"I should say so."
"Then we'll take the shortest way to the summit. I tell you, Tom, we'reon the track of something rich. We'll take all this fellow's gold-dust,and he can't help himself. It'll be richer than any claim we've workedyet, if it pans out as well as I expect--eh, Tom?"
"I should say so, Bill," answered Hadley, with an expression ofinterest.
"I tell you, Tom," said Bill Mosely, complacently, "you were in luckwhen you fell in with me. We've done pretty well since we j'ined hosses,pard."
"I should say so--but," added Hadley, after a pause, "it would go hardwith us if we got caught."
"We don't mean to get caught," said Mosely, promptly. "As for this newjob, there's no danger in it. This man is down with a broken leg, and hecan't help our taking his gold. The Chinaman's out of the way, and we'vegot a clear field. Take a good look, Tom, for your eyes are better thanmine, and tell me if you see anything that looks like a cabin anywherearound?"
This inquiry was made some twenty minutes after they had left Ki Sing.They had pursued a circuitous course, or in half the time they mighthave been as near the cabin as they now were.
Tom Hadley didn't answer in his customary phrase, but instead raisedhimself erect on his mustang and looked sharply about him.
"Well?" demanded Mosely, impatiently.
"I don't see anything that looks like a cabin," said Hadley,deliberately, "but I think I see smoke."
"Where?" asked his companion in an eager tone.
"There," said Tom Hadley, pointing with his whip in a particulardirection.
Mosely strained his eyes, but he was a trifle near-sighted and could seenothing.
"I can't see anything," he said, "but that proves nothing. If there'ssmoke, there's a house. There's no question about that, and there's notlikely to be more than one cabin about here. Steer in the direction ofthe smoke, Tom, and I'll follow in your tracks. My horse is gettingtired; he'll be glad to rest for the night."
"Will it be safe?" queried Hadley.
"Safe enough. The Chinaman is disposed of, and as for this broken-leggedDewey, we'll bind him fast and set him outside of the cabin while wemake ourselves comfortable within. I shall be sorry to inconveniencehim, but when a man has company he must expect to be put out--eh, Tom?"
"I should say so, Bill."
The two worthy gentlemen kept on their way till, making a sudden turn,the house, which had hitherto been concealed from them by a cliff, stoodplainly revealed.
"There it is, Tom!" cried Mosely, joyfully. "We've found it, in spite ofthat lying heathen. It seems good to see a house after wandering aboutfor weeks without a chance to sleep under a roof--eh, Tom?"
"I should say so, Bill."
It will be observed that Mr. William Mosely was fond of designating KiSing as a heathen, evidently appreciating his own superiority as aChristian. Yet I am inclined to think that a heathen like the Chinamanpossessed more moral worth than a dozen Christians of the type ofMosely. From youth he had preyed upon the community, and his aim hadbeen to get a living in any way that did not involve labor. Honesty wasan obsolete word in his vocabulary, and a successful theft yielded him asatisfaction such as other men derive from the consciousness ofwell-doing. In fact, Mosely's moral nature was warped, and there wasvery little chance of his reformation.
Now that the cabin was near at hand, the two men did not quicken theirspeed, for the ascent was somewhat steep and their animals were tired.
"Take it easy, Tom. The whole thing's in our hands. Wonder whetherDewey's expectin' visitors?" he added, chuckling. "I say, Hadley, he'llbe glad to see us--don't you think so?"
"I should say so," returned Hadley, before the joke dawned upon him.
"You see, we are going to relieve him of the care of that gold-dust ofhis. We're two bankers from 'Frisco, that's what we are, and we'll takecare of all the gold-dust we can take in."
"I shall want my half," said Tom Hadley, unexpectedly deviating from hiscustomary formula.
