THE "TAIL" OF THE MOUNTAIN LION.
"If he turns and sees us no knowing what he'll do,"
Jeb said as they paused a moment at the top of the
rise.
"But I don't believe he'll turn," Bob declared.
"He's only thinking of getting there and rescuing
Sue."
"Then you think we better make a rush for it?"
"I would."
"Then come on, boys, full speed ahead."
And now they let their horses out to the limit and
swept across the prairie like an avenging whirlwind.
They were about two-thirds of the way from the
rise to the hills when Royce reached the timber. They
saw him draw rein and, for a moment hesitate as
though uncertain just where to go, then he started
again and the next minute was lost to view. Twenty
minutes later, they were at the point where he
disappeared. Far back they could see four horsemen
just coming over the rise.
"There comes Spike and the boys," Slats cried.
"But we can't wait for them," Jeb told him.
"Course not, but what's the plan?" Slats asked.
"It's too dry to trail him, I'm afraid so I think
we'd better split up and go in by twos. We'll keep
within a short distance of each other however, and
two shots close together will be the signal to come
a-running."
"Righto, let's beat it," Slats agreed.
They had hardly started again when they met the
horse Royce had ridden coming out and they decided
that it would be better to leave the horses as they
believed they could make better time on foot and
there would be less danger of discovery. So they
tied them to convenient trees and started off on foot
after Jeb had explained that the first to catch sight
of Royce was to notify the others by giving the hoot
of the owl, the signal of the shots to be used only
in case of an emergency.
Royce had entered the forest at a point about half
way between the trail which led to the Owl's Head
and that which they had taken the day before in
company with the sheriff. It was the most rugged
appearing portion of the range and, as Bob and Jack
pushed their way in, it seemed to be getting ever
rougher. There was nothing which even remotely
resembled a trail and huge boulders interspersed with
dense underbrush made their progress decidedly
difficult.
"I say, Bob, this seems kind of foolish to me," Jack
panted after they had been separated from the others
for some ten minutes.
"How come?" Bob asked.
"Well the whole thing seems fishy to me."
"What do you mean fishy?"
"Well, how did Royce know which way to go?"
"He didn't unless someone of the gang met him,"
Bob told him.
"You think someone did meet him?"
"I think it's more than likely."
"What makes you think so?"
"Common sense."
"How come?"
"Use your bean, boy, use your bean. Hains would
know that he wouldn't know how to find him,
wouldn't he?"
"I suppose so."
"Well, I imagine he didn't have much doubt but
what he would come, no one would. So isn't it
probable that he'd either meet him himself or have
someone else do it?"
"Sure Mike. You reason like a lawyer. But,
even so, what chance have we to find him or them?"
"Very slight, I'll admit, but, you know, one chance
in a million is better than none at all."
"I know that and I reckon you've got the ratio
about right, one chance in a million."
They had been pushing forward all the time they
were talking, all the while looking eagerly for a sign
which would tell them that Royce had come that
way. At first the way had been a gradual rise but
soon it began to be steeper and by the time they had
come to the above point in their conversation it was
so nearly perpendicular that they were often obliged
to pull themselves up with the aid of the bushes
which grew here and there. An hour slipped by
from the time they started into the hills and both
boys were panting with the exertion.
Suddenly Bob, who was a few feet ahead, stopped
and Jack saw that he was closely examining the
ground beside a huge rock.
"What you found?" he panted as he reached his
side.
"Look and see what you make of it."
Beside the rock was a bed of thick moss and he
could see that it was damp although the reason was
not apparent as everything was dry all about. At first
he saw nothing which explained his brother's action
but a more thorough scrutiny disclosed two slight
depressions. He got down on his knees the more
closely to examine them.
"They are foot prints," he announced a moment later.
"You sure?"
"No doubt of it."
"How old?"
"Not more than a half hour."
"What makes you think so?"
"Because it wouldn't take moss like this much
longer than that to obliterate marks like that. You
ought to know that."
"I do, but I wanted to see if your opinion was the
same as mine."
"And is it?"
"Exactly."
"Then we're on the right trail unless----"
"Unless what?"
"Unless someone of our crowd has come this way
ahead of us."
"But they wouldn't be that far ahead."
"Not likely."
"Then I believe we've struck his trail and now to
see if we can find another mark to show which way
he went from here."
For fully ten minutes they searched before Jack
called softly:
"Here it is, Bob."
He was off a short distance above and slightly to
the right of the bed of moss and pointed to a freshly
snapped twig as his brother joined him.
"You're right," Bob declared after a quick examination.
"Now we've got the general direction, but
keep your eyes peeled."
They had climbed nearly a quarter of a mile, they
judged, before finding another sign and this time it
was only a small rock which had evidently slipped
and turned over as someone stepped on it. But a
slight dampness on the top proved to their trained
senses that it had been but recently disturbed.
"We're going right," Bob declared much encouraged.
"You said it," Jack agreed. "That rock must
have been turned not much more than fifteen minutes
ago."
"Not more than that surely."
"Then we're gaining on him," Jack declared.
"Or them," Bob corrected him. "Don't forget
that there's probably two of them if not more."
"Him or them, it's all the same just so we find
Sue," Jack declared as they started off again.
If their way had been hard it was all but impassable
now. The dead underbrush was so thick that often
they had to make a wide detour, but so dry was it
that, looking back, they could see that they had left
no trail behind them.
"Wonder how far it is to the top here," Jack
panted a little later as he pulled himself up a
particularly steep place by the branch of a convenient
tree.
"Goodness knows," Bob replied a few feet behind him.
"Well, it seems as though we must be most to the
top o' the world. If we get much higher we'll have
to duck to let the clouds go past."
It had been nearly two hours since they started up
the hill and during that time they had neither seen
or heard a thing of their friends. From time to
time they had seen signs which led them to believe
they were still on the right trail and to encourage
them to keep on.
"Wonder where the boys are," Bob said as they
paused a moment to get their breath.
"Goodness knows. They can't be very near us or
we'd heard them. I imagine they kept going straight
up while we've been bearing to the right ever since
we got on to the trail.
"Then likely they're miles off to our left."
"More than likely."
"But we can't very well get lost. All we've got to
do is to go down hill and we're bound to come out
somewhere."
"But we're going to keep on till we strike something."
"You bet."
But when another hour had passed and they were
still mounting they were about tired out and Jack
declared that he'd have to rest. So they threw
themselves on the ground where was a thick bed of moss
and relaxed their tired limbs.
"One thing's dead sure," Jack declared after they
had somewhat recovered their breath.
"What's that?" Bob asked.
"Either we're not gaining on them any more or
we're on a cold trail."
"I don't believe your last guess is right. We've
seen too many indications for it to be guess work."
"Then all I've got to say is that they're hiking it
some."
They rested for half an hour regretting the loss of
time but realizing that it was necessary, and then
took up the trail again. They had gone but a short
distance when, suddenly a piercing shriek ran out
through the forest seemingly but a short distance
behind them.
"What was that?" Jack gasped stopping in his
tracks.
"I'm not sure but I think it must be a mountain
lion. I've read that they yell something like that,"
Bob told him.
"It sounded to me like a woman yelling."
"I know. That's what makes me think it was a
lion."
"Well, here's hoping he isn't on our trail."
Then another screech, nearer than the first, almost
made the blood curdle in their veins.
"I'm afraid it is though," Bob said slowly.
"What'll we do? They're dangerous, aren't they?"
"I reckon so."
"How about a tree?"
"No good. They live in trees."
Another time the shriek sounded and now they
were certain that the lion, if it was a lion, was
following them and could not be more than a few yards
off.
"It's a case of the hunters being hunted," Jack
declared.
"And we'll have to stand our ground and trust to
our revolvers. Maybe he won't attack us," Bob advised.
