Altsheler, Joseph - [Great West 01] Read online

"At least it provides a lot of fresh air," said Will.

  "And you see heaps and heaps of splendid country, all kinds, mountains, rivers, lakes, valleys, plains. Fur hunters can't complain of the lack of scenery."

  "Which course will we take, Jim ?"

  "I think we'd better ride due west. That Indian village shuts us off from the mountains. It's true we may meet 'em on the plains, but likely we can escape J em, and then when we've gone far enough we'll turn north and seek the ranges, where the cover is good. Now, hark to that, will you!"

  From a point to the northward rose a long, quaver- ing shout, shrill in its texture, and piercing the night like a call. A quiver ran along the lad's spine.

  "A Sioux made that cry!" he exclaimed.

  "Beyond a doubt," replied Boyd, "but why he did so I can't tell. Wait."

  They sat, silent, on their horses, and in a minute or two the cry was repeated, but farther toward the east. Will could have mistaken the note for the howl

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  of a wolf, it contained so much animal quality, but since the nature of the first had been told to him he knew that the second was a reply to it.

  "It's signals," said Boyd with conviction. "They're talking to one another, though I don't know what they're saying. But it means the sooner we get out of the valley the better for this white army of two."

  "There's nothing to keep us from starting now."

  "That's true. Because, if they find us here, all knowledge of the mine for which we are looking is likely to perish with us. I don't suppose the Sioux have made any formal declaration of war, but the warning of Red Cloud is enough. They wouldn't hesitate to put out of the way two wandering fellows like ourselves."

  As they talked they rode slowly toward the west, the sound of their horses' hoofs deadened on the turf, and both watching among the trees for any^ hostile appear- ance. Young Clarke was rapidly learning the ways of the wilderness, from experience, and also because he had in Boyd a teacher not excelled anywhere in the West. The calls, the long, dying cries, came again and again, showing the Sioux were steadily approaching the valley, but the two were leaving it at an equal pace.

  Will clutched the reins in his left hand and held the splendid repeating rifle across the saddle bow with the other. The pack horse, unled, but obedient to his training, followed close after. Boyd, just ahead of him, proceeded in the same manner, and now they be- gan to descend the slope that ended in the open plain. In ten more minutes they would leave the cover of the

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  last tree. Before them rolled the bare country, swell on swell, touched but faintly by the moon, yet keen eyes such as those of the Sioux could trace the figures of horses and men on it for a considerable distance.

  Will felt little shivers as they were about to leave the final row of trees. He could not help it, knowing that they were going to give up shelter for those open spaces which, dusky though they were, were yet re- vealing.

  "It's likely, in any event, that we'll be followed, isn't it?" he said. "If the Sioux search the valley, and they will, they're sure to find our traces. Then they'll come over the rim of the hills on our tracks."

  "Well reasoned, Will," said the hunter. "You'll learn to be a great scout and trailer, if you live long enough. That's just what they'll do, and they'll hang on to our trail with a patience that a white man seldom shows, because time means little to the Indian. As I said before, when we're far out on the plains we must make an abrupt turn toward the north, and lose ourselves among the ranges. For a long time to come the mountains will be our best friends. I love mountains anyway, Will. They mean shelter in a wild country. They mean trees, for which the eyes often ache. They mean grass on the slopes, and cool run- ning water. The great plains are fine, and they lift you up, but you can have too much of 'em."

  They rode now into t the open country and in its dusky moonlight Will could not at first restrain the feeling that in reality it was as bright as day. A few hundred yards and both gazed back at the circle of

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  hills enclosing the valley, hills and forest alike looking like a great black blur upon the face of the earth. But from the depths of that circling island came a long, piercing note, instinct with anger and menace.

  "Now that was plain talk," said Boyd. "It said that they had found our trail, that they knew we were white, that they wanted our scalps, and that they meant to follow us until they got 'em."

  » "Which being the case," said Will defiantly, "we have to say to them in reply, though our syllables are unuttered, that we're not afraid, that they may follow, but they will not take us, that our scalps are the only scalps we have and we like 'em, that we mean to keep 'em squarely on top of our heads, where they belong, and, numerous and powerful though the Sioux nation may be, and brave and skillful though its warriors are, they won't be able to keep us from finding our mine."

  "That's the talk, Will, my boy. It sounds like Red Cloud, the great Ogalala, Mahpeyalute himself. Fling 'em your glove, as the knights did in the old time, but while you're flinging it we'll have to do something besides talking. We must act. Trailers like the Sioux can follow us even in the night over the plains, and the more ground we gain in the beginning the better."

  He urged his horses into a long, easy gallop and Will promptly followed at the same gait. The night dark- ened somewhat, at which they rejoiced, and then light- ened again, at which they were sad, but they continued the long, swinging pace, which the horses could main- tain for hours.

  "Try your glasses again, Will," said the hunter.

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  "They will cut through the dark a long way, and maybe they can tell if the Sioux are now in the plain."

  Young Clarke slowed his pace, and bending in the saddle took a long look.

  "I see nothing," he said. "Do you want to try 'em too, Jim?"

