The Night Riders
CHAPTER XIII.
At the captain's arrogant words, flung at Derr in the wake of a scornfullaugh, the riders began to move slowly in the direction of a near-bycedar thicket darkening the entrance to the quarry. At this spot thehorses were hitched, guarded by a member of the band, who at the sametime guarded the approach to the rendezvous.
Milton Derr stood motionless, silent and defiant, with tightlycompressed lips, and in his dark eyes a vengeful, half exultant light.
Should he let them go unwarned? This was an easy and speedy way to evenup with Jade Beddow for his insulting words, and his intended blow toDerr through the downfall of the New Pike gate.
Silence on the part of his enemy would surely bring harm this night tothe captain of the band, and also to the raiders themselves, yet many ofthese were Milt's friends, and must not be sacrificed to his own hotanger and hatred of one man. This were cowardly. It was his duty tospeak out plainly for their sakes. Understanding this, he made a suddenmove forward, and called out sharply:
"Listen to what I have to say!"
As the men looked back he raised his hand warningly. "The captain hasgiven you _his_ reasons as to why I have so frankly spoken againstraiding the New Pike gate tonight, now I will give you _mine_."
He paused a moment and looked around on the waiting crowd.
"It's because the plans of the night-riders have been found out, and aposse of men are now waiting at the gate to give a warm welcome to thosewho come."
At his words a sudden confusion fell among his listeners, as when a bombis exploded in the ranks. The men stood irresolute, alarmed, lookingfirst at the captain, then toward the spokesman, whose tall dark figureloomed up against the background of gray rock dimly outlined by theexpiring fire.
The captain hesitated, uncertain what move to make; then he came back afew steps to where Derr stood.
"How do you know this?" he asked sharply.
"I know it," answered the other quietly, "and that's enough."
"But how do you know it? Who told you?" The leader grew insistent.
Derr compressed his lips and made no answer.
The captain gazed at him steadfastly some moments, then turned abruptlytoward his men.
"You have heard what he says, boys, that our plans are found out, andthe gate under guard. If this is true, there's a traitor in our midst,and this is his work."
A deep silence followed these suggestive words. The men glancedfurtively at one another, as if a sudden distrust had arisen,specter-like, among them. The band separated into little groups and fellto talking in low tones among themselves, with now and then a suspiciouslook shot in Milton Derr's direction, but he stood silent and impassive,a little apart from the others, seemingly oblivious of these glances, orof the words to which they gave rise.
"This may be only a hatched up tale to scare us off," suggested thecaptain at last, looking inquiringly around him.
"Remember I have given you all fair warning," Milt said quietly, lookingbeyond the leader to where the men stood in scattered groups.
"Who is your authority for this report?" the captain once more asked.
"I learned it, that is all you need to know."
"When did you hear it?"
"In time to warn you."
The captain turned away with an impatient gesture and a muttered oath."Perhaps it wouldn't be a hard matter to tell how the toll-gate peoplelearned of it," he said with meaning emphasis in his tone.
"There may be something in this, after all, so what's the use of runninginto danger when you can steer clear of it?" asked one of the raiders."The New Pike gate will keep till another time."
"But if there's a traitor in our midst, what other time is so safe forus?" the leader interrogated. "The only course before us is to strikenow and as often as we can, guards or no guards. For my own part Idon't believe the gate is guarded."
A warm discussion arose among the men, and hot words were bandied to andfro. A few favored the postponement of the intended raid. Several, alongwith the captain, were inclined to discredit the story that the gate wasunder guard, and the majority advocated a bold assault, even in the faceof danger, which served to lend a certain zest to the act.
Through it all Milton Derr stood silent, and offered no advice.
"Well! what shall we do, boys--go or not?" asked the leader impatiently.
"Put it to a vote."
"Agreed!" the leader answered. "All who favor making the raid, step tothe right. How many of you? Twenty. A fine showing, my trusty lads!Cowards are in the minority tonight. If one goes, all should go. Only atraitor would hesitate. To your horses!"
"Free roads! Down with the toll-gates!" The cry arose in a hoarse howlas the men moved quickly in the direction of their horses.
Derr stood hesitating, abashed and vanquished. If he now refused to goalong with the others it was but the signing of his own death warrant,and the invoking of swift punishment. He would be proclaimed a traitor,branded as one. Rather would he run the risk of getting killed by theofficers of the law than thus incur the enmity of the band, and perhapssuffer the penalty of a traitor's deed.
By his presence he might still be of some benefit to the inmates of thetoll-house threatened, and possibly through the influence of friendsamong the raiders the building might be spared and only the pole cutdown.
If the captain persisted in venting his anger and spite on a couple ofhelpless and defenseless women, and was fully determined to burn the NewPike-gate, and make a repetition of the Cross Roads affair then--Milt'shand unconsciously grasped the handle of his pistol--the band might bespeedily called upon to elect a new leader.
Milt slowly followed the raiders down the hill and joined them at thethicket. At a word from the captain the cavalcade set out through thekeen frosty air, the clang of many hoofs on the loose stones along theway echoing amid the silent hills, and breaking sharply into the quietof the night. Now and then, a tiny trail of sparks flashed beneath theflying iron shoes like a nest of glow-worms scattered into the darkness.
Around the base of frowning, tall, uprising hills the raiders swept in aswift gallop, now through gloomy rock-bound ways, past quietfarm-houses, by fallow fields, following the winding courses of the roadthat trailed under the dim starlight like a ribbon of mist between thesilent, opaque hills.
Still on and on the horsemen rode, sometimes dropping into a slowergait, then spurring their horses anew, with never a jest as they rodealong, nor a fling of laughter or song to the darkness--a shadowy,silent band with suggestion of deep-set purpose in the ominous quietthey maintained. When at last they swung around the curve of the pikeand came in sight of the New Pike gate, the captain drew rein and calleda brief halt.
"Go forward!" he commanded, selecting Derr for the mission.
"Let me go! I'm not afraid!" hastily cried another member of the band,as Milton hesitated and seemed on the point of refusing. It was SteveJudson who spoke, and there was a touch of eagerness in his voice as hemade the request.
"I have chosen the one to go," said the leader sternly. "If the gate isguarded, as he seems to think is the case, he is on better terms withthe toll-takers an' their protectors than any of us."
"Aw, let me go!" persisted Steve. "That's always been my duty, an' I'mnot afraid to shirk it now. Send me ahead!"
"You stay here!" commanded the captain decisively. "I've got other workfor you when the time comes."
"Go forward!" the captain continued, addressing Milt. "If you find thecoast clear, ride on beyond the gate, then signal us, an' guard the roadfrom that point."
"I have told you that I believe the gate to be guarded," answered Derrquietly. "I have warned you that it was to be. Do you command me to rideinto almost certain danger?"
"If you know it to be guarded, you stand in no danger from yourfriends," answered the leader coldly. "If we find you have betrayed usyou will stand in very great danger from your enemies."
"I have not betrayed you, I have only warned you," insisted Milt.
/> "Then you should be willing to share the danger with us. A brave mannever fears danger if his duty demands it. Go!"
"I will go, then, since you command it. Remember, though, comrades," headded, turning to the members of the band who were nearest to him, "if Ifail to get back, my blood be upon this man!"
He turned and rode quickly through the darkness toward the New Pikegate.
HE TURNED AND RODE THROUGH THE DARKNESS.]