Reuben was aware that if he permitted his pony to run, the beast would
instantly pursue him. He knew also that it would not be long before the
mountain lion would overtake the fleeing pony. As long as he moved
slowly, he had been frequently informed by his companions, a lion,
though it might creep close upon his trail, would not be likely to
attack him. On the other hand, if he should show his fear by flight the
courage of the lion instantly would be strengthened and it would follow
and attack any man or animal that fled in this way from his presence.
The snorting and trembling of the pony he was riding were pitiful. The
flanks of the swift little animal already were wet, and its eyes were
rolling and bloodshot with terror. By a supreme effort, however, Reuben
succeeded in bringing the pony to a walk, and though there were moments
when his mount was so terrified that it almost crouched upon the
ground, still he was able to prevent it from running. It was impossible
now for the boy to reload his gun. The actions of the pony prevented
him from holding his rifle sufficiently quiet to enable him to ram home
the bullet.
Occasionally Reuben glanced behind him, and he was aware that the one
long leap forward which the mountain lion had taken when the pony had
first darted ahead had given place to a more wary and careful approach.
The savage beast was creeping along the ground. For several yards it
would advance in this crouching manner, and then when Reuben looked
behind him it would leap back into the bushes or seek the shelter of
some huge crag.
Reuben was carrying his rifle in his hands, ready to defend himself if
the beast should leap upon the flanks of his pony. The lion was now not
more than thirty feet behind him, and why it did not attack him the
young trapper was at a loss to understand.
Reuben glanced anxiously at the sky, and his fears increased when he
discovered that already the afternoon sun was below the rim of the
mountain. Darkness would soon approach and would come, as he was aware,
after the manner of the sunset among the towering mountains. Usually
there was only a brief period of twilight. The day abruptly ceased and
night with equal abruptness swept over the land. Confident that his
perils would be greatly increased with the coming of night, Reuben was
at a loss how he was to prevent the lion from following him, until in
the darkness in some narrow defile it would leap upon its victim.
Again he glanced behind him at the beast, which now was motionless,
crouched as if it had been a cat ready to spring upon a helpless and
unsuspecting bird. A moment later, however, he saw it leap gracefully
into the bushes and disappear from sight.
The young trapper was still compelling his horse to walk. His arms were
aching from the strain of the pull upon the bridle, and he was nearly
as wet as the horse he was riding. Several times he glanced back, but
the pursuing mountain lion was not to be seen. Could it be possible
that the beast had abandoned the pursuit?
The attitude of the animal when last it had been seen was not such as
to convince Reuben that there was any ground for such a hope. Suddenly
he recalled a statement he had heard made by Kit Carson. One time when
the young scout had been relating an experience which he had had with
one of the savage mountain lions, he had told how the beast after
following its victim for a considerable distance, sometimes disappeared
within the forest and later was seen far in advance when the
unsuspecting party it had been following had relaxed his watchfulness,
believing himself to be safe because the pursuit had been abandoned.
The thought was not reassuring, and instantly Reuben gave rein to his
sturdy little pony.
The terror-stricken horse dashed forward. The ground was uneven, and
several times the little animal nearly fell as it bounded ahead. It was
a wild and a mad flight, and Reuben not only did not hold back the
pony, but continually urged it to a swifter flight. In this way he rode
forward for a half-mile or more until the heaving sides of his horse
gave evidence that its strength was nearly exhausted.
At the time he was entering a narrow passage in the valley. The light
was becoming dimmer, but he was able to see that still about one
hundred feet of the defile was before him.
Soon after he had given a brief breathing spell to his pony he was
startled when the horse suddenly emitted a snort of terror and once
more bounded forward. Glancing swiftly behind him, Reuben’s fears all
returned when he saw approaching from among the trees on the
mountainside the same mountain lion which had pursued him and whose
savage attack he had hoped had been abandoned.
Yelling loudly, Reuben once more urged his horse into its swiftest
paces. There was a scream of anger from the pursuing lion, and Reuben’s
heart almost ceased to beat when he saw that the animal already was
leaping forward in swift pursuit.
Abandoning his grasp on the bridle, Reuben seized his gun by the barrel
and turning partly around in his saddle, with his uplifted gun he
awaited the attack. The snarling beast advanced until it was within a
few yards of the terrified boy. The pony, meantime, was running
swiftly, snorting with terror and groaning with every breath it drew.