The big cat did not yell again and they were
beginning to hope that it had passed them by after all,
when Bob saw a thick clump of bushes, about thirty
feet from where they stood, move and a pair of
yellow eyes peered out at them. He nudged Jack and
pointed.
"Shall we shoot?" Jack whispered.
"Not yet. Let's see what it's going to do."
The eyes remained motionless for a couple of
minutes then disappeared.
"Guess he thought he better hadn't," Jack whispered.
"Listen," Bob ordered.
They could just catch the soft rustle of a bush
now and then.
"He's creeping around to our right," Bob
whispered.
"We ought to have shot when we had the chance."
"Maybe, but I reckon we'll have another."
"But that was a peach of a shot," Jack insisted.
"There he is again."
This time the eyes looked out from a clump not
over twelve feet away and Bob whispered:
"Now let him have it."
But he spoke too late. An angry snarl came from
the beast and the huge cat seemed to literally rise in
the air and sail toward them.
Bob's gun spoke while the cat was still in the air
but he knew that he had missed.
"Duck," he shouted as he sprang to one side.
Jack endeavored to obey but, in stepping back, his
heel caught on a root and he bent down on his back
and the lion landed fairly on top of him. Bob's heart
seemed to leap into his throat as he saw his brother
go down, and, without an instant hesitation he sprang
forward. Boy and beast were rolling over and over
on the ground first one on top and then the other.
He saw at first glance, that Jack had a hold on the
cat's neck with both hands and was keeping its jaws
away from his throat by main strength. So fast were;
they moving that he did not dare to fire for fear of
hitting Jack, but he knew that he must do
something at once or the boy would be clawed to death
even though he succeeded in escaping the jaws.
With Bob to think was to act and it was probably
not more than ten seconds from the time the cat
jumped before he had a hold of his tail and was
pulling for all he was worth. At the first tug the
big cat uttered an angry snarl and Bob shouted:
"Push him off."
But either Jack did not hear or he was afraid to let
go his hold for the pull did not budge the animal in
the least. But it did stop the rolling and the beast,
as though wondering what had attacked him from
the rear, wrenched its head away and turned its eyes
on Bob who still was pulling on the tail. With
another angry snarl it tore itself from Jack's body and
turned to attack its new enemy. But Bob had a
grip of death on that tail and as the cat turned he
too spun around so that the cat's head was away
from him. But he knew that is was only a question
of seconds when the mighty cat would wrench the
tail from his grasp in one of his lunges. If only he
had his gun in one hand but he had slipped it into his
pocket when he had grabbed hold of the tail and he
did not dare reach for it. His fingers seemed to be
getting numb so tightly did he have to cling and he
felt that they were slipping in spite of his strongest
efforts.
Then, just as he knew that the cat was winning
a shot rang out and the struggle was over. Shot
through the head the cat fell over on one side, clawed
frantically for a moment and then was still.
"Some shot," Bob gasped.
"And some pussy cat," Jack added as he gazed at
the huge animal.
"Are you hurt?"
"Guess I got a few scratches but they don't amount
to much," Jack replied.
Suddenly, to Bob's amazement, Jack burst out
laughing.
"What's funny," he demanded.
"Honestly, Bob, if you could have seen yourself
dancing about holding on to that fellow's tail, you
wouldn't have to ask. It was better than a circus
though I didn't think of it at the time."
"But your pants are torn to ribbons, boy. Are you
sure you're not injured?"
Investigations showed that Jack's legs were
scratched in several places but the scratches were not
deep and, although a couple of them were bleeding
rather freely, he insisted that it was nothing.
"It's a lucky thing you had on heavy breeches or
you'd have been torn up for fair."
"I've heard of mountain lions but I never knew
they came that large," Jack declared. "I'll bet he's
all of seven feet from his nose to the tip of his tail.
I'd sure like to have him stuffed."
"I thought a few minutes ago that he was going
to have you stuffed inside of him," Bob said with a
shudder. "That sure was one close call. Deliver me
from any more of them."
"The call or the lion?"
