CHAPTER V
THE CALL OF THE MOUNTAINS
As the approaching company came around the bend of the road into sightof the inn, a "calico" pony detached itself from the group of riders andbefore those watching on the porch could hear her words, Molly wasshouting to them:
"We're all right! Everybody is all right--except the one that isn't! Andhe--Wait, I'm coming!"
The three girls ran down the road to meet her, and even Lady Gray walkedswiftly after, and in a moment more they had encircled the truant withtheir loving arms, forgetting that she had given them a needlessanxiety.
"They weren't Indians at all. They were just our own folks, but Leslieand I were frightened half to death! I don't know what would have becomeof us except the pony told our story. And he's only smashed up a littlesome way. They had to hold him on the horse--"
"What! Leslie, my Leslie, my boy!" gasped Mrs. Ford.
"Leslie? No, indeed! Nothing the matter with him only riding therack-o'-bones. The 'Tenderfoot' man, and the cowboys say it served himright. Only he got off too easy with just a broken collar bone, and asprained ankle, and some teeth gone--and a few other trifles like that.He--"
"You can get off Chiquita now, Molly. I want to rub her down. Ain't shethe best ever?" said Mattie, calmly lifting the rider down from thesaddle.
"Indeed she is! And how strong you are, to lift a big girl like me!"cried Molly, eagerly. "I do believe your little Chiquita saved ourlives, Leslie's and mine."
"Tell me what you mean, child. Where is Leslie?" demanded the Gray Lady,placing her hand on Molly's shoulder and peering into her eyes.
"Why--I mean, what I say, course, Mrs. Ford. But Leslie's all right now.He's scratched with the briars and torn his clothes and has had to ridedouble with a cowboy, or drover, because he couldn't stand Beelzebubagain. Mr. Roderick is riding that creature and--Here, here they are!"
Once in sight of the house most of the party came up at a canter, Mr.Ford cheerfully saluting his wife, and the others waving their hats andshowing off a few tricks of their steeds--while Dorothy was handed downfrom riding-pillion behind her host. Everybody's tongue was loosened atonce and such a hubbub arose that Mrs. Ford clapped her hands to herears, then caught hold of Leslie as he slid to the ground and ran like agirl to the house. She wanted a chance to kiss him before the rest camein and had learned long before this that her boy "hated coddling."
However, he submitted to a little of it that night with a better gracethan usual, understanding that he had given his mother anxiety; and toldher as briefly as possible the whole story.
"You see, Lady Gray, that 'Sorrel Tenderfoot' was too smart, so came togrief."
"A good lesson to remember, son."
"Course. Well, he drove into a road, a trail, and got stuck. The horsesbolted, the wagon went to smash and he was hurt. Pretty bad, I guess.The others weren't at all, only frightened and sort of stunned. Theywere in a tight fix. So dark in there they didn't know which way was outand made up their minds to stay till daylight. That Jim Barlow--I tellyou he's great!--he fixed a bed with the wagon cushions and laid'Sorrel' on it. Then he felt the man all over and saw his legs and armswere sound. After that he got the box of the buckboard right side up andmade Dorothy get into that and lie down. He covered her with the robesand made Manuel promise to stay right beside her while he went back forhelp. Dorothy wouldn't let him go, at first, till he made her ashamedthinking about the 'Tenderfoot.'
"He made his way back all that distance to the main road, just bynoticing the branches that had been broken by their driving in. He wasgoing to walk back to Denver for help, thinking that was the quickestway, but when he got out of the woods he couldn't go any further. He'dhurt his arm some way--Dad says it's broken--and the pain made himfaint. We found him there--I mean the searchers did, and when he came tobe told them the rest.
"Lem Hunt and Roderick knew exactly where to look. They found therunaway blacks and captured them, or some of the cowboys did, and theymade a litter of the wagon box, covered it with branches and carried himout of the woods. They've brought him all the way here for he insistedon coming. Said he'd be better cared for by Mrs. Roderick than at anyhospital in Denver. He was sort of crazy and they didn't dare opposehim. That's why they are so slow. But they'll be here soon and he'll beput to bed. Lemuel says the man'll take a blazed trail the rest of hislife, and will have time to get over his smartness while his bones heal.But I think it's too bad. I'm sorry for him, and so is Dad. Now, come.They're going to table and I'm hungry as a bear. Isn't it fine of Mrs.Roderick to get a meal this time of night, or day, or whatever hour itis?"
