CHAPTER II
A DARING RAID
"Where are they?"
"Which way shall we shoot?"
Joe and Blake questioned thus by turn as they leaped to Hank's side.They were in darkness now, for the cowboy had ceased shooting, and thosewho had come to attack had likewise allowed their weapons to becomesilent. As a matter of fact, Hank Selby had only fired in the air, ifpossible to frighten off the Indians, and it seemed that the redmen haddone the same, since there was no whine of bullets over the head of theguide.
"What is it?" asked Blake, fingering the rifle he had caught up as herushed from the tent.
"Indians," replied Hank, in a low voice. "It's probably some band ofMoquis or Navajos, who escaped being rounded up as the others were.Probably they were chased so hard, or were so surprised at one of theircamps, that they had to leave without their ponies. And they do hate towalk. They saw our animals and tried to get 'em, but I was suspiciousall along."
"But where are they now?" asked Joe, peering out into the darkness. "Ican't see a thing, and our animals seem to be all there."
"The beggars dropped down, and are hiding," said the cowboy. "Theydidn't like the quick way I fired on 'em, I guess; though, land knows! Idon't want to hurt any of 'em if I can help it. They don't know justwhat to do, and they're biding their time."
"Did they get any of our horses--or things?" asked Blake, anxiously, histhoughts on the valuable films.
"Not as yet," replied Hank. "But this thing isn't over with. They'llcome back, once they decide it's worth while. We've got to get ready for'em."
"How?" asked Blake.
"Well, we've got to pile our stuff up as a sort of shelter, and thenwe've got to bring in the animals. It won't do to have the imps run offwith 'em, and that's what they're aiming to do."
"But won't it be risky to go out there in the darkness to bring in theponies and burros?" asked Joe. "You say the Indians are concealed outthere."
"So I believe they are," replied Hank. "But I fancy my shooting drove'em back a bit, even though I did fire in the air, or so high over theirheads that they couldn't be harmed. So I guess we can make a move outthere without getting hurt. Anyhow, it's got to be done, and, as I knowmore about such business than you boys, having been at it longer, I'lljust attend to that. You'd better make the best sort of breastworks youcan. For, though I don't believe these beggars will actually shoot tohurt, still it's best to be on the safe side. Be cautious, now."
And, while Hank is thus preparing to secure the pack and saddle animals,and the boys to gather the boxes and bales into a compact mass, I willtake just a few moments to tell you more about the moving picture ladsthan I have yet done.
In the first book of this series, entitled "The Moving Picture Boys; Or,The Perils of a Great City Depicted," I introduced to you Joe Duncan andBlake Stewart. At that time they lived in the village of Fayetteburg, inthe central part of New York State. Blake worked on the farm of hisuncle, Jonathan Haverstraw, while Joe was hired boy for ZachariahBradley. And it happened that they both lost their places at the sametime.
Blake's uncle decided to retire to a Home for the Aged, and Mr. Bradleysaid he could no longer afford to pay Joe any wages. The boys did notknow what to do until they made the acquaintance of Mr. Calvert Hadley,a moving picture photographer. The latter had come to Fayetteburg with atheatrical company to get some views in a country drama that was beingenacted, some of the scenes being laid in the nearby city of Syracuse.
Blake and Joe watched a mimic rescue scene in the creek, thinking itreal, and later Mr. Hadley offered them work as his assistants in NewYork. He was employed by the Film Theatrical Company, to make its movingpictures.
The boys jumped at the chance. Before the little country drama was over,however, an accident occurred, in full view of the moving picturecamera. Mrs. Betty Randolph, a wealthy Southern lady, was run into,while riding in her carriage, by a reckless autoist. Mrs. Randolphoffered a reward for the arrest of this man, who escaped in theconfusion, and urged the two boys to try to effect his capture.
They said they would, and how they went to New York, learned the movingpicture business, and helped Mr. Hadley get films for his "movingpicture newspaper," is all set down in the first book.
The perils of taking views in a great city, at fires, elevated railroadaccidents, burning vessels, of divers at work, in making educationalfilms--all this is told.
Eventually, while making scenes at a thrilling balloon ascension, Joeand Blake discovered the reckless autoist and gave chase in a car. Theycaught him, too, and got the reward, with which they purchased somemoving picture cameras, and went into business on their own account.They made films to order, and were often employed by Mr. Hadley or byMr. Ringold, head of the Film Theatrical Company.
This company consisted of a number of actors and actresses who wereengaged to enact various sorts of plays and dramas before the camera.
Among them was Henry Robertson, who did "juvenile leads"; HarrisLevinberg, the "villain"; Miss Nellie Shay, the leading lady, and MissBirdie Lee, who did girls' parts. Last, but not least, was ChristopherCutler Piper--known variously as "C. C." or "Gloomy." He preferred to becalled just C. C., not liking his two first names, but he was so oftenlooking on the dark side of life, and predicting direful happenings thatnever came to pass, that he was often dubbed "Gloomy." However, he wasthe comedian of the troupe, and could utter the most unhappy expressionswhile doing the most comical acting.
It was not all easy sailing for the two lads. One man--James Munson, arival moving picture proprietor--often made trouble for them, and onceput them in no little danger.
