Part 27 (2/2)
Over the trails they rode, and, as they went, the hope of soon catching the robber grew less and less.
”I'm afraid he's escaped us all right,” the marshal said, ruefully. ”But we'll get him yet. I'll never let a horse thief get the best of me!”
”You seem to forget that he also took those valuable letters,” Jack remarked.
”No, I'm not forgetting it,” the marshal said, ”but to my way of thinking that ain't half so bad a crime as taking your horse. And I'd say the same thing if he took any other horse, or one of mine. I just naturally hate a horse thief!”
”That's right!” chimed in several of the men in the posse.
There were no places, or, rather, only one or two places, along the mountain trail, where inquiries could be made as to whether or not the robber--or some night-rider--had pa.s.sed. But at such lonely cabins as Jack and his friends came to they roused the inmates and put their questions.
”Seems to me I did hear a hoss gallopin' about an hour back,” said one old man. ”I thought maybe it was the pony express goin' through, though, so I didn't pay no attention.”
”I wish it had been the pony express,” murmured Jack regretfully. ”If I had taken the letters on the night ride I might have gotten safely through with them.”
”I don't hardly believe it,” the marshal told him. ”I guess those outlaws were watching the trail. They were bound to get them, and when they found you weren't going through with 'em they came in and blowed the safe.”
”I suppose so,” murmured Jack.
CHAPTER XXIV
JACK'S IDEA
Morning came. At least the dawn was heralded in the east, where the dark clouds turned to pink, growing brighter and brighter, until the sun himself peeped above the horizon.
The posse with which Jack was riding had come almost all the way to Rainbow Ridge, and so far had not had a sight of the robber or any of his confederates, if he had any, which was scarcely to be doubted.
”Well, boys, we may as well go back, I guess,” the marshal said. ”We'll have to organize a regular hunt, and scatter through the mountains. But we'll have to go back and get some grub. I'm getting hungry, and a man can't hunt a horse thief on an empty stomach.”
”That's right!” several of the men agreed.
”Why not keep on?” some one asked. ”We can get to Rainbow Ridge quicker than we can to Golden Crossing.”
”That's true,” added Jack. ”I'd ask you all to our cabin, but there's nothing there to eat, since dad is being taken care of by Mrs. Watson.”
”Oh, we can get grub easily enough,” the sheriff said. ”I guess it will be as well to go on to Rainbow Ridge. We want to spread the news there anyhow, and get some men out after the robbers from this end. And I suppose you'll have to report the robbery, won't you?” he asked Jack.
”Yes,” replied the pony express rider, and his voice was sad. ”I'll have to admit that they got the best of me.”
”Oh, shucks! It wasn't your fault at all!” declared the marshal. ”Those fellows were bound to get the letters, and if they didn't one way they would another. You couldn't help it.”
”But I was asleep right alongside the safe.”
”Yes, but maybe they chloroformed you. Such things have been done.”
”No, that wasn't done,” declared Jack with conviction.
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