THE PAMPAS ON FIRE.
The party started at a canter--the pace which they knew their
horses would be able to keep up for the longest time--breaking
every half-hour or so into a walk for ten minutes, to give them
breathing time. All were well mounted on strong, serviceable
animals; but these had not in all cases been bought specially for
speed, as had those of the Hardys. It was evident that the chase
would be a long one. The Indians had twelve hours' start; they were
much lighter men than the whites, and carried less additional
weight. Their horses, therefore, could travel as fast and as far as
those of their pursuers. The sheep would, it is true, be an
encumbrance; the cattle could scarcely be termed so; and it was
probable that the first day they would make a journey of fifty or
sixty miles, traveling at a moderate pace only, as they would know
that no instant pursuit could take place. Indeed their strength,
which the peon had estimated at five hundred men, would render them
to a certain extent careless, as upon an open plain the charge of
this number of men would sweep away any force which could be
collected short of obtaining a strong body of troops from Rosario.
For the next two days it was probable that they would make as long
and speedy journeys as the animals could accomplish. After that,
being well in their own country, they would cease to travel
rapidly, as no pursuit had ever been attempted in former instances.
There was no difficulty in following the track. Mr. Mercer had
possessed nearly a thousand cattle and five thousand sheep, and the
ground was trampled, in a broad, unmistakable line. Once or twice
Mr. Hardy consulted his compass. The trail ran southwest by west.
There was not much talking. The whole party were too impressed with
the terrible scene they had witnessed, and the tremendously
hazardous nature of the enterprise they had undertaken, to indulge
in general conversation. Gradually, however, the steady, rapid
motion, the sense of strength and reliance in themselves and each
other, lessened the somber expression, and a general talk began,
mostly upon Indian fights, in which most of the older settlers had
at one time or other taken a part.
Mr. Hardy took a part in and encouraged this conversation. He knew
how necessary, in an expedition of this sort, it was to keep up the
spirits of all engaged; and he endeavored, therefore, to shake off
his own heavy weight of care, and to give animation and life to
them all.
The spirits of the younger men rose rapidly, and insensibly the
pace was increased, until Mr. Hardy, as leader of the party, was
compelled to recall to them the necessity of saving their animals,
many of which had already come from ten to fifteen miles before
arriving at the rendezvous at the Mercers'.
After three hours' steady riding they arrived at the banks of a
small stream. There Mr. Hardy called a halt, for the purpose of
resting the animals.
"I think," he said, "that we must have done twenty-five miles. We
will give them an hour's rest, and then do another fifteen. Some of
them have already done forty, and it will not do to knock them up
the first day."
Girths were loosened, and the horses were at work cropping the
sweet grass near the water's edge. The whole party threw themselves
down on a sloping bank, pipes were taken out and lit, and the
probable direction of the chase discussed.
In a short time Charley rose, and saying, "I will see if I can get
anything better than dried meat for supper," exchanged his rifle
for Mr. Hardy's double-barreled gun, which was carried by Terence,
and whistling for the retriever, strolled off up the stream. In ten
minutes the double-barrels were heard at a short distance, and a
quarter of an hour afterward again, but this time faintly. Ten
minutes before the hour was up he appeared, wiping the perspiration
from his face, with seven and a half brace of plump duck.
"They were all killed in four shots," he said, as he threw them
down. "They were asleep in the pools, and I let fly right into the
middle of them before they heard me."
There was a general feeling of satisfaction at the sight of the
birds, which were tied in couples, and fastened on the horses.
In two minutes more they were again in the saddles, Hubert saying
to his father as they started, "There is one satisfaction, papa, we
can't miss the way. We have only to ride far enough, and we must
overtake them."
Mr. Hardy shook his head. He knew enough of Indian warfare to be
certain that every artifice and maneuver would have to be looked
for and baffled; for even when believing themselves safe from
pursuit, Indians never neglect to take every possible precaution
against it.
