CHAPTER V
TOUGH LUCK FOR THE LIMITED
"I suppose," reflectively drawled Harry, in the morning at breakfast,"that by the looks of things we're in for a dry march or two before westrike the creeks on the other side. Anyway, we'd better fill the waterkeg, sure. And I opine you're to go ahead, to keep those horse tracks,while I follow with the cart."
"Pike's Peak or Bust," responded Terry.
They started early, to push on at best speed. Duke grunted, Jennysighed, the cart creaked, Harry whistled, Shep scouted before and oneither hand, sniffing at the buffalo trails and charging the prairiedogs and little brown birds, and Terry, trudging in the advance,faithfully kept to the hoof-prints.
Perhaps the Pike's Peak pilgrims who had turned off had been wise, forthe water certainly was failing. Now there were only a few shallowwashes, and these were dry as a bone, showing that the top of the lowprairie divide was being crossed. Still, with a full water keg, whichwould give several good drinks to all, and with the horse tracks tofollow, and the Republican side of the divide somewhere ahead, there wasno cause for worry.
Duke and Jenny stepped valiantly. Terry felt a pride in the thought thatthe Pike's Peak Limited was the first overland outfit on the new stagetrail. He wondered if they would beat the wheel-barrow man in to thediggin's. Maybe they would! He wondered when they would sight themountains. Tomorrow? No, scarcely tomorrow. The horizon ahead was acomplete half-circle, broken by never an up-lift. In fact, 'twas hard tobelieve that any mountains at all lay in that direction.
At noon Harry guessed that they had covered ten miles, and he figured oncovering another ten miles before evening camp. He was anxious to reachthe next water. The cart was not much of a drag, and both Duke and Jennywere strong. So at the noon camp everybody had a little drink, and Dukeand Jenny had a little grass, and a little doze. Shep snored. A gooddog, Shep.
"It's queer how little game we've seen, except measley rabbits,"observed Harry, that evening. "Only some antelope, and one old buffalobull at a distance."
"And no Indians, either," added Terry.
"Well, expect the Indians are with the buffalo or else begging along themain trails," reasoned Harry. "But we'd better hobble both animalsshort, anyway, so they won't stray off looking for water."
The sun had set gloriously in a clear and golden west. While camp wasbeing located in the open, the broad expanse of rolling plain quicklyempurpled; and in the twilight Terry staked out Duke, by a rope and astrap around his fore-leg, and Jenny by a rope around her neck. Whensupper was finished, and the dishes scoured with twigs to save thewater, the first stars had appeared in the sky.
Just before closing his eyes to sleep, Terry from his buffalo robe gazedup and sighed contentedly. It was a fine night.
The coyotes and the larger wolves seemed unusually busy. Their yaps andhowls sounded frequently. Several times during the night Terry wasconscious that Shep growled, and that Duke and Jenny were uneasy; heheard also a low rumble, as of distant thunder, but he was too sleepy tosit up and look about. When he did unclose his eyes, to blink for amoment, he saw that the stars were still vivid in the blue-black skyoverhead.
This was the last thought--and next he awakened with a start, to pinkdawn and Harry's ringing shout:
"Buffalo! Great Scott! Look at the buffalo!"
Harry was up, standing near the cart and gazing to the east. Up sprangTerry, too, and gazed. The rumble was distinct. A miracle had occurredbetween darkness and dawn--all the plain to the east was black with aliving mass which had flowed upon it during the night.
Buffalo!
"I should say!" gasped Terry.
"Must be ten thousand of them," called Harry.
"Look out for Jenny and Duke!"
Jenny was snorting, as the morning breeze bore the reek of the vast herdto her nostrils. No, mules did not like buffalo. Duke's head was high,as he stared. Harry had partially dressed; now he hurried to quiet theteam. Terry drew on his trousers and boots and hastened after.
