THE LONG NIGHT.
"That's right, it never rains but it pours," Billie went on to say, as
he fondled his Marlin repeating rifle, which had of late proven its
value in many ways; one of which accounted for the skin of a grizzly
bear which the overseer at the Red Spar Mine had promised to cure for
the boy, and send to the ranch later on.
He listened and soon made up his mind that the howls were approaching.
"Course they just seem to know there's a chance for a fine meal, out
here on the wild old desert; and there they come, licketty-split, as
fast as they can run. But they needn't think they've got an easy mark to
deal with. Reckon that if I could knock over an old he-grizzly, I ought
to be able to take care of a pack of cowardly wolves and coyotes. Huh!
let 'em come, I say. But I wish that old moon'd peep out from behind
them clouds; it'd sure be a heap more sociable like."
Brave words these were, and Billie doubtless meant to prove that he did
not fear the coming of the four-footed pirates of the plains and the
desert. All the same, his hands trembled more or less as he handled his
gun, nervously drawing back the hammer several times, as if to make
certain that it worked mechanically.
There could be no doubt but that the wolves were heading straight toward
him. Billie was amazed. Why, had it been daylight, so that they could
see him with their sharp eyes, they could not be taking a more direct
course toward the spot where he and Jupiter were encamped.
Once he thought that perhaps he ought to jump on the back of his pony,
and let the broncho shoot off over the desert as he pleased; feeling
certain that Jupiter would do everything that lay in his power to keep
out of the reach of the wolves.
Hardly had this idea occurred to him than he turned it down.
"That would be fool's play," he declared, aloud, so that Jupiter might
hear him, and perhaps understand what motives influenced his actions.
"They'd keep right on after us, and sooner or later we'd just have to
haul up and fight it out. So what's the use changing base? If it's got
to come, this is as good a place as any. And if I've been and got
anywhere near the border of the desert, what a goose I'd be to head back
into it again, when that sand storm may commence in the morning. No
sir-ee, here I take my stand, come what will; and that's all there is to
it!"
Somehow Billie felt better after all that heroic talk. It does brace one
up to exhibit such defiance, say what you will about it.
He no longer lay there on his blanket, but was on his feet. The first
thing he did proved that Billie was getting on, and no longer the
greenhorn he had been; for he made sure to secure the canteen; in case
Jupiter took it into his head to run away, he would not carry off this
priceless article with him.
That proved to be one of the smartest things the boy had ever done in
all his life, and showed how he was waking up these days, under the new
conditions which surrounded him, making him think for himself. For the
terrified pony did presently jerk loose, and go galloping away, much to
the chagrin of his owner.
However, there was no time now for crying over spilt milk, as Billie
told himself. The approaching wolves were very close, and would soon be
upon him.
Billie tried to figure out whether the cowardly creatures would attack
him immediately; or after their customary manner, hang about in a circle
at an ever decreasing distance, waiting for him to be overpowered by
sleep.
"Looks like I'm up against it," he said aloud; "and let's see how a
Winkle can pull through. There's lots of 'em been soldiers, and never
yet did one turn out to be a _coward_; and I ain't meaning to be the
first, hear that?"
Whether he was addressing the wind, or the nearby wolves, Billie did not
say; but his defiance was meant all the same.
He tried to penetrate the darkness so that he might see some object at
which he could fire, for he wanted to make every bullet count, if
possible. There was no telling how many of the wolves and coyotes there
might be. If he kept on shooting them down, and more continued to
arrive, the dreadful moment must come when he would run out of
ammunition. What then? The programme ceased to interest Billie after
that stage. True, he would still have his trusty hunting-knife, and that
possessed a keen edge on both sides; but what a puny weapon it must
always be in the hands of one unaccustomed to wielding a blade like
that, and with an unnumbered throng of four-footed adversaries leaping
about him.
Now the howls were along a different order. Billie fancied that he could
trace exultation among other things in the last series; just as though
the wolves began to feel sure of their supper, and rejoiced accordingly.
Many a time had Billie himself shouted with glee because of that call to
the spread; and now he was experiencing how it felt to be on the other
side of the fence, with these hungry wolves springing to the feast.
Well, first he would at least have some satisfaction in knocking over a
few of his lupine enemies--he believed that was what they were called in
books he had read concerning their characteristics.
There was certainly something moving close at hand, and coming toward
him too. Billie swung his ready gun that way. Looking closely he felt
sure that he could make out a dark, slinking form--yes, and there were
two shining dots that made him think of a cat's eyes as seen in the
dark, such as he had often done at home.
