The Lost Treasure Cave " Before the gamblers had ridden twenty rods the cowboys were upon them, yelling like fiends and lashing them unmercifully over their backs." frotmSt THE * LOST TREASURE CAVE OR ADVENTURES WITH THE COWBOYS OF COLORADO BY EVERETT M'NEIL Author of "Chums in the Far West," "Dickon Bend-the-Bow," Etc. WITH EIGHT ILLUSTRATIONS BY W. M. Gary NEW YORK E. P. BUTTON & COMPANY 681 FIFTH AVENUE Copyright, 1905 By E. P. Dutton & Company All Rights Reserved First printing, September, 1905 Second printing, October, 1923 PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 5144683 TO MY YOUNG FRIEND WILLIAM HILL MICHALES, JR. AND TO ALL THE OTHER YOUNG FRIENDS WHO HAVE SHOWN SO KINDLY AN INTEREST IN THE ADVENTURES OF DICK AND HARRY, I AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATE THIS BOOK CONTENTS CHAPTER AGI I. BILL BURKE i II. THE COUNCIL 13 III. COWBOY WELCOME ..... 20 IV. THE GAMBLERS 30 V. A FRIENDLY WARNING .... 40 VI. THIRD PASS 50 VII. THE SURRENDER 56 VIII. "HEAP BIG BLACK MEDICINE" . . 64 IX. AN UNEXPECTED DISPLAY OF FIREWORKS 72 X. THE ESCAPE 83 XI. LONE HILL RANCH .... 93 XII. THE PACK-MULE TRAIN . . . 103 XIII. BLACK JUAN RIDES TO EL MORO . . 124 XIV. COWBOY JIM'S CANNON .... 137 XV. BILL BURKE AND THE BUCKING BULL . 148 XVI. THE GREAT RACE 157 XVII. STEER-TYING 170 XVIII. AN EXCITING BUFFALO HUNT . . 193 XIX. ACROSS THE DEVIL'S BACKBONE . .211 B vi Contents CHAPTER FAGB XX. BLACK JUAN KEEPS HIS PROMISE . . 229 XXI. SCAR-FACE 241 XXII. ON THE TRAIL OF THE ABDUCTORS . 256 XXIII. GOLD OR LORETTA ? 275 XXIV. CAPTAIN KENT'S PLAN . . .285 XXV. THE LADDER OF ROPES . . . . 298 XXVI. ALMOST A HANGING . . . .310 XXVII. KID DALTON 321 XXVIII. IN THE CHAMBER OF THE DEAD KINGS . 330 XXIX. THE YOLK OF THE GOLDEN EGG . . 344 ILLUSTRATIONS %V PAGB * Before the gamblers had ridden twenty rods the cowboys were upon them, yelling like fiends and lashing them unmercifully over their backs " (see p. 38) . . . Frontispiece " Suddenly the negro bent almost double, and, with a leap so quick the eye could hardly follow the movement, his head struck Dick squarely in the stomach " . . . . . .10 " In another moment the air was filled with flash- ing blades of light, leaping in every direction and of every conceivable color " . . .80 " The rider halted for an instant, apparently to get a better view of the occupants of the wagon " 92 " Cowboy Jim jumped from his saddle the instant the noose settled around the horns and a quick jerk had thrown the rope to the right of the steer" 190 "Slowly the buffalo bull gained on Bonnie Bess, despite Loretta's utmost urgings, gained until the long hair of the pony's tail touched the great shaggy head, and it seemed as if Lo- retta were doomed " 208 viii Illustrations PACB "Bill Burke lowered his head, clapped both hands under his chin for support, and, putting forth every ounce of strength in his muscular legs and back, shot forward to meet the bear " . 287 " Scar-face, insane with fear, plunged headlong out of the cave, and came whirling down through the air " 309 The Lost Treasure Cave. CHAPTER I BILL BURKE '"THE Captain Kent Club-House was situ- * ated on the broad shoulders of a high hill, whose front sloped gradually down to the banks of the Yahara River, and whose back supported the large level park, where were located the baseball and football grounds, the tennis courts, etc., for the young people of Yahara. The building itself was a large, three- storied, imposing structure, solidly built of stone and brick, with a great arched doorway in front, flanked by two tall stone towers, and approached by a broad flight of seventeen granite steps. A large library, gymnasium, lecture-room, museum, bathrooms, and various club-rooms and offices, all properly equipped and furnished, occupied the interior of the building. 2 The Lost Treasure Cave Some sixty feet back and a little to the right of the club-house was the Yahara Men- agerie, where twoyoung grizzly bears reigned as king and queen over all the other animals col- lected there. On a bronze tablet, which hung just above the gate that gave entrance through the strong iron fence that surrounded the home of the grizzly bears, were cut these words : DUNDER AND BLITZEN GRIZZLY BEARS ( Ursus Horribilis ) CAPTURED IN THE CULEBRA MOUNTAINS OF COLO- RADO AND PRESENTED TO THE YAHARA MENAGERIE BY HARRY J. ASHTON AND RICHARD A. ORSON. On each side of the bears' cage were a num- ber of smaller cages and enclosures, wherein were confined specimens of nearly all the wild animals found in Wisconsin, such as deer, bears, wolves, foxes, wildcats, lynxes, badgers, skunks, woodchucks, and the smaller ani- mals, together with a cage of monkeys and a few other more rare beasts brought from distant parts of the world. All these various animals were properly caged and protected from the cold of winter and the heat of summer. Bill Burke 3 The grounds belonging to the Captain Kent Club- House consisted of forty acres of land, a part of which, covered with great oak trees, lay along the hills that crowned the west bank of the river, and would make a most delightful pleasure-park for the young and the old of Ya- hara during the hot summer months. All this, the buildings and the grounds, had been deeded, inperpetuum, by its young donors, Richard A. Orson and Harry J. Ashton, in honor of their friend Captain David Kent, to the pleasures and the uses of the children, young and old, who lived or who should come to live in Yahara ; and along with the deed had gone an endowment amply sufficient to take proper care of the buildings and the grounds. At the time our story introduces Dick and Harry to its readers, the great day, when the club-house and its grounds had been presented to the people of Yahara and dedicated to their perpetual use and pleasure, had been passed by a week of time ; and yet the bosoms of our young friends still glowed with the warmth of the reception that had been tendered them by their delighted townspeople, who, quite natu- rally, thought Dick and Harry the two most generous and noble-hearted boys in all the world. Altogether the gift had been a most 4 The Lost Treasure Cave delightful bit of philanthropy; and Dick and Harry were justly very happy and pleased over the successful outcome of their plans for the betterment of the surroundings of their friends and neighbors for in Yahara all were friends and neighbors. The two boys were approaching the broad flight of stone steps that led up to the arched doorway of the club-house ; and both were talk- ing very earnestly and a little excitedly. " Now," and Harry stopped and rested a hand on the head of one of the stone lions that crouched at the foot of the granite stair- way, " my letter from Captain Kent said that he would reach Abel Johnson's ranch on the first day of July; and advised us, if possible, to meet him there at that time. He wrote that he would attend to the securing of all the supplies needed for the exploration of the treasure cave ; and requested us to concern ourselves only about the few little things that we wished for our personal use. He said that the past winter had been one of the severest ever known in Colorado, and that an enormous amount of snow had fallen on the mountains ; and, consequently, the spring would be cold and backward, but that the mountains should be sufficiently cleared of snow by July to make Bill Burke 5 it possible for us to explore Blind Canyon. He wrote as if he were just a little uneasy about the Indians. It seems that they have been causing quite a lot of trouble a hundred miles or so to the north, and he feared that the severe winter would force them south in search of game. Now, to-morrow will be the last day of May, and we have got to come to a de- cision soon, Dick. What do you say to our starting about the fifteenth day of June? That ought to get us on Abel Johnson's ranch a day or two before Captain Kent arrives, and then we would be there to help the rest give him a jolly welcome." Dick's face reddened a little and he looked down at his feet. " I I got a letter from Loretta this morning," he said, " and she especially wanted us to be there by the Fourth of July, and help them celebrate. I fancy Abel Johnson and his cowboys are going to have a big blowout, one that will make the American eagle fairly scream, and I want to be there to hear and see the fun. Yes, I think the fifteenth will be about the right date for us to start. Let me see that will be the first Monday after the close of school. Let 's talk it over with our folks to-night and to-morrow we '11 decide. Loretta wrote that o 6 The Lost Treasure Cave she always reads our letters to Bonny Bess, and that the pony nodded her head and neighed joyfully when she read the part in our last letter that said we would soon be there. My, I should like to see Bonny Bess and Sambo ! " 44 And what about ' Bonny ' Loretta ? " Harry broke in quizzingly. " Of course I want to see her, too," Dick answered, his face flushing a deeper red. " But a girl is different from a horse, and " Harry's laugh interrupted him. " Oh, bother- ation ! You know what I mean ! Come on. We 're already late for the gymnasium," and Dick hurried up the steps. There were about thirty boys in the gym- nasium, and all gave a great shout just as Dick and Harry entered the room, while cries of, "Hurrah for Bill Burke!" "Good Bill Burke ! " " Brave Bill Burke, the Black Cham- pion of Yahara ! " came from the mouths of various excited boys who were crowding around a giant negro boy who stood near the centre of the room. He was not over seven- teen years old, but already he was larger in frame and stronger in muscle than the major- ity of men. Indeed, his feats of strength had long been the pride and wonder of all the Bill Burke 7 boys in Yahara, but never before to-night had they been able to get him to put on the boxing- gloves. Now he was evidently a champion ; for, as Dick and Harry pushed their way through the surrounding crowd of boys, they saw his opponent take off his gloves and throw them down in front of the negro, amid the shouts and laughter of his companions ; and the boy who had thus acknowledged his de- feat was one of the best boxers in the Yahara Athletic Club the best, except Dick. "It is up to you, Dick!" one of the boys shouted. " You 're the only champion we Ve got left. All the others have gone down to defeat before the Black Catapult. For the honor of your race and the glory of your name, wilt enter the list against Bill Burke?" In a moment Dick found himself in the centre of a jam of excited boys, all laughingly urging him to do battle with the negro. Dick needed but little persuading. He was always ready for a good time ; and it was evident from the faces and actions of the boys around him that they had been having glorious sport. Besides, Dick had confidence in his boxing prowess. He believed that he could easily defeat Bill Burke, notwithstanding his superior strength and size, and he wanted to show the boys how quickly 8 The Lost Treasure Cave he would prove himself the master of the negro. There was no color line in Yahara ; or, if there was, no one knew it, for Bill Burke was the only negro in town, and he was such a jolly, good-natured, humorous fellow that every man and boy in Yahara liked him. "All right," Dick answered. "Just wait un- til I get into my gymnasium clothes. " Hello, Bill Burke," and he turned laughingly to the negro boy, " trying for the championship belt, are you ? Well, if you don't mind, I '11 give you a tussle for it." Bill Burke shook his woolly head, and rolled the whites of his eyes, and grinned. " Better not, boss," he answered. " I 's great on head, work." The wild shout of laughter with which the boys received this sally should have warned Dick that there was, perhaps, something un- usual in the negro's method of boxing ; but he was already on the way to his locker and did did not clearly understand the words of Bill Burke's reply. In five minutes Dick was ready for the con- test ; and a finer specimen of white young manhood it would have been difficult to find anywhere. Tall, broad-shouldered, deep- chested, and narrow-hipped, with well-muscled Bill Burke 9 arms and legs and back, Dick stood, regarding the negro boy with laughing, yet cautious eyes. Bill Burke was at least two inches taller than Dick, and his shoulders were much broader, and great muscles covered his arms and back and chest and legs ; and Dick well knew that if one of the gloves, driven by those strong muscles, hit him the contest was likely to end then and there. But he did not intend to get hit. In fact, he had planned to do all the hitting himself. The two boys touched gloves, stepped back, and then the physical director himself gave the word for the contest to begin. There was no laughing in the room now ; every boy all but held his breath, and an in- tent look was on each face, as if something was going to happen, and each boy wanted to see it with both eyes when it did happen. From the first Dick was the aggressor. With lithe, quick leaps and swift bendings of his supple form he easily avoided the blows of the negro, while almost every second his own glove struck with a resounding whack on the skull of Bill Burke. At every blow he received Bill Burke would shake his head and wink furiously, much to the delight of the onlookers ; and then, shutting both eyes and whirling his io The Lost Treasure Cave gloves around like the fans of a windmill, he would make a blind rush at Dick, only to get another blow or two, as Dick quickly side- stepped. At the end of the first round Bill Burke had not scored a point. All the honors were with Dick, but that was all. The negro's head showed not a mark of any kind, and he appeared even less tired than Dick, who was beginning to breathe just a little heavily. The second round was begun more cau- tiously. The negro made no more blind rushes, and his round black eyes never once left Dick's face, except when he saw a blow coming ; then, without making even an effort to ward it off, he would give his head a quick little duck and catch the glove on the top of his skull, seem- ingly with as little effect as if a pillow had struck him, though Dick was an exceptionally hard hitter. All at once the most comical wrinkles spread swiftly all over his face evi- dently he was thinking very hard and the boys saw his form, as he shifted about on his feet, crouching lower and lower. Suddenly, with the agility and sureness that could only have come from long practice, he clapped both hands under his chin, bent almost double, and, with a leap so quick that the eye could hardly follow the movement, his head struck Dick Suddenly the negro bent almost double, and, with a leap so quick the eye could hardly follow the movement, his head struck Dick squarely in the stomach." PAGE 10. Bill Burke n squarely in the stomach, doubled him up like a half-shut jack-knife, and landed him on his back, with hardly enough breath left in his body to start his lungs to going again. Bill Burke straightened up, shook his woolly head, and, looking at Dick regretfully, remarked solemnly : " Yo' hab no business foolin' wid dis niggah, boss Dick. I done told yo' I 's great on headwork." "Hurrah for Bill Burke!" "Brave Bill Burke ! " " The Champion Black Catapult of Yahara ! " shouted the boys, as laughing and pushing and pulling they crowded around the negro and Dick, some congratulating Bill Burke and patting him on the shoulders, while others consoled Dick, even offering to get their bicycle pumps and fill him up with wind again. At first Dick was inclined to be angry ; but a sight of the negro's face, and the thought of how exceedingly comical the whole proceed- ing must have looked, was too much for his anger, and he joined in the laughter as heartily as any one the moment he got back his breath. Harry was among the first to console Dick ; and, as he helped him to his feet, he whispered in his ear : " Come up to the reading-room as soon as you can, Dick. I Ve got a bully idea, 12 The Lost Treasure Cave and I want to tell you all about it. I am sure you will think it great. Hurry up I " Ten minutes later Dick entered the read- ing-room. A glance showed him Harry sitting by himself in a distant corner. Dick at once hurried to his side. "Well, what is it ? " he asked, as he sat down in a chair. " Let 's take Bill Burke with us ! " For an instant Dick stared into the face of Harry. Then he jumped to his feet and gave him a thump on the back that could be heard all over the reading-room. " Great Christo- pher Colombo ! I wonder why I did not think of that myself ! He '11 be worth his weight in gold. He can cook, and has camped out a lot in the South, and knows how to take care of horses, and he 's such jolly fun. 'T will be as good as a circus to have him with us. I '11 go and get him," and away Dick went on the run after Bill Burke. CHAPTER II THE COUNCIL ONE day, some six months before the open- ing of this story, a great, overgrown negro boy had stepped from the cars to the Yahara station platform, and, after staring wonderingly about him for a few minutes, had started up Main Street. This was Bill Burke. He stopped at the first livery stable he came to, and asked for work, and got the work ; and there he had been ever since. The skin on Bill Burke's face was, apparently, made out of India rubber ; and when he talked, or laughed, or got excited, funny little kinks and wrinkles chased one another all around the corners of his mouth and eyes and up and down his cheeks and forehead, and gave such a never- ending variety of comical expressions to his face that it was as good as paying a dollar to go and see a face-comedian to sit and watch him. In a very short time he had made friends with all the boys in town, and with their fathers /4 The Lost Treasure Cave and mothers, too, for that matter ; for Bill Burke's good-natured, humorous face and queer laughable ways brought him a hearty welcome wherever he went, while he had none of those vicious habits with which members of his race are usually cursed, to turn parents against him. With all his good nature, Bill Burke had a temper and a mind of his <^wn, as some of the rougher boys in town found out to their cost when they started in one night to make sport of him. After that one experience with the strength of his muscles and the hardness of his head and fists the sports let him alone. He had come from "down G'orgy way," and had stopped at Yahara because that was as far " no'th " as his money would take him. When Dick came back, some ten minutes later, he had Bill Burke with him ; and the negro had a grin on his face that threatened to engulf his entire head, while his eyes were rolling about in their sockets like white marbles. " Come in here, where we can be all by our- selves," Harry said, and led the way into a pretty little parlor, reserved for the private use of members of the Yahara Boys' Club. " Now," Harry began, after the three boys had seated themselves, addressing himself to The Council 15 Bill Burke, " of course you know, as everybody in town knows, that Dick and I are going out to Colorado this summer to spend our vacation on Abel Johnson's ranch, and to hunt deer and bear and buffalo on the neighboring plains and in the near-by mountains. At least this is supposed to be the purpose of our journey. But " Here Harry paused and looked Bill Burke straight in the eye. " Can you keep a secret, Bill Burke ? " he asked. Bill Burke's face took on a look of preter- natural solemnity, while his eyes rolled from the face of one boy to the face of the other, inquiringly. " 'Deed I can, boss," he answered. " I nebber knowed a secret to done get away from dis har chile. I 's " "All right," Harry broke in. "Now re- member you are to tell no one what I am about to tell you." "Yes, boss." Bill Burke had the habit of calling every white person, young or old, of the male gender " boss." " I '11 nebber done tell nobody." " When Dick and I were out West last sum- mer," Harry continued, "we found a cave in the mountains stored with a vast treasure of gold and silver and precious jewels, the treas- ure-chamber of kings dead these thousands of 1 6 The Lost Treasure Cave years ; but we could take only a few jewels with us, because the Indians were after us and we were glad enough to get away with our lives. Now, we are going back this summer to find this cave and get the treasure ; and Dick and I want you to go with us. Will you go ?" Bill Burke stared for a moment blankly at Harry, while the black skin on his face twisted it- self into the most comical expression of pleased astonishment. " Lo'd, I 's jes' been dyin' to go wid yo' ! " he exclaimed, " ebber since I knowed yo'wasgoin'! 'Deed I'll go! 'Deed I will!" " But," Harry explained, " it won't be all fun. You '11 have to work cook and take care of horses, and that sort of thing and maybe fight Indians and get killed." " And have the top of your head skinned," Dick broke in warningly, " or the hide all burnt off your body, or get your neck broke by a bucking bronco, or your face all chawed up by a grizzly bear. 'T won't be no holiday excur- sion, Bill Burke, but there '11 be plenty of ex- citement and fun ; and we '11 take you with us, if you want to go, now that you know just what sort of a thing we are going into ; but we won't guarantee to deliver you safe and sound back here in Yahara next fall. Think twice before you speak, Bill Burke." The Council 17 " 'Deed I hab thinked sebben times sebben, an' ebbery think I want to go sebben times worser," replied the negro. " Dis niggah don't care nuffin' fo' Indians. I 'spise 'em. An' if a grizzly bear done cotch me, I 's goin' to teach Massah Bear to be 'spectful to dis har niggah, or I '11 lam my head into his ribs an' knock de bre'f out ob his body. 'Deed I '11 go, Massah Dick an' Harry ; an' I 's much obligated to yo'. 'Deed I is," and he bowed profoundly to the boys, while his black face fairly shone with the pleasure their unexpected offer had brought him. For nearly an hour after this the three boys sat close together, talking in low, excited voices ; and, when they separated for the night, it was definitely determined that Bill Burke should accompany them on their journey to the Colo- rado mountains. It was also decided that the start for the West should be made on the fif- teenth day of June, which would be the first Monday after the close of the city schools, the boys feeling sure of being able to secure their parents' consent to that date for the day of their departure. ' The summer before the beginning of this story, Richard A. Orson and Harry J. Ashton Dick and Harry, as their friends all called them had gone on a hunting trip to the far 1 8 The Lost Treasure Cave West, under the charge of Captain David Kent, a famous hunter, scout, and Indian fighter ; and, while in the mountains of Colo- rado, had found a cave containing an enormous treasure of gold and silver and precious jewels, but, on account of trouble with the Indians, they had been unable to take any of the treasure with them, except two vases filled with precious jewels.* It was then planned that Dick and Harry should meet Captain Kent at the ranch of Abel Johnson the next summer; and that from here an expedition under his command should start out in search of the treasure cave. Dick and Harry had wisely said nothing about this treasure, nor the real purpose of their second journey, only telling their friends that they were going West to hunt with Cap- tain Kent ; for adventurers and desperadoes would have hurried thither from the four quar- ters of the globe had it become known that such a vast treasure was hidden away among the mountains of Colorado. * A full account of the adventures of Dick and Harry during this hunting trip their capture by the Indians, strange rescue by the giant hermit, his marvellous rifle, the great hollow tree, the finding of the treasure cave, the weird journey through the bowels of the earth is given in Chums in the Far West, the first book of this series. The Council 19 This will explain why the two boys were so careful to impress upon Bill Burke the need of secrecy they were too honest to allow him to go ignorant of the perils and hardships that would beset such an undertaking and will give our readers to understand that this pres- ent venture of Dick and Harry is to be some- thing more than a deer or bear hunt in the mountains of Colorado. CHAPTER III COWBOY WELCOME SOME three weeks after the happening of the events narrated in the preceding chapter, early in the afternoon of a hot June day, three men, covered with dust, rode into the town of El Moro, a small railway station situated some thirty miles east of the Culebra Mountains in southern Colorado. One of these men, to his very evident disgust, drove a team of broncos harnessed to a light wagon, and the other two were on horseback. They fastened their horses to hitching-posts in front of a grocery store, and then hurried directly to the railway station, regardless of the pressing invi- tations of a number of men, standing in front of saloons, to come in and take a drink. The man who drove the broncos was tall and lank and big-boned, with red hair, and a long red mustache, bristling each side of a red nose that stood out from the face like a huge rock and overhung a mouth that Cowboy Welcome 21 appeared almost large enough to swallow the lower half of his face. Yet it was not an un- pleasant countenance to look at. There was a good-natured twinkle in the brown eyes, and humorous wrinkles surrounded the huge mouth, while the whole face wore an ex- pression of such frank honesty and rugged strength of character that one felt intuitively that here was a man who could be depended on in time of danger or trouble. His com- panions called him Red Hank, but his parents had named him Henry Henry John Auker- man an appellation, by the way, that had not been applied to him for many a year. One of his comrades, the one who rode a coal-black bronco of unusual size and power- ful build, was a young man whose brown hair shadowed a broad forehead, from beneath which looked a pair of fearless blue eyes. A strong nose and chin and a firm-lipped mouth, guarded by a long and carefully trimmed mus- tache, completed a face that would have been called striking and manly, if not handsome, anywhere. In form this young man was straight as an arrow, broad-shouldered and narrow-hipped, with an easy grace of move- ment that spoke of well-trained supple mus- cles. On the ranch he was known as Cowboy E 22 The Lost Treasure Cave Jim ; and famed as the best all-round cowboy in southern Colorado. When he was a boy, going to school in Vermont, he had signed his name as James W. Strong ; but that was many, many years ago. The third man of this interesting trio was a short, thick-set German, with the characteristic German face and phlegmatic nature. His name was as short as his stature. Dutch was what his fellow-cowboys called him ; and if he ever had had another name it had long since been forgotten, y The three men were evidently clothed in their richest apparel. Broad-brimmed felt hats, generously ornamented with silver braids and tassels, covered their heads ; bright silk handkerchiefs were knotted loosely around their necks ; blue flannel shirts protected their bodies ; and their legs were incased in strong new trousers, tucked in high-heeled boots. In addition the two horsemen had heavy silver spurs strapped to their boots, and wore leather "snaps," or heavy riding overalls. Each man carried a rifle, and the belts around their waists held two large six-shooters. Strong heavy saddles, richly decorated with silver, nearly covered the backs and sides of the two riding horses from withers to hips, while Cowboy Welcome 23 the ranchman's ever-present help in time of trouble, strong rope lassos, hung, neatly coiled, to the high pommels. The bits and headpieces of the bridles were lavishly be- decked with silver, and the reins were almost as long as plough-lines. On reaching the little station the three men began walking up and down the platform un- easily, casting expectant glances every now and then up the railroad track. Plainly they were expecting friends on the coming train, doubtless the ones in whose honor they had ridden so far and dressed themselves in their best. " If that steam hoss gets in on time they '11 be here in a quarter of an hour," Cowboy Jim remarked, after having carefully inspected a huge open-faced silver watch. " But I reckon a train is like a buckin' bronco, an' not to be depended on none much to get to any place at any particular time. Hello, in there ! " This to the station agent inside the little building. 44 When '11 that Eastern locomotive be trottin* in ? We 're expectin' friends." " In about half an hour," answered the sta- tion agent. " Say, are you fellows from Abel Johnson's ranch ? " -Yes." 24 The Lost Treasure Cave " Who 's dead up there ? " The three cowboys stared in surprise at the man, and then came up close to the little window through which the agent transacted business with the patrons of the road. " That 's an uncommon queer question to ask, stranger ; leastwise it seems so to us, who have just come from Abel Johnson's ranch, where we left everybody uncommon well an' lively. Now, might I ask why you asket it?" and Cowboy Jim leaned his elbows on the window shelf, and looked inquiringly at the agent. " Well," answered the agent, without the sign of a smile on his long, sallow face, " yes- terday's freight left a long, narrow box, just about the size and build of a coffin, addressed to Abel Johnson ; so I calculated that some- one had died up there and that you were going to bury him decent-like in a city coffin. Any- way, the thing looks just like a coffin, but it says * FIREWORKS ! BEWARE ! ' across the top of the box, so I might be mistaken," and for the first time a faint smile flickered around the agent's lips. " Fireworks ! " and Cowboy Jim grinned joy- ously. " You bet them 's fireworks ! Why, there 's a hull Fourth o' July in that there Cowboy Welcome 25 box ! We 're goin' to make th' American eagle scream some up at the ranch. ' Now, rustle that box out lively, an' we '11 get it in th' wagin 'fore th' kids come. Here you, Red, get after them tame broncos of yourn. Come on, Dutch, we '11 get th' box ready to dump into th' wagin. 