CHAPTER IX
IN DEADLY PERIL
It was after he reached the Western deserts that Bert experienced thehardest going. The roads, if mere trails could be dignified by thatname, were unspeakably bad, and time and again he was forced to ride onthe railroad embankment, between the tracks. Of course, progress in thismanner was necessarily slow, and again and again Bert had occasion tofeel grateful for the wonderful springing system of his mount. Withoutsome such aid, he felt his task would be well nigh hopeless.
As it was, he had to let a little air out of the tires, to reduce theshocks caused by contact with the rough ballast and uneven ties. In someplaces, where the roadbed was exceptionally well ballasted he was ableto open up a little, but such stretches were few and far between. Inplaces he was forced to dismount because of drainage culverts runningunder the tracks. When this happened he would lift the "Blue Streak" upon a rail and trundle it over. It was back-breaking work, and testedeven his courage and endurance to the utmost.
His oil and gasoline supply ran low, but by great good fortune he wasable to secure almost a gallon of gasoline from an agent at a lonelylittle station, and about a quart of very inferior lubricating oil. Buthe comforted himself with the thought that "half a loaf is better thannone" and went on. After a while he noticed that a passable looking roadskirted the railroad to the left, and he resolved to try it.
Accordingly, he scrambled down the steep embankment, the "Blue Streak"half rolling and half sliding down with him. He arrived safely at thebottom, and a minute later was on the road. It proved to be fairly goodat first, but became more and more sandy, and at last Bert was broughtto a standstill.
"I guess I'm through for to-day," he reflected, and gazed anxiously inevery direction for any sign of human habitation. His searching gaze metnothing but empty sky and empty desert, however, and he drew a sigh ofresignation. "I guess there's nothing for it but to camp out here andmake the best of things," he thought, and set about unstrapping hisimpedimenta from the luggage carrier.
His preparations for the night were soon made. He smoothed out a patchof sand and spread his thick army blanket over it. "Now that that'sdone," he thought, "I'll just have a bite to eat, and turn in. Thisisn't half bad, after all. It's a lot better than some of the hotelsI've put up at on this trip, and the ventilation is perfect."
He always carried a substantial lunch with him, to guard againstemergencies, and of this he now partook heartily. When he had finished,he busied himself in cleaning and thoroughly inspecting his faithfulmount, and found it in fine condition, even after such a strenuous day."No need to worry about your not delivering the goods, is there, oldboy?" he said, affectionately. "As long as you stick to the job, we'llpull through all right."
By the time he had completed his inspection and made some adjustments itwas almost dark, and Bert rolled himself in his blanket and was soonsleeping soundly.
Meantime Tom and Dick were awaiting him at Boyd, a small town inNorthern Texas. When he failed to arrive, they decided that someunforeseen event had delayed him, and were not much worried.Nevertheless, they were not quite easy about him, and Tom made aproposition that met with instant approbation from Dick.
"Why wouldn't it be a good idea," Tom proposed, "to hire an automobileearly to-morrow morning and meet him outside the town on his way in? Itwill break up the trip a little for him, and then, in case he's had abreakdown we can help him out."
"Fine!" agreed Dick, enthusiastically, "let's go out right now and makearrangements with the garage keeper so we'll be sure to get the machinein the morning. We might as well be on the safe side."
They immediately sallied out to put this plan in execution. Theyexperienced no difficulty in making the necessary arrangements. Theypaid the proprietor of the garage a deposit, and so secured the use of afast, two-seated runabout for the following morning.
Before they left Dick asked the proprietor at what time the place wasopen. "Oh, it's always open," he replied, "come and get the car any timeyou want it. It's all the same to me, so long as it's paid for."
"All right, we'll take you at your word," they promised, and returned tothe hotel.
"We'll get a good early start," planned Tom, "we ought to leave thegarage before six o'clock if we expect to meet Bert in time."
"We'll do just that," agreed Dick, "and maybe I won't be glad to seteyes on the old reprobate again."
"I, too," said Tom, "he'll be a sight for sore eyes."
"That's what," agreed Dick, "but if we're going to get started at thatunearthly hour, we'd better turn in early to-night."
This proposition being self-evident, it met with no opposition, andshortly afterward they retired, leaving an early call at the office.
They were awakened punctually the next morning, and tumbled hastily intotheir clothes. They did not even stop for breakfast, arguing "that therewould be plenty of time for that later on." In a very short time theypresented themselves at the garage, and the party in charge, followinginstructions left with him by the owner of the place, turned theautomobile over to them.
Dick took the wheel, and they were soon spinning rapidly through thequiet streets of the town. Once outside the limits, Dick "cracked onspeed," and they went along at a fast clip. They passed right by theplace where Bert had encamped at a distance of several miles, and beforelong came to a village, where they inquired if Bert had been through.No, the villagers said, he had not been through there, but they hadheard that a motorcyclist had been seen riding on the railroadembankment, and there could be little doubt that the rider was Bert.