Billie waited for no more. He knew the first of the wolves had arrived,
and that he could not get busy any too soon now. The quicker he taught
these varmints a much needed lesson, the better. Besides, if he could
only succeed in killing a few of the gray rascals perhaps he might take
that keen edge off the appetites of the others, for he knew that they
would lose no time in pouncing on any of their mates from whom blood was
drawn.
With this in mind he leveled his rifle, took as good aim as was possible
under the conditions, and pulled the trigger.
Instantly a wild screech arose, proving that his bullet had not been
wasted. He instantly got his rifle in readiness for further operations,
and then grimly waited to see what followed.
There was a great scurrying around out there in the gloom, accompanied
by all sorts of snapping noises, some growls, and the sounds of a
battle.
"Glory!" ejaculated the boy, as he crouched there, trying to pierce the
darkness that shrouded the scene so completely, "I do believe the rest
of the gang have tackled the one I hit, and are tearing him to pieces
right now. Ugh! hear 'em snap and growl, would you? Don't I wish it was
light enough to see, and wouldn't I just like to send another chunk of
lead straight in among the lot? Oh! why can't the beggarly old moon peep
out, just to encourage a poor fellow once in a while?"
Apparently his earnest plea must have been heard, for just then there
did come a break in the clouds, allowing the moon a chance to look out.
Billie seemed to take it for granted that he was being favored, and that
he must make a quick use of the golden opportunity.
He was already looking straight out toward the place where all this
commotion seemed to be in progress, so that as soon as he saw the
whirling figures there he started in to send several shots that way.
That he did not waste his ammunition was evident, for there was a wild
scattering among the fighting animals; and he could plainly see several
forms lying there, before the moon again hid her smiling face.
"Good boy! do it some more, can't you?" Billie cried out, being wildly
exultant by this time, because of his success.
The wolves kept at some little distance after that. They had learned a
lesson, and would be careful how they attacked the one who apparently
had it in his power to deal out death at will.
Half an hour later he could hear sounds again in the same old quarter.
He understood from this that the hungry beasts were making a meal off
the unlucky victims of his fire, but as this suited him very well,
Billie did not attempt to interfere.
That threatened to be the longest night in all his experience, for he
knew that he dared not go to sleep, even for a minute, lest those daring
beast of prey jump upon him; and once at close quarters, where the
repeating rifle did not count for more than a cudgel, get the better of
him.
Sometimes it was almost impossible for the boy to keep his eyes open,
despite the fact that he was fully aware of the serious consequences,
that would follow, should he forget himself. He fought fully fifty
battles while night held sway; and often victory was gained only by a
close margin; for more than once he had nodded until his head fell
forward, and this served to arouse him again.
He had matches with him, and once in a long time used one so that he
might have the consolation of learning the time of night.
It seemed to Billie that his little nickel watch must have stopped,
though he had surely wound it up, and so far as he knew it was not
subject to tricks of any kind. But those minutes did drag most terribly,
and when four o'clock arrived he began to look toward the east most
expectantly, though he knew full well that he could not possibly
discover the first gleams of coming day for at least an hour and a half.
All was well, however, and that gave the boy considerable solid
satisfaction. He experienced the pleasure that always accompanies a task
rightly done; and even fancied that Donald and Adrian must find reasons
for congratulating him, when they heard how he had kept guard all
through that dreadful night.
He could hear the wolves moving around every little while, but as a rule
they had learned their lesson well, and kept at a certain distance away.
Then again it was of course possible that, not being so ferociously
hungry as they had been in the beginning, they were no longer ready to
take desperate chances.
Twice Billie had discovered a pair of glowing eyes shining in the
darkness like twin stars; and thinking that he might as well do what
execution was possible, while the chance remained, he had on both
occasions carefully aimed his gun, and then fired. And as he gleefully
told himself on each occasion, from the clamor that ensued he felt
pretty positive that he had hit something. The other wolves did the
rest; because that was what they were on the spot for, to secure a meal.
But now it was almost time when he felt he must detect those welcome
signs in the east that would tell of coming day.
Billie rejoiced to know that he had really come through that terrible
night in such decent condition. He was not a particle sleepy now, for
all that had worn off, and he felt that he could hold his own. All the
same, he continued to look anxiously toward that promising quarter of
the horizon where he must soon discover the first gray streaks of
morning.