The Peril Finders Part 106

"Call it something wrong if you like," said Griggs, laughing; "but it's only what I expected. I've been up at the lookout with your father, and we made out two Indians crawling to the top of the cliff over there, just like a couple of big red slugs on a wet night."

"Then they're watching us?" panted Chris.

"Just as they always have been, my lad, and looking out to try and turn us into pin-cushions for their arrows, if we'd only go out far enough, which we wouldn't do on any consideration."

"But this will quite upset our plans for to-night," said Chris.

"Oh no. We shall go on; for this looks promising, my lad. They've always been watching us more or less."

"Then they've seen us hunting for a hiding-place for the ponies and mules?"

"Yes, of course."

"And climbing about among the rocks at the narrows?"

"To be sure they have."

"Then what's the good of our going on?"

"Everything is the good. They've seen everything we've done, but they couldn't think with our brains, could they, my lad?"

"But what could they think of our hunting about as we did?"

"Well, seeing that I made a point of shooting a bird or two each time we were planning out our places and all we meant to do, I should say that they thought we were providing for the pot. Now then, come and have a turn at your pony, and spend a good deal of time looking at his hurts.

You'd better ask me some questions about them, and lift up his hoofs and point at them."

"Yes, I see," said Chris.

"P'r'aps I shall act a bit too for our friends' benefit, so don't be surprised. Then we shall end up by driving all the beasts in for the night close up under the shelter of our fire."

"Shall we be saluted with any arrows, do you think?"

"No," said Griggs; "I don't think so. We've rather sickened them of that. They know there are rifles, and good shots, up at the top yonder, and I dare say some of them have been hit. Now, come along."

The pair strolled out towards where the animals were grazing, and went through the bit of performance arranged, Chris marvelling the while at the perfect coolness displayed by his companion, who was on the brink of a most daring adventure, the very thought of which sent the blood dancing through the boy's veins and made the palms of his hands turn wet.

The shades of night were approaching as, after a long examination of Chris's pony, the animals were headed towards the camp, and driven slowly in towards where they were regularly watered every night; and so well had all the preparations been timed that it was too dark for any scouts on the opposite side to see that after the watering, every beast was hobbled and held in readiness for the start that was to be made.

And now the business preparatory to the start was set about eagerly.

The mules were laden with the much-reduced loads. Skeeter had his, but his bell was m.u.f.fled so that it would be perfectly silent, and the water-barrels were hung in position across the back of their regular bearer.

There was plenty of time, and the doctor's princ.i.p.al efforts were directed towards arresting hurry, for he had to allow for the Indian scouts to make their way back to the camp from which they came.

"If they have gone back," he said, in a low voice, as the adventurous party sat together talking in a low tone, each with his weapons ready.

"Yes," said Wilton, "if they have gone back. Suppose they have chosen this of all nights for an attack!"

"They'll find that we are quite ready for them; that's all," said Griggs coolly.

"But it is possible," said Bourne sadly.

"So's everything else, sir," replied the American. "But don't you think it's a pity to begin fancying what might happen?"

"Perhaps so," said Bourne. "I beg pardon; I'm afraid I do antic.i.p.ate a good deal. Well, boys," he added, turning to where the pair sat together whispering, "how do you feel about to-night's work?"

"Horrid, father," whispered Ned, as if he felt that Indians might be listening.

"And you, Chris?" continued Bourne.

"I feel as if I shall be glad when it's to-morrow and we know the worst."

"Or the best, my boy," said the doctor cheerily. "There, I think we might start now. The moon has set, and we have a long dark night before us for our work. What do you say, Griggs? Ready?"

"And willing, sir. I go first, don't I?"

"Yes, with Chris as advance-guard. You know the signal if the Indians are coming on to an attack--one shot each, and then you stand fast to give us time to start the train back before coming to your support."

"Yes, sir; it's all cut deep into me, but I don't think we shall have any trouble there."

"I hope not," said the doctor.

Within half-an-hour from these words being spoken the little baggage-train was in motion, dimly-seen beneath the band of stars overhead. These stood out strongly marked against the edge of the black cliffs on either side towering up and seeming to the excited imagination of the two lads double their real height, and overhanging more and more as the valley sides gradually closed in towards the mouth of the gulch.

Chris suffered from a peculiar sense of excitement and dread of attack, as he and Griggs rode cautiously on through the darkness, each with his rifle c.o.c.ked and resting upon his knee, straining his eyes the while for the first sign of danger. And it was during this ride that the boy began to wonder whether the eyesight of the Indians was much better than their own, for he soon found that once more he was obliged to leave out any attempt at guidance and trust entirely to his pony.

"Think the enemy can see better than we do?" he ventured to say, during a temporary halt to make out if possible what had caused a sudden rushing sound through the bushes in front.

"They're made differently to what we are if they can," whispered the American dryly. "I'm leaving everything to my nag, and you'd better do the same."

"That's what I've been doing," said Chris. "You don't think that was an Indian, then?"

"No; only some little animal that we started. It sounded loud because everything's so still, and we expect that everything means danger. Keep close behind me now."

Chris had no occasion to trouble himself, for his mustang kept its nose very near to its companion's tail, and they went on and on through the darkness, till Griggs suddenly drew rein.

"Here we are," he whispered. "It's narrow enough, and it oughtn't to take many minutes to stop this gap so that no horse could get through, while in an hour it might be made so that it would take a week to make it pa.s.sable. Come along, and mind we don't miss the gully."

He led on again slowly, pausing at intervals to listen and make sure, for it seemed to be darker than ever, in spite of their growing accustomed to the gloom.

Once more Griggs stopped short, and Chris's heart began to beat more heavily than ever during the few minutes' silence that ensued.

"I'm done," whispered Griggs at last.

"What do you mean? What's the matter?" asked Chris.

"The gully ought to be somewhere about here, but for the life of me I can't make out where it is, and we must wait till morning."

Chris laughed softly.