"Either or both," Bob assured him.
"Well, come on, we can't wait here all day," Jack
said.
"Think you're able to go on?"
"I know it. Anyhow we can't give up now."
A few minutes later they reached the top of the
ridge and there they almost at once discovered signs
that told them that, instead of going down the other
side, Royce had turned to the right.
"Where do you suppose he's heading for?" Jack
asked.
"Search me. All I know is he's on his way."
For some time their way led along the top of the
ridge and Bob had just glanced at his watch and was
about to tell Jack, who was a few feet ahead, that it
was four o'clock, when he turned and held up his
hand as a signal for silence.
"What is it?" he asked as soon as he had come up
to him.
"I think he's just ahead of us. I saw a man a
minute ago just beyond that big tree."
"Only one?"
"That's all I saw. Of course, there might have
been someone ahead of him."
"Think he saw you?"
"I'm sure he didn't."
"That's good. Now to keep him in sight without
letting him know it."
They advanced now with extreme caution, stopping
every few minutes to listen and nearly every time
they could hear the cracking of brush or the rattle of
stones as their quarry pushed on in advance of them.
Now and then they caught sight of him and once Jack
was sure he saw two men.
"Seems to me we must be getting pretty near over
to The Crotch," Bob said in a low voice about half
an hour after they first saw Royce.
"Can't be very far from here. But listen. They've
turned off to the left."
A moment later they struck a narrow but well
defined path, which was remarkably smooth
considering the locality.
"I say, Bob, we never thought to give the signal
when we struck them," Jack said as they started
along the path.
"Well, what do you know about that. Guess you'd
better give it now, but I have no idea any of them are
near enough to hear you."
Jack was an excellent imitator and the hoot hoot
which he gave utterance to was realistic enough to
deceive anyone. They listened but no answer came.
"Well, I didn't expect any," Bob said as they
started on again. "I doubt if they're within five
miles of here."
"Where do you suppose this path comes from?"
Jack asked.
"I wonder, but just now I'm more concerned about
where it goes to," Bob replied.
"It looks as though it was used a lot anyhow."
"It sure does but it's certain that no cattle have
been driven over it."
Although the trail was smooth it was very crooked
winding in and out among the trees and large rocks
and they had to proceed with great care for fear of
running into the men they were following for, of
course, they had no way of knowing when they might
stop for a rest.
Once they made a sharp turn in the trail and drew
back just in time to avoid discovery by Royce and
another man who were sitting on a log, apparently
resting. They were talking in low tones as though
they feared someone might be following them, and
the boys, crouching in the bushes, were unable to
hear what they were saying.
"You don't think they saw us, do you, Bob?" Jack
whispered.
"No, but it kind of looks as though they thought
someone was on their trail they are talking so low."
"Probably they just get that way being hunted
most of the time as they are."
"Maybe."
It was about ten minutes later when they heard
the man, who was with Royce, say:
"Wall, I reckon we'd better be hikin'. Red'll be
on tender hooks till we get thar."
"How much farther is it?" they heard Royce ask.
"Not more'n two miles," the man replied.
"The trail's getting warm," Bob whispered as they
started again as soon as they felt sure that they were
out of sight.
"They won't stop to rest again, I reckon," Jack said.
"No, but we want to be mighty careful and not
spill the beans now we're so close. If we muss things
this time we may never get another chance."
"But I wish some of the boys were here. Wonder
where they are."
"Goodness knows. But I doubt if they're very near."
While talking they were stealing silently along the
narrow trail careful not to get too near but never
letting the men get entirely out of hearing. They
had gone perhaps a mile when the trail ran into a
much wider one coming from the north and meeting
it at nearly right angles.
"They've driven cattle along here all right," Jack
declared as soon as he saw it."
"I'll say they have and, boy, we're on the way to
his cache sure as little green apples give small boys
the tummie ache," Bob declared.
"Looks like it and, from what that fellow said, it
can't be a great way off."
