We rode direct for Robideau's Pass. The night still continued dark, but
we had no difficulty in finding our way. Even in the obscurity, the
deep trace of the heavy emigrant train was sufficiently conspicuous; and
we were enabled to follow the back-track with precision. Our
experienced guide could have conducted us over it blindfold. That we
were pursued, and hotly pursued, there could be little doubt. For my
part, I felt certain of it. The stake which Stebbins had hitherto held,
was too precious to be parted with on slight conditions. The jealous
vigilance with which Lilian had been guarded along the route--amounting,
as I had incidentally ascertained, to a positive espionage--her yellow
duenna at once acting as spy and protectress--all were significant of
the intent already suspected by us, but of which the young girl herself
was perhaps happily ignorant. The failure of his design--and now for
the second time--would be a rude _contre-temps_ for the pseudo-apostle;
and would no doubt endanger his expected promotion. Besides, he must
have believed or suspected, that Marian Holt still lived; that she had
survived the exposure consequent on her escape from the first caravan;
and this belief or suspicion would now be confirmed by the reappearance
of the dog. Nay, it was almost certain, that on recognising the animal,
the truth had suddenly flashed upon him, that Marian was herself upon
the ground; and that the spotted countenance that had for the moment
deceived him, was that of his Tennessean bride. The abduction following
upon the instant would not only confirm this belief, but would redouble
his eagerness in a pursuit that promised a recapture of both the
victims, who had thus unexpectedly escaped from his control.
Though with different motives, it was natural that Holt himself should
be equally eager to pursue. He might still know nothing about the
presence of Marian or her disguise. To him it would simply appear that
his other child had been stolen from the camp--carried off by Indians--
and that _should_ be sufficient to rouse him to the most strenuous
efforts for her recovery. For these reasons we had no doubt about our
being pursued; and with all the zeal and energy of which our apostolic
enemy and his myrmidons were capable of putting forth.
Twenty miles separated the Mormon camp from the entrance to Robideau's
Pass. Nearly the whole of that distance we traversed at a gallop. So
far we had experienced no apprehension; but, after entering the pass,
our foaming horses began to show signs of fatigue. Those of Sure-shot
and Wingrove, that were weaker than the rest, manifested symptoms of
giving out. Both were evidently broken, and without rest could go no
further. This produced a new uneasiness. We presumed that the horses
of our pursuers would be comparatively fresh--after their long rest at
their encampment--while ours had not only made a considerable journey
the day before, but on that same day had passed over fifty miles of
ground--twenty of it in a gallop! No wonder they were manifesting signs
of distress.
Shortly after entering the pass, we drew up to deliberate. By
continuing onward, we should be almost certain to be overtaken. This
was the more probable, from the keen pursuit we had reason to
anticipate. To remain where we were, would be to await the coming up of
the enemy--no doubt in such numbers as to render our capture secure; and
any attempt to defend ourselves would be idle as fatal. It was no
longer with Indians we should have to deal--no longer with lances and
arrows--but with strong bold men, armed like ourselves, and far
outnumbering us. To conceal ourselves within the gorge, and permit our
pursuers to pass, might have served our purpose for the time--had there
been sufficient cover. But neither the rocks nor trees offered an
advantageous hiding-place for our horses. The risk of their being
discovered appeared too great. We dared not trust to such a slight
chance of security. Within the pass, it was not possible to part from
the trail; and on discovering the condition of our horses, we regretted
not having left it before entering. We even entertained the question of
returning some distance: since we might leave the trail by ascending a
spur of the mountains in our rear. But this course appeared too
perilous. Perhaps at that moment our pursuers might be entering the
pass? Perhaps at that moment "adown the glen rode armed men"--though as
yet our ears were not assailed by the sound of their trampling.