After riding for two hours longer Mr. Hardy consulted the Gauchos
if there were any stream near, but they said that it would be at
least two hours' riding before they reached another, and that that
was a very uncertain supply. Mr. Hardy therefore decided to halt at
once, as the men knew this part of the plain thoroughly, from
hunting ostriches on it, and from frequent expeditions in search of
strayed cattle. They had all lived and hunted at one time or
another with the Indians. Many of the Gauchos take up their abode
permanently with the Indians, being adopted as members of the
tribe, and living and dressing like the Indians themselves. These
visits are generally undertaken to avoid the consequences of some
little difficulty--a man killed in a gambling quarrel, or for
rivalry in love. Sometimes they make their peace again, satisfy the
blood-relations with a bull, secure absolution readily enough by
confession and a gift of a small sum to the Church, and return to
their former life; but as often as not they remain with the
Indians, and even attain to the rank of noted chiefs among them.
The men who accompanied the expedition were all of the former
class. All had taken to the pampas to escape the consequences of
some crime or other, but had grown perfectly sick of it, and had
returned to civilized life. In point of morals they were not,
perhaps, desirable companions; but they were all brave enough,
thoroughly knew the country further inland, and, if not
enthusiastic in the adventure, were yet willing enough to follow
their respective masters, and ready to fight for their lives upon
occasion.
Just as they halted Mr. Herries thought that he caught sight of
some deer a short way ahead. He therefore started at once for a
stalk, several of the others going off in other directions. Mr.
Herries proceeded very cautiously, and the wind being fortunately
toward him, he was enabled to creep up tolerably close. The
animals, which are extremely shy, had, however, an idea that danger
was about before he could get within a fair shot. As he knew that
they would be off in another instant, he at once practiced a trick
which he had often found to be successful.
He threw himself on his back, pulled a red handkerchief from his
neck, tied it to one of his boots so as to let it float freely in
the air, and then threw up both legs in the form of a letter V.
Then he began moving them slowly about, waving them to and fro. The
deer, which were upon the point of flight, paused to gaze at this
strange object; then they began to move in a circle, their looks
still directed at this unknown thing, to which they gradually kept
approaching as they moved round it. At last they were fairly in
shot, and Herries, whose legs were beginning to be very weary,
sprang to his feet, and in another instant the foremost of the deer
lay quivering in death.
Taking it upon his shoulders, he proceeded to the camp, where his
arrival was hailed with acclamation. A fire was already alight,
made of grass and turf, the former being pulled up in handfuls by
the roots, and making a fierce but short-lived blaze. A large
quantity had been collected at hand, and the ducks were already cut
up. Half a one was handed to each; fur every man is his own cook
upon the pampas.
The other hunters shortly returned, bringing in another of the
little deer; for the stag of the pampas is of small size. They were
speedily skinned by the Gauchos, and cut up, and all the party were
now engaged in roasting duck and venison steaks on their steel
ramrods over the fire.
When all were satisfied, a double handful of tea was thrown into
the kettle, which was already boiling, pipes were lighted, and a
general feeling of comfort experienced. The horses had been
picketed close at hand, each man having cut or pulled a heap of
grass and placed it before his beast; beside which, the picket
ropes allowed each horse to crop the grass growing in a small
circle, of which he was the center.
Mr. Hardy chatted apart for some time with the Gauchos, anxious to
know as much as possible of the country into which he was entering.
The others chatted and told stories. Presently Mr. Hardy joined
again in the general conversation, and then, during a pause, said,
"Although, my friends, I consider it most improbable that any
Indians are in the neighborhood, still it is just possible that
they may have remained, on purpose to fall at night upon any party
who might venture to pursue. At any rate, it is right to begin our
work in a businesslike way. I therefore propose that we keep
watches regularly. It is now nine o'clock. We shall be moving by
five: that will make four watches of two hours each. I should say
that three men in a watch, stationed at fifty yards from the camp
upon different sides would suffice."
There was a general assent to the proposal.
"To save trouble," Mr. Hardy went on, "I suggest that we keep watch
in the alphabetical order of our names. Twelve of us will be on
to-night, and the next twelve to-morrow night."