The buffalo were grazing, and seemed to be drifting slowly this way. Thehither fringe was not a quarter of a mile from the camp. Bulls bellowedand pawed and rolled, calves gamboled and breakfasted, and around themass prowled great gray buffalo wolves, waiting their chances. All waswondrously clear in the first rays of the rising sun.
Harry led the restive Jenny to the wagon and tied her short.
"I think we'd better get right out of here," he announced, as he helpedTerry and Shep drive the equally restive Duke in. "The coast ahead isclear. But if we wait for breakfast or anything, that herd's liable tobe on top of us."
"Let's hustle, then," agreed Terry. "They're coming this way, sure. Iheard 'em, in the night, but I didn't know what it was."
"Same here," confessed Harry, as they hustled to put Duke and Jenny tothe cart, and pitch the camp stuff inside. "Funny where such a mob rosefrom. Reckon something set 'em traveling."
Jenny was quite ready to leave, but Duke was more reluctant. However, onstarted the Pike's Peak Limited again.
"We'll stop for breakfast when we're at a safer distance," quoth Harry."Hope we reach water tonight."
Yes, the great herd was perceptibly nearer when they pulled out. But atthe rate it was moving it could be left behind while it peacefullygrazed. The thin brush was a-sparkle with scant dew, soon dried by thebright sun. The hoof-prints of the second horseman party showed plainlyin the sod and sandy gravel. Terry acted as guide, Harry, following withthe cart, urged on Duke and Jenny.
"Reckon we'll come to another stake today," called back Terry.
"Reckon we will," answered Harry.
The rumble of the herd gradually died. The sun mounted higher, and Terrywas thinking upon breakfast, when a sudden hail from Harry halted him.
"Wait! Listen!"
Harry had stopped.
"Whoa!" And Duke and Jenny stopped, not at all unwillingly.
Terry stopped, poised. Another dull rumble! More buffalo? Nothing was insight before or on either hand. The rumble came from behind--and yonder,against the sun, welled a cloud of dust.
"They've stampeded!" he cried.
"Sounds like it. And the question is, which way are they going?"
That was speedily answered.
"Gee whillikens!" exclaimed Terry. "They're coming this way!"
A swell of the prairie had concealed all save the dust; but now atop theswell had appeared black dots, succeeded instantly by a long wave ofsolid black, as over and down surged the whole herd, covering the backtrail and pouring on with astonishing, not to say alarming rapidity.The flanks extended widely; there was no time for escaping to one sideor the other. In fact, the cart seemed to be right in the middle of thebroad path.
Harry acted quickly.
"Watch the animals!" he ordered. "I'll tend to this end. Don't lose yourhead, Terry. We can split 'em."
He limped to the rear of the wagon. Terry ran back to Duke--and saw thatHarry had jerked the shot-gun from where it was stowed, and was postedout behind the wagon. The crowded ranks of the buffalo were so closethat the earth trembled. Jenny trembled, also, and Duke was pawing andstaring side-ways. Shep, barking wildly, took refuge underneath thewagon.
Terry seized the whip, dropped by Harry, and threatened Duke frombefore.
"Steady, Duke! Jenny! Whoa! Whoa, now!"
"Steady, everybody!" yelled Harry, above the up-roar. The stampedingherd was upon them. Three or four of the fleetest cows raced past,galloping, heads low, little tails cocked, with the peculiar rollingmotion of the running buffalo; and close after pressed the whole mass--acrowded frontage of thundering hoofs, shaggy heads, bulging eyes,lolling tongues, huge shoulders lunging, lion-like manes tossing, andslim, smooth hind-quarters bobbing up and down. And back from the frontrank, these were all mixed together--solid!
Terry's heart beat wildly. An instant more, and----! Why, the cartoutfit was only a speck in the path of this darkly rushing avalanchewhich would swallow them all in a jiffy and never know; would mash t
hemflat!
He caught his breath, while trying to quiet Duke and Jenny. There was nouse in running away--Harry stood braced--how small he looked--but he wasplucky--and now he actually ran forward, a few steps, right against theonward plunging rank--waved his hat--shouted--and bang! bang! warned theshot-gun, belching its challenge into the buffalos' faces.