Fortunately, in this moment of hesitancy, a thought occurred to our
Mexican comrade, that promised to release us from the dilemma. It was a
_memory_ that had suddenly flashed upon him. He remembered, on one of
his trapping expeditions, having discovered a ravine that led out of
Robideau's Pass on the northern side. It was a mere cleft cliff--just
wide enough to admit the body of a man on horseback--but further up, it
opened into a little plain or _vallon_, as the Mexican termed it,
completely girt in by mountains. These on all sides rose so
precipitously from the plain, as to render it impossible for a mounted
man to scale them. The trapper had himself been obliged to return by
the gorge--after having vainly endeavoured to find a way leading outward
above. The vallon was therefore a _cul-de-sac_; or, as the trapper in
his native synonyme called it, a _bolson_. Our guide was of opinion
that this _bolson_ would serve as a hiding-place, until we could rest
our horses. He was confident that the entrance of the ravine was not
far from where we had halted; and, moreover, that he should be able to
find it without difficulty. His advice, therefore, was, that we should
seek the gorge; and, having found it, ride up into the vallon, and there
remain, till the following night. The pursuit might pass in the
meantime, and return again; but whether or not, our animals would then
be rested; and even should we again encounter the pursuers we might hope
to escape, through the superior speed of our horses.
The plan was feasible. There was but one objection that struck me; and
I offered it for the consideration of our guide. The _vallon_ as he had
stated, was a _cul-de-sac_. Should we be _tracked into it_, there would
be no chance of retreat: we should be taken as in a trap?
"_Carrambo_!" exclaimed the Mexican, in answer to my suggestion, "no
fear of being tracked by such curs as they. They know nothing of that
business. Not one of their whole fraternity could follow the trace of a
buffalo in snow-time. _Carrambo_! No."
"There is one who could," I replied; "one who could follow a feebler
trail than ours."
"What! A _rastreador_ among these _Judios_! Who, _cavallero_?"
"Their father!" I whispered the reply, so that neither of the girls
should overhear it.
"Oh! true," muttered the Mexican--"the father of the huntress--a hunter
himself? _Carrai_! that's like enough. But no matter. I can take you
up the gorge in such fashion, that the most skilled _rastreador_ of the
prairies would never suspect we had passed through. Fortunately, the
ground is favourable. The bottom of the little canon is covered with
cut rocks. The hoof will leave no mark upon these."
"Remember that some of our horses are shod: the iron will betray us?"
"No, senor, we shall muffle them: _nos vamos con los pies en medias_!"
(Let us travel in stockings!)
The idea was not new to me; and without further hesitation, we proceeded
to carry it into execution. With pieces of blanket, and strips cut from
our buckskin garments, we muffled the hoofs of our shod horses; and
after following the waggon-trail, till we found a proper place for
parting from it, we diverged in an oblique direction, towards the bluff
that formed the northern boundary of the pass. Along this bluff we
followed the guide in silence; and, after going for a quarter of a mile
further, we had the satisfaction to see him turn to the left, and
suddenly disappear from our sight--as if he had ridden into the face of
the solid rock! We might have felt astonishment; but a dark chasm at
the same instant came under our eyes, and we knew it was the ravine of
which our guide had spoken. Without exchanging a word, we turned our
horses' heads, and rode up into the cleft. There was water running
among the shingle, over which our steeds trampled; but it was shallow,
and did not hinder their advance. It would further aid in concealing
their tracks--should our pursuers succeed in tracing us from the main
route. But we had little apprehension of their doing this: so carefully
had we concealed our trail on separating from that of the waggons.
On reaching the little _vallon_, we no longer thought of danger; but,
riding on to its upper end, dismounted, and made the best arrangements
that circumstances would admit of for passing the remainder of the
night. Wrapped in buffalo-robes, and a little apart from the rest of
our party, the sisters reclined side by side under the canopy of a
cotton-wood tree. Long while had it been since these beautiful forms
had reposed so near each other; and the soft low murmur of their
voices--heard above the sighing of the breeze, and the rippling sound of
the mountain rills--admonished us that each was confiding to the other
the sweet secret of her bosom!