Abruptly Reuben turned still farther about in his seat, and yelling in
his loudest tones shouted: “Get out! Clear out! Get away from here!”
He followed his words with a hissing sound, and to his delight the
beast suddenly stopped, gazed in surprise or alarm at what he had
evidently believed was a terrified victim, and then with long leaps
instantly turned, bounded into the forest, and disappeared from sight.
Whether or not the pursuit had been abandoned Reuben did not know. He
quickly gave all his attention to the horse he was riding, and as he
passed beyond the border of the defile and was unable to discover any
signs of the presence of his recent pursuer, he decided to continue the
flight and do his utmost to escape from the savage animal.
For ten minutes the wild flight continued, until the pony no longer was
able to maintain its pace. Again and again Reuben had glanced behind
him, but not once had he seen the mountain lion. What pleased him still
more was the fact that in advance of him he saw the end of the narrow
valley. Once there he would be able to move down upon the plains, and
he did not believe that the hungry brute would dare to follow him
beyond the protection of the mountain. However, he halted and with
trembling hands reloaded his rifle. He had decided that it would be
safe as well as wise for him to take this precaution. If the beast
should appear again he would stop his horse and fire at the animal.
Resuming his flight, not many minutes had elapsed before Reuben found
himself upon the plains.
The night now was upon him, but the light was still sufficient to
enable him to see, though somewhat indistinctly, the outlines of the
rocks and trees behind him. But the valley was no place of shelter,
although he was aware that the Mission of San Gabriel was not more than
seven or eight miles distant.
Only a brief time had elapsed before the young trapper was convinced
that the mountain lion had abandoned its pursuit and turning back had
sought the shelter of the defiles of the mountain.
Satisfied now that he had nothing more to fear, Reuben allowed his
horse to proceed more slowly, though the manner in which the poor beast
was holding its head as it advanced clearly indicated how nearly
exhausted the pony was.
In this manner he moved steadily forward until he had come near to one
of the farms owned by the mission and cultivated by the Indians. A rude
little house was plainly to be seen in the distance, but as no light
was shining from its windows, the young trapper decided to push forward
and not stop until he had arrived at the destination he was seeking.
He had left the farmhouse far behind him and was moving forward over
the dusty road when suddenly he saw before him the outlines of an
approaching man. The man, however, was advancing in a strange manner.
He was moving from one side of the road to the other, and yet as Reuben
keenly watched him he was sure that the stranger was not intoxicated.
Why then was he approaching in such a strange manner? He was carrying
no burden upon his back, and both hands were free.
Still keenly watching the man who was steadily coming nearer, Reuben
suddenly was startled by a motion that seemed to him strangely
familiar. It reminded him of the companion whom he had lost among the
foothills of the Rockies. But not a word had been heard from Jean
Badeau.
Still believing that it was impossible that anything more than a
resemblance had been discovered in the man, when Reuben came close to
him he halted his horse and peered intently into the face of the
stranger. The face strongly resembled that of the missing French
trapper. And yet it was so unlike his friend’s that Reuben was at a
loss to decide whether or not his former companion was indeed now
before him.
The strangest part of all was that the man appeared to be entirely
unaware of the presence of Reuben. He seldom glanced at him, and even
when he did so Reuben felt a shiver creep along his spine, for there
was something uncanny in the expression of the man’s face. Reuben
somehow had a feeling that the man was not so much looking at him as
looking through him. Indeed, his fear increased when he became aware
that the man not only did not reply to his questions, but that he did
not even seem to be aware of his presence.
“Jean, Jean!” called Reuben in a low voice. “Is that you?”
As no answer was given to his query, the excited boy in a trembling
voice again said: “What are you doing here? How did you escape from the
Indians?”
Either ignoring or unaware of the questions which had been asked, the
man continued his zigzag journey and soon passed out of the sight of
the perplexed young trapper.
Partly convinced that he had mistaken the strange man for Jean Badeau,
and that it was impossible for his former companion to be among the men
assembled at the San Gabriel Mission, Reuben quickly resumed his
journey. His pony now was somewhat rested, and in a brief time, of its
own accord, it broke into the swifter gait it had maintained most of
the way since the camp of the trappers had been left.
Reuben was still thinking of the two strange adventures which had
befallen him on his ride when at last he drew near the walls that
surrounded the old mission, and in response to his pull upon the
bell-rope the gate was opened and he was admitted.