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diff --git a/21664-h/21664-h.htm b/21664-h/21664-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..51eb79c --- /dev/null +++ b/21664-h/21664-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,10402 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"> +<html> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1" /> +<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of George at the Fort, by Harry Castlemon</title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + p { margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + text-indent: 1.25em; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; + } + hr { width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; + } +div.trans-note {border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; + margin: 3em 15%; padding: 1em; text-align: center;} + + table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} + +/* LISTS */ +ul { position: relative; + width:80%; + margin-left:5%; + list-style-type:none;} +li { margin-top: 0.25em; + line-height: 1.2em; } +span.ralign { position: absolute; + right: 0; + top: auto; } + + body{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + + .pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: 70%; + text-align: right; + } /* page numbers */ + + .bb {border-bottom: solid 2px;} + .bl {border-left: solid 2px;} + .bt {border-top: solid 2px;} + .br {border-right: solid 2px;} + + .totoc {position: absolute; right: 10%; font-size: 75%; text-align: right;} + + .center {text-align: center;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + .u {text-decoration: underline;} + + .caption {font-weight: bold; font-size: smaller;} + + .figcenter {margin: auto; text-align: center;} + + + .poem {margin-left:10%; margin-right:10%; text-align: left;} + .poem br {display: none;} + .poem .stanza {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;} + .poem span.i0 {display: block; margin-left: 0em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem span.i2 {display: block; margin-left: 2em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem span.i4 {display: block; margin-left: 4em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + hr.full { width: 100%; + margin-top: 3em; + margin-bottom: 0em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + height: 4px; + border-width: 4px 0 0 0; /* remove all borders except the top one */ + border-style: solid; + border-color: #000000; + clear: both; } + pre {font-size: 80%;} + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> +</head> +<body> +<h1>The Project Gutenberg eBook, George at the Fort, by Harry Castlemon</h1> +<pre> +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 <a href = "http://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a></pre> +<p>Title: George at the Fort</p> +<p> Life Among the Soldiers</p> +<p>Author: Harry Castlemon</p> +<p>Release Date: June 2, 2007 [eBook #21664]</p> +<p>Language: English</p> +<p>Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1</p> +<p>***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK GEORGE AT THE FORT***</p> +<p> </p> +<h4>E-text prepared by David Edwards, Marcia Brooks,<br /> + and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team<br /> + (<a href="http://www.pgdp.net/c/">http://www.pgdp.net</a>)<br /> + from digital material generously made available by<br /> + Internet Archive/American Libraries<br /> + (<a href="http://www.archive.org/details/americana">http://www.archive.org/details/americana</a>)</h4> +<p> </p> +<table border="0" cellpadding="10" style="background-color: #ccccff;"> + <tr> + <td valign="top"> + Note: + </td> + <td> + Images of the original pages are available through + Internet Archive/American Libraries. See + <a href="http://www.archive.org/details/georgeatthefort00castrich"> + http://www.archive.org/details/georgeatthefort00castrich</a> + </td> + </tr> +</table> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[Pg 1]</a></span></p> + +<h4>ROUGHING IT SERIES.</h4> + +<h1>GEORGE AT THE FORT;</h1> + +<h4>OR,</h4> + +<h3>LIFE AMONG THE SOLDIERS.</h3> + +<h3><span class="smcap">By HARRY CASTLEMON</span>,</h3> + +<h5>AUTHOR OF "THE GUNBOAT SERIES," "THE SPORTSMAN'S CLUB SERIES,"<br /> +"THE BOY TRAPPER SERIES," ETC.</h5> +<br /> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 101px;"> +<img src="images/a007.jpg" width="101" height="120" alt="a007" title="" /> +</div> +<br /> +<center>PHILADELPHIA:<br /> +<big>PORTER & COATES.</big> +</center> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[Pg 2]</a></span></p> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="FAMOUS_CASTLEMON_BOOKS" id="FAMOUS_CASTLEMON_BOOKS"></a>FAMOUS CASTLEMON BOOKS.</h2> + +<center><i>Each volume handsomely illustrated and bound in fine extra +cloth, black and gold stamp. 16mo.</i></center> +<hr style="width: 25%;" /> + + +<div class='left'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr> +<td><b>GUNBOAT SERIES.</b> 6 vols.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><span class="smcap">Frank the Young Naturalist.</span></td> +<td><span class="smcap">Frank on the Prairie.</span></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><span class="smcap">Frank on the Lower Mississippi.</span></td> +<td><span class="smcap">Frank in the Woods.</span></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><span class="smcap">Frank Before Vicksburg.</span></td> +<td><span class="smcap">Frank on a Gunboat.</span></td> +</tr> +</table> + +<div style="margin-left: 20%;"> +<ul> +<li><b>ROCKY MOUNTAIN SERIES.</b> 3 vols.</li> +<li style="list-style: none"><br /></li> +<li><span class="smcap">Frank among the Rancheros.</span></li> +<li><span class="smcap">Frank at Don Carlos' Rancho.</span></li> +<li><span class="smcap">Frank in the Mountains.</span></li> + + +<li style="list-style: none"><br /></li> +<li><b>SPORTSMAN'S CLUB SERIES.</b> 3 vols.</li> +<li style="list-style: none"><br /></li> +<li><span class="smcap">The Sportsman's Club in the Saddle.</span></li> +<li><span class="smcap">The Sportsman's Club Afloat.</span></li> +<li><span class="smcap">The Sportsman's Club Among the Trappers.</span></li> + +<li style="list-style: none"><br /></li> +<li><b>FRANK NELSON SERIES.</b> 3 vols.</li> +<li style="list-style: none"><br /></li> +<li><span class="smcap">Snowed Up; or, the Sportsman's Club in the Mountains.</span></li> +<li><span class="smcap">Frank Nelson in the Forecastle.</span></li> +<li><span class="smcap">The Boy Traders; or, the Sportsman's Club Among the Boers.</span></li> + +<li style="list-style: none"><br /></li> +<li><b>BOY TRAPPER SERIES.</b> 3 vols.</li> +<li style="list-style: none"><br /></li> +<li><span class="smcap">The Buried Treasure; Or, Old Jordan's Haunt.</span></li> +<li><span class="smcap">The Boy Trapper; Or, How Dave Filled the Order.</span></li> +<li><span class="smcap">The Mail-carrier.</span></li> + + +<li style="list-style: none"><br /></li> +<li><b>ROUGHING IT SERIES.</b> 3 vols.</li> +<li style="list-style: none"><br /></li> +<li><span class="smcap">George in Camp; or, Life on the Plains.</span></li> +<li><span class="smcap">George at the Wheel; or, Life in a Pilot House.</span></li> +<li><span class="smcap">George at the Fort; or, Life among the Soldiers.</span></li> + + +<li style="list-style: none"><br /></li> +<li><b>GO AHEAD SERIES.</b> 3 vols.</li> +<li style="list-style: none"><br /></li> +<li><span class="smcap">Go Ahead; or, the Fisher Boy's Motto.</span></li> +<li><span class="smcap">No Moss; or, the Career of a Rolling Stone.</span></li> +<li><span class="smcap">Tom Newcombe; or, the Boy of Bad Habits.</span></li> +</ul> +</div></div> +<br /> + +<center><big><i>Other Volumes in Preparation.</i></big></center> +<br /> +<center><span class="smcap">Copyright, 1882, by Porter & Coates.</span></center> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[Pg 3]</a></span></p> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<a name="toc" id="toc"></a> +<h2><a name="CONTENTS" id="CONTENTS"></a>CONTENTS.</h2> + +<ul> +<li><center><a href="#FAMOUS_CASTLEMON_BOOKS"><b>FAMOUS CASTLEMON BOOKS.</b></a></center></li> +<li style="list-style: none"><br /></li> +<li><center><a href="#ILLUSTRATIONS"><b>ILLUSTRATIONS</b></a></center></li> +<li style="list-style: none"><br /></li> +<li style="list-style: none"><br /></li> +<li><span class="ralign"><span class="smcap">Page</span></span></li> +<li style="list-style: none"><br /></li> +<li><center><a href="#CHAPTER_I"><b>CHAPTER I.</b></a></center></li> +<li><span class="smcap">Discontented Recruits</span><span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_5">5</a></span></li> +<li style="list-style: none"><br /></li> +<li><center><a href="#CHAPTER_II"><b>CHAPTER II.</b></a></center></li> +<li><span class="smcap">An Old Friend turns up</span><span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_24">24</a></span></li> +<li style="list-style: none"><br /></li> +<li><center><a href="#CHAPTER_III"><b>CHAPTER III.</b></a></center></li> +<li><span class="smcap">Bob's First Command</span><span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_45">45</a></span></li> +<li style="list-style: none"><br /></li> +<li><center><a href="#CHAPTER_IV"><b>CHAPTER IV.</b></a></center></li> +<li><span class="smcap">A Perilous Undertaking</span><span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_66">66</a></span></li> +<li style="list-style: none"><br /></li> +<li><center><a href="#CHAPTER_V"><b>CHAPTER V.</b></a></center></li> +<li><span class="smcap">The New Scout</span><span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_90">90</a></span></li> +<li style="list-style: none"><br /></li> +<li><center><a href="#CHAPTER_VI"><b>CHAPTER VI.</b></a></center></li> +<li><span class="smcap">An Unexpected Guest</span><span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_113">113</a></span></li> +<li style="list-style: none"><br /></li> +<li><center><a href="#CHAPTER_VII"><b>CHAPTER VII.</b></a></center></li> +<li><span class="smcap">How Bryant was Captured</span><span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_137">137</a></span></li> +</ul> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[Pg 4]</a></span> +<ul> +<li style="list-style: none"><br /></li> +<li><center><a href="#CHAPTER_VIII"><b>CHAPTER VIII.</b></a></center></li> +<li><span class="smcap">George at the Fort</span><span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_159">159</a></span></li> +<li style="list-style: none"><br /></li> +<li><center><a href="#CHAPTER_IX"><b>CHAPTER IX.</b></a></center></li> +<li><span class="smcap">What George Knew About Trailing</span><span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_179">179</a></span></li> +<li style="list-style: none"><br /></li> +<li><center><a href="#CHAPTER_X"><b>CHAPTER X.</b></a></center></li> +<li><span class="smcap">How George Saved the Camp</span><span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_200">200</a></span></li> +<li style="list-style: none"><br /></li> +<li><center><a href="#CHAPTER_XI"><b>CHAPTER XI.</b></a></center></li> +<li><span class="smcap">Telegraphing by Smokes</span><span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_222">222</a></span></li> +<li style="list-style: none"><br /></li> +<li><center><a href="#CHAPTER_XII"><b>CHAPTER XII.</b></a></center></li> +<li><span class="smcap">Another Feather for Bob's Cap</span><span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_242">242</a></span></li> +<li style="list-style: none"><br /></li> +<li><center><a href="#CHAPTER_XIII"><b>CHAPTER XIII.</b></a></center></li> +<li><span class="smcap">He Wins It Fairly</span><span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_262">262</a></span></li> +<li style="list-style: none"><br /></li> +<li><center><a href="#CHAPTER_XIV"><b>CHAPTER XIV.</b></a></center></li> +<li>"<span class="smcap">Three Cheers for the 'brindles'</span>!"<span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_282">282</a></span></li> +<li style="list-style: none"><br /></li> +<li><center><a href="#CHAPTER_XV"><b>CHAPTER XV.</b></a></center></li> +<li><span class="smcap">More Bad Luck for Mr. Wentworth</span><span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_303">303</a></span></li> +<li style="list-style: none"><br /></li> +<li><center><a href="#CHAPTER_XVI"><b>CHAPTER XVI.</b></a></center></li> +<li><span class="smcap">Conclusion</span><span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_327">327</a></span></li> +</ul> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="ILLUSTRATIONS" id="ILLUSTRATIONS"></a>ILLUSTRATIONS</h2> + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tbody> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">An Unexpected Guest</span></td><td align='center'>facing</td><td align='center'>page</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_6">6</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Storming the Dug-Out</span></td><td align='center'>"</td><td align='center'>"</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_85">84</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Bob Captures the Deserter</span></td><td align='center'>"</td><td align='center'>"</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_146">146</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Telegraphing by Smoke</span></td><td align='center'>"</td><td align='center'>"</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_280">280</a></td></tr> +</tbody> +</table></div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h1>GEORGE AT THE FORT.</h1> + +<hr style="width: 25%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a>CHAPTER I.</h2> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</a></span></p> +<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">TOP</a></span> +<h3>DISCONTENTED RECRUITS.</h3> + + +<p>"Captain, this thing must be stopped. I say +it must be stopped, even if we have to resort +to summary measures. We must find out who the +ringleaders are, and make an example of them."</p> + +<p>The speaker was Colonel Brown, the commanding +officer of Fort Lamoine. As he uttered these +emphatic words he slammed a paper-weight down +upon a pile of reports which the adjutant had just +brought in, and, settling back in his chair, looked +sharply at the officer who stood in front of the +table. The red sash the latter wore around his +waist proclaimed him to be the officer of the day.</p> + +<p>"How many did you say there were in the party +who deserted last night?" continued the colonel.</p> + +<p>"Seven, sir," replied the officer of the day, "and +there is a list of their names. They took no horses<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[Pg 6]</a></span> +with them, but they each secured a carbine and a +box of cartridges."</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/p006.jpg" alt="p006" title="illus_032b"/></div> +<div class="figcenter"><span class="caption"><span class="smcap">An Unexpected Guest.</span></span></div> + +<p>"That makes thirty men who have deserted since +I took command of this post," said the colonel, angrily, +"and not more than half of them have been +captured.—Orderly, tell Corporal Owens I want to +see him. He is one of the few non-commissioned +officers in the command whom I am not afraid to +trust.—Captain, have six picked men, with two +days' rations, detailed to go with him in pursuit of +these deserters. He can find and arrest them if +anybody can."</p> + +<p>The officer of the day closed the door of the colonel's +head-quarters behind him, and in a few minutes +the orderly opened it again to admit a sturdy +young soldier, about eighteen years old, who wore +upon his arms the yellow <i>chevrons</i> of a corporal of +cavalry. This was Bob Owens—the boy who stole +the <i>mail-carrier's</i> hard-earned money and ran away +from home to enjoy it. He had not changed much +in appearance. He had grown taller and his shoulders +were broader, but any one who had known him +before he entered the army would have recognized +him now. The fact that he had been selected to +perform the hazardous duty of pursuing and arrest<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</a></span>ing +the deserters who had left the fort the night +before fully armed, and who would not hesitate to +make a desperate resistance rather than allow themselves +to be taken back to stand the punishment that +would be inflicted upon them by a court-martial, and +the colonel's declaration that he was one of the few +non-commissioned officers in the command whom he +was not afraid to trust, seemed to indicate that our +old friend Bob had won a reputation since he enlisted +in Galveston, nearly a year ago, and done +something to win the confidence of his superiors. +Let us go back and see what it was.</p> + +<p>The last time we saw Bob Owens he was just +coming out of a recruiting-office, having enlisted in +the regular cavalry and sworn away his liberty for +a long term of years. He did not take this step of +his own free will, but was driven to it by force of +circumstances.</p> + +<p>When Bob found Dan Evans in his camp in the +woods and stole from him the money that David, +with Dan and Bert Gordon's assistance, had earned +by trapping quails, he ran away from home, and +after escaping from the constable who arrested him +at Linwood on suspicion of being a horse-thief he +took passage on board the steamer Sam Kendall<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</a></span> +for St. Louis. While he was on the steamer +he made the acquaintance of George Ackerman, +who was one of the pilots, and whom he twice +saved from drowning. George owned an extensive +cattle-ranche in Texas, which was held in +trust for him by his uncle, John Ackerman, who +was his guardian. After the Sam Kendall was +burned he tried to show his gratitude to his preserver, +whom he believed to be alone in the world, +by offering him a home at his house. At first Bob +was inclined to refuse. His imagination having +been excited by the cheap novels he had read, he +had left home intending to go on the Plains and +make himself famous as a hunter and Indian-fighter; +but George, who had seen more than one +professional hunter in his frontier home, said so +much against it, and painted the poverty and +worthlessness of this class of men, and the dangers +of the life they led, in such gloomy colors, that Bob +was finally induced to give up his long-cherished +idea, and to consent to accompany his new friend to +his home in Texas. As George had no money, Bob +footed all their bills, and in due time, in spite of the +efforts which Uncle John Ackerman made to separate +them in New Orleans, they arrived in Galveston.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</a></span></p> + +<p>They had scarcely stepped ashore before their +troubles began in earnest. Bob's pocket was picked +while he was passing through the crowd on the +wharf, and the boys found themselves alone in a +strange city, without money enough in their possession +to pay for supper or lodging, and no friend +to whom they could go for assistance. They spent +the night on the streets, keeping constantly in motion +to avoid attracting the attention of the police, +and when morning came they found a good-natured +grocer who gave them a breakfast of crackers and +cheese, and provided George with the means of +writing to Mr Gilbert for money to pay his fare +and Bob's by rail and stage-coach to Palos. If +they could only reach that place, their troubles +would be over, for George was well known there, +and everybody would be ready to lend him and his +new friend a helping hand. But Mr. Gilbert lived +a long way from Galveston, the mail facilities between +Palos and his rancho were none of the best, +and the boys were utterly at a loss to determine +how they were going to exist during the two or +three weeks that must elapse before George could +receive an answer to his letter.</p> + +<p>The two friends passed the day in roaming about<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span> +the city looking for work, but nobody needed them. +When the afternoon began drawing to a close they +were almost tired out, and George talked of going +to some station-house to spend the night—a project +to which Bob could not bear to listen. The +idea of having a policeman's key turned upon him +was dreadful; the bare thought of it was enough +to make him gasp for breath. As he walked along +the streets he was continually searching his pockets +in the faint hope of finding the missing money +tucked away in some unexplored corner, and finally +he discovered fifty cents in currency in the watch-pocket +of his trousers. His heart bounded at the +sight of it. It was enough to provide him with +supper and a night's lodging, but was not enough +to pay for the same comforts for George.</p> + +<p>When Bob found this stray piece of currency he +was not long in making up his mind how to act. +He resolved to slip away from George, and accomplished +his purpose by gradually slackening his pace +and allowing the young pilot to get some distance +in advance of him, and then he turned down a +cross-street and took to his heels. He made his +way to a cheap lodging-house, ate a hearty supper +and went to bed, wondering how George was get<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span>ting +on and where he would pass the night. The +latter, as we know, fared much better than Bob did, +and the latter made a great mistake in deserting +him. His companion had not been gone more +than a half an hour before George encountered Mr. +Gilbert, the friend to whom he had written that +morning, and who had come to Galveston on business. +The two looked everywhere for Bob, but +were finally obliged to abandon the search. The +missing boy had disappeared as completely as +though the earth had opened and swallowed him +up.</p> + +<p>The first question that forced itself upon the mind +of Bob Owens when he awoke the next morning +was, "What shall I do next?" A careful examination +of all his pockets showed him that there were +no more fifty-cent pieces in them, and he was obliged +to confess to himself that the future looked exceedingly +dark. He walked the streets in a very disconsolate +frame of mind, and had almost decided +that he would step into the nearest grocery-store and +ask the proprietor if he would not give him a job +of sawing wood to pay for something to eat, when +he happened to pass a recruiting-office. A sign +posted up in front of the door conveyed to the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span> +public the information that men were wanted there +for the United States cavalry service, and suggested +an idea to Bob. He took a few minutes in which +to run it over in his mind, and then faced about +and entered the office.</p> + +<p>The law against enlisting minors without the +consent of their parents or guardians is very strict, +but Bob got around it by repeating the story he +had told George Ackerman, that he was an orphan, +and that there was no one who had a right to control +his actions. The recruiting-officer was a young +man, not more than two or three years older than +himself, but he had seen service away up in the +Yellowstone country, and the scar on his forehead, +which was not yet fully healed, marked the track +of the Indian bullet which had come very near +putting an end to his career as a soldier. Being +unable to do duty in the field, he had been sent to +Texas to recuperate his health and to recruit men +to fill up some of the depleted cavalry regiments. +He questioned Bob very closely, but the latter gave +satisfactory replies, and, having passed the surgeon, +his "descriptive list" was taken and he was duly +sworn into the service. There were a number of +newly-enlisted men hanging about the office wait<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span>ing +to be ordered to some post, and one of them, +who acted as quartermaster-sergeant, took Bob into +a back room and served out a uniform to him.</p> + +<p>"What shall I do with my citizen's rig?" asked +Bob as he twisted himself first on one side and then +on the other to see how he looked in his new clothes. +"I suppose I can't keep it?"</p> + +<p>"Of course not," was the sergeant's quick reply. +"It would come too handy in case you should make +up your mind to desert."</p> + +<p>"I shall never make up my mind to any such +thing," exclaimed Bob, indignantly. "I have gone +into this business with my eyes open, and I am going +to see it through."</p> + +<p>"That's the right spirit," said the sergeant. "But +wait till you have ridden twelve hundred miles at a +stretch in pursuit of a band of hostiles, and perhaps +you'll weaken."</p> + +<p>"What do you know about hostiles?" asked Bob.</p> + +<p>"Well, I should think I ought to know all about +them, for I have been there. This is my third enlistment +in the regular army."</p> + +<p>"Is that so?" exclaimed Bob. "I should think +that after so many years' service you ought to be an +officer."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I was a non-com when I was discharged, and +that is as high as any enlisted man can get now," +replied the soldier. "I was a captain during the +war, but they don't take men out of the ranks and +make officers of them any more. When I enlisted +this time I had to go in as a private; but I have +my old warrants in my pocket, and perhaps they +will help me get a new one when I reach the post +where I am to serve."</p> + +<p>"What's a non-com?" asked Bob.</p> + +<p>"Why, a non-commissioned officer," answered +the soldier, staring at Bob as if he were surprised +at his ignorance. "You never did any soldiering, +I'll bet."</p> + +<p>"No, I never did," replied the recruit; "this is +my first experience."</p> + +<p>"And before you get through with it you will +wish that you had never had any experience at +all."</p> + +<p>"Don't you think I shall like the army?"</p> + +<p>"Well, I know <i>I</i> don't like it."</p> + +<p>"Then why did you enlist again?"</p> + +<p>"Because I couldn't do anything else. A man +who has soldiered for nearly fourteen years isn't fit +for civil life. Now, make your citizen's clothes<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span> +into a bundle and take them around the corner to +a little Jew store you will find there. Mose buys +all the recruits' cast-off clothing. He'll not give +you much for them, but the little he will give you +will keep you in gingerbread as long as you stay +in the city."</p> + +<p>"How long do you suppose that will be?"</p> + +<p>"I am sure I don't know, but if recruits keep +coming in as rapidly as they have during the last +few days, the lieutenant will probably take a squad +off next week."</p> + +<p>"Where will he take it?"</p> + +<p>"That's a conundrum. A private never knows +where he is going until he gets there."</p> + +<p>"Where do you eat and sleep?"</p> + +<p>"We take our meals at the restaurant next door, +and having no bunks we sleep on the benches in +the office. You can go about the city as much as +you please, but you must be sure and report at +meal-time. If you fail to do that, you will have +the police after you."</p> + +<p>"Why will I?" asked Bob in surprise.</p> + +<p>"Because the lieutenant will think you have +deserted."</p> + +<p>Bob was beginning to feel the tight rein of mil<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span>itary +discipline already. At home he had always +been accustomed to go and come when he pleased, +and he did not like the idea of having his liberty +restricted or of being obliged to obey without +question the orders of a boy scarcely older than +himself. But it was too late to think of that +now. The youthful officer was backed up by the +entire military and police force of the United +States, and there was no such thing as getting out +of reach of his authority.</p> + +<p>"I am in for it," thought Bob as he rolled up +his clothes and started for the little Jew store +around the corner, "but I don't know that I could +have done anything else. I shall have plenty to +eat and a place to sleep, and at the same time +I shall be earning money to pay off that debt I +owe Dave Evans. What an idiot I was to keep +that money! To pay for that one act of folly and +dishonesty I am compelled to waste some of the +best years of my life in the army. I hope I shall +get a chance to show them that I am no coward, +if I am a greenhorn."</p> + +<p>It was little indeed that Mose gave Bob for the +articles he had to offer for sale—just four dollars +for clothing that had cost over thirty; but those<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span> +four dollars made him feel a little more independent. +They brought him a few delicacies to supplement +the plain fare that was served up to him +and his companions at the cheap restaurant at +which they took their meals, and were the means +of gaining him the friendship of one of the recruits, +Bristow by name, who stuck to him like a leech +until the last cent had been expended.</p> + +<p>Bob remained in Galveston nearly two weeks, +and during that time he saw everything of interest +there was to be seen in the city. Then he began +to grow tired of having nothing to do, and took +to hanging about the office as the others did, and +making comments upon those who presented themselves +for enlistment. He was glad indeed when +the lieutenant mustered all the recruits one night +and ordered them to report at the office the next +morning at nine o'clock, sharp; but he was provoked +because the officer did not tell them where +they were going. This, however, only proved the +truth of the old sergeant's words—that a private +never knew where he was going until he got there. +Bob knew that they were bound for Brownsville +when a steamer landed them there a few hours later, +and he found out that they were going from there to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span> +Fort Lamoine when they arrived at that post after +a weary tramp of more than three hundred miles.</p> + +<p>The recruits camped beside the trail at night, +and during the daytime plodded along behind the +army-wagon which contained their tents, blankets, +rations and cooking-utensils. It was very fatiguing +to all of them, and it was not long before Bob +began to learn something of the dispositions of the +men with whom he was to be intimately associated +during his term of enlistment. The majority of +them grumbled lustily, and even talking of deserting, +and there were not more than two or three +besides himself who bore the discomforts of the +march with anything like patience. There was not +much restriction placed upon their actions, and, although +they were not permitted to stray away from +the line of march during the daytime, they were +allowed to visit any ranches or farm-houses that +might be in the neighborhood of their camping-grounds. +The people they met along the route +were very liberal with the products of their gardens +and with their milk, butter and eggs, and the +recruits fared sumptuously every day; but it would +have been much better for some of them if they +had remained in camp at night and left the settlers<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span> +entirely alone. Not a few of the men with whom +they exchanged civilities unconsciously sowed among +them seeds of discontent that were destined eventually +to bear a fruitful crop of trouble. By endeavoring +to live up to the sentiments they heard expressed +on every hand, more than one of the recruits +found themselves landed in the military +prison at Fort Leavenworth.</p> + +<p>"I don't see why you chaps swear away your +liberty, and work for thirteen dollars a month, +when you might just as well get forty and be free +men," said a rancheman one night, after he has +given Bob and three companions, one of whom was +Bristow, all the milk he had to spare. "You'll +soon get enough of soldiering, <i>I</i> tell you. I know, +for I have tried it. It is a heap easier to ride +around on your horse and watch your cattle while +they are fattening themselves for market on the +rich grass."</p> + +<p>"But we don't happen to have any cattle to +watch," said Bob.</p> + +<p>"Who would give us forty dollars a month?" +demanded Bristow, who was one of the loudest and +most persistent grumblers among the recruits.</p> + +<p>"You could get it almost anywhere in this coun<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span>try," +replied the rancheman. "I'd give it to you, for +one, and I know of a dozen others who stand ready +to snap up the first man that comes along, no odds +whether he ever herded cattle or not. You have +made precious fools of yourselves, and you'll get a +fool's reward. You'll have mean grub, hard work +and poor pay, and be niggers to every little snipe +who wears a shoulder-strap."</p> + +<p>"We've found that out already—haven't we, +boys?" said Bristow, as he and his companions reluctantly +took leave of the hospitable rancheman +and retraced their steps toward the camp. "We <i>are</i> +precious fools to work for thirteen dollars, when +we might just as well earn three times that amount, +and be our own masters besides. There is no need +that anybody should tell us that our officers will +treat us like niggers, for we have found that out +too. Look at that lieutenant! He rides in the +wagon every day, while we have to hoof it."</p> + +<p>"But you must remember that he is not strong," +said Bob. "He has not yet fully recovered from +the effects of his wound."</p> + +<p>"I don't believe a word of it," declared Bristow. +"He's just as able to march and cook his own grub +and pitch his own tent as we are. It makes me<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span> +sick to see how that man Haskins waits on him." +(Haskins was the one who had served out clothing +to the recruits in Galveston.) "But a blind man +could see what he is working for," added Bristow. +"He wants to get into the good graces of the lieutenant, +hoping that he will be recommended for a +non-com's position when we reach the fort. I tell +you I have seen enough of soldiering already, and +the very first chance I get I am going to skip out."</p> + +<p>"I'll go with you," said one of the recruits.</p> + +<p>"All right! Shake on that."</p> + +<p>"You may depend upon me," said the recruit +as he grasped Bristow's proffered hand. "Do you +remember that big-whiskered, loud-voiced rancheman +who gave us the potatoes the other night? He +is sadly in need of help, and he told me that if I +would come to his house, bringing three or four +friends with me, he would give us citizens' clothes +and hide us until the officers gave up looking for +us. All he asked was, that we should agree to +work for him for twelve months, and promise not +to leave without giving him due notice."</p> + +<p>"I am in for that," exclaimed the recruit who +had not spoken before.—"What do you say, +Owens?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I say I am <i>out</i> of it," was the quick reply. +"If I did a thing like that, I never could look a +white man in the face again. I have been guilty +of a good many mean acts during my life—some +that I would gladly recall if I could—but I am +not mean enough to desert. Besides, I have no +desire to have a bullet sent into me."</p> + +<p>Bob's companions did not know whether to be +surprised or angry at this plain speech. They stared +hard at him for a moment, and then Bristow said,</p> + +<p>"Are you really afraid of being shot? Well, I +can set your fears on that score at rest. I know +that the penalty for desertion in the face of the +enemy is death, but we are not in the face of the +enemy now. The country is at peace."</p> + +<p>"I know it is nominally so," answered Bob, +"but it is not so in reality, and never will be so +long as these hostile Indians and lawless Mexicans +continue to raid over the Texas border. If you +skip out, as you threaten to do, you may rest assured +that you will be brought back by force of +arms, and if you resist you will be shot."</p> + +<p>"How does it come that you know so much +more than the rest of us?" demanded Bristow angrily. +"You are not an old soldier."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I am aware of that fact, but I have been talking +to an old soldier, and that was Haskins. He +told me that Major Elliot, one of General Custer's +officers, pursued a party of deserters, and when they +resisted he shot three of them; and Haskins himself +was one of the squad that did the shooting."</p> + +<p>"I don't believe a word of it," exclaimed +Bristow.</p> + +<p>"Neither do I," said another of the recruits. +"Of course we expect to be pursued, but we shall +take good care that we are not caught. Any of +these ranchemen who want herdsmen will furnish +us with citizens' clothing, and before our year is +out the thing will blow over, and then we'll go +home, and stay there."</p> + +<p>"It won't blow over as easily as you think for," +said Bob. "It will be known to your home authorities +and to everybody else that you are deserters, +and all the detectives in the United States will +be on the lookout for you. If you want to live in +constant fear of arrest, you can do it, but I won't."</p> + +<p>Bob stuck to his resolution, and his discontented +companions stuck to theirs. We shall see in due +time which of the four made the wisest decision.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II.</h2> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span></p> +<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">TOP</a></span> +<h3>AN OLD FRIEND TURNS UP.</h3> + + +<p>The long, toilsome journey was completed at +last, and late one afternoon the weary and +footsore recruits found themselves drawn up in line +on the parade-ground at Fort Lamoine. After the +roll had been called and the colonel commanding +the post had hurriedly inspected them, they were +turned over to a sergeant, who marched them into the +barracks. There they found about two hundred or +more soldiers, who, as soon as the order was given +to "break ranks," crowded about them inquiring for +late papers and asking a thousand and one questions +in regard to what was going on in the States.</p> + +<p>Learning from the sergeant that no duty would +be required of him that day, Bob spread his blankets +in one of the empty bunks, and, stretching +himself upon them, placed his hands under his head +and looked about him with no little curiosity. +Presently a young trooper, a boy about his own<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span> +age, who looked as though he were just recovering +from a long siege of sickness, approached, and, seating +himself on the edge of Bob's bunk, began a +conversation with him. Those of our readers +who have met this boy before in citizen's dress +might have seen something familiar about him, but +still it is doubtful if they would have recognized in +him—Well, we will let him reveal his identity. +After a few commonplace remarks Bob inquired, +as he nodded his head toward a soldier who was +hobbling about the room with the aid of a crutch,</p> + +<p>"What's the matter with that man?"</p> + +<p>"Raiders," was the sententious reply.</p> + +<p>"Been in a fight?" asked Bob.</p> + +<p>The young soldier nodded his head.</p> + +<p>"How long since?"</p> + +<p>"Last full moon."</p> + +<p>"I hope these fights don't occur very often."</p> + +<p>"Well, they do—much oftener than I wish they +did. I have been in two pretty hard ones, and +that's enough for me. I suppose we shall have +more of them now, for I understand that we have +received orders to follow the raiders across the river +and thrash them wherever they can be found."</p> + +<p>"Were you wounded in one of those fights?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span> +asked Bob. "Then you must be sick," he added +when the boy shook his head.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I am sick," was the reply—"homesick +and sick at heart. I have been in the army nearly +two years and a half, and I don't see how I can +live to serve out the rest of my time. I am dying +by inches."</p> + +<p>"What did you come into the army for, anyhow?"</p> + +<p>"Because I was a fool," answered the young +soldier bitterly.</p> + +<p>"Shake," exclaimed Bob, extending his hand; +"I came in for the same reason."</p> + +<p>"Did your parents give their consent?" asked +his new acquaintance.</p> + +<p>"No, they didn't. They live in Mississippi, +and don't know anything about it."</p> + +<p>Bob's long tramp had taken a good deal of spirit +out of him, and somehow he could not muster up +energy enough to tell any more falsehoods concerning +himself.</p> + +<p>"My parents live in Ohio," said the soldier.</p> + +<p>"Then how in the world did you happen to stray +down here to Texas?" asked Bob.</p> + +<p>"I ran away from home."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Shake," said Bob, again extending his hand; +"that's just what I did."</p> + +<p>The two runaways shook each other's hands in +the most cordial manner, and instantly all reserve +between them vanished. They were companions in +misery and united by a bond of sympathy. The +young soldier at once became very communicative. +He had closely guarded his secret for more than +two years, because there was not one among the +rough men by whom he was surrounded who could +understand or appreciate his feelings. But here was +one who could sympathize with him, and it was a +great relief to him to know that he could speak +freely and run no risk of being laughed at for his +weakness.</p> + +<p>"My name is Gus Robbins," said he, moving up +a little closer to Bob and speaking in a low, confidential +tone. "I had as good a home as any boy +need wish for, but I wasn't contented there; still, +I don't believe that I ever should have left it as I +did if circumstances had not smoothed the way for +me. My father is the senior partner in the largest +dry-goods store in Foxboro', and he had in his employ +two persons, father and son, who are in a great +measure responsible for all the trouble I have got<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span> +into. The buy was a clerk like myself, and his father +was our bookkeeper. They had a very wealthy +relative, a rancheman, living here in Texas, and +when that relative died it was found that he had +willed his property to our bookkeeper, to be held in +trust for his (the rancheman's) son. They came to +Texas to take charge of the estate, and after a while I +received a letter from Ned (that was the boy's name) +inviting me to pay him a visit. As he sent me +money enough to bear the expenses of the journey, +I came; and I am very sorry for it. We got ourselves +into trouble by shooting some cattle that +had broken into Ned's wheat-field, and had to dig +out for Brownsville at a gallop. Ned went squarely +back on me, and as I had no money to pay my way +home, and hadn't the cheek to ask my father for it, +I did what I thought to be the next best thing—I +enlisted. I am very sorry for that too, for there +was where I made my mistake. I ought to have +gone back into the country and hired out to some +stock-raiser. Then I could have gone home as +soon as I had earned and saved money enough to +take me there; but now I must stay my time out; +that is, unless—"</p> + +<p>Gus paused and looked at Bob. The latter un<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span>derstood +him. Here was another fellow who had +made up his mind to desert at the first opportunity.</p> + +<p>"Don't do that," said Bob, earnestly. "You'll +only get yourself into trouble if you attempt it."</p> + +<p>"I don't care if I am shot for it. I'll make a +break for liberty the very first good chance I get."</p> + +<p>The tone in which these words were uttered satisfied +Bob that it would be of no use whatever to +argue the matter. It was plain that Gus had made +up his mind after mature deliberation, and that he +was not to be easily turned from his purpose.</p> + +<p>"Where did your friend Ned go after you reached +Brownsville?" asked Bob, who was much interested +in the young soldier's story.</p> + +<p>"I don't know; I left him at the hotel. He +will come to some bad end, and so will his father, +for they are both rascals. The property of which +they have charge, and which brings in a big fortune +every year, rightfully belongs to George +Ackerman, Ned's cousin; but Ned and his father—"</p> + +<p>"George Ackerman?" exclaimed Bob, starting +up in his bunk.</p> + +<p>Gus nodded his head, and looked at the recruit +in great surprise.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Is he a cub pilot?" continued the latter.</p> + +<p>"'A cub pilot'?" repeated Gus. "No, he's a +herdsman, or I ought rather to say he <i>was</i> a herdsman. +He had stock of his own worth six thousand +dollars. Where he is now I don't know, for +on the morning after we left his ranche, while we +were camped in the edge of the timber making up +for the sleep we had lost the night before, we were +surprised by a couple of Greasers, who made a prisoner +of George and carried him across the river +into Mexico. I don't know what they did with +him, for all George could induce them to say was +that 'Fletcher wanted to see him.'"</p> + +<p>"It's the same fellow," exclaimed Bob, rising +from his blanket and seating himself on the edge +of the bunk by his companion's side. "He told me +all about it, but his story was so very remarkable +that I didn't know whether to believe it or not. +He gave those Greasers the slip, secured a berth as +cub pilot on a Mississippi River steamer, and that +was where I found him."</p> + +<p>With this introduction Bob went on to tell how +he had saved George from going to the bottom +when Uncle John Ackerman pushed him overboard +from the Sam Kendall; related all the thrill<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span>ing +incidents connected with the burning of the +steamer; described how Uncle John had tried to +separate them in New Orleans; in short, he gave +a truthful account of his intercourse with the cub +pilot up to the time he deserted him in Galveston. +Bob was heartily ashamed of that now, and could +not bear to speak of it.</p> + +<p>"I became separated from him in some way—it +is very easy to lose a companion in the crowded +streets of a city, you know—and that was the last +I saw of him," said Bob in conclusion; and when +he told this he forgot that he had afterward seen +George go into a hotel accompanied by Mr. Gilbert. +"Then I didn't know what to do. I had no +money; I was hungry and sleepy, utterly discouraged; +and, like you, I sought to end my troubles +by enlisting. I see now that I made a great mistake, +but I am going to serve faithfully during my +term of enlistment, if I live. Is George's ranche +far from here?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know, for I am not much acquainted +with the country east of here, never having scouted +in that direction. It is about one hundred and +fifty miles from Palos, if you know where that is. +As you are George's friend, I am sorry that you<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span> +enlisted, for I know that you are going to have a +hard time of it; but since you <i>did</i> enlist, I am +glad you were ordered to this post, for misery loves +company, you know. Let's walk out on the parade, +where we can talk without danger of being +overheard. Perhaps you would like to take a look +at the place which will always be associated in your +mind with the most unhappy days of your existence."</p> + +<p>It was plain that Gus took a very gloomy view +of things, and of course his discouraging remarks +made an impression upon Bob, although they did +not take away the interest he felt in his surroundings. +Everything was new to him, and he asked +a great many questions as he and Gus walked slowly +around the parade toward the stables.</p> + +<p>Fort Lamoine was situated on a high, rocky +eminence which overlooked the surrounding country +for half a dozen miles or more in every direction. +The stockade, which enclosed about two +acres of ground, was built of upright logs deeply +sunk in the earth. The tops were sawed off level, +and a heavy plate of timber, through which stout +wooden pins had been driven into the end of each +log, held them firmly in their place. The officers'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span> +quarters, barracks, store-houses and stables were +built in the same manner. On the outside of the +parade were long rows of stately cottonwood trees, +interspersed with shrubs and flowers. In one corner, +on the right-hand side of the principal gate, +was the well that supplied the garrison with water, +and in the other was the flagstaff, from which floated +the Stars and Stripes.</p> + +<p>"Emblem of liberty!" said Gus with a sneer as +he pointed up at the flag—"emblem of tyranny, +rather."</p> + +<p>"What do you mean by that?" demanded Bob +quickly.</p> + +<p>"Oh, you will find out before you have been +here long," replied Gus, shaking his head and +looking very wise. "A bigger lot of tyrants than +the officers who command us were never crowded +into any one post."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps you don't do your duty as well as you +might?" mildly suggested Bob.</p> + +<p>"I know I don't. I do no more than I am +obliged to do, I tell you, and for the simple reason +that I didn't enlist to act as lackey to a lot of +shoulder-straps. I am just as good as they are, but +they say I am not. Why, the last time the paymas<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span>ter +was here his little snipe of a clerk remarked in +my hearing that enlisted men were nothing more +than servants to the officers. What do you think +of that?"</p> + +<p>Bob did not know what to think of it, so he +said nothing in reply. He simply resolved that he +would not pass judgment upon his superiors until +he had had some experience with them himself.</p> + +<p>"This is by no means the gloomy place that I +expected to find it," said Bob as he and Gus resumed +their walk.</p> + +<p>"Oh, the fort itself is good enough," replied +Gus; "it's the people who live in it that I object +to. If one could pick his own company, and could +do as he pleased, he might manage to live here for +a few years very comfortably; but we have to associate +with some rough characters there in the barracks, +and the officers hold us with our noses close +to the grindstone all the time. They look upon a +private as little better than a dog, and they'll slap +him into the guard-house on the slightest provocation. +Now, this is one of the stables; it will +accommodate seventy horses. Those you see in +here are blooded animals, and they belong to the +officers. The government horses are always picket<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span>ed +outside, except when there is danger of a visit +from the raiders, and then they are brought in for +safe-keeping. Now, take a good look at the stable, +and then come out and take another look at the +stockade. Every night there are two sentries placed +over this stable—one at the front, and the other at +the rear, between the stable and the stockade—and +a guard sleeps inside. Would you believe that, after +all these precautions, it would be possible for anybody +to come into the fort and steal a horse?"</p> + +<p>Bob said he would not.</p> + +<p>"Well, it was done not more than two weeks +ago," continued Gus. "One stormy night these +two logs were removed from the stockade, and four +of the best horses in the stable were run off. It +must have taken hours to do the work, and although +the sentries were changed while it was going +on, no one knew that a theft had been committed +until the next morning."</p> + +<p>"Who did it?" inquired Bob.</p> + +<p>"A couple of Comanches, who were surprised +and killed by the squad that was sent in pursuit +of them. The Comanches are acknowledged, even +by the Indians themselves, to be the most expert +horse-thieves on the Plains. Why, one night, when<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span> +a scouting-party to which I was attached were in +camp and fast asleep, a Comanche crept up and +stole the lieutenant's horse; and in order to do +it he had to cut the lariat that was tied to the officer's +wrist. He got away with the horse, and +never awoke one of us."</p> + +<p>Gus Robbins had accumulated an almost inexhaustible +fund of such anecdotes as these during +his two and a half years of army-life, and he related +a good many of them to Bob while they were +walking about the fort examining the different objects +of interest. From some of them Bob gained +a faint idea of what might be in store for himself.</p> + +<p>The next morning the newly-arrived recruits +were formed into an awkward squad and turned +over to the tender mercies of a grizzly old sergeant, +who proved to be anything but an agreeable and +patient instructor. He drilled them for four hours +without allowing them a single moment's rest, abusing +them roundly for every mistake they made; +and when at last he marched them to their quarters, +it was only that they might eat their dinner +and take half an hour's breathing-spell preparatory +to going through the same course of sprouts again<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span> +in the afternoon. This routine was followed day +after day until the members of the awkward squad +were declared to be sufficiently drilled to warrant +their appearance on dress-parade. After that they +were assigned to the different troops (or companies) +that stood the most in need of men, Bob, to his +delight, finding himself in the same troop to which +his new friend, Gus Robbins, belonged. But even +then their troubles did not cease. Instead of drilling +eight hours each day, they drilled six, and were +obliged to do guard-duty besides. Among the three +hundred and eighty men who composed the garrison +there were not a few old soldiers who hated this +hard work as cordially as some of the new-comers +did, and there was a good deal of grumbling among +them; but Bob Owens never uttered a word of complaint. +Firmly adhering to the resolution he had +made when he first enlisted, he set himself to work +to learn just what was required of him, and when +he found out what his duty was, he did it cheerfully +and faithfully. He was always on hand when +he was wanted, his equipments were always ready +for inspection, and his horse shone like satin. +When his own steed had been fed and groomed, he +turned his attention to the horse belonging to the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span> +lieutenant who commanded the troop to which he +belonged, and thereby aroused the indignation of +some of his brother-soldiers.</p> + +<p>"What are you doing that for?" demanded +Gus Robbins one day as he and Bristow entered +the stable and found Bob busy at work grooming +the lieutenant's horse. "You are in pretty business, +I must say!