SOMETHING OF A SURPRISE.
Andy was certainly as much dismayed as Matt at the discovery which had
been made. Just at the time when they supposed that they were drawing
closer to the object of their chase, they found that they were most
likely further away than ever. The older member of the firm gave
another groan, and this was supplemented by another from the freight
agent.
"I knew he couldn't cross that river," growled the latter. "Now, just
see what a wild goose chase you have led us!"
"Oh, he crossed the river, there is no doubt of that!" returned Matt
quickly. "But where we got off the track was somewhere among the
mountains. We dropped the right track and took something that
resembled it."
"Yes, that must be the truth of the matter," put in Andy. "It's too
bad!"
"What's it all about, anyway?" questioned the tavern-keeper
curiously.
In a few brief words Andy explained matters, while not only the
tavern-keeper, but also the others in the place, listened with deep
interest.
"Any reward offered for catching the rascal?" questioned one of the
men present, a brawny individual--evidently a mountaineer.
"Yes," returned Matt quickly. "How much shall we offer, Andy?" he
asked in a whisper.
"Twenty-five dollars would not be too much," returned his partner. "It
is quite a sum to us, I know, but I guess we would rather have our
turn-out back a dozen times over."
"We will give twenty-five dollars in cash for the return of our horse,
wagon and goods," said Matt, in a voice loud enough for all to hear.
"Twenty-five dollars in cash!" repeated several, and it was plain to
see that this offer was regarded as quite liberal.
"What kind of a looking turn-out is it?" was next asked.
Matt described Billy and the wagon. All listened attentively, and when
he had finished the mountaineer who had first spoken tapped him on the
shoulder.
"I'll go out with ye and hunt him up, stranger."
"So will I!" cried another.
"And I!" added a third, and soon six men stood ready to continue the
search with Andy and Matt.
Seeing this, the freight agent decided to drive back home, taking a
much better road, which led down to Easton. He did not lose any time
in starting, and, if the truth must be told, both Andy and Matt were
glad to be rid of him.
After he had gone the auctioneers procured another horse and wagon
from the tavern-keeper and also a couple of lanterns. The mountaineer
had a mule upon which he rode, and the other men went along on foot.
They traveled the road by which the young auctioneers had come. The
village was situated in a small open spot, and now, when they once
more found themselves between the mountains, they were enveloped in a
darkness which the rays of the lanterns scarcely dispersed.
They traveled along as rapidly as possible, and inside of half an hour
came to a fork in the road which Matt had had in mind since the
discovery of their mistake had been made.
"We will examine the ground here," he said. "It is more than likely he
branched off here."
He was soon hard at work, and all of the others with him. The wagon
track they had followed was very plainly to be seen, and now Matt
saw, at a spot which was covered with loose stones, where the thief
had branched off with his stolen outfit.
"That is the road he took," he announced to the others. "Had we
followed him from here in the first place we would most likely have
caught up to him by this time."
"Is that 'ere track the right one?" questioned the mountaineer
eagerly.
"I believe it is."
"Then I'm off fer the reward!" shouted the brawny fellow. "Git up,
Bones!" and he slapped the mule with the flat of his hand, and was off
without another word.
"Ramson will get it, sure," grumbled one of the other men. "No use for
us to go any further."
And he turned on his heel and started back for the village, followed
by most of the others, leaving a single man to race after the
mountaineer on foot.
Matt and Andy were not slow to urge their fresh horse forward. But the
way was now even darker than before and also rougher, and it was with
difficulty that the wagon moved along.
"I don't believe he went very far on this road," said Matt, bringing
the horse to a halt. "I am going to follow that track on foot."
He sprang down from the seat, and with the light close to the ground,
moved along in front of the horse. It was well that he did so, for
hardly had he advanced a hundred feet than he uttered a cry and came
to a halt.
"What's up now?" questioned Andy, peering forward through the gloom.
"He turned off here and went into the brush on the left. Don't you see
the tracks?"
"But there is no road through the brush. He would lose his way and get
caught among the rocks further back."
"I have an idea that he drove away in here to hide the wagon,"
suddenly cried Matt. "He could very well do that, you know, and then
ride off on horseback to some place and put up for the night."
"By the boots, I believe you are right!" returned Andy. "Why, of
course that is just what he has done! How stupid of us not to think of
that before."
"I hope the wagon is still O. K.," went on Matt. "It would be hard
work to get a spring fixed in this out-of-the-way place."
"Well, we must find the wagon first. Supposing we tie up and go ahead
on foot."
"I'm willing."
They were soon side by side, making their way through the brush and
around the rocks as rapidly as they could.
"Let us go forward as silently as possible!" suddenly whispered the
boy. "Barberry may still be around, and if that is so we want to
surprise him."
"That's a good idea! What a pity we can't put out the light."
"We can't do without it. The track is growing fainter. We are coming
to almost solid rock."
On and on they pushed, until Andy calculated that they had covered a
distance of five hundred feet from the main road. Then they found
themselves on the verge of a deep ravine, with a high wall of rock to
the left of them.
"Phew! supposing he drove over that!" shuddered Andy, as he pointed
into the blackness of the hollow. "That must be a hundred feet or more
deep."
"He went to the right, Andy--the only way he could go. Have you any
matches with you?"
"Yes. What do you want of them?"
"I am going to put out the light, for I fancy the wagon is not far
off, and the thief may be around also. If we wish we can light up
again later on."
Matt did as he had intimated, and the two found themselves in a
darkness that was simply intense to the last degree. They could not
see their hands before their faces, and had to literally feel their
way along.
Matt went first, with his partner holding on to the hem of his jacket.
They had progressed but a dozen feet when, on rounding a high rock,
the young auctioneer stopped once more.
"I was right," he whispered. "The wagon is directly ahead."
"How do you know?"
"I can see the lantern, which is standing on the seat."
"Then the thief must still be around," returned Andy excitedly.
"I suppose so, but I don't see any one. Come on, but don't make any
noise, or he may run away, and I think he ought to be captured and
locked up."
"Certainly he ought to be placed under arrest. I am ready. Won't he be
surprised when he sees us!"
Once again they moved forward toward where the auction wagon stood
beneath the shelter of a large tree. Matt noted that Billy had been
unharnessed and was tied to the rear, where he was engaged in making a
meal of some feed which had been given him.
"Barberry is making himself at home evidently," murmured the young
auctioneer to himself. "That fellow certainly has nerve!"
"Hold up!" suddenly cried Andy, catching the boy by the arm.
"What's up, Andy?"
"Look there, to your right!"
Matt did as directed, and saw a sight which both amazed and alarmed
him. There, by a little fire built to keep them comfortable in the
night air, sat two burly men, drinking and smoking. Neither of the
individuals was Paul Barberry.