California Joe, the Mysterious Plainsman | Page 5

miles from here, and their spies have been watching you all
day." "They would have come nearer, but are afraid of me." "Afraid of
you?" "Yes, they think I am a spook, or what they call an Evil Spirit." It

was on the tip of Captain Reynolds's tongue to say: "I don't blame them;
for we half thought so too." But he said instead: "What makes them
think so?" "Because I live alone on the prairies, and in the forests and
hills." "Have you no home?" "No." "Where are your parents?" "I have
no parents," was the reply, in the same tone in which he had before
spoken. "But you have friends?" "I have no friends." "And you live in
this wild land alone?" "Yes." "But, the Indians--" "They don't harm me.
I harm them," was the laconic response. Captain Reynolds saw that he
had a strange character to deal with, but was anxious to find out more
about him, so asked: "How long have you--" "Say, stranger, I didn't
come here to be asked questions, but to tell you that your train is in
danger," abruptly said the youth, and he continued: "My name, as I told
you, is Joe, and I wander about the prairies, and that is all you need
know about me; but I now that old Bad Blood and two hundred
warriors are laying for your train. "If you go on to-morrow, you run
right into their ambush, but if you stay here, they will come to-morrow
night and attack you." "How do you know this, my young friend Joe?"
"I know Injuns' ways, and Bad Blood is on the war-path. "If you went
right on he would wait for you, but it you did not, he'd think you
stopped for rest and attack you." "And what would you advise?" "My
advice would be to lay a trap for Bad Blood." "But how, Joe?" "A mile
further on is a stream with the prairie on one side and a bluff on the
other. "On the bluff is a thicket, and the hills rise beyond. "You can
camp on the prairie, making a corral of your wagons, make dummies
about the fires, and put all the women and children in a dugout you an
make, while you and your men can take the bluff and shoot down every
Indian that comes into camp."
"Well, Joe, you advise like a general and we will follow your advice.
"When would you say move?" "Now, and I will guide you to the spot,
and then when the Injuns attack you, I'll be around somewhere," was
the very significant reply of the strange youth..

CHAPTER IV.

PREPARING FOR THE WORST.
SOMEHOW, all in the emigrant train, once they looked into the honest
face of the mysterious youth who answered only to the appellation of
Joe, trusted him.. The grumblers became silent, and the entire train was
anxious to follow his advice. He sat upon his horse watching the
emigrants get ready for the march, and then rode on ahead as they
pulled out of camp. Captain Reynolds rode forward with him, and more
and more interested in the strange youth, tried to draw him out to speak
more of himself; but in vain, for Joe was reticent in a wonderful degree
about himself, and made no account of why he was there in that wild
region, the reason for his coming or whom he had come with. In
referring to the graves in the forest, by which he had been seen seated
on his horse, when first discovered by the hunters, he made no reply.
"Whose graves are they, Joe?" asked Captain Reynolds, kindly. Joe
made no response. "Poor boy, I fear those you loved are in them, and
that they were victims of some massacre," said Captain Reynolds. How
many fighting men have you got, cap'n?" asked Joe, as though he had
not heard the foregoing remarks of his companion. "Twenty-seven,
men and boys that can handle a rifle well." "Couldn't you drum up a
few more?" "There are several more boys that might be made useful."
"Boys are as good as men often, I guess," was the laconic response, and
looking at Joe, Captain Reynolds felt that be at least he was. "Well,
then, I can make the force thirty-one." "No women what know how to
shoot a rifle?" asked Joe, with utter disregard for the proprieties of the
Queen's English. "Yes, but I wouldn't have them risk danger." "Better
risk it than make it certain." "How do you mean Joe?" "That if you got
any women-folks that can shoot, take 'em on the bluff with you, and
pour in a heavy fire the first time. "Then if you've got any extra rifles
and shot-guns, load 'em and lay