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I rather like it," answered Bob. "I always +liked to work about horses, and I am doing this +because I haven't anything else to do just now."</p> + +<p>"Well, I wouldn't do it any more if I were in +your place," continued Gus. "The law expressly +prohibits an officer from compelling, or even +hiring, an enlisted man to do his dirty work."</p> + +<p>"It does, does it?" exclaimed Bob. "Didn't +you tell me when I just came here that enlisted +men were nothing but servants to their officers?"</p> + +<p>"I didn't mean that, exactly," stammered Gus. +"What I <i>did</i> mean was, that they don't treat us +like human beings. If an officer wants a servant, +he must hire a civilian and pay him out of his +own pocket; that's what the law says."</p> + +<p>"I am aware of that fact; but the law doesn't +say that I shall not groom the lieutenant's horse<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span> +if I choose to do it of my own free will, does +it?"</p> + +<p>"Let the toady alone, Robbins," said Bristow +angrily. "The troop hasn't got all the non-coms +that it is entitled to, and Owens is working for +chevrons. You know the lieutenant said the +other day that there were four corporals' and two +duty sergeants' warrants waiting for those who +were willing to win them; and this is the way +Owens is going to work to get one of them."</p> + +<p>Bob straightened up, looked sharply at Bristow +for a moment, and then drew back the brush he +held in his hand, as if he had half a mind to throw +it at his head.</p> + +<p>"That's what all the boys say, Bob," observed +Gus. "If you want to keep on the right side +of the privates, you must not try to curry favor +with the officers."</p> + +<p>"If you want a non-com's warrant, why don't +you wait until you get a chance to win it in battle?" +added Bristow. "That's what I intend to +do, and I shall think much more of a promotion +earned in that way than I should of one I had +gained by cleaning an officer's horse."</p> + +<p>"Look here, fellows," said Bob earnestly: "I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span> +don't do this work for the lieutenant because I +hope to gain anything by it. I do it simply to +pass away the time, for I can't see any fun in +loafing about the quarters doing nothing. If +the boys don't like it, let's see them help themselves."</p> + +<p>"If the lieutenant was a decent man, I wouldn't +say a word," answered Bristow. "But he is so +mean that I wouldn't turn my hand over to save +his life."</p> + +<p>"Anybody with half an eye could see what is +the matter with you," retorted Bob. "You have +been in the guard-house about half the time since +you have been here, and spent the other half in +doing extra duty; and that's the reason you don't +like the lieutenant. If you will wake up and attend +to business, he will treat you well enough."</p> + +<p>Bob's prompt and soldier-like way of performing +the work that was required of him very soon +attracted the attention of Lieutenant Earle (that +was the name of the officer in command of the +troop to which Bob belonged), and he took his +own way to reward him for it. If he was ordered +off on a scout, Bob Owens was always one of the +"picked men" who accompanied him. If he was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span> +sent out with a squad during the full of the moon +to watch the ford a few miles below the fort, Bob +was one of the members of that squad. This did +not excite the jealousy of the good soldiers, for +they were always glad to have a brave comrade +to back them up in times of danger, no matter +whether he was a greenhorn or a veteran; but +the grumblers and the discontented ones, especially +those who belonged to his own troop, had a good +deal to say about it, and declared that the lieutenant +took Bob with him on his expeditions to pay +him for grooming his horse. They disliked him +cordially, and it was not long before an incident +happened that caused the dislike of at least one +of them to grow into positive hatred.</p> + +<p>One pleasant afternoon some of the men received +permission to go outside the gates for a short +stroll. They wandered off in squads, some going +one way and some another, and Bristow and two +companions—one of whom was Gus Robbins—bent +their steps toward the crumbling remains of +an old adobe outpost which marked the spot where +more than one desperate fight with the Apaches +had taken place in the days gone by. There they +seated themselves and entered into conversation,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span> +Bristow's first words indicating that they were about +to discuss a subject that had before occupied their +attention.</p> + +<p>"I tell you, Robbins," said he, "if you are +in earnest in what you say, now is the time to +prove it."</p> + +<p>"I certainly am in earnest," answered Gus; +"but, to tell you the honest truth, I am +afraid."</p> + +<p>"'Afraid'!" repeated Bristow in a tone of +contempt. "What in the world are you afraid +of?"</p> + +<p>"Of pursuit," replied Gus. "If we resist, we +run the risk of being shot; and if we are captured, +we stand an excellent chance of going to +prison."</p> + +<p>"Now, Robbins," said Bristow earnestly, "let +me once more explain our arrangements to you, +and you will see that we do not risk anything. +In the first place, the horses are left picketed +outside the stockade every night. They are never +brought in, as you know, unless there is danger +of a visit from the raiders. Four of the six men +who are to act as horse-guards to-night belong to +our party. When the time for action arrives, these<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span> +four men will go to work on the other two and +try to induce them to accompany us. If they don't +succeed, they'll bind and gag them, and so put it +out of their power to give the alarm. The sentry +who will be on duty between the stable and the +stockade is also one of us, and of course he will +raise no objection when we slip out of the quarters, +one by one, and climb the stockade. As fast as +we get over we will select our horses—I've got +mine picked out, and I could put my hand on him +in the darkest of nights—and when the last one +has made his escape we'll mount and put off. +Of course we hope to escape by running, but if +we can't do that, we shall turn at bay and make +a fight of it. We have all sworn to stand by one +another to the last, and thirty determined, well-armed +men can make things lively for a while, +I tell you."</p> + +<p>Bristow continued to talk in this strain for half +an hour, his companion now and then putting in a +word to assist him; and he talked to such good +purpose that Gus Robbins finally consented to make +one of the large party that was to desert the post +that very night. Bristow then gave him the names +of the other members—there were several non-<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span>commissioned +officers among them—and after urging +him to be very careful of himself, and to say +and do nothing that might arouse the suspicions +of "outsiders," the three got upon their feet and +walked toward the fort.</p> + +<p>They had scarcely left the ruins when a fatigue-cap +arose from behind a pile of rubbish scarcely a +dozen feet from the place where the three conspirators +had been sitting, and a pair of eyes looking +out from under the peak of that cap watched +them as they moved away.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III.</h2> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span></p> +<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">TOP</a></span> +<h3>BOB'S FIRST COMMAND.</h3> + + +<p>The eyes that were so closely watching the +movements of Bristow and his companions belonged +to Bob Owens. The latter had strolled off +alone, and thrown himself behind an angle of the +ruined wall to indulge in a few moments' quiet +meditation, and thus unwillingly placed himself in +a position to overhear the details of the plot which +we have just disclosed. If Bristow had not so +promptly entered upon the discussion of the subject +of desertion, Bob would have made his presence +known to him; but after he had listened to +the first words that fell from his lips he thought it +best to remain quietly in his place of concealment, +for he knew that if he revealed himself, then he +would be accused of playing the part of eavesdropper.</p> + +<p>"Now, here's a go!" thought Bob, rising to his +feet when he saw Bristow and his two friends walk<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span> +through the gate into the fort, "and I wish somebody +would be kind enough to tell me what I +ought to do about it. Shall I stand quietly by and +let them go, or shall I tell the officers what I have +heard? If I let them go, they will run the risk of +being gobbled up by that party of Kiowas who are +now raiding the country north of us; and if I tell +the colonel, and it should ever be found out on me, +I should lead a hard life in the quarters. I wish +I had been somewhere else when they came here."</p> + +<p>Thrusting his hands deep into his pockets, Bob +left the ruins, and, walking slowly around the +stockade, entered at a gate on the opposite side. +His first care was to hunt up the sergeant-major +of his regiment, whom he found in the quarters. +This man had grown gray in the service, and he +was a soldier all over—brave, faithful and untiring +in the performance of his duty. He readily responded +to Bob's significant wink, and followed +him out on the parade.</p> + +<p>"Sergeant," said Bob as soon as they were beyond +earshot of everybody, "I have accidentally +come into the possession of a secret, and I don't +know what to do with it. There are thirty men in +the garrison who are going to desert to-night."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span></p> + +<p>The old fellow took a fresh chew of tobacco, +pushed his cap on the back of his head and looked +at Bob, who, after telling him where he had been +and how he happened to overhear the plot, continued:</p> + +<p>"It would never do to let them go. You know +I was detailed to act as the colonel's orderly this +morning, and I heard that scout who came in just +before noon tell him that there is a large party of +hostiles between here and Fort Tyler. These deserters +intend to take their weapons with them, +and think they can make a good fight; but those +Kiowas are strong enough to annihilate them."</p> + +<p>"Small loss that would be to us!" growled the +veteran. "We are going to have some hot work +to do before long, and such men are no good in a +fight."</p> + +<p>"It would never do to let them go," repeated +Bob, "but there is only one way to prevent it that +I can see; and that is by telling the colonel all +about it. If I do that, and they should find it out, +they would go back on me, sure."</p> + +<p>"Of course they would," said the sergeant.</p> + +<p>"Well, what would you do if you were in my +place?" asked Bob.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</a></span></p> + +<p>"What would I do? I would go straight to +the officer of the day and tell him the whole thing. +The good-will of such men don't amount to anything, +any way, and what do you care if they do +go back on you? There's only thirty of them, +and that leaves three hundred and fifty good fellows +who will always be ready to befriend you. +Do you know who these deserters are? I'll report +the matter if you are afraid, and then let's see one +of them open his head to me."</p> + +<p>Bob repeated the names of the would-be deserters +which Bristow had given as nearly as he could recall +them, and the sergeant hurried off to hunt up +the officer of the day, while Bob went back into +the quarters. He had been there but a few minutes +when the orderly appeared at the door and +sung out,</p> + +<p>"Owens, the colonel wants to see you."</p> + +<p>"Aha!" exclaimed Bristow, "our good little boy +has been doing something bad at last.—There are +no bunks in the guard-house, Owens."</p> + +<p>Bob made no reply. He followed the orderly +across the parade and into the colonel's head-quarters, +where he found the officer of the day, the +sergeant-major and all the ranking officers of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span> +garrison. The colonel questioned him closely in +regard to the plot he had discovered, and finally +dismissed him and the sergeant without making +any comments. Half an hour later the entire +cavalry force of the garrison was drawn up in +line, the names of forty men who were ordered to +the front and centre were read off, and the rest of +the troopers were sent back to their quarters. +Then the bugle sounded "Boots and saddles!" and +in a few minutes more these forty men—one of +whom was Bob Owens—rode out of the gate, led +by the scout who had brought the information +concerning that war-party of Kiowas. The squad +was commanded by Lieutenant Earle.</p> + +<p>"That's all right," whispered Bristow to one of +his fellow-conspirators as they stood in front of their +quarters and saw their comrades ride away. "There +will be just so many men less to follow us to-morrow +morning. But I wish we knew which +way they are going," he added in a tone of anxiety; +"and we must find out if we can. We don't want +to run into them if we can possibly avoid them, for +there are some of the best men in the garrison in +that party."</p> + +<p>"I suppose we are off after the hostiles," said<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span> +the soldier who rode by Bob's side. "The scout +told the colonel that there were three hundred +braves in that party, didn't he?"</p> + +<p>Bob answered that that was what he understood +him to say.</p> + +<p>"Then I wish we had a hundred men instead +of forty," continued the trooper. "Our squad is +too large to conceal itself, and too small to make a +successful fight against such overwhelming odds. +Well, if worst comes to worst—"</p> + +<p>The speaker thrust his hand into his boot-leg +and drew out a loaded Derringer. He intended +to send its contents through his own head rather +than fall alive into the hands of the hostiles. +Probably nine out of ten men in that squad were +provided with weapons just like it, and which they +intended to use in the same way should circumstances +require it. Veteran Indian-fighters never +fail to give this advice to a recruit: "When it +comes to a fight, save the last shot for yourself."</p> + +<p>But, as it happened, Bob and his companions +were not out after hostiles on this particular afternoon, +for that raiding-party of Kiowas was already +beyond the reach of any force that the commander<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span> +of Fort Lamoine could have sent in pursuit of it. +They found out in due time that their mission +was of an entirely different character. They rode +at a sharp trot until it was nearly dark, and then +they went into camp in a belt of post-oaks and +cooked and ate their supper. After an hour's rest +they mounted and rode back toward the fort again. +Arriving within a mile of the stockade, a halt was +ordered, the men were dismounted, and, every +fourth trooper being left to hold the horses, the +others marched off through the darkness, armed +only with their revolvers. Then Bob began to +understand the matter. The object of the expedition +was to capture the deserters. It had been led +away from the fort simply as a "blind," and in +order to lull the malcontents into a feeling of security +no change whatever had been made in +the guards who were to do duty that night.</p> + +<p>After the lieutenant had marched about half a +mile another halt was ordered, and sixteen men, +divided into squads of four men each, were told off +to begin the work. The officer approached each +squad in turn, and after designating some one to +take charge of it, gave him his instructions in a +whisper. When he walked up to Bob he asked,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Do you know where post No. 4 is? and can +you go straight to it without making any mistake?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir, to both your questions," was the +prompt reply.</p> + +<p>"Very well. Take command of this squad and +go and arrest Dodd, whom you will find on guard +there. Then put Carey in his place, and come back +and report to me at post No. 1, and I will tell you +what else to do. The countersign," added the lieutenant, +coming a step nearer to Bob and speaking in a +tone so low that no one else could catch his words, +"is 'Custer.' Be quick and still. Forward, march!"</p> + +<p>As Bob moved away with his squad he told himself +that fidelity is sometimes appreciated. This +was his first command, and he knew that much depended +upon the way in which he executed the orders +that had been given him. If they were faithfully +and skilfully carried out, he might hope to +be entrusted with other commands in future, and +so be given opportunities to distinguish himself and +win promotion; for Bob, like every ambitious boy, +was anxious to get ahead as rapidly as possible.</p> + +<p>"What's the matter, Owens?" asked all the +members of his squad in concert as soon as they<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span> +were out of the lieutenant's hearing. They were +all in the dark, and so was every man belonging +to the expedition with the exception of the lieutenant, +the sergeant-major and Bob Owens. The latter +explained the state of affairs in as few words +as he could, and the general verdict was that it +would have been no loss to the garrison, or to the +service either, if Bristow and his companions had +been permitted to depart in peace.</p> + +<p>In a few minutes Bob and his men arrived within +sight of the place where the horses were staked +out, and a hoarse voice broke the stillness. "Halt! +Who comes there?" was the challenge.</p> + +<p>"Friends, with the countersign," answered Bob +after bringing his squad to a halt.</p> + +<p>"Advance, one friend, and give the countersign," +was the next command.</p> + +<p>"Now, boys," said Bob in a low whisper, "you +stay here, and when I call out 'Advance, squad,' +come up briskly and surround Dodd, so as to be +ready to overpower him if he shows the least disposition +to resist or cry out."</p> + +<p>So saying, Bob moved off in the direction from +which the hail sounded, and presently discovered +the sentry, who stood at "arms port."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Halt!" commanded the guard when Bob had +approached within a few feet of him. "Give the +countersign."</p> + +<p>Bob whispered the magic word.</p> + +<p>"The countersign is correct," said the sentry, +bringing his carbine to a carry.—"It's you, is it, +Owens? What's the matter?"</p> + +<p>"Advance, squad," said Bob in a low tone. +"You haven't seen anything suspicious going on +about your post, have you?" he added, wishing to +occupy the sentry's attention until his men could +come within supporting distance of him. "No? +Well, I am sorry to say that there is something +suspicious about <i>you</i>, and I am ordered to put you +in arrest."</p> + +<p>He laid hold of the carbine as he said this, and +at the same moment two of his men placed their +hands upon the sentinel's shoulders. The latter, +seeing that resistance was useless, promptly gave up +his piece and dropped his hands by his sides. "It's +all that Bristow's work," said he in angry tones. +"I knew he wouldn't do to tie to."</p> + +<p>"Don't say too much," interposed Bob. "You +don't want to condemn yourself.—Carey, take +this post until relieved."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span></p> + +<p>As Bob marched his squad and his prisoner to the +place where he was to meet his commanding officer, +he found the intervening posts in the charge of +trusty men. Four of the discontented ones had +been secured, and it only remained for the lieutenant +to perfect arrangements for seizing the others as +fast as they came out of the fort. He had already +decided upon his plan of operations, and Bob +Owens was called upon to take the first step toward +carrying it out. After he had listened to some +very explicit instructions from his commander, he +stole off into the darkness, and, creeping along the +outside of the stockade until he reached a point opposite +the place where the sentry was posted behind +the stables, he stopped and waited to see what was +going to happen. About ten feet from him on his +left was another soldier, standing upright and motionless +in the shadow of the stockade. Ten feet +beyond this soldier was another. These were all +that Bob could see, but he knew that there were +good men and true stationed at regular intervals all +along the stockade, waiting to act the several parts +that had been assigned to them.</p> + +<p>Bob waited and listened for a quarter of an hour +or more, and then he heard a conversation carried<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span> +on in a low tone on the other side of the stockade. +He could not catch the words, but he knew that +the deserters were beginning to bestir themselves, +and that one of their number was talking with the +sentry. Presently a scratching, scrambling sound, +accompanied by heavy, labored breathing and those +incoherent exclamations that men sometimes use +when they are exerting themselves to the utmost, +told Bob that somebody was making his way up +the logs. Keeping his eyes fastened on the top, he +saw a soldier climb up and seat himself on the +plate. He could see him very plainly against the +light background of the sky, and he recognized +him at once. It was Bristow. He was about to +swing himself off when he discovered Bob standing +beneath him. He stopped, peered down into +the darkness for a moment, and then called out +in a frightened whisper,</p> + +<p>"Who is it?"</p> + +<p>"It's all right," whispered Bob in reply; "come +on."</p> + +<p>"Who is it, I say?" repeated Bristow in still +more earnest tones.</p> + +<p>"Why, don't you know Dodd? Hand me your +carbine."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh!" said Bristow with a great sigh of relief. +"It <i>is</i> all right, isn't it? Here you are."</p> + +<p>Holding his carbine by the strap, Bristow passed +it down to Bob, who promptly slung it upon +his back. The latter then pushed up his sleeves, +moved back a little from the stockade, and when +Bristow swung himself down by his hands and +dropped lightly to the ground, Bob stepped up +and took him by the arm.</p> + +<p>"I don't need any help," said Bristow, who +had landed squarely on his feet. "But I say, +Dodd—"</p> + +<p>"We'll talk about it as we go along," interrupted +Bob. "But not a loud word out of you, unless you +want to be gagged."</p> + +<p>"Why, good gracious, it's Owens!" gasped Bristow, +reeling back against the stockade. He did +not ask what Bob was doing there or why he had +seized him, for he knew without asking.</p> + +<p>"Yes, it is Owens, and the men you saw ride +out of the gate with me this afternoon are with +me now. Here's one of them," added Bob as a +soldier named Loring stepped up and took his +place in readiness to catch the next deserter who +came over the stockade.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span></p> + +<p>Just then the sentry on the inside placed his +mouth close to one of the cracks between the logs +and asked, in a cautious tone,</p> + +<p>"How is it, Bristow? Is the coast clear?"</p> + +<p>"All clear," replied Loring, speaking through +the same crack. "Tell the boys to hurry up; +we've no time to waste."</p> + +<p>If Bob's captive had any idea of attempting to +escape or of alarming his companions by crying +out, he abandoned it very quickly when he saw +the soldiers that were stationed along the stockade. +There was a trooper for every deserter, and as fast +as the man at the head of the line caught one, another +moved up and took his place.</p> + +<p>"This bangs me!" said Bristow, in great disgust. +"Now comes a court-martial of course, and Goodness +only knows what will come after that—the +guard-house and a heavy fine, or the military +prison at Fort Leavenworth.—I say, Owens, how +did the colonel find it out?"</p> + +<p>"Do you suppose he tells his secrets to us privates?" +asked Bob in reply.</p> + +<p>"We spoke to somebody who was not worthy of +the confidence we placed in him," continued Bristow. +"The thing never could have become known<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span> +unless one of our own number had proved treacherous. +But we can easily find out who he is. There +are just thirty of us, and if there are only twenty-nine +arrested, the missing man is the guilty one. +When I find out who he is, I shall take particular +pains to see that the next battle he gets into is his +last."</p> + +<p>This threat was uttered in a very low tone of +voice, for Bristow and his captor had by this time +reached the place where the lieutenant had stationed +himself to receive his men when they came in with +their prisoners. Bob reported, "Your orders have +been obeyed, sir," and took his stand close behind +his officer.</p> + +<p>"I counted only twenty-six," said Bristow when +the sergeant-major came up and announced the complete +success of the undertaking. "There must be +four traitors among us."</p> + +<p>"Have you counted in the horse-guards?" asked +Bob. "There they are on the top of that +ridge."</p> + +<p>No, Bristow had not counted them in, for he +did not know until that minute that they had +been arrested. He was very much astonished when +he learned that every one of his party had been<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span> +secured, and could not for the life of him imagine +how the colonel had found out about it; for that +he knew <i>all</i> about it was evident from the manner +in which the arrests had been effected.</p> + +<p>Having sent one of his men back to order up +the horses, the lieutenant formed his captives in +line, threw a guard around them and marched them +into the fort. Halting them on the parade, he went +in to report to the colonel, and when he came out +again he put every one of them into the guard-house; +after which Bob and his companions went +to the quarters and tumbled into their bunks.</p> + +<p>Great was the astonishment among the soldiers +the next morning when it became known that the +expedition, which they supposed had gone out +in search of the hostiles, had returned to the fort +and captured thirty armed men, and that the +work had been done so quietly that the sentry +at the gate never knew anything about it until +it was all over. Of course they were quite at +a loss to determine who it was that told the colonel +about it; and the general impression seemed +to be that if there were a traitor among the +deserters, he had allowed himself to be captured +with the others in order to avoid suspicion.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span></p> + +<p>Among the non-commissioned officers who had +attempted to desert was one of the corporals belonging +to Bob's troop, and the next morning Bob +was ordered to take his place and do duty as corporal +of the guard. He saw the prisoners served +with breakfast, and the numerous orders he had +to give opened the eyes of one of them, who began +to think he had made a discovery. And so +he had, but he could not prove it.</p> + +<p>"I'll tell you what's a fact, boys," said Bristow +as he walked to a remote corner of his prison with +a cup of coffee in one hand and some cracker and +bacon in the other: "I know whom we have to +thank for our arrest."</p> + +<p>"Who is it?" asked a dozen voices at once.</p> + +<p>"I'd like to send him my compliments in the +shape of a bullet from my carbine," said the corporal +whose place Bob was then filling. "Tell us +who he is, so that we can improve the first chance +to get even with him."</p> + +<p>"There he is," said Bristow, shaking his piece +of cracker at Bob. "He has been trying to get +on the blind side of the officers for a long time, +as you all know, and he has accomplished his +object at last by going back on his comrades."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span></p> + +<p>The prisoners looked at Bob as if they expected +him to deny the accusation; but, to the disappointment +of some of them who really liked him, he +had nothing to say.</p> + +<p>"Why don't you speak up and declare that +it isn't so?" demanded the corporal.</p> + +<p>"Because he dare not," exclaimed Bristow. "He +couldn't without telling a lie, and, as he is a good +little boy, he wouldn't do that for the world."</p> + +<p>"I don't believe he did it," said another of the +culprits. "He is not one of us, and how could he +have found it out? I believe that the traitor is +right here in the guard-house under arrest."</p> + +<p>"I know he isn't," declared Bristow. "Bob +Owens is the only traitor there is, and you may +depend upon it. Now, let me tell you just what +is going to happen when the court-martial comes +off: it will be proved to the satisfaction of all of +you that Owens found out about our plans in some +way or other, and went straight to the colonel with +them. You will be disrated, Corporal Jim, and +Lieutenant Earle, in order to reward Bob for carrying +tales and to encourage him to carry more, +will give him your place. Why, he has just as +good as got the stripes on his arm now."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span></p> + +<p>Corporal Jim looked daggers at Bob, and declared +that if he was the one who had disclosed +their plot to the colonel, he was too mean for any +use, and ought to be drummed out of the fort.</p> + +<p>"I promised that if I ever found out who the +informer was I would serve him worse than that," +said Bristow in savage tones. "I shall keep my +promise, too, if I ever get the chance, for I am +one who never forgets an injury."</p> + +<p>Bob Owens—who, as we know, was not wanting +in physical courage—was not at all alarmed by this +threat and a good many others like it to which he +listened during the fifteen minutes the prisoners +were occupied in eating their breakfast. He believed +that he was able to take care of No. 1; and +when the critical time came, as it did a few weeks +later, he proved to the satisfaction of everybody +that his confidence in himself was not misplaced.</p> + +<p>The court-martial was not long delayed, and +the findings being approved by the proper authorities, +the sentences were promptly carried out. +The culprits were confined in the guard-house for +different periods of time, those who had been the +most active in inducing their comrades to desert +serving a longer sentence than their victims, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span> +fines were imposed upon all of them, Bristow's +being by far the heaviest, as he was proved to be +the ringleader. He and Gus Robbins—both of +whom had been almost constantly in trouble ever +since they arrived at the post—were given to understand +that if they were detected in another attempt +at desertion they could make up their minds +to see the inside of the military prison at Fort +Leavenworth. Bristow proved to be a first-class +prophet. During the progress of the trial it came +out that Bob Owens was the one who discovered the +plot, and that through him it was communicated +to the colonel. Corporal Jim was of course reduced +to the ranks, and Bob was promoted to fill +the vacancy.</p> + +<p>During the next few weeks nothing of interest +happened at the fort. The deserters were released +as fast as the terms for which they were sentenced +expired, some of them penitent and fully resolved to +do better in future, while the others were more than +ever determined to escape from military control, in +spite of all the officers and guards that could be +placed around them. They carried out their determination, +too, at every opportunity, deserting in +parties numbering half a dozen or so, and they gen<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span>erally +succeeded in eluding pursuit. It was a singular +fact that when the pursuers were commanded +by commissioned officers they very often returned +without having accomplished anything, but when +they were commanded by sergeants or corporals they +were almost always successful. Luck was on the +side of the "non-coms," and the colonel finally +learned to put a great deal of confidence in them. +Bob Owens was particularly fortunate in this respect, +and that was the reason his superior sent for +him one morning after the officer of the day had +reported that seven men had deserted during the +previous night, taking their arms and a supply of +ammunition with them.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV.</h2> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span></p> +<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">TOP</a></span> +<h3>A PERILOUS UNDERTAKING.</h3> + + +<p>"Corporal," said the commandant, taking +off his eye-glasses with a jerk, as he always +did when he was about to say something emphatic, +"there are the names of seven men who deserted last +night. I want you to take command of a squad and +follow them up and arrest them."</p> + +<p>"Very good, sir," replied Bob.</p> + +<p>"I don't know which way they went, or anything +about it," continued the colonel. "That is something +you will have to find out for yourself. I <i>do</i> +know, however, that they went on foot, and that +they are armed and well supplied with ammunition. +I want you to capture them at all hazards—at all +hazards, I say," repeated the colonel, bringing his +open hand down upon the table with a ringing +slap. "If you come back without them you need +not offer any excuses, for I shall not listen to them. +Arrest anybody you catch outside the stockade<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span> +wearing a United States uniform, no matter who +he is. There have been no passes granted this +morning, and no one except the guards and the +officer of the day has any business outside. That's +all."</p> + +<p>Bob saluted and hurried from the room. As +he passed through the hall he glanced at the list he +held in his hand, and saw that it was headed by the +names of Bristow and Gus Robbins.</p> + +<p>"This is about the easiest job I have had yet, +and these fellows are just as good as captured +already," said he to himself. "I know right where +to look for them, and I wouldn't be in their shoes +for all the money the paymaster had in his safe the +last time he was here. They are booked for Leavenworth, +sure.—May I go out, Willis?" he asked +of the sentry at the gate; "I am acting under +orders."</p> + +<p>"That's all right," was the reply; "the officer +of the day told me to pass you. You are going +after those deserters, I suppose? Well, now, look +here," added the sentry, after looking all around to +make sure that there was no officer in sight: "you +remember those mulewhackers who brought that +freight here the other day, don't you? Well, Bris<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</a></span>tow +and the rest have gone off to join them. I am +certain of it, for I heard Bristow talking with them, +and they assured him that the wagon-master would +give him steady work and good wages if he would +hire out to him. Bristow didn't hesitate to talk +with them about it in the presence of a dozen of +us."</p> + +<p>"That was only a ruse on his part," said Bob +confidently. "If I followed the trail of those +teamsters I should have my trouble for my pains. +I am going as straight toward Brownsville as I +can go, and I shall have my hand on Mr. Bristow's +collar before I have gone thirty miles. You may +rest assured that I shall not come back without +him, for if I do I don't know what the colonel +will say to me."</p> + +<p>Bob hastened toward the place where the horses +were picketed, and there he found the officer of the +day and the six picked men who had been detailed +to accompany him. It was the work of but a +few minutes to lead their horses into the fort and +put the saddles and bridles on them; and when this +had been done, and Bob and his men had secured +their carbines, sabres and revolvers and put two +days' rations in their haversacks, they mounted and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span> +rode through the gate at a sharp trot. They were +quiet and orderly enough as long as they remained +within sight of the fort, but when the first ridge +over which they passed shut them out from view +they abandoned their efforts to keep in column, +threw off all restraint and shouted and sang at +the top of their voices. They looked upon an +expedition like this as a "lark," and enjoyed it +as much as a schoolboy enjoys a picnic.</p> + +<p>Bob did not stop at the first ranches he passed, +for he knew that the deserters (provided, of course, +that they had fled along that trail) must have gone +by them in the night, and that consequently their +inmates could give him no information. Besides, +Bob had learned by experience that there was very +little confidence to be placed in anything the ranchemen +might say regarding a deserter. A good many +of them had served in the army during the war, +and, knowing how very hard is the life a soldier +leads, they sympathized with him in his efforts to +escape, and aided him by every means in their +power. Where there was one farmer or stock-raiser +who would give a squad like Bob's any +information that could be relied on, there were a +dozen who would conceal the deserter in their<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span> +houses and send his pursuers off on the wrong +trail.</p> + +<p>After Bob and his troopers had ridden about +fifteen miles, and had shouted and sung off a little +of their surplus enthusiasm, they relapsed into +silence and settled down to business. They halted +on the top of every ridge to survey the country before +them, and called at every ranche that lay along +their route; but nothing was to be seen or heard of +Bristow and his party. About noon they came within +sight of a squatter's cabin, and Bob decided to +stop there and eat dinner. The owner of the cabin +was at home, and he welcomed the horsemen with +every appearance of cordiality.</p> + +<p>"Alight an' hitch, strangers," said he, when he +had succeeded in quieting the small army of dogs +which came out from under the cabin to dispute +the further advance of the troopers. "You're as +welcome as the flowers in May."</p> + +<p>"Thank you," said Bob as he swung himself from +his saddle. "We intend to stop here and rest for +an hour or so. We'll boil our coffee and cook our +rations on your stove, if you have no objections."</p> + +<p>"I ain't got no stove," replied the squatter hastily—"leastways, +none that you can do cookin' on,"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span> +he added, with some confusion, when he saw Bob +and one or two of his men look up at the stovepipe +which projected above the roof.</p> + +<p>"All right!" replied the corporal, silencing by +a look one of the troopers who was about to say +something. "Then we shall have to build a fire +outside; but that will do just as well, for we are +used to cooking our grub in that way.—Now, +Carey, if you and Loring will skirmish around +and find some wood and start the coffee-pot going, +we will look out for your nags."</p> + +<p>"Corporal," whispered one of the troopers, +"there's a bug under that chip. In other words, +this old rascal has some reason for wishing to keep +us out of his cabin."</p> + +<p>"Say nothing out loud," replied Bob with a +warning gesture. "We are on the right track, +and I know it. If we fail now, it will be through +our own blundering."</p> + +<p>Having seen the horses staked out, Bob walked +back to the cabin, and found the squatter in conversation +with Carey and Loring. His first words +indicated that he had been trying to pump them, +but without success.</p> + +<p>"Say, soldier, where might you be a-travellin'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</a></span> +to?" he asked as Bob came up. "I asked them +two fellows, an' they told me I had better ask +you."</p> + +<p>"We are looking for seven deserters who passed +this way some time this morning," answered Bob. +"They were on foot and carried carbines. Seen +anything of such a party?"</p> + +<p>The squatter brought his hands together with a +loud slap before he replied.</p> + +<p>"I jest knowed them fellows wasn't what they +allowed they was," said he. "In course I seed 'em, +an' they told me they was a-lookin' for deserters +themselves. They went off that way, toward the +old Brazos trail," added the squatter, pointing in +a direction which lay exactly at right angles with +the course Bob had been pursuing.</p> + +<p>"Did they?" exclaimed the corporal with a great +show of eagerness. "Thank you for the information. +We will go that way too as soon as we +have eaten dinner. How long ago did they pass +this way?"</p> + +<p>"Jest at daylight."</p> + +<p>"That's another lie," said Bob to himself. "They +didn't desert until after midnight, and they couldn't +have travelled between fifteen and twenty miles in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span> +less than five hours on foot. An infantryman might +do it on a pinch, but a trooper couldn't."</p> + +<p>"You'll have to hurry up if you want to ketch +'em," continued the squatter, who seemed to grow +nervous when he saw how deliberately the troopers +went about their preparations for dinner. "They +was a-lumberin' along right peart."</p> + +<p>"Oh, there's no need that we should throw ourselves +into a perspiration," replied Bob indifferently. +"We don't care if we don't find them for +a week. You see, when we are out on an expedition +like this we are not obliged to drill, and our +pay goes on just the same. If you have anything +good to eat, trot it out; we're wealthy."</p> + +<p>But the squatter protested that he had nothing in +his cabin except bacon and crackers, and his supply +of these necessary articles was so small that he +could not possibly spare any of it. He said so +much on this point that the troopers would have +been dull indeed if they had not suspected something.</p> + +<p>"He wants to get us away from here, doesn't +he?" said Carey as soon as he had a chance to +speak to Bob. "He thinks that if he provides us +with a good dinner we will spend a long time in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</a></span> +eating it. Now, corporal, I will bet you anything +you please that—"</p> + +<p>"I know," interrupted Bob, "and I want you to +take a look into the matter at once. This is my +plan."</p> + +<p>Here Bob whispered some rapid instructions to +the trooper, who winked first one eye and then the +other to show that he understood them. Pulling +his pipe from his pocket, he proceeded to fill it +with tobacco, while Bob walked up to the squatter, +and, taking him confidentially by the arm, said, +as he led him out of earshot of the men, who had +seated themselves about the fire,</p> + +<p>"May I have a word with you in private? +You see, I am an officer, and it won't do for me +to talk too freely in the presence of those I command."</p> + +<p>So saying, Bob led the squatter behind the cabin +and began making some very particular inquiries +concerning Bristow and his party: What sort of +looking fellows were they? What did they say? +Did they get anything to eat at the cabin? and did +his friend the squatter really think they had gone +toward the old Brazos trail? The man was very +uneasy, and seemed impatient to go back to the fire<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</a></span> +again; but by holding fast to his arm, and plying +him with such questions as these, Bob managed to +keep him behind the cabin for about five minutes, +and that was long enough for Carey to carry out +the orders that had been given him.</p> + +<p>As soon as Bob and the squatter disappeared +around the corner of the cabin, Carey put his pipe +into his mouth, and, enjoining silence upon his +comrades by shaking his fore finger at them, he +quickly mounted the steps that led to the porch +and walked into the cabin. As he did so there was +a faint rustling in one corner of the room, and, looking +over his left shoulder without turning his head, +Carey saw a man who was lying on a rude couch +draw a blanket quickly over his face. In his eagerness +to conceal his features the man probably forgot +that he had a pair of feet, for he pulled the +blanket up a little too high.</p> + +<p>"Aha! my fine lad," said the trooper as he noiselessly +opened the stove-door and looked into it, as +if he were searching for a live coal with which to +light his pipe, "I see a pair of No. 12 army brogans, +and also the lower portions of a pair of light +blue breeches with a yellow stripe down the seams. +Bryant, my boy, that's you. I see also that this<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</a></span> +stove is in perfect order, but as there are no coals +in it, I'll have to get a light at the fire outside."</p> + +<p>When Carey came out of the cabin his comrades' +faces were full of inquiry, but the trooper only +winked at them and nodded his head, as if to say +that he could tell something that would astonish +them if he only felt so disposed.</p> + +<p>By this time dinner was ready, and Loring's +loud call of "Coffee!" brought Bob and the squatter +from behind the cabin. The latter accepted +Loring's invitation to drink a cup of coffee with +"the boys," but he disposed of it in great haste, +hot as it was, as if he hoped by his example to induce +them to do likewise. But Bob and his companions +were in no hurry. They lingered a long +time over their homely meal, and then the smokers +were allowed to empty a pipe apiece before the order +was given to "catch up." The squatter began +to breathe easier after that, and when he saw the +troopers in their saddles and ready to start, his delight +was so apparent that they all noticed it.</p> + +<p>"Wa'l, good-bye, if you must go," said he cheerily. +"Will you stop when you come back?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, you needn't expect to see us here again," +said Bob. "If we go to Brazos City, we shall<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</a></span> +take a short cut across the country when we return +to the fort."</p> + +<p>"That's where I reckon they're goin', as I told +you; an' my advice would be for you to go straight +to Brazos, without stoppin' on the way, an' when +they get there you'll be all ready to take 'em in. +See?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I see," answered Bob, "and it's something +worth thinking of.—Forward, column left! +Trot! gallop!"</p> + +<p>The troopers moved rapidly away from the cabin, +and, to the intense surprise and indignation of all +his followers, who thought that their corporal had +been deceived by the squatter, Bob led them off +toward the old Brazos trail. At length one of them +ventured to remonstrate.</p> + +<p>"Corporal," said he, "you're going wrong."</p> + +<p>"I know it," answered Bob.—"Carey, tell us +what you saw in that cabin. Were our suspicions +correct?"</p> + +<p>"Indeed they were," was Carey's reply. "In +the first place, that stove was all right, but the +squatter didn't want us to use it, for Bryant was +hiding in the cabin. He was lying on the floor, +covered up with a blanket."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</a></span></p> + +<p>"How do you know it was Bryant?" asked Bob. +"Did you see his face?"</p> + +<p>"No, I didn't; it was concealed by the blanket. +I saw his feet," said Carey; and his answer was +received by the troopers with a sigh of satisfaction. +It was all that was needed to establish the +identity of the man who had taken refuge in the +squatter's cabin.</p> + +<p>"I didn't think I could be wrong," observed +Bob, "for that man condemned himself before we +had been in his presence ten minutes."</p> + +<p>"Why don't you go back and snatch Bryant?" +demanded one of the troopers, seeing that the +corporal did not slacken his pace. "Why didn't +you do it while we were at the cabin?"</p> + +<p>"Because I had no right to do it," answered +Bob. "If I should go to searching houses, I +might get myself into trouble with the colonel. +Another thing, boys: I shouldn't care to enter +that man's castle to look for anything unless I +was a civil officer and armed with a search-warrant. +He is a hard one, unless his looks belie +him."</p> + +<p>"I thought so myself," said Loring. "But +you are not going back without Bryant, are you?<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</a></span> +What do you suppose he is doing there, anyway?"</p> + +<p>"Of course I shall not go back without him," +answered Bob quietly. "He has probably hired +out to that squatter, and we must watch our chance +and catch him out of doors before we can arrest +him."</p> + +<p>"Well, are you going to Brazos City?"</p> + +<p>"Not by a long shot. Bristow and the fellows +who are still with him have not gone that way. +As soon as we get behind that belt of post-oaks +you see in advance of us, I intend to circle around +and go back toward the river again."</p> + +<p>Although the troopers rode at a rapid gait, it +took them nearly three hours to carry out this +programme. At the end of that time they struck +the old stage-road, which, in the days gone by, +had served as a highway between Brownsville and +some of the remote frontier-towns; but when the +raiders forced the settlements back into the interior +the stage-route was abandoned, and all that now +remained to tell of the business that had once been +done on it were the half-ruined stations which were +scattered along the road at intervals of fifteen or +twenty miles.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</a></span></p> + +<p>These stations were built of stone, and were +large enough to accommodate a dozen horses and +half as many stable-men and drivers, besides the +necessary food for both men and animals. Each +station was provided with a "dug-out," a miniature +fort, into which the employees of the route +could retreat in case they were attacked by hostile +Indians or Mexican raiders. It was simply a +cellar of sufficient size to shelter nine or ten men +at close quarters, covered with logs and dirt, and +furnished with loopholes on all sides at the height +of a foot or more above the ground. It looked +like a mound of earth supported on logs about two +feet high. The only way of getting into one of these +little fortifications was through an underground passage-way +which led from the stables. With these +arrangements for their defence a few well-armed +and determined men could hold their own against +all the raiders that could get around them.</p> + +<p>About four o'clock in the afternoon Bob and his +troopers came within sight of one of these stations, +and as soon as their eyes rested upon it they drew +up their horses with a jerk, at the same time uttering +exclamations of astonishment and delight. +Standing in front of the open door were several<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</a></span> +men dressed in the uniform of the regular army. +They seemed to be holding a consultation, and so +deeply engrossed were they with their deliberations +that they did not notice the approach of the troopers, +although the latter had stopped their horses +on the summit of a high ridge in plain view of +them.</p> + +<p>"I wonder if those are our men?" said Carey, +with some excitement in his tones.</p> + +<p>"We shall soon know," was Bob's calm reply. +"Whoever they are, they will have to give an +account of themselves, for I am instructed to arrest +everybody I meet wearing a uniform."</p> + +<p>"If they <i>are</i> our fellows, we've got them corralled," +remarked Loring.</p> + +<p>"Yes, but I don't much like the way we have +'corralled' them," returned Carey. "Do you see +that dug-out about twenty yards from the northwest +corner of the station? If they go in there +they can laugh at us. The only way we could +get them out would be to starve them out."</p> + +<p>"That would take too long," said Bob; and +the tone in which the words were uttered made +his comrades look at him with some curiosity. +"Let's go down there and interview them, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</a></span> +then we shall know how to act. Forward! +Trot!"</p> + +<p>Just as these commands were given a commotion +among the men in front of the station indicated that +somebody had sounded an alarm. They gazed at +the troopers for a moment as if they were thunderstruck, +and then made a simultaneous rush for the +entrance. This action on their part told Bob as +plainly as words that they were the men of whom +he had been sent in pursuit, and that they did not +intend to go back to the fort if they could help it. +A moment later a loud slamming and pounding +indicated that the deserters were trying to close +and barricade the door. This had scarcely been +accomplished when the troopers dashed up to +the station and swung themselves out of their +saddles.</p> + +<p>Leaving two of his men to hold the horses, Bob +and the rest walked around the corner of the station +and looked at the dug-out. There was a face +in front of every loophole. Anybody could see +that the deserters had the advantage of position, +and the troopers wondered what Bob was going +to do about it. They glanced at his face, but could +see nothing there to tell them whether he was ex<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</a></span>cited, +afraid or discouraged. It wore its usual expression.</p> + +<p>"Well, boys," said Bob at length, "if you have +grown tired of roaming about the country, come +out, and we will go back to the post. The colonel +wants to see you."</p> + +<p>"We don't doubt it, but we don't want to see +him," replied a voice that Bob recognized at once. +"We think we see ourselves going back! We +didn't desert for that."</p> + +<p>"Gus Robbins, I am sorry that you are in there," +said Bob. "What will you say to your father and +mother when you see them again?"</p> + +<p>"Don't know, I am sure," answered Gus. +"Haven't had any time to think about that. But +you know yourself that I can't go back to the +post. The colonel said that if I were ever court-marshaled +again for desertion, I should go to prison; +but I'll fight till I drop before I'll do +that."</p> + +<p>"Say, Bob," shouted another voice, "do you +remember what I said I would do to that informer +if I ever found out who he was? You are +the fellow, and here's your pay."