CHAPTER XX
An Ambuscade
Four days had elapsed since Jack and his comrades had left the minebefore anything happened to disturb the even course of the journey. Theyhad marched at a footpace all the way, Steve and Abe riding well ahead,as a rule, though at times they scouted out on the flanks. Jack and Tom,one of the scouts who had joined them at the very first, rode beside thehorses, their rifles loaded and held in readiness. Then suddenly, on thefourth day, just as the light was getting a little uncertain, and theshades of evening were drawing in, Steve came galloping back to thelittle convoy, and Abe after him.
"What's amiss?" asked Jack, for it was a most unusual movement on thepart of the scout.
"That's jest what I'm axin' myself," came the curt answer. "I happenedto be ridin' way up thar on the spur of that 'ere hill, when I seedsomethin' down in the valley whar this road leads. The sun war jestright bang in my eyes, so I couldn't make head nor tail of it; but outhere it's as well ter be careful, and ef ye've gold travellin' along aroad, and see something that aer strange, why, a chap hops back ter theconvoy quick. Do yer see anything, Abe?"
"Nary a thing. Thar's a spur that hides the road. Thar ain't no need tobe scared, even if thar's a party comin' along; but I 'low as it aerwise ter be careful. Ef folks want ter disturb us, they'll see as we'reready, and thet goes a long way when thar's villains about."
A quarter of an hour later the little convoy rounded the spur of thehill which shut out the view of the road ahead of them. By now they wereriding in close order, Abe and Steve watching the hills on either sidewith lynx-like eyes, for the road ran through a somewhat narrow defile,and if an enemy were hidden amongst the rocks he would be so near thathis bullets would reach the convoy while a rush would have beenpossible.
"Jest one of them ugly places," growled Steve, casting his eyesrestlessly from side to side. "Jest the sort of plant that'd be fixed onby a set of ruffians ef they wanted ter hold up a convoy. Now, I tellyer all, ef thar's a shot fired, don't wait to reply ter it. Jest putyer spurs in hard, and ride. Waitin'll jest play into the hands of thevarmint. Mind, I don't suggest as thar's ter be trouble, but somehow orother I've got a kinder feelin' as we're up agin somethin'. Why, ef tharain't a cart 'way ahead!"
The road in advance was now visible, and some four hundred yards ahead asolitary cart was to be seen, a four-wheeled affair, which, from thecant it had to one side, had evidently met with some disaster. Beside itlounged a figure, above whose head hung a blue cloud of smoke,indicating that he was taking his ease, and was puffing at his pipe.
"And nary a hoss in sight," exclaimed Steve. "Wall, that aer ter beexplained by the fact that his chums has gone ahead ter fetch help.Boys, I 'low as thar ain't anythin' here ter scare us; but jest you bearin mind what I've said already. Thar ain't never no trusting no one whenye've gold about. Ef ye're axed the question, jest answer that we'rebound fer the settlements ter fill up with pork and flour and sichlike.Wall, stranger, what's amiss?" he asked bluntly, as the cavalcade camelevel with the stranded cart. "I see as ye've smashed a wheel."
"That's so. And a big nuisance it aer," came the answer, while thefigure they had seen lounging beside the wagon rose nonchalantly to hisfeet, pulled the pipe from his mouth, and strolled towards them. The manwas tall, wiry, and sunburned to the last degree. A ragged and unkemptbeard almost entirely hid his features, while his clothing was far fromnew, and seemed to indicate that he had been travelling for aconsiderable period.
"Jest a big nuisance," he repeated, placing his pipe back between hislips so as to indulge in another draw. "And I don't mind tellin' yerwhy," he went on, glancing first at Steve, then at Abe, and afterwardsat Jack and Tom in turn. Indeed, a pair of sharp eyes, almost hiddenbeneath bushy brows, seemed to take in particulars of the party within asecond, while Jack caught the stranger's glances directed upon thehorses and their loads. "I'll tell yer why," he proceeded, "and I see asthar ain't no harm in doin' so. It ain't every sort of man travellin' inthis country that a chap can give his confidence to; but with you,gentlemen, one kin see as things aer safe. That 'ere cart aer stuffednigh full with gold. Yer wouldn't think it, now, would yer? 'Cos, as agineral rule, gold aer sent on hossback, same as ye're doin'. This lotis piled into the cart so as to blind any of them light-fingered gentsas sometimes takes to the road. Cartin' aer my business, and I don'tobject to sich a valuable cargo so long as I ain't delayed; but I 'lowthat this here broken wheel has made me a trifle fidgety. My mates hastaken the hosses on to the nearest settlement to buy up a new wheel,and, ef it ain't axin too much, I'd be obleeged if yer could stand by metill they come back agin. It aer too late fer you to ride on far, forthe light aer nearly gone. And this here spot aer pretty pleasant."
