CHAPTER FIFTY.
WORKING THE ORACLE.
The evening drew near at last, with everything made ready that waspossible. The water and provisions near at hand; saddles and bridlesexamined; and according to his custom, Chris was about to go out intothe valley and see to his pony, examining the wounds and giving himsomething a little extra in the way of food, when Griggs came and joinedhim.
"Don't start," he said, "but go on just as usual."
"Something wrong?" said Chris, doing exactly what he had been told notto do.
"Call it something wrong if you like," said Griggs, laughing; "but it'sonly what I expected. I've been up at the lookout with your father, andwe 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 turnus 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'vealways been watching us more or less."
"Then they've seen us hunting for a hiding-place for the ponies andmules?"
"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 theycouldn'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 wewere planning out our places and all we meant to do, I should say thatthey thought we were providing for the pot. Now then, come and have aturn 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 andpoint at them."
"Yes, I see," said Chris.
"P'r'aps I shall act a bit too for our friends' benefit, so don't besurprised. Then we shall end up by driving all the beasts in for thenight 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 ofthat. 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 wentthrough the bit of performance arranged, Chris marvelling the while atthe perfect coolness displayed by his companion, who was on the brink ofa most daring adventure, the very thought of which sent the blooddancing through the boy's veins and made the palms of his hands turnwet.
The shades of night were approaching as, after a long examination ofChris's pony, the animals were headed towards the camp, and drivenslowly in towards where they were regularly watered every night; and sowell had all the preparations been timed that it was too dark for anyscouts on the opposite side to see that after the watering, every beastwas 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, buthis bell was muffled so that it would be perfectly silent, and thewater-barrels were hung in position across the back of their regularbearer.
There was plenty of time, and the doctor's principal efforts weredirected towards arresting hurry, for he had to allow for the Indianscouts 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 adventurousparty sat together talking in a low tone, each with his weapons ready.
"Yes," said Wilton, "if they have gone back. Suppose they have chosenthis of all nights for an attack!"
"They'll find that we are quite ready for them; that's all," said Griggscoolly.
"But it is possible," said Bourne sadly.
"So's everything else, sir," replied the American. "But don't you thinkit's a pity to begin fancying what might happen?"
"Perhaps so," said Bourne. "I beg pardon; I'm afraid I do anticipate agood deal. Well, boys," he added, turning to where the pair sattogether whispering, "how do you feel about to-night's work?"
"Horrid, father," whispered Ned, as if he felt that Indians might belistening.
"And you, Chris?" continued Bourne.
"I feel as if I shall be glad when it's to-morrow and we know theworst."
"Or the best, my boy," said the doctor cheerily. "There, I think wemight start now. The moon has set, and we have a long dark night beforeus 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 Indiansare coming on to an attack--one shot each, and then you stand fast togive 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 haveany trouble there."
"I hope not," said the doctor.
Within half-an-hour from these words being spoken the littlebaggage-train was in motion, dimly-seen beneath the band of starsoverhead. These stood out strongly marked against the edge of the blackcliffs on either side towering up and seeming to the excited imaginationof the two lads double their real height, and overhanging more and moreas 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 hisrifle cocked and resting upon his knee, straining his eyes the while forthe first sign of danger. And it was during this ride that the boybegan to wonder whether the eyesight of the Indians was much better thantheir own, for he soon found that once more he was obliged to leave outany attempt at guidance and trust entirely to his pony.
"Think the enemy can see better than we do?" he ventured to say, duringa temporary halt to make out if possible what had caused a suddenrushing sound through the bushes in front.
"They're made differently to what we are if they can," whispered theAmerican dryly. "I'm leaving everything to my nag, and you'd better dothe same."
"That's what I've been doing," said Chris. "You don't think that was anIndian, then?"
"No; only some little animal that we started. It sounded loud becauseeverything's so still, and we expect that everything means danger. Keepclose behind me now."
Chris had no occasion to trouble himself, for his mustang kept its nosevery near to its companion's tail, and they went on and on through thedarkness, till Griggs suddenly drew rein.
"Here we are," he whispered. "It's narrow enough, and it oughtn't totake 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 makeit passable. 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 growingaccustomed to the gloom.
Once more Griggs stopped short, and Chris's heart began to beat moreheavily 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 Ican't make out where it is, and we must wait till morning."
Chris laughed softly.
"I don't see anything to grin at," grumbled Griggs. "I don't believeany Indian could find his way along here."
"I was laughing because I could find the place."
"How?" asked Griggs sharply.
"By coming first. My pony knows his way here."