The proposal was at once agreed to; and the three who were first on
duty at once rose, and, taking their rifles, went off in various
directions, first agreeing that one of them should give a single
whistle as a signal that the watch was up, and that two whistles
close together would be a warning to retreat at once toward the
center.
The watch also ascertained which were the next three men to be
roused, and these and the succeeding watches agreed to lie next to
each other, in order that they might be roused without awakening
their companions.
In a few minutes there was a general unrolling of ponchos, and soon
afterward only sleeping figures could be seen by the dim light of
the smoldering fire. Mr. Hardy, indeed, was the only one of the
party who did not fall to sleep. Thoughts of the events of the last
twenty-four hours, of the best course to be adopted, and of the
heavy responsibility upon himself as leader of this perilous
expedition, prevented him from sleeping. He heard the watch return,
rouse the relief, and lay down in their places. In another half
hour he himself rose, and walked out toward the sentry.
It was a young man named Cook, one of the new settlers to the east
of Mount Pleasant. "Is that you, Mr. Hardy?" he asked, as he
approached. "I was just coming in to wake you."
"What is it, Mr. Cook?"
"It strikes me, sir, that there is a strange light away to the
southwest. I have only noticed it the last few minutes, and thought
it was fancy, but it gets more distinct every minute."
Mr. Hardy looked out anxiously into the gloom and quickly perceived
the appearance that his friend alluded to.
For a minute or two he did not speak, and then, as the light
evidently increased, he said, almost with a groan, "It is what I
feared they would do: they have set the prairie on fire. You need
not keep watch any longer. We are as much separated from the
Indians as if the ocean divided us."
Cook gave the two short whistles agreed upon to recall the other
men on guard, and then returned with Mr. Hardy to the rest of the
party. Then Mr. Hardy roused all his companions. Every man leaped
up, rifle in hand, believing that the Indians were approaching.
"We must be up and doing," Mr. Hardy said cheerfully; "the Indians
have fired the pampas."
There was a thrill of apprehension in the bosom of many present,
who had heard terrible accounts of prairie fires, but this speedily
subsided at the calm manner of Mr. Hardy.
"The fire," he said, "may be ten miles away yet. I should say that
it was, but it is difficult to judge, for this grass does not flame
very high, and the smoke drifts between it and us. The wind,
fortunately, is light, but it will be here in little over half an
hour. Now, let the four Gauchos attend to the horses, to see they
do not stampede. The rest form a line a couple of yards apart, and
pull up the grass by the roots, throwing it behind them, so as to
leave the ground clear. The wider we can make it the better."
All fell to work with hearty zeal. Looking over their shoulders,
the sky now appeared on fire. Flickering tongues of flame seemed to
struggle upward. There was an occasional sound of feet, as herds of
deer flew by before the danger.
"How far will it go, papa, do you think?" Hubert asked his father,
next to whom he was at work.
"I should say that it would most likely stop at the stream where we
halted to-day, Hubert. The ground was wet and boggy for some
distance on the other side."
The horses were now getting very restive, and there was a momentary
pause from work to wrap ponchos round their heads, so as to prevent
their seeing the glare.
The fire could not have been more than three miles distant, when
the space cleared was as wide as Mr. Hardy deemed necessary for
safety. A regular noise, something between a hiss and a roar, was
plainly audible; and when the wind lifted the smoke the flames
could be seen running along in an unbroken wall of fire. Birds flew
past overhead with terrified cries, and a close, hot smell of
burning was very plainly distinguishable.
Starting about halfway along the side of the cleared piece of
ground, Mr. Hardy set the dry grass alight. For a moment or two it
burned slowly, and then, fanned by the wind, It gained force, and
spread in a semicircle of flame.
The horses were already unpicketed, and half of the party held them
at a short distance in the rear, while the rest stood in readiness
to extinguish the fire if it crossed the cleared space.
Over and over again the fire crept partially across--for the
clearing had been done but roughly--but it was speedily stamped out
by the heavy boots of the watchers.
