Our arrival in camp, during the afternoon, was the signal for a general
rejoicing among the men, who loudly applauded the determination and pluck
shown by Jerry in pursuing and overtaking the thieves.
My first inquiry was for Hal and Ned, and was told that they had gone out
after a flock of wild turkeys that had been heard clucking in the pecan
trees, not far from camp. They had taken their guns with them, and
expected to be back by noon.
Thinking they would soon return, I went over to consult with Don Ignacio
about resuming our journey; but, as the water and grass were much better
where we then were than at the next stopping-place, the California
Springs, it was decided to remain encamped until morning.
Accepting an invitation to dine with Don Ignacio. I did not return to my
own camp until about five o'clock, when I learned, to my surprise, that
the boys had not put in an appearance.
Calling Jerry, I asked if he supposed any accident could have befallen
them.
His reply was, "No: they had their rifles and revolvers with 'em, and
they ain't likely to meet with nothin' bigger 'n an antelope. They ought
to be able to take keer of themselves, specially as the biggest one ain't
afraid of Injuns, no how."
"That may be true," replied I; "but they are boys, Jerry, and I think we
ought to start at once in search of them. I feel confident, if nothing
had happened, they would have returned before this."
"Boys ain't nothin' but a nuisance, no how, and hain't no business
travlin' on the plains. Howsoever, I'll hev a couple of critters ketched
up and saddled, and we'll see if we kin strike their trail," said Jerry.
The mules were immediately brought up, and Jerry and myself mounted, and
set out in pursuit of the wanderers. In a short time we struck their
trail, which led through the underbrush and bottom grass, along the banks
of the river for a mile or more, and then turned in the direction of a
large post-oak opening, three or four miles away.
The trail led us directly into the grove, where we were obliged to
dismount, as the low, scraggy branches would not permit our riding
beneath them. Securing our animals, we followed the trail on foot for
some distance, when Jerry called my attention to a number of fresh tracks
in the earth.
"Antelope tracks," said I.
"No they ain't neither; you must guess again. Them's _havilina_
tracks."
"What are they?" inquired I.
"Them's hogs," replied Jerry; "wild Mexican hogs, and the darndest,
ugliest critters on the plains, ef you git 'em riled. I'd rather meet a
dozen Comanches, as far as comfort's concarned, any time, than a drove of
them critters. Yer see this's their feedin' ground, and I 'spect I know
where ter find them boys."
"Where?" inquired I.
"Up a tree," replied Jerry. I reckon they're treed this time, sartin; an'
good enough for 'em. Boys hain't got no bizness on the plains, no how."
"Well, Jerry, I brought the boys with me, and I calculate to take care of
them, if possible," was my reply.
"All right, judge; you'll hev your hands full, I reckon. I'll help you so
fur's I'm able; but don't depend too much on me, fur boys hain't got no
bizness on the plains, no how."
We continued our search for some time, when Jerry's acute ear detected a
sound in the distance which he declared was made by the "squealin'
critters;" and we hastened in the direction of the noise, which each
moment grew more distinct. At length we came in sight of a large drove of
the animals, gathered beneath the branches of a small, scraggy oak.
As soon as Jerry saw them, he burst into a loud laugh, exclaiming, "Jest
as I 'spected, they're treed, for sartin."
"How do you know?" inquired I.
"Know! don't yer see 'em squattin' in that tree, thar?" said he, pointing
to a dark object in the branches of the oak; "that's them, for sartin."
As we approached I halloed loudly, in the hope of diverting the attention
of the hogs, if I did not succeed in letting the boys know' we were near
them; for the animals kept up such a squealing, that it was almost
impossible to hear the sound of our own voices.
My efforts certainly were successful, so far as attracting the attention
of the hogs; for a number started towards us, at a speed that was quite
as wonderful as it was alarming; for I had no idea before, that hogs
could be as active or as ferocious as these appeared to be.
