"GOOD-BY!"
The Comanche must have been disgusted. He had been trying for some time
to steal the mustang of Avon Burnet, with the result that the pony was
about to steal him, unless he prevented it offhand.
The Indian heard the whistle from the edge of the bush, and the instant
increase of speed, on the part of the stubborn mustang, made the meaning
clear to him. He did not know but that three or four Texans were waiting
in the mesquite, and that, if he stayed on the back of the steed a
minute longer, he would be carried directly into their arms.
Consequently he did not hesitate. He went off of Thunderbolt, as if
struck by a cannon ball, and, heading out on the prairie, ran with might
and main, quickly disappearing in the darkness, and was seen no more.
"Ah, my own Thunderbolt!" exclaimed the delighted Avon, patting the nose
of his beast, who was as happy as he at being restored to his young
master; "I thought I would never see you again, but here you are."
He sprang upon the bare back, and the pony started through the bush for
the cabin.
Arriving there, matters were found in a satisfactory shape. Ballyhoo
Gleeson was the only cowboy that had remained behind with Captain
Shirril. The rest had started to look after the cattle. It has been
shown that a number had been stampeded, and since all care was
necessarily withdrawn from the others, they were likely to follow suit.
Then, too, it was probable that the Comanches would see their chance of
securing some of the herd, and would make the attempt despite the rough
handling they had received.
Nothing could have attested more strikingly the fact that our friends
were accustomed to their wild, dangerous life, than the manner in which
they now acted. A half hour before, the little family within the cabin
considered themselves in such imminent peril of being burned to death
that they allowed young Burnet to run the greatest risk to secure help,
before it was too late.
But now Captain Shirril and Ballyhoo Gleeson sat before the fire, that
was burning brightly, smoking their pipes, and talking as though the
occurrence was of the most ordinary nature. The ranchman had made sure
of his supply of tobacco, and intended to ride back to camp, after
spending an hour or so within the house.
Everyone had eaten supper before the lively incidents opened, and Mrs.
Shirril now resumed her sitting in front of the fire, occasionally
taking part in the words of her husband and guests. Dinah was heard
muttering angrily to herself upstairs, as she investigated the damages
done by the visitor in her apartment.
Avon, on his return, told his uncle about his horse, explaining that he
was fortunate enough to recover Thunderbolt.
"You were luckier than I supposed you would be," said the captain, as
his nephew drew up his chair near them.
"Do you think," asked the wife, "that the Comanches will trouble us
further, husband?"
"There is no danger," he replied, calmly puffing his pipe; "is there,
Ballyhoo?"
"None at all," was the calm response.
"I thought perhaps that because they had suffered so severely, they
would come back to revenge themselves," ventured the little woman, still
busily plying her needle.
"But you see the damage was done, not by you and Dinah, though you did
your part, but by the men, and _them's_ the ones they'll go for,"
observed Ballyhoo.
"That is not the invariable rule with Indians," was the truthful remark
of Mrs. Shirril. "It makes little difference to them whether the
innocent or guilty suffer."
"But," said the husband, "the prime object of the redskins is cattle,
with perhaps horses thrown in. You know they have been hanging round for
a number of days, waiting for a chance before we started north; they
will make an effort to run off those stampeded cattle to-night, and
likely enough will follow us into the Indian Nation, on the watch for a
chance to gather in several hundred hoofs."
"I think there's one thing that's encouraging," said Avon, addressing
all his friends; "you know how dry the roof of the house is. If Dinah
hadn't put her foot down when she did, there would have been no cabin at
this moment. The Comanches tried to fire the sides, and failing in that,
gave their attention to the roof, where they came so near succeeding."
"What do you refer to as encouraging, Avon?" asked his uncle.
"There's a storm in the air; we are going to have a regular driving
rain, that will soak the roof until a ton of live-coals on the top
wouldn't set fire to the planking."
"Baby is right," said Ballyhoo, with a nod of his head; "rain will fall
within twelve hours."
"That _is_ good news," said the wife, with a pleased look; "I shall now
see the captain and the rest of you leave without a misgiving as
concerns ourselves."
"You wouldn't feel frightened, Edna, if old Wygwind and his gang of
imps should come whooping down upon you?" asked the captain, looking
sideways, with an expression of admiration and love glowing from his
shaggy face.
"I don't pretend to say we would not be frightened, but Dinah and I
would feel secure inside, so long as there was no danger of the building
being burned. I wonder whether Wygwind led this party."
"I shouldn't be surprised if he did; he's one of the worst scamps that
ever lived."
"You're right," assented Ballyhoo. "I believe he led this gang, though a
chap couldn't tell in the darkness. You know what a thief he is."
