The withdrawal of the sheriff merely stimulated Keith to greater
activity. It was clearly evident the fugitives were endeavoring with
all rapidity possible to get beyond where the hand of law could reach
them--their trail striking directly across the plains into the barren
southwest was proof of this purpose. Yet it was scarcely likely they
would proceed very far in that direction, as such a course would bring
them straight into the heart of the Indian country, into greater danger
than that from which they fled. Keith felt no doubt that Hawley intended
making for Carson City, where he could securely hide the girl, and where
he possessed friends to rally to his defence, even an influence over the
officers of the law. The one thing which puzzled him most was the man's
object in attempting so desperate a venture. Did he know his prisoner
was Hope Waite? or did he still suppose he was running off with Christie
Maclaire? Could some rumor of Waite's appeal to the courts have reached
the gambler, frightened him, and caused him to attempt this desperate
effort at escape? and did he bear Miss Maclaire with him, hoping thus
to keep her safely concealed until he was better prepared to come out
in open fight? If this was the actual state of affairs then it would
account for much otherwise hard to explain. The actress would probably
not have been missed, or, at least, seriously sought after, until she
failed to appear at the theatre the following evening. This delay
would give the fugitives a start of twenty hours, or even more, and
practically assure their safety. Besides, in the light of Waite's
application to the sheriff for assistance, it was comparatively easy
to conceive of a valid reason why Hawley should vanish, and desire,
likewise, to take Miss Maclaire with him. But there was no apparent
occasion for his forcible abduction of Hope. Of course, he might have
done so from a suddenly aroused fit of anger at some discovery the
girl had made, yet everything pointed rather to a deliberate plan.
Both horses and men were certainly waiting there under orders, Hawley's
adherents in charge, and every arrangement perfected in advance. Clearly
enough, the gambler had planned it all out before he ever went to the
Trocadero--no doubt the completion of these final arrangements was what
delayed his appearance at the hotel. If this was all true, then it must
have been Christie, and not Hope, he purposed bearing away with him, and
the latter was merely a victim of her masquerade.
What would result when the man discovered his mistake? Such a discovery
could not be delayed long, although the girl was quick-witted, and would
surely realize that her personal safety depended upon keeping up the
deception to the last possible moment. Yet the discovery must finally
occur, and there was no guessing what form Hawley's rage would
assume when he found himself baffled, and all his plans for a fortune
overturned. Keith fully realized Hope's peril, and his own helplessness
to serve her in this emergency was agony. As they hurried back to the
town, he briefly reviewed these conclusions with Waite and Fairbain, all
alike agreeing there was nothing remaining for them to do except to take
up the trail. The fugitives had already gained too great an advantage
to be overhauled, but they might be traced to whatever point they were
heading for. In spite of the start being so far to the west, Keith was
firmly convinced that their destination would prove to be Carson City.
Procuring horses at the corral, their forces augmented by two
volunteers--both men of experience--Keith, Waite, Fairbain, and Neb
departed without delay, not even pausing to eat but taking the necessary
food with them. The sun had barely risen when they took up the trail,
Keith, and a man named Bristoe, slightly in advance, their keen eyes
marking every slight sign left for guidance across the bare plain. It
was a comparatively easy trail to follow, leading directly into the
southwest, the pony tracks cutting into the sod as though the reckless
riders had bunched together, their horses trotting rapidly. Evidently
no attempt had been made at concealment, and this served to convince the
pursuers that Hawley still believed his captive to be Miss Maclaire, and
that her disappearance would not be suspected until after nightfall.
In that case the trail could not be discovered before the following
morning, and with such a start, pursuit would be useless. Tireless,
steadily, scarcely speaking except upon the business in hand, the
pursuers pressed forward at an easy trot, Keith, in spite of intense
anxiety, with the remembrance of old cavalry days to guide him,
insisting upon sparing the horses as much as possible. This was to be
a stern chase and a long one, and it was impossible to tell when they
could procure remounts. The constant swerving of the trail westward
seemed to shatter his earlier theory, and, brought him greater
uneasiness. Finally he spoke of it to the old plainsman beside him.
“What do you suppose those fellows are heading so far west for, Ben?
They are taking a big risk of running into hostiles.”