  "No. Your eyes are of the best, and your news is good. It's likely that we've got a lead of seven or eight miles at least. Two or three miles more and we'd better turn for the mountains. Our horses are a lot bigger than those of the Sioux, but their ponies,, though not much to look at, are made out of steel. They'd follow for days, and if we stuck to the plains they'd be sure to run us down at last."

  "And we'd have little chance against a big Sioux band?"

  "That's the ugly truth, and it's bound to be the mountains for us. I see a line on the prairie, Will. What do your glasses tell us about it?"

  Young Clarke turned his gaze to the front, and after a single glance said :

  "Water. It's one of those shallow prairie streams, I suppose, a foot of sand, and an inch of water on top."

  "If there's not too much alkali in it it'll be mighty welcome to the horses. Ah, Selim smells it now !"

  His great mount raised his head and neighed. Boyd smoothed his long, silky mane.

  "Yes, old friend," he .said, as if he were talking to a man, "I'm quite sure it won't have much alkali, you're going to have a nice, big drink, so are your friends » and then, ho! for the mountains!"

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  The stream was just what Will predicted it would be, a foot of sand and an inch of water, but it was only slightly brackish, and both horses and horsemen drank freely from it, took a rest and then drank as freely again. Another half hour and the two re- mounted.

  "Now, Will," said Boyd, "the ridges are our target, and we'll shoot as straight at 'em as our horses can go, though we'll make the pace slow for the present. Nothing to be gained by tiring out our mounts before the race begins."

  "And so you look for a real chase ?"

  "Surely. Those Sioux on their ponies will hang on like grim death and mighty glad I'll be when the trees on the first slopes reach out their boughs to hide us. About midnight now, isn't it, Will?"

  The lad was able to see the face of his watch and announced that it was midnight and a hal
f hour more.

  "That's good," said Boyd, "because the darkest part of the night is now coming, and maybe some clouds floating up from the south will help us. Yes, I think I notice a change already. Three stars that I counted a little while ago have gone away."

  "And about five million are left."

  "Still, every little counts. Maybe in an hour or so two or three more will go away."

  "You're certainly an optimist, Jim. You draw hope from very little things."

  "It pays. Hope not only makes you stronger, it also makes you happier. There, didn't I tell you? I said that two or three stars might go away, but it's far

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  better than two or three. All the skirmishers have left and now troops and battalions are departing, too. Maybe whole armies will leave before long, and give us an entirely black sky."

  It grew visibly darker, although many of the stars remained twinkling in their places, but they were much encouraged, nevertheless, and trusting in the aid of the night, still saved the strength of their horses.

  "It will make it a little harder for the Sioux to trail us," said Boyd, "and if, by any chance they should get near enough for a shot, the odds are about twenty to one they can't hit us. Suppose we stop here, give the horses another short rest, and you search the blackness back there with your glasses again."

  Will was able to discern nothing but the sombre crests of the swells, and Boyd, dismounting, put his ear to the ground.

  "I hear something moving," he said at last, and then, after a short pause, "it's the beat of hoofs."

  "Can they be so near as that?" asked Will in alarm.

  "At first I thought it was the Sioux, but now I'm sure it's running buffalo. I wonder why they're stam- peding at this time of the night. Maybe a hunting party of Northern Cheyennes has wandered in here and knows nothing about the presence of the Sioux."

  "That won't help us, since the Sioux and Northern Cheyennes are allies."

  "No, it won't. If the Cheyennes meet the Sioux they'll join 'em in the pursuit of us. It's a new dan- ger and I don't like it."

  Boyd remounted and they rode on slowly. Pres-

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  ently he stopped, and Will, of course, stopped too.

  "Listen, boy," he said, "and you'll hear the thunder of the buffalo. It's a big herd and they're running our way. I'm as sure as I sit here in this saddle that they're being driven by hunters."

  Will heard a low, rolling sound like that of distant thunder. It was approaching rapidly, too, and it seemed to his heightened imagination that it was bear- ing straight down upon them.

  "If they are Cheyennes we may be in the middle of 'em soon," he said.

  "If we sit still here," said Boyd, "but that's just what we won't do. We'll gallop ahead until we come to a deep dip between the swells."

  "And then?"

  "Dismount, keep low, and let the storm drive by."

  They did not have much time to spare, as the rumb- ling sound was growing fast beneath the tread of the flying herd, and they urged their horses into a gallop until they came to a dip, which they thought was deep enough to hide them. Here they dismounted and hold- ing the lariats, watched as the thunder of the run- ning herd increased, until they saw its van of lowered heads, short, curved horns and great, shaggy manes, and then the dark mass stretching back out of sight.

  "There are tens of thousands of 'em," said the hunter. "They'll be some time in going by, and then, I think, we'll see the Indians hanging on the rear."

  The multitude drove on for a period somewhat longer than Boyd had predicted, and then Will saw naked horsemen crouched low on ponies, some firing

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  with rifles and others with bows and arrows.

