THE 
 came TRHIL 
 
 NRLF 
 
 BY 
 
 EDWAR.D 
 S,LLIS 
 
FOEE8T AND PEAIEIE 8ERlE8-No. 1 
 
 THE GREAT CATTLE TRAIL 
 
 BY 
 
 EDWARD S. ELLIS 
 
 AUTHOR OF THE "WYOMING SERIES," "LOO CABIN SERIES 
 "DEEHFOOT SERIES," ETC. 
 
 THE JOHN C. WINSTON CO., 
 
 PHILADELPHIA, 
 CHICAGO, TORONTO. 
 
COPYRIGHT, I894 
 
 BY 
 POETER & COATBSk 
 
47 
 
 q 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER PAGE 
 
 I. AT THE RANCH 1 
 
 II. AN ALARMING INTERRUPTION, . . 10 
 
 III. JUST IN TIME, 19 
 
 IV. A DESPERATE VENTURE, . . . . 28 
 V. UPSTAIRS AND DOWNSTAIRS, ... 36 
 
 VI. DINAH'S DISCOVERY, .... 44 
 
 VII. DINAH'S EXPLOIT, . . . .52 
 
 VIII. IN THE MESQUITE BUSH, . . . > . 61 
 
 IX. AT FAULT, ....... 69 
 
 X. A SURPRISE, 77 
 
 XI. CHANGING PLACES, . ... . . .85 
 
 XII. ON THE ROOF, ...... 94 
 
 XIII. A DEAD RACE, 102 
 
 XIV. THE FRIEND IN NEED, .... Ill 
 XV. VANISHED, 119 
 
 XVI. CLEVERLY DONE, 127 
 
 XVII. AT FAULT, . . . . . . .132 
 
 XVIII. AN UNEXPECTED QUERY, . . . 143 
 
 XIX. DOWN THE LADDER, . . . . . 151 
 
 XX. " THE BOYS HAVE ARRIVED," . . . 159 
 
 XXI. THROUGH THE BUSH, . . . . .167 
 
 XXII. THUNDERBOLT, . . . . . . 180 
 
 iii 
 
iv 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER 
 
 
 PAGE 
 
 XXIII. 
 
 "GOOD-BY!" 
 
 . 191 
 
 XXIV. 
 
 A STRANGE DELAY, 
 
 203 
 
 XXV. 
 
 HEADING NORTHWARD, 
 
 . 216 
 
 XXVI. 
 
 A SHOT FROM THE DARKNESS, 
 
 . . 228 
 
 XXVII. 
 
 SHACKAYE, THE COMANCHE, 
 
 . . . 238 
 
 XXVIII. 
 
 A MISHAP, .... 
 
 247 
 
 XXIX. 
 
 OLD ACQUAINTANCES, . 
 
 . . .258 
 
 XXX. 
 
 AT BAY, . . . . 
 
 264 
 
 XXXI. 
 
 THE FLAG OF TRUCE, 
 
 . 276 
 
 XXXII. 
 
 DIPLOMACY, .... 
 
 288 
 
 XXXIII. 
 
 DRIVEN TO THE WALL, 
 
 . . .295 
 
 XXXIV. 
 
 THE FLANK MOVEMENT, 
 
 . . 301 
 
THE GBEAT CATTLE TRAIL. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 AT THE RANCH. 
 
 AVON BUENET, at the age of eighteen, 
 -^- was one of the finest horsemen that ever 
 scurried over the plains of Western Texas, 
 on his matchless mustang Thunderbolt. 
 
 He was a native of the Lone Star State, 
 where, until he was thirteen years old, he 
 attended the common school, held in a log 
 cabin within three miles of his home, after 
 which he went to live with his uncle, Captain 
 Dohm Shirril, with whom the orphan son of 
 his sister had been a favorite from infancy. 
 
 Avon was bright, alert, unusually active, 
 and exceedingly fond of horses from the time 
 he was able to walk. His uncle had served 
 through the Civil War in the Confederate 
 
2 THE GEEAT CATTLE TRAIL. 
 
 army, returning to Texas at the close of 
 hostilities, thoroughly "reconstructed," and 
 only anxious to recover his fortunes, which 
 had been scattered to the four winds of 
 heaven during the long, bitter struggle. 
 
 The captain had no children of his own, 
 and it was natural, therefore, that he and 
 his wife should feel the strongest attach- 
 ment for the boy who was placed in their 
 care, and who, should his life be spared, 
 would inherit whatever his new parents might 
 be able to leave behind them when called to 
 depart. 
 
 Avon had reached the age named, when to 
 his delight he was told that he was to accom- 
 pany the large herd of cattle which was to be 
 driven northward, through upper Texas, the 
 Indian Nation, and Kansas over the Great 
 Cattle Trail, along which hundreds of thou- 
 sands of hoofs have tramped during the years 
 preceding and following the War for the 
 Union. 
 
 Young as was our hero, he had served his 
 apprenticeship at the cattle business, and was 
 an expert at the round-up, in branding, in cut- 
 
AT THE KANCH. 3 
 
 ting out, in herding, and all the arduous re- 
 quirements of a cowboy's life. It was under- 
 stood, therefore, that he was to be rated as a 
 full hand among the eight men who, under his 
 uncle, were to have charge of two thousand 
 cattle about to start on the long tramp north- 
 ward. 
 
 "It's the hardest kind of work," said the 
 captain to his nephew, as the two sat in the 
 low, flat structure where the veteran made his 
 home, with his wife and one colored servant, 
 "but I haven't any fear that you will not pull 
 through all right." 
 
 "If I am not able to do so now, I never shall 
 be," replied Avon, with a smile, as he sat on 
 the rough, home-made stool, slowly whittling 
 a piece of wood, while his aunt, looking up 
 from her sewing, remarked in her quiet way : 
 
 "It will be lonesome without Avon." 
 
 "But not so bad as when uncle was off to 
 the war," ventured the youth, gazing affection- 
 ately at the lady. 
 
 The captain was sitting with his legs 
 crossed, slowly smoking the old briarwood 
 which he had carried through many a fierce 
 
4 THE GREAT CATTLE TRAIL. 
 
 campaign, and seemingly sunk in deep 
 thought. Like his nephew, he was clad in 
 the strong serviceable costume of the Texan 
 cowboy, his broad sombrero resting with 
 a number of blankets on pegs in the wall. 
 
 It was evening, with a cold, piercing wind 
 almost like one of the cutting northers blow- 
 ing around the homely structure. The herd 
 were gathered at a point about five miles to 
 the northward, whence the real start was to 
 be made at an early hour on the morrow. 
 This arrangement permitted the captain and 
 his young friend to spend their last night 
 at home. 
 
 "No," replied Mrs. Shirril, referring to the 
 last remark of her nephew, "there never can 
 be any worse days than those, when I did not 
 know whether your uncle had not been dead 
 for weeks or possibly months." 
 
 "You must have had pretty tough times, 
 aunt." 
 
 "Well, they might have been improved, 
 but Dinah and I managed to get along a great 
 deal better than some of our neighbors. 
 Here in Texas we were so far from the war 
 
AT THE RANCH. O 
 
 that I may say I never heard a hostile shot 
 fired, except by the Indians who came down 
 this way now and then." 
 
 " They were the same, I suppose, that still 
 trouble us." 
 
 " I believe so, mostly Comanches and some- 
 times Kioways, with perhaps others that we 
 didn't know. They did much to prevent our 
 life from becoming dull," added the brave 
 little lady, with another smile. 
 
 " The women in those days had to know 
 how to shoot the rifle, ride horses, and do the 
 work of the absent men." 
 
 " I don't know how we could have got along 
 if we hadn't learned all those things. For 
 years I never knew the taste of coffee, and 
 only rarely was able to obtain a pinch of 
 coarse brown sugar ; but we did not suffer for 
 meat, and, with the help of Dinah, we could 
 get a few things out of the earth, so that, on 
 the whole, I think I had much easier times 
 than my husband." 
 
 "I am not so sure of that," remarked Cap- 
 tain Shirril, rousing himself ; " we had rough 
 days and nights, beyond all doubt, but after 
 
6 THE GREAT CATTLE TRAIL. 
 
 all, there was something about it which had 
 its charm. There was an excitement in battle, 
 a thrill in the desperate ride when on a scout, 
 a glory in victory, and even a grim satisfaction 
 in defeat, caused by the belief that we were 
 not conquered, or that, if we were driven 
 back, it was by Americans, and not by 
 foreigners." 
 
 " That's an odd way of putting it," re- 
 marked the wife, "but was it not the high 
 health, which you all felt because of your 
 rough outdoor life ? You know when a per- 
 son is strong and rugged, he can stand almost 
 anything, and find comfort in that which at 
 any other time brings only wretchedness 
 and suffering." 
 
 " I suppose that had a good deal to do with 
 it, and that, too, may have had much to do 
 with sustaining you and Dinah in your 
 loneliness." 
 
 The captain raised his eyes and looked at 
 two old-fashioned muzzle-loading rifles, sus- 
 pended on a couple of deer's antlers over the 
 fireplace, and smiling through his shaggy 
 whiskers, said : 
 
AT THE RANCH. 7 
 
 "You found them handy in those days, 
 Edna?" 
 
 " We never could have got along without 
 them. They served to bring down a mav- 
 erick, or one of our own cattle, when we were 
 nearly starving, arid sometimes they helped 
 drive off the Indians." 
 
 Captain Shirril shifted his position, as 
 though uneasy over something. His wife, 
 who was familiar with all his moods, looked 
 inquiringly at him. 
 
 " What troubles you, Dohm ?" 
 
 " If I hadn't promised Avon that he should 
 go with me northward, I would make him 
 stay at home." 
 
 Wife and nephew stared wonderingly at him. 
 
 "The Comanches have been edging down 
 this way for more than a week past ; I believe 
 they mean to make trouble." 
 
 It would be supposed that such an 
 announcement as this caused dismay, but it 
 did not. Even Dinah, who was busy about 
 her household duties, and who heard the 
 remark, paused only a moment to turn up 
 her nose and say scornfully : 
 
8 THE GREAT CATTLE TRAIL. 
 
 "If dey've done forgot how we allers sarve 
 de likes ob dem, jes' let 'em try it agin. 
 Dat's all." 
 
 She was a tall, muscular negress, whom 
 an ordinary man might hesitate to make 
 angry. She passed to another part of the 
 room, after muttering the words, and 
 seemed to feel no further interest in a sub- 
 ject which ought to have made her blood 
 tingle with excitement. 
 
 "If the Comanches are hovering anywhere 
 
 in the neighborhood," said Mrs. Shirril in 
 
 her gentle way, "it is in the hope of running 
 
 off some of the cattle; you have them all 
 
 herded and under such careful care that this 
 
 cannot be done. When the Indians find you 
 
 have started northward with them, they will 
 
 follow or go westward to their hunting 
 
 grounds ; surely they will not stay Tiere" 
 
 "I wish I could believe as you do." 
 
 "And why can't you, husband?" 
 
 "Because Indian nature is what it is; 
 
 you understand that as well as I. Finding 
 
 that they cannot steal any of our cattle, 
 
 they will try to revenge themselves by 
 
AT THE RANCH. 9 
 
 burning my home and slaying my wife and 
 
 servant." 
 
 "But they have tried that before." 
 "True, but their failures are no ground 
 
 to believe they will fail again." 
 
 "It is the best ground we can have for 
 
 such belief." 
 
CHAPTER II. 
 
 AN ALARMING INTERRUPTION. 
 
 " ~T~F you think it best that I shall stay at 
 JL home, I will do so," said the young 
 man, striving hard to repress the disappoint- 
 ment the words caused him. 
 
 u No; you shall not," the wife hastened 
 to interpose; " every thing has been ar- 
 ranged for you to go with your uncle." 
 
 "Was there ever a wife like you?" 
 asked the captain admiringly ; " there is more 
 pluck in that little frame of yours, Edna, 
 than in any one of my men. Very well ; 
 Avon will go with us, but I can tell you, I 
 shall be uneasy until I get back again." 
 
 u We have neighbors," she continued, still 
 busy with her sewing, " and if we need help, 
 can get it." 
 
 " I declare," observed the captain grimly, 
 I forgot that ; Jim Kelton's cabin is only 
 
 i .LVALgVJl* LilLlli , <J LILL 
 
 10 
 
AN ALARMING INTERRUPTION. 11 
 
 eight miles to the south, and Dick Halpine's 
 is but ten miles to the east ; if the redskins do 
 molest you, you have only to slip in next 
 door and get all the help you want." 
 
 As we have said, it was a chilly night in 
 early spring. The moon was hidden by 
 clouds, so that one could see but a short dis- 
 tance on the open prairie. A fitful wind was 
 blowing, adding to the discomfort of outdoors, 
 and causing the interior of the cabin to be the 
 more comfortable by contrast. 
 
 But a few rods to the westward was a 
 growth of mesquite bush, in which the two 
 mustangs that the captain and his nephew 
 expected to ride were wandering at will. The 
 animals were so trained that either would 
 come at the whistle of his master, who, there- 
 fore, felt sure of finding him at command 
 when wanted that is, provided no outsiders 
 disturbed him. This mesquite growth, con- 
 sisting of open bushes which attain a height 
 of eight or ten feet, extended over an area of 
 several acres, affording the best kind of hid- 
 ing-place for man or animal. 
 
 The signs of their old enemies, the Co- 
 
12 THE GREAT CATTLE TRAIL. 
 
 manches, to which Captain Shirril referred, 
 had been noticed by his men, including young 
 Avon Burnet. They had seen the smoke of 
 camp-fires in the distance, had observed 
 parties of horsemen galloping to and fro, and, 
 in fact, had exchanged shots with the dusky 
 marauders when they ventured too near in 
 the darkness. 
 
 There could be no doubt that these fellows 
 were on the watch for a chance to stampede 
 the cattle, but the vigilance of the cowboys 
 prevented that disaster. Most of the latter 
 believed the Comanches would hover on 
 their flank, probably until the beasts were 
 well out of Texas and far over the line in the 
 Indian Nation or Kansas. That they would 
 stay behind to avenge themselves upon the 
 wife and servant of the captain was not to be 
 believed. The wife was equally certain on 
 that point, so their leader suffered himself 
 to be persuaded that his misgivings were 
 groundless. 
 
 But this feeling of security, which was felt 
 by all, suffered a startling interruption. 
 
 When Captain Shirril erected his humble 
 
AN ALARMING INTERRUPTION. 13 
 
 cabin several years before, he did not forget 
 the danger to which he was certain to be 
 exposed from the Indians. The wooden walls 
 were heavy and bullet-proof, and the door 
 was capable of being barred so strongly at 
 an instant's warning, that nothing less than 
 a battering ram could drive it inward. The 
 windows were too narrow to admit the pas- 
 sage of the most elongated redskin that ever 
 wormed himself into the camp of an enemy. 
 The structure was long and low, with an 
 upper story, in which the cowboys slept when- 
 ever it was advisable to do so. 
 
 "You have had so much experience with 
 this kind of business," said the captain, 
 4 'that I suppose I ought not to feel uneasy, 
 even if I knew you would be attacked, for 
 there are two guns here ready for you and 
 Dinah, and you have both proven that you 
 understand how to use the weapons ; there 
 is plenty of ammunition, too, and since you 
 have had full warning of what may possibly 
 take place " 
 
 At that instant the resounding report of 
 a rifle broke the stillness on the outside, 
 
14 THE GREAT CATTLE TEAIL. 
 
 there was a jingle of glass, and the pipe 
 which Captain Shirril had held in his mouth 
 while talking was shattered as if from the 
 explosion of a torpedo within the bowl. 
 
 Nothing could have shown the wonderful 
 training of this little family in the perils of 
 the frontier more strikingly than did their 
 actions at this moment. Not a word was 
 spoken, but almost at the instant the alarm- 
 ing occurrence took place, the captain, his 
 wife, and his nephew leaped backward with 
 lightning-like quickness. The movement 
 took the three out of range of the two win- 
 dows at the front of the house, with the 
 door midway between, those being the only 
 openings on the lower floor. 
 
 Dinah happened to be at the extreme rear, 
 where she was safe for the time. She was 
 about to advance, when checked by the crash 
 of the window pane and the crack of the rifle. 
 
 "For de Lawd's sake," she exclaimed, 
 "de warmints hab come!" 
 
 " So they have," replied the captain, rising 
 upright from his crouching posture, " and see 
 what they have done ! " 
 
AN ALARMING INTERRUPTION. 15 
 
 He held up the stem of his pipe, which he 
 had kept between his teeth during the excit- 
 ing moments, with such a grim expression of 
 woe that, despite the frightful incident, his 
 wife and even Avon smiled. 
 
 "It is a pity indeed," she said, "you will 
 have to use your new one, and I know how 
 much that will pain you." 
 
 "They shall pay for this," he added with a 
 shake of his head. 
 
 Fortunately the rifles of himself and 
 nephew were leaning in the corner, where 
 they could be readily seized without expos- 
 ing themselves to another treacherous shot. 
 The men laid hands on them at once. 
 
 The weapons were of the repeating kind, 
 and among the best that money could buy 
 in San Antonio. 
 
 The two guns belonging to Mrs. Shirril and 
 their servant rested together on the deer's 
 prongs over the mantel, and, to reach them, 
 one must expose himself to another shot from 
 the outside. 
 
 Following the rifle report, the sound of 
 horses' hoofs were heard galloping rapidly 
 
16 THE GREAT CATTLE TRAIL. 
 
 around the cabin. The captain listened in- 
 tently for a moment, holding one hand aloft 
 as a signal for the others to keep silent. 
 
 " There's fully a dozen of them," he said a 
 minute later in a low voice. 
 
 "But they know you and Avon are here," 
 added his wife, who was standing motionless 
 just behind him, without any evidence of 
 excitement except that her face was a shade 
 paler than usual. 
 
 "I should think so, judging from that," he 
 replied, spitting the stem of his pipe upon 
 the floor; "but I must get those guns for 
 you." 
 
 " Don't think of it," she persisted, laying 
 her hand on his shoulder; "you will surely 
 be shot, and there's no need of them yet." 
 
 "You may as well begin at once; you 
 haven't had any practice for months." 
 
 Gently removing the hand of his wife, 
 whom he loved as he did his life, the captain, 
 holding his own gun in hand, began moving 
 stealthily across the floor toward the fireplace. 
 Had he been on his feet, he must have been 
 observed by anyone in the position of the 
 
AN ALARMING INTERRUPTION. 17 
 
 savage that had fired the shot which was so 
 well-nigh fatal, but, while so close to the floor, 
 he would not be seen by any Comanche unless 
 he was quite close to the window. 
 
 The redskin might and might not be there : 
 that risk must be taken, or the guns would 
 have to be left alone for the time. 
 
 Mrs. Shirril was more disturbed than ever, 
 for she knew as well as did her husband the 
 risk he ran, but she knew, too, that, when he 
 once decided to do a thing, it was idle to seek 
 to restrain him. 
 
 The burning wood threw an illumination 
 through the room which rendered any other 
 light unnecessary, and the captain could not 
 have been in clearer view had the midday 
 sun been shining. Nevertheless he crept 
 slowly forward, until in front of the fireplace. 
 Then he paused to consider which of two 
 methods he had in mind- was the better for 
 obtaining the weapons. 
 
 The Comanches were still circling back and 
 
 forth on the outside, uttering their whoops 
 
 and firing their guns at intervals, though the 
 
 latter consisted of blind shooting, and was 
 
 2 
 
18 THE GREAT CATTLE TRAIL. 
 
 meant to terrify the defenders, since none of 
 the bullets found its way through either of 
 the windows. 
 
 Captain Shirril took but a few seconds to 
 decide upon his course of action. 
 
CHAPTER III. 
 
 JUST IN TIME. 
 
 as closely to the floor of the 
 J ' cabin as he could, the Texan advanced 
 until directly in front of the crackling fire, 
 when lie reached up with his Winchester, 
 which was grasped near the muzzle. By 
 this means he placed the stock directly 
 beneath the two weapons resting on the deer 
 antlers. 
 
 With a deftness that would hardly have 
 been expected, he raised both guns until 
 their stocks were lifted clear off their sup- 
 port, when he began gently lowering them, 
 so as to bring them within his reach. He 
 might have flirted them free by a single 
 quick movement and let them fall upon 
 the floor ; but he wished to avoid this, since 
 he ran the risk of injuring them. 
 
 None knew better than Avon Burnet 
 
 19 
 
20 THE GREAT CATTLE TKAIL. 
 
 great danger of this apparently simple act 
 on the part of his uncle. The chances were 
 so immeasurably in favor of his discovery 
 that he was certain it would take place. 
 While the wife and servant held their 
 breath in a torture of suspense, the youth, 
 with his cocked rifle firmly grasped, stole 
 softly along the side of the cabin until close 
 to the door. In reaching the spot, he stooped 
 so as to move beyond the first opening, the 
 proceeding placing him between the windows, 
 with his left elbow against the heavy door. 
 
 In this situation his nerves were at the 
 highest tension. Everything was in plain 
 sight, but he was listening intently to the 
 movements of his enemies. He heard the 
 sounds of the mustangs' hoofs, as they 
 circled swiftly about the cabin, sometimes 
 turning quickly upon themselves, and at 
 varying distances from the structure. Now 
 and then one or two of the horsemen would 
 rein up abruptly, as if striving to peer 
 through the openings, or about to apply for 
 admission. 
 
 It may seem incredible, but there is no 
 
JUST IN TIME. 21 
 
 reason to doubt the fact that, at the moment 
 Captain Shirril began cautiously reaching 
 upward with his weapon, the youth heard 
 one of the Comanches slip down from the 
 back of his mustang and approach the 
 door. His hand moved softly over the 
 rough surface, as though searching for the 
 latch string, which was generally hanging 
 out ; and, finding it not, he began stealing 
 to the window just beyond. 
 
 This was the very thing Avon dreaded 
 above all others, for it was inevitable that 
 he should detect the figure of the Texan 
 operating so guardedly in front of the fire. 
 
 Such proved to be the fact. Whether the 
 youth actually observed the action of the 
 Indian, or whether he fancied he heard him 
 moving along the side of the house, cannot 
 be said with certainty ; but a faint rustle in 
 front of the shattered glass made known 
 that the dusky miscreant was there, and 
 had detected the stratagem of the Texan, 
 who at that moment was in the act of 
 lowering the gun from the deer's prongs 
 over the mantel. 
 
22 THE GKEAT CATTLE TKAIL. 
 
 His uncle was so clearly in his field of 
 vision that, without looking at him, Avon 
 did not miss the slightest movement, but 
 his whole attention was fixed on the win* 
 dow, and it was well it was so. 
 
 "Look! look! Avon, do you see that?" 
 
 It was his aunt who uttered the terrified 
 question with a gasp, as she pointed at the 
 narrow opening. 
 
 The youth had observed the object which 
 appalled the lady ; the muzzle of a gun was 
 slowly gliding through the window. 
 
 Captain Shirril had been discovered, and 
 the Comanche was fixing his weapon in 
 position to fire a fatal shot. He might hare 
 stood back a couple of paces and discharged 
 it without revealing his presence, but a 
 better aim could be secured by thrusting a 
 few inches of the barrel into the room. 
 
 At the instant the dark muzzle showed 
 itself and the gleam of the firelight was 
 reflected from it, Avon leaned his own rifle 
 against the door at his side, quickly drew 
 his revolver from the holster at his hip, 
 sprang forward like a cat, and seizing the 
 
JUST IN TIME. 23 
 
 muzzle of the gun threw it upward toward 
 the ceiling. 
 
 It was done in the nick of time, for the 
 Comanche pressed the trigger just then, and 
 the bullet which, hajd Avon's action been de- 
 layed a single moment, would have killed 
 Captain Shirril, was buried in the timbers 
 overhead. 
 
 The daring act brought the youth directly 
 in front of the window, where for the instant 
 he was exposed to any shot from the out- 
 side. 
 
 As he made the leap he saw the face of the 
 warrior, agleam with paint and distorted with 
 passion, but slightly flustered by the unac- 
 countable occurrence. Before he could re- 
 cover, and at the same instant, Avon darted 
 his revolver through the shattered window 
 pane and let fly with two chambers in quick 
 succession. An ear-splitting screech and a 
 heavy fall left little doubt of the success of 
 the daring act. The Comanche had not only 
 been hit, but hit hard. 
 
 Although startled by the noise and flurry, 
 Captain Shirril was too much of a veteran to 
 
24 THE GREAT CATTLE TRAIL. 
 
 be taken at fault. His big right hand closed 
 around the two weapons for which he had run 
 all this risk, and partly straightening up, he 
 bounded to the rear of the little room with 
 three rifles secure in his grasp, and with not 
 a hair of his head harmed. 
 
 Avon was as much on the alert as he, and 
 reached the shelter at the same moment. 
 
 "It was confoundedly more risky than I 
 supposed," remarked the captain, with a 
 smile and a shake of his head, " but all's well 
 that ends well ; I guess you dropped him, my 
 boy." 
 
 "I shouldn't wonder, for I couldn't have 
 had a better chance," was the modest reply 
 of the youth. 
 
 "It was one of the neatest things I ever 
 saw, and I'm proud of you," exclaimed his 
 relative, slapping him affectionately on the 
 shoulder. U I said you would count as a full 
 hand on the trip to Kansas, but at this rate 
 you'll add up double." 
 
 Avon blushed as he used to do in school, 
 when his teacher praised him for excellent 
 lessons, and made no answer, but the eyes of 
 
JUST IN TIME. 25 
 
 his aunt kindled with love for the brave 
 fellow who, by his readiness of resource, had 
 saved her husband's life. Even Dinah, with 
 whom he had always been a favorite, added 
 an expression of affection for the boy who had 
 done so well. 
 
 There were now two men and two women 
 within the Texan's cabin, and each held a 
 trusty weapon, while there was plenty of 
 ammunition for all. It might well be asked, 
 therefore, what cause they had for alarm. 
 
 Outside were a dozen or more savage Co- 
 manches, who are among the finest horsemen 
 in the world, and who in fighting ability and 
 bravery are surpassed by none, unless the 
 Apaches of the Southwest. 
 
 It was a piece of daring on the part of these 
 dusky raiders thus to attack the cabin, when 
 they knew how well it was defended. Cap- 
 tain Shirril was probably right in supposing 
 they believed that he and his nephew were 
 with the rest of the cowboys, watching the 
 herd five miles away. Finding the couple 
 in the cabin, they could not resist the tempta- 
 tion to bring down the head of the household, 
 
26 THE GREAT CATTLE TRAIL. 
 
 after which they must have supposed the rest 
 would be an easy task. 
 
 But having failed, probably they would 
 have withdrawn but for the shot of Avon 
 Burnet, that had brought down one of their 
 best warriors, and their well-known desire for 
 revenge urged them to the most desperate 
 measures against the whites. 
 
 But a few minutes' whispered conference 
 at the rear of the cabin brought to light the 
 fact that every one of our friends, including 
 even Dinah, understood that their peril was 
 of the gravest nature conceivable. 
 
 The structure of the cabin was so thor- 
 oughly seasoned by its years of exposure that 
 it would be an easy matter for their assail- 
 ants to set fire to it, and that they would 
 make the attempt was not to be doubted. 
 They always prepared for such action, and 
 none knew better than they its fearful effec- 
 tiveness. 
 
 " We might reach the boys by means of the 
 reports of our guns," said the captain, "if the 
 wind were not the wrong way, but they won't 
 catch the first sound, especially as they will 
 
JUST IN TIME. 27 
 
 have their hands full in looking after the 
 cattle. " 
 
 "But dey will obsarve de light ob de fiah," 
 suggested Dinah. 
 
 " Undoubtedly, but when they do see it," 
 said her master, "it will be too late to help us. 
 They haven't a suspicion of anything of this 
 kind ; if they had, they would be down here 
 like so many cyclones." 
 
 " There is one way of letting them know," 
 said Avon. 
 
 "What's that ?" 
 
 "By carrying word to them, and Pm going 
 to try it!" 
 
CHAPTER IV. 
 
 A DESPERATE VENTURE. 
 
 THE family of Texans were not the ones 
 to indulge in sentimentality or useless 
 speculations when action was demanded. 
 The first feeling of amazement following 
 Avon's announcement of his resolution 
 quickly passed, but his uncle deemed it his 
 duty to impress upon him the desperate 
 nature of his scheme. 
 
 "I don't see one chance in twenty of your 
 succeeding," said he. 
 
 " And if I stay what are the chances for us 
 all?" 
 
 " Possibly one in a hundred." 
 
 "Then I shall go," he quietly replied, com- 
 pressing his lips as his fine eyes kindled. 
 
 " There is hope, if you can reach the bush, 
 but the rub will be to do that." 
 
 "They grow close to the house, and the 
 
A DESPERATE VENTURE. 29 
 
 Comanches will not be looking for any attempt 
 of that kind." 
 
 " Is it not best to wait until later?" asked 
 Mrs. Shirril. 
 
 "No," was the sensible response of her 
 nephew ; " the prospect of success will de- 
 crease with every passing minute. They will 
 think, and with reason, that we have repelled 
 their first attack so sharply that we are con- 
 fident of beating them off altogether. After a 
 time, when things begin to look bad for us, 
 they will look for something of that nature, 
 and be so well prepared for it that it will be 
 hopeless." 
 
 " He is right," assented the captain. "I 
 don' t ask you to try it, Avon, but, if you are 
 determined to do so, now is the time." 
 
 "My sentiments exactly, and I'm going." 
 
 He dreaded anything in the nature of a 
 scene, one reason for his moving so promptly 
 being his desire to avert such a trial. 
 
 But now that the momentous step was 
 decided upon, the all-important question 
 remained as to the best means of making the 
 start. 
 
30 THE GREAT CATTLE TRAIL. 
 
 The whole interior of the lower story was 
 so brightly illuminated by the blaze on the 
 hearth that the moment the door was opened, 
 even for only a few inches, it would show 
 from the outside. Anxious as Avon was to 
 be off, he knew better than to start under 
 such conditions. 
 
 "The sooner that fire goes out, the better 
 for all of us," said the captain; "it is too 
 tempting to the scamps." 
 
 On the row of pegs near him hung several 
 heavy blankets, such as are used by all 
 plainsmen and cowboys. Those which the 
 captain and his nephew meant to take on 
 their journey northward were in camp five 
 miles away. 
 
 Setting down his gun, he lifted one of the 
 heavy pieces of cloth, whose texture, like the 
 celebrated blankets of the Navajoe Indians, 
 was almost close enough to be waterproof. 
 He paused for a minute to adjust the folds, 
 and then, forgetful of the danger he had run 
 a short time before, he stepped hastily across 
 the room, and stooping down flung the blanket 
 over the blaze so as to enclose it entirely. 
 
A DESPERATE VENTUKE. 31 
 
 The effect was instantaneous. The room 
 was wrapped in darkness as dense as that 
 outside,' though the consequences of the act 
 promised to be anything but pleasant in the 
 course of a few minutes. 
 
 "Now, Avon, is your time!" called the 
 captain in an undertone. 
 
 "I'm off; good-by," came from the gloom 
 near the door, where the sounds showed that 
 he was engaged in raising the ponderous bar 
 from its sockets. 
 
 Captain Shirril stepped hurriedly to the 
 spot, and found the door closed but un- 
 fastened. Even in his haste the youth did 
 not forget to shut it behind him, leaving to 
 his friends the duty of securing it in place. 
 
 " He is gone ; God be with him ! " he whis- 
 pered to his wife and servant, who with pain- 
 fully throbbing hearts had stepped to his side. 
 
 While speaking, he refastened the struc- 
 ture, and in less time than it has taken to 
 tell it everything inside was as before, with 
 the exception that where there had been four 
 persons, there were now only three. 
 
 All forgot their own danger for the moment 
 
32 THE GREAT CATTLE TRAIL. 
 
 in their anxiety for the youth, who had so 
 eagerly risked his own life to save them from 
 death. 
 
 Bending his head, the captain held his ear 
 against the tiny opening through which the 
 latchkey had been drawn earlier in the even- 
 ing, when the heavy bar was put in place. 
 The Texan was listening with all the intent- 
 ness possible. 
 
 " It seems impossible that he should get 
 away," was his thought, "and yet the very 
 boldness of his plan may give it success." 
 
 The shot from within the cabin, followed 
 so soon by the complete darkening of the 
 interior, must have caused some confusion 
 among the Comanches, for otherwise Avon 
 would have been shot or captured the moment 
 he stepped outside of the cabin. 
 
 For the space of two or three seconds Cap- 
 tain Shirril absolutely heard nothing, except 
 the soft sighing of the night wind among the 
 mesquite bushes near at hand. The stillness 
 could not have been more profound had every 
 living thing been moved to a distance of a hun- 
 dred miles. 
 
A DESPERATE VENTURE. 33 
 
 He had listened only a minute or two, how- 
 ever, when he heard a warrior run rapidly 
 around the building, coming to an abrupt stop 
 directly in front of the door. Thus he and 
 the Texan stood within a few inches of each 
 other, separated only by the heavy structure, 
 which, for the time, barred all entrance. 
 
 Captain Shirril even fancied that the eye of 
 the redskin was pressed against the opening, 
 in the vain effort to gain sight of the interior. 
 Had the Comanche chosen to place his lips 
 there, how readily he could have whispered 
 into the ear of his enemy ! 
 
 That the Texan was right in suspecting one 
 of the warriors was so very near was proven 
 a moment later, when a second Indian 
 approached with his mustang on the walk, 
 dropped lightly to the ground, and coming 
 forward, halted so close to the door that he 
 almost touched it. 
 
 The captain knew this because he heard the 
 two talking in low tones. He understood the 
 tongue of the dusky miscreants, but though 
 he listened closely, could not catch the mean- 
 ing of a word that passed between them. 
 3 
 
34 THE GREAT CATTLE TRAIL. 
 
 Their sentences were of the short, jerky 
 character common to all American Indians, 
 accompanied by a peculiar grunting, which 
 helped to obscure their meaning. 
 
 The unspeakable relief of the listener was 
 caused by the awakening of hope for his 
 nephew. He was certainly some way from the 
 cabin, for had he stayed near the door, dis- 
 covery was inevitable by the two warriors now 
 standing there. Indeed, they must almost 
 have stumbled over him. 
 
 But he might be still within a few paces, 
 unable to stir through fear of detection. 
 Extended flat on the ground, on the alert for 
 the first possible opening, he was liable to dis- 
 covery at every moment. 
 
 In fact, so far as Avon was concerned, he 
 had crossed the Kubicon ; for, if seen, it was 
 impossible to re-enter the cabin, the door of 
 which had been shut and barred. 
 
 The warriors who had paused in front of 
 Captain Shirril kept their places but a brief 
 while, when they moved off so silently that he 
 could not tell the direction they took. Every- 
 thing remained still for several minutes, when 
 
A DESPERATE VENTURE. 35 
 
 the listener once more fancied he heard some- 
 thing unusual. 
 
 It was a stir among the mesquite bushes, 
 such as might be caused by a puff or eddy in 
 the wind, which blew quite steadily, though 
 with moderate force. 
 
 He was listening with all his senses strung 
 to the highest point, when the stillness was 
 broken by the report of a rifle, accompanied 
 by a ringing shriek, both coming from a point 
 within a few rods of the cabin. The hearts of 
 the inmates stood still, the wife alone finding 
 voice to exclaim in horrified tones : 
 
 " Poor Avon! he has fallen 1 he has given 
 his life for us 1 " 
 
CHAPTER V. 
 
 UPSTAIRS AND DOWNSTAIRS. 
 
 PROFOUND stillness followed the despair- 
 ing exclamation of Mrs. Shirril, who be- 
 lieved that her nephew had gone to his death 
 while trying to steal away from the cabin 
 in which his friends were held at bay by the 
 Comanches. 
 
 The quiet on the outside was as deep and 
 oppressive as within. There was the sharp, 
 resounding report of the rifle, followed on 
 the instant by the wild cry of mortal pain, 
 and then all became like the tomb itself. 
 
 It was singular that the first spark of hope 
 was kindled by the words of the colored ser- 
 vant, Dinah. 
 
 " What makes you tink de boy am dead \ " 
 she asked, a moment after the woful words 
 of her mistress. 
 
 " Didn't you hear him cry out just now?" 
 
UPSTAIRS AND DOWNSTAIRS. 37 
 
 "No; I didn't hear him nor did you 
 either; dat warn't de voice ob Avon." 
 
 "How can you know that?" asked Mrs. 
 Shirril, beginning to feel anew hope within her. 
 
 "Lor* o' massy! habent I heerd de voice 
 ob dat younker offen 'nough to know it 
 'mong ten fousand? Habent I heerd him 
 yell, too ? he neber does it in dat style ; 
 dat war an Irrjin, and de reason dat he 
 screeched out in dat onmarciful way war 
 'cause he got in de path ob Avon and de 
 boy plugged him." 
 
 "By gracious, Dinah! I believe you're 
 right!" was the exclamation of Captain 
 Shirril, so joyous over the rebound from 
 despair that he was ready to dance a break- 
 down in the middle of the floor. 
 
 " Course I is right, 'cause I oilers is 
 right." 
 
 " I suppose there is some reason in that, 
 but please keep quiet both of you, for a 
 few minutes, while I listen further." 
 
 The women were standing near the captain, 
 who once more inclined his head, with his ear 
 at the small orifice in the door. 
 
38 THE GREAT CATTLE TRAIL. 
 
 The seconds seemed minutes in length, but 
 as they wore away, nothing definite was heard. 
 Once or twice the tramp of horses' feet was 
 noticed, and other sounds left no doubt that 
 most of the Comanches were still near the 
 dwelling. 
 
 This listening would have lasted longer, but 
 for an unpleasant though not dangerous inter- 
 ruption. Dinah, who seemed to be meeting 
 with some trouble in her respiration, suddenly 
 emitted a sneeze of such prodigious force that 
 her friends were startled. 
 
