CHAPTER XV--A LONELY RIDE
The surprise of the trapper at first made him speechless, as he gazedat his young companion. He had been aware that Reuben had left thecamp, but as yet he was without any suspicion that evil had befallenthe lad.
"Where did you come from? Why are you here?" he demanded slowly, as headvanced to the place where Reuben was standing.
"I came because they made me come," replied the boy somewhat ruefully."They cut me off in the valley, so I couldn't get back to the camp, andthen they tied me up and made me come."
"You were very good to consent," replied Kit Carson dryly.
"That wasn't the point," laughed Reuben, immensely relieved now that hewas once more among his friends. "It wasn't whether I wanted to come,it was simply because I couldn't get away!"
"How far do you think you have come?"
"I haven't any idea. It seems like a long way."
"It's a hundred miles."
"Whew!" whistled Reuben. "The way we came when we first started made methink that you were close on our heels. I never saw a band go fasterthan they did, and they kept the horses well together, too. Why didn'tyou overtake us?"
"The redskins had too good a start. Some of the men thought we oughtnot to keep on."
"Why not?"
"Because they said they were hiding among some of the gulches in theSierras, and we never would stand any chance of getting them, whilethere was every chance that they would get us."
"But it has turned out all right," laughed Reuben. "You have found meand you have got back your horses."
"Yes, and we got some redskins, too," added the guide quietly. As hespoke he turned toward the place where several of the fallen bodieswere lying, and after he had examined every one to make sure that allwere lifeless he turned once more to his followers and said: "I don'tthink there is much danger of the rascals following us, but at the sametime I think we had better start back for camp."
His suggestion was speedily acted upon. The horses of the trappers hadtravelled so fast and so far that some of them were well-nighexhausted. In spite of their condition, however, Kit Carson insistedupon the men rapidly withdrawing from the region. Reuben, as a matterof course, had joined the band, his heart lighter, now as he wasconfident that his troubles were ended. His own pony was in bettercondition than those of his companions, and it was not difficult forhim to maintain the speed at which they were riding.
When two hours had elapsed and the sun had disappeared from sight, atthe word of Kit Carson the men halted in a narrow ravine, and afterguards had been established on each side of the camp, preparations forsupper were made speedily.
These preparations, however, did not require much time, as the supplieswhich the men had brought with them had been mostly consumed. KitCarson and his young companion entered into the nearby region hoping todiscover a deer or some birds which they might secure for supper. Theirefforts, however, were unavailing, as no signs of any living animalwere seen. When they returned to the camp the jerked venison which hadprovided the diet for the past twenty-four hours was all the food inthe possession of the trappers.
To Reuben the supper was tempting, because in the swiftness of theflight of his captors they had stopped only twice to eat, although theyhad halted several times for rest or to discover whether or not theirenemies were close upon their trail.
Before midnight, at the call of the leader, the men once more rodeforward, and driving before them the ponies which they had reclaimed,they resumed their journey toward their camp.
No signs of pursuit had been discovered, and the quiet declaration ofCarson that the redskins would not attempt to follow them was acceptedby all the men as correct. The loss of so many of the warriors--foreight had fallen at the first fire--doubtless had alarmed the Indians,who in their flight were not fully aware of the numbers in theattacking party.
On the fourth day the band, with the horses which they had retaken fromthe Indians, re-entered the camp. Kit Carson and Reuben at the timeformed the rear guard, so that they were unable to hear the words ofwelcome which were given the returning men when first their presencewas discovered. In a brief time, however, the shouts were redoubledwhen the stolen horses were all made secure and the leader and Reubenrejoined their companions.
"How did you do it, Kit?" called Jake.
"We just kept at it."
"How far did you go?"
"Better than one hundred miles."
Jake whistled and said: "We never believed you would keep up. When youdidn't come back at the end of the first day we began to thinksomething must have happened to you and we were going to send a partyout to rescue you."
"That was mighty good of you," replied Kit Carson demurely, "but I'mnot in the habit of giving up when I start."
"So it seems," laughed Jake. "I begin to understand why it is that themen are all willing to follow you."
"Why should we give up?" inquired the scout simply. "We started out toget the horses, didn't we?"
"Yes, but I've seen a good many men who were willing to start, butthat's as far as they ever got."
