The Outwitting of Tusker
"Lie low, whatever yer do! Now let's have the yarn," whispered Steve as
Jack awoke him with a gentle dig in the ribs. "What aer it all about?
Yer seem a bit excited."
Our hero was, indeed, somewhat disturbed by what had so recently
happened, but not frightened. To do him but justice, Jack had passed
through such dangers already that his nerves were hardened, and his
courage had been tried. However the thought of what was before them, the
cunning of this man Ted, served to thrill him more than was usual, to
stir his pulses. So it was in a quiet and steady whisper that he
imparted his news to the hunter.
"Jest as I thought," answered Steve when he had finished. "I kinder
reckoned we'd got into a nest of scorpions. This here feller was too
free and easy, when he oughter have been kind of stand-offish,
considering the gold he's supposed ter have, and that we aer four ter
his one. Jest kick Tom and Abe gently."
"What'll yer do?" asked the former hoarsely, when Jack had roused him,
stretching his neck so as to place his mouth close to Steve's ear.
"Seems to me as we might easily walk right away now. Thar's only this
man Ted to stop us, and reckon we could soon fix him."
"Ef he was alone, which he ain't," came cautiously from Steve. "Thar
ain't a doubt but what we're cornered. The men who aer in with this man
here are 'way up there on the hillside. Likely enough they've been thar
ever since we reached the spot, and aer jest waitin' fer the time ter
attack us."
"But," argued Abe, "ef that's the case, why have they waited? The risk
fer them'll be the same now as earlier in the evening, or, fer the
matter of that, the same as it'll be when the light comes."
"With jest this difference," urged Steve, still in the same cautious
whisper, "last evenin' they might have been disturbed, for this road has
a goodish number of travellers on it. In the early dawn thar ain't
likely to be anyone, so they'll be able ter make their attack and get
away without a soul save us seeing them. And they reckon ter wipe the
hull crowd of us out, so as dead men'll tell no tales. Gee, this aer a
fix!"
There was silence for some little while, as each one of the party
considered the matter. As they lay there, with wide-open eyes, though
they took care to make no movement, they could see the bright gleam from
Ted's pipe every now and again, as that worthy leaned against the side
of the cart. That he had friends near at hand was certain, since Jack
had heard that whistle, and it was equally sure that while Ted remained
awake any attempt on their part to steal away from the camp would
immediately be detected, and the aid of those comrades called in.
"It aer clear that we're in a hole, and has ter fight it out with them
critters," said Steve at last after a long silence; "and, sence that's
the case, the thing aer ter fix up some way in which ter meet 'em.
Thar'll be eight or nine of the varmint. These bands always run ter that
number, 'cos then they aer able ter break up opposition, and, 'sides, it
keeps people from following. Folks get ter know that it aer useless to
go after these bands of robbers onless there's plenty of boys ter help;
and sence men aer mostly busy at the diggin's, why, it follows that it
aer generally hard ter get the right number. It's only when a band
becomes that bad, and has murdered a hull heap of miners and carters,
that the sheriff can get a strong enough force together, and by then
fellers like this has managed ter divide up the plunder and ter ride ter
some other part of the fields. This aer a tarnation fix."
"Supposing," suggested Jack, "we were to----"
He came to a sudden halt, for Ted had turned to look at the supposed
sleepers, as if he had detected a noise.
"Yer was supposin'," whispered Abe hoarsely, some minutes later, when
the stranger turned away again.
"Jest let's have it, Carrots," added Steve. "Ye've took me through a fix
before now. You aer bright enough ter find a way out of this."
"Not out of it. I can suggest a way in which we can get cover and best
the men when they come," answered Jack. "There's the cart."
"Ay, thar's the cart," came from Steve wonderingly, for he could see
nothing useful there.
"Wall?" demanded Abe.
"Ye've forgot that it's bung full of sacks," whispered Tom, "and,
besides, one wheel's broken."
"He ain't forgot nothin'," said Steve sharply. "Carrots don't make
mistakes like that. Out with it, youngster."
