CHAPTER XVI
_MISSING_
The boys were still asleep the next morning when the professor got upquietly and went into the canyon for a dip in the creek.
He wandered up the stream a short distance and was surprised to see asaddle horse standing dejectedly on the trail. The next moment KieWicks had hailed him genially from the cliff above.
"Say pard," he called. "Last night when I was going home over the hillhere, I found what looks like the ruins of an Indian village. Do youwant to take a look at them?"
"How far away is it?" asked the professor. "The boys are camping overthere with me, so I'd better go back and tell them where I'm going.
"It won't take you ten minutes, my friend," Kie answered. "You'll beback before they have breakfast ready." Kie descended the steepmountain and leading his horse, he urged the professor on with adescription of the marvelous ruins that he had discovered. ProfessorGillette was almost wild with excitement. He fairly danced fromboulder to boulder along that rocky trail, and when they reached anarrow pass between the high canyon walls, Kie stopped his horse for amoment.
At that same instant two men suddenly sprang into the trail in front ofthem, grabbed the unsuspecting professor, bound and gagged him and tiedhim to a horse.
Professor Gillette could not imagine why he should be treated likethis. Why should he be robbed? He had nothing. And where was KieWicks? Had the men kidnapped him as well? It took the kindly mind ofthe professor a long time to grasp the idea that Kie Wicks might havesomething to do with the affair.
The old man did not struggle as he had an impulse to do. He knew itwould be useless. The men were powerful, while he was frail, andhelpless in their hands. It would be much better for him to save hisstrength so that his mind could work out a scheme for escape.
He was not the sort of person to waste energy in worry. He believedthat nothing could harm him, and he lay quietly in the uncomfortableposition on the horse, wondering where he was going and how long theywould hold him captive. What would The Merriweather Girls do when theyheard about it? He had to smile at the thought of the adventure theywould make of it. Yet perhaps it was nothing to smile about. He mightnever return alive.
The boys did not miss the old man until breakfast was ready. They knewthat it was his custom to start the day with a dip in the stream and sothey went on with their breakfast preparations without giving him athought. Finally they sat down and started to eat.
Still the professor did not come.
Tommy Sharpe called him from the summit of the cliff, waited, andcalled again many times. But there was no answer.
"Guess you'd better take a walk down there and see what's keeping theold chap," advised Seedy Saunders. "He never goes far away without hisbreakfast."
Tommy returned in a few minutes without seeing anything of theprofessor. He said: "I saw tracks going up the creek and there arefresh hoof prints, but that doesn't tell a thing."
"Oh, he's all right. I won't worry about him," laughed Seedy. "I canjust see his face if he thought we imagined he was lost. He's such anindependent old fellow, he'd be displeased."
Nine o'clock came and still the professor did not make his appearance.The boys each took turns in riding down the creek and calling, but whenthe girls arrived at ten, the missing man had not returned. He had notbeen to the ranch and the girls had seen nothing of him.
"Something has happened!" exclaimed Bet anxiously. "The professorisn't the sort of man to wander away like a lost soul. He's toointerested in this treasure to leave it for a minute. Some enemy is atwork."
"Melodrama from the movies," laughed Kit. "Bet is bound she's going tohave some western bad man stuff."
"Don't be silly, Bet," said Enid impatiently. "Our old professorhasn't got an enemy in the world."
"Hasn't he? How do you know? Just suppose Kie Wicks found out aboutthe treasure. He'd want to get rid of the professor first thing."
"That's an idea, Bet," replied Enid, suddenly growing excited. "Inever thought of Kie."
"But what good would it do him to get rid of the professor?" asked thesensible Shirley. "Kie Wicks knows we are all backing the old man, sowhat would be the use of making away with him?"
"That's true," agreed Bet with a puzzled frown. "If I thought that KieWicks had a hand in this I'd... I'd...."
"What would you do, Bet?" asked Shirley.
"I'd tell him right to his face what I think of him."
"Heaps of good that would do," Kit shrugged. "Kie has heard abouthimself from lots of people."
But Kie Wicks' scheme worked out just as he planned. In their anxietyover the professor's disappearance, the treasure was left unguarded andwhen the girls returned to the camp, they were confronted with gunsheld in the hands of two burly ruffians, swarthy, heavy giants whoterrified them by their looks.
