Part 26 (1/2)
Before he was half-way back to camp the moon appeared above the mountain peak behind him, and the rugged scenery was lit up by the rays that streamed on every side. He paused where he could observe the gleam of his own camp-fire at the mouth of the cavern, while, by turning his head, he saw the twinkle of the one he had left behind. All between lay as silent as the tomb.
”I bluffed it pretty heavy,” he reflected, ”and I guess it'll work with them bucks; I ain't so sartin of Motoza, fur if he has had anything to do with the taking off of that younker he's covered up his tracks pretty well and it'll be hard work to run him down, but _I'll do it_!” he savagely exclaimed, as he resumed his strides toward his own camp.
As he drew near he caught sight of the unconscious figure of Jack Dudley, sitting with his back against the rock. The moon revealed him clearly, and the cowman approached him with noiseless step.
”Poor fellow! he come out here to watch, thinking he couldn't sleep, and now he's good for nothing till sunup.”
Hank leaned over and tenderly adjusted the blanket around the figure of the handsome youth, as his mother might have done had she been present.
Then pa.s.sing within the cavern, he lay down and slept until the night was ended.
The presence of the lad on the outside of the cavern showed that he knew of the departure of the guide. Hank, therefore, explained his reason for leaving him, and told him all that had occurred.
”The first thing to do, younker, is to find Motoza; that's what I'm going to do. You can't stand it to be alone with yourself, so you can come with me, though I hain't no idee that you'll be able to give any help.”
”I hope I shall; though, if you think there is more chance of success in making the hunt alone, I'll do the same.”
Hank was silent a moment, as if considering the matter, but he quickly added:
”Come along. But how about breakfast?”
”I haven't the least appet.i.te.”
”I thought so by your looks,” he said, sympathizingly. ”I'm blamed sorry fur you, and hope your appet.i.te will soon come back to you.”
”It will as soon as we find Fred,” said Jack, with a faint smile; ”but what about yourself?”
”It's all the same; if we had meat here I'd cook and eat it; but I'm willing to go a day or two, if I haven't the time to take any meals.”
”That's strange!” broke in Jack; ”yonder comes a white man; he must be one of your acquaintances, though I never saw him before.”
Hazletine turned round in surprise. A tall white man, dressed as a cowboy, with long dangling yellow hair and a thin mustache and goatee, and with rifle slung over his shoulder, had appeared on the further side of the plateau, and was approaching the couple at a deliberate pace.
”Wal, I'm hanged!” exclaimed Hazletine; ”if there isn't Bill Tozer! He's the last man I expected to meet in these parts.”
These words did not bring Jack Dudley much enlightenment, but he felt no special curiosity concerning the individual, and silently waited till he came up. The youth judged from the manner of the guide, however, that he was not overly pleased with the new arrival, whose countenance was not attractive. Nevertheless, the two shook hands with seeming cordiality, and the new-comer looked inquiringly at Jack.
”This is a friend of mine, Bill, that I took out on a hunt t'other day with another younker; Jack Dudley, Bill Tozer.”
”Glad to know you,” said the man heartily; ”I see you're a tenderfoot.”
”Yes,” replied Jack; ”less than two weeks ago I had never set foot in Wyoming.”
”Wal, now that's funny; you'll like the country after you get used to it.”
”Would to heaven I had never seen it!” was the bitter exclamation of the youth, hardly able to keep back his tears.
”Sorry to hear that, my young friend; but cheer up; it'll come out all right.”
It struck Jack that this was a singular remark for the man to make, for it sounded as if he knew the cause of Jack's emotion; but before the boy could seek enlightenment the man made a more extraordinary remark: