Part 12 (1/2)

”I shouldn't wonder a bit, now, if that isn't it exactly,” said Fred, who was quite taken with the ingenious theory of his friend. ”It seems to me that the best thing that we can do is to ride on as fast as we can.”

”We've got to run the risk of it being all wrong, and fetching up in the bosom of the spalpeens; but it's moighty sure we don't make anything by standing here.”

The Irishman turned his horse as near the middle of the canon as possible.

Fred kept close to his side, his mustang behaving so splendidly that he gave him his unreserved confidence. The average width of the pa.s.s was about a hundred yards, so it will be understood that if a detachment of men were caught within it they would be compelled to fight at a fearful disadvantage.

The plan of Mickey and Fred, as they discussed it while riding along, was to keep up the moderate gallop until close upon the fire. They would then put their animals to the highest speed and pa.s.s the dangerous point as speedily as possible. They felt no little misgiving as they drew near the dangerous place, and they continually glanced upward at the rocks overhead, expecting that a party of Indians would suddenly make their appearance and open fire.

The first plan was, as they drew near, to run in as close as possible beneath the rocks on the left, in the belief that, as they overhung so much, the Indians above could not reach them with a shot. But before the time came to make the attempt, it was seen that it would not do.

Accordingly, Mickey, who had maintained a line as close as possible to the centre of the canon, suddenly sheered his mustang to the right, until he nearly grazed the wall there. Then he put him on a dead run, Fred Munson doing the same, with very little s.p.a.ce between the two steeds. A few plunges brought them directly opposite the signal-fire, and every nerve was strained.

Both beasts were capable of magnificent speed and the still air became like a hurricane as the hors.e.m.e.n cut their way through it. Fred glanced upward at the crest of the rocks on the left and fancied that he saw figures standing there, preparing to fire. He hammered his heels against the ribs of his mustang and leaned forward upon his neck, in the hope of making the aim as difficult as possible.

Still no reports of guns were heard; and, after continuing the terrific gait for a quarter of a mile, they gradually decreased it until it became a moderate walk, and the riders again found themselves side by side. Both had looked behind them a dozen times since pa.s.sing the dangerous point, but had not obtained a glimpse of an Indian.

”I thought I saw a number just as we were opposite,” said Fred; ”but, if so, what has become of them?”

”Ye didn't obsarve any at all, for I kipt raising me eye that way, and they weren't there. The whole thing is a moighty _puzzle_, as our tacher used to remark when the sum in addition became so big that he had to set down one number and carry anither. The spalpeens must have manufactured that fire for our benefit, and where's the good that it has done them?”

”Can't it be that it was for something else? Can't it be that they took us for Indians, or perhaps they haven't seen us at all, and don't know that we've pa.s.sed?”

”It does seem as if something of the kind might be, and yet that don't sthrike me as the Injin style of doing business.”

They continued their moderate pace for quite a distance further, continually looking back toward the camp-fire, the smoke from which continued to ascend with the same distinct regularity as before, but nothing resembling a warrior was detected. Finally a curve in the gorge shut out the troublesome signal, and they were left to continue their way and conjecture as much as they chose as to the explanation of what had taken place.

A little later, and when the afternoon was about half gone, they reached a portion of the pa.s.s which was remarkably straight, so that the eye took in a half mile of it, from the beginning to the point where another turn intervened. The two friends were galloping over this exact section and speculating as to how soon they would strike the open prairie, when all their calculations were knocked topsy-turvy. A party of hors.e.m.e.n charged around the bend in front, all riding at a sweeping gallop directly toward the alarmed Mickey and Fred, who instantly halted and surveyed them. A second glance showed them to be Indians, undoubtedly Apaches, and very probably Lone Wolf himself and some of his warriors.

”We must turn back,” said the Irishman, wheeling his horse about and striking him into a rapid gait. ”We've got to have a dead run for it, and I think we can win. Holy saints presarve us!”

This e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.i.o.n was caused by seeing, at that moment, another party of hors.e.m.e.n appear directly in their front, as they turned on the back trail.

Thus they were shut in on both sides, and fairly caught between two fires.

CHAPTER XV.

ON THE DEFENSIVE.

AT the moment of reining up their mustangs, the fugitives were about equidistant between the two fires, and it was just as dangerous to advance as to retreat. For one second the Irishman meditated a desperate charge, in the hope of breaking through the company that first appeared in his path, and, had he been alone, or accompanied by a man, he would have done so. But, slight as was his own prospect of escape, he knew there was absolutely none for the boy in such a desperate effort, and he determined that it should not be made.

”Can't we make a dash straight through them?” asked Fred, reading the thought of Mickey, as he glanced from one to the other, and noted the fearfully rapid approach of the redskins.

”It can't be done,” replied the Irishman. ”There is only one thing left for us.”

”What is that?”

”Do as I do. Yonder is an opening that may serve us for awhile.”

As he spoke, he slipped off his steed, leaving him to work his own will.