“Oh, I don't know,” returned the other gravely, lifting his eyes to the
far-off sky line. “I reckon from the news thet come in last night from
Hays, thar ain't no Injuns a rangin' thet way jist now. They're too
blame busy out on the Arickaree. Maybe them fellers heerd the same
story, an' thet's what makes 'em so bold.”
“What story? I've heard nothing.”
“Why, it's like this, Cap,” drawling out the words, “leastways, thet's
how it come inter Sheridan; 'Sandy' Forsythe an' his outfit, mostly
plainsmen, started a while ago across Solomon River an' down Beaver
Crick, headin' fer Fort Wallace. Over on the Arickaree, the whole damned
Injun outfit jumped 'em. From all I heerd, thar must a bin nigh
onto three thousan' o' the varmints, droppin' on 'em all at oncet,
hell-bent-fer-election, with ol' Roman Nose a leadin' 'em. It was shore
a good fight, fer the scouts got onto an island an' stopped the bucks.
Two of the fellers got through to Wallace yist'day, an' a courier
brought the news in ter Hays. The Injuns had them boys cooped up thar
fer eight days before them fellers got out, an' I reckon it'll be two or
three days more 'fore the nigger sogers they sent out ter help ever git
thar. So thar won't be no Injuns 'long this route we're travellin', fer
the whole kit an' caboodle are up thar yit after 'Sandy.'”
“And you suppose Hawley knew about this?”
“Why not, Cap? He was hangin' 'round till after ten o'clock las' night,
an' it was all over town by then. 'Tain't likely he's got an outfit
'long with him thet's lost any Injuns. I don't know whar they're bound,
no mor'n you do, but I reckon they're reasonably sure they've got a clar
road.”
They pulled up on the banks of a small stream to water their horses, and
ate hastily. The trail led directly across, and with only the slightest
possible delay they forded the shallow water, and mounted the opposite
bank. A hundred yards farther on, Bristoe reined up suddenly, pointing
down at the trail.
“One hoss left the bunch here,” he declared positively. Keith swung
himself out of the saddle, and bent over to study the tracks. There
was no doubting the evidence--a single horse--the only one shod in the
bunch--with a rider on its back, judging from the deep imprint of
the hoofs, had swerved sharply to the left of the main body, heading
directly into the southeast. The plainsman ran forward for a hundred
yards to assure himself the man had not circled back; at that point the
animal had been spurred into a lope. Keith rejoined the others.
“Must have been about daylight they reached here,” he said, picking
up--his dangling rein, and looking into the questioning faces about
him. “The fellow that rode out yonder alone was heading straight toward
Carson City. He is going for fresh horses, I figure it, and will rejoin
the bunch some place down on the Arkansas. The others intend to keep
farther west, where they won't be seen. What do you say, Ben?”
“Thet's the way it looms up ter me, Cap; most likely 'twas the boss
himself.”
“Well, whoever it was, the girl is still with the others, and their
trail is the easiest to follow. We'll keep after them.”
They pushed on hour after hour, as long as day-light lasted or they
could perceive the faintest trace to follow. Already half-convinced that
he knew the ultimate destination of the fugitives, Keith yet dare not
venture on pressing forward during the night, thus possibly losing
the trail and being compelled to retrace their steps. It was better to
proceed slow and sure. Besides, judging from the condition of their own
horses, the pursued would be compelled to halt somewhere to rest their
stock also. Their trail even revealed the fact that they were already
travelling far less rapidly than at first, although evidently making
every effort to cover the greatest possible distance before stopping.
Just as the dusk shut in close about them they rode down into the valley
of Shawnee Fork, and discovered signs of a recent camp at the edge of
the stream. Here, apparently, judging from the camp-fire ashes, and the
trampled grass along the Fork, the party must have halted for several
hours. By lighting matches Keith and Bristoe discerned where some among
them had laid down to sleep, and, through various signs, decided they
must have again departed some five or six hours previous, one of their
horses limping as if lame. The tired pursuers went into camp at the same
spot, but without venturing to light any fire, merely snatching a cold
bite, and dropping off to sleep with heads pillowed upon their saddles.
