The Silver Canyon | Page 7

from the Indian camp.
"If one of ours hears that," muttered Joses, "he'll answer, and the Indians will be down upon us before we know where we are."
CHAPTER FOUR.
THE NIGHT ALARM.
Bart Woodlaw had not been keeping his renewed watch long before he heard a step behind him, and, turning sharply, found himself face to face with Dr Lascelles.
"Well, my boy," he said, "is all right?"
"I think so, sir. Did you hear anything?"
"No, my boy, I woke up and just came to see how matters were going. Any alarm?"
"Yes, sir, and no, sir," replied Bart.
"What do you mean?" exclaimed the Doctor sharply.
"Only that Joses woke up, sir, and I found him watching that mass of rock which you can see out yonder. That one sir--or--no!--I can't see it now."
"Why?" said the Doctor, in a quick low decisive tone; "is it darker now?"
"Very little, sir; but perhaps Joses was right: he said he thought there must be a fire out there to make it stand out so clearly, and--"
"Well? speak, my boy! Be quick!"
"Perhaps he was right, sir, for I cannot see the rock there at all."
"Where is Joses? Why did he not go and see?" exclaimed the Doctor sharply.
"He has been gone nearly an hour, sir, and I was expecting him back when you came."
"That's right! But which way? Joses must feel that there is danger, or he would not have left the camp like this."
Bart pointed in the direction taken by their follower, and the Doctor took a few hasty strides forward, as if to follow, but he came back directly.
"No. It would be folly," he said; "I should not find him out in this wild. Depend upon it, Bart, that was an Indian fire and camp out beyond the ridge yonder, and he suspected it. These old plainsmen read every sign of earth and sky, and we must learn to do the same, boy, for it may mean the saving of our lives."
"I'll try," said Bart earnestly. "I can follow trail a little now."
"Yes, and your eyes are wonderfully keen," replied the Doctor. "You have all the acute sense of one of these hunters, but you want the power of applying what you see, and learning its meaning."
Bart was about to reply, but the Doctor began walking up and down impatiently, for being more used than his ward in the ways of the plains, he could not help feeling sure that there was danger, and this idea grew upon him to such an extent that at last he roused the men from their sleep, bidding them silently get the horses ready for an immediate start, should it be necessary; and while this was going on, he went into the tent.
"Maude--my child--quick!" he said quietly. "Don't be alarmed, but wake up, and be ready for a long ride before dawn."
Maude was well accustomed to obey promptly all her father's orders, and so used to the emergencies and perils of frontier life that she said nothing, but rapidly prepared for their start, and in a few minutes she was ready, with all her little travelling possessions in the saddle-bags and valise that were strapped to her horse.
Just as the Doctor had seen that all was nearly ready, and that scarcely anything more remained to be done than to strike the little tent, Joses came running up.
"Well! what news?" said the Doctor, hurriedly.
"Injun--hundreds--mile away," said the plainsman in quick, sharp tones. "Hah! good!" he added, as he saw the preparations that had been made.
"Bart, see to Maude's horse. Down with the tent, Joses; Harry, help him. You, Juan and Sam, see to the horses."
Every order was obeyed with the promptitude displayed in men accustomed to a life on the plains, and in a very few minutes the tent was down, rolled up, and on the side of the waggon, the steeds were ready, and all mounting save Juan, who took his place in front of the waggon to drive its two horses, Dr Lascelles gave the word. Joses went to the front to act as pioneer, and pick a way unencumbered with stones, so that the waggon might go on in safety, and the camp was left behind.
Everything depended now upon silence. A shrill neigh from a mare would have betrayed them; even the louder rattle of the waggon wheels might have had that result, and brought upon them the marauding party, with a result that the Doctor shuddered to contemplate. There were moments when, in the face of such a danger, he felt disposed to make his way back to civilisation, dreading now to take his child out with him into the wilderness. But there was something so tempting in the freedom of the life; he felt so sanguine of turning his knowledge of metallurgy to some account; and what was more,