The spectacle, as the fire swept away before the wind, was fine in
the extreme. The party seemed includes between two walls of fire.
The main conflagration was now fearfully close, burning flakes were
already falling among them, and the sound of the fire was like the
hiss of the surf upon a pebbly beach.
"Now," Mr. Hardy said, "forward with the horses. Every one to his
own animal. Put your ponchos over your own heads as well as your
horses."
In another minute the party stood clustered upon the black and
smoking ground which the fire they had kindled had swept clear.
There, for five minutes, they remained without moving unscorched by
the raging element around them, but half-choked with the smoke.
Then Mr. Hardy spoke: "It is over now. You can look up."
There was a general expression of astonishment as the heads emerged
from their wrappers, and the eyes recovered sufficiently from the
effects of the blinding smoke to look round. Where had the fire
gone? Where, indeed! The main conflagration had swept by them, had
divided in two when it reached, the ground already burned, and
these columns, growing further and further asunder as the newly
kindled fire had widened, were already far away to the right and
left, while beyond and between them was the fire that they
themselves had kindled, now two miles wide, and already far in the
distance.
These fires in the pampas, although they frequently extend over a
vast tract of country, are seldom fatal to life. The grass rarely
attains a height exceeding three feet, and burns out almost like so
much cotton. A man on horseback, having no other method of escape,
can, by blindfolding his horse and wrapping his own face in a
poncho, ride fearless through the wall of fire without damage to
horse or rider.
It was only, therefore, the young hands who had felt any uneasiness
at the sight of the fire; for the settlers were in the habit of
regularly setting fire to the grass upon their farms every year
before the rains, as the grass afterward springs up fresh and green
for the animals. Care has to be taken to choose a calm day, when
the flames can be confined within bounds; but instances have
occurred when fires so commenced have proved most disastrous,
destroying many thousands of animals.
"There is nothing to do but to remain where we are until morning,"
Mr. Hardy said. "The horses had better be picketed, and then those
who can had better get a few hours' more sleep. We shall want no
more watch to-night." In a few minutes most of the party were again
asleep; and the young Hardys were about to follow their example,
when Mr. Hardy came up to them and said quietly, "Come this way,
boys; we are going to have a council."
The boys followed their father to where some eight or nine men were
sitting down at a short distance from the sleepers, and these the
boys made out, by the glow from their pipes, to consist of Herries
and Farquhar, the two Jamiesons, Mr. Percy, and the four Gauchos.
"This is a terribly bad business," Mr. Hardy began, when he and his
sons had taken their seats on the ground. "I expected it, but it is
a heavy blow nevertheless."
"Why, what is the matter, papa?" the boys exclaimed anxiously.
"Have we lost anything?"
"Yes, boys," Mr. Hardy said; "we have lost what is at this moment
the most important thing in the world--we have lost the trail."
Charley and Hubert uttered a simultaneous exclamation of dismay as
the truth flashed across their minds. "The trail was lost!" They
had never thought of this. In the excitement of the fire, it had
never once occurred to them that the flames were wiping out every
trace of the Indian track.
Mr. Hardy then went on, addressing himself to the others: "Of
course this fire was lit with the especial intent of throwing us
off the scent. Have you any idea how far it is likely to have
come?" he asked the Gauchos. "That is, are you aware of the
existence of any wide stream or damp ground which would have
checked it, and which must therefore be the furthest boundary of
the fire?"
The Gauchos were silent a minute; then Perez said, "The next stream
is fifteen miles further; but it is small, and would not stop the
fire going with the wind. Beyond that there is no certain stream,
as far as I know of."
"The ground rises, and the grass gets thinner and poorer thirty
miles or so on. I should say that they would light it this side of
that," Martinez said. The other Gauchos nodded assent.
"We took the bearings of the track by our compass," Farquhar said.
"Could we not follow it on by compass across the burned ground, and
hit it upon the other side?"
Mr. Percy and Mr. Hardy both shook their heads. "I do not pretend
to say where the trail is gone," the former said, "but the one
place where I am quite sure it is not, is on the continuation of
the present line."