'T won't do to have them broncos near when that steam hoss comes puffin' an' snortin' in," and Cowboy Jim, fol- lowed by Dutch, hurried away to the freight room, while Red Hank went after the team and wagon. Fifteen minutes later the box of fireworks was in the wagon, the broncos were safely hitched to posts at a distance from the station, and the three men were again standing on the depot platform, their eyes turned anxiously in the direction of a distant pile of rocks around whose base the train would first come in sight. " Now, I '11 gamble that Sambo '11 know Dick as quick as you or I, Red," Cowboy Jim re- marked. " He 's got an uncommon memory, Sambo has ; an' I never saw a hoss take to a fellow th' way he did to Dick. Whoop ! There comes th' train ! " and in the exuberance of his feelings Cowboy Jim yanked off his wide sombrero, swung it wildly around his head, and yelled. Red Hank and Dutch did 26 The Lost Treasure Cave their level best to follow suit, with the result that when the train pulled into El Moro nearly every car window had a head sticking out of it with eyes staring curiously at the three yelling cowboys, the owners doubtless wondering whether the men were insane or drunk. The instant the train stopped, two boys, fol- lowed by a huge negro lad whose eyes were rolling with excitement, jumped off the cars. The three cowboys, with a yell that almost lifted the hair on the heads of the staring pas- sengers, made a dash for the boys, grabbed their hands, slapped them on the backs ; and then, their feelings getting the better of them, they yanked their revolvers out of their belts and, pointing them straight up into the air, be- gan firing them off and yelling, to the very evi- dent embarrassment of the negro boy, who stood with mouth agape with astonishment, not knowing what to make of the hilarious welcome of these wild-looking fellows. Dick and Harry, for the two boys were our young friends, were almost as much excited as were the cowboys themselves, and joined in the yelling, and would have joined in the firing of the revolvers if they had had their weapons where they could quickly have laid their hands on them. But in a few minutes the noise of Cowboy Welcome 27 the welcome was over ; and then the cowboys, for the first time, appeared to notice Bill Burke for the negro boy was none other than our black friend of the gymnasium. " Mr. Bill Burke, a colored gentleman and our very good friend ; Cowboy Jim, Red Hank, and Dutch," and Harry indicated by a nod of the head to which cowboy the proper appellation belonged. Cowboy Jim gripped Bill Burke by the hand. " Glad to know you," he said. " Glad to know any friend of Dick's an' Harry's, an* I don't care a coyote's tooth what his color is," and he shook the hand heartily. Bill Burke smiled all over his face. " I 's done powerful electrified to make yo'r ac- quaintanceship, 'deed I is, Massah Jim Cow- boy," and he returned the grip of the cowboy with fervour. Red Hank was more deliberate, but not less hearty in his welcome to the negro. Dutch called him a " pully poy, mit a face that would make a coyote laugh," and slapped him on the back, and grinned delightedly. At this moment a tall man, with a huge black mustache, small black eyes, and long black hair, who had come on the same train with the boys, approached, and, looking at 28 The Lost Treasure Cave Cowboy Jim, said: "I to the ranch of Abel Johnson would go. I in Trinidad was told that he was short on help and that a job with him I was almost sure to get. Can you direct me, sefior?" Cowboy Jim coldly looked the questioner over from head to foot. " Mexican ? " he asked shortly. " Si, sefior, Mexican vaquero," replied the man. " I in New Mexico have worked for the last ten years. I a bucking bronco can ride or rope a wild steer with any cowboy in the country, and I seek work." " Don't talk like a Mexican, except the brag," Cowboy Jim said, with evident suspicion. " I from an educated man learnt to talk United States." The Mexican's dark face be- gan to flush angrily. " Must I my pedigree give in this town before I an answer to a civil question can get? I the way to Abel John- son's ranch seek. Sabe ? " " Now, don't yank on the bits," Cowboy Jim answered slowly. " I 'm foreman on Abel Johnson's ranch, an' I don't pass no testi- monials in for any man unless I know some- thin' 'bout him. Mexicans we don't like a whole lot ; but I suppose there is some good Mexicans as well as Indians ; an' maybe Cowboy Welcome 29 you Ve been in th' States long enough to get some of th' devilment knocked out of you. Anyway, you 're right on our bein' short on help, an' if you care to ride a plank for some twenty-five miles, you can come with us, an' I '11 see if th' boss can use you. Now, what might your name be ?" " I Black Juan am called, seftor," the man an- swered ; and there was a wicked gleam in his small eyes as he added : " I '11 go, and your plank ride, seftor." " All right," responded Cowboy Jim. " Red Hank will pilot you to the ranch carriage." On the way to the wagon and horses it was decided to go to the hotel and " feed," before starting back to the ranch. The cowboys had ridden far and were hungry ; Dick and Harry vowed they had not had a square meal since leaving Yahara ; Bill Burke's smile almost swal- lowed his ears when he heard food mentioned ; and even the surly Mexican looked pleased. Besides, the horses needed rest and food. " It 's now two o'clock," cowboy Jim said, again consulting his watch. " We '11 take an hour off for food an' talk, but not a minute longer. Come on," and, giving orders to the stableman to feed and water the broncos, he led the way into the dining-room of the hotel. F CHAPTER IV THE GAMBLERS OF course Dick and Harry were loaded with questions about Loretta, and Abel John- son, and the cowboys, and the horses, and the ranch in general ; and these they fired at Cow- boy Jim and his companions between every mouthful, until at length Dutch exclaimed, disgustedly : " Oh, vaits untils I mine stomach fulls, und den I tells you all about dat leetel gal. Loretta. It 's pad for der stomach to talk so fast und eats so slow. Yaw, Loretta ist von nice leetel gal," and he winked one eye at Dick, " but der goot grub " Here a huge piece of buffalo steak choked his further utter- ance, much to the satisfaction of the boys, both of whose faces had flushed at the words of their German friend ; and it was noticeable that during the remainder of the journey to the ranch neither Dick nor Harry asked a single question about Loretta. The barroom of the hotel adjoined the The Gamblers 31 dining-room ; and through the wide-opened door between the two rooms, Dick and Harry could see the picturesque-looking cowboys, gamblers, Mexicans, and half-breed Indians that swarmed around the bar, or were seated at little round tables, drinking and playing cards. Presently their interest became cen- tred in four men, who sat at a table directly within their line of vision. Two of these men were cowboys, and the other two were evi- dently gamblers. The men were playing cards, and a small pile of gold coins was stacked near the centre of the table. One of the gamblers sat with his back toward Dick and Harry, while directly across the table from him was one of the cowboys, the other cowboy and the gambler occupying the re- maining opposite sides of the table. Now it happened that the eyes of Dick and Harry chanced to be fixed on the man who sat with his back toward them, just at the right mo- ment to see a card jump from the outside pocket of his coat, to the edge of the table, where it quickly disappeared within the man's hands, while a moment afterward they saw him drop a card on the floor and quickly place one of his feet over it. Before the two boys fully comprehended what this action meant, Red 32 The Lost Treasure Cave Hank leaned across the table and whispered a few words in Cowboy Jim's ear. Cowboy Jim at once arose from the table. " Excuse Red Hank an' me, for a few min- utes," he said. " We Ve a little business that needs 'tendin' to right at this identical mo- ment," and, followed by Red Hank, he walked slowly toward the table where sat the four men. At this moment the card-players threw down their cards, faces up, the cowboys, with an oath, pushed back their chairs from the table, and one of the gamblers reached forth a hand to seize the little pile of gold ; but, before his hand touched the pile, a stern voice said : " Keep your hands off that gold ! " The startled gambler whirled around to see Cowboy Jim standing not six feet from him, with a six-shooter levelled straight at his head, while by his side stood Red Hank, his right hand resting on the butt of his revolver, and his eyes watching every movement of the other gambler. " Stand up and hold your hands above your head ! " commanded Cowboy Jim. "Who the dev " attempted to bluff the gambler. " Stand up ! Quick ! " There was an omi- The Gamblers 33 nous gleam in Cowboy Jim's eyes that brought the gambler trembling to his feet, with his hands held high above his head. By this time every man in the barroom was on his feet, staring at Cowboy Jim and the gamblers. " Men," Cowboy Jim said, without for an instant taking his eyes from the face of the trembling man before him, " my pardner saw this man sneak a card from his pocket to his hand, an' a moment after drop a card on th' floor. Now, will two of you men come for- ward an' examine th' pack on th' table an' see if there are two cards alike in it ? " An angry muttering, almost like the growl of some huge monster, came from the crowd of men. At that time, and in that country, to be discovered cheating at cards usually meant instant death at the hands of the wronged party that is, if he could get his hand on his revolver first ; or, if he was unable to avenge his own wrong, every honest man in the town was more than ready to lend him a helping hand. No one knew this better than the man who now stood looking into the muzzle of Cowboy Jim's six-shooter ; and had it not been for the steady, stern eyes behind that weapon he would have made a bolt through a 34 The Lost Treasure Cave near-by window for his bronco, which stood hitched to a post not two rods away. How- ever, he stood exactly where he was, not ven- turing to lift a foot an inch from the floor. The landlord of the hotel and a smooth- faced, magisterial-looking man, known as the Judge, promptly came forward, and with swift fingers quickly examined the cards on the table. " Two aces of the same spot," reported the Judge, holding up the two cards where all could see. "The two of spades is missing." The angry mutterings of the crowd grew louder. " Look under the table," said Cowboy Jim. The landlord and the Judge looked under the table, but found no card. For a moment they were nonplussed. "Look under the man's foot!" cried Dick, excitedly. " I saw him put his foot over the card." The gambler was ordered to lift up his feet. He did so, one after the other, but no card was found. " Examine the sole of his boot," Harry said. " Maybe the card stuck. I know I saw him put his right foot on the card." The Judge stooped and lifted the gambler's The Gamblers 35 right foot. From the sole of the boot he picked the missing card, where it was stuck fast by some gummy substance. A yell of rage came from the surrounding crowd, and the circle of men around the two gamblers grew smaller. " If you 're needin' more evidence you 'd better take a look in his outside coat pocket," Red Hank suggested. The landlord thrust his hand in the pocket, and drew out a half a dozen of the best cards in a pack. A thin, almost invisible piece of rubber was attached by a bit of wax to each card, while a wire mechanism fastened to the bottom of the coat pocket held the cards until one of the rubbers was stretched sufficiently to snap the card wanted out of the pocket and up to the table, where it could easily be secured by the hand. It took but an instant for every man in that crowd to understand what this mechanism meant ; and, with angry roar, the circle closed in on the two gamblers. The Judge and the landlord both leaped upon the table. With quick steps Cowboy Jim and Red Hank placed themselves by the sides of their prisoners. The two cowboys sprang furiously toward the men who had tried to rob them, but were held at bay by the 36 The Lost Treasure Cave muzzles of Cowboy Jim's and Red Hank's revolvers. "Back, men!" yelled the Judge. "Th' scoundrels can't get away. Now let us pro- ceed judicial like." The men stopped, held in check by the Judge's words and the threatening attitudes of Cowboy Jim and Red Hank. "Now," continued the Judge, "is the evi- dence deemed sufficient to convict these two men of an attempt to rob Long Bill and Ike Donovan by means of cheatin' at cards ? All who think it is yell, aye." There were, perhaps, twenty-five men in the barroom, but the yell that came in response to the Judge's query sounded as if a thousand throats had uttered it. " Let all who think contrariwise yell, no." For a moment it was so still in the room that all could hear the frightened breathings of the two gamblers. " This court finds the prisoners guilty, as charged," pronounced the Judge; and then, throwing aside all his judicial dignity of man- ner, he yelled : " Run the scoundrels out of El Moro, boys ! Run them out of El Moro ! " and he leaped down from the table, followed by the landlord. The Gamblers 37 In a moment a dozen hands had roughly seized the two gamblers, quickly disarmed them, and, yelling and cursing, were hauling them outdoors. In five minutes more the two men were tied astride of their broncos and stationed in front of the hotel entrance, with eight cowboys sitting on their horses a rod behind them. Each of these eight cow- boys held in his right hand a heavy cow-quirt, and all sat their horses as if they were about to begin a race. At their head rode Long Bill and Ike Donovan, the two cowboys whom the gamblers had attempted to rob. A cow- boy stood at the head of each gambler's horse, holding him by the bit. When all was ready the Judge stepped out in front of the gamblers, holding in his hand a revolver. " There is only one kind of punish- ment fit for such contemptible scoundrels as you are," he said, " and that is to whip you out of town like the two curs that you are, and to warn you that if you ever show your faces in El Moro again we '11 plant you deep in the little graveyard yonder on the hillside. All ready, boys ? " and the Judge raised his revolver above his head. The two gamblers crouched forward until their white faces nearly touched their horses' 38 The Lost Treasure Cave manes ; the eight cowboys in the rear held their quirts high in the air, ready to strike their horses the instant the signal was given ; and the crowd of onlookers, that now included nearly every man, woman, and child in El Moro, held their breath, their eyes fixed on the up-lifted arm of the Judge. For the briefest fraction of a second there was absolute silence, then, CRACK ! went the Judge's revolver. The two cowboys dropped the bits of the gamblers' horses and jumped aside ; the horses of the gamblers leaped for- ward as if shot from strong bows ; and, with a yell that could be heard for miles, the eight cowboys brought down their quirts on their horses' flanks, and, like a pack of hounds in full cry, were after their prey. Before the gamblers had ridden twenty rods the cowboys were upon them, yelling like fiends and lashing them unmercifully over their backs with their heavy rawhide quirts ; and, until pursued and pursuers passed over the brow of a distant hill and were hidden from sight, Dick and Harry could hear the yells of the cowboys, the screams of the tor- tured gamblers, and see the quirts falling on the cringing backs of the two blacklegs. " That 's what I call a good way to stampede The Gamblers 39 bad rubbish," Cowboy Jim said. " Now I fancy them two rascals won't never forget El Moro as long as there is a scrap of hide left on their backs. Come on, boys. It 's time we were strikin' th' home trail," and he turned to Dick and Harry and Bill Burke, who still stood staring at the point of the hill where the gamblers and cowboys had vanished. " Come on, Dick. I want to see if Sambo will know you." The moment Dick came in sight of Sambo, he made a rush for the black, and threw his arms around the arched neck. The bronco rubbed his head fondly against Dick's shoul- ders, nibbled at him daintily with his lips, and said by his actions as plainly as if he had spoken : " I know you, Dick, and I 'm glad to see you." " There, what did I tell you ? " exclaimed his delighted owner. " That hoss is 'most human. He never forgets a friend, nor an enemy. Now, pile into th' ranch carriage. We must hit th' breeze mighty hard, or we won't see Lone Hill ranch to-night." CHAPTER V A FRIENDLY WARNING THE "ranch carriage" was a light wagon, with two wide boards placed across the top of the box for seats. On the first of these boards sat Red Hank, the driver, and Dick. The Mexican and Harry occupied the second board, while Bill Burke found a seat on the box of fireworks in the back part of the wagon. Cowboy Jim and Dutch rode their broncos, one on each side of the wagon. As they drove out of town they met a cowboy gallop- ing in. The cowboy pulled up with a jerk that threw his horse back on his haunches. " Is this outfit bound for Lone Hill ranch?" he asked, his eyes glancing at the brands on the horses. "Yes," answered Cowboy Jim, halting Sambo. "We 're bound for Lone Hill ranch. Any objections, stranger ? " " Not a-one," replied the cowboy. " Jest thought I 'd stop an' tell you that Running A Friendly Warning 41 Bear, at th' head of 'bout fifty bucks, is re- ported ugly an' roamin' wild somewhere be- tween here an' th' Culebra Mountains. No- harm done, I hope, partner." "This outfit owes you thanks," Cowboy Jim responded heartily. " But we 're due at Lone Hill ranch to-night, an' can't loiter a lot. Howsomever, we '11 keep our eyes roamin'. I 'd rather run into a million rattlesnakes than meet Running Bear and his herd of bucks. So-long," and Cowboy Jim, with a word to- Sambo, hurried after the wagon, which had not stopped during this brief colloquy. The news brought by the cowboy worried Cowboy Jim more than he cared to show. Running Bear was a notorious Apache war- chief, with an exceedingly odious reputation among the cattlemen of southern Colorado, for a thieving, cunning, old reprobate, who hated the whites worse than he did poison snakes. Now, if he was at the head of fifty young bucks, and running wild, it meant trou- ble, serious trouble for any lone body of whites that Running Bear chanced to come upon. Cowboy Jim had little fear of meeting Run- ning Bear before reaching Abel Johnson's ranch. He did not think that the wily chief would venture so near the larger settlements 42 The Lost Treasure Cave and ranches ; but, in those days, no wise plainsman ever neglected a single precaution when "ugly" Indians were near because he thought they would not come his way, and Cowboy Jim was wise in the ways of the plains. The moment he came up with the wagon he told Red Hank and Dutch the report that the cowboy had brought in ; and it was decided that as soon as the dangerous part of the trail was reached, one of the horsemen should ride a quarter of a mile or so ahead of the wagon to guard against sudden surprise and ambuscade. Dick and Harry carried their rifles with them. The guns were enclosed in strong leather cases. At that time the Winchester rifle was just beginning to come into general use, and the boys had bought the best repeat- ing rifles that this firm could make. Even Bill Burke gloried in a Winchester. At the mention of the word " Indians," all three boys grabbed their gun-cases and began unstrap- ping them. In three minutes they had their rifles out and were loading them. As Bill Burke shoved the cartridges into the maga- zine, he kept his eyes rolling in every direction over the wide plain, across which they were now passing, as if he expected to see an Indian A Friendly Warning 43 pop up out of the ground almost anywhere. Dick and Harry had told him of their expe- rience with the Indians ; and the negro had declared most emphatically : " Dis chile don't want nuffin' to do wid dat scan'lous red trash," and had vowed to shoot his own head off " 'fo' he 'd 'low one ob dem undacious villain- osities to steal a slice ob his wool." The Mexi- can pulled out a big six-shooter and examined it carefully before he slipped it back into its holster. Cowboy Jim smiled as he noted these prep- arations. " I calculate Running Bear would steer clear of this outfit," he remarked, " if he knowed th' fitin' blood that 's in it. Now Hi, there, Black ! Get a cinch on your ex- citement ! Holy smoke ! " At that moment, while Bill Burke's mind was filled with thoughts of wild Indians, a huge jack-rabbit jumped out of a bunch of grass not six feet from the left hind wheel of the wagon and went bounding away over the plain. The negro, with a yell, leaped to his feet, his eyes rolling and the skin on his face working. The broncos heard the yell and gave a quick jump. Bill Burke lost his balance, stumbled against the box of fireworks, and went head- first over the tail-end of the wagon, his rifle 44 The Lost Treasure Cave flying from his hands and falling on the ground beside him. The negro struck on his head, and, therefore, was not hurt in the least. With astonishing quickness he jumped to his feet, caught up his rifle, threw it to his shoulder, and fired at the fleeing jack-rabbit. " Golly, dat am a 'sprisin' quick deer ! " he exclaimed, shaking his head and staring in the direction of the streak of jack-rabbit that was vanishing in the distance, as Cowboy Jim and Dutch rode up a moment later. The two men could hardly sit their saddles ; and Cowboy Jim affirmed, in telling the story, that even the broncos were smiling. But after the negro was back in the wagon and again sitting on the box of fireworks, Cowboy Jim rode up by his side, and his face had no smiles on it when he spoke : " You black idiot," he said, " if you fire off your gun again or utter a sound that can be heard more 'n a couple of rods away without my permission, I '11 take your gun from you, an' chuck a gag in your mouth, an' tie you, hands an' feet, to that box of fireworks. Do you want to notify Running Bear that a fool nigger is comin' his way ? If he got a hold of you he 'd skin you alive an' roast you on a bed of hot coals. There 's only one A Friendly Warning 45 thing that Running Bear hates worse than a white man, an' that 's a black one. This ain't no country where you can go yellin' an' firm' off guns promiscus like. Sabe?" and Cowboy Jim scowled fiercely. " Yes, boss," responded Bill Burke, meekly, the wrinkles on his face and his eyes rolling. " I 's done gwine to sit per'xactly still. 'Deed I is. I 's deaf an' dumb, an' speechless," and his face assumed such a comical look of over- whelming gravity that Cowboy Jim was com- pelled to dig his spurs into Sambo's sides in order to get quickly to where he could give vent to the laugh in him without spoiling the effect of his words on the negro. The trail there was no well-defined road from El Moro to the Lone Hill ranch, ran across plains that were here and there inter- cepted by high and sometimes almost precipi- tous hills, covered with trees and huge rocks. Usually a ravine afforded a passageway through these rocky ramparts to the plain beyond. The road, while crossing the level plains, was smooth, and the broncos could be driven over it at a rattling pace ; but the bot- toms of the ravines were often so covered with rocks as to make it almost impossible to draw a wagon over them faster than a walk. 46 The Lost Treasure Cave There were three of these rocky passes to go through before Lone Hill ranch was reached. One lay about five miles from El Moro, the second was some three miles farther, and the third was not more than five miles from Abel Johnson's ranch. The first of these passes did not trouble the cowboys. They knew it was too close to El Moro for Running Bear and his warriors to venture near it. Besides there was a large ranch-house not more than half a mile from its entrance, and cowboys were continually riding through and near it. The second pass gave them more concern. Its situation was lonely ; there was almost no travel through it ; and the pass itself afforded ample opportunities to conceal any number of ambuscading Indians. But it was the third pass that gave the three cowboys the greatest disquietude. It was situated within a couple of hours' ride of the fastnesses of the Culebra Mountains, which offered the Indians an al- most secure haven, and would render their pursuit extremely difficult and perilous. Again, this pass was little more than a narrow defile between high walls of rock, making an al- most ideal spot for an Indian ambuscade, and was seldom used by any one except the cow- boys of Abel Johnson's ranch. Here they A Friendly Warning 47 would be absolutely at the mercy of their cunning foes, and the Indians would have am- ple time to escape to the mountains before a sufficient force could be organized to under- take their pursuit and punishment. Of course the probabilities were that Running Bear and his band were not within twenty-five miles of either one of these passes ; but it was the part of wisdom, since they had had warning, for Cowboy Jim and his companions to be on the lookout, and to consider where the danger would be greatest, and to plan how best to meet it. When the first ravine had been passed through, Cowboy Jim galloped on ahead of the wagon, for now it was thought best to keep a scout out in advance. The plains were not absolutely level, but rolling ; and each gentle undulation was sufficiently high to con- ceal all that might lie between it and the next plain-wave from the advancing cowboys. Red Hank kept the broncos going at their best speed, and so rapidly did these tough little animals travel that it was but little after four o'clock when they came within sight of Second Pass. As they approached the en- trance, Red Hank pulled the broncos down to a slow trot. Suddenly, Cowboy Jim, who had 48 The Lost Treasure Cave almost reached the pass, whirled his bronco around, and came galloping back toward the wagon at full speed. Red Hank brought the broncos to a halt with a yank, and grabbed his rifle. Dick's and Harry's hearts jumped almost up into their throats, and both boys sprang to their feet, and stared at the entrance to the pass, now not a quarter of a mile away, expecting every moment to see Running Bear and his Indians burst into sight. Bill Burke sat still on the box of fireworks ; he did not dare to move, but the way he fingered his rifle and the way the wrinkles jumped all over his face showed that he had caught fully his share of the excitement. Dutch galloped forward to meet Cowboy Jim. " There they come ! " Dick yelled, as a dozen horsemen came galloping out of the ravine. " Shall we shoot ? " and, in his excitement, Dick threw his rifle to his shoulder. " Great guns, no ! Them 's cowboys ! " Red Hank exclaimed, in disgust ; and, whipping up his broncos, he again hurried forward. The horsemen proved to be a dozen cow- boys from a ranch the other side of Second Pass, due for a lark at El Moro that night. Cowboy Jim had heard the beat of their A Friendly Warning 49 horses' hoofs, as they galloped over the rocks, and had hurried back to the wagon to give warning that horsemen, whether Indians or not he could not tell, were coming. The cowboys pulled up their broncos, when the wagon was reached, to exchange greetings. " Seen anything of Running Bear an' his Indians?" Cowboy Jim asked. "He 's re- ported on the rampage an' roamin' promiscus somewhere this side of th' Culebras." " Nary a hair," answered one of the cow- boys. " But I guess th' old heathen has broke hobbles, 'cause that same report hit our ranch this mornin'. But we 're not worryin a whole lot over a band of measly redskins. Whoop ! On for El Moro, boys ! " and, with yells of farewell, the cowboys shook loose the reins of their horses and galloped off. " Well, I anticipate there 's no trouble lurkin' in that ravine, or them cowboys would have routed it out," Red Hank remarked, as he started up the broncos. CHAPTER VI THIRD PASS TH E plain beyond Second Pass was rougher, and Red Hank was obliged to drive the broncos at a much slower gait than here- tofore. Cowboy Jim now kept a full half mile in advance, and midway between him and the wagon rode Dutch. Cowboy Jim was always in sight of Dutch, and Dutch was al- ways in sight of the wagon. In this way they crossed the great plain, some twelve miles in extent, lying between Second and Third Pass. There was a small hill about a quarter of a mile from the entrance to Third Pass ; and on top of this hill lay a number of huge rocks, that would make an effective rampart. When this hill was reached, the wagon was driven to its top and halted behind the rocks. If Running Bear and his Indians were hiding within Third Pass, it was the purpose of Cow- boy Jim to hunt him out, and then retreat to this hill, whose rocky ramparts, defended by Third Pass 51 the six rifles, he was confident, would keep the Indians at a safe distance until help arrived. Cowboy Jim and Dutch had both halted on the top of the hill, to await the coming of the wagon. When all had been made ready on the little hill-fort, Cowboy Jim rode quietly away in the direction of Third Pass. Some twenty rods behind him rode Dutch. Both men knew that they were venturing their lives when they entered the pass. If Running Bear and his Indians were there they would endeavour to capture or kill the two cowboys before they would permit them to give warn- ing or assistance to the men at the wagon. No one knew this better than did Cowboy Jim and Dutch ; yet neither man appeared to show the least concern for himself as he rode away. True, they examined their rifles and revolvers and saddles very carefully before going; but they were joking with Red Hank and the boys while doing this, and there was a smile on the face of each as he galloped off. Dick and Harry, however, had no such con- trol over their feelings. Their hearts beat rapidly, and the hands that held their rifles trembled just a little as they saw the two men ride into Third Pass. They did not speak, 52 The Lost Treasure Cave they hardly ventured to breathe, so intently were they listening for the crack of the rifle, or the fierce war-whoop, that would tell them that their worst fears were realized. Five ten fifteen twenty minutes passed in abso- lute silence. The suspense was becoming almost unbearable. Had Cowboy Jim and Dutch both been captured by the Indians? If not, why did they not reappear? They had had time to go through the ravine half a dozen times. Suddenly a man on horseback dashed out of the ravine, pulled up his bronco with a jerk, caught off his sombrero, and, with a yell, waved it around his head. It was Dutch, and he was giving them the signal agreed upon to tell them that the pass was safe. With an answering shout the boys jumped into the wagon, Red Hank caught up the lines, and the next moment the broncos were racing down the rocky hillside at a rate of speed that threatened every instant to dump men and boys out on the ground. All were jubilant. It now seemed as if there could be no more danger of meeting Running Bear and his warriors ; and they were within five miles of Abel Johnson's ranch ! In a short time they would be there, would see Abel Johnson and Third Pass 53 Loretta Loretta! how the hearts of both boys beat at the thought of meeting her ! As the wagon came safely out of Third Pass, Cowboy Jim rode up. His face was covered with smiles. " Well, boys, here we are safe and sound through Third Pass, an' not a sign of Running Bear yet," he said ; " an' I don't anticipate seein' him none this trip now, for which I ain't a lot sorry. In an hour more we'll be at Lone Hill ranch ; an' I know a pair of dark eyes that '11 be mighty glad to see two handsome-lookin' young fel- lows that I know. Well, I was young once, and Loretta Ho, there, Red Hank, spur up those bags of lazy bones, or them boys will be gettin' out an' runnin' on ahead ! " and with a loud laugh, Cowboy Jim dug his spurs into Sambo's sides and galloped off in advance of the wagon. Red Hank whipped up his broncos, and the wagon rattled at a lively rate over the loose stones that here and there lay scattered over the wagon trail. Dick and Harry were silent. Both were thinking of Loretta, wondering if she had changed much, if she would be really glad to see them, if when, with a suddenness that almost threw them forward off their seats, Red 54 The Lost Treasure Cave Hank yanked up the broncos, gripped the lines in his left hand, and grabbed up his rifle with his right. At the same instant Cowboy Jim, who was riding some twenty rods ahead, whirled Sambo around, and dashed back, dig- ging his spurs unmercifully into the black's sides. Then the boys saw what had caused these startling movements. Over the brow of a hill, less than half a mile ahead and about the same distance to their right, came a band of Indians, their ponies on a gallop. The instant the Indians saw the whites they yanked up their ponies with the same suddenness that Red Hank had halted the broncos. Evidently the sur- prise was mutual. For a minute or more the Indians sat on their horses like bronze statues, staring at the little band of whites ; then the warriors gathered around their chief, to take counsel as to what should now be done. The decision came quickly. The warriors re- mained, sitting on their ponies where they were ; and the chief, holding his empty right hand up to signify that his mission was peace- ful, rode slowly toward the whites. By this time Cowboy Jim had reached the wagon. His eyes swiftly swept the surround- ing plain. There was not a rock, nor a tree, Third Pass 55 nor a shrub, behind which they could fight, if they had to fight, within reach. It would be folly to attempt to escape by running away. The Indians would overtake them before they had gone a mile. All these things Cowboy Jim noted, and quickly determined that the Indians must be faced right where they were. " Get out of th' wagon, every mother's son of you," he commanded. " Unhitch th' bron- cos an' tie them to th' wheels, an' if it comes to a scrap use th' wagon as a breastwork. Now, boys, keep cool. It 's only fifty to seven, an* that 's nothin' when it 's cowboys an' Injuns. We Ve got to face them right here, an' let 's do it as if we were sure we could lick th' whole caboodle with one hand roped behind our backs. That 's th' way to proper impress an Indian. Well, I wonder what that old repro- bate wants ? I '11 ride out to meet him an' find out, but I don't count a lot on the peacefulness of his mission. Keep th' old villain covered with your rifle, Red Hank," and Cowboy Jim rode slowly forward to meet the advancing Indian chief. CHAPTER VII THE SURRENDER COWBOY JIM and Running Bear, the In- ^ -* dian chief, met on the summit of a little knoll, about half-way between the Indians and the wagon. During the conference that fol- lowed between these two the Indian warriors on the hill sat, stolid and silent, on their ponies, their eyes fixed on their chief, patiently awaiting his return. Dick and Harry and their companions were not as patient. The result of that meeting meant too much to them for any such show of indifference. Their lives were at stake ; for even the boys were wise enough to know that they were at the mercy of the Indians, notwithstanding the hopefully defiant words of Cowboy Jim. On the open plain, with prac- tically no protection, what could four men and three boys, however brave, do against fifty well-armed Indians, led by a cunning and ex- perienced chief ? They could die, fighting as The Surrender 57 bravely as possible, and they could not even hope to do more. When it became dark, which would be within a couple