"Duke! Jenny! Whoa!" shrieked Terry, desperately--and now gladly, foranother miracle had occurred. The foremost buffalo, as if suddenly awareof the cart, and the human beings, had veered aside, to right and left,avoiding Harry, and the cart, and all; and following their leaders, toright and left were veering the others, here at the middle, so that thedivided herd began to stream past in a heaving, jostling current, oneither hand. It had been split, by Harry; and the Pike's Peak Limitedwas an island.
Harry continued to yell and wave his hat and arms. He stood therefearlessly, at the split. At first the split was narrow--Terry almostcould touch the shaggy forms as they lurched by. He started to yell andwave, also, and help widen the split--for it did widen--but speedily hehad to quit. Duke and Jenny were nervous enough already. Jenny snorted,reared; Duke shook his head and strained from side to side.
"Duke! Whoa! Steady, boy! Back, Jenny!"
The pounding of the incessant hoofs was like the long-roll of a greatdrum. Thick rose the dust, but not so much from the earth as from thebig hairy bodies, to which had clung dried dirt. Bulls, cows, andcalves; cows, calves, and bulls--forming a stifling, living lane ofconstant motion.
Terry scarcely could hear himself.
"Duke! Whoa, boy! Steady, there! Whoa, Jenny!"
Would the herd never be past? Yes, yonder it was thinning--and fartherbeyond, the stragglers were in sight. Good!
"Duke! Be careful, Duke!" He was growing more unmanageable. Terry dancedbefore him, and threatened. "Whoa Jenny! Whoa, Duke!" And--"Duke! Duke!DUKE! Whoa-oa! DUKE!" But no use; with shake of angry head and flirt ofwickedly cocked tail Duke bolted; dragged Jenny and the cart together,knocked Terry sprawling--Terry clutched vainly at the cart, was dragged,himself, a few feet, staggered up, hatless, stumbled on the frightenedShep, and gazed after with a wail: "Oh, jiminy!"
They were away, in the dusty wake of the flying herd: Duke galloping,Jenny galloping, the cart bounding.
Harry had turned just in time to witness. His sweat-streaked face gaped,amazed, perplexed, and hardened into sudden resolution as whirling hesprang forward. But Terry was as quick. Grabbing up his hat as he went,he launched in the pursuit. Out-stripping him, Shep ran furiously,barking, and Harry kept close behind.
The cart was plainly visible, in an open place among the stragglers atthe rear of the herd. Duke lumbered, Jenny lumbered, the cart lumbered,and holding to the chase lumbered in their heavy boots Terry and Harry.
Soon it was evident that a harnessed buffalo was no match for freebuffalo. Duke's outfit was being left; buffalo after buffalo passed it,until presently Duke and Jenny and the cart were traveling alone. Butthey kept going, on a stampede of their own, imitating the insensateherd.
"Darn that Duke!" panted Terry. And he shouted: "Sic', Shep! Turn 'em!Sic', sic'! Catch 'em, boy!"
Shep darted gaily. He fairly tore through the brush. Now he had reachedthe cart--and now he was barking alongside the crazy team. Would he doit? _Could_ he do it? Yes, he was trying to head them. He had gained thefront; yapping, darting, snapping, he was crossing back and forth beforeDuke's nose. Down lower dropped Duke's burly head; he charged; Shepdodged, and returned.
The cart swung and tilted, and out was bounced the cask of sauerkraut.
"Hurrah!" cheered Harry.
On at a tangent lumbered Duke and Jenny--Shep was bothering themseriously--and out bounced the water keg.
"Great Scott!" gasped Harry. "Don't let's lose that keg!"
"Shep'll stop 'em! Shep'll stop 'em!" panted Terry. "Hurrah!" His throatwas tight, his heart thumped tremendously, his legs were like lead, buthe had hopes.