"It wasn't Mrs. Roderick. Alfy was the moving spirit and the other girlshelped. But not one mouthful shall you have till you confess your ownfault. Why did you, Leslie, run away into all that danger against mywishes?"
"Why, Molly--" began the lad, then checked himself for shame. "Why,Lady Gray, I couldn't let a girl like Molly ride away alone, could I?And she would go--just would. And the funny part was--we heard 'lions'or 'panthers', or something in the woods behind us. We'd stopped to restand we thought so. Then we saw the searchers coming back and thoughtthey were Indians! and the way we took to the woods would make youlaugh. That's how I got to look like this. We might have been in themyet if little Chiquita hadn't stood like a post right beside the rockwhere we'd been sitting. Her being there, and Molly's hat and jacketthat she'd taken off because she was too warm, told the truth. Dorothysaw the hat and knew it at once. So when Roderick came up and recognizedChiquita they made another search and found--us. But I tell you, LadyGray, I've had all the lecturing I need just now from the other head ofthe family. I think Dad would have liked me to ride with him, at first,but he gave me his opinion of a boy who would 'sneak' off and 'leave hismother unprotected in a strange house at night.' Just forgive me thisonce, motherkin, and I'll be good in future; or till next time, anyway. Now, come."
Such a meal as followed had rarely been eaten even in that land ofhungry people, where the clear air so sharpens appetite; and in themidst of it came the landlady herself, not even showing surprise, andcertainly not offence, at the liberties which had been taken in herhouse. Fortunately, Jim's arm had been bruised and strained, only; notbroken as Mr. Ford had feared.
Then to bed and a few hours of sleep; another breakfast, as good as thefirst; after which buckboards were driven round and horses saddled;Herbert, Jim, and Manuel electing to ride while Monty was to travel inthe wagon with Silent Pete, as driver. He was the better suited thusbecause Mr. Ford and Leslie were to be his companions, the gentlemenhaving arranged matters this time without any casting of lots.
Lemuel drove the four-in-hand as on the day before, having as passengersMrs. Ford and Miss Milliken--who had slept soundly through all theevents of the night--with the four girls. Jedediah, Mr. Ford's colored"boy" also rode beside the driver, for the greater protection of thefeminine travelers, should any need arise.
But nothing did. All the untoward incidents of this journey to theRockies had happened during its first stage. "Tenderfoot Sorrel" wasleft behind, of course, but he did not greatly regret that. He feltthat he could more easily endure physical pain than the chaffing of hisfellows at San Leon.
As before, the start was made with a flourish of whip and horn, amidgood wishes and farewells from the hosts of the Wayside Inn, and a surepromise to "come again!" Then a day's journey steadily onward andupward, through river-fed valleys and rocky ravines, with a mid-day stopat another little hostelry, for a change of horses and a plain dinner.
Then on again, following the sun till it sank behind a mountain rangeand they had climbed well nigh to the top. Here Mr. Ford ordered a briefhalt, that the travellers might look behind them at the gloriouslandscape. When they had done so, till the scene was impressed upontheir memories forever, again the order came:
"Eyes front! but shut! No peeping till I say--Look!"
Laughing, finding it ever so difficult to obey, but eager, indeed, thelast ascent was made. Then the
wheels seemed to have found a levelstretch of smoother travelling and again came Mr. Ford's cry:
"All eyes front and--open! Welcome to San Leon!"
Open they did. Upon one of the loveliest homes they had ever beheld. Along, low, roomy building, modelled in the Mission style that Lady Grayso greatly admired; whose spacious verandas and cloistered walks invitedto delightful days out of doors; while everywhere were flowers in bloom,fountains playing, vine-clad arbors and countless cosy nooks, shadowedby magnificent trees. A lawn as smooth as velvet, dotted here and thereby electric light poles whose radiance could turn night into day.