  "They're Cheyennes, as I thought," said Boyd, "and they're enjoying a mighty killing. There'll be huge feasts for days and days in their lodges. They're so intent on it, too, that there isn't one chance in a thou- sand they'll see us."

  "But I'm glad I see them," said Will. "It's a won- derful sight. I never thought I'd look upon its like, the chase of the buffalo herd under a midnight moon. It makes my blood leap."

  "And mine, too, though I've seen it before. This wild country with its vast plains and its high moun- tains takes hold of you, Will. It grips you with fet- ters of steel. Maybe, when you find the gold you won't want to go back to civilization."

  "If we find it, it will be easy enough to decide what we wish to do. But the whole herd is disappearing in the moonlight in the west, and I can barely make out the last of the Indian hunters who are following 'em. I can see, though, a lot of beasts running low."

  "The wolves. They're always hanging on the rear of a herd, hoping to cut out calves or buffaloes weak from old age. Now they're expecting to reap a little from the harvest made by the hunters. There, they've gone too, though for a long time you'll hear the herd thundering away to the west. But we don't mind the sound of a danger when the danger itself has passed. We'll mount and start again on our particular little excursion to the mountains, where we hope the fresh, cool air will help two fellows like ourselves, in failing health, no strength, no appetite, no anything."

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  The big hunter laughed aloud in pleasure.

  "That herd was a help to us," he said. "It passed to the south of us, and so cut across our trail. If the Sioux are pursuing, as we think they are, it'll take 'em a long time to find our traces again. We'll take ad- vantage of it, as our horses are thoroughly rested, and make some speed."

  They swung into an easy gallop, and went on with- out further talk for a long time. When two or three hours had passed Will raised his glasses and gazed into the north.

  "I think I see there a blur which is not of the night itself," he announced. "It may be the loom of the mountains that we're so anxious to reach."

  "But a long way off yet," said the hunter. "Day will come hours before we can strike the first slopes, and we may have the Sioux hanging on our trail."

  As a faint, gray light in the east told of the coming dawn, they came to another of the shallow streams of the plains and both horses and horsemen drank again. Will and Boyd also ate a little food.

  "Now turn your glasses to the south and tell me what you see," said the hunter.

  Will gazed and then lowered the glasses, a look of alarm on his face.

  "I know from your eyes what you've seen without your telling me," said Boyd. "The Sioux are there. In some way they've picked up our trail and are com- ing. It's a mighty good thing that we've saved our horses. They're in splendid trim now for a long run, and we'll need every ounce of their speed and courage."

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  He did not seek to disguise the full measure of the danger from Will, who, he knew, would summon his utmost courage to meet it. The lad looked again through the glasses, and was able now to see a full score of men coming on their ponies. The dawn had just spread to the south and against its red and gold they were shown sharply, a long line of black figures on the crest of a swell.

  "Take a look, Jim," said young Clarke, handing him the glasses. "You'll be able to tell more about 'em than I can."

  Boyd studied the picture carefully it was in reality a picture to him and after due deliberation, said :

  "They are thirty-two, because I've counted 'em. They're comparatively fresh, because their ponies are running straight and true. They're Sioux, as I know from the style of their war bonnets, and they're after us, as I know from the way they're riding."

  "But look the other way, Jim, and see how much nearer the mountains have come !"

  "Aye, lad! They stand up like a fort, and if we reach 'em in time we may stave off our pursuers. They're coming fast, and they're spreading out in a long line now. That helps 'em, because it's impossible for fugitives to run exactly straight, and every time we deviate from the true course some part of
their line gains on us."

  "I see a huge, rocky outcrop on the mountain side. Suppose we always ride for that."

  "Something to steer by, so to speak. A good idea. We won't push the horses hard at first, because it will

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  be a long time before they come within rifle shot of us. Then maybe we'll show 'em a spurt that'll count."

  But it was hard for Will not to use the utmost speed at once, as every time he looked back he saw that the Sioux were gaining, their figures and those of their horses, horse and rider seemingly one, always standing out black and clear against the rosy dawn. But he knew that Boyd was right, and he tried hard to calm the heavy beating of his pulses.

  The whole horizon was now lighted by a* brilliant sun and the earth was bathed in its beams. Flight and pursuit went on, unabated, and the hunter and the boy began to increase the speed of their horses, as they saw that the Sioux were gaining. They had been rid- ing straight as they could toward the stony outcrop, but in spite of everything they curved a little now and then, and some portion of the following line drew closer. But they were yet a full two miles away, and the mountains were drawing much nearer. Trees on the slopes detached themselves from the general mass, and became separate and individual. Once Will thought he caught a flash of water from a mountain torrent, and it increased the desirability of those slopes and ridges. How sheltered and protecting they looked ! Surely Boyd and he could evade the Sioux in there!

  "We'll make it easily," said Boyd, and then he added with sudden violence. "No, we won't! Look, there on your right, Will !"

  Four warriors on swift ponies suddenly emerged from a swell scarcely a quarter of a mile away, and uttered a shout of triumph. Perhaps they were stray

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  hunters drawn by the spectacle of the pursuit, but it was obvious that, in any event, they meant to co-operate with the pursuers.