The four girls wasted no time in that neighborhood. They raced theirhorses into the canyon and were heading toward the ranch.
"Say, what's the matter with The Merriweather Girls?" cried Bet,bringing her horse up sharply. "We're letting two cowardly ruffiansfrighten us away. I'm going back this minute."
"You are not, Bet Baxter! Father would be frightfully angry if you do.He trusts us not to take any big risks. I know he wouldn't want us togo back where those men are." Enid put her hand on Bet's shoulder."Come on, Bet, be good!"
"But are we going to let those fellows get our treasure?" Bet criedhysterically. "No, I won't run away! I'm going straight back thereand tell them what I think of them."
Shirley laughed quietly. "What's the use, Bet. They probably knowmore mean things about themselves than you can tell them. They're likeKie Wicks."
But Bet was stubborn. She hated to give up.
"I won't go home! I'm going to stay right here for the present andthink out a plan."
And it was there that Judge Breckenridge found them, heard their storyand commanded them to return to the ranch house without any delay.
Judge Breckenridge's word was law. Bet turned her horse's head downthe canyon toward the home trail, her eyes flashing dangerously. Shemuttered:
"To think of being sent home when the excitement gets good! Oh, I wishI were a boy!"
"Well, since we have to go, let's hurry and have the fun of telling itall to Joy."
But Joy and Mrs. Breckenridge were a disappointment. They did notthrill to the danger, as Bet did. They were decidedly angry and afraid.
"You must never go into that canyon again while you are here!"exclaimed Mrs. Breckenridge.
"Please don't put that down as an order! That would be a tragedy. Idon't believe that even the Judge would be willing to deprive us ofthat joy." Bet's voice was pleading.
"All right, dear, I'll take back the order and will leave it entirelyto the Judge. But you must abide by his decision, that I insist upon."
"We will," said Bet. "I hope he'll be a good sport about it. I wantto know what's going on."
Mrs. Breckenridge walked up and down the corridor in an anxious manner.She had been gaining strength so rapidly in the mountains that she hadeven threatened to try horseback riding. But the Judge had put heroff. He wanted to be certain that the trial would be a success.
"I'm glad I wasn't with you, today, I'd have screamed," said Joy. "Iknow I would."
"That's probably what those bandits wanted. To scare us so we wouldn'tgo back. I hate to have them get away with it."
At noon when the men returned to lunch, they had no good report.Although they had hunted the hills for miles, not a trace of theprofessor had been found. He had disappeared.
Before lunch was over Kie Wicks appeared at the ranch house. "I justheard of the old man being lost, so Maude wanted me to come right overand join the search party. I think a lot of the professor and want todo my bit."
Bet looked at the man in astonishment.
"I would never have believed it," she whispered to Kit. "It just showshow we misjudge a person. I t
hought he would be the last man in theworld to appeal to for help, and here he comes of his own free will andoffers it."
"People always have _some_ good in them."
Joy shook her head. "From the first I hated that man and feared him."
"And now you see, Joy Evans, how mistaken you were. He's a good man atheart," exclaimed Bet.
But Kit was skeptical. "I wish I could believe it. I feel as if Iwere playing with a rattlesnake. He's treacherous! I think we'dbetter watch our step."
"Of course, I know that Kie Wicks is unscrupulous in the matter ofjumping claims, but you see he has a human side after all. He seemsquite cut up about the professor being lost," Bet interrupted.
"And did you notice how indignant he was over the ruffians at theclaim? I believe he'll help us to get rid of them," said Enidconfidently.
"But those men didn't do a thing worse than Kie Wicks! Not half asbad, for they were open and above board. They pointed guns on us andKie sneaked up after dark and stole our papers. No, girls, his changeof heart is altogether too sudden to be sincere. Keep an eye on him!"advised Kit.
Whether the men at the ranch believed in Kie's innocence or not, theyaccepted his offer of help and let him organize the searchers.
"Let's go over and see what Ramon Salazar is up to. He's a scoundreland looks it. Maybe he knows something about your old man," suggestedKie.
"Can't we go, too?" begged the girls. The judge was about to object,but when he saw the look of disappointment in Bet's face, he changedhis mind.
"Why, it's all right, I think. I don't see that there will be anydanger if you stay with me."
