The Captain of the Gray-Horse Troop

  XXIII

  THE RETURN OF THE MOB

  Curtis was awakened about four o'clock by Wilson at his window. "Are youawake, Major?"

  "Yes; what is it?"

  "Two of the scouts have just come in from the hills. They are sure theranchers are coming to make war. Bands of white men are crossing thecounty to join the camp. It certainly looks owly, Major."

  Curtis rose and went to the window. "The troops will be here by nineo'clock at the furthest, and the mob will not move till sunrise, andcan't reach here, even by hard riding, before eleven."

  "Shall I send a courier out to meet the troops and hurry them on?" askedWilson, whose voice was untouched of fear.

  "It might be well. Send Two Horns to me if you can find him. Keep silentas to these reports."

  "All right, Major."

  Curtis did not underestimate the dangers of the situation. If the troopsdid not arrive, and if the armed posse of the settlers should come andattempt to arrest Elk, war would follow, that was certain. Meanwhile hewas one day's hard riding from either the fort or the telegraph line,with the settlers between, and no news could reach him for twenty-fourhours.

  At that very moment the morning papers were being distributed bearing aburden of calumny. The department would open his telegram in a fewminutes, but the Secretary's reply could not reach him before sunset atthe earliest, "and by that time I will be master of the situation orthere will be war. I must parley--delay them, by any means, till thetroops arrive. Colonel Daggett will forward the men at once--I hopeunder Maynard--and Jack is no sluggard. He will be here if only theColonel takes action."

  The sun rose as usual in a cloudless sky, but the wind was again in thenorthwest, and as he stood on the little porch looking up the valley hecould see the smoke of the camp-fires in Grayman's camp, and beyond himthe Crawling Elk and his people occupied a larger circle of shiningtepees. The two villages seemed as peaceful as if the people werewaiting for their rations, but as he lifted his eyes to the hills hecould see the mounted sentinels patiently waiting the coming of the sun,and he knew that beyond and to the east every butte was similarlycrested with spies. These people of the wide spaces had their own signalservice and were not to be taken unawares. Each movement of the enemywould be flashed from hill to hill, miles in advance of the beat oftheir horses' hoofs.

  As he was returning to his library Elsie met him. "Good-morning,Captain. Did you sleep?"

  "Oh yes, indeed!" He spoke as lightly as he could. "But my messengersreporting disturbed me a little during the early morning."

  "With bad news?"

  "Oh no, quite the contrary. I think we are well out of our difficulty."

  "I'm sure I hope so. You look tired."

  "I'm ashamed of it. You must have slept well--you are radiant. I amsorry I cannot promise you the Elk for a sitter to-day."

  "I like him better as the leader of his people. Do we breakfast with thesheriff this morning?"

  "That affliction is bearing down upon us," he replied. "He is even nowmoving morosely across the road. I fear he is in bad temper."

  "I think I will be late to breakfast in that case," she said, with alittle grimace, and fled.

  Curtis greeted his guest pleasantly. "Good-morning, sheriff."

  "Good-morning, Major. Have you seen anything of my deputy?"

  "No; has he left you?"

  "I didn't miss him till this morning," replied Winters, sourly. "Buthe's gone, horse and all."

  "Well, the loss is not serious. Come in and break an egg with me."

  Jennie was distinctly less cordial than before, but she made herunwelcome guest comfortable, and asked after his health politely. Shewas just pouring his second cup of coffee when the furious clanging ofthe office bell made them all start.

  Curtis looked at his watch. "Good Heavens! It can't be the eight-o'clockbell. What time have you?"

  "Seven thirty-three."

  Curtis sprang up. "It's a signal of fire!"

  At the word "fire" Jennie turned white and rose. Elsie came flyingdown-stairs, crying:

  "The Indians are running!"

  A wild shout arose, "Stop that bell!" and a moment later Wilson burst inat the door--"Major, the Indians are signalling from thebuttes--everybody is taking to the hills--the mob is coming."

  Curtis gave Elsie one piercing look. "I hope you will trust me; you arein no danger, even if this alarm is true. I think it is a mistake. Iwill return soon and let you know. I beg you not to be alarmed."

  The alarum was true. On the buttes horsemen were riding to and froexcitedly crossing and recrossing the same ground--the sign which meansan approaching enemy. On every hill-side mounted warriors were gatheringand circling. Boys with wild halloos were bringing in the ponies. Thewomen busy, swarming like bees, were dropping the tepees; even as theagent mounted the steps to the office and looked up the valley, thewhite canvases sank to the ground one by one as though melted by the hotsun. War times were come again, and the chanting cries of the old womencame pulsing by on the soft west wind.