"There is the cart," repeated Jack. "The sacks in it are likely enough
filled with grass, considering how light they evidently are. As for the
wheel, it is an advantage that it happens to be broken. I thought we
would wait till we are about to be attacked. Or, better still, seeing
that the attack is bound to come, I propose that we wait only till the
light gets stronger. Then we'll make for the cart, while the man there
will take to his heels. His shouts will bring the others down upon us at
a run, but that will be better than having them ride up openly, as if
returning from the settlements with a new wheel. That, of course, is
their game. They think we shall have swallowed their story, and that all
they have to do now is to ride into the camp and shoot us down easily."
"Put in a nutshell. That 'ere Carrots has his haar on right enough,"
growled Steve.
"Wall, thar's the cart," reminded Tom.
"We make use of it much as we did of the other when the Indians attacked
us. The bags will form good protection, while the cart is within nice
range of our gold. If we four can't manage then to----"
A low chuckle burst from Steve, while Jack felt Abe's strong fingers
close firmly round his wrist.
"H-h-h-hush! That critter's lookin'. Ef he so much as moves a toe I'll
put lead into him."
It was Tom's excited whisper, while that individual went rigid to his
finger tips, as the man who watched by the cart turned and stared at the
sleepers. Jack felt the scout's arm steal stealthily over him, and heard
the gentle click of his firelock, as his strong thumb drew it back into
cocking position. And there the arm rested, while all four lay as if
dead, as if turned to stone, motionless, almost without breathing.
But whatever suspicions Ted may have had, he quickly became reassured;
for, to speak the truth, Steve and his friends had played their parts
admirably. Though warned from the first of Steve's suspicions, they had
treated the stranger with frankness equal to his own, and had entirely
disarmed his suspicions. He imagined that the party of four for whom the
trap had been set so craftily had been entirely taken in, and that they
would fall an easy prey. He turned away from the sleepers, and, no doubt
in accordance with a prearranged plan, once more strolled to the embers,
dropped some powder into them, and sent his signal flashing into the
sky. Then, for the second time, from a closer point it seemed on this
occasion, a distant whistle echoed along the road.
"The critters!" Jack heard the little scout exclaim. "Wall, mates, it'll
be light in two hours or less, so we shan't have long to wait; and sence
that skunk thar ain't axed ter be relieved yet, why, we'll let him stay
on watch. Time enough to clear him out when the mornin' light comes."
To the little scout those two hours may have passed easily enough, for
his sangfroid was wonderful, and his accustomed coolness not easily to
be disturbed. Abe seemed to find comfort in a cube of strong and
particularly evil-smelling tobacco, which he thrust between his strong
brown teeth and chewed slowly, and with evident relish. As for Tom, he
was one of that large band of Anglo-Saxons to whom fighting comes
naturally, to whom the crack of weapons and the hiss of bullets is
better music than even the latest instrument can supply. He lay awake
longing for the hour for movement, his lynx-like eyes fixed on the
watcher by the wagon. But Jack, despite the excitement of the moment,
was neither elated nor expectant. He was just an ordinary young fellow,
subject to the common weaknesses of mankind. And like them, too, he was
possessed of the same needs. He had been keeping watch for long now,
and, finding others to help him, soon began to drowse. His eyes closed,
his head dropped back on his hand, and in a little while he was fast
asleep. Thus he remained for more than two hours, till the light in the
eastern sky was already sweeping the gloom and darkness from the land,
and until the road in front and behind the little camp was commencing to
become visible. It was a sharp kick from Steve and an exclamation from
Tom which aroused him. He sprang to his feet a few seconds after the
others, and at once became conscious of the fact that horses were
approaching at a gallop.
"To the cart, boys!" shouted Steve, leading the way. "That ere skunk
slipped away so sudden that I didn't notice, and ef it hadn't been fer
Abe hearin' the hosses, we might be lying thar still. In we go."
There was little time for preparation, for Ted, the rascal who had told
his crafty story, had stolen a march on the watchers. They had seen him
leaning against the cart as if half-asleep. Then he had sauntered to
and fro, as if becoming weary of his vigil. At last the cunning rascal
had stepped behind the cart, and, once out of sight, had stolen off
along the grass track at the side of the road. Within five minutes,
before Steve or Abe had guessed that the man was gone, the rat-a-tat-tat
of galloping hoofs had come to their ears.
