FOLLOWING THE TRAIL.
Tim Murphy and Tom Dare both felt that they had only just dropped off
to sleep when the bugle called them back to the cold world of men and
war. The British troops were making an early start, and before the sun
was over the tree-tops, the men were in the saddle and once more on
the trail of their prey. The day promised to be a hot one before the
sun was very high, and the troops were thankful when the road led them
through brief snatches of woodland, for the shade was very grateful.
They rode onward until about ten that morning, when suddenly the
leaders, who were keeping a sharp lookout for signs of the fugitives,
came to an abrupt halt. The road led close to the water's edge here,
and something that they had seen was evidently of great interest.
"Must have found a trail or some sign of the men you are after," Tom
said to one of the soldiers. "I suppose if you catch those fellows Tim
and I can leave you."
"I don't know, but I guess the major won't hold you any longer if we
have the other parties in our hands. What do you want to hurry away
from us for anyhow?"
"We're bound north and you fellows don't seem to be going that way,"
Tom replied, being careful to say nothing that would make the British
soldiers suspicious.
"Sure and Oi wouldn't moind travelling a bit with you, if it wasn't for
the awful hours you're keepin'," said Tim, yawning. "You keep us all up
all night with good stories aginst which Oi have nothing, but to rout a
man from his bed of roses at such an hour as we were this very morning
is positively indacent."
"There go the officers," said the trooper on their right, as the
little group rode past. They had been following in the company's rear,
but the halt told them that something had happened up front and they
were galloping up to investigate. The bright uniforms and well-fed
forms impressed Tom with the great difference between these well-paid
soldiers of a foreign monarch and his own struggling friends.
"They make a pretty sight," he said, half to himself.
"Why don't you join the regiment then?" asked one of the soldiers, who
was paid a commission for securing recruits. "We all have a chance to
rise, you know, and a couple of likely young fellows like yourselves
ought to get along rapidly.
"But if we joined," said Tim, "and ever fell into the other side's
clutches, then where would we be?"
"And with such capable men above us as yourself our promotion would,
I'm afraid, be slow," Tom added, diplomatically.
The ambitious Britisher was too much flattered by this last remark
to have any good reply ready, and before he could think up any new
reasons, word ran down the column to move forward.
"They may have found a trail," said a Redcoat as the news sifted back
through the ranks.
"Just the two of them?" queried a comrade. "I'm surprised that they
found it."
"No, seems that there are a lot of Indians in this party, but the
scouts seem to make out the foot-prints of two men who had shoes on."
"That's the pair, I'll wager," said a third. "That is how they got
away from us yesterday, found some friendly Indians to take them away
in canoes. No wonder we couldn't find their track."
Tom made no comment, but he gave Tim a knowing wink which so distracted
that worthy's attention that an accident was only barely avoided.
"This is foine ridin'," said Tim, as a branch of a tree nearly took
him out of his saddle. "Why the divil don't those two people you're
devotin' your young lives to chasin' keep on good roads and not go
trappin' it off into these woods?"
"If we have to chase them far we'll show you some fine places," said
the soldier who had told the story the night before.
"Those two led us some pretty chases back on the old roads, and from
the looks of this log track we're following, we'll be getting into
worse ones before long."
"And a foine time we'll be havin' getting back to New York, or even
Philadelphia for that matter, after we have been keepin' you company in
these wild wanderings ages upon ages," Tim complained.
"Don't blame us for it," answered his soldier friend, "it's the
officer's doings you know, not ours."
"Look out, Tim!" yelled Tom Dare suddenly, as the trooper's horse ahead
of the Irish boy shied violently and rose so high on its hind legs that
it almost seemed that both horse and rider would topple over backwards.
"Faith, and what's the trouble with ye?" queried Tim, indignantly, of
the man ahead.
"Don't know," replied he, trying to appear calm, but really very much
alarmed. "This nag must have seen a ghost."
"There it goes," shouted Tom, leaping quickly from his saddle and
darting into the underbrush. "Come here, quick, some of you. I haven't
any gun or sword, or even a stick."
Two or three of the men followed him and hastily stepped aside as
a huge rattler turned with waving head and darting fangs in their
direction.
"Let's have your gun," said Tom, quickly reaching out his hand for the
weapon nearest him. The soldier handed it over and retreated to a safer
spot, out of reach of the threatening reptile.
Tom took careful aim and pulled the trigger. At the same instant he
jumped back out of reach, but he was safe where he had stood. The
shot, fired so close to the mark, had fairly blown off the head of the
dangerous snake, and the soldiers gave a hearty round of applause at
this excellent exhibition of marksmanship, for with a swaying, venomous
snake before one, it is most difficult to fire true the first time.
"Good shot, young fellow," said the recruiting sergeant, heartily.
"I'll ask the major if he doesn't think you could be trusted with a
rifle, for a man like yourself would be a valuable addition to our
ranks."
"Thanks," said Tom, hopefully, for he certainly would like to succeed
in getting a rifle. He could see that the recruiter was still hopeful
of enlisting the boys.
"And sure, if you trust thot boy with a gun, Oi'm to be gettin' wan
at the same instant," said Tim. "You should see the rattles off the
hundreds of snakes Oi mesilf have kilt intirely yet."
Tim said this with a broad grin on his face and the soldiers could
not help laughing at his remarks. The sergeant, however, saw that Tim
really wanted a gun if Tom got one, so he promised to do his best for
both of them.
The log road that they had been following now was reduced to the
roughest kind of a mountain trail, and their progress was greatly
impeded. It was soon evident to the officers and men that the wagon
with their supplies could never be brought along this trail, and in
fact the horses seemed to be more trouble than they were worth.