For a moment nobody spoke; then admiration broke forth in wonderingexclamations, while the host helped his wife to alight, asking:
"Well, Erminie, does it suit you?"
"Suit? Dear, I never dreamed of anything better than a plain shack on amountain side. That's what you called it--but this--this is no shack.It's more like a palace!"
"Well, the main thing is to make it a home."
"Is it as good as the 'cabin,' father?" asked Leslie, coming up andlaying his hand on Mr. Ford's shoulder.
"Let us hope it will be! If the first inmates are peace and good will.Peace and good will," he repeated, gravely. Then his accustomed gayetyreplaced his seriousness and he waved his hand toward the entrance,saying:
"Queen Erminie, enter in and possess your kingdom! Your maids of honorwith you!"
"My heart!" cried Alfaretta, following her hostess, like a girl in adream. "I thought 'twould be just another up-mounting sort of place, notnear so nice as Deerhurst or the Towers, but it's splendid more 'n theyare, either one or both together."
"Wonderful, what money can do in this land of the free!" remarkedHerbert, critically estimating the establishment. "Think of a man havinghis own electric light plant away up here! Why, if it weren't for themountains yonder one could fancy this is Newport or Long Branch."
"Without the sea, Bert. Even money can't bring the sea to themountain-tops," said Helena, though her own face was aglow withadmiration.
"It can do the next best thing to it. Look yonder," said Monty, pointingwhere a glimmer of sunset-tinted water showed through a hedge of trees.
"Let's go there. It certainly is water," urged Jim Barlow.
"Well, Leslie told me there was a strange waterfall near San Leon and Isuppose the same money has pressed that into service. To think! That'Railroad Boss' earned his first quarter selling papers on the train! Hewas talking about the 'cabin' as we came along. It had two rooms and helived in it alone with his mother. By his talk they hadn't always beenso poor and she belonged to an old family, as 'families go in America.'That was the way he put it, and it was his ambition to see his motherable to take 'the place where she belonged.' That's how he began; andnow, look at this!"
All the young people had now gathered around the pond, or lake, that hadbeen made in a natural basin on the mountain side, for thinking thattheir host and hostess would better like to enter their new home with nostrangers about them, Dorothy had suggested:
"Let's follow the boys! Jim's arm ought to be looked after, first thing,and I'll remind him of it. He'd no business to come on horseback allthat long way, but he never would take care of himself."
"Has Leslie ever been here before?" asked Molly Breckenridge.
"No. It is as much a surprise to him as to his mother. But he's mightyproud of his father," answered Dorothy. "Look, here he comes now."
He came running across the sward and down the rocky path to the edge ofthe lake and clapped a hand on the shoulders of Herbert and Montmorency.He did not mean to be less cordial to Jim Barlow but he was. For tworeasons: one that Dorothy had extolled her humble friend till he seemeda paragon of all the virtues; and secondly what he had learned of Jim'seagerness for knowledge had made him ashamed of his own indifference toit. Even that day, his father had commended the poorer boy for his keenobservation of everything and read him a portion of a letter receivedfrom Dr. Sterling, the clergyman with whom James lived and studied.
The Doctor had written that the lad was already well versed in naturalhistory and that his interest in geology was as great as the writer'sown. He felt that this invitation to his beloved protege was a wonderfulthing for the student, and that Mr. Ford might feel he was having a handin the formation of a great scientist.
There had been more of the same sort of praise and Leslie had lookedwith simple amazement at the tall, awkward youth, who had arrived inDenver with the rest of his young guests.
"That fellow smart? Clever? Brainy? Well, he doesn't look it. If ever Isaw a regular clodhopper, he's the chap. But that Herbert Montaigne,now, is rippin'! He has the right 'air,' and so has the shorty, the fatMonty, only his figure is against him," he had remarked to Mateo, whohad instantly agreed with him. Indeed, the Mexican _never_ disagreedwith his "gracious excellency, Senor Leslie."