"No," Mr. Hardy continued. "As you say, Percy, there it certainly
is not. The Indians, when they got to some place which is probably
about half across the burned ground, turned either to the right or
left, and traveled steadily in that direction, sending one or two
of their number in the old direction to light the grass, so as to
sweep away all trace of the trail. They may have gone to the right
or to the left, or may even have doubled back and passed us again
at only a few miles' distance. We have no clew whatever to guide us
at present, except the certainty that sooner or later the Indians
will make for their own camping-ground. That is the exact state of
the affair." And Mr. Hardy repeated what he had just said in
Spanish to the Gauchos, who nodded assent.
"And in which direction do the Gauchos believe that their
camping-ground lies?" Mr. Jamieson asked after a pause; "because it
appears to me that it is a waste of time to look for the trail, and
that our only plan is to push straight on to their villages, which
we may reach before they get there. And in that case, if we found
them unguarded, we might seize all their women, and hold them as
hostages until they return. Then we could exchange them for Ethel;
and when we had once got her, we could fight our way back."
"Capital, capital!" the other English man exclaimed. "Don't you
think so, papa?" Hubert added, seeing that Mr. Hardy did not join
in the general approval.
"The plan is an admirably conceived one, but there is a great
difficulty in the way. I observed yesterday that the trail did not
lead due south, as it should have done if the Indians were going
straight back to their camping ground. I questioned the Gauchos,
and they all agree with me on the subject. The trail is too
westerly for the camping-grounds of the Pampas Indians; too far to
the south for the country of the Flat-faces of the Sierras. I fear
that there is a combination of the two tribes, as there was in the
attack upon us, and that they went the first day in the direction
which would be most advantageous for both; and that, on reaching
their halting-place--perhaps twenty or thirty miles from here--they
made a division of their booty, and each tribe drew off toward its
own hunting-grounds. In this case we have first to find the two
trails, then to decide the terrible question, which party have
taken Ethel?"
Again the Gauchos, upon this being translated to them, expressed
their perfect accordance with Mr. Hardy's views, and some surprise
at his idea as having been so identical with their own upon the
subject.
As for the six young men, they were too dismayed at the unexpected
difficulties which had started up in their way to give any opinion
whatever. This uncertainty was terrible, and all felt that it would
have a most depressing effect upon themselves and upon the whole
expedition; for how could they tell, after journeying for hundreds
of miles, whether every step might not take them further from the
object of their search?
In this state of depression they remained for some minutes, when
Perez the Gaucho said, in his broken English, "Most tribe take most
plunder, most cattle, most sheep--take girl."
"Well thought of, Perez!" Mr. Hardy exclaimed warmly. "That is the
clew for us, sure enough. As you say, the tribe who has furnished
most men will, as a matter of course, take a larger share of the
booty; and Ethel being the only captive, would naturally go to the
strongest tribe."
The rest were all delighted at this solution of a difficulty which
had before appeared insuperable, and the most lively satisfaction
was manifested.
The plans for the day were then discussed. Propositions were made
that they should divide into two parties, and go one to the right
and the other to the left until they arrived at unburned ground,
the edge of which they should follow until they met. This scheme
was, however, given up, as neither party would have seen the trail
inspected by the other and no opinion could therefore be formed as
to the respective magnitude of the parties who had passed--a matter
requiring the most careful examination and comparison, and an
accurate and practiced judgment.
It was finally resolved, therefore, to keep in a body, and to
proceed, in the first place, to search for the trail of the party
to the south. A calculation was made, upon the supposition that the
Indians had traveled for another twenty-five miles upon their old
course, and then separated, each party making directly for home. To
avoid all mistakes, and to allow for a detour, it was determined to
shape a direct course to a point considerably to the east of that
given by the calculation, to follow the edge of the burned ground
until the trail was arrived at, and then to cut straight across, in
order to find and examine the trail of the western Indians.
As this conclusion was arrived at, the first dawn of light appeared
in the east, and Mr. Hardy at once roused the sleepers.