  A grim smile settled on the agent's lips as he comprehended thesepreparations. He knew the history of these people and admired them fortheir skill and their bravery. War times were come again!

  "Our cowboy friends have set themselves a memorable task in trying towipe out this tribe. The ranchers never fight their own battles; theyalways call upon the federal government; and that is their purpose now,to stir up strife and leave the troops to bear the burden of the war."

  "I don't see our fellers," said the sheriff, who was deeply excited."I'll ride to meet them."

  "They are a long way off yet," said Curtis. "The Tetong sentinels haveonly signalled their start. I hope the troops are on the way," he saidto the two girls who had followed and now stood close beside him as iffor protection. Then he called to the sheriff, who had started for hishorse: "I depend on you to keep off this invasion, sheriff. I warn youand your men that this entrance here at this time is a crime againstWashington."

  Winters did not reply, and Curtis knew that he would join the majority;being a candidate for re-election, he could not afford to run counter tothe wishes of his constituents. Hastily mounting his horse, he gallopedfuriously away.

  Curtis strained his eyes down the valley, hoping for a sight of theguidons of the --th.

  "What can you do?" asked Elsie.

  "Nothing but await the issue," he replied. "I have sent another courierto hasten the troops; it is now a race between the forces of law and oforder. If the mob arrives first, I must delay them--prevent theiradvance if possible. There is nothing else to be done."

  "Can we help?"

  "I'm afraid not. There will be two or three hundred of the invaders thistime, if the sheriff is to be believed. I am afraid to have you meetthem. I think it better for you all to keep within doors."

  "I wish my father knew--he could stop this!" wailed Elsie, in suddenrealization of her helplessness. "He could wire the authorities in PinonCity. I know they would listen to him."

  "Here come the Parkers!" said Jennie. "Now look out for squalls."

  "I had forgotten them," said Curtis, with a comic look of dismay.

  Parker was running, half dragging his poor, breathless wife, while intheir rear Lawson appeared, walking calmly, quite irreproachable in agray morning suit, and the sight of him was a comfort to Curtis, for hisforces were practically reduced to Wilson and four or five clerks.

  "Now, Captain, what are you going to do?" called Parker. "You let usinto this--"

  Being in no mood for squalls, Curtis cut Parker short. "Be quiet; don'tbe uselessly foolish. Try and conduct yourself like a reasonable humanbeing. Jennie, go into the house, and take the ladies with you. You'llhave all the women of the agency to look after in a few minutes. Lawson,I can depend on you--will you go over to the office with me?"

  When they reached the office Lawson threw back his coat and displayedtwo wicked-looking revolvers. "I've been known to fight when pushed toofar," he said, smilingly.


  In the space of an hour the panic had become preparation. On a low butteto the southwest a dark mass of armed and resolute warriors waited ontheir swift ponies ready for whatever came, while behind them on ahigher ridge a smaller group of dismounted chieftains sat in council. Upthe slopes below and to the right the women and old men were leading theponies, laden with their tepees, children, and supplies, precisely as inthe olden times. The wagons of the white men were of no use where theywere now climbing. The ways of the wheel were no longer desirable. Theysought the shelter of the trail.

  "I am confident that the troops will arrive first," said Curtis.

  "If the powers of evil have found a leader, it will be hard to controlthem even with a troop of cavalry," Lawson replied, soberly. "Thesheriff will go with the mob when it comes to a show down."

  "Oh, of course. I do not count on him; but Calvin is loyal."

  Before the office stood two or three of the white employes of the agencywith their wives and children about them. Two policemen alone remainedof all the throng of red employes usually to be seen about the yards;the rest were out on duty or had joined their people in the hills.

  "What shall we do?" cried Miss Colson, a look of mortal terror on herface. She crowded close to Curtis and laid her hands on his arm. "Let usstay near you."

  "You are in no danger," he replied. "Those poor devils on the hill-sideare the ones who will suffer. Where are your children?" he asked,sharply.

  "They all disappeared like rabbits at sound of the bell; only thekindergarten class remains."

  "Go and help take care of them," he commanded. "Sing to them--amusethem. Wolf Robe," he called to one of the policemen--he of thebow-legs--"go to the people on the hill and say to them to fear nothing,Washington protects them. Tell them they must not fight. Say to themothers of the little ones that nothing shall hurt them. Go quick!"

  Wolf Robe handed his sombrero, his coat, and his revolver to hisfriend, Beaver Kill, and ran away towards the corral, agile as a boy.

  "What did he do that for?" asked Jennie.