As they came towards us, Jerry exclaimed,--
"Take keer! take keer! we'd better look out;" and, without further
explanation, he began to climb a tree.
I followed suit, and we were soon safely perched among the thick branches
of a post-oak.
We had hardly reached a secure position when they were upon us. I must
say that I never was more thankful for a place of refuge than when I saw
the ferocious aspect of the gaunt, savage creatures. They crowded beneath
the trees, with erect bristles, small, bloodshot eyes, gleaming white
tusks, and frothing mouths, filling the air with their shrill cries, and
striking the trunks such sturdy blows with their long, sharp tusks, that
the trees fairly shook at each fresh assault.
They seemed as agile as cats, and occasionally one more ferocious than
the others would bound up, until I began to think I should be obliged to
leave the limb on which I was sitting.
As soon as we were fairly fixed on our perches, and had time to take a
survey of the situation, we opened fire upon them to such good purpose
that we killed nine with our revolvers. This wholesale slaughter seemed
only to excite the fury of the others, for they commenced gnawing the
trees so fiercely that Jerry became alarmed, and urged me to use all
possible dispatch in reloading my pistol.
Fortunately there were only ten of the animals left, and these we finally
managed to silence. After descending from the tree, I found Jerry in
anything but an amiable mood, at "the idee of an old hunter like he was,
bein' treed by a lot of hogs;" and, as usual, he declared that "them
cussid boys" was to blame, "for boys hadn't no bizness on the plains, no
how."
By the exercise of considerable caution in approaching the herd, we
managed to get quite near without attracting their attention; and I asked
Jerry if it wasn't strange that the boys gave no sign of being aware of
our presence.
"Sign!" said Jerry; "how could they give any sign when I couldn't hear my
own shots? Why, the only way I knowed if thet pistol went off or not was
by watchin' fur the smoke: the critters kep' up such a squealin' that I
couldn't hear you speak a word. I'll bet my hoss agin a chaw of terbacker
that them boys hain't heerd a shot we've fired, an' dunno we're within five
miles on 'em."
Taking advantage of our former experience, we approached as near and as
quietly as possible, obtaining position beneath a tree,--in the branches
of which we could place ourselves if necessary,--and then opened fire
upon them with our revolvers, with such good effect, that the remainder
of the herd took to their long legs and were soon out of sight.
[Illustration: Wild Hogs.]
When the last of them disappeared, the boys dropped to the ground; but so
cramped were their limbs from their long confinement, that it was some
time before they could stand. While they were getting "the kinks out of
their legs," as Jerry termed it, we counted our game and found twenty-two
of the creatures dead, and the ground strewn with portions of flesh,
bristles and bones, all bearing evidence of a fearful fray.
As the boys claimed to have killed but one of the creatures, we called
upon them for an explanation; and, from their story, it appeared, that,
shortly after leaving camp, Ned, who was in advance, had come upon a
large flock of turkeys, and discharged one of the barrels of his gun at
them without effect.
Soon afterwards they discovered the tracks of the _havilinas_.
Supposing they were either antelope or deer tracks, they followed them
into the grove, where they discovered the herd of hogs, quietly feeding
upon the mast with which the ground was thickly strewn.
Without a moment's hesitation Ned discharged the contents of his other
barrel at the animals, thinking they were hogs that had escaped from some
herd that had been driven across the country.
The shot did not penetrate their thick hides far enough to do anything
but irritate and madden them, and the whole herd rushed towards the boys,
who, frightened at their formidable appearance, jumped into the nearest
tree, where they had been obliged to remain until released by us.
Once fairly out of reach of the infuriated creatures, they rather enjoyed
the situation for a time; Hal feeling confident that he could, at any
moment, frighten them away by the discharge of his rifle.
Finally, becoming tired of the fun, he discharged his rifle and killed
his hog; but this only seemed to make the creatures more ferocious, and
then, for the first time, the boys became really alarmed.