He then gave them a brief account of the conclusions to which he
had arrived in the night, and of his reason for so doing. There was
a general expression of agreement, then the girths were tightened,
and in five minutes the troop was in motion.
How great was the change since the preceding evening! Then, as far
as the eye could reach stretched a plain of waving grass. Birds had
called to their mates, coveys of game had risen at their approach;
deer had been seen bounding away in the distance; ostriches had
gazed for an instant at the unusual sight of man, and had gone off
with their heads forward and their wings outstretched before the
wind.
Now, the eye wandered over a plain of dingy black, unbroken by a
single prominence, undisturbed by living creatures except
themselves. As Hubert remarked to his father, "It looked as if it
had been snowing black all night."
Both men and horses were anxious to get over these dreary plains,
and the pace was faster, and the halts less frequent, than they had
been the day before.
It was fortunate that the fire had not taken place at an earlier
hour of the evening, as the horses would have been weakened by want
of food. As it was, they had had five hours to feed after their
arrival.
Both men and horses, however, suffered much from thirst; and the
former had good reason to congratulate themselves on having
filled every water-skin at the first halting-place of the preceding
day.
Clouds of black impalpable dust rose as they rode along. The eyes,
mouth, and nostrils were filled with it, and they were literally as
black as the ground over which they rode.
Twice they stopped and drank, and sparingly washed out the nostrils
and mouths of the horses, which was a great relief to them, for
they suffered as much as did their masters, as also did Dash, who,
owing to his head being so near the ground, was almost suffocated;
indeed, Hubert at last dismounted, and took the poor animal up on
to the saddle before him.
At last, after four hours' steady riding, a gleam of color was seen
in the distance, and in another quarter of an hour they reached the
unburned plains, which, worn and parched as they were, looked
refreshing indeed after the dreary waste over which they had
passed.
The Gauchos, after a consultation among themselves, agreed in the
opinion that the little stream of which they had spoken was but a
short distance further, and that, although the channel might be
dry, pools would no doubt be found in it. It was determined,
therefore, to push on, and half an hour's riding by the edge of the
burned grass brought them to the spot, when, following the course
of the channel, they soon came to a pool, from which men and horses
took a long drink.
At their approach an immense number of wild duck rose, and, as soon
as the horses were picketed Charley again started with the gun,
taking Terence with him to assist in bringing home the birds. They
soon heard his gun, and Terence presently returned with six brace
of ducks and a goose, and a request that another man would go back
with him, for that the birds were so abundant, and so apparently
stupefied from flying over the smoke and flame, that he could bring
in any quantity.
One of the Jamiesons and Herries therefore went out, and returned
in less than an hour with Charley, bringing between them four more
geese and eighteen brace of ducks.
Charley was greeted with a round of applause, and was I soon at
work with his friends upon the meal which was now ready.
After breakfast there was a comparison of opinion, and it was at
last generally agreed that they had ridden nearly forty miles since
daybreak, and that they could not be far from the spot where the
Indians ought to have passed if they had kept the direction as
calculated. It was also agreed that it would be better to let the
horses remain where they were till late in the afternoon, when they
might accomplish another fifteen miles or so.
Mr. Hardy then proposed that those who were inclined should
accompany him on a walk along the edge of the burned ground. "We
cannot be very far off from the trail," he said, "if our
calculations are correct; and if we can find and examine it before
it is time to start, we may be able to-night to cross to the other
side, and thus gain some hours."
Herries, Farquhar, the two Jamiesons, Cook, and the young Hardys at
once volunteered for the walk, and shouldering their rifles,
started at a steady pace.
They had not walked much over a mile when a shout of pleasure broke
from them, as, upon ascending a slight rise, they saw in the hollow
below them the broad line of trampled grass, which showed that a
large body of animals had lately passed along. All hurried forward,
and a close and anxious examination took place.