 It was not necessary for them to enquire 
 as to the cause. The blanket that had been 
 thrown upon the flames, and which brought 
 instant night, did its work well, but it was 
 beginning to suffer therefrom. The fire was 
 almost smothered, but enough air reached 
 it around the edges of the thick cloth to 
 cause it to burn with considerable vigor, and 
 give out a slight illumination, but, worst of 
 all, it filled the room with dense, overpower- 
 ing smoke. Breathing was difficult and the 
 odor dreadful. 
 
 "This will never do," said the captain, 
 
UPSTAIRS AND DOWNSTAIRS. 39 
 
 glancing at the fireplace, where the glowing 
 edges of the blanket were growing fast ; " we 
 won't be able to breathe." 
 
 His first thought was to fling another blanket 
 upon the embers, thereby extinguishing them 
 altogether, but his wife anticipated him 
 by scattering the contents of the water pail 
 with such judgment over the young conflagra- 
 tion that it was extinguished utterly. Dark- 
 ness reigned again, but the vapor, increased 
 by the dousing of the liquid, rendered the 
 room almost unbearable. 
 
 "You and Dinah had better go upstairs," 
 said the captain to his wife ; " close the door 
 after you, and, by and by, the lower floor will 
 clear ; I can get enough fresh air at the little 
 opening in the door and by the windows to 
 answer for me ; if there is any need of you, 
 I can call, but perhaps you may find some- 
 thing to do up there yourselves." 
 
 The wife and servant obeyed, each taking 
 her gun with her, together with enough am- 
 munition to provide for fully a score of shots. 
 
 The cabin which Captain Dohm Shirril had 
 erected on his ranch in upper Texas was long 
 
40 THE GEEAT CATTLE TRAIL. 
 
 and low, as we have already intimated. There 
 was but the single apartment on the first floor, 
 which served as a kitchen, dining and sitting 
 room, and parlor. When crowded his guests, 
 to the number of a dozen, more or less, could 
 spread their blankets on the floor, and sleep 
 the sleep that waits on rugged health and 
 bounding spirits. 
 
 The upper story was divided into three 
 apartments. The one at the end served for 
 the bedroom of the captain and his wife ; the 
 next belonged to Dinah, while the one beyond, 
 as large as the other two, was appropriated by 
 Avon and such of the cattlemen as found it 
 convenient to sleep under a roof, which is 
 often less desirable to the Texan than the 
 canopy of heaven. 
 
 Few of these dwellings are provided with 
 cellars, and there was nothing of the kind 
 attached to the residence of Captain Shirril. 
 The house was made of logs and heavy tim- 
 bers, the slightly sloping roof being of 
 heavy roughly hewn planking. Stone was 
 scarce in that section, but enough had been 
 gathered to form a serviceable fireplace, the 
 
UPSTAIRS AND DOWNSTAIRS. 41 
 
 wooden flue of which ascended to the roof 
 from within the building. 
 
 This brief description will give the reader 
 an idea of the character of the structure, in 
 which one man and two women found them- 
 selves besieged by a war party of fierce 
 Comanches. 
 
 The ceiling of the lower floor was so low 
 that, had the captain stood erect with an 
 ordinary silk hat on his head, it would have 
 touched it. The stairs consisted of a short, 
 sloping ladder, over which a trap-door could 
 be shut, so as to prevent anyone entering from 
 below. 
 
 Inasmuch as smoke generally climbs up- 
 ward, the second story would have proven a 
 poor refuge had the women waited any time 
 before resorting to it. As it was, considerable 
 vapor accompanied them up the rounds of the 
 ladder, but, when the trap-door was closed 
 after them, the greater purity of the air 
 afforded both relief. 
 
 It will be recalled that the lower story was 
 furnished with two windows at the front, of 
 such strait form that no man could force his 
 
42 THE GREAT CATTLE TRAIL. 
 
 way through them. The upper floor was 
 more liberally provided in this respect, each 
 apartment having a window at the front and 
 rear, though the foresight of Captain Shirril 
 made these as narrow as those below. Indeed 
 they were so near the ground that otherwise 
 they would have formed a continual invitation 
 to hostile parties to enter through them. 
 
 So long as an attacking force kept off, three 
 defenders like those now within the house 
 might defy double the number of assailants 
 that threatened them. No implement of 
 warfare at the command of the red men was 
 sufficient to batter down the walls, or drive 
 the massive door from its hinges. 
 
 But the real source of danger has been 
 indicated. The cabin was located so far to- 
 ward Western Texas, that it was exposed to 
 raids from the Comanches and Kioways, while 
 occasionally a band of Apaches penetrated the 
 section from their regular hunting grounds in 
 Arizona or New Mexico. 
 
 Although the red men might find it impos- 
 sible to force an entrance, yet the darkness 
 allowed them to manoeuvre outside, and lay 
 
UPSTAIRS AND DOWNSTAIRS. 43 
 
 their plans with little danger of molestation. 
 The roof of the building had been seasoned by 
 its long exposure to the weather, until it was 
 as dry as tinder. This was increased, if pos- 
 sible, by the drought that had now lasted for 
 months in that portion of Texas. A slight 
 fire would speedily fan itself into a flame that 
 would reduce the building to ashes. 
 
 " And it only needs to be started," thought 
 Captain Shirril, when he found himself alone 
 below stairs, " and it will do the work ; it was 
 very thoughtful in Edna to dash that pailful 
 of water on the smouldering blanket, and it 
 quenched the embers, but, all the same, it 
 required the last drop in the house." 
 
 However, there was nothing to be feared in 
 the nature of thirst. The defenders could go 
 without drink easily enough for twenty-four 
 hours, and the issue of this serious matter 
 would be settled one way or other long before 
 that period passed. The cowboys would not 
 wait long after sunrise for their leader, before 
 setting out to learn the cause of his delay. 
 
 The question of life and death must be an- 
 swered before the rising of the morrow's sun. 
 
CHAPTER VI. 
 DINAH'S DISCOVERY. 
 
 WHEN Captain Shirril told his wife that 
 she and the servant were likely to find 
 something to engage their attention above 
 stairs, he spoke more in jest than earnest, but 
 the remark served to prove the adage that 
 many a truth is spoken at such times. 
 
 Of course, the upper part of the house was 
 in as deep gloom as the lower portion, and the 
 women took good care in passing the windows 
 lest some stray shot should reach them. 
 They needed no light, for every inch of space 
 had long been familiar. 
 
 Mrs. Shirril walked quietly through the 
 larger apartment, without coming upon any- 
 thing to attract notice, after which she went 
 to her own room, Dinah accompanying her all 
 the way. 
 
 "I don't see that there is any need of our 
 
 44 
 
DINAH'S DISCOVERY. 45 
 
 remaining here," said the mistress, " for there 
 is no possible way of any of the Indians effect- 
 ing an entrance." 
 
 "'Ceptin' frough de trap-door," ventured 
 the servant. 
 
 "That is over your room, but the scuttle 
 is fastened as securely as the one below 
 stairs." 
 
 "Dunno 'bout dat ; I's gwine to see," was 
 the sturdy response of Dinah, as she walked 
 rather heavily into her own boudoir; "any 
 man dat comes foolin' 'round dar is gwine 
 to get hisself in trouble." 
 
 Knowing precisely where the opening was 
 located (an unusual feature of the houses in 
 that section), she stopped directly under it, 
 and reached upward with one of her power- 
 ful hands. The roof was still nearer the floor 
 than was the latter to the floor below, so that 
 it was easy for her to place her fingers against 
 the iron hook which held it in place, 
 
 Of course she found the scuttle just as it 
 had been for many a day ; and Mrs. Shirril 
 was right in saying it was as firmly secured 
 as the ponderous door beneath them, for the 
 
46 THE GREAT CATTLE TRAIL. 
 
 impossibility of getting a purchase from the 
 roof, made only a slight resistance necessary 
 from beneath. A dozen bolts and bars could 
 not have rendered it stronger. 
 
 "It 'pears to be all right," mused Dinah, 
 "but folks can't be too keerful at sich times 
 sh! whatdat?" 
 
 Her ears, which were as keen as those of 
 her friends, heard a suspicious noise over- 
 head. It was faint, but unmistakable. The 
 startling truth could not be doubted : one of 
 the Comanches, if not more, was on the roof ! 
 
 "If dat isn't shameful," she muttered, fail- 
 ing to apprise her mistress of the alarming 
 discovery; "I wander what he can be after 
 up dar de Lor' a massy ! " 
 
 The last shock was caused by a scratching 
 which showed that the intruder was trying to 
 lift up the scuttle. 
 
 Evidently the Indians had made themselves 
 as familiar with Captain Shirril's domicile as 
 they could without entering it. They had 
 noticed the scuttle, and the possibility that it 
 might be unfastened led one of them to climb 
 undetected to the roof to make sure about it. 
 
DINAH'S DISCOVERY. 47 
 
 " Bat onmannerly warmint knows dat dat 
 door am right over my room," muttered the 
 indignant Dinah ; u and instead ob comin' in 
 by de reg'lar way, as a gemman orter do, he's 
 gwine to try to steal in frough de roof. When 
 I get done wid him," she added, with rising 
 wrath, " he'll know better nor dat." 
 
 Still Mrs. Shirril kept her place in her own 
 apartment, where she was striving so hard to 
 learn something, by peering through and 
 listening at one of her windows, that she 
 noticed nothing else, though, as yet, the noise 
 was so slight that it would have escaped the 
 ears of Dinah herself, had she not been quite 
 near it. 
 
 The colored woman groped around in the 
 dark until her hand rested upon the only 
 chair in the apartment. This she noiselessly 
 placed under the scuttle, and stepped upon it 
 with the same extreme care. 
 
 Her position was now such that had the 
 door been open and she standing upright, her 
 head, shoulders, and a part of her waist 
 would have been above the roof. She had 
 leaned her gun against the side of the chair, 
 
48 THE GREAT CATTLE TRAIL. 
 
 so that, if needed, it was within quick reach. 
 Then she assumed a stooping posture, with 
 her head gently touching the underside of the 
 door, and, steadying herself by grasping the 
 iron hook, she stood motionless and listening. 
 
 " Yes, Tie's dar!" was her instant conclu- 
 sion, "and de wiper is tryin' to onfasten de 
 skylight ob my obpartment." 
 
 Dinah's many years spent in this wild 
 region had given her a knowledge that she 
 could not have gained otherwise. She knew 
 that so long as the Comanche contented him- 
 self with trying to open the scuttle, nothing 
 was to be feared ; but, baffled in that, he was 
 not likely to drop to the ground again with- 
 out attempting more serious mischief, and 
 that serious mischief could take only the 
 single dreaded form of setting fire to the 
 building. 
 
 It seems almost beyond belief, but it is a 
 fact that this colored woman determined on 
 defeating the purpose of the redskin, by the 
 most audacious means at the command of 
 anyone. She resolved to climb out on the 
 roof and assail the Comanche. 
 
DINAH'S DISCOVERY. 49 
 
 Since she knew her mistress would peremp- 
 torily forbid anything of the kind, she cun- 
 ningly took all the means at her command 
 to prevent her plan becoming known to Mrs. 
 Shirril, until it should be too late for her to 
 interfere. 
 
 Stepping gently down to the floor, she 
 moved the few steps necessary to reach the 
 door opening into the other room, and which 
 had not been closed. 
 
 "Is you dar, Mrs. Shirril?" she asked in 
 a whisper. 
 
 "Yes, Dinah," came the guarded response; 
 " don't bother me for a few minutes ; I want 
 to watch and listen." 
 
 "All right; dat suits me," muttered the 
 servant with a chuckle, as she closed the door 
 with the utmost care. 
 
 Everything seemed to favor the astounding 
 purpose of the brave African, who again 
 stepped upon the chair, though in her first 
 confusion she narrowly missed overturning it, 
 and brought her head against the scuttle. ' 
 
 She was disappointed at first, because she 
 heard nothing, but a moment's listening told 
 
50 THE GREAT CATTLE TRAIL. 
 
 her that her visitor was still on deck, or rather 
 on the roof. The fact that, after finding he 
 could not effect an entrance, he still stayed, 
 made it look as if he was meditating mischief 
 of the very nature so much feared. 
 
 In accordance with her daring scheme, 
 Dinah now softly slipped the hook from its 
 fastening, holding it between her fingers for 
 a moment before doing anything more. Had 
 the Comanche known how matters stood, a 
 quick upward flirt on his part, even though 
 the hold was slight, would have flung the 
 door flat on the roof and opened the way to 
 the interior of the Texan's cabin. 
 
 But not knowing nor suspecting anything 
 of the kind, he did not make the attempt. 
 
 With no more tremor of the nerve than she 
 would have felt in trying to kill a fly, Dinah 
 softly pushed up the door for an inch at its 
 outermost edge. This gave her a view of the 
 roof on the side in front, with a shortened 
 survey of the portion still nearer. 
 
 Her eyes were keen, but they detected noth- 
 ing of the Comanche who was prowling 
 about the scuttle only a few moments before. 
 
DINAH'S DISCOVERY. 51 
 
 The darkness was not dense enough to pre- 
 vent her seeing to the edge of the roof on all 
 sides, had her view been unobstructed. Could 
 she have dared to throw back the door, and 
 raise her head above the peak of the roof, she 
 could have traced the outlines of the eaves in 
 every direction. 
 
 Bat she was too wise to try anything like 
 that. The slightest noise on her part would 
 be heard by the Indian, who, like all mem- 
 bers of the American race, had his senses 
 trained to a fineness that seems marvellous to 
 the Caucasian. He would take the alarm on 
 the instant, and leap to the ground, or, what 
 was more likely, assail her with his knife, 
 since his rifle had been left below. 
 
 " What's become ob dat villain?" Dinah 
 asked herself, after peering about in the 
 gloom for a full minute; "I wonder wheder 
 he hasn't got 'shamed ob hisself, and hab 
 slunk off and is gwine down to knock at my 
 door and ax my pardon Lor' a massy ! " 
 
 There was good cause for this alarm on her 
 part, for at that moment she made a discovery 
 that fairly took away her breath. 
 
CHAPTER VII. 
 DINAH'S EXPLOIT. 
 
 THE revelation that broke upon the senses 
 of the colored servant did not reach her 
 through her power of vision. She still saw 
 nothing but the all-encircling night, nor did 
 she hear anything except the sighing of the 
 wind through the mesquite bush, or the 
 guarded movements of the red men below. 
 
 It was her power of smell that told her 
 an appalling fact. She detected the odor of 
 burning wood ! 
 
 The Indian whom she had heard prowling 
 like a hungry wolf over the roof, was there 
 for a more sinister purpose, if possible, than 
 that of gaining entrance through the scuttle 
 into the building. He had managed to climb 
 undetected to his perch for the purpose of 
 setting fire to the building, and not only that, 
 but he had succeeded in his design. 
 
DINAH'S EXPLOIT. 63 
 
 The same delicacy of scent that had told 
 the woman the frightful truth enabled her to 
 locate the direction of the fire. It was over 
 the peak of the roof, a little in front and to 
 the left. 
 
 Gazing toward the point, she observed a 
 dim glow in the darkness, such as might have 
 been made by the reflection of a lucifer 
 match. It was the illumination produced 
 by the twist of flame the Comanche had 
 kindled. If allowed to burn for a few 
 minutes, the wind would fan it into an inex- 
 tinguishable blaze. 
 
 How she managed to do what she did with- 
 out discovery she never could have explained 
 herself. But, holding the lid firmly grasped 
 with one hand, she lifted it up until it stood 
 perpendicular on its noiseless hinges. 
 
 As the door moved over to this position, 
 her head and shoulders rose through the 
 opening. Had her movements been quick, 
 instead of deliberate, they would have sug- 
 gested the action of the familiar Jack-in-the- 
 box. 
 
 This straightening of her stature brought 
 
54 THE GKEAT CATTLE TRAIL. 
 
 her head several inches above the peak or 
 highest portion of the house, and, conse- 
 quently, gave her a view of the entire roof. 
 
 And looking in the direction whence the 
 odor came, and where she had caught the tiny 
 illumination, the brave colored woman saw a 
 sight indeed. 
 
 A brawny Indian warrior was stooped over 
 and nursing a small flame with the utmost 
 care. How he had managed the difficult busi- 
 ness thus far without detection from below, 
 was almost beyond explanation. 
 
 But it followed, from what has been told, 
 that he had climbed upon the roof, taking 
 with him some twigs and bits of wood, with- 
 out having been heard by Captain Shirril, 
 who was listening intently at the lower door, 
 and who heard more than one other noise 
 that must have been slighter than that over- 
 head. 
 
 It was probable that the warrior, having 
 made his preparations, rode his horse close to 
 the further corner of the cabin, where he 
 stopped the animal, and rose to the upright 
 position on his back. The roof was so low 
 
DINAH'S EXPLOIT. 55 
 
 that it could be easily reached in this way, 
 and he was so far removed from the inmates 
 that his action escaped notice, his presence 
 being finally discovered in the manner 
 described. 
 
 Finding he could not open the scuttle, he 
 had crept over the peak of the roof, stooped 
 down, and, gathering his combustibles with 
 care, set fire to them. In doing this, he must 
 have used the common lucifer match of civili- 
 zation, since no other means would have 
 answered, and the American Indian of the 
 border is as quick to appropriate the conveni- 
 ences as he is to adopt the vices of the white 
 man. 
 
 Be that as it may, he had succeeded in 
 starting the tiny fire, and, at the moment 
 the wrathful Dinah caught sight of him, was 
 placing several larger sticks upon the growing 
 flame, and, bending over, was striving to 
 help the natural wind by blowing upon the 
 blaze. 
 
 The picture was a striking one. The glow 
 of the flame showed the countenance of the 
 Coinanche plainly. His features were repel- 
 
66 THE GREAT CATTLE TRAIL. 
 
 lent, the nose being Roman in form, while the 
 cheek-bones were protuberant and the chin 
 retreating. His long black hair dangled about 
 his shoulders, and was parted, as is the cus- 
 tom among his people, in the middle. The 
 face was rendered more repulsive by the 
 stripes and splashes of yellow, white, and red 
 paint, which not only covered it from the top 
 of the forehead to the neck, but was mixed in 
 the coarse hair, a portion of whose ends rested 
 on the roof, as well as over his back. 
 
 As he blew, his cheeks expanded, his thin 
 lips took the form of the letter O, fringed 
 with radiating wrinkles around the edges, and 
 the black eyes seemed to glow with a light 
 like that of the fire itself, so great was his 
 earnestness in his work. 
 
 No country boy accustomed to get up on 
 cold mornings and build the family fires 
 could have done his work better. He saw 
 that while the sticks which were burning, and 
 which he continued to feed and fan, were 
 rapidly consuming and growing, they were 
 eating into the dry roof on which they rested. 
 They had already burned a considerable 
 
DINAH'S EXPLOIT. 57 
 
 cavity, which gleamed like a living coal, and 
 it would not take long before a hold would be 
 secured that would throw the whole structure 
 into a blaze. 
 
 Dinah stood for several seconds gazing on 
 the picture, as though she doubted the evi- 
 dence of her own eyes. It seemed impossible 
 that such a cruel plot should have progressed 
 thus far without being thwarted. But the 
 next moment her chest heaved with indigna- 
 tion, as she reflected that the red man 
 stretched out before her was the very one 
 that had tried to enter her apartment, and 
 being frustrated by her watchfulness in that 
 design, he was now endeavoring to burn them 
 all to death. 
 
 The fact that the Comanche never dreamed 
 of interruption caused him to withdraw his 
 attention from everything except the business 
 before him, and he continued blowing and 
 feeding the growing flames with all the care 
 and skill at his command. His wicked heart 
 was swelling with exultation when 
 
 Suddenly an object descended upon the 
 flames like the scuttle-door itself, which, 
 
68 THE GREAT CATTLE TRAIL. 
 
 might be supposed to have been wrenched 
 from its hinges and slammed down on the 
 fire, quenching it as utterly and completely as 
 if it were submerged in a mountain torrent. 
 
 That was the foot of Dinah. 
 
 Next, as the dumfounded warrior attempted 
 to leap to his feet, something fastened itself 
 like the claw of a panther in his long hair, 
 with a grip that not only could not be shaken 
 off, but which threatened to create a general 
 loosening at the roots. 
 
 That was the left hand of Dinah. 
 
 At the same moment, when the dazed Co- 
 manche had half risen and was striving to get 
 the hang of things, a vice closed immovably 
 about his left ankle, and his moccasin was 
 raised almost as high as his shoulder. 
 
 The agency in this business was the rigid 
 hand of Dinah ; and instantly she got in her 
 work with the vigor of a hurricane. She pos- 
 sessed unusual power and activity, though 
 it must not be supposed that the Comanche 
 would not have given a good account of him- 
 self had he but possessed a second's warning 
 of what was coming. He had a knife at his 
 
DINAH'S EXPLOIT. 59 
 
 girdle, though his rifle, as has been said, was 
 left behind with his companions, since his 
 business did not make it likely that he would 
 need anything of the kind, and it was an 
 inconvenience to keep it by him. 
 
 "You onmannerly willian! I'll teach you 
 how to try to sneak frough de roof into my 
 room ! " muttered Dinah, who was now 
 thoroughly aroused, " yer orter have your 
 neck wringed off and Til do it! r 
 
 The Comanche was at vast disadvantage 
 in being seized with such a fierce grip by 
 the hair, which kept his face turned away 
 from his assailant, while the vicelike grasp 
 of his ankle compelled him to hop about on 
 one foot, in a style that was as awkward as 
 it was undignified. He realized, too, that 
 despite all he could do to prevent it, his foe 
 was forcing him remorselessly toward the 
 edge of the roof. 
 
 But the warrior was sinewy and strong. 
 He had been engaged in many a desperate 
 hand-to-hand encounter, though never in 
 anything resembling this. Finding the grip 
 on his hair and ankle could not be shaken 
 
60 THE GREAT CATTLE TRAIL. 
 
 off, he snatched out his keen-pointed knife 
 with the intention of striking one of his 
 vicious back-handed blows, which had 
 proved fatal more than once, but just then 
 the eaves were reached and over he went! 
 
CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 IN THE MESQUITE BUSH. 
 
 WE must not forget our young friend, 
 Avon Burnet, who volunteered so 
 willingly to run every risk for the sake of 
 helping his relatives out of the most imminent 
 peril of their lives. 
 
 At the moment he saw Captain Shirril 
 start forward to smother the fire, by throw- 
 ing one of his heavy blankets over it, he 
 lifted the heavy bolt from its place, and 
 leaned it against the wall at the side of the 
 door. Having decided on the step, he was 
 wise in not permitting a minute's unneces- 
 sary delay. 
 
 He stepped outside in the manner hinted, 
 drawing the door gently to after him. He 
 did not do this until he saw that the interior 
 was veiled in impenetrable gloom. 
 
 He felt that everything now depended 
 
 61 
 
62 THE GREAT CATTLE TRAIL. 
 
 upon his being prompt, unfaltering, and yet 
 not rash. It may be said that the whole 
 problem was to learn the right step to take, 
 and then to take it, not an instant too soon 
 nor too late. That, however, sums up the 
 task of life itself, and the knowledge was 
 no more attainable in one instance than in 
 the other. 
 
 Finding himself in the outer air, Avon stood 
 a few seconds, striving, as may be said, to get 
 his bearings. He heard the trampling of 
 horses' hoofs, several guarded signals passing 
 between the Indians, and was quite sure he 
 saw the shadowy outlines of a warrior mov- 
 ing within, a few paces of him. 
 
 While all this was not calculated to add to 
 his comfort of body and mind, it was pleasing 
 to the extent that it proved his presence on 
 the outside was as yet neither known nor 
 suspected. As my friend Coomer would say, 
 he was standing " With the World Before 
 Him." 
 
 But he dare not think he was so much as 
 on the edge of safety until he reached the 
 mesquite bush, whose location he knew so 
 
IN THE MESQUITE BUSH. 63 
 
 well, and whose dark outlines were dimly 
 discernible in front, and at the distance of 
 only a few rods. 
 
 The youth was thinking rapidly and hard. 
 It seemed to him that the Comanches would 
 naturally keep the closest watch of the front 
 of the cabin, and, therefore, he was less liable to 
 discovery if he made a dash from another point. 
 
 This conclusion was confirmed by the sad- 
 den taking shape of not only the figure of 
 a horseman, but of a warrior on foot, who 
 approached at right angles, the two halting 
 in such a manner just before him that he 
 know it was but momentary, and that they 
 would come still nearer in a very brief while. 
 
 So long as he stood erect, with his back 
 against the side of the dwelling, he was in- 
 visible to anyone who was not almost upon 
 him. Retaining this posture, and with the 
 rear of his clothing brushing against the build- 
 ing, he glided softly to the right until he 
 reached the corner. 
 
 At the moment he arrived there, he saw 
 that the horseman had slipped from his mus- 
 tang, and he and the other warrior approached 
 
64 THE GREAT CATTLE TRAIL. 
 
 close to the door, where, as it will be remem- 
 bered, Captain Shirril heard them talking 
 together in low tones. 
 
 This was altogether too near for comfort, 
 and Avon, with the same noiseless movement, 
 slipped beyond the corner of the house. 
 
 As he did so, he felt for an instant that all 
 was over. An Indian brushed so near that 
 the youth could have touched him by extend- 
 ing his hand. 
 
 How he escaped discovery was more than he 
 could understand. It must have been that 
 the warrior's attention was so fixed upon the 
 two figures at the front of the house that he 
 did not glance to the right or left. Even such 
 an explanation hardly makes clear the over- 
 sight on the part of one belonging to a race 
 proverbial for its alertness and keen vision. 
 
 Before the young man recovered from his 
 shock, he was astounded by another occur- 
 rence a hundred-fold more inexplicable. The 
 profound stillness was suddenly broken by 
 the ringing report of a rifle on the other side 
 of the building, accompanied by the wild cry 
 which caused the listening Captain Shirril and 
 
IN THE MESQUITE BUSH. 65 
 
 his wife to believe it meant the death of their 
 devoted nephew. 
 
 While the captain committed a grave mis- 
 take, for which he was excusable, Avon was 
 equally at fault, and with as good if not a bet- 
 ter reason. Not dreaming it possible that he 
 could have a friend near the cabin and on the 
 outside, he supposed the shot was fired by the 
 captain to create a diversion in his favor. 
 
 While such, as the reader knows, was not 
 the case, yet it served that commendable 
 purpose. 
 
 The death-shriek of the stricken Comanche 
 was still in the air, when, assuming a crouch- 
 ing posture, the youth made a dash for cover. 
 He expected every moment that other rifles 
 would be fired and he would be headed off. 
 He could hardly understand it, therefore, 
 when he felt the bushes strike his face, and he 
 knew that he was among the mesquite, without 
 suffering harm. 
 
 He would have continued his flight, had not 
 
 the sounds in front shown that while he had 
 
 been wonderfully fortunate up to this point, 
 
 he had run almost into a group of his enemies. 
 
 5 
 
66 THE GREAT CATTLE TRAIL. 
 
 The dense shadows of the bushes prevented 
 him from seeing them, else they assuredly 
 would have observed him, but, determined to 
 go forward now at all hazards, and eager to 
 seize the flimsiest thread of hope, he sank 
 down on his hands and knees, anxious to con- 
 tinue his flight, but waiting to learn in what 
 direction it should be made, if indeed it could 
 be made at all. 
 
 There was one hope which he felt he must 
 give up. The possibility of finding Thunder- 
 bolt, and using the matchless steed in his 
 flight to the camp of the cowboys, had oc- 
 curred to him more than once, though it 
 would seem that it was altogether too much 
 to look for any such good fortune as that. 
 
 "If I can only get clear of the parties, who 
 seem to be everywhere," was his thought, 
 " I will run all the way to camp and bring the 
 boys back in a twinkling." 
 
 He could have drawn Thunderbolt to him 
 by a single emission of the well-known signal, 
 but such an attempt would have been the 
 acme of folly. The Comanches would arrive 
 before the mustang, even if he was not 
 
IN THE MESQUITE BUSH. 67 
 
 already in their possession, and the act would 
 secure the capture of rider and steed beyond 
 peradventure. 
 
 " Can it be that my flight is unsuspected ? " 
 he asked himself, while he crouched on the 
 ground, uncertain which way to move, and 
 yet feeling that something of the kind must 
 be done. 
 
 It was useless to speculate, and, since his 
 foes appeared to be directly in his front, he 
 turned to the right, and began gliding slowly 
 forward, fearful that the beating of his heart 
 would betray him at every inch. 
 
 But the marvellous good fortune which had 
 attended him thus far was not quite ready to 
 desert him. With a care and caution beyond 
 description, he advanced foot by foot until he 
 drew a deep sigh of relief at the knowledge 
 that that particular group of red men was no 
 longer in front, but to the left and somewhat 
 to the rear. 
 
 "If there are no more," he thought, "it 
 begins to look as if I might succeed after all." 
 
 But his rejoicing was premature. Not only 
 did he catch the sound of a horse's hoofs, but 
 
68 THE GREAT CATTLE TRAIL. 
 
 they were directly before him, and coming as 
 straight for the spot where he was crouching 
 as if the animal were following a mathemati- 
 cal line. 
 
 One of the Comanches was riding through 
 the mesquite bush, and if the youth stayed 
 were he was he must be trampled by the 
 mustang, unless the animal was frightened 
 into leaping aside and thus betraying him to 
 his master. 
 
 "Very well," muttered Avon, "if it comes 
 to that, I know how to manage you." 
 
 As the thought passed through his mind, he 
 reached to his holster and drew his revolver. 
 
 At this moment the steed halted, though 
 he gave no sniff or sign that he had learned 
 of the stranger so close in front. Believing 
 a collision inevitable, Avon straightened up, 
 with his weapon firmly grasped. 
 
 But before he could use it the rider slipped 
 to the ground, and the next moment drew 
 a match along the side of his leggings. As 
 the tiny flame shone out in the gloom, he 
 held it up in front of his face to light the 
 cigarette between his lips. 
 
CHAPTER IX. 
 
 AT FAULT. 
 
 AS a rule the American Indian is not par- 
 -JL tial to cigarette smoking, that being a 
 vice that he is willing to leave to his more 
 civilized brother ; but the Comanche in front 
 of Avon Burnet, and so near him, left no 
 doubt of his purpose. 
 
 As the tiny flame burned more brightly, 
 he shaded it with his hands and puffed the 
 twisted roll of tobacco, like one who knew 
 how liable the blaze was to be blown out 
 by the wind that rustled among the mesquite 
 bushes. He was such an expert at the 
 business, however, that he met with no 
 difficulty. 
 
 The glow of the flame shone between the 
 fingers, where they slightly touched each 
 other, giving them a crimson hue, while 
 the point of the nose, the eyes, and the 
 
 69 
 
70 THE GREAT CATTLE TRAIL. 
 
 front of the face were revealed almost as 
 distinctly as was the countenance of the 
 warrior whom Dinah discovered in the act 
 of firing the roof of the cabin. 
 
 This Coinanche was more ill-favored than 
 the other and was in middle life. There 
 was something in his appearance which 
 gave the youth the suspicion that he was 
 the chief or leader of the band of raiders, 
 though there could be no certainty on that 
 point. 
 
 Nothing would have been easier than for 
 Avon, from where he stood, to shoot down 
 the savage and appropriate his horse for 
 himself. There was an instant when he 
 meditated such a step, but though many a 
 veteran of the frontier would have seized 
 the chance with eagerness, he shrank from 
 such a deliberate taking of human life. 
 
 The youth had already shown his pluck and 
 readiness to use his weapon when necessary, 
 but he could not justify himself in an act like 
 the one named. 
 
 But he did not mean to stand idle when 
 there was a call for instant and decisive action. 
 
AT FAULT. 71 
 
 While the Comanche used his two hands 
 in manipulating his match and cigarette, his 
 rifle leaned against the limbs of one of the 
 largest mesquite bushes, where he could snatch 
 it up without stirring a foot. 
 
 It was not to be supposed that he had dis- 
 mounted for the purpose of kindling his 
 cigarette, for he could have done that on the 
 back of his mustang, as well as when on the 
 ground. He must have decided that he was 
 nigh enough to the other warriors to light his 
 tobacco before joining them on foot. 
 
 The youth was sure the steed before him 
 was a fine one, for it is rare to see one of those 
 people without an excellent horse, and he 
 resolved to capture it. 
 
 At the instant the match was at its best, 
 and the point of the cigarette was glowing red, 
 Avon stepped toward the motionless steed, 
 passing along the side which was furthest 
 from his master. The beast saw him on the 
 instant, and gave a slight whinny and 
 recoiled. 
 
 His master spoke sharply, while the ciga- 
 rette was between his teeth. Not suspecting 
 
72 THE GKEAT CATTLE TRAIL. 
 
 the cause of his alarm, he supposed it was 
 trifling and gave it no attention. But when 
 his animal, with a loud snort, wheeled and 
 started off on a gallop, the Indian threw down 
 his match, called out angrily, and, grasping 
 his gun, sprang forward to intercept him. 
 
 It will be remembered that the darkness was 
 more dense in the mesquite bush than on the 
 open prairie, and, although he caught a 
 glimpse of the vanishing mustang, he saw 
 nothing of the figure on his back, for the 
 reason that, when the nimble youth vaulted 
 thither, he threw himself forward on his neck. 
 
 The Indian must have been astonished by 
 the action of his animal, but he probably 
 concluded he would not wander far, and 
 would be within reach in the morning when 
 needed. So he refrained from attempting 
 anything like pursuit, which would have been 
 foolish under the circumstances. 
 
 It was a clever exploit on the part of Avon 
 Burnet, and he could not repress a feeling 
 of exultation over the success. Boldness, 
 dash, and peculiarly favoring circumstances 
 had taken him through the Comanche lines, 
 
AT FAULT. 73 
 
 when a repetition of the attempt would fail 
 ninety-nine times out of a hundred. 
 
 But while he was justified in being grate- 
 ful, there was enough serious business still 
 before him. He could not forget that the 
 friends in the cabin were in dire peril and 
 no time ought to be wasted in bringing 
 them relief. 
 
 The first indispensable act was to locate 
 himself, so as to gain an idea of the points 
 of the compass, without which it was beyond 
 his power to reach the camp of his friends. 
 
 A brief walk brought the horse out of the 
 bush and he stood on the open prairie. The 
 mustang was without saddle or bridle, except 
 a single buffalo thong, that was twisted over 
 his nose and by which his master guided him. 
 Avon had ridden the animals in the same way, 
 and since this mustang became tractable the 
 instant he felt anyone on his back, such an 
 equestrian as the young Texan met with no 
 difficulty whatever. 
 
 But he realized that a serious difficulty 
 confronted him when he attempted to locate 
 himself. The flurry in the bush had so mixed 
 
74 THE GREAT CATTLE TRAIL. 
 
 up his ideas of direction, that he was all at 
 sea. 
 
 Not a star twinkled in the cloudy sky, nor 
 could he tell in what quarter of the heavens 
 the moon was hidden. Looking in the sup- 
 posed direction of the cabin, he saw only 
 gloom, while it was equally dark when he 
 gazed toward the spot where he believed the 
 camp of the cowboys lay. 
 
 Between the home of Captain Shirril and 
 the spot where his men awaited his coming 
 were several elevations and depressions of 
 land, so that had the Texans been burning a 
 .fire, as was likely, it would not show until 
 more than half the intervening distance was 
 passed. The cattle were herded to the north- 
 ward, so that in the event of a stampede it 
 was easier to head them on the right course 
 over the Great Cattle Trail. 
 
 A person placed in the situation of young 
 Burnet is apt to go astray, no matter how 
 extended his experience in wandering 
 abroad at night, unless he is able to start 
 right. This was the difficulty with Avon, 
 who was too wise to depend upon what 
 
AT FAULT. 75 
 
 impressions took possession of him, since it 
 is almost the invariable rule that such impres- 
 sions are wrong. 
 
 There was one faint hope : the Comanches 
 in the vicinity of the cabin had been indulg- 
 ing in shouting and firing their guns. These 
 sounds would prove of great help, but to his 
 dismay, though he sat for several minutes 
 motionless on his mustang and listening, he 
 heard nothing of the kind. 
 
 He knew the wind was unfavorable, but he 
 was compelled to believe that he had ridden 
 much further than he first supposed, in order 
 to be beyond reach of the reports. After 
 mounting his mustang, he had sent him 
 scurrying on a dead run through the bush, 
 and kept it up for several minutes, before 
 emerging into the open country : that was 
 sufficient to take him a long way and, as he 
 believed, excluded the one means of guidance 
 which otherwise would have been his 
 
 "Helloa ! what does that mean ? " 
 
 In peering around in the gloom, he saw, 
 apparently a long way off to the left, a star- 
 like point on the prairie, which shone out 
 
76 THE GREAT CATTLE TRAIL. 
 
 with an increasing gleam. Wondering what 
 it could signify, he sat for a minute or two. 
 attentively watching it, but unable to solve 
 the interesting question. 
 
 " These Comanches are as fond of smoking as 
 are our men, and I suppose one of them has 
 some trouble in lighting his pipe or cigarette 
 helloa ! there it goes ! " 
 
 The light which was so interesting to him 
 suddenly went out, and all was blank dark- 
 ness again. 
 
 He waited and looked for several minutes, 
 but it did not reappear. At the moment it 
 vanished, he fancied he heard a slight sound, 
 but it was too indefinite to identify. 
 
 Had the young man but known that the 
 light which he had seen was burning on the 
 roof of his own home, and that it was Dinah 
 who extinguished it so abruptly, he would 
 have shaped his course far differently. 
 
CHAPTER X. 
 
 A SURPRISE. 
 
 A YON" BURNET waited several minutes 
 -LJL after the light went out, in the hope that 
 it would reappear and give him an indication 
 of its nature and cause ; but darkness con- 
 tinued, and he concluded that his first sus- 
 picion was right : some warrior in riding over 
 the prairie had halted to light his cigar or 
 pipe, and then ridden on to join his comrades 
 near the cabin. 
 
 The youth was in the situation of the 
 mariner who finds himself adrift in mid-ocean, 
 without compass or rudder. Neither the sky 
 nor the ground gave him any help, and in 
 order to reach the camp of his friends he 
 must, under Heaven, rely upon his own 
 skill. 
 
