ARTHUR SHOWS HIS COURAGE
It must not be supposed that Frank and Archie were entirely unmoved by
what had just happened. The strange conduct of the hounds, and the
desperate flight of Johnny's horse, were enough to satisfy them that
there was some dangerous animal in the bushes in front of them, and the
uncertainty of what that animal might be, caused them no little
uneasiness. Grizzly bears were frequently met with among the mountains,
and they sometimes extended their excursions into the plains,
occasioning a general stampede among the stock of the nearest ranch. The
grizzly is as much the king of beasts in his own country as the lion in
Africa and Asia; and Frank and Archie, during their sojourn at the Old
Bear's Hole, had become well enough acquainted with his habits and
disposition to know that, if their enemy in the bushes belonged to that
species, they were in a dangerous neighborhood. The grizzly might, at
any moment, assume the offensive, and in that event, if their horses
became entangled in the bushes, or were rendered unmanageable by fright,
their destruction was certain. This knowledge caused their hearts to
beat a trifle faster than usual, and Frank's hand trembled a little as
he unbuckled the holsters in front of his saddle, and grasped one of his
revolvers. But neither he nor Archie had any intention of discontinuing
their journey, or of leaving the field without having at least one shot
at the animal, whatever it might be.
"Now, boys," said Frank, in an excited whisper, "we have a splendid
chance to immortalize ourselves. If that is a grizzly, and we should be
fortunate enough to kill him, it would be something worth bragging
about, wouldn't it? If I only had my rifle!"
"We must rely upon our friend, here," said Archie. "It's lucky that he
is with us, for he is an old hunter, and he won't mind riding into the
bushes, and driving him out--will you, Arthur?"
"Eh!" exclaimed that young gentleman, who trembled so violently that he
could scarcely hold his reins.
"I say, that, as you are the most experienced in such matters, we shall
be obliged to depend upon you to drive the bear out of the bushes into
open ground," repeated Archie, who did not appear to notice his friend's
trepidation. "We can't all go in there to attack him, for he would be
sure to catch some of us. What have you in that gun?"
"B-u-c-k-s-h-o-t," replied Arthur, in an almost inaudible voice. "Let's
go home."
"Go home!" exclaimed Frank; "and without even one shot at that fellow!
No, sir. You've got the only gun in the party, and, of course, you are
the one to attack him. Go right up the path, and when you see him, bang
away."
"How big is he?" asked Arthur.
"Why, if he is a full-grown grizzly, he is as big as a cow."
"Will he fight much?"
"I should say he would," answered Archie, who was somewhat surprised at
these questions. "Have you forgotten the one you killed with your
knife? He will be certain to follow you, if you don't disable him at the
first shot, but he can't catch your horse. Besides, as soon as he comes
in sight, Frank and I will give him a volley from our revolvers. You are
not afraid?"
"Afraid!" repeated Arthur, compressing his lips, and scowling fiercely.
"O, no."
"Well, then, make haste," said Frank, who was beginning to get
impatient. "Ride up within ten paces of him, and let him have it. That's
the way you used to serve the lions in Europe."
"Yes, go on," urged Archie; and he gave Arthur's horse a cut with his
whip, to hurry him up.
"O, stop that!" whined Arthur, as the horse sprang forward so suddenly
that his rider was nearly unseated. "I am going home."
What might have happened next, it is impossible to tell, had not the
boys' attention been turned from Arthur by the yelping of a dog in the
bushes a short distance up the mountain.
"That's Carlo," exclaimed Archie. "Now we will soon know what sort of an
enemy we have to deal with."
The dog was evidently following the trail of the bear, for he broke out
into a continuous baying, which grew louder and fiercer as he
approached. The bear heard it, and was either making efforts to escape,
or preparing to defend himself; for he thrashed about among the bushes
in a way that quite bewildered Frank and Archie, who drew their
revolvers, and turned their horses' heads down the path, ready to fight
or run, as they might find it necessary. An instant afterward, a large,
tan-colored hound bounded across the path, and dashed into the bushes
where the game was concealed. It was not one of those which had so
disgracefully left the field a few moments before--it was Carlo,
Johnny's favorite hound--an animal whose strength had been tested in
many a desperate encounter, and which had never been found wanting in
courage. Scarcely had he disappeared when Marmion came in sight, also
following the trail. He ran with his nose close to the ground, the hair
on his back standing straight up like the quills on a porcupine, and
his whole appearance indicating great rage and excitement.