"Come in front," said Griggs shortly, and Chris moved forward, gave thepony his head once more, and the clev
er little animal paced steadily onfor about a hundred yards, and then turned off to its left and began toascend.
"Hah! Who wouldn't be a pony!" said Griggs, as Chris drew rein. "Thenall we have to do now is to wait till they come up."
It did not seem long before the doctor joined them, and then the wholetrain filed up the side gully. Steadily ascending the way ran uptowards the tableland, where the grassy patch in a hollow had beenselected off the track, and here the halt was made, the beasts beginningto graze at once after they had been hobbled, both ponies and mules, andseeming quite at home as soon as they were left to themselves.
"It's a risk indeed," said the doctor. "If the Indians should happen toride in this direction, where should we be?"
"Shooting at them would be the best thing," said Wilton.
"It's a thousand to one against their finding the beasts here," saidGriggs, "even if they did happen to come. But we've got to chance it,sir. Everything's gone right so far, and let's hope we shall keep onthe same track."
"I hope so," replied the doctor. "Then now we have nothing to do butget back to the narrow gateway."
"The sooner the better, sir, for the night's wearing away fast."
"But ought we, after all, to leave one of us in charge of the beastshere?"
"No, sir," said Griggs sharply. "You'll want all your strength afterI've passed, to tumble down the rocks. The more the better. It mustn'tbe half done."
"No," said the doctor gravely. "The entrance must be well blocked. Allready?"
"Yes," came in a whisper.
"Back, then, at once. Griggs will lead, and all keep in touch, andobserve perfect silence."
The distance seemed to have doubled before they got to the descent, andthis slope to be three times as long, as they tramped slowly down intothe gulch, where the doctor called a halt once more.
But all was still, and blacker than ever, as Griggs with Chris at hisside turned off to the right, to lead the party slowly onward towardsthe narrows, where all stood at last, hot and weary.
"Everything seems to have stretched out," said Griggs, in a whisper. "Ithought we were never going to get here." Then to the doctor, "We'dbetter wait till day begins to break before you climb up the sides, eh?"
"No," said the doctor; "that might mean failure. Every one must be inhis place before the darkness fails us."
"Yes, I suppose you're right, sir; but make sure as soon as there'slight enough that every one is well hidden. Birds will not enter a trapif they see anything strange."
"Nor Indians neither," said the doctor quietly. "We shall see to that."
"And you'll let them get well out of hearing before you begin to stopthe gap?"
"Of course," said the doctor.
"That's all right, then," said Griggs. "So now, as you are going todivide into two parties, each to take a side, I'll say good-bye and stopbelow."
"One word more, then," said the doctor, grasping the American's hand."Let's repeat our plans so that there may be no misunderstanding."
"That's right, sir. I'll say my lesson. As soon as it's daybreak Ishall move down the gully right on in the direction where I believe theIndians are encamped, and as soon as I think I'm near enough I'm goingto begin shooting wherever I see a chance and picking up my birds, tillthe Indians hear me and come out to see what's the matter. Then wesuppose they'll mount, the whole herd of them, and come after me."
"Mounted men against one on foot," said the doctor, with a sigh.
"I don't suppose they'll catch me," said Griggs coolly. "Well,naturally enough when I see the enemy after me I begin to run."
"But suppose they don't all come, Griggs?" said Chris.
"Shan't suppose anything of the kind, and don't you talk so loudly,"growled the American. "They've all got to be there, according to mynotions, and come crowding after me. I run as I never ran before,straight for the narrow way here, dash through, making for the old camp,and they tear away to cut me off before I can get under cover of ourmarksmen. But all at once I dodge in among the stones and begin toclimb up to the terraces, get up to the top step-way in the square pit,and loosen out the stones there, after blocking the place below. One ofthese two bits of work is bound to keep those who have dismounted toclimb after me from climbing any farther, and when I begin to fire atthem pretty sharply they'll turn back at once, get to their horses, andjoin their mates, to have a palaver and come to the conclusion that itisn't safe to stop in the valley, because they'll be expecting everymoment for fire to be opened by us. Then they'll ride back withoutanother shot being fired at them, for the simple reason that I'mhurrying round to join your people here by the top way and the gully. Ishan't lose any time, and if I'm lucky I may get here soon enough tojoin you in giving the enemy a few bullets when they come riding back tofind their way stopped."
"As it ought to be," said the doctor dubiously.
"As it has got to be," said Griggs sharply. "Got to be--got to be, andmust be!" he cried.
"If all goes well," said Bourne.
"If all goes well, sir," said Griggs, "and if we all do our parts likemen, it will. Good-bye!"