"I reckon it's near enough so that some of his
gang's apt to wander out this way most anytime."
"Meaning that from now on we want to be doubly
careful."
"Meaning exactly that."
"Careful's my middle name from now on," Jack
assured him.
"But what I can't make out is why we haven't
crossed the Crotch trail before this, Bob mused.
"But we've made so many turns that like as not
we've been going parallel with it a good part of the
time," Jack suggested.
"You must be right, I reckon," Bob agreed.
They were going down hill now in a direction, so
nearly as they could judge, away from the ranch.
Huge trees, growing so closely together that their
branches interlocked, lined both sides of the trail
which except for the large and small rocks which
were numerous, had been worn smooth by the passage
of many cattle.
"I'd sure like to know where this trail starts," Bob
declared a few minutes later.
"Well, the beginning of it must be mighty well
hidden wherever it is or someone would have picked
it up long before this. It's plain enough along here,"
Jack declared.
Bob was about to say something when they heard
someone coming toward them.
"Quick, behind a tree," he ordered.
Two men were coming along the trail and, in another
minute, they would have met. They were talking
loudly enough so that the boys had no trouble in
hearing them but, to their disappointment, they were
speaking Spanish.
"Did you get any of it?" Jack asked as soon as
they were out of hearing.
"Not very much but I heard one of them say something
about a girl and, while I'm not certain, I think
he was explaining to the other fellow that Hains
would probably keep the girl for awhile and try to
make some money out of her."
"You think he won't do as he agreed?"
"Why should he? Honor means nothing to him."
"I suppose not. I never did think much of this
'honor among thieves' stuff," Jack declared soberly.
"I was afraid of it. He's got a bad eye, that
Hains," Bob said as he came out from behind the
tree.
"How about waiting till after dark before we get
any nearer?" Jack proposed. "It looks as though
we've got to spend the night here in the woods anyhow
and we're apt to run into some of those fellows
any time now, and if they should catch us the fat
would be in the fire for sure."
"I reckon you're right and it won't be very long
to wait as it's beginning to thicken up a bit now. Gee,
but some chow would go good about now."
"You said a mouthful but cheer up, we'll be
hungrier than this before we get a chance to eat I
reckon."
"You're a cheerful beggar," Bob grinned as he
looked about for a good place to wait. "Let's get
over behind that clump of trees. No one'll be apt
to see us there."
They were hardly settled when they heard the two
men coming back and they thanked their lucky stars,
as Jack put it, that they had not kept on the trail.
But they got no further information for the men did
not speak a word as they went past. Slowly the
shadows deepened and soon the moon peeped over
the tree tops.
"She's going to be pretty near full tonight," Bob
declared as he rose to stretch his legs.
"Wonder if it'll be a help or a hindrance to us,"
Jack mused.
"Hard to tell that when we don't know what we're
going to be up against."
Another half hour passed and Bob again stood up.
"I reckon it's about as dark as it's going to get,"
he said.
"All right, let's go."
Keeping close together they walked slowly along
the trail stopping every few minutes to listen. They
were still going down hill and in places the descent
was almost steep. They had covered about two hundred
rods when they heard the murmur of voices.
"We're about there, I reckon," Bob whispered.
"It would seem so," Jack agreed.
"Suppose you stay here while I creep up and see
what I can find out," Bob suggested.
"Nothing doing," Jack promptly vetoed the
suggestion. "We stick together tonight. I can keep as
still as you can and if we once got separated goodness
knows what might happen."
"You're right. We'd better keep together, but
we've got to be mighty careful. He had me once
and it wasn't a pleasant experience let me tell you."
As they crept softly along the sound of the voices
became clearer and soon they knew that they were
only a few yards away. It was a wild place with the
lofty hills, covered with the thick forest, rising on
all sides, making a sort of natural amphitheatre.
Regarding the size of the camp they could only guess
but they were sure it was not very large as there
seemed but little space between the hills. They could
hear the men talking but, although they listened for
some time, they could only catch a word now and
then and were unable to get the drift of the
conversation.