Opinions differed a good deal as to the number that had passed;
nor, accustomed as they all were to seeing the tracks made by herds
of cattle and flocks of sheep, could they come to any approximate
agreement on the subject. Had the number been smaller, the task
would have been easier; but it is a question requiring extreme
knowledge and judgment to decide whether four hundred cattle and
two thousand sheep, or six hundred cattle and three thousand sheep,
have passed over a piece of ground.
Mr. Hardy at last sent Charley back, accompanied by Mr. Cook, to
request Mr. Percy to come on at once with the Gauchos to give their
opinion. Charley and his companions were to remain with the horses,
and were to request those not specially sent for to stay there
also, as it would be imprudent in the extreme to leave the horses
without a strong guard.
Pending the arrival of Mr. Percy, Mr. Hardy and his friends
followed up the trail for some distance, so as to examine it both
in the soft bottoms and on the rises. They returned in half an hour
to their starting place, and were shortly after joined by Mr. Percy
and the Gauchos. Again a careful and prolonged examination, took
place, and a tolerably unanimous opinion was at last arrived at,
that a very large number of animals had passed, apparently the
larger half, but that no positive opinion could be arrived at until
a comparison was made with the trail on the western side.
Although this conclusion was arrived at unanimously, it appeared to
be reluctantly conceded to by most of them, and the reason of this
became apparent as they were walking back toward the horses. "I
have little doubt that the conclusion we have arrived at is
correct," Herries remarked, "although somehow I am sorry for it;
for ever since our talk last night I have made up my mind that she
was most likely to be taken to the west. I suppose because the
Indians there are more warlike than those of the pampas, and
therefore likely to have furnished a larger contingent. Of course I
had no reason for thinking so, but so it was."
"That was just what I thought," Hubert said; and I the other
Englishmen admitted that they had all entertained a somewhat
similar idea.
At four in the afternoon they were again in the saddle, having
taken the precaution of filling their water-skins, and of watering
the horses the last thing.
"How far do you think it is across, papa?" Hubert asked.
"It cannot be very far, Hubert. We are so much nearer the place
where the fire began that I do not think it can have spread more
than ten miles or so across."
Mr. Hardy's conjecture proved to be correct. An hour and a half's
riding brought them to the other side of the burned prairie,
striking a point which they felt sure was to the south of the place
where the trail would have left it.
As they had done more than fifty miles since the morning, and the
horses were much distressed with the effect of the dust, it was
resolved to encamp at once. The horses received a little water, and
were picketed out to graze. The fire was soon lit, and the ducks
cut up and spitted upon the ramrods.
All were so much exhausted with the heat, the ashes, the fatigue,
and the want of sleep of the previous night that, the tea and pipes
finished and the watch posted, the rest lay down to sleep before
the sun had been an hour below the horizon.
All rose at daybreak, refreshed with their quiet night's rest, and
were soon in the saddle and on their way northward.
They had nearly an hour's ride before they came upon the trail.
There it was unmistakably--at first sight as broad and as much
trampled as the other; but after a careful examination of it there
was but one opinion, namely, that the number of animals who had
passed was decidedly less than those who had gone south.
One of the Gauchos now told Mr. Hardy that he knew that at a short
distance further to the west there was a spring of water much used
by the Indians, and where he had no doubt they had halted on the
night of the fire. Finding that it was not more than half an hour's
ride, Mr. Hardy, after a brief consultation, determined to go over
there to water the horses and breakfast, before retracing their
footsteps across the burned prairie.
In little over the time named they came to a small pool of bright
water, from which a little stream issued, running nearly due north
across the plain. After drinking heartily themselves, and filling
the water-skins and kettle, the horses were allowed to drink; and
Dash plunged in with the greatest delight, emerging his usual
bright chestnut color, whereas he had gone into the water perfectly
black.
After he had come out and had shaken himself, he commenced hunting
about, sniffing so violently that Hubert's attention was attracted
to him. Presently the dog ran forward a few paces and gave a sharp
bark of pleasure, and Hubert, running forward, gave so loud a cry
that all the party rushed up.
