be taken. The division engineer, with his front flagman, had +already galloped half a mile away across the plain. There they halted, +and the gayly painted staff, with its fluttering red pennon, was held +upright. Then it was moved to the right or left, as the transit-man, +peering through his telescope, waved his right or left arm. Finally, he +waved both at a time, and the front flag was thrust into the ground. It +was on line. + +Now the head chainman starts off on a run, with his eyes fixed on the +distant flag, and dragging a hundred feet of glistening steel-links +behind him. "Stick!" shouts the rear chainman, who stands beside the +transit, as he grasps the end of the chain and pulls it taut. "Stuck!" +answers the man in front, thrusting one of the steel pins that he +carries in his hand into the ground. Then he runs on, and the rear +chainman runs after him, but just a hundred feet behind. + +Two axemen, one with a bundle of marked stakes in his arms, and the +other carrying an axe with which to drive them, follow the chain +closely. At the end of each five hundred feet they drive a stake. If +stakes were not so scarce in this country, they would set one at the end +of every hundred feet. It does not make much difference; for these +stakes will not remain standing very long anyhow. The buffalo will soon +pull them up, by rubbing and scratching their heads against them. At the +end of every half-mile, a mound of earth--or stones, if they can be +found--is thrown up; and these the Indians will level whenever they come +across them. Perhaps some of them will be left, though. + +While the chainmen are measuring the distance to that front flag, and +the axemen are driving stakes and throwing up mounds, the transit-man, +mounted on a steady-going mule, with the transit on his shoulder, is +galloping ahead to where the front flag awaits him. Only the back +flagman is left standing at the place from which the first sight was +taken. + +The front flagman thrust a small stake in the ground, drove a tack in +its centre, and held his flag on it before he waved the transit-man up. +Now the transit is set over this stake so that the centre of the +instrument is directly over the tack; and while it is being made ready +the front flag is again galloping away over the rolling prairie, far in +advance of the rest of the party. + +The transit-man first looks through his telescope at the back flag, now +far behind him, and waves to him to come on. Then the telescope is +reversed, and he is ready to wave the front flag into line as soon as he +stops. + +The leveller, with two rodmen, all well mounted, follow behind the +transit-party, noting, by means of their instruments, the elevation +above sea-level of every stake that is driven. + +So the work goes on with marvellous rapidity--every man and horse and +mule on a run until two miles have been chained and it is time for the +breathless first division to have a rest. + +Mr. Hobart has watched their work carefully. He has also made some +changes in his force, and is going to see what sort of a front flagman +Glen Eddy will make. This is because Nettle has proved herself the +fleetest pony in the whole outfit. + +"Two miles in fifty-two minutes!" shouts Mr. Hobart to his men, as the +stake that marks the end of ten thousand five hundred and sixty feet is +driven. "Boys, we must do better than that." + +"Ay, ay, sir! We will!" shout the "bald heads," as they spring to the +places the first-division men are just leaving. + +Mr. Hobart, Glen, and a mounted axeman are already galloping to the +front. They dash across a shallow valley, lying between two great swells +of the prairie, and mount the gentle slope on its farther side, a mile +away. It is a long transit sight; but "Billy" Brackett can take it. + +The boy who rides beside the division engineer is very proud of his new +position, and sits his spirited mare like a young lancer. The slender, +steel-shod, red-and-white staff of his flag-pole, bearing its gay +pennon, that Glen has cut a little longer than the others, and nicked +with a swallow-tail, looks not unlike a lance. As the cool morning air +whistles past him, the boy's blood tingles, his eyes sparkle, and he +wonders if there can be any more fascinating business in the world than +surveying and learning to become an engineer. He thinks of the mill and +the store with scorn. It beats them away out of sight, anyhow. + +As they reach the crest of the divide, from which they can see far away +on all sides, Mr. Hobart, using his field-glass to watch the movements +of "Billy" Brackett's arms, directs Glen where to place his flag. +"Right--more--more--away over to the right--there--steady! Left, a +little--steady--so! Drive a stake there! Now hold your flag on it! A +trifle to the right--that's good! Drive the tack! Move him up--all +right, he's coming!" Then, leaving the axeman to point out the stake, +just driven, to the transit-man, the engineer and his young flagman +again dash forward. + +"Two miles in thirty-eight minutes! That is quick work! I congratulate +you and your division, Mr. Hobart." So said the chief-engineer as the +men of the second division, dripping with perspiration, completed their +first run, and, turning the work over to those of the third, took their +vacant places in the wagon that followed the line. + +The morning sun was already glowing with heat, and by noon its +perpendicular rays were scorching the arid plain with relentless fury. +Men and animals alike drooped beneath it, but there was no pause in the +work. It must be rushed through in spite of everything. About noon they +passed a large buffalo wallow, half filled with stagnant water, that the +animals drank eagerly. + +That evening, when it was too dark to distinguish the cross-hairs in the +instruments, the weary engineers knocked off work, with a +twenty-one-mile survey to their credit. They were too tired to pitch +tents that night, but spread their blankets anywhere, and fell asleep +almost as soon as they had eaten supper. There was no water, no wood, +and only a scanty supply of sun-dried grass. It was a dry camp. + +The next day was a repetition of the first. The tired animals, suffering +from both hunger and thirst, dragged the heavy wagons wearily over the +long undulations of the sun-baked plain. Occasionally they crossed dry +water-courses; but at sunset they had not found a drop of the precious +fluid, and another dry camp was promised for that night. + +As the men of the second division drove the last stake of another +twenty-one-mile run, and, leaving the line, moved slowly in the +direction of camp, the mule ridden by Binney Gibbs suddenly threw up its +head, sniffed the air, and, without regard to his rider's efforts to +control him, started off on a run. + +"Stop us! We are running away!" shouted Binney; and, without hesitation, +Glen gave spurs to Nettle and dashed away in pursuit. + +"What scrape are those young scatter-brains going to get into now?" +growled Mr. Hobart. + +"I don't know," answered "Billy" Brackett; "but whatever it is they will +come out of it all right, covered with mud and glory. I suppose I might +as well begin to organize the rescuing-party, though." + + + + +Chapter XXVII. + +"COVERED WITH MUD AND GLORY." + + +As "Billy" Brackett predicted they would, the two boys did return to +camp in about fifteen minutes, covered with mud and glory. At least +Binney Gibbs was covered with mud, and they brought the glorious news +that there were several large though shallow pools of water not more +than half a mile away. Binney's mule having scented it, there was no +stopping him until he had rushed to it, and, as usual, flung his rider +over his head into the very middle of one of the shallow ponds. Glen had +reached the place just in time to witness this catastrophe, and to roar +with laughter at the comical sight presented by his companion, as the +latter waded ruefully from the pond, dripping mud and water from every +point. + +"You take to water as naturally as a young duck, Binney!" he shouted, as +soon as his laughter gave him a chance for words. + +"No, indeed, I don't," sputtered poor Binney. "But somehow water always +seems to take to me, and I can get nearly drowned when nobody else can +find a drop to drink. As for that mule, I believe he thinks I wouldn't +know how to get off his back if he didn't pitch me off." + +In less than a minute after the boys got back with their report of +water, half the men in camp were hastening towards it, and the entire +herd of animals, in charge of a couple of teamsters, was galloping madly +in the same direction. The ponds were the result of a heavy local rain +of the night before; and, within a couple of days, would disappear in +the sandy soil as completely as though they had never existed; but they +served an admirable purpose, and the whole party was grateful to Binney +Gibbs's mule for discovering them. + +So refreshed were the men by their unexpected bath, and so strengthened +were the animals by having plenty of water with both their evening and +morning meals, that the survey of the following day covered twenty-four +miles. It was the biggest day's work of transit and level on record, and +could only have been accomplished under extraordinary circumstances. + +This was the hardest day of the three to bear. The heat of the sun, +shining from an unclouded sky, was intolerable. As far as the eye could +reach there was no shadow, nor any object to break the terrible monotony +of its glare. A hot wind from the south whirled the light soil aloft in +suffocating clouds of dust. The men of the three divisions were becoming +desperate. They knew that this killing pace could not be maintained much +longer, and the twenty-four mile run was the result of a tremendous +effort to reach the Arkansas River that day. + +From each eminence, as they crossed it, telescope, field-glasses, and +straining eyes swept the sky-line in the hope of sighting the longed-for +river. Late in the afternoon some far away trees and a ribbon of light +were lifted to view against the horizon by the shimmering heat waves; +but this was at once pronounced to be only the tantalizing vision of the +mirage. + +So, in a dry camp, the exhausted men and thirsty animals passed the +night. The latter, refusing to touch the parched grass or even their +rations of corn, made the hours hideous with their cries, and spent +their time in vain efforts to break their fastenings that they might +escape and seek to quench their burning thirst. + +But even this night came to an end; and, with the first eastern streaks +of pink and gold so exquisitely beautiful through the rarefied +atmosphere of this region, the surveyors were once more in the field. +There was no merriment now, nor life in the work. It went on amid a +dogged silence. The transit and level were lifted slowly, as though they +were made of lead. The chain was dragged wearily along at a walk. It was +evident that the limit of endurance was nearly reached. Scouts were sent +out on both sides to search for water. There was no use sending anybody +ahead to hunt up that mirage, or at least so thought General Lyle. His +maps showed the river to be miles away; but they also showed a large +creek, not far to the westward; and towards this the hopes of the party +were turned. On the maps it was called "Sand Creek," a name made +infamous forever by a massacre of Indians, mostly women and children, +that took place on its banks in November, 1864. Then it had contained +water; but now it was true to its name, and the dispirited scouts, +returning from it, reported that its bed was but a level expanse of dry, +glistening sand. + +As this report was being made, there came a quick succession of shots +from the front, and a thrill of new life instantly pervaded the whole +party. What could they indicate, if not good news of some kind. The +first division had completed its two miles, and the second was running +the line. "Billy" Brackett was preparing for one of his famous mile +sights at the front flag, with which Glen Eddy, riding beside Mr. +Hobart, was wearily toiling up a distant slope. Gazing at them through +his fine telescope, the transit-man could not at first understand their +extraordinary actions as they reached the top. He saw Glen fling up his +hat, and Mr. Hobart fire his pistol into the air. Then Glen waved his +flag, while the division engineer seemed to be pointing to something in +front of them. + +"Well, quit your fooling and give me a sight, can't you?" growled +"Billy" Brackett to himself, but directly afterwards he shouted to those +near him, "I believe they've found water, and shouldn't wonder if they'd +located the Arkansas itself." Then he got his "sight," waved "all right," +mounted his mule, shouldered the transit, and galloped away. + +He was right; they had located the Arkansas, and the alleged mirage of +the evening before had been a reality after all. That night of suffering +had been spent within five miles of one of the largest rivers that cross +the Plains. + +As Glen and Mr. Hobart reached the crest of that long slope they saw its +grassy valley outspread before them. They saw the scattered timber +lining its banks, and, best of all, they saw the broad, brown flood +itself, rolling down to join the distant Mississippi. By shots and +wavings they tried to communicate the joyful intelligence to those who +toiled so wearily behind them, and "Billy" Brackett, watching them +through his transit, had understood. + +They waited on the ridge until he joined them, and then hastened away +towards the tempting river. When the next foresight was taken Glen's +flag was planted on the edge of that famous old wagon-road of the +Arkansas Valley known to generations of Plainsmen as the Santa Fe Trail. + +Glen had hardly waved his "all right" to the transit, before the wagons +came tearing down the slope with their mules on the keen run. The +perishing animals had seen the life-giving waters, and it was with the +greatest difficulty that they were restrained from rushing into the +river, wagons and all. The drivers only just succeeded in casting loose +the trace-chains, when each team, with outstretched necks and husky +brayings, plunged in a body over the bank and into the river, burying +their heads up to their eyes in the cooling flood. It seemed as though +they would drink themselves to death, and when they finally, consented +to leave the river and turn their attention to the rich grasses of its +bottom-lands, they were evidently water-logged. It would be hours before +they were again fit for work. + +But nobody wanted them to work. Not until the next morning would the +wagons move again. The splendid runs of the last three days had earned a +rest for men and animals alike. So it was granted them, and no +schoolboys ever enjoyed a half-holiday more. What a luxury it was to +have plenty of water again, not only to drink, but actually to wash with +and bathe in! And to lie in the shade of a tree! Could anything be more +delicious? + +At sunrise the line was resumed; and, still working together, the three +divisions ran it for fifty miles up the broad valley of the Arkansas. + +A few days after striking the river they passed Bent's Fort, one of the +most famous of the old Plains trading-posts built by individuals long +before troops were sent out to occupy the land. + +Its usefulness as a trading-station had nearly departed, for already the +Indians were leaving that part of the country, and those who remained +were kept too busy fighting to have any time for trading. Its stout log +stockade was, however, valuable to its builder as a protection against +attacks from Indians led by one of his own sons. Their mother was a +Cheyenne squaw, and though they, together with their only sister, had +been educated in St. Louis, the same as white children, they had +preferred to follow the fortunes of their mother's people on returning +to the Plains. Now the Cheyennes had no more daring leader than George +Bent, nor was there a girl in the tribe so beautiful as his sister. The +little fort, admirably located on a high bluff overlooking the river, +was filled with a curious mixture of old Plainsmen, Indians, half-breed +children, ponies, mules, burros, and pet fawns. It was a place of noise +and confusion at once bewildering and interesting. + +At the end of fifty miles from the point at which they entered the +Arkansas Valley, the explorers caught their first glimpse of the Rocky +Mountains, two white clouds that they knew to be the snow-capped summits +of the Spanish Peaks, a hundred miles away. + +Here the expedition was divided. The first and third divisions were to +cross the river and proceed southwesterly, by way of the Raton Mountains +and Fort Union, to Santa Fe; while Mr. Hobart was to take the second +still farther up the Arkansas Valley, and almost due west to the famous +Sangre de Cristo Pass through the mountains, just north of the Spanish +Peaks. For two weeks longer they worked their way slowly but steadily +across the burning Plains, towards the mountains that almost seemed to +recede from them as they advanced; though each day disclosed new peaks, +while those already familiar loomed up higher and grander with every +mile. Finally they were so near at hand that the weary toilers, choked +with the alkaline dust of the Plains, and scorched with their fervent +heat, could feast their eyes on the green slopes, cool, dark valleys, +and tumbling cascades, rushing down from glittering snow-fields. How +they longed to be among them, and with what joy did they at length leave +the treeless country of which they were so tired and enter the timbered +foot-hills! + +Now, how deliciously cool were the nights, and how they enjoyed the +roaring camp-fires. What breathless plunges they took in ice-cold +streams of crystal water. How good fresh venison tasted after weeks of +salt bacon and dried buffalo meat, and how eagerly they ate raw onions, +and even raw potatoes, obtained at the occasional Mexican ranches found +nestled here and there in the lower valleys. + +"I tell you," said Glen to Binney Gibbs, who had by this time become his +firm friend, "it pays to go without fresh vegetables for a couple of +months, just to find out what fine things onions and potatoes are." + + + + +Chapter XXVIII. + +LOST IN A MOUNTAIN SNOW-STORM. + + +A week was spent on the eastern slope of the mountains, running lines +through the Mosca and Cuchara passes. Finally, a camp was made in a +forest of balsam-firs, beside a great spring of ice-water, that bubbled +from a granite basin at the summit of the Sangre de Cristo, nine +thousand feet above sea-level. To Glen and Binney, who had always dwelt +in a flat country, and knew nothing of mountains, this was a new and +delightful experience. They never tired of gazing off on the superb +panorama outspread below them. To the east, the view was so vast and +boundless that it seemed as though the distant blue of the horizon must +be that of the ocean itself, and that they were spanning half the +breadth of a continent in a single sight. At their feet lay the Plains +they had just crossed, like a great green map on which dark lines of +timber and gleams of light marked the Arkansas and its tributary +streams, whose waters would mingle with those of the Mississippi. + +On the other hand, they could see, across the broad basin of the San +Luis Valley, other ranges of unknown mountains, whose mysteries they +were yet to explore. Through this western valley, flowing southward, +wound the shining ribbon of the Rio Grande. Both north and south of them +were mountain-peaks. To climb to the very summit of one of these was +Glen's present ambition, and his longing eyes were turned more often to +the snow-capped dome that rose in solemn majesty on the south side of +the pass than in any other direction. He even succeeded in persuading +Binney Gibbs that to climb that mountain would be just a little better +fun than anything else that could be suggested. Still, he did not see +any prospect of their being allowed to make the attempt, and so tried +not to think of it. + +On the first evening, after camp had been pitched on the summit of the +pass, he sat on a chunk of moss-covered granite, gazing meditatively +into the glowing coals of a glorious fire. He imagined he had succeeded +in banishing all thoughts of that desirable mountain-top from his mind, +and yet, all of a sudden, he became aware that it was the very thing he +was thinking of. He gave himself a petulant shake as he realized this, +and was about to move away, when "Billy" Brackett, who sat on the end of +a log near him, spoke up and said, + +"Glen, how would you like to try a bit of mountain climbing with me +to-morrow?" + +"I'd like it better than anything I know of," answered the boy, eagerly. + +"All right, it's a go, then; you see the chief is going off on an +exploration with the topographer; and, as we can't run any lines till he +comes back, he asked me if I'd take a couple of fellows and measure the +height of that peak." + +"Do you mean to chain from here away up there?" asked Glen, in +astonishment, glancing dubiously up at the dim form towering above them. + +"Chain! Not much, I don't!" laughed Brackett. "I mean carry up a +barometer, and measure with it." + +"How?" asked Glen, to whom this was a novel idea. + +"Easy enough. We know that, roughly speaking, a barometer varies a +little less than one tenth of an inch with every hundred feet of +elevation. For instance, if it reads 21.22 where we now are, it will +read 21.14 a hundred feet higher, or 20.40 at an elevation of a thousand +feet above this. There are carefully prepared tables showing the exact +figures." + +"Can't you do it by boiling water, too?" asked Binney Gibbs, who had +approached them unobserved, and was an interested listener of this +explanation. + +"Certainly you can," answered "Billy" Brackett, looking up with some +surprise at the young scholar. "By boiling water we have a neat check on +the barometer; for, on account of the rarefication of the air, water +boils at one degree less of temperature for about every five hundred +feet of elevation." + +"Then what is the use of levelling?" asked Glen. + +"Because these figures are only approximate, and cannot be relied upon +for nice work. But where did you learn about such things, Grip?" + +"At the Brimfield High School," answered Binney with some confusion; for +he was not really so boastful of his scholarship as he had once been. + +"Well, how would you like to join our climbing-party? I'm going to take +Glen along for his muscle, and I'll take you for your brains if you want +to go." + +"I think I'd like to try it, though perhaps I won't be able to get to +the very top," answered Binney. + +The modesty that this boy had learned from his rough Plains experience +would have surprised his Brimfield acquaintances could they have seen +it. + +"Very well, then, we will start at sunrise in the morning. We'll each +carry a hatchet, a knife, matches in water-tight cases, and a good bit +of lunch. I'll carry the barometer, Glen shall take charge of the +thermometer, and 'Grip' shall bring along his brains. Now I'd advise you +both to turn in, and lay up a supply of rest sufficient to carry you +through a harder day's work than any we've done on this trip yet." + +The sun was just lifting his red face above the distant rim of the +Plains, and its scant beams were bathing the snow-capped peak in a +wonderful rosy glow, as the three mountain climbers left camp the next +morning. Each one bore the light weight allotted to him, and, in +addition, Glen carried a raw-hide lariat hung over his shoulders. + +Having noted the compass bearings of their general course, they plunged +directly into the dense fir forest with which this flank of the mountain +was covered to a height of a thousand feet or so above them. For several +hours they struggled through it, sometimes clambering over long lanes of +fallen trees, prostrated by fierce wind-storms, and piled in chaotic +heaps so thickly that often, for half a mile at a time, their feet did +not touch the ground. Then they came to a region of enormous granite +blocks, ten to thirty feet high, over many of which they were obliged to +make their way as best they could. Now they began to find patches of +snow, and the timber only appeared in scattered clumps. + +From here their course led up through an enormous gorge, or cleft, that +grew narrower as they ascended, until it terminated in a long, steep +slope of boulders and loose rocks. Here they encountered the first real +danger of the ascent. Every now and then a boulder, that appeared firmly +seated until burdened with the weight of one of them, would give way and +go crashing and thundering down with great leaps behind them until lost +in the forest below. + +It was noon when they emerged on a narrow, shelf-like plateau above the +gorge. Here stood the last clump of stunted trees. Above them stretched +the glistening snow-fields, pierced by crags of splintered granite. +Rock, ice, and snow to the very summit. Here Binney said he could go no +farther; and here, after building a fire and eating their lunch, the +others left him to await their return. + +A sheer wall of smooth, seamless rock, hundreds of feet in height, +bounded one side of the shelf, and a precipice, almost as sheer, the +other. For half a mile or so did Glen and his companion follow it, +seeking some place at which they might continue their ascent. Finally it +narrowed almost to a point, that terminated in an immense field of snow +sloping down, smooth and spotless, for a thousand feet below them, to a +tiny blue-black lake. Beyond the snow-field the ascent seemed possible; +and, by cutting footholes in it with their hatchets, they managed to +cross it in safety. + +For two hours longer they struggled upward; and then, within a few +hundred feet of the summit, they could get no farther. In vain did they +try every point that offered the faintest hope of success, and at last +were forced to give it up. They noted the reading of the barometer, and +with a few shavings and slivers cut from its outside case they made a +tiny blaze, and, as Glen expressed it, boiled a thermometer in a tin +cup. + +They were now as impatient to descend as they had been to climb upward, +and even more so; for the brightness of the day had departed, and +ominous clouds were gathering about them. The air was bitterly cold; +and, with their few minutes' cessation from violent exercise, they were +chilled to the bone. So they hastened to retrace their rugged way, +sliding, leaping, hanging by their hands, and dropping from ledge to +ledge, taking frightful risks in their eagerness to escape the +threatened storm, or at any rate to meet it in some more sheltered spot. +If they could only reach the shelf-like ledge, at the farther end of +which Binney Gibbs awaited them, they would feel safe. They had nearly +done so, but not quite, when the storm burst upon them in a fierce, +blinding, whirling rush of snow, that took away their breath and stung +like needles. It seemed to penetrate their clothing. It bewildered them. +It was so dense that they could not see a yard ahead of them. They had +already started to cross that long, sloping snow-field, beyond which lay +the rocky shelf. To go back would be as dangerous as to proceed. They +could not stay where they were. The deadly chill of the air would +speedily render them incapable of maintaining their foothold. + +The assistant engineer was leading the way, with his companion a full +rod behind him. The former dared not turn his head; but he shouted +encouragingly that they were almost across, and with a few more steps +would reach a place of safety. + +Then came a swirling, shrieking blast, before which he bowed his head. +He thought he heard a cry; but could not tell. It might only have been +the howl of the fierce wind. He reached the shelf of rock in safety, and +turned to look for his companion; but Glen was not to be seen. + +Blinded by that furious blast, the boy had missed his footing. The next +instant he was sliding, helplessly, and with frightful velocity, down +that smooth slope of unyielding snow, towards the blue lake hidden in +the storm-cloud far beneath him. + + + + +Chapter XXIX. + +PLUNGING INTO A LAKE OF ICE-WATER. + + +As "Billy" Brackett turned and missed the companion whom he supposed was +close behind him, his heart sank like lead. In vain did he shout. Not +even an echo answered him. His loudest tones were snatched from his lips +by the wind, torn into fragments, and indistinguishably mingled with its +mocking laughter. It was barely possible that Glen might have turned +back; and, with the slender hope thus offered, the engineer retraced his +perilous way across the snow-field to the place where they last stood +together. It was empty and awful in its storm-swept loneliness. A great +terror seized hold upon the man's stout heart; and, as he again crossed +the treacherous snow, he trembled so that his reaching the rocky shelf +beyond was little short of a miracle. + +Then he hastened to the place where Binney Gibbs anxiously awaited the +return of his friends. He had kept up a roaring fire, knowing that it +would be a welcome sight to them, especially since the setting-in of the +storm. Its coming had filled him with anxiety and uneasy forebodings, so +that he hailed "Billy" Brackett's appearance with a glad shout of +welcome. It died on his lips as he noted the expression on the engineer's +face; and, with a tremble of fear in his voice, he asked, "Where is +Glen?" + +"I don't know," was the answer. + +"Do you mean that he is lost on the mountain in this storm?" cried +Binney, aghast at the terrible possibilities thus suggested. + +"Not only that, but I have not the faintest hope that he will ever be +found again," replied the other; and then he told all he knew of what +had happened. + +Although, for their own safety, they should already be hurrying towards +camp, Binney insisted on going to the place where his friend had last +been seen. The snow-squall had passed when they reached it, but the +clouds still hung thick about them; and Binney shuddered as he saw the +smooth white slide that vanished in the impenetrable mist but a few rods +below them. In vain they shouted. In vain they fired every shot +contained in the only pistol they had brought with them. There was no +answer. And, finally, without a hope that they would ever see Glen Eddy +again, they sadly retraced their steps and reached camp just as the +complete darkness, that would have rendered their farther progress +impossible, shut in. + +No one was more loved in that camp than Glen, and no loss from the party +could have been more keenly felt. It was with heavy hearts that they +sought their blankets that night; and, the next evening, when the +search-party, that had been out all day without finding the faintest +trace of the missing boy, returned, they talked of him in low tones as +of one who had gone from them forever. + +The following morning the camp in the pass was broken, and two days +later a line had been run down the western slope of the mountains, to +the edge of the San Luis Valley, near Fort Garland--one of the most +charmingly located military posts of the West. + +In the meantime Glen Eddy was not only alive and well, but, at the very +minute his companions were approaching Fort Garland he was actually +assisting to prepare the quarters of its commandant for a wedding that +was to take place in them that evening. + +For a moment, after he missed his foothold on the upper edge of the +treacherous snow-field, and began to shoot down the smooth surface of +its long slope, he imagined that he was about to be dashed in pieces, +and resigned all hope of escape from the fearful peril that had so +suddenly overtaken him. Then the thought of the blue-black lake, with +its walls of purple and red-stained granite, that he had seen lying at +the foot of this very slope, flashed into his mind. A thrill shot +through him as he thought of the icy plunge he was about to take. Still, +that was better than to be hurled over a precipice. The boy had even +sufficient presence of mind to hold his feet close together, and attempt +to guide himself so that they should strike the water first. + +He might have glided down that slope for seconds, or minutes, or even +hours, for all that he knew of the passage of time. He seemed to be +moving with great speed, and yet, in breathless anticipation of the +inevitable plunge that, in fancy, he felt himself to be taking with each +instant, his downward flight seemed indefinitely prolonged. + +At length the suspense was ended. Almost with the quickness of thought +the boy passed into a region of dazzling sunlight, was launched into +space, and found himself sinking down, down, down, as though he would +never stop, in water so cold that its chill pierced him like knives, and +compressed his head as with a band of iron. + +Looking up through the crystal sheet, he could see an apparently endless +line of bubbles rising from where he was to the surface, and, after a +while, he began to follow them. With a breathless gasp he again reached +the blessed air, and, dashing the water from his eyes, began to consider +his situation. He was dazed and bewildered at finding himself still +alive and apparently none the worse for his tremendous slide. Although +he was in bright sunlight, the mountain-side down which he had come was +hidden beneath dense folds of cloud, out of which he seemed to have +dropped. + +Gently paddling with his hands, just enough to keep himself afloat, Glen +looked anxiously about for some beach or other place at which he might +effect a landing, but could discover none. The upper edge of the +snow-field, that bounded the lake on one side, projected far over the +water, so that, while he might swim under it, there was no possibility +of getting on it. On all other sides sheer walls of rock rose from the +water, without a trace of beach, or even of boulders, at their base. + +In all this solid wall there was but one break. Not far from where Glen +swam, and just beyond the snow-field, a narrow cleft appeared; and from +it came an indistinct roar of waters. Glen felt himself growing numbed +and powerless. He must either give up at once, and tamely allow himself +to sink where he was, or he must swim to that cleft, and take his +chances of getting out through it. He fully expected to find a waterfall +just beyond the gloomy portal, and he clearly realized what his fate +would be if it were there. But whatever he did must be done quickly. He +knew that, and began to swim towards the cleft. + +As he approached it, he felt himself impelled onward by a gentle current +that grew stronger with each moment. Now he could not go back if he +would. He passed between two lofty walls of rock, and, instead of +dashing over a waterfall, was borne along by a swift, smooth torrent +that looked black as ink in the gloom of its mysterious channel. + +Ere the swimmer had traversed more than fifty yards of this dim +waterway, the channel turned sharply to the left, and the character of +the lower portion of its wall, on that side, changed from a precipice to +a slope. In another moment Glen's feet touched bottom, and he was slowly +dragging his numbed and exhausted body ashore. + +Although the sun was still shining on the mountain-side, far above him, +it was already twilight where he was, and he had no desire to explore +that stream farther in darkness. It would be bad enough by daylight. In +fact, he was so thankful to escape from that icy water that, had the +light been increasing instead of waning at that moment, he would +probably have lingered long on those blessed rocks before tempting it +further. + +Now, as he gazed about him in search of some place in which, or on +which, to pass the long hours of darkness, his eye fell on a confused +pile of driftwood not far away. Here was a prize indeed. He had matches, +and, thanks to "Billy" Brackett, they were still dry. Now he could have +a fire. He found the driftwood to be a mass of branches and tree-trunks, +bleached to the whiteness of bones, and evidently brought down by some +much higher water than the present. They were lodged in the mouth of a +deep water-worn hollow in the rock, and converted a certain portion of +it into a sort of a cave. Creeping in behind this wooden wall of gnarled +roots, twisted branches, and splintered trunks, the shivering boy felt +for his hatchet; but it had disappeared. His knife still remained in its +sheath, however, and with it he finally managed, though with great +difficulty on account of the numbness of his hands, to cut off a little +pile of slivers and shavings from a bit of pine. + +In another moment the cave was illumined with a bright glow from one of +his precious matches, and a tiny flame was creeping up through the +handful of kindling. With