CHAPTER XVI.
WATCHING AND WATCHED.
Bill Tozer rose to his feet. The interview was over, and little remainedto be said between the two.
"Then, Hank, you'll leave matters with me till I see you again?"
"When will that be?"
The man stood a moment in thought.
"In order that there shall be no mistake, let us agree that I shall callhere to-morrow morning--twenty-four hours from now. How does that strikeyou?"
"That will do."
"I can make it less time than that, if you wish it."
"That suits; it's a go; good-by."
"Good-by," and the visitor turned on his heel and strode across theplateau, disappearing on the further margin, where he had first shownhimself.
Hank Hazletine stood looking after him as long as he was in sight. Whenat last he vanished, an expression of scornful contempt darkened thebearded face of the cowman, and he muttered:
"Bill Tozer, you think you're smart, but _I understand you_!"
In the interview which has just been recorded the visitor believed hehad outwitted the guide at every step, and yet exactly the reverse wasthe fact. Hank Hazletine had pretended a stupidity which was not real.He noted the contradictions in the declarations of Tozer the instantthey were made, but gave no evidence of it, his object being to draw outthe miscreant, in which purpose he succeeded perfectly.
The whole truth was manifest to the guide. Fred Greenwood had beenabducted not by Motoza alone, but by him and Bill Tozer. Beyond a doubtthe daring scheme was the invention of the white man, who found awilling partner in the vagrant Sioux, who burned with enmity toward theyouth. It was Tozer who made the mistake of supposing that the father ofFred was half-owner of the ranch, and, therefore, presumably a rich man.Tozer had formed the plan of the abduction while at Bowman's ranch, andshowed by his promptness that he had not allowed the grass to grow underhis feet.
These meditations occupied but a few minutes, when the cowman walkedtoward Jack, who, seeing him approaching, advanced to meet him.Hazletine felt that the change of conditions made it necessary to talkmore freely than heretofore with the boy.
"Hank, it seems to me we are throwing away time," said the youth, atrifle impatiently.
"I'm not so sure of that, younker. I've news fur you."
The guide had a good memory, and he repeated, almost word for word, allthat had been said by Tozer and himself. Jack was astounded. His firstemotion was of profound gratitude and delight, for the interview seemedto establish that Fred Greenwood was alive, and consequently withinreach of recovery.
"He's not dead!" exclaimed the happy lad; "thank Heaven for that! Ishall soon see him! It seems too good to be true."
"It isn't best to be sartin of anything in this world," remarked hisfriend, with a gravity of expression that ought to have chilled theardor of Jack, but it did not. The tidings were too exhilarating forthat.
"Now, younker," added the man, "we've got more time on our hands than weknow what to do with. Come over by the fire and set down fur a while.How's that appetite of yours?"
"I am beginning to feel hungry."
"I thought so," observed Hank, with a smile.
"But there's no hurry. I can wait a little while."
"You'll have to."
"Now tell me who this man Tozer is?"
"Wal, he's a reg'lar Motoza, except in blood. I run across him fiveyears ago in Arizona, where he had been in the stage-robbin' bus'ness.Things got so hot he had to git out. I didn't hear anything more of himtill I was driving cattle in Montana, when I discovered he was one ofthe worst rustlers in that part of the world. I'm sartin he has done agood many things fur which he ought to hang, but he's more cunning inhis way than the Sioux, and has kept out of the penitentiary when anyoneelse would have been doing a life-term. Bill is a great gambler, and hasmade and lost fortunes, but he is always out of money and figgering howto git it ag'in. There isn't anything too mean fur him to do fur money.He doesn't care any more fur the feelings of others than Geronimo."
"It looks as if the plan of abducting Fred and holding him for ransom ishis."
"There ain't no doubt of it; he come to the ranch soon after we'd goneand larned all 'bout you tenderfeet from the boys themselves. Thethought come to him at once that one of the chances of his lifetime washis. It's queer he made the mistake of believing that it was the fatherof the other younker as owned part of the ranch, but he got matterstwisted in some way. You can see that if it hadn't been fur that blunderof his, it would be _you_ that your friend and me would be looking fur."