of hours, for the sun was already nearing the heads of the high western mountains, the Indians could creep up to within a few rods of where they lay, and, by a sudden rush, capture or kill them all. Plainly their only hope was in the result of the conference between Cowboy Jim and Running Bear ; and never once did the anxious cowboys and the lads take their eyes off the two figures on the little knoll. " Look ! " and Dick nudged Harry, who stood by his side, " the chief is getting mad. He sits up in his saddle as if somebody had suddenly thrust a cold poker down his back. Why, he must be giving Cowboy Jim a regu- lar Fourth of July oration ! See how he swings those long arms of his ! " " Massah Dick," interrupted the negro, the wrinkles on his face betokening the greatest consternation and excitement, " Massah Dick, am dem rascallians Indians ? an' am dey gwine to scalp an' eat us ? " Bill Burke had never seen an Indian before, and the boys had filled him full of harrowing tales of their blood- thirstiness and cruelty. "They are Indians, sure enough," Dick 58 The Lost Treasure Cave responded, " but they '11 have to catch their rabbit before they cook it. Come, brace up, Bill Burke ; and, if it comes to a fight, get in some of your head-work, and we '11 teach these lords of the plains a thing or two." Bill Burke shook his woolly pate savagely. " I 's done gwine to," he said. " I 's done gwine to knock de pit of de stomach right out ob the firs' one ob dem dat comes triflin' round dis niggah. I 's done gwine to stand no foolin' from no such low down rascallians. I 'se ' " Dry up," said Red Hank, shortly. " Here comes Cowboy Jim, an' we '11 soon know whether or not we 're going to keep our scalps on our own heads. He looks considerably roiled, so I fancy 't ain't no picnic news that he is bringin' us." As he spoke Cowboy Jim and the Indian chief separated, the chief riding slowly back to his warriors, without deigning to give even a backward glance in the direction of the whites, and the cowboy galloping "ugly" straight for the wagon. "Th' infernal old thief!" Cowboy Jim ex- claimed, savagely, the moment he pulled up Sambo. " Th' thievin' old red-skinned scoun- drel!" Evidently Cowboy Jim's temper was bucking. " I 'd give seven years of my life to The Surrender 59 have my rope around his gullet, an' there'd be no need of a snubbin'-post to throw him neither. Now, what do you think th' thievin' old vaga- bond wants this outfit to do ? " and he glared savagely at Red Hank. " Well, judgin' from th' way your temper is a buckin','' responded that worthy, slowly, " he 's insisted on our skinnin' ourselves, an' then jumpin' into th' pot." " Th' old villain," continued Cowboy Jim, " says that his braves are short on hosses, an' he wants ours, bridles, saddles, an' all. He says that his braves need rifles an' cartridges, an' he '11 be much obliged if we '11 give him ours. He says that he an' his braves are just a hankerin' for our company, an' he wants us to take a little trip into th' mountains with him, an' spend th' night with his braves around th' camp-fire, a-smokin' th' pipe of peace, an' that in th' mornin' we can set out for th' ranch, afoot, thankful that we Ve got our skins on our backs. Now, what do you think of that ?" and Cowboy Jim looked from Red Hank to Dutch and from Dutch back to Red Hank again. "Well, I anticipate there '11 be a lot of In- dian bucks lookin' for jobs in th' Happy Hun- tin' Grounds afore we agrees to that," Red 60 The Lost Treasure Cave Hank rejoined, his jaws coming together with a snap. For a minute or more Cowboy Jim stared around in every direction. Then he swore, loud and long and picturesquely, according to his gifts ; and then he made some hot remarks about Indians in general and Running Bear in particular, and threw in several warm sugges- tions as to the proper dwelling-place for I ndians. This done, he appeared to feel more comfort- able and satisfied with himself, and began to talk United States. " Boys," he said, " that old thief has got us in a hole, an' he knows we can't crawl out. See that high pile of rocks within easy rifle range of us an' considerable nearer to th' In- dians. Well, th' old thief vows if we don't accept his propositions before the rim of the sun touches th' peaks of th' western mountains, his braves will occupy them high rocks an' begin shootin' us, an' any fool can see what that would mean. In ten minutes there would n't be one of us alive. If we attempt to run, he '11 charge us, which means we would be at the mercy of his enraged bucks within half an hour, an' that every mother's son of us would lose his scalp. On th' other hand, if we '11 surrender, an' accept his hospitality for th' The Surrender 61 night, he vows, by all that an Indian holds most sacred, that not a hair of our heads shall be harmed, an' that we shall be free to go where we will at sunrise th' next mornin'. He agrees to let us keep our revolvers and knives, as a sort of guaranty that he won't break faith, an' because I swore that we would fight him as long as we had a finger left to pull a trigger before we 'd give up all our weapons and trust ourselves to his honor. He says that all he 'an' his braves wants is our guns an' hosses, that he don't want to shed no white blood, 'cause that would mean war with th' U. S. ; but he 's bound to have our hosses an' guns, war or no war, blood or no blood. That 's the proposition, boys, an' we 're up against it good an' hard. Has any one got anything to say against our acceptin' it ? 'Cause, if he has, he 's got to speak quick, for old Sol is within an inch of the top of that mountain peak." A glance toward the sun verified Cowboy Jim's words, while, at the same time, a move- ment amongst the Indians gave them signifi- cant emphasis. The warriors headed their horses toward the rocks, and Running Bear reined up his steed in front of the band, and fixed his eyes on the sinking disk of the sun. 62 The Lost Treasure Cave Dutch looked helplessly around, and, seeing nothing that offered even a promise of shelter or safety, swore volubly in German. Red Hank stared for a moment blankly at Cowboy Jim, laid down his rifle, and shut his mouth tight. He could find no words in the English language vivid enough to express his feelings. Dick's and Harry's faces grew white. The thought of being captive to the Indians was inexpressibly terrible to them. Then, in the wagon were two trunks, filled with their per- sonal belongings, together with various pres- ents they had brought the cowboys and Loretta, and to have the Indians get these seemed to Dick and Harry an almost unbearable calamity. Bill Burke reached down to the bottom of the wagon-box and gripped the satchel con- taining his private property. In an instant he had it open and was stuffing its contents into his pockets, under his vest, and down his trou- sers' waist, muttering, " Dis niggah fool dem red rascallians." In two minutes the satchel was empty, and Bill Burke was full, very full, judging from the appearance of his clothes. Black Juan, the Mexican, scowled, and, muttering a few hasty words in Spanish, he jumped up and looked quickly around, as if The Surrender 63 seeking some way of escape ; but almost im- mediately sat down again, and stared sullenly at the Indians. Cowboy Jim slowly drew his revolver. " There 's nothing else to be done, boys," he said. " Now, keep close together, an' at the first sign of treachery draw your guns an' fight as long as there is a drop of live blood in you. It's time to give th' signal." He lifted the revolver above his head, and fired three shots in rapid succession straight up in the air. CHAPTER VIII " HEAP BIG BLACK MEDICINE " A MOMENT'S silence followed the last sharp bark of the six-shooter ; and then, with wild yells of exultation and galloping their horses at full speed, Running Bear and his warriors swooped down upon the little band of whites. It was a fearful sight, one to stir the blood and whiten the cheek, to see these Indians, flourishing their weapons and yelling their war-cries, charging, with all the ferocity of actual battle, straight toward the waiting white men. "What if the chief's talk with Cowboy Jim was but a ruse to secure our capture with little peril to themselves?" Harry, with whitening cheeks, whispered to Dick, his eyes fixed on the on-coming Indians. "Keep cool, and watch Cowboy Jim," was Dick's only response. Running Bear rode a little in advance of his warriors. When within a rod of the wagon " Heap Big Black Medicine " 65 he suddenly reined up his pony, and the stream of warriors, dividing, swept completely around Cowboy Jim and his companions. The mo- ment the circle was completed every Indian halted his pony and, facing inward toward the wagon, sat like bronze statues on their horses' backs. " Take horses," and, with a swift gesture, Running Bear gave a command in the Indian language. Immediately eight Indians leaped from their ponies and advanced to seize the four horses of the cowboys. For a moment it seemed as if Cowboy Jim would resist, as the Indians approached to seize Sambo. His face went white, his eyes glinted ominously, and his fingers tightened around his rifle ; then, with a gesture of hope- less wrath, he flung himself out of his saddle and surrendered the horse. The eight Indians led away the four horses. "Take rifles," and with another gesture, Running Bear uttered another command. Instantly fourteen Indians jumped off their ponies' backs, and advanced to receive the rifles, two to each white man. " Hand over your rifles an' cartridge-belts, boys," Cowboy Jim said, in a low voice ; " but 66 The Lost Treasure Cave don't let an Indian lay a finger on you. If one attempts to, shoot him dead. I 've got my eye on the chief ; an' he '11 be dead as soon as a ball can reach him, if this means treachery." Two Indians approached each man ; one took his rifle, and the other his cartridge-belt. This was done very quietly, and without the least trouble, until it came to the two bucks who were to relieve Bill Burke of his weapon. Doubtless they had never seen a negro be- fore ; and the strange black countenance, with its wildly rolling eyes, caused them to move very slowly toward him, half afraid to come within hand-reach of his rifle. As the Indians approached him Bill Burke backed away. " Don't yo' dare lay a finger on dis niggah's ha'r, yo' triflin' low down red trash," he warned. "I '11 teach yo' to be 'specful, 'deed I will. Stay right whar you is." Bill Burke was beginning to get excited. The wrinkles were jumping all over his face, his eyes were rolling, and he was shaking his head like an angry ram. " I's don't want nuffin to do wid yo', yo' scan'lous naked mens. Yo' keep away from dis har niggah. I's done warn yo'. Stop right whar yo' is." But the Indians continued to come on, slowly and warily. " Heap Big Black Medicine " 67 Suddenly Bill Burke's head went down, he dropped his rifle, and his hands flew up under his chin ; and then there was a black streak through the air, and Bill Burke's head struck the naked stomach of one of the Indians with a thud that could have been heard for half a mile. The Indian was fairly lifted off his feet, and, with a grunt that did the hearts of Dick and Harry good to hear, landed, breathless, on his back a half a rod away. Before the other Indian had time to recover from his astonishment, Bill Burke's head went down again, and the next instant he was sprawling on his back and gasping for breath by the side of his companion. But this last butt had been too much for Bill Burke's vest and trousers ; and, as his head struck the sec- ond Indian, the buttons flew off, and the con- tents of his satchel poured out on the ground before the astonished eyes of the dumfounded Indians. By this time the first Indian had re- covered a sufficient amount of breath to jump to his feet. For a moment his wrath over- came his fear of the negro, and, swinging his tomahawk above his head, he leaped at Bill Burke, who stood stupidly shaking his head and rolling his eyes, glaring from the fallen Indian to his scattered personal belongings. 68 The Lost Treasure Cave Down came the tomahawk ; but, fortunately, just before it hit the negro's head the weapon turned so that the steel blade struck Bill Burke's head flatways. With a crack that was heard by every Indian present the handle snapped in two, and the axe head fell to the ground. Bill Burke shook his woolly head angrily ; and, exclaiming : " I 's done gwine to knock the pit ob yo'r stomach clean through yo'r back dis time," his head went down. But the terrified Indian did not wait for the charge. He gave one glance at the broken tomahawk handle, which he still gripped in his right hand, another at the negro's un- harmed head he evidently did not know that the tomahawk had turned, and had no knowl- edge of the hardness of a negro's skull and with an " ugh ! " expressive of the utmost con- sternation, he whirled around and fled, Bill Burke charging after him like a great black ram. For a moment it looked as if the negro would put the whole fifty Indians to flight. Men and horses got out of his way as if he was a wild locomotive ; and the Indian he was after, breaking through the circle of surrounding warriors, flew across the plains as if the evil one and all his imps were chasing him. " Heap Big Black Medicine" 69 But Bill Burke did not charge far. The thought of his possessions, scattered over the ground and unguarded, brought him to a sud- den halt ; and, turning, he hurried back, shak- ing his head and rolling his eyes and wrinkling his face. Not an Indian offered to molest him, but gave him free passageway through their ranks, eyeing him with wonder, not unmixed with fear, and murmuring among themselves : " Heap big black medicine " ; and thereafter not one of them, if he could possibly avoid it, would approach to within six feet of Bill Burke. Cowboy Jim at once hastened to take possession of the negro before he caused further trouble. " I 's done told yo' I larn dem red rascallians to be 'specful to dis niggah," he said, as the cowboy seized him by the arm and pulled him to a place of safety between himself and Red Hank. In a few minutes the Indians recovered their accustomed immobility of manner ; and Run- ning Bear, who had sat like a graven image during the commotion, began giving his or- ders. There was no time to waste. If they escaped with their prey, they must get to the 70 The Lost Treasure Cave fastnesses of the mountains without delay. Roaming cowboys might come upon them at any moment where they were, and give the alarm ; but, once in the mountains with their plunder, they could defy pursuit. The two broncos were again quickly hitched to the wagon. Red Hank was given the lines, and the boys and Bill Burke and the Mexican were ordered to get into the wagon. Much to- the satisfaction of Cowboy Jim and Dutch, they were given their own horses to ride. The In- dians had no spare horses and were in too much of a hurry to delay the wagon by over- loading it. Cowboy Jim and Dutch rode close to the wagon, one on each side. When all was ready Running Bear placed himself at the head of his warriors, and the command to start was given. The pace set was a. rapid one. The Indians rode their ponies at full speed, wherever the ground would permit, and lashed the broncos unmercifully in order to compel them to keep up with the wagon. They headed straight for the mountains ; and in less than an hour the wagon was banging over the rocks on the bottom of a narrow canyon that gave entrance to the fastnesses of the Culebra Mountains. For half an hour longer, until it became so "Heap Big Black Medicine" 71 dark that it was almost impossible to see to guide their horses, the Indians hurried on. Then they entered a narrow defile branching off from the canyon, which presently widened out into a little, rock-bound valley, with a small stream of water running through it. Here the Indians halted. They had reached their camping ground for the night. The horses were unhitched from the wagon, Cowboy Jim and Dutch were ordered to dis- mount and climb into the wagon, and the four horses were led a little distance away and picketed. Running Bear now detailed a num- ber of Indians to stand guard around the prisoners ; and the rest, when their ponies had been picketed, were set at work gathering wood for a great camp-fire. CHAPTER IX AN UNEXPECTED DISPLAY OF FIREWORKS " \ \ /"ELL, so far we Ve nothin' to complain VV of our treatment," Cowboy Jim re- marked, as he climbed into the wagon and seated himself on the box of fireworks, "an' my scalp is beginnin' to feel sort of comfort- able again ; but 't won't do to get too con- fident. We must keep close together, an' not one of us must shut his eyes in sleep to-night. If the Indians mean treachery they '11 try to get at us while we 're asleep, and so we must all keep awake an' our revolvers loose in their holsters. But I anticipate Running Bear don't want no run in with th' U. S., an' will be content with th' plunder, though I fancy th' old thief's fingers are just itchin' to get a hold of our scalp-locks. Sufferin' coyo- tes ! did you ever see Indians work like that before?" and Cowboy Jim's eyes turned to watch the warriors, who were working like beavers cutting wood and carrying it to the Unexpected Display of Fireworks 73 spot where the great camp-fire was to be built. " Now I calculate they 're mighty anxious to find out what 's in this big box an' them two trunks, an' they want a big blaze to give them light," and Cowboy Jim glanced at the coffin-like box containing the fireworks and the two trunks of the boys. "Is n't there anything we can do to save our trunks ? " Dick asked anxiously. " We 've got a lot of things in them that we don't want to lose, things for ourselves and presents we brought to give you men and Loretta and her father ; and 't will be like pulling teeth to see the Indians get hold of them." Cowboy Jim shook his head. " No ; I can't think of no way to save them. The Indians are bound to take everything, except what we have got on. Besides, we can't carry the trunks on our backs. We Ve only got our legs to depend on now, thanks to that old thief," and Cowboy Jim glared at Running Bear, who was superintending the gathering of the wood for the camp-fire. In a very short time a huge pile of wood was ready, and the camp-fire was lit. In a few minutes more great flames were leaping skyward, brightly illuminating the surround- ing darkness for many feet 74 The Lost Treasure Cave It was a picturesque scene that the light of the fire revealed. The valley was not over a quarter of a mile in width, with its two sides inclosed by high walls of rock. Through its centre flowed a small stream of water, with a few great trees growing along its banks. Here and there over the surface of the valley were scattered huge piles of fantastic-shaped rocks. The fire had been built between two large trees, whose great arms clasped hands high above the ground. Now, imagine how such a scene would look at night, in the red light of an enormous camp-fire, the smoke and flames rolling skyward, the Indian warriors hurrying hither and thither in the bright light, like attendant spirits ; and, possibly, your fancy can picture to you something of the beauties of the wild scene that held the eyes of Dick and Harry spellbound when first the great torch of the camp-fire blazed up in the little valley. As soon as the fire was burning brightly a number of the Indians made a rush for the wagon, but Running Bear called them back with an angry command, and bade them eat first* 51/klently the chief was hungry, and did Aot wish his fast prolonged until after the Indians had examined the contents of the box Unexpected Display of Fireworks 75 and trunks. They had plenty of fresh buffalo meat, which they broiled by thrusting the ends of sharp sticks, some twenty inches long, through chunks of the meat, and then forcing the other ends of the sticks into the ground just outside of the fire, but inclined in such a manner that the meat was sufficiently exposed to the heat of the coals to cook it in a few minutes. Of course the Indians had no knives and forks ; but they had teeth and fingers, and with these they tore the flesh from the bones and devoured it ravenously. It was at least an hour before the feast ended, and then Run- ning Bear had to make a speech, which was followed by an excited pow-wow, during which a number of other Indians made speeches. There were many glances cast in the direction of the captives, frequently emphasized by a pointed hand, that told them that they were the subject under discussion and caused them not a little anxiety. " Well, I reckon th' circus is goin' to begin now," Cowboy Jim said, as Running Bear arose from the circle of warriors and stalked toward the wagon, " an' we '11 know in about a minute what kind of music the band is goin' to play. Keep cool, boys. I anticipate that Running Bear is goin' to see us through this 76 The Lost Treasure Cave accordin' to agreement, an' it will help him a lot if we don't tempt him an' his warriors by seemin' easy." When the chief reached the wagon, he spoke a few words to the guards in the Indian lan- guage ; then he turned to the captives. " Get out wagon," he commanded. Cowboy Jim and his companions at once climbed out and stood on the ground close to- gether. The Indian guard of ten warriors, at a gesture from the chief, silently stationed them- selves near the prisoners. " What in boxes ? " and the chief pointed to the two trunks and the box of fireworks. " Them two small boxes," answered Cowboy Jim, "belong to these boys," and he pointed to Dick and Harry, "an' I don't know what 's in them clothes an' such truck, I reckon. That big box " Cowboy Jim hesitated. Sud- denly it had flashed into his mind that proba- bly the Indians had never seen nor heard of fireworks, and that, possibly, here was a chance to have some fun with the red men, and even up the score they had against them a trifle. The chief noted his hesitancy. " What in big box ? " he demanded sharply. "Well, chief " Cowboy Jim spoke slowly, and his face began to look as if he was about Unexpected Display of Fireworks 77 to part from the best friend he had in the world " that big box is for th' white men at th' ranch. No touch. Hurt Indian. Heap big smoke. Good for white man ; no good for Indian. Leave here. White men come an' get after Indian gone. No touch. Hurt Indian." The chief grunted disdainfully, his black eyes twinkling expectantly. He evidently thought from Cowboy Jim's words and looks that the contents of the box were very valu- able, and that Cowboy Jim was doing a little bluffing to keep him from opening the box ; and, of course, this was exactly what the cow- boy wished him to think. " Running Bear see white man's heap big smoke. No hurt white man, no hurt Indian. Running Bear and his warriors brave. No afraid of words. Like white man's smoke. See what in box." He gave a command, and, with a yell, all the Indians leaped up from the ground, where they had been sitting watching every movement of Running Bear and the palefaces, and ran to the wagon. The chief spoke a few words to them, and, with a shout of exultation, they swarmed into the wagon, seized the box of fireworks, and in three minutes more had carried it to within a 78 The Lost Treasure Cave few feet of the camp-fire, where they placed it on the ground. A dozen tomahawks soon knocked the top boards off the box, and as many hands quickly began tearing the cover- ings from the Roman candles, sky-rockets, giant firecrackers, pinwheels, and the various other articles, filled with noises and colors of the most startling kinds, that had been liber- erally purchased to help make the celebration at Lone Hill ranch the "biggest blowout of its kind ever seen in southern Colorado." In a very short time every Indian, except the ten men detailed to guard the prisoners, had in his hand either a Roman candle, a sky- rocket, a giant firecracker, or some other gaily- colored tube, containing the manufacturers alone knew what frightful mixtures of gun- powder, color, and noise. Running Bear had selected the largest sky-rocket in the box for his own personal enjoyment. He was a great chief. His warriors had to be content with the smaller sky-rockets, Roman candles, and firecrackers. The Indians now held an excited pow-wow, for a few minutes, over the tubes which they had in their hands. They had never before seen a sky-rocket, or a Roman candle, or a firecracker, but they had seen and smoked the white man's Unexpected Display of Fireworks 79 cigars, and it did not take them long to con- clude that they had been fortunate enough to capture a box of " heap big smokes " intended by the palefaces for some unusually grand cele- bration. Of course the words that Cowboy Jim had spoken to the chief, and which he had repeated to his warriors, had helped them to come to this conclusion. At first they were a little doubtful of the correct method of pro- cedure, of just how to handle these big smokes, but Running Bear assured them that he un- derstood perfectly well how to smoke the big cigars, and bade them do exactly as he did. Running Bear now gravely seated himself on the ground near the fire, holding his huge sky-rocket in his right hand, and his warriors hastened to follow his example, forming a com- plete circle around the camp-fire. The chief waited until every Indian was in his place, and every Indian's eye fixed on him. He fully realized the important part he was playing. Judging from the size of the cigars, it would be the smoke of their lives, and he wanted to impress upon each of his warriors that, great as was the occasion, it was not great enough to ruffle his dignity nor to hasten the stately deliberateness of his movements. When all were in their places the chief held up his 8o The Lost Treasure Cave sky-rocket, with the fuse end toward the fire. He had rightly concluded that this was the pro- per end to light. Every watching warrior did likewise with his sky-rocket, or Roman candle, or giant cracker. Slowly, with the rapt look of one already, in fancy, contemplating the blue smoke curling gently upward from his giant cigar, the chief reached forth and touched the fuse of his sky-rocket to a live coal. Then, without haste and with the rapt look of con- templation still softening his rugged counte- nance, he opened wide his mouth, thrust the end of the sky-rocket between his teeth, and, with a grunt of satisfaction, began puffing away. And, almost at the same moment, every In- dian warrior seated around the camp-fire thrust the end of his lighted piece of fireworks into his mouth, exactly as he had seen his chief do, and began puffing. In a moment the fuse of the chief's sky- rocket started to sputter and throw off sparks. The look of peaceful contemplation suddenly left the chief's face. His eyes opened wide. He hastily took the sky-rocket out of his mouth, and stared uneasily at it. The fuse flashed and spit more angrily, and then, with a hiss and a roar, the sky-rocket went off, tak- ing with it the tip end of the astonished chief's In another moment the air was filled with flashing blades of light, leaping in every direction and of every conceivable color." PAGE 80. Unexpected Display of Fireworks 81 nose. At the same moment sky-rockets and Roman candles and giant firecrackers began going off all around the startled circle of sav- ages. The chief yelled and leaped to his feet. A Roman candle hit him in the eye. He yelled again, and gave a tremendous jump sideways. His feet struck the box of fire- works, and hurled it, contents and all, into the middle of the flames. In another moment the air was filled with flashing blades of light, leaping in every direction and of every con- ceivable color, while the sound was like the roar of ten thousand guns. Something like a bushel basketful of firecrackers of all sizes, in addition to innumerable Roman candles, sky- rockets, nigger-chasers, etc., etc., had been dumped into the fire when the chief upset the box. No pen could possibly describe the utter confusion and terror of the Indians, as they struggled to their feet, blinded by the glare of the dazzling, many-colored lights, covered with live coals hurled all over them by the explo- sions taking place in the camp-fire, deafened by the roar of the bursting crackers, and with Roman candles and sky-rockets galore hissing and shrieking by their ears and hitting them in the faces and on the backs and various 82 The Lost Treasure Cave other parts of their anatomy. With howls of terror they fled down the valley, led by Running Bear, and followed by the Indians detailed to guard the prisoners. When they came to where their horses had been picketed, they flung themselves on the ponies' backs, cut the picket lines, and, lashing the horses madly and yelling, dashed on, frenzied with fear. CHAPTER X THE ESCAPE JIM was the first to recover his senses. " Quick ! " he shouted. " Hitch the broncos to the wagon ! Quick ! We must get out of here before the Indians recover from their stampede, if they ever do," and he sprang toward the spot where their horses had been picketed by themselves, the red men, doubtless, intending to examine them later on. He was followed by Red Hank and Dutch, and Dick and Harry, while the Mexican and Bill Burke brought up the rear. In five minutes flying fingers had hitched the broncos to the wagon, and Dutch and Cowboy Jim were on their horses' backs. " Pile in ! " shouted Red Hank, as he leaped into the wagon and caught up the lines ; and into the wagon, with all possible speed, scram- bled Dick and Harry and Bill Burke and the Mexican. " Follow after me !" called Cowboy Jim, as 84 The Lost Treasure Cave he and Dutch spurred their broncos up the valley. "An' drive fast. If th' Indians catch us now they '11 skin us alive. Great buffaloes ! but that was th' darndest comicalest sight that ever happened west of th' Big Blue ! " Red Hank gripped the lines tight and lashed the horses unmercifully with his cow-quirt. He could not see ten feet ahead of him, but he followed blindly after Cowboy Jim and Dutch, who rode, side by side, a few feet in front of the horses. The wagon wheels banged over rocks, and plunged into gullies, while the wagon itself jumped and swayed like a combi- nation of a ship in a storm and a bucking bronco. Dick and Harry and Bill Burke and the Mexican tumbled around loose in the wagon box. It was impossible for them to sit down or to stand up. The only thing they could do was to lie down and hold on to one another for dear life, and even then they bounded up and down as if they were made out of India rubber instead of good hard bones and mus- cles. For at least half an hour this mad pace was kept up, and then Cowboy Jim came to a halt " Golly, dat am de most ondacious ride I ebber done took ! " Bill Burke exclaimed, the The Escape 85 moment the wagon was still, as he slowly arose to his feet and began feeling of himself all over. " I 's sure done break som'thin'." " Well, it 's dollars to dimes that it is n't your skull," Harry complained, sitting up in the box and rubbing his head ruefully. " When it hit mine it felt as if I had struck a granite boulder." "Keep quiet!" Cowboy Jim commanded, roughly. " Save your talk till we 're safe from them 'tarnal redskins. Now listen." Every one sat silent and listened intently. Not a sound broke the deathlike stillness of that deep mountain ravine, except the heavy breathings of their panting horses. They had long passed out of sight of the camp-fire, and the darkness of the bottom of the ravine was almost impenetrable. High above their heads stretched a strip of sky, sparkling with hun- dreds of stars. A soft white light, that already shone half-way down the left side of the ravine, told them the moon was steadily climbing the eastern skies. The silence was reassuring. There was no pursuit by the Indians. It would have been impossible for mounted men, even if they were redskins, to have moved along the bottom of that rocky ravine without making sufficient M 86 The Lost Treasure Cave noise for their listening ears to have heard them. Evidently the fright of the Indians had been too great for them to return to that valley, at least not until daylight "Well, I don't believe them fool Indians will trouble us again to-night," Cowboy Jim said, breaking the silence. " I can't hear a sound of them. Holy smoke ! But that was th' darndest, dog-gondest, comicalist sight " and Cowboy Jim almost fell off his horse in his vain efforts to control the sudden outburst of laughter that the thought of the Indians attempting to smoke fireworks brought upon him ; and his laugh was immediately followed by a loud snort from Dutch, and guffaws from Red Hank, that almost shook the mountains. Even the Mexican grinned from ear to ear, while Dick and Harry and Bill Burke lay on their backs, on the bottom of the wagon-box, and kicked up their heels and laughed till they cried, as they recalled the antics of the dig- nified old chief when the sky-rocket went off in his hand and the Roman candles began whizzing about his ears. Indians or no Indi- ans, they had to let the