"Pile the bags up on all sides. Don't pitch them out," commanded Steve
quickly, his voice hardly raised above a whisper. "Quick, boys, fer we
ain't got too much time. Now, git down and stay thar till they're right
in the camp. Then, I guess, we'll be doin' some talkin'. Jack, that ere
red nob of yours'll be spotted precious quick. Jest keep down below the
bags."
Quick as a flash the four leaped into the stranded cart, to find that it
was by no means filled full with bags as it appeared to be. They were
piled at the back and round the two sides, and, as Jack had guessed,
were stuffed with grass. It wanted, therefore, very little work on the
part of the little band of four to erect their defences. Indeed, the
task was already done for them. Promptly they dropped to the floor of
the wagon, while within a few seconds ten mounted men burst from the
misty cloud which still clung to the earth and enveloped the
surroundings of the wagon, and galloped down upon it like a whirlwind. A
minute later they drew rein where Steve and his friends had been
sleeping, while exclamations of amazement, of dismay, and of anger burst
from them. Jack, squeezing into a corner of the cart, obtained a view of
the robbers through a crevice between the boards, and noticed that all
were well mounted, that their leader and two others wore black masks
across their faces, and that Ted, the rascal who had asked for aid on
the previous evening, rode beside the leader.
"Not here! Why, what's happened?" he heard the latter exclaim in angry
tones. "There were four, and now----"
"A minute ago they lay there, dead asleep, I could ha' sworn. Now ef
that don't beat everything!" cried Ted. "Blessed ef I can understand it.
Unless. Hi, boys!" he shouted at the top of his voice, "They've took ter
the wagon."
At once the horses were swung round, while the leader of the band swung
his arm up, as if about to protect his face. But there was a weapon in
the hand, and an instant later a sharp report awakened the echoes of the
valley, while the missile struck the tailboard of the wagon, perforated
it as if it were made of paper, and encountering the bags of grass,
passed right through the nearest, and was only arrested when it had
penetrated the second as far as the far layer of canvas. Jack felt the
blow, for his hand rested against the bag, and a second later his finger
tips came in contact with the rounded form arrested by the obstacle.
"Three of you load up the gold bags," shouted the leader, in a voice
which seemed to come familiarly to Jack's ear. "The rest surround the
wagon. Thar ain't no need ter parley. We know our business. Shoot every
one of them down."
He swung the arm up again, as if about to send a second bullet crashing
into the cart. But the action was arrested by the sudden interposition
of Steve. A low growl had come from the little scout as he heard the
commands of the brigand outside, and, to the astonishment of his
friends, he was seen to stand to his full height, in view of the enemy.
Then his weapon cracked, and within the same instant the man wearing the
mask, who was evidently the leader, toppled from his saddle and fell to
the ground.
"Joe Templeton, as I live. Joe Templeton at last!" shouted Steve, as if
he had suddenly lost his senses. "I warned yer last time we met, and yer
knew well what ter expect. Scum like you has ter come ter the mark
sooner or later, and come yer have. Joe Templeton, you aer up agin Steve
this time, Steve the hunter and scout, Steve the miner, whom you
robbed."
There was a pause in the affray, while attackers and attacked stared at
Steve as if they could not believe their senses, and then at the leader
of the band, who lay grovelling upon the road. Then, with a sharp cry
Ted, the stranger who had watched in the camp all night, swung himself
from his horse and rushed towards the wagon.
"Down!" cried Jack, seizing Steve, who seemed to be filled with some
unusual excitement. "Down! They are coming."
But the little miner hardly seemed to hear him. Gripping one of the bags
with his left hand, he leaned against the pile, his eye fixed upon the
enemy. And then such a stream of bullets shot from his weapon that the
rascals recoiled.
"See here!" shouted Steve, as if careless of the bullets. "Now that that
man Joe aer down, and Ted with him, there ain't no call fer others to be
hurt. Quit touchin' those bags and git. I'll give yer one chance. Ef
yer don't take it, I swear we'll hunt every mother's son of yer down."