Jack stared hard at the man, and, though his mind was full ofsuspicions, considering Steve's warnings, he was bound to admit that thetale was a plausible one; that, despite the roughness of this stranger'sappearance, he seemed honest, perfectly frank, and at his ease. Then,too, the admission he had made that his cart contained gold wassufficient of itself to disarm all thought of treachery. The man was ina quandary, and in those rough days in California, despite thescoundrels to be found in every part, there were still, amongst thehundred-thousand and more of miners, huge numbers who showed the utmostkindness to one another. Indeed, the rough, blunt-spoken miner wasalways ready to dip his hand into his pocket when a subscription wasrequired for a sick comrade, for a widow, or for some other urgentcause. Jack was therefore not surprised when Steve slipped from hissaddle and gripped the stranger's hand.
"Ef that's the case, why, in course, we'll help," he sang out cheerily."It ain't hard ter see as ye're in a fix, and sence it aer always acase out here of one man helpin' another, why, here we stay till yourpards return. But I 'low as it ain't the sort of camp I should ha'chosen. Them hills is too near fer my likin'. How long is it sence yourchums left fer the settlement?"
"Six or seven hours, I reckon. As thar ain't nothin' ter detain them,they ought to be back right here in another four; but thar ain't neverno sayin'. Them boys ain't seen a settlement fer the last three months,and it stands to reason that they'll be tempted ter put in a time in oneor more of the saloons. But they won't forget. Thar's this here gold terremind 'em. Reckon they'll fetch back here somewhere about the earlymornin'. Got much dust yerself?"
The ragged individual jerked his head towards the horses which Tom andJack were unloading at that moment. Remembering Steve's caution, theytook the swags from the one horse and tossed them carelessly into aheap, as if the blankets contained nothing of value, while the bagswhich had hitherto contained gold, and which were now crammed with food,with spare shirts and socks, and other articles, were taken from thehorses with great care and stacked in a heap aside. Nor did the strangerfail to notice the removal.
"Got much over thar?" he asked casually.
"A tidy bit. Nothin' onusual," answered Steve warily, for thisexperienced little scout was always cautious. Jack had learned longsince that it took time to break through the ice with which Stevesurrounded himself, and that, for some reason or other, it was a longwhile before he gave his confidences to anybody.
"A tidy bit," he repeated in a confidential whisper.
"Jack," he sang out, "jest pile them bags a little closer together, soas we kin see 'em. We should be in a proper hole ef we was to lose thatstuff. And what sort of a load have yer got, mate?" he asked in histurn, facing the stranger just as casually as the latter had done, andcommencing to fill his pipe.
"Jest about double that lot. Look thar."
The tall, ungainly figure of the man was elevated from the boulder onwhich he had been seated, and, strolling towards the cart, he pulled theback boards down, disclosing a pile of bags within.
"Ef you and me and your pals here was ter divide, reckon we wouldn'twant ter work after this," he said with a grin. "But duty aer duty. That'ere stuff aer in my charge, and I see as you aer gentlemen."
"You kin put it like that," smiled Steve. "Now, see
ms to me, as yourpals is due almost any time, it ain't no use fer us to unpack the swags.Perhaps you've got a bit of food ter spare, and a glass and a bottle?"
The cautious Steve wished to avoid unpacking his own store, for the veryobvious reason that the food was packed within the bags which appearedto contain gold. And, for the very same reason, Jack and Tom, once theyhad removed their belongings from the horses, had made no effort todisturb them.
"Why, sure," came the hearty answer, "I'm jest obleeged to you ferstandin' by me, and it so happens as I've a fine store, and good thingswith it."
There was a bustle in the little camp for the next hour, for thestranger threw wood on the fire and soon had it blazing merrily, whilewithin a short while a savoury steam arising from the kettle suspendedover it tickled the palates of the travellers. Then reared up on acouple of low boulders placed directly against the flames were a coupleof ramrods, and on these sizzled two enormous buffalo steaks, toastingnicely in the heat, and now and again sending the flames leaping skywardas they dripped grease into the fire.