careful nursing and judicious feeding the +little flame rapidly increased in strength and brightness, until it was +lighting the whole place with its cheerful glow, and was leaping, with +many cracklings, through the entire mass of driftwood. + +Before starting that fire, it seemed to Glen that no amount of heat +could be unwelcome, or that he could ever be even comfortably warm +again. He discovered his mistake, however, when he was finally forced to +abandon his cave entirely, and seek refuge in the open air from the +intense heat with which it was filled. Not until his pile of wood had +burned down to a bed of glowing coals could he return. + +His couch that night was certainly a hard one, but it was as warm and +dry as a boy could wish. If he only had something to eat! But he had +not; so he went to sleep instead, and slept soundly until +daylight--which meant about an hour after sunrise in the world beyond +that narrow canon. + +If he was hungry the night before, how ravenous he was in the morning. +He even cut off a bit of the raw-hide lariat which he still retained, +and tried to chew it. It was so very unsatisfactory a morsel that it +helped him to realize the necessity of speedily getting out of that +place and hunting for some food more nourishing than lariats. + + + + +Chapter XXX. + +DOWN THE LONELY CANON. + + +Glen had been conscious, ever since reaching his haven, of a dull, +distant roar coming up from the canon below him; and now, after an hour +of scrambling, climbing, slipping, but still managing to keep out of the +water, he discovered the fall that he had anticipated, and found himself +on its brink. It was a direct plunge of a hundred feet, and the body of +water very nearly occupied the whole of a narrow chasm between two +cliffs similar to those at the outlet of the lake. A few feet of the +rocky dam, where Glen stood, were bare of water; but its face fell away +as steep and smooth as that over which the stream took its plunge. Only, +in the angle formed by it and the side of the canon, a mass of debris +had collected that reached about half-way up to where Glen stood, or to +within fifty feet of the brink. On it grew a few stunted trees, the +first vegetation he had seen since taking his slide. Below that place +the way seemed more open, and as though it might be possible to +traverse. But how should he get down? He dared not leap; he could not +fly. But he still had the lariat. It was forty feet long. If he could +only fasten it where he stood, he might slide down its length and then +drop. + +Vainly he searched for some projecting point of rock about which to make +his rope fast. There was none. All was smooth and water-worn. There was +a crack. If he only had a stout bit of wood to thrust into it he might +fasten the lariat to that. But he had not seen the smallest stick since +leaving his sleeping-place. Some unburned branches were still left +there; but the idea of going back over that perilous road, through the +gloom of the canon, was most unpleasant to contemplate. He hated to +consider it. Still, before long it would be much more unpleasant to +remain where he was, for he was already realizing the first pangs of +starvation. + +So he wearily retraced his steps, procured a stout branch, and, after +two hours of the most arduous toil, again stood on the brink of the +waterfall. Forcing the stick as far as possible into the crack, and +wedging it firmly with bits of rock, he attached the raw-hide rope to +it, and flung the loose end over the precipice. Then, hanging over the +edge, he grasped the rope firmly and slowly slid down. As he reached the +end he hesitated for a moment, and glanced below. His feet dangled on a +level with the top of the upmost tree. He dreaded to drop, but there was +nothing else to do, and the next moment he was rolling and scrambling in +the loose gravel and rounded pebbles of the heap of debris. At last he +brought up against a tree-trunk, bruised and shaken, but with unbroken +bones. + +He had now overcome the most difficult part of his hazardous trip; and, +though the way was still so rough as to demand the exercise of the +utmost care and skill and the use of every ounce of strength he +possessed, it presented no obstacles that these could not surmount. + +Finally, some time in the afternoon, he came to a narrow strip of +meadow-land, where flowers were blooming amid the grass, and on which +warm sunlight was streaming. Here, too, he found a few blueberries, +which he ate ravenously. What should he do for something more +substantial? He was close beside the stream, which here flowed quietly, +with pleasant ripplings, when he was startled by a splash in it. It must +have been a fish jumping. Why had he not thought of fish before? How +should he catch them? + +Necessity is the best sharpener of wits, and, in less than half an hour, +Glen was fishing with a line made of fibres from the inner skin of +spruce bark, a hook formed of a bent pin, baited with a grasshopper, and +the whole attached to a crooked bit of branch. Not only was he fishing, +but he was catching the most beautiful brook-trout he had ever seen +almost as fast as he could re-bait and cast his rude tackle. There was +no art required. Nobody had ever fished in these waters before, and the +trout were apparently as eager to be caught as he was to catch them. + +Glen had not neglected to light a fire before he began his fishing, and +by the time half a dozen of the dainty little fellows were caught a fine +bed of hot coals was awaiting them. The boy knew very little of the art +of cooking, but what he did know was ample for the occasion. His fish +were speedily cleaned, laid on the coals for a minute, turned, left a +minute longer, and eaten. When the first half-dozen had disappeared he +caught more, and treated them in the same way. He had no salt, no +condiments, no accessories of any kind, save the sauce of a hunger +closely allied to starvation; but that supplied everything. It rendered +that feast of half-cooked brook-trout the most satisfactory meal he had +ever eaten. + +When, at last, his hunger was entirely appeased, the sun had set, and +another night without shelter or human companionship was before him; but +what did he care? As he lay in front of his fire, on an elastic, +sweet-scented bed of small spruce boughs, with a semicircle of larger +ones planted in the ground behind him, and their feathery tips drooping +gracefully above his head, he was as happy and well-content as ever in +his life. He had conquered the wilderness, escaped from one of its most +cunningly contrived prison-houses, and won from it the means of +satisfying his immediate wants. He enjoyed a glorious feeling of triumph +and independence. To be sure, he had no idea of where he was, nor where +the stream would lead him; but he had no intention of deserting it. He +realized that his safest plan was to follow it. Eventually it must lead +him to the Rio Grande, and there he would surely be able to rejoin his +party, if he did not find them sooner. + +He was in no hurry to leave the pleasant strip of flower-strewn meadow +the next morning, nor did he, until he had caught and eaten a hearty +breakfast, and laid in a supply of trout for at least one more meal. + +The third night found him still on the bank of his stream, which was +flowing happily, with many a laugh and gurgle, through a narrow but +wonderfully beautiful valley, carpeted with a luxuriant growth of grass +and dotted with clumps of cedars. For this night's camp he constructed a +rude hut of slender poles and branches, similar to the Indian wick-i-ups +he had seen on the Plains. In it he slept on a bed high heaped with soft +grasses and cedar twigs that was a perfect cradle of luxury. + +As Glen emerged from his hut at sunrise he was almost as startled at +seeing a herd of several black-tailed (mule) deer, feeding within a +hundred feet of him, as they were to see him. Pausing for a good stare +at him, for the black-tailed deer is among the most inquisitive animals +in the world, they bounded away with tremendous leaps, and disappeared +behind a cedar thicket. A minute later Glen was again startled; this +time by the report of a rifle from some distance down the valley. He had +just been wishing for his own rifle, the sight of deer having suggested +that venison would be a very pleasant change from a steady fish diet, +and now he hurried away in the direction of the shot. + +He walked nearly half a mile before coming so suddenly upon the hunter +who had fired that shot, and was now engaged in dressing one of those +very black-tailed deer, that the latter discovered him at the same +moment, and paused in his work to examine the new-comer keenly. He was a +man past middle age, squarely built, of medium height, and, as he stood +up, Glen saw that he was somewhat bow-legged. His hair was thin and +light in color, and his face was beardless. It was seamed and +weather-beaten, the cheek-bones were high and prominent, and the keen +eyes were gray. He was dressed in a complete hunting-suit of buckskin, +and the rifle, lying beside him, was of an old-fashioned, +long-barrelled, muzzle-loading pattern. He looked every inch, what he +really was, a typical Plainsman of the best kind, possessed of an +honest, kindly nature, brave and just, a man to be feared by an enemy +and loved by a friend. He gazed earnestly at Glen as the latter walked +up to him, though neither by look nor by word did he betray any +curiosity. + +"I don't know who you are, sir," said the boy, "but I know I was never +more glad to see anybody in my life, for I've been wandering alone in +these mountains for three days." + +"Lost?" asked the other, laconically. + +"Well, not exactly lost," replied Glen. Then, as clearly and briefly as +possible, he related his story, which the other followed with close +attention and evident interest. + +"You did have a close call, and you've had a blind trail to follow +since, for a fact. It sorter looks as though you'd showed sand, and I +shouldn't wonder if you was the right stuff to make a man of," said the +hunter, approvingly, when the recital was ended. "How old are you?" + +"I think I am about sixteen," answered the boy. + +"Just the age I was when I first crossed the Mississip and struck for +this country, where I've been ever since. What are you going to do now?" + +"I'm going to ask you to give me a slice of that venison for my +breakfast, and then tell me the best way to rejoin my party," answered +Glen. + +"Of course I'll give you all the deer-meat you can eat, and we'll have +it broiling inside of five minutes. Then, if you'll come along with me +to the fort, I reckon we'll find your outfit there; or, if they ain't, +the commandant will see to it that you do find them. You know him, don't +you?" + +"No, I don't even know who he is. What is his name?" + +This question seemed, for some reason, to amuse the hunter greatly, and +he laughed silently for a moment before replying: "His name is, rightly, +'Colonel Carson,' and since he's got command of a fort they've given him +the title of 'General Carson;' but all the old Plainsmen and mountainmen +that's travelled with him since he was your age call him 'Kit Carson,' +or just 'Old Kit.' Perhaps you've heard tell of him?" + +Indeed, Glen had heard of the most famous scout the Western Plains ever +produced; and, with the prospect of actually seeing and speaking to him, +he felt amply repaid for his recent trials and sufferings. + + + + +Chapter XXXI. + +KIT CARSON'S GOLD MINE. + + +While the hunter was talking to Glen, he was also preparing some slices +of venison for broiling, and lighting a small fire. Anxious to be of +use, as well as to have breakfast as soon as possible, the boy set about +collecting wood for the fire. This, by the hunter's advice, he broke and +split into small pieces, that it might the sooner be reduced to coals; +and, while he was doing this, he told his new friend of his experience +in cooking trout. + +"I reckon that was better than eating them raw," said the latter, with +an amused smile, "but if we had some now, I think I could show you a +better way than that to cook them, though we haven't got any fry-pan." + +"Perhaps I can catch some," suggested Glen, pulling his rude +fishing-tackle from his pocket, as he looked about for some sort of a +pole. "And I think I could do it quicker if you would lend me your hat +for a few minutes. You see mine got lost while I was coasting down that +mountain-side, or in the lake, I don't know which," he added, +apologetically. + +Here the hunter actually laughed aloud. "You don't expect to catch trout +with a hat, do you?" he asked. + +"Oh, no, indeed. I only want it to catch grasshoppers with. It's such +slow work catching them, one at a time, with your hands; but, with a hat +as big as yours, I could get a great many very quickly," and the boy +gazed admiringly at the broad-brimmed sombrero worn by the other. + +The stranger willingly loaned his hat to Glen, who seemed to amuse him +greatly, and the latter soon had, not only all the grasshoppers he +wanted, but a fine string of fish as well. By this time the fire had +produced a bed of coals, and the slices of venison, spitted on slender +sticks thrust into the ground, so as to be held just above them, were +sending forth most appetizing odors. + +Obeying instructions, Glen cleaned his fish, and gathered a quantity of +grass, which he wet in the stream. The hunter had scooped out a shallow +trench in the earth beside the fire, and had filled it with live coals. +Above these he now spread a layer of damp grass, on which he laid the +fish, covering them in turn with another layer of grass. Over this he +raked a quantity of red-hot embers, and then covered the whole with a +few handfuls of earth. + +Ten minutes later the trout were found to be thoroughly cooked, and Glen +was both thinking and saying that no fish had ever tasted so good. After +eating this most satisfactory breakfast, and having hung the carcase of +the deer to a branch where it would be beyond the reach of wolves until +it could be sent for, Glen and his new companion started down the +valley. As they walked, the latter explained to the boy that, many years +before, while trapping on that very stream, he had discovered gold in +its sands. Recently he had employed a number of Mexicans to work for +him, and had started some placer diggings about a mile below where they +then were. + +This interested Glen greatly; for all of his dreams had been of +discovering gold somewhere in this wonderful Western country, and he was +most desirous of learning something of the process of procuring it. As +they talked, they came in sight of several tents and brush huts, +standing near the inner end of a long sand-bar, that extended diagonally +nearly across the stream. A rude dam built along its upper side had +diverted the water from it, so that a large area of sand and gravel was +left dry. On this a dozen men were at work, digging with shovel and +pick, or rocking cradles. Glen had heard of miners' cradles, or +"rockers," but he had never seen one. Now he laughed at the resemblance +between them and the low wooden cradles babies were rocked in. + +They were rough boxes mounted on rockers, of which the one at the +forward end was a little lower than the other, so as to give the cradle +a slight slope in that direction. Each had an iron grating placed across +its upper end, and a few wooden cleats nailed crosswise of its bottom. A +hole was cut in its foot-board, and a handle, by means of which it was +rocked, was fastened to its head-board. There were two men to each +cradle: one to shovel dirt on to its grating, and the other to rock it +and pour water over this dirt to wash it through. The grating was so +fine that only the smallest pebbles could pass through it. As the dirt +and water fell to the bottom of the cradle, and ran through it to the +opening in the foot-board, the fine particles of gold sank, of their own +weight, and lodged against the cleats. From these it was carefully +gathered several times each day by the white overseer who had charge of +the diggings, and sent to Fort Garland for safe-keeping. + +Glen's guide also showed him how to wash out a panful of gold-bearing +earth, as prospectors do. He picked up a shallow iron pan, filled it +with earth, and, holding it half immersed in the stream with its outer +edge inclined from him, shook it rapidly to and fro, with a semi-rotary +motion. In a minute all the earth had been washed out, and only a +deposit of black sand, containing a number of yellow particles, was left +on the bottom. The hunter said this black sand was iron, and could be +blown away from about the gold after it was dry, or drawn away with a +magnet. + +The boy was greatly pleased to be allowed to attempt this operation for +himself, and felt quite like a successful miner when told that the gold +yielded by his first panful was worth about thirty cents. + +While he was thus engaged a swarthy-complexioned soldier, evidently a +Mexican, though he wore a United States uniform, came riding up the +valley, raised his hand in salute to the hunter, and exchanged a few +words with him. The latter hesitated for a moment, and then, after +speaking again to the soldier, who immediately dismounted, he said to +Glen, "I find that I must return to the fort at once. So if you will +take this man's horse, and ride with me, I shall be glad of your +company." His own horse was standing near by, and in another minute they +were riding rapidly down the little valley, with the mining camp already +out of sight. + +After a mile or so the stream that Glen had followed for so long led +them into the broad expanse of the San Luis Valley, up which they +turned, and speedily came in sight of the low white walls of Fort +Garland, surrounding a tall staff from which an American flag floated +lazily in the warm, sun-lit air. + +Although Glen did not know much about soldiers, or the meaning of +military forms, he was somewhat surprised to see the guard at the main +entrance of the fort turn hurriedly out and present arms as they +clattered in past them. He quickly forgot this incident though, in his +admiration of the interior, now opened before him. It was a large +square, enclosed on all sides by low comfortable-looking buildings of +adobe, neatly whitewashed, and in some cases provided with green blinds +and wide piazzas. A hard, smooth driveway ran in front of them, and the +middle of the