A Waif of the Mountains by Edward Sylvester Ellis (best free ereader txt) 📕

flat boulder, at the rear of the cavern occupied by Timon and his charge; but, although beyond sight, he was near enough to reach the spot on the instant needed. Spreading out his blanket, he lay down upon it.

"This recalls the old days in Virginia, when mud a foot deep, with the rain dashing in our faces, was what we had for weeks at a time. This couch doesn't equal a feather bed, but it will answer."

The night passed without incident and it was hardly light when the young officer was astir. He visited the horses and found them cropping the grass, but he waited until Timon came to him before calling upon Nellie. She, too, had been awake for some time and they partook of their morning meal with rugged appetites.

She was so eager to hurry on that he lost no time in taking the road again. Neither could doubt that their pursuers were on their trail, and, with the aid of his small glass, he carefully studied the country behind them. It was not long before he made the discovery he dreaded: four horsemen were following their footprints, and beyond them were the five Indians picking their way along the ledge in the opposite direction.

The lieutenant passed the glass to his companion who scrutinized the party with the keenest interest.

"They must have traveled all night," remarked her escort, while she still peered through the instrument.

"That shows how dreadfully angry father is; I hope it will not last."

"Can you make out the members of the party?"

She studied them a minute or two more before answering:

"I think that is father who is close to the man on a mule."

"The one on a mule must be Vose Adams, for he is more accustomed to that sort of animal. I am sorry he is with the party."

"Why?" asked Nellie, lowering the glass and looking at him.

"He is so familiar with the trail, that it will be hard work to outwit him; he isn't the man to make mistakes. Did you recognize the others?"

"I cannot be sure, but I suspect they are Mr. Ruggles and Mr. Brush."

"I have no doubt you are right,--not because I was able to identify them, but because the two are partners and your father would naturally go to them first. I do not think any one of the four has a glass, so, despite their sharp eyes, we have a big advantage in that respect."

"But they know the route better than we, and we are losing time."

The course of the trail took them out of the field of vision of their pursuers. It was at the suggestion of Russell that the two turned aside from the canyon into the fissure-like gorge. This would have been a serious mistake, except for the plan he had in view, for it must place the pursuers in advance, the very thing which it would seem the fugitives ought if possible to prevent.

The lieutenant had believed from the first that Vose Adams, in threading his way through the mountains, traveled a good many miles more than was necessary. It was quite likely that, if he could follow a straight line, he would shorten the distance one-half. Although this was impossible, the young man, nevertheless, was convinced that by changing the route, a good many miles could be saved: and it was in his mind to do that thing.

The lieutenant's experience in campaigning had taught him the danger of going astray, when picking his way through an unfamiliar country, but the little compass attached as a charm to his watch chain would help him to keep track of the variations and windings, and he was confident of coming out right. He and Nellie were well mounted and armed, all of which being impressed upon his companion, she offered no objection to the radical change of plan which took them out of the canyon into the ravine that led them they knew not whither, but it was ominous of disaster that at the top of the fissure, when the two were leading their animals, a grievous mishap occurred. The pony of Nellie slipped and sprained his ankle so badly that he whined with pain and paused with his weight supported on three legs.

"That's a bad go!" exclaimed the dismayed Russell; "it will be several days before he is able to travel."

She examined the ankle, as best she could, trying to soothe the pain by passing her hand over the injured part, but it was plain that neither she nor her companion could give any help.

"Poor fellow," she said sympathetically; "you cannot go any further; what shall be done, Fred?"

"Only one thing seems possible,--take you on my horse."

"And what will become of Cap?"

"We must leave him behind."

"What will happen to him?"

"Some one will pick him up, or, after his leg recovers, he may find his way back to the settlement."

The impulsive girl flung her arms about the animal's neck and touched her lips to the silken nose.

"They shall not part us, Cap," she exclaimed with tears in her eyes.

The lieutenant watched this by-play, full of sympathy for the girl, but he was in a quandary. Prudence seemed to demand that everything should be sacrificed to speed by abandoning the pony. In all probability, the latter would serve as a dinner for some of the bears, wolves or other denizens of the mountains, who would quickly harry him to death. To wait where they were until the animal was able to travel rendered certain a speedy meeting with their pursuers. The woodcraft of Vose Adams would enable him to discover with slight delay the point where the fugitives had left the canyon, and he would guide his companions with the skill of one of the mountain Indians themselves.