laugh out of them. "There, there, men!" Cowboy Jim cried the moment he could control himself. " Stop this bellowin'. It 's worse than a herd of buf- The Escape 87 falo bulls. There might be other Indians in these mountains. Besides, we ain't out of the woods, or rather mountains, by a long shot, yet. Who in thunder knows where we are?" Red Hank stood up and looked around. He had often hunted in these mountains, and he hoped to catch sight of some familiar land- mark. The moon shone brightly on the oppo- site side of the ravine, and lit up the wall of rocks and mountain-peaks to the westward. " There 's old Wolf's Head, as sure as shoot- in' ! " he presently exclaimed joyfully, pointing to where a long thin nose of rock shot up clear and distinct in the bright moonlight. " Now we must be in Willett's Gorge ; an' there ! " he gave his leg a great slap in token of his satis- faction at the discovery, " there 's th' Yellow Creek Ravine. This is th' identical spot where me an' Ike shot th' big grizzly last fall ; an' Yellow Creek Ravine runs directly out onto th' plains ; an' we ain't more 'n thirty miles from Lone Hill ranch. Th' road 'long th' bottom of Yellow Creek Ravine will be mighty rough for th' wagon ; but, after that, 't will be clear sailin' with a bright moon over our heads. Come on," and he started the broncos toward the spot where a ragged gash 88 The Lost Treasure Cave in the side of the gorge showed the entrance of Yellow Creek Ravine. The road through Yellow Creek Ravine was, indeed, a rough one, and would have been absolutely impassable to a wagon had not the bed of the creek been dry. It was covered with stones of all sizes, and crossed by innumerable small gullies ; and it was im- possible to draw the wagon over these ob- structions faster than a slow walk, while its occupants were kept almost continually on the " bump." " I 's gwine to walk," Bill Burke protested. " Dis niggah 's got bones wid feelin's in dem. I 's At that moment there was a par- ticularly hard jolt, and Bill Burke was pitched head first out of the wagon. Dick and Harry, laughing heartily at the negro's mishap, climbed out after him. They, too, had bones " wid feelin's in dem." But the Mexican stuck to the wagon. According to his opinion legs were made for straddling a horse's back and not for the purpose of walking. For nearly an hour they struggled along over the rocky bottom of Yellow Creek Ra- vine; and then, to the exceeding great satisfac- tion of all, the ravine suddenly opened out on to a large level plain, rendered almost as The Escape 89 light as day by the bright beams of a full moon. The boys now got into the wagon again ; and, with Cowboy Jim and Dutch galloping on a little ahead and Red Hank keeping the broncos going at a steady trot, the journey was resumed. Under more favorable circumstances a ride across the great plains by moonlight would have been delightful, and as romantic as it was delightful ; but, under the present con- dition of affairs, it seemed a very long, tedious, and disagreeable ride to Dick and Harry, who were so completely worn out with their long journey and the day's excitements that even the joltings of the wagon could not keep them awake, as they travelled mile after mile over the seemingly endless monotony of the great plain. Hour after hour went by, and on and on trotted the tireless broncos, until, at last, just as the sun was rising, the wagon was brought to a halt on the brow of a hill that commanded a wide view of the plain beyond. Almost as far as the eye could see, stretched the great plain to the front of them, level as the floor, except where, something like four miles away, rose a solitary Will, which looked like the half of a great ball slapped down on 90 The Lost Treasure Cave the level floor of the plain. On the summit of this hill stood a number of long, low build- ings, and near by a great herd of cattle was arising from its night's bed and beginning to graze. A long streamer of smoke curled hos- pitably above the roof of one of the buildings, and men and horsescould be seen moving about. Dick and Harry rubbed their eyes and looked. Then they stood up in the wagon box and, rubbing their eyes more vigorously than ever, looked again. Then, with a great shout, both boys leaped out of the wagon, whirled their hats high above their heads, and yelling, " Lone Hill ranch !" dashed down the hill in the direction of the ranch buildings. Cowboy Jim and Dutch laughed, and gal- loped after them. " Stops ! Stops ! " Dutch called, " you lunatic poys ! Stops und gets der wagon back in. It 's more as four miles to dot ranch. Stops ! " Dick and Harry halted. The clear air of the plains had deceived them. To their eyes, unaccustomed to judging distances on the plains, the ranch had seemed only a half a mile or so away. The two boys hurried back, a bit crest- fallen, to the wagon, and at once began urging Red Hank to get all kinds of quick moves on The Escape 91 him ; but that obstinate individual avowed that the broncos were completely blowed and that he had just got to give them a breathing spell ; and for ten minutes the excited lads were compelled to sit and gaze with longing eyes at the ranch, while the broncos were get- ting their wind back. At the end of that time, Red Hank swung his quirt and yelled ; and the willing horses dashed down the hill in the direction of the ranch. It was soon seen that something unusual was going on at the ranch. A crowd of horse- men had quickly gathered in an open space in front of the house-building, and appeared to be getting ready to start off on an expedition of some kind. Cowboy Jim rode up by the side of Red Hank, a smile on his face. " I knowed Abel Johnson would start th' boys out early this mornin' to see what had become of us," he said. " Look there, they 're havin' th' general round-up now. I anticipate they ain't lookin' none for us in this direction, which ain't th' road from El Moro by 'bout th' half of th' cir- cle of th' compass. We 'd better give them a volley, just to let them know that it 's we, us, and company that 's comin'. Now, all to- gether, one two three ! " As he spoke he 92 The Lost Treasure Cave pulled out his six-shooter, Red Hank and Dutch doing likewise ; and, at the word three, all fired together, three shots, one right after the other. A moment afterward, Dick shouted : " They see us ! They see us ! I can see them waving their hats and almost hear them yelling. Hurrah ! Here they come ! " The crowd of horsemen were now stream- ing away from the ranch buildings, down the hill, and coming as fast as swift broncos could carry them straight toward the wagon. In a few minutes one of the riders outdistanced the others. Dick's and Harry's eyes were fixed on this rider, and their hearts jumped with excitement when they saw the long dark hair streaming back behind the horse's head. About a quarter of a mile away, the rider halted for an instant, on the top of a little knoll, apparently to get a better look at the occupants of the wagon ; and then, with a glad shout, dashed on faster than ever. "It's Loretta!" "It's Loretta!" shouted Dick and Harry almost in unison ; and then both boys leaped from the wagon and ran to meet the beautiful girl, who, with glowing cheeks, and sparkling eyes, and flying hair, looked the young goddess of those wild and beautiful plains, as she galloped up on her pony. " The rider halted for an instant, apparently to get a better view of the occupants of the wagon." PAGE 92. CHAPTER XI LONE HILL RANCH THE moment Loretta met the boys she leaped lightly off the back of Bonny Bess ; and, throwing her arms around Dick's neck, kissed him as freely and as innocently and as lovingly as she would a brother ; and the next moment she was according exactly the same delightful welcome to Harry. She was very, very glad to see the two boys, and did not dream of concealing her feelings. Why should she ? She had had only nature the God that made her for her teacher ; and she had never learned a single reason why she should not be fond of Dick and Harry, nor, being fond of them, why she should not show her fondness freely ; and, possibly, these were the very reasons why Dick and Harry thought her the most charming and delightful girl-comrade they had ever known, and never even dreamed of getting " silly " while in her presence. Loretta was now a little over fourteen years N 94 The Lost Treasure Cave old ; not very tall for her age, but with a well- developed body, and as quick and as graceful in her movements as a young fawn. Her eyes were dark and sparkling ; her cheeks, glowing with health, were colored with the dark rich red of the ripe peach ; and her round, full lips looked always as if she were about to smile. Indeed, it would be very difficult to imagine a merrier or a handsomer little maiden than the one who now walked between Dick and Harry, her smiling face turning first to one boy, then to the other, and her tongue going so fast that it was seldom that either lad got a chance to say a word and they were content to just look and listen. " Oh, I forgot ! " and Loretta, whirling around suddenly, faced her pony, which had been affectionately following close behind her mistress. " Here's Bonny Bess; and I know she is almost as glad to see you as I am. Aren't you, pet?" The pony nodded her beautiful head ; and then, taking a step nearer, reached forth and gently touched Dick with her nose, at the same time giving his coat a mischievous little nibble with her lips. " See, she knows you, Dick ! " exclaimed her delighted mistress. " She remembers you, and Lone Hill Ranch 95 that little nibble was to tell you how glad she is to see you. She always nibbles me that way when I have been away from her for a few days. Now, where are your manners, madam ! Have you forgotten Harry?" and Loretta looked with mock severity at Bonny Bess. The pony gave her head a knowing little toss ; and then, following her mistress' eyes, touched Harry with her nose and gave his coat the same dainty little nibble. " Now, shake hands with your friends. They have come a long way to see you," commanded Loretta. After two or three mischievous shakes of her pretty head Bonny Bess raised her right leg and extended her hoof to Harry ; and, after Harry had shaken "hands", the pony proffered the same courtesy to Dick. " Is n't she just the dearest pony that ever lived ! " Loretta exclaimed, throwing her arms around the arched neck of Bonny Bess. " Even papa thinks she 's almost human, and she has lived like a queen ever since she saved my life that time the Indians captured us. Oh, I do hope we won't have any trouble with the Indians this time ! " She stopped abruptly and turned with a startled look to the two boys. " What has happened ? why did n't you 96 The Lost Treasure Cave get here last night ? Papa heard that Running Bear and his Indians are on the warpath ; and when you did n't come last night we were all terribly frightened. I could n't sleep. And this morning papa and his cowboys were just going to start out to see what had become of you, when we heard your shots ; and there you were coming across the plain where we did n't expect to see you at all. I know something terrible has happened. Now, sit right down on this rock and tell me all about it," and she stopped where a rock several feet in diameter thrust its head above the ground. Dick and Harry seated themselves on the huge stone, and Loretta threw herself down on the grass by the side of the rock. A glance had shown Dick and Harry that they were not likely to be interrupted for some little while. Abel Johnson and his cowboys had ridden straight to the wagon ; and were now gathered around Cowboy Jim and his companions, evi- dently listening to the story of the night's adventures. "You tell Loretta, Harry," Dick said. ' Your tongue runs easier than mine does." And Harry told the story. Loretta soon became intensely interested ; and, when Harry described how Running Bear Lone Hill Ranch 97 and his warriors gravely seated themselves around the camp-fire, each with a sky-rocket or a Roman candle or a giant firecracker in his hand, thinking they were "heap big" cigars, she could control herself no longer, and, jump- ing to her feet, exclaimed, excitedly : " Oh, did they really try to smoke them ! Tell me quick ! Did Running Bear really try to smoke that great sky-rocket ? Quick ! I want to know what happened?" And when Harry told her what happened, she danced up and down, and clapped her hands together, and laughed until the tears ran down her cheeks, and wished over and over again that she might have been there. " Now take me to Bill Burke ! " she cried, eagerly, the moment she had her laugh out. " I want to see the * heap big black medicine.' dear, I think you boys have the funniest and most exciting adventures ! I wonder why anything like that never happens when 1 go to El Moro. How I wish papa had let me go with Cowboy Jim. I wanted to. Come on. I do so want to see that funny black fel- low, Bill Burke. I can beat you to papa," and off she started on the run, bounding over the smooth turf of the plains as swiftly and as grace- fully as a fawn. 98 The Lost Treasure Cave Dick and Harry hesitated, but only for an instant. They had left all the conventionali- ties behind them ; they were hundreds of miles beyond the keen sight of Madame Grundy ; and they felt free to act like healthful, spirited boys without giving a thought to the so-called proprieties. With a shout, both lads leaped from the rock, and sped after Loretta as swiftly as their legs could carry them. Now Harry was built tall and slim ; and the last Field Day had proven him the swiftest runner in the Yahara High School ; but, to his very great astonishment, he met his match in this little maiden of the plains. The distance from the rock, where they started, to the wagon must have been very nearly twenty rods ; and both boys, at the beginning of the race, had felt very confident of being able to overhaul the girl long before the wagon was reached ; but, somehow, not even Harry could gain an inch on Loretta, although he tried his very hardest ; for a glance ahead had told him that Abel Johnson and his cowboys were watching the race, and well, what boy would care to be beaten by a girl in a foot race, right before the eyes of a crowd of jeering cowboys ? " Oil up your joints, boys ! " shouted Cowboy Lone Hill Ranch 99 Jim, delightedly. "Shove your legs faster, Harry, or the gal will beat you ! Hurrah for the Rose of Lone Hill ranch! She 's a winner by a good three lengths ! " With eyes sparkling with excitement, and cheeks flushed a deeper red by the violence of her exertions, Loretta reached her father's side a " good three lengths," as Cowboy Jim put it, ahead of Harry, while Dick well, Dick was n't in this race at all. Abel Johnson gave the boys a most hearty welcome to Lone Hill ranch ; and the cow- boys almost shook their arms from their shoul- ders with the warmth of their greetings. Loretta's eyes at once began a search for Bill Burke. They found him standing alone near the wagon. He had been surrounded by cowboys until the advent of Dick and Harry, when all had left him to tender their greetings to the boys. Dick and Harry were too busy just now to give her an introduction. In fact she had little use for the formalities of intro- ductions anyway. She marched right up to the negro boy and held out her hand im- pulsively to him. "You are Bill Burke," she said. " I know because Dick and Harry have told me all about you, the way you butted over those two ioo The Lost Treasure Cave Indians and all ; and I want to welcome you to Lone Hill ranch. I am Loretta, and my papa is Abel Johnson, that big man who is always laughing," and she shook the negro's hand heartily. A thousand wrinkles jumped all over Bill Burke's pleased face, and he bowed and scraped in his most elegant manner. " I 's pow'ful delighted to make your acquaintanceship, Miss 'Retta. Deed, I 's 'most rapturfied," and he shook her hand as if her sleeve were filled with eggs. Loretta smiled, and laughed, and talked ; and in two minutes Bill Burke had placed her upon a pedestal, and was ready to fall down before it and worship her. As soon as the greetings were over, fif- teen cowboys, under the leadership of Red Hank, rode away, following the trail made by the wagon. They were going back to the mountains, after the rifles that had been left behind in the hurry of the flight ; for it was the opinion of Abel Johnson and those with him who were best acquainted with Indian nature that Running Bear and his warriors had been too badly frightened to again ven- ture near the scene of that astounding display of fireworks, and that they would find the Lone Hill Ranch 101 rifles where the terrified Indians had left them. This proved to be the case ; for when Red Hank and his men returned, they not only brought with them the rifles, to the great joy of Dick and Harry, and especially Bill Burke, but also various other weapons, abandoned by the Indians when they fled from what was to them the most terrifying sight of their lives. There was no scowl on Black Juan's face when he was introduced to Abel Johnson, who, after a few inquiries concerning his abil- ity to do the work required, hired him at once. Indeed, Abel Johnson was very glad to secure the services of an able cowboy, such as Black Juan declared himself to be ; for the expedition, which would soon start in search of the hermit's treasure cave, was to be made up largely of his most trusted cowboys, and would leave him shorthanded. Black Juan was also pleased. So far every- thing had worked exactly as he wished it to ; and the rest well, no man can foretell with absolute accuracy the happenings of the future, but Black Juan felt quite positive that the next few days would prove to be the most exciting period in the history of the Lone Hill ranch, and that he would be one of the star actors in bringing about this condition of excitement. o iO2 The Lost Treasure Cave Therefore, Black Juan was pleased ; and the smile on his face, as he thanked Abel John- son, showed his pleasure and would have showed much more had Abel Johnson been gifted with the art of reading smiles. As soon as the ranch-house was reached a hearty breakfast was served ; and then, so completely fagged out were Dick and Harry and Bill Burke that Abel Johnson insisted that the three of them go to their room at once, and go to bed, and stay there as long as they could keep their eyes shut. " Well, if the excitement keeps up like this we '11 have a lot to tell the boys when we get back to Yahara," were the last words of Harry as he tumbled into his comfortable bunk. " Yes, boss," responded Bill Burke, sleepily ; and in two minutes more all three boys were sound asleep. CHAPTER XII THE PACK-MULE TRAIN HOW long the tired boys would have slept will never be known ; for they were still sound asleep when suddenly awakened by Lo- retta, who was rapping loudly on their door and calling excitedly: "Oh, Dick! Harry! Bill Burke ! Wake up ! Get up, quick ! Captain Kent is coming ! Hurry ! Captain Kent is coming ! Oh, you big sleepy heads ! Do wake up! It's almost sundown! Hurry! Captain Kent is coming ! " and she beat on the door with both of her little doubled-up fists. Bill Burke grunted and rolled over in his bunk. Dick and Harry both sat up and stared blankly around the strange room. It was a moment before they realized where they were ; and then it all came to them in a flash, and they understood the news Loretta was calling out so excitedly. With a yell that made Bill Burke grab his woolly scalp-locks and bound out of bed, both boys leaped to the floor, IO4 The Lost Treasure Cave shouting : " We 're coming ! Just as soon as we can jump into our clothes we '11 be there ! Hurrah for Captain Kent ! " and they began throwing on their garments as if the house were on fire and their lives depended on their speed in getting out of the room. The moment the door opened Loretta caught the two boys by their hands. " Quick ! " she cried, " he must be almost here now. I waited until I was sure it was Captain Kent before I called you. Come on !" and, still holding them by their hands, she ran with them down the long hall and out through the door that opened on the large yard in front of the ranch-house. A pack-train of ten mules, accompanied by a number of horsemen, was just beginning to ascend the hill on which the ranch buildings were situated, as Loretta and Dick and Harry came out. " There he is ! " cried Loretta, and letting go of the boys' hands, she raced down the hill in the direction of the pack-train. "Whoop! Hurrah! Captain Kent!" shouted Harry, pausing long enough to whirl his hat once around his head ; and then he was speeding down the hill after Loretta. "Captain Kent! Hello! Hurrah! O The Pack-Mule Train 105 Captain Kent ! " Dick yelled, whirling his arms around like a windmill ; and he was off, down the hill after Harry. At the head of the little cavalcade, which was now slowly ascending Lone Hill, rode a medium-sized, squarely-built man, with clear blue eyes that seemed to have the ability to "see plumb through a feller, hide an' all," as Red Hank put it. The face was smooth- shaven, not even being graced with the long mustache with which artists are so fond of de- picting Western heroes ; and was such a strong, kindly, resolute-looking face, that it at once inspired confidence in the kindliness and ability of the man. This was Captain David Kent, at that time one of the most famous of the hunters, scouts, and Indian fighters in the West ; and as far re- moved in looks from the ordinary hero of Western romances, as well, as far as said ro- mances are removed, usually, from the reality. He was the warm friend of Dick and Harry and Abel Johnson; and was to command the expedition to secure the treasure in the her- mit's cave. When Captain Kent saw the children racing down the hill toward him, he spurred up his horse and galloped forward to meet them ; and io6 The Lost Treasure Cave soon the three were shaking his hands, and laughing, and talking so vehemently, and loudly, and so all together, that the poor Cap- tain could only stand speechless and let the waves of their welcome roll over him. But it needed only a look at Captain Kent's face to tell how heartily he was enjoying the en- thusiastic greetings of his young friends. Loretta and Dick and Harry were not suf- fered long to monopolize Captain Kent. Be- fore they were half through telling him how glad they were to see him, Abel Johnson and Cowboy Jim and the other cowboys bore down upon them, each eager to grasp Captain Kent's hand and bid him welcome to Lone Hill ranch. With many laughing protests, Loretta and the boys gave way to their boisterous on- set, and hurried after the pack-train, which was now entering the large yard in front of the ranch-house. They had never before seen a pack-mule train ; and the sight of the ten mules, burdened with their huge packs, had greatly interested them, and they were curious to know how the animals were unloaded. "I wonder what can be in the packs?" Loretta queried, as they approached the mules, now brought to a halt and standing one close behind the other. " I hope Captain Kent will The Pack-Mule Train 107 open them to-night and show us what is in them. I do so love to look at things, don't you ? " " I fancy they contain things that we are going to need when we go into the mountains after the treasure," Harry replied. " You know we can't take any wagons with us, be- cause the road is so rough ; and that is the reason, I think, why Captain Kent brought the pack-mules with him. We will need them to carry our outfit, and to bring back the treas- ure. My, there must be millions of dollars worth of gold and jewels in that cave ! Hurry ! They are beginning to unload the mules." The three children quickened their pace, and in another minute were standing by the side of the foremost mule, whose packs were being removed. The fastening of two large bundles on a mule's back so firmly that they will not work loose and fall off, or slip under the mule's belly during a day's journey, is an art that requires experienced and skilled hands ; and Captain Kent had brought with him for that purpose two men who were adepts at this difficult work. These two packers now stood one on each side of the mule. They had already un- tied the long rope, which was wound several io8 The Lost Treasure Cave times around the packs and under the mule's belly to hold them firmly in place, when Lo- retta and the boys came up. This left the two packs, coupled by a rope, balanced across the saddle, whence they were easily lifted and laid on the ground. The saddle, a nearly square pad of leather stuffed with hay and cov- ering the animal's back on both sides equally, like a book placed saddle-fashion over the back of a chair, was next uncinched and placed by the side of the packs. Then the saddle-cloth, and the soft sheepskin worn underneath to prevent chafing, were taken off and thrown on top of the saddle ; and the mule was " un- packed." With an almost audible sigh of re- lief, the animal trotted off the moment the sheepskin was taken from its back, and the next mule quickly took its place. In a sur- prisingly short time, so deftly did the two men work, the packs were all off the backs of the mules, and the animals themselves standing contentedly bunched together a few yards away. " Well, I 'm mighty glad I am not a pack- mule," Dick said, as the last pack was laid on the ground. "Just see how completely worn out the tired animals look. Hello, Cowboy Jim, what 's going to happen now?" he called The Pack-Mule Train 109 to that worthy, as he came up, followed by half a dozen cowboys. " Nothin'," responded Cowboy Jim, "ex- ceptin' we 've orders to tote this luggage into th' storeroom an' lock it up. I anticipate Cap- tain Kent is afraid these blamed packs have got legs an' would run off if they were n't cor- ralled under lock and key. Here, you fellers, don't get rambunctous. I reckon two men to one mule load is 'bout right," and he gave his attention to seeing that the packs were properly carried into the storeroom. " I do wonder whatever can be in those packs," Loretta sighed, her feminine curi- osity thoroughly aroused. " And I don't be- lieve Captain Kent is going to open them at all to-night. Come, let 's go and find him and ask him about them. I saw him and papa go into the house a few minutes ago." Captain Kent and Abel Johnson were found, sitting on the west porch of the house, talking and watching the sun sinking behind the tall peaks of the mountains. Captain Kent smiled when Loretta, in her impulsive, childlike way, asked about the packs, and wanted to know what was inside of them, and when he was going to open them. "There, there, don't get excited," he replied, no The Lost Treasure Cave good-naturedly, in answer to her queries. " Come and sit down by my side, and I '11 tell you all about those mysterious packs. Now, come to think about it, I guess there is one that I shall have to open to-night, because there is something in it that I very much want a little girl I know to see." " Oh, I know it 's something for me ! " Loretta exclaimed, her eyes beginning to sparkle. " Do tell me what it is, Captain Kent? Please do tell me? "and running to him she seated herself in his lap, and put her arms around his neck, and looked so bewitch- ingly up into his face that Captain Kent's heart, right then and there, became as mould- ing clay to the touch of her soft little fingers. Abel Johnson laughed. " No use buckin', David," he said. " When my little gal gets her arms cinched 'round a feller's neck like that, he 's a goner. Might just as well give in at th' first pull of th' rope ; an' if I was you I 'd start for that pack this minute. She won't never let up till she sees what 's in it. An' j Loretta had glided swiftly from Captain Kent's lap, and quickly clapped one of her hands over her father's mouth. " There, that will do, Papa Johnson!" she cried, in seeming The Pack-Mule Train in great anger. " I am not going to tease Cap- tain Kent the least little bit, because he 's not like you, you great big naughty papa ; and I won't even have to ask him to go and get that pack right off now, will I ? " and she glanced archly at Captain Kent. Captain Kent laughed, and jumped quickly to his feet. " Indeed, you will not," and he bowed to the little maiden. " Your hint is sufficiently strong to move a much heavier man than I am. I go ; and when I return, you will see what you see. Come on, Dick and Harry. I may need your help," and, fol- lowed by the two boys, Captain Kent hurried away to the storeroom where the packs had been placed. When the storeroom was reached, Captain Kent seated himself on one of the packs. " I want to have a short talk with you boys," he said ; " and this is as good a place as any, so sit down and make yourselves comfortable." Dick and Harry quickly found seats, and turned expectantly to Captain Kent. " I doubt very much if you boys clearly comprehend," he began, " the importance of the expedition we are about to undertake to the treasure cave, and how necessary it is for us all to exercise the greatest caution, and I H2 The Lost Treasure Cave want to have this talk with you to put you on your guard. Unless my eyes deceived me greatly, the piles of gold and silver and jewels that we saw in that mysterious treasure-cavern of the dead kings are worth many millions of dollars. Anyway the prize is large enough to tempt every desperado and criminal who hears of it to attempt either to get the treasure be- fore we do or to take it from us after we have secured it, no matter at what cost of blood- shed and suffering. So you see, boys, there is need of us all to guard our tongues, and never even to hint of the cave or its treasure to any one whom we could not trust with our lives." " You don't think any one does know about the treasure cave I mean any one whom we should not like to know, do you, Captain Kent?" Harry's face became very sober as he put the question, for he thought there was more back of Captain Kent's manner than his words had yet indicated. " I hardly know how to answer you, Harry," Captain Kent replied. " I do not know of anything positive, and yet certain things have happened that have awakened my suspicions. I am quite sure that I have been shadowed for the past month. Why ? I do not know, The Pack-Mule Train 113 unless it is by some one who has heard that we are to go in search of treasure, and who wishes to follow us to find out where the treasure is. But I am quite sure that I have thrown him off the trail. Have you boys any reasons to think that any one has been watch- ing you, or that you have been followed to Lone Hill ranch?" " Why, I never thought of such a thing ! " and Dick stared blankly at Captain Kent " And I never took the least notice ; but I don't remember of seeing any one who acted as if he was at all interested in watching our movements. Do you, Harry?" " No," responded Harry, " except the man who helped us fix our car seats, so that we could sleep more comfortably, the first night. Come to think of it, he was a bit inquisitive. He said he was a Methodist minister, going to his charge somewhere in Kansas ; and he was just as kind and as pleasant as he could be, and talked and acted exactly like a min- ister ; and Dick and I talked quite a little with him, and told him where we were going, but we did not say a word about the cave or the treasure. He was the only man we spoke more than two words to, and I am quite sure he was a minister and all right. Anyway, he ii4 The Lost Treasure Cave got off the train at Kansas City, and we saw no more of him. You don't really think we were followed, and that some one is going tc try and rob us of the treasure, do you ? " and Harry's face showed the anxiety he felt. Captain Kent smiled. " I fear I have fright- ened you boys more than I intended to ; but I thought it best that you should know the kind of danger that threatened us, so that you could be on your guard. No, I do not think we have been followed here ; and, if we have, I am quite sure we shall be able to guard ourselves and the treasure. There, we have talked long enough. Now we must hurry back, or Loretta will have some remarks to make to each one of us. Here 's the pack I want," and Captain Kent stooped and easily swung one of the coupled packs over his shoulder. " I have a few little things in here for Loretta and her father." Dick glanced quickly at Harry. Harry nodded. Then Dick said : " Captain Kent, Harry and I also 'have a few little things for Loretta and her father.' Now, don't you think it would be a good plan for us to give the presents all together? You know the surprise would be all the greater." " Indeed, I do," responded Captain Kent, The Pack-Mule Train 115 heartily. " Hurry and get your things. I '11 wait here until you come back," and, dropping the packs from his shoulders, he seated him- self in the opened doorway of the storeroom. Dick and Harry started on the run for the ranch-house, which was situated some three rods away from the building containing the storeroom, and separated from it by a long