enclosure was occupied by a well-turfed parade-ground, at +one end of which stood a battery of light field-pieces. The chief beauty +of the place lay in a little canal of crystal water, that ran entirely +around the parade-ground. It was as cool and sparkling as that of its +parent mountain stream, flowing just beyond the fort, and the refreshing +sound of its rippling pervaded the whole place. + +Riding to the opposite side of the enclosure, the hunter and his +companion dismounted in front of one of the houses with blinds and a +piazza. This the former invited Glen to enter, and at the same moment an +orderly stepped up and took their horses. In a cool, dimly lighted room, +Glen's new friend asked him to be seated and wait a few moments. In +about fifteen minutes the orderly who had taken the horses entered the +room, and saying to Glen that General Carson would like to see him, +ushered him into an adjoining apartment. For a moment the boy did not +recognize the figure, clad in a colonel's uniform, that was seated +beside a writing-table. But, as the latter said, "Well, sir, I was told +that you wished to see the commandant," he at once knew the voice for +that of his friend the hunter, and, with a tone of glad surprise, he +exclaimed, + +"Why, sir, are you--" + +"Yes," replied the other, laughing, "I am old Kit Carson, at your +service, and I bid you a hearty welcome to Fort Garland." + +Then he told Glen that one of his daughters was to be married that +evening to an officer of the post. They had been engaged for some time, +but there had been nobody to marry them until that day, when a priest +from Taos had stopped at the fort on his way to the upper Rio Grande +settlements. As he must continue his journey the next morning, the +colonel had been sent for, and it was decided that the wedding should +come off at once. + +Thus it happened that Glen was assisting to decorate the commandant's +quarters with flags and evergreens when Mr. Hobart and "Billy" Brackett, +who had come on a little in advance of the rest of the party, rode up to +pay their respects to Colonel Carson. He went out to meet them, and, +being fond of giving pleasant surprises, did not say a word concerning +Glen; but, after an exchange of greetings, led them directly into the +room where he was at work. The boy was standing on a box fastening a +flag to the wall above his head, as the men entered. The light from a +window fell full upon him, and they recognized him at once. + + + + +Chapter XXXII. + +A NEW MEXICAN WEDDING. + + +For a moment the amazement of the two men at again beholding the lad +whom they were fully persuaded was dead would neither allow them to +speak nor move. Then "Billy" Brackett walked softly over to where Glen +was standing, and gave one of his legs a sharp pinch. + +The startled boy, who had not noticed his approach, leaped to the floor +with a cry of mingled pain and surprise. + +"I only wanted to be sure you were real, old man, and not a ghost," said +"Billy" Brackett, trying to speak in his usual careless tone; but the +tears that stood in the honest fellow's eyes, as he wrung the boy's +hand, showed how deeply he was affected, and how truly he had mourned +the loss of his young friend. + +Nor was Mr. Hobart less moved, and, as he grasped Glen's hand, he said, +"My dear boy, I honestly believe this is the happiest moment of my +life." + +They did not stop to ask for his story then but insisted on taking him +at once out to the camp that was being pitched just beyond the fort, +that the rest of the party might share their joy as speedily as +possible. + +The boys were so busily engaged with their evening duties that the +little party was not noticed until they were close at hand. Then +somebody, gazing sharply at the middle figure of the three who +approached, cried out, "If that isn't Glen Matherson, it's his twin +brother!" + +Everybody paused in what he was doing, and every eye was turned in the +same direction. For a moment there was a profound silence. Then came a +great shout of joyful amazement. Everything was dropped; and, with one +accord, the entire party made a rush for the boy whom they all loved, +and whom they had never expected to see again. + +How they yelled, and cheered, and failed to find expressions for their +extravagant delight! As for Binney Gibbs, he fairly sobbed as he held +Glen's hand, and gazed into the face of this comrade for whom he had +mourned, and whom he once thought he hated. + +Although, at first sight, it seems almost incredible that so many +adventures should happen to one boy on a single trip, it must be +remembered that, with the exception of Binney, Glen was the youngest of +the party, and consequently more likely to be reckless and careless than +any of the others. He was also one of those persons who, while everybody +around them is moving along quietly and soberly, are always getting into +scrapes, and coming out of each one bright, smiling, and ready for +another. Then, too, he was a stout, fearless fellow, with perfect +confidence in himself that led him into, and out of, situations from +which such boys as Binney Gibbs would steer clear. + +An amusing feature of Glen's adventures was, that while his companions +were ready to sympathize with him on account of his sufferings and +hardships, it never seemed to occur to him that he had had anything but +a good time, and one to be remembered with pleasure. Thus, in the +present instance, according to his own account, his slide down the +mountain-side had been the jolliest coast he ever took. His swim in the +lake had been cold, but then it had not lasted long, and he had enjoyed +the fire and the warmth of the cave all the more for it. As for his +subsequent experiences, he related them in such a way that, before he +finished, his listeners began to regard him as one of the most fortunate +and to-be-envied fellows of their acquaintance. They seemed to be +crossing the Plains and mountains in the most prosaic manner, without +doing anything in particular except work, while, to this boy, the trip +was full of adventures and delightful experiences. Would these incidents +seem so pleasant to him if he were as old as they? Perhaps not. + +They were all to enjoy one novel experience that very evening, though; +for Glen brought an invitation from Colonel Carson for them to attend +the wedding, and of course they promptly accepted it. As it was to be an +early affair, they hurried to the fort as soon as supper was over, and +found the guests already assembling in a large room, from which every +article of furniture had been removed. It was a motley gathering, in +which were seen the gay uniforms of soldiers, the buckskin of trappers, +the gaudy serapes of Mexican Cabelleros, the flannel shirts and big +boots of the engineers, and the blanketed forms of stolid-faced Ute +Indians, for whom Kit Carson was acting as agent at that time. + +The company was ranged about three sides of the room, close against the +walls; and, when they were thus disposed, a door on the vacant side +opened, and a Mexican woman, bearing a large basket of candles, entered. +Giving a candle to each guest, and lighting it for him, she indicated by +signs that he was to hold it above his head. So the guests became living +candlesticks, and, when all their candles were lighted, the illumination +was quite brilliant enough even for a wedding. + +Everything being ready, the door through which the candles had been +brought again opened, and the bridal party entered. First came the +priest, then Kit Carson and his wife, who was a Mexican woman from Taos. +Behind them walked the couple who were to be married. The bride was a +slender, olive-complexioned girl, dressed very simply in white, while +the groom wore the handsome uniform of a lieutenant of cavalry. The rear +of the procession was brought up by a bevy of black-haired and +black-eyed senoritas, sisters and cousins of the bride. + +The priest read the wedding service in Latin, and the bride made her +responses in Spanish, so that the few English words spoken by the groom +were all that most of the spectators understood. As "Billy" Brackett +afterwards remarked, it was evidently necessary to be liberally educated +to get married in that country. + +At the conclusion of the ceremony the entire wedding-party, with the +exception of the bride's father, disappeared, and were seen no more; +while Colonel Carson led his guests into a neighboring room, where the +wedding supper was served. Here the famous scout, surrounded by the +tried comrades of many a wild campaign, entertained the company by +calling on these for one anecdote after another of the adventures that +had been crowded so thickly into their lives. This was a rare treat to +the new-comers, especially to Glen Eddy and Binney Gibbs, to whom the +thrilling tales, told by the boy trappers, scouts, hunters, and soldiers +who had participated in them, were so real and vivid that, before this +delightful evening was over, it seemed as though they too must have +taken part in the scenes described. + +In spite of the late hours kept by most of the engineers that night, +their camp was broken by daylight, and at sunrise they were off on the +line as usual, for September was now well advanced, and there were +mountain ranges yet to be crossed that would be impassable after winter +had once fairly set in. So, leaving the pleasant army post and their +hospitable entertainers in it, they picked up their line, and, running +it out over the broad San Luis Valley to the Rio Grande, began to follow +that river into the very heart of New Mexico. + +Glen was more than glad to find himself once more on Nettle's back, and +again bearing the front flag in advance of the party. He was also +surprised to find what a barren place the valley that had looked so +beautiful and desirable from the mountains really was. Its sandy soil +only supported a thick growth of sage brush, that yielded a strong +aromatic fragrance when bruised or broken, and which rendered the +running of the line peculiarly toilsome. It was a relief to reach the +great river of New Mexico, and find themselves in the more fertile +country immediately bordering on it. Here, too, they found numbers of +quaint Mexican towns, of which they passed one or more nearly every day. + +These were full of interest to the young explorers. While looking at +their low flat-roofed houses, built of adobe, or great sun-dried bricks +of mud and straw, it was hard to realize that they were still in America +and traversing one of the territories of the United States. All their +surroundings were those of the far East, and the descriptions in the +Bible of life and scenes in Palestine applied perfectly to the valley of +the Rio Grande as they saw it. The people were dark-skinned, with +straight, black hair; and while the young children ran about nearly +naked, their elders wore loose, flowing garments, and, if not +barefooted, were shod with sandals of raw hide or plaited straw. + +The square houses, with thick walls, broken only by occasional narrow +unglazed windows, were exactly like those of the Biblical pictures. +Inside, the floors were of hard-beaten clay, and there were neither +tables nor chairs, only earthen benches covered with sheep-skins or gay +striped blankets. Some of the finer houses enclosed open courts or +plazas, in which were trees and shrubs. The cooking was done in the open +air, or in round-topped earthen ovens, built outside the houses. + +The women washed clothing on flat rocks at the edge of the streams, and +young girls carried all the water used for domestic purposes in tall +earthen jars borne gracefully on their heads. The beasts of burden were +donkeys, or "burros," as the Mexicans call them. Grain was threshed by +being laid on smooth earthen threshing-floors, in the open air, and +having horses, donkeys, cattle, and sheep driven over it for hours. Wine +was kept in skins or great earthen jars. The mountains and hills of the +country were covered with pines and cedars, its cultivated valleys with +vineyards and fruit orchards; while the raising of flocks and herds was +the leading industry of its inhabitants. + +At this season of the year, though the sun shone from an unclouded sky +of the most brilliant blue, the air was dry and bracing in the daytime, +and crisp with the promises of frost at night. It was glorious weather; +and, under its influence, the second division ran a line of a hundred +miles down the river in ten days. As the entire party had looked forward +with eager anticipations to visiting Santa Fe, which is not on the Rio +Grande, but some distance to the east of it, they were greatly +disappointed to be met by a messenger from General Lyle, with orders for +Mr. Hobart to come into that place, while his party continued their line +south to Albuquerque, eighty miles beyond where they were. + +Glen was intensely disappointed at this, for Santa Fe was one of the +places he had been most anxious to visit. His disappointment was doubled +when Mr. Hobart said that he must take somebody with him as private +secretary, and intimated that his choice would have fallen on the young +front flagman if he had only learned to talk Spanish. As it was, Binney +Gibbs was chosen for the envied position; for, though he, like the rest, +had only been for a short time among Mexicans, he was already able to +speak their language with comparative ease. + +"I don't see how you learned it so quickly," said Glen, one day, when, +after he had striven in vain to make a native understand that he wished +to purchase some fruit, Binney had stepped up and explained matters with +a few words of Spanish. + +"Why, it is easy enough," replied Binney, "to anybody who understands +Latin." + +Then Glen wished that he, too, understood Latin, as he might easily have +done as well as his comrade. He wished it ten times more though, when, +on account of it, Binney rode gayly off to Santa Fe with Mr. Hobart, +while he went out to work on the line. + + + + +Chapter XXXIII. + +IN THE VALLEY OF THE RIO GRANDE. + + +Near the close of a mellow autumn day Glen and "Billy" Brackett sat on a +fragment of broken wall and gazed with interest on the scene about them. +On one side, crowning a low bluff that overlooked the Rio Grande twelve +miles below Albuquerque, was the Indian pueblo of Isletta, a picturesque +collection of adobe buildings and stockaded corrals, containing some +eight hundred inhabitants. On the other side were extensive vineyards; +beyond them were vast plains, from which flocks of bleating sheep were +being driven in for the night by Indian boys; and still beyond rose the +blue range of the Sierra Madre. The air was so clear and still that +through it the sounds of children's voices, the barking of dogs, the +bleating of sheep, the lowing of cattle, and the cracked tones of the +bell in the quaint old mission church came to the ears of Glen and his +companion with wonderful distinctness. The Indian women were preparing +their evening meals, and the fragrance of burning cedar drifted down +from the village. Never afterwards could Glen smell the odor of cedar +without having the scene of that evening vividly recalled to his mind. + +Mingled with this fragrance was another, equally distinct and +suggestive. It was that of crushed grapes; and the two explorers were +watching curiously the process of New Mexican wine-making, going on but +a short distance from them. Clumsy ox-carts, constructed without the use +of iron, and having great wooden wheels that screeched as they turned on +their ungreased wooden axles, brought in loads of purple grapes from the +vineyards. On top of the loads, as though the grapes were so much hay, +rode Indian men or boys, armed with wooden pitchforks. With these they +flung the grapes into a great vat of green ox-hides, supported, about +ten feet from the ground, by four heavy posts. The sides of this vat +were drawn to a point at the bottom, where there was a small outlet +left, through which the grape-juice might flow into a second vat, placed +directly beneath the other. It was similar in all respects to the first, +except that it offered no opening for the escape of its contents. + +When a load of grapes had been pitched into the upper vat, two naked +Indians clambered up, and, springing on top of them, began to tread them +with their feet. For hours they continued this performance, while a +steady stream of blood-red juice flowed from the upper vat into the +lower. From there it was dipped into huge earthen jars, and set away to +ferment. + +"Well," said 'Billy' Brackett, at length, as he rose and started towards +camp, "I've seen all the native wine-making I want to. If those beggars +had only washed themselves first it wouldn't be so bad, but I honestly +believe they only take a bath once a year, and that is in grape-juice." + +"It is pretty bad," laughed Glen, "though I don't know as it is any +worse than their milking." This was a sore point with him, for he was +very fond of fresh milk; but, after once witnessing a New Mexican +milking, and seeing cows, mares, asses, sheep, and goats all milked into +the same vessel, he preferred to go without it. + +It was surprising to see what a tall, broad-shouldered fellow Glen was +getting to be; and a single glance was sufficient to show what crossing +the Plains had done for him. His eyes had the clear look of perfect +health; his face, neck, and hands were as brown as sun and wind could +make them, while his hair had entirely recovered from its Kansas City +shearing, and was now plainly visible beneath the broad sombrero that +replaced the hat lost on the Spanish Peak. A heavy blue flannel shirt, a +pair of army trousers tucked into the tops of cowhide boots, a leather +belt supporting a revolver and a sheath-knife, and a silk handkerchief +loosely knotted about his neck, completed his costume. + +"Billy" Brackett was dressed in a similar fashion, except that he still +clung fondly to the shiny cutaway coat in which he was introduced to the +reader, and to which he was deeply attached. + +As they walked towards camp, he and Glen discussed the topic now +uppermost in their minds, namely, that of their future movements. Since +going to Santa Fe, Mr. Hobart had not rejoined them, though a note +received from him at Albuquerque promised that he would do so at +Isletta, to which place he ordered the line to be run. Now they had been +for two days at the Pueblo, but where they were to go next, or whether +they were to go any farther, they did not know, and were anxious to find +out. They had heard vague rumors that General Lyle was to return to the +States, and that all the plans of the expedition might be changed. Thus, +when Mr. Hobart galloped into camp just after supper that evening, he +was heartily welcomed. + +"Where is Binney Gibbs?" was the first question asked. + +"Promoted to be private secretary to General Elting, the new chief," was +the reply. + +"Where is General Elting?" + +"He is still in Santa Fe, but is going across with the other two +divisions by the Gila route." + +"And where are we going?" + +"Going to run a one-thousand-mile line from here to the Pacific Ocean, +in just the shortest time we can accomplish it." + +"Good enough! Hurrah for the Pacific! Hurrah for California!" shouted +every member of the party but one. He was the leveller; and when Mr. +Hobart, after explaining the dangers and hardships of the trip before +them, said that anybody who did not care to encounter them would be +furnished with free transportation from that point back to the States, +this man decided to accept the offer. + +Little, did Glen Eddy imagine, as he bade him good-bye the next day, +what an effect upon his future the decision thus suddenly reached by the +leveller was to have. In the stage from Santa Fe the latter met a +gentleman and his wife who were greatly interested in his description of +the explorations in which he had just taken part. Among other things, he +described Glen Eddy Matherson's remarkable adventures; and the lady, who +seemed struck by the boy's name, asked many questions concerning him. +Fortunately, the leveller was able to answer most of them, and thus she +learned, what Glen had never attempted to conceal, that he was an +adopted son of Luke Matherson, of Brimfield, Pennsylvania, who had saved +him from a railroad wreck in Glen Eddy creek when he was a baby. She did +not explain why she asked these questions, and soon changed the +conversation to other topics. + +The most immediate effect upon Glen of the leveller's departure was to +promote him and increase his pay. As it was impossible, in that country, +to engage men of experience to fill places in an engineer corps, Mr. +Brackett was obliged to take the level, while Mr. Hobart himself took +charge of the transit; and, when the former was asked who he would like +as rodman in place of Binney Gibbs, he promptly answered, "Glen +Matherson." + +In speaking to Glen of this change of position, the division engineer +asked the boy if he was sure he wanted to go through to the Pacific. + +"Of course I do, sir!" answered Glen, in surprise at the question. + +"It is going to be a trip full of danger and all sorts of hardships, +possibly including starvation and freezing. I don't know but what you +really ought to go back." + +"Oh, sir, please don't send me back!" pleaded Glen, earnestly. "I should +feel awfully to have to go home with the trip only half finished." + +"Then you are willing to face all the hardships?" + +"Yes, sir, I'm willing to face anything, rather than going back." + +"All right!" laughed Mr. Hobart; "I suppose I shall have to take you +along. I proposed to the general to take Binney Gibbs with him, or else +send him back to the States, because I did not consider him strong +enough to endure what is ahead of us; but I don't see how I could urge +that in your case, for I actually believe you are one of the toughest +among us." + +How Glen rejoiced in his strength as he heard this! Perhaps it was going +to prove as valuable to him as a scholarship, after all. + +"Mr. Brackett is going to run the level, and wants you for his rodman," +continued Mr. Hobart. "The pay will be double what you are now +receiving, and you can soon fit yourself for the position by a little +hard study; for Mr. Brackett is a capital instructor. I have told him +that he may take you on trial, and see what he can do with you. I also +told him of your aversion to study, and gave him to understand what a +difficult job he had undertaken." + +Glen flushed at this, and gazed at the ground for a moment. Finally he +said, "Studying seems very different when you can look right ahead and +see what good it is going to do." + +"Yes," replied Mr. Hobart, "I know it does. Still, in most cases we have +to trust the word of those who can look ahead when we can't. I've no +doubt but what you were told at school that a knowledge of Latin would +aid you in learning many other languages; but you were not willing to +believe it until you saw for yourself how it helped Binney Gibbs pick up +Spanish." + +Glen did not make any promises aloud in regard to fitting himself for +his new position, for he believed in actions rather than words; but he +made one to himself, and determined to keep it. + +They remained in camp at Isletta one day longer, to prepare for their +arduous undertaking, and to engage several new axemen to fill the places +of those who had been promoted; but on the second morning the transit +was set up over the last stake they had driven, and its telescope was +pointed due west. + +At first Glen missed the excitement of riding in advance of the party +with the front flag. On a preliminary survey, the level can hardly keep +up with the transit; and it was not so pleasant to be always behind, +striving to catch up, as it had been to be in the lead. + +To "Billy" Brackett the change of positions came even harder than to +Glen, because in taking the level he had gone back a step rather than +forward; but he never showed it. Indeed, by his steady cheerfulness and +unceasing flow of good spirits the new leveller soon banished even a +shadow of regret from the mind of his young rodman, and taught him to +feel a real interest in his new work. + +So they slowly climbed the western slope of the Rio Grande Valley, +crossed the barren plateau of the divide between it and the Rio Puerco, +followed that stream and its tributary, the San Jose, on the banks of +which they saw the ancient pueblos of Laguna and Acoma, into another +region of rugged mountains, and, in about two weeks, found themselves at +the forlorn frontier post of Fort Wingate, where they were to obtain +their final supplies for the winter. + + + + +Chapter XXXIV. + +BAITING A WOLF-TRAP. + + +At Fort Wingate the real hardships of the trip began in an unexpected +manner. Instead of being plentifully supplied with provisions, as had +been reported, the post was found to be very poorly provided, and all +that could be spared to the engineers were condemned quartermaster's +stores. The party must take these or nothing; and when Mr. Hobart left +it to his men whether they should accept the damaged stores and push on, +or go back to the Rio Grande, they unanimously said, "Go on!" So, for +the next two months, they made the best of half-spoiled hams and bacon, +hard-tack filled with white worms, and sugar abounding in little black +bugs, that fortunately floated on top of the coffee and could be skimmed +off. + +The men provided themselves with a number of little luxuries at the +sutler's--the last store they would see for months--and "Billy" Brackett +bought a cheese. This was considered a very queer purchase; but Glen's +was queerer still, for it was a small quantity of strychnine. He only +procured this after giving assurances that he did not propose to commit +suicide and making many promises to be very careful in its use. What he +proposed to do with the poison he did not confide to anybody except his +friend "Billy" Brackett, who agreed with him that it was a capital plan. + +A run of twelve miles from Fort Wingate brought the party to a camp, in +a forest of the most stately yellow-pines they had ever seen, beside a +great spring of ice-cold water--known as the Agua Fria (cold water). +Here, as soon as supper was over, Glen proceeded to put his great plan +into execution. The nights were now very cold, and the boy generally +woke before morning to find himself shivering beneath his insufficient +covering of blankets. Every night, too, since entering the mountains the +party had been annoyed by the sneaking visits and unearthly howlings of +wolves that hung on the outskirts of the camp from dark to daylight, +every now and then making a quick dash through it, if the guard was not +watching sharply, and snatching at bits of food or at anything made of +leather that lay in their path. So Glen thought he would teach the +wolves a lesson, which should at the same time add some of their skins +to his bed-clothing; and it was for this purpose he had procured the +strychnine. + +Now, with "Billy" Brackett's help, he dragged out from one of the wagons +a gunny-sack, containing some kidneys, lungs, and other refuse animal +matter, obtained from the Fort Wingate butcher, and these he smeared +with the deadly powder. Then they prepared several torches of pine +slivers, and, amid the unanswered questionings of their companions, left +camp, carrying the sack of meat between them. Beginning at a point a few +rods from the tents, they strewed the poisoned bait for half a mile +along the banks of the little stream flowing from the spring. It was an +exciting task, for they seemed to hear suspicious sniffs, and the soft +pattering of feet on both sides of them; while Glen felt certain that +his torchlight was reflected from gleaming eyeballs more than once. So +greatly did these things work upon their imaginations that when, as they +started back towards camp, their last torch suddenly went out, leaving +them in blackest darkness, they both took to their heels, and raced +breathlessly for the distant light of the friendly camp-fire. When they +reached it, in perfect safety, they burst out laughing in one another's +faces, and wondered what they had run from. + +Glen was disappointed, as he lay shivering in his blankets that night, +not to hear so many wolves as usual, while the few howls that did reach +his ears seemed to come from a distance. Still, he comforted himself +with the reflection that dead wolves couldn't howl, and doubtless all +those that had ventured near the camp had eaten the poisoned meat, and +had their howlings effectually silenced. + +It seemed to him that he had hardly dropped asleep when he was rudely +awakened by being pulled, feet foremost, out of his blankets, under the +side of the tent, and into the open air. At the same moment "Billy" +Brackett's laughing voice cried, "Come, Glen, here it is broad daylight, +and high time we were gathering in our wolves." + +Whew! how cold it was! and in what a hurry Glen sprang from the frozen +ground, to rush back into the tent for his boots and army overcoat. He +had everything else on, for there was very little undressing at night in +that party. As for being sleepy, the biting air had awakened him as +effectually as a dash of ice-water. + +As they left camp, "Billy" Brackett shouted back to one of the Mexican +axemen to follow after them, and the man answered that he would be along +in a minute. It was light enough, when they reached the place where they +had left the first of the poisoned meat, for them to see it if it had +been there; but it was not. Neither was there any dead wolf to be found +in the vicinity. It was the same along the whole line, where they had +scattered their bait. They could neither discover meat nor wolves. + +"Hello!" exclaimed "Billy" Brackett softly, as they were about to turn +back, "I believe the wolves are cooking their meat;" and with that he +pointed to a thin column of blue smoke rising through the trees at some +distance farther down the stream. + +"Perhaps they are Indians," suggested Glen. + +"Perhaps they are. Let's go and find out. We can take a look at them +without being seen. Besides, the Indians hereabout are peaceful now." + +So they crept cautiously towards the smoke, until at length they were +lying flat on the ground, on the edge of a low bank, with their heads +hidden in tufts of grass, peering into a small encampment of Indians +just below them. They had hardly gained this position when Glen, +uttering a cry of horror, sprang down the bank, rushed in among the +Indians, and, snatching a piece of meat from the hands of one of them, +who was raising it to his mouth, flung it so far away that it was +snapped up and swallowed by a lean, wolfish-looking cur, that had not +dared venture near the fire. + +At Glen's sudden appearance the Indian women and children ran screaming +into the bushes, while the men, springing to their feet, surrounded him +with angry exclamations and significant handlings of their knives. They +received a second surprise, and fell back a little as "Billy" Brackett, +who had not at first understood Glen's precipitate action, came rushing +down the bank after him, shouting, "Stand back, you villains! If you lay +a hand on him, I'll blow the tops of all your heads off!" + +At the same time Glen was making all the faces expressive of extreme +disgust that he could think of, and saying, as he pointed to a pile of +meat lying in a gunny-sack beside the fire: + +"_Carne no bueno! Muy mal! No bueno por hombre!_" which was the best +Spanish he knew for, "The meat is not good. It is very bad, and not at +all good for a man to eat." + +But the Indians could not understand. The meat might not be good enough +for white men, who were so very particular, but it was good enough for +them. The white men had thrown it away and they had found it. They meant +to eat it, too, for they were very hungry. Now, if these uninvited +guests to their camp would not clear out and let them eat their +breakfast in peace, they must suffer the consequences. + +This is what they said; but neither Glen nor "Billy" Brackett understood +a word of it. They were preparing to defend themselves, as well as they +could, from the scowling Indians, who were again advancing upon them +with drawn knives. + +Both Glen and his companion had their rifles, and now, as they stepped +slowly backward, they held them ready for instant use. + +"We won't fire," said "Billy" Brackett, "unless they point a gun or an +arrow at us; for the first shot will be the signal for a rush, and if +they make that we haven't got a living show." + +All this time the Indians, to the number of a dozen or so, advanced +steadily, taking step for step with the whites, as they fell back, and +watching for a chance to get past or around the black muzzles of those +rifles. + + + + +Chapter XXXV. + +EL MORO. + + +To Glen Eddy and "Billy" Brackett the situation looked serious, and +almost desperate, as they confronted that crowd of angry savages who +advanced towards them so steadily, and with such unmistakable meaning. + +"It's a tough outlook for us," muttered the latter. + +"Yes," answered Glen, "it is, but--" Here the boy clinched his teeth, +and clutched his rifle more firmly. + +"Look out!" cried the other, noticing that the Indians were gathering +themselves for a rush. "They're coming!" and he raised his rifle. + +In another instant he would have fired, and their fate would have been +sealed. But their time had not yet come; for, at that same moment, +another figure bounded down the low bank, and stood beside them facing +the Indians, and speaking angrily to them in Spanish. They evidently +understood him, and hesitated. He was the Mexican axeman. + +"What is the trouble, Mr. Brackett?" he asked hurriedly, in English. + +With a few words they made the situation clear to him, and he, in turn, +quickly explained to the Indians that these white men had merely tried +to save their lives by preventing them from eating poisoned meat. + +"Tell them to look at the dog!" cried Glen, pointing to the poor animal +that had swallowed the very bit of meat he had snatched from the Indian, +and which was evidently dying. + +The sight was a powerful argument, worth more than all the words that +could have been spoken. + +The Indians sullenly returned to their fire and sat down, while our +friends, casting many watchful glances over their shoulders as they +went, made good their retreat in the direction of their own camp. + +"What kind of Indians were they?" asked Glen, of the Mexican, when they +had lost sight of their unpleasant acquaintances. + +"Navajos," was the answer. + +They were indeed a wretched band of the once wealthy and powerful tribe +who claimed that whole country as a pasture-land for their countless +flocks and herds. For many years they had been hunted and killed, their +flocks driven off and their growing crops destroyed wherever found, +until now the main body of the tribe was being slowly starved out of +existence on a small reservation in Eastern New Mexico. It was so small +that no more Indians could be crowded into it, and the miserable +remnant, who still lurked in the fastnesses of their own country, +despoiled of all means of procuring a livelihood, prowled about like so +many hungry dogs, gleaning the offal from white men's camps, and hunted +like wild beasts by all whom they were unfortunate enough to meet. + +This band had probably followed Mr. Hobart's party for the sake of what +might be picked up in their abandoned camps, and had evidently regarded +the poisoned meat, discovered that very morning, as a perfect godsend. + +"I reckon we'll have to manage somehow to get along without any wolves," +said "Billy" Brackett. + +"Yes," replied Glen, regretfully, "I suppose we shall." + +Ten miles of line were run that day, through the solemn pine forest, and +darkness overtook the party on the very summit of the great Continental +Divide. They were crossing the Sierra Madre Mountains, through Zuni +Pass. As Glen subtracted the last reading of his rod for the day from +the last height of instrument, and found that it gave an elevation of +7925 feet, he uttered a shout. For weeks the elevations above sea-level +had been steadily mounting upward. This one was a foot lower than the +last. + +"Hurrah!" he cried, "we are on the Pacific Slope." + +It was hard to realize that water, on one side of where they stood, +would find its way into the Rio Grande, and so on into the Atlantic, +while that but a few feet away would flow through the Colorado into the +Pacific. The country did not look any different, but it seemed so. They +actually seemed to be breathing the air of the mighty sunset ocean, and +this one day's run seemed to place the States, and everything eastern, +farther behind them than all the rest of their journey. About the +camp-fires that evening the conversation was wholly of California and +the golden