Mosely shrugged his shoulders. He did not quite like this newdisposition of Hadley's to look after his own interests, but at presentdid not think it politic to say much about it. Though Tom Hadley hadgenerally been subservient to him, he knew very well that if anydifficulty should arise between them Tom would be a formidableantagonist. Fortunately for him, Hadley did not know his own power, orhe would not have remained in subjection to a man whom he could haveovercome had he been so disposed. He did not fully believe Bill Mosely'sridiculous boasts of his own prowess, but he was nevertheless disposedto overrate the man who made so many pretensions. All he asked was afair share of the booty which the two together managed to secure, andthis he had made up his mind to have.
They reached the cabin at last, and halted their horses before the door.
Both sprang off, and Bill Mosely, with a sign to his companion to remainin charge of them, entered at the open door.
"Is that you, Ki Sing?" asked Dewey, whose face was turned toward thewall.
Bill Mosely could not tell from the way he lay on the pallet, coveredwith a blanket, whether his leg were broken or not, but believed thatthis was the case. "That doesn't happen to be my name, stranger," heanswered.
Richard Dewey turned suddenly on his low bed and fixed his eyes on theintruder. "Who are you? what do you want?" he demanded suspiciously.
"I thought I'd come round and make you a call, being in theneighborhood," answered Mosely, with a smile.
"Who are you?"
"Well, I'm not the President of the United States, nor I ain't QueenVictoria, as I know of," said Mosely.
"You look more like a horse-thief," said Richard Dewey, bluntly.
"Do you mean to insult me?" exclaimed Bill Mosely, fiercely. "Do youknow who I am?"
Dewey was not easily frightened, and he answered coolly, "You haven'ttold me yet."
"Well, I'm Bill Mosely from the State of Missouri. I'm a regular tearer,I am. I don't take no back talk. When a man insults me I kill him."
"Very well. Now I know who you are," said Richard Dewey, calmly. "Now,what do you want?"
"How much gold-dust have you in this cabin? We may as well come tobusiness."
"None at all."
"I know better. You can't pull wool over my eyes. Your Chinaman tells adifferent story."
"Ha! Have you seen Ki Sing?" asked Dewey, interested at last.
"Yes, I had the pleasure of meeting the heathen you refer to."
"Where is he now? Can you tell me?"
"To the best of my knowledge he is tied to a tree a mile or so fromhere. I don't think he will get away very easily."
"Scoundrel! you shall answer for this!" exclaimed Richard Dewey,springing to his feet, and thereby showing that neither of his legs wasbroken.
CHAPTER VI.
AN UNEQUAL CONTEST.
Bill Mosely was decidedly startled when the man whom he thought helplesssprang up so suddenly and approached him in a menacing manner. He roseprecipitately from the rude seat on which he had settled himselfcomfortably, his face wearing an expression of alarm.
Richard Dewey paused and confronted him. A frown was on his face, and heappeared very much in earnest in the question he next asked. "Have youdared to ill-treat my servant, you scoundrel?" he demanded.
"Look here, stranger," said Mosely, with a faint attempt at bluster,"you'd better take care what you say to me. I'm a bad man, I am."
"I don't doubt it," said Dewey, contemptuously.
This was not altogether satisfactory to Bill Mosely, though itexpressed confidence in the truth of his statement.
"You haven't answered my question," continued Dewey. "What have you donewith my servant?"
"Perhaps he wasn't your servant," said Bill Mosely, evasively.
"There is but one Chinaman in this neighborhood," said Richard Deweyimpatiently, "and he is my faithful servant. Did you tie him to a tree?"
"He was impudent to me," answered Bill Mosely, uneasily.
"Ki Sing is never impudent to any one," returned
Dewey, his eyesflashing with anger. "Tell me what you did with him, or I will fell youto the ground."
"I didn't harm him," said Bill Mosely, hastily. "I wanted to teach him alesson; that is all."
"And so you tied him to a tree, did you?"
"Yes."
"Then go back and release him instantly, or it will be the worse foryou. I would go with you, to make sure that you did so, but my ankle isweak. Where did you leave him?"
"A little way down the hill."
"Then go at once and release him. If you fail to do it, some day I shallmeet you again and I will make you bitterly repent it."
"All right, stranger; make your mind easy."
Bill Mosely turned to leave the cabin, and Richard Dewey threw himselfdown on the pallet once more.
