CHAPTER XIV
A group of about twenty men greeted our appearance with a wild cowboyyell. Some of the men of our outfit were there, but not all; and Irecognized others from as far south as the Chiracahuas. Windy Bill wasthere with Jed Parker; but Senor Johnson's bulky figure was nowhere tobe seen. The other men were all riders--nobody of any particularstanding or authority. The sun made it about three o'clock of theafternoon. Our adventures had certainly brought us a good sleep!
After we had satisfied our thirst from a canteen we began to ask andanswer questions. Artie Brower had made the ranch without mishap, hadtold his story, and had promptly fallen asleep. Buck Johnson, in hisusual deliberate manner, read all the papers through twice; pondered forsome time while the more excited Jed and Windy fidgeted impatiently; andthen, his mind made up, acted with his customary decision. Three men hesent to reconnoitre in the direction of the Bat-eye Tunnel withinstructions to keep out of trouble and to report promptly. His otherriders he dispatched with an insistent summons to all the leadingcattlemen as far south as the Chiracahua Range, as far east as Grant'sPass, as far west as Madrona. Such was Buck Johnson's reputation forlevel-headedness that without hesitation these men saddled and rode attheir best speed. By noon the weightiest of the Soda Spring Valley hadgathered in conclave.
"That's where we faded out," said Jed Parker. "They sent us up to seeabout you-all. The scouts from up here come back with their little WildWest story about knocking down this yere mountain on top of you. We hadto believe them because they brought back a little proof with them. Mexguns and spurs and such plunder looted off'n the deceased on the fieldof battle. Bill here can tell you."
"They was only two of them," said Windy Bill, diffident for the firsttime in his life, "and we managed to catch one of 'em foul. We beendigging here for too long. We ain't no prairie dogs to go delving intothe bosom of the earth. We thought you must be plumb deceased anyhow: wecouldn't get a peep out of you. I was in favour of leavin' you laymyself. This yere butte seemed like a first-rate imposing tomb; and Iwas willing myself to carve a few choice sentiments on some selectedrock. Sure I can carve! But Jed here allowed that you owed him tendollars and maybe had some money in your pocket----"
"Shut up, Windy," I broke in. "Can't you see the young lady----"
Windy whirled all contrition and apologies.
"Don't you mind me, ma'am," he begged. "They call me Windy Bill, and Ireckon that's about right. I don't mean nothing. And we'd have dug allthrough this butte before----"
"I know that. It isn't your talk," interrupted Miss Emory, "but the sunis hot--and--haven't you anything at all to eat?"
"Suffering giraffes!" cried Windy above the chorus of dismay."Lunkheads! chumps! Of all the idiot plays ever made in this territory!"He turned to the dismayed group. "Ain't any one of you boys had senseenough to bring any grub?"
But nobody had. The old-fashioned Arizona cowboy ate only twice a day.It would never occur to him to carry a lunch for noon. Still, they mighthave considered a rescue party's probable needs.
We mounted and started for the Box Springs ranch. They had at leastknown enough to bring extra horses.
"Old Hooper knows the cat is out of the bag now," I suggested as we rodealong.
"He sure does."
"Do you think he'll stick: or will he get out?"
"He'll stick."
"I don't know----" I argued, doubtfully.
"I do," with great positiveness.
"Why are you so sure?"
"There are men in the brush all around his ranch to see that he does."
"For heaven's sake how many have you got together?" I cried, astonished.
"About three hundred," said Jed.
"What's the plan?"
"I don't know. They were chewing over it when I left. But I'll betsomething's going to pop. There's a bunch of 'em on that sweet littlelist you-all dug up."
We rode slowly. It was near five o'clock when we pulled down the lanetoward the big corrals. The latter were full of riding horses, and thefences were topped with neatly arranged saddles. Men were everywhere,seated in rows on top rails, gathered in groups, leaning idly againstthe ranch buildings. There was a feeling of waiting.
We were discovered and acclaimed with a wild yell that brought everybodyrunning. Immediately we were surrounded. Escorted by a clamouringmultitude we moved slowly down the lane and into the enclosure.
There awaited us a dozen men headed by Buck Johnson. They emerged fromthe office as we drew up. At sight of them the cowboys stopped, and wemoved forward alone. For here were the substantial men of this part ofthe territory, the old timers, who had come in the early days and whohad persisted through the Indian wars, the border forays, the cattlerustlings, through drought and enmity and bad years. A grim, elderly,four-square, unsmiling little band of granite-faced pioneers, their veryappearance carried a conviction of direct and, if necessary, ruthlessaction. At sight of them my heart leaped. Twenty-four hours previous mycase had seemed none too joyful. Now, mainly by my own efforts, afterall, I was no longer alone.
They did not waste time in vain congratulations or query. The occasionwas too grave for such side issues. Buck Johnson said something verybrief to the effect that he was glad to see us safe.
"If this young lady will come in first," he suggested.
But I was emboldened to speak up.
"This young lady has not had a bite to eat since last night," Iinterposed.
The senor bent on me his grave look.
"Thank you," said he. "Sing!" he roared, and then to the Chinaman whoshowed up in a nervous hover: "Give this lady grub, savvy? If you'll gowith him, ma'am, he'll get you up something. Then we'd like to see you."
"I can perfectly well wait----" she began.
"I'd rather not, ma'am," said Buck with such grave finality that shemerely bowed and followed the cook.