From his lookout Sam kept a constant watch on the four horsemen, and he
made up his mind from their movements that they were not going back
without letting him hear from them again.
"W'at you tink now, 'bout dis time?" asked Ike, who, with Wah Shin, had
crept up from one of the excavations to Sam's side.
"I think, Ike, that those men are not our friends," said Sam, pointing
to the distant group.
"Dat's jest how I feel. De worl' wouldn't be no wuss off if de earf was
to open up an' swaller all dem men an' den come shut agin, like a
rat-trap, Mistah Sam! Do you know what I tinks?"
"What is it, Ike?"
"W'en we wuz down in dem canyons, wif de watah all round us an' dem dar
big rocks shootin' away up till dey 'peahed to go right frue de sky, den
we tinked we wuz in a pooty bad fix, didn't we?"
"So we did, Ike."
"An' den again, w'en we fell in wif dem savage Injuns an' it appeahed as
ef dey was bound to hab our skelps, den we tinked as how we wuz in a
heap sight wuss fix'n eber?"
"Yes, Ike."
"An' we kinder wished we wuz back in de canyons?"
"That is true."
"Wa'al, does yeh know w'at I tinks now?"
"What is it, Ike?"
"Dat a mean w'ite man is a heap sight meaner dan a mean Injun----"
"My opinion exactly."
"An' dat if I had my choice to be in de comp'ny ob dem four men off dar,
or away back wif dem bar-legged 'Paches, as is so powahful fond ob dorg,
w'y, I'd go wif de 'Patches ebery time, an' feel might tankful foh de
hobertunity."
"I agree with you, Ike."
"But w'at's to be did?"
"We must wait."
"An' starve?"
"We can't get anything to eat here, Ike."
"If we could get suffin' to eat de place'd be a sight pleasanter. I
nebber could feel brave w'en I was feelin' holler at de same time," and
Ike tightened his belt, and rapped himself on the outside to show he was
very much in the condition of a drum.
"Bime by, light way soon we hab night, sun go down, see," said Wah Shin,
pointing to the west where a crimson flush marked the spot where the sun
had set.
With great anxiety Sam saw the shadows settling over the landscape.
He was now convinced that these men came to do him a harm, and he
resolved not to let them come near him while he had a shot left in his
rifle, or he was able to pull a trigger.
He felt this delay more keenly than he had all the obstacles that beset
his course since he left Gold Cave Camp to reach his father.
By a perilous and round about way he had come, and when within a few
miles of the objective point for which he had struggled so bravely, he
found himself stopped by men, who, according to all the laws of
humanity, should have been his protectors and friends.
It was much like a brave swimmer's sinking within touch of shore, or a
starving man's hand falling helpless by his side when just within reach
of food.
But Sam Willett had the courage and the devotion that obstacles could
not weaken nor sufferings ever change.
With every trial he grew stronger, more determined to reach the father,
who was nearly always in his thoughts, and never for an instant absent
from his heart.
To add to the trials of the situation night was coming, and under its
cover Sam was now convinced that these men would try to make their way
to the top of the rock on which he and his faithful companions had found
a refuge.
"I've heerd tell o' war," groaned Ike, "an' I've seed men as fit an'
fout, but thar wasn't none of 'em as eber got cornered as we is now. If
I wasn't so awful holler I'd kneel down and pray, for if de good Lor'
wants to help us He'll neber hab a bettah chance."
"Don't lose heart, Ike. Help will come in good time," said Sam, with a
cheeriness of manner that did not at all indicate his actual feelings.
"I no cannee see how help him can gettee to us, but I no cale. Only can
die one time," said Wah Shin, with the stolidity of bearing and that
indifference to death which so often distinguishes the Mongolian.
"These men," said Sam, pointing in the direction of the enemy, "knew we
were out here before they left Hurley's Gulch."
"It do seem bery much dat way," said Ike, with a sad shake of the head.
Then he added: "But I don't see how dey could hab knowed."
"Can't you think of one way, Ike?"
"No, Mistah Sam; foh de life ob me I can't."
"Have you forgotten Ulna?"
"Ulna!" exclaimed Ike.
"Yes; there is no doubt in my mind as to his safety. He has reached
Hurley's Gulch, and those men, my father's enemies, have come out, on
the strength of Ulna's information, to stop us."
"But why don't some ob our friends show up? Dat's w'at gits me," said
Ike, and he rubbed his head vigorously with both hands, as if he might
in this way excite his brain into better action.
The question asked by Ike had presented itself to Sam before, but as he
could not answer it he did not let it annoy him. Speculation and action
do not work in harmony.
While it was yet sufficiently light, Sam Willett, like a careful soldier
examining the field on which a life and death struggle is about to take
place, looked over the rock on which they had found refuge and saw its
weak points as well as its advantages.
He walked boldly about within sight of the enemy, and the wonder is that
they did not risk a shot at him. They certainly would have done so had
they not agreed to try the effect of strategy before attempting force.
It did not take Sam long to discover that the summit of the rock was
accessible on one side only, and so he very wisely reasoned that that
was the only side to be defended in the event of a night attack.
He reasoned further that a rock so conspicuous in the landscape and
known to have water on its top must be well known to every one
acquainted with that land. Indeed, there was evidence all about him that
the place had been frequently visited and used as a camping-ground by
Indians and miners, and the chances were that Frank Shirley's companions
knew the way to the top.
Ike and Wah Shin were without arms, but it did not take Sam long to
discover how their strength and courage could be utilized in defending
the position.
Scattered over the crest of the rock there were a great many irregular
pieces of yellow sandstone, weighing from a few ounces to fifty pounds,
or more, and, properly handled these stones would make very effective
ammunition.
People whose hands and brains are occupied do not feel trouble like
those who have nothing to do but to think over their woes.
The instant Sam stated his purpose to Ike and Wah Shin, their faces
brightened and they went to work with a spirit and energy that made them
forget, for the time, that they were very hungry.
They piled the stones four feet high across the narrow turn, up which
their assailants must come, and in addition they placed a great heap
within reach to be used as ammunition.
By the time these preparations were made, it was quite dark, but the
snorting and tramping of uneasy horses and the hoarse voices of men in
the distance, told Sam that the enemy were still close by.
"Mistah Sam," whispered Ike, unable longer to stand the strain in
silence.
"Yes, Ike."
"How does yeh feel 'bout dis time?"
"All right--considering."
"Not so hungry as yeh was, eh?"
"No."
"Dat's same's me. My heart's beatin' so dat I don't feel so holler----"
"You heap skee-at," grunted Wah Shin.
"Yes, an' I ain't 'shamed to say I is; but if it comes to chuckin' down
rocks, you'll see I ken work harder'n you, Wah Shin," said Ike, with
spirit.
"Mebbe yes. Mebbe no. Me chuckee rocks w'en Meest Sam he say, 'You go
in, Wah.' Me no blag."
"Hist!" interrupted Sam. "Keep silence. They are coming nearer."
On the instant Ike and Wah Shin became as silent as the grave, and
hugged closer to the surface of the rock, but they could hear their own
hearts beating like war-drums, and they would not have been at all
surprised if told that the men down below could hear them, too.
It was a trying moment, but Sam was equal to the occasion. His ready
rifle was protruding through an opening in the wall that commanded the
approach. Ike stood at his right hand and Wah Shin on his left, each
ready to hurl down the stones on their assailants, when their young
commander gave the word.