After having helped Mr. Hadley make a success of his moving picturenewspaper, by means of which current happenings, and accidents, werenightly thrown on a screen in various theatres, Joe and Blake, as Isaid, went into business for themselves.
In the second volume of the series, entitled "The Moving Picture Boys inthe West; Or, Taking Scenes Among the Cowboys and Indians," our heroeshad an entirely different series of adventures.
Mr. Ringold decided to take his theatrical troupe to Arizona, there tomake films for a number of Western dramas. He asked the boys if theywould like to join Mr. Hadley in doing this work. At the same time a NewYork scientific society, engaged in preserving records, pictures andphotographic reproductions of the Indians, made a prize offer for thebest film showing the redmen in their ceremonial dances. The time wasparticularly ripe for this, as a band of the Moquis, as well as severaltribes of Navajos, had broken from the government reservations toindulge in their strange rites.
As the boys found that they could do the two things--take the views ofthe Indians, and make the theatrical pictures--they accepted the offer.
Just before they left, however, Joe received a strange letter. It wasfrom a man signing himself Sam Houston Reed, who stated that he had meta man who was looking for a Joe Duncan. Joe, who had known there wassome mystery about his early life, was overjoyed at the prospect offinding some "folks," and wished very much to meet Mr. Reed. But thelatter had neglected to date, or put any heading on his letter. Allthere was to go by was part of a postmark, which showed it came fromArizona, and Mr. Reed also mentioned Big B ranch.
However, the moving picture boys and the theatrical company startedWest. On the way the boys had a glimpse of their rivals, also hasteningto get the Indian views.
How they got to Flagstaff, made many views there, and then how Joe andBlake started to find the place where the runaway Indians were hiddenaway, doing their mysterious dances--all this is told in the secondvolume.
Eventually they reached Big B ranch, only to find that Mr. Reed, like arolling stone, had gone. However, some of the cowboys remembered him,and had heard him talk of having met a certain Bill Duncan, whosehalf-brother, Nate, was looking for a lost son. It was supposed thatthis Nate Duncan was Joe's father.
As nothing toward finding Mr. Duncan could then be done, Joe and Blakekept on toward the Indian country. A cowboy, Hank Selby, o
ffered toaccompany them, and they were glad he did.
They had many adventures before getting on the track of the Indians, andwhen they found them in a secret valley, and, concealed in a cave, begantaking moving pictures, they discovered, as I have said, four white menin danger of torture.
How they rescued them, how the troopers came, and how one turned out tobe Bill Duncan, Joe's half-uncle, I have mentioned in this book as wellas in the second volume. And, on their way back to Big B ranch and toFlagstaff, the night attack had taken place.
"How are you making out, Blake?" asked Joe, as he worked at stacking upthe boxes and bales into a sort of rude breastwork near the sheltertents.
"All right, Joe," was the answer. "I hope Hank makes the animals safe."
"He doesn't seem to be having much trouble. I can't see any of theIndians now."
"No, they're probably hiding down in the grass, waiting for a chance tomake a raid. I wonder how many there are?"
"Quite a bunch, I should say, from the shooting. Here comes Hank now."
As he spoke, the cowboy appeared, leading by their long tether ropes theriding ponies and the pack animals. The steeds showed signs of theirrecent excitement. Had it not been for the alarm they gave they mighthave been stolen without our friends being any the wiser.
"See any of 'em, Hank?" questioned Joe.
"No, but they're there, all right. Boys, there may be some hot workahead of us. You want to get ready for it."
"Do--do you think they'll shoot?" asked Blake.
"Well, they'll do their best to get our things away from us," was theanswer. "They're desperate, I'm afraid."
Hank busied himself tethering the steeds nearer the temporary camp,while Joe and Blake finished their labors in building a defense againstthe possible rush of the redmen.
This was hardly finished, and they had scarcely collected a pile ofbrush to make a bright fire, if necessary, when there arose all aroundfierce shouts. At the same time there was a fusillade of shots; but, asfar as could be seen, all the Indians were firing in the air.
"Look out!" yelled Hank. "They're going to rush us!"
Before he ceased speaking there was the sound of many feet runningforward. The shooting and shouting redoubled in volume, and the restlessanimals tried to break loose.
"The imps!" cried Hank. "They're trying to stampede our animals, just asthey did the cattle that time. Look out, boys!"
But nothing could be done against such numbers. The camp was overwhelmedin a daring raid, and though the boys and Hank did all they could,firing wildly in the air, they could not stand off the attack. Strangelyenough, no effort was made to mistreat the boys or their companion. TheIndians simply rushed over them and made for the pile of goods in therear of the tents. They did not even seem to be after the horses.
"Stop 'em!" cried Blake. "They'll take all our things!"
"Our cameras!" yelled Joe. "They may break 'em!"
Hank had all he could do to restrain the wild steeds, which sought tobreak loose.
The rush was over almost as quickly as it had started. Off into thedarkness disappeared the Indians, their shooting and yelling growingfainter and fainter.
"I saved the horses!" cried Hank.
"Yes, but they got a lot of our stuff!" exclaimed Blake. "Joe, throwsome wood on the fire, so we can see what is missing!"