THE HORSE-THIEVES.
All four slept soundly, but the visitors awoke first.
"Are you awake, Tom?" inquired Mosely.
"I should say so," answered his friend.
Bill Mosely raised himself on his elbow and surveyed Ben and
Bradley. Their deep, tranquil breathing showed that they were sound
asleep.
Mosely next glanced at the mustangs which were tethered near-by.
"Tom," said he, "I wish we had them mustangs. It's a deal easier
ridin' than walkin'."
"I should say so."
"When I struck this party last night I meant to have 'em; but this
man is such a bloody ruffian that I don't know as it would be safe."
Hadley said nothing. His customary phrase would not apply, and he
was a man of few words, besides.
"What did he say he would do if a fellow stole his horses, Tom?"
"Said he'd die within a week," answered Had-ley, with unfailing
memory.
Bill Mosely looked discouraged. He privately thought Bradley was
just the man to keep his word, and he did not fancy getting into
difficulty with him.
"That depends on whether he caught him," he said, after a while,
hopefully.
"I should say so, Bill."
"Now," said Mosely, lowering his voice, "if we could get away while
they are asleep, there wouldn't be much chance of their knowin'
where we were."
"That's so, Bill."
"Anyway, if we don't take 'em we may be overtaken by the party that
we borrowed some gold-dust from."
Tom Hadley responded in his customary manner.
"And that would be mighty bad luck," continued Mosely, with a
shudder.
"I should say so, Bill."
In fact, Mosely felt that their situation was not likely to be made
worse by a new theft. Only thirty miles away was a party of miners
with whom they had worked in company, but without much success,
till, emboldened by temptation and opportunity, they had stolen a
bag of gold-dust from a successful comrade, and fled under cover of
the night.
In the primitive state of society at the mines, stealing was a
capital offense, and if they were caught their lives would probably
pay the penalty. Even now some of the injured party might be on
their track, and this naturally inspired them with uneasiness. Thus
they were between two fires, and, in spite of the fear with which
Bradley had inspired them, it looked as if another theft would
conduce to their safety. If they carried away the mustangs, Bradley
and Ben, even if they hit on the right trail, would have to pursue
them on foot, and among the Sierras a man is no match for a mustang
in speed and endurance.
"I've a great mind to carry off them mustangs," said Mosely
thoughtfully. "Are you with me?"
"I should say so."
"Why don't you ever say something else, Tom?" demanded Mosely
impatiently.
"What do you want me to say?" asked Hadley, in surprise.
"Well, never mind; it's your way, I suppose, and I can rely upon
you."
"I should say so."
Mosely shrugged his shoulders. It was clearly idle to expect any
great variety in Tom Hadley's conversation.
"Whatever we do must be done quickly," he said, in a quiet, decided
tone. "They'll wake up before long, and there won't be any chance.
You, Tom, take that near animal, and I'll tackle the other. Jest
untie them quiet and easy, and when I say the word start. Do you
understand?"
"I should say so, Bill," said Hadley, nodding.
"Then here goes."
In a few seconds they had loosened the mustangs and had sprung upon
their backs.
"Now, go!" exclaimed Mosely, in a energetic whisper.
So on their stolen horses they drew stealthily away from the camp
till they were perhaps a furlong away, and then, putting the
mustangs to their speed, they soon put a distance of miles between
them and their sleeping owners. They would have liked to remain long
enough to have a trout breakfast, but that was impracticable.