 "There's one thing certain," he concluded, 
 " I shall never get there without making a 
 
 77 
 
78 THE GREAT CATTLE TRAIL. 
 
 break. I have secured a pretty good horse, 
 and I may as well turn him to account." 
 
 Heading in the direction which seemed 
 right, he tapped the ribs of the mustang with 
 his heels, and he broke at once into a sweep- 
 ing gallop, which, if rightly directed, was 
 sure to carry him to his destination in a 
 brief while. 
 
 Though it was too much for the young man 
 to believe he was following the true course, he 
 thought it was near enough for him to dis- 
 cover the variation before riding far. He 
 ought to reach the crest of some elevation 
 which would so extend his view that he would 
 catch the gleam of the camp fire of the cattle- 
 men. 
 
 As the pony galloped forward with that 
 swinging gait which he was able to maintain 
 for hours without fatigue, the rider glanced to 
 the right and left, in front and rear, on guard 
 lest he ran into unexpected danger, and 
 guarding against the approach of one or more 
 of his foes. His horse was tractable, but the 
 rider was disturbed now and then by his 
 actions. 
 
A SURPRISE. 79 
 
 While going with his swift gait, he occa- 
 sionally checked his speed so abruptly that, 
 had the young Texan been a less skilful 
 equestrian, he would have pitched over his 
 head. At such times he pricked his ears, 
 and snuffed and threw up his head, as though 
 frightened at something. But strive all he 
 could, Avon failed to discover the cause of 
 this peculiar behavior. He could neither 
 hear nor see anything to explain it. 
 
 Our young friend was so keenly on the 
 alert that he was quick to notice that they 
 were ascending quite a swell in the plain. 
 He drew the mustang down to a walk, and 
 when at the highest point of the elevation, 
 brought him to a stand-still. 
 
 No poor sailor, floating on a plank, ever 
 strove harder to pierce the gloom in quest of 
 a friendly light, than did Avon. His first 
 glance in the direction which seemed to him 
 to be right failed to show that which he 
 longed to see. Then he slowly swept the 
 horizon with the same searching scrutiny. 
 
 Not the first star-like glimmer rewarded 
 him. Blank darkness enclosed him on every 
 
80 THE GREAT CATTLE TRAIL. 
 
 hand. It was right above, below, to the right 
 and left and to the front and rear. 
 
 "Well, I'll be shot if this doesn't beat 
 everything!" was his exclamation, when he 
 came to understand his helplessness ; "it 
 looks as if I would have done the folks a great 
 deal more good if I had stayed with them." 
 
 Slipping down from the back of his mus- 
 tang, which he took care to hold by means of 
 the halter, Avon pressed his ear to the earth, 
 as is the practice of those in a similar 
 situation. 
 
 At first he thought he detected the sounds 
 of hoofs, but the next moment he knew it was 
 only fancy. The better conductor in the form 
 of the ground told him no more than did the 
 gloom that surrounded him. 
 
 While thus engaged, the mustang tugged at 
 the rope, as if wishing to free himself. He 
 must have felt that he was controlled by a 
 strange hand, but his efforts were easily 
 restrained. 
 
 As nearly as Avon could judge, he had 
 travelled more than two miles since leaving 
 the cabin, so that, provided he had followed 
 
A SURPRISE. 81 
 
 the proper course, he must have passed half 
 the distance. But if that were the case, he 
 ought to see signs of the camp. It is the cus- 
 tom of the cattlemen, when on the move, to 
 keep a lantern suspended from the front of 
 the provision wagon, to serve as a guide for 
 the rest, and this ought to be visible for 
 several miles to one in his elevated position. 
 
 Holding the thong in one hand, the youth 
 now pointed his Winchester toward the sky 
 and discharged several barrels, in the hope 
 that the reports would reach the ears of the 
 Texans and bring a response from them. The 
 mustang did not stir a muscle ; he was so 
 accustomed to that sort of thing that his 
 nerves were not disturbed. 
 
 This appeal was equally futile, and, as Avon 
 flung himself again upon the back of his 
 horse, a feeling akin to despair came over 
 him. 
 
 " Perhaps it was quite an exploit to get 
 through the Comanche lines without harm," 
 he said to himself, "but of what avail? I 
 shall wander round and round until daylight, 
 with no more knowledge of where I am than 
 
82 THE GREAT CATTLE TRAIL. 
 
 if I were groping among the Rocky Moun- 
 tains ; and, long before the rise of sun, the 
 fate of Uncle Dohm and the folks will be 
 settled." 
 
 A feeling of exasperation succeeded his 
 depression of spirits. It was beyond endur- 
 ance that he should be so near help and yet be 
 unable to secure it. If he could but gain an 
 inkling of the right course, he would dart 
 across the prairie with the speed of an arrow. 
 
 He had neglected no possible means of in- 
 forming himself. Recalling the direction of 
 the wind, he strove to make use of that ; but 
 as if even the elements had united against him, 
 he was not long in discovering that the wind 
 was fitful and changing, and his attempt to 
 use it as a guide had much to do with his 
 going so far astray. 
 
 The rifle was discharged again, but the 
 listening ear caught no response, and the con- 
 viction forced itself upon him that, instead of 
 journeying toward the camp, he was really 
 further from it than when he started. 
 
 The mustang began to grow restless once 
 more. Avon spoke sharply, and started him 
 
A SURPRISE. 83 
 
 off without any attempt to guide him. To his 
 surprise, the steed turned to the left almost at 
 right angles, and without any urging on his 
 part, broke into a canter. 
 
 " I don't understand that," said the rider; 
 "he certainly knows more than I do, but it is 
 too much to expect him to carry me to my 
 destination without any direction from me. 
 But he is as likely to be right as wrong, and 
 so Fll let him do as he chooses. You're a 
 mighty fine animal," continued the youth, 
 as the steed broke into a gallop, "but I 
 wouldn't give Thunderbolt for a hundred 
 like you ; he knows something, and when 
 I'm caught in a fix like this, he is sure to 
 help me out." 
 
 The youth feared that the mustang was 
 trying to return to his master. He, therefore, 
 brought him down to a walk, though he broke 
 into a canter more than once, and leaning for- 
 ward, peered through the gloom, on the alert 
 for the first sign of danger. 
 
 " Uncle Dohm believed the Comanches 
 meant to set fire to the house; if he hadn't 
 thought so, I wouldn't have been in this 
 
84 THE GREAT CATTLE TRAIL. 
 
 plight ; it strikes me that it is about time they 
 made a start ; if they do so, I will take a 
 hand in that little game." 
 
 At the first glow anywhere in the sky, tell- 
 ing of the use of the torch, Avon would have 
 driven his mustang thither like the whirl- 
 wind, and it is safe to believe that his Win- 
 chester would have done more effective 
 service than ever before. But the bright eyes 
 which continually scanned every portion of 
 the murky heavens caught no glimmer of a 
 single star. 
 
 The mustang gave a slight whinny and 
 rose to a canter again, but was roughly 
 checked by his new master. 
 
 "What the mischief is the matter with 
 you?" 
 
 Just then, something took shape in the 
 gloom ahead. Avon stopped his steed and 
 leaned forward. Yes ; it was unmistakable. 
 
 There it stood a long, low cabin, whose 
 familiar contour told the alarming fact that 
 he had come back to his starting-point, and 
 was among the Comanches in front of his own 
 home ! 
 
CHAPTER XL 
 
 CHANGING PLACES. 
 
 fTlHE triumph of the colored servant Dinah 
 J- over the Comanche incendiary may be 
 described as overwhelming in its way. 
 
 The redskin was caught at so great dis- 
 advantage, that he was hurled from the roof 
 before he could check himself or make use of 
 the knife he had snatched from his girdle. 
 Indeed, it was at the instant of striking his 
 vicious blow that he went over the eaves. 
 This preserved his awkwardness of posture, 
 and prevented his making any preparation 
 for the violent fall. 
 
 The miscreant would have struck the ground 
 with a u dull thud," but for an unexpected 
 buffer in the shape of one of his brother war- 
 riors, who happened to be standing directly 
 under. As a consequence, the sprawling 
 figure came down on the head and shoulders 
 of the astounded Comanche, who collapsed 
 
 85 
 
86 THE GREAT CATTLE TRAIL. 
 
 with a feeling that must have made him sus- 
 pect the house had fallen on him. 
 
 The mishap saved the victim of Dinah's 
 wrath, but at a stunning cost to the under fel- 
 low, who lay for a minute or two as if dead, 
 before he was able to regain his breath and 
 climb to his feet. 
 
 In the meantime, the author of this catas- 
 trophe was wise enough to improve the 
 moments. 
 
 "Dar!" she muttered, checking herself on 
 the edge of the roof, "I reckons you know a 
 blamed sight more dan you eber did afore, 
 and arter dis, when you tries to steal into a 
 'spectable lady's room, you'll knock at de 
 doah fust." 
 
 It was not to be supposed that in the dark- 
 ness the Comanches below would grasp the 
 situation offhand, and, before they could do 
 so, Dinah scurried over the peak of the roof 
 to the scuttle, which of course was still open, 
 and descended. In her haste, she stepped 
 upon the back of the chair, which tripped 
 over, and she went down with a crash that 
 shook the entire building. 
 
CHANGING PLACES. 87 
 
 Mrs. Shirril dashed into the room, in 
 consternation. 
 
 "What in Heaven's name is the matter, 
 Dinah 1" 
 
 " Nuffin's de matter wid me, but I guess it 
 am all day wid dat cheer, howsumeber." 
 
 The captain hurried up the ladder, flung 
 back the covering, and leaped into the apart- 
 ment. 
 
 "Who's killed? What's the trouble?" 
 he gasped. 
 
 "Nuffin," replied the servant, impatient 
 with the continued questioning; " I's been 
 promenadin' a little on de roof and de cheer 
 flopped ober when I sot my foot on it." 
 
 Everything being in darkness, the eyes of 
 the party were useless. The captain groped 
 around to help Dinah to her feet, but she was 
 already there, sound in limb and body. 
 
 "If you wants sumfin to do, capting," 
 said she, "jes' fasten dat doah above yer 
 head." 
 
 "How came it open?" he asked, as he 
 hastily complied, still unable to comprehend 
 what had taken place. 
 
88 THE GREAT CATTLE TRAIL. 
 
 "Habent I jes' tole yer dat I's been out on 
 deroof?" 
 
 "I heard her there," said the wife, "and 
 was on my way to learn what it meant, when 
 the crash came." 
 
 In answer to the questions of the couple, 
 Dinah soon made clear what had taken place. 
 Her employers were filled with admiration of 
 her pluck, and wonder at its brilliant success. 
 That she had saved the dwelling from burning 
 and averted a frightful death from them all was 
 evident. They praised her highly, though the 
 captain insisted that she ought to have told 
 him of her intention before climbing through 
 upon the roof. 
 
 "Cotch me doin' dal," she chuckled, 
 "when I knowed dat you would hab stopped 
 me. Dinah aint as big a fool as she looks." 
 
 "No one certainly could have managed it 
 with the skill shown by you. I would have 
 kept within the opening and shot the scamp." 
 
 " And what would you hab done wid de 
 fiah, eh?" 
 
 "Put it out in some way." 
 
 " And got shot yourself ! Your fut isn't as 
 
CHANGING PLACES. 89 
 
 as promise' us as mine and it would hab tooken 
 you longer ; it wanted only one slap ob my 
 shoe and de bus' ness war done." 
 
 "Perhaps you were right," said the cap- 
 tain with a laugh ; "but I am afraid we are 
 not through with those attempts ; they came 
 so near succeeding that they will soon try 
 it again." 
 
 "I don't t'ink dat black rascal will try it 
 wery soon, 'cause I gib him a shookin' up 
 dat he wont git ober for a week." 
 
 "I have no doubt of that, but there are 
 others just as venturesome as he, and they will 
 try it." 
 
 "Is not that the only source of danger?" 
 asked the wife. 
 
 "It can hardly be said to be so, but it's the 
 chief source ; I will stay here, and you, 
 Edna, had better go below ; the room is so 
 well cleared of smoke that it will cause you 
 little trouble." 
 
 "And what is I gwine to do?" asked 
 Dinah. 
 
 "You may accompany your mistress; if I 
 find myself in need of you I will call." 
 
90 THE GREAT CATTLE TRAIL. 
 
 "I's afeard you won't t'ink yourself in need 
 ob me, if some more ob dem scamps come 
 pokin' round de doah up dere." 
 
 "Well, I will try to take care of them my- 
 self, but I give you my word if your help is 
 needed it will be asked." 
 
 This was the most that the servant could 
 get from her master, and she had no choice 
 but to do as directed. Mrs. Shirril led the 
 way down the ladder, followed by her serv- 
 ant, and they quickly found themselves on 
 the lower floor. 
 
 Enough smoke remained in the room to 
 cause Dinah another fit of sneezing, but the 
 shattered window and the opening of the 
 door at the head of the primitive stairs gave 
 such good vent that a rapid improvement 
 took place. 
 
 "I don't see that there is much for us to 
 do," remarked the mistress, taking her place 
 near the door, and out of range of either of 
 the windows, "but they may try something 
 of which we have no suspicion, and, if so, 
 we shall have the chance to do better ser- 
 vice here than above stairs." 
 
CHANGING PLACES. 91 
 
 "Poserbly, but it doesn't strike me dat 
 way ; seems to me dat fiah am 'ginning to 
 flare up again." 
 
 The smothering blanket by this time was 
 so far consumed that the embers showed 
 beneath, though with less strength than at 
 first. They diffused a slight illumination 
 through the room, and enabled the two 
 women to see each other's figures dimly, as 
 they moved silently about, alert, listening, 
 and watchful. 
 
 The embers could have been extinguished 
 by making use of the same means as be- 
 fore, but the certainty of a denser volume 
 of strangling smoke, to say nothing of the 
 loss of the valuable article, prevented any 
 use of the remedy. 
 
 "Bress my soul, if dar isn't anoder war- 
 mint !" 
 
 Dinah, rifle in hand, had stationed herself 
 by the heavy door, against which she slightly 
 leaned. As she did so, she felt an almost 
 insensible yielding on its part, as though a 
 powerful pressure on the outside was being 
 exerted to force it inward. 
 
92 THE GREAT CATTLE TRAIL. 
 
 " How can you know that ? " asked her mis- 
 tress, stepping to her side. 
 
 " Jes put your hand right here and feel for 
 yourself." 
 
 The delicate hand of the lady was placed 
 against the structure, and there could bo no 
 doubt that someone was pushing strongly 
 against the other side. 
 
 " Yes," said she in a low voice, " they are 
 there, but they can do no harm, as long as they 
 confine themselves to that." 
 
 " S'pose dey butt dar heads agin it ? " 
 
 "It will be worse for their heads than for 
 the door, but I think your people are the only 
 ones who work that way." 
 
 "Dat's 'cause we hab de hardest kind ob 
 heads," was the truthful response; " but 
 mebbe dey's usin' some thin' else to break in 
 de door." 
 
 "It can do no injury if they do," replied 
 Mrs. Shirril, who could not shake off a feeling 
 of uneasiness because of the discovery. 
 
 While it was apparent that the door could 
 not be forced by any conceivable means at 
 the command of the Comanches, there was a 
 
CHANGING PLACES. 93 
 
 doubt as to their precise intentions that 
 troubled the good woman. She had the proof 
 that their relentless enemies were busy, and 
 their well-known cunning was likely to sug- 
 gest ways of reaching their end, which, for a 
 time at least, must remain unsuspected by the 
 defenders of the cabin. 
 
CHAPTER XII. 
 
 ON THE KOOF. 
 
 CAPTAIN DOHM SHIRRIL was never 
 V^ more in earnest than when he declared 
 that the Comanches meant to renew their 
 attempt to fire his cabin. 
 
 Having come so near success, they would 
 resort to the same means, taking care to 
 provide against a second ignominious de- 
 feat at the hands of the defenders. 
 
 The darkness, on the whole, was far more 
 helpful to the latter than to their assailants, 
 for, if care was used, it was beyond the 
 power of the Indians to discover the pres- 
 ence of any person on the roof. The Co- 
 manches, from the force of circumstances, 
 would have to move back some rods from 
 the building, to see the cover, and that dis- 
 tance was sufficient -to shut out all sight of 
 a figure, so long as it remained prone. If a 
 
 94 
 
ON THE KOOF. 95 
 
 man rose to his feet, as Dinah had done, 
 his outlines would show, and he would 
 become an instant target for the redskins. 
 
 It was with a full conviction of these im- 
 portant facts that the Texan, imitating the 
 action of his servant, unfastened the scuttle, 
 and noiselessly let it fall back behind him. 
 Then he thrust his head and shoulders 
 through and scanned the half of the roof in 
 his field of vision. 
 
 Nothing to cause alarm was discerned, 
 and rising still higher, he peered over the 
 peak to the other side. 
 
 The air had the odor of burning wood, 
 and the cavity burned in the roof showed 
 signs of life, but they were so slight as to 
 be harmless. They would soon die out, 
 despite the strong wind still blowing. 
 
 It need not be said that the Texan had 
 not the remotest intention of following the 
 example of his servant. If he should dis- 
 cover the presence of an Indian on the roof, 
 little fear of an attempt to steal upon him 
 unaware and fling him to the earth below. 
 The captain held his Winchester firmly 
 
96 ' THE GREAT CATTLE TRAIL. 
 
 grasped and most of its chambers were 
 charged. That offered the true solution of 
 his problem, in case of the appearance of 
 danger, and he was not the man to hesitate 
 in such an emergency. 
 
 He did not fail to notice that which was 
 observed by his nephew : the Comanches had 
 ceased their whooping and firing, though 
 the tramping of their mustangs proved that 
 most of the warriors were still mounted 
 and circling back and forth in the aimless 
 effort to detect some means of getting at 
 the defiant inmates of the house. 
 
 "Avon has given them the slip," was his 
 conclusion, "though he must have had a 
 close call. There is one Indian less, at any 
 rate, than when he stole out of the cabin." 
 
 Such was the fact, though, as we have 
 shown, he did not fall by the rifle of the 
 youth. 
 
 The Texan was standing on the chair in the 
 upper room, with his head and shoulders 
 through the opening, all his senses on the 
 alert, when he caught the faint report of a 
 rifle, repeated several times. The sounds 
 
GIST THE HOOF. 97 
 
 came from a point a long way off, and he 
 could only conjecture their cause. 
 
 "If it was over yonder," he added, refer- 
 ring to a point of the compass almost oppo- 
 site, "I would believe the boy fired the gun 
 and had come in collision with some more of 
 the scamps that are so plenty to-night, but he 
 can't be over there, because that would lead 
 him further from the camp of the cattle- 
 men." 
 
 And yet, as the reader suspects, the rifle 
 was discharged by the young man, who, in 
 obedience to the general law, had strayed in 
 the wrong direction in his blind search for 
 his friends. 
 
 It was not necessary to give any attention 
 to matters below stairs. He could not believe 
 that danger threatened there, but, should it 
 appear in an unexpected form, the women 
 would give quick notice, and he could hasten 
 to their aid. 
 
 "Avon ought to reach camp in half an 
 hour," continued the Texan, following his 
 train of thought ; " true, he is on foot, but he 
 knows every step of the way, and won't allow 
 
 7 
 
98 THE GKEAT CATTLE TRAIL. 
 
 the grass to grow under his feet ; it will take 
 the boys about half a minute to make ready ; 
 the cattle can be left to themselves, so they 
 ought to be here within three-quarters of an 
 hour, and won't they make fur fly when they 
 do come ! " added the Texan with a thrill ; 
 " they will welcome such a chance to even up 
 matters with these cattle thieves, who have 
 been hanging round the country for nearly a 
 week ; they will give them a lesson which 
 will make it safe for the women until we get 
 back, even if gone six months." 
 
 Despite his watchfulness against his foes, 
 his gaze continually wandered to the north- 
 ward, whence the expected aid was to come. 
 His elevation was not sufficient to permit him 
 to see beyond the ridge which his relative 
 must pass to reach camp, but he listened for 
 the assuring shouts which were sure to pro- 
 claim the arrival of the brave fellows who 
 were always ready to risk their lives for a 
 friend. 
 
 Although the captain relied chiefly upon 
 the darkness to screen him from sight of the 
 Comanches, he could not feel sure of entire 
 
ON THE ROOF. 99 
 
 safety in his situation. In order to hold all 
 of the roof in his field of vision, he had to 
 keep not only his head but his shoulders 
 above the level of the scuttle. By doing this, 
 he could look over the peak, but his danger 
 lay in the evident fact that the Indians knew 
 the location of the opening, and would use 
 their eyes for all they were worth in striving 
 to detect anyone venturing out of it. 
 
 The conviction, therefore, was that his 
 conspicuous posture was likely to reveal his 
 outlines to some watchful warrior, who might 
 rise to his feet on the back of his steed so as 
 to permit a closer view of the roof. 
 
 No more uncomfortable sensation can be 
 imagined than that of one who continually 
 invites the skill of a sharp-shooter, and the 
 Texan met the difficulty not by shrinking, 
 like a turtle, within his protection, but by 
 climbing stealthily out upon the planking, 
 where he remained extended at full length. 
 
 This rendered him less liable to be seen, but 
 if his assailants should take a notion to sweep 
 the deck, as may be said, with rifle bullets, 
 he was far more likely to receive some of 
 
100 THE GEEAT CATTLE TRAIL. 
 
 tliem in his X) erson than he would be by 
 retaining his former place. 
 
 But a greater or less degree of danger must 
 attend any effort to frustrate the designs of 
 the red men, who were inspired by a hatred 
 intensified by the loss of two of their number. 
 
 With his face almost pressing the planking 
 the Texan drew himself, inch by inch, along 
 the roof, until he was some six feet distant. 
 Then he paused and listened, slightly raising 
 his head and peering around in the gloom. 
 
 Once he heard the hoofs of a galloping 
 horse, which, however, quickly ceased. Then 
 several whistle-like signals passed between the 
 marauders, and he was able to catch the mur- 
 mur of voices within the cabin. The wife and 
 servant were talking together, and, though 
 their words were low, the open doors allowed 
 the slight noise to reach the ears of the Texan, 
 without telling him what words were spoken. 
 
 Holding his position several minutes, he 
 turned a little to the left and crept along, until 
 able to look over the low peak of the roof. 
 He did this by raising his head the few inches 
 necessary to bring his eyes just above the level. 
 
ON THE ROOF. 101 
 
 Everything, so far as he could judge, was 
 the same as before. The smouldering in the 
 cavity had died out, though the smoke was as 
 pungent as ever. 
 
 " Dinah could not have done her work more 
 effectively, and a reasonable person ought to 
 be satisfied " 
 
 His keen sense of hearing apprised him of a 
 noise, slight bat significant, near him. His 
 first thought was that it was in front, but the 
 next moment he knew it came from the rear. 
 Turning his head in that direction, without 
 moving his body, he caught the outlines of a 
 Comanche's head at the lower corner of the 
 roof behind him. It slowly rose until the 
 shoulders appeared, and no doubt remained 
 that the Indian was cautiously climbing 
 upon the roof, to renew t^e attempt to set 
 fire to it. 
 
CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 A DEAD RACE. 
 
 A YON BURNET was thunderstruck. 
 ~L\- When he supposed he was several miles 
 from the cabin of his uncle, he found himself 
 directly in front of it, and the Indian horse, 
 upon which he relied to take him to the camp 
 of the cattlemen, had brought him to what 
 might be called the mouth of the lion's den. 
 
 Not only had the precious minutes been 
 thrown away, but his peril was of the most 
 desperate nature. 
 
 Hardly had the pony halted, when a couple 
 of figures loomed to view in the darkness on 
 the left, and one of them called to him in 
 Comanche. This told the youth that his 
 identity was unsuspected by the red men, 
 whose view was too indistinct to distinguish 
 him from one of their own number. But they 
 
 were coming toward him, and his broad 
 
 102 
 
A DEAD RACE. 103 
 
 sombrero must reveal the truth the next 
 instant. 
 
 Not a second was to be lost. They were 
 almost upon him, when he wheeled and urged 
 his mustang to a dead run, throwing himself 
 forward at the same moment, in the usual 
 way, to avoid the ballets that would be whis- 
 tling about him before he could pass beyond 
 reach. 
 
 But the steed got the mischief in him at 
 this moment. He must have understood 
 the treachery demanded of him, for instead of 
 dashing off, as was expected, he spitefully 
 flung his head from side to side and reared, 
 with his fore -legs high from the ground. 
 
 Had Avon been on the open prairie, with 
 time at his command, he would have con- 
 quered the beast, as he had done many a time 
 with others, but he could not do so now. 
 There was not the twinkling of an eye at his 
 disposal. 
 
 The mustang was still rearing and pawing 
 the air, when Avon whisked over his shoul- 
 der, like a skilled equestrian, landing nimbly 
 on his feet, and breaking into a dead run 
 
104 THE GREAT CATTLE TEAIL. 
 
 toward the cattle camp five miles away. His 
 action, as well as that of his horse, made 
 known the astonishing truth to the approach- 
 ing Comanches. 
 
 Several warning whoops broke the stillness, 
 and it seemed to the fugitive that half the 
 Indians were in pursuit of him. He glanced 
 back and was not a little surprised to observe 
 that all were on foot. The pony which had 
 just been freed must have concluded to enjoy 
 his liberty while the chance was his, for, 
 instead of going to his master, he galloped 
 whinnying in another direction. 
 
 But all of these men had mustangs, which, 
 as has been said, were among the finest of 
 their species, and they were likely to take 
 part in the singular contest. 
 
 If the chase should retain its present char- 
 acter the young man had hope, for he was one 
 of the fleetest of Texans, who had never met 
 his superior among the veterans of the plains. 
 The Comanches are also wonderfully active on 
 foot, and it remained to be decided whether 
 they could overtake him in a fair contest. 
 
 Avon Burnet ran as never before. He was 
 
A DEAD RACE. 105 
 
 speeding now for his own life as well as for 
 that of his friends, for they were in as urgent 
 need of help as ever. He knew his face was 
 toward camp, he remembered the nature of 
 the ground, and had no fear, therefore, of 
 stumbling into any pitfalls. 
 
 Accustomed as the Comanches were to run- 
 ning, they must have been surprised at the 
 burst of speed shown by the young man, who 
 seemed to be going over the plain like the 
 wind. 
 
 As he ran Avon cast furtive glances over 
 his shoulder, and his heart tingled when he 
 saw that he was steadily drawing away from 
 the four figures which seemed to have sprung 
 from the ground itself. 
 
 "Keep it up, boys," he muttered, " and see 
 where you land. If you can down me in this 
 style, you are welcome." 
 
 But it was not to be expected that the pur, 
 suers would content themselves while the 
 swift-footed youth left them out of sight. 
 The moment they saw that such an issue was 
 likely, they would resort to their rifles, and 
 there could be no question of their skill with 
 
106 THE GREAT CATTLE TRAIL. 
 
 those weapons, which they had been accus- 
 tomed to use from the hour they were strong 
 enough to hold one of them. 
 
 There must have been some urgent wish on 
 the part of the red men to capture the youth, 
 else they would have appealed to their guns 
 at first. The rearing mustang served as a 
 partial shield to the fugitive, until he was 
 fairly under way and had secured a start of 
 several rods, in fact being almost invisible in 
 the gloom at the moment the race fairly 
 opened. 
 
 The third glance over his shoulder showed 
 him only two of the Comanches in sight, and 
 hardly half a minute elapsed, when, on look- 
 ing back again, only one was visible. 
 
 But the fact became speedily apparent that 
 this particular red man was as fleet as him- 
 self. He must have been the champion of his 
 tribe, since he parted company with his com- 
 panions so speedily. 
 
 "I don't know whether I can shake you off 
 or not," thought the fugitive, "but it's a 
 mighty sight better to be chased by a single 
 enemy than by several." 
 
A DEAD EACE. 107 
 
 The youth determined upon a piece of 
 strategy, should it prove possible. He meant 
 to keep up the flight, without escaping his 
 pursuer, until he was drawn so far away from 
 the rest that he could receive no help from 
 them. This, at the same time, would encour- 
 age the miscreant in the belief that he would 
 soon overhaul and make him prisoner. 
 
 The first part of the scheme was compara- 
 tively simple. It was easier to allow the 
 scamp to gain upon him than it was to outrun 
 him ; it was somewhat more difficult to hold 
 the rates of speed relatively equal, while it 
 looked extremely doubtful whether, when the 
 moment should arrive, he could leave him 
 behind. 
 
 In support of this view, Avon did not fail to 
 remember that he had put forth his utmost 
 exertion from the first, and still was unable to 
 shake off his enemy, who clung as persistently 
 to him as does the wolf to the wounded 
 bison. 
 
 What he feared, too, as much as anything 
 else, was that the other Comanches, who had 
 withdrawn from the race, would hasten to the 
 
108 THE GllEAT CATTLE TRAIL. 
 
 vicinity of the cabin, and, mounting their 
 mustangs, take part in the struggle. If a 
 horseman should get but a single glimpse of 
 him, it would not take him long to run the 
 fugitive down. 
 
 It was this dread which caused him to 
 swerve gradually to the left, though he kept 
 such careful note of the change that there was 
 no danger of his going astray as before. 
 
 None of the pursuers, from the moment of 
 starting, gave vent to any outcry, as they are 
 generally supposed to do under similar cir- 
 cumstances. Such a proceeding would have 
 been as great a draught upon his strength as 
 outright laughter, and the American Indian is 
 too wise not to husband every resource. 
 
 It required little cessation of effort to per- 
 mit the Comanche to come up with him at an 
 alarming rate. A few minutes would have 
 allowed the pursuer to overhaul the fugitive. 
 
 Only a few minutes had passed since the 
 furious start, and Avon felt that the time had 
 come to consider himself as dealing only with 
 this single redskin. Still bearing to the left 
 he put forth all his energies, resolved to run 
 
A DEAD RACE. 109 
 
 away from him, if the achievement was within 
 the range of possibility. 
 
 It was not. Try as desperately as he 
 might, the Comanche could not be shaken 
 off. 
 
 An encounter being inevitable, Avon had to 
 decide upon the manner in which it should 
 take place. 
 
 Inasmuch as the warrior must have felt cer- 
 tain of coming up with him, he was not likely 
 to appeal to his rifle, or that would have 
 been his first act when the contest opened. 
 He would continue to run until near enough 
 either to seize the youth or to use his weapon 
 against him. 
 
 Avon concluded that the only course which 
 offered hope was to allow the warrior to 
 approach slightly closer, and then to wheel 
 and let him have several chambers from his 
 Winchester. 
 
 He would have to act quickly, but he had 
 already proven himself capable of that, and it 
 might be that the Comanche would be looking 
 for something of the kind, and was supple 
 enough to secure the drop on him. His 
 
110 THE GREAT CATTLE TRAIL. 
 
 people were accustomed to border warfare and 
 had graduated in all the subtlety of the fear- 
 ful business. 
 
 Young Burnet had fixed his course of action 
 in his mind when, to his consternation, he 
 heard the sounds of approaching hoofs over 
 the prairie! 
 
CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 THE FRIEND IN NEED. 
 
 IF horsemen were thundering toward the 
 spot, the fugitive was doomed. 
 
 But, though seized with despair, he did not 
 yield. On the contrary, he was nerved to 
 such desperation that he put forth a tremen- 
 dous effort, which quickly increased the space 
 between him and the pursuer. 
 
 But instead of heading away from the com- 
 ing animals, he turned directly toward them, 
 at the same astonishing velocity. Why he 
 did this, he himself did not fully understand. 
 It may have been that, impressed with the 
 utter uselessness of trying to escape by run- 
 ning, he had a blind hope of unhorsing one of 
 his enemies and wrenching his steed from 
 him. 
 
 He had taken only a few leaps, however, 
 when he discovered that the beasts running 
 
 forward, as if to meet him, were cattle. 
 
 in 
 
112 THE GREAT CATTLE TRAIL. 
 
 Fully fifty animals, belonging to the herd 
 several miles distant, had started out on a 
 little stampede of their own, and fate brought 
 them and him in collision. 
 
 It mattered not, for nothing could make 
 the situation worse. The next instant Avon 
 was among them, in imminent risk of being 
 trampled to death. The beasts were terrified 
 by the advent of the footman, and scattered in 
 the wildest confusion. 
 
 While he was in such deadly peril, the 
 animals served as a shield against the assault 
 of the Comanche close behind him. Anxious 
 as he was to secure the fugitive, he was not 
 prepared to "cut him out" from a drove of 
 stampeded cattle. 
 
 He turned to avoid the terrific rush, and 
 catching fitful glimpses of the leaping form 
 among the beasts, raised his gun and let fly. 
 
 His shot struck, but, instead of bringing 
 down the youth, it tumbled one of the 
 bullocks headlong on the plain. Avon would 
 have turned at once to give attention to his 
 enemy, had he not been fully occupied in sav- 
 ing himself from the animals themselves. 
 
THE FKIEND IN JSTEED. 113 
 
 Fortunately he had not penetrated far 
 among the drove, and, by a continuance of his 
 inimitable dexterity, he dodged from among 
 them, helped thereto by the efforts of the 
 cattle themselves to flee from the terrifying 
 object. 
 
 It was at this juncture, when the youth was 
 striving to get sight of his enemy, who, he 
 believed, was trying equally hard to secure 
 another shot at him, that he saw the very 
 thing he had been dreading from the first. 
 
 It was a single horseman, who almost rode 
 him down ere he could check his steed. Avon 
 was so flurried from his fierce exertions, that, 
 before he could bring his rifle to his shoulder 
 and discharge it, the other anticipated him. 
 
 But the man did not fire at Tiim. He aimed 
 at the Comanche, not a dozen yards distant, 
 and hit him fairly and squarely. 
 
 " Helloa, Baby, what the mischief is up ? " 
 
 Thank Heaven, Ballyhoo, it's you!" 
 exclaimed the panting youth, ready to drop 
 from exhaustion. 
 
 " Ballyhoo," was the nickname of Oscar 
 Gleeson, one of the cowboys in charge of the 
 
 8 
 
114 THE GEEAT CATTLE TRAIL. 
 
 two thousand cattle that were to start north- 
 ward on the morrow over the Great Cattle 
 Trail. 
 
 "Baby" was the name by which Avon 
 Burnet was known among the rest, because 
 of his youth. 
 
 Leaning over his horse, the tall Texan 
 reached down and grasped the hand of his 
 young friend. 
 
 "It sort of looks, Baby, as though I had 
 arrived in time to do you a little turn." 
 
 "There's no doubt of that, for I couldn't 
 have run much further." 
 
 "But why did you run at all? I observed 
 but one Injin, and he's of no further account 
 now." 
 
 " When I started there were four after me, 
 but I threw all out of sight except one. I was 
 on the point of turning to fight him, when I 
 heard the cattle, and thought they were other 
 Comanches coming to the help of this fellow." 
 
 " But things seem to be in a queer shape at 
 the house ; tell me the trouble." 
 
 "Why, how did you know anything about 
 it at alU" asked the surprised Avon. 
 
THE FRIEND IN NEED. 115 
 
 "I've been down there and seen things for 
 myself." 
 
 " Let me hear about that first, then I'll let 
 you know what I have to tell, and it is 
 important indeed." 
 
 The Texan, in obedience to his training, cast 
 a look after the vanishing herd and sighed. 
 
 4 i It '11 be a big job to round them up, but I 
 guess we'll have to leave 'em alone for a time. 
 Wai, you know we went into camp a few miles 
 to the north, to wait for you and the captain 
 that was to jine us in the morning. We were 
 looking after things, when I remembered that 
 I had left my package of tobacco at the house. 
 Things were so quiet, and I was so afeared 
 that you and the captain would forgit to bring 
 it with you, that I concluded to ride over after 
 it myself. I never dreamed of any of the var- 
 mints being there, and was going along at a 
 swinging gait, when I heard the sound of a 
 gun and I fetched up my horse to learn what 
 it meant. I didn't see an Injin, but while I 
 was looking somebody made a rush from the 
 front of the house for the bush." 
 
 "It was myself," interrupted Avon excit- 
 
116 THE GREAT CATTLE TRAIL. 
 
 edly, u and the captain fired to save me and 
 did it." 
 
 "I reckon that was Ballyhoo Gleeson that 
 let loose that partic'lar shot," said the cow- 
 boy with a chuckle; "I didn't know who it 
 was running, but thought it was one of the 
 varmints. Just afore that I was sure that I 
 seed one of 'em and I let fly, shootin' on 
 gineral principles as you might say. I 
 might have investigated things, but the Co- 
 manches were too numerous for comfort, and 
 I wheeled about and made off." 
 
 "So it was you who fired the shot that 
 really cleared the way for me," said the as- 
 tonished youth; "I supposed, all the time, 
 that it was my uncle. Where have you been 
 since?" 
 
 "I started for camp to tell the boys, and 
 was on my way when I met these confounded 
 cattle. I didn't want them to get too fur off, 
 as none of the fellows 'peared to be after them. 
 I was trying to round them up, when this 
 little affair took place." 
 
 "But, Ballyhoo, why didn't you let the 
 cattle go and make all haste after help." 
 
THE FRIEND IN NEED. 117 
 
 " Who wants help?" 
 
 " The folks in the house ; do you suppose I 
 would have ventured out as I did, if they were 
 not in instant need of it? " 
 
 Evidently the Texan found it hard to under- 
 stand the extremity of Captain Shirril and his 
 family. 
 
 " There are three of 'em there and each has 
 a gun ; I don't see why you need worry, 'cause 
 the varmints can't get at 'em and they'll clear 
 out in the morning." 
 
 " That might be, but uncle says they will 
 set fire to the cabin, unless they are driven 
 off." 
 
 "I didn't think of that" replied Gleeson, 
 who still could not feel the alarm of his young 
 friend ; " the cabin has been purty well dried 
 up by the drought of the last few months. I 
 thought the varmints were after the cattle, 
 and," he added, again peering through the 
 gloom after the herd, which had run so far 
 that they were not only out of sight but be- 
 yond hearing, u they stand a show of making 
 a good haul. But," he continued more 
 savagely, "they will find a little trouble in 
 
118 THE GEEAT CATTLE TRAIL. 
 
 getting off with them. There's too many for 
 us to lose without a big fight. " 
 
 " It doesn't make any difference if the whole 
 herd is stampeded, we must hurry to the aid 
 of the folks in the cabin." 
 
