Part 16 (1/2)

Frank was silent a moment under the sly dig, his thoughts flying back to the faraway Long Island home. But his irrepressible spirits would not permit him to remain silent for long, and soon he burst forth again.

”All we need to make it complete,” he said, ”is D'Artagnan. I wonder if we'll find him.”

Jack made no answer. His thoughts were busy turning over plans for the rescue of his father. Bob, too, was unusually silent, thinking of the parting from his own father and the latter's anxiety which almost had prevented his making this venture. Frank pursed his lips to whistle, thought better of it, and jogged along as silent as his companions.

So they rode hour after hour, only the creak of leather, the occasional stumble of a horse or the distant call of a coyote breaking the stillness. At length a low range of foothills, upflung before them, began to take shape out of the darkness with their near approach. Presently Jack called a halt.

”Somewhere in there,” said he, ”lies Tom's cave.”

It was in the early hours before dawn, when the darkness if anything becomes more intense. A chill nipping wind long since had caused the boys to unroll the rubber ponchos strapped to the back of their saddles, and drape them over their shoulders. As they stood now in the eerie darkness, striving vainly to locate the landmarks of tree and rock which Tom had given them, the howl of a hunting coyote floated down the wind. The sensitive Frank s.h.i.+vered.

”That sends the gooseflesh up my spine,” he said.

”Are you scared?” asked Bob.

”I'm scared stiff,” averred Frank. ”My hair is standing up so straight I wonder how my sombrero stays on.”

”Me, too,” said Bob.

”Liar,” said Frank.

”You're another,” said Bob. ”You're not scared. I know you too well.”

They grinned affectionately at each other. Jack who meantime had been investigating, turned with a worried expression.

”I've followed Tom's directions faithfully,” he said. ”He said to lay our course south by south-west and showed me what he meant on my compa.s.s. I haven't deviated a hair's breadth. Somewhere about here should be the first landmark--three rocks shaped like a camel lying down. But I can't see them.”

”Nothing to worry about in that,” said Frank. ”Probably we haven't gone far enough. Let's push on.”

”That must be it,” said Jack with relief. ”Well, come on.”

Before they could get into motion, however, Bob uttered a warning whisper.

”Listen,” he said. ”I heard a horse stumble behind us on the trail.”

They listened breathlessly a moment, but no further sound was heard.

”Keep your guns handy,” whispered Jack. Whenever the three were together he took command. ”Don't fire without cause, however,” he whispered. ”If there is someone behind us, it may be another traveller.”

Again came the sound of a horse stumbling. All heard it distinctly.

Jack peered into the darkness and called firmly:

”Who are you?”

”Challenge him in Spanish, why don't you?” muttered Frank.

Before Jack could repeat his challenge, however, a familiar voice replied:

”That you, Jack? This is Tom.”