CHAPTER XII.
THE LONG NIGHT.
"That's right, it never rains but it pours," Billie went on to say, ashe fondled his Marlin repeating rifle, which had of late proven itsvalue in many ways; one of which accounted for the skin of a grizzlybear which the overseer at the Red Spar Mine had promised to cure forthe boy, and send to the ranch later on.
He listened and soon made up his mind that the howls were approaching.
"Course they just seem to know there's a chance for a fine meal, outhere on the wild old desert; and there they come, licketty-split, asfast as they can run. But they needn't think they've got an easy mark todeal with. Reckon that if I could knock over an old he-grizzly, I oughtto be able to take care of a pack of cowardly wolves and coyotes. Huh!let 'em come, I say. But I wish that old moon'd peep out from behindthem clouds; it'd sure be a heap more sociable like."
Brave words these were, and Billie doubtless meant to prove that he didnot fear the coming of the four-footed pirates of the plains and thedesert. All the same, his hands trembled more or less as he handled hisgun, nervously drawing back the hammer several times, as if to makecertain that it worked mechanically.
There could be no doubt but that the wolves were heading straight towardhim. Billie was amazed. Why, had it been daylight, so that they couldsee him with their sharp eyes, they could not be taking a more directcourse toward the spot where he and Jupiter were encamped.
Once he thought that perhaps he ought to jump on the back of his pony,and let the broncho shoot off over the desert as he pleased; feelingcertain that Jupiter would do everything that lay in his power to keepout of the reach of the wolves.
Hardly had this idea occurred to him than he turned it down.
"That would be fool's play," he declared, aloud, so that Jupiter mighthear him, and perhaps understand what motives influenced his actions."They'd keep right on after us, and sooner or later we'd just have tohaul up and fight it out. So what's the use changing base? If it's gotto come, this is as good a place as any. And if I've been and gotanywhere near the border of the desert, what a goose I'd be to head backinto it again, when that sand storm may commence in the morning. Nosir-ee, here I take my stand, come what will; and that's all there is toit!"
Somehow Billie felt better after all that heroic talk. It does brace oneup to exhibit such defiance, say what you will about it.
He no longer lay there on his blanket, but was on his feet. The firstthing he did proved that Billie was getting on, and no longer thegreenhorn he had been; for he made sure to secure the canteen; in caseJupiter took it into his head to run away, he would not carry off thispriceless article with him.
That proved to be one of the smartest things the boy had ever done inall his life, and showed how he was waking up these days, under the newconditions which surrounded him, making him think for himself. For theterrified pony did presently jerk loose, and go galloping away, much tothe chagrin of his owner.
However, there was no time now for crying over spilt milk, as Billietold himself. The approaching wolves were very close, and would soon beupon him.
Billie tried to figure out whether the cowardly creatures would attackhim immediately; or after their customary manner, hang about in a circleat an ever decreasing distance, waiting for him to be overpowered bysleep.
"Looks like I'm up against it," he said aloud; "and let's see how aWinkle can pull through. There's lots of 'em been soldiers, and neveryet did one turn out to be a _coward_; and I ain't meaning to be thefirst, hear that?"
Whether he was addressing the wind, or the nearby wolves, Billie did notsay; but his defiance was meant all the same.
He tried to penetrate the darkness so that he might see some object atwhich he could fire, for he wanted to make every bullet count, ifpossible. There was no telling how many of the wolves and coyotes theremight be. If he kept on shooting them down, and more continued toarrive, the dreadful moment must come when he would run out ofammunition. What then? The programme ceased to interest Billie afterthat stage. True, he would still have his trusty hunting-knife, and thatpossessed a keen edge on both sides; but what a puny weapon it mustalways be in the hands of one unaccustomed to wielding a blade likethat, and with an unnumbered throng of four-footed adversaries leapingabout him.
Now the howls were along a different order. Billie fancied that he couldtrace exultation among other things in the last series; just as thoughthe wolves began to feel sure of their supper, and rejoiced accordingly.Many a time had Billie himself shouted with glee because of that call tothe spread; and now he was experiencing how it felt to be on the otherside of the fence, with these hungry wolves springing to the feast.
Well, first he would at least have some satisfaction in knocking over afew of his lupine enemies--he believed that was what they were called inbooks he had read concerning their characteristics.
There was certainly something moving close at hand, and coming towardhim too. Billie swung his ready gun that way. Looking closely he feltsure that he could make out a dark, slinking form--yes, and there weretwo shining dots that made him think of a cat's eyes as seen in thedark, such as he had often done at home.