"It does a man good ter smell that," cried Steve, glancing towards thefire, "and in ten minutes or less reckon things'll be ready. Say,stranger, whar do yer fetch the water from? I jest think I'll take awash afore I sit down."
"Over thar." The man pointed to a spot some forty yards away, now almosthidden in the darkness.
"Then, ef you're comin', Jack, why come along."
Steve strolled off into the gloom, followed by our hero, for he seemedto gather from some subtle note in Steve's voice that the hunter desiredhim to do so. They walked side by side to the stream, Steve whistlingloudly and cheerily. Then the little man kneeled and splashed water overhis face.
"Kin yer see the fire?" he asked in a low voice. "And that 'erescaramouch beside it?"
Jack, answered again in the affirmative.
"Wall, now, jest you listen ter me. Jack, this thing ain't as right asit seems. Reckon thar's something queer about that feller down thar, andI've more than a notion that ef we was ter ax him ter 'low us ter lookinto his bags, it's not gold they aer holding. Savvy?"
To be perfectly frank, Jack was astonished. To his unsuspicious mindeverything about the stranger down below seemed to be open andabove-board. His nonchalance and apparent frankness had impressed ourhero, while the open display of the gold bags, the broken wheel, and thewhole tale seemed so very likely and real that he could find no room fordoubt. But Jack was as yet, with all his harsh misfortune with regard tothe robbery, but a child in experience, while Steve was a man who hadbeen in every part of America, who had doubtless encountered many arogue, and whose outlook on life was broader by a great deal, and farmore acute than was our hero's.
"Yer don't. You've took that man fer a white man, one as is indistress," grinned Steve, laughing almost inaudibly. "Wall, when I wasabout your age I'd have done the same, and taken my davy as he warhonest. And mind yer, I don't say now right off that he's a scamp. Iain't dead sartin, but I'm sure enough ter jest give you the wink, andto tell you ter pass it on to the others, though I expect as Abe ha' gothold of the same notion as me."
"But why? What is wrong?" asked Jack, somewhat bewildered, for even nowhe could distinguish nothing wrong, no false line in the tale told bythe stranger.
"Why! Wall, look you here. It wouldn't do ter ax him to 'low us to seehis gold, 'cos then, ef he's square and above-board, he'd get tersuspecting us. And ef he ain't, as seems nearly sartin, why, it standsto reason that he wants ter take us by surprise when his mates comesalong. That bein' so, we wants to have a surprise fer them tucked up oursleeves. How do I see anythin' wrong? Wall, look at the springs of that'ere wagon. They ain't down by near as much as they would be ef thembags was filled with gold. They're chuck-full, thar ain't a doubt, butthe stuff in 'em ain't gold, or else the weight would be so big itwould sink the springs, and bring the frame of the cart down on to theaxles. Then, look at the broken wheel. Thar ain't a rut hereabouts terbreak it. Thar ain't weight in the cart sufficient ter account fer asmash, so one has ter take it that it was done of purpose. Savvy?"
Jack did. Now that the matter was put so concisely and clearly beforehim he could see that there was a bad smudge across the story told bythis stranger. His coolness and apparent honesty would have passed histale with the ordinary miner, for often enough he came from thesettlements. But with a scout it was a different matter. Steve had notlived his life for nothing. The habit of close inspection, of constantcare to guard against danger and the ambushes of the enemy, had made himdiscover a flaw in what appeared to be a straightforward matter.
"Then you think we are to be attacked?" asked Jack, his heart beating alittle faster.
"I'm nigh dead sartin. That's why I brought you off here. Ye've got teract up to that man. Pretend yer ain't smelt a rat, and let him thinkye're as soft as may be. But keep yer eyes open, and yer fist mightynear yer shooter. Tell Tom the same, and be ready."
A few minutes later they sauntered back to the camp, where the strangerannounced that supper was ready.
"Hot soup and a cut from them steaks won't do none of us any harm!" hecried pleasantly. "By the time we've had a smoke it'll be time ter turnin. Reckon my mates aer likely ter stay a bit, and ought ter be hereabout mornin'."
They seated themselves about the fire, and were soon engaged in eatingas good a meal as Jack had seen for many a long day; for at the minethey were, as a rule, too busy to leave the place to seek for freshmeat. They subsisted for the most part on corned beef and on saltedfood. Then pipes were produced, and for an hour the party chatted.
