CHAPTER XXV.
THE HORSE-THIEVES.
All four slept soundly, but the visitors awoke first.
"Are you awake, Tom?" inquired Mosely.
"I should say so," answered his friend.
Bill Mosely raised himself on his elbow and surveyed Ben andBradley. Their deep, tranquil breathing showed that they were soundasleep.
Mosely next glanced at the mustangs which were tethered near-by.
"Tom," said he, "I wish we had them mustangs. It's a deal easierridin' than walkin'."
"I should say so."
"When I struck this party last night I meant to have 'em; but thisman is such a bloody ruffian that I don't know as it would be safe."
Hadley said nothing. His customary phrase would not apply, and hewas a man of few words, besides.
"What did he say he would do if a fellow stole his horses, Tom?"
"Said he'd die within a week," answered Had-ley, with unfailingmemory.
Bill Mosely looked discouraged. He privately thought Bradley wasjust the man to keep his word, and he did not fancy getting intodifficulty with him.
"That depends on whether he caught him," he said, after a while,hopefully.
"I should say so, Bill."
"Now," said Mosely, lowering his voice, "if we could get away whilethey are asleep, there wouldn't be much chance of their knowin'where we were."
"That's so, Bill."
"Anyway, if we don't take 'em we may be overtaken by the party thatwe borrowed some gold-dust from."
Tom Hadley responded in his customary manner.
"And that would be mighty bad luck," continued Mosely, with ashudder.
"I should say so, Bill."
In fact, Mosely felt that their situation was not likely to be madeworse by a new theft. Only thirty miles away was a party of minerswith whom they had worked in company, but without much success,till, emboldened by temptation and opportunity, they had stolen abag of gold-dust from a successful comrade, and fled under cover ofthe night.
In the primitive state of society at the mines, stealing was acapital offense, and if they were caught their lives would probablypay the penalty. Even now some of the injured party might be ontheir track, and this naturally inspired them with uneasiness. Thusthey were between two fires, and, in spite of the fear with whichBradley had inspired them, it looked as if another theft wouldconduce to their safety. If they carried away the mustangs, Bradleyand Ben, even if they hit on the right trail, would have to pursuethem on foot, and among the Sierras a man is no match for a mustangin speed and endurance.
"I've a great mind to carry off them mustangs," said Moselythoughtfully. "Are you with me?"
"I should say so."
"Why don't you ever say something else, Tom?" demanded Moselyimpatiently.
"What do you want me to say?" asked Hadley, in surprise.
"Well, never mind; it's your way, I suppose, and I can rely uponyou."
"I should say so."
Mosely shrugged his shoulders. It was clearly idle to expect anygreat variety in Tom Hadley's conversation.
"Whatever we do must be done quickly," he said, in a quiet, decidedtone. "They'll wake up before long, and there won't be any chance.You, Tom, take that near animal, and I'll tackle the other. Jestuntie them quiet and easy, and when I say the word start. Do youunderstand?"
"I should say so, Bill," said Hadley, nodding.
"Then here goes."
In a few seconds they had loosened the mustangs and had sprung upontheir backs.
"Now, go!" exclaimed Mosely, in a energetic whisper.
So on their stolen horses they drew stealthily away from the camptill they were perhaps a furlong away, and then, putting themustangs to their speed, they soon put a distance of miles betweenthem and their sleeping owners. They would have liked to remain longenough to have a trout breakfast, but that was impracticable.
The Young Explorer; Or, Claiming His Fortune Page 25