shed, used by the cook as a summer kitchen. As the boys rushed around one end of this shed they came suddenly upon Black Juan, the Mexican, and one of the mule-train pack- ers talking together. Both men started at the sudden appearance of the boys ; but Dick and Harry were in too much of a hurry to notice their confusion, and never thought of the in- cident again until subsequent events recalled it to their minds. When they returned the two men were gone. Captain Kent and Dick and Harry now hurried back to the west porch, where Loretta had been impatiently awaiting their return. The moment she saw them she jumped from her father's lap and ran to them. " What made you so long ? Papa was about to have the alarm bell rung. We thought something terrible must have happened. Now, do hurry ! It was really wicked for you to u6 The Lost Treasure Cave keep me waiting so long," and her eyes danced with excitement as she glanced from the packs hung across Captain Kent's shoulders to the bundles in Dick's and Harry's arms. "Please hurry. Oh, I wonder what it can be ! Here, put them down right in front of papa. Now, I '11 help you," and she was down on her knees unfastening the packs almost as soon as they touched the floor of the porch in front of Abel Johnson's chair ; but, even as her nimble fin- gers worked, her eyes kept glancing upward at the parcels held in Dick's and Harry's hands. She was like the fabled mule between the two haystacks, only her indecision did not last as long. Suddenly, giving the tightly drawn knot, which she had been vainly trying to untie, an impatient jerk, she jumped to her feet. " I think you are just mean, Captain Kent ! " she cried. " I know you tied these knots so hard on purpose to bother me ; so I '11 let you untie them yourself. Now," and she turned quickly to Dick, "what have you got in that big package you are hugging so tightly ? O dear ! can't you see I am almost dying to know ? Is it for me ? " Dick blushed and laughed. " It says ' For Miss Loretta Johnson'; but I wish to be sure you are that young lady before I give it up," The Pack-Mule Train 117 and Dick held the package tantalizingly above his head. " Now, please prove it 's your property." For answer Loretta gave a merry shout and a quick spring, and the package was in her hands before the astonished boy knew what she was doing. Then she threw herself down on the floor, and, holding the parcel in her lap, began eagerly tearing off the papers in which it was wrapped. The first covering off brought to view a pasteboard box that looked suspiciously like a shoe box. " Shoes, as sure as shootin' ! " exclaimed Abel Johnson, laughing loudly. " No, it 's another package ! " Loretta cried, as she tore off the cover of the box, and ex- posed a neatly-done-up parcel, which fitted tightly in the shoe box. In a moment the box was thrown aside and her fingers were busy with the strings wrapped around the second bundle. " O dear ! I can't bother to untie them ! Give me your knife, papa ! " and with flushed face and sparkling eyes the excited girl cut the strings and tore off the paper, only to find another bundle carefully tied with many cords. In another moment the strings were cut, and this covering had gone to join the pile of paper that was fast accumulating by n8 The Lost Treasure Cave Loretta's side, and she found in her hands a neatly wrapped parcel of about the size and shape of a cigar box. " Smokes for your father ! Well, that was good of you, Dick. Hand them over, Lo- retta," and, with his great sunburnt face twin- kling all over with smiles, Abel Johnson reached down for the box. " No, it 's not cigars ! I know it 's not cigars! It's for me! Oh, what can it be? You naughty, naughty boy ! " and, with a re- proachful glance at Dick, she quickly cut the strings and tore off the paper. It was a cigar box ! Abel Johnson roared with laughter, Captain Kent and Harry looked surprised, Dick un- comfortable, and tears came into the eyes of Loretta. Then she saw that the cigar box had been opened , and the next moment her fingers were tearing off the thin cover of wood with feverish haste, and with a glad cry she pulled out another package, very prettily wrapped in pink paper. " I told you it was not cigars ! " she cried, holding up the parcel triumphantly. " Oh, what can it be ? " In a moment her trembling fingers had cut the strings and had carefully taken off the pink The Pack-Mule Train 119 paper, and a richly ornamented leather case, about four inches square, lay in her hands. The case was locked, and fastened to it was a small silver key. With trembling fingers Lo- retta inserted the key in the lock, turned it, and the case flew open ; and the daintiest, prettiest, little gold watch that money could buy lay nestling in the softest of silk beneath her delighted eyes ; and fastened to the watch was a long, beautiful gold chain. For a minute, so great was her surprise and pleasure, Loretta could not speak a word could only sit and look with shining eyes at the beautiful gift ; and then the impulsive girl jumped to her feet and threw her arms around Dick's neck, and thanked him in a way that, while it left no doubt in his mind about the gift pleasing, was the source of considerable embarrassment to that young gentleman. By this time Captain Kent had removed the outer coverings of the two packs and was slowly unwrapping what proved to be a most beautiful and richly ornamented saddle and bridle, with all the accompanying equipments complete. This saddle and bridle Captain Kent had had made to order, especially to fit Bonny Bess and to please Loretta; and when Loretta saw them, for the moment even her I2o The Lost Treasure Cave beautiful watch was forgotten, so delighted was she with these gifts for her loved pony. "Oh, but won't Bonny Bess be proud !" she exclaimed, as she fingered the saddle and bridle lovingly. At this moment Harry plucked up courage to thrust into her hands a small package that, apparently, was causing him great uneasiness, judging from the way he had been passing it from one hand to the other. " I hope this will please you, Loretta. I thought I I " Harry stammered and grew red in the face, something very unusual for him. " Oh, I know it will," Loretta cried, quickly coming to his rescue, as she took the package. " I know it will please me. I wonder what it is?" " Let us all guess," suggested Captain Kent, smiling, " and the one who guesses right is to have the use of it for the first week. Here, let me have a feel of it, and I '11 quickly tell you whether it is a horse and carriage or a city house and lot," and he reached forth his hand, as if to take the parcel. . Loretta laughed merrily and pushed his hand away. " Oh, I could n't wait. I must see what is in it this very minute," and she began The Pack-Mule Train 121 excitedly to cut the strings and to unwrap the paper. It was a box of candy ! " I 'm very hungry," Dick said, smiling amusedly at the blank look of disappointment that passed over Loretta's face, in spite of her utmost efforts, when she saw the candy. " Won't you give a fellow some of that candy? It looks good enough to eat." " Of course I will," and Loretta passed the box of candy to Dick. " And and it was awful good of you to remember my sweet tooth, Harry." Dick took the box and unconcernedly helped himself to nearly all the candy in the first layer of the box, which was separated from the next layer by a thin sheet of white paper. " I just love chocolate creams," he said, as he handed the box back. " Well, I should think you did ! " Loretta exclaimed, indignantly, as she raised the thin sheet of paper to get at the second layer of candy. " I Oh ! O-O-Oh ! " and the surprise and delight pictured on her face were good to see. And no wonder ; for there, lying on a soft cushion of pink silk in the bottom of the supposed candy box, glowed a beautiful neck- lace of pearls, with a small gold locket pendant 122 The Lost Treasure Cave from the chain. With hands trembling with excitement Loretta lifted the necklace from the box and held it up where all could see. "Put it on! Put it on, Loretta!" urged her father, who was almost as much excited as the girl. " It looks fit for a queen ; an', if it is, it is none too good for my little gal. Put it on." Loretta raised the necklace above her flushed face and gently let it fall around her neck. The locket now rested on her bosom, and, in a moment, her curious fingers had opened it. From one side smiled up at her the pictured face of Dick and from the other the face of Harry. " Oh, you dear boys ! " and she impulsively kissed the pictured face of each. " I don't know how I can ever, ever thank you and Captain Kent ! " " Well," responded Captain Kent, " it has been thanks enough for me, as I am sure it has been for Dick and Harry, just to have seen the joy light up your face. I don't know when I have had anything make me feel so warm and pleasant around the heart. But I see Harry has another package. What is it this time ? A piano ? " " No," Harry answered, smiling, " it is some- The Pack-Mule Train 123 thing from Dick and me to Abel Johnson," and he handed the parcel to Loretta's father. "Hi, ho, little gal! You're not th' only bronco in this corral ! " Abel Johnson laughed, as he took the package. " I 'm in th' bunch, too," and he began eagerly to undo the parcel. " By th' great horned buffalo, you 've hit my likes plumb in th' centre, boys ! " and he held up a broad strong belt of leather, containing a couple of beautiful ivory-handled revolvers, the best and the most serviceable that could be bought. On the butt of one of the weapons were engraved the words " FROM DICK," and on the butt of the other, " FROM HARRY." " You couldn't have got anything that would have pleased me better, an' that's th' truth," and Abel Johnson gripped the hands of the boys and shook them warmly. For a couple of hours or more Abel John- son and Loretta and Captain Kent and the two boys sat on the porch and talked ; and when at last Dick and Harry reached their room and bed, it was to find Bill Burke still in his bunk and sound asleep. He had not been out of the room. Both boys laughed, but they did not disturb the tired negro ; and in a short time the two lads had followed him into the land of dreams. CHAPTER XIII BLACK JUAN RIDES TO EL MORO THE next morning Abel Johnson and Cap- tain Kent and Cowboy Jim and Dick and Harry met in secret council, to determine when the start for the mountains and the hermit's treasure cave should be made, and to consider other matters of moment. It was now Wednesday, and Friday would be the Fourth of July, the day of the Great Celebration at Lone Hill ranch. Of course the expedition could not start until after the " big blowout " ; for it had been gotten up especially in honor of Dick and Harry. Cow- boys were coming from all the neighboring ranches, for thirty miles around, and a glorious time was expected, notwithstanding the loss of the fireworks. No, it would not do for Dick and Harry to miss this scene of how the West amuses itself. Then Abel Johnson needed a little more time to make his preparations, and to arrange for his absence from the ranch. Black Juan Rides to El Moro 125 But by the following Monday, it was calculated, everything could be in readiness for the start ; and the morning of that day was finally fixed on as the date of departure from the ranch. Captain Kent reported that, on his way to the ranch, he had met a troop of U. S. cavalry, and had been told that they were after Running Bear and his warriors, or any other Indians who threatened the lives or the property of the whites in this section of the country ; so he thought there was little chance of their having any trouble with the Indians. Captain Kent then spoke of the danger from white robbers and desperadoes, and the need of the utmost caution and secrecy. It was here, he thought, that their real peril lay ; for, once let it be known that they were in search of treasure worth mil- lions of dollars, and it would take a regiment of U. S. soldiers to guard them from the bands of cutthroats that would organize to rob them. This made it necessary that the real purpose of the expedition should be kept a profound secret. They were going to the mountains on a big hunt where it would be impossible to take wagons with them, hence the need of the pack-mules to carry their camp equipments and supplies after bears and elks and mountain lions and deer, and to give Dick and Harry a 126 The Lost Treasure Cave taste of the sport to be found in the great West, and a chance to experience the pleasures and hardships of outdoor life. This was all that any one who was not in the secret needed to know ; and it was agreed to talk all they pleased about the big hunt, but never to men- tion the cave and its treasure until the spot was reached. As the council was about to adjourn Loretta knocked at the door, and said that Black Juan, the Mexican, wished to speak with Cowboy Jim or Abel Johnson. " Well, I reckon we Ve done about all that talkin' can do," Abel Johnson remarked, "an' I propose that this meetin' adjourn, an' I '11 go out an' see what th' critter wants. Come along, Cowboy Jim," and he and Cowboy Jim left the room. They found the Mexican standing on the east porch. The moment he saw the two men he doffed his sombrero and smiled pleasantly. " You wished to see me. What can I do for you?" Abel Johnson asked. 14 1 your permission seek to ride to El Moro to-day," answered the Mexican. "I to a friend a letter would send to tell him of my good fortune. I wish a new rope to purchase, with which to learn if the vaqueros of Colorado Black Juan Rides to El Moro 127 more skilful are than those of Mexico. I am told that an opportunity will be given to all to try their skill on Friday, when you your great nation's birthday are to celebrate, and that I then the feats of your greatest vaqueros shall have the honor of witnessing. I, too, a rope would throw and ride a horse for the glory of old Mexico ; and I to El Moro would go to buy me a new rope for the occasion," and he bowed and smiled, first to Abel Johnson and then to Cowboy Jim. " I, also, a saddle and clothes more fitting would buy. I would ride to El Moro to-day for these purposes, with your permission, sefior," and he bowed to Abel Johnson. The ranchman laughed. " No need of throw- in' so much rope here, Mexico," he said. " It don't take no such string of words to reach me an' Cowboy Jim. I take it that you want to ride one of my broncos to El Moro to-day ? " " With your permission, senor." " Well, I would n't give much for your hide if you tried it without. When will you get back ? " " Before for the night the lights are out." " Do you know the way ? " " The trail a tenderfoot could follow." " Good. You may go, Mexico ; an' if you '11 take th' conceit out of this feller here next 128 The Lost Treasure Cave Friday with that new rope of yourn, you '11 win th' best rifle that money can buy," and Abel Johnson turned and slapped Cowboy Jim on the back, with his hand, in a manner that showed plainer than any words could tell that he did not believe the Mexican had yet been born who could win such laurels. "You can tell Red Hank to give you Hindfoot for your ride. He 's no great sight to look at, but he 's one of th' speediest an' toughest ponies on th' ranch. An' hark you, Mexico, if Hindfoot pleases, you can have him for one of your cow- ponies, an' if at th' end of six months you please me he 's yours for keeps. Now you 'd better get for El Moro, so as to be there before th' sun is hot, an' you 'd better start on th' back- trail about four o'clock." Black Juan was all smiles and bows. " I thank you, seftor. I quickly will go. I your words will remember. I the rifle will not forget and, if fortune is kind, it will be mine next Friday. But, quien sabef I the skill may not have of your Colorado vaquero," and he bowed to Cowboy Jim. "But, for the glory of old Mexico, I the rope would throw and ride the horse with you Americanos. Again I thank you, sefior, for your permission and for the strong horse. I go," and, with a Black Juan Rides to El Moro 129 profound bow, the Mexican hurried away to get his horse. " Thunder, but I 'm feelin' like a Spanish grandee," laughed Abel Johnson, puffing out his great chest and throwing back his head. 44 If he 's as slick with that new rope as he is with that old tongue of his, he '11 get that rifle next Friday, as sure as shootin', an' you '11 get th' defeat of your life, Cowboy Jim, an' by a Mexican !" and he again slapped Cowboy Jim on the back by way of showing his utter dis- belief in the possibility of such an event occurring. 44 There 's too much grease on th' rope he throws," Cowboy Jim grumbled, his eyes on the retreating form of the Mexican, 4t an' I can't make out his brand clear. Leastwise it had a different look to-day than what it had when I first met him. Then he was as sour as an old vinegar jug, an' now he 's all smiles an' bows. Well, a Mexican is a Mexican, an' God alone knows what He ever made them for. Howsomever, I don 't anticipate he '11 handle that rifle none. Leastwise if he does I '11 agree to eat coyote for a week, hide, hair, and all," and the disgusted cowboy hurried away to the quarters of the men to attend to his varied duties as ranch-foreman. 130 The Lost Treasure Cave Abel Johnson returned to Captain Kent ; and Dick and Harry and Loretta, followed by Bill Burke proudly carrying the new saddle and bridle, hastened to the stable of Bonny Bess ; "just to see what she thinks of Captain Kent's gift," Loretta said, her face glowing with the an- ticipated pleasure of a ride on the new saddle. In the meantime the Mexican had mounted Hindfoot, and was now riding away from the ranch, on his way to El Moro. The morning was clear and cool, with a light breeze, fragrant with the scent of flowers blowing across the plain ; and even Black Juan felt the exhilarat- ing influences of the pure air and the bright sunshine, for, as he rode, he sang snatches of love songs, and threw back his head and joy- ously drank in long breaths of the sweet air, as if they were drafts of the elixir of life, as, in- deed, they were. He rode swiftly, and soon reached the entrance to Third Pass. Here he pulled up his bronco, placed two of his fingers in his mouth, and whistled shrilly. Then he rode slowly on into the pass. When about half-way through the pass he again stopped and again whistled loudly. This time the whistle was answered. Black Juan smiled, and, set- tling himself down comfortably in his saddle, waited. In two minutes a man emerged from Black Juan Rides to El Moro 131 behind a rock a little distance up the pass, and hastened toward the Mexican, who laughed o softly as he watched his approach. Just before reaching the Mexican, the man stopped and stared at him blankly. " What 's the trouble, Spike ? " inquired Black Juan. " A sudden twinge of rheum- atism ? You walk as if you had an ox-bow for a backbone," and again the Mexican laughed. " Well, I am euchred, if I did n't take you for a Greaser, Cap ! " exclaimed the man, *' till I heard your voice. You look one, as natural and as big as life." " You 're not the first man, Spike Smith, to express that identical opinion of me," smiled Black Juan. "And for the time being I am Black Juan, a. Mexican vaquero, recently from New Mexico, and now a cowboy on the ranch of Abel Johnson. But, you have n't told me what your trouble is ? You stand as if you had a red-hot poker run down your back, and your face looks as if somebody had been trying to make a map of the Rocky Mountains on it all done in black and blue." Spike Smith swore. "Well, Cap, me and Long Ben played the funny business with cards once too often, at El Moro, day be- fore yesterday," he explained, disgustedly and 132 The Lost Treasure Cave wrathfully, " and we got run out of town by a pack of devilish cowboys, who lashed us with their cow-quirts until there ain't a sound square inch of hide on our backs ; and walloped us over our faces until the skin hung in ribbons. Long Ben 's completely done up, and won't be fit for nothin' for a week. If ever I set eyes on that infernal cowboy who gave the game away, and held me up at the point of his six-shooter, there '11 be a grave needed mighty sudden," and Spike Smith 's eyes glowed, and his swollen face flushed a deeper red. Black Juan laughed. " If you 're hankering bad for a sight of that identical cowboy," he said, "just take my back-trail. 'Twill lead you straight to him. He 's the foreman on the ranch where I work. But you 'd better be mighty careful or 't will be Spike Smith that '11 be planted in the grave that '11 be needed so sudden. He's quicker than chain lightning with them guns of his." Spike Smith stared in astonishment at the speaker. Then he swore, by way of easing a little his wrath and astonishment. Then he exclaimed : " Well, I am a son of a Cochin- China rooster, if you ain 't the identical Greaser that was with them two cowboys ! I remember you now ; and the two kids ; and Black Juan Rides to El Moro 133 the grinning nigger. Well, I '11 be blowed ! So you saw it all, Cap ? " "Yes. And now to business. If things turn out the way I hope, you '11 have a chance to even things up with that cowboy, and I '11 settle some old scores with Captain Kent and the two kids ; so just hold your temper until the proper time comes. We're playing for higher stakes. Now listen," and Black Juan lowered his voice, until he spoke almost in a whisper, as if he were afraid that the very rocks around him had ears, and might hear and repeat his words. At the end of a quarter of an hour the two men separated. Spike Smith vanished among the rocks whence he came, and Black Juan con- tinued on his way to El Moro. There was a look of satisfaction on the face of Spike Smith ; and Black Juan smiled and laughed softly to himself, but his smile was not a pleasant one to see nor the laugh a kindly one to hear. When Black Juan returned to Lone Hill ranch that night Hindfoot wore a brand-new saddle and bridle, both of Mexican workman- ship, and the new lasso hung to the pommel of the saddle, while a large bundle held the com- plete outfit, from boots to hat, of a Mexican vaquero. 134 The Lost Treasure Cave " Well, Mexico is bound to throw a little style on th' Fourth, if he can't throw anythin' else," remarked one of the cowboys, as he critically examined the new outfit. " An' I sabe he 's no tenderfoot. I could n't a done better myself. That rope has got just th' right feel to it," and he uncoiled the lariat, and, whirling it quickly about his head, deftly cast the noose around the neck of Bill Burke, who stood, grinning, a little distance away. With a hideous yell the sportive cowboy gave the rope a quick jerk and drew the noose tight. If the act was meant for fun, Bill Burke did not seem to see the fun ; but he did feel the rope and see the cowboy jerking at the other end of it, while, doubtless, visions of himself yanked about over the ground by these wild men of the plains flashed through his head There was a sudden slack in the taut lasso, and the astonished cowboy beheld a black catapult hurling itself straight at him, and the next in- stant he felt as if a cannon ball had struck him in the pit of the stomach, and, with a grunt that could be heard for rods, he was lifted off his feet and landed sprawling on his back on the hard ground, where he lay for a full min- ute doubled up in the agony of an almost vain effort to get his breath back again. Black Juan Rides to El Moro 135 Bill Burke shook his woolly head ram-like, as he tore the rope from around his neck, and glared at the squirming cowboy. " I 's no long- ho'ned steer ! " he exclaimed wrathfully. " I 's a 'sepstable colo'ed gemmen ; an' I 's gwine to stand fo' no sech tomfoolin's," and shaking his head, and rolling his eyes, and wrinkling his face, and muttering indignantly to himself Bill Burke retreated into the house, away from the yelling cowboys, who, as soon as they had recovered from the astonishment caused by the negro's unexpected coup de main, tumbled all over themselves in an ecstasy of delight over the sudden and complete discomfiture of the would-be-smart cowboy. No one could possibly enjoy a scene of this kind more than these rough knights of the plains, who fully appreciated the poetic justice of the negro's effective head-work ; and from that moment on Bill Burke was a persona grata, as the diplomats say, with the cowboys of the Lone Hill ranch. " Well, I reckon Mexico calculates to do all th' shinin' for th' Lone Hill ranch on th' Fourth," Cowboy Jim reported to Abel John- son later that night. " Leastwise he 's got an outfit that would knock th' horns off a two- year-old steer ; an' he brought back with him 136 The Lost Treasure Cave a jug of tonsil varnish an' he 's paintin' th' boys' insides right now an' makin' himself so agreeable that I anticipate they fancy he 's th' greatest that ever happened in these parts. But I can't cotton to him. His eyes make me think of snakes. I guess it is just because I don't like Mexicans nohow." "If he can ride a horse, an' rope a steer, an '11 do his work, I can stand th' rest," laughed Abel Johnson. " How 's things lookin' for th' Fourth ? We don 't want no failure." " There won't be none," replied Cowboy Jim enthusiastically. "Th' cowboys are com- in' from every ranch within thirty miles, an' -we 've got a programme that '11 keep things boilin' right along. It's all writ down, an' I '11 read it to you, if you wish." " All right. Come in where there 's a light," and the two men went into the house, where they sat for an hour or more talking over the programme and planning how best to entertain their guests on the great day. CHAPTER XIV COWBOY JIM'S CANNON THE day before the Fourth was a very busy day at the Lone Hill ranch. Preparations had to be made for the physical entertainment of a hundred or more men. Several fat steers were roped and butchered and prepared for barbecuing, while the great oven in the kitchen was kept red-hot all day with the baking of the various kinds of breads and pastries which the skill of the cook and the material at hand enabled that worthy to concoct. Then, there was the ground to pre- pare and measure for the various races and games and contests that were scheduled to take place. But when night came, Cowboy Jim, who, with the advice and assistance of Abel Johnson and Captain Kent, not to mention Loretta and Dick and Harry, had superintended the work, reported everything " corralled an' dcuble-cinched an' ready to be turned loose at daybreak." 138 The Lost Treasure Cave "I do hope it won't rain to-morrow," Harry said, as he seated himself on the porch by the side of Loretta and Dick that night after supper. " Back in Wisconsin it 'most always rains on the Fourth of July, or whenever we plan to have an extra good time. If it rains to-morrow it will spoil nearly all the fun." " Oh, did you see Black Juan out practising to-day?" broke in Dick. " I did. It was out back of the big corral. He was trying his new horse and saddle and rope. My, but he can ride and throw the rope ! I saw him drop his glove and pick it up while going at full speed ; and he caught a running steer around both front legs at the first throw of his rope. Even Red Hank says he '11 give Cowboy Jim a mighty close tussle to-morrow. You know they are both in the roping and tying contest ; and I am sure the Mexican expects to defeat Cowboy Jim " " Well, he won't," interrupted Loretta, positively and a bit indignantly. " Cowboy Jim can rope and throw and tie a steer quicker than any other cowboy alive ; and he 's the best horseback rider in Colorado. Papa says so, and he knows. I '11 bet Dutch could beat that Mexican, in spite of his new saddle and fine clothes. Just you wait and see where he Cowboy Jim's Cannon 139 is when Cowboy Jim gets through with him," and she gave her head a defiant toss. " There, now, Loretta, that '11 do," and Cow- boy Jim stepped out of the door, where he had been standing unseen long enough to overhear the words of his little champion. " I am plumb conceited already ; an' if I don't defeat that Mexican to-morrow with them words of yourn a-ringin' in my ears, I'll deserve to be run off th' ranch on a jack- rabbit. Now, Dick, I want you to do something for me to-morrow. Will you ? " " Gladly, if I can," Dick replied, promptly. " I want you to ride Sambo in th' four-mile runnin' race. You 're lighter than I am by some odd thirty pounds, an' you know Sambo, an' Sambo knows you ; an' thirty pounds would win or lose a race for that distance. Th' boys of th' Bar Double S outfit think they have got a horse that's goin' to throw dust into Sambo's face, an' I just naturally want Sambo to do all th' dust throwin', but I 'm afeard I 'm too heavy for that distance. Will you ride Sambo for me, Dick?" Dick's face flushed with pleasure and excite- ment. He understood and appreciated the compliment that had been paid to his grit and horsemanship. A cowboy prizes his horse 140 The Lost Treasure Cave above all his earthly possessions. It is the one thing about which he will stand no fool- o ing. And to be asked by the best cowboy on the ranch to ride his own horse, and that horse Sambo, in the most important race of the day was, indeed, something to stir the blood of a boy like Dick with the thought of the glory and the honor of it. " Oh, do you really mean it, Cowboy Jim ! " he exclaimed, jumping to his feet. " If you do I '11 be the happiest and proudest boy in Colorado to-morrow ; and I know Sambo will win, I know he will win," repeated the enthusi- astic lad. Cowboy Jim laughed. "You can just bet your last copper he '11 win," he said decisively. " An' you 're percisely th' lad I want on his back to-morrow ; an' so we '11 consider that settled. Now I want you to go right to bed, an' get every wink of sleep you can, so that you will be in th' best possible shape for to- morrow ; an' I reckon Loretta an' Harry had better do th' same. To-morrow '11 be a long an' excitin' day. I want to see you th' first thing in th' mornin', Dick. Good night," and Cowboy Jim hurried off to his quarters. Loretta and Dick and Harry agreed that Cowboy Jim's advice was good, and at once Cowboy Jim's Cannon 141 sought their rooms. But it was many minutes before sleep came to Dick's excited mind ; and when it did come it brought dreams, and it would be impossible to tell how many times Dick rode and won the race on Sambo's back that night before he was awakened the next morning by a roar that almost shook him out of his bed. For an instant he stared around blankly. What had made that dreadful sound ? Then he remembered that it was the Fourth of July. It must have been the sun- rise cannon ! But they had no cannons at Lone Hill ranch. The matter needed immedi- ate investigation. He sprang out of bed, and, with a yell, grabbed Harry, who was sleepily rubbing his eyes, and pulled him out. Then both boys made a wild raid on 'Bill Burke's bunk. The negro was sleeping soundly. It took more than a cannon to awaken Bill Burke. Harry caught hold of one leg and Dick of the other, and the next moment Bill Burke was sprawling on his back on the floor. "Wake up! Hurrah! It's the Fourth of July!" yelled Dick. " Biss ! Boom ! Siss-bang-boom ! Hurrah for the glorious Fourth ! " shouted Harry, as he began jumping into his clothes. " Golly ! how did I get down har on de 142 The Lost Treasure Cave flo'?" queried Bill Burke, sitting up. "Is done sho' I went to bed in dat dar bunk." At that moment Loretta began pounding on the door with both of her fists. " Hurry ! Hurry, boys!" she cried. "Cowboy Jim is going to fire off his cannon again. Hurry, or we '11 be too late ! " " I 'm 'most ready," answered Dick. " I 've only got one boot to pull on," called Harry. " I 's comin' mighty sudden," yelled Bill Burke, who by now had caught the Fourth of July enthusiasm. " I 's done got but one leg ob my trousers to pull on." In three minutes more the three boys were out of the house, and, guided by Loretta, were racing down the hill toward a huge rock, about a half a mile away from the ranch buildings. Before they reached the rock they saw Cow- boy Jim jump up from behind it and run away as fast as his legs would carry hirn. The moment he saw the children he shouted and motioned to them to keep back. They stopped, and in a minute more Cowboy Jim had reached them, blowing like a porpoise. " There she goes ! " he yelled, whirling around and pointing toward the rock. First there came a great puff of white smoke, Cowboy Jim's Cannon 143 then they saw a huge rock tossed high in the air, and, while the rock was yet in the air, they were almost lifted off their feet by the shock of a report that seemed to fairly shake the earth. Cowboy Jim's cannon had gone off. Firmly embedded in the ground was a great flat rock. In this rock Cowboy Jim had hol- lowed out with a hammer and chisel a small depression, from which he had cut a shallow trench to the outer edge of the rock. Into this depression he had poured a quantity of gunpowder, attached a fuse to it by means of the trench, and then had placed over all an- other huge flat stone, with a corresponding depression hollowed