CHAPTER XXII
ANXIOUS HOURS
Paz grunted, with characteristic Indian indifference when the work ofthe third degree ceased, as Buck Tooth, accompanied by the boyranchers, waddled up and made known what he had found out.
"So that's what the beggar did!" exclaimed Captain Marshall, when heunderstood. "He split his forces, and sent the young man and girlfarther on up into the mountains. Well, it means another chase!"
"And one not so easy to make," added Snake.
"Why?" asked Bud.
"Well, the trail will be worse, for one thing, and we won't have asmany men to help. Got to send a guard back with these," and he wavedhis hand to indicate the Yaquis who had been made prisoners.
"I'll spare as many of my men as possible," said the captain, "and assoon as I get these imps where they'll be safe for the next few years,I'll have the escort return. They'll want to see this thing through.I'm coming with you."
"Oh, that's good!" exclaimed Nort. It was not that he did not dependon the cowboys from Diamond X, but there was something about thetroopers that inspired confidence. The cowboys, too, were glad thatthey would have some regulars with them.
"And now let's get this story in proper shape," suggested the captain."Lieutenant Snow, you'll get ready to take as many men as you'll needand herd the rascals back over the border, or at least to La Nogalique.It may be that the United States Marshal there will want to deal withthem himself. In case he does that relieves you all the sooner. Getin touch with the fort when you have delivered your prisoners, andthere may be orders for you."
"Yes, sir," answered the wounded lieutenant, saluting. He had nothought of quitting though he was painfully hurt.
Then Buck Tooth told what his taunts had forced from the captiveYaquis, and the whole trick was plain to the experienced cowboys andthe troopers. Paz, fearing the result of keeping the captives withhim, had sent them away when he learned that his pursuers were near.
How he learned that fact was one of the mysteries. How the newstraveled, in that wild country, where civilized folk were often atpains to get into communication with each other, will probably never beknown. But in some manner Paz had become aware of the closing in onhim of the soldiers and the cowboys and he had tried to forestall theirvengeance. But he did not reckon on the wiliness of Buck Tooth, whosetaunts had caused the truth to be blurted out.
So, while Paz and his renegades were being sent back to pay thepenalties for their uprising, Captain Marshall, with some of his pickedmen, and the band from Diamond X got ready to move forward again. Oneor two of the cowboys, who had been rather badly hit by bullets, wereinduced to go back for treatment. An effort made to have Bud do thesame was met by a flat refusal.
"I've got one good hand!" the lad declared, holding up his left, "and Ican shoot an automatic with that after somebody loads it for me."
"We'll load!" offered Nort and Dick.
So the boy ranchers, like the Three Guardsmen "all for one and one forall," stuck together.
"There's going to be hard work--and danger ahead of us," Snake hadsaid, and Captain Marshall bore him out in this.
"That's what we came for," declared Nort.
"Surest thing you know!" assented his brother, and Bud nodded hisassent.
So they moved forward again.
This time they were working toward a more certain object than when theywere out scouting around to pick up the trail of the Yaquis.
Now they must make their way back to where the party, with Rosemary andFloyd as prisoners, had separated from the main body.
This was comparatively simple as regards tracing the way Paz and hisfollowers had descended the mountain into the valley of the plain wherethe last fight and surrender had taken place. But when the trail ofMike and his men was located--then would come the real test.
The way grew more rough as they proceeded back along the route taken bythe fleeing main body of Yaquis. It was an ascending trail, over apath that was possible only to the tough western ponies.
Fortunately they had an ample supply of provisions and the water supplywas adequate, which was a vital necessity. The only hardship in theway of grub was on the horses, the herbage being scanty at times, sothat as much speed as was desired could not be made, detours beingnecessary in order to come upon fodder for the steeds.
This caused them to spend more time on the route than they desired andeach hour of delay made the boy ranchers more and more apprehensive forthe safety of their captured cousins. However it could not be helped.Certain precautions must be observed if the band of rescuers was toarrive efficient enough to cope with the Yaquis. Though not a quarterof the original body was now in charge of Rosemary and Floyd, they werepicked fighters, so Buck Tooth had learned. And they probably wouldmake a stand in some natural fastness which vantage point would be hardto attack and turn.