  Curtis smiled. "He is Indian now; he doesn't want to be mistaken for acowboy."

  When he reappeared on his pony, his long, dark hair streaming, a redhandkerchief bound about his head, he looked like a warrior stripped forbattle. "There isn't a faithfuler man in the world," said Curtis, and alump rose in his throat. "He has been riding half the night for me, buthe charges that hill as if he were playing a game."

  "I don't understand how you can trust them to do such things," saidElsie. "Perhaps he will not come back. How do you know he will do as youcommanded?"

  "Because that ugly little bow-legged Tetong is a man!" replied Curtis."He would die in performance of his duty." And something in his voicemade the tears start to Elsie's eyes.

  The sentinels on the hills were quiet now--facing the northeast,motionless as weather-vanes. The camps had disappeared as if by magic;nothing remained but a few wagons. Wolf Robe, diminishing to the valueof a coyote, was riding straight towards the retreating women. Even asCurtis watched, the chieftains on the higher hill rose, and one of themstarted downward towards the warriors on the rounded hill-top. Then asmall squad detached itself from the main command and slid down thegrassy slope to meet the women. As they rode slowly on, the movingfigures of those leading the camp horses gathered round them. Curtisunderstood some command was being shouted by the descending squad.

  Separating themselves from the led ponies, these scouts swept on downthe hill directly upon the solitary and minute figure of Wolf Robe,whose pony climbed slowly and in zigzag course.

  "They will kill him," said a woman.

  Wolf Robe halted and waited till the skirmishers rode up to him. Theymassed round him closely, listening while he delivered his message.

  "When he returns we will know all that his people have learned of theinvaders," said Curtis. "They will tell him what they have seen."

  "It is strange," exclaimed Elsie, in a low voice, standing close besidehim. "But I'm not afraid. It is like a story--a dream. That I shouldstand here watching Indians preparing for war and waiting for UnitedStates troops is incredible."

  "I wish it were not true," he replied. "But it is. I have no fear of mypeople, only of the rash act of a vicious white man."

  "Which way will the cattlemen come from?" asked Jennie.

  "Probably down that trail." He pointed to the northeast. "Part of themmay come up the valley road. Wolf Robe has started on his return."

  The little squad of warriors returned to the group of chieftains, whilethe loyal Wolf Robe came racing down the slope, his hair streaming, hiselbows flapping. In a few minutes he dropped rein at the gate andre-entered the yard. Standing before his chief, he delivered hismessage.

  "Their hearts are very glad at your good words, but the women arecrying for their babies. They ask that you send them away before the badwhite men come. Send them out towards the hills and they will come downand get them--this they said."

  "What did the scouts say?"

  "They said that the sentinels on the hills saw the white men break campand come this way--many of them--so they say."

  "Where are they now?"

  "They are hidden in the pines of the valley. They will soon be here--sothey say."

  "Take a fresh pony and ride back and tell all who have children here tocome down and talk with me. Tell them I will turn the white men away. Noone shall be harmed. The children are safe. There will be no war. I willmeet them in the old camp. I keep repeating there is no danger because Ibelieve it," he said to the silent group around him, after Wolf Roberode away. "There is nothing to be done but wait. So go about yourduties," he added, with a note of command.

  One by one the employes dropped away till only Wilson remained. His onlysign of nervousness was a quiver of the muscles of one cheek, where heheld his quid of tobacco. His bright blue eyes were fixed on thesentinels, while he leaned negligently against the fence. Lawson,smoking a German pipe, was watching the warriors on the hills, a raptexpression on his face, as if he were working out some problem in ethicswhich demanded complete concentration and absorption of thought. The twogirls had drawn close together as if for comfort, their nerves a-quiverwith the strain.

  "Are you waiting for something to go off?" suddenly asked Curtis.

  Each one started a little, and all laughed together.

  "I think I was," confessed Elsie.

  "You seemed to be holding your breath. I wish you'd both go in andrest," he pleaded. "It is no use--"

  "They're coming!" interrupted Lawson.

  "Where? Where?"

  "The sentinels are signalling again."

  All turned to the east, but nothing could be seen--no smoke, no dust, nosign of horsemen--yet the swift circling of the sentinels and theturmoil among the warriors on the butte indicated the menace of anapproaching army. Another little band detached itself from the huddle ofthe camp and came down the hill, slowly and in single file.

  "The squaws are coming for their children, even before Wolf Robe reachesthem," said Lawson.

  "And there's the mob!" said Curtis, and at his words a keen thrill offear ran through the hearts of the women. With set, pale faces theylooked away beneath levelled finger.

  "That's right," said Wilson, "and two hundred strong."