</p> + +<p>It was Bristow who spoke, and as he uttered<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</a></span> +these words he thrust the muzzle of his carbine +through the loophole in front of him. The chorus +of ejaculations and remonstrances which arose from +the inside of the dug-out showed that the rest of +the deserters were not yet ready to resort to the +use of their firearms; but Bristow was almost +half crazed by rage and fear, and just as somebody +seized him from behind and jerked him +away from the loophole, his carbine roared, and +Bob Owens turned halfway round and staggered +back a step or two, as if he were struck and +about to fall.</p> + +<p>This unexpected act excited Bob's troopers—with +whom he was an especial favorite—almost +to frenzy. Believing that he had been seriously +if not fatally injured—it did not seem possible that +anybody could miss a mark of the size of his body +at the distance of ten paces—one of them sprang +forward to support him, while the others discharged +their carbines at the loopholes in rapid succession. +Their volley was not entirely without effect, +for a loud yell of agony came from the inside of +the dug-out, bearing testimony to the fact that +one bullet at least had found a target somewhere +on the person of one of the deserters.</p> + + +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/p091.jpg" alt="p091" title="Storming the Dug-Out."/></div> +<div class="figcenter"><span class="caption"><span class="smcap">Storming the Dug-Out.</span></span></div> + + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</a></span>"Cease firing!" shouted Bob.</p> + +<p>He gently released himself from the embrace of +the strong arms that had been thrown around him, +and looked down at the gaping rent Bristow's bullet +had made in the breast of his coat. The missile +had passed through his thick carbine-sling and +breast-belt, had cut into his coat, vest and shirt, +and ploughed a deep furrow through a well-filled +wallet which he carried in his inside pocket. Fortunately, +it was a glancing shot, but the force with +which it struck him was almost sufficient to knock +him off his feet.</p> + +<p>"I'm not hurt at all," said he as his men crowded +about him, "but I shall have to put a patch on +my coat when I get back to the post.—I say, there," +he shouted, addressing himself to the inmates of +the dug-out, "was there anybody hurt in there? +I thought I heard a yell."</p> + +<p>"Yes, and you'll hear another yell if you don't +go away and let us alone," replied Bristow. "I'll +make a better shot the next time I pull on you."</p> + +<p>"All right!" said Bob. "I'll give you a chance +in just about five minutes.—Loring," he added in +a lower tone, "you and Phillips stay here and hold +the horses, and the rest of you follow me."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Are you going to storm them?" asked Loring.</p> + +<p>"I am," was the decided reply. "It is the only +way I can get them out, for they'll not come of +their own free will."</p> + +<p>"Then I sha'n't stay here and hold the horses; +that's flat," declared Loring.</p> + +<p>"Neither will I," chimed in Phillips. "The +picket-pins will hold them as well as we can."</p> + +<p>"All right!" replied Bob. "Stake them out, +and while you are doing it Carey and I will see +how we are going to get into the station."</p> + +<p>The door to which Bob now turned his attention +did not prove to be a very serious obstacle. It +was made of heavy planks, and if it had been in +good condition it would have taken a good deal of +chopping with a sharp axe before one could have +forced his way through it; but the hinges had rusted +off, and the planks had shrunk to such a degree +that the bar which held the door in its place could +be seen and reached with a sabre. A few blows +with one of these weapons knocked this bar from +its place, and when that was done, the door, having +nothing to support it, fell back into the stable +with a loud crash. Bob entered, with Carey at his +heels, and, making his way to a small apartment<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</a></span> +which had once been used as a sleeping-room by the +stable-men and drivers, he found there a trap-door, +which he threw open, revealing a flight of rude steps +leading into the underground passage that communicated +with the dug-out. By this time the rest +of the troopers arrived on the scene. They looked +dubiously at the dark passage-way, and then they +looked at Bob.</p> + +<p>"Do you really mean to go down there, Owens?" +asked Loring. "It's sure death."</p> + +<p>"I believe so myself, but I am going all the +same," replied Bob, who was thoroughly aroused by +the attempt that had been made on his life. "If +we are not willing to face death at any moment, we +had no business to enlist. Must I go alone?"</p> + +<p>"Not much," was the unanimous response. "If +you are bound to go, we are going too."</p> + +<p>"Leave your sabres and carbines here," commanded +Bob. "They will only be in the way. +Draw revolvers, but don't shoot except in self-defence."</p> + +<p>Bob knew as well as his men did that he was +about to enter upon a very perilous undertaking. +Bristow had shown that he was desperate enough +to shoot, and he had even threatened that if he got<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</a></span> +another chance at Bob he would make a better shot +than he did before. Some of the men who were with +him were known to be hard characters, and it was +very probable that they would back him up in the +resistance he seemed determined to make. But Bob, +having made up his mind as to the course he ought +pursue, never once faltered. He was a soldier, and +a soldier's first duty was to obey orders. He had +been commanded to find the deserters and arrest +them at all hazards; and, having obeyed the first +part of his instructions, he was resolved to carry +them out to the letter or perish in the attempt.</p> + +<p>"Now I think we are all ready," said Bob, after +the sabres and carbines had been laid in the empty +bunks and the revolvers drawn and examined. +"Stick close to me, and remember that if we don't +take them they will kill us. Bristow, Sandy and +Talbot are the only men we have to fear, and if we +can only get the drop on them we are all right. +Come on."</p> + +<p>Although Bob was the youngest soldier, he was +the calmest one of the seven troopers who descended +those steps. When he reached the bottom he +looked along the passage-way toward the dug-out, +which was dimly lighted by the sunbeams which<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</a></span> +streamed in through the loopholes on the western +side, and saw the deserters standing in line awaiting +his approach.</p> + +<p>"Halt!" cried a voice. "Come a step nearer +and you are all dead men."</p> + +<p>It was Bristow who spoke, and the words were +followed by the ominous click of the lock of his +carbine.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V.</h2> + +<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">TOP</a></span> +<h3>THE NEW SCOUT.</h3> + + +<p>"Halt!" cried Bristow again. It was so dark +in the passage-way that he could not see +the troopers, but the sound of their footsteps told +him that they were still advancing toward the dug-out. +"That's twice," he continued. "If I have +to halt you the third time, I'll send a bullet out +there."</p> + +<p>"Bristow, you had better not try that," answered +Bob, without the least tremor in his voice. "You +have already done more than you will want to +stand punishment for. Besides, I have got you +covered, and if you move that carbine a hair's +breadth you are a gone deserter."</p> + +<p>"And I've got the drop on you, Sandy," said +Carey, thrusting his cocked revolver over Bob's +shoulder, "so don't wink.—I say, corporal," he +added in a whisper, "I don't see Talbot anywhere."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Neither do I," answered Bob. "Keep your +eyes open, for he may be up to playing us some +trick."</p> + +<p>Whether it was the cool determination exhibited +by Bob and his men, or the consciousness that they +were in the wrong that took all the fight out of +the deserters, we cannot tell; but they were cowed +by something, and when Corporal Owens and his +troopers filed into the dug-out, and the former +sternly commanded them to "throw up," every +carbine was dropped to the ground and five pairs +of hands were raised in the air.</p> + +<p>"Where's the other?" demanded Bob. "There +ought to be six of you."</p> + +<p>"Here I am," said a faint voice.</p> + +<p>Bob looked in the direction from which the voice +came, and saw Talbot sitting in a dark corner, his +carbine lying by his side and both his hands raised +above his head. He wore a handkerchief around +his forehead, and, dim as the light was, Bob could +see that it was streaked with blood.</p> + +<p>"Are you badly hurt?" he asked with some +anxiety.</p> + +<p>"No, he isn't," exclaimed Bristow, before the +wounded man could speak. "A glancing ball cut<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</a></span> +a little crease in his scalp, and he thinks he is +killed."</p> + +<p>"I wish you had this little crease in your own +scalp," said Talbot, looking savagely at Bristow. +"If it hadn't been for you I never should have +been here."</p> + +<p>"And if it hadn't been for <i>you</i>, and a few cowards +just like you, we never should have been captured," +retorted Bristow. "We could have held +our own against a squad four times as big as the +one Owens has brought with him; but now—"</p> + +<p>"That'll do," interrupted Bob. "I am not going +to have any quarrelling here; and, Bristow, +there's a court-martial coming, and you had better +keep a quiet tongue in your head.—Carey, stand in +the mouth of that passage-way.—Phillips, pick up +the carbines, and the rest of you sound them."</p> + +<p>These orders were promptly obeyed, and when +the "sounding" had been completed the deserters +had not even a pocket-knife left.</p> + +<p>"Now, boys," continued Bob, "as you seem to +like these quarters so well, you can stay here to-night—all +except you, Talbot; you will come up +and have your wound examined. We didn't come +prepared to take care of injured men, but we will<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</a></span> +do the best we can for you.—We will get some +supper for you men, and when you feel so inclined +you can spread your blankets on the floor and go +to sleep.—Go on, Carey."</p> + +<p>At a sign from Bob the troopers followed Carey, +who led the way along the passage; then Talbot +fell in, carrying his blanket over his shoulder, and +Bob brought up the rear. The trap-door was shut, +and Talbot was informed that the sleeping-room +was to be his prison for the night. His wound was +dressed with some cold coffee that Bob happened +to have in his canteen, and the deserter was assured +that there was no cause for apprehension. The +wound, which was scarcely an inch long, was only +skin-deep, but it bled profusely, and that was +probably the reason why Talbot was so badly +frightened. When two sentries had been posted—one +at the door of the stable to keep an eye on +Talbot, and the other at the dug-out to see that +the deserters who were confined there did not attempt +to work their way out during the night—Bob +ordered supper to be served at once. He had +performed a brave act, and now that the danger +was over he began to realize that he had passed +through something of an ordeal. He lifted his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</a></span> +cap, and found that his forehead was covered with +great drops of perspiration.</p> + +<p>"You have done well," said Carey, extending +his hand to Bob when the latter came out of the +sleeping-room. "I didn't know you had so much +pluck. I shall take particular pains to see that +the lieutenant hears of this day's work."</p> + +<p>"He will tell you that I did nothing but my +duty," replied Bob, who was very glad to know +that his men were satisfied with his conduct.</p> + +<p>"But it isn't everybody who is brave enough +to do his duty," said Carey as he touched a match +to the light-wood he had piled in the fireplace; +"and perhaps the lieutenant will say that you +ought to be a sergeant. That <i>was</i> Bryant back +there in that squatter's cabin, wasn't it? I looked +for him the minute we entered the dug-out."</p> + +<p>"So did I," answered Bob, "and I saw at a +glance that he wasn't there. We will attend to +him to-morrow."</p> + +<p>"But perhaps he won't be there."</p> + +<p>"I think he will. It is my opinion that he +has hired out to that squatter, and that he intends +to trust to disguise to escape recognition. A man +in citizen's clothes doesn't look much like the same<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</a></span> +man in uniform; did you ever notice that? But +even if he isn't there, what odds does it make to +us? We are having a good time, and I would +just as soon stay out here on the plains for a +week or ten days as to go back to the fort and +drill."</p> + +<p>"I say, corporal," exclaimed the sentry who was +stationed at the door, "here's somebody coming, +and unless my eyes are going back on me he is +dressed in uniform."</p> + +<p>"Who in the world can it be?" exclaimed +Carey.</p> + +<p>"We'll soon find out," replied Bob, "for if he +has got any of our uncle's clothes on we are bound +to take him in, unless he proves to be an officer."</p> + +<p>Bob and his men hurried to the door, and, +looking in the direction in which the sentry was +gazing, saw a horseman about a quarter of a +mile away. He had halted on the top of a ridge, +and Loring, who had good "Plains eyes," declared +that he was looking at them through a field-glass. +He certainly was dressed in uniform, and had with +him a small black mule which bore a good-sized +pack on its back.</p> + +<p>"I can't make him out," said Bob, waving his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</a></span> +hand in the air and beckoning the horseman to +approach. "He is a soldier, but what is he doing +with that pack-mule? It isn't Bryant, is it? If +it is, where did he get that mule and that field-glass?—Loring, +you and Phillips put the bridles +on your horses—never mind the saddles—and stand +by to give him a race if he tries to run away. Don't +mount until I give the word."</p> + +<p>But the horseman had no intention of running +away. He replied to Bob's signal by waving his +hand over his head, and after putting away his +field-glass rode down the ridge and came toward +the station at a gallop. As he approached nearer +the troopers saw that he was a stranger, and a +very good-looking one, too. He was almost as +dark as an Indian, his hair was long enough to +reach to his shoulders, and the eyes that looked +out from under the peak of his fatigue-cap were +as black as midnight and as sharp as those of an +eagle. He rode a magnificent horse, and his seat +was easy and graceful. His only weapon—that is, +the only one that could be seen—was a heavy Winchester +rifle, which was slung at his back. If he +was a soldier, he was a very fancy one, for his +cavalry uniform, although in strict keeping with<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</a></span> +the regulations, was made of the finest material; +he wore white gauntlet gloves on his hands; and +instead of the ungainly, ill-fitting army shoe he +wore fine boots, the heels of which were armed +with small silver spurs. The troopers thought +from his dress and carriage that he must be an +officer, and when he drew rein in front of the +station they stood at "attention" and saluted him.</p> + +<p>"I don't deserve that honor, boys," said the +stranger with a laugh; "I am not a shoulder-strap."</p> + +<p>"You are not?" exclaimed Bob, who was not a +little astonished as well as provoked at the mistake +he had made. "Well, it seems to me that you are +throwing on a good many frills for a private. +Where do you belong?"</p> + +<p>"At Fort Lamoine," said the stranger; and the +answer was given in a tone quite as curt as was +that in which the question was asked.</p> + +<p>"So do I, but I don't remember to have seen you +there, and so I shall have to ask you to give an account +of yourself. Dismount."</p> + +<p>"I shall do as I please about that," replied the +stranger, who had all the while been staring very +hard at Bob.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Well, you won't do as you please about it," returned +the corporal, while Carey walked up and +took the stranger's horse by the bit. "You will +do as <i>I</i> please. If you belong at Fort Lamoine +you will go there with me in the morning, and +then I shall be sure you get there. I am acting +under orders."</p> + +<p>The horseman thrust his hand into the inside +pocket of his jacket, and pulling out a bill-book +took from it a paper which he opened and handed +to Bob to read.</p> + +<p>"If you are acting under orders I have no more +to say," said he, "but there is something which +I think will see me through until day after to-morrow. +It is my furlough. Look here, partner," +he added suddenly, "isn't your name Bob +Owens?"</p> + +<p>The latter started as if he had been shot, his under +jaw dropped down, and for a few seconds he +stood looking at the speaker as if he could hardly +believe his ears. Then a light seemed to break +in upon him, and springing forward he grasped the +horseman by the arm and fairly pulled him out of +the saddle. After that he shook one of his hands +with both his own and executed a sort of war-dance<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</a></span> +around him, while the troopers stood and looked +on in speechless amazement.</p> + +<p>"George Ackerman, I am delighted to see you +again," cried Bob as soon as he could speak. "I +take it all back, George: I didn't mean to insult +you."</p> + +<p>"It's Owens, isn't it?" said George, for it was he.</p> + +<p>"Of course it is; and if you hadn't been blind +you would have known it as soon as you saw me," +replied Bob.</p> + +<p>"I don't think my eyesight is any worse than +your own, for you didn't know me until I called +you by name," retorted George. "Your uniform +tells me where you have been and what you have +been doing since I last saw you, but it doesn't tell +me how I came to lose you in Galveston so suddenly +and mysteriously. If we had kept together a +little while longer we should have been all right, +for I had scarcely missed you before I ran against +Mr. Gilbert—the friend to whom I wrote for +money, you know. If you belong at Fort Lamoine, +what are you doing here?"</p> + +<p>"Stake out your horse and mule and I will tell +you all about it," answered Bob. "But first tell +me what right you have to wear those clothes."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I am a United States scout," replied George. +"At least, that was the title under which I was +sworn in, but it does not clearly explain the duties +that are expected of me. I am to act as guide to +the troops when they cross the river in pursuit of +the raiders."</p> + +<p>"Oh yes," exclaimed Bob; "I remember all +about it now. I was off after the hostiles when +you came to the post and offered your services to +the colonel. When I came back I found that the +men had a good deal to say about our new scout, +who, they said, looked about as much like a scout +as they looked like the queen of England; but I +had no idea who he was; and, seeing it's you, I'll +not arrest you," he added with a laugh.—"Great +Cæsar! that was the second close call I have had +to-day."</p> + +<p>"If I had had any idea that you were going to +touch him I should have warned you," said George. +"It won't do for a stranger to come within reach of +him, and it's the greatest wonder in the world that +he didn't knock your brains out."</p> + +<p>While the two friends were talking, George Ackerman, +with the dexterity acquired by long experience, +relieved the mule of his heavy pack and slip<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</a></span>ped +the halter over his head, leaving the animal at +liberty. Bob, judging the mule by those unruly +members of his species that were employed in the +quartermaster's department at the fort, stepped up +and attempted to lay hold of his foretop; but the animal +dodged him very cleverly, and, wheeling like +lightning, sent both his heels at the boy's head. +The latter dropped just in time to escape the blow, +but he felt the "wind" of the heels in his face and +heard them whistle close by his ear.</p> + +<p>"Does he always act that way when strangers +approach him?" asked Bob as he picked up his cap. +"If he does, you need not be afraid that anybody +will steal him. I tried to catch him because I was +afraid he would run off."</p> + +<p>"Oh, he'll not do that. I never think of staking +him out, for he always stays by my horse, and +I can catch him anywhere. There's a horse for +you, Bob, and the best one I ever owned. He is +a present from Mr. Gilbert, who bought him in +Kentucky for his own private use, but when he +found that I was going into the army he gave +him to me, with the assurance that Fletcher and +his band could never make a prisoner of me while +I was on his back. I lost my old horse, Ranger,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</a></span> +at the time I was captured by the Greasers, and he +was killed at the battle of Querétaro. Now, what +are you doing so far away from the fort?" asked +George as he picked up his picket-pin and led +the horse around the station to find a good place +to stake him out. "How did you come to go into +the army, anyway, and what have you been doing +to win those stripes?"</p> + +<p>"It would take a long time to answer your last +two questions," answered Bob, "and so we will +leave them until the rest of the boys have gone +to bed. I came here in pursuit of seven men who +deserted last night."</p> + +<p>"You did? Well, Bob, your superiors must +have a good deal of confidence in you to send you +off on such an expedition. Where do you expect +to find them?"</p> + +<p>"I have found them already, and arrested them +too; that is, I have caught six of them, and I +know where the other one is. I intend to take +him in hand to-morrow, though, to tell the truth, +I don't know just how I am going to do it. I +could have arrested him to-day if I had had +authority to take him out of a house; but I +wasn't sure on that point, and so I let him go<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</a></span> +until I could have time to make up my mind to +something. I got <i>that</i> about fifteen minutes before +you came up," said Bob, directing his friend's attention +to the hole in his coat that had been made by +Bristow's bullet. "My men returned the fire and +slightly wounded one of the deserters, who is now +laid out on his blanket in the sleeping-room. By +the way, do you know Gus Robbins?"</p> + +<p>"I should say I did," replied George, after he +had followed the course of the bullet through Bob's +clothing and expressed his surprise at his friend's +narrow escape. "He ran away from his home in +Foxboro', and came down here to visit my cousin, +who was at that time living with his father at my +ranche. He and Ned, who were constantly pluming +themselves on the numerous scrapes from which +they had narrowly escaped, could not rest easy until +they kicked up a row in the settlement, and they +did it by shooting Mr. Cook's cattle. The consequence +was, that I had to show them the way out +of the country. Don't you remember I told you +all about it on the morning we walked from that +trapper's cabin to White River Landing? I say, +Bob, have you any idea of becoming a trapper when +your term of service expires?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Nary idea," was the emphatic reply. "A +soldier's life is hard enough for me, and there is +quite as much danger in it as I care to face."</p> + +<p>"What do you know about Gus Robbins?" +continued George. "He left my cousin Ned very +suddenly in Brownsville, and none of us ever heard +of him afterward. It can't be possible that he enlisted +too?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, he did. He belongs to my troop, and is +just as fond of getting into scrapes as he ever was. +When he is not in the guard-house he is almost sure +to be doing extra duty for some offence against military +discipline. He was one of the deserters I was +ordered to capture, and he is in the dug-out now. +But I almost wish he had got away. You know +him, and when I was arresting him I almost felt +as if I were doing something against you. I +haven't forgotten that you offered me a home, +and—"</p> + +<p>"The obligation is all on my side," interrupted +George. "You saved my life twice. Let's sit +down here and talk a while. Go ahead and tell +me something."</p> + +<p>The boys threw themselves on the grass near +the place where George had staked out his horse,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</a></span> +and Bob began and described some of the interesting +incidents that had happened since he last +saw the cub pilot. He told the truth in regard +to everything, not even excepting the parting in +Galveston. His experience in the army was rapidly +working a change in him, and he had not +told a wilful lie since he assured the recruiting-officer +that he was an orphan and that there was +no one in the world who had a right to say whether +he should enlist or not.</p> + +<p>"I have done a good many mean things in my +life, I am sorry to say," Bob added in winding up +his story, "but about the meanest trick I ever played +upon anybody I played upon you on the day +we parted. I found fifty cents in my watch-pocket, +which I had carelessly shoved in there when money +was plenty, and I knew it would buy me supper +and lodging. It wasn't enough for both of us, +so I ran away from you and went off by myself. +That's the way we became separated, and I tell +you of it at the risk of losing your friendship."</p> + +<p>"You risk nothing at all," replied George, +extending his hand. "I couldn't expect that you +would take care of me and pay my way at the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</a></span> +sacrifice of all your own personal comfort; but +I do wish you had waited just a little longer, +for then you never would have had to enlist. +I am ready to prove that I think as much of you +now as I ever did. I shall keep an eye on you +until your term of service expires, and then you +must go home with me. I am sole master there +now—Mr. Gilbert is my guardian, but he never +has a word to say—and as you have no home of +your own—"</p> + +<p>"That was a lie, George," interrupted Bob. "I +have a home at Rochdale, a few miles below Linwood, +where I first pulled you out of the river—you +know where it is—and as kind a father and +mother as any scoundrel of my size ever had. +When I ran away I intended to drop my identity +altogether, and that was the reason I told you +I was alone in the world. What do you think of +me <i>now</i>?"</p> + +<p>George was greatly astonished at this confession, +for he had put implicit faith in Bob's story. He +was strictly truthful himself, and he could not +understand how a boy as physically brave as Bob +Owens had showed himself to be could be coward +enough to tell a lie.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I feel sorry for you," said he at length; "and +if I were in your place I would go home as soon +as I received my discharge—if you keep on as +you have begun you may rest assured that it will +be an honorable one—and try to make amends +for my misdeeds. Remember that</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">'No star is ever lost we once have seen;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">We always may be what we might have been,'<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>and go resolutely to work to 'live it down.' You've +got the pluck to do it, I know."</p> + +<p>"Coffee!" shouted Carey, thrusting his head +around the corner of the station.</p> + +<p>"By the way," continued George as he and +Bob arose to their feet, "what did you mean by +saying that, seeing it was I, you wouldn't arrest +me?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, the colonel was mad when he started me +out this morning, and ordered me to gobble up +everybody—that is, privates and non-commissioned +officers—I caught outside the stockade. But +of course I couldn't touch you if I wanted to, +for your leave of absence protects you. You will +stay here to-night and ride to the fort with us +to-morrow, will you not?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Certainly I will. Having found you again, +I am not going to leave you in a hurry. Say, +Bob, would you have any objections to bringing +Gus Robbins up to eat supper with us?"</p> + +<p>"None whatever. I am sorry to be obliged to +keep him and the rest so closely confined, but I +know that they are a slippery lot—every one of +them has deserted before—and if I should let +them get away now that I have got a grip on +them, the colonel would give me Hail Columbia. +Gus has got himself into a mess, George. The +first time he deserted he was simply put into the +guard-house and fined, but this escapade is going +to land him at Leavenworth. Now I will make +you acquainted with our boys, and then I will +go down and tell Gus that you want to see +him."</p> + +<p>After the new scout had been introduced to +the troopers, Bob raised the trap-door and descended +into the dug-out, while George opened his +pack-saddle and took out of it a tin cup and +plate, a can of condensed milk, a box or two of +sardines and a few other delicacies, which he laid +upon the table beside the simple fare that Carey +had just served up. By the time he had finished<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</a></span> +the work of opening the cans with the aid of a +formidable-looking hunting-knife which he drew +from his boot-leg, Bob returned, followed by a +soldier who looked so unlike the dashing, fashionably-dressed +Gus Robbins he had seen in company +with his cousin Ned that George could hardly +bring himself to believe that he was the same +boy. He looked pale and haggard; and that was +not to be wondered at, for the prison at Fort Leavenworth +was constantly looming up before him.</p> + +<p>George, as we know, had a very slight acquaintance +with Gus Robbins, having passed only +a few hours in his company, and he was under +no obligations whatever to interest himself in his +behalf; but when he saw how utterly miserable +he was, his heart bled for him, and he at once +hit upon a plan for getting him out of the trouble +he had brought upon himself. He greeted Gus +very cordially, gave him a seat beside himself +at the table, and tried to put a little life into him +by talking about almost everything except life in +the army.</p> + +<p>The deserters must have thought that their captors +felt very much elated over their success, for +a noisier party than that which was gathered about<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</a></span> +that rough board table was never seen anywhere. +Being almost entirely free from military restraint—sergeants +and corporals do not hold their men +with so tight a rein as the commissioned officers +do, although they exact just as prompt obedience +to their commands—they told stories and said +witty things and sung songs until they were +hoarse. The additions to their larder which +George had been able to supply gave them a +better supper than they were accustomed to, and +they were merry over it.</p> + +<p>None of the members of Bob's squad had ever +seen the new scout before, and, although they treated +him with the greatest respect, they were sadly +disappointed in him. The scouts with whom they +were familiar were great, rough, bearded men, +strong of limb and slovenly in dress, who had +lived among the Indians all their lives, and had +the reputation of being able to whip their weight +in wild-cats; but this one looked as though he +had but just come out of a fashionable tailor's +shop, and, moreover, he was nothing but a boy +in years. What could the colonel have been +thinking of when he engaged this stripling to +lead men across the river and into the midst of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</a></span> +the desperadoes who were known to have their +strongholds there? It was dangerous work, and +the guide ought to be a person of courage and +experience; and George didn't look as though he +had either. That was what the troopers thought +as they sat at the table casting furtive glances at +the new scout, who was talking earnestly with +Gus Robbins; but it was not long before they +found out that it took a brave man to follow +where he dared lead.</p> + +<p>The first trooper who finished his supper took +the place of the sentry at the door, and the next +relieved the one who was standing guard over +the dug-out. When these two had satisfied their +appetites the dishes were washed, the table was +laid again and the deserters were ordered up. +Some of them appeared to be very much disheartened, +and would scarcely look their comrades in +the face, while the others were so defiant, and +had so much to say about the colonel who had +ordered their arrest and the men who had carried +those orders into execution, that Bob was obliged +to warn them that if they did not eat more and +jaw less he would put them back into the dug-out +without any supper.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</a></span></p> + +<p>When the deserters had had all they wanted +to eat they were sent down to their prison, the +outside sentry was relieved, and Bob stood guard +at the door, with George for company. They +had much to talk about, and it was long after +midnight when they went to bed. They slept +on the same blankets, and the new scout went +off into the land of dreams with his arm thrown +lovingly around the boy who had twice saved +his life, and whom he had never expected to see +again.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI.</h2> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</a></span></p> +<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">TOP</a></span> +<h3>AN UNEXPECTED GUEST.</h3> + + +<p>"Well, old fellow, what do you think of +me now?"</p> + +<p>It was George Ackerman who uttered these +words, and the question was addressed to his +herdsman, Zeke. The former stood in front of +a full-length mirror that hung against the wall +(among other extravagant and useless things for +which Uncle John had spent his nephew's money +were two elegant pier-glasses, one for his own +room and the other for Ned's), and Zeke was +sitting on the edge of a chair, with his elbows +resting on his knees and his chin supported by +his hands.</p> + +<p>When the commander of Fort Lamoine accepted +his proffered services, George had asked for and +received a furlough for thirty days to enable him +to procure an outfit and to consult with his guardian +in regard to the management of the ranche<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</a></span> +during his absence. That furlough had nearly +expired, and George was about to start for the +fort. The honest fellows who had so long been +employed on the ranche that they began to look +upon themselves as members of the Ackerman +family could not bear the thought of parting +from him, and Zeke especially felt very gloomy +over it. He had often denounced, in the strongest +terms, the circumstances which seemed to render +it necessary that his young friend should cast +his lot among the soldiers for a season, and on +this particular morning he looked as though he +had lost everything that was worth living for.</p> + +<p>George had just put on his new uniform for +the first time, and no one, except a very intimate +acquaintance, would have recognized in him the +rough-looking cowboy whom we introduced to +the reader in the first volume of this series of +books. During the eighteen months he had lived +in the pilot-house he had fallen in with some of +the ways of those by whom he was surrounded, +and grown very particular in regard to his personal +appearance, although he did not by any +means go to extremes, as his cousin Ned had done. +As he placed the jaunty fatigue-cap over his long,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</a></span> +curly hair he looked rather complacently at the +handsome face and figure that were reflected from +the polished surface of the mirror.</p> + +<p>"Come, Zeke, don't be cross," said he, walking +up to his herdsman and giving him a slap on the +back. "Say just one kind word to me before I +go."</p> + +<p>"I won't," growled Zeke in reply.</p> + +<p>"Then wish me good luck in my new calling," +added George.</p> + +<p>"I won't," repeated the herdsman in a still louder +tone. "You're always going off on some new +callin' or another, an' I don't see no sort of sense +in it. Didn't I stay home here, quiet an' peaceable, +takin' care of your critters, while you was a-philanderin' +up and down the river on boats that was +likely at any minute to burn up or bust their +boilers? Now that you have got safe home again, +why in creation don't you stay here? Good land +o' Goshen!" shouted Zeke, jumping up, spreading +out his feet and flourishing both his huge fists in +the air, "of all the fool notions that ever a livin' +boy got into his head—"</p> + +<p>"That'll do, Zeke," interrupted George with a +laugh. "I have heard that a thousand times, more<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</a></span> +or less, already. You will bid me good-bye when +I get ready to go, I suppose?"</p> + +<p>"I s'pose I won't do nothin' of the kind," exclaimed +Zeke. "Of all the fool notions that ever +a livin' boy—"</p> + +<p>"I understand. Come here and pack my clothes-bag +for me; you can do it better than I can."</p> + +<p>"I won't. Them things is goin' to hang you +higher'n the moon the first you know," said Zeke, +scowling savagely at the elegant Mexican costume +which George lifted from the bed. "Don't you +never go 'crost the river with them duds on, 'cause +if you do Fletcher'll string you up for a spy."</p> + +<p>"Not in peace-times, I guess," answered George.</p> + +<p>"What odds does it make to sich as him whether +it's peace-times or not? You'll see."</p> + +<p>"Well, he will have to catch me before he hangs +me. Go and tell the cook that I am getting tired +of waiting for breakfast."</p> + +<p>"I won't; I won't never do nothin' for you no +more, nor say another word to you, nuther."</p> + +<p>"I am sorry you feel so bad about it," said +George as he proceeded to pack his clothes away +in a canvas bag he had provided for that purpose; +"but the thing is done, and it can't be undone."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I don't care if the Greasers come over here +next full moon an' steal every huf an' horn you've +got," exclaimed the angry herdsman.</p> + +<p>"I do," replied George; "I don't want them to +do anything of the kind. I don't want them to +steal another steer from me or anybody else, and +that is the very reason I became a scout. Our +troops are going to teach those fellows to stay on +their own side of the river, and I am going to help +them do it."</p> + +<p>"There's enough without you," growled Zeke.</p> + +<p>"Suppose that everybody thought so; where +would we get the men to fight our battles?—What +in the world is that?"</p> + +<p>For just then there was a terrific uproar on the +porch. Above the stamping of heavy boots and +hoarse but subdued ejaculations of rage, such as +men sometimes utter when they are engaged in a +fierce struggle, arose the voice of one who spoke +in pleading accents, but whose words suddenly +ceased with a kind of gasping sound, as if his +throat had been seized by a strong hand. Zeke sat +up on his chair and looked at George, whose face +expressed the utmost bewilderment. Before either +of them could speak the door was thrown open with<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</a></span> +great violence, and a dishevelled and half-strangled +man, dressed in a dingy blue jacket and a pair +of dirty leather trousers, was pitched into the room, +with such force that when he brought up against +Zeke that worthy herdsman was knocked out of his +chair, and the two came to the floor together.</p> + +<p>"What do you mean by such work as this?" +demanded George, looking first at the prostrate +man and then toward the door, where stood Jake +and Bob with their hands clenched and their faces +flushed with anger.</p> + +<p>"Jest take a good squint at that feller's figger-head +an' answer the question for yourself, Mr. +George," answered Jake, shaking his fist at the man +who had been so unceremoniously introduced into +the room.—"Give it to him good an' strong, Zeke!—Well! +I'll—be—blessed!—Won't you, Bob?"</p> + +<p>This exclamation was called forth by an action on +the part of George Ackerman that astonished Jake +and Bob beyond measure. Zeke had instantly recognized +the man who had so unexpectedly prostrated +him, and, seizing him by the back of the neck in +his iron grasp, began shaking him as a dog would +shake a rat. George also recognized the man after +he had taken a second look at him, and springing<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</a></span> +forward he seized Zeke's arm and tore his grasp +loose. Then he assisted the man to his feet, and +taking his hand in his own shook it cordially.</p> + +<p>"Well, I <i>will</i> be blessed!" repeated Jake, who +stood looking the very picture of astonishment.—"Won't +you, Bob?"</p> + +<p>"I should say I would," replied the latter, who +was equally amazed. "That's something <i>I</i> never +expected to see—an Ackerman shaking hands with +a cattle-thief!"</p> + +<p>"Springer," exclaimed George, "I am glad to +see you again; and without your crutches, too! +I hope you have entirely recovered."</p> + +<p>Yes, the man who had made his entrance into +George's room in so unusual a manner was Springer, +whom we have often spoken of as the wounded +cattle-thief. He had, as we know, once been in +the employ of George's father; but proving to be +utterly unfit for the position he held, Mr. Ackerman +had discharged him, and Springer had sought +revenge by making an unsuccessful effort to burn +the ranche. Of course he could not stay in Texas +after that, so he fled across the river and joined his +fortunes with the Contra-Guerrillas, a regiment of +desperadoes in the employ of the ill-starred Max<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</a></span>imilian. +He belonged, with other renegade Americans, +to Fletcher's band, who were the principal +foragers for Maximilian's army; but instead of +robbing the adherents of Juarez, who probably +had no stock worth stealing, they made numerous +raids across the river and ran off the cattle belonging +to the Texans. Springer was one of the band +who stampeded George's herd at Catfish Falls, and +during the short skirmish that followed Zeke sent +a bullet through each of his legs, wounding him +severely. He managed to keep up with the band +a few miles, but the rapid motion was too much +for him, and he was finally abandoned by his companions, +who hurried the captured cattle toward the +river, leaving Springer to look out for himself.</p> + +<p>The pain occasioned by the wounds that had +been inflicted upon him by Zeke's Winchester was +so intense that the raider was forced to travel very +slowly. Arriving on the banks of a little stream +that ran across the trail he was pursuing, he rolled +out of his saddle to quench his thirst, which had +became almost unbearable; but his bridle slipping +from his hand, his horse wandered away, and, as +Springer was not able to walk, he could not catch +him again. He sank helplessly down beside a tree,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</a></span> +where he was presently discovered by George Ackerman, +who was making his way on foot toward Mr. +Gilbert's ranche. The boy ministered to his wants +by bringing him water in his hat and sharing with +him his slender stock of provisions, and Springer +showed his gratitude by warning George of a plot +which his uncle John and cousin Ned had laid +against him. He went into all the details, but +George refused to believe a word of it until subsequent +events, which we have already described, +proved to his entire satisfaction that the thief had +told him nothing but the truth.</p> + +<p>After spending half an hour in the man's company, +George caught his horse, assisted him into +the saddle, and Springer succeeded in crossing into +Mexico without being discovered by any of the +settlers whom Zeke had gathered together to recapture +George's herd. He made his way to Don +Miguel's ranche, and there our hero found him +when he was captured by Fletcher's men. The +raider seemed to be sorry for his misdeeds, and +George had assured him that if he ever made up +his mind to turn over a new leaf and lead a different +sort of life, he would assist him by every +means in his power.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Springer," said George, drawing up an easy-chair +for the use of his guest, "what brought you +over on this side of the river? Have you abandoned +Fletcher for good?"</p> + +<p>The cattle-thief gasped and coughed three or +four times, as if he were trying to clear his throat +of something that stuck there and choked his utterance, +and finally nodded his head in reply.</p> + +<p>"Don't pay no attention to him, Mr. George!" +exclaimed Bob. "He don't know nothin' but +stealin' an' lyin', that feller don't, an' I wouldn't +trust him as far as I could sling a yearlin'."</p> + +<p>"If it wasn't for sich fellers as him you could +stay to hum quiet an' peaceable like, an' not have +to go off fur a soldier," added Jake.</p> + +<p>"When I was a prisoner among the Greasers +he gave me advice that assisted me in making +my escape, and why should I not treat him kindly?" +demanded George, turning indignantly upon +the speakers. "No visitor at the Ackerman ranche +was ever treated so shamefully before, and I tell +you I don't want the thing repeated."</p> + +<p>"Why, Mr. George," stammered Jake, "he rid +up to the porch an' said he wanted to speak to +you, an' so we brung him in—me an' Bob did."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Go and tell the cook to put another plate on +the table and to hurry up breakfast," said George +with an air of disgust.</p> + +<p>"Mr. George," said Zeke solemnly, "do you +mean by that that you're goin' to break bread +with this—this varmint?"</p> + +<p>"I mean that Springer is going to eat a good +breakfast with me, if that is what you want to +know," replied George.</p> + +<p>"Then, Bob, you needn't say nothin' about +that there other plate," continued the herdsman, +picking up his hat and moving toward the door. +"Springer can have the one I was goin' to use."</p> + +<p>"Zeke, sit down and behave yourself," exclaimed +George.</p> + +<p>"No, I won't. I ain't agoin' to eat salt with +a man what tried to burn this ranche over your +dead father's head, an' you a little babby at the +time, without no power to help yourself. I don't +know what this family is comin' to, anyhow."</p> + +<p>"No more do I," chimed in Bob, while he and +Jake looked daggers at their employer's new guest. +"Things ain't as they used to be in the good +ole days. I won't wait on no table that he sets +at."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</a></span></p> + +<p>As if moved by a common impulse, the three +men left the room, Zeke closing the door behind +him with no gentle hand. The cattle-thief seemed +to be greatly relieved to see them go, but their +extraordinary conduct made him very uneasy, and +he looked toward George to see what the latter +thought about it.</p> + +<p>"Never mind them," said the boy encouragingly. +"They were employed on this ranche before +I was born, and have finally come to think that +they have more rights here than I have. Now, +what did you want to see me for? How can +I help you? If I were going to stay at home, +so that I could stand between you and the settlers, +I would give you a herdsman's berth, if +that is what you want; but I am going to Fort +Lamoine as soon as I have packed my things and +disposed of my breakfast, and I may not be back +for a year. I am a United States scout."</p> + +<p>"I wondered what you were doin' with them +soldier-clothes on; an' that explains it," said +Springer, speaking with difficulty. "I don't reckon +you can help me none jest now, but mebbe I +can help you by puttin' you on your guard agin' +Fletcher."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Is he after me again?" cried George. "I was +in hope I had seen and heard the last of him."</p> + +<p>"Them kind of fellers is always turnin' up when +they isn't wanted," replied Springer. "He's come +back to his ole hole at that there ranche, bringin' +a good many of his ole men with him, an' some +new ones that would be wusser than he is, only +that ain't possible. Amongst them all, they have +laid a plan to visit you next full moon."</p> + +<p>"Let them come," said George, snapping his +fingers in the air; "they'll not get me, or any +stock either."</p> + +<p>"He wants you more'n he wants stock," continued +Springer. "That is, he wants you first. +Your uncle John put the very mischief into that +there feller's head, an' he's goin' to make a pris'ner +of you, like he did afore. He knows that you +are master here now—that you've got more money +an' cattle than you know what to do with; an' he +thinks you would rather give 'em all up than lose +your liberty."</p> + +<p>"No doubt I would," answered George, "but +before he can make any demands upon me he +must catch me. That he will never do, for the +next time—"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</a></span></p> + +<p>He was about to say that the next time he saw +Don Miguel's ranche he would be so strongly backed +up that he would stand in no fear of the boss +cattle-thief and his band. But he didn't say it, +for he did not know how far it would be safe to +trust his friend Springer. He need not have been +so particular on this point, however, for the cattle-thief +knew as much about the contemplated movements +of General Ord's forces as George did himself. +The Mexican authorities had been notified +that if the raids from their side of the river were +not stopped our troops would take the matter in +hand and punish the thieves wherever they could +be found; and those same authorities had been +accommodating enough to warn Fletcher, and so +put him on his guard.</p> + +<p>"Where have you been since I last saw you?" +inquired George, "and what has become of my +horse? What did the 'boss' say when he found +I had slipped through his fingers? I told you +I shouldn't stay there and allow myself to be +robbed. Did he follow me?"</p> + +<p>"No, he didn't foller you, 'cause nobody knowed +till mornin' come that you had skipped out," answered +Springer. "When Fletcher went to call<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</a></span> +you to breakfast, an' you wasn't there, he thought +you was a-loafin' around somewheres about the +ranche; but when somebody told him that the +hoss with the four white feet, that follered us +acrost the river on the night we tried to get the +strong-box out of this house, was gone, he knowed +in a minute what was up, an' he was about the +maddest man you ever see. But he couldn't take +time to hunt you up, an' all he could do was to +swear that he'd hold fast to you the next time he +got his hands on to you."</p> + +<p>"He'll never get his hands on me again," said +George confidently.</p> + +<p>"I hope he won't, but if he does it'll be worse +for you. That there black hoss of your'n is dead," +continued Springer; "he was shot at Querétaro. +You see, when we got down to the place where the +fightin' was goin' on, we knowed in a minute that +Max couldn't hold out much longer, so we started +one dark night to cross over to Juarez. His soldiers +seen us comin', an', thinkin' that we were +up to some trick or another, they turned loose on +us an' cut us up fearful."</p> + +<p>"It served you just right," said George, with +honest indignation. "You had no business to go<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</a></span> +in with Maximilian in the first place, but having +joined him you ought to have stood by him to +the last."</p> + +<p>"We <i>did</i> stand by him after that, 'cause we had +to," answered Springer. "But it didn't take 'em +long to captur' the place, an' it didn't take them +long either to say what should be done with Max. +He an' Mejia an' Miramon were took out on a hill +near the ruins of an old stone fort an' shot. I +didn't see it, 'cause I was under guard with Fletcher +an' the rest; but I heared some of 'em who did +see it say that just before the shooting was done +Max he says to Miramon, 'The bravest man should +have the post of honor;' so he puts Miramon in +the middle, an' Max he stood on the left. It was +a mean piece of business all the way through," said +Springer, drawing his hand nervously across his +forehead, "an' I am powerful glad that I am well +out of it. Now, Mr. George, seein' as how you +belong to the army, mebbe I had oughter tell you +something. You remember them two Greasers +who shot that cowboy down to Rio Grande City, +an' was put in jail for it, don't you? Well, they +belong to our gang, an' Fletcher an' the rest are +getting ready to go down there an' take 'em out."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Very well. Go right down to the commanding +officer at Eagle Pass and tell him of it," said +George promptly. "Then come up to Fort Lamoine, +and we'll see if the colonel won't do something +for Fletcher when he comes over here to capture +me."</p> + +<p>"An' there's another thing I had oughter tell +you, Mr. George," continued Springer, sinking his +voice almost to a whisper. "I come over here as +a sort of spy, like. I am to find out all I can about +your ways—where you go of nights, an' all that, +you know—an' then I am to go down to Rio City, +take a look about the jail, see how many guards +there are, an' everything else that is worth knowin', +an' after that I am to go back an' tell Fletcher."</p> + +<p>"I am glad you didn't say so while my men +were in here," observed George.</p> + +<p>"I was just a trifle too sharp for that," said +Springer, shaking his head and looking very wise. +"I don't want to make them any madder at me +than they be now."</p> + +<p>"But you are not going back to Fletcher with +any news, are you? You told me you had left him +for good."</p> + +<p>"Mr. George," said Springer earnestly, "I ain't<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</a></span> +agoin' to take no news acrost the river that will do +anybody there any good. I ain't forgot that you +helped me when I was a-starving for grub an' water, +and I ain't likely to forget it, nuther. I did +say I had quit them fellers for good, an' when I +said it I meant it; but you can see by the way +your own men used me, right here under your +nose, that I couldn't stay here without nobody to +back me up. I can't starve, so I'll have to go +back till you come home again."