The allusion was to the notorious Comanche Wygwind, one of the many
leaders belonging to that tribe. He was a powerful, wiry Indian, in
middle life, who had long been detested by the ranchmen for his thievish
and brutal propensities. He had stolen hundreds of cattle, not to
mention horses, and though often pursued, and driven more than once into
dangerous quarters, he had managed in some way to pull through to the
present time.
"If he should get inside," said the captain slyly, "and you should get
the drop on him, wife, I advise that you don't let him walk out of the
door unharmed."
"That depends on circumstances," quietly replied his better half; "if he
should appeal to me, and he had done no particular harm, I could hardly
refuse him. However, I don't think if he does enter it will be through
the scuttle."
"The next time it will be best to turn him over to the mercies of
Dinah."
"I am afraid it will go ill with him if I do. I heard her say to
herself, when she went upstairs after you, that, on the return trip, she
meant to fall from the round of the ladder upon him: the result would
have been frightful."
"Yes; that red man doesn't know all that he escaped."
The mutterings of Dinah were still audible overhead, and she was seen
the next minute, descending the primitive stairs.
The little party smiled, and the captain turned toward her.
"Well, Dinah, you didn't find much damage done in your room, did you?"
"Humph! 'cause de warmint didn't hab time. I only wish I had a chance to
wrung his neck."
"No doubt you would have done it, but I think we all have cause for
gratitude that things turned out as well as they did."
"I guess you didn't notice dat big hole dey come nigh burning frough de
roof, did you?"
"Oh, yes; I saw it; it would have been much worse but for you; I hope
the fire didn't injure your shoe."
She turned her foot and looked at the broad sole of the heavy shoe, as
though the thought had not occurred to her before.
"It am scorchified a little," she said.
"Never mind," remarked Ballyhoo gravely; "I'll give out a contract for a
new pair for you, when we get into Kansas, and send a couple of the boys
back with them, if they don't prove too big a load."
"I consider such remarks as onnecessary and slightsome," replied Dinah,
with a scornful toss of her head; "I wore number 'lebens, which am just
a lady's size; I reckons you can't do much better dan dat."
"If my feet keep on growing for a few years, I may get there in time,
but you shall have the shoes, Dinah, if the right size can be bought in
any of the big establishments."
"T'ank you," replied the African, who thought it best not to repel the
offer of her friend; "dese am gettin' wored consid'ble, and by de time
you got back, I'll need anoder pair."
The evening was advancing. In answer to Ballyhoo's inquiries, Captain
Shirril looked at his watch, and said that it was nearly eleven
o'clock.
"I must be off," remarked the tall ranchman, rising to his feet; "we
make an early start, and I don't know how the boys have made out with
the cattle; they may need my help."
"I may as well go with you," said Avon, looking inquiringly at his
uncle; "for there is to be no more work here."
"It will be just as well," replied the captain.
The youth took his saddle and accoutrements from the corner, where
they had been lying, and stepping outside, adjusted them upon
Thunderbolt, who whinnied with pleasure at the promise of carrying
his loved owner on his back indefinitely. The two had become attached
by their companionship on the hunt and ranch, and the delight of the
youth on recovering his mustang was beyond expression.
While he was busy at this brief task, the members of the little family
kept their feet, discussing matters in which each was interested.
"Well, I'm ready, Ballyhoo," called Avon, in his cheery voice, stepping
quickly through the open door.
He placed one arm around the neck of his aunt and kissed her
affectionately, shook hands with Dinah, adding as he crossed palms with
his uncle:
"I expect to see you again, soon. Keep up a good heart, auntie, while we
are gone, which I don't think will be for long. Good-by, all!"
He put his foot in the stirrup, swung himself into the saddle, at the
same moment that his companion did the same, and the couple headed their
animals to the northward.
Captain Shirril and the women remained in the door, looking forth in the
darkness, and listening until the sounds of the hoofs died out in the
distance. Then the Texan led the way inside, adjusting the bar in place
so that no one could enter without permission.
The extra horse which Avon had ridden to the cabin was turned loose in
the bush, to be recovered and used by the captain when he wished to ride
to the camp. Ballyhoo had removed the saddle and bridle, which lay in
the corner where Avon's had awaited him.
The Texan stood a minute, looking around the room, as if trying to
recall any forgotten duty, but thought of none.
"It is later than I suspected," said he, addressing his wife and
consulting his watch again; "and we may as well retire."
He lighted a common tallow candle, and with that in his hand, led the
way up the ladder, followed by the others. Fifteen minutes later,
everyone was sleeping as soundly as though the evening had not been
disturbed by any unusual incident.