in its centre. This con- stituted Cowboy Jim's cannon ; and when it went off the sound was like the roar of a hundred-pounder. The first rays of the morning's sun were now flashing over the great plains, and the splendour of the sight thrilled the hearts of Dick and Harry. Far to the eastward rolled the plains, like the waves of a mighty land- ocean, their crests bright with the sunlight, their western slopes still in the shadows ; while far to the westward, clear and distinct in the white light of the early morning, gleamed the 144 The Lost Treasure Cave tops of the Spanish Peaks, with many a lesser mountain peak and rocky wall of nature's masonry shining in between. Even Bill Burke was impressed by the magnitude and the grandeur of the scene ; and, in a way, ex- pressed the sentiment of all when he exclaimed : " Golly, I done nebber seed so much country befo'!" Then, after a moment's pause : " How big Gawd A'mighty mus' be to hab made all dat!" For a few minutes Loretta and Dick and Harry and Bill Burke and Cowboy Jim stood on the top of the great rock, at the base of which was the improvised cannon, and con- templated this wonderful scene of clear skies, broad plains, and towering mountains ; and then they all hurried back to the ranch build- ings, where everybody had been awakened by the roars of Cowboy Jim's cannon, and the bustle of the eventful day had already begun. Cowboy Jim took Dick away with him. There were many things he wanted to tell the lad about the coming race ; and when Dick returned a half an hour later, to where Loretta and Harry and Bill Burke stood on the porch, he was holding his chin a little high in the air and there was a bit of swagger about his walk, all very pardonable in a boy who had been Cowboy Jim's Cannon 145 chosen to ride the fleetest cow-pony in southern Colorado, in a race that grew in importance, at least in Dick's estimation, with every moment. " Oh, I 'm so glad that you are to ride Sambo," Loretta called to him as he came up. " And I know you will win, and then how proud we '11 all be. Now, all of you come in to breakfast. It 's almost time for the cow- boys to begin coming, and I for one want to see them come," and she led the way into the house. There was no dallying over the breakfast that morning, for all were anxious to be out- doors, ready to welcome the cowboys when they arrived ; but it was nearly eight o'clock before the first band came in sight over the brow of a low hill some three miles away. " There they are ! " shouted Loretta, jump- ing up. " There they come ! " and she pointed to where a rapidly flitting cloud of white dust trailed out behind a body of horsemen riding swiftly toward the Lone Hill ranch. "It's the Bar Double S outfit, too; and that 's Billie riding on Boston in the lead. There 's the only man and horse you and Sambo need to fear, Dick. Oh, see them come ! " By this time the band of cowboys have 146 The Lost Treasure Cave reached the foot of the hill on which stand the ranch buildings, and with loud whoops are charging up the incline, straight toward the little group gathered in front of the ranch- house to receive and welcome them. There are twenty cowboys in the band ; and each one sits up straight in his saddle, with his legs hanging straight down, and his body moving in exact accord with the motions of the horse. On they come, the wind blowing back the broad brims of their hats, their right hands occasionally wielding the quirts, and their heels driving the spurs into the flanks of their flying ponies, which, with heads held low, ears thrown back, nostrils distended, and foam-flecked mouths, are racing up the hill. At their head gallops Billie, ranch-foreman of the Bar Double S outfit, on the back of his favorite cow-pony, Boston ; good friends and honest rivals of Cowboy Jim and Sambo. On they come, spurring and whipping their horses the harder the nearer they get, until it seems to Dick and Harry as if the wild cavalcade of yelling men and plunging horses must ride over them. But, no ; while still going at full speed and when almost upon Abel Johnson and his com- panions, each cowboy suddenly gives his rein a strong upward jerk, and the pony, taught Cowboy Jim's Cannon 147 instantly to obey the pull on the bit, its head tossed high in the air, throws itself back on its hind legs, and, sliding on its fetlocks, comes to a full stop within a few feet of the aston- ished boys ; and almost at the same moment the cowboys are off their horses and shaking hands all around. In much the same way, cavalcade after cavalcade of ranchmen dash madly up the hill to be welcomed by the whole-hearted hospi- tality of Abel Johnson ; and by ten o'clock a hundred and fifty men have arrived, and it is time to start the "cayuse to jumpin'," as Cowboy Jim remarks. CHAPTER XV BILL BURKE AND THE BUCKING BULL NEAR the centre of the large level plot of ground in front of the ranch-house stood a pole, some thirty feet high, with ropes hung and ready for the running up of the American flag. Captain Kent, who had been appointed Master of Ceremonies, now announced that the first thing on the day's programme would be the raising of the flag, and requested all pres- ent to form a circle round the flag-pole, and to sing " The Star Spangled Banner," as the flag was run up. When all were ready, Captain Kent and Loretta, who was to have the honor of raising the flag, stepped to the base of the pole, where lay the flag already attached to the ropes. Captain Kent took off his hat, Loretta caught hold of the rope, and slowly the flag rose upward. The moment the flag floated free from the ground, off came every hat, and every voice began singing that glorious old Bill Burke and the Bucking Bull 149 song, dear to every American patriot's heart, beginning : " Oh ! say can you see, by the dawn's early light, What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming ?" Many of the cowboys had good voices, all had strong voices, and every man put his heart into the song. Dick and Harry had heard this song sung many, many times before ; but never had it thrilled and stirred them as it did now, as it rolled forth on the voices of these strong-lunged, patriotic men of the plains. The moment the flag was in its place and the last words sung, out came every man's six- shooter, and the glorious old flag was saluted with volley after volley until every revolver had been emptied into the air. Of all the patriotic gatherings in the great nation on that day, I am sure not one experienced a purer or a stronger wave of patriotism than that which swept over the hearts of these rough men as they stood around that lonely flag-pole on the far-off plains of Colorado and paid their homage to their country's flag. The ground selected for the games and races was at the foot of the hill and back of u 150 The Lost Treasure Cave the ranch buildings. All now hastened to this place. " We '11 start the ball a-rolling with some- thing lively," Captain Kent announced ; and then he went on to explain that that lively " something " was an especially ugly-looking, big, fat bull that stood, held by two strong lariats, glowering at them a short distance away, and that the first man who would stay on his bare back for ten minutes might con- sider himself, his heirs and assignees, hence- forth and forever, that bull's owner. Hardly had he ceased speaking when along- legged, long-armed, and long-faced cowboy stepped forth and signified his intention to have a try for that bull. " Bully for you, Shorty ! " sang out one of the cowboys. "Take a diamond hitch with your legs around his belly ! " loudly advised another. But Shorty, giving no heed to these and various other comments and freely offered words of counsel, began preparing himself for the contest. First he unbuckled his belt con- taining his heavy revolver and cartridges and dropped it on the ground ; then he threw down his sombrero on top of it ; next he took off his boots and added them to the pile ; and lastly Bill Burke and the Bucking Bull 151 he rolled up his sleeves, spat on his hands, and started for the bull, a look of grim determina- tion on his face. Two men stood ready to unfasten the lari- ats, while a third held a blanket over the bull's eyes. Shorty approached the side of the bull as silently and as cautiously as possible, and made ready to leap upon his back the moment the ropes were loosed and the blanket re- moved. At the word from Captain Kent, who stood with his watch in his hand, the two men cut the lariats, the blanket was jerked off, Shorty leaped upon the bull's back, and the battle was on. There is, probably, no more difficult animal in the world to ride bare-backed than a big, fat bull, when the bull is wild and objects to his rider, and in two seconds after Shorty struck his back there was no doubt in the minds of any of the onlookers as to the wildness of this particular bull, or of his objections to Shorty remaining on his back. With a bellow of fright and rage the startled animal bounded away across the plains, with Shorty, wrapping his long legs and arms as nearly as possible around the thick body and digging his bare feet into his sides, clinging to him almost liter- ally with teeth and nails. For, perhaps, twenty 152 The Lost Treasure Cave rods the bull ran straight ahead ; then he ap- peared suddenly to come to the conclusion that that sort of action was not the way to get rid of the frightful clinging thing on his back, for he stopped running abruptly, and began jumping up and down and sideways, and whirl- ing round and round, bellowing all the time, until about all that was to be seen was a whirl- wind of mingled bull and dust and cowboy. Suddenly from out one side of this whirlwind shot the long-legged cowboy, while from the other side leaped the bull. The cowboy, after rolling over and over, jumped to his feet, and was immediately surrounded by his hilarious friends. The bull was soon captured by two cowboys and brought back struggling at the ends of their lariats, and made ready for the next rider. "Time, seven minutes and two seconds," announced Captain Kent. " Will you try him again, Shorty ? " " No," answered Shorty, shaking his head emphatically. " I 'm out. That blamed bull's hide ain't anchored nowhere. I 'm locoed if it did n't slip plumb over between my legs. I 'm out of that deal," and he began gathering up his belongings. For a moment it seemed as if the bull would Bill Burke and the Bucking Bull 153 remain victor, and then Bill Burke stepped forth, his face shining with excitement. " Is dat dar bull gwine to belong fo' sho' to de one what sticks on his back ten minutes ? " he inquired. "Yes," answered Captain Kent, smiling. " Den dis niggah gwine to hab dat bull," and Bill Burke started toward the spot where the enraged animal was pawing up the earth and lowing angrily, while the cowboys yelled and whooped with delight. Two men again made ready to cut the ropes, while a third threw a blanket over the bull's eyes. " So, bossy ! So-o, bossy ! so-o-o ! " Bill Burke murmured, soothingly, as he approached the bull, to the intense joy of all the surrounding cowboys. " So, bossy ! So-o, bossy ! So-o-o-o ! " and he placed a black hand on the animal's hind hip bone, and then, suddenly, with the yell, " Cut de ropes ! " he leaped on the bull's back backward, quickly wound his long legs around under the thick neck, grabbed the startled animal's tail with his right hand, and began to twist it for all he was worth. The feel of the sprawling thing on his back and the pain from the twisted tail nearly drove the bull frantic with terror, and, bellowing madly, he rushed off blindly over the plains. 154 The Lost Treasure Cave Away went the bull and Bill Burke, the negro hugging the backbone as closely as pos- sible, and giving the tail an extra twist every time the bull showed the least inclination to stop running and to begin jumping, and the bull making frantic efforts to redouble his speed each time the negro took an extra hitch in his tail ! How the cowboys yelled and whooped ! Al- most on the instant of its accomplishment they saw that the quick-witted negro's object was to keep the bull running, and thus prevent him from stopping and jumping and whirling around ; and they knew that if he kept twisting his tail and twisted it hard enough the bull would not stop, and that it would not be a diffi- cult matter for the negro to stay on the bull's back so long as the animal ran straight ahead. At the end of the ten minutes the bull was still going, and Bill Burke was still on his back, twisting new kinks in his tail, and too intent on his business to note that Captain Kent and the cowboys were shouting to him and signalling that he had won, and it was not until two of the men had roped the bull that Bill Burke finally dismounted, sore but tri- umphant, from his foaming steed. Various games and sports and contests, Bill Burke and the Bucking Bull 155 dear to the hearts of cowboys, followed, but nothing occurred of sufficient interest to need describing here until the time came for the two great events of the day the horse-races and the steer-roping contest. These had been postponed until late in the afternoon to avoid the heat, and it was nearing four o'clock when at last Captain Kent announced that the horse-racing would begin. Nearly every cowboy had entered his horse for one or more of the races, and now all was bustle and excitement as the riders prepared for the different contests. However, the vari- ous minor races need not be described here. They were interesting and important only to their participators. But the great event of the day, the four-mile race, when Dick rode Sambo and Billie of the Bar Double S outfit rode Boston, and every cowboy was shouting and hurrahing for one or the other of these two, really merits a much more vivid description than my poor pen can give it. This race had been talked over on all the neighboring ranches for weeks, until the interest in its outcome was red-hot. All knew that there would be but two horses entered, Cowboy Jim's Sambo and Bil- lie's Boston. There was not another cow- pony, at least in that section of the country, 156 The Lost Treasure Cave with any pretensions to racing ability, that had not been already easily beaten by either the one or the other of these horses ; but, until to-day, the two champions had never chanced to meet on the same battlefield. This will ex- plain why all the cowboys were awaiting so eagerly the announcement of the four-mile race. CHAPTER XVI THE GREAT RACE A FEW minutes before Captain Kent called the four- mile race, Cowboy Jim ap- proached Dick, who, with Harry and Loretta, had been enjoying himself immensely, and, laying a hand on the boy's shoulder, said : " It is time we are gettin' ready, Dick." " All right," Dick answered, in a voice that trembled a little, " I am ready to go with you," and, with a warm hand-pressure and eagerly spoken words of encouragement and hope from Loretta and Harry, he quietly slipped away with Cowboy Jim. " Let us go where papa is," Loretta sug- gested, pointing to where Abel Johnson sat, with two other men, on a small stand erected for the judges a few feet from the finishing- posts. " I know he will let us get up there with him, because I am so small that I can't see over the heads of all these big men, and I 158 The Lost Treasure Cave do so want to see every bit of Dick's race. Oh, I do hope he will win !" " Well," replied a smiling cowboy, who was standing directly behind her and had over- heard her words, " if you 're calculatin' on Cowboy Jim's Sambo beatin' our Billie's Bos- ton, I 'm sorry for you, little gal, 'cause he won't. Sambo 's a mighty good cayuse, but he ain't in it with Boston. Now, don't go to th' puttin' of any good money up on Sambo," and the cowboy shook his head solemnly. Loretta laughed. " Oh, you need n't feel a bit sorry for me," she returned, " because Sambo is going to win that race just as sure as the sun rose this morning. I know it," and she shook her head at him defiantly. " Do you hear ? I know Sambo is going to win, and it is you that will be sorry, not I, after the race is over. Come on, Harry," and she hur- ried away to the stand, where sat her father and two of the neighboring ranch-owners, who were acting as judges of the various horse-races. Hardly had Loretta and Harry seated them- selves on the stand, when Captain Kent an- nounced that the next race would be the four-mile race, and called on all who were to take part in it to ride up and receive their instructions. The Great Race 159 Then, amidst a wild tumult of excited shout- ing and hurrahing, Billie dashed swiftly up on Boston, and pulled up in front of Captain Kent, and within a few feet of where Loretta and Harry sat. Almost at the same moment, and from the opposite direction, Dick galloped up on Sambo, amidst an even wilder tumult of welcoming shouts, and came to a halt by the side of Billie and Boston, and, for the first time, the two horses stood side by side. Sambo was black as coal ; Boston was white as milk ; but with their color the dissimilarity of the two ponies ended. Both horses were splendidly proportioned, deep-chested, narrow- barrelled, and strong-limbed ; and both had beautiful heads, with eyes bright with the un- conquerable spirit that had made each victor in many a hard-fought contest. Sambo was, perhaps, a half a hand taller than Boston, and Boston, at least to the most of those present, was a trifle the handsomer-looking horse of the two ; but, otherwise, so far as even the ex- perienced eyes of Captain Kent could see, there was little to choose between the two equine champions. There was a greater dissimilarity between the two riders. Billie was a man grown, with at least ten years of constant riding back of 160 The Lost Treasure Cave him, and famed as one of the most clever riders in that part of the country. Dick was but a little over sixteen years old, a boy in ex- perience as well as in age ; but, for a boy, a splendid horseman. Billie was a tall, well- proportioned man, with muscles trained and hardened by years of constant usage. Dick was a tall, well-proportioned boy, with some thirty pounds less of weight to carry than Billie, but his equal in pluck and courage. So far as appearance went the advantage was all with Billie, at least so it seemed to the cow- men present ; for, in a four-mile race, the skill and endurance of the rider is even of more im- portance than his weight, and these rough men had but little confidence in the riding ability of the Eastern boy. Evidently Billie was of the same opinion, for he smiled condescendingly on Dick, and good-naturedly asked him if " his ma knew he was out," and other like questions calculated to make him feel his youth and greenness. But Dick never answered him a word. When the time came he would let his acts talk for him. Captain Kent now made known the con- ditions of the race. Exactly a mile, straight out over the plain from the finishing-posts, a tall white pole had been planted upright in the The Great Race 161 ground. The horses were to start from a stand-still, pass around this mile-post, back and around the right-hand finishing-post, again around the mile-post, and back to where a beautiful and costly cowboy's saddle and bri- dle lay on a high table, which stood exactly midway between the two finishing-posts. The first rider to touch either the saddle or the bridle won the race, and also the bridle and the saddle. To avoid the danger of the horses running into each other, should the race be a close one, Dick was instructed to ride up on the right-hand and Billie on the left-hand side of the table. Two men were stationed at the mile-post to see that the riders properly circled the pole, and the three judges sat where they could see clearly what hand it was that first touched the saddle or the bridle. " Do you understand and are you willing to abide by these rules and regulations ? " asked Captain Kent. " Yes," answered the two horsemen. " Get into position." Dick and Billie wheeled their horses, and dashed up to the starting-point, a line stretched from one finishing-post to the other. Both horses were to stand side by side, touching this line with their breasts. 162 The Lost Treasure Cave " Are you ready ? " Captain Kent asked, when both horsemen were in position, drawing his six-shooter. "Yes." " Then go the instant the crack of my revolver reaches your ears," and he raised the weapon above his head. Dick leaned well forward crouched almost in the attitude of a sprinter on Sambo, his left hand gripping tightly the reins, his right holding his quirt raised to strike, his feet held out from the body of the horse ready to drive the spurs into the flanks, his face white, his lips set, and his eyes staring straight ahead. He was in that race to win, if boy and horse could do it. Billie's eyes shone, his lips were drawn tight against his teeth, and he sat with seeming carelessness, straight up in the saddle ; but there was no carelessness there. Every mus- cle was tense, ready for instant action. The two horses stood, quivering with ex- citement, held back so that their breasts just touched the line, by the strong hands of their riders, as eager to be off as were Dick and Billie themselves. Loretta and Harry almost held their breaths, their eyes fixed on Dick and their ears listen- ing for the crack of the pistol. The Great Race 163 Captain Kent raised his arm higher, glanced swiftly at the two horsemen, and pulled the trigger. Crack ! As if moved by the same shaft of machinery, both horses bounded forward ; and the great race had begun. " Look, oh, look ! Dick is getting ahead ! " cried Loretta, jumping to her feet in her ex- citement. " He is ahead ! See, he is a good rod ahead ! Oh, I knew he would win ! Hur- rah for Dick ! " and, in her enthusiasm, she jumped upon her chair the better to watch the race. By this time Dick and Billie were nearing the mile-post, with Dick, as Loretta had said, a good rod in the lead. Both horses were going almost at full speed ; for Cowboy Jim had unlimited confidence in the endurance of Sambo, and had instructed Dick to make the race a " hot one " from the start ; and Dick was following instructions. All eyes were now watching the two horsemen intently ; for the cowboys knew well that it required no little skill and judgment to ride a horse, while going at full speed, around a post in the short- est and quickest manner possible ; and, as there were three of these turns to be made 164 The Lost Treasure Cave before the race was won, the horseman who could make the quickest and shortest turn, other things being equal, would be sure to win the race. They had no fears for Billie ; but the " Eastern kid " some of them expected to see him flung off the horse's back by the quick turn of the cow-pony, and all felt sure that he would lose a rod or more at the round- ing of each post. " Now watch Billie ! " yelled one of the cowboys. " This is where the Eastern kid loses his scalp." Straight toward the post rode Dick, and straight behind him came Billie. The instant Dick had passed the post he turned Sambo, and the black responded so promptly that he nearly threw his rider off his back ; but Billie seemed to swing Boston around almost in his tracks, and, with a yell of triumph, dashed in a good rod ahead of Dick. Billie had gained two rods in making the turn around the mile-post ! How Billie's adherents yelled, and flung up their hats, and fired off their pistols at sight of this remarkable feat of horsemanship ! while Cowboy Jim's followers for the first time began to look doubtful. " Hurry, do hurry, Dick ! " cried Loretta. The Great Race 165 " Oh, don't let him beat you ! Hurry, hurry ! Oh, he 's gaining ! I am sure he 's gaining ! Don't you think he 's gaining, Harry ? See, he is almost up even with him again ! There, I was sure he would do it ! " and the delighted girl clapped her hands and shouted her joy, as Dick and Sambo slowly drew ahead of Billie and the white horse. Now, the two horsemen are almost to the finishing-posts, and the cowboys are crowding back to give them room to make the swing- round. Dick is ahead, but so close behind him comes Billie that the nose of the white horse almost touches the flank of the black. How the two horses do come ! with heads held low and necks almost straight, their nostrils dis- tended, the foam flying from their mouths, and their hoofs throwing up puffs of dust at every jump. Not a yell comes from the crowd. Every eye is strained to watch them make that fateful swing-round. Can Dick do it with- out again losing his lead ? No ; his horsemanship is not equal to the task. He makes a shorter turn than he did before ; but Billie, with a yell of derision, swings Boston around so suddenly that the white horse seems to turn on his hind hoofs, and is off, a rod ahead of Dick ; and he keeps 1 66 The Lost Treasure Cave the lead, keeps it in spite of Dick's and Sambo's utmost efforts ; and, when he again makes the turn at the mile-post and starts back on the home stretch, the white horse leads the black by a full two rods, and Billie is shouting his yells of triumph. The excitement is now intense. The cow- boys try to climb upon one another's shoulders, in their eagerness to see the finish. Cowboy Jim jumps upon the stand by the side of Loretta and Harry, and stands, white-faced, his eyes fixed on the on-coming horses. The three judges forget their dignity and leap to the seats of their chairs the better to view the end of this great race. Loretta and Harry are fairly panting with excitement and anxiety, and the red and the white comes and goes in their cheeks, almost at every breath. Now there is not more than half a mile left to be run, and the white horse is still two rods in the lead, and Billie's friends are beginning to yeJJ their paeans of triumph. " Dick, O Dick ! don't let him beat yoc ' " Loretta calls, forgetting in her excitement that Dick's ears are deaf to every sound save the beatings of the white horse's hoofs ahead of him. " Hurry, hurry, Dick ! Do, do hurry ! " and she stretches out her hands, as if she would The Great Race 167 help pull him along. " Oh, see, Harry, he is gaining! He is gaining! Papa, Cowboy Jim, see, he is gaining! Hurry, hurry ! Oh, do hurry, Dick ! " and the excited girl jumps up and down on the seat of her chair. Dick is hurrying. With whip and spur and voice he is getting every ounce of speed left in Sambo out of him, and the black is responding nobly. Not in vain had Cowboy Jim counted on Sambo's endurance. Slowly he is drawing nearer and nearer to the white horse. Now his head is even with the heaving flanks, and he is still gaining. But Billie is awake to his danger, and with shouts and whip and spurs he is urging Boston to his utmost. Still Sambo gains, and now they are running neck and neck, and the goal not more than twenty rods away. Every cowboy is yelling. Even the three judges are dancing up and down on their chair seats and shouting like lunatics. And Loretta and Harry and Cowboy Jim well, their ex- citement and enthusiasm, are beyond all my powers of description. For a moment the black horse and the white horse run side by side, neck and neck ; and then, when about ten rods from the goal, the speed of the white horse begins to fail, and the black shoots ahead, and Dick leans over and 1 68 The Lost Treasure Cave catches up the bridle, as he dashes by the table, ten feet ahead of Billie, and the great race is won. Dick and Sambo are the heroes of the hour. In a moment a tumultuous crowd of yelling cowboys surround them, headed by Cowboy Jim, who catches Dick up in his arms, sets him astride of his shoulders, and, yelling like a Comanche Indian, starts a special parade, all for the glorification of Dick. In vain the boy protests ; and it is not until Loretta and Harry force their way through the surrounding crowd of cowboys and demand a chance to get at Dick that Cowboy Jim puts him down ; and then he almost has his arms shaken off by Loretta and Harry and cowboys innumerable. In the midst of all this excitement up comes Billie and grabs Dick by the hand. " You 're th' tarnation pluckiest lad that ever came out of th' East," he says, "an* that black's th' toughest an' speediest bit of hoss-flesh that ever chased a steer ; an' me an' Boston is plum buoyant to succumb to such a combination. We 's beat plenty fair an' honorable, an' we 's satisfied to take second place when you an' Sambo prances out in front of th' lamps," and the grip he gives Dick's fingers makes them ache for hours. The Great Race 169 It was nearly an hour after the ending of this great race before the excited cowboys quieted down sufficiently for Captain Kent to announce that the next thing on the programme would be the steer roping and tying contest, and he asked all who were to venture their skill to get ready at once, as it was getting late in the day. CHAPTER XVII STEER-TYING SIX contestants presented themselves : Hank Dodson, of the Bar T outfit ; Whitey, ranch-foreman of the Double Star layout ; Trump, best cow-man on the Arrow Head ranch ; Billie, of the Bar Double S ; Black Juan, the Mexican ; and Cowboy Jim. Cow- boy Jim and Billie were mounted on fresh cow-ponies, Black Juan rode Hindfoot, and all of the other cowboys sat on strong, well- trained horses, that understood the work they were about to undertake almost as well as did their masters. The six cowboys lined up in front of Captain Kent to receive their instruc- tions ; and, as they thus sat side by side, the critical eyes of the cow-men looked them over and passed judgment on their merits. " I reckon this game is in th' hands of Cow- boy Jim an' Billie," remarked an old cattle- man ; " though what sort of a hand that Greaser holds is as uncertain as a pinto pony. Steer-Tying 171 He's got th' looks of knowin' how to swing a rope, but I don't like his style ; too loominous, an' callin' too particular attention to himself." " Well," joined in another cowboy, " I don't savey that Greaser none myself. He 's new to these parts, but I hears some of th' boys say, what 's seen him ride an' rope, that he 's goin' to give Cowboy Jim an' Billie a mighty close run, with 'bout an even chance of cor- rallin' that prize rifle." " That 's where your bronco is buckin'," in- terrupted Red Hank. " Fine feathers an' brag don't rope an' tie steers none rapid, with Cowboy Jim a-swingin' a rope in competition. Mexico's rope '11 have to burn holes in them new gloves afore he gets up motion sufficient to capture that rifle. I 'm speakin' promiscus like, but if there 's any gent present that doubts my words I 've got yellow gold to back them up, which says Cowboy Jim holds th' winnin' cards an' gets th' stake in this deal " ; and Red Hank's eyes challenged the crowd. By this time Captain Kent had given the contestants all the needed instructions, and the six cowboys rode away to their several stations. The contest was to be a three-steer tie. That is, each contestant was to rope and tie 172 The Lost Treasure Cave three steers, and first honors and the prize would go to the cowboy accomplishing this in the shortest space of time. For the purpose of determining the order in which the con- testants were to rope the steers, the numbers i, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, were placed in a hat. The cowboy drawing number i would have the first steer, number 2 the second steer, and so on in this order until the six contestants had each roped and securely tied three steers. The steers to be used in the contest were enclosed in a corral, with a chute projecting from one side. Two cowboys were stationed inside this corral to cut out a steer, when wanted, and drive him out through the chute, which narrowed at its outer opening until it was just wide enough to give free passage to the steer. The moment the steer was out he was badly frightened, so as to get him to run- ning as swiftly as possible. The cowboy sat ready on his horse a little to the left of the opening of the chute. He was required to wait until the steer had run two hundred feet from him, and then, at the signal, away went horse and rider after the terrified animal. At a signal from Captain Kent the six slips of paper were now thrown into a hat and the hat passed to the contestants. Black Juan, Steer-Tying 1 73 the Mexican, drew number i, Dodson number 2, Billie number 3, Whitey number 4, Cowboy Jim number 5, and Trump number 6. This gave Black Juan the first steer, and, as he galloped up to his position by the side of the chute, every eye was critically watching his every movement. Black Juan made a very gallant appearance as he dashed up to the chute, sitting his bronco with the grace of a perfect horseman. He wore the complete outfit of a Mexican vaquero high-peaked, broad-brimmed, richly orna- mented hat, bright red silk neck scarf, blue silk shirt, red silk sash, tight trousers without shaps, boots of the finest stamped and orna- mented leather, with small high heels, narrow soles, and bright - colored tops, solid silver spurs, and the finest of buckskin gloves, with richly ornamented and fringed gauntlets. His saddle and bridle shone with silver, and Hind- foot, as if conscious of his