</p> + +<p>"If you will stay on this side of the river I will +see that you don't starve," replied George. "After +you have told the commanding officer at Eagle +Pass of the attempt that is to be made to release +those murderers, come up to Fort Lamoine and I +will find some honest work for you to do. The +soldiers at the post are not acquainted with you, +and consequently there will be no one to trouble +you. I will say that you used to work for my +father, and that will help you to a position."</p> + +<p>While Springer was trying to make the boy understand +how grateful he was to him for his kindness, +there was a rap at the door, and Bob thrust +his head into the room to announce in a surly tone +that breakfast was ready.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Where's Zeke?" asked George.</p> + +<p>"Gone," was the laconic reply.</p> + +<p>"All right! If he is foolish enough to go off +without any breakfast, let him go. He'll meet me +somewhere along the trail and say good-bye, I +know. Bob," added George, pointing to the clothes-bag, +which he had packed while he and his visitor +were conversing, "put this into the pack-saddle, +and have everything ready, so that I can start +as soon as I have eaten breakfast.—Come on, +Springer."</p> + +<p>George led the way into an adjoining room, and +found an excellent breakfast waiting for him. The +cook, knowing that this was the last meal the young +master of the ranche would eat at that table for long +months to come, had exhausted all his knowledge +of the cuisine in the effort to serve up a breakfast +that would tempt George to eat, no matter whether +he was hungry or not.</p> + +<p>True to his promise, Bob kept out of the breakfast-room, +and George and his guest were obliged +to wait on themselves; but as they were used to +that, they got on very well. While they were eating +George once more repeated the instructions he +had given Springer, and reiterated his promise to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</a></span> +furnish him with steady employment and give him +a chance to make an honest living.</p> + +<p>Breakfast over, George accompanied his guest to +the door, and saw him ride away toward Eagle Pass. +As soon as he was out of sight the boy went into +the house after his weapons and to take leave of +the servants, who were good-natured enough now +that Springer was gone. After shaking them all +by the hand, and listening to their hearty wishes +for his safe and speedy return, he mounted his +horse, which stood at the porch saddled and bridled, +took his pack-mule by the halter and rode +away toward Mr. Gilbert's ranche. The first person +to greet him as he drew rein in front of the +door was Zeke, who had so emphatically declared +that he would not have another word to say to +him.</p> + +<p>"Where's that pizen varmint?" demanded the +herdsman in no very amiable tones.</p> + +<p>"Look here, Zeke," replied George, "if you +should happen to meet that man while I am +gone, I want you to treat him civilly; do you +understand? If you see him in trouble, I want +you to help him out. He is sorry for what he +has done, and intends to lead a better life; and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</a></span> +if you don't assist him in every way you can, +you are not the fellow I take you for."</p> + +<p>"Humph!" exclaimed Zeke contemptuously. +"Sorry, ain't he? Wants to lead a better life, +don't he? Well, it's mighty little chance he'll +have if he makes a business of bumpin' up agin +me the way he did this mornin', I bet you."</p> + +<p>"He couldn't help it; Jake and Bob threw him +against you. I know he is in earnest, for he has +proved it. He came to the ranch to tell me that +my old friend Fletcher is coming over to capture +me next full moon, and he has now gone down +to warn the officer in command at Eagle Pass that +an attempt will soon be made to liberate the +murderers who are in jail there.—Good-morning, +Mr. Gilbert. I have stopped to say good-bye."</p> + +<p>"Why don't you slap your foot down an' tell +him he sha'n't go, Gilbert?" demanded Zeke.</p> + +<p>"I am as sorry to have him go as you are," +replied Mr. Gilbert. "But it is to our interest +to do all we can to break up this raiding business, +and George can do more than any of us. In fact, +he is the only one in the settlement who can do +anything, for you know the colonel wouldn't accept +the services of our company of Rangers when<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</a></span> +we offered them to him.—Come in, George, and +say good-bye to Mrs. Gilbert and the girls."</p> + +<p>This was soon done, for the boy did not like +to linger over the parting; but still, it was much +harder for him to take leave of these good friends +than he thought it would be. The whole family +accompanied him to the door, and when he came +out Zeke turned his back to him.</p> + +<p>"Say good-bye to me," said George, giving +him a pat on the shoulder; "it's your last +chance."</p> + +<p>"I don't care if it is," shouted the old fellow; +"I won't do it."</p> + +<p>"Then I will say it to you: Good-bye, Zeke. +It will be a long time before I see you again, if +indeed I ever do, but I never shall forget you. +You have been a good friend to me."</p> + +<p>This was altogether too much for the honest +herdsman. He faced quickly about, and, seizing +George's hand with a grip that brought tears to +his eyes, churned it up and down like a pump-handle. +Then he dropped it and turned away, +while George, without saying another word, vaulted +into his saddle and rode off. Zeke watched him +as long as he remained in sight, and then in bro<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</a></span>ken +accents addressed the silent group who stood in +the doorway:</p> + +<p>"Thar's that there boy."—here he waved his +hand in the direction in which George had disappeared—"he +was all I had, an' now he's gone off +to fight them Greasers without askin' me would +I let him go. I toted him in them there arms +when he was a yellin' babby not knee-high to a +duck; I put him on the fust hoss he ever rid; +I slept under the same blanket an' herded cattle +with him when he got bigger; I larnt him how +to throw the lasso an' shoot the rifle; an' now +he's went off an' left me alone! Dog-gone them +pizen Greasers!" roared Zeke, flourishing both +his fists in the air.</p> + +<p>He lingered a moment, looking rather sharply at +Mr. Gilbert, as if he had half a mind to take him +to task for giving his consent to George's "fool +notion," and then, thinking better of it, he lumbered +down the steps, mounted his horse and galloped +off toward the place where he had left his +herd in charge of an assistant.</p> + +<p>George camped two nights on the prairie, and on +the third afternoon, an hour or two before sunset, he +arrived within sight of one of the stage-company's<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</a></span> +deserted stables. Or, rather, it <i>was</i> deserted the +last time he saw it, but now there was an armed +soldier in front of the door, and he was presently +joined by others, one of whom, by signs, invited +him to approach. George complied, and presently +found himself surrounded by a squad of troopers +under the command of Corporal Bob Owens, who +greeted him as we have described.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII"></a>CHAPTER VII.</h2> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</a></span></p> + +<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">TOP</a></span> +<h3>HOW BRYANT WAS CAPTURED.</h3> + + +<p>Reveille was sounded the next morning by +Corporal Owens, who, having no drum or +bugle at his command, sprang up at daylight and +aroused his slumbering companions by shouting out +the order, "Catch up!" More from the force of +habit than anything else, he called the roll while +he was bundling up the blankets on which he and +George had slept, and, making the sergeant's salute +to an imaginary officer, he announced: "All present +or accounted for." Then Carey was ordered to +boil the coffee, and Bob and the three troopers who +were off duty went out to groom the horses. Having +brought no brushes or currycombs with them, +they were obliged to content themselves with rubbing +the animals down with handfuls of grass; but +they "went through the motions," as Bob expressed +it, and that was all the most exacting officer could +have expected of them under the circumstances.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</a></span></p> + +<p>As soon as breakfast had been eaten the troopers +and their prisoners set out on the return march, +Bob and the new scout leading the way. Behind +them came the deserters, guarded on each flank and +in the rear by two cavalrymen. Their advance +was necessarily slow, for the captives had travelled +rapidly the day before in order to put a safe distance +between themselves and the fort, and they +were weary and footsore. Gus Robbins, especially, +was nearly "done up." He was in a worse condition +than Talbot was, for the latter seemed to +have slept off the effects of his wound. George +felt the greatest compassion for Gus, and offered +to lend him his horse; but Bob, who had grown +somewhat hardened to suffering during his experience +in the army, positively forbade it.</p> + +<p>"It wouldn't do, George," said he, looking admiringly +at his friend's sleek, well-conditioned +animal, which was constantly champing his bit and +tossing his head as if he were growing impatient +at the slow progress they were making. "Gus +would make a break for liberty sure, and as that +nag of yours is able to distance anything in my +party, I'd have to—" Here Bob tapped his carbine +significantly. "That's something I don't<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</a></span> +want to do. Gus isn't so nearly exhausted as he +seems to be. He is more distressed in mind than +he is in body, for he is thinking of the prison at +Fort Leavenworth. After we have gone a few +miles we will rest them by taking them up behind +us, but it wouldn't be a very bright trick to give +one of them a horse to himself."</p> + +<p>About eleven o'clock a halt was ordered, and +the deserters, who were riding behind the troopers, +having dismounted, Corporal Owens took Carey +off on one side and gave him some very emphatic +instructions. Then he and George also dismounted, +and, leaving their horses behind, made their way +cautiously toward a ridge a short distance in advance +of them. As they neared the top they threw +themselves on their hands and knees and crept up +until they could look over it. They were in plain +view of the squatter's cabin at which the troopers +had stopped to eat their dinner the day before. +Bob took just one look at it, and then hastily +backed down the ridge again.</p> + +<p>"Did you see that fellow chopping wood in front +of the shanty?" said he, addressing himself to +George. "That's the man I am looking for."</p> + +<p>"Are you sure?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Am I sure that I have a pair of good eyes?" +asked Bob in reply. "Of course I am. I recognized +him in spite of his citizen's clothes. That +squatter has rigged him out in some of his own +duds, but they'll not save him if I can manage in +some way to get between him and the cabin."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps, in order to make 'assurance doubly +sure,' you had better take my field-glass and have +another look at him," said George. "A false +move might prove fatal to you, for it would show +the squatter that you suspect him of harboring one +of your men, and that would put both him and the +deserter on their guard. But if that is your man, +I am sorry for it."</p> + +<p>"Why are you?" demanded Bob, looking at his +companion in great surprise.</p> + +<p>"I mean that I am sorry you found him here," +George hastened to explain, "for the chances are +that you will not take him without a fight. Peasley—that's +the name of the owner of the cabin—is +a notorious rough, and he would think no more of +putting a bullet into you, if he thought he could +escape the consequences, than he would of knocking +over an antelope for breakfast."</p> + +<p>"I thought he looked like that kind of a chap,"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</a></span> +said Bob. "Well, if he wants a fight he can be +accommodated at very short notice. That's my +man, and I am going to have him, squatter or no +squatter."</p> + +<p>As Bob gave utterance to this emphatic declaration +he took the field-glass, which George handed +over to him, crept up to the top of the ridge, and +after taking a short survey of the cabin and its surroundings +came back to his friend's side again.</p> + +<p>"I knew I couldn't be mistaken," said he. "I +had a fair view of his face, and as I have seen him +every day for the last year, of course I couldn't +fail to recognize him. The squatter is sitting on +the porch smoking his pipe. Now, how shall I go +to work to nab him? That's the question."</p> + +<p>"Ride straight up to him and tell him that you +want him," answered George. "I know of no +easier way. I will go with you and see that Peasley +doesn't double-team on you."</p> + +<p>"But Bryant will run into the house the moment +he sees me," said Bob.</p> + +<p>"Then run right in after him and pull him out +again," answered George promptly.</p> + +<p>"I am almost afraid to do it. You see, the +civil law is supposed to be supreme, and we soldiers<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</a></span> +have to mind what we are about, or else there'll be +a big row raised about 'military despotism' and all +that. I'd have to surround the house and keep +him in there until I could send to the post and +get authority from the colonel to go in after him. +That is something I shouldn't like to do, for I +have carried this thing through so far without help +from anybody, and I want to complete the work +myself. If I should ask for advice, the colonel +would probably send a shoulder-strap down here +to rob me of all the glory I have won," added Bob +with a smile.</p> + +<p>"Oh, you needn't laugh over it," exclaimed +George. "You have covered yourself with glory. +It isn't every fellow who would go down into a +dug-out to capture six armed men after one of them +had given positive proof that he was not afraid to +shoot. That bullet-hole in your coat is a badge of +honor. Now, I have just thought of something: +I have brought with me a full suit of Mexican +clothes, and also a saddle and bridle of the Mexican +pattern. You are just about my size—"</p> + +<p>"That's the very idea—nothing could be better," +exclaimed Bob, as he arose to his feet and led the +way toward the place where he had left his men.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</a></span> +"It will disguise me completely, won't it? I can +ride up and get between him and the house before +he suspects anything, can't I? But how about the +squatter?"</p> + +<p>"I'll join you as soon as I see that you have +corralled your man," replied George. "And you +had better tell your followers to hold themselves +in readiness to come up promptly when I signal to +them from the top of the ridge."</p> + +<p>The troopers awaited the boys' return with no +little impatience, for the long consultation they had +held on the ridge convinced them that their officer +had discovered something on the other side of it. +Bob gave them a wink and a nod, which instead +of satisfying their curiosity only increased it, and +then, to the surprise of all of them, began to divest +himself of his outer clothing, while George +threw off the canvas covering that protected his +pack, and drew out of it an elegant silver-mounted +saddle and bridle, and also a suit of clothes made +in the height of the Mexican fashion.</p> + +<p>"If that man of yours is at all sharp he will +notice those army-brogans the first thing, and so +you had better pull them off and put on these," +said George, tossing a pair of light patent-leather<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</a></span> +shoes toward Bob. "There are the spurs. You +had better take my horse too, for that 'U. S.' +brand on your own nag would give you away in +a minute. Now go easy, like an honest Greaser +who is going about his legitimate business. Take +my mule with you, for if you try to separate him +from the horse he'll raise row enough to scare all +the deserters out of the State."</p> + +<p>It is wonderful what an alteration is sometimes +made in one's appearance by a mere change of +clothing. After Bob had got into the Mexican +suit and exchanged his cap for the wide sombrero +with its gaudy cord and tassel, it was doubtful if +there was one among his brother-troopers who +would have recognized him if he had chanced to +meet him unexpectedly. Although he was not +quite yellow enough for a Mexican, he was nevertheless +pretty well tanned, and George assured him +that all he needed was a black moustache and a +long goatee to transform him into a very good-looking +Greaser.</p> + +<p>Everything being in readiness, Bob mounted +George's horse, took the pack-mule's halter, which +his friend passed up to him, and, after giving +Carey instructions to bring up the squad and the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</a></span> +prisoners promptly when he was signalled to do +so, he rode slowly away, the new scout following +a short distance in his rear, mounted on Bob's +nag.</p> + +<p>Arriving at the top of the ridge, Corporal Owens +rode over it without pausing, and had not proceeded +far before he became aware that he was +discovered. The squatter got up and came to the +end of the porch, the deserter ceased his chopping +and leaned on his axe, and both shaded +their eyes with their hands and looked at him. +It was plain that they were not very well pleased +with the result of their observations, for, after +gazing at him for a few seconds, the squatter returned +to his seat and puffed furiously at his pipe, +and the deserter resumed his chopping. At the +same moment the dogs appeared in force from +under the cabin, their every action indicating that +they had been summoned by the voice of their +master. They looked up at him, wagging their +tails vigorously, and then, encouraged, no doubt, +by a low hiss or an order to "hunt 'em up," began +running about with their heads high in the +air. Discovering the approaching horseman, they +started for him on the instant, each one striving<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</a></span> +to lead in the race and to growl and bark louder +than his companions.</p> + +<p>"They don't think much of Greasers in this +part of the country," said Bob to himself; "and +I don't blame them. If I were a stock-raiser I +shouldn't feel very hospitably inclined toward a +class of men who are always on the watch for a +chance to jump down on me and steal my cattle. +I wonder if I shall have pluck enough to dismount +in the midst of all these dogs and make +the arrest?" added Bob as the fierce brutes closed +about him, all of them with their ears laid back +close to their heads and their hair turned the +wrong way, and some crouching at his side as +if they were about to spring up and pull him +out of his saddle.—"Get out! If you interfere +with my business there won't be as many of you +to-night as there were this morning. Aha! there's +one of you out of the muss already."</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/p155.jpg" alt="p155" title="Bob Captures the Deserter."/></div> +<div class="figcenter"><span class="caption"><span class="smcap">Bob Captures the Deserter.</span></span></div> + +<p>For just here the mule gave a tug at his halter, +and Bob, looking over his shoulder to see what +was the matter, caught a momentary glimpse of a +tawny body as it rose in the air, and, turning a +complete somersault, landed on the ground all in +a heap. One of the dogs, in his eagerness to do<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</a></span> +something grand, had approached a little too close +to the mule's heels—an impertinence which that +sagacious quadruped promptly resented by kicking +out with both hind feet and knocking his would-be +assailant into a cocked hat. The dog was not +killed, but he was terribly demoralized, and his +howls of anguish did much to dampen the ardor +of his companions, who quickly withdrew to a +more respectful distance.</p> + +<p>Bob rode straight up to the house, but the +squatter never looked at him, nor did the deserter +stop his work. He drew rein in front of the porch, +swung himself out of the saddle as quick as a flash, +and, paying no attention to the dogs, which bayed +him at a distance, but were too cowardly to assault +him, he walked up to the deserter and tapped him +on the shoulder.</p> + +<p>"Bryant, I want you," said he.</p> + +<p>The deserter, whose back was turned toward Bob, +wheeled on the instant, revealing a face that was as +white as a sheet. Bob backed around a little, so +that he could keep one eye on Bryant while he +watched the squatter with the other, and saw the +man spring to his feet in the greatest astonishment, +his pipe dropping from his mouth as he arose.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</a></span></p> + +<p>"You didn't expect to see me again so soon, +did you?" said Bob, addressing himself to nobody +in particular.</p> + +<p>"Corporal Owens!" gasped the deserter, retreating +a step or two, at the same time grasping +his axe firmly in both hands and lifting it over +his head. "Keep away from me; if you come +a step nearer I'll—"</p> + +<p>"Drop it!" commanded Bob sternly; and Bryant +obeyed, for he saw the muzzle of a cocked revolver +looking him squarely in the face.</p> + +<p>All this happened in less time than we have +taken to tell it, but meanwhile the squatter had +not been idle. Quickly recovering from his amazement, +he darted into the cabin, and just as Bryant +dropped the threatening axe he appeared upon the +porch with his rifle in his hand. Cocking it as he +drew it to his face, he covered Bob's head with the +weapon, and said, in a voice that trembled with rage +and excitement,</p> + +<p>"Look a here, young fellow, that's a game two +can play at. Lower your shootin'-iron or I'll make +daylight shine through you."</p> + +<p>"Plump him over, Peasley!" cried Bryant, +"plump him over! You are not going to stand<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</a></span> +there and let him take me back to the fort, are +you? You promised to protect me. Plump him +over! put the dogs on him! Do something, and +be quick about it."</p> + +<p>Bob bore himself with surprising courage during +this trying ordeal. He did not know at what +instant the squatter might comply with Bryant's +frantic order to "plump him over" or to "put +the dogs on him," but he never flinched. He did +not even change color; and there is every reason +to believe that his bold front saved his life.</p> + +<p>"Bryant," said he in a calm voice, "don't you +know that the colonel will be sure to hear of +this, and that you are only making a bad matter +worse by holding out against the inevitable?—As +for you, Peasley, you've got the drop on me, +and you can shoot if you feel like it; but if you +do you are a gone squatter. Look there," he +added, jerking his thumb over his shoulder.</p> + +<p>Peasley looked, and saw George Ackerman +coming down the ridge at a furious gallop.</p> + +<p>"That is one of my backers, and there are +six more who will be along in a minute. What +did I tell you?" exclaimed Bob as the troopers +and their prisoners came into view over the top<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</a></span> +of the ridge. "Now, Peasley, if you don't behave +yourself I'll take you to the fort under +arrest. I am in the discharge of my duty, and I +am not going to put up with any more nonsense."</p> + +<p>The squatter lowered his rifle, looked first at +Bryant and then at the troopers, and seemed undecided +how to act. While he hesitated George +Ackerman dashed up to the porch, jumping out +of his saddle before his horse had fairly stopped, +and, knocking the dogs right and left with the +heavy cavalry sabre which he had found fastened +to Bob's saddle, he mounted the steps and laid +hold of the squatter's rifle.</p> + +<p>"Peasley, what are you about?" he exclaimed +as he twisted the weapon out of the man's unresisting +grasp. "Are you a born idiot? If you +are not, don't you know that if you raise a fuss +here you won't have any roof left over your head +in less than five minutes?"</p> + +<p>The squatter, muttering something under his +breath, went back to his seat and picked up his +pipe, and in a few minutes more the troopers and +their prisoners arrived. At a sign from his officer, +Loring dismounted and stood guard over Bryant, +while Bob walked up to the porch.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</a></span></p> + +<p>"What do you think of the situation now, friend +Peasley?" said he cheerfully. "I can't take that +man to the fort in those clothes, and so I would +thank you to trot out his uniform."</p> + +<p>"Don't know nothing 'bout no uniform," growled +the squatter; "ain't none here."</p> + +<p>"I know better," answered Bob. "There is +one here, and I must have it. You can either +bring it out yourself or I shall search for it; and +I give you fair warning that if I turn my boys +loose in your shanty they'll handle things rough.—Now, +what shall I do if that threat doesn't start +him?" said Bob to himself. "I'll search the +cabin and take the consequences; that's what I'll +do."</p> + +<p>"Come, Peasley, save yourself trouble by bringing +out the uniform," said George. "There's no +use in being a fool."</p> + +<p>The squatter evidently began to think so too, +for he sullenly rose from his seat and went into +the cabin, coming out again in a few minutes with +a bundle of clothing, which he threw spitefully +down upon the porch. Bob quietly picked it up, +and, carrying it down to Bryant, commanded him +to pull off the squatter's clothes and put on his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[Pg 152]</a></span> +own; and Bryant at once complied, for he knew +that if he did not Bob would detail two or three +men to make the exchange for him. The new +prisoner was then ordered to fall in with the rest, +and the cavalcade once more took up its line of +march for the fort; but a short stop was made as +soon as they were out of sight of the squatter's +cabin, during which Bob pulled off his disguise +and put on his own garments.</p> + +<p>"If I am ever obliged to wear this suit, I hope +it will serve me as well as it has served you to-day," +said George as he stowed the Mexican costume +away in his pack and placed the silver-mounted +saddle and bridle on top of it. "I didn't think +it would so soon be brought into use."</p> + +<p>"If it hadn't been for that same suit I might +have got myself into trouble," said Bob. "Knowing +where Bryant was, I never should have gone +back to the fort without him, and if he had taken +refuge in the house I might have gone in after +him. What the colonel would have said to me if +I had done that, I don't know."</p> + +<p>During the ride to the fort Bob Owens, to quote +from the troopers, "laughed all over." It was +plain to everybody that he was highly elated over<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[Pg 153]</a></span> +the results of the expedition, as he had an undoubted +right to be. The pursuit and capture of the +deserters had been conducted with considerable +skill, and with as much determination as any veteran +officer could have exhibited. Now that the +danger was over, and his efforts to carry out the +orders of his superior had been crowned with complete +success, Bob was rather proud of that bullet-hole +in his coat.</p> + +<p>The next time the order was given for the troopers +to take the prisoners on their horses, George +beckoned to Gus Robbins, who quickly mounted behind +him. After conversing a while upon the various +exciting incidents that had transpired while +Gus was Ned Ackerman's guest at George's ranche, +the latter said,</p> + +<p>"I never expected to meet you again, and I +would rather not have met you at all than see you +in this scrape."</p> + +<p>"Well, it can't be helped now," answered Gus, +with a weak unsuccessful attempt to appear defiant. +"The colonel told me just what I might expect if I +were ever again court-marshaled for desertion, and +I went at it with my eyes open. I am not sorry I +tried it, but I am sorry I didn't get away. If they<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[Pg 154]</a></span> +don't watch me pretty closely, they will never have +a chance to take me to Leavenworth."</p> + +<p>"What do you suppose your father will say when +he finds it out?" asked George.</p> + +<p>"He will never find it out if I can help it."</p> + +<p>"Don't you correspond with him?"</p> + +<p>"Not by a great sight. He doesn't know +whether I am dead or alive. I wish I had +changed my name when I enlisted."</p> + +<p>"He lives in Foxboro', Ohio, I believe?" said +George.</p> + +<p>Gus replied that he did.</p> + +<p>"Is his name Gus too?"</p> + +<p>"No; his name is Thomas, and he is—I say," +exclaimed Gus suddenly, "what are you asking so +many questions for? Do you intend to write to +him about me?"</p> + +<p>"Why, what object could I possibly have in doing +that?" asked George, turning a very innocent-looking +face toward the deserter. "I am sure it +is none of my business what you do. Let's talk +about something else. We are getting over the +ground pretty rapidly now, and if Bob would let +me I could land you in the fort in four hours. I +don't suppose that you are in any hurry to get<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[Pg 155]</a></span> +there, but what I meant was, that your additional +weight would not prevent this horse of mine from +travelling from here to the fort at his very best +licks."</p> + +<p>"No, I don't weigh much now," said Gus with +a sigh. "Hard work, hard fare, hard treatment +and constant worry have brought me down to a +hundred and ten pounds."</p> + +<p>"That's not very heavy for a seventeen-year-old +boy."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I am nineteen," said Gus, "but just now +I feel as though I were forty."</p> + +<p>"And you look so, too," said George to himself.—"That +was the reason I wanted to know +your exact age."</p> + +<p>George had now learned all he cared to know +about Gus Robbins. He was a minor, his father's +name was Thomas and he lived in Foxboro', Ohio. +He had gone to work in a roundabout way to gain +this information, because he was afraid that if he +asked Gus leading questions and told him what use +he intended to make of his answers, the deserter +would refuse to open his head. He had gained his +point by strategy, and he did not intend that Gus +should go to Leavenworth if he could help it.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[Pg 156]</a></span></p> + +<p>Bob's supply of rations being nearly exhausted, +his men and the deserters had a very scant dinner, +and they did not get anything more to eat until +they reached the fort. About ten o'clock that +night they were challenged by one of the sentries, +and, not knowing the countersign, were obliged to +wait until the corporal of the guard was called. +Having at last been admitted inside of the stockade, +Bob marched up in front of head-quarters, +where he ordered a halt, and he and George dismounted +and went in to report to the colonel. +Bob was very much astonished at the manner in +which the officer greeted the new scout, and so was +the orderly. They had never before seen him unbend +to anybody as he did to George. Having +never been admitted into head-quarters except when +they had business there—some report to make, some +orders to receive or some sharp reprimand to listen +to—they knew the commandant only as a stern, +exacting officer who seemed to care for nothing +but the "regulations," and they had never imagined +that he could be cordial or friendly with +any one. But now they saw their mistake. The +colonel got up from his seat, shook the boy warmly +by the hand, told him he was glad to see him,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[Pg 157]</a></span> +called him by his Christian name and pointed him +to an easy-chair, while Bob was left to stand at attention +until the colonel got ready to attend to +him.</p> + +<p>"You are all ready for business I see, George," +said the colonel as he resumed his seat at the table. +"Well, I'll give you a taste of army-life by sending +you out on a scout to-morrow. I will tell you +about it pretty soon. There's your room," he added, +pointing to an apartment adjoining his own, +"and when you get ready you can bring in your +luggage. The officer of the day will show you +where to put your horse. You will have to be +your own servant, unless you are willing to hire +a civilian and pay him out of your own pocket. +I saw that you came in with Corporal Owens: +did he arrest you?"</p> + +<p>"He was going to, sir," replied George, "but +let me off when I showed him my furlough."</p> + +<p>"Corporal," continued the colonel, turning to +Bob, who stood lost in wonder, "what report +have you to make?"</p> + +<p>"I have the honor, sir, to report my entire +success," was Bob's reply; "I've got them all."</p> + +<p>"Where are they now?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[Pg 158]</a></span></p> + +<p>"On the parade, under guard, sir."</p> + +<p>"Very good. Keep them there until further +orders. Tell the officer of the day I want to +see him."</p> + +<p>George thought this was rather hard. Bob had +risked his life and displayed most commendable +zeal and ability in carrying out the colonel's orders, +and now the latter dismissed him without +one single word to indicate that he appreciated +his services. Why did he not question the corporal +in regard to the manner in which the capture +of the deserters had been effected, and reward +him for his gallantry by making him a sergeant +on the spot? That was what George thought <i>he</i> +would have done if he had been commandant of +the post, and he then and there resolved that a +full history of Bob's exploit should be laid before +the colonel before he went to sleep that +night.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII"></a>CHAPTER VIII.</h2> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[Pg 159]</a></span></p> +<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">TOP</a></span> +<h3>GEORGE AT THE FORT.</h3> + + +<p>"Colonel, that young fellow has had a very +hard time of it," said George when Bob had +closed the door behind him.</p> + +<p>"I expected it," replied the officer carelessly. +"It is a wonder to me that the deserters didn't +kill him, for there were some hard characters +among them and they were well armed."</p> + +<p>This remark would seem to indicate that the +colonel was a most unfeeling man, and that he +did not set much if any value upon the life of a +non-commissioned officer; but such was not really +the case. When he was a subaltern his superiors +had often assigned to him some very hazardous +undertakings, and when he attained to a rank +that entitled him to a command he sent others +into danger and thought nothing of it. A soldier's +first and last duty was to obey any orders he might +receive, and if he lost his life while in the act of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[Pg 160]</a></span> +executing those orders, why, it was nothing more +than might be expected.</p> + +<p>"They did try to kill him," said George. +"Didn't you notice that hole in the breast of his +coat?"</p> + +<p>"I did, and I thought it looked as though it +had been made by a bullet."</p> + +<p>"So it was. Bristow shot at him. He wanted +to be revenged on Bob for telling you about those +thirty men who tried to desert some time ago, and +if he had been a little better marksman you would +have been put to the trouble of appointing a new +corporal in the place of as brave a boy as ever +swung a sabre."</p> + +<p>"Why, George," exclaimed the colonel, becoming +interested, "you are quite enthusiastic. Do +you know Corporal Owens?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir. He is the one who pulled me out +of the river on the night the old Sam Kendall +was burned."</p> + +<p>"Oh yes; you told me about that the first +time you were here. Where did the corporal find +Bristow and his party?"</p> + +<p>George answered this question by giving the +colonel a circumstantial account of the pursuit, as<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[Pg 161]</a></span> +he had heard it from Bob's lips, and the manner +in which he had gone to work to secure the deserters +after he had discovered their place of refuge. +His description of Bryant's arrest amused +the officer, who declared that it was a very neat +piece of strategy.</p> + +<p>Having placed Bob's case in the most favorable +light possible, George then went on to tell the colonel +about Springer's unexpected visit to his ranche, +and described in detail the intended movements of +Fletcher and his band. The officer said he had +done right in sending the cattle-thief to warn the +commandant at Eagle Pass, and had no doubt that +that officer would take measures to assist the civil +authorities at Rio Grande City in protecting the +jail and giving Fletcher and his men a warm +reception when they came across the river; but, in +order to explain what happened afterward, we must +here say that he did nothing of the kind. Unfortunately +for Springer, he was recognized by some +ranchemen who happened to be hanging about the +post, and in spite of his protestations he was arrested +and turned over to the marshal, who locked him up. +No attention whatever was paid to his warning, and +so positive was the marshal that there was "some<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[Pg 162]</a></span>thing +back of it" that he would not even permit +the prisoner to tell his story.</p> + +<p>The cattle-thief remained in jail until the next +full moon, and then Fletcher and his men suddenly +made their appearance, just as Springer said they +would. As no precautions had been taken to guard +the prison, the raiders had an easy victory, and before +assistance could arrive from the Pass, Springer +and the murderers of the cowboy had been released +and Fletcher was safe across the river. Springer, +of course, was much too sharp to tell how he came +to be an inmate of the jail, and the boss cattle-thief, +believing that he had been arrested while trying to +carry out his instructions, treated him with the +greatest consideration.</p> + +<p>"What did you mean by saying that you would +give me a taste of army-life by sending me out on +a scout to-morrow?" asked George after he had +finished his story. "Any raiding going on about +here?"</p> + +<p>"Well, yes. I am going to send Clinton out to +punish a war-party of Kiowas if he can catch them. +I am aware you are used to roughing it, but you +know nothing about campaigning with troops, and I +thought I would give you a chance to get your hand<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</a></span> +in before I call upon you to lead us across the river. +Some young bucks belonging to Satanta's band, the +most of them mere boys, have broken away from +their agency and come down here in pursuit of scalps +and fame. Among other outrages which they have +committed, they jumped down on a poor fellow the +other day, killed or scattered his herdsmen, drove +off his stock and carried his two children into captivity. +I should like to be the means of ridding +the frontier of that villain, for he is dangerous. +During a peace-council that was held at Fort Dodge +some time ago, Satanta talked so glibly about his +desire to cultivate friendly relations with us, and +his unalterable determination to 'follow the white +man's road' in future, that he really succeeded in +making the commissioners believe that he was sincere +in what he said. To encourage him in his +good resolutions, the department commander and +staff presented him with a uniform coat and sash +and a brigadier-general's hat. How the wily old +scoundrel must have laughed in his sleeve when he +saw how completely he had bamboozled some of +our best soldiers!"</p> + +<p>"How long did he keep his promise?" asked +George.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</a></span></p> + +<p>"About three weeks, and then he led an attack, +dressed in his new uniform, against the fort in +which the council was held. Oh, he's a good one! +I know you didn't come here to fight Indians, but +you'll have to hold yourself in readiness for anything +that turns up."</p> + +<p>"You will always find me around when you +want me," replied George. "May I write a letter +here?" he continued, seeing that the colonel picked +up his pen and turned to his table to resume +some writing in which he had been interrupted +when Bob and the new scout came in to report.</p> + +<p>"Certainly. There are pens, ink and paper; help +yourself. There's the letter-box over there. The +mail-carrier goes out to-morrow."</p> + +<p>Before George could begin work on his letter +the officer of the day came in. He shook hands +with the new-comer, to whom he had been introduced +on the occasion of the boy's first visit to +the fort, and was told by the colonel to put the +deserters into the guard-house, to show George +where to stake out his horse and mule, and to +see that he had somebody to help him bring in +his pack-saddle.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[Pg 165]</a></span></p> + +<p>The work of bringing in his luggage and taking +care of his animals was soon performed, and then +George came back and began his letter. It took +him a long time to write it, for he wanted to make +it one that would produce an impression upon the +person to whom it was addressed. It was to Gus +Robbins's father. It conveyed to that gentleman +the information that although his son was alive +and in fair bodily health, he had brought himself +into serious trouble, having been detected in two +attempts at desertion, and unless his friends at +home interested themselves in his behalf he had +a fair prospect of going to prison. If Mr. Robbins +would move in the matter he could easily procure +the culprit's discharge from the service, for he +was a minor and had enlisted without his father's +consent; but if there was anything done it must +be done quickly, for it was probable that a court-martial +would be convened in a very few days. +Having sealed and addressed the letter, he bade +the colonel good-night and went to bed, feeling +satisfied that he had done all he could for the +unfortunate Gus.</p> + +<p>George slept soundly, as he always did, but the +morning gun and the first notes of reveille awoke<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[Pg 166]</a></span> +him. While he was making his toilet with his +usual care and deliberation—as we have said, his +long intercourse with river-dandies had made him +very particular on this point—his friend, Bob +Owens, and the men who occupied the quarters +with him, were hurrying on their clothes in order +to get into line in time to answer to their names +at roll-call. While they were dressing they talked, +and this was a portion of the conversation that +took place between the corporal and one of the +colonel's orderlies—the same one who had been +on duty when Bob went in to report his arrival +with the deserters.</p> + +<p>"I say, Owens," exclaimed the orderly, "who +was that nobby young officer who came in with +you last night? What is his name, and what rank +does he hold? I know he is green, for he didn't +know enough to put on a dress-coat before he went +into the colonel's presence."</p> + +<p>"His name is George Ackerman," answered Bob, +"but he is not an officer; he's a scout."</p> + +<p>"'A scout'!" repeated the orderly in a tone of +contempt. "He is a pretty-looking scout, I must +say. What does he know about life on the +Plains?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[Pg 167]</a></span></p> + +<p>"He knows a good deal more about it than anybody +in this room, for he was born right here in +Texas," was the reply.</p> + +<p>"Has he ever seen service?"</p> + +<p>"No, but he knows what danger is, and he has +been in some situations that you wouldn't care to +be placed in. During long months of his life he +lived in constant fear of a violent death."</p> + +<p>"I don't doubt that he told you so, but I don't +believe it, all the same," observed the orderly.</p> + +<p>"I can't help that. I am personally acquainted +with him, and you are not. I was with him when +the steamer to which he belonged was burned on +the Mississippi River, and came to Texas with him. +He owns a big cattle-ranche a few miles from here, +and has an income of about forty thousand dollars +a year."</p> + +<p>"Aha! that accounts for the milk in the cocoa-nut," +exclaimed the orderly. "I know now why +it was that the colonel met him in so friendly a +manner. Even those stern old regulars soften in +the presence of one who was born with a silver +spoon in his mouth, don't they?"</p> + +<p>"But George Ackerman's money didn't get him +the position he holds," said Bob quickly. "He<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[Pg 168]</a></span> +has been a prisoner among the cattle-thieves on +the other side of the river, and knows where they +hang out. He is here to act as our guide when +we pursue the raiders across the river."</p> + +<p>"What did the cattle-thieves take him prisoner +for?"</p> + +<p>"Because they were promised twenty thousand +dollars for it by George's guardian, who wanted +to get him out of the way, so that his son could +inherit George's property. But he managed to +escape from them, went up North and became a +pilot, and it was while he was serving in that capacity +that I made his acquaintance."</p> + +<p>"That's a very pretty story," remarked the orderly, +"but doesn't it sound almost too much like +a dime novel?"</p> + +<p>"If you don't believe it ask Gus Robbins, if +you get a chance to speak to him. He knows +George, and has reason to be grateful to him too. +Gus came down here to visit Ned Ackerman while +the latter's father was acting as George's guardian, +and got himself into trouble that would have ended +seriously if George had not befriended him. +It was through that same visit that Gus got into +the army."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[Pg 169]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Did you hear what the colonel said to him +about a servant?" asked the orderly. "Whoever +saw a scout with a servant? I never did, and +neither did I ever before see a man holding that +position treated with so much consideration by a +post-commander. I can't account for it."</p> + +<p>Bob could not account for it either, and so he +attempted no explanation. We may tell the reader +that there were two good reasons for it. In the +first place, George was not a regular scout; he +might, with more propriety, have been called a +volunteer aide. It is true that he was sworn into +the service, and that he was bound to do his duty +faithfully "during the pleasure of the commanding +officer" of Fort Lamoine, but he drew no +pay from the government. He did not even ask +that he should be fed while he lived at the fort, +but stood ready to pay his share of the mess-bill. +He had freely offered his services as guide to the +troops because he, in common with every rancheman +and farmer in that country, wanted the raiding-parties +broken up, and he believed that he +could do as much, if not more, toward accomplishing +that object than any other single civilian. He +was not obliged to wear a uniform (being sworn in,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[Pg 170]</a></span> +he had a <i>right</i> to wear it), but he had purchased it +for the same reason that he had purchased the +Mexican costume and the other clothing he had +brought with him—because he believed it might +some day be of use to him. We have already +seen how one of his disguises came into play. If +he had not brought with him that Mexican suit, +it is hard to tell how Bryant would have been +captured.</p> + +<p>In the next place, the colonel was an old acquaintance +and friend of George's father. He +had often enjoyed Mr. Ackerman's hospitality, and +he could say, with Zeke, that he had carried George +in his arms when the latter was a "yelling baby +not knee-high to a duck," and when he himself +was nothing but a second lieutenant. Since that +time a great many things had happened. Mr. +Ackerman and his wife were dead, the second +lieutenant had passed through a terrible war, had +worn a major-general's shoulder-straps in the +volunteer army and won a brevet colonelcy in +the regulars, and George had grown almost to +manhood. Neither of them knew of the presence +of the other in that country until George, accompanied +by Mr. Gilbert and a few other ranchemen,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[Pg 171]</a></span> +came to the fort to offer his services. The colonel +knew the boy as soon as he heard his name, and it +was on account of the respect and affection he cherished +for the memory of his father that he extended +so cordial a greeting to him; but, like all the other +soldiers who had seen him, the colonel did not think +that George was just the guide he wanted.</p> + +<p>"I need somebody with age and experience, +George," said he, "and you have neither. I know +you can handle a herd of cattle and manage your +ranche in good style, but I am not so certain of +your ability to act as guide to my troops. I admire +your pluck, and I should be glad to have you +come here and live until you get tired of it; and +in order to make it lawful for you to stay here, I +will give you a position as forage-master."</p> + +<p>"I am very much obliged to you, sir, but that +is a berth I don't want," answered George. "I +want to help put down those raiders."</p> + +<p>"But just think of the responsibility that would +rest upon you," protested the colonel. "A single +blunder on your part might cripple me fearfully."</p> + +<p>"You need have no fears on that score," said +Mr. Gilbert. "George is good wherever you put<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[Pg 172]</a></span> +him. He is acquainted with Fletcher, who is the +most active of all the raiders who trouble us; he +knows where he hangs out, and he is the only +one on this side of the river who does. When +it comes to trailing, he is at home there too. +Can you look at a trail and tell how old it is +and how many men or horses made it?"</p> + +<p>No, the colonel couldn't do that. He always +looked to his scouts for information on those +points.</p> + +<p>"George can do it," said Mr. Gilbert. "He +has served his time under one of the best trailers +in the country; and that is Zeke, his herdsman."</p> + +<p>After a little more conversation the colonel, +although not without many misgivings, accepted +the offer of George's services; and he never had +occasion to regret it. During the very first expedition +that was sent out of the fort after he +reported there for duty he showed what he was +made of, and gave the colonel reason for placing +almost unlimited confidence in his judgment. +Acting as Bob Owens's counsellor, he enabled +the latter to perform an exploit that made him +the lion of the post.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[Pg 173]</a></span></p> + +<p>Having dressed himself, George passed through +the colonel's office and out through the hall to +the parade. In the outer door was seated a man +who was bent half double, with his elbows resting +on his knees and his face buried in his hands. +Hearing the sound of the boy's footsteps, he raised +his head, revealing a countenance so haggard and +sorrowful that George was startled at the sight of +it. The man moved aside to allow him room to +pass, and then covered his face with his hands +again, and as George walked out he was sure +he heard him utter a suppressed moan. The +man was not a soldier, for he was dressed in +citizen's clothes. He looked like a rancheman; +and as George was a rancheman himself, he naturally +felt some sympathy for the unknown sufferer. +After hesitating a moment, weighing in +his mind the propriety of the step he was about +to take, he turned back and asked,</p> + +<p>"What is the matter with you, sir? Are you +ill?"</p> + +<p>"'Ill'?" repeated the man, without looking up. +"Worse than that—worse than that."</p> + +<p>"Is there anything that I can do for you?" asked +George. "You seem to be in great trouble."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[Pg 174]</a></span></p> + +<p>As these words fell upon his ear the man +straightened up, and, gazing at George with a pair +of wild-looking eyes, said, in a voice that was rendered +husky by some strong emotion,</p> + +<p>"I am in trouble, partner, and although I do +not think you can help me in any way, I feel +grateful to you for your sympathy. I have been +bounced by the hostiles and cleaned out—completely +cleaned out."</p> + +<p>"That <i>is</i> bad," returned George, who told himself +that the man took his loss very much to heart. +He knew a good many stock-raisers who had been +"bounced" and "cleaned out," but he had never +before seen one who seemed to be so utterly broken +down by his misfortunes as this one did. +The stranger's next words, however, explained it +all.</p> + +<p>"The loss of my ranche and stock I don't +mind," said he; "that's nothing. But when one +sees his two motherless boys carried off by the red +fiends, while he is powerless to help them, it's +pretty rough, it's pretty rough."</p> + +<p>"Why, this must be the man the colonel told +me about last night," said George to himself.</p> + +<p>"I should not fear that the savages would raise<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[Pg 175]</a></span> +their hands against the lives of the boys (they are +too young to be put to torture, one being eight and +the other ten years of age) if it were not for one +thing," continued the bereaved father, jumping to +his feet and pacing back and forth like a caged tiger. +"I made a hard fight of it, and dropped a Kiowa +for every year of my oldest boy's age. Of course +the death of those warriors will have to be avenged +by their relatives. Perhaps you don't know it, +but that is Indian law."</p> + +<p>"I do know it," interrupted George. "I +couldn't have lived so close to these raiders, both +Indians and Mexicans, nearly all my life without +learning something about their ways, could I? I +am a Texan, like yourself."