Bet ran for her horse. "Come on, girls, let's go!"
The group divided into two sections. The judge and the girls and Tommywent under Kie Wicks' leadership. Tommy was very contemptuous at theidea of help from Kie, but he followed without any remarks, decidingthat the man needed watching. And that job would be his!
Instead of being offended at the arrival of a searching party, RamonSalazar seemed to welcome them and even his wife acted as if she hadbeen expecting a visit.
"Take a look around, folks," said Kie Wicks as he himself opened a doorand looked into a bed room, littered with mattresses and soiledblankets.
"He ain't here," said Kie. "I didn't more than half think he was. Butyou never can be sure unless you take a look."
Bet caught a quick glance of understanding between the two men, but inthe next second decided that it was a glance of approval.
"They're up to some mischief," whispered Kit in Shirley's ear. "Idon't trust that Kie Wicks and he is altogether too sugary today tosuit me. But don't say a word to Bet. She will flare up and then wewon't be able to watch him."
Shirley agreed with Kit, who knew Kie Wicks better than the others.
Tommy was watching the two men, his nerves keyed up and every sensealert to the slightest movement of the men. He had noted the quicklook between Kie and the Mexican and felt sure that it was a dangersignal. It conveyed a message. Not for a second did the boy doubtthat Kie and Ramon knew where the professor was.
The boy was angry clean through, but he held his temper under control.Only in that way could he keep in touch with these rascals and watchthem. Sometime he would catch them off their guard.
Ramon joined this group of searchers and made some suggestions as topossible places to look.
"What we ought to do is to round up them fellows at the tunnel and make'em talk. They probably killed the old man and threw his body over acliff." It was Ramon who spoke.
Kie Wicks looked startled. He had not told Ramon that the men at theclaim were being paid by him. He frowned toward the Mexican, then hisface relaxed suddenly. "Now that's an idea, too," he said. "Only Ishould think it might be just as well to leave them in possession untilwe find the professor. Someone has to stay there and we need all themen we have to hunt for the old man."
"I think you're right, Mr. Wicks," agreed Bet.
Kit looked her disgust. To herself she was thinking, "I never wouldhave believed that Bet could be such a tenderfoot. To let Kie Wickspull the wool over her eyes like that! She certainly is an easy mark!"
But Bet was not such an easy mark as Kit imagined. She had figured itout that it would take days for the men to dig their way to thetreasure and by that time they could find their old friend and thenform a party to drive the ruffians away from the tunnel.
An hour later, when they were returning to camp, Kit pointed up overone of the small mountains. "Bet, I'll take a short cut with you. Thetrail over that hill leads into Lost Canyon. Let's go and beat themhome. Who's coming?"
"I am!" exclaimed Bet turning her horse's head toward the up grade.
"I'll stay with Dad," called Enid.
"And so will I!" Shirley held her horse toward the canyon trail.
"Wise girls!" smiled the Judge. "You know good company when you haveit."
Kit waved her sombrero as they reached the summit and disappeared overthe ridge. But once on the other side, Kit was not so sure that sheknew the way. "This doesn't look like the trail that leads into LostCanyon, after all, Bet. Do you think we'd better go back?"
"I should say not. I'd love to get lost in the hills with you, Kit."
"Oh, we're all right, only I'm not sure that we will save any time.They'll probably get home first, if we go this way," returned Kit."I'm not lost, I've been here before, but I just got mixed up. LostCanyon is over the next ridge."
"It's all right with me, let's keep on."
The girls rode for an hour, and still Kit declared that they had notreached Lost Canyon.
"Are you afraid, Kit?" asked Bet, as she looked at her friend'sfrowning face.
"No, of course not, only I'm disgusted that I made such a mistake.Let's climb to the ridge there and look around, then I'll know in aminute where I am."
The girls urged their horses up the steep trail. Kit was ahead and asshe reached the summit she signalled Bet frantically to stop. Slidingfrom her saddle she ran back.
"We're coming out right by the tunnel, I see the two ruffians."
The girls crept along, keeping out of sight of the camp.
But suddenly Bet grabbed Kit by the arm. The men were descending thetrail to the creek, leaving the tunnel unguarded.
The girls did not wait to think whether they were wise or not. Theyran forward. Two shotguns lay on the ground. The men had taken offtheir belts. They were in the canyon unarmed.