As hour after hour passed, and the hogs showed no disposition to depart,
Hal began to despond, declaring that no help would reach them before they
should starve. Ned, however, kept up heart, until the infuriated
creatures began to devour the dead body of their comrade.
The smell of the blood and taste of the flesh maddened them to such a
degree that they began a warfare among themselves, furiously striking at
and cutting one another with their long, sharp tusks, killing and
trampling under their feet the weaker, and then greedily devouring the
dead; all the while filling the air with their sharp, shrill cries.
The boys, who had, up to this time, been hoping that assistance would
come from some source, were about giving up in despair, when they
witnessed the slaughter made by our revolvers and knew that succor had at
last arrived.
As soon as they were able to walk, we guided them to the spot where we
had left our mules, and placed them in the saddles, directing them to
camp; Jerry and myself resolving to walk.
Shouldering our rifles, we started towards the bank of the river,
believing it to be a shorter route than the way we had come. Although it
was fast growing dark, we had no fear but that by this route we should
reach camp quite as soon as the boys.
While passing through a grove of pecan trees, about a couple of miles
from camp, my attention was suddenly arrested by the cry of some person,
apparantly in distress.
"Hark, Jerry," said I; "did you hear that? Some one's in trouble--wait a
minute."
"Thunder! judge, hain't you been in Texas long enough to know a painter's
yell when you hear it? That was a reg'lar out-and-out painter you heard.
I've--"
Just at this moment, a prolonged, heart-rending wail trembled upon the
stillness of the evening air: so piercing, yet so plaintive, was it, that
it sent a shudder through my frame I have not forgotton to this day.
"That critter ain't very far off," exclaimed Jerry. "Mebbe we'll git a
shot at him; though they're nasty things to hunt at night, fer yer can't
see 'em, they lay so clus onto the limbs."
"Did you ever kill one?" asked I.
"Yes, four on 'em; the last one was down on the Sabinal, just about a
year this time. I was--"
At this point, he was again interrupted by the animal's cry; this time so
near, that we both stopped short and cocked our rifles, for it seemed as
though he could be but a few feet from us.
"I tell you one thing, Jerry, I don't much like walking through this
grove, with one of those creatures so near; I'd rather take to the open
prairie. Besides, it's getting so dark I can't see anything."
"Pshaw! yer ain't afraid o' one of them critters, be yer? You jest foller
me; they never trouble any one unless they're hungry."
"But this one may be hungry," suggested I.
"Well, never you fear, you jest foller me," said Jerry, starting on.
I followed as quickly as possible; but had hardly taken a dozen steps,
ere I heard a quick exclamation, as of pain or surprise from Jerry's
lips, accompanied by a low, snarling growl, followed by a sound like that
produced by two persons rolling on the ground together. There was violent
breathing, angry ejaculations, the crashing of underbrush, and, before I
had time to think what it meant, I caught sight of a dark mass, evidently
rolling over and over upon the ground, a few feet in advance of me. I
could not distinguish what it was in the darkness, but suddenly caught
sight of two balls of living fire.
Bringing my rifle to my shoulder, and scarcely pausing to take aim or to
reflect upon the consequences of the shot, I fired.
The next moment Jerry sprang to his feet with a--
"Thunder! that was a tight squeak, and no mistake. Ef you hadn't fired
when you did, it'd been all up with me afore this time. The critter
didn't give me no fair show; he lit right onter my shoulder here, and's
tared it some I reckon, by the feel; howsoever, we kin git at it easy
anyway, but if it hadn't a bin for them boys--well, boys haint got no
bizness on the plains, no how."
I made an examination of the wounded shoulder, as well as I could in the
darkness, and found that the creature's claws had entirely stripped it of
clothing, besides badly lacerating the flesh.
Jerry declared, 'twasn't much, no how; and he could walk to camp as well
as not. As soon as we arrived there, I made a more thorough examination,
dressed the arm carefully, and was soon utterly oblivious of the fatigues
of the previous forty-eight hours.