costly housing, held his head high, arched his neck, and stepped proudly. Black Juan himself, with his dark face and eyes, his long black mustache and hair, and his slim graceful form, appeared to fit right into his clothes, like a picture in an appropriate frame, and was by far the most picturesque-looking cowboy present. As he 174 The Lost Treasure Cave galloped by Cowboy Jim he bowed and smiled, and flashed a swift disdainful glance from his black eyes that made the cowboy mutter to himself something about " snakes " and vow to take the " conceit out of that Greaser if he had to break a leg." The moment Black Juan reached his station by the side of the chute, he unfastened his lariat, coiled it in his right hand ready for the throw, settled himself firmly in the saddle, gave a swift glance at the pommel to see that the lariat was firmly fastened, gripped the reins tightly in his left hand, and, fixing his eyes on the chute-opening, signified that he was ready. Captain Kent raised his hand and fired his six-shooter in the air, the signal for the cow- boys in the corral to send out the first steer. The moment was one of intense excitement. The cowboys stood crowded around both sides of the chute-opening, every faculty alert, their eyes sparkling and their faces flushing ; for, to a cowboy, there is no more exciting sport on the face of the earth than a steer-tying contest. Hark ! There is a warning shout from the cowboys. The steer is in the chute ! Hindfoot stands, quivering with excitement and straining at his bit, crouched, ready for the instant spring. He knows what is Steer-Tying 175 coming, knows the value of every fraction of a second, as well as does his master. Black Juan's right arm is extended, his lariat held ready for the swing, and he leans slightly forward in his saddle, his eyes fixed on the opening. Now, with a mad bellow, the frightened steer jumps into sight, and, driven by a couple of yelling cowboys, starts off on a wild gallop across the plains. In a moment he has reached the two-hundred-feet line. " Go !" shouts Captain Kent. Black Juan, with a yell, digs his spurs into Hindfoot's flanks, and the pony shoots after the steer like an arrow from a bow. No need of reins to guide him. The trained animal will follow every twist and turn of the steer. Black Juan is now swinging his rope, his eyes watching every movement of the long horns on the swaying head, while his spurred heels are urging his horse to his utmost speed. Every instant of time is precious. Suddenly, when the pony is within a few yards of the racing steer, with a lightning-like swing and jerk, he throws the rope, and the noose drops swiftly around the long horns. Another quick jerk flings the rope over on the right side of the steer. The horse rushes by on the left, 176 The Lost Treasure Cave and the lasso, swinging behind the steer, catches him around the hind legs and under the hocks. The instant the lariat draws taut, Black Juan gives Hindfoot a quick pull to the left; and, so swiftly that the eyes cannot follow the move- ments, the steer is whirled half-way around and thrown on his side to the ground with a thud, his head twisted over on his side, and held there by the pony, that now stands with front feet braced, holding the lasso taut. Almost before the body of the steer strikes the ground, Black Juan is off his horse and running toward the fallen animal, loosening the tie-rope wound around his waist as he runs. In another mo- ment he has the loop of the tie-rope around one of the front feet, a half-hitch around a hind foot, a jerk and the two feet are drawn together, a half-hitch around the other hind foot, another jerk and a quick twist and tie, and the three feet are drawn close together and firmly fastened. The instant this is ac- complished, Black Juan leaps to his feet and holds up both his hands, in token that the steer is down and securely tied. What a shout greets his up-lifted hands ! The cowboys whirl their hats in the air and shoot off their revolvers and yell, mad with ex- citement ; for Black Juan has proven himself Steer-Tying 177 worthy to contend with the best, and the con- test is sure to be a hot and a close one. Captain Kent and the timekeepers consult together for a few minutes, then Captain Kent lifts his hand for silence ; and, almost on the instant, there is absolute quietude, so anxious are all to hear the official time. " Time, thirty-one and one half seconds ! " announced Captain Kent. Again the cowboys' enthusiasm breaks loose, and the air is filled with hats, wild yells, and pistol shots. " Wonderful ! " exclaims Harry. " Wonder- ful ! I can hardly believe my own eyes ! " "Can Cowboy Jim beat that?" Dick asks anxiously. " I do hope he can, for I don't like the Mexican a little bit, and I especially don't want to hear him crowing over Cowboy Jim. Do you think he can beat that, Loretta?" " Of course he can," declares Loretta em- phatically. " Cowboy Jim just won't let that Mexican beat him. He hates Greasers. You just wait until it comes his turn. Then you will see what rapid steer-tying is like. Look, Dodson is already at the chute. Now we will see what an American cowboy can do." But Loretta's patriotism is doomed to dis- appointment, for Dodson fumbles the tie-rope ; 178 The Lost Treasure Cave and it is one minute and ten seconds before he holds up his hands. Now, it is Billie's turn to try what luck and skill will do for him. Billie is very popular with the cowboys, and his appearance at the chute is greeted with loud cheers. Besides, he is one of the most expert ropers in Colorado, and great things are expected of him. But, unfortunately, a particularly wild and fleet steer falls to him ; and it is thirty-two seconds be- fore the steer is down and tied and Billie's hands are up. This is considered great work, considering the steer, and, as he rides back, he is wildly cheered by the excited cowboys. " He '11 jerk the scalp off Mexico on the next tie," shouts one of his adherents. " That steer was altogether too previous with his long legs. I '11 stake my whole outfit on Billie, saddle, bridle, and guns. Hi ! Whoop ! Hurrah for Billie!" " You 're plumb locoed," retorts another cowboy, " an' don't 'pear to be considerin' Cow- boy Jim none. An' jest to make emphatic your unwisdom I calls your bluff, an' takes your outfit plenty easy, an' declares previous Cowboy Jim wins this game." In this way the excitement and the yelling and the betting goes on increasing, until Steer-Tying 1 79 Whitey dashes up to the chute and prepares to rope his steer. Whitey is a bit nervous, the steer wary, and the long horns dodge the noose of the first throw ; and it is two minutes and three sec- onds before Whitey's hands are up. "Now it 's Cowboy Jim's try!" exclaims Loretta excitedly. " See, he is getting ready. I know he '11 win. He always does when he sets his teeth together hard, the way he is doing now. Oh, he must win ! " " Let 's give him three cheers, good loud ones," suggested Dick. " It helps a fellow a lot to know that his friends are yelling for him. Ready go ! Hip ! Hip ! Hip ! Hur- rah ! Hurrah!" here their voices were drowned by the vociferous yells with which Cowboy Jim's appearance at the chute was greeted. But he had heard their cheers, and his face had flushed and his eyes had kindled at the sound of their young voices, cheering him on to hoped-for victory. The instant Captain Kent shouts " Go ! " Cowboy Jim is off, swinging his lariat around his head as he rides ; and, almost before you can breathe twice, the noose has gripped the steer's horns, and the startled animal is jerked flat on his side, with a suddenness that must 180 The Lost Treasure Cave have wrenched every bone and muscle in his body, and Cowboy Jim is bending over him. When Cowboy Jim jumps to his feet and holds up his hands to signify that the steer is tied, not a cheer is heard. Every one is all but holding his breath, so intense is the anxiety to hear the official time. " Time, thirty-one seconds ! " calls Captain Kent Instantly the air is clouded with hats, and the yells and pistol shots are almost deafening. Cowboy Jim has beat Black Juan by half a second ! "Oh, I knew Cowboy Jim would do it!" Loretta cries, dancing up and down and yell- ing in her excitement. " I knew Cowboy Jim would not let the Mexican beat him ! Hur- rah for Cowboy Jim. Is n't he great ? " " It is wonderful, wonderful !" again exclaims Harry. " I can't see how they do it. For one man, single-handed, to rope and throw and tie a full-grown steer in but little more than half a minute is almost unbelievable ! " " Oh, see that scowl on Mexico's face ! " cries Dick delightedly. "He don't like his defeat and the cheers Cowboy Jim is getting a little bit I wonder why it is those two men dislike each other so ? And that Mexican Steer-Tying 1 8 1 hates Captain Kent, too. I saw him shake his fist at him behind his back, and look as if he wanted to kill him. Oh, but I am glad Cowboy Jim defeated him! Hurrah for Cowboy Jim !" It was fully ten minutes before the cowboys quieted down sufficiently for Trump to take his place by the side of the chute. Trump knew how to handle both his horse and rope, but he was a little slow ; and it was one min- ute and three seconds before he had his steer tied. It is now Black Juan's turn again. There are smiles on his face, but his eyes are glinting viciously, as he rides up to the chute. The cowboys hail him with loud cheers and calls for him to " do" Cowboy Jim up brown. " For the glory of old Mexico I my best will do, and I the beautiful rifle would win," and Black Juan bows and smiles, with his glinting eyes fixed on Cowboy Jim's face. The steer comes out with a rush ; and Black Juan, swinging his lariat and gouging his spurs into his horse's flanks unmercifully, is after him like a stone hurled from a catapult. The rope falls true. Down goes the steer ; and, almost, so it seems, before he has had time to get the tie-rope around a single foot, Black T 1 82 The Lost Treasure Cave Juan straightens up with a jerk, and throws up both his hands. The steer is tied. Again there is no cheering. All are listen- ing intently for the announcement of the time. Has Black Juan beaten Cowboy Jim? " Time, thirty seconds ! " declares Captain Kent. There is a moment of surprised silence ; and then every cowboy yells, jumps up and down, throws up his hat, and fires off his six- shooter, until it sounds and looks as if all the imps of pandemonium were holding high car- nival before the Lone Hill ranch. Black Juan has proven his right to a place among the cowboy-elect. Dick and Harry do not cheer. Their faces look glum. It does not seem possible that Cowboy Jim can beat that record. "Cowboy Jim can do better than that," Lo- retta declares, not for a moment losing faith in her champion. " Anyway he won't let that Greaser beat him. I know he won't. You just wait and see," and she smiles encourage- ment to Cowboy Jim, who sits on his horse biting his mustache. Dodson this time succeeds in tying his steer in fifty seconds ; but the cowboys are begin- ning to take but little interest in the lesser Steer-Tying 183 lights ; and it is not until Billie rides up to the chute that their enthusiasm breaks loose again. It is plain to see by the look on Billie's face that he is going to beat both Black Juan and Cowboy Jim, if it is in him to do so. The moment he pulls up by the side of the chute the muscles of the man and the horse become tense rigid and Billie's face whitens, and his lips draw tight across his teeth. He knows that he must " make good " this time, or he will be out ; and he does " make good," for, when Billie holds up his hands above his tied steer, the time is announced as twenty-nine and one half seconds ! The cowboys are now mad with excitement. Never before had they witnessed such rapid steer-tying. The contest promises to be a record-breaker and a record-maker. Whitey, Trump, and Dodson wisely withdraw, knowing that they do not have even a fighting chance to win, and leave the field for the three cham- pions. This gives Cowboy Jim the next turn. Before riding up to the chute, Cowboy Jim examines his saddle very carefully, tightening up the cinches and seeing that everything is firm and solid. It is dangerous work, this steer-tying, and a broken cinch might mean a 184 The Lost Treasure Cave broken neck. Besides, he must win this con- test, at least he must defeat Black Juan ; and, in work where even the fraction of a second counts, every strap and buckle must be right. The moment he is ready, Cowboy Jim leaps into his saddle and dashes up to the chute. " Now watch him ! " Loretta cries exult- ingly. " Don't he look fine ? See, there comes the steer oh, I hope he will win ! There he goes ! " At that moment Captain Kent shouted, "Go!" and, with a yell, Cowboy Jim is off; but, unfortunately, the steer is the wildest of that day's tying, and it is thirty-one and one half seconds before Cowboy Jim's hands are up. Dick and Harry groan when the time is an- nounced, and for the first time Loretta begins to look doubtful. Even Abel Johnson's face shows disappointment, for he had had unlimited confidence in Cowboy Jim's skill. The time score, for the tying of two steers by the three champions, now stands : Black Juan . . 6i seconds. Billie . . . . 6i| Cowboy Jim . . 62^ " Each contestant has yet another steer to tie ; and so close is the score that the interest Steer-Tying 185 of the cowboys has become too intense for yelling or pistol-shooting ; and, when Black Juan rides up to the chute for his last tie, not a cheer is heard ; but every cowboy is striving his utmost to get into the best possible place and position to see the final " heats " ; and, when the signal is given and Black Juan darts qf^r his steer, nearly every cowboy is swing- ing his right arm and swaying his body in unconscious sympathy with the rider, while his eyes are watching his movements with an in- tentness that gives his face the look of a piece of bronze statuary. And Black Juan is proving himself worthy of this interest, for even the keen eyes of the cow-men are not swift enough to follow his movements, as he throws his rope and ties his steer; and when he holds up his hands, and Captain Kent announces the time, " Twenty-six and one half seconds," there is such an out- break of yelling and pistol-shooting as has seldom been heard even in Cowboyland. This puts Black Juan so far in the lead that it does not seem possible that he can be beaten ; and when he rides back the flush of victory is on his face. " For the glory of old Mexico," he says, smil- ing and bowing to the tumultuously cheering 1 86 The Lost Treasure Cave cowboys, " I my best have done. But it may be the Americano vaquero can do better," and his eyes flash tauntingly into the face of Cow- boy Jim. " In all Mexico there is not one who can throw a rope or tie a steer with greater skill than I. I have heard many words of the skill of the Americano. I now would witness his deeds," and he bows, mockingly, first to Billie and then to Cowboy Jim. Billie's teeth come together with a snap, and Cowboy Jim's eyes flash ; but neither answers, except by looks, which are a sufficient warning to Black Juan that he has said enough about the " glory of old Mexico." " Do Mexico if you have to bust your cinches ! " yells one of the cowboys, as Billie rides up to the chute. " Remember the Alamo ! " shouts another. " Don't let a Greaser crow over you ! " Black Juan's words about the "glory of old Mexico " have stirred up the latent national hatred ; and, despite his wonderful skill with the rope, have lost him the favor of the patri- otic cowboys. There is no doubt but what Billie will do his best. One look at his face, as he sits on his bronco waiting for the steer, is sufficient to tell this ; and his horse appears to be just as Steer-Tying 187 desperately anxious to win as he is. But, when he throws up his hands above his trembling steer, he has lost the contest by a bare half a second ; and the prize rifle and the honor will be Black Juan's unless Cowboy Jim can wrest it from him. " I, who know, tell you you have done well," and Black Juan smiles condescendingly on Billie, as he rides dejectedly up. " Never have I seen an Americano do so well before, and I with many have roped. Now," and he turns, smiling and bowing, to Cowboy Jim, " I would have you show me what an Americano vaquero can do. By many have I been told that you with the rope and the horse are most skilful, and I would see your skill. Never have I been beaten by an Americano," and the smile on his face does not hide the savage glint in his eyes, as they rest on Cowboy Jim. " Well, I 'm not great on th' brag, Mexico," responds Cowboy Jim, sourly, " an' I can't com- pile none of them graceful bows of yourn, but I 'm goin' to rip some of th' conceit out of you, if I have to yank th' horns out of th' steer's skull," and Cowboy Jim jumps from his horse, and begins to prepare for the final test of skill. He discards his heavy leather shaps, which in- terfere just a little with the free movements of 1 88 The Lost Treasure Cave his legs ; very carefully re-coils his tie-rope around his waist, so that it can be loosened with a single quick jerk ; examines every strap and buckle of his saddle and bridle ; and, finally, takes off his buckskin gloves, so that he can have the freest possible use of his hands. Then he vaults into the saddle and dashes up to the chute. Many things have conspired to work the ex- citement of the cowboys to the highest possi- ble pitch the closeness of the contest, the very evident rivalry between Cowboy Jim and Black Juan, the latter's haughty bearing and boastful words, and above all the marvellous skill and quickness of the contestants, who are smashing records almost at every tie ; and when Cowboy Jim takes his place by the chute, ready for the last steer, there is not a man there whose blood is not jumping through his veins at a fever rate. They do not cheer and yell now. Their inter- est is too intense. The noise will come when the contest is won. Cowboy Jim carefully coils his lariat and holds it ready for the swing. Then he settles himself down firmly in his saddle, bending for- ward, prepared for the sudden leap of his horse ; and calls, " Ready ! " Captain Kent raises his hand and fires his six-shooter. The two Steer-Tying 1 89 cowboys in the corral cut out a steer and rush him into the chute. The horse hears the steer coming ; and you can see his muscles tighten- ing, his form crouching, for that tremendous first leap that counts so much in a contest like this. Then the steer jumps through the open- ing and is off, followed by the shouting drivers. The horse crouches lower, each muscle tense and rigid as bands of steel, his nostrils dis- tended, and his eyes following every move- ment of the fleeing steer. " Go ! " shouts Captain Kent. With the suddenness of steel springs that splendid machine of bones and nerves and sinews leaps into the air, and charges after the steer. Cowboy Jim swings his lasso, the noose shoots through the air, and clutches the two horns close around their base ; and then Cow- boy Jim does what only the most expert rider can do with the best-trained horse. He jumps from his saddle the instant the noose settles around the horns and a quick jerk has thrown the rope to the right of the steer ; and, trust- ing to his horse to turn and throw and hold the animal at the proper moment, he rushes in, and gets to the steer just as he is whirled off his feet and thrown flat on his side ; and before the grunt is fairly out of the stunned beast's z igo The Lost Treasure Cave mouth, the loop of his tie-rope is around one of the trembling fore feet ; and, almost in the next moment, Cowboy Jim has leaped to his feet and is holding up his hands. His steer is tied ! What a thunder of applause greets this ex- traordinary feat of horsemanship and skill ! Even the desire to hear the time made cannot quiet it for fully five minutes ; and then, as suddenly as it began, every sound is hushed, and every ear is listening. " Time, twenty-three and one half seconds ! " shouts Captain Kent. In an instant pandemonium breaks loose. The cowboys jump up and down and yell, double up and yell, roll over and yell, fire off their six- shooters as fast as they can pull the triggers and yell, and act as if every particle of wit and wis- dom had vanished from their brainpans ; and when Cowboy Jim rides back, he is pulled off his horse, tossed up on the shoulders of two husky cowboys, and, followed and surrounded by a yelling, shooting, hilarious crowd of cow- boys, he is carried up to the judges' stand to receive his award the coveted prize rifle. This ends the games and contests for the day ; and by ten o'clock all the visiting Steer-Tying 191 cowboys have ridden away, and the silence and darkness of night have settled down over the Lone Hill ranch. A few minutes after the last light has gone out in the ranch-house, Black Juan cautiously creeps around the corner of a building, and hurries away across the dark plains in the direc- tion of Cowboy Jim's cannon ; and five minutes later he is followed, with equal caution, by Pe- dro the mule-packer. At the rocks the two men are joined by a third man on horseback ; and for nearly an hour the three men stand close together, talking in low voices. Then they separate ; and the man on horseback van- ishes in the darkness of the great plains, and Black Juan and Pedro, separately and moving with the utmost caution, return to the ranch- house. At the door Black Juan meets Cow- boy Jim. " Swallowin' night air?" Cowboy Jim asks, a bit suspiciously. " Si, seftor," answers Black Juan. " I of old Mexico have been dreaming, as I smoke the cigarette. Now, I to bed go. To the most skilful of vaqueros pleasant dreams," and, with a low bow, Black Juan passes by Cowboy Jim and goes to his bunk. Cowboy Jim looks for a moment doubtfully 192 The Lost Treasure Cave after him, and then, muttering something to himself about the " queerness of Greasers," seeks his own bunk ; and the last conscious act of that great day of excitement is ended. CHAPTER XVIII AN EXCITING BUFFALO HUNT ON the ranch, breakfast is an early meal, usually eaten shortly after sunrise ; but Dick and Harry and Bill Burke were out of bed, and dressed, and ready when the bell rang the next morning, for they had planned, the night before, to take a horseback ride with Loretta across the plains, in the delightful cool of the early morning hours. " I beat you up ! " Loretta shouted, the moment the boys came out of their room. " Did n't I tell you I would ?" "Well," laughed Harry, "you didn't have Bill Burke snoring in your room all night to keep you awake. Why, honest, once or twice when I woke up during the night I thought it was Cowboy Jim's cannon going off." " Dat am a scan'lous preambulation, Miss 'Retta, 'deed it am," retorted Bill Burke. " I done snore none, 'deed I don't. I nebber heerd a sound from dis niggah all night. But, 194 The Lost Treasure Cave Massah Harry ! Lo'd, it was jes scan'lous, scan'lous, de noises dat corned from his mouf !" and Bill Burke shook his woolly head and wrinkled up his black face. Loretta laughed merrily, and hurried the boys into the house to breakfast, for she was anxious to get as early a start as possible. When they came out they found Bonny Bess and three other horses, saddled and bridled, awaiting them, while Captain Kent and Abel Johnson and Cowboy Jim and Red Hank and a number of other cowboys were lounging around near by. Things looked just a little suspicious to Dick and Harry, and they glanced quickly at the horses to see if the cowboys were putting up any game on them. Harry rejoiced to recognize his old friend Jack in one of the horses, and speedily pre- empted him. Dick saw a pony that he had often ridden before and liked, and, at once concluding that that was the horse intended for him, caught hold of his bridle. But the third horse, a scrubby-looking little bronco that stood with his head hanging down de- jectedly and his eyes half closed sleepily, neither of the boys had ever seen before. Evi- dently this horse was intended for Bill Burke ; and when Dick saw Cowboy Jim wink slyly at An Exciting Buffalo Hunt 195 him with his left eye, he "caught on." Bill Burke had boasted quite loudly of his ability to ride a horse as well as a bull, and the cow- boys were going to see if he could live up to his "brag." Loretta leaped quickly on the back of Bonny Bess. Harry sprang into his saddle, and Dick jumped on to his horse. Bill Burke eyed the remaining horse contemptuously for a moment. " 'Spects dat little rat am my hoss," he solilo- quized, as he approached the dejected and sleepy-looking bronco. "I 's done 'fraid I '11 break yo' HI back. Whoa, hossy ! Whoa, hossy ! Wh-o-o-a ! " and Bill Burke laid a great black hand on the pommel of the saddle. The bronco opened one eye and looked at him inquiringly. " Wh-o-o-a hossy, wh-o-o-a ! " and Bill Burke, placing one foot in the stirrup, swung himself into the saddle and gathered up the reins. " Come, yo' hoss, wake up," and he dug his spurred heels into the bronco's flanks, and jerked on the reins. And the bronco did wake up in the most sur- prising manner. First he jumped about fifteen feet straight ahead. Then he hunched up his back and bounded straight up into the air Bill Burke afterwards said he went up " plumb twenty feet high " and came down on his four 196 The Lost Treasure Cave legs bunched together and held stiff as fence- rails. Then well, by that time Bill Burke was flying through the air a half a rod ahead of the pony, doubled up like a startled hedgehog and yelling like a Comanche Indian. On striking the soft ground he rolled over and over, tear- ing up handfuls of grass at every roll. When Bill Burke stopped rolling, he sat up and stared blankly around for a moment. Then he stood up, and, with a look of the utmost concern on his face, began slowly feeling of his bones. Then he straightened up and stared at the bronco, that now was standing quietly a few rods away, with his head hanging down de- jectedly, looking at him sleepily out of half- closed eyes. " Dat am de most deceivingest hoss I done ebber sot eyes on ! " he exclaimed, shaking his woolly head. " Dis niggah don't want nuffin' mo' to do wid dat debbel back- bone. I done want no ride nohow," and he hurried back into the house to escape the jeers and yells of the cowboys, who had witnessed his discomfiture with hilarious enjoyment. Loretta and Dick and Harry were now ready to depart for their ride. Captain Kent and Abel Johnson cautioned them not to go too far from the ranch-house, and told them to be sure to be back by noon. An Exciting Buffalo Hunt 197 " There ain't no Red Panther to fear this time," Abel Johnson said, " an' I reckon Run- ning Bear is still a runnin' away from the U. S. soldiers ; but noon 's th' time for you kids to be back. I don't think I could eat comforta- ble-like without my little gal a-settin' by th' side of me. Remember, you 're to be back by noon," and he lifted his bearded face for Lo- retta's farewell kiss. Never did father and child part, even for a few hours, without this sweet acknowledg- ment of their love. Abel Johnson's wife had been dead for some six years ; and it seemed as if all the love he had borne his wife, with the added father love, had become centred in their child, his "little gal," as Abel Johnson affectionately called Loretta ; and no mother could have been more tender and loving than this great rough ranchman had been to his motherless child. Some fifteen minutes after Loretta and Dick and Harry had ridden away, Cowboy Jim, on turning the corner of one of the build- ings, came unexpectedly upon Black Juan, waving a white silk neckscarf up and down in the air. "What in creation be you doin' with that rag, Mexico?" he asked sharply. "Go an' 2 A 198 The Lost Treasure Cave get on your hoss. You 're to ride with Red Hank to-day." "Si, seflor," anwered Black Juan, smiling and bowing. " I did from this neckscarf but clean the dirt ; and now I would in the warm bright sunlight dry it. I go," and, giving the scarf a final swing, he threw it around his neck, and hurried away toward the corral, where the men were saddling their horses. As he started off Cowboy Jim stepped quickly up to him and felt the scarf he had flung around his neck. It was still damp. " Humph ! " he snorted in disgust. " I reckon you 's a plumb dandy, Mexico," and he turned and walked back toward the ranch- house, again wondering at the " queerness of Greasers." But, if Cowboy Jim had known that miles away out on the great plain a man had lain since sunrise, watching the ranch buildings through a powerful field-glass, and that this man had quickly mounted and ridden rapidly away, an eager, excited look on his face, the moment Black Juan had tied the scarf around his neck, he doubtless would have had alto- gether different views of Black Juan, and, probably, would have voiced them through his six-shooter. However, not the slightest An Exciting Buffalo Hunt 199 suspicion of any such devilment ever entered his honest head ; so there is no need of our speculating on what he might or might not have done had it been otherwise ; and we will return to the children. The morning was delightfully cool and in- vigorating, and Loretta and Dick and Harry were in the highest spirits as they rode down the hill and galloped away over the green flower-decked plains. Indeed, Loretta was especially happy, for she was sitting on Cap- tain Kent's beautiful gift saddle, the reins of the new bridle were in her hands, and Bonny Bess, proud as a queen, in her new accoutre- ments, was curvetting beneath her. She sang and laughed and shouted ; challenged the boys to races and always beat them ; chased the jack-rabbits and laughed at Bonny Bess's des- perate but vain efforts to catch them ; and, withal, was so girl-like in her joyousness that the two boys were entranced, and sang and laughed and shouted with her, with a freedom and whole-hearted gladness they never would have thought possible with their more formal but less fascinating girl-friends of the East. Dick and Harry had their Winchesters with them, and Loretta carried a light rifle that her father had had made especially for her use, with 2oo The Lost Treasure Cave which she had become wonderfully expert. They did not carry these weapons with the expectation of needing them in their own de- fence ; but hoped to get a few shots at the numerous antelopes and jack-rabbits that abounded on the great plains, and, possibly, at a deer or buffalo. Buffalo ! The very thought of getting a shot at one of these shaggy monsters made Dick's and Harry's hearts swell and jump with excitement. And to really shoot one ! Well, you boys all know exactly how Dick and Harry felt at the thought of killing a buffalo, so what is the need of my telling you ? But, when a good part of the forenoon had passed and they had seen no game larger than jack-rabbits, the boys began to grow discouraged. " I don't believe there 's anything larger than a jack-rabbit on these plains ! " Dick ex- claimed disgustedly. " I thought we might, at least, get a shot at an antelope." The children had stopped to rest their horses at the base of a gentle slope whose top was crowned with a huge rock. " Oh, say," suggested Harry, pointing to this rock. " Let us imagine that the plains beyond this divide are covered with buffaloes, and that we are three hunters about to creep An Exciting Buffalo Hunt 201 up and dash down on them from behind that rock." Harry had a vivid imagination, and had not yet entirely outgrown his make- believe days. " All right," agreed Dick, laughing, " and I am sure that it is as near as we will get to- any buffaloes to-day." ''And when we dash down the hill," Lo- retta added, " if we scare up a jack-rabbit, let us make believe he is a buffalo and give chase, and see if we can shoot him. That will be great fun," and her eyes began to sparkle. Accordingly they rode their horses up the slope, as cautiously as possible, being very careful not to make a sound that would af- fright that imaginary herd of buffaloes. Just before they reached the top Dick dismounted and crept up behind the rock on his hands and knees, and very cautiously peered around one corner to locate the make-believe herd. The moment he looked on the plain below, he jumped to his feet, his eyes almost bulging from their sockets, and his hands trembling sa that he could hardly hold his rifle. For a minute he stood staring, as if he could hardly believe the evidence of his own eyes ; then he suddenly dropped on his hands and knees, and began rapidly but cautiously crawling back to 2O2 The Lost Treasure Cave where Loretta and Harry sat on their horses, watching him with white, excited faces. What had Dick seen ? " Oh, if it should be Indians ! " Loretta ex- claimed, half turning Bonny Bess, and glanc- ing fearfully over the long miles of plains that lay between them and the Lone Hill ranch. 