WATCHING AND WATCHED.
Bill Tozer rose to his feet. The interview was over, and little remained
to be said between the two.
"Then, Hank, you'll leave matters with me till I see you again?"
"When will that be?"
The man stood a moment in thought.
"In order that there shall be no mistake, let us agree that I shall call
here to-morrow morning--twenty-four hours from now. How does that strike
you?"
"That will do."
"I can make it less time than that, if you wish it."
"That suits; it's a go; good-by."
"Good-by," and the visitor turned on his heel and strode across the
plateau, disappearing on the further margin, where he had first shown
himself.
Hank Hazletine stood looking after him as long as he was in sight. When
at last he vanished, an expression of scornful contempt darkened the
bearded face of the cowman, and he muttered:
"Bill Tozer, you think you're smart, but _I understand you_!"
In the interview which has just been recorded the visitor believed he
had outwitted the guide at every step, and yet exactly the reverse was
the fact. Hank Hazletine had pretended a stupidity which was not real.
He noted the contradictions in the declarations of Tozer the instant
they were made, but gave no evidence of it, his object being to draw out
the miscreant, in which purpose he succeeded perfectly.
The whole truth was manifest to the guide. Fred Greenwood had been
abducted not by Motoza alone, but by him and Bill Tozer. Beyond a doubt
the daring scheme was the invention of the white man, who found a
willing partner in the vagrant Sioux, who burned with enmity toward the
youth. It was Tozer who made the mistake of supposing that the father of
Fred was half-owner of the ranch, and, therefore, presumably a rich man.
Tozer had formed the plan of the abduction while at Bowman's ranch, and
showed by his promptness that he had not allowed the grass to grow under
his feet.
These meditations occupied but a few minutes, when the cowman walked
toward Jack, who, seeing him approaching, advanced to meet him.
Hazletine felt that the change of conditions made it necessary to talk
more freely than heretofore with the boy.
"Hank, it seems to me we are throwing away time," said the youth, a
trifle impatiently.
"I'm not so sure of that, younker. I've news fur you."
The guide had a good memory, and he repeated, almost word for word, all
that had been said by Tozer and himself. Jack was astounded. His first
emotion was of profound gratitude and delight, for the interview seemed
to establish that Fred Greenwood was alive, and consequently within
reach of recovery.
"He's not dead!" exclaimed the happy lad; "thank Heaven for that! I
shall soon see him! It seems too good to be true."
"It isn't best to be sartin of anything in this world," remarked his
friend, with a gravity of expression that ought to have chilled the
ardor of Jack, but it did not. The tidings were too exhilarating for
that.
"Now, younker," added the man, "we've got more time on our hands than we
know what to do with. Come over by the fire and set down fur a while.
How's that appetite of yours?"
"I am beginning to feel hungry."
"I thought so," observed Hank, with a smile.
"But there's no hurry. I can wait a little while."
"You'll have to."
"Now tell me who this man Tozer is?"
"Wal, he's a reg'lar Motoza, except in blood. I run across him five
years ago in Arizona, where he had been in the stage-robbin' bus'ness.
Things got so hot he had to git out. I didn't hear anything more of him
till I was driving cattle in Montana, when I discovered he was one of
the worst rustlers in that part of the world. I'm sartin he has done a
good many things fur which he ought to hang, but he's more cunning in
his way than the Sioux, and has kept out of the penitentiary when anyone
else would have been doing a life-term. Bill is a great gambler, and has
made and lost fortunes, but he is always out of money and figgering how
to git it ag'in. There isn't anything too mean fur him to do fur money.
He doesn't care any more fur the feelings of others than Geronimo."
"It looks as if the plan of abducting Fred and holding him for ransom is
his."
"There ain't no doubt of it; he come to the ranch soon after we'd gone
and larned all 'bout you tenderfeet from the boys themselves. The
thought come to him at once that one of the chances of his lifetime was
his. It's queer he made the mistake of believing that it was the father
of the other younker as owned part of the ranch, but he got matters
twisted in some way. You can see that if it hadn't been fur that blunder
of his, it would be _you_ that your friend and me would be looking fur."