Bet choked with delight. "Here's where we get the drop on them," shelaughed. "I'll be a regular wild westerner."
"Don't do anything rash, Bet," advised Kit anxiously as she watched herfriend's flushed face.
"Trust me!" Bet picked up a weapon and held it awkwardly in her hand.It was the first time she had handled a loaded gun and it gave her athrill.
"Can you shoot, Bet?" asked Kit. "Do you know enough to pull thetrigger?"
"No, I don't know a thing about it, I'll have to put up a bluff!"
When they heard a step on the trail. Bet aimed her gun.
"Hands up!" ordered Bet and there was no sign of fear in her voice.
The ruffians raised their hands high in the air, but the foremost onesmiled.
Bet's anger rose. "Don't come a step nearer! And don't fool yourself!We know how to shoot--and shoot to kill!"
Kit wanted to laugh, for Bet was repeating word for word what she hadread only a few days before in a western story.
But Bet's next question was her own. "How much is Kie Wicks paying youfor this job?" she asked.
One man started to take a step forward, but Bet's gun menaced him.
"Stand right where you are! Not a step nearer! Answer my question!"
"Five dollars apiece!" growled the second man. "'T ain't enough!"
"Of course it isn't. He short-changed you. The job is worth twice asmuch," said Bet indignantly.
The men looked pleased.
"We got a five spot between
us for catching the old man and tying himup. And we are to get five each for this."
"Your master isn't very generous. Do you often work for Kie Wicks?"asked Bet.
"No, we never saw him before. We were just passing through thecountry. We went broke and he offered us this job."
"Where are you going from here?" demanded the girl.
"El Paso is home, and we want to work our way toward there," answeredthe man who had done all the talking.
"Suppose I was to offer you ten apiece, would you get away from hereand not come back? In fact it wouldn't be good for you to come backwhere Kie Wicks could take a shot at you."
"We'd not stick around, honest we wouldn't. By night we'd be at thenearest railroad station." Both men made a motion to come toward thegirls but were stopped by Bet's menacing weapon.
"All right, go to the edge of the cliff there, and stand with yourbacks to us. If you dare to turn around, you'll be dead men."
The ruffians backed away for a few feet, then turned and walked to thecliff.
"Halt!" shouted Bet, and the men stood still.
"Now Kit, you hold the gun on them and I'll get the money. That's onething Dad has always insisted on that I keep a little money fastened tome, when I'm away from home." She fumbled in her dress and broughtforth a small roll of bills.
With Kit protecting her, Bet walked toward the cliff, and when she gotto within ten feet from the men she put the money on the ground, andmade a second trip, hauling their packs to the same spot.
When her gun was once more levelled at the ruffians, she ordered: "Turnaround!"
The men wasted no time in obeying. They turned.
"Now walk slowly and get your money and belongings. If you run, youdrop!"
The men grabbed their money and hastened back to their position on thecliff, as if they were anxious to put distance between themselves andthe shotguns.
"Now go, and go quickly! Kie Wicks is due over this way in half anhour and if he finds you gone and us in charge, he's going to send aposse after you!"
The men hastened down the trail. They saddled and mounted theirhorses, with the shotguns pointed in their direction.
From the opposite end of the canyon two riders were coming nearer, andthe ruffians galloped their horses to get out of the way.
Kit and Bet recognized Seedy Saunders and Billy Patten, who had goneout by themselves to search for the professor.
They answered Kit's hail and raced their horses up the grade.
By the time they reached the summit, Bet and Kit were almost hystericalfrom laughing. Bet put the gun down gingerly. "I wonder what I wouldhave done, if they had called my bluff!" she exclaimed.
"Oh, boys, if you could only have heard her," shrieked Kit, at lastgetting her breath. "You'd have thought she had just stepped out of awestern two-gun story, the way she threatened those men, it's a wonderthey didn't see through her. And she hardly knows how to hold the gun.It was a scream!"
"I don't believe I'd enjoy that sort of thing for regular work,"laughed Bet. "I guess I don't like to give orders that much."
But the two ruffians, hastening toward the railroad station thirtymiles away, never dreamed that the girl who menaced them so daringly,had never pulled a trigger.
"We're lucky to be out of it," they agreed. "Girls have a way ofalways making trouble and getting their own way!"