West, and they sprang to their work the next day with an +added zeal. + +Fifty miles west of this point they came to Zuni, one of the most +picturesque and by far the most interesting of American towns. First, +though, a few miles east of Zuni, they halted beside the magnificent +pile of El Moro, or Inscription Rock, that lifted its frowning +battlements, like those of some vast Moorish castle, four hundred feet +above the plain. Its base is covered, on all sides, with Indian +hieroglyphics, Spanish inscriptions, and English names. Curiously, and +almost reverently, our explorers bent down the brushwood near its +left-hand corner, and searched until they found the most ancient +inscription of all: + + "Don Joseph de Basconzeles 1526." + +There is nothing more, and this is the sole existing record of Don +Joseph's having lived and explored this country while Cortez was still +occupying the city of Mexico. Where he came from, who he was, what +companions he had, and whither he went will never be known; but through +all the centuries that have passed since he carved his name on El Moro's +base, the great rock has faithfully preserved the record of his +presence. + +The next inscription was made nearly one hundred years later, and is a +Spanish legend that is translated into, "Passed by this place with +despatches, April 16, 1606." There is no name signed, and who passed by +on that day can never be told. Then follows innumerable names of Spanish +dons, captains, bishops, soldiers, and priests, with varying dates that +come down as late as the beginning of the present century. + +The first English inscription is, "O. R., March 19, 1836." Then came +Whipple, in 1853, followed by many other American soldiers and +gold-seekers. Now Glen Eddy and "Billy" Brackett added their names +beneath those of the others of Mr. Hobart's party. Then they, too, +passed on, leaving a new page of history to be preserved by El Moro for +the eyes of future generations. + +For some hours before reaching Zuni they could see it crowning the hill +that uplifts it conspicuously above the level of the surrounding plain. +It was the "Cibola" of the earliest Spanish explorers, the chief of the +seven "golden cities" that they believed to exist in that region, and +whose alleged riches led them to undertake the conquest of the country. +They called it "Cibola" until they reached it. Then they adopted the +native name of Zuni (pronounced _Zoon-ya_), by which it has been known +ever since. + +The town, or city, contained some twelve hundred inhabitants, and the +hill on which it is built slopes gently up from the plain on one side, +but falls away in a precipitous bluff to the narrow waters of the Zuni +River on the other. + +"Billy" Brackett had read up on this ancient city of Cibola, and had +imparted so much of his information to Glen as to arouse a curiosity in +the boy's mind regarding the place fully equal to his own. So, as soon +as they reached camp, which was on the plain at the foot of the hill, +they hurried off to "do" the town. + + + + +Chapter XXXVI. + +ZUNI, THE HOME OF THE AZTECS. + + +As the leveller and his rodman ascended the slope on which Zuni is +built, they saw that the town reached entirely across it, and seemingly +presented a blank wall of irregular heights, containing only two or +three low arched openings. A ladder, here and there, reached from the +ground to a flat terrace on top of the wall; but evidently the means of +entering the place were few, and could readily be made less. Outside of +the wall were long ranges of corrals, fenced with poles, set close +together, and fixed firmly in the ground. These poles, which were of all +lengths, and the tops of ladders projecting everywhere above the roofs +of the town, gave the place a peculiarly ragged and novel appearance. +Glen wondered at the height of the buildings, most of which were of five +or six stories, and what the ladders were for. + +Seeing no other way of gaining an entrance, they followed an Indian, who +led a burro bearing an immense load of fagots on his back, into one of +the dark arched passages through the wall. It was just wide enough to +admit the laden donkey, and so low that, as they followed him, they were +obliged to stoop to avoid striking their heads against its roof. It was +so long that it evidently led beneath an entire block of houses. + +Finally they emerged from its darkness into one of the most novel +plazas, or squares, of the world. It was surrounded by buildings of +several stories in height, but very few of them had any doors, while the +tiny windows of the lower stories were placed high up, beyond a man's +reach. On the flat roof of the lower house, or first story, a second +house was built; but it was so much narrower than the first as to leave +a broad walk on the roof in front of it. Above this second house rose a +third, fourth, fifth, and often a sixth, each one narrower than the one +beneath it, so that the whole looked like a gigantic flight of steps. + +These houses were built either of adobe or of stone, plastered over with +adobe mud; and nearly all those on the ground floor were entered, as +Robinson Crusoe entered his castle, by climbing a ladder to the roof, +and descending another that led down through a skylight. Thus, if an +enemy should succeed in forcing his way through the narrow tunnel into +the plaza, the people would merely retire to their house-tops, draw up +their ladders, and he would find it as hard to get at them as ever. + +The upper tiers of houses had doors opening on the roofs of those below +them; but ladders were necessary to climb up from one terrace to +another, so that they were everywhere the most prominent feature of the +place. + +There were but few of the inhabitants in the plaza, or in the narrow +lanes leading from it to other open squares; but they swarmed on the +flat house-tops, and gazed down on our friends as eagerly as the latter +gazed up at them. Americans were curiosities to the people of Zuni in +those days. + +"Hello!" exclaimed Glen, as they stood in the middle of the plaza, +wondering which way they should go. "Here come some white fellows +dressed up like Indians. I wonder who they can be?" + +Sure enough, two young men, having white skins, blue eyes, and yellow +hair, but wearing the leggings and striped blankets of Indians, entered +the square as Glen spoke. He shouted to them, both in English and +Mexican, but they only glanced at him in a startled manner, and then, +hurriedly climbing the nearest ladder, they joined a group who were +curiously inspecting Glen and his companion from a roof. + +"Well! that is queer," said the former. "Who do you suppose those chaps +are?" + +"I shouldn't be a bit surprised if they were two of the white Indians I +have read of," answered "Billy" Brackett; "and, if so, they are the +greatest curiosities we'll see in this town." + +"I never heard of them," said Glen. "Where did they come from?" + +"That's more than I can tell, or anybody else. All we know is that the +earliest Spaniards found a race of white people living among the Pueblo +Indians, whom they describe as being exactly like these chaps grinning +at us from that roof. In one respect they are a distinct race, as they +have never been allowed to marry with the dark-skinned Indians; but in +every other respect they are thorough Puebloes, and there is no +tradition going back far enough to show that they were ever anything +else. I believe that the race is nearly extinct, and that they are now +so few in number as to be rarely seen." + +In this "Billy" Brackett was correct; for at that time there were but +three of those white Indians in Zuni, two men and a woman. + +Before leaving this remarkable town of curious people, Glen discovered +that they kept eagles for pets, and were also very fond of snakes, +especially rattlesnakes, which they did not hesitate to handle freely +and even to hold in their mouths. He saw the entire population turn out +on the flat roofs of their houses at daybreak, and, facing the east, +patiently await the coming of Montezuma, whom they firmly believed would +appear some morning in the place of the sun. He heard of, but was not +allowed to see, the perpetual fire, lighted by Montezuma, that has been +kept burning for ages by a family of priests, set apart and supported by +the people for that particular purpose. He saw women grinding corn into +fine white meal between two stones, and baking it into delicious thin +cakes on another. He saw them weaving blankets, of sheep's wool, so fine +that they will hold water for a whole day, and so strong that they will +last a long lifetime. He ate some of the white dried peaches and other +fruits that these Indians raise in such abundance and prepare with such +skill. And what pleased him more than anything else was that, in +exchange for two flour-sacks and a small piece of bacon, one of the +Indians made him a fine buckskin shirt, very much adorned with fringes, +that he wore all the rest of the winter. + +It certainly was a most interesting place, and the whole party would +gladly have lingered there longer than the three days that could be +spared to it. But it was now November, and they must be beyond the San +Francisco Mountains before the passes were blocked with heavy snows. So +they bade good-bye to Zuni and New Mexico, and, taking their way past +Jacob's Well, where a fine spring bubbles up at the bottom of a +funnel-shaped pit, six hundred feet across at the top, and a hundred and +fifty feet deep, they entered the little-known region of Northern +Arizona. + +For three months they toiled through that wild country, as lost to the +view and knowledge of white civilization as though they were running +their line through Central Africa. Then they emerged on the bank of the +mighty Colorado, and, looking across its turbid flood, saw the barren +wastes of the Great Colorado Desert; but they gave a shout of joy at the +sight, for, with all its dreariness of aspect, that was California, and +beyond it lay the Pacific, the goal of their hopes. + +The last three months had been filled with toil, hardships, and +adventure. Although in that time they saw no white men, nor men of any +kind beyond catching occasional glimpses of the stealthy Apaches, who +hung on their trail for weeks, and with whom they exchanged more than +one rifle-shot, they were never without evidences that this whole vast +country had once been occupied by a mighty people. Hardly a day passed +that Glen did not hold his rod on the ruined foundation-wall of some +huge structure of long ago, or stumble over heaps of broken pottery +graceful in form and design, or gaze wonderingly at the stone houses of +ancient cliff-dwellers perched on ledges now inaccessible, or walk in +the dry beds of crumbling aqueducts, or select choice specimens from +piles of warlike implements fashioned from shining crystal or milk-white +quartz, or, in some way, have his attention called to the fact that he +was traversing a country in which had dwelt millions of his kind, who +had long since passed away and been forgotten. He had puzzled over miles +of hieroglyphic inscriptions and rude pictures, drawn on the smooth +black walls of rugged canons, and learned from them fragmentary tales of +ancient battles or of encounters with savage beasts. + +Then, too, he had known hunger and thirst and bitter cold. His Christmas +dinner, eaten during a short pause from work on the line, had been a bit +of spoiled bacon and a couple of wormy hard-tack, with which, in honor +of the day, he had his full share of "Billy" Brackett's treasured +cheese, brought out at last to grace this feast. Not only were their +provisions nearly exhausted at that time, but it was the fifth day on +which they had been unable to wash, for want of water. Two weeks before, +a wagon had been sent to the mining-camp of Prescott, nearly a hundred +miles away, and they had nearly given up all hopes of its safe return. +That night it came into camp, and that night, too, they found a number +of rock cisterns full of water. In the darkness of that same evening, +while hastening from the pool in which he had been bathing, to get his +share of the Christmas supper, poor Glen had run plump into a gigantic +cactus, and filled his body with its tiny, barbed thorns. Altogether it +was a memorable Christmas, and one he will never forget. + +On the last night of December they built a gigantic bonfire of whole +trees, and welcomed in the new year by the light of its leaping flames. + +They had passed through vast tracts of wonderful fertility and beauty, +unknown to white men, and through regions abounding in game that they +had no time to hunt. From the summit of the Aztec Pass they had gazed, +with dismay, over the boundless expanse of the Black Forest, and then +had plunged into its dark depths. They had threaded their way through +labyrinths of precipitous canons, the walls of which rose thousands of +feet above their heads, and had known of others still more tremendous. + +They had waded through the snows of the San Francisco Mountains, and +revelled in the warmth and beauty of the superb Val de Chino, where snow +and ice are unknown. They had dodged the crashing boulders hurled down +on them in Union Pass by the Hualapi Indians, posted on the inaccessible +heights far above them. Here they had lost a wagon, crushed to splinters +by one of these masses of rock; but no lives had been sacrificed, and +their number was still the same as when they left the Rio Grande. Now +they were on the bank of the Colorado, with only one desert and one +range of mountains yet to cross. These seemed so little, after all they +had gone through; and yet that desert alone was two hundred and fifty +miles wide. Two hundred and fifty miles of sand, sage-brush, and alkali; +the most barren region of country within the limits of the United +States. If they could have looked ahead and seen what the crossing of +that desert meant, they would have entered upon the undertaking with +heavy hearts and but faint hopes of accomplishing it. How fortunate it +is that we cannot look ahead and see the trials that await us. We would +never dare face them if they should all appear to us at once; while, by +meeting them singly, and attacking them one by one, they are overcome +with comparative ease. + +But neither Glen nor his companions were thinking of the trials ahead of +them as they came in sight of the Colorado River. They were only +thinking of those left behind, and what a glorious thing it was to have +got thus far along in their tremendous journey. The transit-party had +run their line to the river's bank and gone to camp a mile or so below, +when the levellers came up, and Glen held his rod, for a final reading, +at the water's edge. + +He had just noted the figures in his book, and waved an "All right" to +"Billy" Brackett, when he was startled by a rush of hoofs and a joyous +shout. The next instant a horse was reined sharply up beside him, while +its rider was wringing his hand and uttering almost incoherent words of +extravagant joy at once more seeing him. + + + + +Chapter XXXVII. + +A PRACTICAL USE OF TRIGONOMETRY. + + +It was Binney Gibbs who had come up the river from Fort Yuma several +days before, with General Elting, to meet the second division, and guide +them to "The Needles," the point at which the line was to cross the +Colorado. The other divisions, which had followed the Gila route, and +crossed the Colorado at Fort Yuma, where the desert was narrower, had +reached the Pacific ere this, and gone on to San Francisco. The hardest +task of all, that of running a line over the desert where it was two +hundred and fifty miles wide, had been reserved for Mr. Hobart's men, +who had proved themselves so capable of enduring and overcoming +hardships. + +Binney had waited impatiently in camp until the transit-party reached +it, expecting to see Glen ride in at its head with the front flag. Then +he had borrowed a horse, and set forth to find the boy whom he had once +considered his rival, but whom he now regarded as one of his best +friends. + +After the first exchange of greetings, they stood and looked at each +other curiously. Glen's hair hung on his shoulders, and the braid that +bound the brim of his sombrero was worn to a picturesque fringe, +matching that of his buckskin shirt. He was broader and browner than +ever; and though his face was still smooth and boyish, these last three +months had stamped it with a look of resolute energy that Binney noticed +at once. + +He, too, was brown, though not nearly so tanned as Glen, in spite of the +burning suns of the Gila Valley; for his work had kept him under cover +as much as Glen's had kept him in the open air. As General Elting's +secretary, Binney had spent most of his time in the ambulance, that, +fitted up with writing-desk and table, was the chief-engineer's +field-office, or in temporary offices established in tents or houses +wherever they had halted for more than a day at a time. He had evidently +met with barbers along the comparatively well-travelled Gila; while, as +compared with Glen's picturesquely ragged costume, his was that of +respectable civilization. Although he, too, was the picture of health, +his frame lacked the breadth and fulness of Glen's, and it was evident +at a glance that, in the matter of physical strength, he was even more +greatly the other's inferior than when they left Brimfield. + +Glen could not help noting this with a feeling of secret satisfaction; +but, as they rode towards camp together, and Binney described his +winter's experiences, Glen began to regard him with vastly increased +respect. He thought he had studied hard, and done well to master the +mysteries of adjusting and running a level, perfecting himself as a +rodman, and learning to plot profile; but his knowledge appeared +insignificant as compared with that which Binney had picked up and +stored away. Not only had he learned to speak Spanish fluently, but he +had become enough of a geologist to talk understandingly of coal-seams +and ore-beds. He had the whole history of the country through which he +had passed, from the date of its Spanish discovery, at his tongue's end. +He spoke familiarly of the notable men to whom, at General Elting's +dictation, he had written letters, and altogether he appeared to be a +self-possessed, well-informed young man of the world. + +Poor Glen was beginning to feel very boyish and quite abashed in the +presence of so much