 6 'Being as them sentiments are the cap- 
 tain's," said Ballyhoo, "why, I'm agreeable 
 to doing as him and you wish. So jump up 
 here behind me, and we'll go to camp." 
 
 "I can walk." 
 
 " Up with you ! " commanded the Texan. 
 " I shouldn't wonder if some more of the var- 
 mints will be on hand afore long, to attend the 
 obsequies of their champion runner." 
 
 Avon obeyed, and the laden mustang struck 
 off to the northward, at an easy gait. 
 
CHAPTER XV. 
 
 VANISHED. 
 
 IT was a startling sight, when Captain Shir- 
 ril, stretched at full length on the roof of 
 his cabin, gazed in front of him and saw the 
 head and shoulders of a Comanche Indian 
 slowly rise to view at the corner of the eaves. 
 
 He could not doubt its meaning : the as- 
 sailants were bent on burning the structure, 
 and were willing to face the danger that was 
 sure to meet them in making the attempt. 
 
 Even in this exciting moment, the Texan 
 could not help asking himself the question 
 which he had asked many times before : why 
 did not the redskins set fire to the side of the 
 house, where they were involved in no such 
 peril as now? They might have gathered 
 several armfuls of combustibles, and, heaping 
 them against the wooden walls, fire them at 
 
 their leisure, but, for some reason, they pre- 
 119 
 
120 THE GREAT CATTLE TRAIL. 
 
 ferred to climb upon the roof, and run the. risk 
 of colliding with the courageous Dinah or her 
 fearless master. 
 
 In doing as they did, the Comanches were 
 shrewder than would be supposed. It is true 
 that the narrow windows commanded only 
 one side of the cabin, and that the attempt 
 spoken of brought little if any danger to 
 themselves. In fact, as afterward was 
 learned, they did their best to set fire to the 
 rear, and at the end, but the timber was so 
 damp that the flames failed to communicate. 
 The long continued drought affected the walls 
 to a far less degree than the roof, where the 
 sun had free play day after day. Had there 
 been a driving storm, the top would have 
 been less favorable than the walls, but from 
 the causes named it lost its moisture much 
 more readily. 
 
 Besides, the flames on the roof could not be 
 reached as readily nor with so much safety 
 by the defenders as at the sides. They 
 naturally believed there was plenty of water 
 at command. The moment the fire should 
 begin to show through the crevices in the 
 
VANISHED. 121 
 
 timbers, this could be dashed against the 
 other side and brought into play. 
 
 It was different on the roof, which could 
 not be reached so well. There may have been 
 other motives influencing the Comanches in 
 the first instance, such as supposing that the 
 whites, having once repulsed the attempt, 
 would not look for its repetition, since the 
 Indians must expose themselves to the 
 greatest possible peril. 
 
 However, without speculating as to their 
 reasons, the fact remained that a second 
 Indian was rising like an apparition above 
 the eaves, with the evident intention of trying 
 to repair the failure of his companion a short 
 time before. 
 
 Captain Shirril felt that it would have been 
 better had he stayed where he was ; for, with 
 his head just above the level of the scuttle, 
 he could have picked off the wretch the very 
 moment he became aware of his presence. 
 
 But now, while creeping so guardedly along 
 the roof, he had held his rifle by the barrel, 
 with most of the weapon behind. him. Had it 
 been discharged, in that position, it was he 
 
122 THE GEEAT CATTLE TRAIL. 
 
 who would have received the bullet, instead 
 of the Indian. 
 
 To make the gun effective, lie must bring it 
 around in front and sight it. While his own 
 form pressed the planking so close that the 
 savage apparently failed to identify him, 
 though carefully scanning the surface, there 
 was a strong probability that he would detect 
 the meaning of the slight noise involved in 
 the act. 
 
 The Texan dared not advance nor retreat, 
 though he would have preferred to withdraw 
 through the opening ; but the moment he 
 made sure of what confronted him, he began 
 bringing his gun forward, with the resolve to 
 fire the moment he could draw a bead on the 
 miscreant. 
 
 The weapon advanced like the minute-hand 
 over the face of a clock. Knowing the stake 
 for which he was working, he did not neglect 
 any precaution that could bring success. 
 
 "He can duck his head quickly enough," 
 thought the captain, "but I'll pick him off 
 the instant there is reason to believe he scents 
 mischief." 
 
VANISHED. 123 
 
 His intention, in such an event, was to 
 bring his Winchester to the right position and 
 discharge it with the utmost celerity. His 
 experience in the Civil War and in Texas 
 rendered him an adept at this business, but, 
 on the other hand, it will be seen that the pre- 
 cautions of the Comanche himself could be 
 executed in a twinkling. 
 
 " Confound the luck I" 
 
 Captain Shirril had almost reached the 
 decisive point, when the head of the redskin 
 vanished ! 
 
 Whether or not he saw his danger cannot 
 be said, but it is probable that the slight noise 
 of the arm and gun struck his ear and decided 
 him to drop out of sight until an investigation 
 should be made. 
 
 The Texan was exasperated, for he was 
 eager to bring down this scamp, and, up to 
 the moment of his disappearance, was confi- 
 dent of doing so, but the opportunity was gone. 
 
 Instead of retreating to cover again, he de- 
 cided to remain on the roof a brief while 
 longer ; but he stealthily shifted his position 
 a little nearer the edge of the building. Now 
 
124 THE GEEAT CATTLE TRAIL. 
 
 that he was at liberty for the moment, he laid 
 aside his gun and drew his revolver. That 
 was the weapon for such an emergency, and 
 he kept it in position for instant use, with- 
 out the fatal preliminaries that had just de- 
 feated his purpose. 
 
 The captain clung to the belief that, despite 
 the second repulse of the Comanches, they 
 would persist in their attempt until it should 
 prove too costly to them. 
 
 But he was not shortsighted enough to be- 
 lieve the repetition would be in the precise 
 fashion of the last : that is to say, he did not 
 suspect the Indian, after ducking so promptly 
 out of range, would pop up his head again to 
 invite a shot. 
 
 "He will appear at some other corner," 
 was his conclusion, "which they believe is 
 unguarded." 
 
 His eyes had become so accustomed to the 
 gloom that he could trace the outlines of the 
 eaves around the cabin, and he felt little fear, 
 therefore, of his enemies stealing upon him una- 
 wares. They might try it, but he was confident 
 of defeating their purpose at the very onset. 
 
VANISHED. 125 
 
 Another fear troubled him : having learned 
 that he was on the roof, they were likely to 
 begin firing at it from a distance, raking the 
 entire surface so effectively that some of the 
 bullets were quite sure to find him. Pru- 
 dence whispered to him to withdraw into the 
 interior of the cabin while the chance was his, 
 but there was a stubborn streak in the Texan's 
 composition which caused him to hold his 
 place. He had been under fire so often that it 
 seemed as if nothing could disturb his cool- 
 ness or ruffle his presence of mind, and he was 
 so inured to personal peril that he felt some- 
 thing of the old thrill of which he had spoken 
 earlier in the evening, when recalling his ex- 
 perience in the war that had closed only a few 
 years before. 
 
 But none of the expected shots came. He 
 heard the sound of more than one mustang's 
 hoofs, and several signals between the war- 
 riors, but no one sent a bullet skimming along 
 the slope on which he lay looking and listen- 
 ing, and on the alert for the first appearance 
 of his assailants. 
 
 This led him to suspect that, after all, they 
 
126 THE GEEAT CATTLE TEAIL. 
 
 were not certain of his presence. It was 
 sound and not sight that had caused the sud- 
 den withdrawal of the warrior. 
 
 If this were the case, there was a greater 
 probability of his showing up again. 
 
 It is at such times that the minutes seem to 
 have ten-fold their real length. The Texan, 
 after glancing closely along the rim of the 
 roof, not forgetting to take a peep over the 
 peak, turned his gaze to the northward, and 
 listened for the sounds that were so long in 
 coming. Not the glimmer of a light showed 
 in that direction, nor could he catch the faint- 
 est sound of a galloping hoof, other than such 
 as was made by the mustangs of the Coman- 
 ches near the building. 
 
 "Avon ought to have arrived before this, 
 and the boys would not throw away a second 
 after learning the truth from him. He may 
 have been hindered, but " 
 
CHAPTER XYI. 
 
 CLEVERLY DONE. 
 
 AT this moment the Texan heard some- 
 -LA. thing. 
 
 The noise could not have been any more 
 distinct than that which had apprised the 
 Comanche of his peril just in time to save 
 himself. It was so faint, indeed, that it was 
 not until he had listened a few seconds longer 
 that he could decide the precise point whence 
 it came. 
 
 It was at the same end of the cabin, but on 
 the corner opposite to that where he had 
 detected the warrior. The captain, therefore, 
 was forced to peep over the edge of the peak, 
 in order to hold his gaze on the point. This 
 was easy enough, and, as he stealthily peered 
 through the gloom, he levelled his weapon, in 
 whose use he was as skilful as that of the 
 Winchester. 
 
 127 
 
128 THE GREAT CATTLE TRAIL. 
 
 He had decided in his mind the precise 
 point where the head of the Indian would rise 
 to view, and he was resolved not to throw 
 away his chance this time. The moment he 
 could make sure of his target, he would per- 
 forate it with several bullets, in order to pre- 
 vent any possible mistake. 
 
 But, though the sound was repeated, the 
 object itself failed to materialize. It was 
 there, but he could not see it clearly enough 
 to risk a shot. 
 
 Strange that, with all the Texan's expe- 
 rience, this fact did not lead him to suspect 
 the real cause of the warrior's continued 
 absence ! 
 
 But at the moment he began speculating, he 
 became convinced that his enemy was moving. 
 He was there and had betrayed himself. 
 
 Everyone knows the extreme difficulty of 
 seeing an object distinctly when the light is 
 poor, and we concentrate our gaze upon it. 
 That which is clear at first grows dim and per- 
 haps vanishes altogether from sight 
 
 Something of the kind is noticeable when we 
 try to count the seven stars of the Pleiades. 
 
CLEVERLY DONE. 129 
 
 It is easy enough to fix upon six, but if we 
 gaze too intently, the seventh modestly with- 
 draws from view. 
 
 This was the case for a minute or two with 
 Captain Shirril. The first glance at the sus- 
 picious point showed him the outlines of a 
 head, but while gazing at it, he began to doubt 
 whether it was there at all. Aware of the 
 peculiarity named, he turned his eyes toward 
 a spot several feet removed, and then glanced 
 back to the original point. 
 L The Comanche was there ! 
 
 The Texan sighted his pistol as best he could 
 in the obscurity, but, while doing so with all 
 care, the target began to grow dim, until he 
 was afraid that, if he pressed the trigger, a 
 miss would result, and surely he could not 
 afford that. 
 
 "I'll wait," was his decision; "he can't 
 know that I'm on the watch, and there will be 
 more of him in sight before long." 
 
 It was remarkable indeed that the sagacious 
 captain still failed to suspect the object of this 
 strange proceeding. 
 
 There came the moment when there was no 
 9 
 
130 THE GKEAT CATTLE TKAIL.' 
 
 cause for longer delay. The shoulders were in 
 sight, and the skilful marksman was certain 
 of bringing the warrior down with his first 
 bullet. 
 
 But at the moment of firing, he was re- 
 strained by a strange suspicion, or rather a 
 strange occurrence. 
 
 The head of the Comanche made an abrupt 
 flirt to one side then straightened up, flopped 
 still more in the other direction, and then 
 became upright again. 
 
 This was not only extraordinary, but it was 
 something which a genuine Indian would 
 never do, whether he belonged to the Co- 
 manche or some other tribe. 
 
 "Ah, ha that's your game, is it?" mut- 
 tered the Texan, catching on to the truth. 
 
 The cunning red men were making use of a 
 dummy instead of one of their own number, 
 and, astounding as the statement may seem, 
 this dummy was the very warrior that had 
 fallen by the shot of Oscar Gleeson. 
 
 Instead of trusting the success of their 
 scheme to an image made by mounting a 
 blanket over the end of a stick, and which 
 
CLEVERLY DONE. 131 
 
 might well deceive where there was so little 
 light, they had picked up the inanimate body, 
 lifted it upon the back of one of their mus- 
 tangs, and slowly elevated it above the eaves, 
 imitating the natural action as closely as they 
 could. 
 
 However, they ought to have practiced the 
 trick before risking so much on its success. 
 Everything was going right, until the head 
 reached a point where it was not advisable 
 to support it further, since the hands thus 
 employed were likely to receive some of the 
 bullets they expected to be fired after it. 
 
 The withdrawal of the support caused it to 
 tip to one side, and the too prompt effort to 
 retrieve the mistake sent it in the opposite 
 direction. This mishap was quickly repaired, 
 but not until the deception had become mani- 
 fest - to the watchful Texan, who smiled 
 grimly, without suspecting the deeper mean- 
 ing of the performance. 
 
 u I don't think I will throw away any shots 
 on you" he said to himself; "for there will 
 be plenty of other chances where more good 
 may be done." 
 
132 THE GREAT CATTLE TRAIL. 
 
 A thoughtful man might have concluded 
 that the Comanches were taking a good deal 
 of unnecessary pains. Suppose the white 
 man did send several bullets into the dummy, 
 there was no hope of his exhausting his sup- 
 ply or of the Comanche finding him wholly 
 unprepared. 
 
 They probably believed that, after such a 
 discharge on his part, he would not expect an 
 instant renewal of the attempt, and would, 
 therefore, be off his guard for a few seconds, 
 during which they could make their rush. 
 
 This was drawing it exceedingly fine, and 
 the Texan did not attempt to explain that 
 which must always remain a partial mystery. 
 
 "I wonder now whether that can be a 
 little plan to hold my attention, while they 
 try something in another direction," was his 
 next thought, which proved that Captain 
 Shirril was at last approaching the right trail. 
 
 The image, or rather body, having been 
 raised far enough above the eaves to show the 
 head and shoulders, remained as stationary as 
 if carved in wood. It was unsafe for its pro- 
 jectors to trust it further without support. It 
 
CLEVERLY DONE. 133 
 
 was now ready to receive the fire of the gentle- 
 man, and the Comanches might well ask why 
 it was he delayed opening business. 
 
 He kept it under scrutiny a few seconds 
 longer, fearful that there might be some 
 hidden design which he did not understand ; 
 and then, in obedience to his suspicion, he 
 turned his head to look over the roof behind 
 him. 
 
 At the moment of doing so, he heard a 
 stealthy but rapid step. The first glance 
 showed him a sinewy warrior, moving softly 
 across the planking from the other end of the 
 cabin and coming directly toward him. 
 
 The Comanche was in a crouching posture, 
 with his rifle in his left hand, while his right 
 rested on his hip, as if grasping the handle of 
 his knife. 
 
 Supposing the dusky foe was coming for 
 him, Captain Shirrill rose to a half-sitting 
 position, and held his revolver ready. He 
 meant to wait until his enemy was so near 
 that there could be no possibility of missing 
 him. 
 
 Before that point was reached, the Co- 
 
134 THE GREAT CATTLE TRAIL. 
 
 manche would have to pass directly by the 
 open scuttle. The Texan awaited his coming 
 with the same coolness he had shown from the 
 first, when to Ms inexpressible amazement the 
 Indian dropped directly through the open 
 door and drew it shut after him, with a 
 suddenness like that of the snapping of a 
 knife-blade. 
 
 And then it was that Captain Shirril read 
 the meaning of that strange manoauvring at 
 the corner of the roof, and awoke to the fact 
 that he had been completely outwitted. 
 
CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 AT FAULT. 
 
 SHIRRIL was never so outwitted 
 in all his life. With never a suspicion 
 that the Comanche, dashing over the roof, had 
 any other purpose than to assail him, he was 
 holding his revolver pointed, reflecting at the 
 same time on the blind folly of the red man in 
 rushing to his fate, when he dropped through 
 the scuttle and closed it after him. 
 
 With a muttered exclamation of chagrin 
 the Texan leaped to his feet, reaching the spot 
 in a couple of bounds, and let fly with two 
 chambers of his weapon. The bullets skimmed 
 over the door, the inimitable dexterity of the 
 Indian saving him as by a hair's breadth. 
 
 Thus the fellow had entered the cabin after 
 all, by a piece of strategy as brilliant as it was 
 daring, and the only man who was a defender 
 of the place found himself shut out and a 
 prisoner, as may be said, on the roof. 
 
 135 
 
136 THE GREAT CATTLE TRAIL. 
 
 Unwilling to believe the astounding logic of 
 facts, the captain stooped down and tried to 
 lift the door ; bat it had been placed there 
 with the view of being raised only from below. 
 It was impossible to get anything but the 
 slightest hold upon it, and when he tried to 
 lift it upward, it could not be moved. 
 
 The Comanche was either holding it, or had 
 fastened it in place by means of the iron 
 hook. 
 
 Thinking only of the safety of his wife and 
 servant, the Texan bent over, and, putting his 
 mouth as close to the edge as he could, 
 shouted : 
 
 "Look out down there, Edna! There's an 
 Indian on the upper floor, and I am fastened 
 on the roof." 
 
 Provided his wife heard the warning, this 
 particular Comanche was liable, after all, to 
 find that, in undertaking his contract, he 
 would be unable to deliver the goods. But, if 
 the warning reached the ears of the women, 
 would they comprehend its significance ? 
 That was the question which must soon be 
 answered. 
 
AT FAULT. 137 
 
 The meaning of the peculiar strategy of the 
 Comanches was now fully understood by the 
 victim. With a humiliation beyond descrip- 
 tion, he comprehended how he had fallen into 
 the trap that had been set so cunningly for 
 his feet. 
 
 All this trifling at one corner of the roof 
 was intended to hold his attention, while one 
 of the warriors stealthily climbed over the 
 eaves at another portion and reached the in- 
 side by dropping through the scuttle. 
 
 The plan, simple as it might seem, had 
 worked to perfection. 
 
 The moment the captain comprehended that 
 he was shut out as effectually as the miscreant 
 was shut in, he glared around in quest of 
 others who might be trying to work his own 
 death by a continuation of their cunning. 
 Aware, too, of his exposure to their shots, he 
 quickly sank on his face, with his head nigh 
 enough to the peak to hold the entire surface 
 under his eye. 
 
 It was well he did so ; for from the same 
 corner that the successful Indian had come, 
 he discerned a second climbing over the ea res. 
 
138 THE GREAT CATTLE TRAIL. 
 
 He was doing so with an eagerness that 
 showed he was discounting his own chances. 
 
 " Whether you are bogus or not, here 
 goes ! " 
 
 The Texan did not rely upon his revolver to 
 serve him in the crisis, but hastily aiming his 
 Winchester, pulled the trigger. 
 
 The Comanche, whose body was half over 
 the roof, threw up his arms with a wild 
 screech and disappeared backward, as 
 abruptly as his companion had gone down 
 the scuttle. There could be no doubt of 
 the success of that shot. 
 
 "I would like to have a few more of you 
 try it," muttered the defender, compressing 
 his lips and glancing right and left. His 
 blood was up and he was in a desperate 
 mood. 
 
 But his own situation was one of extreme 
 peril. The Comanches must be aware of his 
 singular dilemma, and were not likely to leave 
 him undisputed master of the situation, at 
 least as long as he remained on the outside. 
 
 That this supposition was right was proven 
 the next minute, when, from a point several 
 
AT FAULT. 139 
 
 rods distant, a gun was fired and the bullet 
 skipped over the surface within a few inches 
 of where he was crouching. A second shot 
 followed still closer, and the captain crept a 
 little farther from the scuttle. 
 
 But for fear of alarming his friends below, 
 he would have uttered a cry, as if of pain, with 
 a view of convincing the Comanches that their 
 shots had proven fatal. Then they would be 
 tempted to send more of their number over 
 the roof, where they would fall victims to 
 his marksmanship. 
 
 It looked as if the assailants were in doubt 
 on this point, for after the two shots they 
 ceased firing, and everything remained silent 
 for several minutes. 
 
 Captain Shirril, even in his anxiety for 
 himself, could not forget the inmates of his 
 home. Two women and a fierce warrior were 
 inside, and matters were sure to become lively 
 there before long. 
 
 In the midst of this oppressive stillness, 
 occurred Avon Burnet's adventure which has 
 been told elsewhere. It was impossible for 
 the captain to understand what the confusion 
 
140 THE GREAT CATTLE TRAIL. 
 
 on the prairie meant, but he saw that it was a 
 diversion of some kind which, fortunately for 
 himself, held the attention of his enemies for 
 a while longer. 
 
 He felt a vague suspicion that the Indian in 
 the room below would try to get a shot at him 
 through the scuttle door. He could raise it 
 for an inch or more, and, provided the white 
 man was in his line of range, fire with quick 
 and unerring accuracy. It is singular that he 
 did not do this in the first place, after reach- 
 ing the roof, and before the Texan discovered 
 his presence so near him. 
 
 Lying extended as flat as before, Captain 
 Shirril placed his ear close to the door and 
 listened. 
 
 Within the first minute he caught a sound, 
 but it was so faint and indefinite that he could 
 not tell -what it meant. It might have been 
 caused by someone moving about in the 
 room directly below, but he was inclined to 
 believe that the Comanche was still near the 
 scuttle and was trying to get his range. 
 
 All at once the heart of the Texan gave a 
 start. He was sure the door was pushed 
 
AT FAULT. 141 
 
 upward the slightest possible distance. It 
 looked as if the Comanche was endeavoring to 
 do the very thing suspected that is, he was 
 seeking to gain sight of the white man in 
 order to give him a stealthy shot. 
 
 "If he will but raise that door a single 
 inch," was the exultant thought of the cap- 
 tain, "I will get my fingers under the edge 
 and yank it back in spite of all he can do, 
 and just about that time the band will begin 
 to play." 
 
 But would the Indian be rash enough to do 
 this ? The first glimpse through the slightest 
 crevice would tell him that his intended vic- 
 tim had shifted his position. He would be 
 shrewd enough to suspect its meaning, and 
 would take care that he did not throw away 
 the golden opportunity he had so brilliantly 
 won. 
 
 Ah, if his wife and Dinah could but learn 
 the exact truth ! They would quickly prove 
 potent factors in the scheme. Their familiar- 
 ity with the house would enable them to 
 eliminate that wretch who just then seemed 
 to be master of the situation. 
 
142 THE GEEAT CATTLE TRAIL. 
 
 Yes ; the door moved again. The Indian 
 must be beneath, and was striving to do some- 
 thing with the covering, which at present 
 shielded him from the vengeance of the white 
 man whom he had foiled. 
 
 The latter silently extended his hand to the 
 edge of the door, hoping that the purchase 
 for which he was waiting was within reach. 
 He was disappointed. If the structure had 
 been moved, it was to such a slight extent as 
 to afford no advantage. 
 
 He held his hand in the same position, 
 intent on seizing the chance the instant it pre- 
 sented itself, but the Indian was wonderfully 
 cunning. It would seem that having intro- 
 duced himself into the ranchman's home, he 
 would have been content to follow the pur- 
 pose that had taken him thither, without 
 giving more attention to the white man, whom 
 he had certainly spared for the time, when he 
 was in his power. The captain could not 
 understand the logic which appeared to be 
 controlling this warrior from the moment he 
 climbed over the edge of the roof. 
 
CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 AN UNEXPECTED QUERY. 
 
 AS long as Captain Shirril stayed near the 
 -\_ scuttle, he could not command a view 
 of the entire roof of his cabin. His interest in 
 what was going on below made him anxious 
 to do this, but he was too alive to his own 
 danger to remain motionless for more than a 
 few minutes at a time. 
 
 The indistinct rustling that had awakened 
 his hope soon ceased, and he was compelled to 
 believe the Comanche had given up his inten- 
 tion of trying to gain a stealthy shot at him 
 and was now devoting himself to the inmates 
 of the dwelling. 
 
 How he longed to descend through the 
 scuttle and take part in the stirring events 
 that must soon be under way there ! What 
 short work he would make of the wretch who 
 had dared to assume such a risk ! 
 
 143 
 
144 THE GREAT CATTLE TRAIL. 
 
 But it was useless to regret his own short- 
 sightedness, now that it rendered him power- 
 less to strike a blow for his friends. He crept 
 to the peak of the roof, and scrutinized every 
 portion thus brought into his field of vision. 
 Not the slightest sound fell upon his ear that 
 could indicate danger, nor could he discern 
 anything of his enemies. 
 
 The wind was still blowing fitfully, and he 
 heard the familiar rustle of the mesquite bush, 
 with now and then a signal passing between 
 the Comanches. He listened in vain for the 
 noise made by the hoofs of their mustangs. 
 They seemed to have ceased their aimless 
 galloping back and forth, and were probably 
 plotting some new form of mischief. 
 
 Suddenly the rattle of a horse's feet struck 
 him. It broke upon his hearing for an 
 instant, and then ceased as abruptly as it had 
 made itself manifest. 
 
 It was as if a steed were galloping over the 
 soft earth, and, reaching a small bridge of 
 planks, dashed over them with two or three 
 bounds, his hoofs immediately becoming in- 
 audible in the yielding ground beyond. 
 
AN UNEXPECTED QUEEY. 145 
 
 That which might have puzzled a listener 
 was plain to the Texan, who had spent many 
 years on the plains of the Southwest. He 
 knew that what might be called a peculiar 
 eddy in the fitful wind had brought the sound 
 to him. A sudden change of direction ended 
 as soon as it began whirled the noise as 
 straight across the intervening space as if it 
 had been fired by an arrow. 
 
 The sound was similar to that which he 
 had noticed many times that evening, but the 
 impression came to him that it possessed a 
 significance which belonged to none of the 
 others. It was a single horse, and he was 
 going at a moderate speed, which, however, 
 was the case with most of those he had heard. 
 
 All at once the sound broke upon his ear 
 again, but this time it was accompanied by 
 the noise of many other hoofs. 
 
 " They are cattle," was his conclusion; 
 " a part of the herd has been stampeded, and 
 one of the men is trying to round them up : it 
 was his mustang that I heard ah ! there it 
 goes again!" 
 
 It was the crack of a rifle and the screech 
 10 
 
146 THE GEEAT CATTLE TRAIL. 
 
 of a mortally struck person that startled him 
 this time. 
 
 " I believe that was a Comanche who has 
 gone down before the rifle of one of our men." 
 
 As the reader is aware, the Texan was 
 correct in every particular, for it was the 
 report of Gleeson's Winchester, which ended 
 the career of the warrior pressing Avon Bur- 
 net so hard, that reached the captain as he lay 
 on the roof of his own dwelling. 
 
 The whimsical nature of the wind, that had 
 been blowing all the night, excluded further 
 sounds. The stillness that succeeded seemed 
 so unnatural in its way that it might have 
 alarmed a more superstitious person. Once 
 the faintest possible rumbling of the cattle's 
 hoofs was detected, but it quickly subsided. 
 and nothing more of the kind was noticeable. 
 
 It was clear that the Comanches in the im- 
 mediate vicinity of the cabin must have noted 
 all that interested the Texan. Whatever the 
 issue of the remarkable meeting on the 
 prairie, there could be no doubt that one of 
 the red men had been laid low. Another had 
 been shot by the captain a short time before, 
 
AN UNEXPECTED QUERY. 147 
 
 not to mention the other one or two that he 
 believed had fallen. 
 
 Thus far, no one of the inmates had been 
 harmed, unless perchance his nephew was 
 overtaken by disaster. Consequently, the 
 game the Comanches were playing, though 
 they did their part with rare skill, was a 
 losing one up to this point. 
 
 As the minutes passed, the Texan found 
 himself more hopeful than he had been 
 through the entire evening. He was strong in 
 the belief that Avon had succeeded in reach- 
 ing the camp of the cattlemen, and that the 
 latter would soon appear on the scene with an 
 emphasis that would scatter his assailants 
 like so much chaff. 
 
 The only vulnerable point for fire was on 
 the roof, but the designs of the Indians had 
 been defeated thus far, and he believed they 
 could be stood off indefinitely, at least until 
 the arrival of the cowboys, who would then 
 take charge of business. 
 
 The two matters that gave him anxiety 
 were the presence of the warrior below in the 
 cabin, and the probability of himself being 
 
148 THE GEEAT CATTLE TRAIL. 
 
 struck by some of the bullets that he ex- 
 pected to come scurrying over the planking 
 every minute. 
 
 The two shots that had been fired came 
 alarmingly near, and the next were likely to 
 come still nearer. 
 
 But immunity from harm gives one confi- 
 dence, and only a few more minutes passed 
 when, instead of contenting himself with peer- 
 ing about him, the captain began stealthily 
 creeping toward the part of the eaves where 
 the last Indian had appeared and disappeared 
 so suddenly. 
 
 Mindful of the risk of the action, he paused 
 when close to the edge, and waited several 
 minutes before venturing to peep over. The 
 stillness was as if every living person were a 
 hundred miles away. This, however, as he 
 well knew, might be the case with a score of 
 Indians grouped directly beneath. 
 
 But having gone thus far, he did not mean 
 to return to his post without accomplishing 
 something. With the greatest possible cau- 
 tion, he raised his head just far enough to 
 look ever. He held it in this position only 
 
AN UNEXPECTED QUERY. 149 
 
 a second or two, for, if any of his enemies 
 were on the alert, they would be sure to 
 observe him. 
 
 Nothing greeted his vision, beyond that 
 which he had seen times without number. He 
 did not catch the outlines of a single person 
 or mustang, though convinced they were near 
 at hand. 
 
 Had there been any doubt on this point, it 
 would have been dissipated by a repetition of 
 the signals that seemed almost continually 
 passing between the besieging Comanches. 
 
 Captain Shirril noticed that the sounds 
 came from the direction of the mesquite bush, 
 as though most of them had gathered there 
 apparently for consultation, and were calling 
 in the other members of their party. 
 
 " If that is so, they can't do us much harm," 
 was his conclusion, " but they are not likely to 
 stay there. I suppose they have gathered in 
 Avon and my horses long ago, and we shall 
 have to ride other animals on the tramp to 
 Kansas." 
 
 On the whole, the result of his survey was 
 satisfactory ; whatever mischief the Coman- 
 
150 THE GREAT CATTLE TRAIL. 
 
 ches were plotting, there was no immediate 
 danger. Minutes were precious, but they were 
 more valuable to the defenders than to the as- 
 sailants. The cattlemen must arrive soon, and 
 when they did so the siege would be over. 
 
 The reconnoissance, if such it may be 
 termed, lasted but a few minutes, when the 
 captain started on his cautious return to the 
 scuttle, in the hope that something in the way 
 of information awaited him there. 
 
 To his amazement, he was still within several 
 yards, when he perceived that it was open. 
 
 The door was raised fully six inches, the 
 opening being toward him, so that the Co- 
 manche had him at his mercy. It looked in- 
 deed to the Texan as if his enemy had got the 
 drop on him, and at last he was at his mercy. 
 
 The captain whipped out his revolver, but 
 before he could fire a familiar voice called out 
 in a husky undertone : 
 
 " Am dat you, cap tin' ? And am you well ? " 
 
CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 DOWN THE LADDER. 
 
 rTlHE colored servant Dinah never knew how 
 -L near she came to being shot by her own 
 master. Had she delayed speaking for a 
 second, he would have discharged two more 
 chambers of his revolver, and the distance was 
 so slight, and her head was in such position, 
 that there could have been no miss, 
 
 " Good Heavens!" gasped the captain, "I 
 never dreamed that was you, Dinah." 
 
 u But I knowed it war you. How is you 
 gettin' 'long?" 
 
 "I'm all right, but where is your mis- 
 tress?" 
 
 "Downsta'rs tending to tings." 
 
 "But but do you know there's an Indian 
 in the house?" 
 
 "I reckons so ; we didn't know it at fust, 
 but we found it out putty soon after he 
 arrove ; why didn't you told us ? " 
 
 151 
 
\ 
 
 152 THE GEEAT CATTLE TRAIL. 
 
 "I tried to do so, but was afraid you 
 wouldn't hear my voice." 
 
 "We lieerd you say somefin, but couldn't 
 quite make out what it was." 
 
 "But what of the Indian?" asked the 
 captain, who was now at the scuttle with 
 his hand on the door. 
 
 "He am all right; and if you don't 
 t'ink so, jes' come down and see for you'- 
 self." 
 
 Dinah stepped out of the way, and her 
 master lost no time in descending through the 
 opening into the dark room below. 
 
 " Fasten the door, for there may be more of 
 them trying to enter." 
 
 "I doesn't t'ink so," was the confident 
 reply. 
 
 Nevertheless, Dinah reached up and fast- 
 ened the hook in place, making it as secure as 
 before. 
 
 "Is your mistress safe?" asked Captain 
 Shirril, the moment he was within the apart- 
 ment. 
 
 "Didn't I jes' tole you she was? Does 
 you t'ink I would try to deceibe you?" 
 
DOWN THE LADDER. 153 
 
 "But tell me how it is ; this strikes me as 
 the strangest part of the whole business." 
 
 Standing thus, in the stillness and gloom of 
 the upper room, the servant related in her 
 characteristic way the extraordinary expe- 
 rience of herself and mistress with the dusky 
 intruder. 
 
 As she had said, the warning which the 
 captain shouted from the roof was heard 
 by them, but the words were not under- 
 stood. 
 
 Mrs. Shirril, however, was keen-witted 
 enough to suspect the truth. The muffled 
 tones showed that her husband was on the 
 roof, while the noise of the body dropping 
 upon the chair proved that someone had 
 entered by that means. That being the case, 
 the stranger of necessity must be a foe, 
 against whose evil intentions they must pre- 
 pare themselves without delay. 
 
 " One of the Indians has dropped through 
 the scuttle," said the startled lady. 
 
 "Anoder ob dem warmints has corned into 
 my room, eh?" muttered the angered ser- 
 vant ; " I'll sarve him wuss dan the oder one." 
 
154 THE GREAT CATTLE TRAIL. 
 
 " You will not find the task so easy; keep 
 at my side, make no noise, and don't stir till 
 I tell you." 
 
 By this time, the embers on the hearth 
 were so low that they gave out only a faint 
 illumination, which extended but a foot or 
 two into the room. The women had kept 
 their places near the door, where, as will be 
 remembered, they noticed a pressure, as if 
 someone was trying to shove it open. 
 
 Light-footed as was the Comanche, his 
 weight was too great, and his descent too 
 sudden, for him to keep the knowledge from 
 the women below-stairs. They stepped softly 
 away from the door, and into the denser 
 gloom, where they were unable to see each 
 other, although their persons touched. In 
 this attitude, they could do nothing for a time 
 but listen with rapidly beating hearts. 
 
 The dusky intruder dropped so squarely on 
 the chair that it did not overturn. He kept 
 his place, instantly securing the scuttle 
 against the entrance of the white man, whom 
 he had baffled with such cleverness. Prob- 
 ably he had some idea of taking a shot at 
 
DOWN THE LADDEE. 155 
 
 him, but the little manoeuvring in which he 
 indulged told him the danger was too great, 
 and he gave over the purpose. 
 
 The stillness in the room was so profound 
 that the women plainly heard his moccasins 
 touch the floor, when he stepped from the 
 chair. Then he began gliding softly about 
 the apartment, like a burglar who is obliged 
 to feel every inch of his way with hands and 
 feet. 
 
 Great as was his care, he had not continued 
 this long, when he struck the chair and over- 
 turned it. 
 
 "De willian ! " muttered Dinah, "and dat's 
 in my abpartment too " 
 
 " Sh ! " whispered her mistress, touching 
 her arm, "he can't do any harm, and he 
 must not hear us." 
 
 Had Mrs. Shirril given permission, the ser- 
 vant would have hurried up the ladder and 
 taken the fellow to task, without a moment's 
 delay or hesitation. 
 
 But the Comanche was better prepared for 
 his work than they suspected. They plainly 
 heard him scratch a match on the wall of 
 
156 THE GREAT CATTLE TRAIL. 
 
 the room, and the next moment the faintest 
 possible glow showed through the gloom, 
 above the open door at the head of the ladder. 
 The redskin was taking the only effectual 
 means at his command to learn his bearings. 
 
 With the tiny light. still burning, he passed 
 quickly from one room to another, his loca- 
 tion being easily told by the listeners below. 
 It took him less than a minute to gain the 
 knowledge he wished, when the match burned 
 out and was flung aside. 
 
 " I wonder wheder he'll set fiah " 
 
 A sharp pinch on Dinah's arm warned her 
 that she was displeasing her mistress, and she 
 closed her mouth. 
 
 The Comanche was too wise to attempt to 
 go down the ladder with a burning match in 
 his hand. Had he done so, he would have 
 committed the fatal error of the citizen who 
 awakes in the night and 'sets out with lighted 
 lamp to hunt for a burglar : all the advantage 
 is on the side of the law-breaker. 
 
 But the Indian had seen the ladder leading 
 from the second story to the lower floor, and 
 the women were sure he would pay them a 
 
DOWN THE LADDER. 157 
 
 visit. Indeed, his errand would be futile un- 
 less he did so, for it was not to be supposed 
 that he had come into the cabin through 
 simple curiosity. 
 
 Mrs. Shirril had no fear of his trying to 
 burn the structure, for, if he did so, his own 
 situation would be as hopeless as theirs. The 
 sounds of firing and the noise on the roof, 
 which soon reached her ears, caused great un- 
 easiness for her husband, but, like a pioneer's 
 wife, she gave her whole attention to the peril 
 that confronted her. 
 
 Suddenly the servant touched her arm. 
 She did not speak, but her mistress knew the 
 meaning of the act. The Comanche had 
 placed his foot on the upper round of the 
 ladder and was about to descend to the lower 
 apartments, where they were awaiting him. 
 
 " Leave him to me," whispered Mrs. Shirril; 
 " don't stir or do anything." 
 
 The cunning warrior knew the women were 
 below, and he knew, too, that unless he used 
 extreme caution, he would find himself in a 
 veritable hornet's nest. The care with which 
 he placed his moccasins on the rounds, and 
 
158 THE GKEAT CATTLE TRAIL. 
 
 gradually came down, proved this, but the 
 hearing of the women was attuned to so fine 
 an edge that they traced his descent step by 
 step until he stood on the lower floor. 
 
 Having arrived there, he paused for a 
 minute or two, as if in doubt what next to do. 
 Evidently he was listening in the hope that 
 the women would betray their presence by 
 some movement, but in this he was mistaken. 
 
 During those brief moments, Mrs. Shirril 
 was on the point, more than once, of bringing 
 her rifle to her shoulder and shooting down 
 the wretch who was seeking their lives ; but 
 accustomed as she was to the rough experi- 
 ence of the frontier, she could not nerve her- 
 self to the point of doing so. She knew the 
 precise spot where he was standing, and, at 
 the first direct approach, she would shoot him 
 as if he was a rabid dog. But so long as he 
 was motionless, she refrained. 
 
 What the Comanche would have done at the 
 end of a few minutes it is impossible to say, 
 had not an interruption, as surprising as it 
 was unexpected by all parties, taken place. 
 
CHAPTER XX. 
 
 "THE BOYS HAVE ARRIVED !" 
 
 embers on the hearth had smouldered 
 -J- so low that they were mere points of 
 light that served to make the gloom deeper 
 and more expressive. But suddenly a half- 
 burned stick fell apart, and a little twist of 
 flame filled almost the entire room with 
 light. 
 
 By its illumination the Indian was seen 
 standing at the foot of the ladder, his rifle 
 grasped in his left hand, his right at his hip, 
 while his body was crouching in the attitude 
 of intense attention, and as if he were on the 
 point of making a leap forward. 
 
 He happened to be looking toward the fire- 
 place ; but, fortunately for the women, both 
 were gazing straight at him. He glanced to 
 the right and left, and, catching sight of the 
 figures behind him, wheeled like a panther, 
 
 159 
 
160 THE GREAT CATTLE TRAIL. 
 
 emitting a hiss of exultation at the knowledge 
 that he had found his victims at last. 
 
 But the first dart of his serpent-like eyes 
 showed the white woman, as immovable as a 
 statue, with her rifle levelled at his chest and 
 her delicate forefinger on the trigger. 
 
 Mrs. Shirril had the drop on him ! 
 
 " If you move, I will shoot you dead ! " she 
 said in a low voice, in which there was not the 
 first tremor. 
 
 Possibly the Comanche did not understand 
 the English tongue, but he could not mistake 
 her meaning. He knew that on the first 
 motion to raise his rifle, draw his knife, or 
 take one step toward the couple, he would be 
 slain where he stood. He, therefore, re- 
 mained as motionless as she who held him 
 at her mercy. 
 
 The tiny twist of flame on the hearth, that 
 had served our friends so well, would soon 
 burn itself out ; it was already flickering, and, 
 if left alone, the room would soon be in dark- 
 ness again, and the situation would undergo a 
 radical change. 
 
 "Dinah," said her mistress, without chang- 
 
6 'THE BOYS HAVE ARRIVED!" 161 
 
 ing her position, or raising her voice, "keep 
 the fire burning ! " 
 
 "Yes'm, I will," she replied, shuffling hur- 
 riedly across the floor to the hearth, where she 
 stooped down. She scorned to turn out of 
 the way of the prisoner, lest he should fancy 
 he was held in fear. She passed him almost 
 close enough to touch, and showed her con- 
 tempt by shaking her fist at him. 
 
 "Oh, you willian ! I'd like to wring your 
 neck for comin' into my dispartment without 
 axin' permission." 
 
 A strange flicker shot from the eyes of the 
 warrior as they followed her for a moment, 
 but he neither moved nor spoke, his gaze 
 reverting again to his conqueror. 
 
 Under the deft manipulation of Dinah's 
 fingers, the flames shot up with more vigor 
 than before. Then, recalling the risk that this 
 involved, Mrs. Shirril told her to come to 
 her side, where she would be out of range of 
 any of their enemies who might be near the 
 windows. 
 
 "That will burn fora considerable time," 
 added the lady, referring to the fire the ser- 
 ll 
 
162 THE GREAT CATTLE TRAIL. 
 
 vant had renewed, "so, if you please, you 
 may go to the scuttle and see how the captain 
 is getting along." 
 
 " Wouldn't you like to do that, missis?" 
 asked Dinah. 
 
 " But I must watch this person." 
 
 "I'lldodat." 
 
 Her mistress, however, read her meaning 
 in her tones and manner. She was eager to 
 get a chance at the fellow, and, if she did, 
 even for only a few seconds, it would go hard 
 with him. 
 
 "No; I will attend to him ; do as I told 
 you." 
 
 There was no questioning the decision of the 
 little lady, and Dinah, with another threaten- 
 ing gesture at the painted face of the savage, 
 went by him and began climbing the ladder. 
 
 " Neber mind," she said to herself, though 
 her mistress overheard the words, "when I 
 come downstairs again, I'll cotch one ob my 
 feet and tumble onto you, and you'll be 
 squashed worser dan if de house tumbled ober 
 your head." 
 
 The captive seemed to understand what all 
 
"THE BOYS HAVE ARRIVED!" 163 
 
 this meant. He had escaped thus far, but he 
 might well fear the consequences, after the 
 man aloft put in an appearance. 
 
 Dinah had hardly passed out of sight when 
 the Comanche said in a low voice : 
 
 " Me go won't hurt." 
 
 Although the intonation of the words was 
 wrong, the woman knew from the glance at 
 the door, which accompanied them, that he 
 meant to ask permission to depart. 
 
 " Yes, you can go," was the astonishing 
 answer, and she nodded her head. 
 
 The Indian moved hesitatingly at first, in 
 the direction of the entrance, keeping his 
 gleaming eyes on the woman, as if doubtful 
 whether she understood him. 
 
 " Go on, be quick," she added reassuringly, 
 though she took care that the old-fashioned 
 weapon was not lowered or turned aside. 
 
 The voices of the servant and her master 
 were plainly heard above, and the Comanche 
 saw it was no time for tarrying. A couple 
 more steps took him to the door, and, with 
 little effort, he lifted the huge bolt from its 
 place, pulled open the structure, and whisked 
 
164 ^ THE GREAT CATTLE TRAIL. 
 
 out in the darkness, without so much as a 
 " good-night " or " thank you." 
 
 The instant he vanished, Mrs. Shirril set 
 down her gun, darted forward, and slipped 
 back the bolt, making the door as secure as 
 before. 
 
 It was a strange act on her part thus 
 releasing the red miscreant who was seeking 
 her life, but, after all, it was characteristic of 
 her sex. 
 
 She had little more than time to set things 
 to rights, as may be said, when she stepped 
 back and away from the windows, and sat 
 down in the nearest chair. A slight reaction 
 came over her ; she felt weak, though she 
 knew it would not amount to anything : she 
 had been through too many perils before. 
 
 The feet and lower limbs of Captain Shirril 
 soon appeared on the rounds of the ladder, 
 with Dinah close behind him. In her eager- 
 ness to get at the Indian, she stooped forward, 
 so that her big dusky face showed almost over 
 his shoulders. She was just getting ready to 
 fall on the warrior, when she observed that he 
 was gone. 
 
"THE BOYS HAVE ARRIVED!" 165 
 
 u Whar's dat willian ? " she demanded, 
 glancing round the dimly lit room. 
 
 " Yes, Edna, I heard you had a guest down 
 here." 
 
 " He asked me to let him go, and I thought 
 it was the best way to get rid of him," replied 
 the wife with a smile, for her strength was 
 returning to her. 
 
 "Humph!" snorted the disgusted Dinah, 
 as one of her feet came down on the floor with 
 a bang, "I's got my 'pinion of sich foolish- 
 ness as dat." 
 
 "Let me hear how it was, Edna," said the 
 husband, laughing in spite of himself. 
 
 She quickly gave the particulars, and he in 
 turn told what he had passed through during 
 his sojourn on the roof. 
 
 "The fellow deserved something, but, after 
 all, I find no fault with your action. Much as 
 I am exasperated against these Comanches 
 for their attack, I couldn't help feeling an 
 admiration for this fellow, who got the better 
 of me in the neatest style I ever had it done in 
 all my life." 
 
 "Is it not time we heard something from 
 
166 THE GREAT CATTLE TKAIL. 
 
 Avon?" asked the wife; "he certainly has 
 been gone more than an hour " 
 
 "Hark!" 
 
 The shouts, whoops, and the reports of guns 
 and pistols suddenly broke the stillness on the 
 outside. 
 
 Most of the voices bore a familiar sound, 
 and there were a dash and vim about the 
 whole business which left no doubt of its 
 meaning. 
 
 In the firelight of the room, husband and 
 wife looked in each other's glowing faces, 
 and instinctively the two uttered the same 
 expression : 
 
 " The boys have arrived 1 " 
 
CHAPTER XXI. 
 
 THROUGH THE BUSH. 
 
 OSCAR, GLEESON the cowboy, who ap- 
 peared at such a timely juncture for Avon 
 Burnet, when he was hard pressed by his Co- 
 manche pursuer, took the young man on his 
 mustang behind him, as the reader will recall, 
 and set out for the camp, several miles distant. 
 
 Despite the fears of the youth for the 
 safety of his friends in the cabin, the veteran 
 ranchman was more concerned for the fifty- 
 odd cattle that had chosen to stampede them- 
 selves, and were at that moment dashing over 
 the prairie for no one could tell where. 
 
 But inasmuch as the captain had sent for 
 help, it must be given, regardless of other 
 matters, and the easy swing of the mustang 
 continued until the two arrived at the fire that 
 had been kindled in a small valley, where the 
 provision wagon was stationed with the other 
 
 167 
 
'168 THE GREAT CATTLE TRAIL. 
 
 animals tethered near, ready for the start that 
 was set for an early hour the next morning. 
 
 Most of the men had stretched themselves 
 out in the wagon to sleep, for a hard and 
 arduous campaign was before them, in which 
 they were likely to be compelled to keep 
 their horses for fifteen or twenty hours at a 
 stretch, changing them when necessary and 
 catching snatches of slumber as chance 
 presented. 
 
 But the unaccountable stampede of a por- 
 tion of the herd had roused all, and, at the 
 moment " Ballyhoo," as he was known to his 
 friends, reined up, preparations were under 
 way for a general start after the absent ones. 
 
 " Where's Madstone and Shackaye? " asked 
 Gleeson, looking down in the faces of the 
 group, dimly shown in the firelight, and 
 noticing that two of their number were 
 missing. 
 
 "They started out for the cattle a little 
 while ago," replied one of the ranchmen, 
 " thinking as how you might not be able to 
 manage them." 
 
 "I'd fetched 'em back all right," replied 
 
THROUGH THE BUSH. 169 
 
 Gleeson, "if it hadn't been for some other 
 business that turned up." 
 
 " What's that?" 
 
 " The reds are down at the cabin raising 
 the mischief ; a lot of 'em got after Baby 
 here, and I had to drop one, and then take 
 him on my hoss and bring him along with 
 me." 
 
 " What was he doing out at night on 
 foot?" was the natural query of another of 
 the cowboys. 
 
 " Wai, he was putting in the tallest kind of 
 running, when I set eyes on him ; if he had 
 kept it up, I don't believe I would have been 
 able to overhaul him myself." 
 
 This remark caused several of the grinning 
 ranchmen to turn toward Avon, who had 
 slipped off the horse and laughed as he made 
 answer : 
 
 "I got into the worst scrape of my life," he 
 explained, "and it would have gone hard with 
 me if Ballyhoo hadn't turned up just as he 
 did. The reason I was abroad was because 
 Uncle Dohm thought it best I should come to 
 camp after you fellows." 
 
170 THE GEEAT CATTLE TRAIL. 
 
 "What's the matter with Mm?" asked 
 one, who, despite the brief explanation al- 
 ready given, could not understand how it was 
 their leader and his family were in special 
 danger, even if their home was surrounded by 
 Comanches. 
 
 " The folks could stand them off for a week, 
 or month, if they had water and provisions, if 
 it wasn' t for one thing ; the roof of the cabin 
 is as dry as tinder, and the captain knows 
 they intend to set fire to it. If they do, noth- 
 ing can save the folks, for the building will 
 burn down before we can get there." 
 
 This was putting a new face on matters, and 
 the ranchmen realized that more serious work 
 was required of them than rounding up the 
 strayed cattle. Captain Shirril was too brave 
 a man to feel needless alarm, and the fact that 
 he had sent for help was proof that there was 
 urgent need of it. 
 
 Two of the party were gone and might not 
 be back for several hours. That, however, 
 was of no account, since, including young 
 Burnet, seven were left, and not one of them 
 would have hesitated, with his companions, to 
 
THROUGH THE BUSH. 171 
 
 
 
 attack a party of Comanches two or three 
 times as numerous as that which had laid 
 siege to the captain's cabin. 
 
 These men were fully armed with Win- 
 chester, revolvers, and knives, they had no 
 superiors as horsemen, they were accustomed 
 to the rough out-door life, and it may be said 
 that all welcomed the chance of a stirring 
 brush with the red men that had been hover- 
 ing in their vicinity so long, but who took 
 care to avoid anything in the nature of a fair 
 stand-up fight. 
 
 There were horses for all, including Avon 
 Burnet, and, in a very brief space of time, the 
 men were in the saddle and heading toward 
 the home of their leader. 
 
 It would be hard to find a company of cow- 
 boys or plainsmen whose members are not 
 known by distinctive names, generally based 
 on some personal peculiarity. Thus young 
 Burnet, as we have stated, was nearly always 
 addressed as "Baby," because of his youth. 
 Oscar Gleeson, one of the most skilful and 
 famous cowmen of the Southwest, was ad- 
 dressed as "Ballyhoo," for the reason that, 
 
172 THE GREAT CATTLE TRAIL. 
 
 
 
 whenever he indulged in a shout or loud call, 
 lie used that exclamation. 
 
 Hauser Files, the associate of Gleeson, once 
 took part in a game of baseball in San 
 Antonio, during which he received the elusive 
 sphere on the point of his- nose. He withdrew 
 in disgust from the amusement, and was 
 always known thereafter as Short Stop. 
 
 Gleeson and Files were between thirty and 
 forty years of age, but Ward Burrell, from 
 the lowlands of Arkansas, had rounded his 
 half-century of existence, acquiring during the 
 journey such a peculiar complexion that he 
 was known as Old Bronze. Andy Wynwood, 
 from the same State, was younger. One of 
 his most stirring narratives related to the 
 manner in which he escaped hydrophobia, 
 after being bitten by a rabid wolf. He 
 claimed that the only thing that saved him 
 was the use of a mad stone. Whether he was 
 mistaken or not is not for us to say, but there 
 was certainly no mistake about the origin of 
 the name of Madstone, which clung to him 
 forever afterward. 
 
 Antonio Nunez, the Mexican, was the 
 
THROUGH THE BUSH. 173 
 
 "Greaser," Zach Collis from New Mexico, 
 who was also more than fifty years of age, 
 was "Rickety," because of a peculiarity in 
 his gait, while George Garland was " Jersey 
 George," for no other reason than that he 
 was born in the State of New Jersey. 
 
 The remaining member of Captain Shirril's 
 party was Shackaye, a Comanche Indian, 
 about a year older than Avon Burnet, concern- 
 ing whom we shall soon have something to 
 say further. 
 
 Captain Shirril was right when he expressed 
 his belief that the arrival of his friends would 
 be in the nature of one of those wild western 
 cyclones, which have grown quite familiar of 
 late in the West and Southwest. 
 
 The cowboys swung along at an easy gallop, 
 until near the cabin. They wanted to arrive 
 without giving the Comanches more notice 
 than was inevitable ; but, when they knew 
 their approach could be concealed no longer, 
 they drove their spurs into the flanks of their 
 ponies, gave utterance to their wild whoops, 
 and went forward on a dead run. 
 
 Before this, the Indians must have sus- 
 
174 THE GREAT CATTLE TRAIL. 
 
 pected that matters were not progressing 
 right. They were aware that one or more 
 white men were in the vicinity, and as a mat- 
 ter of course knew of the Texan camp, only 
 a few miles away. If the cowboys had not 
 learned what was going on from the reports 
 of the guns, they must soon learn it from the 
 whites, who were not only near the building, 
 but who managed to keep out of their 
 clutches. 
 
 Not only that, but the red men had already 
 lost several of their best warriors, and having 
 been repeatedly baffled in their attempts to 
 fire the building, were considering a with- 
 drawal, at the moment they were joined by 
 their comrade, who received such unmerited 
 mercy from Mrs. Shirril. 
 
 The shouts, firing of guns, and tramp of the 
 horses settled the question off-hand. There 
 was an instant scattering to their own steeds, 
 upon whose backs they vaulted, and then, 
 turning their heads toward the mesquite bush, 
 they sent them flying away at breakneck 
 speed. 
 
 But the Texans were not to be disappointed 
 
THROUGH THE BUSH. 175 
 
 of their entertainment in that style. Catch- 
 ing a glimpse of the scurrying horsemen, 
 they were after them like so many thunder- 
 bolts, firing their pistols and rifles, even when 
 there was no chance of hitting anything. 
 There was no time to aim, and they took the 
 chances of so much powder accomplishing 
 something, when burned with ardor and 
 eagerness. 
 
 Thus it came about that, within a minute 
 after the arrival of our friends, they were out 
 of sight again in the brush, doing their ut- 
 most to teach the marauders a lesson that 
 would keep them forever away from that 
 neighborhood. 
 
 " Ballyhoo " fixed his eye on one of the red 
 men, who seemed to be at the rear. He was 
 in fact the very fellow whose life had been 
 spared by Mrs. Shirril. Arriving on the 
 ground at the last moment, he was obliged to 
 run several rods before reaching his horse ; 
 but he did it quickly, and, turning his head 
 toward the bush, dashed after his companions 
 and was almost upon their heels. 
 
 " You' re my game!" exclaimed Grleeson, 
 
176 THE GREAT CATTLE TRAIL. 
 
 banging away witli his revolver at him, but, 
 so far as he could see, without effect. 
 
 The mesquite bush was not vigorous enough 
 to offer much obstruction to the mustangs, 
 though it was much more objectionable than 
 the open plain. The horses could plunge 
 through it, almost as if it were so much tall 
 grass, besides which it gave something of 
 shelter to the Comanches, who were now flee- 
 ing for their lives. 
 
 Flinging themselves forward on the necks 
 of their steeds, who were as fleet as those of 
 their pursuers, with the brush swaying on all 
 sides, they became such bad targets that only 
 chance or wonderful skill could tumble them 
 to the earth. 
 
 Gleeson was so close to the savage he had 
 singled out as his special target, and his own 
 steed coursed so swiftly through the bush, 
 that it looked as if he would down his man. 
 The fugitive was hardly visible, as he 
 stretched forward, not upon his horse's neck, 
 but along the further side and almost under 
 it. About the only part of his person within 
 reach was his foot, the toes of which were 
 
THROUGH THE BUSH. 177 
 
 curved over the spine of his animal, and his 
 left arm, which clasped the neck from below. 
 
 It was useless, therefore, for the Texan to 
 try any sort of aim, and when he discharged 
 his pistol now and then, until the chambers 
 were emptied, it was with the same hope as 
 before, that by accident one of the missiles 
 would reach home. 
 
 But this little amusement was not to be 
 entirely on the side of the pursuer. Sud- 
 denly there was a flash beneath the neck of the 
 mustang, a resounding report, and the bullet 
 grazed the temple of the enthusiastic cowboy. 
 
 "Well done, old fellow," he muttered, 
 shoving his smaller weapon in his holster, and 
 bringing his Winchester round in front ; "it 
 makes things more lively when they are not 
 one-sided." 
 
 He bent forward, and, sighting as best he 
 could, fired. A whinnying scream rang out 
 in the confusion, and the mustang plunged 
 forward on his knees and rolled over on his 
 side, stone dead because of the bullet that 
 had bored its way through his brain. 
 
 Such a mishap would have been fatal to the 
 12 
 
178 THE GKEAT CATTLE TRAIL. 
 
 majority of riders, but the wonderful activity 
 of the Comanche saved him from harm 
 because of the fall of his animal. He struck 
 the ground on his feet, and showed a tremen- 
 dous burst of speed, as he took up the inter- 
 rupted flight of his horse, keeping straight on, 
 without darting to the right or left. 
 
 " I've got you now," exclaimed the exultant 
 Texan, holding the nose of his animal toward 
 him. 
 
 Astonishing as was the fleetness of the 
 Comanche, it could not equal that of the intel- 
 ligent mustang, that knew what was needed 
 from him. He wanted no guidance from his 
 rider, who was therefore left free to manipu- 
 late his Winchester as best he could with 
 the brush whipping about him. 
 
 All at once the gun was brought to his 
 shoulder, but, before it was fired, the Indian 
 dropped his head, dodged to one side, and 
 vanished as if by magic. 
 
 Where he had gone was a mystery to the 
 Texan, whose steed checked himself so sud- 
 denly that the rider was nearly thrown from 
 his saddle. 
 
THROUGH THE BUSH. 179 
 
 There was so much noise and confusion that 
 Gleeson could not hear clearly, but something 
 caused him to turn his head, under the impres- 
 sion that he detected a movement near at 
 hand. 
 
 He was just in time to catch a glimpse of 
 the Comanche, darting through the bush in a 
 direction almost the opposite of that which 
 he had been following so long. 
 
 "How the mischief did you get there?" 
 was the astonished exclamation of the Texan, 
 as he again brought his rifle to a level. 
 
 At the moment of doing so, he compre- 
 hended how it all came about. The Comanche 
 had darted directly under the mustang, doing 
 so with a quickness and skill that baffled the 
 eye of his foe. Few, even of his own people, 
 could have performed the exploit which he 
 executed with perfection. 
 
 Ballyhoo Gleeson lowered his gun. 
 
 u You can go ! I'll be hanged if you don't 
 deserve to get away after that trick!" 
 
CHAPTEK XXII. 
 
 THUNDERBOLT. 
 
 A VON BURNET knew that when the cat- 
 JTJL tlemen reached a point within a half 
 mile of his home, and the fire had not yet 
 been started, that all danger was over. It 
 was beyond the power of the assailants, with 
 the slight time at their command, to harm the 
 defenders. 
 
 Then naturally his thoughts turned to his 
 mustang Thunderbolt, that had been left in 
 the mesquite bush with the animal belong- 
 ing to his uncle. The chances were that 
 the Comanches had captured both, but he 
 was not without hope regarding his own 
 pony. 
 
 The steed was so intelligent that he was cer- 
 tain to resist the approach of a stranger at 
 night, especially if he were an Indian. The 
 redskins were so occupied in trying to encom- 
 
 180 
 
THUNDERBOLT. 181 
 
 pass the death of the Texan and his family, 
 besides being well supplied with their own 
 steeds, that they were not likely to put forth 
 much effort to capture a single animal. 
 
 The youth was as eager as his companions 
 to do his part in driving off the red men, but 
 the chance was denied him. The spare horse 
 which he rode, and which he put to his best 
 pace, could not hold his own with the rest, 
 and consequently he arrived at the rear of the 
 procession. 
 
 He glanced right and left, but caught the 
 outlines of but one figure, whose identity he 
 suspected, because he was standing in front of 
 the cabin door. 
 
 "Helloa, uncle, is that you?" 
 
 "Yes, Avon; I see you have arrived; I 
 hope you suffered no harm." 
 
 " Matters were stirring for a time, but I am 
 safe." 
 
 At this moment, Mrs. Shirril and Dinah, 
 recognizing the voice, opened the door, the 
 captain inviting them to come outside. 
 
 The fire was now burning so briskly on the 
 hearth that the interior was well illuminated, 
 
182 THE GREAT CATTLE TEAIL. 
 
 so that their figures were plainly stamped 
 against the yellow background. 
 
 " There isn't anything left for you to do," 
 said the captain, "so you may as well 
 dismount." 
 
 The firing, shouts, and yells came from a 
 remote point in the bush, and were rapidly 
 receding. 
 
 Avon came down from his saddle, kissed his 
 aunt, shook hands with his uncle, and spoke 
 kindly to Dinah, who was proud of the 
 handsome fellow. 
 
 " Uncle," said he briskly, "what do you 
 suppose, has become of your horse Jack and 
 Thunderbolt?" 
 
 " Taken off by the Comanches, or killed." 
 
 "I suppose that is probable, but I shall 
 make a search for them." 
 
 Believing this could be done better on foot, 
 he left the pony in charge of his relative and 
 walked hastily into the bush. 
 
 "I don't suppose there is much hope, but I 
 have an idea that maybe Thunderbolt has 
 been wounded and needs looking after. The 
 bullets have been flying pretty thickly during 
 
THUNDERBOLT. 183 
 
 the last few minutes, and for that matter," 
 he added, pausing a few seconds to listen, 
 "they are not through yet." 
 
 On the edge of the bush he encountered a 
 horseman, whose voice, when hailed, showed 
 that he was " Jersey." 
 
 " What's the trouble ? " asked Avon, paus- 
 ing to exchange words with his friend. 
 
 " Aint nothing more to do," was the re- 
 sponse; "the varmints are travelling faster 
 than this horse can go, though he was one of 
 their animals." 
 
 "How was that?" 
 
 "I got it in the neck that is my critter 
 did. I had one of them pretty well pinned, 
 when he fired from under his horse's belly 
 and my pony went down, as dead as a door- 
 nail. I came mighty nigh being mashed under 
 him, but I dropped the other chap, for all I 
 couldn't see him when I drew bead. I 'spose 
 it was a chance shot, but the minute he went 
 off his horse got so bewildered he didn't 
 know what to do with himself. While he was 
 trotting about, I catched him, put my bridle on 
 him without trouble, and here I am, Baby." 
 
184 THE GREAT CATTLE TRAIL. 
 
 " Sure he isn't one of ours ?" asked Avon, 
 approaching still nearer and looking him over 
 as well as he could in the darkness. 
 
 "He is now, but he wasn't fifteen minutes 
 ago." 
 
 Knowing that he was not Thunderbolt, the 
 youth was hopeful that it might prove Jack ; 
 but it took only a minute to learn that Jersey 
 was right. The steed had been brought to 
 the spot by one of the Comanches and was a 
 fine animal, though so much time passed 
 before the Texan secured him that he was 
 simply prudent in not trying to follow after 
 the red men, who were far beyond reach. 
 
 Jersey laughed when Avon told him his 
 errand, but said he would not be much sur- 
 prised if he was successful, for the reasons 
 which have been already stated. 
 
 There had been hot work in the bush, 
 for when the cattlemen charged the Co- 
 manches, they did so with all the vigor of 
 their nature. These Indians were among 
 the most persistent thieves in Texas, and, 
 as the reader knows, the man who attempts 
 to run off another's cattle or horses com- 
 
THUNDEEBOLT. 185 
 
 mits a more flagrant crime in that section 
 of our Union than he does when he seeks 
 the owners' lives. 
 
 Avon bore to the left, leaving the principal 
 theatre of the scrimmage, and had not reached 
 the border of the mesquite when he almost 
 stumbled over a fine horse that lay on its side, 
 without a particle of life. 
 
 "I wonder whether that is Thunderbolt," 
 he said, with a feeling of dread, as he bent 
 over to examine the body. 
 
 Drawing a rubber safe from his pocket, he 
 struck a match, and by the tiny flame looked 
 at the head and side of the dead steed. 
 
 One scrutinizing glance was enough ; the 
 body was not that of his own favorite, but of 
 Jack, belonging to his uncle. 
 
 " Poor Jack ! " murmured the youth with a 
 thrill of sympathy, " you have been on many 
 a stirring campaign, but you will go on no 
 more. I wonder how it was you met your 
 death." 
 
 It looked as if the mustang had been 
 stricken by a stray shot, that may have been 
 fired by a friend, for it was not to be supposed 
 
186 THE GREAT CATTLE TRAIL. 
 
 that a Comanclie would have killed him pur- 
 posely, when he would have been a valuable 
 prize. 
 
 The bridle and saddle were in the cabin, so 
 that the owner had simply lost one of his 
 horses, his supply of extra ones being suffi- 
 cient to replace him without trouble. 
 
 " I am afraid there is little chance of finding 
 Thunderbolt alive," added the youth, as he 
 resumed his search. 
 
 He made his way through the bush with the 
 utmost care, for, although the Indians had 
 been sharply repulsed, he was aware of the 
 custom of those people, when any of their 
 number are killed or wounded. The survivors 
 put forth every exertion to take them away 
 with them, having the horror of their race 
 against any falling into the hands of their 
 enemies. It was more than likely that when 
 the sun rose not a body would be anywhere in 
 sight. Even the warrior who had run him so 
 hard, only to succumb to the rifle of Ballyhoo 
 Gleeson, would not be forgotten by his former 
 comrades. 
 
 Advancing with the utmost caution, he 
 
THUNDERBOLT. 187 
 
 heard a rustling in the bush in front. Quite 
 sure that it was caused by his enemies, he 
 stood a minute or two listening, uncertain 
 whether to advance or withdraw. But he 
 found the parties were receding, and he ven- 
 tured to steal forward in order to gain a closer 
 sight of them. 
 
 A short walk took him to the edge of the 
 mesquite, where the additional light offered a 
 partial view of a strange scene. 
 
 Two able-bodied warriors were supporting a 
 third between them. The wounded one was 
 able to walk slowly with help, but it was 
 apparent that he was badly hurt, for he 
 leaned heavily upon his support, who stopped 
 at intervals to give him rest. 
 
 Finally the party halted, and one of them 
 emitted a tremulous but sharp whistle. The 
 signal was for a couple of their own horses, 
 which loomed to sight in the gloom, as they 
 advanced in obedience to the command. 
 
 Fearful of being discovered, if he left the 
 bush, Avon kept in the shadow and watched 
 the party. His view was indistinct, but it was 
 easy to see that the two warriors were lifting 
 
188 THE GREAT CATTLE TRAIL. 
 
 their wounded companion upon the back of 
 one of the mustangs. When this was done a 
 Comanche took his seat behind him, so as to 
 hold him in place by passing an arm around 
 his waist. Those people had .no need of 
 saddles, their accoutrement consisting of the 
 single thong fastened around the head of the 
 animal, and by which he could be guided at 
 the will of his master. Indeed, many of the 
 Comanches ride without any such aid at all, 
 their intelligent animals being obedient to 
 their voices, and seeming to comprehend their 
 wishes as if by intuition. 
 
 Soon after the mustangs and their riders 
 faded from view in the gloom, the horses on 
 a moderate walk. They would have proven 
 easy victims to a couple of the cattlemen, had 
 they appeared at this moment, but, much as 
 the fiery ranchmen despised and hated this 
 tribe, it may be doubted whether there was 
 one of their number who would have taken 
 advantage of such an opportunity. 
 
 The Texans were ready to fight at all 
 times, but there is a chivalry in their com- 
 position which prevents their taking an 
 
THUNDERBOLT. 189 
 
 unfair advantage of a foe. They would 
 have allowed the trio to ride away unmo- 
 lested, which is just what the Comanches 
 would not have done, had their situations 
 been reversed. 
 
 Avon Burnet was considering whether it 
 was worth while to push his search further, 
 when, to his surprise, an exclamation broke 
 upon his ear, in the form of a vigorous 
 "Oofli!" as nearly as it can be put in 
 letters. 
 
 He knew it came from the lips of an 
 Indian, who was not far off, though in a 
 different direction from that taken by the 
 warriors and their wounded comrade. It 
 was more to the south, though the penetrat- 
 ing glance he cast in that direction failed 
 to reveal the individual. 
 
 But it was heard again, and now, when he 
 looked, he was able to catch the dim outlines 
 of a horse, walking slowly toward him. 
 
 " What's the matter with the Comanches 
 to-night?" the puzzled youth asked him- 
 self; " they seem to be up to all manner 
 of tricks." 
 
190 THE GEEAT CATTLE TEAIL. 
 
 As the horseman gradually became more 
 distinct, he saw that the rider was in an 
 odd quandary. He was striving to turn the 
 animal in the opposite direction, but he 
 would not obey. He flung up his head, 
 sometimes reared angrily, and, though he 
 maintained a walk, kept pushing straight 
 on toward the bush, despite the savage 
 attempts of the rider to make him wheel 
 about. 
 
 A suspicion flashed through the mind of 
 Avon. The man was an Indian beyond 
 question, and the horse could not be his 
 own, for, if it were, he would have obeyed 
 him without urging. It must be one of the 
 Texan horses that he was trying to steal. 
 
 The youth uttered the familiar signal by 
 which he was able at all times to bring 
 Thunderbolt to his side, when he was with- 
 in hearing. The mustang replied with a 
 glad whinny, and broke into a trot straight 
 for his master. It was indeed his prized 
 animal, with a Comanche warrior on his 
 back. 
 
CHAPTER XXIII. 
 
 " GOOD-BY ! " 
 
 Comanche must have been disgusted. 
 He had been trying for some time to 
 steal the mustang of Avon Burnet, with the 
 result that the pony was about to steal him, 
 unless he prevented it offhand. 
 
 The Indian heard the whistle from the edge 
 of the bush, and the instant increase of speed, 
 on the part of the stubborn mustang, made 
 the meaning clear to him. He did not know 
 but that three or four Texans were waiting in 
 the mesquite, and that, if he stayed on the 
 back of the steed a minute longer, he would 
 be carried directly into their arms. 
 
 Consequently he did not hesitate. He 
 went off of Thunderbolt, as if struck by a 
 cannon ball, and, heading out on the prairie, 
 ran with might and main, quickly disappear. 
 ing- in the darkness, and was seen no more. 
 
 191 
 
192 THE GREAT CATTLE TRAIL. 
 
 " Ah, my own Thunderbolt!" exclaimed 
 the delighted Avon, patting the nose of his 
 beast, who was as happy as he at being 
 restored to his young master; "I thought I 
 would never see you again, but here you are." 
 
 He sprang upon the bare back, and the 
 pony started through the bush for the cabin. 
 
 Arriving there, matters were found in a 
 satisfactory shape. Ballyhoo Gleeson was 
 the only cowboy that had remained behind 
 with Captain Shirril. The rest had started to 
 look after the cattle. It has been shown t>hat 
 a number had been stampeded, and since all 
 care was necessarily withdrawn from the 
 others, they were likely to follow suit. Then, 
 too, it was probable that the Comanches would 
 see their chance of securing some of the herd, 
 and would make the attempt despite the 
 rough handling they had received. 
 
 Nothing could have attested more strikingly 
 the fact that our friends were accustomed to 
 their wild, dangerous life, than the manner in 
 which they now acted. A half hour before, 
 the little family within the cabin considered 
 themselves in such imminent peril of being 
 
"GOOD-BY!" 193 
 
 burned to death that they allowed young 
 Burnet to run the greatest risk to secure help, 
 before it was too late. 
 
 But now Captain Sliirril and Ballyhoo 
 Gleeson sat before the fire, that was burning 
 brightly, smoking their pipes, and talking as 
 though the occurrence was of the most ordi- 
 nary nature. The ranchman had made sure 
 of his supply of tobacco, and intended to ride 
 back to camp, after spending an hour or so 
 within the house. 
 
 Everyone had eaten supper before the lively 
 incidents opened, and Mrs. Shirril now re- 
 sumed her sitting in front of the fire, occa- 
 sionally taking part in the words of her hus- 
 band and guests. Dinah was heard muttering 
 angrily to herself upstairs, as she investigated 
 the damages done by the visitor in her apart- 
 ment. 
 
 Avon, on his return, told his uncle about 
 his horse, explaining that he was fortunate 
 enough to recover Thunderbolt. 
 
 "You were luckier than I supposed you 
 would be," said the captain, as his nephew 
 drew up his chair near them. 
 13 
 
194 THE GEEAT CATTLE TEAIL. 
 
 u Do you think," asked the wife, "that 
 the Comanches will trouble us further, hus- 
 band ?" 
 
 44 There is no danger," he replied, calmly 
 puffing his pipe; 44 is there, Ballyhoo ?" 
 
 44 None at all," was the calm response. 
 
 44 1 thought perhaps that because they had 
 suffered so severely, they would come back 
 to revenge themselves," ventured the little 
 woman, still busily plying her needle. 
 
 44 But you see the damage was done, not by 
 you and Dinah, though you did your part, but 
 by the men, and them's the ones they'll go 
 for," observed Ballyhoo. 
 
 44 That is not the invariable rule with 
 Indians," was the truthful remark of Mrs. 
 Shirril. 44 It makes little difference to them 
 whether the innocent or guilty suffer." 
 
 44 But," said the husband, 44 the prime 
 object of the redskins is cattle, with perhaps 
 horses thrown in. You know they have been 
 hanging round for a number of days, waiting 
 for a chance before we started north ; they 
 will make an effort to run off those stampeded 
 cattle to-night, and likely enough will follow 
 
"GOOD-BY!" 195 
 
 us into the Indian Nation, on the watch for a 
 chance to gather in several hundred hoofs." 
 
 " I think there's one thing that's encourag- 
 ing," said Avon, addressing all his friends; 
 " you know how dry the roof of the house is. 
 If Dinah hadn't put her foot down when she 
 did, there would have been no cabin at this 
 moment. The Comanches tried to fire the 
 sides, and failing in that, gave their atten- 
 tion to the roof, where they came so near 
 succeeding." 
 
 " What do you refer to as encouraging, 
 Avon \ " asked his uncle. 
 
 "There's a storm in the air ; we are going 
 to have a regular driving rain, that will soak 
 the roof until a ton of live-coals on the top 
 wouldn't set fire to the planking." 
 
 "Baby is right," said Ballyhoo, with a 
 nod of his head; " rain will fall within 
 twelve hours." 
 
 "That is good news," said the wife, with 
 a pleased look; "I shall now see the cap- 
 tain and the rest of you leave without a 
 misgiving as concerns ourselves." 
 
 "You wouldn't feel frightened, Edna, if 
 
196 THE GREAT CATTLE TRAIL. 
 
 old Wygwind and his gang of imps should 
 come whooping down upon you?" asked 
 the captain, looking sideways, with an ex- 
 pression of admiration and love glowing 
 from his shaggy face. 
 
 "I don't pretend to say we would not be 
 frightened, but Dinah and I would feel 
 secure inside, so long as there was no danger 
 of the building being burned. I wonder 
 whether Wygwind led this party." 
 
 "I shouldn't be surprised if he did; he's 
 one of the worst scamps that ever lived." 
 
 "You're right," assented Ballyhoo. "I 
 believe he led this gang, though a chap 
 couldn't tell in the darkness. You know 
 what a thief he is." 
 
 The allusion was to the notorious Co- 
 manche Wygwind, one of the many leaders 
 belonging to that tribe. He was a power- 
 ful, wiry Indian, in middle life, who had 
 long been detested by the ranchmen for his 
 thievish and brutal propensities. He had 
 stolen hundreds of cattle, not to mention 
 horses, and though often pursued, and 
 driven more than once into dangerous 
 
"GOOD-BY!" 197 
 
 quarters, he liad managed in some way to 
 pull through to the present time. 
 
 "If he should get inside," said the cap- 
 tain slyly, "and you should get the drop 
 on him, wife, I advise that you don't let 
 him walk out of the door unharmed." 
 
 "That depends on circumstances," quietly 
 replied his better half; "if he should 
 appeal to me, and he had done no particu- 
 lar harm, I could hardly refuse him. How- 
 ever, I don't think if he does enter it will 
 be through the scuttle." 
 
 "The next time it will be best to turn 
 him over to the mercies of Dinah." 
 
 " I am afraid it will go ill with him if I do. 
 I heard her say to herself, when she went 
 upstairs after you, that, on tlie return trip, she 
 meant to fall from the round of the ladder 
 upon him : the result would have been 
 frightful." 
 
 "Yes; that red man doesn't know all that 
 he escaped." 
 
 The mutterings of Dinah were still audible 
 overhead, and she was seen the next minute, 
 descending the primitive stairs. 
 
198 THE GKEAT CATTLE TRAIL. 
 
 The little party smiled, and the captain 
 turned toward her. 
 
 4 'Well, Dinah, you didn't find much dam- 
 age done in your room, did you?" 
 
 " Humph! 'cause de warmint didn't hab 
 time. I only wish I had a chance to wrung 
 his neck." 
 
 "No doubt you would have done it, but I 
 think we all have cause for gratitude that 
 things turned out as well as they did." 
 
 "I guess you didn't notice dat big hole 
 dey come nigh burning frough de roof, did 
 you?" 
 
 " Oh, yes; I saw it; it would have been 
 much worse but for you ; I hope the fire 
 didn't injure your shoe." 
 
 She turned her foot and looked at the 
 broad sole of the heavy shoe, as though the 
 thought had not occurred to her before. 
 
 "It am scorchified a little," she said. 
 
 "Never mind," remarked Ballyhoo 
 gravely; "I'll give out a contract for a 
 new pair for you, when we get into Kansas, 
 and send a couple of the boys back with 
 them, if they don't prove too big a load." 
 
"GOOD-BY!" 199 
 
 "I consider such remarks as onnecessary 
 and slightsome," replied Dinah, with a 
 scornful toss of her head; "I wore num- 
 ber 'lebens, which am just a lady's size; I 
 reckons you can't do much better dan dat." 
 
 "If my feet keep on growing for a few 
 years, I may get there in time, but yoa 
 shall have the shoes, Dinah, if the right 
 size can be bought in any of the big estab- 
 lishments." 
 
 "T'ank you," replied the African, who 
 thought it best not to repel the offer of her 
 friend; "dese am gettin' wored consid'ble, 
 and by de time you got back, I'll need 
 anoder pair." 
 
 The evening was advancing. In answer 
 to Ballyhoo's inquiries, Captain Shirril 
 looked at his watch, and said that it was 
 nearly eleven o'clock. 
 
 "I must be off," remarked the tall ranch- 
 man, rising to his feet; "we make an early 
 start, and I don't know how the boys have 
 made out with the cattle ; they may need 
 my help." 
 
 "I may as well go with you," said Avon, 
 
200 THE GREAT CATTLE TRAIL. 
 
 looking inquiringly at his uncle; "for there 
 is to be no more work here." 
 
 "It will be just as well," replied the 
 captain. 
 
 The youth took his saddle and accoutre- 
 ments from the corner, where they had been 
 lying, and stepping outside, adjusted them 
 upon Thunderbolt, who whinnied with 
 pleasure at the promise of carrying his 
 loved owner on his back indefinitely. The 
 two had become attached by their com- 
 panionship on the hunt and ranch, and the 
 delight of the youth on recovering his mus- 
 tang was beyond expression. 
 
 While he was busy at this brief task, the 
 members of the little family kept their feet, 
 discussing matters in which each was 
 interested. 
 
 "Well, I'm ready, Ballyhoo," called Avon, 
 in his cheery voice, stepping quickly through 
 the open door. 
 
 He placed one arm around the neck of his 
 aunt and kissed her affectionately, shook 
 hands with Dinah, adding as he crossed palms 
 with his uncle : 
 
"GOOD-BY!" 201 
 
 " I expect to see you again, soon. Keep up 
 a good heart, auntie, while we are gone, which 
 I don't think will be for long. Gfood-by, 
 all ! " 
 
 He put his foot in the stirrup, swung him- 
 self into the saddle, at the same moment 
 that his companion did the same, and the 
 couple headed their animals to the north- 
 ward. 
 
 Captain Shirril and the women remained in 
 the door, looking forth in the darkness, and 
 listening until the sounds of the hoofs died 
 out in the distance. Then the Texan led the 
 way inside, adjusting the bar in place so that 
 no one could enter without permission. 
 
 The extra horse which Avon had ridden to 
 the cabin was turned loose in the bush, to be 
 recovered and used by the captain when he 
 wished to ride to the camp. Ballyhoo had 
 removed the saddle and bridle, which lay in 
 the corner where Avon's had awaited him. 
 
 The Texan stood a minute, looking around 
 the room, as if trying to recall any forgotten 
 duty, but thought of none. 
 
 "It is later than I suspected," said he, 
 
202 THE GREAT CATTLE TKAIL. 
 
 addressing his wife and consulting his watch 
 again ; u and we may as well retire." 
 
 He lighted a common tallow candle, and 
 with that in his hand, led the way up the 
 ladder, followed by the others. Fifteen 
 minutes later, everyone was sleeping as 
 soundly as though the evening had not been 
 disturbed by any unusual incident. 
 
CHAPTER XXIV. 
 
 A STKANGE DELAY. 
 
 IV /TEAN WHILE Avon Burnet and Gleeson 
 -IV_L continued riding northward at an easy 
 gallop, their eyes and ears on the alert for 
 sounds of their friends or enemies. 
 
 " Do you remember this spot?" asked the 
 elder, drawing his mustang down to a walk, 
 after going some distance. 
 
 The youth looked keenly round in the 
 gloom, bat saw only the level plain, similar 
 to that over which they had ridden since 
 leaving the cabin. A dark object on the 
 ground caused him to force his pony to- 
 ward it. 
 
 "That must be one of our cattle," he said 
 inquiringly. 
 
 "It's what is left of him; that's the steer 
 that the Comanche brought down when he 
 took a shot at you." 
 
 203 
 
204 THE GREAT CATTLE TRAIL. 
 
 "Ah, this is the place where you joined 
 me?" 
 
 "Percisely." 
 
 " But where is Tie that is, his body ? " 
 
 "They've took it off; you know how hard 
 the Comanches try to carry away their dead 
 and wounded." 
 
 "I saw a proof of that while hunting for 
 Thunderbolt, but I didn't think they would be 
 able to find this one." 
 
 " They must have heard the shot and his 
 cry, and though we made things hum about 
 them, they took time to look into it and bear 
 the body away." 
 
 "I wonder now whether that could have 
 been Wygwind," said Avon, referring to the 
 notorious leader of whom we have spoken. 
 
 "No," was the decisive reply of Ballyhoo. 
 
 "Why not?" 
 
 " He is a powerful brave Injin, but plenty of 
 his warriors can outran him. This one was 
 too good on his feet to be him." 
 
 The couple gave their horses rein again, 
 and they broke into a gallop which carried 
 them swiftly toward their destination. The 
 
A STRANGE DELAY. 205 
 
 glimmer of the camp-fire was discerned when 
 they rode to the top of the next moderate 
 elevation. 
 
 "Hark!" exclaimed Ballyhoo, abruptly 
 checking his pony. 
 
 His companion did the same, for he had 
 caught the sound, which was that made by 
 many hoofs. 
 
 "The confounded beasts are still at it," 
 added the elder, allowing his steed to resume 
 his walk. 
 
 "The boys may be driving them back to 
 camp." 
 
 "No; it doesn't sound right." 
 
 "Do you imagine the Cbmanches are tak- 
 ing any hand in this?" 
 
 " It doesn' t strike me so, but there's no say- 
 ing what those varmints will do ; they're so 
 fond of stealing that they'll run great risks." 
 
 However, since the couple were able to 
 locate the running animals, they felt it their 
 duty to bear a hand in helping to bring them 
 back to camp. There was danger that if they 
 were not speedily brought under control, the 
 start could not be made on time. 
 
206 THE GREAT CATTLE TRAIL. 
 
 " Come on, Baby," called Gleeson, wheeling 
 his animal to the right, and sending him off at 
 a dead run. 
 
 Thunderbolt knew what was expected of 
 him, and without waiting for orders, stretched 
 away in the same direction, with the old thrill 
 stirring his rider at the prospect of exciting 
 work at hand. 
 
 It was not long before they caught sight of 
 the frightened animals, going as if a legion of 
 wolves were at their heels. They were run- 
 ning from camp, and, unless their course 
 could be changed, would be far from it before 
 daylight. 
 
 In fact their presence so comparatively 
 near proved that they were either another 
 part of the main herd, or if the ones first 
 stampeded, had broken off again, after being 
 well on their way to their regular pasturing 
 grounds. 
 
 "Look out! they may be Comanches ! " 
 called Ballyhoo to his youthful companion. 
 "No, they are not either." 
 
 The last remark was caused by the sight of 
 two of their friends riding like mad, shouting 
 
A STKANGE BELAY. 207 
 
 and swinging their whips, which they had 
 brought from camp. They were Madstone 
 and Rickety, who were doing all they knew 
 how to check the animals that seemingly 
 would not be checked or turned aside. 
 
 It looked as if Ballyhoo and Avon must be 
 trampled to death, for they were directly in 
 front of the rushing herd, but they swung 
 their arms, holding each his rifle aloft, and 
 shouted loud enough to be heard miles 
 distant. 
 
 The mustangs were a little nervous, but 
 were used to such experiences, and they did 
 not catch the contagion. They held their 
 ground, though it was manifest they would 
 have preferred to be somewhere else. 
 
 Suddenly, when the terrified beasts were 
 almost upon them, they swerved to one side. 
 The change of direction was slight, but it 
 was important as a beginning. The cow- 
 boys were quick to take advantage of it, and 
 redoubled their shoutings and gesticulations. 
 The cattle trended further and further from 
 the course they had been following, and ere 
 long were headed toward the camp. 
 
208 THE GREAT CATTLE TRAIL. 
 
 They were now on the run and the four 
 men kept them there, determined that they 
 should not get away again. 
 
 Madstone explained that they were the 
 ones that took fright earlier in the evening, 
 and were on a dead run, when Ballyhoo 
 shot down the Comanche that was pursuing 
 Avon Burnet. The cattle had drifted a con- 
 siderable way, but they were soon brought 
 under control and headed in the right 
 direction. 
 
 All was going well, when off they went 
 again at a more frantic rate than before. 
 The cowboys were at loss to understand 
 what caused the new outbreak, when, to 
 their amazement, three Cornanches appeared 
 in their front. 
 
 The dusky scamps did their best to run 
 them off, but it was evident they were afraid 
 of the Texans, who made a dash for them, 
 whereupon they disappeared. 
 
 But they had turned the cattle in a new 
 direction, and the Texans had all their 
 work to do over again. There was little 
 prospect of success, until Ballyhoo and 
 
A STRANGE DELAY. 209 
 
 Avon added their efforts, when matters 
 assumed a better shape. 
 
 But the trouble was by no means over. 
 If these animals should plunge into the 
 main herd at the rate they were now going, 
 they were sure to spread the panic, with 
 the probability that the whole two thousand 
 would soon be on the run, and the difficulty 
 of the ranchmen intensified ten-fold. 
 
 Accordingly, as the ground was approached, 
 the four horsemen resorted to the well-known 
 practice of what may be called rounding-up. 
 They galloped back and forth, on the outer 
 edge of the herd, and here and there, circum- 
 navigating them continually and as fast as the 
 fleetness of their mustangs would permit. 
 
 By this means they finally succeeded in 
 turning the heads of the cattle toward each 
 other, and they were crowded into a compact 
 mass, whose members were obliged to stand 
 still, since they were huddled in one heap, 
 with the yelling cowboys careering back and 
 forth, around the circumference. 
 
 This was not accomplished a moment too 
 soon, for they were close upon the main herd, 
 
 14 
 
210 THE GREAT CATTLE TEAIL. 
 
 which showed a restlessness that might have 
 broken forth into another stampede, but for 
 the skill of the other cowboys who had them 
 in charge. 
 
 When the reunion of the Texans took place 
 near the camp-fire, and there was a general 
 talk over the incidents of the evening, the ar- 
 rangements were made for the night. All had 
 been so actively engaged that rest would have 
 been acceptable, but there was not one who 
 would have murmured, had he been ordered 
 to take his position and hold it for hours. 
 
 Indeed Avon Burnet volunteered to do his 
 part in looking after the cattle that it was 
 necessary to keep under watch through the 
 darkness. 
 
 "No," replied Ballyhoo, "I've fixed it. 
 You and me will take a hand to-morrow night, 
 when we're likely to find it a blamed sight 
 more unpleasant than now." 
 
 "And why so?" 
 
 "That storm that we've been talking about 
 is holding off, as though it finds it hard to 
 make up its mind to come, but it will be here 
 within twenty hours or less." 
 
A STRANGE DELAY. 211 
 
 "I am glad of it," remarked the youth, 
 thinking of his friends in the distant cabin, 
 which had escaped burning by such a narrow 
 chance. 
 
 It was now past midnight, and those who 
 were to be off duty did not squander the 
 precious hours ; but, crawling into the 
 covered wagon, bundled themselves up and 
 slept the sleep which waits on rugged health. 
 
 At the earliest streakings of light the 
 camp was astir. The man who served the 
 party as cook had no light task on his hands. 
 He generally carried a lot of wood in the 
 wagon with him, for the reason that it was 
 not always easy to obtain, and, by doing this, 
 he was sure of always having enough dry fuel 
 to burn readily when wanted. 
 
 Those Texans were satisfied at times to go 
 without anything at all in the way of food, 
 or to snatch a bite by checking their mustangs 
 long enough to allow them to receive it, when 
 they were off again ; but whenever the oppor- 
 tunity for a " square meal" presented itself, 
 they proved themselves full hands. 
 
 Gleeson, who acted as master during the 
 
212 THE GREAT CATTLE TEAIL. 
 
 absence of Captain Shirril, mounted his horse 
 and rode out to inspect the herd. He was 
 relieved to find them all in place. Most of 
 them were lying down, drowsily chewing their 
 cuds, but a few had risen and were cropping 
 the grass, which grew quite abundantly in the 
 neighborhood. 
 
 While employed in this duty, Ballyhoo 
 cast frequent looks in the direction of Captain 
 Shirril' s home. He expected to see their 
 leader before it was light, but the sun was 
 already showing in the horizon and he was 
 not in sight. 
 
 The Texan galloped to the top of the adjoin- 
 ing elevation, from which he could see the low 
 flat building in the distance. Shading his 
 eyes with his hand, he peered long and 
 earnestly, but without catching sight of a 
 horseman galloping toward him. 
 
 "It's very odd," thought Gleeson, " that he 
 doesn' t show up ; something must have taken 
 place. I wonder if those varmints have come 
 back after Baby and I left last night." 
 
 It seemed impossible that anything like this 
 should have occurred, but it was beyond his 
 
A STRANGE DELAY. 213 
 
 power to explain the non-appearance of the 
 "boss" on any other theory. He was prompt 
 and energetic, and was more likely to be 
 ahead than behind the time he set for his 
 own appearance at a particular place. 
 
 Without giving expression to his fears, he 
 joined the group at the wagon and partook of 
 his breakfast, washing down his food with a 
 cup of delicious steaming coffee. He avoided 
 Avon for a time, because he plainly saw the 
 young man was disturbed ; but, when the 
 meal was finished, the remarks became general 
 over the absence of Captain Shirril. 
 
 ' ' I've just come from the top of the swell," 
 said Madstone, who had been there since 
 Ballyhoo, "and can't see anything of him. I 
 'spose he has overslept himself, because of the 
 flurry last night." 
 
 " I wish I could believe it is nothing worse," 
 said Avon, walking thoughtfully out to where 
 his mustang stood saddled and bridled. 
 
 "Why, what else could it be, Baby?" 
 asked Ballyhoo, repressing his own uneasi- 
 ness. 
 
 "That's just what I want to find out ; I tell 
 
214 THE GREAT CATTLE TRAIL. 
 
 yon, I don't think we ought to stay here, 
 when it's pretty sure something is wrong at 
 the house ; if the Comanches are going to 
 keep this up, it will never do to leave the 
 women alone ; I shall have to go back and 
 stay with them." 
 
 " I can't believe it's that, but we shall soon 
 know." 
 
 He sprang into the saddle, and the two rode 
 to the elevation which has already been 
 referred to several times. 
 
 "I will wait here," said the elder, check- 
 ing his animals, " while you ride on to the 
 cabin." 
 
 Avon looked inquiringly at him. 
 
 " Don't you think it best you should go 
 with me?" 
 
 " No ; I will keep you under my eye all the 
 way ; if you see anything out of gear, you 
 need only to signal, and I will fetch two or 
 three of the boys with me." 
 
 It struck the youth as strange that Ballyhoo 
 should stop after starting for the dwelling. 
 The young man had made up his mind there 
 was something wrong there, and it seemed to 
 
A STRANGE DELAY. 215 
 
 him like a waste of time for his friend to hold 
 back. 
 
 However, he said nothing further in the 
 way of protest, but, speaking briskly to 
 Thunderbolt, sent him off at headlong speed 
 toward the cabin. 
 
 "I am afraid this knocks all my plans to 
 smithereens," he said to himself; "for if 
 there is the least danger of the Comanches 
 putting in their appearance again, it would 
 never do for me to leave home. It is bad 
 enough for uncle to go, but there is no help in 
 his case, while there is in mine." 
 
 As he drew near the dwelling his feelings 
 intensified, and all other thoughts went from 
 him. 
 
 "I don't see a sign of a living person," he 
 added, slowing the gait of his steed ; " sup- 
 pose the Comanches made a descent upon 
 them in the night and managed to secure 
 entrance well, by gracious 1 " 
 
CHAPTER XXV. 
 
 HEADING NORTHWARD. 
 
 AVON" BURNET'S misgiving increased 
 J.TA- as he drew near the cabin of his uncle, 
 for the unwonted stillness was impressive to 
 the last degree. The only sign of life which 
 caught his eye was the horse cropping the 
 grass near the mesquite bush. 
 
 It seemed dangerous to do as he did, but in 
 his anxiety he sprang to the ground and 
 walked hastily to the front of the dwelling. 
 Observing the latch-string out, he gave it a 
 sharp twitch and the door swung open. 
 
 Dinah confronted him with a look of sur- 
 prise, and just beyond her, he saw his aunt 
 preparing the morning meal. 
 
 u Why, Avon, you are frightened," said 
 she with a smile. 
 
 " So I am; where's uncle?" 
 
 "He will be down in a minute; when I 
 awoke, I saw he was asleep, and I concluded 
 
 216 
 
HEADING NORTHWARD. 217 
 
 not to awake him. You know lie had a hard 
 time yesterday and last night, and I took the 
 responsibility of not calling him. The poor 
 man needs rest and it won't hurt you folks to 
 wait a while." 
 
 The youth dropped into a chair and 
 laughed. 
 
 "Well, now, that beats everything! We 
 were worried half to death, and feared some- 
 thing dreadful had happened." 
 
 "Nothing of the kind; we haven't been 
 disturbed since you and Gleeson went away. 
 If we had, the captain would have been 
 awake." 
 
 The gentleman referred to was heard mov- 
 ing about overhead, and a few minutes later 
 put in an appearance. He scolded his wife in 
 a good-natured way for her well-meant kind- 
 ness, and adding that no harm had been done, 
 sat down to his morning meal. 
 
 The preliminaries were quickly finished, the 
 good-by said, and leaping into his saddle, the 
 captain joined his nephew in a smart gallop 
 northward to camp, where they joined their 
 anxious friends. 
 
218 THE GREAT CATTLE TRAIL. 
 
 And so what promised to furnish a stirring 
 sensation proved nothing at all. It was rare 
 that the Texan allowed his weariness to get 
 the better of him, but it had done so in this 
 case, and none laughed more heartily over it 
 than he. 
 
 A brief investigation showed everything to 
 be in readiness, and the sun was not far above 
 the horizon when the start on the long journey 
 northward was made. 
 
 The cattle seemed to have recovered from 
 the restlessness of the night before, and were 
 as tractable as could be desired. They moved 
 forward at a moderate pace, having browsed 
 so fully on the succulent grass that it was 
 easy to keep them going, until nearly the 
 middle of the day. At this time a halt was 
 made for an hour, during which the cattle 
 spread out on the sides of the well-marked 
 trail, and ate as though they had not partaken 
 of food for days. 
 
 Shortly after resuming the journey a small 
 stream was reached, which was easily forded, 
 there being no portion where it was necessary 
 for the beasts to swim. All drank heartily, 
 
HEADING NORTHWAED. 219 
 
 and, upon climbing the sloping bank on the 
 other side, another herd was observed several 
 miles to the east. 
 
 44 They haven't got as many as we," 
 remarked the captain to Gleeson, who was 
 riding by his side; "and I hope we shall 
 keep far enough apart to prevent our cattle 
 
 mixing." 
 
 " He's off the trail," replied Ballyhoo, "but 
 will come into it before long." 
 
 " If we keep moving briskly, he must strike 
 it behind us." 
 
 It soon became evident that the other cattle- 
 men were trying to force their herd to a point 
 on the trail ahead of the larger drove, which 
 was strung along for many yards. Since they 
 were about equally far north, the struggle was 
 an interesting one for some time; but the 
 action of the smaller collection of cattle 
 showed they were not as manageable as the 
 larger one, and, before the close of day, they 
 gave over the struggle and dropped back so 
 far that, when they struck the trail, they were 
 fully a mile to the rear. 
 
 The promised storm still hung off, though 
 
220 THE GEEAT CATTLE TRAIL. 
 
 the sky was cold and lowering, and toward 
 night a misty rain began falling. It did not 
 become severe at any time, but it added to 
 the dismal gloom. The wind blew in gusts, 
 much the same as on the previous evening, 
 and the temperature fell until, had the cow- 
 men been less accustomed to exposure, they 
 would have suffered more than their animals. 
 
 Our friends did not forget to keep a look- 
 out for the Comanches, who were likely to 
 show themselves, whenever a chance presented 
 itself for a raid upon the herd. 
 
 If they had been too roughly handled to 
 venture upon anything of the kind, there were 
 plenty of others to take their places, if only 
 the temptation was strong enough. 
 
 The misty rain shortened the view in every 
 direction, but the horsemen who dashed 
 hither and thither, when the cattle showed a 
 disposition to stray off, reported no signs of 
 their old enemies, who, however, might be 
 keeping out of sight until darkness should 
 settle over the earth. 
 
 Prudence required that the cattle should be 
 treated considerately, especially at the begin- 
 
HEADING NOKTHWARD. 221 
 
 ning of the long journey, for it was to the 
 interests of the owners that they should arrive 
 at their destination in good condition. Like 
 men in training for a pedestrian contest, par- 
 ticular care was needed at the start to prevent 
 a general breakdown. After a few days the 
 beasts, if well used, would be able to stand 
 much more. 
 
 It, therefore, lacked considerable of night 
 when the final halt was made, and the cattle 
 were allowed to crop the grass until they 
 became sated and chose to lie down. 
 
 The men in charge of the other herd were 
 equally thoughtful, for they came to a pause 
 about the same time, with nearly a mile 
 separating the camps. It was hardly dark, 
 indeed, when a horseman was seen approach- 
 ing from the southward, on an easy gallop, 
 and there was no doubt that he belonged to 
 the other party. 
 
 "It's my old friend Sclevinger," said Cap- 
 tain Shirril, recognizing the visitor, as he 
 saluted, and, checking his steed beside that 
 of the old Texan, extended his hand, with the 
 heartiest of salutations. 
 
222 THE GREAT CATTLE TRAIL. 
 
 "I suspected it was you," said the new 
 arrival, whose pleasant countenance was 
 covered by as shaggy a growth as that of the 
 captain, "and I concluded I would run over 
 and shake hands." 
 
 "That's right, pard. I'm mighty glad to 
 see you ; you must take supper with us." 
 
 " Thank you, I guess I will," replied Sclev- 
 inger, dismounting and accepting the invita- 
 tion as readily as it was given ; "I tried to 
 run in my herd ahead of you this afternoon," 
 he added, with a twinkle of his fine eyes, "but 
 I couldn't quite make it." 
 
 " We saw what you were up to, and we had 
 to bestir ourselves to head you off. How 
 many have you, colonel?" 
 
 "Only about twelve hundred that is, I 
 had twelve hundred, when I started from the 
 ranch two days ago, but we lost nearly a hun- 
 dred yesterday." 
 
 "How was that?" asked the captain, as 
 they reached the provision wagon, and 
 paused while the cook made their meal 
 ready. 
 
 "A confounded lot of Comanches cut out 
 
HEADING NOKTHWAKD. 223 
 
 some of our cattle, and, despite all we could 
 do, got off with them." 
 
 "They have been hanging round us, but 
 didn't do anything. Seems to me, colonel, you 
 shouldn't have allowed that." 
 
 "That's what makes me so mad," was the 
 bluff response of the guest. "It was just 
 after crossing the creek to the southwest, 
 which doesn't lie in your way. A lot of the 
 beasts took fright at something, and away 
 they went on a bee line for Arizona. I 
 thought a couple of the boys would be able 
 to bring them back, and I sent them off, 
 while the other four looked after the main 
 herd. Thank you," said the colonel, as he 
 took the hot coffee from the hand of his 
 host. 
 
 "Well, I judge from what you said, they 
 didn't bring back the hoofs," observed the 
 captain, interested in the narrative of his 
 friend. 
 
 "ISTo, by George, it was worse than that. 
 Three or four hours after the stampede, one 
 of the men came in sight, riding like mad. 
 There were no cattle with him, and he was 
 
224 THE GREAT CATTLE TRAIL. 
 
 alone. I saw that one of his hands was bleed- 
 ing badly, and he had a woful story to tell. 
 He said he and the other fellow were working 
 like the mischief to turn the animals back, 
 and had almost succeeded, when the first they 
 knew a dozen whooping Comanches were right 
 upon them. 
 
 "It was bang, bang, shoot, cut, yell, and 
 whoop her up again, with no thought of doing 
 anything but save themselves. The other 
 chap fought like a Trojan, but his horse was 
 killed and he went down with half the fiends 
 on him, fighting as long as the breath 
 remained in his body. 
 
 "The one who came back with the news 
 was pretty badly cut up and had the closest 
 kind of a call, but his horse was better 
 than any of the others and he managed to 
 escape." 
 
 "Of course it was idle to think of get- 
 ting your cattle after that," remarked the 
 captain. 
 
 "I was so infuriated that I gathered the 
 rest of the men, intending to take the trail, 
 but by the time I was ready, I became cooler, 
 
HEADING NORTHWARD. 225 
 
 and saw it would never do. Haven't you 
 been troubled with the redskins?" 
 
 "Not in the manner that you have, but 
 they stirred things up for us last night." 
 
 Thereupon, Captain Shirril gave an account 
 of his own experience in his cabin. His 
 friend listened attentively to his story, for 
 it was interesting. He remarked, at its con- 
 clusion, that the Indians had been more trou- 
 blesome that spring than he had ever known 
 them. Twice, within the preceding month, 
 they attempted to steal a number of his cattle, 
 but failed in each instance, with the loss of 
 several of their warriors. 
 
 " And in my opinion we are likely to have 
 more trouble before we get through the Indian 
 country," added the colonel. 
 
 " I think so, too ; it will be well for us to* 
 get not too far from each other, for we ought 
 to be in shape to give mutual support." 
 
 "Of course; there must be other droves 
 on the march, and we ought to get a twist 
 on them that will make them squeal." 
 
 The supper being finished, the two lead- 
 ing cattlemen sat down under the shelter 
 
 15 
 
226 THE GREAT CATTLE TRAIL. 
 
 of the covered wagon and smoked their 
 pipes. They had been old army officers, 
 though Colonel Sclevinger fought on the 
 Union side in the war. The singular feature 
 (and yet it was not so singular either), was 
 that they had come in contact more than once 
 during that period. It fell to the lot of the 
 colonel to take the captain prisoner. He 
 treated the brave Texan with so much con- 
 sideration that a strong friendship was 
 formed, which remained uninterrupted to 
 the present time. 
 
 It was by Captain ShirriPs invitation that 
 Colonel Sclevinger came to Texas on the 
 return of peace. The Northern man felt an 
 interest in the ranch business, but followed 
 the counsel of the Texan, who warned him 
 against going blindly into it. He took pains 
 to give him points, and, when the proper time 
 arrived, helped him to that extent that the 
 gentleman avoided the disastrous blunders 
 committed by those who fancy the ranch 
 business offers a straight avenue to wealth, 
 without any preliminary training in its many 
 difficulties. 
 
HEADING NOKTHWAKD. 227 
 
 Enough has been told to explain the friend- 
 ship between the two men. The colonel 
 intended to make only a brief call, but he so 
 enjoyed the company of his old friend that 
 he sat a long time in the wagon, smoking and 
 exchanging reminiscences of the war times, 
 which theme must ever be deeply entertaining 
 to those who were actors in that tremendous 
 epoch of our nation's history. 
 
 Finally the visitor bade his friend good- 
 night, and, mounting his horse, galloped off 
 in the night. 
 
 Avon Burnet had listened to a part of the 
 conversation, for he was always interested in 
 what this occasional visitor to their cabin had 
 to say, but he could not remain as long as he 
 wished. It was arranged that he should 
 assume his place in helping to watch the herd, 
 Ballyhoo Gleeson being one of those sharing 
 the duty with him. 
 
 So it was that the youth rode out in the dis- 
 mal rainy night to make a "full hand" at the 
 calling of a cattleman. 
 
CHAPTER XXVI. 
 
 A SHOT FKOM THE DAKKNESS. 
 
 IT was singular that Avon Burnet's most 
 humiliating experience overtook him on 
 his first night in helping to watch his uncle's 
 herd of cattle, while following the Great 
 Cattle Trail toward Kansas. 
 
 The starting point was so far north in 
 Texas that the first day carried them close to 
 the Indian Nation, through whose territory 
 they expected to tramp for several days. 
 
 The night, as has been explained, was raw, 
 with a fine, misty rain and a cutting wind. 
 The youth was seated on his fleet-footed and 
 intelligent Thunderbolt, with his back to the 
 wind, after the fashion not only of all cow- 
 boys, under such circumstances, but of the 
 animals themselves, who sometimes drift 
 many miles before a driving storm. 
 
 He had his thick army blanket gathered 
 
A SHOT FROM THE DARKNESS. 229 
 
 about his body and shoulders, and, though 
 the night was dismal and his situation far 
 from pleasant, it still lacked the discomfort of 
 many hours spent on the vast plains of the 
 Lone Star State. 
 
 The young man had held his position for 
 less than an hour when the wind changed, 
 veering completely around, so that, instead 
 of being in front of the herd and edging 
 gradually from it, he was thrown behind 
 the cattle, for they immediately faced about 
 and began moving away from him. 
 
 The situation of the young herdsman 
 became a delicate one at once. His proper 
 place was in front, and to reach that point, 
 he must ride around the animals, and not 
 among them. One of the many singular 
 features of herding and driving cattle is the 
 wonderful sensitiveness shown at times by 
 them. While there is nothing extraordi- 
 nary in the wild panic often created by a 
 thunderstorm, there are occasions when a 
 whole herd is stampeded by a cause too 
 trifling to be understood. 
 
 Our experience leads us to agree with 
 
230 THE GKEAT CATTLE TRAIL. 
 
 many veteran cowboys that the cattle, when 
 lying on the ground asleep, are sometimes 
 troubled with bad dreams which cause such 
 fright on their part that their excitement 
 becomes contagious. Then again the elec- 
 trical conditions produce a morbid uneasi- 
 ness among them as well as among men, 
 and there seem to be times when they are 
 simply awaiting a pretext for dashing off 
 in uncontrollable panic. 
 
 Avon Burnet's fear was that if he rode 
 directly after the cattle, the sound of his 
 mustang's hoofs would cause alarm, since it 
 was too dark for them to identify him. A 
 stampede is the terror of the cowmen's life, 
 and no labor or trouble is too great to avert 
 it. He, therefore, checked Thunderbolt and 
 waited a few minutes until the cattle were 
 so far off that he could wheel and gallop 
 around their flank without frightening 
 them. 
 
 When he thought sufficient time had 
 elapsed, he decided to wait a brief while 
 longer. His dread of a stampede was so 
 strong that he was unusually careful, but 
 
A SHOT FROM THE DAEKNESS. 231 
 
 with no thought of shirking any duty, he 
 twitched the reins of his horse, spoke 
 sharply, and without touch of spur, was 
 off like an arrow. 
 
 Although not an animal was visible, the 
 rider had the contour of the herd so vividly 
 impressed on his mind that he felt no misgiv- 
 ing, when he began edging his steed more to 
 the left, and finally brought him to a stand- 
 still, as he believed, at the very front of the 
 collection. Indeed, his confidence would not 
 have been greater had the sun been shining. 
 
 But when he halted and listened he failed to 
 hear anything of them. 
 
 " I must have ridden too far ahead," was 
 his conclusion, as he started his horse on a 
 walk to meet them ; " but they are surely 
 near by." 
 
 Five, ten, fifteen minutes passed, and then 
 he drew rein with an exclamation of amaze- 
 ment, for his keen sense of hearing did not 
 catch the first sound of the cattle. 
 
 "I have lost the herd!" he muttered in 
 dismay, and such was the fact. His cheeks 
 burned with chagrin at the consciousness of 
 
232 THE GREAT CATTLE TRAIL. 
 
 what at first thought seems an impossible 
 error on the part of man or youth with any 
 experience in attending cattle. 
 
 It was Avon's first mishap of the kind, and 
 he felt as though he could never face his com- 
 rades again, if they should discover the blun- 
 der, which, after all, was not so striking, when 
 the attendant circumstances are borne in 
 mind. 
 
 But if excuse could be accepted for his 
 slip, there was none for inaction after its 
 discovery. It was not to be supposed that the 
 animals would set out to hunt him, nor that 
 any knowledge could be gained of them by 
 idleness. There were other men on duty, and 
 he shouted at the top of his voice, in the hope 
 of receiving a response, but there was none. 
 
 Slipping from his saddle, he knelt down 
 and placed his ear to the ground. He fancied 
 he detected faint sounds, such as are made by 
 multitudinous hoofs on the soft, wet earth, 
 but the noises were so slight that he could 
 not identify the direction whence they came, 
 and he hastily climbed into the saddle again. 
 
 He realized that he was lost, and well aware 
 
A SHOT FROM THE DARKNESS. 233 
 
 that at such times it is useless to puzzle one's 
 brains about the point of the compass, he 
 dashed in the direction which seemed to be 
 the right one. Of course, as in his recent 
 experience, it proved to be wrong, and he now- 
 spurred toward the top of the ridge or hill, 
 which it was easy to identify under the tread 
 of his mustang. He was confident that this 
 elevation would yield the key to the situation 
 and he was not mistaken. 
 
 From the crest he observed the starlike 
 glimmer of a lantern, and no sight, except 
 that of the herd itself, could have been more 
 welcome. It was the signal suspended every 
 night from the front bow of the wagon, to 
 guide the men whenever they needed 
 guidance. 
 
 Confident that someone would be found at 
 that point who could give him the important 
 news he was seeking, Avon rode thither on a 
 dead run. He saw no one stirring as he 
 galloped up. The cook, who had charge of 
 the wagon, was asleep, and the men off duty 
 were slumbering soundly, while the chance 
 was theirs. 
 
234 THE GEEAT CATTLE TRAIL. 
 
 But young Burnet had scarcely checked his 
 mustang, when the sound of somoone riding 
 his horse equally fast reached his ear, and 
 the next instant Oscar Gleeson dashed beside 
 him. 
 
 "Howdy, Baby, is that you?" he asked, 
 peering at the young man dimly seen in the 
 scant yellow rays of the lantern. 
 
 "Yes, Ballyhoo," was the reply; "I'm in 
 trouble." 
 
 "What is it?" 
 
 "I've lost the herd." 
 
 The Texan shook in his saddle with 
 laughter. 
 
 "That's me, too; the first thing I knowed 
 they was gone. I yelled for you, but you 
 couldn't have heard me, and, after cantering 
 round awhile, I struck for the wagon in quest 
 of news." 
 
 Avon drew a sigh of relief, and with a 
 smile : 
 
 "I'm glad you lost them, for the boys 
 won't laugh at you, while they would at me." 
 
 "I don't think there's anyone in that 
 crowd that will laugh, for they all had the 
 
A SHOT FROM THE DAKKNESS. 235 
 
 same experience. I know Old Bronze and 
 Short Stop have lost a herd more than once." 
 
 " It won't do to stay here," remarked Avon, 
 "for you know there is another herd only a 
 mile off, and if the two become mixed, it will 
 be a big job to cut out ours to-morrow." 
 