"My name's Ted," announced the stranger, "and I 'low as you have treatedme handsome. Now, sence I've had a rest here, and ye've been on the roadall day, I'm willin' ter take the watch to-night, fer, in course,someone must see that things aer right. Ef you don't like thatsuggestion, why we'll draw lots."
"Wall, I'm about dead beat," sang out Steve promptly, beginning to yawnloudly. "Fact is, me and my mates here has been hard at it at the minesfor a long while, and then we've been coming along steadily. Ef ye'rewilling ter take the watch first, I'll turn in, and yer kin be relievedafter midnight. Then I'll come on, and Abe here'll take it till thelight comes."
The firelight flickering on the face of the stranger showed no signthere of annoyance. It was the same to him whether he took the night orthe morning watch; and for the life of him Jack could not help but thinkthat Steve was mistaken in his suspicions.
"The man seems absolutely honest," he said to himself, "but still thereis something in what Steve says. If that cart were really loaded withbags of gold, the springs would certainly be down. As it is, the loadmight consist of feathers. Yes, it will be as well to keep a sharp eyeopen."
Borrowing the blankets of the men who, Ted, the stranger, said, hadleft with the horses to obtain a spare wheel, Steve and his friendsthrew themselves down on the ground near their own belongings. Near athand their horses were picketed to pegs driven deeply into the earth,while their own heads reclined on the blankets which contained theirstore of gold. The bags full of their other belongings lay at a littledistance, and the firelight playing upon them showed that they weresecure. But it did not show the eyes of the stranger, nor the fact thatthat individual had fixed them upon the bags greedily.
"Listen here, mates," whispered Steve, as he lay down, having firstheard the man Ted stroll a little from the camp. "Jack aer probably toldyer that things don't look square. Wall, I'll take a sleep now, and Jackkin watch. Tom'll follow with a spell, then Abe, and finally I'll take aturn. That'll bring us ter the mornin'. It's then that the trouble'llcome. And, boys, ef thar's a rush, yer kin leave our loads totheirselves. This chap Ted has had his eyes on the bags, and don'tcotton that there's been a bit of a change. Them bags of ours aer heavyenough to mislead 'em, and ef they rush, why, they're welcome to theswags. Good night!"
He rolled over on his side, tucked the blanket well around him, and wasfast asleep in less than five minutes. Long habit had inured the scoutto thoughts of
danger. He could sleep as well and as soundly, knowingthat blows would be struck on the morrow, as he could when no danger wasto be apprehended, provided always that he was sure that he had friendsto aid him, who would remain watchful whilst he slept. And by now Stevewas assured of that. The long trip over the plains had proved thereliability of Abe and Tom and Jack.
Then the deep breathing of Abe and Tom told that they too had falleninto a peaceful slumber, leaving Jack to guard them. Our hero lay withhis face on his hand, his head propped up a little, and his eyes onlyhalf-opened, for the reflection of the fire might have been seen in themhad Ted happened to look his way. He heard the steps of the solitarysentry now and again, and watched him as he strolled round the strandedcart. Occasionally he approached the fire, and, lifting a smoulderingstick, lit his pipe with it. It was two hours later before he venturedfarther. Listening intently, he slid across the ground which intervenedbetween the cart and Jack and his friends, bent over them for some fewseconds, and then walked to the heap of sacks. Jack watched himstealthily as he inspected the piled-up bags, and then turned his headto follow his further movements as he retreated once more to the cart.Then Ted did a curious thing. Jack saw him fumbling with something forthe space of a few seconds, he stepped towards the smouldering embers,and the flickering light showed that his arm was suspended over theheat. It seemed as if he were warming his fingers. But no. An instantlater a tongue of brilliant flame shot up into the darkness, and assuddenly melted into smoke.
"A signal, without doubt," thought Jack. "Ah!"
From somewhere in the distance a faint echo came to his ear--a faint,eerie whistle. The signal had been answered. There was no longer roomfor doubt that this Ted was acting a part, that the broken-down cartwas merely an adjunct to a plot destined, if he and his friends were notvery careful, to wipe them out of existence, and take from them alltheir hardly won gold.
"Gee," exclaimed Jack to himself, "if that isn't something! Time I wokeSteve and the others. Time we made some sort of an arrangement to meetthe danger."