  The sad-colored horsemen were pouring over a high, pine-clad ridge sometwo miles to the east, and streaming down into a narrow valley behind asharp intervening butte.

  "Now, girls, you _must_ go in!" commanded Curtis, sharply. "You can dono good--"

  "George, let us stay!" pleaded Jennie. "We saved you yesterday, and wemay help to-day."

  "What is the use of shutting us in the house? I'm not afraid," addedElsie. "These men will do us no harm."

  "I beg you will not interfere," he said, looking at Jennie, but Elsieknew he included her as well. "It isn't a bit impressive to have anagent flanked with women--in a council of war."

  "Hang the looks! they're mighty effective sometimes," remarked Lawson.
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  "That's right!" chimed in Wilson. "By the Lord! they look sassy," headded, referring back to the cowboys.

  They formed a sinister cavalcade as they came streaming down the roughroad, two and two, like a monstrous swift serpent, parti-colored,sinuous, silent, save for the muffled clatter of their horses' hoofs.Curtis nerved himself for the shock, and, though weakened andembarrassed by the presence of Elsie and Jennie, he presented asoldierly breast to the mob. Had it been a question of protecting thewomen, the case would have been different, but to argue a point of lawwith them at his elbow exposed him to ridicule and to interruption.

  As the horsemen debouched upon the valley road, a prodigious cloud ofdust arose and sailed away on the wind, completely hiding the rear ranksso that they could not be numbered. As they drew near, the sheriff couldbe seen riding at the head of the column side by side with a big man ina blue shirt. They approached at a shacking trot, which was moremenacing than a gallop would have been--it was steady, inexorable,self-contained as a charge of cavalry.

  As they reached the issue-house, Curtis opened the gate and stepped outinto the road and faced them alone, and Elsie grew cold with fear as thesheriff and his formidable following rode steadily up. When almost uponthe agent the leader turned, and, pushing his limp hat away from hiseyes, shouted:

  "_Halt!_" As the men pulled in their horses he added, "Keep back there!"

  The mob had found a leader, and was organized for violence. Curtis, withfolded arms, seemed small and weak as the army of invasion came to astand, filling the lane between the office and the agency house withtrampling horses and cursing men.

  "Good-morning," growled the leader, surlily. "We're come for old Elk,and I want to say we get him this time. No monkey business goes with oldBill Yarpe. Women can't fool me."

  Calvin Streeter rode out of the throng and pushed his way to the front.

  Yarpe yelled: "H'yar! Keep in line there!"

  "Go to hell!" replied Calvin, as he rode past him. "I'm no nigger. Iwant to hear what goes on, and I tell ye right now you treat thesepeople fair or you'll hear from me."

  "I'll shoot you up a few if you ain't keerful, young feller," repliedthe old ruffian.

  "That's right, General, he's too fresh," called some one.

  Calvin spurred his horse alongside Yarpe's and looked him in the eyewith a glare which made the older man wince. "You be decent before thesewomen or I'll cut the heart out o' ye. You hear me!"

  Curtis stepped forward. "Careful, Streeter--don't provoke trouble; we'llprotect the women."

  The sheriff rode between the two men. "Cal, git away--you're my deputy,remember."

  As Cal reined his horse away, Curtis went to him and said, in a lowvoice: "I appreciate your chivalry, Calvin, but be careful; don't excitethem."

  As he looked into the big, red, whiskey-bloated face of Yarpe, Curtiswas frankly dismayed. The old ruffian was not only inflamed with liquor,he was intoxicated with a subtler elixir--the pride of command. As helooked back over his followers he visibly expanded and a savage glarelit up his eyes. "Keep quiet, boys; I'll settle this thing."

  Curtis again stepped towards the sheriff. "What do you propose to do,Mr. Sheriff?"

  Yarpe broke in boisterously. "We want old Elk. Bring him out or we goafter him." A chorus of applause followed.

  "On what authority do you make this demand?" asked Curtis, facing Yarpe.

  "On the authority of the sheriff of Pinon City," replied Yarpe, "and wecome along to see he does his duty."

  "The sheriff is present and can speak for himself. He was my guest lastnight and made an agreement with me, which, as an honorable man, he isdisposed to keep."

  The sheriff avoided Curtis's eye, but Yarpe replied:

  "He showed the white feather. He let you fool him, but you can't foolthis crowd. Bring on your Injun, or we go get him."

  "Have you a warrant?"

  "Oh, damn the warrant!"

  The sheriff cleared his throat. "Yes, I have a warrant for Crawling Elkand Grayman," he said, and began searching his pockets. The decisivemoment had arrived.