 -" I shouldn't wonder," replied Gleeson, "if 
 the cattle have gone back to the bed-ground ; 
 at any rate we'll look for them there." 
 
 The return to the wagon enabled the couple 
 to obtain their bearings, and they knew the 
 proper course to reach the spot, but the possi- 
 bility of the theory being wrong caused them 
 to separate, so as to proceed thither by routes 
 which, while substantially parallel, were so 
 far apart that they were out of each other's 
 sight and hearing, the latter being chiefly due 
 to the direction of the wind. 
 
 Avon spurred Thunderbolt into an easy 
 canter, the soft grass making the travel easy, 
 though there was always the risk of his 
 animal sinking one or more of his hoofs into a 
 hole, with the prospect of a broken leg for the 
 horse and a dislocated neck for his rider. 
 
 When it seemed to the latter that he had 
 
236 THE GREAT CATTLE TRAIL. 
 
 passed the intervening distance, he drew his 
 mustang to a walk, listening and peering 
 through the gloom with all the power at bis 
 command. There was no lighting of the 
 darkness, the wind still blew keenly, and the 
 fine drizzling rain continued. 
 
 No sight nor sound came to him, and, once 
 more bringing his animal to a halt, he dis- 
 mounted and pressed his ear to the ground. 
 
 This time he caught a distinct noise : it was 
 that made by the hoofs of a horse. He was 
 walking, and was so near that Thunderbolt 
 pricked his ears and uttered a faint whinny 
 of salutation. Avon instantly rose to his feet, 
 and remounted. 
 
 Looking keenly into the wet darkness, he 
 became aware that a horse was standing 
 motionless but a short distance off on his left. 
 In the gloom the outlines could be traced, 
 but so dimly that he was uncertain whether 
 he had a rider or not. The steed held his 
 head well up like Thunderbolt, and appeared 
 to be scrutinizing the youth and his animal 
 with a curiosity equal to theirs. 
 
 There was something so impressive in the 
 
A SHOT FROM THE DARKNESS. 237 
 
 sight of the statue-like object, which emitted 
 not the slightest sound, that young Burnet 
 hesitated whether to advance or to await its 
 approach. The man could not be Gleeson, 
 and, whoever he was, it was evident that he 
 regarded Avon with inquiring suspicion. 
 
 But unwilling to maintain the trying situa- 
 tion, the latter touched the neck of his mus- 
 tang in a way which the animal recognized 
 as a command to move forward very slowly. 
 He obeyed, and had advanced but a few short 
 steps when Avon to his astonishment per- 
 ceived that the strange horse was without a 
 rider. 
 
 "I don't understand that," mused the 
 mystified young man, stopping his own ani- 
 mal, with several yards separating them ; "he 
 must have an owner, and what can have 
 become of him, and why is " 
 
 At that instant he observed a suspicious 
 movement, seemingly from the other side of 
 the steed. Before he could divine its nature, 
 a rifle was discharged almost in his face and 
 he went off his mustang like a flash. 
 
CHAPTER XXVII. 
 
 SHACKAYE, THE COMANCHE. 
 
 A YON BURNET was in the act of lifting 
 JL- his Winchester from across the front of 
 his saddle, when he made the discovery that, 
 although the strange mustang in front of him 
 bore no rider, yet a man was on the ground 
 directly beyond and evidently watching every 
 movement made by himself. 
 
 This discovery could mean but one thing : 
 the individual was an enemy, and was on the 
 point of making a hostile movement against 
 him. He had undoubtedly dismounted on 
 learning of Burnet's approach and interposed 
 his steed between them. Despite the gloom on 
 every hand, Avon read aright the meaning of 
 the almost imperceptible movement on the 
 other side of the saddle, and he slipped from 
 the back of his mustang with a celerity which, 
 being displayed almost at the instant of the 
 
SHACKAYE, THE COMANCHE. 239 
 
 discharge of the other weapon, looked as if 
 it was the result of a fatal shot. 
 
 But, although the bullet so treacherously 
 fired came near its mark, the youth was not 
 touched. His action was in the nick of time : 
 a second later could not have availed him. 
 
 He was incensed, as he had the best cause 
 for being, and he resolved that the miscreant 
 should not escape him. His rifle was snatched 
 from its resting-place, and, stepping from 
 behind Thunderbolt, he drew the best bead 
 possible on his foe. 
 
 The dexterity of the latter was marvellous. 
 It was as if, at the very instant of discharging 
 his weapon, he had vaulted into the saddle, 
 and, wheeling the head of his horse away, 
 sent him scurrying straight from his intended 
 victim. 
 
 Not only that, but, in accordance with the 
 fashion of the frontier in such emergencies, 
 he flung himself forward on the neck of his 
 animal, so as to offer the least possible target 
 to the other, who, if not hit hard, was certain 
 to return the shot. 
 
 The curious feature of the proceeding was 
 
240 THE GREAT CATTLE TRAIL. 
 
 that the man, having seen the youth vanish 
 from the back of his steed at the instant the 
 gun was discharged, did not assume that he 
 was killed. Possibly such -was his supposi- 
 tion, and his hasty flight was partly due to 
 his anxiety to place himself beyond reach of 
 his friends, who were likely to be drawn 
 thither by the sound of firing. His act in 
 throwing himself upon the neck of his mus- 
 tang was simply in obedience to the rule 
 which requires the frontiersman to avail him- 
 self of every possible means of safety, even 
 when there is seemingly no call for it. 
 
 Despite the quickness of young Burnet, he 
 was able to bring his Winchester to a level 
 only at the moment the steed was thundering 
 out of sight in the darkness, but he left fly 
 three times in rapid succession, reckless 
 whether he struck rider or animal ; but since 
 the sound of the hoofs still came to him, he 
 was chagrined at the conviction that he had 
 missed both. 
 
 "But you haven't escaped me yet," he 
 muttered, swinging himself into the saddle ; 
 "there is no horse in Texas or the Indian 
 
SHACKAYE, THE COMANCIIE. 241 
 
 Nation that can leave me behind ; now, 
 Thunderbolt, run him down!" 
 
 But, while the fates had been kind to Avon, 
 in that he escaped death by the narrowest 
 conceivable chance, they seemed equally well 
 disposed toward the object of his wrath. 
 The boast of the pursuer as to the fleetness 
 of his mustang was warranted, and had the 
 circumstances continued favorable for only 
 a few minutes, he would have brought his 
 young rider beside the fleeing steed, where 
 the account between the two men must have 
 been quickly settled. 
 
 But at the very moment of starting, the 
 forelegs of Thunderbolt sank into a hole 
 above the knees. His activity saved him 
 from harm, but his rider took a header over 
 his ears, sprawling on the wet grass in front 
 with a shock that stunned him. 
 
 By the time he could rally and remount 
 his mustang, the other was not only beyond 
 sight, but his listening ear could not detect 
 the slightest sound of the flying hoofs. 
 
 " He has escaped this time," thought Avon, 
 as he once more resumed his place in the 
 
 16 
 
242 THE GREAT CATTLE TEAIL. 
 
 saddle, " but the account is still open and 
 must be settled very soon." 
 
 He was right, except that the account was 
 closed not only sooner than he suspected, but 
 in a manner of which he never dreamed. 
 
 Despite his alarming experience he had not 
 lost his reckoning, and, facing toward the bed- 
 ground of the herd, he had ridden but a short 
 way, when the familiar sounds told him he 
 was near the animals from which he was lost 
 only a short time before. 
 
 " They are here, Baby, just as I thought." 
 The remark was made by Gleeson, who 
 loomed up in the gloom as he spoke, with his 
 mustang on a deliberate walk. 
 
 "I am glad of that, and, since no one be- 
 side you and me knows of our slip last night, 
 we'll keep it to ourselves." 
 
 "I've no objection ; but didn't I hear a gun 
 go off a few minutes ago? What was you 
 shooting at?" 
 
 "It wasn't /someone shot at me" 
 
 And thereupon Avon related the particulars 
 of his encounter with the treacherous horse- 
 man. Gleeson listened and said nothing until 
 
SHACKAYE, THE COMANCIIE. 243 
 
 he had finished. Then, with a characteristic 
 exclamation, he expressed his regret that 
 Thunderbolt should have stumbled as he 
 did. 
 
 "Keep your eyes open," he added. "I'll 
 do the same, and we'll get the drop on him 
 soon." 
 
 " Why does he want to hurt me?" asked 
 Avon, "when there has never been a word 
 between us?" 
 
 "It's the nature of the animal," was the 
 reply. "'It wouldn't have made any differ- 
 ence whether it was you of me, so he 
 thought he had a sure thing of it. That's 
 what he's here for." 
 
 It was evident from these words that each 
 of the speakers was satisfied as to the iden- 
 tity of the one that had fired the well-nigh 
 fatal shot. Gleeson named him imme- 
 diately. 
 
 "I warned the cap, when he hired that 
 Comanche, that we would have trouble with 
 him. We left Texas a little short-handed, 
 but we could have got through well enough 
 without him. Howsumever, Shackaye, as 
 
244 THE GREAT CATTLE TRAIL. 
 
 you remember, rode into camp one day 
 and asked the cap to give him a job, and 
 the cap done it." 
 
 "I recall your words about him, and I 
 thought they were not justified; but what 
 made you so suspicious?" 
 
 The Texan uttered an impatient exclama- 
 tion. 
 
 "In the first place he's an Injin, and that 
 ought to be enough. I never seen one of 
 his race that it's safe to trust ; they'll shoot 
 the man that gives them a cup of water or 
 a piece of bread. Talk about Injin grati- 
 tude! There aint any such thing." 
 
 " What did my uncle say to your senti- 
 ments ?" 
 
 " He laughed in that quiet way of his, and 
 said maybe as I was right, but he didn't see 
 what we had to fear from one Injin that was 
 in camp with us ; he reckoned we could pull 
 his teeth before he could bite enough to hurt." 
 
 "I am sure he will think differently when 
 he hears my story." 
 
 "Don't tell him or anyone else a word 
 about it. Promise me that." 
 
SHACKAYE, THE COMANCHE. 245 
 
 "And why?" asked the surprised Avon. 
 
 " Well," was the hesitating answer, "I've 
 several reasons : one of them is that though 
 you and me have fixed on the Comanche as 
 the chap, we aint sure of it. It looks very 
 much that way, but it may be someone else 
 after all. We mustn't make any mistake, and 
 above all, don't let Shackaye think we sus- 
 pect him." 
 
 The youth gave his promise, though in his 
 mind there was no doubt of the identity 
 of the man that had come so near shooting 
 him from his mustang. He saw the wisdom 
 of not allowing Shackaye to know that he 
 was suspected. 
 
 The cattle having been located, the couple 
 had little to do but to hold them where 
 they were. This proved less difficult than 
 at other times. They had the help of Bur- 
 rell, or Old Bronze, in the work, and the 
 three did little but ride back and forth, 
 timing their course in such a way that they 
 skirted the large body of animals, often meet- 
 ing and exchanging greetings, but more often 
 passing without seeming to see each other. 
 
246 THE GEEAT CATTLE TRAIL. 
 
 Sometimes one of the cattle would show 
 a determination to dash away from the 
 main body, but before he went far, a horse- 
 man was in front of him and he was forced 
 back. The night was too chilly for sleep- 
 ing, else one or more of the herders would 
 have stretched out on the damp earth, with 
 his bridle reins so interlocked with his arm 
 that his horse could not wander off, or he 
 would have fallen asleep in his saddle. 
 When worn out with fatigue and loss of 
 slumber, a cowboy often rides for miles 
 totally unconscious of what is going on 
 around him. 
 
CHAPTER XXVIII. 
 
 A MISHAP. 
 
 THE weather cleared toward morning, 
 and the sun rose without a cloud ob- 
 scuring its face. The halt had been made 
 along a small tributary of the Wichita, 
 whose upper waters flow through the coun- 
 try of the Kiowas, Comanches, and Apaches, 
 that of the Cheyennes and Arapahoes lying 
 farther north. 
 
 The scene was inspiriting. The cowboys 
 gathered around the wagon for breakfast, 
 the cook having been thoughtful enough to 
 protect the wood against the rain. The 
 animals were busy cropping the grass, which 
 was rich and succulent on all sides of the 
 Trail, the hands for the time being bestow- 
 ing only general attention on them, but 
 everyone was ready to leap into the saddle 
 and dash off at a instant's call. 
 
 247 
 
248 THE GREAT CATTLE TRAIL. 
 
 Captain Shirril discovered that a bunch of 
 thirty cattle were missing, and believed they 
 had joined his friend's herd a mile to the 
 southward, from which it would be necessary 
 to separate or cut them out. 
 
 Antonio Nunez, the Mexican, and Shackaye, 
 the Cornanche (the latter of whom showed no 
 evidence of having been engaged in question- 
 able business during the preceding night), 
 were similarly attired, though it would be 
 supposed that the full-blooded Indian would 
 have dressed in accordance with the fashion 
 of his people. He claimed, however, to have 
 been engaged in the cattle business before, 
 and, when he first presented himself in camp 
 on his wiry pony, he wore the broad-brimmed 
 sombrero, baggy leather breeches, and red 
 sash around his waist, which were the most 
 noticeable features of the Mexican's make-up. 
 
 The Comanche, however, used no spurs, his 
 feet being shod with moccasins, and, instead 
 of the revolver worn by the Mexicans, he 
 carried a knife thrust in at his girdle and a 
 breech-loading rifle, which was not repeating. 
 
 The cowboys sported the same broad- 
 
A MISHAP. 249 
 
 brimmed hats, which in some instances cost 
 more than all the rest of their suits, the 
 leggings, flannel overshirts, and gaudy hand- 
 kerchiefs tied loosely around their necks. 
 
 All, as a matter of course, were expert 
 horsemen, and were furnished with two or 
 three excellent animals apiece, for their 
 business is as trying upon them as upon the 
 men. 
 
 The meal was quickly finished, and Captain 
 Shirril, with two of his hands, set out for the 
 camp to the rear, where he hoped to find the 
 missing cattle. Since there was a possibility 
 that they had strayed in other directions, 
 three more men were despatched to make 
 search. 
 
 It was rather curious that the captain 
 selected as his assistants his nephew Avon and 
 the young Comanche Shackaye. When they 
 were riding off, G-leeson, the Texan, looked at 
 the youth and winked, but said nothing. 
 
 Half-way to the camp, the three galloped 
 over a ridge or swell in the prairie, when to 
 their surprise they came upon the missing 
 animals browsing just beyond. 
 
250 THE GREAT CATTLE TRAIL. 
 
 " That's lucky!" said the captain; "the 
 job is going to be easier than I supposed. 
 Avon, you and Shackaye ride to the left, while 
 I will turn to the right. Look out for that 
 ugly steer ; we have had trouble with him 
 before, and I believe he is in a bad mood 
 now." 
 
 The Indian grinned on hearing these words 
 and said : 
 
 "Me no 'fraid ; me rope him if he fight." 
 
 And to show his contempt for the huge 
 brute, he drove his mustang straight for him 
 as he was grazing on the further side of the 
 group. The steer raised his head, with the 
 grass hanging from his jaws, and looked 
 quietly at the approaching Indian. He 
 seemed to be in doubt as to his purpose, until 
 Shackaye, when almost upon him, swung his 
 arm above his head and uttered a tantalizing 
 shout, as if he wished to enrage the beast. 
 
 If such was his purpose he succeeded, for 
 with a muttered bellow, the steer dropped his 
 head and charged fiercely at the pony, which, 
 to save himself, was obliged to wheel with 
 such suddenness that the young Comanche, 
 
A MISHAP. 251 
 
 despite his superb horsemanship, was thrown 
 violently to the ground directly in front of the 
 animal. 
 
 Occasionally a cowboy is caught in the 
 perilous situation of the young Comanche. 
 His horse may stumble, his lasso (always 
 called a "rope" except in California) become 
 entangled, or he may be thrown to the ground 
 in the path of the charging steer or bull, 
 which is sure to be upon him before he can 
 regain his feet and steed. 
 
 In such emergencies there is but the single 
 thing to do : that is, to shoot the animal, and 
 to hesitate to do so means certain death to the 
 endangered cattleman. 
 
 Two causes prevented Shackaye from 
 appealing to this last and only recourse. His 
 fall was so violent that he was slightly dazed, 
 though he did not lose sight of his peril, but 
 he made the mistake of attempting to climb to 
 his feet and darting aside, when the time at 
 command was insufficient to take him beyond 
 reach of the savage steer. 
 
 His rifle remained in place on the front of 
 his saddle, so that it was beyond his reach, 
 
252 THE GREAT CATTLE TRAIL. 
 
 while, as I have stated elsewhere, he carried 
 no pistol. He was, therefore, without firearms. 
 
 Captain Shirril was fully two hundred 
 yards away, but he saw the imminence of the 
 danger, and, bringing his gun to a level, fired 
 at the steer, calling at the same moment to 
 his nephew to shoot it. The captain's bullet 
 struck the beast, but without producing any 
 effect, unless to add to his rage. 
 
 It took Avon but a second or two to raise 
 his Winchester to his shoulder and aim at the 
 animal, which was near at hand. 
 
 "If I was sure that was you last night," 
 he thought, "I would let the steer do his 
 duty, but maybe you are innocent, so here 
 goes ! " 
 
 It was no special feat of marksmanship to 
 send a rifle-ball through the heart of the 
 charging brute, but he was so close to the 
 Comanche when he received the shot that he 
 would have tumbled over him, had not 
 Shackaye managed to roll aside in time to 
 avoid the huge mass, which ploughed along 
 the ground, as if fired from an enormous 
 gun. 
 
A MISHAP. 253 
 
 The occurrence alarmed the other cattle, and 
 they started off at such a pace that the instant 
 attention of the captain and his nephew was 
 required. Paying no further heed to the 
 unhorsed Shackaye, Avon sent his mustang 
 after the flying animals, the captain doing the 
 same from his direction. 
 
 The hardest of riding was required to round 
 them up and turn their faces toward the main 
 herd, and it was not long before Avon found 
 himself pitted against a steer fully as ugly as 
 that which he had been obliged to shoot a few 
 minutes before. All the others were finally 
 forced into the right course, and this obstinate 
 animal was disposed to join them, but after 
 trotting for a short distance, he seemed to tire 
 of being good, and, wheeling about, charged 
 like a runaway engine at the youthful horse- 
 man who was harrying him so hard. 
 
 In such crises a great deal depends on the 
 intelligence of the horse. Thunderbolt sprang 
 aside with the nimbleness of a monkey, and 
 Avon received just enough warning to hold 
 his place in the saddle. The steer attempted 
 to keep up his pursuit, turning with remark- 
 
254 THE GREAT CATTLE TEAIL. 
 
 able quickness for such a large animal, but 
 the dexterity of Thunderbolt was still greater, 
 and he easily evaded the sharp horns which 
 came near him more than once. Finally, as if 
 he saw the uselessness of his pursuit, the steer 
 headed in the opposite direction from that 
 which he ought to have taken, and sped away 
 with all the fleetness he possessed. 
 
 Avon saw his uncle galloping to his help. 
 
 " Leave him to me!" called the nephew; 
 "I'll conquer him." 
 
 Captain Shirril drew up, and, from his 
 perch in the saddle, watched the result of the 
 curious contest. 
 
 Avon had his rope ready to fling over the 
 horns of the fugitive, but before doing so, he 
 resorted to another artifice, which few persons 
 of his years can carry out successfully. It 
 is not only difficult, but it is vastly more 
 dangerous, in the event of the animal showing 
 fight, as the steer had already done. 
 
 It was necessary to force Thunderbolt close 
 beside the fugitive, and, despite the courage 
 of the mustang, it was only natural that he 
 should feel some reluctance against doing 
 
A MISHAP. 255 
 
 this. Those horns possessed prodigious 
 length and sharpness, and had already been 
 turned upon him ; but he was obedient, and 
 urged by the pricking of the spur and the 
 words of his master, he edged still nearer, 
 though it need not be said that he kept an eye 
 to windward. It was well he did so. 
 
 Young Burnet was in the act of leaning for- 
 ward to attempt the dangerous and difficult 
 feat, when the steer again dropped his head, 
 with one side lower than the other, as such 
 animals do when assailing a foe sideways, 
 and charged upon the mustang. 
 
 Nine horses out of ten would have been 
 fatally impaled by the suddenness of the as- 
 sault, for there was no time for him to wheel ; 
 but with a dexterity that seemed incredible, 
 he instantly rose on his hind feet and bounded 
 clean over the steer. The wonder of the 
 exploit was how the horse gathered himself 
 and applied his strength with such astonishing 
 quickness, but he did it like a trained gymnast, 
 his rider maintaining his seat without diffi- 
 culty and feeling a thrill of admiration at the 
 amazing skill of his steed. 
 
256 THE GREAT CATTLE TEAIL. 
 
 If a dumb animal can ever show surprise, 
 the steer displayed it at the action of the mus- 
 tang. Having made his lunge with his horns, 
 he must have become aware that, instead of 
 piercing flesh and blood, they clove vacancy 
 only. With his head aloft, and snorting with 
 anger, he stared where the horse and rider 
 were a moment before, but where now they 
 were not. 
 
 He looked to the right and left, as if un- 
 able to comprehend what had become of 
 them. Captain Shirril was seated motion- 
 less on his steed, several hundred yards dis- 
 tant, and, if the steer decided for a moment 
 in his own mind that he was the individual 
 he was looking for, he must have been puz- 
 zled to know how it was his horse traveled 
 so far in such an amazingly brief space of 
 time. 
 
 The sound of hoofs caused the animal to 
 look on the other side of him, where, sure 
 enough, only a short distance off was the 
 identical offender, calmly surveying him as if 
 plotting further mischief. 
 
 Instantly the head of the steer dropped 
 
A MISHAP. 257 
 
 again, and he was in the act of charging with 
 the same impetuosity as before, when he 
 changed his mind, and, instead of becom- 
 ing a pursuer, resumed the character of a 
 fugitive. 
 
 17 
 
CHAPTEK XXIX. 
 
 OLD ACQUAINTANCES. 
 
 "TTTITHOUT hesitation the mustang was 
 V V after the stubborn steer again, show- 
 ing less fear than before, though he main- 
 tained a sharp lookout against a repetition of 
 the attack. It may have been that the dex- 
 terous manner in which he had just eluded 
 the brute gave him self-confidence, as it 
 weakened that of the fugitive without less- 
 ening his obduracy, for he took care that the 
 line of his flight led straight away from his 
 own herd. 
 
 With the same care Thunderbolt began 
 edging up, and, in a brief while, his head 
 was abreast of the haunch of the steer, and 
 steadily gaining. Avon now leaned over the 
 right shoulder of his mustang, and reaching 
 forward and downward, seized the tail of the 
 steer, and in a flash twisted all that was suffi- 
 
OLD ACQUAINTANCES. 259 
 
 ciently flexible around the horn of his saddle. 
 At the same instant he called sharply to 
 Thunderbolt, who made a vicious bound to 
 the left, and the steer, with a short bellow of 
 pain, went down with fearful violence. 
 
 But he was not yet conquered. As full of 
 energy and obstinacy as ever, he seemed to 
 leap to his feet as if made of rubber, but with- 
 out attempting to resent the indignity he had 
 suffered, he continued his impetuous flight. 
 
 The brief interval had given Avon time in 
 which to uncoil his rope. Instead of flinging 
 it over the horns of the steer he dexterously 
 caught the loop around one of his hind legs, 
 and jerked it taut with the quickness of light- 
 ning. Down went the animal again, kicking 
 and bellowing and struggling hard to regain 
 his feet. 
 
 The youth allowed him to succeed, when, 
 with the help of the mustang, he was thrown 
 again. This was repeated several times, until 
 it was apparent that the captive was subdued. 
 Finally, after receiving another fall, he 
 refused to try to regain his feet. 
 
 Avon now managed to loosen the loop suffi- 
 
260 THE GREAT CATTLE TRAIL. 
 
 ciently to slip it off the imprisoned leg. 
 Then, holding several coils in his grasp, he 
 reached over and gave the panting animal 
 several resounding whacks on his ribs. 
 
 He smiled as the brute hastily clambered 
 up, and, turning his nose toward the other 
 cattle a considerable distance off, broke into a 
 trot after them, still bellowing as if asking 
 them to wait until he could join them. No 
 refractory urchin was ever brought to terms 
 with more completeness than was the defiant 
 steer. 
 
 Now that the disciplined animal was travel- 
 ling in the right direction, his conqueror also 
 faced Captain Shirril, who had been watching 
 him with much interest, while the cattle were 
 stringing along at a rapid gallop in the direc- 
 tion of the ridge beyond which lay the 
 invisible camp of the cowmen. 
 
 The lull in the stirring proceeding led Avon 
 to recall the mishap of Shackaye, who had 
 escaped the horns of the other steer by such a 
 narrow chance. He cast his eye toward the 
 body of the dead animal plainly seen across 
 the~prairie, but the young Comanche himself 
 
OLD ACQUAINTANCES. 261 
 
 was not in sight. He concluded that he must 
 have remounted his mustang and galloped 
 back to camp. Possibly he had received some 
 injury from his fall which placed it beyond 
 his power to help in the work of gathering the 
 stray members of the herd. 
 
 Avon turned his attention to his relative, 
 when he was astonished to perceive fully a 
 dozen horsemen a short distance off between 
 him and the ridge. 
 
 The first natural thought of the youth was 
 that the party at the camp had ridden out to 
 their help, but he instantly saw that such 
 could not be the case, since there were so 
 many of them, and it did not require a second 
 glance to ascertain that each one was a 
 mounted Indian. 
 
 The first emotion following this discovery 
 was that of a wonderment as to what it could 
 all mean. It was not remarkable that they 
 should encounter Indians, while crossing the 
 section set apart especially for their occu- 
 pancy, nor was anything to be feared from 
 them unless the temptation to violence became 
 unusually strong on the part of the red men. 
 
262 THE GREAT CATTLE TRAIL. 
 
 But there was something ominous in the 
 sudden and singular appearance of these dusky 
 plainsmen. They had shown up unexpectedly, 
 the indication being that they had emerged 
 from a group of hills a short distance to the 
 eastward. Colonel Sclevinger and his herd 
 were beyond sight, so that the two friends 
 were in anything but a pleasant situation, 
 
 But while it looked as if the Indians must 
 be friendly from force of circumstances, their 
 conduct justified the grave alarm Avon felt on 
 first seeing them. Perceiving they were dis- 
 covered, they broke into a rapid gallop beyond 
 the unsuspicious Captain Shirril, spreading 
 apart like a fan, as if they meant to inclose 
 him in the circle beyond escape. 
 
 A shout from the young man caused his 
 uncle to look around, when he discovered 
 what was going on. He instantly touched 
 his animal with his spurs and sent him 
 swiftly toward Avon, who advanced to meet 
 him. 
 
 " What does it mean ?" asked the younger 
 as they came together. 
 
 "It means mischief," was the reply. "I 
 
OLD ACQUAINTANCES. 263 
 
 believe some of them belong to the party that 
 tried to burn our house." 
 
 " Then they are Comanches ? " 
 
 "Everyone of them where's Shackaye?" 
 abruptly asked the captain, as if the naming 
 of the tribe had recalled that interesting 
 youth to his mind. 
 
 "I shouldn't wonder if he were among 
 them," replied Avon, with a certain grim 
 pleasure, as he recalled the faith his uncle 
 had shown in the savage in the face of Glee- 
 son's warnings. 
 
 "Like enough," remarked the captain, 
 watching the actions of the warriors, who had 
 diverged so far already that it was impossible 
 for the couple to escape in any direction with- 
 out coming in collision with them; "we've 
 got to stand them off." 
 
 Without any appearance of alarm in his 
 manner Captain Shirril slipped down from his 
 saddle, his nephew being but a few seconds 
 behind him, and the two coolly prepared to 
 make a stand against the attack of the 
 Comanches. 
 
CHAPTER XXX. 
 
 AT BAY. 
 
 CAPTAIN SHIRRIL and his nephew 
 Vy placed their ponies beside each other, 
 with a space of only a few feet intervening. 
 Then, standing on the ground, they rested 
 their Winchesters across the saddles, facing in 
 opposite directions, and were ready for the 
 assault of the red men, who were circling back 
 and forth and gradually drawing nearer to 
 them. 
 
 "Keep cool," said the captain, "and, when 
 you fire, don't throw away a shot." 
 
 They were a mile from camp, and, as soon 
 as the shooting began, it ought to attract the 
 notice of the rest, who were sure to hurry to 
 the spot. There was reason to believe the 
 Indians could be held off for a long time, and, 
 brave as they were, it was not to be expected 
 that they would maintain their ground before 
 
 284 
 
AT BAY. 265 
 
 such a charge as the cowboys would make, 
 and had made a short time before. 
 
 The warriors were armed with excellent 
 rifles, and belonged to a tribe that is un- 
 surpassable in horsemanship. Several had 
 blankets on their mustangs, but most were 
 without even that protection, being bareback, 
 while few possessed anything in the nature of 
 a bridle. The well-trained steeds, as we have 
 shown, were perfectly managed by word and 
 touch, and often seemed to divine the wishes 
 of their riders, without word or movement on 
 their part. 
 
 But, daring as were the latter, they knew 
 the peril involved in assailing two well-armed 
 white men at bay. They continued their 
 rapid galloping at a safe distance, some of 
 them describing a complete circle around the 
 couple, who were quietly awaiting the chances 
 for effective work. 
 
 Before long the assailants began operations. 
 Hardly one retained an upright position 
 on his steed for more than a few seconds 
 at a time. * They flung themselves forward, as 
 if in wantonness, their painted faces appear- 
 
266 THE GREAT CATTLE TRAIL. 
 
 ing below their horses' necks, with their long 
 black hair streaming away, as if it were a part 
 of the mane of their steeds. Then they 
 extended themselves seemingly along the 
 spine of their animals, as if for slumber in the 
 sun. While the steeds sped back and forth, 
 the riders lolled here and there on their 
 backs, as though it was impossible for them 
 to lose their balance. Trying as were the 
 circumstances, Captain Shirril could not help 
 admiring the equestrian exhibition, which 
 could not have been excelled. 
 
 But he quickly proved that he meant busi- 
 ness of the most serious kind. He fixed his 
 attention on one of the half-naked miscreants, 
 who was not only nearer than any of his com- 
 panions, but kept edging closer. For a time, 
 he maintained himself on the further side of 
 his mustang, seeming to hold himself in place 
 by the toe of one of his moccasins thrust over 
 the spine at the haunches, with hardly less 
 significant help from a hand at the base of the 
 neck. 
 
 When the horse wheeled to return over his 
 own trail, as he frequently did, the matchless 
 
AT BAY. 267 
 
 rider, with a grace that was inimitable, swung 
 himself over in a corresponding position on 
 the other side, so as to preserve the body of 
 his steed as a shield. 
 
 Without warning, he discharged his rifle 
 from beneath the neck of the animal, and the 
 excellence of his aim was proven by the whiz 
 of the bullet near the head of Captain Shirril. 
 
 But the latter was not disturbed. He was 
 biding his time, and knew the opportunity 
 was near. 
 
 Suddenly the mustang wheeled again. At 
 the moment of doing so, he was closer to the 
 defenders than at any period before. The 
 rider rose to view for a moment, like a leaper 
 going over a fence sideways. Then as he 
 descended on the other side of the steed, he 
 continued descending until he struck the 
 ground, where he rolled over a single time 
 and never stirred again. 
 
 At the critical instant, Captain Shirril had 
 fired. An ear-splitting screech followed, and 
 that particular Comanche was eliminated from 
 the problem that confronted him. 
 
 The riderless horse flung up his head, with 
 
268 THE GREAT CATTLE TRAIL. 
 
 a whinny of affright, and, looking hither and 
 thither, as if unable to understand the mean- 
 ing of the occurrence, dashed off to join his 
 companions, further away on the prairie. 
 
 The thin puff of smoke had not lifted from 
 before the captain's face, when his nephew let 
 fly at one of the warriors, who was extended 
 along the back of his animal, as if inviting 
 a shot. Avon missed, and the Indian, with 
 astonishing quickness, brought his own gun 
 to a level and fired in return. The ball 
 nipped the brim of his sombrero, passing so 
 close that for a second the youth believed he 
 was hit. 
 
 The situation was growing serious, and, 
 since this particular Comanche was so defiant, 
 Avon decided that the occasion was a good 
 one for the use of a repeating weapon. With- 
 out pausing to take special aim, he fired three 
 times in rapid succession at his foe. 
 
 Though the latter escaped for the moment, 
 his steed was less fortunate. He was hit hard 
 by the first shot, while the last brought him 
 to earth with a bullet through his brain. 
 
 His rider was too nimble to be caught by 
 
AT BAY. 269 
 
 the fall, but, leaping clear, ran swiftly across 
 the plain in the effort to get beyond reach of 
 the rifle, which seemed to be raining bullets 
 all around him. His courage had given place 
 to panic, and as he ran he bounded from side 
 to side and up and down with the grotesque 
 contortions of a Digger Indian when seeking 
 to baffle the aim of an enemy. 
 
 Avon continued his fusillade, and by a piece 
 of pure accident winged the fugitive. He 
 did not fall, but the height of his leap and the 
 resonance of his outcry, instantly succeeded 
 by a pronounced limp in his gait, left no 
 doubt that he had gotten in the path of the 
 hurtling messenger. 
 
 " How are you making out, Baby?" asked 
 Captain Shirrel, turning his head and coolly 
 scrutinizing his relative. 
 
 "Only fairly," replied Avon, replenishing 
 the magazine of his gun and keeping his gaze 
 on the plain in front. 
 
 "It is well enough to drop a mustang, but 
 it is better to tumble their riders off them." 
 
 "I meant to do that, but failed." 
 
 The natural supposition of the friends was 
 
270 THE GREAT CATTLE TKAIL. 
 
 that the hot reception they had given their 
 assailants would check them, and cause their 
 withdrawal beyond the deadly range of their 
 Winchesters. The reports must have reached 
 the cowboys, and both glanced at the ridge to 
 the west, over which they expected to see 
 their comrades coming to their rescue. 
 
 But the Comanches could not have failed to 
 know of the presence of others near at hand, 
 which fact warned them that whatever they 
 did must be done quickly. Instead of falling 
 back, therefore, because of the loss of a single 
 warrior and steed, they rallied and pushed 
 the fight with greater vigor than ever. 
 
 In the face of the cracking Winchesters they 
 rode closer than before, and then branching 
 apart, put their animals on a run while they 
 discharged their guns from every conceivable 
 position. Instead of wheeling about as at 
 first, they kept them straight away on the 
 circle, which being less than before, enabled 
 them to circumnavigate the defenders in a 
 brief space of time. 
 
 The captain and his nejrtiew had their hands 
 full, for assailants were on every side of them, 
 
AT BAY. 271 
 
 and the popping of their guns was continuous. 
 The attack was so serious, and the defenders 
 were in such a conspicuous position, that it 
 was impossible to escape the storm of bullets 
 flying all around them. 
 
 A quick start on the part of Thunderbolt 
 showed that he had been hit, while almost at 
 the same moment the rearing of the captain's 
 mustang proved that he, too, was hurt. 
 
 "Make your horse lie down," called the 
 elder. 
 
 Avon had already determined on this re- 
 course, and seizing the head of his animal he 
 ordered him down. Thunderbolt was well 
 trained, but the hurt already received made 
 him restless, and his young master had to 
 engage in a partial struggle before he gathered 
 his legs under him and rolled over on his 
 side. 
 
 The instant he did so Avon knelt behind his 
 body and was in the most favorable posture 
 for defense. 
 
 Captain ShirriPs task proved more difficult. 
 His horse refused to go down at his command, 
 and it was necessary to throw him. He re- 
 
272 THE GREAT CATTLE TKAIL. 
 
 sisted with such vigor that his owner dropped 
 his rifle and was forced to use his utmost 
 strength before he could trip and bring him to 
 the earth. He still fought, and the captain, 
 losing patience for the moment, forgot the 
 whistling missiles and gave his whole atten- 
 tion to the brute, which he speedily con- 
 quered. 
 
 Avon was on the point of offering help, when 
 he perceived that the mustang was mastered, 
 and he once more turned to the enemy, now 
 pressing his advantage to the utmost. 
 
 The Comanches were so close, and the oppor- 
 tunity for aiming effectively was so good, that 
 the shots of the youth began to tell. Had the 
 red men been compelled to maintain one posi- 
 tion in front, a single person with a repeating 
 Winchester could have stood off the whole 
 party ; but, as has been explained, the Indians 
 were on every hand. 
 
 But Avon was not throwing away his car- 
 tridges. The very first shot bored its way 
 through the bronzed skull of a shrieking war- 
 rior, and the second slew his pony with such 
 suddenness that the two rolled together on the 
 
AT BAY. 273 
 
 plain, the warrior being unable to extricate 
 himself from beneath his struggling mustang. 
 
 The young man, finding no one in his imme- 
 diate front, turned toward a couple that were 
 advancing from another point, but before he 
 could make his aim sure, he was shocked to 
 hear a groan from Captain Shirril. 
 
 u Are you hit?" asked the nephew, turning 
 his scared face toward him. 
 
 " Yes, but still able to do something ; bring 
 your horse to his feet and make a dash for the 
 camp. There isn't an earthly chance for us 
 here." 
 
 "But I cannot leave you, uncle, and, if I 
 could it would be impossible to run the 
 gauntlet." 
 
 "It's our only hope ; my horse is too badly 
 hurt to carry me off, but you may succeed, 
 if you ride hard." 
 
 " It won't do," replied the nephew, who, 
 had the prospect been ten-fold more favora- 
 ble, could not have deserted his relative at 
 such a time. 
 
 " Hurrah ! " he exclaimed the next moment, 
 "yonder come the boys!" 
 
 18 
 
274 THE GKEAT CATTLE TRAIL. 
 
 He had caught sight of their friends ap- 
 proaching over the ridge, their animals on 
 a dead run. 
 
 u They will be too late," said Captain 
 Shirril, whose horse at that moment received 
 another shot and renewed his frantic struggles 
 to regain his feet. His owner interposed, but, 
 he, too, was wounded and unable to put forth 
 the strength that had conquered the brute a 
 moment before. 
 
