California Joe, the Mysterious Plainsman | Page 6

'em by the men to use, and the women
can reload the other weapons. "I tell you, cap'n, that Bad Blood is an
old soldier for fighting, and he has got two hundred braves. "But if you
can knock about fifty under the first two volleys, and then pour the
music in pretty lively, you'll see those Injuns dig out in style." "You
seem to be an old soldier, too, Joe, for your advice is good and I will
follow it." "I've seen some fighting," was the cool reply, and then Joe
rode up to the stream and said: "Now here is camp, and you can't find a

better place." So it seemed, for the stream made a bend just there, and
the point ran in toward the bluff which formed the other bank. This
presented a space of about an acre for a camp, and the wagons were
stationed right across from the stream on one side to the other forming
thereby a breastwork. The cattle were corraled in a circle formed by the
vehicles, and the camp-fires were built near the bank beneath the bluff
and under the shelter of a few trees that grew upon the point of land. As
the stream was not thirty feet in width, a tree was felled that made a
bridge across it, and standing upon this, Joe very skillfully threw his
lasso and caught the noose upon the branch of the tree growing upon
the bluff forty feet above. Up this he went with the agility of a sailor,
and soon hauled up a rope ladder hastily constructed, and which he
made fast to a tree-stump. "That's called Gable Bluff, and there's no
way to get on top excepting you go up as I did, by fastening your lasso
on some tree growing near the edge. "It's only a few acres in size, and
the banks are steep all round, so it would be a good place to hide the
children and women," said Joe. Then he gave advice about not having
the guards set the following night, but to keep the stock feeding all the
next day near by upon the prairie but to fasten them securely in their
corral of wagons at sunset. "And the dummies you spoke of, Joe?"
asked Captain Reynolds. "Oh, yes; you must keep your camp-fires
burning brightly, and dress up plenty of clothes to look like men lying
under blankets, for they will be what the reds will go for.
"Now I must go, but I guess I'll be round near when the Injuns come,"
and without another word Joe was turning away to mount his patiently
waiting white horse that had stood unhitched near, when Captain
Reynolds's little girl of five years old came up to him and said: "You
doin' away?" "Yes," and Joe looked down upon the pretty little
golden-haired cherub, with a smile that lighted up his pale face and
made it really handsome. "Kiss Maddie dood-by," she lisped. He bent
over, raised in his arms, and kissed her, sat her down once more. Then
springing upon his horse, with the ease of a circus rider, he rode out of
camp at a sweeping gallop, unhearing, or unheeding the request of
Captain Reynolds for him to remain with them as their guest.

CHAPTER V.
JOE MAKES A GRAND CAPTURE.
FROM Captain Reynolds down to the smallest child in the train, all
were pleased with their camp, when daylight came to show them its
natural strength of position. The appearances of having scaled the bluff
were all removed before dawn, so that any Injun's watchful eye that
might be upon them, could not detect that any extraordinary efforts for
caution and defense had been made by the emigrants, and during the
day the hunters went off as far as they dared in pursuit of game. Yet
there was a feeling of anxiety resting upon all, for none knew what the
night would bring forth. One young hunter had detected afar off, over a
roll of the prairie, a head peering at him, apparently, and he had noticed
that it was a redskin and he reported it to Captain Reynolds, upon his
return to camp; but this was all that was seen in the slightest degree
suspicious. As for Joe, he was nowhere visible during the day, but the
captain had perfect confidence in the strange youth, and felt that he was
somewhere about, and on the watch. At last the shadows of night began
to fall, the cattle were driven in to the corral of wagons, and nearly all
the force set to work with a will, preparing for the work before them.
The wagons were ditched, so that they could not be easily moved, and
dirt and boxes were piled against them