wisdom, and to wonder if he had not been wasting his +opportunities on this trip as he had those of school. His thoughts were +inclining towards a decidedly unpleasant turn, when they were suddenly +set right again by Binney, who exclaimed, "But, I say, old man, what a +fine thing you fellows have done this winter! The general declares that +you have made one of the most notable surveys on record; and it's a +thing every one of you ought to be proud of. You should have heard him +congratulate Mr. Hobart. He asked at once about you, too, and wants to +see you as soon as you get in. He seems to take a great interest in you, +and has spoken of you several times. I expect, if you choose to keep on +in this business, you can always be sure of a job through him. He seems +to think it queer that you should be a year older than I am; but I told +him it was certainly so, because I knew just when your birthday came." + +Glen was on the point of saying that, if Binney knew that, it was more +than he did, but something thing kept him silent. He hated to +acknowledge that he knew nothing of his real birthday, nor how old he +really was, but he wondered if he could truly be a year older than this +wise young secretary. + +At this point the conversation was interrupted by their arrival at camp, +and by General Elting stepping from his tent to give Glen a hearty +handshake as he exclaimed, + +"My dear boy, I am delighted and thankful to see you again. I tried to +persuade our friend Mr. Hobart, when I last saw him at Santa Fe, that, +in spite of your performance on that railroad ride you and I took +together last summer, you were too young to make the trip I had laid out +for him. He said he didn't know anything about your age, but that you +were certainly strong and plucky enough for the trip. I made him +promise, though, to try and induce you to go back from Isletta; but he +doesn't seem to have succeeded." + +"No, sir," laughed Glen, "and I'm awfully glad he didn't, for it's been +the most glorious kind of a trip, and I have enjoyed every minute of +it." + +"I am glad, too, now that it is all over; but I must tell you that, if I +had not been assured that you were a whole year older than my young +secretary here, I should have insisted on your going back, for I +considered it too hard and dangerous a trip for a boy so young as I had +supposed you to be until then." + +Here was another good reason why Glen was glad he had remained silent on +the subject of his birthday. + +"Now what do you think of running a line across the desert ahead of us?" +continued the chief-engineer; "are you as anxious to undertake that as +you were to cross Arizona?" + +"Yes, indeed, I am, sir," replied Glen, earnestly. "I am anxious to go +wherever the second division goes; and if anybody can get a line across +that desert, I know we can." + +"I believe you can," said the chief, smiling at the boy's enthusiasm, +"and I am going along to see how you do it." + +The Colorado was so broad, deep, and swift that Glen wondered how they +were going to measure across it, and had a vague idea that it could be +done by stretching a long rope from bank to bank. He asked "Billy" +Brackett; and when the leveller answered, "By triangulation, of course," +Glen showed, by his puzzled expression, that he was as much in the dark +as ever. + +"You have studied geometry and trigonometry, haven't you?" asked the +leveller. + +Glen was obliged to confess that, as he had not been able to see the use +of those studies, he had not paid much attention to them. + +"Well, then, perhaps you'll have a better opinion of old Euclid when you +see the practical use we'll put him to to-morrow," laughed "Billy" +Brackett. + +Glen did see, the next day, and wondered at the simplicity of the +operation. The front flag was sent across the river in a boat, and on +the opposite side he drove a stake. While he was thus engaged, a line a +quarter of a mile long was measured on the bank where the rest of the +party still remained, and a stake was driven at each end of it. The +transit was set up over one of these stakes, and its telescope was +pointed first at the other and then at the one across the river, by +which means the angle where it stood was taken. It was then set over the +stake at the other end of the measured line, and that angle was also +taken. Then Mr. Hobart drew, on a leaf of his transit-book, a triangle, +of which the base represented the line measured between the two stakes +on his side of the river, and one side represented the distance across +the river that he wished to find. He thus had one side and two angles of +a triangle given to find one of the other two sides, and he solved the +problem as easily as any boy or girl of the trigonometry-class can whose +time in school has not been wasted as Glen Eddy's was. + +It was a simple operation, and one easily performed, but it involved a +knowledge of the four fundamental rules of arithmetic, of proportion, or +the rule of three, of geometry, of trigonometry, and of how to use a +surveyor's transit; all of which, except the last, are included in the +regular course of studies of every boy and girl in America who receives +a common-school education. + +Glen had also been sent across the river, where he held his rod so high +up on the bank that the cross hair in the telescope of the level cut +just one tenth of an inch above its bottom. Then, when "Billy" Brackett +came over, and went on beyond Glen, he set the level up so high on the +bank that, through it, he could just see the top of the rod, extended to +its extreme length. So they climbed slowly up out of the Colorado +Valley, and began to traverse the dreary country that lay between it and +the Sierra Nevada. + +For the first hundred miles or so they got along very well, so far as +water was concerned, though the mules and horses speedily began to grow +thin and weak for want of food. The patches of grass were very few and +far between, and the rations of corn exceedingly small; for in that +country corn was worth its weight in gold, and scarce at that. + + + + +Chapter XXXVIII. + +DYING OF THIRST IN THE DESERT. + + +Matters were bad enough by the time Mr. Hobart's party reached Camp +Cady, nearly half way across the desert; but, from there on, they became +much worse. The line could no longer follow the winding government +trail, but must be run straight for the distant mountains, that were now +plainly to be seen. + +This experience vividly recalled that of the preceding summer, when they +were crossing the Plains towards the Rocky Mountains, and longing so +eagerly to reach them. But this was infinitely worse than that. There +they generally found water that was sweet and fit to drink, and always +had plenty of grass for their stock. Here they rarely found water, and +when they did it was nearly always so strongly impregnated with salt, +soda, and alkali as to be unfit to drink. Here, too, instead of grass, +they found only sand, sage brush, greasewood, and cacti. To be sure the +greasewood was a comfort, because it burned just as readily green as +dry, and in certain of the cacti, round ones covered with long curved +spines, they could nearly always find a mouthful of water, but none of +these things afforded any nourishment for the hungry animals. They +became so ravenous that they gnawed off one another's manes and tails, +chewed up the wagon covers, and every other piece of cloth they could +get hold of. Then they began to die so fast from starvation and +exhaustion that some dead ones were left behind with every camp, and +each day the number was increased. + +At nearly every camp, too, a wagon was abandoned, and for miles they +could look back and see its white cover, looming above the dreary +expanse of sand and sage, like a monument to the faithful animals that +had fallen beside it. At length but one wagon and the two ambulances +were left. Tents, baggage, clothing, all the bedding except one blanket +apiece, and the greater part of their provisions, had been thrown away, +or left in the abandoned wagons. Within forty miles of the mountains +they gave up work on the line. The men had no longer the strength to +drag the chain or carry the instruments. They still noted their course +by compass, and the height of various elevations as they crossed them, +by the barometer. They were even able to measure the distance from one +sad camping-place to another, by means of the odometer, an instrument +that, attached to a wagon-wheel, records the number of revolutions made +by it. This number, multiplied by the circumference of the wheel, gave +them the distance in feet and inches. Everybody was now on foot, even +the chief's saddle-horse, Senor, and Glen's Nettle being harnessed to +one of the ambulances. + +At last, when the mountains appeared tantalizingly near, but when they +were still nearly twenty miles away, it seemed as though the end had +come. For two days neither men nor animals had tasted a drop of water. +At the close of the second day, a slight elevation had disclosed a lake +lying at their feet, glowing in the red beams of the setting sun. With +feeble strength they had rushed to it, and flung themselves into its +tempting waters. They were as salt as brine, and, with this bitter +disappointment, came despair. They lighted fires and made coffee with +the brackish water that oozed into holes dug in the salt-encrusted sand, +but it sickened them, and they could not drink it. + +Their lips were cracked, their tongues swollen, their throats like dry +leather, and their voices were hardly more than husky whispers. + +As the moon rose that evening, and poured its cold light on the +outstretched forms grouped about the solitary, white-sheeted wagon, a +hand was laid on Glen's shoulder, and the chief's voice bade the boy +rise and follow him. Leading the way to the ambulance in which Binney +Gibbs slept the sleep of utter exhaustion and despair, and to which the +horses Senor and Nettle were fastened, the general said, + +"There is but one hope left for us, Matherson. It is certain that some +of the party have not strength enough to carry them to the mountains, +and equally so that, without water, the teams can never reach there. In +the valleys of these mountains are streams, and on these streams are +ranches. If we can get word to one of these, the entire party may yet be +saved. I am going to try and ride there to-night, and I want you to come +with me. Our horses, and yours in particular, are the freshest of all +the animals. I have told Mr. Hobart; but there is no need of rousing any +of the others to a sense of their misery. Will you make the attempt with +me?" + +Of course the boy would go; and, for a moment, he almost forgot his +sufferings, in a feeling of pride that he should be selected for such an +undertaking. + +A minute later they rode slowly away, and the desert sands so muffled +the sound of their horses' hoofs that their departure was not noted by +those whom they left. + +With fresh, strong animals, and without that terrible choking thirst, +that night ride over the moonlight plain would have been a rare +pleasure. Under the circumstances it was like a frightful dream. Neither +of the riders cared to talk; the effort was too painful; but both +thought of the last ride they had taken together in the cab of a +locomotive on a Missouri railroad, and the man looked tenderly at the +boy, as he recalled the incidents of that night. For an hour they rode +in silence, their panting steeds maintaining a shambling gait through +the sand, that was neither a trot nor a lope, but a mixture of the two. +Then they dropped into a walk, and, for another hour, were only roused +to greater speed by infinite exertions on the part of their riders. At +last Senor stumbled heavily, recovered himself, and then fell. + +"There is no use trying to get him up again," said the chief. "I'm +afraid the poor old horse is done for; but you must ride on, and I will +follow on foot. Head for that dark space. It marks a valley. I shall not +be far behind you. If you find water, fire your pistol. The sound will +give me new strength. Good-bye, and may God prosper you." + +[Illustration: "'HEAD FOR THAT DARK SPACE. IT MARKS A VALLEY.... IF YOU +FIND WATER, FIRE YOUR PISTOL.'"] + +"But I hate to leave you, sir." + +"Never mind me; hurry on. A moment wasted now may be at the price of a +life." + +So Glen went on alone, trying, in husky tones, to encourage his brave +little mare, and urge her to renewed efforts. She seemed to realize that +this was a struggle for life, and responded nobly. She even broke into a +lope, as the ground became harder. The sand was disappearing. Water +might be nearer than they thought. + +Five miles farther Nettle carried her rider, and then she staggered +beneath his weight. She could not bear him a rod farther, and he knew +it. A choking sob rose in the boy's parched throat as he dismounted and +left her standing there, the plucky steed that had brought him so far +and so faithfully; but he could not stay with her, he must go on. He +could see the opening to the valley plainly now, though it was still +some miles away; and, summoning all his strength, he walked towards it. + +At half the distance he was skirting a foot-hill, when down its gravelly +side, directly towards him, rushed two animals, like great dogs. They +were mountain-wolves at play, one chasing the other, and they came on, +apparently without seeing him. When, with a hoarse cry, he attracted +their attention, they stopped, and, sitting on their haunches, not more +than a couple of rods away, gazed at him curiously. + +He dared not fire at them, for fear of only wounding one and thus +arousing their fury. Nor did he wish to raise false hopes in the mind of +General Elting, who might hear the shot and think it meant water. + +Some one had told him of the cowardice of wolves. He would try it. +Picking up a stone, he flung it at them, at the same time running +forward, brandishing his arms, and giving a feeble shout. They sprang +aside, hesitated a moment, and then turned tail and fled. + +Soon afterwards Glen reached the valley, which was apparently about half +a mile broad. On its farther side was a line of shadow blacker than the +rest. It might be timber. With tottering footsteps the boy staggered +towards it. As his feet touched a patch of grass he could have knelt and +kissed it, but at the same instant he heard the most blessed sound on +earth, the trickling of a rivulet. He fell as he reached it, and plunged +his head into the life-giving water. It was warm and strongly +impregnated with sulphur; but never had he tasted anything so delicious, +nor will he ever again. + +Had it been cold water, the amount that he drank might have killed him; +as it was, it only made him sick. After a while he recovered, and then +how he gloated in that tiny stream. How he bathed his hands and face, +and, suddenly, how he wished the others were there with him. Perhaps a +shot might bear the joyful news to the ears of the general. + +With the thought he drew his revolver, and roused the mountain echoes +with its six shots, fired in quick succession. Then he tried to walk up +the valley in the hope of finding a ranch. It was all he could do to +keep on his feet, and only a mighty effort of will restrained him from +flinging himself down on the grass and going to sleep beside that stream +of blessed water. + +A few minutes later there came a quick rush of hoofs from up the valley, +and in the moonlight he saw two horsemen galloping towards him. They +dashed up with hurried questions as to the firing they had heard, and, +somehow, he managed to make them understand that a party of white men +were dying of thirst twenty miles out on the desert. + +The next thing he knew, he was in a house, and dropping into a sleep of +such utter weariness that to do anything else would have been beyond his +utmost power of mind or body. + + + + +Chapter XXXIX. + +CROSSING THE SIERRA NEVADA. + + +When Glen next woke to a realizing sense of his surroundings, the +evening shadows had again fallen, and he heard familiar voices near by +him. All were there, General Elting, Mr. Hobart, "Billy" Brackett, +Binney Gibbs, and the rest, just sitting down to a supper at the +hospitable ranch table. It was laden with fresh beef, soft bread, +butter, eggs, milk, boiled cabbage, and tea, all of them luxuries that +they had not tasted for months. And they had plates, cups and saucers, +spoons, knives, and forks. Glen wondered if he should know how to use +them; but he did not wonder if he were hungry. Nor did he wait for an +invitation to join that supper-party. + +He was dirty and ragged and unkempt as he entered the room in which his +comrades were assembled; but what did they care? He was the one who had +found help and sent it to them in the time of their sore need. Some of +them owed their lives to him, perhaps all of them did. Every man in the +room stood up, as the chief took him by the hand and led him to the head +of the table, saying, + +"Here he is, gentlemen. Here is the lad who saved the second division. +Some of us might have got through without his help; others certainly +would not. Right here I wish to thank him, and to thank God for the +strength, pluck, and powers of endurance with which this boy, to whom we +owe so much, is endowed." + +And Glen! How did he take all this praise? Why, he was so hungry, and +his eyes were fixed so eagerly on the table full of good things spread +before him that he hardly knew what the general was talking about. If +they would only let him sit down and eat, and drink some of that +delicious-looking water! He came very near interrupting the proceedings +by doing so. At length, to his great relief, they all sat down, and in a +moment Glen was eating and drinking in a manner only possible to a +hearty boy who has gone without water and almost without food for two +days. + +A little later, seated before a glorious camp-fire of oak logs outside +the ranch, Glen learned how the two ranchmen, after getting him to the +house, had loaded a wagon with barrels of water and gone out on the +desert. They first found General Elting, nearly exhausted, but still +walking, within a couple of miles of the valley, and afterwards +discovered the rest of the party dragging themselves falteringly along +beside one of the ambulances, which, with the notes and maps of the +expedition, was the only thing they had attempted to bring in. + +And Nettle! Oh, yes; the brave