Billie waited for no more. He knew the first of the wolves had arrived,and that he could not get busy any too soon now. The quicker he taughtthese varmints a much needed lesson, the better. Besides, if he couldonly succeed in killing a few of the gray rascals perhaps he might takethat keen edge off the appetites of the others, for he knew that theywould lose no time in pouncing on any of their mates from whom blood wasdrawn.
With this in mind he leveled his rifle, took as good aim as was possibleunder the conditions, and pulled the trigger.
Instantly a wild screech arose, proving that his bullet had not beenwasted. He instantly got his rifle in readiness for further operations,and then grimly waited to see what followed.
There was a great scurrying around out there in the gloom, accompaniedby all sorts of snapping noises, some growls, and the sounds of abattle.
"Glory!" ejaculated the boy, as he crouched there, trying to pierce thedarkness that shrouded the scene so completely, "I do believe the restof the gang have tackled the one I hit, and are tearing him to piecesright now. Ugh! hear 'em snap and growl, would you? Don't I wish it waslight enough to see, and wouldn't I just like to send another chunk oflead straight in among the lot? Oh! why can't the beggarly old moon peepout, just to encourage a poor fellow once in a while?"
Apparently his earnest plea must have been heard, for just then theredid come a break in the clouds, allowing the moon a chance to look out.Billie seemed to take it for granted that he was being favored, and thathe must make a quick use of the golden opportunity.
He was already looking straight out toward the place where all thiscommotion seemed to be in progress, so that as soon as he saw thewhirling figures there he started in to send several shots that way.
That he did not waste his ammunition was evident, for there was a wildscattering among the fighting animals; and he could plainly see severalforms lying there, before the moon again hid her smiling face.
"Good boy! do it some more, can't you?" Billie cried out, being wildlyexultant by this time, because of his success.
The wolves kept at some little distance after that. They had learned alesson, and would be careful how they attacked the one who apparentlyhad it in his power to deal out death at will.
Half an hour later he could hear sounds again in the same old quarter.He understood from this that the hungry beasts were making a meal offthe unlucky victims of his fire, but as this suited him very well,Billie did not attempt to interfere.
That threatened to be the longest night in all his experience, for heknew that he dared not go to sleep, even for a minute, lest those daringbeast of prey jump upon him; and once at close quarters, where therepeating rifle did not count for more than a cudgel, get the better ofhim.
Sometimes it was almost impossible for the boy to keep his eyes open,despite the fact that he was fully awa
re of the serious consequences,that would follow, should he forget himself. He fought fully fiftybattles while night held sway; and often victory was gained only by aclose margin; for more than once he had nodded until his head fellforward, and this served to arouse him again.
He had matches with him, and once in a long time used one so that hemight have the consolation of learning the time of night.
It seemed to Billie that his little nickel watch must have stopped,though he had surely wound it up, and so far as he knew it was notsubject to tricks of any kind. But those minutes did drag most terribly,and when four o'clock arrived he began to look toward the east mostexpectantly, though he knew full well that he could not possiblydiscover the first gleams of coming day for at least an hour and a half.
All was well, however, and that gave the boy considerable solidsatisfaction. He experienced the pleasure that always accompanies a taskrightly done; and even fancied that Donald and Adrian must find reasonsfor congratulating him, when they heard how he had kept guard allthrough that dreadful night.
He could hear the wolves moving around every little while, but as a rulethey had learned their lesson well, and kept at a certain distance away.Then again it was of course possible that, not being so ferociouslyhungry as they had been in the beginning, they were no longer ready totake desperate chances.
Twice Billie had discovered a pair of glowing eyes shining in thedarkness like twin stars; and thinking that he might as well do whatexecution was possible, while the chance remained, he had on bothoccasions carefully aimed his gun, and then fired. And as he gleefullytold himself on each occasion, from the clamor that ensued he feltpretty positive that he had hit something. The other wolves did therest; because that was what they were on the spot for, to secure a meal.
But now it was almost time when he felt he must detect those welcomesigns in the east that would tell of coming day.
Billie rejoiced to know that he had really come through that terriblenight in such decent condition. He was not a particle sleepy now, forall that had worn off, and he felt that he could hold his own. All thesame, he continued to look anxiously toward that promising quarter ofthe horizon where he must soon discover the first gray streaks ofmorning.