"I wish it were," was the honest exclamation of Jack Dudley; "but how
was it he came to form his partnership with Motoza?"
"You've heard it said the devil takes care of his own; Bill and Motoza
are old friends and have been in more than one shady job. I can't know,
but I think Bill must have larned or suspicioned that the Sioux warn't
fur off and he set out to hunt him up. Anyway they managed to come
together, and the job was fixed up atween 'em. Howsumever," said the
guide, "there ain't no use of talking and guessing over what _has been_,
but we must face what _is_. Now, if Doctor Greenwood has word by
telegraph that he must pay five thousand dollars to git his younker back
agin, what'll he think?"
"He will think that this has been a pretty expensive outing for Fred,"
replied Jack, whose buoyancy of spirits prompted his trivial answer.
"Will he pay the money?"
"Yes, and twice as much more, if it is necessary; but won't he be
startled and puzzled to know the meaning of it all! He will come right
out here himself and bring some of the best detectives in the country."
"And if he does that, he'll never see his boy alive."
Jack looked at Hazletine in alarm and amazement. The cowman saw phases
of this extraordinary business that had not presented themselves to the
youth, and he now proceeded to impress them upon him. In the first
place, the cunning Tozer would make sure of protecting himself and
Motoza, though the last was purely a matter of policy and self interest,
since he was always ready to sacrifice a comrade. In arranging the
ransom or exchange, Tozer would take no chances. The friends of Fred
Greenwood would have to remain out of sight and in the background. It
would be impossible for any of them to try to checkmate him without his
quickly learning it, whereupon he would abandon the job and turn over
the boy to the savage will of the Sioux.
"And you know what _that_ means," added the cowman, impressively. "I
should tell you something else, too. It's my belief that if the money is
give to Tozer, and the Sioux is ordered to surrender the younker, he
hates him that bad that he'll try to bring about his death and run the
chances of hanging for it. Where two such wretches as him and Tozer are
in a job there's bound to be crooked work, and I won't never believe
you're going to shake the hand of t'other younker till I see it done
with my own eyes."
The emphasis of this declaration sent a thrill of alarm through the
frame of Jack Dudley, though it could not wholly destroy the
exhilaration caused by the knowledge that Fred Greenwood was alive.
It was proof of the kindliness of Hank Hazletine that he made no mention
of a strong suspicion that had been in his mind from the first. This was
that when Tozer met Motoza he learned that the Sioux had already slain
his prisoner, for Hank knew of the furious hate the fellow held toward
the youth. Consequently, Tozer had arranged to carry out his original
scheme, and was now seeking to gain a large sum of money, knowing that
it was out of his power ever to fulfill his part of the bargain.
Hazletine, we repeat, strongly believed that this ghastly phase of the
business was true, but, inasmuch as there was no certainty of it, he was
too considerate to bring additional grief to the heart of Jack Dudley.
But the cowman had formed a resolution which he carefully held back from
his companion. An interval of twenty-four hours must pass before the
second interview with Tozer, during which, as the latter was given to
understand, the negotiation would be left wholly with him. Hank and Jack
were to remain quiescent, at least until after the next meeting. But the
cowman nursed a very different determination. He intended to employ all
the time and the utmost ability he possessed in defeating the atrocious
plot of the miscreants. It will be seen that the easiest plan for him
was quietly to help forward the negotiations, but his nature forbade
such meek submissiveness on his part.
This course, however, was perilous to the missing boy; for, if Tozer or
Motoza saw himself in danger of losing the prize, he would make short
work of the prisoner. It was clear that all the skill and woodcraft of
which the cowman was master would be needed in the delicate task he had
assigned to himself.
"Younker," he said, when the conversation had continued a while longer,
"after thinking over this bus'ness, I've made up my mind it's better we
should keep apart fur the day."
