Part 20 (1/2)

”It's quite clear that something's wrong,” cried Ned Sinton, entering the tent hastily, ”we must up and search for him. The captain's not the man to lose his way with a compa.s.s in his pocket and so many landmarks round him.”

All the party rose at once, and began to buckle on belts and arm, while eagerly suggesting plans of search.

”Who can make a torch?” inquired Ned.

”Here's one ready made to hand,” cried Maxton, seizing a huge pine-knot and lighting it.

”Some one must stay behind to look after our things. The new-comers who camped beside us to-day are not used to mining life, and don't sufficiently know the terrors of Lynch law. Do you stop, Maxton. Now then, the rest of you, come along.”

Ned issued from the tent as he spoke, and walked at a rapid pace along the track leading up the valley, followed closely by Tom Collins, Larry O'Neil, and Bill Jones--all of whom were armed with rifles, revolvers, and bowie-knives. For a long time they walked on in silence, guided by the faint light of the stars, until they came to the flat rock which had formed the captain's dinner-table. Here they called a halt, in order to discuss the probability of their lost comrade having gone up the ravine.

The question was soon settled by Larry, who discovered a few crumbs of the biscuit lying on the rock, and footprints leading up the ravine; for the captain, worthy man, had stepped recklessly into the little stream when he went to fill his pannikin, and his wet feet left a distinct track behind him for some distance.

”He can't have gone far up such a wild place as this,” said Tom Collins, while they moved cautiously along. ”Kindle the torch, Ned, it will light us on our way, and be a guide to the captain if he's within sight.”

”It will enlighten enemies, too, if any are within range,” replied Ned, hesitating.

”Oh, no fear,” rejoined Tom, ”our greatest enemy is darkness; here, Jones, hand me your match-box.”

In a few seconds the torch flared forth, casting a broad glare of light on their path, as they advanced, examining the foot of precipices.

”Give a shout, Larry,” said Ned.

Larry obeyed, and all listened intently, but, save the echo from the wild cliffs, no reply was heard.

Had the captain been wide-awake at the time, he would, doubtless, have heard the friendly shout, but his ears were dull from prolonged watching. It was thought needless to repeat the cry, so the party resumed their search with anxious forebodings in their hearts, though their lips were silent.

They had not proceeded far, however, when the noise occasioned by the captain's fall from the tree, as already described, struck upon their ears.

”Och! what's that?” exclaimed Larry, with a look of mingled surprise and superst.i.tious fear.

For a minute the party seemed transformed into statues, as each listened intently to the mysterious sounds.

”They come from the other side of the point ahead,” remarked Ned, in a whisper. ”Light another torch, Larry, and come on--quick!”

Ned led the way at a run, holding one of the torches high above his head, and in a few minutes pa.s.sed round the point above referred to.

The glare of his torch immediately swept far ahead, and struck with gladsome beam on the now wakeful eye of the captain, who instantly greeted it with one of his own peculiarly powerful and eminently nautical roars.

”Hooroo!” yelled Larry, in reply, das.h.i.+ng forward at full speed. ”Here we are all right, capting, comin' to the rescue; don't give in, capting; pitch into the blackguards--”

”Look out for the grizzly-bear,” roared the captain, as his friends advanced at a run, waving their torches encouragingly.

The whole party came to a dead halt on this unexpected caution, and each c.o.c.ked his piece as they looked, first into the gloom beyond, and then at each other, in surprise and perplexity.

”Halloo! captain, where are you?” shouted Ned.

”And where's the bear!” added Tom Collins.

”Right in front o' you,” replied the captain, ”about fifty yards on.

The bear's at the bottom o' the tree, and I'm a-top of it. Come on, and fire together; but aim _low_, d'ye hear?”