</p> + +<p>"You are? I took you for a Yankee soldier."</p> + +<p>"There's where you made a mistake," replied +George. "I was born in Miller county in this +State, and I am here to act as guide to the troops +when they cross the river in pursuit of the cattle-thieves."</p> + +<p>"Good! Put it there!" exclaimed the man, extending +his hand, while his face for the moment +showed the pleasure he felt at the meeting. "My +name is Wentworth; what is yours?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[Pg 176]</a></span></p> + +<p>George told him, and Mr. Wentworth said he +had often heard the name, and in a roundabout +way had learned something of the family history.</p> + +<p>"I have heard of you too," said George. "You +have often been obliged to run in order to save +your life and stock, have you not?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, and I have always succeeded in getting +safely away; but there is a first time for everybody, +and mine came three days ago. I was going +on to say that I am afraid the savages will +take vengeance on my helpless little boys for the +braves I shot in the fight," continued Mr. Wentworth. +"If they don't do that, they will probably +hold them for ransom; but they might as +well tomahawk the boys at once and put them +out of their misery, for I haven't a horn nor a +hoof nor a cent of money to give in exchange +for them. I know I have seen them for the last +time, but won't I make it hot for those who stole +them?"</p> + +<p>George could not say anything comforting. The +sight of the strong man's overwhelming grief struck +him dumb.</p> + +<p>"I know some of the bucks who were in the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[Pg 177]</a></span> +fight," continued Mr. Wentworth, grinding his +teeth and rubbing his hands nervously together. +"They have often camped on my ranche when +they came down here buffalo-hunting. I don't +care what treaties our government may make with +that tribe; there will be eternal war between me +and them. No Kiowa shall ever cross my trail +and live—no, not if I hang for it. I only wish +that some of those peace commissioners—those +lunatics who believe that an Indian is a human +being and needs only kind treatment to make +him peaceable and friendly—could stand in my +boots this minute. I tell you, Ackerman, if one +of them were here now I'd stand and see an +Indian shoot him, and never lift a hand in his +defence. I got in last night and told the colonel +about it, and he said he would send out a couple +of companies this morning with orders to overtake +and punish them if possible; but he might +as well save his men and horses, for it isn't possible. +They have reached the Staked Plains by +this time, and are safe from pursuit. This is a +lovely government for a white man to live under, +isn't it? It is too cowardly to protect us from +the Mexicans, and too tender-hearted to hang<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[Pg 178]</a></span> +an Indian for murder unless he happens to kill +some one high in authority, like General Canby."</p> + +<p>Mr. Wentworth seemed almost beside himself +when he thought of his boys, who were now so +many miles away from him, for then it was that +he realized how powerless he was to help them. +He went on in this strain until he had talked +himself out of breath, and then he went back +to his seat on the doorstep and covered his face +with his hands.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX"></a>CHAPTER IX.</h2> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[Pg 179]</a></span></p> +<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">TOP</a></span> +<h3>WHAT GEORGE KNEW ABOUT TRAILING.</h3> + + +<p>"It is a hard case," said George to himself +as he walked slowly toward the gate, "and +I believe, as Mr. Wentworth does, that he has +seen his children for the last time. In the first +place, the chances are that the Indians, having so +long a start, will not be overtaken; but if they +go out of their way to attack other isolated +ranches, and the troops should come up with +them, their very first act, if they saw that they +were likely to be whipped, would be to kill their +captives, so that they could not be rescued. It +<i>is</i> a hard case, that's a fact, and I don't see that +anything can be done about it. I wish Zeke were +here to give his opinion on the subject."</p> + +<p>The troopers, having answered to the names, were +going out to bring in their horses preparatory to +grooming them, and George went with them to +bring in his own. Nearly an hour was devoted<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[Pg 180]</a></span> +to this important duty, which was performed under +the watchful eye of an officer, and although +George often saw his friend Bob, the latter did +not speak to him. There were a good many shoulder-straps +around, and work, and not talk, was the +order of the day. Even those of the officers who, +having no servants, were obliged to act as their +own grooms, had very little to say to one another; +but when these same officers were gathered around +the breakfast-table half an hour later, they were +lively and talkative enough. There they met +on a footing of perfect equality, like the members +of a private family, although the juniors did not +forget to say "sir" when addressing their superiors. +There were no orders issued during the progress +of the meal, and in fact very little was said about +military matters; but still, George heard enough +to satisfy him that active operations against the +thieving Kiowas were to be commenced immediately, +and that he was to make one of an expedition +upon whose success a good deal depended.</p> + +<p>The appearance of the officers as they passed +into the hall after rising from the breakfast-table +must have been a signal to the bugler who stood<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[Pg 181]</a></span> +in front of the door of head-quarters, for as soon +as he saw them he raised his instrument to his +lips and blew a shrill call. The clear, ringing +notes had scarcely ceased when there was a commotion +in the barracks, and a crowd of men came +pouring out and hurried toward the stables. There +were a hundred and twenty of them, and they +belonged to the troops A, E and L—the latter +commonly called the "Brindles"—of which Captain +Clinton's scouting-party was to be composed.</p> + +<p>"That's 'Boots and saddles,' George," said the +colonel, who stood in the doorway appearing to +notice nothing, but in reality keeping a close watch +over the movements of the men to see that everything +was done in accordance with the "regulations." +"You are to go with Clinton, you know. +Are you ready?"</p> + +<p>"I will be in half a minute," replied the +boy.</p> + +<p>The stirring notes of the bugle, or the prospect +of soon meeting face to face some of the bloodthirsty +savages who had devastated Mr. Wentworth's +home, must have excited George, so that +he did not readily lay his hand upon the articles +he wanted, for considerably more than half a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[Pg 182]</a></span> +minute elapsed before he again appeared with +his Winchester on his back, a bag of cartridges +slung over his shoulder and a revolver buckled +about his waist. He ran to the stable, and had +just put the saddle and bridle on his horse when +another call of the bugle was heard. This was +"To horse," and in obedience the troopers left +the stable and fell into line on the parade, each +man standing at the head of his nag. George +did not belong in line—in fact, he did not know +where he <i>did</i> belong—so he kept his eye on Captain +Clinton, and when he saw that officer mount +the horse which an orderly brought up to him, +George at once placed himself in his own saddle, +and, riding up to the steps where the colonel +was standing, awaited further developments.</p> + +<p>"Prepare to mount!" commanded Captain Clinton +as he rode up in front of his own troop, and +the words were immediately repeated by the other +two company commanders.</p> + +<p>In obedience to this order each trooper placed +his left foot in the stirrup, and at the command +"Mount!" which was given soon after, they all +rose from the ground as if moved by the same +set of springs, and seated themselves in the saddles<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[Pg 183]</a></span> +at the same instant. No man was a half a second +ahead or behind his companions. The three company +officers then rode back to the colonel to report +that their respective companies were ready to +march, and after they had listened to some verbal +instructions from him, they bade him and the rest +of the officers good-bye, the bugle sounded the +"Advance," and the troopers, moving four abreast—or, +as a soldier would have expressed it, in column +of fours—rode out of the gate. There they found +Wentworth seated on a wiry little mustang, which +looked altogether too small to carry so heavy a +rider. Recognizing George, who rode by Captain +Clinton's side, he gave him a friendly nod, and +without saying a word turned his horse and rode +away, the troopers following a short distance in +his rear.</p> + +<p>When soldiers are on the march and in no danger +of immediate contact with the enemy, they are +allowed numerous privileges, of which the troopers +composing this particular scouting-party were not +slow to avail themselves. Some of them drew +their pipes from their pockets and filled up for a +smoke, others threw one leg over the horns of their +saddles and rode sideways, "woman-fashion," and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[Pg 184]</a></span> +conversation became general all along the line. +But this talking and smoking did not interfere +with their marching, for they rode rapidly, and +made such good progress that by three o'clock in +the afternoon they were within sight of the ruins +of Mr. Wentworth's ranche. And a sorry sight +it was, too. Nothing but a pile of blackened sun-dried +bricks remained to mark the spot on which a +few days ago had stood a happy home. Household +furniture of every description was scattered around, +but every article had been smashed beyond all hope +of repair. What the savages had not been able to +carry away with them they had ruthlessly destroyed. +George did not wonder that Mr. Wentworth +felt vindictive. The man did not have a word to +say, but the expression that came to his face as he +sat in his saddle gazing sorrowfully at the ruins of +his home spoke volumes.</p> + +<p>When the troopers came within sight of the +ranche, George discovered that there was a horse +staked out near the ruins, and that he had an +owner in the person of a tall, gaunt man, who rose +from the ground and rubbed his eyes as if he had +just awakened from a sound sleep. His dress was +an odd mixture of the civilized and savage. He<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[Pg 185]</a></span> +wore a pair of infantryman's trousers, a rancheman's +red shirt, and an Indian blanket of the +same color was thrown over his shoulders. His +head was covered by a Mexican sombrero, and his +feet were protected by a pair of gaudily-ornamented +moccasins. While waiting for the troopers to +come up he filled a short black pipe and lighted it +at the smoldering fire beside which he had been +sleeping.</p> + +<p>"That's Mountain Mose," said Captain Clinton +in reply to George's inquiring look. "He no +doubt gave himself the name because he has lived +on the Plains all his life. He is a lazy, worthless +vagabond, but what he doesn't know about Indians +isn't worth knowing. If he would only wake up +and display a little energy, he would be invaluable +as a scout."</p> + +<p>"What is he doing here?" asked George. "He +seems to be waiting for us."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I expected to find him at this place. He +has been out to take a look at the trail of that war-party +who did all this damage.—Well, Mose, any +news?"</p> + +<p>"Not much, cap," drawled the scout. "You +put straight for the Staked Plains, an' if you are<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[Pg 186]</a></span> +lively enough to ketch 'em anywhar, you'll ketch +'em thar."</p> + +<p>"Then we shall never get the cattle," said the +captain. "If the Indians are going in there, they +intend that the stock shall die of thirst rather than +fall into our hands."</p> + +<p>"That's jest their little game, cap," said the +scout, puffing at his pipe. "You see, they'll keep +along on the edge of the desert, so't they can have +grass an' water in plenty, an' if you don't pester +'em none they won't go into the Staked Plains at +all; but if you push 'em hard they'll run the critters +in thar an' leave 'em, hopin' that you will +run your hosses an' men to death while you are +huntin' 'em up. You won't never see the young +ones, nuther; an' I don't see why the colonel sent +out sich a party as this so late in the day, anyhow. +We'd oughter been a hundred miles along that thar +trail by sun-up this mornin'."</p> + +<p>George felt the deepest sympathy for Mr. Wentworth, +who listened attentively to what the scout +had to say, although he said nothing in return. +His almost overwhelming sorrow showed itself +in his face, but did not take the form of words.</p> + +<p>As Captain Clinton had made no halt for din<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[Pg 187]</a></span>ner, +the colonel having instructed him to find and +receive the report of the scout as soon as possible, +he decided to stop here and allow his men an hour +or two for rest and refreshment. Giving their +horses into the charge of some of the troopers, +he and his two company commanders walked +away with the scout, while George rode off to +hunt up Bob Owens. He staked his own horse +out beside Bob's, and then walked back with him +to take a nearer view of the ruins.</p> + +<p>"How do you suppose that that man in the +sombrero and moccasins knows that the Indians +who did this have fled toward the Staked Plains?" +asked Bob after he and his friend had spent some +moments in silent contemplation of the savages' +handiwork. "He certainly hasn't had time enough +to follow the trail clear to those plains."</p> + +<p>"Of course not," answered George. "But he +probably followed it far enough to see that it +leads in that direction."</p> + +<p>"Well, explain another thing while you are +about it," continued Bob. "I have been out on +a scout before now after the hostiles, following a +trail that was as plain as the nose on one's face, +when all at once the scout would leave that trail<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[Pg 188]</a></span> +and strike off over the prairie where there wasn't +a sign of a pony-track."</p> + +<p>"He was taking a short cut on the Indians," +observed George.</p> + +<p>"I know that, and sooner or later he would +bring us back to that trail again; and sometimes +we would have gained so much on the hostiles—who +had perhaps been twenty-four hours' journey +ahead of us when we left the trail—that we would +find their camp-fires still smoking. Now, what +I want to know is this: How did that scout know +that those Indians were going to that particular +spring or creek or ravine near which we found +the trail?"</p> + +<p>"Have you ever hunted foxes?" asked George.</p> + +<p>"I should say I had. When I left home I +owned a hound that couldn't be beaten in running +them, for he was posted in all their tricks. +But what have foxes to do with hostile Indians?"</p> + +<p>"I am simply going to use the tricks of the +one, which you understand, to explain the tricks +of the other, which you do not understand," replied +George. "They are a good deal alike in +some respects. A fox, when he finds himself hard<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[Pg 189]</a></span> +pressed, will resort to all sorts of manoeuvres to +throw the hounds off the trail. One of his tricks +is to run over a newly-ploughed field, if he can +find one, where the scent will not lie. What would +that brag hound of yours do in such a case? Would +he waste valuable time in running about over that +field trying to pick up a scent that wasn't there?"</p> + +<p>"No, he wouldn't. He would run around the +outside of the field until he found the place where +the fox left it."</p> + +<p>"Exactly. Now, an Indian is just as full of +tricks as a fox is. When he is afraid of pursuit +he will break his party up into small bands, and, +although the trails made by these bands will lead +in different directions at the start, you will find, +if you break up your own party and follow them +for a while, that they all tend toward the same +points, where these little bands will all be reunited. +Of course each of the trails will be obliterated +as much as possible. Some of them will lead over +rocky ground, where the hoof of a pony will +leave no imprint; others will come to an abrupt +termination on the bank of some stream; and +others still will end at a place where the prairie +has been burned over. When these war-parties<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[Pg 190]</a></span> +break up in the way I have described, a place of +meeting is always agreed on beforehand; and if +a scout understands his business he can tell pretty +nearly where that place is, for it is sure to be on +the straightest and most direct route to the agency +if the raiders belong to a 'friendly' tribe, or to +their principal village if they belong to a tribe +that is openly hostile. If these Kiowas take to +the Staked Plains, they will probably enter it +directly north of here, at its widest part. Then +this Mountain Mose, if he is the scout he pretends +to be, will leave their trail to take care of itself +and draw a bee-line for the nearest water; and it +will take thirty hours' rapid marching to reach it, +too."</p> + +<p>"How do you know? Have you ever been +there?"</p> + +<p>"No, but my herdsman Zeke has; and he has +described the course to be followed so minutely +that I can go there any day the sun shines or any +night when the stars shine."</p> + +<p>Bob did not say anything, but his friend noticed +that he looked a little incredulous.</p> + +<p>"It is not so difficult as it appears to be at first +glance," George hastened to say. "Why, when<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[Pg 191]</a></span> +a party of young Indians want to go into a strange +country for plunder and scalps, they gather around +some old warrior, who traces on the ground the direction +in which they must travel in order to reach +that country, describes all the water-courses and +locates the principal landmarks to be found along +the route; and with nothing but these verbal instructions +to guide them, these little rascals, some +of them not more than thirteen or fourteen years +of age, will make a journey of hundreds of miles +through a region that none of them have ever +visited before. My bump of locality is not so +large as an Indian's, but still I have a pretty good +memory, and I have travelled many a mile through +a strange country without going a step out of my +way."</p> + +<p>"What sort of a looking place is Staked Plains, +anyhow?" asked Bob. "I have heard so many terrible +stories told about it that I am almost afraid +of it. What gave it that name? Are there any +<i>stakes</i> there?"</p> + +<p>Bob was inclined to be facetious when he said +this, and consequently he was not a little astonished +to hear George say in reply,</p> + +<p>"There may not be any stakes there now, but<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[Pg 192]</a></span> +there used to be. It <i>is</i> a terrible place, and many +a wagon-train has left its bones there. It is big +enough to get lost in, for it lacks only about six +thousand square-miles of being as large as the State +of New York; and although it is not exactly a +desert, as we understand the word, it is a barren +waste, where nothing living permanently resides +on account of the great scarcity of water. A long +time ago the Mexican traders marked out a route +with stakes across the plain where they found a +few small fountains, and that was what gave it the +name it bears. Zeke says it is a perfect bake-oven. +There are no trees to shelter you, no grass for your +horses, no fuel to build a fire with, and an almost +unearthly silence broods over it. I am not superstitious, +but Zeke always speaks of it with a shudder, +and I tell you I don't want to see any place +that he is afraid of."</p> + +<p>The two friends continued to talk in this way +until Captain Clinton's cook came up and told +George that dinner was ready. They rested half +an hour after the meal was over, and then set out +again, Mountain Mose leading the way and Mr. +Wentworth, as before, riding by himself. As +George was a sort of supernumerary, he was under<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[Pg 193]</a></span> +little restraint, and consequently he rode where he +pleased—sometimes in company with the scout, +sometimes beside Captain Clinton, and then fell +back to exchange a few ideas with Bob. He did +not, however, waste much time with the scout. +The latter was talkative enough until he learned +that George held the same position that he did, +and then he froze up at once.</p> + +<p>"You're a pretty-looking scout, <i>you</i> be!" he exclaimed, +moving his eye over the boy's trim figure. +"Do you reckon you could tell the trail of +a Kiowa from the track of a coyote?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I reckon I could," answered George with +a smile. "But you need not be jealous of me, for +I shall not interfere with you in any way. I came +to the post to hunt Greasers, and not to trail Indians."</p> + +<p>"Oh, you did, eh? So you're the chap that's +goin' to show the boys the way acrost the Rio, be +you?"</p> + +<p>"I am," replied George.</p> + +<p>"Well, all I've got to say is, that them that +follers you is fools. I thought mebbe you was +agoin' to poke your nose into my business; and +that is something I won't put up with from no<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[Pg 194]</a></span>body. +If thar's anything I <i>do</i> understand, it's +Indians."</p> + +<p>This was true, but it sometimes happens that luck +is not on the side of those who know the most. +The scout would have given anything he possessed +if he had been fortunate enough to perform the exploit +that George assisted in performing before +two days more had passed over his head.</p> + +<p>Bob Owens did not fail to notice that there was +not the least semblance of a trail to be seen anywhere. +They had left it at the ruins of Mr. +Wentworth's rancho, and he waited with no little +impatience to see where they would pick it up +again. He found out about sunset, for at that +time the column reached the banks of a small +water-course, and there they struck the trail, which +was so broad and plain that it could be followed +at a gallop. George, in company with some of the +officers and the scout, spent a few minutes in looking +it over, and then rode back to report the result +of his observations to Bob Owens.</p> + +<p>"There are not many warriors in the party," +said he, "but they are so well supplied with horses +that they can have a fresh mount every day if +they want it."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[Pg 195]</a></span></p> + +<p>"How do you know that?" asked Bob.</p> + +<p>"Because I saw their tracks," replied George.</p> + +<p>"That's not explicit enough. I suppose you +did see the tracks of the horses, and so did I; but +how in the world is a fellow going to tell whether +or not those horses had riders on their backs? +<i>That's</i> something that can't be done."</p> + +<p>"Don't be too sure of that. Look here! Would +you believe it if I should tell you that those Indians +passed along here after daylight on Thursday +morning?"</p> + +<p>"No, I wouldn't," replied Bob bluntly. He +could not, for the life of him, understand how +anybody could draw such conclusions as these by +simply looking at the print of a pony's hoofs in +the grass; and if he had not been so well acquainted +with George he would have inclined to the belief +that his friend was "spreading it on" in order +to make himself out a wonderful trailer. "I can't +make head or tail of this business, and I don't +believe you can, either; that is, I mean I don't +see how you can."</p> + +<p>"Well, listen while I explain," said George +good-naturedly. "In the first place, I noticed, +while we were passing through that belt of post-<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[Pg 196]</a></span>oaks +back there, that some of the horses left a very +devious trail, passing through thick bushes and under +trees whose branches were so low that they would +have swept a rider out of his saddle if he had not +been on the alert to avoid them. Those horses were +all loose."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps not," exclaimed Bob. "The Indians +might have passed through there when it was too +dark to see where they were going."</p> + +<p>"I know they might, but they didn't, as I shall +presently show you. The horses which made those +crooked trails were not mustangs. They were +American horses, and their presence proves another +thing that I didn't think to speak of before; and +that is, that the Indians raided other ranches besides +Mr. Wentworth's. How do I know that they +were American horses? Because their tracks were +larger than a pony's, and some of them were shod. +The tracks made by the mustangs led through the +open part of the timber, where there were no bushes +and low branches; and this is one proof that the Indians +did not pass through there in the night-time. +If they had, they could not have kept in such open +ground. I found further proof that these mustangs +were all mounted by noticing that they did not stop<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[Pg 197]</a></span> +to graze, as the loose horses did, being kept in constant +motion by their riders. What do you think +now?" asked George, seeing that Bob began to open +his eyes.</p> + +<p>"It reads like a book, don't it?" was Bob's reply. +"But you have forgotten one very important thing. +You said that the Indians passed through those post-oaks +early on Thursday morning. How do you know +that they didn't pass late on Thursday afternoon or +early on Friday morning?"</p> + +<p>"You think you have got me there, don't you? +Well, you haven't. If there are 'sermons in stones +and books in running brooks,' as the poet tells us +there are, what is the reason that the print of an Indian +pony's hoof may not contain a page of information +that will prove to be useful to him who has +the skill to read it? On Wednesday night there was +a very heavy dew, if you remember."</p> + +<p>"I don't remember," replied Bob; "I never pay +any attention to such things."</p> + +<p>"But you must pay attention to such things, and +a good deal of it too, if you are going to be a Plainsman. +During the last two nights there has been no +dew at all. I noticed that some blades of grass, +which had been pressed down by the hoofs of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[Pg 198]</a></span> +horses and cattle, were covered with sand which +stuck fast to them, having been dried on. This +told me that the tracks were made while the grass +was wet, and that the Indians had passed that way +early on Thursday morning, or before the sun had +risen high enough to dry off the dew. There were +not more than fifteen or twenty of them. I didn't +have time to see just how many, but they have +stolen over a thousand head of steers and horses. +Now, remember all I have told you, and see if I +haven't made a pretty good guess."</p> + +<p>"Do you think we shall catch them?" asked +Bob.</p> + +<p>"Well," answered George slowly, "raiding Indians +<i>have</i> been overtaken and neatly whipped before +now, but I have always believed that it was +more by good luck than good management. These +fellows will begin to show their tactics as soon as +they find out that they are pursued. Then they +will probably leave behind a few of the best mounted +of the band to attract our attention and lead us +away from the others, who will make all haste to +take the prisoners and the stolon stock to a place +of safety. If we bite at that bait, we shall lose +everything, for as soon as the decoys have led us<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[Pg 199]</a></span> +as far out of our way as they care to have us go, +they will disappear all of a sudden, and we shall +never see them again. If we keep on after the +main body, and travel fast enough to gain on them, +they will drop the stock in the desert, break up into +squads of twos and threes, and we shall have nothing +to do but to turn about and go home again."</p> + +<p>The Indians did manoeuvre pretty nearly as George +said they would, but Captain Clinton and his scouting-party +did not go back to the fort until they +had accomplished something.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X"></a>CHAPTER X.</h2> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[Pg 200]</a></span></p> +<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">TOP</a></span> +<h3>HOW GEORGE SAVED THE CAMP.</h3> + + +<p>The troopers went into camp about midnight, +having been nineteen hours in the saddle, +during which time they had marched more than +seventy miles. They halted on the bank of a +small stream near a ford over which the Indians +had passed during their retreat. The trail was +plain, and some of the troopers, who did not know +quite as much about trailing as they thought they +did, declared that they were close upon the heels +of the raiders.</p> + +<p>"How is that, George?" asked Bob Owens, who +had been detailed as one of the corporals of the +guard. "Some of the boys say that if we should +follow the Indians for an hour or two longer we +would be within sight of their camp-fires."</p> + +<p>"What makes them think so?" asked George.</p> + +<p>"Because they have found tracks with the sand<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[Pg 201]</a></span> +still running into them. Is that one of the signs +by which to tell the age of a trail?"</p> + +<p>"Under some circumstances, yes; in the present +case, no. You could tell the age of a trail in that +way if the ground around it had not been disturbed. +This country about here is all quicksand, and +you can take your stand almost anywhere along the +banks of this stream, and by jumping up and down +shake the ground for ten feet on all sides of you. +When our heavy column crossed the ford and +climbed this bank, it shook the earth, and that +was what set the sand to running down into the +tracks."</p> + +<p>"I declare!" exclaimed Bob, gazing admiringly +at his friend; "is there anything a trailer isn't +obliged to know?"</p> + +<p>"If he wants to be an expert he must keep his +eyes and ears wide open, and pay strict attention +to little things which almost anybody else would +consider to be beneath his notice. It is wonderful +what proficiency a person who has a talent for such +things can acquire by practice. For example, this +scout of ours could learn more about a trail in two +minutes than I could in an hour. But he is fearfully +jealous," added George with a laugh, "and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[Pg 202]</a></span> +you ought to have seen how mad I made him while +we were passing through that belt of post-oaks this +afternoon. Seeing that Captain Clinton was waiting +very impatiently for information, I volunteered +the statement that the hostiles had passed that way +early on Thursday morning, and that Mr. Wentworth +was not the only one who had suffered at +their hands. The captain asked Mose what he +thought of that, and Mose replied, 'I think jest +this here, cap: if that kid is agoin' to lead this +yere party he had better say so, an' I will go back +to the post. He's a'most too fresh, an' he'd better +go back in the woods an' practise at holdin' his +chin.' But he did not contradict my statement, +and that was all the evidence I needed to prove +that I was right in what I said. The tracks here +on the bank are not as fresh as you suppose. If +they were wet, it would be a sign that the Indians +crossed the ford since three o'clock this +afternoon."</p> + +<p>"Why since three o'clock?" asked Bob.</p> + +<p>"Because the sun went under a cloud at that +hour, and hasn't showed himself since to dry off +the water that the horses and cattle brought out +of the stream on their feet and legs."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[Pg 203]</a></span></p> + +<p>While the two boys were talking in this way +George was getting ready to go to bed. The camp +was located at the foot of a perpendicular bluff +which was perhaps twenty feet in height. On the +top of this bluff the horses were picketed, and beyond +them were the sentinels who were to look out +for the safety of the animals and keep guard over +their slumbering companions. Everything outside +of the circle of light made by the camp-fires was +concealed by the most intense darkness. Not even +a star twinkled in the sky. George spread his +blankets in a sheltered nook at the foot of the +bluff and courted the "drowsy god" in vain. +He was tired and his eyes were heavy, but he +could not go to sleep. After rolling and tossing +about for nearly two hours, he became too nervous +to remain inactive any longer, so he slung his rifle +on his back and climbed to the top of the bluff, +where he found Bob Owens and two other non-commissioned +officers sitting beside a fire and conversing +in low tones. At another fire a short distance +away sat Lieutenant Earle, the officer of the +guard, nodding over his pipe.</p> + +<p>"Hallo!" exclaimed Bob, "what brought you +out here?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[Pg 204]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh, I want somebody to talk to," replied +George, throwing himself on the ground by his +friend's side, "Somehow, I can't sleep, and that's +a new thing for me."</p> + +<p>"You are not afraid of the hostiles, are you?" +asked a corporal from the other side of the fire.</p> + +<p>"Oh no, because I know that we have nothing to +fear from them on such a night as this. If there +were any hostiles in the neighborhood, they might +slip up and steal a few horses, if they thought they +could get away with their booty, but they wouldn't +attack a party of the size of ours and bring on an +open fight. It is too dark."</p> + +<p>"Why, that is just the reason they <i>would</i> attack +us," exclaimed the corporal, who, although he had +often been on a scout, had never participated in a +battle. "They rely upon the darkness to cover +their movements and to assist them in effecting a +surprise. I have read it a hundred times."</p> + +<p>"Ah, yes," replied George—"story-book Indians +make attacks at all hours of the day and night, but +live Plains Indians don't. The reason for it is +this: They believe that they will go into the happy +hunting-grounds with just the same surroundings +that attend their departure from this world.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[Pg 205]</a></span> +If an Indian is crippled or blind or ill, he will be +just the same Indian in the spirit-land. If he +dies from the effects of disease, he will suffer from +that disease for ever; but if he is killed in battle +on a pleasant day, and while he is in the possession +of all his strength and faculties, he will go straight +to the Indian's heaven under the most favorable +circumstances."</p> + +<p>"Suppose he is killed on a rainy day?" said the +corporal on the other side of the fire.</p> + +<p>"Or a snowy one?" chimed in a sergeant.</p> + +<p>"Then he is doomed to paddle through rain or +snow through all eternity," replied George; "and +that he doesn't like either is proved by the fact +that he will not stir out of camp while it is raining +or snowing if he can help it. If an Indian is hanged, +like Captain Jack or those thirty-seven warriors +who were executed at Mankato in 1863 for participation +in the Sioux massacre, he loses all chance +of ever seeing the happy hunting-grounds. So he +does if he is scalped; and that's the reason Indians +make such efforts to carry off the body of a fallen +comrade. A Plains Indian never willingly goes +into a fight during the night. If he did, he would +make it much warmer for us here on the frontier<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[Pg 206]</a></span> +than he does now. He may make use of a night +like this to get into position for an attack, but if +left to himself he will not raise the war-whoop before +daylight, because he believes that if he is killed +during the dark he will be condemned to pass +all eternity in darkness."</p> + +<p>"Well, that is something I never knew before," +said the corporal, "and I have been on the Plains +a good many years. Now that I think of it—"</p> + +<p>"Corporal of the guard, No. 7!" came the call +through the dense darkness, whereupon Bob Owens +jumped to his feet.</p> + +<p>"What's the trouble out there, I wonder?" +said he.</p> + +<p>"Go and see," replied the sergeant with a sleepy +yawn: "that's the only way to find out."</p> + +<p>"Sergeant," said the officer of the guard, "if +those horses have had grass enough, have them +brought in and tied to the stable-lines. Look well +to their fastenings."</p> + +<p>"Corporal of the guard, No. 7!" came the call +again; and this time it was uttered in a louder and +more earnest tone.</p> + +<p>Bob, who was walking toward post No. 7 with +a very deliberate step, now broke into a run, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[Pg 207]</a></span> +George jumped up and followed him. A fortunate +thing it was for that camp and its inmates that he +did so. His thorough acquaintance with the ways +of some of the inhabitants of the Plains enabled +him to prevent a catastrophe which would certainly +have resulted in a serious loss of life, and brought +Captain Clinton's scout to an inglorious end then +and there. When he and the corporal reached post +No. 7 they found the sentry on duty there lying +flat on his stomach and gazing earnestly toward +the horizon.</p> + +<p>"What's the matter, Sprague?" demanded Bob.</p> + +<p>"I don't know, I am sure," replied the sentry. +"If the hostiles had made up their minds to pay +us a visit, they wouldn't make such a racket as that, +would they? There! don't you hear it? Something's +coming this way, I tell you, and coming on +a keen jump, too."</p> + +<p>The three held their breath and listened intently. +A second later the breeze brought to their ears the +sound that had attracted the attention of the sentry—a +deep, rumbling sound, faint and far off, but increasing +perceptibly in volume. It resembled the +constant muttering of distant thunder, but they all +knew it was not that. Bob's face brightened at once,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[Pg 208]</a></span> +but George's grew pale. The corporal did not know +the danger that threatened them, but his companion +did; he had heard something like it before. He +had heard it on the night that Fletcher and his band +of raiders stampeded his stock, and he had thrown +himself into an old buffalo-wallow and allowed +three hundred frantic cattle to gallop over his +head.</p> + +<p>"Why, it must be cavalry from Fort Tyler," +said Bob at length.—"But I'll tell you what's a +fact, boys," he added, as a fresh gust of wind +brought the sound more plainly to his ears: "there +must be lots of them, for I never heard such a roar +of hoofs before. They are coming this way, too. +I hope they'll not run over us."</p> + +<p>"Well, they <i>will</i> run over us," said George, +speaking quickly but calmly, "unless you take +immediate steps to prevent it. They are not +cavalry; they are buffaloes."</p> + +<p>"Oh! ah!" exclaimed Bob.</p> + +<p>"Humph!" ejaculated the sentry, jumping to +his feet.—"Don't tell the boys what I called you +out for, will you, corporal? To tell the truth, I +was just a little bit—"</p> + +<p>He finished the sentence by shrugging his shoul<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[Pg 209]</a></span>ders, +and Bob, who knew what he meant by that, +was about to assure him that he would say nothing +in the hearing of the "boys" that would enable +them to "get the laugh" on him, when George +Ackerman broke in with—</p> + +<p>"You had good reason to be alarmed, and this +is not a matter to be dropped with an 'ah!' and an +'oh!' and a 'humph!' You are in great danger, +if you only knew it. Those buffaloes are stampeded, +and will not stop until they are all out of +breath."</p> + +<p>"Well, if they don't want to stop, let them run," +said Bob. "Who cares? They don't owe us anything. +They will of course turn aside when they +see us."</p> + +<p>"But they will not see you unless you do something +to attract their attention," exclaimed George +impatiently. "They will be in among us in five +minutes more, and men and horses will be trampled +into the ground like blades of grass. Wake up and +do something, can't you? The safety of the camp +depends upon you, and if you don't move, I will."</p> + +<p>"Great Moses!" ejaculated Bob. He was thoroughly +aroused by the earnest words of his companion, +but having never been placed in a situation<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[Pg 210]</a></span> +like this before, he did not know how to act. "You +don't mean that—I never heard of—"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I do mean that they will trample the whole +camp to death unless you prevent it; and I don't +care whether you ever heard of such a thing being +done or not," cried George, seizing the corporal by +the arm and shaking him as if he wanted to put +a little energy into him.</p> + +<p>"But what shall I do? Shall I order up the +reserve and get the horses out of the way?"</p> + +<p>"You haven't got time to get them out of the +way. The buffaloes will be upon us before you +could take half a dozen of them to a place of safety. +Arouse the camp the first thing, and then call +up a few good men to go out and split the herd the +moment it comes in sight."</p> + +<p>Bob, who was still in the dark, was about to ask +how he should go to work to "split" the herd after +he had selected the men, but George did not give +him the opportunity. The rumbling of the approaching +hoofs grew louder and louder, and every +moment was precious. It sounded before them and +to the right and left of them, indicating that the +herd was an immense one, and that it was advancing +with a front broad enough to overwhelm the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[Pg 211]</a></span> +entire camp. Knowing that no more time could +be wasted in debating the matter, George unslung +his Winchester and fired two shots into the air. +The effect was almost magical. The camp, which +had been so quiet a second before, was aroused into +instant life and activity. Loud cries of "Indians!" +and " Fall in!" arose on the still air, followed by +blasts from the bugle and stern notes of command. +The officer of the guard was promptly on the ground, +and to him Bob reported that a herd of stampeded +buffaloes was bearing down upon them. The announcement +startled the lieutenant, but he acted with +the greatest coolness. As fast as the men came up +he ordered them back to take care of the horses—all +except a dozen or so of the best soldiers known +to him, whom he ordered to follow him. By the +time he had taken up his position, which was on a +little rise of ground about fifty yards from post No. +7, Captain Clinton came up. Taking in at a glance +the arrangements which his subordinate had made +to avert the terrible danger that threatened the camp, +he left him and his picked men to carry out those +arrangements or perish in the attempt, while he +hastened back to see that the horses were well +secured.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[Pg 212]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Steady!" commanded Lieutenant Earle, speaking +in his loudest tones, in order to make his voice +heard above the roar of the threatening hoofs, which +sounded like the noise made by an approaching +hurricane. "We are here to conquer or die. If +we don't split that herd they will trample us out +of sight in the ground. We can do it if we are +only cool enough to hold our position. Don't fire +until I give the word, and then put in the shots +as rapidly as you know how."</p> + +<p>Bob's hair fairly stood on end, and not even the +calm bearing of George Ackerman, who was constantly +by his side and who knew their danger better +than he did, or the lieutenant's assurance that +the herd could be split if they did their full duty, +could relieve Bob's mind of the positive conviction +that he and his comrades were doomed to certain +and speedy death. But his courage never faltered, +and to show that he did not intend to allow himself +to be outdone in steadiness even by a shoulder-strap, +he walked up and kneeling beside his officer +(the men in the front rank were all kneeling, so +that those in the rear rank could shoot over their +heads) waited for the order to fire.</p> + +<p>Nearer came the terror-stricken buffaloes, louder<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[Pg 213]</a></span> +grew the thunder of their hoofs, and, as if to add +to the horror of the situation and to test the courage +of the lieutenant and his devoted little band to +the very utmost, the horses behind them began to +grow unmanageable from fright and to struggle +desperately to escape from their fastenings.</p> + +<p>At length, after a few moments of dreadful suspense, +the time for action arrived. A rapidly-moving +mass, which was plainly visible, owing to +the fact that it was blacker than the darkness of +the night, burst into view and bore down upon the +camp and its little band of defenders. So loud +was the noise made by their hoofs at this moment +that the troopers did not hear the order to fire, +which the lieutenant shouted out with all the power +of his lungs; but they saw the flash of his revolver, +and lost no time in opening a hot fire upon +that portion of the herd which was directly in +front of them. To Bob it seemed that the rapid +discharges of their breech-loaders had no effect +whatever. The black mass before him was as +black and as dense, apparently, as it was when he +first saw it, but, strange to say, instead of plunging +upon him and his companions and trampling +them out of all semblance to humanity, it seemed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[Pg 214]</a></span> +to remain stationary, although the deafening roar of +those countless hoofs told him that the frantic herd +had not in the least slackened its pace. In fact, +his eyes and ears seemed to have suddenly become +at "outs," for they did not endorse each other as +they usually did. His eyes told him that his carbine +was fired rapidly, for they showed him the +flashes that followed the pulling of the trigger; +but his ears took no note of the fact, for he could +not hear the faintest report. The reason for this +was, that the herd, having been split in two by the +first volley, was moving by on each side of them +with a roar and a rush that would have drowned +the discharge of a section of artillery.</p> + +<p>How long the buffaloes were in passing Bob +never knew, for he took no note of time. It was +probably not more than two or three minutes, but +during that brief period he passed through an ordeal +that he never could think of afterward without +feeling the cold chills creep all over him. But +he did not flinch, and neither did his companions. +When the last of the buffaloes passed to the right +and left of them, and the lieutenant jumped up +and stretched his arms and legs as if to assure +himself that he had not been stepped on anywhere,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[Pg 215]</a></span> +he found that not one of his men had moved from +his place. The front rank was still kneeling, the +rear rank was standing, and they were both as well +aligned as they were before the firing commenced.</p> + +<p>After ordering the front rank to rise, and bestowing +upon them all a few hearty words of commendation, +the lieutenant marched his men back to +the camp, where they found some of their companions +under arms, and the rest engaged in bringing +in the horses and making them fast to the stable-lines. +The animals were in such a state of alarm, +and showed so strong a desire to run off with the +retreating buffaloes, that Captain Clinton thought +it advisable to put a strong guard over them for +the rest of the night, with instructions to examine +their fastenings every few minutes. When this +guard had been detailed and the sentries had been +changed, the rest of the troopers went back to +their blankets.</p> + +<p>Bob and George were proud of the part they had +acted in saving the camp from destruction, and consequently +when they spread their blankets beside +one of the fires they were somewhat provoked to +hear the man who was piling fresh fuel upon it +attribute their narrow escape to "luck." But still<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[Pg 216]</a></span> +there was nothing very surprising in this, for it not +infrequently happens that a soldier stationed in one +end of a camp does not know what is going on in +the other end of it, especially in times of excitement. +The same thing happens in a fight. A +soldier may be able to give a clear statement of the +part his company took in it, but he knows nothing +of the general plan of the battle or of the number +of the killed, wounded, captured or missing, until +he has had time to talk the matter over with his +comrades or to read a published account of it. +During the war it was a common saying among +the soldiers in the field that they never knew anything +about the fights they had been in until they +saw the papers.</p> + +<p>"I have been on the Plains nearly three years," +said the trooper who was punching up the fire, "and +that was the first time I ever saw a herd of stampeded +buffaloes."</p> + +<p>"I never saw one," said another trooper. "I +heard this one, but my horse kept me so busy that +I couldn't take time to look at it."</p> + +<p>"I had a fair view of it," said the one who had +first spoken. "My horse was quiet enough after +I got the bit between his teeth, so that I could<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[Pg 217]</a></span> +manage him, and I stood up there by that farther +fire and took it all in. I tell you, it was a sight!—a +regular cataract of buffaloes a hundred feet wide, +tumbling over a bank twenty feet high. I have +always heard that when buffaloes become frightened +and get to running they turn aside for nothing; but +this night's experience gives the lie to all such +stories, don't it? When they saw our camp they +turned to the right and left, and crossed the stream +above and below us, and never did us the least +damage. Luck was on our side, wasn't it?"</p> + +<p>"'Luck'!" repeated Bob in a tone of disgust; +"I guess not. There were about a dozen men, of +whom George Ackerman and I made two, who +stood between you fellows and certain death. If +we hadn't held our ground as if we had grown +there, there wouldn't have been one of you left +to tell the story of this night's work."</p> + +<p>The troopers lying about the fire were greatly +astonished at these words, and called for an immediate +explanation. Bob told the story in a few +words, adding, as he directed the attention of his +auditors to George Ackerman, who was lying at +his ease on his blanket,</p> + +<p>"There's the fellow you have to thank for your<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[Pg 218]</a></span> +'luck.' Sprague heard them coming, and so did +I after he called me out to his post, but we didn't +know what it was until Ackerman told us. He was +the one who alarmed the camp. I know I did something +toward splitting that herd, for I could see the +fire come out of my carbine and my cartridge-box +is empty, but I never heard a report. I didn't hear +anything but the thunder of those hoofs, and I shall +hear it to my dying day."</p> + +<p>"I wonder what started them?" said one of the +troopers, after he and his companions had asked a +few questions concerning the behavior of the various +members of the squad. "Indians?"</p> + +<p>"Probably they did," answered a sergeant, who +just then came up to the fire to light his pipe, +being unable to go to sleep until he had taken a +smoke to quiet his nerves.</p> + +<p>"Probably the Indians had nothing to do with +it," said George. "Don't you know that a herd of +buffaloes will feed within a mile or two of an Indian +camp for days at a time, while half a dozen white +men would scare them out of the country in less +than an hour? Well, it's a fact."</p> + +<p>"What is the reason for it?" asked Bob.</p> + +<p>"The reason is to be found in the different modes<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[Pg 219]</a></span> +of hunting them. The Indian, who depends largely +upon them for food and clothing, kills no more +of them during a run than the squaws can take care +of. He hunts them almost altogether with the bow +and arrow, which are not only very effective weapons +at short range, but they make no noise to scare +away the game. He hunts according to long-established +rules, none but the best men in the tribe being +permitted to take part in a run, and in this way the +game is secured before the buffaloes get frightened +enough to break into a stampede. The white man, +who hunts principally for profit, keeps up the killing +as long as he can hold the herd within range of +his gun. He follows them persistently during the +daytime, and at night lies in wait to shoot them as +they come to the streams to quench their thirst. A +buffalo is a very stupid animal, but, after all, it +doesn't take him long to get some things through +his head."</p> + +<p>"Fresh, purty <i>fresh</i>!" murmured a voice.</p> + +<p>George looked over his shoulders and saw the +scout lying close by on his blanket. He had come +up to the fire and arranged his bed without attracting +the attention of any one.</p> + +<p>"Do you think there is nobody in this party<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[Pg 220]</a></span> +who knows anything except yourself?" demanded +George.</p> + +<p>"Well, no; judgin' by the way you sling your +chin, you know it all," replied the scout.</p> + +<p>"What do you suppose first put this herd in +motion?" asked one of the troopers, who had not +yet gained all the information he wanted.</p> + +<p>"That's a question that nobody can answer unless +he was on the ground and saw them start," answered +George.