"Well, we started and we came back, and when we came back we had thehorses with us. That's all there is to the story."
The words of Kit Carson, however, belied the feeling of the camp. Therewas great enthusiasm among the men, who were loud in their praises ofthe young leader who had followed the fleeing Indians far beyond theregions where they had believed he would be able to make his way or todiscover their trail.
"It's all right now, anyway," said Kit quietly. "I'm ready to turn infor the night."
As soon as the simple supper had been prepared and eaten, all the menin the camp sought their blankets. The horses which had been restoredhad been hobbled, and the various guards of the camp had been so placedthat the approach of any one would be known at once.
The following day, after a long conference between the young scout andseveral of his men, Carson approached Reuben and said: "Do you thinkyou could find your way to San Gabriel if you were to go alone?"
"Yes," replied Reuben quietly. "I am sure I can."
"Through the Sierras?"
"Yes, through the mountains. It is a simple path to find."
Kit Carson smiled as he said: "I hope you'll find it so, because wewant to send you back to the mission."
"When am I to go?"
"Just as soon as you can get ready to start."
"I shall be ready in five minutes."
"That's the way to talk," said the scout quietly. "I'll tell you whatwe want just as soon as you are ready."
Within the time which he had allotted for his preparations Reuben hadall things in readiness for his departure. He had selected a pony whichhe was confident would be fleet and sure-footed, and his few belongingshad been packed on the back of the faithful animal. Kit Carson handedhim a letter, sealed and addressed to "Captain White, at the SanGabriel Mission."
"It is very important," said Kit Carson in a low voice to Reuben afterthe latter had mounted his pony. "Come back just as soon as you have ananswer. As I told you, it may be that there will be a man who will comewith you, but of that I am not sure. At all events you are to look outfor yourself, and don't get caught again by the redskins."
"Do you think I shall meet any?" inquired Reuben, startled by thesuggestion.
There was a quiet smile on the face of the scout as he said: "I don'tthink you'll have any trouble. About all the Indians out here on thecoast do is to steal our horses or traps and get away with our skins.Take care of the letter and don't lose it!"
Armed with his rifle, and with provisions sufficient for his journeystrapped upon the back of his sturdy little pony, Reuben departed fromthe camp. The way he was to follow lay for a time among the hills. Inthe heart of the excited boy there was a feeling of elation that he hadbeen selected for this journey. He was eager to show Kit Carson and hiscomrades that they could depend upon his coolness and that he would beable to make his way in safety to the old mission and there deliver his
message. He was mindful of the heat of the plains and of the length ofthe journey and consequently he did not urge his pony. At last he foundhimself among the narrow defiles of the bleak and towering Sierras.
It was not difficult for him to retrace the way by which he had comefrom the old mission the last time he had visited the station. It wasnow early in the morning, and he was hopeful that before sunset hewould once more be among the friendly Indians and the whites who dweltat San Gabriel.
The morning passed without any adventures, and the afternoon sun waswaning when at last Reuben entered a defile that was, as he recalledit, several miles long. On his left were stunted growths of trees andthe sides of the mountains sloped gently back with the valley. On theopposite side, however, the cliffs were steep and the mighty crags inplaces hung directly over his pathway. He was following the bed of astream, which was nearly dry, as the snows had largely disappeared fromthe slopes of the mountains. The sense of his absolute loneliness wasresting more heavily upon him now that he was tired from the long ride.
Suddenly the pony stopped and trembled violently in every muscle. Aninstant later the frightened animal did its utmost to leap forward, andit was only by using all his strength that Reuben was able to restrainhim. Then it was that he glanced behind him to discover the cause ofthe terror of his horse. His own alarm was hardly less when not morethan twenty yards behind him he saw the crouching figure of a mountainlion. The savage beast evidently was following him, occasionallyseeking the shelter of some huge rock, or climbing among the bushes. Itwas unusual, however, for such treacherous animals to come into theopen, as the one behind him now was doing, and for a moment Reuben wasat a loss to account for the tenacity with which the powerful beast hadbeen clinging to his trail.
Instantly Reuben raised his rifle to his shoulder and fired. At thatvery moment, however, his pony, maddened by terror, suddenly leapedforward, and the aim of the young hunter was destroyed. It was plain aninstant later that the savage mountain lion was unharmed.
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