"We've got to get nearer," Bob whispered softly.
"Think it's safe?" Jack asked.
"Nothing's safe here, but we must take a chance."
They had left the trail fifty feet back thinking it
safer to be in the thick woods where they could find
concealment behind the trees. They could plainly
see the light from the big camp fire through the trees
although it did not light up the forest for any
distance and, moving foot by foot and feeling their way
with the utmost caution, they finally crouched behind
a large spruce not more than a dozen feet from the
clearing. There were, however, several other trees
between them and the camp so that they could only
catch a glimpse now and then of the men as they
moved about. But they did not dare to risk getting
nearer. In a moment after they had gained their
position they heard a man speak and now they could
plainly hear what he was saying. Both recognized
Hains' voice.
"So yer tried ter double cross me."
"Call it that if you like," Royce's voice replied.
"What else can yer call it?"
"Well, the kid licked me and I was helpless."
"Yer ought ter be shot for letting a kid like that
get the best of yer. D'yer call yerself a man?"
"I do not, but not because of that."
"Wall, I reckon yer know what we do ter traiters,
don't yer?"
"I don't care what you do to me just so you let
the girl go," Royce replied shortly.
"But I ain't a goin' ter let her go, not till Stebbins
pays a good big ransom fer her."
"But you gave your word."
"An' I tuk it back. Had my fingers crossed when
I made that bargain," the man sneered.
"Then you're a bigger scoundrel than I thought."
"Yer better keep a civil tongue in yer mouth or it'll
be the worse fer yer. I'm boss here an' what I say
goes. Yer ain't in no position ter call me any names
an' yer might git me mad an' when I git mad I'm a
holy terror let me tell yer. But s'pose I give yer
another chance ter stay with us?"
For a moment Royce hesitated as though considering
the proposition and the boys strained their ears
to catch his answer.
"You mean it?" he finally asked.
"Mebby."
"I'll accept on condition that you let the girl go,"
Royce said quickly.
"Yer're in no position ter make conditions," Hains
snapped. "I want a plain yes or no."
"Yes, then."
Had they been mistaken in Royce's loyalty? It
seemed so and, for an instant Bob condemned him
bitterly, but the thought then struck him that it might
be he was playing a deeper game, and he decided that
he would withhold judgment until he was sure.
"All right, we'll consider yer' case an' let yer
know in the mornin', meanwhile yer're a prisoner an'
if yer try ter git away or anything yer'll get a hunk o'
lead an' no questions asked. Git me?"
"I get you," Royce answered shortly.
Hains then called two of his men and the boys
heard him give them orders to guard Royce during
the night.
"An' if he gits away yer know what'll happen ter
yer," he concluded.
They could hear the two men leading Royce away,
and Bob wondered whether or not the man deserved
the fate that had overtaken him. He wished that he
could get a better view of the place so as to be able
to make some plan but knew it would be too dangerous
to get any nearer while the men were moving
about. Snatches of singing in a subdued tone reached
them from time to time, and they could tell by the
sounds that a number were playing cards close by
the fire. How long would it be before they would
settle down for the night? Bob wondered after an
hour had passed.
"It's about time to make a move, isn't it?"
Another hour had passed when Jack asked the
question. They had crept back about fifty feet after
the first hour had passed and they had learned nothing
more, knowing that they would be safer and that
the time would pass quicker if they could talk to each
other.
"It's only ten o'clock," Bob replied after a glance
at his watch. "I don't think we'd better do a thing
till after twelve, and goodness knows what we're
going to do then.'"
It was true they had been able to make no definite
plan as they knew so little regarding the situation.
That Sue was a prisoner was certain but as to
whether she was guarded or simply tied they could
only guess. It was fairly certain that at least one
man would keep awake in order to be sure that
Royce did not get away. They would take no chances
in that direction after Hains' threat.
"Gee, but it don't seem as though I could wait two
hours longer," Jack whispered.