—"You'll not dispute that, will you, +Mose?—Our Texas cattle will often get stampeded +by the sight of a little cloud of dust that is suddenly +raised by the wind; or some night a careless +herdsman may step between them and the fire and +throw his shadow upon them; or some of the young +and foolish members of a drove will fall to skylarking, +and that will frighten the others, and the first +thing you know they are all off like the wind. +Buffaloes have just as little sense. My herdsman +has told me that he has seen hundreds of them, +when they were suffering for water, walk into a +stream that was literally choked with the bodies +of their companions who had been caught in the +quicksand."</p> + +<p>"Say," growled a drowsy trooper from his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[Pg 221]</a></span> +blanket, "suppose you boys go somewhere and +hire a hall?"</p> + +<p>George laughed, and, taking the hint thus delicately +thrown out, brought his lecture on buffaloes +to a close. The remembrance of the thrilling +scene through which he had just passed did not +keep him awake. On the contrary, sleep came to +his eyes almost immediately, and the last sound he +heard as he was about to pass into the land of +dreams was the subdued voice of the scout murmuring, +"Fresh, very fresh!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI"></a>CHAPTER XI.</h2> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[Pg 222]</a></span></p> +<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">TOP</a></span> +<h3>TELEGRAPHING BY SMOKES.</h3> + + +<p>The camp was aroused at an early hour the +next morning, and by the time it was fairly +daylight breakfast had been disposed of and the +column was again in motion. The firing-squad +had brought down a goodly number of buffaloes +in their efforts to split the herd—enough to furnish +the whole camp with a hearty meal and to enable +each trooper to carry two days' cooked rations in +his haversack. During the first few miles of their +march there was no trail for them to follow, all +traces of the thieving Kiowas having been obliterated +by the hoofs of the stampeded buffaloes; but +this did not interfere with the movements of the +scout, who, from the start, led the way at a rapid +pace. He knew the general direction in which the +trail led, and that was enough for him.</p> + +<p>"Where do you think we shall pick it up<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[Pg 223]</a></span> +again?" asked Captain Clinton of George, who +rode by his side.</p> + +<p>"Do you see that butte?" asked George in reply, +directing the officer's attention to a single high +peak in the distance, which marked the south-eastern +boundary of the dreaded Staked Plains. "We +shall not see another drop of water until we reach +that mountain, and we shall find some traces of the +Indians there, if we do not find them before."</p> + +<p>"Purty fresh!" exclaimed the scout, who had +overheard every word of this conversation.</p> + +<p>"Well, if you know better, why don't you say +so?" demanded George. "Every prediction I have +made so far has turned out to be correct. Now, +see how far I miss it when I tell you that the Indians +camped beside that butte last night."</p> + +<p>"Then we are gaining on them?" said the +captain.</p> + +<p>"We are," was the boy's confident reply. "And +for the reason that we have followed a direct course +and ridden rapidly, while the Indians took a roundabout +way and moved slowly, being hampered by +their stolen cattle."</p> + +<p>George's calculations proved to be correct. About +three o'clock in the afternoon they again took up the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[Pg 224]</a></span> +trail, and followed it at a gallop. They reached the +peak just before dark, and found abundant evidence +that the Indians had recently camped there. The +troopers halted here too to get a little rest and a +wink of sleep, but at nine o'clock they were once +more on the move. The next halt was made about +two in the morning, and at daylight they were again +in their saddles and riding ahead as rapidly as ever. +The trail led them along the borders of the Staked +Plains, giving some of the troopers, who had never +before scouted so far in this direction, their first view +of that desolate region. A gloomy-looking place it +was. As far as their eyes could reach they could +see nothing but sandhills, with stunted weeds and +clumps of grass which seemed to be struggling +hard to maintain a foothold in the arid soil.</p> + +<p>They had marched perhaps ten miles from +their last camp when George Ackerman, who was +riding by Captain Clinton's side, discovered something. +He looked at it for a moment, and then +called the officer's attention to it.</p> + +<p>"They have begun their tricks at last," said he. +"Do you see that dark streak out there in the grass? +That's a new trail. There! Mose has discovered it, +and is going out to see what it looks like."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[Pg 225]</a></span></p> + +<p>Bringing the column to a halt, the captain, accompanied +by George and some of the officers, rode +forward to the place where the scout, who had got +down from his horse, stood bending over the trail. +After he had taken plenty of time in which to make +his investigations, he straightened up to announce +the result.</p> + +<p>"Four of them varmints has gone this way, cap," +said he. "They've left a plain trail, on purpose to +coax you to foller 'em."</p> + +<p>"They shall be gratified," answered the captain +promptly. "As my party is larger than theirs, I +can stand more divisions than they can. I would +as soon whip them in detail as to whip them in a +lump.—Earle, take a dozen men from your troop +and follow it up."</p> + +<p>"Very good, sir," replied the lieutenant.</p> + +<p>"Have you brought your signal-code with you? +All right! If you discover anything startling, send +a courier to me with the fullest details. I will follow +along after the main body. Be cautious, but +at the same time keep moving, for we ought to be +within striking distance of those rascals in a few +hours more."</p> + +<p>The lieutenant saluted and rode back to the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[Pg 226]</a></span> +column, drawing his sword as he went. Dropping +the weapon behind the third column of fours, he +gave the order. "The first three fours, right by +twos—march! Column left—march!"</p> + +<p>This brought the selected twelve alongside the +new trail, which they at once began to follow up +at a gallop, waving their caps to their comrades as +they rode away. By selecting his men in this way +the lieutenant did not happen to take Bob Owens, +who rode farther back in the column. The young +soldier, who was not in the habit of being slighted +when there was anything of this kind going on, was +both surprised and provoked at his officer; but he +afterward thanked him for choosing his men as he +did, and congratulated himself on having been left +behind. Mr. Wentworth gazed longingly after the +lieutenant, and sometimes seemed on the point of +riding in pursuit of him; but he finally made up +his mind to stay with the main column.</p> + +<p>The troopers presently resumed the march, keeping +up the same rapid pace as before, and in a few +minutes lost sight of Lieutenant Earle and his party, +who disappeared among the sandhills. The latter +must have ridden very swiftly, for shortly after +noon they were a long distance from the main<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[Pg 227]</a></span> +body, their position being pointed out by a slender +column of white smoke that suddenly arose in the +air.</p> + +<p>"That's them varmints, cap," said the scout, +whose eye was quick to detect the signal. "They're +talkin' to each other."</p> + +<p>"I know there is somebody where that smoke +comes from, but I am not sure that they are hostiles," +replied Captain Clinton. "On the contrary, +I am of the opinion that the men who built that +fire want to talk to <i>me</i>. At any rate, I shall soon +know."</p> + +<p>As the captain said this he pulled his watch from +his pocket with one hand, and with the other produced +a note-book, which he held ready for reference. +The column was not halted, but the eye of +every man in it was fastened upon the distant smoke. +When it had ascended to such a height that its top +seemed lost in the clouds, it was suddenly cut loose +from the ground by some mysterious agency, and +floated off into space. A few seconds passed, and +then two balloon-shaped clouds arose in quick succession +from the same spot, and George took note +of the fact that when the last one arose the captain +looked at his watch. Another short interval elapsed,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[Pg 228]</a></span> +and then two more clouds arose, and finally two +more; whereupon the captain gave his knee a ringing +slap and consulted his note-book.</p> + +<p>"I knew I couldn't be mistaken," said he. +"That's from Earle, and he is about to communicate +with me by courier.—Push ahead now, scout, +for he is on a hot trail. Hallo! have you found +another?" he added as the scout, instead of obeying +the order to "push ahead," suddenly drew up +his horse and threw himself from his saddle. +"How many have gone off this time?"</p> + +<p>"The same number," answered the scout, "an' +they were goin' somewhar too, for their ponies +were movin' at full jump when they turned off +here. They're up to some trick or another, but I +can't tell yet what it is."</p> + +<p>"Then we must find out, for it is our business +to look into these little things. I should like to +know where this trail leads to, and I want—Let +me see."</p> + +<p>The captain turned about and ran his eye over +the column, which came to a halt as soon as the +commanding officer was seen to stop his horse. He +seemed to be in a quandary, out of which he was +helped almost immediately by the sight of a sol<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[Pg 229]</a></span>dierly +figure upon which his gaze rested for a +moment.</p> + +<p>"He's the man I want," said the captain aloud.—"Ackerman, +will you tell Lieutenant Smith, who +is now in command of Earle's troop, that I want +to see Corporal Owens?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly, sir. May I go with him?" replied +George, who knew in a moment that there was +something in the wind.</p> + +<p>The captain nodded assent, and George galloped +back to the column. When he returned Bob +Owens rode at his side. The captain was writing—copying +something upon a piece of paper +from his note-book—but he stopped long enough +to return Bob's salute, although he did not say anything +to him. Seeing that the officer's horse was +growing restive at the delay, and that by his constant +pawing and tossing of his head he disturbed +his rider, who did his writing while seated in the +saddle, Bob dismounted and took the animal by +the bridle, and the troopers who remained in column +seized the opportunity to fill and light their +pipes.</p> + +<p>"There!" said the captain at length.—"Step up +here, corporal, and I will explain this to you.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[Pg 230]</a></span>—Ackerman, +tell Lieutenant Smith to pick out +twelve good men to follow this new trail."</p> + +<p>By the time the lieutenant had received and +obeyed this order, Captain Clinton, who was a fast +talker, had told the corporal just what he wanted +him to do, and explained to him the contents of +the paper he had copied from his note-book; and +Bob, who was quick to comprehend, had caught and +weighed all his words as fast as they were uttered. +He then put himself at the head of his men and +led them away, George Ackerman riding by his +side.</p> + +<p>"Now we are off for another lark," exclaimed +Carey as soon as he and his companions had +left the column out of hearing. By some chance, +he and Loring and Phillips had been selected to +accompany Bob on every one of his expeditions, +and as they had never failed to accomplish the +object for which they were sent out, they began to +think that there was nothing too hard for them to +undertake.</p> + +<p>"But this may not be so much of a 'lark' as +you think," said Bob; and Carey afterward recalled +the words when he found himself debarred +from accompanying other scouting-parties on ac<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[Pg 231]</a></span>count +of a painful wound in his sword-arm. "We +are not out after deserters now, but Indians."</p> + +<p>"What are you going to do with them if you +find them?" asked Loring.</p> + +<p>"I shall make things as lively for them as I +can," replied Bob. "But I don't think I shall +come up with them; and the captain doesn't expect +me to. He is going to follow every trail and force +the Indians to go back to their agency, whether +they want to go or not; that is, unless we can +overhaul them before they get there."</p> + +<p>"I <i>know</i> we are not out on a 'lark,'" said +George Ackerman. "What would you say if we +had to go into camp to-night without water?"</p> + +<p>"Gracious!" exclaimed Phillips, looking around +at the sandhills, which now shut them in on all +sides. "The prospect of finding a stream or a +spring is not very flattering, is it? I wish we +could find one now, for the water in my canteen +is just ready to boil."</p> + +<p>"You had better be careful of it," said George, +"for it is much better than none at all."</p> + +<p>"Is there any water to be found in this country?"</p> + +<p>"Oh yes; and this trail will take us to it by the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[Pg 232]</a></span> +shortest route. An Indian can't live without water +any more than we can, and he knows just where +to find it."</p> + +<p>"Say, George," exclaimed Bob suddenly, "didn't +I hear Mose say that when the four horses that made +this trail turned off the <i>big</i> trail, they were going at +full speed?"</p> + +<p>George replied that he did say so.</p> + +<p>"How did he know it?" continued Bob.</p> + +<p>"By the looks of the tracks and the distance between +them. When a horse is walking his hind foot +covers about half the print made by his fore foot, +and the tracks are from two and a half to three feet +apart. When the horse is trotting the tracks are not +so distinct, the one made by the fore foot being nearly +covered up, and they are from seven to eight feet +apart. When he is running the print of only one +foot can be seen, as a general thing the ground about +the tracks is considerably disturbed, and they are +from seven to twelve feet apart."</p> + +<p>If Carey and the rest of the squad did not learn +to their entire satisfaction that they were not out on +a picnic this time, the horses on which they were +mounted certainly did, for before an hour had passed +they were very much in need of water—so much<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[Pg 233]</a></span> +so that Bob brought them down to a trot, and at last +to a walk. At the end of another hour their riders +began to suffer in the same way, and it was not long +before every drop in their canteens, warm as it was, +had disappeared. Whether it was the parched appearance +of things around them; or the effects of +the wind, which came into their faces as hot as a +blast from a furnace; or the reflection of the sun's +rays from the sandhills around them; or the sand +itself, which arose in the air when disturbed by their +horses' hoofs, and settled in their mouths and nostrils,—whether +it was one or all of these causes combined +that made them so very thirsty they did not +think to inquire, but certain it was that they would +have welcomed the discovery of a water-course more +heartily now than at any other time during their +march. Just how long this state of affairs was to +continue they did not know, for there was not one +among them who could tell whether water was five +or twenty miles off. The only thing they could do +was to follow the trail and await the issue of events +with all the patience they could command.</p> + +<p>After they had been separated from the main +column for about three hours, two incidents happened +which served to relieve the monotony of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[Pg 234]</a></span> +march, and caused them, for the time being, to forget +how uncomfortably hot and dusty and thirsty +they were. As they were riding silently along behind +George Ackerman, whose fast-walking nag had +carried him some distance in advance of the squad, +they saw him draw rein all of a sudden and raise +his hand with a warning gesture. Then he backed +his horse under cover of a convenient sandhill, and +pulling his field-glass from the case he carried slung +over his shoulder, he levelled it at some object that +had attracted his attention, but which could not be +seen by the troopers.</p> + +<p>Bob at once ordered a halt, and rode forward to +inquire into the matter. When he reached George's +side he found himself on the outskirts of a sort of +basin in the plain, which looked as though it might +have been scooped out by the wind. It was covered +with sand, and dotted here and there with little +bunches of yellow grass and weeds. On the opposite +side of this basin, which was perhaps a mile and +a half wide, was a single horseman, who was riding +toward them at a rapid pace.</p> + +<p>"I couldn't make out, at that distance, whether +he was a friend or foe, so I thought it best to warn +you," said George.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[Pg 235]</a></span></p> + +<p>"That was all right, of course. Can you make +him out with your glass?"</p> + +<p>"Very plainly. He's a soldier—one of Lieutenant +Earle's men, probably."</p> + +<p>"That's just who he is," exclaimed Bob after he +had taken a look at the horseman through the field-glass. +"I know him. That signal-smoke we saw +just before we left the column was sent up to inform +the captain that Earle had despatched a courier +to him with some important news, and now we will +find out what it is.—Come on, fellows," he added, +waving his hand to the squad; "it is one of our +own company, boys."</p> + +<p>Bob and his companion rode out in plain view, +and a few seconds later the troopers joined them. +Their sudden appearance must have astonished the +approaching courier, and perhaps alarmed him too, +for he pulled up his horse with a jerk, and, shading +his eyes with his hand, gazed at them long and +earnestly. They waved their caps to reassure him, +and in a few minutes he came up. The first words +he uttered showed that he had already had quite +enough of scouting in the Staked Plains.</p> + +<p>"Did anybody ever see so dreary a hole as +this?" said he as he lifted his cap and drew his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[Pg 236]</a></span> +handkerchief across his forehead—"nothing but +sandhills as far as you can see, and one looks so +much like another that a fellow don't know how +to shape a course. It must be just fearful in here +when the wind blows.—I say, corporal, where am +I? and what are you doing out here?"</p> + +<p>"I can't answer your first question, for I don't +know myself," answered Bob. "I was sent out +to follow a new trail we found just after you sent +up that smoke. What was the meaning of it?—Carey, +climb up to the top of that sandhill and +tell us if you can see anything."</p> + +<p>"Lieutenant Earle sent up that smoke to let the +captain know that he was about to send him some +news," replied the horseman; "and I don't see +why the captain didn't send up a reply, for I don't +know where to find him."</p> + +<p>"I will point out his position as near as I can +before you leave us," said Bob. "Is that news of +any importance?"</p> + +<p>"I should say it was," exclaimed the courier. +"We've struck it hot, I tell you. On the banks +of a little stream we found somewhere off in that +direction—"</p> + +<p>"Look here, Aleck!" exclaimed Loring; "I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[Pg 237]</a></span> +thought that canteen of yours looked as though +it had been dipped in water not so <i>very</i> long ago. +Why don't you pass it around? We haven't got +a drop left."</p> + +<p>"Is that so?" said the courier, who promptly +unslung his canteen. "You are welcome to it, but +touch it easy, so that everybody can have a taste, +and don't forget to save some for Carey.—As I +was saying, on the banks of that stream the scout +discovered the tracks of little boots."</p> + +<p>The troopers all uttered exclamations when they +heard this, and Loring was so anxious to hear more +that he forgot he was thirsty, and after holding the +canteen in his hand for a moment passed it to a +comrade without tasting of its contents.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Wentworth acted as though he thought +he ought to go with Lieutenant Earle's squad, and +when he hears that he will be sorry that he stayed +behind," observed Bob.</p> + +<p>"Won't he, though!" said the courier.</p> + +<p>"I suppose there is no doubt that the tracks +were made by his boys?" said George.</p> + +<p>"None whatever. How could there be? The +Indians have no other prisoners with them."</p> + +<p>"They have none that we know of," said<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[Pg 238]</a></span> +George. "But as they visited other ranches, they +may have taken other boys captive."</p> + +<p>"How do you know that they did visit other +ranches?" demanded the courier. "Mr. Wentworth +didn't say anything about it in my hearing."</p> + +<p>"Nor in mine, either," replied George. "But +he did say in my hearing that he had lost not more +than half a dozen horses, and the trail shows that +they have more than fifty with them."</p> + +<p>"Well," said the courier, looking down at the +horn of his saddle in a brown study, "if that's the +case, the Indians may have—No, they didn't, +either," he added, brightening. "Mr. Wentworth +told the colonel, in Lieutenant Earle's hearing, that +the Indians jumped down on his ranche just after +he had finished mending his oldest boy's boots. +He put a patch on each one of them just under +the ball of the foot, and those patches showed in +the tracks."</p> + +<p>"Ah!" exclaimed George, "that will pass for +evidence."</p> + +<p>"At any rate," continued the courier, "I was +ordered to tell the captain that we were on the +trail of the party who had the children. That's<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[Pg 239]</a></span> +all the news I have, I believe.—What shall I tell +the captain for you, corporal?"</p> + +<p>"Say to him that you found me following up +my trail as fast as the condition of my horses +would permit," answered Bob. "It is as plain as +daylight, and if I could only get some water now +and then, I could follow it at a gallop.—What is +it, Carey?"</p> + +<p>"A smoke away off to the south-east," replied +the soldier, who was lying flat on the top of the +nearest sandhill.</p> + +<p>Bob at once dismounted and made his way up +the hill, followed by George and the courier. They +did not expose their full height to view, but crept +up on their hands and knees, and when they reached +the top pulled off their caps before they looked +over it. They knew that Indians, when they are +retreating, always leave some of their number to +watch the trail, and they adopted these precautions +in order to avoid discovery by these rear-guards +should there chance to be any in the neighborhood. +The reflection of the sun's rays from the brass ornaments +on their caps would have been seen by a +watchful Indian at an almost incredible distance.</p> + +<p>"I see the smoke," said Bob, pulling from his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[Pg 240]</a></span> +pocket the paper which Captain Clinton had given +him—"Where is your watch, George? Now look +for the signal."</p> + +<p>The smoke, like the one Lieutenant Earle had +sent up a few hours before, ascended in a straight, +slender column for a few seconds, and then floated +away out of sight. A few seconds later three little +columns, shaped like the clouds which are thrown +out by the discharge of a cannon, arose in the air +in quick succession, followed after a little delay by +three others. Bob waited and watched, but as no +more clouds appeared, he knew that the signal had +been made. The next thing was to find out what +it meant.</p> + +<p>"George," said he, "after those first three smokes +appeared how long was it before the others were +seen?"</p> + +<p>"Just thirty seconds," replied the time-keeper.</p> + +<p>Bob ran his eye over the paper he held in his +hand, and presently found the following, which he +read aloud: "Three smokes, followed at the interval +of half a minute by three others, are intended +to point out the position of the signalling-party."—"There +you are!" said he, turning to the courier. +"Fix in your mind the place from which that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[Pg 241]</a></span> +smoke arose, and then travel a little to the north +of it, so as to allow for the captain's progress, and +you will find him."</p> + +<p>"How far away was that smoke?" asked the +courier as he and his companions crept back down +the hill.</p> + +<p>"Fifteen miles," replied George.</p> + +<p>"Whew! Well, I'll get there if I can. Who's +got my canteen? Why, you have left some in it!" +he added as one of the squad handed him the article +in question. "Don't any of you want another +taste?"</p> + +<p>Yes, there were plenty there who could have +drained the canteen to the last drop and then called +for more, but knowing that the courier would +have need of it before he had galloped fifteen miles +under that broiling sun with the hot wind blowing +upon him, they all declared that they had had +enough.</p> + +<p>After Carey and Loring had moistened their +parched lips the courier sprang upon his horse +and waved his farewell, while Bob and his men, +feeling somewhat refreshed, took up the trail again +and followed it at a trot.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII"></a>CHAPTER XII.</h2> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[Pg 242]</a></span></p> +<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">TOP</a></span> +<h3>ANOTHER FEATHER FOR BOB'S CAP.</h3> + + +<p>The second diversion of which we have spoken +occurred about an hour after Lieutenant Earle's +courier left them. It was nothing more nor less +than the discovery of the fact that the party of +whom they were in pursuit had been joined by +another warrior, whose pony's tracks came from +the direction in which the lieutenant was supposed +to be scouting. Bob and his men did not seem to +attach much importance to this, but George did. He +looked the ground over very carefully, and reached +conclusions that astonished himself.</p> + +<p>"Bob Owens," said he in a low tone as they resumed +the march, "you've got another chance to put +a feather in your hat—a big one, too. Lieutenant +Earle will never rescue Mr. Wentworth's boys, but +you can if you're smart."</p> + +<p>Bob, who always listened in the greatest amazement +(and with some incredulity, too, it must be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[Pg 243]</a></span> +confessed) to his friend's predictions, could only +look the surprise he felt. How any one, by +simply looking at a pony's track, could tell what +a party of men whom he had never seen were going +to do, he could not understand.</p> + +<p>"To begin with," continued George, "our Indians +expected to have an addition made to their +party, and they expected also that it would be made +just where it <i>was</i> made. How do I know that? +By the looks of things. The ponies were all huddled +together in one place, and they must have stood +there a good while, judging by the stamping they +did. Their riders must have dismounted there, for +I saw the prints of their moccasins in the sand. I +noticed also that the side of the nearest sandhill had +been disturbed, and that told me that one of their +number had climbed up there to watch for the expected +warrior."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps he was watching for us," suggested +Bob.</p> + +<p>"If he was, he wouldn't have watched for us +with his feet, would he?" demanded George.</p> + +<p>"'With his feet'?" echoed Bob.</p> + +<p>"Yes. He would have been more likely to +watch for us with his eyes."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">[Pg 244]</a></span></p> + +<p>"How do you know that he didn't?"</p> + +<p>"Because he climbed up on our side of the hill, +and that would have exposed his whole body to our +view if we had been anywhere within sight of him. +His eyes were turned the other way; that is, in +Lieutenant Earle's direction. He wasn't afraid of +being seen by us, but he took all due precautions to +conceal himself from the gaze of any one who might +happen to come that way from Lieutenant Earle's +command; for near the place where the ponies were +standing I saw the tufts of grass he had pulled up +to tie around his head."</p> + +<p>"Well, I am beat!" exclaimed Bob.</p> + +<p>"What beats you?"</p> + +<p>"You do: I didn't see any of those things."</p> + +<p>"Probably you didn't, for the reason that you +didn't look for them. You see, I have passed a +good many years on the Plains, and I have learned +that eternal vigilance is the price of a cowboy's life +and liberty. When his scalp depends upon the correct +reading of such signs as those which I have +just described to you, he is not often caught napping. +My long association with Zeke, whose eyes +seemed to be everywhere, has got me into the habit +of keeping my own eyes open. Probably there<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">[Pg 245]</a></span> +were other things there that would have been +perfectly plain to Zeke or Mountain Mose which +I didn't see.</p> + +<p>"Now, of course I don't <i>know</i> that this new +warrior brought Mr. Wentworth's children with +him when he came over to join our Indians, but +everything seems to point that way. One of the +proofs—and the strongest, in my humble opinion—is +found in the fact that the Indians allowed their +captives to dismount on the banks of that stream +the courier told us of. I am inclined to believe that +they went farther than that, and compelled the boys +to walk in the mud and leave their tracks there."</p> + +<p>"I don't see why they did that," observed Bob. +"I should think they would want to keep everybody +from knowing where the boys were."</p> + +<p>"So they would if they had intended to keep the +boys with them, but they did not. This is their +plan, as near as I can get at it; and in order to +make my explanation clearer I will call the party +of which Lieutenant Earle is in pursuit No. 1, +that which we want to find No. 2, and that the +captain is following up No. 3. The warriors in +No. 1 are doubtless the best mounted of all the +raiders. When they separated from the main<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">[Pg 246]</a></span> +body they left a broad trail, so that they could be +easily followed, taking the children with them, and +leaving now and then a sign of their presence, for +no other purpose than to coax the captain to follow +them with his whole force. As soon as they reached +a piece of rocky ground, where a pony's feet +would leave no track, one of their number picked +up the boys and brought them over here, where +party No. 2 was waiting for him. Those he left +behind will show themselves to Lieutenant Earle +occasionally, and perhaps open a little fight with +him, just to induce him to continue the pursuit. +Party No. 3 will drive the stock ahead as fast as +possible, and get away with it if they can; but if +they find that they are likely to be overtaken, they +will drop the cattle and do everything they can to +keep the captain on their trail, so as to give party +No. 2 a chance to escape with the prisoners. Now, +that's a long story, and no doubt it is a hard one to +believe; but I don't think I am far from right when +I tell you that it is quite in your power to carry off +the honors of this expedition. Captain Clinton will +have his hands full until he recovers that stock; so +will Lieutenant Earle as long as he follows those +will-o'-the-wisps in front of him; and to you will<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">[Pg 247]</a></span> +be left the duty, as well as the privilege, of looking +out for the safety of Mr. Wentworth's little +boys."</p> + +<p>"Whew!" panted Bob, who was very much impressed, +although not wholly convinced, by his companion's +clear and forcible reasoning. "Then I am +the chief man in this scout, am I? Suppose—I +say, just <i>suppose</i>—I should be lucky enough to +rescue those boys alive and unharmed, what would +the fellows say? What would Mr. Wentworth +say?"</p> + +<p>"The boys would cheer you, and you would +win Mr. Wentworth's everlasting gratitude," replied +George. "But, Bob, the prisoners have not +been rescued yet, and I warn you that unless you +are as sly as a fox you will be the means of their +death. If the Indians discover you, and find themselves +unable to escape, their very first act will be +to kill those boys."</p> + +<p>"Good gracious!" exclaimed Bob, dropping his +reins upon the horn of his saddle and pulling off +his cap with one hand while he scratched his head +vigorously with the other. "<i>Good</i> gracious! The +captain never thought of that when he sent me +off with this squad, did he? George, the responsi<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">[Pg 248]</a></span>bility +is too heavy for me. I think I'll ask the +captain where he is, and then go and report to +him."</p> + +<p>"That wouldn't be a very smart trick," protested +George. "You would not only be taken to task +for wasting valuable time, but the Indians, seeing +a smoke that they couldn't understand arise on +their trail, would take the alarm at once, and you +would lose a fine chance of distinguishing yourself."</p> + +<p>"Don't you suppose they saw the smoke that +Lieutenant Earle sent up?"</p> + +<p>"Of course they did—the captain's too. Those +same smokes were a good thing for us, for I am of +the opinion that they threw our party off their +guard by leading them to believe they are not pursued. +You mustn't send up a smoke along this +trail if you want to catch those Indians. What +are your orders, anyhow?"</p> + +<p>"To follow the trail until I am recalled or until +the Indians throw me off entirely," replied +Bob.</p> + +<p>"Then don't you see that you would be disobeying +orders by marching your squad back to the +column without a recall?" asked George. "You<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">[Pg 249]</a></span> +would surely get yourself into trouble by doing +that, and besides, you would be hauled over the +coals for not taking better care of your men and +horses. They couldn't stand twenty miles more +to-night without a rest, and how much of a rest +could they get here in this oven, with no grass +or water? Don't do it, Bob."</p> + +<p>"But the prisoners—just think of the prisoners!" +exclaimed the perplexed corporal. "I don't +want to feel that I am responsible for any harm +that may befall them."</p> + +<p>"I don't see how you are going to shirk it."</p> + +<p>"Well, will you take command?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly not," answered George quickly. +"Don't confess your incapacity by surrendering +your authority. Besides, a scout never commands—he +only advises; and I will help you in +that way all I can. Go on, and say that you will +do your best."</p> + +<p>"I will," said Bob, slamming his cap upon his +head and seating himself firmly in his saddle. +"If we can only place ourselves in a position to +cover those boys, the Indians will not have a +chance to touch them, I'll bet you. My men are +all good marksmen."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250">[Pg 250]</a></span></p> + +<p>"And I am a tolerable one myself," said George. +"A single hair of those boys' heads is worth the +lives of all the Indians that ever saw the Staked +Plains, and if it becomes necessary to shoot in their +defence, I am ready. There is a high sandhill, and +if you will stop here for a few minutes I will go +up and see if I can discover anything."</p> + +<p>Bob raised his hand to halt the squad, and +George swung himself out of his saddle. His +first care was to lay aside his cap and rifle, and his +next to pull up a quantity of grass and weeds to +be used as a screen. With these in one hand +and his field-glass in the other he crept slowly to +the top of the sandhill, and, holding the screen a +few inches above the ground, he pushed his field-glass +under it and looked around.</p> + +<p>"Aha!" was his mental exclamation, "I shall +have good news to carry back to the boys. There's +a deep gully about five miles off, and there must be +a stream of water running through it, or else those +willows would not be growing there. I wish we +had got here an hour earlier, for then I should have +had daylight to aid me in making my observations. +The Indians probably halted in that gully +a few hours ago, and the question to be decided<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251">[Pg 251]</a></span> +now is—Hallo! If that isn't smoke rising +among those trees, what is it? And didn't that +little cluster of bushes over there on the top of +that hill shift its position just now?"</p> + +<p>George's heart beat wildly as he propounded these +inquiries to himself. He took another long look, +and then with a very slow and gradual motion he +deposited his screen upon the sand and backed +down to the plain. His stealthy movements told +the troopers that he had seen something.</p> + +<p>"Corporal," said he as they rode up to him, +"before you ask any questions let me suggest that +you order your men to remove their sabres as +quietly as possibly."</p> + +<p>Bob quickly unhooked his own sabre from his +belt, and looked at his men, who made all haste to +follow his example. They knew that there could +be but one reason for this order. A steel scabbard +hanging by the side of a careless rider will strike +against his spurs with every step his horse takes, +or rattle against his leg as the trooper walks about, +giving out a clear ringing sound that will betray +his presence to foes far less watchful and sharp-eared +than Indians.</p> + +<p>"So we have run them into their holes, have<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252">[Pg 252]</a></span> +we?" said Bob when he had acted upon George's +suggestion.</p> + +<p>"That remains to be seen. They are camped +about five miles from here, and one of their lookouts +is watching the trail."</p> + +<p>The troopers looked at Bob as if to ask what he +was going to do about it, and Bob, who had as little +idea of the orders he ought to give under the circumstances +as he had of the Greek language, looked +at George. The latter did not say anything, for he +wanted the troopers to hold fast to their belief that +the corporal was able to act for himself in any and +every emergency; but he gave his friend a look +that was plainly understood.</p> + +<p>"Dismount," commanded Bob; "we'll rest here +until we can determine upon something. Let every +man keep fast hold of his horse, for a neigh from +one of them would make dough of our cake in a +little less than no time. Eat and whisper as much +as you please, but—"</p> + +<p>"Don't smoke," put in George.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Moses!" ejaculated the troopers in subdued +tones.</p> + +<p>"An Indian will smell smoke from a pipe or a +camp-fire a long distance," added George.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_253" id="Page_253">[Pg 253]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Then keep your pipes in your pockets, where +they can't do any mischief," said Bob.—"George, +I'd like to take a look at that camp."</p> + +<p>George at once led the way up the hill, but when +he neared the top he said in a whisper,</p> + +<p>"Perhaps you had better trust to my eyes instead +of your own; not but that you can see as far as I +can, but you might be a little careless in handling +that screen, and the least false motion on your part +would be seen by that lookout, whose eyes are as +good as a telescope."</p> + +<p>"All right!" replied Bob, who wondered what +he should have done if George had not been there +to advise him. "What shall we do?"</p> + +<p>"Let me take another look, and then I will talk +to you."</p> + +<p>So saying, George crept back to the top of the +hill and looked under his screen as before. It was +rapidly growing dark, but he could see that the +sentry still kept his position, and that the camp-fire +was burning brightly.</p> + +<p>"They do not stand in the least fear of pursuit," +said he as he backed down to Bob's side, "but they +have taken measures to prevent surprise, as they +always do when they are on the war-path."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_254" id="Page_254">[Pg 254]</a></span></p> + +<p>"How long do you suppose that sentry will stay +there?"</p> + +<p>"Just as long as his friends stay in the gully. +I do not mean by that that this particular Indian +will act as lookout all the time, but that some +member of the party will be constantly on the +watch."</p> + +<p>The first thing to be done was to decide upon +a plan of operations, and this took a good deal of +hard thinking, for there was a good deal depending +upon it. George made the most of the suggestions, +and Bob accepted every one of them without +argument. The camp was to be attacked as soon as +they could get within reach of it: both were agreed +upon that. Bob advised a surround, in order to +prevent the escape of any of the Indians; but +George objected, urging as a reason for his objections +that no one but an Indian could work his +way through those thick bushes and trees without +making a good deal of noise, and that would knock +the whole thing in the head.</p> + +<p>"Don't be too ambitious," said he. "Don't try +to grab too big a handful, and so run the risk of +losing everything. Keep your men near you, so +that you can have an eye on every one of them.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255">[Pg 255]</a></span> +Look out for the boys; and if by so doing you +give the Indians a chance to escape, as you will +most likely, let them go and welcome."</p> + +<p>An immediate advance having been resolved +upon, and the part that each man was to play +in the coming fight (provided the Indians decided +to make a fight of it) having been thoroughly discussed, +Bob and his companion returned to the +place where they had left the troopers. The former +issued his orders in a few brief words, and in a very +short space of time eight barefooted men, armed only +with their carbines and revolvers, were drawn up in +line ready to do his further bidding; while the four +troopers who were to be left behind to hold the horses +and to take care of the sabres, shoes and stockings +which their lucky comrades had thrown upon the +ground, listened with as good grace as they could +to a few parting words from their corporal.</p> + +<p>"Now, boys," said the latter, "keep quiet and +don't smoke. We have been following the trail of +only five Indians, but we don't know how many may +have joined them since they went into camp; so you +must hold yourselves in readiness for any emergency. +Keep a good lookout for the signal, and if you +don't see it by the time the moon rises, which will be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256">[Pg 256]</a></span> +about midnight, take care of yourselves. Draw as +straight a course for the column as you can, and tell +the boys, when you find them, that the reds got the +best of us while we were trying to do our duty. Good-bye.—Lead +on, George."</p> + +<p>Although our hero had passed his life amid scenes +of danger, and more than once listened to the sound +of hostile bullets (that was during the "neighborhood +row" of which we have spoken in the first +volume of this series), he had never before taken +part in a scout after Indians, and it may be readily +imagined that Bob's parting words did not serve to +encourage him in any great degree. Bob seemed to +think that there was a possibility that their attempted +surprise might end in utter defeat. The bare +thought was enough to make George's hair stand +on end, but it did not make him lose any of the +sympathy he felt for the boy-captives or falter in +his resolve to do all he could toward effecting their +release. In obedience to Bob's order to "lead on" +he raised his rifle to his shoulder and glided off into +the darkness, the troopers following in single file. +Before he had marched half a mile Bob hurried up +and placed himself by his side.</p> + +<p>"Say, George," he whispered, "you are not going<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_257" id="Page_257">[Pg 257]</a></span> +toward the camp. If you follow this course, you +will miss it by half a mile or more."</p> + +<p>"I don't want to go toward the camp," was the +reply. "We must circle around so as to come up +in the rear of that sentry, who, as I told you, will +stay on the top of that hill as long as his friends +stay in the gully."</p> + +<p>"Do you think we can capture him without +alarming the others?"</p> + +<p>"We are not going to try; at least, I sha'n't +advise it. If we can save the boys, we ought to +be satisfied. That sentry will dig out as soon as +he scents danger, and all we can do is to let him +go."</p> + +<p>"How awful still it is, and how fearful dark!" +continued Bob. "I hope you won't get confused +and miss your way."</p> + +<p>"There is no danger of that," replied George +confidently. "I can see the stars, and they are as +good as a compass to me. I have often travelled +by them, and they have never fooled me yet."</p> + +<p>"Where are the wolves, I wonder?" said Bob, +who was so impatient and so highly excited that +he could not long hold his peace. "They keep up +their unearthly howls every night when we wish<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_258" id="Page_258">[Pg 258]</a></span> +them a thousand miles away, but now, when a yelp +from one of them would be a relief, they don't put +in an appearance."</p> + +<p>"And I am glad of it," said George. "Don't +you know that a pack of wolves are the best +sentries a camping-party can have?"</p> + +<p>Yes, Bob said he was aware of that fact.</p> + +<p>"Well," continued George, "don't you see that +the little breeze there is stirring is blowing from +us toward the camp? If there were any wolves +around, they would probably be on the other side +of the gully, for it would be a waste of time for +them to prowl around here among these sandhills, +where they couldn't find even a rabbit to eat. The +moment they caught our wind they would scamper +off, and then 'Good-bye, prisoners.' I wish I knew +where those Indians have staked out their ponies, +for I stand more in fear of them than I do of that +sentry. If we should get to windward of them, +they would kick up a rumpus directly."</p> + +<p>The longer Bob talked with George the more +clearly the difficulties attending his undertaking +seemed to stand but before him, and the greater +grew his anxiety and impatience. If his attempt +to surprise the Indian camp failed, there was no<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_259" id="Page_259">[Pg 259]</a></span> +telling when Mr. Wentworth's boys would be heard +of again. If it suited their captors to spare their +lives, they would doubtless be sold to some band +who lived at a great distance from the agency, and +who would take the greatest pains to keep their existence +a profound secret. If they were ever given +up at all, it would only be after that particular band +had been soundly thrashed for some outrage, and +then they would be brought forward as an element +in the "peace negotiations," their captors demanding +a heavy ransom and taking great credit to themselves +for surrendering them. But this might not +happen for years, and during that time a great many +things might happen to the boys. They might become +so completely broken down by cruel treatment +that their death would be a blessing, or else so +thoroughly infatuated with the Indian mode of +life that, if left to themselves, they would choose +to go back to the wigwams of their savage masters +rather than return to the home of their father.</p> + +<p>"It's now or never," said Bob to himself after +he had thought the matter over. "I don't wonder +that Mr. Wentworth feels so spiteful, for if these +Indians are not killed during this scout, they will +never be punished for what they have done to him.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_260" id="Page_260">[Pg 260]</a></span> +The government is too tender-hearted to touch +them, and if Mr. Wentworth takes the law into +his own hands, he will be sure to suffer for it. +They will go back to their agency to grow fat on +government grub and be kept warm in winter by +government blankets; and their agent, in order to +prevent an investigation that might take a few +dollars out of his pocket, will be ready to swear +that they have never been off their reservation. +I wonder how he would feel if he saw his own +children carried into captivity?"</p> + +<p>For two long hours the weary troopers continued +the march, stopping for rest only when Bob and +George climbed some sandhill to reconnoitre the +ground before them. The deep silence that brooded +over the Staked Plains was almost oppressive. +The bare feet of the troopers gave out no sound as +they sank into the yielding sand, and all that could +be heard was their labored breathing as they walked +behind their leader, trusting implicitly to his +guidance. They never uttered a word, but Bob's +impatience and nervousness would have kept his +tongue in constant motion had it not been for +George, who gave him an energetic prod in the +ribs whenever he showed a disposition to become<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_261" id="Page_261">[Pg 261]</a></span> +colloquial. He felt that he must do something +pretty soon or sink under his burden of responsibility, +which seemed to grow heavier the longer he +walked; consequently, when George stopped all of +a sudden and silently pointed his finger at a dense +wall of trees that ran across their path, his delight +knew no bounds. The ravine in which the Indians +were encamped was close in front of them. +The murmuring of the waterfall which came up +from its wooded depths was a pleasant sound to +his ears, but he and his troopers had much to +do before they could quench their thirst at that +rippling stream.</p> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIII" id="CHAPTER_XIII"></a>CHAPTER XIII.</h2> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_262" id="Page_262">[Pg 262]</a></span></p> +<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">TOP</a></span> +<h3>HE WINS IT FAIRLY.</h3> + + +<p>As it was not necessary to waste any precious +time in giving verbal orders, a complete code +of signals having been decided upon before they +left their horses, George at once threw himself +upon his hands and knees, and worked his way +along the edge of the bluff until he reached a +position directly above the camp, the location of +which was pointed out by a little blaze, scarcely +larger, apparently, than the flame of a candle. He +looked in vain for the sentry, and would have given +something handsome if there had been some one +at hand to tell him just where he was.</p> + +<p>"If he still holds his position on the top of that +sandhill, we are all right," said George to himself, +"but if he has taken the alarm, we are all wrong. +In that case the Indians have done one of two +things: they have either made ready to ambush<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_263" id="Page_263">[Pg 263]</a></span> +us, or else they have fled, taking their prisoners +with them. Well, we shall soon know, for here +goes for the fight that none of us may ever come +out of alive."</p> + +<p>As these thoughts passed through George's mind +he seized Bob's waist-belt and gave it two jerks, +which meant "Follow me." Then he crept back +along the line, and as he passed each trooper +he took him by the arm and pulled him around, +so that his head pointed toward the camp-fire. +This meant a movement by the right flank. After +this he and Bob placed themselves in the centre +of the line, the men giving way right and left +to make room for them, and at a given signal Bob +stuck his elbow into the ribs of the trooper to the +left of him, while George in a similar manner admonished +the one on the right of himself; and the +advance began, the guide being centre. We mean +by this that the men on Bob's left kept themselves +in their proper place in line by touching the shoulder +of the man next on their right, while those on +George's right hand kept within easy reach of the +men next on their left, each member of the line +moving no whit slower or faster than the guides +in the centre, Bob and George. If <i>they</i> stopped<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_264" id="Page_264">[Pg 264]</a></span> +and listened and tried to peer through the bushes +in front of them to obtain a view of the camp, the +whole line stopped and listened and peered. When +the guides advanced the troopers did the same, +their movements being conducted without a whisper, +and with such extreme caution that scarcely a +leaf was heard to rustle. It took them almost an +hour to descend the bluff, which was probably +not more than a hundred feet in height, but the +sight that greeted them when the final halt was +made more than repaid them for all their toil. +They had crept up within less than a dozen yards +of the fire, and the camp and all its inmates were +in plain view of them.</p> + +<p>Their first care was to find the boys, and the next +to ascertain the number and position of their adversaries. +The boys were there, lying side by side on +a bed of leaves, with their arms thrown around each +other, and wrapped in slumber as peaceful, apparently, +as ever came to their eyes while they were +safe under their father's roof. Every one of the +troopers shut his lips tightly at the sight of them, +and half a dozen cocked carbines were pointed over +their unconscious heads, ready to send to kingdom-come +the first thing in the shape of a Kiowa that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_265" id="Page_265">[Pg 265]</a></span> +dared approach them. They were not protected in +any way from the night air save by the branches +of the trees which waved gently above them, while +every one of the four Indians who were lying +around them was wrapped up head and ears in +a quilt or blanket which he had stolen during +the raid.