Part 7 (1/2)
”I should not wonder if we came to that,” Zeke said; ”but we will hold on for a few hours, and, anyhow, before we leave them we will hide them bags. Possibly we might come back some day; anyhow, we could each tote along what we have got in our blankets; it aint as if we were going to run all the way from here to the settlements. Twelve pound weight aint nothing one way or the other.”
”No, nor twenty,” Boston agreed. ”I vote if we do have to leave the horses we slip open one of the bags and take another eight pounds or so each. Twenty pounds aint much for a man to carry besides his gun and ammunition and a chunk of bread. Well, let the rest of you lie down and get a couple of hours' sleep. I was off once last night.”
”All right; wake us directly you see a change in the sky. We should give the horses a chunk of bread and a drink each before we start.”
It seemed to the lads that they had been asleep for five minutes only when they were roused. It was but the work of a few minutes to adjust the loads again and to give the horses the bread and water. It was still hardly light in the ravine when they were ready to start, but all were too anxious to get on to delay a moment. As soon as the day had broadened a little they were able to pick their way along on the comparatively level ground beyond the edge of the water-course, and the horses were put into a trot.
”If we can keep on like this,” Joe said, ”the Apaches won't be up to us before night. They will know that we have got nigh twelve hours' start of them, and though they may start off fast at first, they will soon settle down into a pace that they can keep up all day.”
After journeying for three hours they came upon the spot where two other ravines fell into that along which they were journeying.
”Let us hold a council,” Dave said. ”Now, what do you think had best be done--push straight forward or take one of these other gulches?”
”They seem to run back almost the same line as that ye have been following,” d.i.c.k said.
”All the better, lad. They will be less inclined to think that we have taken it. What do you say, Zeke?”
”I think we had better push straight on, Dave. If they were coming along in the dark it would be a different thing; but they would not go a horse's length afore they missed our tracks, and even if we m.u.f.fle the critters' feet, they are strong enough to send a party each way.”
”So they are, Zeke; but it would be a sight better to fight a third of them than the hull lot.”
”I think that it would be better to push on, Dave,” Boston Joe said.
”There ain't no saying where these narrow valleys lead, they wind and double every way; besides, they are dry, so I says let us push on till we get into one of the main valleys.”
”Well, we will do it, Joe; anyhow, we may as well do as I say and m.u.f.fle their feet. The Injuns will know what we have done when they see the tracks stop here, but, as you say, they won't know whether we have gone straight on or turned up one side or the other. I guess most likely they will think that we have turned up; anyhow, they are sure to divide.”
No further talking was necessary. The blankets were all cut up, bunches of dry gra.s.s were laced under the horses' feet to form a pad, and the strips of blankets wound round and round and securely fastened.
”Now, on we go again, lads,” Dave said, setting the example, and they rode straight down the ravine ahead of them. Two hours later the blankets were taken off and thrown among the bushes, the rocks having cut through them, they were useless any longer to conceal the tracks, and they incommoded the horses. A mouthful of water was given to the animals, and they again started at a brisk pace. The sides of the valley were now narrowing in again, and becoming much steeper; the trees had ceased, and the bare rock rose in some places almost precipitously.
”The water rises high here when there is a storm,” Zeke said. ”You see, it is pretty nigh closed up somewhere in front here.”
”All the better,” Dave said; ”we can make a fight for it in a place like that, and hold it till dark. They can't be far behind us now. Stop the horses a moment and listen.”
A faint sound was heard.
”That is them,” Dave said; ”they aint above a mile behind; push on till we find a good place to make a stand.”
Chapter XV.--Rifle-Shots.
Another five minutes they entered a gorge so blocked with rocks that had fallen from above that they had the greatest difficulty in leading the horses over them.
”It could not be better,” Dave said. ”We can stop them here. Zeke, do you go on with d.i.c.k, see how far this goes, and what the chances are when we get out of it. If you can see any way of climbing the side of the valley come back and tell us. Then I reckon the best thing will be for you to take the horses down and go straight up, leaving d.i.c.k to tell us exactly where you have gone up; then, as soon as it is quite dark, we will be off and follow you; they won't be able to pick up the trail and will guess we have gone straight down the valley. Anyhow, it will give us another twelve hours' start.”
Zeke nodded. ”We may as well take the critters down at once,” he said; ”it may be two or three miles before we can find a place where we can get out of this valley, and there aint no use making two journeys of it.”
Somewhat reluctantly d.i.c.k followed Zeke, driving the horses before them.