"Follow your own judgment. I shall try to be back this evening."
"To-morrer morning will be time 'nough. I had my supper last night not
fur from here, and if the wild animals haven't visited the spot since,
we shall find 'nough to make a square meal."
This was acceptable news, and the result all that could be desired. Hank
had cooked a considerable quantity of venison at a romantic place among
the rocks, his first intention being to carry enough of it to
headquarters to supply his young friends with what they needed.
Afterward he changed his mind and decided that it was time they learned
to provide for themselves. Upon making his way to the spot he found
everything as it had been left the previous evening, and thus much more
readily than Jack had dared to expect he secured the needed food.
"Right here we part," said Hank at the conclusion of the meal.
"How am I to spend the time?"
"As your fancy strikes you. As I told you, it will be soon 'nough fur
you to git back to camp to-morrer morning, but you must keep your eyes
open. It may be that Tozer, having larned that your father is the man he
meant to bleed, will try to make a prisoner of you."
Jack Dudley's eyes flashed.
"Let him try it! I should like to be in Fred's company."
"Mebbe you wouldn't be so well suited as you think, but look out fur
snares in your path--that's all I've got to say. I'm off."
It was characteristic of the cowman to take his departure in this abrupt
manner, his intention being to undertake without delay the difficult
task he had set out for himself, but five minutes later he gave over his
purpose, and, to the surprise of Jack Dudley, came back to him.
In doing this, Hazletine was wise. His purpose, as already intimated,
was to discover if possible Motoza and Tozer, but especially the former.
There was little doubt that the Sioux would communicate with his
prisoner during the day, or, if Fred Greenwood was not among the living,
his unrelenting enemy was likely to give some evidence of where his
taking off had occurred. Hazletine's belief, therefore, was that by
shadowing the Sioux he had a good chance of securing the information
that would overturn all the calculations of the abductors.
But this task was tenfold more delicate than would seem at first, for
not only had the cowman to learn the whereabouts of the Sioux, but he
must do it undetected and dog the fellow without discovery on his part.
When it is remembered that Motoza would be on the alert against this,
one is almost ready to declare the cowman had attempted an impossible
thing.
When he left his young friend, however, it was with the firm purpose of
doing, or rather trying to push through this purpose. Within a hundred
yards of the point where he left Jack the guide had a glimpse of what
may be called the shadow of a movement. Something flickered among the
rocks a short distance ahead and then vanished before he could identify
it.
But he knew what it meant. Some one was watching him. If the watcher was
not Motoza or Tozer, he was an ally of theirs. He was holding the cowman
under surveillance, ready to report or shoot on the first proof of his
real purpose. The truth flashed upon Hank, and pausing in his walk,
without any evidence of what he had discovered, he began a hasty
examination of his pockets after the manner of a man who suddenly misses
some prized article that he believed to be in his garments.
The little farce was cleverly acted. Each receptacle was examined
several times, some of the pockets being turned wrong side out, while
the face of the cowman, or rather his eyes, betrayed his excitement.
Then he looked at the ground in front and at the rear, apparently to
learn whether he had dropped the missing treasure. Failing to find it,
he uttered an angry exclamation and walked hurriedly back to his
companion. No one observing the performance would have doubted its
meaning.
"I'm going to stay a while with you," he remarked, seating himself upon
the ground and lighting his pipe.
"It was a sudden change of mind," replied Jack, glad to have his
company.
"Yes; a redskin helped me to make it," and he explained the nature of
his discovery. Inasmuch as the guide had turned back because of the
same, it was easy to understand what his original intention was; for had
it not existed, why should the cowman care if he was kept under
surveillance? He would not be betraying himself any more during an
innocent walk and hunt through the mountains than by sitting on the
ground and smoking his pipe.