They were upon the trail again with the first dimness of the gray dawn,
wading the waters of the Fork, and striking forth across the dull level
of brown prairie and white alkali toward the Arkansas. They saw nothing
all day moving in that wide vista about them, but rode steadily,
scarcely exchanging a word, determined, grim, never swerving a yard from
the faint trail. The pursued were moving slower, hampered, no doubt, by
their lame horse, but were still well in advance. Moreover, the strain
of the saddle was already beginning to tell severely on Waite, weakened
somewhat by years, and the pursuers were compelled to halt oftener on
his account. The end of the second day found them approaching the broken
land bordering the Arkansas valley, and just before nightfall they
picked up a lame horse, evidently discarded by the party ahead.
By this time Keith had reached a definite decision as to his course. If
the fugitives received a fresh relay of horses down there somewhere, and
crossed the Arkansas, he felt positively sure as to their destination.
But it would be useless pushing on after them in the present shape
of his party--their horses worn out, and Waite reeling giddily in the
saddle. If Hawley's outfit crossed the upper ford, toward which they
were evidently heading, and struck through the sand hills, then they
were making for the refuge of that lone cabin on Salt Fork. Should this
prove true, then it was probable the gambler had not even yet discovered
the identity of Hope, for if he had, he would scarcely venture upon
taking her there, knowing that Keith would naturally suspect the spot.
But Keith would not be likely to personally take up the trail in search
for Christie Maclaire. It must have been Hawley then who had left the
party and ridden east, and up to that time he had not found out his
mistake. Yet if he brought out the fresh animals the chances were that
Hope's identity would be revealed. Bristoe, who had turned aside to
examine the straying horse, came trotting up.
“Belonged to their outfit all right, Cap,” he reported, “carries the
double cross brand and that shebang is upon the Smoky; saddle galls
still bleeding.”
Waite was now suffering so acutely they were obliged to halt before
gaining sight of the river, finding, fortunately, a water-hole fed by a
spring. As soon as the sick man could be made comfortable, Keith gave
to the others his conclusions, and listened to what they had to say.
Bristoe favored clinging to the trail even though they must travel
slowly, but Fairbain insisted that Waite must be taken to some town
where he could be given necessary care. Keith finally decided the
matter.
“None can be more anxious to reach those fellows than I am,” he
declared, “but I know that country out south, and we'll never get
through to the Salt Fork without fresh horses. Besides, as the doctor
says, we've got to take care of Waite. If we find things as I expect
we'll ride for Carson City, and re-outfit there. What's more, we won't
lose much time--it's a shorter ride from there to the cabin than from
here.”
By morning the General was able to sit his saddle again, and leaving
him with Neb to follow slowly, the others spurred forward, discovered
an outlet through the bluff into the valley, and crossed the Santa Fé
Trail. It was not easy to discover where those in advance had passed
this point, but they found evidence of a late camp in a little grove of
cottonwoods beside the river. There were traces of two trails leading to
the spot, one being that of the same five horses they had been following
so long, the other not so easily read, as it had been traversed in both
directions, the different hoof marks obliterating each other. Bristoe,
creeping about on hands and knees, studied the signs with the eyes of an
Indian.
“You kin see the diff'rence yere whar the ground is soft, Cap,” he said,
pointing to some tracks plainer than the others. “This yere hoss had a
rider, but the rest of 'em was led; thet's why they've bungled up ther
trail so. An' it wa'n't ther same bunch thet went back east what come
from thar--see thet split hoof! thar ain't no split hoof p'inting ther
other way--but yere is the mark of the critter thet puts her foot down
so fur outside thet we've been a trailin' from Sheridan, an' she's
p'inting east, an' being led. Now, let's see whar the bunch went from
yere with thet split hoof.”
This was not so easily accomplished owing to the nature of the ground,
but at last the searchers stumbled onto tracks close in under the bank,
and one of these revealed the split hoof.
“That makes it clear, Ben,” exclaimed Keith, decidedly, staring out
across the river at the white sandhills. “They have kept in the edge of
the water, making for the ford, which is yonder at the bend. They are
out in the sand desert by this time riding for the Salt Fork. Whoever
he was, the fellow brought them five horses, and the five old ones were
taken east again on the trail. The girl is still with the party, and
we'll go into Carson City and reoutfit.”