"I wish it were," was the honest exclamation of Jack Dudley; "but howwas it he came to form his partnership with Motoza?"
"You've heard it said the devil takes care of his own; Bill and Motozaare old friends and have been in more than one shady job. I can't know,but I think Bill must have larned or suspicioned that the Sioux warn'tfur off and he set out to hunt him up. Anyway they managed to cometogether, and the job was fixed up atween 'em. Howsumever," said theguide, "there ain't no use of talking and guessing over what _has been_,but we must face what _is_. Now, if Doctor Greenwood has word bytelegraph that he must pay five thousand dollars to git his younker backagin, what'll he think?"
"He will think that this has been a pretty expensive outing for Fred,"replied Jack, whose buoyancy of spirits prompted his trivial answer.
"Will he pay the money?"
"Yes, and twice as much more, if it is necessary; but won't he bestartled and puzzled to know the meaning of it all! He will come rightout here himself and bring some of the best detectives in the country."
"And if he does that, he'll never see his boy alive."
Jack looked at Hazletine in alarm and amazement. The cowman saw phasesof this extraordinary business that had not presented themselves to theyouth, and he now proceeded to impress them upon him. In the firstplace, the cunning Tozer would make sure of protecting himself andMotoza, though the last was purely a matter of policy and self interest,since he was always ready to sacrifice a comrade. In arranging theransom or exchange, Tozer would take no chances. The friends of FredGreenwood would have to remain out of sight and in the background. Itwould be impossible for any of them to try to checkmate him without hisquickly learning it, whereupon he would abandon the job and turn overthe boy to the savage will of the Sioux.
"And you know what _that_ means," added the cowman, impressively. "Ishould tell you something else, too. It's my belief that if the money isgive to Tozer, and the Sioux is ordered to surrender the younker, hehates him that bad that he'll try to bring about his death and run thechances of hanging for it. Where two such wretches as him and Tozer arein a job there's bound to be crooked work, and I won't never believeyou're going to shake the hand of t'other younker till I see it donewith my own eyes."
The emphasis of this declaration sent a thrill of alarm through theframe of Jack Dudley, though it could not wholly destroy theexhilaration caused by the knowledge that Fred Greenwood was alive.
It was proof of the kindliness of Hank Hazletine that he made no mentionof a strong suspicion that had been in his mind from the first. This wasthat when Tozer met Motoza he learned that the Sioux had already slainhis prisoner, for Hank knew of the furious hate the fellow held towardthe youth. Consequently, Tozer had arranged to carry out his originalscheme, and was now seeking to gain a large sum of money, knowing thatit was out of his power ever to fulfill his part of the bargain.
Hazletine, we repeat, strongly believed that this ghastly phase of thebusiness was true, but, inasmuch as there was no certainty of it, he wastoo considerate to bring additional grief to the heart of Jack Dudley.
But the cowman had formed a resolution which he carefully held back fromhis companion. An interval of twenty-four hours must pass before thesecond interview with Tozer, during which, as the latter was given tounderstand, the negotiation would be left wholly with him. Hank and Jackwere to remain quiescent, at least until after the next meeting. But thecowman nursed a
very different determination. He intended to employ allthe time and the utmost ability he possessed in defeating the atrociousplot of the miscreants. It will be seen that the easiest plan for himwas quietly to help forward the negotiations, but his nature forbadesuch meek submissiveness on his part.
This course, however, was perilous to the missing boy; for, if Tozer orMotoza saw himself in danger of losing the prize, he would make shortwork of the prisoner. It was clear that all the skill and woodcraft ofwhich the cowman was master would be needed in the delicate task he hadassigned to himself.
"Younker," he said, when the conversation had continued a while longer,"after thinking over this bus'ness, I've made up my mind it's better weshould keep apart fur the day."