But Mosely had no intention of letting the matter rest there. Had hebeen alone he would not have ventured on any further conflict withDewey, who, invalid as he was, had shown so much spirit; but he feltconsiderable confidence in his companion, who was strong and powerful.
He approached Tom Hadley and whispered in his ear. Tom nodded his head,and the two stealthily approached the entrance again and re-entered thecabin.
Richard Dewey had laid himself down on the pallet, thinking that BillMosely had gone about his business, when Tom Hadley, who had beenassigned to this duty by his more timid companion, threw himself uponthe invalid and overpowered him.
"Perhaps you'll insult a gentleman again," exclaimed Mosely tauntinglyas he stood by and witnessed the ineffectual struggles of Tom's victim,who had been taken at disadvantage.--"Here's the cord, Tom, tie hishands and feet."
"You're contemptible cowards," exclaimed Dewey. "It takes two of you tooverpower a sick man."
"You don't look very sick," said Mosely, tauntingly.
"I have sprained my ankle or I would defy both of you."
"Talk's cheap!" retorted Bill Mosely.
"What is your object in this outrageous assault upon a stranger?"demanded Dewey.
"We'll tell you presently," answered Mosely.--"Now tie his feet, Tom."
"Be careful of my ankle--it is sore and sensitive," said Dewey,addressing himself to Tom Hadley. "You need not tie me further. In mypresent condition I am no match for you both. Tell me why it is youhave chosen to attack a man who has never harmed you?"
Tom Hadley looked to Mosely to answer.
"I'll tell you what we want, Dewey, if that is your name," said thesuperior rascal. "We want that gold-dust you've got hidden about heresomewhere."
"Who told you I had any gold-dust?" inquired the invalid.
"Your servant. He let it out without thinking, but when we wanted him toguide us here, he wouldn't. That's why we left him tied to a tree--isn'tit, Tom?"
"I should say so."
"Poor fellow! I am glad to hear he was faithful even when he foundhimself in the power of two such ruffians as you."
"Look here, Dewey: don't give us any of your back talk. It ain'tsafe--eh, Tom?"
"I should say so, Bill."
"I intend to express my opinion of you and your villainous conduct,"said Dewey, undaunted, "whatever you choose to call it. So Ki Singwouldn't guide you here?"
"No, he led us round in a circle. When we found it out we settled hishash pretty quick--"
"Like cowards, as you were."
"Are we going to stand this, Tom?" asked Bill, fiercely.
Tom Hadley shrugged his shoulder. He did not enjoy what Bill Moselycalled "back talk" as well as his partner, and it struck him as so muchwaste of time. He wanted to come to business, and said briefly, "Where'sthe gold?"
"Yes, Dewey, let us know what you have done with your gold."
"So you are thieves, you two?"
"I should say so," interjected Tom Hadley.
"You're a fool," ejaculated Bill Mosely, frowning. "What makes you giveyourself away?"
"Because," said Hadley, bluntly, "we are thieves, or we wouldn't beafter this man's gold."
"That ain't the way to put it," said Bill Mosely, who shrank fromaccepting the title to which his actions entitled him. "We're bankersfrom 'Frisco, and we are going to take care of Dewey's gold, as he ain'tin a situation to take care of it himself."
"You are very kind," said Dewey, who, embarrassing as his position was,rather enjoyed the humor of the situation. "So you are a banker, andyour friend a thief? I believe I have more respect for the thief, whoopenly avows his objects.--Tom, if that is your name, I am sorry thatyou are not in a better business. That man is wholly bad, but I believeyou could lead an honest life."
Tom Hadley said nothing, but he looked thoughtful. His life had been alawless one, but he was not the thorough-going scoundrel that BillMosely was, and would have been glad if circumstances had favored a morecreditable mode of life.
"We're wastin' time, Dewey," said Bill Mosely. "Where's the gold-dust?"
"Sure you know I have it? I leave you to find it for yourself," answeredthe sick man, who was never lacking for courage, and did not tremble,though wholly in the power of these men.