</p> + +<p>One sweeping glance was enough to enable Bob +and George to take in all these little details, and it +is scarcely necessary to say that they were highly +elated over the promise of success which the situation +seemed to hold out to them. Bob would have +been a little better satisfied if he could have seen +any way of taking the Indians alive, and so making +a "finished job of it," as he afterward told his friend +George; but, knowing that this was entirely beyond +his power, he was about to give the signal to advance +when a most unexpected interruption occurred. +They heard the snapping of twigs behind them, +accompanied by a slight rustling among the leaves, +such as might be made by some heavy body working +its way cautiously through the thick undergrowth. +The astonished troopers hugged the ground +closely, holding their breath in suspense; and in a +second more, without a single footstep being audible,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_266" id="Page_266">[Pg 266]</a></span> +the bushes parted and the form of an Indian warrior +could be dimly seen through the darkness.</p> + +<p>"Beyond a doubt it is the sentry coming in to +call his relief," thought Bob. "<i>Now</i>, how am I +going to act? Shall I let him go into the camp, +or not?"</p> + +<p>Without pausing an instant, the Indian, all unconscious +of danger, approached the line, and might +have passed through it between Bob and Carey without +discovering anything to excite his suspicions, had +not the former, acting upon the impulse of the moment, +made up his mind that he would not go back +to his comrades without at least one prisoner to reward +him for his long and tiresome scout. Throwing +out his arm, he caught the warrior around the +legs and lifting him from the ground threw him +upon his back. He fell across Carey and Loring, +both of whom turned like lightning and seized +him, one trying to secure his arms, so that he could +not draw a weapon, and the other taking him by +the throat. Everything was done quickly, but not +quickly enough to shut off the wild yell with which +the captive Indian awoke the echoes of the gully. +Seeing that all further attempts at concealment were +useless, Bob and George jumped to their feet.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_267" id="Page_267">[Pg 267]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Forward with a cheer!" yelled the former. +"Cover the boys, everybody."</p> + +<p>This last order was hardly necessary, for each +individual member of the squad had secretly resolved +to do that very thing, leaving his companions +to act as they pleased.</p> + +<p>The Indians were wide awake and moving before +their unlucky comrade's yell had fairly left +his lips. So quickly did they spring to their +feet that the troopers might have thought, if they +had been allowed time to think at all, that the +savages had been merely keeping up an appearance +of sleep, so as to be ready to jump from their blankets +at the very first note of alarm. So well schooled +were they, and so ready to act, and to act quickly +and intelligently in any emergency, that they did +not hesitate an instant. They did not even look +to see from which way the danger that threatened +them was coming, but made a simultaneous rush for +their captives, intending, no doubt, to carry them +away if they could, or to kill them if they found +themselves surrounded so that they could not escape. +But no Indian's hand touched those boys again that +night. Three of them fell dead before they had +fairly left their tracks, and the other, taking warn<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_268" id="Page_268">[Pg 268]</a></span>ing +by their fate, dived into the bushes in much the +same way that a boy takes a "header" from a log, +and got safely off, in spite of the bullets which whistled +about his ears and scattered the leaves all over +him. The troopers knew that he had got off unhurt, +because there was no blood on the trail which +George took up the next morning and followed to +the place where the Indians had left their horses—a +little glade about a quarter of a mile from the camp +in which grass was abundant and water easy of +access.</p> + +<p>George at once made his way to the side of the +captives, who were sitting up on their bed of leaves, +rubbing their eyes and looking about in a bewildered +sort of way, and throwing his arm around them +spoke soothing and encouraging words in their ears; +while Bob, after ordering one of his men to mend +the fire, seized a brand from it and ran back to see +what had become of Carey and Loring. The fight +was over, and Carey was growling lustily over a +wound in his arm which the slippery savage had +inflicted upon him, having managed in some mysterious +way to gain momentary possession of his +knife; but Loring was unharmed and the Indian +was insensible. He had been knocked out of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_269" id="Page_269">[Pg 269]</a></span> +time by a vicious whack from the butt of a carbine +held in the hands of the enraged Carey. The +blow was not, however, as effective as the trooper +intended it should be, for it had expended a good +deal of its power upon the bushes which happened +to be in the way, and instead of sending the Indian +out of the world altogether, it had only stunned him. +He was powerless now. His hands were securely +confined by Loring's carbine-sling, and the latter, +having passed the Indian's blanket under his arms +and brought the ends together behind his back, was +ready to drag his captive into camp.</p> + +<p>"I am no slouch—there isn't a boy in the troop, +young or old, who can take my measure on the +ground—but if this fellow gave us a fair specimen +of an Indian's way of rough-and-tumble fighting, +I don't want to get hold of any more Indians.—He +was a hard one, wasn't he?" said Loring, appealing +to his wounded comrade, who grunted out an emphatic +assent. "He didn't seem to be so very strong, +but he was just a trifle quicker than chain-lightning, +and as slippery and wiry as—as—Why, an +eel isn't nowhere alongside of him."</p> + +<p>"I wish I had whacked him over the head before +he gave me this prod," said Carey, shaking his fist<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_270" id="Page_270">[Pg 270]</a></span> +at the unconscious object of his wrath. "It's my +sword-arm too, and I'll just bet that the doctor +won't let me go on another scout for a month."</p> + +<p>With Bob's aid the Indian was dragged into +camp, and thrown down there as if he had been +a sack of corn. The fire was burning brightly (an +Indian builds a small fire and gets close to it, while +a white man builds a big one and backs away from +it), the bodies of the slain warriors had been dragged +into the bushes out of sight, and their weapons, +saddles and bridles, which the troopers intended to +carry back to the fort with them as trophies of their +prowess, had been collected and deposited in a safe +place.</p> + +<p>George had been devoting himself to the boys, +who did not seem to be at all afraid, and were by +no means so excited as he was. Their astonishing +courage called forth the unbounded admiration of +the troopers, and the pert answers they gave to the +questions that were asked them made them smile.</p> + +<p>"Say, Bob, if you want to see what Texas boys +are made of, come here," said George. "The older +one answers to the name of Sheldon, and the little +fellow is Tommy. Sheldon says that if his +brother had been a little older and stronger the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_271" id="Page_271">[Pg 271]</a></span> +Indians never would have taken them to their +village, for they would have killed them and made +their escape."</p> + +<p>"Humph!" grunted Carey, whose wound seemed +to put him in very bad humor.</p> + +<p>"What makes you say that?" demanded Bob, +turning upon him somewhat sharply. "Don't +you know that such things have been done before +now?"</p> + +<p>"By boys?" asked Carey.</p> + +<p>"Yes, by boys," replied Bob.</p> + +<p>"No, I don't know it," said the wounded +trooper.</p> + +<p>"It's a matter of history, any way," said George. +"Two brothers, John and Henry Johnson, aged +respectively thirteen and eleven years of age, were +captured by two Delaware Indians on Short Creek, +West Virginia, in October, 1788. That very night +they killed their captors by shooting one and tomahawking +the other."</p> + +<p>"Did they get away?" asked Sheldon eagerly.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir, they got away. Now, I want to ask +you a few questions—and, Bob, I want you to pay +attention to his replies.—Where have you been to +get so much mud on your boots?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_272" id="Page_272">[Pg 272]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Why, back there in the plains we came to a +little bayou, and the banks of it was all muddy; +and the Injins they pulled us off the ponies and +made us walk into all that there mud, and then +they laughed at us because we didn't like it," answered +the boy; and his ludicrous display of rage +over the indignity that had been put upon himself +and his brother made the troopers smile again.</p> + +<p>"Go on," said George. "What did you do +next?"</p> + +<p>"Well, they took us out of the mud after a +while, the Injins did, and then one of 'em he took +us on a pony and rode off by himself until he found +this party; and we've been with them ever since."</p> + +<p>"What did I tell you?" exclaimed George, hitting +Bob a back-handed slap on the chest. "What +do you think of my guessing now?"</p> + +<p>"I think you are pretty good at it," answered +Bob. "And seeing you <i>are</i>, I wish you would +try your hand in a new line. Suppose you take a +couple of men with you, and all our canteens and +coffee-pots, and guess your way down the bluff to +the stream, and bring us back a supply of water? +We'll have a good fire going by the time you return, +and then we'll boil a cup of coffee."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_273" id="Page_273">[Pg 273]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I'll do it," said George readily.</p> + +<p>"And while you are guessing, guess at the +probable movements of that Indian who got +away," continued Bob. "Will he be likely to +trouble us to-night?"</p> + +<p>"He will not," was the confident reply. "Our +party is too large. He will make the best of his +way home, you may depend upon it."</p> + +<p>While George and the two troopers whom Bob +detailed to accompany him were gone after the +water, those who remained in camp were not idle. +One bound up Carey's wounded arm, another +brought in a bountiful supply of fire-wood, others +stood guard, and one assisted the corporal in collecting +a quantity of leaves and light branches, and +went out with him to signal to the four men who +had been left behind with the horses. They readily +found the hill which had served as a lookout-station +for the warrior who was now a captive in +their hands; and they knew it when they found it, +for there was the pile of bushes through which he +had looked while watching the trail, and the print +of his body in the sand. A fire was speedily lighted +on the summit, and kept burning brightly to +guide the absent troopers to the captured camp.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_274" id="Page_274">[Pg 274]</a></span> +That little beacon shining through the darkness +must have been a welcome sight to their eyes, +for it told of the complete success of their companions +and of the rest and water that were to +be found where they were.</p> + +<p>When George returned to the camp after nearly +half an hour's absence he found the fire blazing +cheerily, and the two rescued boys, who seemed +almost exhausted by their long journey, sleeping +soundly beside it, covered by a quilt which some +kind-hearted trooper had thrown over their shoulders. +The troopers were laughing heartily but +silently at Carey and Loring, who seemed to bear +their merriment with very bad grace.</p> + +<p>"What's the matter now?" inquired George as +he distributed the canteens among them and placed +the coffee-pots beside the fire.</p> + +<p>"Come here and see for yourself," replied Loring, +taking George by the arm and leading him +to the place where the captive Indian lay, all the +troopers following at his heels.</p> + +<p>"Me good Injun," grunted the prisoner, who +seemed to have recovered his senses.</p> + +<p>"So I perceive," replied George. "Good Indians +steal stock and carry off white boys, don't<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_275" id="Page_275">[Pg 275]</a></span> +they?—But I don't see anything about him to +laugh at."</p> + +<p>"Why, he's nothing but a kid," exclaimed Phillips, +"and yet Carey and Loring are both willing +to confess that it was all they could do to handle +him. They told us a wonderful story about the +terrible fight they had before they could tie him, +and so we took a look at him, expecting to find +him a giant; but instead of that—Well, you +can see that he's only a papoose."</p> + +<p>George looked down at the boyish face and +slender figure of the young warrior, then at the +two grizzly old veterans who had fought so hard +to capture him, and felt more than half inclined +to laugh himself. Either one of them could have +strangled him with a finger and a thumb if he +could have got hold of him; but getting a good +hold was the trouble. An Indian makes up in +suppleness and activity what he lacks in strength, +and it takes a good man to handle one. Of course +the troopers were sorry for their wounded comrade, +but they had "got a joke" on him, and it was a +long time before he heard the last of it.</p> + +<p>The men who had been left to take care of the +horses arrived in about an hour, and then George<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_276" id="Page_276">[Pg 276]</a></span> +had another disagreeable task to perform, which +was to pilot the animals down to the water and +find a feeding-ground for them. Being entirely +unacquainted with the gully and surrounding country, +it took him a long time to do this; but he accomplished +it at last, in spite of the darkness, and +about one o'clock in the morning he was at liberty +to go to his blanket.</p> + +<p>The troopers slept later than usual the next +morning, for they were all tired out; but Bob's +loud call of "Catch up!" brought them to their +feet before the sun had risen high enough to send +any of his rays into the camp. As there was a +good deal to be done and but little time to do it +in, four details were made, and certain duties assigned +to each. The first, which consisted solely +of Loring, was ordered to dish up a cup of coffee +in a little less than no time; George and Phillips +were instructed to follow up the trail of the missing +Indian and see where it led to; Bob and a +companion bent their steps toward the sandhill to +ascertain the whereabouts of the main body of the +expedition; and the others brought in the horses +and gave them the grain that was left in the saddle-pockets.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_277" id="Page_277">[Pg 277]</a></span></p> + +<p>Before ascending the hill Bob and his companion +gathered each an armful of dry grass and weeds. +These were deposited upon the highest part of the +hill and lighted by a match which Bob struck on +his coat-sleeve. As soon as the blaze was fairly +started, but before the whole pile was ignited, Bob +smothered it by throwing on more grass and weeds; +and when this was done a column of smoke that +could be seen at the distance of fifty miles began +to rise in the air.</p> + +<p>"Now let me see," said Bob, pulling out the +paper which Captain Clinton had copied from +his note-book when he started him on the trail. +"I want to say, 'Where are you, captain?' and +how shall I say it?"</p> + +<p>He ran his eye down the page and finally found +these instructions:</p> + +<p>"A detached party desiring to ascertain the position +of the main body will signal as follows: A long +smoke of a minute's duration; three short smokes, +followed by half a minute's interval; two short +smokes, with half a minute's interval; one short +smoke, followed immediately by a long one. If +the signal is observed, the reply will be the same. +If no reply is received in five minutes, repeat from<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_278" id="Page_278">[Pg 278]</a></span> +some other and, if possible, higher point, and so +continue until an answering signal is seen."</p> + +<p>As the reader may not quite understand this, we +will tell just how Bob made the signal. He allowed +the column of smoke to ascend just one +minute by his watch, then took a blanket from his +shoulder and with a quick movement threw it over +the smoldering pile, holding two of the corners +tight to the ground, while his companion held the +opposite corners. This, of course, confined the +smoke so that no more arose. At the end of half +a minute he raised the blanket three times in quick +succession, and three balloon-shaped clouds floated +off over the sandhills. Waiting half a minute, he +lifted the blanket twice, and two more little clouds +arose. At the end of another half a minute he +permitted a single cloud to escape, and then threw +the blanket off altogether; whereupon a long, +slender column, like the one that arose when the +fire was first started, shot up into the air. Then +Bob seated himself on the ground and waited +rather anxiously for a reply; but he was not obliged +to wait long. Before the five minutes had +elapsed an answering smoke was seen; and though +it was a long distance off, the atmosphere was so<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_279" id="Page_279">[Pg 279]</a></span> +clear, and the white clouds showed so plainly +against the blue sky, that the signal could be +plainly read. It was the same as the one Bob +had just sent up, and so he knew that it was intended +for him.</p> + +<p>This mode of signalling, which is usually called +"telegraphing by smokes," is in general use among +the Plains Indians, and it was from them that our +army-officers serving on the border caught the idea. +Of course they have a system of their own, which +is very different from that of the Indians. The +latter cannot read an army-signal, and neither can +the officers, with all their striving and scheming, +gain a key that will enable them to read the Indian +code. It is as much of a mystery as the +manner in which a chief conducts a drill of his +warriors or controls them in battle without appearing +to hold any communication with them. Both +these secrets are closely guarded, the Indians considering +that it would be "bad medicine" to reveal +them to the white man.</p> + +<p>"Did you see the exact spot from which +that smoke arose?" Bob asked of his companion.</p> + +<p>"Yes," answered the trooper.</p> + +<p>"Then fix it in your mind, so that you can point<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_280" id="Page_280">[Pg 280]</a></span> +it out to George Ackerman. Now that our work +is done we will go back to camp."</p> + +<p>Breakfast was soon despatched, and in less than +half an hour the squad was again on the move, +three of the troopers, in order to accommodate the +rescued boys and the Indian captive, being obliged +to "carry double." Their route lay along the edge +of the bluff, within easy reach of water, only three +halts being made—one for dinner, and two for the +purpose of sending up signals to Captain Clinton. +As his replies, which were promptly made, came +from the same place, Bob became satisfied that the +captain was waiting for him. Of course this caused +much speculation among the troopers. Had the +captain given up the pursuit, or had he overtaken +and scattered the thieves and recovered Mr. Wentworth's +stock? Bob was inclined to hold to the +latter opinion.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/p291.jpg" alt="p291" title="illus_032b"/></div> +<div class="figcenter"><span class="caption"><span class="smcap">Telegraphing by Smoke.</span></span></div> + +<p>"The captain is a hard man to get away from +when he once makes up his mind for business," +said he; "and I just know that he's got those +cattle, or the most of them. If he has, Mr. Wentworth +is all right, for we have got his boys. If +your theory is correct—and I begin to believe it is, +for everything else has turned out just as you said<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_281" id="Page_281">[Pg 281]</a></span> +little end of the horn, won't he?"</p> + +<p>"Some officer almost always has to do that," +answered George. "But the lieutenant will have +some honor reflected upon him, if he doesn't win +any for himself, for it was a portion of his own +troop, commanded by one of his own non-commissioned +officers, who rescued the boys."</p> + +<p>About two hours before sunset the troopers began +to call one another's attention to the fact that +the sandhills, among which they had been marching +all day long, were growing less in number and +height, and to congratulate themselves on drawing +near to their journey's end. An hour later they +came to the last hill, and as they were riding by +it a sentry who had been stationed there presented +himself to their view.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIV" id="CHAPTER_XIV"></a>CHAPTER XIV.</h2> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_282" id="Page_282">[Pg 282]</a></span></p> +<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">TOP</a></span> +<h3>"THREE CHEERS FOR THE 'BRINDLES'!"</h3> + + +<p>"Hallo, Buel!" exclaimed Bob, recognizing +in the sentry one of his own company boys, +"you'll let us in, won't you?"</p> + +<p>"Well, I <i>am</i> beat!" replied the man. "Corporal, +you're a brick. Three cheers for the 'Brindles'!"</p> + +<p>He stood in the "position of a soldier," with his +carbine at a "carry," and spoke in a low tone, for +he knew that there were officers with field-glasses +not far away, and that he had no business to exchange +compliments with anybody after this fashion +while he was on post. But when he saw the +captive Indian and Mr. Wentworth's boys he +could not restrain himself.</p> + +<p>"Bob, the boys ought to give you a benefit," he +added.</p> + +<p>"We've got something to show for this scout, +even if we are 'Brindles,' haven't we?" said the +corporal, holding himself very stiffly in his saddle<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_283" id="Page_283">[Pg 283]</a></span> +and looking straight before him, so as not to 'give +the sentry away.' "Have you beaten us any?"</p> + +<p>"Not by a great sight."</p> + +<p>"What have you done, anyway?"</p> + +<p>"We've got the most of the stock back, but nary +red. Where's Lieutenant Earle?"</p> + +<p>"Haven't seen him," answered Bob.</p> + +<p>"We haven't seen him either, nor have we heard +from him since that courier arrived."</p> + +<p>The troopers now found themselves on the border +of a wide plain, whose opposite side was +bounded by a long line of willows, which fringed +the banks of a water-course. On the edge of the +willows were gathered the members of the main +body, who, having been apprised by their sentinels +of the approach of Bob and his party, had assembled +to see them come in. Bob began to grow excited +at once. He and his men had performed no +ordinary exploit, and so impatient was he to have +his success known to his comrades that he could +not wait until he reached the camp to tell his story.</p> + +<p>"You fellows who carry double, ride out there +and square yourselves around, so that they can see +that we have not returned empty-handed," commanded +Bob, who forthwith proceeded to ex<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_284" id="Page_284">[Pg 284]</a></span>ecute his own order +by placing the three men +who "carried double" one behind the other, broadside +to the camp, so that the officers with their field-glasses +could observe that each horse had two riders +on his back. "I declare I feel like one of those +old Roman conquerors—on a small scale; but in +order to carry out the role I ought to make one +end of a lariat fast to that Indian's neck and drag +him into the camp, oughtn't I? That's the way +the Romans used to do with their captives, only +they chained them to their chariot-wheels. There +you are!—Swing your caps, you kids, and holler, +to let your father know you are here."</p> + +<p>The boys obeyed with alacrity, swinging their +caps around their heads and laughing and shouting +by turns, while the two soldiers behind whom they +rode raised their own caps on the muzzles of their +carbines and joined in with a wild soldier yell. +George Ackerman kept watch of the camp through +his glass to note the movements of its inmates and +make reports of the manner in which this demonstration +was received by them.</p> + +<p>"There's the captain," said he. "He is coming +out in front of the men, in company with some +of the officers. Now they are all looking at us<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_285" id="Page_285">[Pg 285]</a></span> +through their glasses. Now the captain has taken +down his glass and is saying something. Here +they come!"</p> + +<p>It was evident that the captain had reported the +result of his observations, for as George uttered +these last words and lowered his glass the men +broke into a run and dashed across the plain, raising +their charging-yell as they came.</p> + +<p>"You fellows who carry double, take the post +of honor," commanded Bob; "ride at the head +of the squad.—Say, boys," he added, facing about +in his saddle and speaking to the men behind him, +"look out for Wentworth. There was a look in +his eye the last time I saw him that I didn't at all +like, and when he finds out that we have captured +one of the Indians, he may—"</p> + +<p>"There he comes now!" exclaimed one of the +troopers.</p> + +<p>Bob looked toward the camp, and saw that his +man had not been mistaken. Behind the troopers, +who were still running forward to meet their returning +comrades, but rapidly overhauling them +with every jump of his horse, was the father of +the rescued boys. He rode without saddle, bridle +or hat, his long hair was streaming straight out be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_286" id="Page_286">[Pg 286]</a></span>hind +him, he carried in his hand the rifle with +which he had done such deadly work while he +was defending his home, and he was constantly +digging his heels into the sides of his horse, as if +he were trying to make him go faster. The man +could have but one object in view: that was Bob's +opinion, and it must have been Captain Clinton's +opinion too, judging by his actions. The latter +had raised both hands to his face and stood with +his head thrown back, as if he were shouting out +some orders; but if he gave any they were drowned +in the lusty cheers of the approaching troopers, +who ran as if they were engaged in a foot-race.</p> + +<p>"That man certainly means mischief," said +George.</p> + +<p>"I am sure of it," replied the corporal. "But +I should act in just the same way if I were in his +place. I'd put an end to that Indian in spite of +all the soldiers that ever wore the 'honored blue;' +but that, I know, would be very wrong, for this +red imp is one of the government wards, and nobody +must presume to lay an ugly hand on him."</p> + +<p>"What would be done with Mr. Wentworth if +he should shoot your prisoner?" asked George.</p> + +<p>"'What would be done with him?'" repeated<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_287" id="Page_287">[Pg 287]</a></span> +Bob, bitterly. "Why, he would be put in arrest +before he could say 'Jerusalem!' and the agent +of the Kiowas would insist on his being tried for +murder, notwithstanding the fact that this same +Indian was one of the party that burned Mr. +Wentworth's house and carried his children into +captivity. Why, George, unless you are posted +you have no idea—But I will tell you a short +story by and by. Just now I must attend to our +friend Mr. Wentworth. Stand by me, for I believe +I shall need a helping hand before I get through +with him."</p> + +<p>While this conversation was going on Bob had +kept a watchful eye upon the movements of Mr. +Wentworth, who had by this time passed the troopers +and was guiding his horse so as to come up on +the left flank of Bob's squad. As soon as the latter +became satisfied that this was the man's intention, +he rode out of the line and placed himself beside +the captive Indian, who was riding on Loring's +horse and was by no means an uninterested spectator +of what passed before him. He too was +keeping his gaze directed toward Mr. Wentworth, +whom he doubtless recognized.</p> + +<p>"White man very angry—heap mad—as mad,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_288" id="Page_288">[Pg 288]</a></span> +in fact, as a wet hen," said Bob, trying to imitate +an Indian's way of talking, but making a sad mess +of it in his excitement. "He's mad at you for carrying +his boys off, and he's going to shoot you dead—heap +dead—as dead as a door-nail; and he'll serve +you just right, too."</p> + +<p>"I hope he won't miss the red and hit me," said +Loring.</p> + +<p>"You needn't be afraid of that, for these Texans +are all good shots," answered Bob; adding in +a lower tone, "I'll just tell you what's a fact, Loring: +I wouldn't interfere with him if I could +help it."</p> + +<p>The young savage understood what Bob said, +but not a muscle of his face changed. If he had +been an old warrior, he would probably have begun +his death-chant; but having performed no +deeds of which he could boast, he remained silent +and calmly awaited the fate that would have been +inevitable had it not been for George Ackerman's +skill in horsemanship.</p> + +<p>The animal on which Mr. Wentworth was mounted +was evidently accustomed to being ridden without +a bridle, for his master guided him with the +greatest ease. When he had almost reached the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_289" id="Page_289">[Pg 289]</a></span> +squad he suddenly swerved from his course, in +obedience to a signal conveyed to him by a quick +movement of his rider's body, and galloping swiftly +around the head of the line stopped short on the +other flank. By this unexpected change of tactics +the enraged father had gained a position on the unguarded +side of the prisoner, and if he had acted +as soon as his horse came to a standstill he would +have accomplished his purpose in spite of everything; +but he could not resist the temptation to +talk for just a moment, and that moment's delay +defeated him. Cocking his rifle with great deliberation, +he said fiercely,</p> + +<p>"You have eaten salt in my house, you have slept +by my fire, you have drunk from my spring when +you were thirsty, you Indian dog, and now—"</p> + +<p>When the man had gone thus far rage choked +his utterance, and he could not say another word. +He drew his rifle to his shoulder, but the muzzle, +instead of covering the head of the Indian, covered +the person of George Ackerman, who was coming +toward him with all the speed his horse could +put forth.</p> + +<p>The boy had sprung into life and activity the +instant he witnessed Mr. Wentworth's cunning<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_290" id="Page_290">[Pg 290]</a></span> +manoeuvre, for he knew what it meant. Giving +a pull at his left rein, at the same time touching +his horse lightly with the spurs, the animal wheeled +like a flash on his hind feet, and, dashing through +the line behind Bob Owens (some of the troopers +afterward declared that he jumped clear over Bob's +horse), brought his rider to the right side of the +Indian just in time to intercept the deadly aim. +In another second George had seized the rifle +with both hands, and a terrific struggle began between +him and Mr. Wentworth for the possession +of the weapon. In less time than it takes to tell +it the man, having no stirrups to support him, was +jerked off his horse, and before he could recover +himself and plant his feet firmly on the ground +the rifle was twisted out of his grasp, and the +bullet contained in the chamber was sent whistling +harmlessly off over the sandhills.</p> + +<p>"No more of that!" exclaimed Bob, who rode +up just half a minute too late to be of any assistance. +"Keep quiet now, or you'll go back to +camp with a guard over you."</p> + +<p>"Mr. Wentworth," said George, bending down +from his saddle and laying his hand upon the +angry man's shoulder, "your good sense must<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_291" id="Page_291">[Pg 291]</a></span> +tell you that the corporal can't stand peaceably +by and see his prisoner shot. What are you +thinking of?"</p> + +<p>"Give me that gun," panted Mr. Wentworth, +who was white to the lips and trembling in every +limb. "I'll—I'll—"</p> + +<p>"You'll do nothing but behave yourself," interrupted +Bob. "You can't have that rifle again +until Captain Clinton says so, for you don't know +how to act when you have it in your hands; you +point it around too loose and reckless. Haven't +you something besides revenge to think of now? +Can't you see that we have brought your boys +back to you safe and sound?"</p> + +<p>The man's face softened at once. Tears came +to his eyes, and darting quickly around Bob's +horse he ran up to his children, and, pulling them +both to the ground at once, folded them in his arms. +But we will not say any more about that meeting, +will we? The joy of a family reunited under +circumstances like these is something too sacred +to be intruded upon even by a sympathizing pen, +isn't it? Even the troopers, some of whom had +witnessed many an affecting scene, could not stand +it, but turned away their heads and drew their<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_292" id="Page_292">[Pg 292]</a></span> +hands hastily across their eyes, as if to brush away +something that seemed to be obscuring their vision. +One of them caught Mr. Wentworth's horse, and +after the latter had mounted and taken his boys +up with him, one in front and the other behind, +the squad continued its march toward the camp.</p> + +<p>When Bob came to look in front of him, he +found that the appearance of things had changed +somewhat. The comrades who had started out to +meet him were no longer advancing in a compact +body. They had halted and drawn themselves up +in two parallel lines, facing each other, and leaving +room enough between them for Bob and his +squad to pass through.</p> + +<p>"Hallo!" exclaimed the delighted corporal. +"The boys have got up a reception for us, and +we must meet it in good shape.—Attention, squad! +Draw sabres!—Loring, ride on ahead with Mr. +Wentworth.—George, come up on my right."</p> + +<p>When these orders were issued the men promptly +fell into line, conversation ceased on the instant, +tobacco was knocked out of pipes that had but +just been filled, carbines were adjusted in soldier-fashion, +caps that had been worn with the +peak behind were turned right side in front, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_293" id="Page_293">[Pg 293]</a></span> +twelve bright blades leaped from their scabbards. +In this order the successful troopers rode by their +comrades, who cheered them loudly, and then fell +in behind and followed them into camp, marching +in column of fours. Bob at once rode up to Captain +Clinton's fire, and dismounted to make his +report, which he did in this way:</p> + +<p>"I have the honor, sir, to report that we surprised +five Indians in camp last night, captured +one, killed three and released Mr. Wentworth's +boys."</p> + +<p>"Good for you, corporal!" exclaimed the captain, +his astonishment getting the better of him +for the moment. "Anybody hurt on your side?"</p> + +<p>"One wounded, sir. Private Carey received a +knife-thrust in the right arm while assisting Private +Loring to capture the Indian."</p> + +<p>"Very good," said the captain, resuming his +official tones and dignity at the same time. "Stake +out your horses, and then come back here. I want +to hear all the particulars. What was the cause of +that disturbance out there on the plain?"</p> + +<p>"I was the cause of it, cap, you bet," exclaimed +Mr. Wentworth, whose face did not look +much as it did when he galloped out to meet Bob<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_294" id="Page_294">[Pg 294]</a></span> +and his squad. Then it was disturbed with passion; +now it was beaming with joy. "I'd ha' +sent that Injin to the happy land o' Canaan in a +little less than the shake of a buck's tail if Ackerman +hadn't stopped me, you bet."</p> + +<p>"It was a good thing for you that he did stop +you," said the captain quietly. "You would have +brought yourself into serious trouble by such a +proceeding."</p> + +<p>"I know that," said Mr. Wentworth, "but who +cares for trouble when his dander's up? Say, cap, +may I have my rifle? Ackerman took it away +from me."</p> + +<p>"You may have it on condition that you will +make no more attempts on the life of this prisoner," +replied the captain. "There is a law to +deal with such fellows as he is."</p> + +<p>"Where in the world is it, I'd like to know?" +exclaimed Mr. Wentworth fiercely. "It hasn't got +out here to Texas yet. If I had shot him, as I +meant to do, you would have had a guard over +me in no time; but he came with a band of his +friends and set fire to my house, and carried off +my little boys, and killed my herdsmen, and drove +off my stock; and you, knowing it all, stand here,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_295" id="Page_295">[Pg 295]</a></span> +with your hundred and twenty blue-coats, and tell +me that I must not touch him. Your colonel will +give him up when his agent makes a demand for +him, and he'll go back to his reservation, and +the government will feed him on good food and +give him good clothes, and some rascally trader +will sell him more powder and balls to kill white +folks with; but if <i>I</i>—Dog-gone my buttons!—Ackerman, +give me that rifle."</p> + +<p>It was plain that Mr. Wentworth's "dander" +was still "up"—'way up. The listening troopers +exchanged glances of approval with one another, +and would have cheered him if they had dared. +Being a civilian, the man was at liberty to talk +pretty much as he pleased; but if one of their own +number had made such an exhibition of temper +in the presence of an officer, he would have been +punished for it.</p> + +<p>"We will not discuss that matter," said the +captain calmly. "I know my business and attend +to it strictly, leaving the agents to look out +for their own affairs. They are not responsible +to me, or to you either, for the manner in which +they do the work entrusted to them."</p> + +<p>"All right, cap," said Mr. Wentworth, picking<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_296" id="Page_296">[Pg 296]</a></span> +up one of his boys and then lowering him carefully +to the ground. "Mum is the word, if you say so. +But I haven't heard you tell Ackerman to give +me that rifle yet."</p> + +<p>"Neither have I heard you make that promise," +was the reply.</p> + +<p>"Well, I'll make it, but I tell you I hate to, +mightily."</p> + +<p>The captain smiled, and nodded to George, who +rode up and handed over the Winchester.</p> + +<p>"She's a good one, cap, and when she speaks +she means business—<i>she</i> does," said Mr. Wentworth, +holding the recovered weapon off at arm's +length and gazing at it with admiring eyes. "She +is sure death on Kiowas, for she knows I have got +something ag'inst them. She rubbed out ten of +'em during the last fight she was in, and she'll +spoil the good looks of many more of them before +I hand her over to my oldest boy for good.—Put +her on your shoulder, Sheldon, and come on."</p> + +<p>Lifting his youngest child in his arms, Mr. +Wentworth walked away, Sheldon marching +proudly by his side with the rifle on his shoulder, +and the horse following quietly at his heels. Then +Bob and George rode away with the squad, the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_297" id="Page_297">[Pg 297]</a></span> +troopers gradually dispersed, and the captain and +his officers went back to the blankets on which +they had been dozing away the time while waiting +for Corporal Owens.</p> + +<p>If it had not been for the fact that he had +nearly a thousand head of recaptured stock on +his hands, the captain would have set out for the +fort at once; but it is almost impossible to drive +Texas cattle during the night, for they are about +half wild, anyway, and as easily stampeded as a +herd of buffaloes. Under favorable circumstances +two men who understand their business can take +care of a herd of five hundred of them; but this +stock which the captain had just recovered from +the Indians had grown so unmanageable during +the short time they had been in the possession of +the raiders, who had pushed them ahead night and +day at their greatest speed, that it took thirty well-mounted +troopers to keep them within bounds. +If they became quieted down during the night, +the captain intended to set out for the fort with +the main body of his men early the next morning, +leaving a few of his troopers to assist Mr. Wentworth +to drive the cattle in.</p> + +<p>"I say, corporal," exclaimed Carey as Bob led<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_298" id="Page_298">[Pg 298]</a></span> +his squad away, "where does Wentworth hang +out? What mess does he grub with?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know," answered Bob. "I saw him +going toward the other end of the camp."</p> + +<p>"Now, such work as that won't do," continued +Carey. "He'll go up there among those high-toned +Grays or Blacks, and they will honey +around those boys of his and make much of them, +and cut us Brindles completely out of their good +graces. They belong to us, and they ought to stay +with us; don't you say so?"</p> + +<p>Bob replied that he did say so.</p> + +<p>"Can't we bring them into our mess?" asked +Carey.</p> + +<p>"You can try. I'll take care of your horse if +you want to make the attempt."</p> + +<p>Carey at once dismounted, and started back toward +the upper end of the camp, and Bob rode +on to find the place where his troop had staked +out their horses. While he is looking for it we +will explain what the words "Grays," "Blacks" +and "Brindles," as used by Private Carey, meant.</p> + +<p>One of the first things to be done in a new regiment +of cavalry, or in an old one that has just been +remounted, is to "color the horses." We mean by<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_299" id="Page_299">[Pg 299]</a></span> +this that the animals are divided into lots according +to their color, the blacks being placed in one +lot, the grays in another, the whites in another, +and so on. After these divisions are made there +are always some "off" horses, such as roans and +browns, which are put into a lot by themselves +and called the "brindles." The ranking captain +then makes his choice of the colors. For the sake +of illustration, we will suppose that he prefers to +have his company mounted on black horses. He +first takes the finest animal in the lot for his own +use, his first lieutenant comes next, the second +lieutenant next, the first sergeant next, and so on +down through all the sergeants and corporals, each +one selecting according to his rank. Then those +of the privates who have proved themselves to be +the best soldiers are called up one by one, and after +they have made their selections the shirks and +grumblers, like Bristow and Gus Robbins, have +to take those that are left.</p> + +<p>The captain who is second in command makes the +next choice of colors, and his horses are distributed +in the same way. The whites are generally +chosen next to the last, not because they are not +as good or as handsome as the others, but for the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_300" id="Page_300">[Pg 300]</a></span> +reason that it is harder work for the men to keep +them clean, and in action they present conspicuous +marks for the rifles of the enemy. "The brindles," +the horses of all colors and of no color at all to speak +of, are the only ones left, and the lowest company +commander must take them because he has no choice. +He does not like them, and neither do his men, because +the troop that is doomed to ride them cannot +make so fine appearance on dress-parade as the others +do, and for the reason that the Brindles are the butt +of all the jokes that old soldiers can play upon one +another. When we have said that we have said a +good deal, for if there is any mischief that a lot of +veterans will not think of when they have a leisure +hour on their hands, we don't know what it is.</p> + +<p>When the horses were "colored" at Fort Lamoine +the brindles fell to the lot of Lieutenant +Earle, as he was the lowest company commander, +all the others being captains. This was the troop +to which Bob Owens belonged, and, in common +with its other members, he had suffered from the +practical jokes that had been played upon him +by the more fortunate troopers. But of late these +jokes were not as frequent as they had formerly +been, for the "Brindles" had proved themselves<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_301" id="Page_301">[Pg 301]</a></span> +to be the best of soldiers. When their achievements +were taken into consideration they led every +troop in the garrison. They had gallantly borne +their part in every duty they were called on to +perform, their non-commissioned officers had invariably +been successful when sent out in pursuit +of deserters, and now one of them had done something +for which the members of his regiment were +glad to honor him in the way we have described. +During the rest of Bob's life at Fort Lamoine but +little was said about the despised Brindles; but if +any trooper <i>did</i> forget himself and make disparaging +remarks concerning them or their "ringed, +streaked and striped" horses, some listening Brindle +would promptly interrupt him with—</p> + +<p>"Look here, Bub, we didn't enlist to show ourselves +off on dress-parade. When you Blacks" (or +Grays or Chestnuts, as the case might be, the offending +trooper being designated by the color of +the horses on which his company was mounted) +"have followed an Indian trail across the Staked +Plains, and been burned up by an August sun, and +had your mouths and throats filled so full of sand +that you couldn't tell the truth for a whole month, +and have surprised a party of hostiles in their camp,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_302" id="Page_302">[Pg 302]</a></span> +and rescued two prisoners alive and unharmed,—when +you have done all that, you can talk; until +then hold your yawp. That feat has never been +accomplished but once in the Department of Texas, +and then it was accomplished by <i>our</i> boys, the Brindles +of the ——th Cavalry."</p> + +<p>Bob and his men were proud of that exploit, and, +what was more, they did not mean to be robbed of +any of the honor they had won. That was one +reason why they wanted to bring Mr. Wentworth +and his boys into their mess. They supposed they +were going back to the fort with Captain Clinton's +command, and they wanted to carry those boys +through the gate themselves. But, as it happened, +the captain had decided upon something else, and +by that decision had unconsciously given Bob's +lucky squad of Brindles an opportunity to add +to their laurels. We shall see what use they made +of it.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XV" id="CHAPTER_XV"></a>CHAPTER XV.</h2> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_303" id="Page_303">[Pg 303]</a></span></p> +<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">TOP</a></span> +<h3>MORE BAD LUCK FOR MR. WENTWORTH.</h3> + + +<p>While Bob and his men were staking out +their horses they were besieged by anxious +Brindles who wanted to know just where they had +been and what they had done during their absence. +No incident connected with the experience of their +successful comrades was deemed too trivial for their +notice. Bob and the rest answered their questions +as fast as they were able, and asked a good many +in return. They learned that Captain Clinton had +fallen in with the stolen cattle about one o'clock +that morning, but the Indians they had hoped to +find with them were not to be seen. The captain +had pursued them so closely that they did not have +time to drive the stock into the Staked Plains, to +die there of thirst, and neither did they harass +the column, as George said they would. Their +force was too small to accomplish anything by it.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_304" id="Page_304">[Pg 304]</a></span> +The captain had spent all the forenoon in gathering +up the stock, and it was now feeding on the prairie +close by, guarded by a large squad of troopers.</p> + +<p>"I'll tell you what's a fact, boys," said one of +the Brindles. "This raid must have been a big +thing, for just after you left us we struck the trail +of a large drove that joined ours, and a little farther +on we found another. But they were both older +than our own, so the scout said, and the drove we +followed was left behind as a sort of bait for us to +swallow, while the main herd was driven off."</p> + +<p>"Why didn't you go on after the main herd?" +asked Bob.</p> + +<p>"It would have been of no use. It had too +much of a start; and besides, we have already +got just as much on our hands as we can attend to. +We have been all day gathering up the cattle we +have got, and it is just all we can do to hold fast +to them. The fellows up there must attend to the +rest."</p> + +<p>By "the fellows up there" the troopers meant +to indicate the cavalry attached to the several posts +north of the Staked Plains.</p> + +<p>When Bob went back to the captain's head-quarters, +George, being a privileged character, went<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_305" id="Page_305">[Pg 305]</a></span> +with him. The officer questioned them closely +in regard to their movements, took copious notes +to assist him in making out his report to the colonel, +and by the time he got through he came to +the conclusion that the two young men deserved +especial mention for the skill and courage they had +exhibited. He rewarded them on the spot by giving +them more work to do—some that was not supposed +to have any danger in it, but which, nevertheless, +gave them an opportunity to show whether +the success that had attended them during their +last scout was owing to good luck or good management.</p> + +<p>"I am more than satisfied, because you have accomplished +more than I expected of you," said the +captain as he put his note-book into his pocket. +"As you will probably have some hard riding to +do to-morrow, I will see that you are allowed a +good night's rest."</p> + +<p>"Are we going back to the fort in the morning, +sir?" asked George.</p> + +<p>Although Bob was fully as anxious as his companion +was to know what the captain meant by +saying that he and his squad would probably have +some hard riding to do the next day, he never<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_306" id="Page_306">[Pg 306]</a></span> +would have dared to ask such a question; and if +he had, the officer, if he had made any reply at all, +would very likely have told him that he would find +out all about it in due time. But he expressed no +surprise at George's inquisitiveness.</p> + +<p>"<i>I</i> am going back to fort," said he, "but you +and the corporal will have to stay and help Mr. +Wentworth with the cattle. You will be of more +use to him, George, than half a dozen green hands, +for you know how to drive stock and can act as instructor +to the rest. You know where Holmes's +ranche is, I suppose? Well, I shall want the corporal +to stay with Mr. Wentworth until he gets +there, and then you will have to guide the squad +to the fort. If you should happen to meet any +raiders on the way, why take them in," added the +captain with a smile.—"Corporal, is Carey badly +hurt?"</p> + +<p>"He grumbles a good deal, sir, but I think it is +more from anger than pain."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps you had better take a man in his place +and let him go to the fort with us, so that the doctor +can look at his arm," said the captain.</p> + +<p>"I tell you there is nothing like having friends +at court," said Bob as he and George walked away.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_307" id="Page_307">[Pg 307]</a></span> +"Until you came among us I didn't know that +these officers could be so very friendly and good-natured. +Why, George, if I knew the country as +well as you do, and could get scout's pay, I would +stay in the army all my life. We have got a sort +of roving commission now, and I hope we can +do something with it before we go back to the +fort."</p> + +<p>Details for such duties as this which had just +been assigned to Corporal Owens are about the +only recreations that fall to the lot of a private +soldier on the Plains, and they are eagerly sought +after. Being almost always commanded by a sergeant +or corporal who has proved to the satisfaction +of his superiors that he can be trusted, the +men never fail to enjoy themselves to the fullest +extent. It is a great relief to them to be entirely +out of reach of their Argus-eyed officers, who are +so prompt to take them to task for the least neglect +of duty.</p> + +<p>When they reached the place where the Brindles +were encamped, they found that Carey had been +successful in his mission. He had brought Mr. +Wentworth and his boys back with him, and the +troopers were crowded about them listening to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_308" id="Page_308">[Pg 308]</a></span> +Sheldon's account of his experience among the +Kiowas.</p> + +<p>"Get all you can out of them, boys," exclaimed +Bob, "for you will not see them after to-night."</p> + +<p>"Why won't we?" asked half a dozen troopers +at once.</p> + +<p>"Because they are not going to the fort. They +are going to Holmes's ranche, wherever that is, and +we're going to see them safely there with the stock."</p> + +<p>"We? who?"</p> + +<p>"Our same old squad—all except Carey."</p> + +<p>The owner of that name, whose face had lighted +up with pleasure, jumped to his feet with an angry +exclamation. "What do you mean by that, corporal?" +he demanded.</p> + +<p>"It's no fault of mine, Carey," replied Bob. +"The captain thinks you had better go to the fort, +so that the doctor can look at your wound."</p> + +<p>Carey made no reply, but elbowed his way +through the crowd and started toward the other +end of the camp. In a few minutes he was standing +in front of Captain Clinton with his hand to +his cap.