"You must have passed him somewhere," concluded one of their informants,an old native whose tanned and weather-beaten face was seamed by athousand wrinkles. "P'raps he stuck to the railroad tracks cleanthrough, an' is in Boyd by this time."
But Dick shook his head. "If he'd followed the tracks right along he'dprobably have reached town last night," he said, with an anxious look inhis eyes. "I'm afraid he's left the track for one reason or another,and lost his way."
"Is there any road near the track that he might have used?" queried Tom.
"No, there ain't," replied the veteran, "leastways, nothin' except theold Holloway trail, and you can't rightly call that a road. It's mostwiped out now, an' jest leads plumb to nowhere."
"Just the same," exclaimed Dick, excitedly, "that's just what hashappened." He explained hurriedly the race and its object, and ended byentreating the old plainsman to guide them to the road he had spoken of.
"Waal, all right," exclaimed the old man, after a moment of hesitation,"I'll go ye. But whareabouts in that gasoline buggy o' yourn am I goin'to sit? Thar don't seem to be much room to spare."
"You sit here," exclaimed Tom, jumping out. "I'll sit on the floor andhold on somehow. Let her go, Dick."
Before the plainsman had fairly settled himself in the seat Dick had letin the clutch, and the car started away with a jerk, Dick steeringaccording to directions given him by the old man as they went along.They plowed through the sand at a breakneck pace, Tom hanging on fordear life. Soon they came in sight of the railroad embankment, and Dickslowed down slightly. Their guide waved his arm to the right, and Dickwrenched the wheel around, causing the machine to skid wildly in theyielding sand. Their guide hung on desperately, but was heard to muttersomething about "stickin' to hosses after this." Soon they reached theroad that Bert had traversed the night before, and there, sure enough,were the marks of motorcycle tires. Their guide gave a whoop. "We'reclose on his trail now," he yelled, "give this tarnation machine a toucho' the spurs, young feller."
Dick followed out the spirit of this admonition, at any rate, and afterten minutes of furious driving they caught sight of the "Blue Streak." Alittle further, and they could make out Bert's recumbent form,apparently asleep.
"Well," exclaimed Tom, heaving a sigh of relief as Dick reduced speed,"we've had all our worry for nothing, I guess."
But the old plainsman was peering out from under his horny palm. "It'salmighty queer," he mutt
ered under his breath. "That young chap must bean all-fired heavy sleeper to sleep in broad daylight like that. Let'sget out an' walk the rest o' the way," he continued, aloud.
Dick looked at him curiously, but did as he proposed, and brought thecar to a standstill. They all got out, and Tom and Dick were going tomake a dash for the sleeper, but their guide held them back. "Easy boys,easy," he cautioned. "There's somethin' wrong here, an' I've an idee Iknow what it is, too."
"That's whatever!" he exclaimed, when they had advanced cautiously a fewsteps further. "They's a bunch o' scorpions has crawled up on him durin'the night to keep warm, an' if he moves an eyelash they'll sting him,sure. An' ef they do----" he stopped significantly, and the two friendsof the threatened man paled as they realized the full horror of thesituation.
Here was their friend menaced by a hideous death, and they foundthemselves powerless to help him. They were within a hundred feet ofhim, but to all intents and purposes they might as well have been ahundred miles distant. The first attempt on their part to help him wouldonly precipitate the very tragedy that they sought to avoid.
Bert lay in the shadow cast by the "Blue Streak," over which he hadthrown a blanket to protect it from wind-blown sand. The hideouscreatures would not leave him until the sun drove them into hiding, andBert might wake at any moment. What to do they knew not. They rackedtheir brains desperately for some plan of action, but could think ofnone.
It was the old frontiersman who came to their rescue. "Ef I only had abit o' lookin' glass," he muttered, looking aimlessly about him, "Imight do somethin'. But they probably ain't no sech thing nearer thanten miles."
"If that would do any good I can get you one," exclaimed Tom, seizedwith an inspiration. He raced back to the auto, and, seizing a wrench,attacked the mirror attached to the dash for the purpose of reflectingobjects coming in back of the car. He had it off in less time than ittakes to tell, and ran back, waving it over his head. "Here you are!" heexclaimed, thrusting it into the hands of the guide. "But I don't seewhat good that will do."
"Never you mind, son," said the old man, snatching the mirror from him."Jest you watch my smoke."
He took up a position on the other side of Bert, and manipulated themirror so that a bright beam of sunlight fell on the recumbent form. Itseffect was soon apparent. The poisonous insects stirred uneasily, tryingto avoid the glare that they hated. Finding that there was no escapingit, they at last commenced to crawl down in search of a more shadyresting place.
One by one they made off, the flashing ray of light hastening thedeparture of the laggards. Watching breathlessly, Dick and Tom waitedfor the last noxious insect to crawl sluggishly down onto the blanketand then off into the sand. Even after the last one had been dislodged,the prairieman played the reflected sunlight over Bert until there wasno longer cause for apprehension.
"All right, young fellers," he said at last. "I cal'late you can wakeyour friend up now without takin' any long chances."