"Hi! hi!" yelled Frank. "Take hold of him, you rascal! Now's your time,
Arthur. Ride up and give him the contents of your double-barrel; only,
be careful, and don't shoot the dogs."
For an instant, it seemed as if Arthur's courage had returned, and that
he was about to yield to the entreaties of his companions. He
straightened up in his saddle, and, assuming what he, no doubt, imagined
to be a very determined look, was on the point of urging his horse
forward, when suddenly there arose from the woods a chorus of yells, and
snarls, and growls, that made the cold chills creep all over him, and
caused him to forget every thing in the desire to put a safe distance
between himself and the terrible animal in the bushes. Acting on the
impulse of the moment, he wheeled his horse, and, before Frank or Archie
could utter a word, he shot by them, and disappeared down the path.
For a moment, the two boys, forgetting that a furious battle was going
on a little way from them, gazed at each other in blank amazement. The
mighty hunter, who had boasted of whipping a grizzly-bear in a fair
fight, with no weapon but his knife, had fled ingloriously, without
having seen any thing to be frightened at.
"That's one lie nailed," said Frank.
"More than one, I should think," returned Archie, contemptuously. "I
shall have nothing more to do with that fellow. This is the end of my
acquaintance with him."
No doubt Archie was in earnest when he said this; but, had he been able
to look into the future, he would have discovered that he was destined
to have a great deal more to do with Arthur Vane. Instead of being the
end of his acquaintance with that young gentleman, it was only the
beginning of it.
Meanwhile, the fight in the bushes, desperate as it was, judging by the
noise it occasioned, was ended, and Arthur had scarcely disappeared when
Marmion and Carlo walked out into the path, and, after looking up at the
boys, and giving their tails a few jerks, as if to say "We've done it!"
seated themselves on their haunches, and awaited further orders. Archie
threw his reins to his cousin, and, springing out of his saddle, went
forward to survey the scene of the conflict. He was gone but a moment,
and when he came out of the bushes, he was dragging after him--not a
grizzly bear, but a large gray wolf, which had been overpowered and
killed by the dogs. One of the wolf's hind-legs was caught in a trap, to
which was fastened a short piece of chain and a clog. The animal had
doubtless been paying his respects to some sheep-fold during the night,
and had put his foot into the trap while searching for his supper. He
had retreated toward the mountains, and had dragged the trap until the
clog caught, and held him fast. That was the reason he did not run off
when the boys came up, and the commotion in the bushes had been caused
by his efforts to free himself.
While the boys were examining their prize, Johnny, having succeeded in
stopping his frantic horse, was returning to the place from which he had
started on his involuntary ride. As he was about to enter the woods at
the base of the mountains, he saw a horse emerge from the trees, and
come toward him at a rapid gallop. His bridle was flying loose in the
wind, and Johnny at first thought he was running away; but a second
glance showed him that there was somebody on his back.
"Stampeded," thought Johnny. "If I am laughed at, it will be some
consolation to know that I am not alone in my misery."
The rider of the stampeded horse was bent almost double; his feet were
out of the stirrups, which were being thrown wildly about; both hands
were holding fast to the horn of the saddle; his face was deadly pale,
and, altogether, he presented the appearance of one who had been
thoroughly alarmed. Although he looked very unlike the dignified Arthur
Vane, who had ridden so gayly over that road but a few moments before,
Johnny recognized him at once; and the first thought that flashed
through his mind was that something terrible had happened to Frank and
Archie.
"What's the matter?" asked Johnny, pulling up his horse with a jerk.
"Grizzly bears!" shouted Arthur, in reply, without attempting to check
his headlong flight.
"Grizzly bears!" echoed Johnny, in dismay. "And are you going off
without trying to help those boys? Stop, and go back with me."
But Arthur was past stopping, either by ability or inclination. Digging
his spurs into the sides of his horse, which was already going at the
top of his speed, he went by Johnny like the wind, and in a moment was
so far away that it was useless to make any further attempts to stop
him. For an instant, Johnny was irresolute; then he turned in his
saddle, and shouted one word, which the wind caught up and carried to
the ears of the flying horseman, and which did much to bring about the
events we have yet to describe.
"_Coward!_" yelled Johnny, with all the strength of his lungs.
Having thus given utterance to his opinion of Arthur Vane, he put spurs
to his horse and galloped into the woods, hoping to reach the scene of
the conflict in time to be of service to his friends. But, as we know,
the grizzly bear had proved to be a wolf, and had already been killed by
the dogs.