"Follow your own judgment. I shall try to be back this evening."
"To-morrer morning will be time 'nough. I had my supper last night notfur from here, and if the wild animals haven't visited the spot since,we shall find 'nough to make a square meal."
This was acceptable news, and the result all that could be desired. Hankhad cooked a considerable quantity of venison at a romantic place amongthe rocks, his first intention being to carry enough of it toheadquarters to supply his young friends with what they needed.Afterward he changed his mind and decided that it was time they learnedto provide for themselves. Upon making his way to the spot he foundeverything as it had been left the previous evening, and thus much morereadily than Jack had dared to expect he secured the needed food.
"Right here we part," said Hank at the conclusion of the meal.
"How am I to spend the time?"
"As your fancy strikes you. As I told you, it will be soon 'nough furyou to git back to camp to-morrer morning, but you must keep your eyesopen. It may be that Tozer, having larned that your father is the man hemeant to bleed, will try to make a prisoner of you."
Jack Dudley's eyes flashed.
"Let him try it! I should like to be in Fred's company."
"Mebbe you wouldn't be so well suited as you think, but look out fursnares in your path--that's all I've got to say. I'm off."
It was characteristic of the cowman to take his departure in this abruptmanner, his intention being to undertake without delay the difficulttask he had set out for himself, but five minutes later he gave over hispurpose, and, to the surprise of Jack Dudley, came back to him.
In doing this, Hazletine was wise. His purpose, as already intimated,was to discover if possible Motoza and Tozer, but especially the former.There was little doubt that the Sioux would communicate with hisprisoner during the day, or, if Fred Greenwood was not among the living,his unrelenting enemy was likely to give some evidence of where histaking off had occurred. Hazletine's belief, therefore, was that byshadowing the Sioux he had a good chance of securing the informationthat would overturn all the calculations of the abductors.
But this task was tenfold more delicate than would seem at first, fornot only had the cowman to learn the whereabouts of the Sioux, but hemust do it undetected and dog the fellow without discovery on his part.When it is remembered that Motoza would be on the alert against this,one is almost ready to declare the cowman had attempted an impossiblething.
When he left his young friend, however, it was with the firm purpose ofdoing, or rather trying to push through this purpose. Within a hundredyards of the point where he left Jack the guide had a glimpse of whatmay be called the shadow of a movement. Something flickered among therocks a short distance ahead and then vanished before he could identifyit.
But he knew what it meant. Some one was watching him. If the watcher wasnot Motoza or Tozer, he was an ally of theirs. He was holding the cowmanunder surveillance, ready to report or shoot on the first proof of hisreal purpose. The truth flashed upon Hank, and pausing in his walk,without any evidence of what he had discovered, he began a hastyexamination of his pockets after the manner of a man who suddenly missessome prized article that he believed to be in his garments.
The little farce was cleverly acted. Each receptacle was examinedseveral times, some of the pockets being turned wrong side out, whilethe face of the cowman, or rather his eyes, betrayed his excitement.Then he looked at the ground in front and at the rear, apparently tolearn whether he had dropped the missing treasure. Failing to find it,he uttered an angry exclamation and walked hurriedly back to hiscompanion. No one observing the performance would have doubted itsmeaning.
"I'm going to stay a while with you," he remarked, seating himself uponthe ground and lighting his pipe.
"It was a sudden change of mind," replied Jack, glad to have hiscompany.
"Yes; a redskin helped me to make it," and he explained the nature ofhis discovery. Inasmuch as the guide had turned back because of thesame, it was easy to understand what his original intention was; for hadit not existed, why should the cowman care if he was kept undersurveillance? He would not be betraying himself any more during aninnocent walk and hunt through the mountains than by sitting on theground and smoking his pipe.