little mare was also found, revived, and +brought in to the ranch. She needed a long rest; and both for her sake +and as a token of his gratitude, Glen presented her to one of the +ranchmen. The settlers went out that same night after the other +ambulance and the wagon, abandoned on the shore of the salt lake. When +they returned, General Elting traded his big, nearly exhausted army +mules for their wiry little bronchos, giving two for one, and thus +securing fresh teams to haul all that remained of his wagon-train to the +coast. + +The party spent three days in recruiting at this kindly ranch, to which +they will always look back with grateful hearts, and think of as one of +the most beautiful spots on earth. Then, strengthened and refreshed, +they passed on up the valley, which proved to be that of the Tehachapa, +the very pass towards which they had directed their course from the +moment of leaving the Colorado. + +How beautiful seemed its oak-groves, its meadows, its abounding springs +of cool, sweet water, and its clear, bracing air! How they ate and slept +and worked and enjoyed living! What grand camp-fires they had, and how +much merriment circulated about them! And had they not cause for +rejoicing? Had they not toiled across half the width of a continent? Had +they not traversed vast plains and mountain-ranges and deserts? Had they +not encountered savage men and savage beasts? Had they not suffered from +hunger, thirst, cold, and hardships of all kinds? Had they not conquered +and triumphed over all these? Were they not left far behind, and was not +the journey's end in sight? No wonder they were light-hearted and +excited, and no wonder they seemed to inhale champagne with every breath +of that mountain air! + +General Elting left them at the summit of the pass, and, taking Binney +Gibbs with him in his private ambulance, hastened on to Los Angeles to +make arrangements for the transportation of the party, by steamer, up +the coast to San Francisco; for there were no railroads in California in +those days. + +The rest of the engineers travelled leisurely down the western slope of +the Sierras into a region that became more charming with each mile of +progress. It was spring-time. The rainy season was drawing to its close, +and the Golden State was at its best. The air was filled with the sweet +scents of innumerable flowers, the song of birds, and the music of +rushing waters. The bay-trees wore their new spring robes of vivid +green, from which the soft winds shook out delightfully spicy odors. The +trunks of the manzanitas glowed beneath their wine-red skins, while the +madronos were clad in glossy, fawn-colored satins. To the toil-worn +explorers, just off the alkaline sands of the parched and verdureless +desert, the old mission of San Gabriel, nestled at the base of the +western foot-hills, seemed the very garden-spot of the world. Here were +groves of oranges, lemons, limes, pomegranates, and olives. Here were +roses and jasmines. Here were heliotrope and fuchsias, grown to be +trees, and a bewildering profusion of climbing vines and flowering +shrubs, of which they knew not the names. + +But they recognized the oranges, though none of them had ever seen one +growing before; and, with a shout of joy, the entire party rushed into +the grove, where the trees were laden at once with the luscious fruit +and perfumed blossoms. There was no pause to discuss the proper method +of peeling an orange in this case, for they did not stop to peel them at +all. They just ate them, skin and all, like so many apples. It was such +a treat as they had never enjoyed before, and they made the most of it. + +Not long after leaving San Gabriel, as they were making a night march +towards Los Angeles, Glen suddenly became aware of a strange humming +sound above his head; and, looking up, saw a telegraph wire. With a glad +shout he announced its presence. It was the most civilized thing they +had seen since leaving Kansas. + +At Los Angeles they could not make up their minds to endure the close, +dark rooms of the Fonda, and so camped out for the night in the +government corral beside their wagon. + +The following day they made their last march over twenty miles of level +prairie, dotted with flocks and herds, to San Pedro, on the coast. It +was late in the afternoon, and the sun was setting, when, from a slight +eminence, they caught their first glimpse of the gold-tinted Pacific +waters. For a moment they gazed in silence, with hearts too full for +words. Then everybody shook hands with the one nearest to him, and more +than one tear of joyful emotion trickled down the bronzed and +weather-beaten cheeks of the explorers. As for Glen Eddy, he never +expects to be so thrilled again as he was by the sight of that mighty +ocean gleaming in the red light of the setting sun, and marking the end +of the most notable journey of his life. + +That night they made their last camp, and gathered about their final +camp-fire. Glen and "Billy" Brackett had shared their blankets ever +since leaving the Rio Grande, and had hardly slept, even beneath a +canvas roof, in all those months. Now, as they lay together for the last +time, on their bed of grassy turf, which is of all beds the one that +brings the sweetest and soundest sleep, and gazed at the stars that had +kept faithful watch above them for so long, they talked in low tones +until a gentle sea-breeze set in and they were lulled to sleep by the +murmur of distant breakers, a music now heard by both of them for the +first time in their lives. + +The next day they turned over their sole remaining wagon and their +ambulance to a government quartermaster. Then, having no baggage, they +were ready, without further preparation, to embark on the steamer +_Orizaba_ for San Francisco, to which place General Elting and Binney +Gibbs had gone on, by stage, from Los Angeles, some days before. + +As the great ship entered the Golden Gate and steamed up the bay, past +Tamalpias, past the Presidio, past Alcatraz Island, and into the harbor +of San Francisco, Glen Eddy found it hard to realize that it was all +true, and that this young explorer, who was about to set foot in the +city of his most romantic day dreams, was really the boy who had started +from Brimfield ten months before, without an idea of what was before +him. + + + + +Chapter XL. + +A HOME AND TWO FATHERS. + + +Of course they all went to the Occidental, for everybody went first to +the Occidental in those days. As they drove through the city, in open +carriages, their long hair, buckskin shirts, rags, in some cases +soleless and toeless boots, and generally wild and disreputable +appearance attracted much amused attention from the well-dressed +shoppers of Montgomery Street; and, when they trooped into the marble +rotunda of the great hotel, they excited the universal curiosity of its +other and more civilized guests. + +But they did not mind--they enjoyed the sensation they were creating; +and Glen, who was one of the wildest-looking of them all, rather pitied +Binney Gibbs on account of the fine clothing he had already assumed, as +the two met and exchanged hearty greetings once more. + +"Come up into my room, Glen," said Binney, eagerly, "I've got a lot of +Brimfield news, and there's a pile of letters for you besides. Only +think, Lame Wolf is playing short-stop on the ball nine, and they say +he's going to make one of the best players they've ever had." + +The last news Glen had received from home was in the letters Mr. Hobart +had brought from Santa Fe nearly five months before. He had learned then +of Lame Wolf's safe arrival at Brimfield, and of his beginning to study +English; but now to hear of his being on the ball nine! That was making +progress; and the boy felt very proud of his young Indian. But there was +more startling news than that awaiting him. In one of the letters from +his adopted father, which, though it bore the latest date, had already +been waiting in San Francisco more than a month, he read, with +amazement, the following paragraphs: + +"I have just received a note from a lady who writes that she met a +gentleman in New Mexico who told her all about you. She was intensely +interested, because she thinks she knew your mother, and travelled with +her and you on the day the train was wrecked in Glen Eddy creek, when +you and I were the only survivors. She also says that the mother with +whom she travelled said her baby was just a year old, and that day was +his birthday. So, my dear boy, if it should happen that you and the baby +she mentions are the same, you are a year younger than we have always +thought you, and are just the age of Binney Gibbs. In conclusion, the +lady writes that she believes your real father to be still alive, and +she thinks she knows his name, but prefers not to mention it until she +hears from me all that I know of your history. I, of course, wrote to +her at once, and am anxiously expecting an answer. I never loved you +more than now, and to give you up will well-nigh break my heart; but, if +there is anything better in store for you than I can offer, I would be +the last one to stand in the way of your accepting it. + +"Now, my dear boy, come home as soon as you can, and perhaps you will +find two fathers awaiting you instead of one. We are full of anxiety +concerning you. Be sure and telegraph the moment you arrive in San +Francisco." + +Over and over did Glen read this letter before he could control himself +sufficiently to speak. Binney Gibbs noticed his agitation, and finally +said, + +"No bad news, I hope, old man?" + +For answer the boy handed him the letter, which Binney read with +ever-growing excitement. When he finished he exclaimed, "It's wonderful, +Glen, and I do hope it will come out all right. I always felt sorry for +you at not knowing who you were, even when I was so meanly jealous of +you for being stronger and more popular than I, and now I congratulate +you from the bottom of my heart. What a lucky thing it has been though, +over and over again, not only for you, but for me, and the whole second +division, that you were stronger than I!" he added, with a hearty +sincerity that he would not have exhibited a year before. "I tell you +what, this trip has opened my eyes to some things, and one of them is +that a fellow's body needs just as much training as his mind." + +"It has opened mine too," said Glen, earnestly. "It has taught me that, +no matter how strong a fellow is, he can't expect to amount to much in +this world unless he knows something, and that he can't know much unless +he learns it by hard study. If ever I get a chance to go to school +again, you better believe I'll know how to value it." + +"And if I ever get another chance to learn how to swim, you may be sure +I won't throw it away in a hurry," laughed Binney. + +"Only see what a splendid fellow 'Billy' Brackett is," continued Glen, +"just because he has trained his muscle and his brain at the same time, +without letting either get ahead of the other. And, speaking of 'Billy' +Brackett, I must go and show him this letter, because he is one of the +best friends I have got in the world, and I know he'll be glad to hear +anything that pleases me." + +First, Glen stopped at the telegraph office in the hotel, and sent the +following despatch to Brimfield. + +"Just arrived, safe and sound. Start for home first steamer," for which +he paid eight dollars in gold. + +Then he went to "Billy" Brackett's room, where he found that young +engineer struggling with a new coat that had just been sent in from a +tailor's, and lamenting, more than ever, the loss of his shiny but +well-loved old cutaway that had been eaten by one of the hungry mules on +the desert. + +He was as interested as Glen knew he would be in the letter, and as he +finished it he exclaimed: + +"Well, you are in luck, my boy, and I'm glad of it! Here I am, without a +father to my name, while you seem likely to have two. Well, you deserve +a dozen; and if you had 'em, each one would be prouder of you than the +other." + +After a week spent in San Francisco, during which time the barber, +tailor, and various outfitters made a marvellous change in Glen's +personal appearance, he, together with General Elting and Binney Gibbs, +boarded one of the great Pacific Mail Steamships for Panama. Mr. Hobart, +"Billy" Brackett, and the other members of the second division, had +decided to remain for a while on that coast, and most of them had +already accepted positions on some of the various engineering works then +in progress in California; but they were all at the steamer to see the +homeward-bound travellers off. As the great wheels were set in motion, +and the stately ship moved slowly from the wharf, the quieter spectators +were startled by the tremendous farewell cheer that arose from the +"campmates" who remained behind; and the cries of "good-bye, general! +we'll be on hand whenever you want us again! Good-bye, Grip! Good-bye, +Glen, old man! We won't forget the desert in a hurry! Good-bye!" + +The run down the coast was a smooth and pleasant one; while the several +Mexican and Central American ports at which they touched were full of +interest and delightful novelty to the Brimfield boys. They thoroughly +enjoyed crossing the Isthmus, and would gladly have lingered longer amid +its wonderful tropic scenery. Not until they were on the Atlantic, +however, and steaming northward, did they realize that they were fairly +on their way home. + +One day, as the two boys were sitting on deck, in company with General +Elting, gazing at the coast of Cuba, which they were then passing, +Binney Gibbs broke a long silence with the remark, "Doesn't it seem +queer, Glen, to think that when you get home you will be just the age +you were when you left it, and perhaps your name won't be 'Glen Eddy' +after all?" + +General Elting had not heard of Glen's letter from his adopted father, +nor had he ever heard him called "Glen Eddy" before; and now he asked +Binney what he meant by such a curious speech. + +When it was explained, he sat silent for several minutes, looking at +Glen with such a peculiar expression that the boy grew uneasy beneath +the fixed gaze. Then, without a word, he rose and walked away, nor did +they see him again for several hours. He talked much with Glen during +the remainder of the voyage, and frequently puzzled him by his +questions, and the interest he manifested in everything relating to his +past life. + +As he was going to St. Louis, he took the same train with the boys from +New York; and, though he bade them good-bye as they neared Brimfield, he +said that he hoped and expected to see them again very shortly. + +How natural the place looked as the train rolled up to the little +station, and how impossible it was to realize that they had crossed the +continent and sailed on two oceans since leaving it! + +"There's father!" shouted Glen and Binney at the same instant. + +"And there are all the boys! Who is that dark, good-looking chap with +them? It can't be Lame Wolf! But it is, though! Did you ever see such a +change for the better? Bully for Lame Wolf!" + +"Hurrah for Glen Eddy! Hurrah for Binney Gibbs!" shouted the Brimfield +boys, wild with the excitement of welcoming home two such heroes as the +young explorers were in their eyes. The very first to grasp Glen's hand +was the Indian lad, and he said in good English, though with a Cheyenne +accent, "How Glen! Lem Wolf is very glad. Lem Wolf is short-stop now. He +can play ball." + +Binney Gibbs disappeared in his father's carriage; but Glen walked from +the station with his adopted father, and everybody wanted to shake hands +with him, and ask him questions, and throng about him, so that it seemed +as though they never would reach home. + +It was a happy home-coming, and Glen was touched by the interest and the +kindly feeling manifested towards him; but how he did long to reach the +house, and be alone for a minute with Mr. Matherson. There was one +question that he was so eager, and yet almost afraid, to ask. Had his +own father been discovered? But he could not ask it before all those +people, nor did he have an opportunity for a full hour after they +reached the house. Some of the neighbors were there, and they had to +have supper, and everything seemed to interfere to postpone that quiet +talk for which he was so anxious. + +At length he could wait no longer, and, almost dragging Mr. Matherson +into the little front parlor, he closed the door and said breathlessly, +"Now tell me, father; tell me quick! Is he alive? Have you found him?" + +"Yes, my boy, he is alive, or was a few months ago, and I think we can +find him. In fact, I believe you know him very well, and could tell me +where to find him better than I can tell you." + +"What do you mean?" cried Glen. "Oh, tell me quick! What is his name?" + +There was so much confusion outside that they did not notice the opening +of the front gate, nor the strange step on the walk. As Mr. Matherson +was about to reply to the boy's eager question, the parlor door opened, +and one of the children entered, with a card in her hand, saying, +"Somebody wants to see you, papa." + +As Mr. Matherson glanced at the card he sprang to his feet, trembling +with excitement. + +"Gerald Elting!" he cried. "Why, Glen, that is the name of your own +father!" + +"And here is his own father, eager to claim his son," came from the open +doorway, in the manly tones that Glen had long since learned to love. + +The next moment the man's arms were about the boy's neck, as, in a voice +trembling with long-suppressed emotion, he cried, + +"Oh, my son, my son! Have I found you after all these years? Now is my +long sorrow indeed turned to joy." + + +THE END. + + + + +Books by KIRK MUNROE + + CAMPMATES. + DORYMATES. + CANOEMATES. + RAFTMATES. + WAKULLA. + THE FLAMINGO FEATHER. + DERRICK STERLING. + CHRYSTAL, JACK & CO. + THE COPPER PRINCESS. + FORWARD, MARCH! + THE BLUE DRAGON. + FOR THE MIKADO. + UNDER THE GREAT BEAR. + THE FUR-SEAL'S TOOTH. + SNOW-SHOES AND SLEDGES. + RICK DALE. + THE PAINTED DESERT. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Campmates, by Kirk Munroe + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CAMPMATES *** + +***** This file should be named 33343.txt or 33343.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/3/3/4/33343/ + +Produced by David Edwards, Mary Meehan and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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