Mateo's service was an easy one and his salary good. Besides, he wasreally fond of his young master and formed all his opinions inaccordance. So then he, too, cast a supercilious glance at Jim, and hadcaused that shy lad's color to rise, though beyond that he took nonotice.
Already as they stood there gazing over the lake, crimson with the lastrays of the sun, Jim was studying the rocks upon the farther side andsquinting his eyes at something moving among them. It was with astartled return to his surroundings that he heard Leslie now say:
"My father wants to have you come in, Mr.--I mean James. The doctor isgoing to properly dress your arm."
"The doctor? Is there a doctor here?" asked Dorothy, slipping her handunder Jim's uninjured arm, and conveying by that action her sympathywith his feeling of an alien.
But he coolly drew aside. He wasn't going to be humiliated by any girl'scossetting, not even hers. He had never realized his poverty sobitterly, nor been more ashamed of that fact. Just because some richerboys looked down upon him was no reason he should look down uponhimself. Also, it angered him that he really needed surgical attention.He had suffered intensely during the ride hither but he had kept that tohimself. He meant to keep it to himself whatever happened, and to joinin what was going on as if he were physically sound as the other boys.
"It's only my left arm, anyway. I'd be a poor stick of a thing if Icouldn't manage with the other," he had thought, bravely, despite thepain. Now here was he being made the object of everybody's notice; and,being Jim--he hated it! There was a surly look in his eyes as he repliedto Leslie's message:
"I guess not. I mean--there isn't any need--I'm all right. I'm allright, I say. I'm--Shucks! I'm bully!"
It was Dorothy who blushed this time, she was so mortified by therudeness of her "paragon." Whenever had he used such an expression? Sheflashed an indignant glance upon him, then coolly commanded him:
"You come right straight along, James Barlow. You're Mr. Ford's guestnow and must do what he wants, just the same as if he were Dr. Sterling.Besides, I know we all ought to be freshening ourselves before supper.Lady Gray hates untidy people. Come on."
Again she linked her arm in Jim's and led the way up the slope towardthe house, while at the mention of supper all the others fell into linebehind her. And now Jim was already ashamed of his petulance with her.After all, she was the prettiest girl of them all; and, so far as heknew, the richest. She was "thoroughbred;" her family one of the oldestin its native State; and though the poorhouse boy had no family pride ofhis own he was loyal to old Maryland and his earliest friend. What hadnot Dolly been to him? His first teacher, his loving companion, and themeans of all that was good coming into his life.
"Say, Dolly, I'm sorry I said that and shamed you. Sorry I'm such aconceited donkey as to hate being looked down on. You just keep meposted on what's what, little girl, and I'll try to behave myself. Butit beats creation, to find such a place as this up here on the Rockiesand to know one man's done it. Kind of takes a feller's breath away,don't it?"
They were a little ahead of the rest of the party and able to talkfreely, so Dorothy improved the chance to g
ive "her boy Jim" a littlelecture; suggesting that he must never stop short of accomplishing justas much as Daniel Ford had done.
"What one poor lad can do, another can--if he will! _If he will_, JamesBarlow! It's just the _will_, you see. There was a copy in my oldwriting-book: 'What man has done, man can do.'"
"Shucks! I'm ambitious enough, but 'tain't along no money lines. What Iwant is learnin'--just plain knowledge. I wrote a copy once, too, and'twas that 'Knowledge is Power.' I made them capitals the best I couldso 't I never would forget 'em."
"Huh! For such a wise young man you talk pretty common. There's no need,Jim Barlow, for you to go back into all the bad grammar and chipped-offwords just because you're talking to--me. I notice you are veryparticular and careful when you speak to our hosts. Oh, Jim! isn't thisgoing to be just a glorious summer? Except when I think about Aunt BettyI'm almost too happy to breathe."
Jim had stumbled along beside her, unseeing the objects that werenearest--the lovely shrubbery, beautiful flowers, and quaint littlefurnishings of that grand lawn--but with his eyes fixed on a distantmountain peak, bare of verdure, and seemingly but a mass of vari-coloredrock; and he now remarked:
"I wonder how much of this country that Dan Ford owns! I wonder if he'sgot a claim on the peaks yonder!"