Hubert could not speak. There, half-buried in the ground, and
pointing west, was an Indian arrow, and round the head was twisted
a piece of white calico, with little blue spots upon it, which Mr.
Hardy instantly recognized as a piece of the dress Ethel had worn
when she left home.
Surprise kept all quiet for awhile, and then exclamations of
pleasure and excitement broke from all, while Mr. Hardy and his
sons wore greatly affected at this proof of the recent presence of
their lost one. The arrow was deeply sunk in the ground, but it was
placed at a spot where the grass happened to be particularly short,
so that any one passing outward from the spring could hardly have
failed to notice the piece of calico upon the grass. There was a
perfect shower of congratulations; and it was some time before they
were recovered sufficiently to renew their preparations for
breakfast.
At last they sat down round the fire, all their faces radiant with
excitement.
Perez and Martinez, however, sat somewhat apart, talking in an
animated undertone to each other. They did not even approach the
fire to roast their food; and Mr. Hardy's attention being attracted
by this circumstance, he asked what they were talking so earnestly
about.
Neither of them answered him, and he repeated the question. Then
Perez replied: "Martinez and I think same. All trick; girl gone
other way."
Conversation and eating were alike suspended at these ominous
words, and each looked blankly into the others' faces.
Now that their attention was called to it, the whole circumstances
of the case rushed to their minds; and as they felt the probable
truth of what Perez said, their hopes fell to zero.
Mr. Percy was the first who, after a long silence, spoke. "I am
afraid, Hardy, that what Perez says is right, and that we have been
very nearly thrown off the scent by a most transparent trick.
Watched as Ethel must have been, is it probable that she could have
possessed herself of that arrow, and have fastened a strip of her
dress to it, without being noticed? Still more impossible is it
that she could have placed the arrow where we found it. No one
could have passed without noticing it; so unless we suppose that
she was allowed to linger behind every one, which is out of the
question, the arrow could not have been put there by her."
"Too true, Percy," Mr. Hardy said with a sigh, after a short
silence; "it is altogether impossible, and I should call it a
clumsy artifice, were it not that it deceived us all for awhile.
However, there is one comfort; it decides the question as we had
ourselves decided it: Ethel is gone with the larger party to the
south."
Breakfast was continued, but with a very subdued feeling. Hubert
had now finished his, and, being a lad of restless habit, he took
up the arrow which lay beside him, and began toying with it. First
he untied the piece of stuff, smoothed it, and put it into his
pocketbook, while his eyes filled with tears; then he continued
listlessly twisting the arrow in his fingers, while he listened to
the conversation around him.
Presently his eyes fell upon the arrow. He started, a flush of
excitement rushed across his face, and his hands and lips trembled
as he closely examined the feather.
All-gazed at him with astonishment.
"Oh, papa, papa," he cried at last, "I know this arrow!"
"Know the arrow!" all repeated.
"Yes, I am quite, quite sure I know it. Don't you remember,
Charley, the day that those wounded Indians started, as we were
taking the quivers down to them, I noticed that one arrow had two
feathers which I had never seen before, and could not guess what
bird they came from. They were light blue, with a crimson tip. I
pulled one off to compare it with my others. It is at home now. I
remember that I chose the one I did because the other one had two
of the little side feathers gone. This is the feather, I can most
solemnly declare, and you see the fellow one is gone. That arrow
belongs to one of the men we recovered."
All crowded round to examine the arrow, and then Mr. Hardy said
solemnly, "Thank God for his mercy, He has decided our way now.
Undoubtedly, as Hubert says, one of the men we aided is of the
party, and wishes to show his gratitude. So he has managed to get a
piece of Ethel's dress, and has tied it to this arrow, hoping that
we should recognize the feather. Thank God, there is no more doubt,
and thank Him, too, that Ethel has at least one friend near her."
All was now joy and congratulation, and Hubert rubbed his hands,
and said triumphantly, "There, Charley, you were always chaffing
me, and wanting to know what was the good of my collection, and now
you see what was the good. It has put us on the right trail for
Ethel, and you will never be able to laugh at me about my
collection again."