CHAPTER VII
THE CHAUFFEUR IMPROVES
They all enjoyed that first day's ride. Wampus did not drive fast,for there were places where he couldn't; yet by one o'clock they hadreached Laguna, sixty miles from their starting point. There was anexcellent railway hotel here, so they decided to spend the rest of theday and the night at Laguna and proceed early the next morning.
The big car was an object of much curiosity to the natives, and duringthe afternoon Wampus was the center of attraction. Myrtle had stoodthe ride remarkably well, and Uncle John noticed that her eyes werebrighter and a shade of color had already crept into her pale cheeks.Having risen early all three of the girls took a nap during theafternoon, as did Mr. Merrick. The Major gossiped with the stationagent, the most important individual in town, and gleaned sundryinformation that made him look rather glum.
"I don't say the road's exactly dangerous, mind you," added the man,"but these greasers and Injuns get mischievous, at times, harmlessas they look. All I'm advisin' is that you keep a sharp eye on 'em."Finding Wampus cleaning his car, while a circle of silent, attentiveinhabitants looked on, the Major said to him in a low voice: "Have youa revolver?"
Wampus shook his head.
"Never carry him," he replied. "All gun he make trouble. Sometime heshoot wrong man. Don't like gun. Why should I? I am Wampus!"
The Major entered the hotel frowning.
"That fellow," he muttered, "is a natural-born coward, and we needn'texpect help from him if trouble comes."
No trouble came that night, however, and in the early morning, whilethe sky was still reddened by the rising sun, they were off again,following more closely now the railroad, as rocky defiles began toloom up before them.
By the zigzag course they were obliged to take it was ninety miles toGallup, and this they easily made, despite the growing steepness ofthe mountain road. Here was the famous Continental Divide, and theState of Arizona lay just beyond. The Continental Divide is the ridgethat separates the streams tributary to the Atlantic ocean from thosetributary to the Pacific, so that after crossing it one might wellfeel that at last the East was left behind and the great West with itsromance now faced him.
They came to the little town in time to see the gorgeous sunset fromthis, the highest point of the Rockies, and especially to Myrtle, whohad traveled so little, was the sight impressive and awe inspiring.There was a small but fairly good hotel in the place, and after supperPatsy and Beth went out for a stroll, being much interested in thedark-skinned Mexicans and still darker Indians who constituted farthe larger part of the population. The party had everywhere met withrespect from these people, who, although curious, were silent andwell-behaved; so Uncle John and the Major, deep in a politicalargument on the hotel porch, had no thought of danger when they sawthe two girls start away arm in arm.
The sky was still aglow, although the sun had set, and in the subduedlight the coarse adobe huts and rickety frame dwellings were endowedwith a picturesque appearance they did not really possess. Beth andPatsy came to the end of the main street rather suddenly, and stood amoment looking at the shadows cast by the rocky cliffs near by. Someof the peaks had snow upon them, and there was a chill in the air, nowthat the sun had withdrawn its warmth. The girls turned presently andtook another route that might bring them quicker to the hotel, but hadonly proceeded a short way when in passing a rather solitary adobestructure a man stepped from the shadow of the wall and confrontedthem. He wore a red flannel shirt and a broad sombrero, the latterscarcely covering his dark, evil features.
The cousins stopped short. Then Beth whispered: "Let's go the otherway." But as they were about to turn the Mexican drew a revolver andsaid in harsh, uneven English: "You halt. Keep a-still, or I shoot."
"What do you want?" asked Beth, quietly.
"Money. All you got. Jew'lry--all you got. Give 'm quick, or I shoot!"
As they stood hesitating a sound of footsteps was heard and someoneapproached quickly from behind them. Patsy looked hurriedly aroundand saw Wampus. He was walking with his thin little form bent and hishands deep in his trousers pockets. Incidentally Wampus was smokingthe stub of a cigar, as was his custom when off duty.
The Mexican saw him, but marking his small size and mild manner didnot flinch from his position. With one revolver still leveled at thegirls he drew another from a hip pocket and turned it upon Wampus.
"You stop--halt!" he exclaimed fiercely.
Wampus did not halt. His eyes fixed upon the bandit's ugly features,still puffing his cigar and with hands in his pockets he walkeddeliberately past Patsy and Beth and straight up to the muzzles of therevolvers.
"Stop!" cried the Mexican; and again: "Stop!"
Wampus stopped when one revolver nearly touched his nose and anothercovered his body. Slowly he drew one hand from his pocket and graspedthe barrel of the nearest weapon.
"Let him go," he said, not raising his voice. The man stared into thelittle chauffeur's eyes and released his hold of the revolver. Wampuslooked at it, grunted, and put it in his pocket.
"Now the other gun," he said.
The fellow drew back and half turned, as if to escape.
"No, no!" said Wampus, as if annoyed. "You give me gun. See--I amWampus!"
Sheepishly enough the Mexican surrendered the other weapon.
"Now turn aroun' an' go to hotel," commanded the chauffeur.
The man obeyed. Wampus turned to the girls, who were now not onlyrelieved but on the verge of laughter and said deprecatingly:
"Do not be scare, for poor man he make no harm. He jus' try agoozle--no dare shoot here in town. Then come; I go back with you."
Silently they accompanied him along the lane, the Mexican keeping infront and looking around from time to time to see if they followed.A short distance from the hotel Wampus gave a queer whistle whichbrought the bandit cringing to his side. Without ado he handed thefellow his two revolvers and said calmly: "Go 'long."
The Mexican "went along" briskly and the dusk soon swallowed him up.
"Thank you, Wampus," said Patsy, gratefully; "you've saved us from adreadful experience."
"Oh, that!" snapping his fingers scornfully. "He not a good bad-man,for he too much afraid. I have no gun, for I do not like gun. Still,if I not come, he make you give him money an' trinkets."
"You were very kind," replied Beth, "and I thank you as much as Patsydoes. If you had not arrived just when you did I might have killed theman."
"You?" inquired Wampus, doubtingly.
"Yes." She showed him a small pearl-handled revolver which she carriedin the pocket of her jacket. "I can shoot, Wampus."
The little chauffeur grinned; then looked grave and shook his head.
"It make funny world, these day," said he. "One time girl from citywould scream to see a gun; now she carry him in pocket an' can shoot!Ver' fine; ver' fine. But I like me old style girl who make scream.Then a man not feel foolish when he try protect her."
Patsy laughed merrily; but Beth saw he was offended and hastened tosay:
"I am very grateful to you, Wampus, and I know you are a brave andtrue man. I shall expect you to protect me at all times, for I reallydon't wish to shoot anyone, although I think it best to carry arevolver. Always after this, before I am tempted to fire, I shall lookto see if you are not near me."
"All right," he said more cheerfully. "I am Wampus. I will be there,Miss 'Lizbeth."