Part 7 (1/2)
”What ladies? Who are you anyhow? Quick!”
”George Harvey's daughters, of Tucson. I'm his son.”
”G.o.d be praised!” shouted Feeny, springing to his feet and rus.h.i.+ng forward. ”Are they all safe?--unharmed? Where did you overtake them?”
”Overtake who? What in blazes are you talking about?” queried a tall, slender fellow, bending down from his saddle. ”Who are you?”
”Sergeant Feeny, of the cavalry,--and here's the major just back of me.”
”Major who?”
”Major Plummer; him you was talking with this morning when you came for help,” answered Feeny, his voice tremulous with excitement.
Already he was beginning to see light.
”Why, I've never seen Major Plummer nor any other major to-day. The only troops I met were Sergeant Wing and his guard at the pa.s.s just after nightfall. Have you met the Apaches? You saw the signal, of course.”
”Signal, yes, but devil an Apache. Tell me now, wasn't it you was here at Moreno's this morning begging for troops to go and fetch your ladies down from the Gila? Wasn't it you sent the note saying they was run off by Indians?” And, as was the case whenever excited, Feeny's grammar ran to seed.
”Not a bit of it. My sisters are here, safe and sound. We'd have been here an hour ago but for slipping a tire. Is father here?”
”Talk to him, major; I'm done up entirely,” was all poor Feeny could say, as, between relief, rejoicing, and the inestimable comfort of finding he was right in his theories after all, he dropped his carbine, threw himself upon the soft, sandy ground, and fairly rolled over and over in his excitement and emotion.
What wondering eyes,--what startled ears were at the wagon door-way, as, in his ponderous manner, the major endeavored to tell of the morning's adventure and the counterfeit presentment of the Ned Harvey now before him! Long before he could finish, the thoughtful son begged an instant's interruption.
”And father has gone on the trail to the Christobal?”
”Yes, an hour ago.”
”After him, Leon! Ride like the devil, even if you have to ride all night. Fetch him back here as quick as you can. Tell him Fan and Ruth are safe here at Moreno's.”
In ten minutes the Concord wagon with its fair freight, now trembling and excited, was standing side by side with the paymaster's ambulance.
The weary mules were unhitched and, with the saddle-horses, led in to water. The major and the sergeant, prompting each other, went on with their recital, Harvey listening with attentive ear.
”It is one of the most perfect plants they ever put up,” he burst in, grinding his teeth in wrath. ”Of course they knew of father's movements and of mine. They know everything. They knew we were to meet here, probably. They felt a.s.sured you knew nothing of it at all. They have used our supposed peril to draw away your guard. They have succeeded even better than they planned, for they have drawn off father, too, and four of our best men into the bargain. But to think that this old scoundrel Moreno should be in it. We've always suspected the Ceralvo set; but father has done everything for Moreno,--practically built this ranch for him, dug his well, set him up in business, and now he makes this a rendezvous for thugs and a.s.sa.s.sins. By heaven! I'm glad you have him trapped. How many has he with him, do you think?”
”I don't know. I only feel sure he must have one or two, but it's the main gang we have to watch,” answered Feeny; ”they may be along any minute, and I thought it was them when we heard you.”
”And that's what is worrying me, Mr. Harvey,” said the major, as he drew the young man aside. ”All they are after now, of course, is my safe full of money. It is my business to defend it to the last, and they can't have it without a fight. You and your sisters, ordinarily, they would not molest, but by this time they know you are here. Very possibly they've followed closely on your trail and may be gathering all around us at this moment. Let me be brief. The sooner you can hitch in those mules again, or those relay mules rather, and get out of here, the better.”
”Ah! but, major, how about the Apaches in the Santa Maria? We would get there, you know, just about daybreak.”
”By Jupiter! I never thought of them. You wouldn't have your guard now that your father's gone?”
”No. We've simply got to stay here, major. Personally, I'm only too glad to be here to help you out. It cannot be long before the troops come hurrying back when they find they've been tricked. Very probably they have found it out by this time.” Then with quick decision he stepped back to the door of the Concord. ”Girls! Paquita! Ruthie!
tumble out, both of you; we're to stay here at Moreno's to-night.”
And, the paymaster aiding, the silent, trembling sisters were lifted from the wagon and led away into the one guest-room, the east room, where, pistol in hand, still sat Dawes on the safe. The wraps and pillows were quickly pa.s.sed in. The little hurricane-lamp was stood in one corner. A bundle of cavalry blankets, left behind by the detachment when it took the trail, was spread out upon the earthen floor. The safe was hauled into the empty bar-room, and, bidding his sisters lie down and fear nothing, a.s.suring them of their perfect safety there and urging them to sleep all they could against their move at dawn, Edward Harvey, looking well to his arms and bidding his two men do likewise, came forth and joined his soldier friends.
”There are five of us now against Morales and his outfit, and I'll just bet my horse we can thrash 'em.”
”Only eleven o'clock,” muttered old Plummer, as he struck a match and consulted his watch. ”It's been the longest evening I ever spent; but, thank G.o.d, our worst fears are at an end. I never doubted for a moment that your sisters were captives. Who could the man have been who personated you?”