The result to a certain extent was a disappointment to Jack himself, forhe had quietly resolved upon a venture in the same line. Of necessity hewould be governed almost entirely by guesswork, but it was hisdetermination to spend the day, and if possible the night, in trying togather some trace of his missing friend. And while it must be said thathis prospect of success was exceedingly meagre, it should be borne inmind that he would possess one great advantage over the veteran whilesimilarly engaged--neither Tozer nor Motoza would fear anything fromwhat he did, and would give him no attention. He therefore would be leftcomparatively free to do what he chose. Despite the warnings of Hank,Jack was confident nothing was to be feared from the enmity of the twomiscreants while the negotiations were in progress. They were not themen to destroy the hen that was expected to lay the golden egg.
For hours Hazletine and Jack lolled in this primitive camp, the cowmansmoking his pipe most of the time, while the two discussed over and overagain the various phases of the momentous business that engaged theirthoughts and to which they yearned to devote their utmost energies. Theguide longed to be off, and as the sun descended the heavens it was oneof the hardest tasks of his life to restrain his impatience, but he hadbeen trained in a school where patience is one of the greatest of allthe virtues. Suddenly he rose to his feet, stretched his arms andyawned.
"I'd like to borrer that spy-glass of yours fur a few minutes."
"You are welcome," replied Jack, slipping the string over his head andpassing the instrument to him. The cowman sauntered off, taking the samedirection as before. His first wish was to learn whether he was stillunder surveillance. So far as he could determine the watcher had grownweary and withdrawn, though there could be no certainty that he was notin the neighborhood.
Jack Dudley, without leaving camp, was able to keep an eye on themovements of his friend. He saw him make his way to a jutting rock,partly screened by a growth of cedar. Concealing himself as well as hecould, he raised the glass to his eyes and spent several minutes instudying the wild country spread below him. He was looking in thedirection of the break in the canyon, beyond which, as will beremembered, was the plateau where the ponies had been left to crop thegrass while their masters were engaged elsewhere.
"He was looking in the direction of the break in thecanyon."]
Jack did not attempt to survey the same field, but kept his gaze uponHazletine. He could see that he directed his attention toward aparticular point, as if he had either discovered something or expectedto do so. The study continued only a few minutes, when he came back andhanded the glass to the youth, with the remark:
"I'm going to try it agin. I won't expect to see you till to-morrermorning."
The lad bade him good-by, and he took his departure; but instead ofdescending the mountain toward the point that had interested him, hefollowed the opposite course, as if he intended to push through to theother side of the Wind River range. This was so transparent a subterfugethat it did not deceive Jack.
"He has discovered
something," was his conclusion; "he doesn't choose totell me, and it makes little difference. I wonder whether he believes Iintend to idle my time till night and then go back to headquarters andwait for him? If he thinks so, he makes a mistake."
Waiting until sure his friend was beyond sight, Jack carefully pickedhis way to the rock from which Hank had made the observation thatdecided his line of action. The better to screen himself the youth laydown on his face, as when peering over the ridge into the valley wherethe antelope were grazing, and held the glass to his eyes.
Thus looking out, he saw the plateau in the distance, seemingly but afew rods in extent. Only one of the ponies was visible, and he resembleda small dog, standing with head down, in the middle of the grassy plot.Beyond and between were foot-hills, peaks of varying heights, gorges,ravines and hollows, with rocks, boulders and stunted trees scattered inprofusion. The picturesqueness of the scene was deepened by a thin, bluecolumn of vapor in the distance, ascending from an invisible camp-fire.The smoke rose steadily, so it was not to be supposed that it was meantfor a signal, like those already described.
The most attractive point was the break in the canyon, alreadydescribed. This was in plain sight, with the expanse of swiftly-flowingwater, which soon disappeared between the walls on the opposite side.
Suddenly Jack started. Two Indians were visible, though they were inview for only a few minutes. They came from the base of the inclinewhere the boys had seen three of them the day before, and passed out ofsight before the interested observer could decide whether Motoza, theSioux, was one of them.
"I believe Hank has gone down there," was the conclusion of Jack, "and Ishall do the same."