ESCAPING IN THE DARKNESS.
It was after midnight when the camp settled down to rest. Fetter had not
returned, and Matt Gilroy was much worried in consequence. Yet he was
tired out, having lost a good portion of the night previous in
traveling, and he lay down with the others.
The guards at the entrance to the cave had been changed. Those now there
were two young men, recruits to the desperadoes' organization.
Inside of the cave Captain Moore, Joe, and Darry, having untied each
other's bonds, held a long consultation, the upshot of which was that
they intended to escape if the deed could be accomplished.
"There is no use in telling you that we will run a big risk," said the
captain. "But as for myself, these rascals are plotting against Colonel
Fairfield and the soldiers at the fort, and I feel it my duty to do my
best toward getting away and warning my commander."
"Whatever you do, Will, I will back you up, so far as I am able," was
his brother's answer.
"And I will back you up, too," came from Darry. "But we must be
cautious, for these desperadoes will not hesitate to shoot, and shoot to
kill." And the boy shivered in spite of himself, for no matter how brave
a person may be he seldom cares to run the risk of losing his life.
The prisoners had been ordered to keep to the back of the cave, but
after all but the guards had retired Captain Moore made bold enough to
walk carefully to the mouth of the place.
"Hi, you want to keep back there," growled one of the guards, promptly
raising his rifle.
"Don't be hard on us," pleaded the captain. "Let me get a little fresh
air. It's vile in the back of the cave."
"Orders were to keep you out of sight," growled the second guard.
"All right, I'll go back as soon as I've cleaned out my lungs."
While the captain was speaking he was peering around sharply, trying to
locate the other desperadoes and ascertain what the chances of escape
really were.
As he gazed first to one side and then the other, he caught sight of a
hand waving in the air. A second later he made out the head and
shoulders of old Benson, as the scout rose to his feet behind some
brushwood.
The thought that the scout was at hand to assist them cheered the young
officer wonderfully, and he drew a deep breath of satisfaction.
"Are you going back soon?" growled one of the guards.
"Yes," answered the captain. "But I say," he went on, "why can't we come
to terms?"
"Don't want to make any terms with you," growled the other guard.
"It might be better for you to do so."
"We know our own business best, captain. You just go back as you was
ordered to do. If you don't----"
"I don't feel safe in the cave, men, to tell the truth. What is that
pounding overhead?"
"Pounding overhead?"
"Yes."
"Don't know of any pounding. Do you, Ike?"
"Nary a bit," replied the other guard.
By this time Joe and Darry were just behind the young officer.
"Watch out," whispered Captain Moore. "Old Benson is outside, in the
bushes on the left."
"Good for him!" whispered Joe joyfully.
"What are you talking about?" demanded one of the guards.
"I want to know about that pounding overhead," said Captain Moore. "I
don't want the roof to cave in on us."
He spoke so decidedly that both of the guards were deceived.
"Nobody is up there," said one of the two. "It must be some wild
animal."
"Can't one of you go up and look?" asked the young officer.
"You want the chance to get away," was the suspicious answer.
"How can we get away, when we are unarmed and you have that rifle," went
on the captain, speaking loudly, for old Benson's benefit. "It won't
take you a minute to look."
The men, however, refused to budge.
"We'll stay right here," said one, and the other nodded affirmatively.
In the meantime old Benson had crawled closer, until he was directly
behind the pair.
Now of a sudden he leaped between them, and as quick as a flash caught
their rifles and twisted the weapons from their grasp.
[Illustration: "HE LEAPED BETWEEN THEM AND CAUGHT THEIR RIFLES."]
As the old scout did this, the young captain also leaped in, followed by
Joe and Darry.
The guards struggled, but with four against them could do little or
nothing. One, however, had a powerful pair of lungs, and before he could
be stopped, set up a loud cry of alarm.
"Come with me!" cried old Benson. "Be quick, or it will be too late!"
He led the way to the wood where the horses were tethered, and the
captain, Joe, and Darry came close behind him.
Hardly had they gotten away from the guards when the whole camp was in
alarm.
"What's the trouble?" demanded Matt Gilroy, leaping to his feet and
catching up his rifle.
"The prisoners have escaped!" answered one of the guards. "We were
attacked by some men from behind. There they go!"
"Stop!" roared the leader of the desperadoes, and raised his rifle. But
before he could take aim our friends were behind the shelter of the
trees.
It took but a few seconds to loosen the horses, and as the captain and
the two boys had long since relieved themselves of their bonds they were
soon in the saddle and following the old scout, who seemed to know the
way perfectly, despite the darkness.
"It was lucky you came up, Benson!" cried Joe, as they dashed along.
"Wait, we are not yet out of this trouble," answered Benson. "Hark! they
are following!"
He was right. Gilroy and several of his men had rushed to their horses,
and were now coming along the forest trail at a good rate of speed.
But their horses were no better than the animals our friends rode, so
the desperadoes did not succeed in cutting down the distance between the
two parties, and at last gave up the chase.
"It has been a most stirring adventure from start to finish," said
Captain Moore after each had told his story. "And it brings to an end
this outing. I must now get to the fort without delay."
"And I am perfectly willing to go along," said Darry. "There is no fun
in hunting in a country where the desperadoes are so thick."
"This will open Colonel Fairfield's eyes," went on the young officer. "I
shouldn't be surprised if he organized another expedition against
Gilroy's gang and didn't let up on them until they were all either in
prison or shot down."
"It's what they deserve," came from old Benson. "I'll go on such a hunt
with pleasure."
Our friends continued in the saddle all night and until ten o'clock the
next morning. Then, tired and hot, they went into camp by a cooling
stream. Here they went fishing, and soon caught enough fish for dinner,
after which they took a nap lasting several hours.
"And now for the fort!" cried Captain Moore; "and the sooner we get
there the better."
The nap had done the boys a world of good, and as they rode along their
spirits rose so high that Darry proposed a race. Joe was willing, and
away they went, along the well-defined trail, before either the young
officer or the old scout could stop them.
"They are full of life," said Joe's brother. "Let them go. We'll make
the fort to-night, even if they do tire the horses a bit."
"It's all right if they don't get into trouble," answered Benson.
On and on went the two lads, down something of a slope and then along a
level stretch. The bushes grew thick upon both sides, and here and there
were numerous wild flowers. At last they reached a glade rich with green
grass.
Joe was slightly ahead when he came to a sudden halt.
"Back, Darry!" he cried. "Get back behind the bushes."
"What's up?" queried his cousin, as he brought his steed to a
standstill.
"Buffaloes!"
"Buffaloes! Where?"
"Right around the cliff on our right. See, they are coming this way!
Here's luck."
Joe was right; they had come most unexpectedly upon a herd of seven
buffaloes. The shaggy beasts were all large and powerful-looking. They
were not in the least alarmed, and came toward the boys at a slow but
steady walk.