"We'll have to dismount and finish this pursuit on foot," said the
major, finally. "The trail is very recent and our men cannot be very
far away."
"If we hurry at this stage of the game," said one of the junior
officers, "we ought to be close to them soon, and it may save us
endless days of pursuit."
"Then let's be quick about things," said the major, sharply. "You,
Captain Schafer, return to Richmond and await us there. Take ten men,
all the horses, and our utility wagon. We may catch these men in a day
or two, so wait for four days at the foot of this hill, where the brook
crosses the roadway. Then if we get our men and strike the back trail
quickly, we'll have our mounts and won't have to foot it all the way
home. Don't delay after four days, however, for the country is full of
roving bands of traitors and rebels and we can't afford to risk all
these horses any longer. Your responsibility is a heavy one, captain,
but I am sure you will fulfill it with all care and diligence."
The captain saluted and said: "I'd like to go on with you, major, and
round up those young rascals in a hurry, but I expect to see you back
at the end, or before the end of four days, and the best of luck to all
in your pursuit."
The men, at orders from their various superiors, dismounted and
hurriedly gathered their blankets, canteens and weapons together,
fastened their accoutrements in a roll and slung them on their backs.
If there is anything a cavalry man dislikes, it is to be transformed
into a foot soldier, and consequently there was some little grumbling
amongst the men.
Tom, uncertain as to what party he was to go with, and rather undecided
in his own mind as to which he wanted to stay with, walked forward to
where the major was standing, superintending the actions of some of the
troopers. Tim followed him, and suddenly grasped him by the shoulder.
"Try to stay with this bunch, Tom," he whispered. "We'll be able to do
heaps and heaps of good for Dick, and we'll be after getting all the
nearer to our journey's end."
"Good idea," said Tom, being decided by this argument to do his best to
continue with the larger body of men.
"What's a good idea?" suddenly asked the young fellow whom Tom had
noticed talking with the major when Tim and he were captured.
"We keep our good ideas for those who are able to appreciate them,"
replied Tom, for his first encounter with this youth had left him with
no very pleasant feelings toward him.
"We'll see about that," said the other, advancing on Tom. "I'll teach
you how to answer a gentleman when he speaks to you."
"When a gentleman speaks to me I'll know how to answer him," replied
Tom, while Tim burst out laughing.
The added insult of Tim Murphy's laughter was too much for the hot
blooded southerner, and he sprang at Tom with an arm upraised,
intending to show the Dare boy who was master in this case. But Tom had
had too many of such little frays to be caught napping, and quickly
stepping aside, he stuck out his foot and pushed the furious boy as he
plunged past him. Tim was standing directly behind where Tom Dare had
been, and he grabbed the falling figure as he lost his balance with
Tom's push.
"Saved your loife, me little man," said Tim, carelessly letting the
young fellow slide prone upon the ground. He then turned and walked
away with Tom toward the major.
"Ha, ha!" laughed the soldiers, greatly tickled to see the southerner
get a tumble.
"You uns got a fall that time for sure," said one.
The indignant object of these remarks, however, was hastily brushing
off clinging pine needles and dirt, and meanwhile hurrying up after his
two intended victims.
The boys had reached the major and that officer was having difficulty
in restraining his laughter, for although some distance away, he had
seen the incident clearly.
Tom saluted and said, quickly: "My companion and I have gotten
interested in this chase, and as it promises to last but a few days at
the most, would like to go on with you rather than go back and await
your return. We can't be set free, you say, until you capture whoever
you are after, so we may as well try to help you out and hurry our
freedom at the same time."
"Two burds at one stone," volunteered Tim, smilingly.
"These two fellows are up to something," interrupted the southerner,
running up at that minute. "I heard one of them say that he had a good
idea, so they must be planning to escape."
The major looked from the speaker to the two boys. They were smiling
innocently.
"We had two good ideas, begging your pardon," explained Tom. "One we
explained to this young man and the other one to you."
"They were both all right, I think," said the major. "And I think, as
these boys are in my charge at the present time, Mr. Wilson, you had
better leave them undisturbed in the future. It looks as if it would be
better for both of you."
"But," sputtered the excited fellow, "they insulted me, they----"
"We'll discuss that at another time," said the officer, coldly. "You
may go now," he added, turning to the boys.
They withdrew and returned to the busy camp of soldiers who inquired
how the "old man" had taken the affair. All expressed their pleasure at
the way the boys had handled the arrogant young civilian.
"Evidently," Tom said to Tim, "that fellow hasn't made himself popular
with the men."
"Nor would I, mesilf, already yet," replied Tim, "if it wasn't to our
very bist interists."
"Well, we'll have to make the best of it for awhile," returned Tom.
"We'll do more good right here than anywhere else I can think of."
The men had by this time finished their arrangements, and with some
parting jokes and laughing remarks the ten selected men who were to
take the back trail strung out the horses in line and leading and
driving them at the same time were soon out of sight winding along the
twisting log road. Only the sound of their shouts to the horses and the
crashing in the underbrush could be heard and finally even that grew
fainter and died away in the distance.
The remainder of the company, some fifty-odd men and the officers,
gathered up their burdens and arms, fell into place two by two and were
soon strung out over a hundred yards of rough mountain trail.
"We are after them in earnest, now," said Tom Dare, softly, "and no
matter what happens, Tim, old man, don't let them find us out and don't
let them ever get near enough to Dick and Fritz to capture them."
"Thot's a foine little job for us two in this crowd," said Tim, "but
we'll do our very best and it won't be our own fault at all, at all, if
anything goes wrong."
"Things are going to go right," concluded Tom, "I feel it in my bones."