Dick and Tom were about to avail themselves of this permission, butfound that there was no need. As they started forward the "sleeper" satup, and then scrambled to his feet.
His comrades uttered a simultaneous expression of surprise, and Dickexclaimed, "Of all the lucky old reprobates that ever lived, Bert,you're certainly the luckiest, without exception. If you had waked upten minutes sooner, you would----"
"Waked up your grandmother," interrupted Bert. "Why, I've been awakeover an hour. I was awake when you got here, but I was afraid to movefor fear of having one of those things bite me--ugh!" and a greatshudder of disgust passed over him, "that was a waking nightmare inearnest. I feel as weak as a rag. Look at that!" and he held out hishand. It was trembling like a leaf.
"Waal, I'll be jiggered," exclaimed the Westerner, in an admiring voice,"you've sure got nerve, young feller, and no mistake. It ain't everybodyas could hold hisself the way you did with them blamed critters crawlin'all over him. It took nerve, it shore did."
"Probably you'd have done the same thing if you'd been in my place,"observed Bert, with a friendly smile.
"Waal, mebbe I would an' mebbe I wouldn't," replied the old man,evidently much gratified by this little compliment, "although I don'tsay as how I haven't had one or two close shaves in my time, mind ye."
"Well, at any rate, I guess I owe my life to you, and, of course, tomy pals here," said Bert, "and all I can say is, that I'm more thangrateful."
"That's all right, young feller," replied the plainsman, with adeprecatory wave of his hand, "you can thank me best by not sayin' aword about it. You'd have done the same fer me ef you'd had the chance."
Bert said no more, but shook hands all around, and then prepared tostart on. "You fellows lead the way," he said, "and I'll follow. Myappetite is beginning to come back with a rush."
"Ye'd better follow the road we come by back a piece," advised theirguide, "ye'll soon come to the main road leadin' into Boyd, and yououghtn't to have any further trouble."
"That listens all right," observed Bert, and Dick and Tom were of thesame mind. Accordingly, they lost no time in packing up Bert's luggage,and soon had it stored neatly on the carrier. Then Dick pointed thenose of the automobile in the direction their guide had advised, Bertfollowing at a little distance to give the dust raised by the passageof the automobile time to settle. In a short time they reached the roadof which the guide had spoken, and they spun along merrily.
They made a slight detour to set down the old frontiersman, who hadrendered them such invaluable assistance. They parted from him withgreat regret and many expressions of gratitude. He stood in the sandyroad waving his hat after them until his figure became indistinct in thedistance.
"There was a friend in need, if there ever was one," said Tom, and Dickwas of the same opinion.
After awhile the road broadened out somewhat, and Bert ranged upalongside the automobile. He closed the muffler of his machine, and asit glided along with scarcely a sound he and his friends conversedwithout the slightest difficulty. In this way the distance seemednothing at all, and in due time they drew into Boyd.
Bert left the "Blue Streak" at the garage, and went with Tom and Dick totheir hotel. They were all ravenously hungry, and the ravages theycaused among the eatables filled the waiters with astonishment. At lastthey had finished, and then proceeded to discuss their future movements.
"I've managed to keep pretty well to schedule so far," he told them,"and some of the worst going is over. But, believe me, I wouldn't wantto repeat some of the experiences I've had. Take this morning, forinstance."
"No, I shouldn't think you would," said Dick. "But tell us about a few.It won't do you any harm to rest up an hour or two now, and we're crazyto hear some of your adventures. Reel off a few, like a good fellow."
Bert gave them a brief review of his recent movements, and they listenedwith the greatest interest. Some of the incidents were very amusing, butthey elicited less laughter than they usually would, for the nerves ofall three had not yet fully recovered from the shock they had receivedthat morning.
"Well," said Bert at last, rising, "I'm sorry, fellows, but I'm afraidI'll have to be moving. Get hold of that auto again, why don't you, andgo with me a little way. You can do that all right, can't you?"
"Sure," exclaimed Dick. "Bet your sweet life we can," chimed in Tom, andso it was settled.
The three comrades proceeded directly to the garage, and had nodifficulty in hiring the car that had already served them so well thatmorning. Bert ran the "Blue Streak" out onto the sunlit road, and,running beside it, shot on the spark. The motor started immediately, andhe gave a flying leap into the saddle.
Dick and Tom were close behind, and tried to catch up with him. But Bertwould not have it so. As soon as they began to get close he would shootahead, and although they had a speedy car, they realized that they stoodno chance against such a motorcycle as the "Blue Streak."
Laughingly they gave over the attempt, and Bert dropped back until theywere abreast of him.
"No chance, fellows," he called gaily. "The old 'Blue Streak' and Idon't take the dust of any mere automobile."
They exchanged jokes and friendly insults until they had gone muchfurther than they realized, and were forced to turn back.
They stopped before parting and shook hands.
"So long, old fellow," said Dick. "We'll be waiting to meet you atOklahoma."
"Good-bye," said Bert, wringing their hands, "see you later," and,leaping on the "Blue Streak," was soon lost to sight in a cloud ofdust.