</p> + +<p>"What is it, Carey?" asked that officer after he +had returned the salute.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_309" id="Page_309">[Pg 309]</a></span></p> + +<p>"My respects to you, sir," answered the trooper, +"and, if I might take the liberty, I'd like to know +why I am to be left behind while the rest of our +squad goes off on a picnic with them cattle?"</p> + +<p>"Why, you are wounded," said the captain.</p> + +<p>"Just a little scratch, sir," protested the trooper. +"But even if I had no right arm at all, I could +ride and shoot, and when it came to yelling I'd be +there too."</p> + +<p>"Very good. If you think you can stand it, +go on."</p> + +<p>"Thank you, sir. I knew you wouldn't go back +on old Carey. I've been in every muss my troop +has been in, and nobody ever hinted that I didn't +do my duty."</p> + +<p>The captain nodded his head and waved his hand +in token of dismissal, and the trooper hurried away.</p> + +<p>Up to this time George Ackerman had always +messed with the officers, but that night he took +supper with Bob's squad, because both he and they +considered that he belonged to it. During the +progress of the meal he reminded the corporal that +the latter had promised to tell him a story.</p> + +<p>"Oh yes," said Bob, after thinking a moment. +"I was telling you, I believe, that if Mr. Went<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_310" id="Page_310">[Pg 310]</a></span>worth +killed that Indian he would be arrested and +tried for murder. Well, that's an Indian's idea of +justice, and it seems to be the agents' idea too. +The Indians think they have a perfect right to +kill and scalp whenever they feel like it, but if a +white man kills one of them it is an awful thing. +If they can't get hold of the man who did the +shooting or any of his relations, they look to the +government for pay. On a certain occasion a +scouting-party of ten men was surprised and utterly +wiped out. The surprise was so complete +that every one of the party was killed at the first +fire, with the exception of a corporal, who had just +time to knock over two of the reds before he too +was shot. Shortly afterward a peace was patched +up, and a band of braves came in, bringing with +them an old woman for whom they asked a government +pension because her two sons had fallen +in battle. Inquiries were made, and it turned out +that these two sons were the very Indians who had +been killed by the corporal. What do you think +of such impudence?"</p> + +<p>George did not know what to think of it, and +probably the reader doesn't either; but this very +incident is on record.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_311" id="Page_311">[Pg 311]</a></span></p> + +<p>By daylight the next morning the camp was +deserted. The main body of the troops was riding +rapidly toward Fort Lamoine, and a few miles +behind it came the herd which Captain Clinton +had recaptured. It was moving leisurely along in +front of Mr. Wentworth and George, who controlled +it with less difficulty than the rest of the +squad would have experienced in managing a dozen +cattle. Behind them came Bob and his men, with +the two boys, who were mounted on a couple of +their father's horses which had been found with +the herd. George's quick eye had already noticed +that there were at least half a dozen different +brands among the cattle, and he told himself that +when the animals bearing these brands had been +delivered up to their lawful owners, Mr. Wentworth +would have very little stock left.</p> + +<p>Bob and his troopers enjoyed this "picnic" by +being lazy. They had nothing to do worth speaking +of but to follow along in the rear of the herd +and talk to the boys, the most of the work being +performed by George and Mr. Wentworth, who +during the first part of the journey managed the +cattle both day and night. They offered to assist +in any way they could, but the practised herders<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_312" id="Page_312">[Pg 312]</a></span> +did not need them, and besides, they were afraid +to trust them.</p> + +<p>"I don't want to lose these steers and horses +again, after all the trouble I have had to get +them," Mr. Wentworth always replied. "I know +you are good soldiers, or else you couldn't have +got my boys back for me; but you can't herd +cattle. The least awkward movement on your +part would send them galloping back toward the +Staked Plains again. Wait until they get over +their fright, and then you can try your hands at +guarding them during the night."</p> + +<p>On the afternoon of the fifth day Bob noticed +that George's field-glass was often brought into +requisition both by himself and Mr. Wentworth, +and on riding forward to inquire the cause of it, +he was informed that they were looking for Mr. +Taylor's ranche.</p> + +<p>"And who is Mr. Taylor?" was Bob's next +question.</p> + +<p>"He is one of Mr. Wentworth's neighbors who +was raided by the Indians. We know it, for we +have some of his cattle with us; but whether or +not they did him any damage beyond stealing his +stock, we don't know; and we can't tell, either,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_313" id="Page_313">[Pg 313]</a></span> +until we find his house if it is still standing, or +the ruins of it if it has been destroyed."</p> + +<p>"Then we must be getting pretty near our journey's +end," said Bob, whose arms and shoulders +began to ache when he thought of the tedious routine +of drill and guard-duty upon which he must +enter as soon as he returned to the fort.</p> + +<p>"I don't know what you mean by <i>near</i>," replied +George. "The fort is all of a hundred and fifty +miles from here, and we are not going toward it. +We are going toward Holmes's ranche; and even +if we have the best of luck, it will take us two +weeks to get there."</p> + +<p>"That sounds better," said Bob, who was greatly +relieved. "When you spoke of Mr. Wentworth's +neighbors, I was afraid that our pleasure-excursion +was about to be brought to an end, for he doesn't +live so <i>very</i> far from the fort, you know."</p> + +<p>"It's just over there," shouted Mr. Wentworth +at this moment. "I see cattle, and that proves +that the raiders didn't scoop Taylor as they did +me. Now look sharp; we've got rounding out +enough to do already."</p> + +<p>"What does he mean by that?" asked Bob.</p> + +<p>"He means that we mustn't allow our cattle to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_314" id="Page_314">[Pg 314]</a></span> +mix in with Mr. Taylor's, for if we do we shall +have to round them all out again. By 'rounding +out' we mean separating the different herds from +each other; and that is something that none but +good herdsmen can do. It requires skill and a big +stock of patience, I tell you. Just let a few green +hands try it, and see how much they would make +at it. Why, they would scare the cattle so that +they would run clear out of the State."</p> + +<p>Although Mr. Wentworth had declared that Mr. +Taylor's ranche was "just over there," our friends +did not reach it that day, nor until late in the +afternoon of the next. Before they got there they +knew just what Mr. Taylor's experience with the +Kiowa raiders had been, for they had passed two +or three of his herds, whose keepers had told them +all about it. The Indians had suddenly made +their appearance, coming from the south, and driving +before them a large number of cattle; and although +they had not come within five miles of +Mr. Taylor's ranche, they had picked up one of +his small herds which happened to be in their +path.</p> + +<p>Our friends camped that night close by Mr. +Taylor's ranche, which proved to be a perfect<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_315" id="Page_315">[Pg 315]</a></span> +little fort. It was built of heavy stone, was well +supplied with provisions, and defended by five +stalwart fellows who were armed with Winchester +rifles. The raiders would have had a nice time +of it if they had come there. The owner listened +in great surprise to Mr. Wentworth's story, made +much of his boys, and would not let him and +George "round out" the stock that bore his brand.</p> + +<p>"You're welcome to the steers, neighbor," said +he. "I've got more left than I can take care of +if the Kiowas bounce me as earnestly as they did +you, and you will need them to help you start a +new herd."</p> + +<p>This same thing was repeated by every one of +the half a dozen other ranchemen to whom Mr. +Wentworth offered to surrender their stock. They +all sympathized with him, and wanted to aid him +by every means in their power. The result was, +that our friends arrived within one day's march of +their journey's end with just as many cattle as they +had when they left the Staked Plains. Although +Mr. Wentworth had been "completely cleaned +out," he was still worth something like twenty +thousand dollars.</p> + +<p>George and his party made their last camp a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_316" id="Page_316">[Pg 316]</a></span> +short distance from the cabin of a squatter, who +rode over to see them during the evening. He +went home about ten o'clock, and George and his +companions lay down on their blankets, leaving +the herd to the care of four mounted troopers. +The latter, who during the journey had exhibited +the greatest eagerness to learn something of the +mysteries of cattle-herding, had so far progressed +in knowledge and skill as to be able to stand guard +at night, and to give George and Mr. Wentworth +an opportunity to obtain the rest of which they +began to stand so much in need. About midnight +George mounted his horse and rode around the +herd to assure himself that everything was just +as it should be. He went on horseback, because +everybody rides while working about Texas cattle. +If a man should venture among them on foot during +the daytime, his life would be in danger; and +if he went around them at night, he would probably +stampede the whole herd.</p> + +<p>"All serene," said Loring, who was the first +guard George encountered during his rounds. +"The moon shines so brightly that I can see the +movements of every steer in the drove."</p> + +<p>"If we were a little nearer the river perhaps<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_317" id="Page_317">[Pg 317]</a></span> +things wouldn't be quite so serene," answered +George. "The Mexicans take just such a night +as this for their raids."</p> + +<p>About an hour after George had retired to his +blanket Loring noticed that the cattle began to +show signs of uneasiness. Those that were standing +up began to move about, those that were lying +down arose and moved about with them, and presently +the whole herd was in motion. The cattle +did not attempt to run away, but walked restlessly +about, as if they were unable to find a place that +suited them.</p> + +<p>"Suke, thing! suke, thing!" said Loring coaxingly.</p> + +<p>The travelled reader would have said at once +that Loring was a Southerner; and if he could +have heard Phillips on the other side of the cattle +trying to soothe them with "Co-boss! co-boss!" +he would have said that Phillips was from the +North. But the cattle did not understand either +of them, or if they did they paid no attention to +them. Their restlessness increased every moment, +and finally Loring, good soldier though he was, deserted +his post and started for camp as fast as he +could make his horse walk.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_318" id="Page_318">[Pg 318]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Ackerman," said he in an excited voice, "get +up. There is something wrong with those cattle."</p> + +<p>George was on his feet in an instant. One +glance at the herd was enough.</p> + +<p>"I should say there was something wrong!" he +exclaimed. "How long has this thing been going +on?"</p> + +<p>"Not more than five minutes."</p> + +<p>"Which way are they looking," continued +George.</p> + +<p>"Every way, but the most of them keep their +heads in that direction," said Loring, waving his +arm toward the south.</p> + +<p>"Call everybody in camp while I speak to Bob +and Mr. Wentworth. No noise now. I am afraid +we are going to have trouble."</p> + +<p>In less than two minutes all the troopers had +been aroused, and George was holding an earnest +consultation with Mr. Wentworth and the corporal. +"I've seen cattle act that way before," said he, +speaking as rapidly as he could make his tongue +move, for time was precious; "and if we were a +little nearer the river I could easily tell what is +the matter with them; but I never heard of the +Greasers coming so far into the country as this, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_319" id="Page_319">[Pg 319]</a></span> +it may be nothing but nervousness that's troubling +them. My advice would be to mount the men and +move them quietly in line on the north side of the +herd, and perhaps by making such a show of numbers +we can keep them within bounds until they +are quieted down.—What do you say, Mr. Wentworth?"</p> + +<p>"It is the only thing that can be done," replied +Mr. Wentworth, who seemed to be greatly excited +and alarmed; "and even that is a slim chance.—Make +haste, corporal. Do all you can for me, for +if I lose this herd I shall be ruined, sure enough."</p> + +<p>"Catch up!" commanded Bob.</p> + +<p>"Look here," said George, seizing his friend by +the shoulder and speaking with all the earnestness +he could throw into his tones: "if you get in line +in front of those cattle, and they start to run toward +you, don't try to stop them, for you can't do +it, any more than we could stop those buffaloes the +other night. Run before them, and gradually draw +off to the right or left of them, and you will get +safely off; otherwise they will certainly run over +you. But I am afraid it is too late to do anything," +added George as he noted the increasing +restlessness of the cattle.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_320" id="Page_320">[Pg 320]</a></span></p> + +<p>"It is too late! it is too late!" exclaimed Mr. +Wentworth, rubbing his hands nervously together. +"There they go!"</p> + +<p>Even as he spoke a noise like the rumbling of +distant thunder sounded in their ears, and instantly +the whole herd made off at the top of its speed. +Looking over the mass of horns and tails that was +tossed wildly in the air, the troopers were horrified +to see Phillips standing directly in front of it. +Being fully determined to do his duty to the utmost, +the brave fellow sat in his saddle, swinging +his arms about his head, and no doubt shouting at +the top of his voice to stop the advance of the +frightened herd, which was bearing down upon +him with the resistless power of an avalanche.</p> + +<p>"The man is crazy!" cried George in great +alarm. Then, raising both hands to his face and +using them as a speaking-trumpet, he yelled, with +all the power of his lungs,</p> + +<p>"Run! run for your life!"</p> + +<p>Phillips afterward said that he did not hear what +George said to him—in fact, he couldn't hear anything +but the noise of those hoofs—but, seeing that +if he remained where he was his death was certain, +he wheeled his horse and fled with the speed of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_321" id="Page_321">[Pg 321]</a></span> +wind. The last his friends saw of him was as he +dashed over the top of a ridge, with the stampeded +cattle close behind him. When they were all out +of sight and the rumble of their hoofs had died +away in the distance, the troopers turned to look +at Mr. Wentworth. He stood with his hands in +his pockets gazing disconsolately in the direction +in which the herd had disappeared, but had nothing +to say.</p> + +<p>"Now, here's a go!" whispered Bob, giving +George a nudge in the ribs with his elbow. +"What am I to do? This is something Captain +Clinton didn't think to provide for, isn't it? I +was ordered to go to Holmes's ranche with Mr. +Wentworth, but I wasn't told to follow up and +collect his cattle if they were stampeded."</p> + +<p>"You mustn't think of following them up," +said George decidedly. "There is no man in the +world who could get that same herd together again, +for it will join others as soon as it gets over its +fright; and how could we tell these cattle from +others bearing the same brand? They are gone, +and that's all there is of it. You must mount at +once and see if you can find anything of Phillips."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_322" id="Page_322">[Pg 322]</a></span></p> + +<p>"All right!—Mr. Wentworth," said Bob, "we +are very sorry for the loss you have sustained, but +we have done all we could for you."</p> + +<p>"I know it, corporal, and I am very grateful to +you and to the captain, who was kind enough to +send you with me. Such things as these will happen +sometimes, in spite of everything. Now I +hardly know what to do."</p> + +<p>Neither would anybody else have known what +to do under the same circumstances. Mr. Wentworth +had no home, no property except his rifle +and the horses he and his boys rode, no work to +do, and but little to eat in his haversack. It was +a trying situation for a man who but a few days +before had been worth a fortune, and almost any +one would have been disheartened.</p> + +<p>"I'll tell you what you can do," said George. +"You can easily find your way to the Ackerman +settlement, and if you go there and give Mr. Gilbert +a note of introduction which I will write for +you, he will take care of you until you can decide +upon something."</p> + +<p>George did not feel at liberty to tell Mr. Wentworth +all he had on his mind. As soon as he returned +to the fort he intended to write to his guar<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_323" id="Page_323">[Pg 323]</a></span>dian, +asking him if he might furnish Mr. Wentworth +with a sufficient number of cattle from his +own herds to give the impoverished man a new +start in life. Of course Mr. Wentworth had a few +cattle of his own among those that had just run off, +but it would take some time to gather them up; +and as he would not want to be troubled with his +boys while he was engaged in the work, George intended +to ask Mr. Gilbert to take care of them +during their father's absence, and to lend Mr. +Wentworth a few good herdsmen to assist him in +getting his stock together. While he was thinking +about it, and before Mr. Wentworth could thank +him for his generous offer, something happened +which told them very plainly that the stampede +that had just taken place was not owing to the +nervousness of the cattle, but to the presence of +those of whom George Ackerman had every reason +to stand in fear.</p> + +<p>Their attention was first attracted by some unusual +sound. They could not have told what it +was or from which direction it came, but they all +heard it, and waited for it to be repeated, that they +might locate and define it. There was a moment's +silence, and then a chorus of wild yells arose on<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_324" id="Page_324">[Pg 324]</a></span> +the night air, accompanied by the rapid discharge +of firearms. The troopers looked at one another +in blank amazement, and then at George, who was +not long in assigning a cause for the disturbance.</p> + +<p>"The Greasers are attacking the squatter," he +exclaimed; and he was quite as much astonished +to be called upon to say it as the troopers were to +hear it. It must be a strong and daring band that +would venture so far into the country, and almost +involuntarily George whispered the name of Fletcher. +Bob was quick to decide upon his course. He +knew just what Captain Clinton would expect of +him if he were there.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Wentworth," said he, "we must lend that +man a helping hand. As you can't go with us on +account of your boys, you will have to look out +for yourself and them."</p> + +<p>"And I am just the man who can do it," replied +Mr. Wentworth. "Good-bye and good luck +to you! Shoot hard, and shoot to hit."</p> + +<p>"How cool and confident he is! I wish I had +half his courage," thought Bob as he ordered his +men into their saddles, following it up with the +commands, "Forward! Trot! gallop!"</p> + +<p>The troopers fell into line as they moved off, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_325" id="Page_325">[Pg 325]</a></span> +a few yards in advance of them rode George and +Bob. The former could easily have taken the lead +if he had desired to do so, but, knowing that he did +not command the squad, he curbed his impatience as +well as he could and kept close by his friend's side. +The troopers unslung their carbines, George made +ready his Winchester, while Bob, who believed as +firmly in the virtues of "cold steel" as did the +gallant officer whom he afterward accompanied on +his last memorable march, drew his sabre. All on +a sudden the firing ceased, and when the troopers +rode over the brow of a ridge a few minutes later, +they saw a thin blue smoke arising from the squatter's +cabin, and that told them more than they wanted +to know. George was both astonished and enraged +at the sight—astonished to know that the +raiders would stop during one of their marauding +expeditions, when haste was so necessary, to attack +and burn so humble a dwelling as the abode of the +squatter, and enraged to see that they had been successful +enough to do even that. There was a crowd +of Mexicans around the building, and others with +horses were standing close by.</p> + +<p>"Gobble the horses, Bob," said George, who was +so highly excited that he could scarcely speak, "and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_326" id="Page_326">[Pg 326]</a></span> +then you can ride down and capture the raiders at +your leisure."</p> + +<p>Bob caught the idea in an instant. Turning in +his saddle, he waved his sabre over his head, but +instead of giving the command "Charge!" he effectually +closed the mouths of his followers, who +had already opened their lips and drawn in a long +breath preparatory to giving vent to their favorite +yell, by saying in a low tone, "Silence!"</p> + +<p>Bob did not know whether or not this order +had ever before been given during a charge, and, +what was more, he did not care. His object was +to cut the men who were lingering about the burning +cabin off from their horses, and in order to do +that he must get as close as he could to them before +he was discovered.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVI" id="CHAPTER_XVI"></a>CHAPTER XVI.</h2> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_327" id="Page_327">[Pg 327]</a></span></p> +<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">TOP</a></span> +<h3>CONCLUSION.</h3> + + +<p>The men about the cabin were so engrossed in +their work of destruction, and the horse-guards +were so intent on watching them, that Bob's advance +was not discovered until he and his followers +were within less than two hundred yards of the +cabin. So entirely unexpected was their appearance +that for a moment the cattle-thieves were +struck motionless with astonishment; then they +recovered their power of action, and those who +were on foot made a rush for their horses. Some +succeeded in reaching them, but others did not. +Two or three of them fell before the carbines of +the troopers, who opened a hot fire as soon as they +saw that they were discovered, and the horse-guards, +believing that the attacking party was backed up by +a large force of soldiers which was close at hand, +instantly put spurs to their nags and galloped off,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_328" id="Page_328">[Pg 328]</a></span> +taking the loose horses with them and leaving their +companions to look out for themselves.</p> + +<p>"Throw down and throw up, Greasers!" commanded +Corporal Owens as he dashed up to the +cabin swinging his sabre over his head; and the +order, which meant, "Throw down your weapons +and throw up your hands," was obeyed by five +sullen fellows, who muttered Spanish oaths between +their teeth and looked mad enough to do +almost anything.</p> + +<p>There was no fight at all. If there had been +a shot fired at the troopers, they didn't know it. +The party that had gone off with the horses outnumbered +Bob's, and could, beyond a doubt, have +driven them off the field if they had only thought +so; but their surprise was complete, and, more than +that, they were demoralized. The presence of the +troopers they regarded as part of a pre-concerted +plan to cut them off from the river, and that +frightened them more than Bob's sudden onslaught.</p> + +<p>"Still another feather for your cap, Corporal +Owens," said George, after he and Loring and a +few others had taken a shot or two apiece at the +retreating cattle-thieves, "and nobody hurt on our<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_329" id="Page_329">[Pg 329]</a></span> +side, either. Now I—What are you doing here? +Is this the way you keep your promise?"</p> + +<p>These questions were addressed to one of the +prisoners, who took off his sombrero and scratched +his head as if he were trying to stir up his ideas so +that he could make some reply to these peremptory +interrogations.</p> + +<p>"Springer," continued George, slowly, "what are +you doing here? Where's the squatter?"</p> + +<p>"In there," replied the cattle-thief, jerking his +head toward the cabin, which was now fairly ablaze +and sending out so much heat that the troopers +were obliged to draw away from it. "He never +would have touched him, Fletcher wouldn't, if he +had kept in the house an' left us alone; but he +plumped one of us over when we fust came up; +an' this here is the consequence," added Springer, +nodding his head toward the cabin again.</p> + +<p>George knew why it was that the cattle-thieves +had stopped to destroy the squatter's house. He +had killed one of their number, and they, in turn, +had killed him after a hard fight, and it was now +too late to recover his body or to save a single +thing the cabin contained.</p> + +<p>"So this is the fellow who twice befriended you,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_330" id="Page_330">[Pg 330]</a></span> +is it?" said Bob, who was surprised to hear George +call one of the prisoners by name. "Don't you +think it would be a good plan to chuck him into +the fire too?"</p> + +<p>"<i>I</i> do," said Loring fiercely.</p> + +<p>Springer drew a little nearer to George for protection.</p> + +<p>"I didn't have any hand in it," said he earnestly—"honor +bright, I didn't. I can explain +everything, so that you can see that I am not to +blame for being here."</p> + +<p>"Carey," exclaimed Bob, "go back to Mr. +Wentworth and give him his choice between taking +care of himself and going to the fort with us. +Hurry up, now.—If I only had a spade or two, I +would make these prisoners bury their dead comrades."</p> + +<p>"Springer," said George, "can these friends of +yours understand English?"</p> + +<p>The cattle-thief replied that they could not; they +were all Mexicans.</p> + +<p>"I am glad to hear it, for I want to ask you a +few questions before you explain how you came to +be here. Did Fletcher have his whole band with +him to-night?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_331" id="Page_331">[Pg 331]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Not half of 'em," was the reply; "he had only +about thirty men."</p> + +<p>"How many has he in all?"</p> + +<p>"Two hundred or so."</p> + +<p>"Does he still make his head-quarters at the +Don's ranche?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; but look here, Mr. George," said Springer +earnestly; "if you are goin' over there after him, +be mighty careful. You know what sort of a looking +place that ranche is—all stone, you know—an' +them fellows is all old soldiers, an' they'll fight +awful."</p> + +<p>George nodded his head as if to say that he +knew all about that, and spent some minutes in +questioning the prisoner in regard to the road that +led to the ranche, while Bob sat by on his horse +and listened. By the time George had heard all +he wanted to know, and Springer had told how he +had been arrested by the officer at Eagle Pass and +rescued by Fletcher, Carey came back.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Wentworth will take care of himself," +reported the trooper. "He says that if he went to +the fort he would have to come back to Holmes's +ranche, anyway—he is going to make his home +there for a while, for he and Holmes were boys<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_332" id="Page_332">[Pg 332]</a></span> +together—and so he might just as well go there in +the first place, and save time and travelling. He +sent his best wishes to everybody, and hopes we +will catch all the scoundrels who wiped out the +squatter."</p> + +<p>"I wish we could," said Bob, facing about in his +saddle and gazing in the direction in which the +thieves had retreated; "but we have five prisoners +to take care of, and so our hands are tied."</p> + +<p>"You just ought to have seen him, corporal," +continued Carey. "He had thrown his three +horses in a sort of triangle by tying their feet +together and tripping them up in some way, and +there he lay with his boys behind his living breastworks, +all ready for a fight. Grit to the last, +wasn't he? When I asked him why he hadn't +mounted and dug out as soon as we left, he said +that that wouldn't have been safe, for he might +have run right in among the Greasers before he +knew it."</p> + +<p>"Well, boys," said Bob, gazing sorrowfully at +the glowing bed of coals that covered the site +of the squatter's cabin, "there is nothing more +we can do here, and so we will make a break +for the fort."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_333" id="Page_333">[Pg 333]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Look here, corporal," said one of the troopers: +"if you are going to make us carry double with +those dirty Greasers, I am going to kick."</p> + +<p>"Don't you worry," answered Bob. "I shouldn't +do it myself, and of course I sha'n't ask you to do +it. They'll have to walk.—Springer, draw these +Mexican gentlemen up in line."</p> + +<p>Springer gave the necessary order in Spanish, +and it was sullenly obeyed.</p> + +<p>"Just remind them, Springer, that if they don't +step faster than that somebody may hasten their +movements with a prod from the point of a sabre," +said Bob angrily. "We are in no humor to stand +a great deal of nonsense from them. Now, right-face +them; that's better.—Fall in around them, +squad, four on each flank and four in the rear. +Forward, march!—Now, George, which way is +the fort from here?"</p> + +<p>"Off there," replied George, "but I am going +to take you to the river-trail."</p> + +<p>"What for?"</p> + +<p>"So that you can get something to eat."</p> + +<p>If they had been a little farther down the river, +say about twenty-five miles, George would have +taken them to his own house. It would have<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_334" id="Page_334">[Pg 334]</a></span> +given him no little pleasure to entertain these +companions of a long, toilsome and dangerous +scout under his own roof; but of course he could +not think of leading them out of their way in +order to do it. They found plenty to eat after +they reached the river-trail, but the ranchemen at +whose houses they halted could give them no +information concerning the raiders. They had +been on that side of the river, and had gone +back empty-handed, and that was all the ranchemen +knew about the matter. This made it plain +that Bob's gallant dash had not been without its +effect. It had frightened the thieves so thoroughly +that they dared not stop to pick up any of the +cattle they found in their way.</p> + +<p>Bob and his troopers camped that night near +a farm-house whose owner was so delighted to see +the five prisoners they had brought with them, and +to learn of the success that had attended them ever +since Captain Clinton sent them off by themselves, +that he insisted on giving them a seat at his table. +The next morning he gave them a breakfast; but +the first squad who went in—which included Bob +and George—had scarcely taken possession of their +chairs when one of the sentries was heard calling<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_335" id="Page_335">[Pg 335]</a></span> +lustily for the corporal of the guard. Bob excused +himself and ran out, only to return again almost +immediately and startle everybody with the order, +"Boots and saddles!" George jumped up from the +table, wondering what was the matter. When he +reached the porch he found out. About a mile up +the trail was a long column of blue-coats coming +down at a sweeping trot.</p> + +<p>"They are our boys, and they are after the +Greasers," exclaimed Bob, as George came down +the steps. "It's lucky we are here, for you are +the very man they want if they are going across +the river.—Catch up, boys, and fall in just as we +do when we are on the march, only face to the +left, so as to front the column when it comes +up."</p> + +<p>If we have a reader who is familiar with cavalry +tactics, he will have discovered, long before +this time, that Corporal Owens was not at all particular +as to the orders he gave, provided he could +make his men act to suit him. When in the +presence of his superiors he always gave the +proper commands, in order to save himself from +the reproof that would have promptly followed +the slightest departure from the tactics; but when<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_336" id="Page_336">[Pg 336]</a></span> +he was in command of a scouting-party he was +decidedly free and easy. Even an old trooper +might have been puzzled over this last order, but +the men who had marched with him so many +miles were quick to catch his meaning and prompt +to carry out his wishes; so that when the whole +available cavalry force of Fort Lamoine, numbering +two hundred men, came sweeping by the +farm-house a few minutes later, with Captain Clinton +riding at the head, they were astonished to see +Bob's little squad drawn up in a hollow square, +with their prisoners in the centre. Of late there +had been a good many anxious inquiries made +concerning these very men, and here they were, +safe and sound, and, wonderful to tell, with more +prisoners to show what good soldiers they were.</p> + +<p>"Three cheers for the 'Brindles,' the old reliables!" +shouted the sergeant-major; and the yells +that arose from two hundred pairs of strong lungs +could have been heard a long distance away.</p> + +<p>George lifted his cap in response to a nod of recognition +from Captain Clinton, and in obedience to +a sign from him rode over to his side; but Bob +and his men sat in their saddles as stiff as so +many posts, looking straight to the front. When<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_337" id="Page_337">[Pg 337]</a></span> +the next call for cheers came, however, it almost +knocked Bob over.</p> + +<p>"Three cheers for Sergeant Owens!" shouted a +"Brindle;" and then came three more yells, followed +by a "tiger" as loud and piercing as an +Indian war-whoop. During his absence Bob had +been promoted in general orders for gallantry, his +pay as sergeant to begin on the day he rescued Mr. +Wentworth's boys from the hands of the Kiowas.</p> + +<p>Presently the bugle sounded, and the column +came to a halt. The officers at once fell out and +crowded around George, who, in as few words as +possible, told Captain Clinton what Bob's squad +had been doing since the captain left them back +there on the borders of the Staked Plains. The +officers were all very much pleased, especially Lieutenant +Earle, who for a moment threw off his dignity +and rode up to thank the members of the +squad which had brought so much credit upon +the troop he commanded.</p> + +<p>"Sergeant," said he, extending his hand—which +Bob accepted after running his own hand through +his sword-knot and dropping his sabre by his side—"I +congratulate you and all your men. You +have done well."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_338" id="Page_338">[Pg 338]</a></span></p> + +<p>Bob managed to stammer out something about +being glad to have pleased the lieutenant, and the +latter, after ordering them to sheathe their sabres, +went on to tell how he had followed the Indians +in his front until his men and horses were nearly +exhausted and almost dead for want of water, and +how he had finally returned to the fort a day behind +the column, utterly disgusted with his want +of success, to find that some of his own troop had +carried off the honors of the scout. He was proud +to command such men.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, Captain Clinton and George were +engaged in an earnest consultation. The former +told the young scout that he been sent out to +punish the raiders who had just recrossed the river, +and that he was going to do it, too. He was going +to drive them out of their stronghold, and George +must show him the way to it. His men had already +had their coffee, but as George and the rest +of Bob's squad had had none, they might stay there +at the farm-house until they had eaten the breakfast +that had been prepared for them, and then ride +on rapidly and overtake the column, which would +move down the trail at a trot. This having been +decided upon, a squad was made up of details from<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_339" id="Page_339">[Pg 339]</a></span> +the different companies to take charge of the prisoners, +and the command given to a corporal, who +was instructed to take them to the fort. Then the +column rode on, the corporal marched off with +his captives, and Bob and his troopers went back +to the farm-house to eat their breakfast.</p> + +<p>During the meal George Ackerman, who had +thus far been one of the gayest of the party, was +very silent and thoughtful. It was almost impossible +for any one to get a word out of him. His +face was as white as a sheet, but although everybody +noticed it, Bob Owens was the only one who +could account for it. When they had satisfied +their appetites they went out to hold the horses, +so that the rest of the squad could come in, and +George and the new sergeant, who was not a little +elated over his unexpected promotion, led their +nags off on one side, so that they could converse +without being overheard.</p> + +<p>"I know just how it is," said Bob, "for I have +felt so ever since Captain Clinton ordered me to +follow up that trail. When you know that a good +many lives besides your own depend upon a decision +you may have to make in an instant of +time, I tell you it is rather trying to a fellow's<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_340" id="Page_340">[Pg 340]</a></span> +nerves. I used to envy the colonel and all the +other high officers in the garrison, but I wouldn't +give up my little sergeant's berth for double the +money they make. There's too much responsibility +connected with the positions they hold."</p> + +<p>George told himself that that was just the objection +to his own position. He began to see that +being a scout meant something. There were two +hundred men in Captain Clinton's command, and +what if they should all be sacrificed by some blunder +on his part?</p> + +<p>As soon as the rest of the troopers had eaten +breakfast, and Bob had thanked the farmer for his +hospitality, the troopers sprang into their saddles +and galloped after the column. When they overtook +it George rode up beside the captain, and the +Brindles, without creating the least confusion, fell +into their usual places—all except Bob Owens, who +did not belong in the ranks any longer. Being second +sergeant, his place was in the rear of his company, +"opposite the left file of the rear four;" and +that was the position he fell into as soon as he had +reported the arrival of his squad to the lieutenant.</p> + +<p>"Well, Ackerman," said Captain Clinton as the +boy galloped up beside him, "we are in your hands.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_341" id="Page_341">[Pg 341]</a></span> +We want to go to the nearest ford, and we don't +want to get there before dark."</p> + +<p>"Very good, sir. If you will move the column +in that direction," said George, indicating a 'right +oblique,' "you will cut off twenty miles, and besides, +you can walk all the way, and save your +horses for a rapid eighteen-mile ride that must +come as soon as we cross the river."</p> + +<p>We need not dwell upon the incidents of that +day's march, or enlarge upon the feeling of suspense +that George Ackerman experienced during +that "rapid eighteen-mile ride" to which he had +referred. It will be enough to say that they crossed +the ford just after dark in safety; that George, +without the least difficulty, found the narrow road +that led from the river to Don Miguel's ranche; +that at his suggestion the column marched "right +by twos," which changed the troopers from four to +two abreast, Captain Clinton and George riding at +the head; that they moved as silently as possible, +so as not to alarm any of the people living along +the route, and rapidly, in order to reach the ranche +before the cattle-thieves could receive notice of +their approach; and that at the end of two hours +they galloped into the valley and saw Fletcher's<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_342" id="Page_342">[Pg 342]</a></span> +stronghold in plain view before them. A single +glance at it showed them that they had arrived +just in the nick of time. The courtyard was +lighted up with lanterns, excited men were moving +to and fro, loud voices were heard shouting out +words of command, and the whole interior of the +building presented a scene of the wildest commotion. +Some watchful friend had got ahead of the column +and warned the thieves, and they were gathering +up their plunder preparatory to beating a hasty retreat. +They were on the watch too, for the column +had scarcely made its appearance when a sentry +called out, "Who is it?" (equivalent to "Who goes +there?"), following up his challenge with the cry +of "The Americans! the Americans!"</p> + +<p>George afterward said that he never had a very +clear idea of what happened during the next few +minutes. He remembered that he heard the bugle +sound a charge; that he dashed through the arched +stone gateway at headlong speed side by side with +Captain Clinton; and that the rapid discharge of +firearms rang in his ears, accompanied by the cries +of the cattle-thieves, who fled in every direction, +and such cheers and yells from the troopers as he +had never heard before. When he came to himself,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_343" id="Page_343">[Pg 343]</a></span> +his horse, which seemed to enter fully into the spirit +of the matter, was dancing about in front of a +pile of forage that filled one end of the courtyard. +When George saw it he threw himself from his +saddle and caught up a lantern.</p> + +<p>"I have seen the inside of this hole for the last +time," said he to himself. "If Fletcher lives to +make a prisoner of me, he shall not bring me to +this ranche, and neither shall he harbor here to +raid on my stock."</p> + +<p>As these thoughts passed through the boy's mind +he smashed the glass globe of the lantern with one +savage kick, and picking up the lamp applied the +flame to the pile of forage. He set it on fire in +half a dozen different places, and then turned and +threw the lamp into one of the nearest rooms, which +seemed to be well filled with something. When he +had done that he was frightened. What if it was +powder in there? But, fortunately, it wasn't. It +was some combustible matter that blazed up fiercely, +sending huge volumes of flames out of the door +and lighting up the courtyard, which was now occupied +only by American troopers. The cattle-thieves +had behaved just as they did when Bob +Owens so gallantly attacked a portion of their<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_344" id="Page_344">[Pg 344]</a></span> +number at the squatter's cabin. They fled in hot +haste, making their escape by the roof, by doors +whose existence George never dreamed of, and by +squeezing themselves through the narrow openings +that served the ranche in the place of windows. +And, strange to tell, there was no one injured on +either side. Having satisfied himself on this point +by searching all the rooms to make sure that there +were no dead or wounded men in them, the captain +ordered his troopers into the saddle and departed +as rapidly and silently as he had come. George +looked over his shoulder now and then, and when +he saw the thick clouds of smoke that arose in the +air growing thicker and blacker, he told himself +that he had made sure work of the old ranche, and +that it would never serve the cattle-thieves for a +harboring-place again.</p> + +<p>Of course there was an "investigation" made by +the Mexican government, but if it ever amounted +to anything, George never heard of it. The expedition +certainly had a moral effect, and no doubt that +was just what the department commander wanted. +A body of Mexican troops was ordered to the river +almost immediately, and after that the raiders were +by no means as bold as they had formerly been.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_345" id="Page_345">[Pg 345]</a></span> +They crossed the Rio Grande now and then lower +down, toward Eagle Pass, but the troopers there +were on the alert, and after they had thrashed the +thieves a few times on their own ground, and some +of their leaders had been arrested by the Mexican +authorities, the Texans began to feel comparatively +safe.</p> + +<p>George Ackerman was kept actively employed +at the fort much longer than he thought he would +be when he first went there. By order of Colonel +Brown he crossed the river on several occasions disguised +in his Mexican suit, and he always brought +back some information concerning the raiders; and +once he came so near being captured by his old +enemy, Fletcher, that it was a wonder how he escaped. +But long before this happened Gus Robbins +had received his discharge as a minor, and +gone back to Foxboro', a wiser if not a happier +boy; Bristow had found his way into the military +prison at Fort Leavenworth; and the cattle-thieves +whom Bob Owens had captured at the squatter's +cabin had been turned over to the civil authorities. +George did all he could to secure Springer's release, +but his efforts were unavailing, and with his +companions he was sentenced to the penitentiary<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_346" id="Page_346">[Pg 346]</a></span> +for a long term of years. Mr. Wentworth had +come out all right. With the aid of his friend, +Mr. Holmes, he had gathered up all his cattle that +had been stampeded by the Mexican raiders, and rebuilt +his ranche in a more substantial manner, and +he and his boys made it a point to visit the post +very frequently to see the men who had rendered +them such signal service.</p> + +<p>The months wore on, the raids in Colonel Brown's +district grew less and less frequent until they ceased +altogether, and then the colonel told George that he +might go home if he so desired. He did desire it, +for he was growing tired of life among the soldiers, +and besides, he knew it would be a waste of time +for him to remain at the fort when he could no +longer be of any use there. So, after taking leave +of the officers and of the men who had accompanied +him on his expeditions, he mounted his horse, +took his pack-mule by the halter and set out. +The troopers, who had assembled at the gate to see +him go, cheered him lustily as he rode through +their ranks, and George carried away with him the +assurance that their feelings toward him were very +unlike those with which they had regarded him +when he first made his appearance at the fort.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_347" id="Page_347">[Pg 347]</a></span></p> + +<p>Sergeant Owens never lost the position he held +in the estimation of both officers and men. He +did his duty faithfully, never squandered a cent +of his pay at the sutler's store, and at last had +the satisfaction of telling himself that he had refunded +every cent of the <i>Mail Carrier's</i> money, interest +included. He kept up a regular correspondence +with his father, who told him he was proud +of the record he had won, and said everything he +could to encourage him. One thing that pleased +Bob was the knowledge of the fact that everybody +in and about Rochdale was familiar with his history. +They knew just what he had done when the steamer +Sam Kendall was burned, and the particulars of +his exploit on the Staked Plains had been published +in the papers. He would go home a hero, +instead of sneaking back like a thief in the night; +and that is something that runaway boys don't +often do.</p> + +<p>George Ackerman was glad to get back to his +ranche again. He thoroughly enjoyed the quiet +life he led there, it was so different from the life +of bustle and excitement he had led at the fort. +One bright moonlight night, while he was pacing +up and down the porch, thinking over old times,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_348" id="Page_348">[Pg 348]</a></span> +and wondering what Bob Owens and the rest of +the boys were doing at the fort, he was aroused +from the reverie into which he had fallen by the +sound of horses' hoofs on the trail. He stopped +abruptly, and after listening a moment heard the +clanking of sabres mingling with the sound of +the horses' feet. Greatly surprised, George descended +the steps, and walking out to the trail +discovered a long line of horsemen approaching. +There was no need that he should ask who they +were or where they came from, for as soon as they +saw him they greeted him vociferously. They +were troopers from Fort Lamoine. They rode on +past the ranche, but two men who were riding at +the head of the column turned off and came up +to him. One was Mr. Gilbert and the other was +Captain Clinton.</p> + +<p>"Why, captain," exclaimed George, "this is an +unexpected pleasure. May I ask where you are +going? You'll not march any farther to-night?"</p> + +<p>"No, we're not going any farther," was the +answer. "I was about to camp near Mr. Gilbert's +ranche, but when I happened to mention your +name, he told me that you lived only ten miles +away; so I came on, thinking that perhaps you<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_349" id="Page_349">[Pg 349]</a></span> +would like to see the boys again for the last time. +We're going up to Fort Lincoln to join General +Terry," continued the captain, as he dismounted +and gave his horse up to one of George's herdsmen. +"That's in Dakota, you know. A determined—and, +I hope, successful—effort is about to +be made to crush that old rascal, Sitting Bull, by +throwing three strong columns upon him—one under +Crook from the south, another under Gibbon +from the west, and the third under Terry from the +east. There's where your old friends the 'Brindles' +are going. I suppose it doesn't make any difference +to you where we camp?"</p> + +<p>"Of course not," replied George. "There is +plenty of grass and water close at hand. Come +into the house, both of you. I want to hear all +about that great expedition."</p> + +<p>Were there not exciting times in the ranche +that night? and didn't George find the greatest +satisfaction in acting as host to the men with whom +he had so often messed at the fort? The supper +was the best the house could afford, and all the +officers in the column sat down to it. When they +had talked themselves out, and were about to go +to camp, George asked and obtained permission<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_350" id="Page_350">[Pg 350]</a></span> +for Sergeant Owens and all the members of his +old squad to come in and visit him. Then there +was another supper to be eaten and another long +conversation to be had, and the consequence was +that when reveille was sounded no one in that +ranche had had a wink of sleep.</p> + +<p>Bob Owens rode away with his command that +morning, and it was a long time before George +heard of him again. He left Fort Lincoln with +General Terry, went off with Custer on that memorable +scout, and when that officer divided his command +into three detachments, Sergeant Owens was +one of those who were detailed to remain behind +with the packs. He heard all of that terrible +fight on that bright Sunday afternoon when Reno +was defeated and Custer fell with so many of his +devoted followers. He took part in the closing +scenes of it, for when the packs were ordered up, +about six o'clock in the evening, he was under +fire from that time until nine, and saw eighteen +of his companions killed and forty-six wounded. +He marched back to Fort Lincoln with the remnants +of the expedition, which had been whipped at +every point by the wily old savage it had hoped +to crush, and was ordered to Fort Leavenworth,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_351" id="Page_351">[Pg 351]</a></span> +where he received his honorable discharge. Then +he went home, and he is there now, living on the +best of terms with everybody, especially David +Evans. Although he was kept in the army long +months beyond his time, he does not complain, +for it gives him the opportunity to refer, when +speaking of his frontier experience, to the "time +when he was with Custer."</p> + +<p>George Ackerman is living in his Texas home, +managing his own affairs with the assistance of +an occasional word from Mr. Gilbert, and keeping +up a regular correspondence with his friend Bob +Owens, whom he hopes some day to see at his +ranche again. He has never heard from his uncle +John or from Ned since he parted from them +in Galveston. George has seen some stirring times +during his life, and has learned how to enjoy himself +in a quiet way. He has accumulated a large +fund of stories during his travels, and takes pleasure +in relating them to any attentive listener. Of +all the numerous adventures in which he had borne +a part, he delights most to talk about those that +befell him during his <span class="smcap">life among the soldiers</span>.</p> + +<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">TOP</a></span> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> + +<p>***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK GEORGE AT THE FORT***</p> +<p>******* This file should be named 21664-h.txt or 21664-h.zip *******</p> +<p>This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:<br /> +<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/1/6/6/21664">http://www.gutenberg.org/2/1/6/6/21664</a></p> +<p>Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed.</p> + +<p>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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