"I know it's hard but I reckon we can stick it out
if it's best," Bob encouraged him. "You know it's
better to play it as safe as we can as much more than
our own safety depends on us."
"You bet we'll do our best," Jack agreed.
By half past ten all was quiet about the camp save
for the gentle whinnie of a horse or the sound of
stamping hoofs as they moved about. The fire was
dying down as they could now barely see it through
the trees, and about eleven the moon passed under
a cloud, drawing a pall of intense blackness over the
forest. It was so dark that they could barely see
each other's form although they were sitting so close
together that their shoulders almost touched.
"Think it's lucky or unlucky about the moon?"
Jack asked.
"Can't tell a thing about it. You see it may be a
big help to us and then, on the other hand, it may be
just the opposite. If we only knew just where she is
I'd say it was a good thing but we don't and what I'm
afraid of is that it's going to be a hard job to locate
her now that we can't see anything."
"But if we can't see them it's some comfort to
know that they can't see us either."
"But we mustn't lose sight of the fact that they
have all the advantage in that they know where
they're at and we don't."
"That's so," Jack agreed. "But it'll make it easier
to get away after we get her," he added hopefully.
"You said it," Bob encouraged him.
For another hour they waited, now talking in
whispers and then watching the sky hardly knowing
whether they hoped the moon would reappear or
stay hidden. But it remained clouded over and there
was a feeling in the air accompanied by a soft
sighing of the trees which they knew indicated rain.
"It's twelve o'clock," Bob whispered.
"Then let's go."
"I wish, Jack, that you'd stay here and let me go
alone," Bob said anxiously.
"I thought we'd settled that question some time
ago. We stick together tonight."
"But----"
"There are no more buts now than there were
then. Come on, let's go."
Had it not been for Bob's keen sense of direction
they might have started in the wrong direction as
they had nothing else to guide them. Even as it
was Bob was not quite sure that he was right until
he saw through the trees the dull glow of the dying
camp fire. Foot by foot they crept on hardly daring
to draw a full breath and stopping every two or
three feet to listen.
Soon they could hear the deep breathing of sleeping
men and now and then a loud snore caused an
impatient movement on the part of some more silent
sleeper. Presently they were on the edge of the
clearing and, although the embers of the fire were
barely glowing, they could distinguish, on the
opposite side, what seemed to be several good sized
tents. So near as they were able to judge they were
some thirty feet away and Bob drew Jack back as he
whispered:
"We'll have to get around on the other side. She's
probably in one of the tents. You saw them, didn't
you?"
"I saw something that I thought might be tents
but it was too dark to be sure."
"They were tents all right," Bob assured him.
Very slowly and carefully they picked their way
foot by foot keeping as near the clearing as they
dared. They knew that men accustomed to the life
which they led were usually light sleepers and that
even the breaking of a stick might be enough to give
the alarm. The growth was very thick all about the
camp and, short as the distance was, it was after one
o'clock when they reached the side on which the
tents were pitched.
"Now our ears are about the only things we've
got to depend on," Bob whispered as he strained his
to catch the slightest sound.
"Lucky they're good ones," Jack whispered bade.
"What are we going to do now?"
"There's only one thing we can do so far's I can
see, and that is to get up close to the tents and listen.
We can't go prowling around promiscuously you
know."
"I know, but----"
"I'm in hopes that we can tell the difference
between her breathing and the others," Bob explained.
"If she's asleep."
"Here's hoping."
Inch by inch they edged nearer until they were
lying on the ground close behind one of the tents. At
first they could hear nothing but after awhile the
faint, but deep breathing which betokens the sound
sleeper came to their ears. Listening with ears
strained to the utmost Bob soon convinced himself
that there were several men in that tent and, hoping
that Hains had had the decency to at least give her a
tent by herself, he nudged Jack and they began to
squirm towards the next one which was only a few
feet away.
Here the results were the same. There was no
doubt that the tent was filled with men and they
moved to the next. They had just reached it when
a piercing shriek broke the stillness of the night.