On the other hand, the plan he had in view imposed prodigious work upon his own animal. Between the halting place and Sacramento were many miles of easy traveling, over which he could walk, but for long distances the beast would be compelled to carry double. In the event of close pursuit, this must prove a fatal handicap.

In his perplexity, the lieutenant again examined the hurt of the pony.

"It would be cruel to make him take a single step, but he may soon recover. I am afraid to leave him behind and to continue our flight with only my horse. You know how dangerous it is to linger, Nellie, when it is certain _they_ are not far off----"

She caught his arm and whispered:

"Look at Timon! he has discovered something!"

The dog was standing a few paces in front of them, with his nose pointed toward the canyon. He emitted several growls and pricked up his ears in a way that left no doubt that he was angered. The lieutenant had hardly time to place himself in an attitude of defence with his Winchester, when a soft footfall was heard, and the next moment Vose Adams emerged from behind the pile of rocks and approached them.

It was proof of the guide's woodcraft that he was able to come thus close before being detected by Timon, who advanced threateningly toward him. A word, however, from the lieutenant stayed the dog.

"Well, Vose," said the young man, "this is unexpected."

"So I jedge and I've a 'spicion that you ain't tickled half to death to see me."

"We were always friends, but I can't say that either Nellie or I am glad to meet you under the circumstances; for in truth, we have been doing all we could to prevent such a meeting."

"Things has that look," added Vose, standing on guard as may be said, for he was not free from misgiving concerning the young lieutenant whom he had managed to run down. His positive orders forbade him to assume the aggressive, but no one could forbid him to defend himself, and he did not mean that this handsome officer should catch him unprepared.

"Whom have you with you?" asked Russell.

"The captain, Wade Ruggles and the parson."

"What we suspected; I presume no one of the three feels specially affectionate toward me."

"It is all the captain can do to prevent the other two from quarrelin' as to which shall have the first chance to shoot you."

"Why does Captain Dawson prevent them?"

"'Cause he means to have the first chance himself."

"How about _you_?" grimly asked Lieutenant Russell.

"I'm left."

"How's that?"

"A low down trick was played onto me; as near as I can find out, the captain comes first, Wade and the parson next and me fourth. You can see for yourself that there won't be any chance at all left for me after them three is through."

"It doesn't look so,--that's a fact. But where are the three?"

"Along the main trail, down in the kenyon."

"Why did they not come with you?"

"I advised 'em to wait till I found out how the land laid and they won't leave the spot till I get back."

Lieutenant Russell gave no expression to the thought that flashed upon him. Why not keep Vose Adams a prisoner? The loss of his services to the party would be irreparable, for, as it was, the present hiding place of the fugitives never would have become known to them without the help of the guide. It was a daring scheme, but there were so many objections to carrying it out, that the officer dismissed it. In truth he thought of a much better plan.

"You have told me enough, Vose, to prove that the four men--for I may as well include yourself--feel bitterer toward me than I suspected: do you think this enmity of theirs will last?"

"Not for long."

"How long?"

"They'll let up as soon as you're shot."

Lieutenant Russell could not restrain a smile at this way of putting it, while Nellie was so horrified that she gasped and stared and listened in silence.

"There can be little doubt that you are right, but I meant to ask whether you do not think the captain will moderate his anger when he is given time to think it over."

"He has had all night to do that, and this mornin' he was hotter if anything, than at any time since he larned what you had done."

"When did he learn it?"

Thereupon, Vose told the facts which have already been made known to the reader, the most interesting feature of which was that Adams was not an original member of the pursuing party. But, although the guide was so pronounced in his opinion of the continuance of the enmity of Captain Dawson, the lieutenant believed otherwise. He was confident that if he and Nellie could reach Sacramento before meeting the irate father, the latter would be open to reason, and all would turn out well.

Vose turned to the young woman.

"Nellie, do you want a little advice from me?"

"I am glad to have it at any time."

"Howsumever, what I say is as much for the leftenant as for you, which the same is that both of you should give up this bus'ness."

"But," said Nellie, "you have just told us that father is so angry with Lieutenant Russell that he will shoot him the moment they meet."

"We can fix that easy 'nough; let the leftenant stay here while you go with