The result to a certain extent was a disappointment to Jack himself, for
he had quietly resolved upon a venture in the same line. Of necessity he
would be governed almost entirely by guesswork, but it was his
determination to spend the day, and if possible the night, in trying to
gather some trace of his missing friend. And while it must be said that
his prospect of success was exceedingly meagre, it should be borne in
mind that he would possess one great advantage over the veteran while
similarly engaged--neither Tozer nor Motoza would fear anything from
what he did, and would give him no attention. He therefore would be left
comparatively free to do what he chose. Despite the warnings of Hank,
Jack was confident nothing was to be feared from the enmity of the two
miscreants while the negotiations were in progress. They were not the
men to destroy the hen that was expected to lay the golden egg.
For hours Hazletine and Jack lolled in this primitive camp, the cowman
smoking his pipe most of the time, while the two discussed over and over
again the various phases of the momentous business that engaged their
thoughts and to which they yearned to devote their utmost energies. The
guide longed to be off, and as the sun descended the heavens it was one
of the hardest tasks of his life to restrain his impatience, but he had
been trained in a school where patience is one of the greatest of all
the virtues. Suddenly he rose to his feet, stretched his arms and
yawned.
"I'd like to borrer that spy-glass of yours fur a few minutes."
"You are welcome," replied Jack, slipping the string over his head and
passing the instrument to him. The cowman sauntered off, taking the same
direction as before. His first wish was to learn whether he was still
under surveillance. So far as he could determine the watcher had grown
weary and withdrawn, though there could be no certainty that he was not
in the neighborhood.
Jack Dudley, without leaving camp, was able to keep an eye on the
movements of his friend. He saw him make his way to a jutting rock,
partly screened by a growth of cedar. Concealing himself as well as he
could, he raised the glass to his eyes and spent several minutes in
studying the wild country spread below him. He was looking in the
direction of the break in the canyon, beyond which, as will be
remembered, was the plateau where the ponies had been left to crop the
grass while their masters were engaged elsewhere.
[Illustration: "He was looking in the direction of the break in the
canyon."]
Jack did not attempt to survey the same field, but kept his gaze upon
Hazletine. He could see that he directed his attention toward a
particular point, as if he had either discovered something or expected
to do so. The study continued only a few minutes, when he came back and
handed the glass to the youth, with the remark:
"I'm going to try it agin. I won't expect to see you till to-morrer
morning."
The lad bade him good-by, and he took his departure; but instead of
descending the mountain toward the point that had interested him, he
followed the opposite course, as if he intended to push through to the
other side of the Wind River range. This was so transparent a subterfuge
that it did not deceive Jack.
"He has discovered something," was his conclusion; "he doesn't choose to
tell me, and it makes little difference. I wonder whether he believes I
intend to idle my time till night and then go back to headquarters and
wait for him? If he thinks so, he makes a mistake."
Waiting until sure his friend was beyond sight, Jack carefully picked
his way to the rock from which Hank had made the observation that
decided his line of action. The better to screen himself the youth lay
down on his face, as when peering over the ridge into the valley where
the antelope were grazing, and held the glass to his eyes.
Thus looking out, he saw the plateau in the distance, seemingly but a
few rods in extent. Only one of the ponies was visible, and he resembled
a small dog, standing with head down, in the middle of the grassy plot.
Beyond and between were foot-hills, peaks of varying heights, gorges,
ravines and hollows, with rocks, boulders and stunted trees scattered in
profusion. The picturesqueness of the scene was deepened by a thin, blue
column of vapor in the distance, ascending from an invisible camp-fire.
The smoke rose steadily, so it was not to be supposed that it was meant
for a signal, like those already described.
The most attractive point was the break in the canyon, already
described. This was in plain sight, with the expanse of swiftly-flowing
water, which soon disappeared between the walls on the opposite side.
Suddenly Jack started. Two Indians were visible, though they were in
view for only a few minutes. They came from the base of the incline
where the boys had seen three of them the day before, and passed out of
sight before the interested observer could decide whether Motoza, the
Sioux, was one of them.
"I believe Hank has gone down there," was the conclusion of Jack, "and I
shall do the same."