"What shall we do, Tom?" asked Mosely.
"Hunt for the gold," suggested Tom Hadley.
If Mosely had judged it of any use to threaten Dewey, he would have doneso, hoping to force him to reveal the hiding-place of the gold; but theundaunted spirit thus far displayed by his victim convinced him that theattempt would be unsuccessful. He therefore proceeded, with the help ofhis companion, to search the hut. The floor was of earth, and heoccupied himself in digging down into it, considering that the mostlikely place of concealment for the treasure.
Richard Dewey watched the work going on in silence.
"If only Ben and Bradley would come back," he said to himself, "I shouldsoon be free of these rascals. They won't find the gold where they arelooking, but I needn't tell them that."
CHAPTER VII.
TIED TO A TREE.
When Ben and his friend Bradley left the cabin in search of Ki Sing,they were puzzled to fix upon the direction in which it was best to go.There was no particular reason to decide in favor of any one against theothers.
"Shall we separate, Jake, or shall we go together?" asked Ben.
"I think we had better stick together, Ben. Otherwise, if one succeedshe won't have any way of letting the other know."
"That's true."
"Besides, we may need each other's help," added Bradley.
"You mean in case Ki Sing has met with an accident?"
"Well, no; I don't exactly mean that, Ben."
"Perhaps," said Ben, laughing, "you think two pairs of eyes better thanone."
"That's true, Ben; but you haven't caught my idea."
"Then, suppose you catch it for me and give me the benefit of it."
"I think," said Bradley, not smiling at this sally of Ben's, "that ourChinese friend has fallen in with some rough fellows who have done himharm."
"I hope not," said Ben, sobered by this suggestion.
"So do I. Ki Sing is a good fellow, if he is a heathen, and I'd like toscalp the man that ill-treats him."
"There are not many travellers among these mountains."
"No, but there are some. Some men are always pulling up stakes andlooking for better claims. Besides, we are here, and why shouldn'tothers come here as well?"
"That is so."
"I think, Ben, we'll keep along in this direction," said Bradley,indicating a path on the eastern slope of the hill. "I haven't anyparticular reason for it, but I've got a sort of idea that this is theright way."
"All right, Jake; I will be guided by you. I hope you're mistaken aboutKi Sing's fate. Why couldn't he have fallen and sprained his ankle, likeMr. Dewey?"
"Of course he could, but it isn't likely he has."
"Why not?"
"Because Chinamen, I have always noticed, are cautious and supple. Theyare some like cats; they fall on their feet. They are not rash likewhite men, but know better how to take care of their lives and limbs.That's why I don't think Ki Sing has tumbled down
or hurt himself in anyway."
"Of course he wouldn't leave us without notice," said Ben, musingly.
"Certainly not: that isn't Ki Sing's way. He's faithful to Dick Dewey,and won't leave him as long as Dick is laid up. I never had much idea ofChinamen before, and I don't know as I have now, but Ki Sing is a goodfellow, whatever you may say of his countrymen. They're not all honest.I was once robbed by a Chinaman, but I'll bet something on Ki Sing. Hemight have robbed Dick when he was helpless and dependent, before wecame along, but he didn't do it. There are plenty of white men youcouldn't say that of."
"For instance, the gentlemen who stole our horses."
"It makes me mad whenever I think of that little transaction," saidBradley. "As for that braggart, Mosely, he'll come to grief some ofthese days. He'll probably die with his boots on and his feet some wayfrom the ground. Before that happens I'd like a little whack at himmyself."
"I owe him a debt too," said Ben. "His running off with my mustang costme a good many weary hours. But hark! what's that?" said Ben, suddenly.
"What's what?"
"I thought I heard a cry."
"Where away?"
"To the left."
Jake Bradley halted and inclined his ear to listen.
"Ben," said he, looking up, "I believe we're on the scent. That cry cameeither from a Chinaman or a cat."
Ben couldn't help laughing, in spite of the apprehensions which thewords of his companion suggested. "Let us push on, then," he said.