CACHING THE TREASURE.
Deadwood Dick had to laugh.
There was something about the situation that struck him as being
ridiculous.
Why should he be talking terms and conditions to a man already in his
power, and that man an outlaw? It was needless, and yet--Well, Deadwood
Dick had his moods.
He was willing to give the fellow, rascal though he was, the benefit of
a doubt, and now that his word had been given he would not recall it.
That was not Deadwood Dick's way. What he said, that had to stand; and
yet, as said, he had to laugh.
"As if you are not as good as in prison already," he said. "Still, I
have given my word, and I'll stick to it. Pace off the required number
of steps backward, then draw your guns, and at the word from me open
fire, and do your best to dispose of me. If you miss the first shot I
warn you that you are not likely to get a second."
"But, the money?"
"Take it with you; I can pick it up after I have dropped you. If I
happen to be the one to go down, you will not have to stop."
"No, no, we must not risk that, Deadwood Dick. Recall what I said a
moment ago. If you are going to give me a show at all, let it be a fair
one all around."
"Then you are determined to cache it?"
"I want to."
"That will mean a delay while you draw two maps of the spot where it is
cached, one for me and the other for you. If we both go down, others
can then find and profit by it."
"Yes, I'll do that. I can't expect to have it all my own way."
"All right. First of all, turn your back to me and remove your weapons,
and lay them on the ground."
"What for?"
"Because I will not risk a snap shot from you when you might possibly
get a chance to fire it."
"Well, I can't kick. You are the fiddler, just now, and I have got to
dance to your tune. If the tables turn again, however, you will dance
to mine, I warn you."
"Should the tables turn, you will have a chance to deal as honorably
with me as I have done with you."
"And I'll do it, too."
The outlaw turned the other way, Dick's precaution against a snap shot,
while he was removing his weapons, and in a moment was disarmed. His
rifle, a brace of revolvers, and a knife lay on the ground.
"These things are not to be left here," he said.
"Certainly not," answered Dick; "I will bring them along with me. Go
ahead, now, to the place where you want to hide the money."
"All right, follow me. I will take you to a place that is known only to
myself."
He started off.
Dick, having gathered up the weapons, followed.
He held his man under cover, and it would have been impossible for him
to escape.
Straight up into the mountain fastness, for a mile, the outlaw led the
way, and they left no trail that could possibly have been followed save
possibly by a bloodhound.
If it has seemed that Deadwood Dick was acting unwisely, and was
assuming too great risks, it was not altogether without some
compensating objects in view. He wanted to learn some of the secrets of
this Red Rover who had become a terror in the State.
Finally, on a plateau on the very summit of a low peak, Captain Joaquin
stopped.
"Here we are," he said.
It was a scene of wildest grandeur.
On every hand higher peaks rose and overshadowed the one on which they
stood.
There was but one approach to the plateau, the way they had come. Every
other side presented a sheer descent that could not be scaled.
Just back from the place where they had stepped up onto the rock table
was a depression in which lay a boulder that was seemingly loose and
possibly movable.
"And your cache is under that boulder?" asked Dick.
"Yes, there. You were quick to guess it--But, then, there is no other
place possible."
"Hence it was not a guess, but a conclusion. Well, deposit your plunder
and let us settle our business."
"Yes, in short order."
The outlaw chieftain put his shoulder to the boulder, at a certain
point, and began surging his weight against it, and presently it moved.
He increased the force, it moved more and a little more, till presently
it rolled over to another point of support, revealing a hole in the
table under where it had rested.
"Here we are," he said.
"Any treasure there now?" asked Dick.
"No, not a bit; look and see for yourself."
"It does not matter."
"All right."
Captain Joaquin took the bag from his shoulder and tossed it into
the cavity, strap and all, and going around to the other side of the
boulder, turned it back into place.
"Now for the key-maps to the hiding-place," said Dick.
"That is going to a good deal of trouble."
"All on your account."
The outlaw smiled, and took paper and pencil from his pocket.
Spreading the paper upon the side of the boulder where a flat surface
was presented, he began to sketch a map.
It took him several minutes, and when it was done he proceeded to make
a duplicate of it. Both done, he held them up for Deadwood Dick's
inspection.
"There you are," he said. "You can see for yourself that I have made
them correct. Here is the main trail, this is the way we came, and here
is the little peak on which we are standing. Here I have made an index,
and under it written--Turn the boulder."
"That is good enough," said Dick, "but just write--Here treasure is
hidden."
"All right, as you desire."
The words were written, and one of the maps was handed to Dick.
Dick put it into his pocket, Captain Joaquin doing the same with his
copy, and they were ready.
"Now for business," said the Red Rover.
"Yes, now to oblige you," said Dick. "Where is the fight to take place?"
"Just down there where the straight stretch of gulch lies, where we can
have a clear and fair range, with nothing in the way."
"I prefer to go out to the gulch from which this one branches," said
Dick. "I take it that one is traveled, while this one is seldom entered
save by you yourself."
"What's your reason for that?"
"We want our bodies to be found, if we both get hit hard."
"Well, I won't quarrel with your plan. Come on and let's have it over
and done with."
Captain Joaquin led the way down from the little peak, Dick following
close behind him, and through the first gulch mentioned out to the one
Dick had preferred.
"This will do," said Dick. "I do not want to have too far to walk back
to get the treasure. Here are your weapons," laying them on the ground
as he spoke; "take them and back off the required distance, and we will
begin to perforate each other. The man who strikes the ticker first,
wins. Remember what I told you about the first shot."
"I'll try to make it unnecessary to fire more than one," said the
outlaw, with a sardonic smile, as he picked up his weapons.