 Avon would have gone to his help had 
 there been anything to gain by it. 
 
 "Let him go," he said, "he can do you no 
 good." 
 
 " Yes, he can and he shall" 
 
 As he spoke, the captain whipped out his 
 revolver and drove a couple of bullets through 
 the brain of the mustang. He expected him 
 to drop dead on the instant, when he would 
 serve the purpose intended of a breastwork 
 for his master. 
 
 Avon had withdrawn his attention at the 
 critical moment, fearful that the Comanches, 
 realizing the straits of himself and companion, 
 would overwhelm them before resistance could 
 
AT BAY. 275 
 
 be offered. Thus his head was turned away 
 from the mortally hurt horse of the captain, 
 which, instead of sinking helpless to the 
 earth, made a frantic leap and fell upon the 
 unprepared youth. 
 
 It seemed for the moment as if a moun- 
 tain had descended upon him. He struggled 
 fiercely to free himself, and in his desperate 
 effort worked his head and shoulders clear, 
 but while trying to draw his revolver for his 
 last defence, he succumbed. The sunlight 
 faded from before his eyes, all became blank 
 darkness, and consciousness departed. 
 
CHAPTER XXXI. 
 
 FLAG OF TRUCE. 
 
 THERE was nothing to cause apprehen- 
 sion on the part of the cowboys in camp, 
 when they heard the report of a single rifle 
 from beyond the ridge over which Captain 
 Shirril, Avon Burnet, and the young Comanche 
 Shackaye had ridden in pursuit of the cattle 
 that went astray the night before. One of the 
 party might have found a chance to bring 
 down something in the nature of game, which 
 is liable to be encountered at every part of the 
 Great Cattle Trail, from the outskirts of the 
 capital of Texas to its termination in the State 
 of Kansas. 
 
 But when, soon after, the shots came thick 
 and fast, it was apparent that something un- 
 usual was going on. 
 
 " There's mischief afoot ! " called out Glee- 
 son, u and that Comanche is at the bottom of 
 it. Come, boys ! " 
 
 276 
 
FLAG OF TRUCE. 277 
 
 There was not an instant's hesitation on the 
 part of any member of the company. The 
 cattle that were quietly browsing on the suc- 
 culent grass were left to wander off or stam- 
 pede themselves, or do whatever they chose, 
 while the cowboys, including Nunez, the Mex- 
 ican, swung into their saddles and sped away 
 on a dead run toward the ridge. 
 
 Before they reached it the missing cattle 
 came up from the other side and appeared on 
 the crest. The advent of the steer that had 
 suffered so severely at the hands of Avon 
 Burnet imparted a mild panic to the others, 
 so that the whole lot were on a trot. The 
 horsemen were in too great haste to turn aside, 
 and the animals, therefore, swerved to the 
 right and continued their brisk gait in the 
 direction of the main herd. 
 
 As has been said, every mustang was run- 
 ning at the highest speed, but the impetuous 
 Gleeson maintained his place in front, and 
 thundered up the slope as if his own life were 
 at stake. Before he struck the crest, he rose 
 in his box-stirrups and peered over at the 
 plain beyond. 
 
278 THE GREAT CATTLE TRAIL. 
 
 "Just what I expected!" he exclaimed, 
 "and that Shackaye has done it!" 
 
 It was not necessary to explain, for, before 
 he could have done so, his comrades caught 
 sight of the stirring scene which thrilled their 
 leader. Captain Shirril and his nephew were 
 standing off a party of dusky assailants, who 
 were pressing them hard. The two mustangs 
 were plainly seen, while the flashes of the 
 Winchesters from behind them told the story 
 as eloquently as if the cowboys were actual 
 participants in the affray. 
 
 Not another word was uttered by the latter, 
 but pressing their spurs deep into the flanks of 
 their horses they sent them with arrowy haste 
 straight toward the spot. They had hardly 
 reached the base of the slope when they held 
 their breath, for they saw the crisis had come. 
 The red men were closing around the two com- 
 batants as if they realized that whatever was 
 to be accomplished must be done within the 
 succeeding few seconds. 
 
 Half the distance was passed, when the Co- 
 manches were observed scurrying toward a 
 mass of hills hardly a half-mile distant. They 
 
FLAG OF TRUCE. 279 
 
 rode so closely that the cowboys failed to note 
 the momentous fact that they bore a prisoner 
 with them. 
 
 In such emergencies a party of American 
 Indians generally manage to carry off their 
 dead and wounded, but the haste was too 
 urgent in this case. The stark figures were 
 left stretched on the prairies where they had 
 fallen, and a number of animals also lay mo- 
 tionless near. The wounded were taken care 
 of, but the dead were left to bury the dead. 
 
 The cowboys discharged a score of shots at 
 the Comanches, but the distance was too great 
 to accomplish anything, and, seeing that it 
 was impossible to overtake them before they 
 reached the shelter of the wooded hills, Glee- 
 son led the party toward the spot where they 
 believed their friends needed instant care. 
 
 The prostrate horses, and a partial glimpse 
 of a figure lying between them, caused the 
 rescuers to believe that the captain and his 
 nephew were either slain outright or badly 
 hurt. 
 
 The approaching mustangs kept up their 
 run until they were thrown on their haunches 
 
280 THE GREAT CATTLE TKAIL. 
 
 with such suddenness that the shock seemed 
 to fling the riders from their saddles. They 
 leaped forward, and vigorous arms quickly 
 lifted the body of the captain's horse from off 
 young Burnet, who opened his eyes and 
 looked up with that faint wildness which 
 showed he had no conception of the 
 situation. 
 
 4 < Where's the captain?" 
 
 This was the question that was asked by 
 several, as all glared around for their leader. 
 Before anyone attempted an answer, others 
 examined the nephew and found he was with- 
 out a wound. He had swooned under the 
 sudden pressure of the horse shot by his 
 uncle, but he quickly recovered, and, after 
 being assisted to his feet and shaking him- 
 self together, everything came back to him. 
 Turning to Thunderbolt he ordered him to 
 rise, and the animal obeyed. He had received 
 a couple of flesh-wounds, which stung him for 
 the moment without incapacitating him for 
 effective service. 
 
 Then, in as few words as possible, Avon told 
 }ris story. He rememberecf that his uncle was 
 
FLAG OP TRUCE. 281 
 
 wounded before Ms horse was killed, and it 
 was self-evident to everyone that the poor 
 man had been carried off by the Comanches. 
 
 "DicT you see Shackaye among 'em?" 
 asked Gleeson, his face like a thunder-cloud. 
 
 "He was not with those who attacked us ; 
 I could not have failed to see him if he had 
 been." 
 
 u But what became of him? He started off 
 with you, and you must have parted some- 
 where on the road." 
 
 Young Burnet now told about Shackaye's 
 encounter with the steer which came near slay- 
 ing him. Avon's pursuit of the other trouble- 
 some animal withdrew all attention from him, 
 and there was no certainty of the manner of 
 his disappearance, which, to say the least, was 
 extraordinary. 
 
 But the absence of Captain Shirril forbade 
 that the cowboys should waste time in idle- 
 ness. Instinctively every eye was turned 
 toward the hills to the eastward among 
 which the Comanches had vanished with their 
 captive. 
 
 "They haven't had time to go far," said 
 
282 THE GREAT CATTLE TRAIL. 
 
 Zach Collis, "and if we ride hard we shall 
 soon run 'em down." 
 
 "But is it best to try that?" was the ques- 
 tion of Ward Burrell, or Old Bronze. 
 
 Gleeson, who was naturally looked upon as 
 the leader, shook his head. "They'll brain 
 him the minute there's a chance of losing 
 him." 
 
 "But why did they take him off and spare 
 me?" asked the astonished Avon. 
 
 "They thought you was dead and so didn't 
 bother with you." 
 
 " Why did they make him prisoner instead 
 of doing what they had been trying so long to 
 do kill him?" 
 
 "He's of more account than you ; Tie was 
 the chap they was after, and not you." 
 
 "It looked for a time as though they had 
 designs on me." 
 
 The words of the Texan acted like a damper 
 on the ardor of his companions, who were eager 
 to hasten to the rescue of their captain. Had 
 they not known that he was wounded, it is 
 likely they would have insisted upon an in- 
 stant and vigorous pursuit ; but none failed 
 
FLAG OF TRUCE. 283 
 
 to see the truth of Gleeson's utterances, though 
 it was only a few minutes before that he was 
 as impatient as any of them. 
 
 "Boys," said he, observing that they were 
 looking at him, "I think you know what all 
 this means as well as I do. If we had 5 em out 
 on the plains where there was a fair chance, or 
 if the cap could put in some licks for himself, 
 it would be different ; but they're among them 
 hills over there ; they're watching us now ; we 
 can't make a move that they won't know it 
 the minute it's started ; they've got it on us, 
 and just as soon as they see there's any show 
 of losing the cap they'll finish him." 
 
 "Ballyhoo is right," remarked Wyn wood, 
 commonly known as Madstone ; ll they've got 
 us foul." 
 
 "That being so, there aint any use for you, 
 pards ; so go back to camp, look after the 
 cattle, and leave things to me." 
 
 The meaning of this proposition, which may 
 sound strange to the reader, was that the only 
 possible way of saving Captain Shirril was by 
 negotiating for his release. The fact that the 
 Comanches knew he was in charge of two 
 
284 THE GREAT CATTLE TRAIL. 
 
 thousand cattle, and had made him prisoner 
 instead of slaying him, established this truth 
 in the minds of Oscar Gleeson and his com- 
 rades. 
 
 Furthermore, the Texan was confirmed in his 
 belief that the act of Shackaye in joining the 
 company before the start was the- first step in 
 an elaborate plot. It was his province to win 
 the confidence of the captain, and to commu- 
 nicate, in the many secret ways so well under- 
 stood by his people, with the Comanches, and 
 to help when the time came for the important 
 movement. 
 
 His absence at the critical period gave color 
 to this theory. Circumstances had helped the 
 treacherous red men, for it was as if Captain 
 Shirril walked directly into the trap set by 
 them. 
 
 It was a brave act on Gleeson' s part to ven- 
 ture alone among the hills in the hope of 
 opening communication with the red men, 
 when, if there was any mistake, he would be 
 completely at their mercy. But he had 
 uttered his decision with the air and manner 
 of one who would brook no dispute. He 
 
FLAG OF TRUCE. 285 
 
 waved his friends off, and, wheeling about, 
 they rode in the direction of the camp, fre- 
 quently looking back at the daring fellow 
 who realized as fully as they the delicate and 
 perilous task he had taken upon himself. 
 
 Beaching the top of the ridge which has 
 been referred to so often, the first glance was 
 at the herd of cattle, which it was instantly 
 seen required looking after. They had 
 drifted far to the westward, and were so scat- 
 tered as to need rounding-up in a general way 
 or rather herding. Everything was favorable 
 for good progress that day, since the stream 
 to be crossed was small and shallow, and the 
 sky was not only clear but the air just crisp 
 enough to render travelling pleasant. But 
 there was no thought of going forward until 
 the fate of the captain was settled. 
 
 With only a brief halt the cowboys spurred 
 their mustangs down the slope to attend to 
 the cattle, but Avon Burnet remained on the 
 crest, his interest lying elsewhere. 
 
 There was only a single small field glass in 
 the company, and as it happened that was in 
 the possession of Captain Shirril, so that the 
 
286 THE GEEAT CATTLE TRAIL. 
 
 youth had to depend upon his unaided vision. 
 But the atmosphere in the Southwest is gen- 
 erally of crystalline clearness, and he was able 
 to see his friend quite plainly until the hill 
 beyond should hide him from view. 
 
 At the moment Avon turned the head of 
 his horse toward the east, the Texan was 
 quite close to the place where the Comanches 
 had taken refuge with their prisoner. His 
 horse was walking slowly, and it was evident 
 he was on the watch for some sign from the 
 red men who held the key to the situation. 
 As he drew nearer his mustang moved still 
 more deliberately, until it was hard to decide 
 whether he was advancing at all. 
 
 Looking closely, however, he perceived that 
 Gleeson's progress had not ceased, and he 
 was making some kind of signal. He had 
 removed the handkerchief from around his 
 neck, and was fluttering it over his head. 
 Although its color debarred it from serving 
 as the regulation flag of truce, there was little 
 doubt that the meaning of its owner would be 
 understood by whomsoever saw it. 
 
 "Ah, there they are!" 
 
FLAG OF TRUCE. 287 
 
 This exclamation was uttered a few minutes 
 later, when the watcher on the crest caught 
 sight, not of one but of two Indians, who 
 emerged from the hills on foot. They walked 
 directly toward the Texan, their actions 
 proving that they appeared in answer to his 
 signal. 
 
 Gleeson, on perceiving them, brought his 
 steed to a stand still and awaited their com- 
 ing. None could have known better than he 
 that he was within range of the companions 
 of these two warriors, who could shoot him 
 from his horse in the twinkling of an eye. 
 
 "And they will do it, too," said Avon to 
 himself, as the thought came to him ; "but I 
 believe I shall take a hand in this business." 
 
 And, without waiting to observe the result 
 of the interview, the young man set out to 
 execute an extraordinary resolution that was 
 formed on the spur of the moment. 
 
CHAPTER XXXII. 
 
 DIPLOMACY. 
 
 OSCAR GLEESOJST, the Texan, was correct 
 in his suspicion of the purpose of the 
 Comanches in making Captain Shirril their 
 prisoner ; having secured possession of him, 
 they intended to force a liberal ransom on the 
 part of his friends, as a condition of his res- 
 toration to liberty. 
 
 The act was not only an audacious one on 
 their part, but it will be perceived that the 
 fulfilment of the terms was certain to be at- 
 tended with the gravest difficulty. The cow- 
 boys were not to be trifled with, and, since it 
 was inevitable that a point would be reached 
 where one party must of necessity trust the 
 pledges of the other, a violent collision with 
 serious consequences appeared unavoidable. 
 
 It has been shown that it was not until he 
 arrived close to the hills, among which the 
 
DIPLOMACY. 289 
 
 red men had fled with their captive, that there 
 was any response to the signal he displayed 
 almost from the first. 
 
 The moment he caught sight of the two war- 
 riors, he stopped his mustang and awaited 
 their approach. It was not singular that a 
 man who had crossed the Indian Nation so fre- 
 quently' as this veteran, recognized the couple 
 as Wygwind, the chieftain, and Kichita, 
 whom he had met more than once and knew 
 to be two of the worst miscreants belonging to 
 the American race. 
 
 With no evidence, however, of his identifica- 
 tion, he deliberately lowered his flag of truce, 
 and returning it to its place around his brawny 
 neck, secured it by tying the usual knot. 
 Then with a half military salute he asked : 
 " Is the white man with you hurt bad ? " 
 "Hurt not much," replied Wj^gwind, who 
 spoke English far better than his comrade. 
 " Why did you take him away \ " 
 The American Indian, as a rule, is of melan- 
 choly temperament, but at this question the 
 Comanclie displayed an unmistakable grin 
 which revealed his even white teeth. 
 
 19 
 
290 THE GEEAT CATTLE TRAIL. 
 
 "We sell him lie worth good much." 
 
 "What price do you ask for him?" de- 
 manded Gleeson, coming to the point with 
 undiplomatic abruptness. 
 
 The expectation of the Texan was that these 
 ambassadors would demand a large number 
 of cattle, probably five hundred, in exchange 
 for their valuable captive. He ardently hoped 
 that such would prove the case, for he had 
 already formed a scheme for paying off the 
 rogues in their own coin. 
 
 His intention was to transfer the cattle, 
 managing the payment, however, with such 
 care that all breach of faith on the part of the 
 captain's enemies would be frustrated. Then, 
 after he was safe with his friends, and the 
 property was placed in the hands of the Co- 
 manches, it would be necessary for the red 
 men to hold them. The field would become 
 an open one, and before they could turn their 
 newly acquired property to account, they were 
 likely to hear from the original proprietors. 
 
 But Wygwind was too shrewd to be 
 ensnared in this style. He and his partners, 
 in elaborating the scheme that had worked so 
 
DIPLOMACY. 291 
 
 well up to this point, had foreseen the very 
 contingency in the mind of the white man, 
 who sat on his horse before the delegates. 
 
 "We take horses so many." 
 
 In making this answer, Wygwind raised the 
 fingers and thumbs of his hands twice in suc- 
 cession. Unable to count a score in the 
 English language, he proved nevertheless that 
 he had a clear idea of the number, which was 
 indicated so plainly that the Texan could 
 make no mistake as to his meaning. 
 
 Gleeson was disappointed as well as sur- 
 prised. Since each cowboy was provided with 
 at least three horses, there were about thirty 
 with the company. To turn two-thirds of 
 these over to the red men would seriously 
 cripple the whites, who had still a long jour- 
 ney before them. 
 
 Furthermore, it must effect a material 
 change in the programme the Texan had 
 formed. Horseflesh is as dear to the red as 
 to the white man, and, well mounted as the 
 former would be after the exchange, the 
 chances of recovering the property by the 
 Texans must be reduced to the minimum, 
 
292 THE GREAT CATTLE TRAIL. 
 
 But tlie new phase of affairs had to be met. 
 Suppressing all evidence of his feelings, Glee- 
 son said : 
 
 " We have not enough horses to give what 
 you ask ; we will let you have that many." 
 
 And he held up the thumb and fingers of 
 his right hand. Wygwind with another grin 
 shook his head. 
 
 "Take so many" and he repeated the 
 gestures by which he first indicated twenty. 
 
 Gleeson now doubled his offer, which, it 
 will be understood, was half the price de- 
 manded ; but the wily Comanche felt that he 
 was in a position to dictate terms, and re- 
 mained inexorable. 
 
 The Texan knew it was useless to haggle, 
 but he kept it up with a view of gaining time. 
 Naturally keen-witted and trained in the sub- 
 tlety of the dusky men of the plains, he 
 sought to do more than dispute over the con- 
 ditions of a proposed bargain. While thus 
 employed, he used his senses to their fullest 
 extent. Without seeming to do so, he was 
 scrutinizing the hills just beyond the couple, 
 on the ground in front of him. He sought to 
 
DIPLOMACY. 293 
 
 learn whether any of their warriors were at 
 hand. They might have been, without his 
 knowledge, but the fact that he saw no sign 
 of them led him to believe they were not 
 within immediate call. 
 
 Had he been confronted by a single warrior 
 instead of a couple, the Texan would have 
 attempted an exploit in which there was 
 hardly one chance in a hundred of succeed- 
 ing. It was to seize the warrior, make off 
 with him, and then hold him as a hostage 
 for the safety of Captain Shirril. 
 
 True, this was a violation of the flag of 
 truce, but under the circumstances it would 
 not have been one-tenth as flagrant as that by 
 which our government captured the famous 
 Seminole chieftain Osceola, and held him 
 prisoner until his death ; but with two 
 doughty warriors to combat, it would seem 
 that nothing could be more foolhardy than 
 any such effort on the part of the Texan. 
 
 And yet Gleeson seriously asked himself 
 whether it was not possible to shoot one, and 
 leaping upon the other, overcome and carry 
 him off before his friends could interfere. In 
 
294 THE GREAT CATTLE TRAIL. 
 
 referring to it afterward he admitted its 
 absurdity, and yet he would have made the 
 attempt but for a trifling discovery when 
 almost in the act of taking the decisive 
 step. 
 
CHAPTER XXXIII. 
 
 DRIVEN TO THE WALL. 
 
 THE discovery which checked Oscar Glee- 
 son was the presence of nearly all the 
 Comanches within a hundred feet of the war- 
 riors that were holding their conference with 
 him. The signs could not be mistaken, and 
 the Texan abandoned the hopeless scheme he 
 had formed. 
 
 The Texan thus found himself forced back 
 upon the original proposition of Wygwind, 
 which was the ransom of the wounded 
 captain for twenty horses. The price under 
 the circumstances was large, but it could not 
 be questioned that the principal individual 
 concerned would have paid far more, for 
 "what will not a man give in exchange for 
 his life?" 
 
 It remained to decide upon the method of 
 carrying out the agreement, and again the 
 
296 THE GREAT CATTLE TRAIL. 
 
 wily Wygwind displayed his shrewdness. 
 When the Texan referred in his offhand 
 manner to himself and friends as bringing for- 
 ward the animals to be passed to these two 
 representatives, the Comanche replied that no 
 one but Gleeson himself must act in the trans- 
 action. His appearance on the crest of the 
 ridge, with the string of horses, would be the 
 signal for Wygwind and Bichita to bring for- 
 ward Captain Shirril and to release him simul- 
 taneously with the driving forward of the 
 animals. The exchange, therefore, could be 
 effected without either party gaining the 
 upper hand. 
 
 It was thus the Comanche stated the situa- 
 tion, and on the face of it, everything 
 appeared equitable, but it was hard for the 
 Texan to repress his chagrin, for he saw that 
 every possible advantage remained with the 
 red men. They would group themselves 
 among the hills, so near that not only the 
 prisoner, but Gleeson himself would be within 
 range of their rifles, until the last act of the 
 drama should be completed. There was no 
 chance for any dash on the part of the cow- 
 
DEIVEN TO THE WALL. 297 
 
 boys, by which they could secure their leader 
 and save their property. Had the Texan 
 been allowed to bring his party with him, 
 such an attempt would have followed with a 
 fair prospect of success. 
 
 But he had learned long before to accept 
 the ills of life with grim philosophy, and he 
 did not permit the diplomats to observe any 
 evidence of his resentment at being over- 
 reached by them. While he was convinced 
 that they would neglect no opportunity to 
 break faith, he acted as if there was not a 
 doubt in his mind. 
 
 The agreement required him to return to 
 camp to secure the animals, and he intimated 
 that considerable time must elapse before the 
 exchange could be effected. Wygwind as- 
 sured him he would be on the watch for his 
 appearance, and, whatever delay took place 
 should not be chargeable to Mm. With this 
 understanding, the Texan wheeled and gal- 
 loped toward the ridge, beyond which he 
 knew his comrades were awaiting his return 
 and report. 
 
 It was received as he expected ; that is to 
 
298 THE GREAT CATTLE TRAIL. 
 
 say, the views of his friends were almost as 
 numerous as themselves. Ward, Burrell, and 
 Andy Wynwood, the cowboys from Arkansas, 
 declared that there was but one thing to do, 
 and that was to accept the terms offered. 
 Gleeson was quite certain the Comanches 
 would fulfil their part in spirit and letter, 
 for they could not fail to know that any at- 
 tempted trickery on their part would be 
 followed by an attack so instant and fierce 
 that they must suffer severely, even with the 
 hill to serve them for refuge. 
 
 Zach Collis took the opposite view, main- 
 taining that the only result of the plan would 
 be that the Comanches would secure twenty 
 valuable ponies without benefiting Captain 
 Shirril in the least. They were so villainous 
 by nature that they would shoot him down, 
 after he had left their lines, and more than 
 likely would bring Gleeson himself from the 
 saddle. The New Mexican favored a pre- 
 tended compliance with the proposition. He 
 wished all to ride to the ridge with the horses, 
 where they would halt, while the Texan went 
 forward with them. This would not violate 
 
DRIVEN TO THE WALL. 299 
 
 the conditions imposed by Wygwind, and 
 they could watch proceedings from the eleva- 
 tion. At the proper moment, when Gleeson 
 saw the captain was out of range, he could 
 give the signal and the company on the ridge 
 would spur forward at headlong speed, with 
 the certain result of making matters lively 
 for a time. 
 
 Joseph George Garland advocated a fair 
 exchange through and through. He insisted 
 what no one could dispute, that the red men 
 had secured the upper hand, and it was for- 
 tunate that they were willing to restore the 
 captain on any terms. If they complied with 
 their pledge, honor required the whites to be 
 equally scrupulous in fulfilling their agree- 
 ment. When their leader rejoined them, the 
 twenty horses became the rightful property of 
 the Comanches, though he was willing to 
 admit they were subject to reprisal. 
 
 Antonio Nunez shrugged his shoulders and 
 said he was willing to do whatever the others 
 decided upon. He had no proposition of his 
 own to make. 
 
 "Where's Baby?" asked Gleeson, looking 
 
300 THE GREAT CATTLE TEAIL. 
 
 around with surprise, having missed him for 
 the first time. " I would like to know what 
 he thinks, since every pard has his own 
 views." % 
 
 The enquiry developed the fact that Avon 
 Burnet had not returned to camp since his 
 departure with Captain Shirril and Shackaye. 
 Had the others not been so busily occupied, 
 immediately after their own return, in looking 
 after the cattle, they would have noticed that 
 he remained seated on his horse for some 
 minutes on the crest of the ridge. 
 
 "I know," said the Texan, after studying 
 the "lay of the land" for some minutes. 
 u He has ridden along the ridge on this side 
 and got among the hills back of where I was 
 talking with Wygwind." 
 
 "What '11 be the result of that?" asked 
 Hauser Files, who had not yet expressed his 
 views of the situation. 
 
 "It will play the mischief with every- 
 thing," was the truthful reply of the Texan, 
 who added excitedly: "There he comes now 
 as if old Nick was after him ! " 
 
CHAPTER XXXIV. 
 
 THE FLANK MOVEMENT. 
 
 IT was singular that the youngest member 
 of the cattlemen should make an impor- 
 tant discovery, which not only escaped them, 
 but, as subsequent events proved, was not 
 noticed, or at least did not receive due atten- 
 tion from the Comanches themselves. 
 
 Avon Burnet, from his place on the crest 
 of elevation, was watching the interview be- 
 tween Gleeson and the two red men, when he 
 awoke to the fact that the ridge joined and 
 formed a part of the hills among which the 
 Comanches had taken refuge. That is to say, 
 one had only to follow the former to reach the 
 broken swell containing the warriors and 
 their prisoner. 
 
 If such a ride were made along the right 
 slope, the person must be in plain sight of 
 the Indians ; if along the crest, he would be 
 visible to those on the right and left, and, if 
 
 801 
 
302 THE GREAT CATTLE TKAIL. 
 
 along the left slope, the cowboys could see 
 him while he would not be perceived by the 
 red men themselves, unless they were on the 
 watch. 
 
 These facts were apparent to Avon at the 
 first sweeping glance he cast to the eastward. 
 He wondered that they escaped the notice of 
 his friends, but this was probably due to their 
 attention being diverted for the time by the 
 cattle, and because, too, of their disposition 
 to wait the report of Gleeson before deciding 
 upon their course of action. 
 
 The thought instantly came to Avon that 
 if the cowboys would make a sudden break 
 along the base of the slope to the left, they 
 could reach the rear of the Comanches, always 
 provided the latter had taken no precautions 
 against such a flank movement. The plan of 
 campaign was so inviting that he could hardly 
 believe it had been overlooked by the red 
 men. At any rate, before urging his friends 
 to adopt it, he decided to make a little inves- 
 tigation on his own account, especially as he 
 believed sufficient time was at command. 
 
 Riding, therefore, to the bottom of the slope, 
 
THE FLANK MOVEMENT. 303 
 
 he spurred Thunderbolt to a sharp gait, and 
 quickly covered the intervening space, which 
 was hardly a fourth of a mile. His mustang 
 showed no ill effects from the slight wounds 
 received during the sharp scrimmage some 
 time before. 
 
 Avon was well aware of the risk he ran, for, 
 if the Comanches were maintaining guard, 
 they could readily pick him off before he could 
 withdraw or adopt the least precaution, but he 
 did not hesitate. When the ground became 
 more broken, he urged his pony a short way 
 among the hills, and then dismounted. He 
 did this, because he wished to hold his line of 
 retreat open. The way behind him was clear, 
 whereas, if he took his horse further, the 
 course would become so obstructed that he 
 could not mount and dash out upon the plain 
 if it became necessary. 
 
 He expected to make a long and tedious 
 search, with the probable result of failure, so 
 far as helping his relative was concerned, 
 and with the certainty of great danger to him- 
 self, but events moved along with a rush, be- 
 fore he could anticipate them. 
 
304 THE GREAT CATTLE TRAIL. 
 
 Convinced that he was to the rear of the 
 main party, he advanced with the utmost care. 
 The hills were no more than a hundred feet 
 high at their greatest elevation, and were 
 broken by gullies, ravines, and trails that 
 appeared to have been partly made by the 
 feet of animals, greatly helped by the wash- 
 ing of the severe storms which often sweep 
 over that section. 
 
 The youth had penetrated barely a hun- 
 dred yards from the point where he left his 
 mustang, and was picking his way cautiously 
 forward, when he was startled by hearing 
 voices. The words were too low for him to 
 distinguish them, but he instantly stopped 
 with his Winchester ready for use. A col- 
 lision seemed unavoidable, since there was no 
 means of concealing himself except by turn- 
 ing about and running back, and that could 
 hardly avail him. 
 
 The next minute he was face to face with 
 Shackaye, the young Comanche that was the 
 cause of all the trouble. The fellow was as 
 much startled as he, and stopping short, partly 
 raised his gun, as if to defend himself. 
 
THE FLANK MOVEMENT. 305 
 
 Before, however, either could speak or make 
 any movements, Avon was astounded to catch 
 sight of his uncle, Captain Shirril, walking 
 slowly and evidently in pain, close behind him 
 along the narrow path. The instant he de- 
 scried his nephew, he raised his hand as a 
 signal for him to do nothing. 
 
 "It's all right," he said, in a guarded 
 voice; "Shackaye is our friend, though he 
 hasn't been until now." 
 
 " How is this ? " asked the youth, motionless 
 and undecided whether to advance or retreat. 
 
 The broad face of the dusky youth expanded 
 with a slight grin, and he replied : 
 
 " Shackaye fall on ground Baby shoot steer 
 Shackaye tell warriors Baby dead leaving 
 him alone bringing way captain den Shack- 
 aye show captain way home must hurry 
 Comanche come ! " 
 
 "Have you a horse with you?" asked Cap- 
 tain Shirril, crowding forward, impatient to 
 improve the precious moments. 
 
 "Yes; follow me." 
 
 The prisoner had been deprived of all his 
 weapons, and was suffering from the severe 
 20 
 
306 THE GREAT CATTLE TRAIL. 
 
 hurts received, but lie roused himself and 
 moved forward at a brisk walk, Avon taking 
 the lead, with the young Indian close behind 
 him and the captain at his heels. 
 
 Yery few minutes were required to pass over 
 the intervening space, but while doing so 
 Captain Shirril made clear several facts which 
 needed explanation. To these may be added 
 others that came to light afterward. 
 
 As has been intimated elsewhere, the sus- 
 picions of Gleeson regarding Shackaye were 
 correct. He had joined the cattlemen for the 
 purpose of helping Wygwind and his band to 
 despoil them. He was unable to do this at 
 the time the cabin was attacked, and therefore 
 kept in the background until the present 
 opportunity presented itself. The intention 
 of the Comanches, as first formed, was to 
 stampede the animals on some favorable 
 night, and thus secure possession of a large 
 number; but there was great risk in the 
 attempt, since the cowboys were watchful, 
 and the cattle being branded, it would have 
 been almost impossible for the thieves to dis- 
 pose of them, even if able to run them beyond 
 
THE FLANK MOVEMENT. 307 
 
 reach of their owners. The Great Cattle Trail 
 is about a hundred yards in width, with 
 smaller paths weaving in and out along the 
 edges, all so distinctly marked that no one can 
 go astray, unless the path is temporarily oblit- 
 erated by snow. The diversion of a consider- 
 able number of cattle would leave footprints 
 that could be readily followed, and Captain 
 Dohm Shirril was not the man to submit to 
 such despoilment, so long as there remained 
 the possibility of preventing it. 
 
 The Comanches, however, in the vicinity of 
 the herd kept track of all its movements. 
 The cunning Shackaye succeeded in holding 
 occasional communication with them, and 
 learned of their change of plan. It was 
 decided to make the captain prisoner on the 
 first opportunity, and hold him for ransom. 
 
 Since it was his practice to take his nephew 
 with him on almost every excursion he made 
 from camp, Shackaye conceived it necessary to 
 the success of the plot that Avon should be 
 put out of the way. It has been shown that 
 he made the attempt on the preceding night 
 and came within a hair of success. It was 
 
308 THE GREAT CATTLE TRAIL. 
 
 characteristic of his race that the atrocious 
 crime was undertaken by him as a matter of 
 course. 
 
 The very chance for which Wygwind and 
 his band were waiting came that morning 
 when Captain Shirril, his nephew, and Shack- 
 aye set out to hunt the estray cattle. While 
 Avon was engaged in conquering the trouble- 
 some steer, with the captain attentively watch- 
 ing him, Shackaye remounted his horse, from 
 which he had been thrown, and made all haste 
 to the hills. 
 
 Wygwind and his warriors were ready, and 
 indeed met him on his way thither. He took 
 no part in the fight, but watched it from his 
 refuge. When the last desperate struggle 
 took place he spurred forward and joined the 
 assailants. 
 
 The intention of the Comanches had been to 
 shoot down Avon, but to spare his uncle, and 
 it was curious that the very opposite result 
 was effected. It was impossible that Captain 
 Shirril should escape in the melee, though his 
 foes meant only to shoot down the horses and 
 slay his companion. 
 
THE FLANK MOVEMENT. 309 
 
 Shackaye arrived at the critical moment, 
 when the helpless leader was being lifted upon 
 the horse of Wygwind in front of him, and 
 Avon lay senseless beneath the body of the 
 mustang. The fact that Thunderbolt was still 
 lying on the ground bleeding from his two 
 flesh wounds led to the belief that he was mor- 
 tally hurt, and no effort, therefore, was made 
 to take him away. 
 
 Despite the savage nature of Shackaye, a 
 feeling of gratitude had been roused within 
 him by the act of Avon in saving him from the 
 enraged steer. Whether the white youth was 
 already dead or not he did not know, but he 
 interposed a vigorous plea that no further 
 harm should be done him. He had performed 
 his own part so well that his prayers had some 
 effect, while the necessity for urgent haste in 
 leaving before the arrival of the cowboys, who 
 were coining over the ridge, led to the flight 
 of the whole party of Comanches without 
 harming a hair of his head. 
 
 It will be readily understood that none of 
 the warriors could hold any suspicion of 
 Shackaye' s loyalty toward them and their in- 
 
310 THE GREAT CATTLE TRAIL. 
 
 terests. When, therefore, the time came for 
 the opening of the negotiations with the cow- 
 boys, the wounded and unarmed captain was 
 left in charge of Shackaye, while the others 
 went forward and maintained their places 
 within reach of Wygwind and Eichita, during 
 their interview with Gleeson. This was simply 
 prudence on their part, since they knew there 
 was the best reason for believing the whites 
 would instantly seize any advantage offered 
 them. 
 
 Captain Shirril now did an exceedingly clever 
 thing. He saw it was useless to appeal to 
 Shackaye' s kindly feelings toward himself, 
 but he had noticed his vigorous efforts to save 
 his nephew from harm, when he lay senseless 
 under the body of the mustang. He saw that, 
 despite the villainous nature of the youth, he 
 entertained a strong regard for Avon, and upon 
 that regard he wrought, by representing the 
 sorrow that would come to him, if his uncle 
 suffered further. He knew his heart would be 
 broken and he could never, never recover from 
 his woe. 
 
 To Shackaye' s reply that the chief Wyg- 
 
THE FLANK MOVEMENT. 311 
 
 wind meant to allow the friends of the prisoner 
 to buy him back, Captain Shirril dwelt upon 
 the impossibility of such a thing. He pressed 
 his view of the case with such vigor that 
 Shackaye, influenced alone by his gratitude 
 to Avon, agreed to conduct the captain out 
 of the hills, where he could make his way to 
 camp undetected, provided the interview be- 
 tween Wygwind and the Texan was not 
 ended in time for the Comanches to discover 
 what had been done. 
 
 It need not be said that Captain Shirril 
 seized the opportunity thus offered, and 
 began limping forward, behind his guide, who 
 encountered Avon Burnet a few minutes later. 
 
 The expectation was that Shackaye would 
 return to camp with his two friends, since he 
 would be assured of good treatment despite 
 his former unfaithfulness, and especially since 
 it was unsafe for him to remain among those 
 to whom he could never justify his course of 
 action. But after the captain was assisted on 
 the back of Thunderbolt, and his nephew took 
 his place, so as to help him in keeping his seat, 
 the young Comanche obstinately refused. 
 
312 THE GREAT CATTLE TRAIL. 
 
 They tarried to urge him to save his life by 
 such a course, but he ended the argument by 
 abruptly turning about and hurrying along 
 the path, where he speedily vanished. 
 
 "There's no use of waiting," said the cap- 
 tain, starting Thunderbolt forward; " I can't 
 understand his obduracy." 
 
 "He must be afraid of our men." 
 
 "But he knows the danger is a thousand- 
 fold greater among his own people hark!" 
 
 The sharp report of a rifle rang among the 
 hills behind them, accompanied by a wild cry 
 of mortal pain. 
 
 "He has paid with his life for his friend- 
 ship!" whispered the captain, instantly 
 spurring up Thunderbolt to a dead run. 
 
 Such was the truth. Shackaye could offer 
 no excuse for what he had done, nor did he 
 attempt to do so. His act was discovered 
 sooner than he anticipated, and he died at the 
 hands of the infuriated chieftain Wygwind, 
 before those whom he had saved were beyond 
 reach of the sound which told of the comple- 
 tion of the tragedy. 
 
 The Comanches attempted pursuit, but the 
 
THE FLANK MOVEMENT. 313 
 
 start obtained by the fugitives, brief as it was, 
 sufficed, and they had not ridden far when 
 they met the whole band of cowboys gallop- 
 ing to their defence. Gleeson and his com- 
 rades would have been glad had the red men 
 ventured out upon the plain beyond the 
 shelter of the hills, but Wygwind and his 
 warriors were too wise to do so. 
 
 THE END. 
 
 No. 2 of the Forest and Prairie Series will be " The Patb 
 in the Ravine." 
 
THE JOHN C. WINSTON CO/S POPULAR JUVENILES. 
 
 J. T. TROWBRIDGE. 
 
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THE JOHN C. WINSTON CO/S POPULAR JUVENILES. 
 
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