"Come back to earth, boy! Can't you think anything, see anythingbut--stones? Here we are at the door and I fancy this gentleman is thedoctor. Good evening, sir."
"Is this the lad with the injured arm?" asked the gentleman meeting thepair, and glancing toward Jim's bandaged arm, with the coat sleevehanging loose above it.
"Yes, sir, but it's nothing. It doesn't need any attention," said Jim,ungraciously.
"Behave yourself, Jim. Yes, Doctor--I suppose you're that?--he is sobadly hurt that he's cross. But it's wonderful to find a doctor away uphere," said Dorothy. Her odd little air of authority over the great,loutish lad, and her gay smile to himself, instantly won the stranger'sliking, and he answered warmly:
"Wonderful, maybe, but no more so than all of Dan Ford's doings. Stepthis way, my son, and Miss, I fancy you'd best not follow just yet.Nurse Melton will assist me, if I need assistance."
"A nurse, too? How odd!" said Dorothy turning to join her mates.
She did not see Jim Barlow again that night. When the examination wasmade the doctor found the injured arm in bad shape, swollen and inflamedto a degree that made great care a necessity unless much worse were tofollow.
So, for the first time in his healthy life, Jim found himself aninvalid; sent to bed and ministered to by a frail, sweet-faced woman ina white uniform, whose presence on that far away ranch was a puzzle tohim. Until, seeing his evident curiosity, she satisfied it by theexplanation:
"Oh! I'm merely another of Mr. Ford's beneficiaries. My brother is anengineer on one of his railroads, and he heard that I was threatenedwith consumption. So he had me sent to Denver for a time, till San Leonwas ready. Then I came here. I'm on hand to attend any sick folks whomay need me, though you're the first patient yet. I can tell you thatyou're fortunate to number Daniel Ford among your friends. He's thegrandest man in the world."
Jim lay quiet for a time, till his supper was brought in. But he couldnot taste that. The dressing of his wounded arm had been painful inextreme, though he had borne the pain without a groan, and for that beengreatly admired by both the surgeon and the nurse. He was now feverishand discontented. The "happy summer" of which Dorothy had boasted wasbeginning anything but happily for him. He was angry against his ownweakness and disappointed that he could not at once begin his work ofstudying the rocks of this region. To do so had been his chief reasonfor accepting Mr. Ford's genial invitation, for his shyness shrank frommeeting strangers and accepting favors from them. Dr. Sterling hadtalked him "out of his nonsense" for the time being, but he now wishedhimself back in his familiar room at Deerhurst lodge, with Hans andGriselda Roemer. They were humble folk and so was he. He had no businessin this rich man's "shack" that was, in reality, a palace; wherepleasure was the rule and work the exception. Well--things might happen!He'd take care they should! He was among the mountains--for that part hewas glad; only regretful of the debt to another which had brought himthere.
The hum of voices in and about the big house ceased. Even the barkingdogs were silent at last, and the music from the men's quarters,stopped. There was where he, Jim belonged, by right. Out in some of themany buildings at the rear; so many, in fact, that they were like avillage. He guessed he'd go there. Yes. In the morning, maybe the Bosswould give him a job, and he could work to pay his keep. His thoughtsgrew wilder and more disordered, his head ached.
The nurse was sitting silent in an adjoining room. Actual watching wasunnecessary and she understood her patient's mood, that her presence inhis chamber worried him. It was his time--now or never. He crept fromhis bed and stepped out of the low window upon the wide porch.
Even in his delirious confusion it struck him that he had never seensuch wonderful moonlight, nor such a big, inviting world. The vagary ofthought altered. He would not seek the workmen's quarters, after all.The mountains were better. They called him. They did not seem far away.He would not feel so hot and then so shivery if he could lie down ontheir cool tops, with only the sky above him. Aye, they called him; andblindly answering to their silent summons the sick boy went. The thingshe prophesied had surely begun to "happen."