Part 15 (1/2)

”I should think that that rifle-shot is proof enough that somebody is firing into them.”

”Be the powers, but ye know little of Injin devilments, as I've larned 'em from Soot Simpson. How do ye know but that's a thrick to make these Apaches belave that there's but a single Kiowa over there popping at them, when there may be half a hundred waiting for the chance to clean them out?”

”Maybe that is Sut himself; you know you have been expecting him.”

”It can't be him,” replied Mickey, with a shake of his head. ”He would have showed himself long ago, when he could be sure of helping us. There must be some redskins over there that have put up a job on Lone Wolf and his scamps.”

”Whoever it is, whether one or a dozen, they are helping us mightily.”

”So it looks, though they don't mean it for that, and after driving these spalpeens away, they may come over to clean us out themselves.”

Nothing was heard of the redskins above for a considerable time after the shot mentioned. Then the body was suddenly whisked out of sight. It is a principle with Indians to bring away their dead from any fight in which they may have fallen. At the imminent risk of losing his own life a warrior had stolen up and drawn away the remains of his former comrade.

The mysterious shots seemed to come from the other side of the ravine, and they naturally had a very demoralizing effect upon the party. Lone Wolf was not only brave, but sagacious and prudent. He was not the chief to allow his warriors to stand idly and permit themselves to be picked off one by one by an unseen enemy. But for the latter, he would have descended into the fissure, and, with several of his most reliable braves, captured and secured Mickey and his companion at all hazards. But what a.s.surance could he have that after he and his men had entered the little ravine, a whole party of Kiowas would not swarm in, overwhelm them, and make off with their horses? So the leader concluded for the time being to remain outside, where his line of retreat would be open, while he could arrange his plans for disposing of the whites at his leisure.

Lone Wolf dispatched two of his most skillful scouts, one to the right, the other to the left, with orders to get to the rear of the enemy, no matter how long a detour was necessary. In case they were unable to extinguish them, they were to signal or return for a.s.sistance. After sending off his trusty messengers, Lone Wolf concluded to hold back until their return, keeping himself and his braves pretty well concealed, but guarding against the capture of their horses in the ravine below, or the escape of the two fugitives, who might attempt to take advantage of the diversion.

At the end of an hour, nothing had been seen or heard of the Apache scouts sent out, and the chief dispatched another to learn what was going on, and what was the cause of the trouble. During this hour not a rifle-shot was detected by the waiting, listening ears. Another half hour pa.s.sed away, and the third man sent out by Lone Wolf came back alone, and with astounding tidings.

He had found both of the warriors lying within a few yards of each other, stone dead. He sought for some explanation of the strange occurrence, but found none, and returned with the news to his leader.

The latter was about as furious as a wild Indian could be, without exploding. Lone Wolf had his own theory of the thing, and he inquired particularly as to the manner in which the fatal wounds seemed to have been inflicted. When they were described, all doubt was removed from the mind of the chieftain.

He knew where the fatal shots came from, and he determined that there was no better time to ”square accounts.” Calling the larger portion of his company about him, he started backward and away from the ravine, his purpose being to reach the rear of his enemy by a long detour.

CHAPTER XVIII.

AN OLD ACQUAINTANCE.

All this was grist for Mickey and Fred. The long silence and inaction--so far as these two were concerned--of the Apaches convinced the fugitives that some important interruption was going on, and that it could not fail to operate in the most direct way in their favor. It was well into the afternoon when the collision occurred between them and the Apaches, and enough time had already pa.s.sed to bring the night quite close at hand. An hour or so more, and darkness would be upon them.

”I don't belave the spalpeens have found put just the precise spot where we've stowed away,” said Mickey, in his cautious undertone, to his companion, ”for I've no evidence that such is the case.”

”They may take it into their heads to come into the fissure again, and then where are we?”

”Right here, every time. We couldn't get a better spot, unless it might be at the mouth.”

”Don't you think we had better go there?” asked the lad, who could not feel the a.s.surance of his friend.

”I see nothing to be gained by the same, as Tim O'Loony said when some one told him that honesty was the best policy. If we start to return there, they'll find out where we are, and begin to roll stones on us. I don't want to go along, dodging rocks as big as a house, wid an occasional rifle-shot thrown in, by way of variety.”

”Don't you fear they will creep in and try to surprise us?”

”Not before dark, and then we can s.h.i.+ft our position.”

”Do you believe there is any hope at all for us in the way of getting out?”

The Irishman was careful not to arouse too strong hopes in the breast of the lad, and he tried to be guarded in his reply: