THE RETURN.
HERBERT was quite sure the Texans would not be gone long, unless they,
too, became involved in a fight with the dusky raiders and shared in
the probable fate of Eph Bozeman. If such proved to be the case, there
would be sounds of the conflict, which would be as brief as it was
desperate, and it was those for which he listened while sitting in his
saddle on the slope.
The stillness remaining unbroken, he turned his pony toward the point
he had left, and found, on reaching it, that Strubell and Lattin had
arrived a few minutes before and were becoming anxious over his absence.
It was now a question whether the three should stay where they were or
go elsewhere with their animals. The Apaches were prowling around the
surrounding country so closely that it looked as if they had located
the group. Such was the view of Strubell and Herbert, but Lattin, on
the other hand, was so positive that their enemies knew nothing of
their presence that the others agreed to stay where they were until
something more certain became known.
Trouble was likely to follow a change of base, since the trapper on his
return would be puzzled to find them, though the Texans would be sure
to give him all the help they could, and that was considerable.
There was nothing therefore to do but to wait, the most wearisome
occupation of anyone. The nerves of all were strung to such a high
point that there was little inclination to sleep. It was a long time
since they had eaten or drank, and they were in need of food and drink,
but no step was to be taken for the procurement of either until the
momentous question was settled.
Lattin believed that the Indian horseman seen by Herbert received no
inkling of the truth. His pony had detected something, and his rider,
bringing him to a halt, sat looking and listening for the explanation
that did not come. Concluding it was some wild animal or reptile
moving in the grass, he had dashed off to join his companions.
Inasmuch as both the Texans were in accord by this time in the theory
that they were not discovered by the red men, at the time of the scare
just before sunset, the youth felt no fear in that regard. It followed
therefore that the Apaches were unaware of their presence, and were not
likely to learn of it except through some accident.
No one could forecast the result of the pistol shot that had rung out
over the prairie, and which showed that the trapper’s stealthy journey
to the building had not been without incident.
The little company spoke only at intervals, and then in whispers. Their
eyes and ears were so intently engaged that conversation interfered.
The stillness was so profound that the champing of the horses was heard
as they cropped the grass, while the sound of the hoofs was so distinct
when they shifted about, that it seemed to Herbert they must draw the
Apaches to the spot.
By and by one of the ponies stopped eating and lay down, then two
others did the same, but the fourth kept it up so long that Lattin was
about to go out and compel him to retire to his couch, when he did so.
This left the quiet so perfect that it would have taken a wonderfully
skilful warrior to steal up undetected on foot, and it was impossible
for a horseman to do so.
The stars twinkled from a sky that was unclouded except in the western
horizon, where a bank of clouds climbed part way to the zenith and shut
out a portion of the faint light. In whatever direction the watchers
gazed was the same blank darkness. Though they knew that men were near
and constantly in motion, no glimpse of them was obtained.
“Baker,” said the elder Texan in his guarded undertone, “I’m going to
sleep for half an hour.”
“All right,” replied his companion; “I’ll do the same when you wake up.”
Strubell made not the slightest change in his position. He simply
turned his head sideways upon his arm, bent at the elbow, and shut his
eyes. Almost at the same moment he became unconscious.
The party had not removed their blankets from the backs of the ponies,
through fear that it might delay them whenever a sudden movement should
become necessary. They were stretched at full length on the grass. In
that salubrious country, with its pure, dry air, there was no thought
of ill results therefrom.
Herbert was near Lattin, and he asked:
“Will he wake at the end of the half hour?”
“If he don’t I’ll wake him,” replied the other; “but I never knew Ard
to vary more’n a minute or two.”
“What do you make of Bozeman’s long absence? Several hours must have
gone by.”
“It seems later than it is, but I expected him back before this.”
“How do you account for his delay?”
“There may be several causes,” replied Lattin; “in the first place,
maybe he run into a hornets’ nest and was knifed before he could shoot
a second chamber of his revolver. Them Apaches work quick at such
business, and they would shove Eph under in the style of greased
lightning.”
“But,” suggested Herbert, who was after every grain of comfort, “it
might be he found trouble in getting inside the building.”
“That’s likely, though Ard and me went up in sight of it without
runnin’ agin any of the varmints; but it couldn’t have kept him all
this time, for if he didn’t get inside long ago he would have given up
and come back to us.”
“Do you suppose there has been any trouble with Rickard?”
“I don’t see what trouble there could be; all the work Eph had was to
find out the best the scamp would do, and then either agree or disagree
with him. The most likely trouble is that Eph found the varmints so
plentiful when he started to come back that he hasn’t been able to get
through and is waiting for the chance.”
“If that proves the case, what will be done in the morning?”
“It’s hard to tell till the morning comes. Rickard and Slidham may come
out to help us fight our way in.”
The incident was not impossible, but what a unique state of affairs it
suggested! It recalled the affairs in the Southwest, during the Mexican
War, when a party of Comanches and “Greasers” would assail a handful of
Americans, working as the most ardent allies until the Americans were
disposed of, when the Mexicans and Indians would turn upon each other
like cat o’ mountains.
“Hello!” said Lattin a few minutes later, “there’s the moon.”
The upper edge of the gibbous orb was creeping above the horizon, and
looked like the point of a fiery spear as it climbed rapidly upward.
“That’s going to give us help,” said Herbert, watching the satellite,
whose ascent was strikingly swift.
“I don’t know about that,” replied the Texan; “it will let us see
further ‘cross the prairie, but don’t forget that it’ll do the same for
the varmints. It won’t be so easy for Eph to get back as it was to go
forward, always providin’ that he _did_ go forward.”
Strubell slumbered as quietly as an infant. His breathing could not be
heard, even in the perfect stillness which reigned. Herbert glanced at
him more than once, with an odd fear that perhaps he was dead, but that
was hardly possible.
Knowing the direction of the building, Lattin and Herbert tried to peer
through the gloom and see it, but the light was insufficient to show
its most shadowy outlines.
“Baker,” whispered the youth, “I think I see something out there toward
the building.”
“Whether you do or not,” replied the Texan, “I’m sure _I_ do; someone
is comin’ this way.”
“It must be an Apache.”
“Keep quiet; we’ll soon see.”
As the hunter spoke, he made sure his rifle was ready to fire the
instant it should become necessary. He was not troubled by the tender
conscience of his companion in that respect.
The approaching figure was on foot, and, though advancing without
noise, did so swiftly. It rapidly grew more distinct in the gloom,
until the broad-brimmed hat, the massive frame, with the long rifle
grasped in one hand, left no doubt of its identity.
It was old Eph Bozeman returning at last.