Crack! From a point just behind where the enemy had gathered there came
the snap of a revolver, and Steve's left arm dropped helpless to his
side. But he never winced or showed that he was hurt. Instead his
fingers wrapped themselves round the butt of his second revolver, and
the man who had just fired measured his length on the road before Jack
could follow what was happening. Then began a fusillade which rivalled
an Indian attack for fierceness. Maddened by the sudden and unlooked-for
change in their fortunes the brigands poured their shots into the wagon,
and would undoubtedly have slain Steve, had Abe not dragged him down
behind the shelter of the bags.
"Aer yer crazy, Steve?" he growled. "Aer yer gone suddenly stark starin'
mad. Git down, and stay thar. Boys, jest lift a bag above yer heads, and
fire from under it."
But for that precaution there is no doubt that Jack and his friends
would have suffered heavily. But the bags protected them wonderfully,
and so sharp was their own shooting that presently the six men who now
remained alive retired from the wagon.
"But they ain't gone," said Steve, cool and calm again after his unusual
excitement. "Ef they had rifles with 'em they'd make it that hot this
cart wouldn't hold us. Lucky they ain't spotted the guns we left amongst
the blankets. Gee! ef we had 'em here we'd make 'em hop."
"Then we'll have 'em."
Jack was no laggard when brave acts were required, as he had proved to
the satisfaction of his comrades. At Steve's words, he once more showed
the stuff of which he was made. The brigands had retired some hundred
yards, but still remained within long pistol-shot. Careless of that, our
hero leaped from the cart, walked across to the blankets that marked the
spot where he and his comrades had slept, and sauntered back with their
rifles, a storm of bullets whistling about his ears as he did so.
[Illustration: JACK FETCHES THE RIFLES]
"Now, ef that ain't madness!" cried Steve angrily. "Ef that ain't askin'
fer a bullet!"
"And copyin' bad examples set by them as is old enough and ugly enough
ter know better," growled Abe. "It's jest the answer ter yer own doin's,
Steve, and Jack aer earned the thanks of all. Gee! As ef yer didn't
ought ter know better."
He turned scornfully upon the little scout. Then a smile stole across
his features, and stretching out a hand he gripped Steve's.
"Reckon ye'd some special call," he said simply.
There was a grim look on the little man's face as he took Abe's hand, a
look which seemed to betoken that the cause for his sudden excitement
and for his rashness was something beyond him, something he could hardly
dare to think about.
"'Cause!" he said, in hollow tones, moistening his lips with his tongue,
as if the words dried them. "'Cause----But this ain't the time to tell
of Joe and his doin's. Reckon Jack aer done a fine thing ter help us.
Jest get to with them rifles. Ah, them critters is tryin' another
rush!"
The news was true. From the place to which they had retired the band of
brigands suddenly broke into single elements, and came galloping towards
the cart. As they came they sent a storm of bullets seething about it,
chipping and perforating the woodwork, thudding into the bags, and
hissing harmlessly overhead. Two minutes later they were within easy
shot, when Jack and his comrades returned their fire, protecting their
heads in the same manner; and so careful was their aim that two more of
the enemy measured their full length on the ground. There were shouts of
anger from those who remained. One galloped his horse recklessly right
up to the cart, and was there shot dead by Jack's pistol, then the
remainder turned tail and galloped away for their lives. And as they
went another accompanied them. Unnoticed in the turmoil, the leader, who
had fallen to Steve's shot, and who was undoubtedly sorely wounded,
scrambled painfully to his feet and caught a horse belonging to a fallen
comrade. He clambered unsteadily into the saddle, his mask falling from
his face as he did so; and then, mustering all his failing strength, he
stood up in his stirrups and shook his fist at the cart just as his
comrades turned to fly.
"Steve," he shouted, "this is to warn you! I will kill you when the time
comes."
Turning his horse, he clapped spurs to the flanks and galloped away. As
he went a cry came from one of the inmates of the wagon. Jack rose to
his feet shaking with excitement. He seemed to have caught it from
Steve, so closely did it follow upon the attack which the little scout
had displayed. Bending over the bags, shaking his fist furiously, he
followed the movements of the escaping leader with staring eyes.
"The robber!" he shouted, tears almost in his voice. "The man for whom I
have suffered. The robber! Stop him! I must take him back to Hopeville
to tell his tale! It is he who should have been tried for that
burglary!"