Shep knew his business of turning cattle. Now wherever the enraged andfrantic Duke headed, the pesky, yapping, snapping dog was under hisnose. Jenny was growing tired of being dragged hither-thither; shedetested dogs, and she despised buffalo, tame or wild. Duke, at hiswits' end, and tired also, stopped short; she stopped; Duke pawed andshook his locks and rumbled, keen yet for just one good chance at histormentor--and Shep, sitting down, with tongue dripping, held the way.
There they were when, breathless, Terry and Harry arrived, to scold therunaways, to praise Shep, and to take stock of damages.
"Not a thing broken, is there?" pronounced Harry, still panting, afterthe hasty survey.
And that appeared to be the case. Of course, the stuff inside the cartwas pretty well jumbled; but the frame and wheels seemed all right, andthe harness was whole, and only Duke and Jenny themselves were the worsefor wear. Their drooping heads and heaving flanks proclaimed that theyhad run quite far enough.
So, thought Terry, had he and Harry. He felt as though he had run a mileor more. Whew!
"All's well that ends well," asserted Harry, regaining his spirits.Nothing downed Harry. "Now, first thing to do is to get that keg ofwater. But I don't suppose we'll ever find the trail. The buffalo musthave tramped it out--and we're away off the track, anyway. Shucks!"
"Where is the keg?" asked Terry, peering.
"There it is--that first dot. See? The gunny sacks are beyond, and thesauerkraut last. Let's turn the critters about. You bring them on andI'll go ahead. Maybe something else was jounced out."
Duke and Jenny were turned, after considerable shouting and shoving;Harry set off on a straight line for the keg, and Terry followed moreslowly with the team and cart. It did seem rather tough luck that theyhad lost the horsemen's trail to the next stake; now they'd simply haveto guess at direction, unless they happened to be near the stage lineand a stage came.
Golly, but he was thirsty! His mouth was glued. He hoped that theyall--that is, Harry and he and Shep--would get a good drink from thatkeg. As for Duke and Jenny, they did not deserve a drink, althoughdoubtless they needed one. And what about something to eat?
Harry was waiting at the keg, a queer look on his perspiring, grimyface. He had set the keg on end.
"Thirsty?" he queried.
"Thirsty's no name for it," panted Terry.
"So am I. But we'll have to go easy. The bung flew out of the keg, andhalf the water's followed. I found the bung, but I can't find thewater."
Harry evidently tried to speak lightly, but Terry read concern in histone and face both.
"Can you stand a short drink?" encouraged Harry. "There'll be plenty onahead somewhere."
"Sure," declared Terry, manfully, feeling thirstier than ever. "We'vegot a little, haven't we? And if we strike that trail maybe it'll leadus to a creek."
So they hoisted in the keg, tightly stoppered again (but it wassuspiciously light), and Harry trudged ahead once more, to find thegunny sacks.
"We'll never mind the sauerkraut," he called back. "Let it stay. Thelighter we travel, the better, from here to water."
Shep went with him. They dipped into a shallow, narrow draw; Terry heardShep barking, and then Harry hallooing. And when, urging Duke and Jenny,he could see into the draw, Harry was there, at one side, beckoning andshouting to him, and at the same time examining some object on theground.
"Haw, Duke! Haw! Hep with you!" Along the shallow draw they toiled, forhe was afraid to leave the team.
Harry was kneeling, Shep was nosing and busily waving his tail. Theywere engaged over that object. It could not be the gunny sacks. Thegunny sacks had not rolled so far from the back trail.
"Whoa-oa, Duke, Jenny! Stand, now!" And Terry trudged a few steps tojoin the investigation. He stopped short, astounded.
Harry and Shep had found a man--no, looked more like a boy; lyingcrumpled and motionless in a little saucer-shaped hollow amidst thebrush.
"Say! Is he dead?" gasped Terry.
"No. Hasn't even been stepped on, I think," answered H
arry. "But heneeds food and water mighty bad--'specially water. Open the keg,quick."
"TERRY FLEW TO THE CART ... FLEW BACK AGAIN WITH THEPRECIOUS FLUID"]