Through two long, hot weary days the march of the rescuers was kept up,and they were all glad when night came that they might camp and be atrest.
"But we've struck the branching trail," Bud said to his cousins. "Allwe have to do now is to keep on until we corner the beggars, and getRosemary and Floyd away from them."
Bud had sized up the situation correctly, though it remains to bestated that it was easier said than done. By carefully noting the"sign" along the way, the cowboys and soldiers had reached the placewhere the selected band had ridden away with their captives. And thiswas the trail now being followed.
There was more than hard work--hard work followed hard work--and therewas danger. It had been hard from the very start--from the time theboy ranchers had left after the first wild alarm over the kidnapping ofRosemary and Floyd. They had been keyed up to high tension all thewhile, and this, in itself, if you have ever experienced it, iswearing. There had been absolutely no time for light enjoyment--noneof the humor of the cowboys had a chance to manifest itself.
Aside from an occasional burst into song the way had been grim andweary. There was nothing to lighten it, for over all hung theapprehension that something dreadful would befall Rosemary and herbrother.
And that dread was still present.
Even at the very end of the trail it might be found that all theirefforts had been in vain, and that the Yaquis, driven into a panic offear, had ended the lives of their captives.
So there was this nerve-racking pall of gloom hanging over all, and tothis was added the hard physical work of keeping to a difficult trail,with danger besetting on every hand.
That there was danger, not the most optimistic of them would havedenied. There was danger in urging one's horse up a narrow pathoverhanging some gorge.
There was danger that some lurking Yaqui, unable to keep up with themain body of Mike's men, might send a bullet into the back of one ofthe rescuers. Or Mike could have posted a party in ambush at any oneof a dozen places along the trail, there to surprise and kill off anumber of the vengeful whites following him.
All this made it exceedingly hard for the boy ranchers and theirfriends, but they were never daunted. On they urged their wearyponies, and the trail was as hard on horseflesh as it was on man andyouth.
Still no one complained. Even Bud bore without remark the pain of hiswounded hand, and it was a most painful injury. However CaptainMarshall had no small skill with what primitive remedies they had withthem, and he saved Bud from the necessity of a surgical operationlater, as the wound was kept clean, so that it healed from within.
Though once, when it had grown shut, with the possible danger of pusforming within, and had to be opened, poor Bud saw everything gettingblack before his eyes. And it was only by gritting his teeth, andremembering how, it was said, Indians bit bullets in twain in theexcess of their agony before uttering a groan, that the lad preventedhimself from fainting under the captain's ministrations.
So night settled down on the second day of their rush forward on thetrail of Mike and those he held captive.
"You get to bed and take it easy," Nort said to
Bud, when the lattertalked of standing guard, after camp had been made.
"That's right," agreed Dick. "There's enough of us without you."
"But I don't want to be a quitter!" Bud said. "And we're so close toMike and his gang now--or we ought to be--that there may be an attackany hour."
"The Yaquis won't attack at night," declared Rolling Stone. "They'retoo lazy!"
This, indeed, is characteristic of many Indian tribes, though perhapsthe real reason may be based on superstition instead of objection toexertion.
However, Bud allowed himself to be pursuaded to take his ease rolled upin his blankets. There were no tents, and, in fact, none were reallyneeded, for though the nights were cooler than the days, a blanket anda fire made every man comfortable.
So night settled down, the stars came out, the cooling wind blew thesmoke of the camp fire here and there and the posted sentries walkedtheir beats, waiting for what might happen.
That they were near to the hiding place of Mike, and, it was hoped, ofthe captives too, could not be doubted. The trail had become morefresh with every mile traversed.
"He's gone into some cave to hold off as long as possible," was theopinion of Captain Marshall.
Nort and Dick had adjoining posts. They had been selected for thefirst four hours of duty, from 8 to 12 o'clock, and it was near thatlast hour when Nort, coming back from having reached the end of hisbeat, called softly to his brother.
"Did you hear anything?" asked Nort.
"What do you mean?" asked Dick in turn.
"Well, like some one walking. Listen!"