41 What would we do ? " "Well," and Harry's face grew very white, " if the Indians discovered us, we've got our guns, and Dick and I could make a running fight towards the ranch, while you rode Bonny Bess for dear life for help. I fancy Dick and I, with the help of these Winchesters, could keep back a lot of Indians," and Harry tried to look very brave, but he really felt very badly frightened. He still had a very vivid re- membrance of their capture by Red Panther and his warriors, and he was not in the least anxious to repeat that experience. By this time Dick had passed below the brow of the hill, and now, jumping to his feet, he ran panting with excitement to where Lore*, a and Harry were anxiously awaiting him. "What is it? Oh, what is it?" Loretta cried, the moment he came near enough for her to speak. 14 Hush ! Hush ! " panted Dick, in an ex- An Exciting Buffalo Hunt 203 cited whisper. " Don't speak so loud. It's a herd of buffaloes. Twenty or thirty of them big fellows ; and they are not more than a quar- ter of a mile from that great rock. Now, we must kill one or two of them. My, but I was surprised ! " Dick's eyes danced, and he was panting as if he had run until he had lost his breath. " I know exactly what we must do," he continued, giving no heed to the astonished exclamations of Loretta and Harry. " I have heard Captain Kent tell how to run buffaloes, and I have read all about it in books. We must ride up just as carefully as we can behind that big rock, it is large enough to hide us all ; and then, when we are all ready, we must rush out, all at once, from behind the rock, and charge down on the buffaloes just as fast as we can make our horses go. Each one of us must pick out the buffalo he wants to kill, and ride up close to his left side, and shoot him just behind the shoulder-blade ; and then he must turn his horse quick and look out that the buffalo does not charge him. And " Dick paused and looked a little doubtfully at the flushed face of the girl " and," he con- tinued, " Loretta, you can wait at the big rock and watch us, and be ready to ride up the mo- ment we have killed our buffaloes." 204 The Lost Treasure Cave " Well, I like that ! " and Loretta gave her chin an indignant upward toss. " I 'm to wait and let you and Harry have all the fun and win all the glory, am I ? " . " But it 's dangerous," protested Dick. " Dangerous ? " and the chin went up sev- eral notches higher. Just as if I did n't know how to hunt buffalo ! Why, I Ve seen papa kill dozens of them, and I Ve shot two myself. Besides, Bonny Bess is a trained buffalo horse ; and the buffalo don't live that could get his horns within six feet of her. No ; when you charge those buffaloes, I '11 charge with you ; and you '11 see that I '11 get my buffalo before either of you boys gets yours. Come on ! " and the spirited girl began to ride slowly and cautiously toward the rock, carefully examin- ing her rifle as she did so. Dick and Harry followed, somewhat amazed to think that this fourteen-year-old girl had already shot two buffaloes, and had never thought the deed worth mentioning until the present moment. When the rock was reached they dis- mounted, and warily reconnoitred. The buf- faloes, as Dick said, were within a quarter of a mile of the rock. There were twenty-six of them ; and the great bulls, with their long An Exciting Buffalo Hunt 205 shaggy hair, covering their enormous necks and shoulders, looked like veritable monsters to the excited eyes of Dick and Harry, and made them more eager than ever to slay one of the great beasts. Before remounting, the saddles and bridles were examined carefully, the cinches tight- ened, and every strap and buckle made firm and solid. In this dangerous sport a fall from a horse might mean a sudden and terrible death on the horns of an enraged bull. When all was ready they mounted and prepared for the onset. " Now," Dick whispered, " when I count three, go ! Are you all ready ? " " Yes," answered Loretta and Harry, holding tight the reins of their horses in their left hands and firmly gripping their rifles in their right. " One," began Dick, " two three ! " and out from behind the rock, and down the hill, straight toward the buffalo, dashed the three children, riding as fast as they could make their horses go- For a second the buffaloes stared in aston- ishment ; and then, whirling around, they were off, their short tails held stiffly erect, fleeing for life from the horses and riders that they 2fi 206 The Lost Treasure Cave had long since learned to fear as their most deadly enemies. Fortunately the horses of Dick and Harry, as well as Bonny Bess, had been trained to hunt buffaloes, and they needed but little guid- ance from the reins ; otherwise the boys would have found it exceedingly difficult, if not quite impossible, to have handled their rifles effect- ively. As it was, their difficulties were great enough. Usually the hunter, when running buffaloes, is armed only with a heavy pistol or revolver. This gives him an effective and yet easily handled weapon. But Dick and Harry had left their heavy six-shooters at the ranch- house, and the Winchesters were their only weapons. The buffalo is usually no match for a horse in speed, even when the horse has a rider on his back ; and in a very short time the youthful hunters had overtaken the herd. Dick selected a huge bull, and guided his horse toward him ; and Harry and Loretta, equally ambitious, did likewise. In a few minutes Dick's horse had brought him alongside the bull, not more than ten feet away from the panting side. Now was the time to shoot. What a monster he looked, as Dick, partly turning in his saddle, raised his rifle to his shoulder, and fired. The An Exciting Buffalo Hunt 207 instant he shot, his horse turned quickly to avoid the expected charge. The great bull bellowed with pain and rage, swerved a little to one side ; and then the strength seemed to go suddenly from his legs, and the huge beast tumbled to the ground, ploughing up the dirt and grass with his head and horns, shot through the heart. What a shout of triumph Dick gave when he saw the monster go down ! Quickly pulling up his horse he rode up to the side of the dying buffalo, prepared to give him another shot, should there be any need ; but the shaggy- headed brute was dead by the time Dick reached his side. For a moment he sat on his horse, regarding his first buffalo with sparkling eyes and a flushed face. How he wished the boys at home could see him now ! Then he took off his sombrero, swung it in the air, and opened his mouth to give voice to his exulta- tion ; but he did not yell. At that moment he heard a cry of horror from Harry, and, turning, saw, about twenty rods to his left, a monster buffalo bull, with head down, eyes glaring, foam and blood flying from his mouth, charging, mad with fury, after Loretta ; and the strong short horns were within ten feet of Bonny Bess's flying heels ; 208 The Lost Treasure Cave and some ten rods behind the bull rode Harry, spurring his horse to his utmost speed in his endeavour to get alongside of the buffalo, where he could shoot, before it was too late. With whitening face Dick saw that, in spite of the pony's great speed, she was not gaining on the enraged bull. What if Bonny Bess should stumble ? or put her foot in a prairie dog's hole ? or if this sudden burst of speed in the bull should prove to be too great for her, bur- dened as she was with the weight of her mis- tress? In fancy he saw Loretta flying over the pony's head, and caught up from the ground and tossed high in the air on the sharp strong horns. Then, with a quick indrawn breath, his jaws came together with a snap ; and, digging his spurs into his horse's flanks, he dashed to her rescue. For a few minutes the fierceness of his rage gave the buffalo bull astonishing speed ; and he gained slowly on Bonny Bess, despite Lo- retta's utmost urgings, gained until the long hairs of the pony's tail touched the great shaggy head, and it seemed as if Loretta were doomed. Dick was too far away to chance a shot he might hit the girl ; and Harry's horse was not speedy enough to overtake the bull. Suddenly Harry, in sheer desperation, threw Slowly the buffalo bull gained on Bonny Bess, despite Loretta's utmost urgings, gained until the long hair of the pony's tail touched the great shaggy head, and it seemed as if Loretta were doomed." PAGE 208. An Exciting Buffalo Hunt 209 his rifle to his shoulder, and fired. The bull went half over, like a ship struck by a sudden gale, and then plunged on, one of his fore legs dangling broken and useless. With wild hur- rahs Dick and Harry now dashed up to the partially disabled animal, and in five minutes more the huge beast lay dead on the plain ; and Dick and Harry were congratulating Lo- retta on her narrow escape, and Loretta was thanking the boys, especially Harry for his marvellous shot which had probably saved her life. " That was a great shot, the shot of your life!" Dick exclaimed, gripping Harry's hand and shaking it warmly. " If you live to be a hundred years old you won't make a better ; and I guess it saved Loretta's life." The tears came into Dick's eyes as he spoke. " I never felt so good over anything in all my life as I did when I saw that bull go over sideways with a broken leg, just as he was about to jab his horns into Bonny Bess." " That 's where you 're right, sonny. It was an almighty good shot; an', lest you should be tempted to do some more fancy shootin' with them guns, we'll relieve you of them. Hand them over, quick," and the startled children turned to find themselves looking into the 210 The Lost Treasure Cave muzzles of three six-shooters, held by three rough-looking men, who sat on their horses not fifteen feet away. " Quick, give us them guns butts first, mind," and the eyes behind the six-shooters began to gleam threateningly. CHAPTER XIX ACROSS THE DEVII/S BACKBONE FOR a moment Dick and Harry and Lo- retta were too startled by the sudden and unexpected appearance of the three men, and the sight of the three revolvers levelled straight at their heads, to make a move. What could the actions of these men mean ? Could they be in earnest ? They were not left long in doubt. With an oath each man spurred his horse up close to one of the children, still keeping his revolver pointed straight at the head. " Now," again commanded the spokesman, "give us them guns mighty sudden, or" and the " or " was followed by a string of fright- ful oaths and horrible threats. It needed but a glance into the eyes back of the six-shooters to tell Dick and Harry and Loretta that the men were so desperately in earnest that a moment's hesitancy to obey the command might mean instant death ; and 212 The Lost Treasure Cave they were wise enough not to hesitate. Dick promptly reversed his rifle, and handed it to the man who had approached him, the fierce eyes watching his every movement ; and Harry, with equal alacrity, gave up his gun. But Loretta, noting that the man who rode up to her, doubtless thinking there was little need of caution with a girl, was a bit careless, suddenly swung the butt of her rifle upward, just as the man was about to seize it, and, striking the hand that held the six-shooter a violent blow, knocked the weapon from his grasp. At the same instant she dug the spurs into the sides of Bonny Bess, shouted the cry that the pony never heard except when her mistress wished her to put forth her utmost speed, and was racing away over the plains before the aston- ished man recovered his wits sufficiently to attempt to stop her. Then, with an angry oath, he jerked his rifle out of its holster and levelled it at the fleeing girl. Dick, with breathless excitement, had wit- nessed the actions of the brave girl ; and now, when he saw the cowardly villain raise his rifle, his wrath at the brute who would shoot a girl and his fear for the safety of Loretta overcame every other feeling. He forgot his own dan- ger, forgot the revolver levelled at his head, Across the Devil's Backbone 213 and, with a cry of horror, struck the spurs deep into his horse's flanks ; and boy and horse plunged madly straight against the horse of the man whose rifle was levelled at Loretta. So sudden and so violent was the impact that the man was knocked out of his saddle, the rifle going off harmlessly in the air ; and Dick's horse was thrown back on his haunches. At this moment his own clubbed Winchester struck Dick a heavy blow on the head, and he slid, limp, and senseless as a bag of grain, out of his saddle to the ground. Harry, also, had started to go to Loretta's rescue ; but his guard had been too watchful, and had caught his horse by the reins and pressed his revolver so threateningly against his side that Harry was forced to remain a spec- tator. Now, when he saw Dick fall from his horse as if he were dead, his horror and wrath were so great, that, in spite of the revolver, he attempted to go to his comrade's aid. At his first movement the man dropped the reins, and struck Harry a brutal blow full in the face, hurling him out of his saddle to the ground, where he, too, lay unconscious. When Dick and Harry again became sensi- ble of their surroundings they found themselves lying on the ground, side by side, with their 2c 214 The Lost Treasure Cave hands bound tightly behind their backs. There was but one man standing guard over them and their horses. Both boys struggled to their feet at once, and looked eagerly around, anx- ious to learn what had become of Loretta and the two other men. " There she is ! " Dick cried exultingly. " See, she is a good half a mile ahead of the two men, and they are losing ground all the time. They will never catch her The cow- ards ! The villains ! To shoot at a girl !" White puffs of smoke shot out in front of the two horsemen as Dick spoke. Evidently they had discovered that Bonny Bess was fleeter than their horses, and were trying to disable the pony or the girl. " Oh, if they should hit Loretta or Bonny Bess!" and Harry's face grew white with ap- prehension as he watched the desperate race. Again and again the two men fired ; but Bonny Bess kept steadily on, and her brave rider remained firmly seated in her saddle, her long hair flying out straight behind, her form bent forward until her face almost touched the pony's neck, urging the noble little beast with voice and whip and spur to do her utmost. Loretta was riding to save not only her own life but also the lives of Dick and Harry from these Across the Devil's Backbone 215 desperate men. When she reached the brow of the divide, near the great rock whence they had dashed down so joyously on the herd of buffaloes, she halted an instant, turned in her saddle, and waved a triumphant good-by to Dick and Harry. The next moment she had vanished over the top of the hill, and was lost to the sight of the anxious boys. The two men now gave up the chase, and, whirling their horses around, rode swiftly back. Dick and Harry vainly endeavoured to dis- cover why they had been thus brutally cap- tured ; and were told to " dry up," and to get on their horses' backs " mighty sudden, or " and the oaths and threats that followed made the boys shudder. The thongs binding their hands behind their backs were now quickly cut, the noose of a lariat was thrown around the neck of each of their horses, and the other ends of the ropes were tied to the pommels of two of the men's saddles, and the boys ordered to mount. 41 No more monkey work," gruffly com- manded the leader, as soon as Dick and Harry were in their saddles, " or you '11 be needin* graves mighty sudden. We're bound to take you boys with us, dead or alive. If you come willin'-like you '11 keep alive all right ; t' other- 216 The Lost Treasure Cave wise we '11 strap your dead carcasses on your horses an' bring them along. We ain't time to waste no more time foolin'. Now, follow close behind me," he ordered, turning to his two companions, who sat on their horses, one by the side of each boy ; " an' if either of them kids makes a move to escape shoot his blamed head off. We 've got to get out of here mighty sudden consarn that cursed gal ! Come on " and, striking his horse with his quirt, he gal- loped off toward the mountains, followed closely by Dick and Harry and the two men. For more than an hour they rode swiftly, steadily, and silently, straight toward the Span- ish Peaks, whose rugged tops could be seen dimly cutting the far western horizon ; and not for an instant did their leader slacken his speed until they reached the foot-hills, where the ground soon became so rough and rocky that he was forced to go more slowly. Now, with all possible speed, they picked their way around huge rocks and over loose stones, until, at length, they came to where a small stream of water had cut a deep ravine through the rocky walls between two towering peaks, making a rough yet passable roadway in among the mountains. Here their leader halted. " Now, it 's up to us," he said, " to play a Across the Devil's Backbone 217 little game at bluffin', an' naturally make that old fox, Captain Kent, an' his cowboys think we 've gone into th' mountains by this here pass. Oh, he '11 trail us this far all right, in spite of the hard rock we 've been ridin' over. There ain 't an Indian that can f oiler a trail like him ; an' we Ve got to fool him someway, or he '11 be down on us long before we'll be issuin' any pressin' invites for him to come." The three men held a short consultation to- gether, and then all rode into the ravine. The ground here was solid rock, and the horses' feet apparently left no marks on its hard sur- face. One of the men pulled Dick's scarf from his neck, and dropped it just within the en- trance of the ravine. The scarf caught on a sharp point of rock and hung there. A little farther on a narrow strip of sand spread itself across the roadway, which plainly registered the imprint of their horses' hoofs as they passed over it. The three men smiled, as they looked back and saw these " signs." Surely Captain Kent would have no difficulty in discovering that they had gone into the ravine. At the end of about a half a mile they came to where the road crossed a great flat rock, worn smooth by the water during flood time, and so hard that there was little likelihood of the hoofs of 218 The Lost Treasure Cave the horses leaving any marks on it. Here they halted and the three men at once dis- mounted. From their saddle-bags they took heavily-padded deerskin mittens, made to fit over their horses' hoofs. These they firmly tied on the feet of their horses, and also on the feet of the horses of Dick and Harry. Then they remounted, and began to ride very carefully and cautiously back out of the ra- vine. When they came to the strip of sand, one of the men dismounted after they had crossed, and with the utmost care effaced all marks made by their horses' feet in recrossing the sand. At the entrance to the ravine their caution was extreme ; and, so far as Dick and Harry could discover, they passed out without leaving a sign behind that would tell even the keen eyes of Captain Kent that they had not continued on in the ravine. A half an hour later they came to a deep, nar- row canyon, torn out of the solid walls of rock. " Now, I calculate that that old fox can't trail us to this hole nohow," their leader said, pausing. " We ' 11 jest ride in here ; an' soon we ' 11 be where all th' cowboys in creation can't get at us. Now, be careful. 'T won't do to leave our cards in the vestibule to this here rocky castle. Hi ! " Across the Devil's Backbone 219 His keen eyes had suddenly caught sight of Harry twisting off one of the white buttons from his shirt. He wore no coat. With an oath he spurred up his horse close to the boy's side, and glanced sharply at the shirt. Three of the buttons were gone. " You blamed wall-eyed idiot, why don't you keep your eyes open ? " and he turned savagely on the man who rode by the side of Harry. " Can't you see that that kid ' s tryin' to leave tracers behind ? If Captain Kent's eyes hit one of those buttons he ' 11 be on our trail like a shot. Tie them kids' hands tight behind their backs. I '11 take no more chances." Dick and Harry did not say a word. There are times when a wise boy will keep his mouth tight shut, and both boys felt that this was one of those times. But Harry remembered with satisfaction the three buttons he had dropped, and Dick thought pleasantly of a small pocket comb and a little round pocket mirror that he had allowed to slip, cautiously, from his hand to the ground, the mirror not a dozen rods back and the comb just after they had left the ravine. As soon as the boys' hands had been tied behind their backs the journey was resumed. The way now led along the precipitous side of the canyon ; and they had not gone more 22O The Lost Treasure Cave than a hundred yards when they came to where the only passageway lay across a narrow shelf of projecting rocks, not more than three feet wide, with the perpendicular wall of the canyon on one hand and a chasm hundreds of feet deep on the other. Here the leader stopped and ordered the mittens to be re- moved from the horses' feet. This done he rode slowly across the shelf of rock, and called back for the two men to follow with the boys. The faces of Dick and Harry whitened a little when they saw their guards unfasten the ends of the lariats, whose nooses it will be remem- bered were around the necks of the boys' horses, from the pommels of their saddles, and grip them in their hands. The men evidently had no intention of being pulled after the horses of the boys' should the animals go over the precipice. " There, sonny, now I reckon I 'm all right, even if you do tumble into that hell-hole," remarked Harry's guide cheerfully. " Get along with you," and he struck Harry's horse a blow with his whip, and forced him to take the narrow shelf of rocks. " This ain't nothin' to what you '11 see when we gets to th' Devil's Backbone," he added by way of encourage- ment. Across the Devil's Backbone 221 Fortunately this was not the first time that Jack, Harry's horse, had been in the moun- tains ; and though Harry shuddered, and grew very white, and held his breath, and did not dare glance downward for an instant, there was really but little danger, so long as the horse was sure-footed and not frightened. In two minutes Harry and his guard were safe on the other side ; and in two minutes more Dick and the other man were by their sides. " Say, when we come to the next shelf in the sky like that," Dick said, indignantly, "just untie a fellow's hands. We could n't have helped ourselves if the horses had stumbled and went over," and he shuddered, as his eyes looked down, down to where a huge pile of jagged rocks lay hundreds of feet below on the bottom of the chasm. " Reckon ' t would n't have done no special harm if you an' your horse had went plumb to th' bottom," laughed one of the men. " But, as Mike there says, this ain't nothin' to th' Devil's Backbone ; so jest hold your courage till we gets there." Something like a half a mile farther on the canyon opened up into a small valley, com- pletely enclosed by precipitous walls of rocks, which were here and there rent by ragged 222 The Lost Treasure Cave chasms and deep gorges. They rode straight across this valley to where the steep sides of a canyon cut a huge slice out of the rocky walls, and stopped on the brink of a precipice, that shot straight down for full five hundred feet. Doubtless, in ages now long since gone, this little valley had been the bed of a lake which, fed from the surrounding mountains, poured its waters out through this canyon, chiselling a pathway through the walls of solid rock. It was an impressive sight ; and Dick and Harry, young as they were, felt the awful grandeur of the scene, as they sat on their horses' backs and looked dojvn over the brink of this dead Niagara of a dead past. Midway from the brink of the precipice ran a narrow wall of rock, not more than four feet wide at its top and continuing straight down to the bottom of the canyon, five hundred feet below. This wall was some fifty feet long, and extended from the brink of the precipice to a huge mass of rocks rising near the centre of the canyon, from which a broad but steep and rough roadway ran to the bottom of the canyon. That narrow ridge of rock, a scant four feet wide at the top, with a sheer precipice five hundred feet in depth yawning on either side, was the only doorway to the canyon. All Across the Devil's Backbone 223 who entered must cross this fearful portal, not inappropriately called the Devil's Backbone. For some two or three minutes all sat silent on their horses, contemplating this awesome scene ; then the leader placed his fingers to his lips and gave a shrill whistle, twice repeated. Hardly had the echoes of the whistle died away when a man, holding a Winchester in his hand and with a couple of six-shooters in his belt, stepped out from behind a rock that stood near the far end of the Devil's Backbone. " What seek you ? " challenged the man. "The treasure of kings," answered the leader. " Pass," responded the man, dropping his rifle at a rest to the ground. " Untie them kids' hands," ordered the leader, turning to Dick's and Harry's guards, " an' follow me across th' Devil's Backbone, each man ridin' behind one of the boys. Now," and he looked at Dick and Harry, " keep your heads steady and a firm grip on the reins, or," and he pointed suggestively to the bottom of the canyon, " there '11 be fresh food for th' vul- tures down yonder." Dick and Harry both shuddered. A ride across that narrow ridge of rock, reaching like a plank out into the air five hundred feet above the ground, was not a pleasant prospect 224 The Lost Treasure Cave to contemplate. A misstep of the horse, a moment of uncontrollable dizziness on the part of the rider and both would be whirling through those fearful depths, down to the rocks five hundred feet below. Without any hesitancy whatever the leader rode slowly across the Devil's Backbone. " Now, it 's your turn. Get along with you," Dick was commanded. The face that Dick turned to Harry was white ; but the eyes were steady, and the hand that gripped the reins of his bridle did not tremble. "Just fancy it's but five feet above the ground and it will be dead easy, Harry," he said, smiling bravely. " I am sure we can make it all right. Now, I am going to see how it would seem to be riding a horse through the air five hundred feet above the ground," and he rode his pony toward the Devil's Backbone. But the horse, at sight of the hideous depths on either side of the narrow passageway, reared and plunged, and at last balked, with his braced front feet on the entrance to that fearsome bridge. In vain Dick plied his whip and spur. The horse would not budge an inch, either backward or forward. " Hold on tight!" yelled one of the men. Across the Devil's Backbone 225 " Now, get, you brute ! " and he brought down his whip with all his strength on the butt of the balking horse. Harry gasped with horror, for, to his startled eyes, it seemed as if the terrified horse leaped straight out over into the yawning gulf. But no with a tremendous jerk on the rein Dick pulled him around sufficiently for his front feet to strike the ridge ; but so narrow was the mar- gin of safety that both hind feet hung over the abyss, and, for one awful moment, it looked as if the rider, as well as the horse, must go down. And so he would have done, had not their mo- mentum been so great that the forepart of the horse was thrust forward on the ridge and re- mained there, struggling, long enough for Dick to jump from the saddle over the horse's neck to the top of the Devil's Backbone. The mo- ment Dick was safe on his feet he caught the reins in both hands, and endeavoured to help the horse up on the rocks ; but in vain. For a moment longer the brute struggled desperately; and then the front feet slipped off, and, with a terrible scream of agony, the horse plunged down. Dick, with a cry of horror, let go the reins, and ran quickly across the Devil's Backbone. Harry, during those fearful moments while 226 The Lost Treasure Cave the horse and Dick struggled on the edge of that dreadful precipice, grew deathly sick with the horror of the sight and so weak he could hardly sit his horse ; but, when all was over and Dick safe on the other side of the Devil's Backbone, and the horse food for vultures at the bottom of the gulf, he turned on the man who had struck the horse, his face white with wrath and his eyes blazing with indignation. "You brute!" he cried. "You cowardly brute ! " and, doubling up his fist and striking his spurs into Jack's flanks, he leaped to the side of the man so suddenly and unexpectedly and landed such a tremendous blow on his right eye so quickly and so strongly that the man was hurled from his saddle to the ground, almost before he knew what was happening. The man leaped to his feet, his eyes glaring and his right hand going to the butt of his six-shooter. Harry, blind with wrath, jumped from his saddle, and sprang on the man, just as his hand was drawing the revolver from its holster, and struck him another blow, delivered with all the strength of his vigorous right arm, on the already bloodshot and half-blinded right eye. The man went down ; and Harry was on top of him before he could again struggle to his feet. Across the Devil's Backbone 227 " There, there, that will do, you rambunc- tious wildcat ! " and the heavy hand of Mike gripped Harry by the shoulders and yanked him off the prostrate man. " Just keep your fingers off that six-shooter, Bill. Reckon th' horse '11 be 'bout all you '11 care to settle for with th' Captain, without addin' th' boy to th' account. You was a brute, Bill, an' deserve th' thumpin' you got. Jumpin' coyotes, you can hit, for a kid ! Bill went out of his sad- dle like a chunk of lead out of a gun," and Mike admiringly regarded Harry, who now stood, white and panting, with fists still clenched, watching Bill with eyes blazing wrath and defiance. Bill slowly got on his feet, sullenly re- mounted his horse, and, without uttering a word, rode across the Devil's Backbone. " Better ride your horse close behind him," advised Mike. " Th' brute '11 not be so apt to balk." Harry quickly jumped into his saddle ; and Jack, with a brisk pricking up of his ears, fol- lowed Bill's horse unhesitatingly across the narrow bridge ; and he, in turn, was followed closely by Mike. " Well, I calculate we 's safe and sound as yearlin' colts now, boys," the leader remarked, 228 The Lost Treasure Cave eyeing the Devil's Backbone, thankfully. " Even if Captain Kent trails us here, he can't get across that bridge of death so long as Twig an' Bud here are behind their guns," and he glanced at two heavily-armed men, who, standing behind an impenetrable rampart of rocks, looked able to keep a regiment of sol- diers from crossing the Devil's Backbone. " An' bein' this is th' only way into this canyon, I calculates that your friends won't be callin' on you none too soon," and he grinned pleas- antly at Dick and Harry. Dick was now mounted behind Harry; and they rode on down the canyon, which wormed its way, like the trail of some huge snake, be- tween perpendicular walls of rock hundreds of feet high. Presently the canyon made an abrupt turn ; and they entered a narrow rock- enclosed valley, with a small stream of water running through its centre. On the bank of this stream a dozen rough-looking men were encamped. In a few minutes more they had reached the camp, and were greeted noisily by the men. Dick and Harry were now in the mountain-stronghold of their captors. CHAPTER XX BLACK JUAN KEEPS HIS PROMISE AFTER Loretta and the boys had ridden away, Abel Johnson and Captain Kent seated themselves on the porch for a long quiet talk together. They were old friends, and there were many things each wished to tell the other. Besides, there was the expedi- tion to the hermit's treasure cave, which was to start on Monday, that needed talking over. 41 There is one of your cowboys, Abel," Captain Kent said, when the question of who should accompany the expedition was being considered, " that I do not care to have with us. I mean the Mexican, Black Juan. I do not like him. He does not have the eyes of an honest man. I would not trust him. An- other thing : I do not believe he is any more of a Mexican than I am. I have known a great many Mexicans ; and, somehow, I can't make Black Juan seem like a real one. I can't give any good reason why, but that 's the way 2 230 The Lost Treasure Cave I feel, Abel ; and I don't want that man with us when we go after the treasure." " Well, you are not th' only one that don't like Mexico," Abel Johnson laughed. "Cow- boy Jim says that he thinks of snakes every time he sees his eyes ; an' I don't savvy him none much. He throws too much soaped rope for my style ; and I don't think none of takin' him with us. He '11 be needed plenty on th' ranch. But I reckon he 's a Mexican all right. At least he's got th' brag an' slick tongue of one." " Well, maybe I am a little too suspicious," Captain Kent admitted ; " but, when I think of the vast treasure of gold and jewels hidden in the hermit's cave, and of what would happen if some of the desperadoes in this section of the country should learn of its existence and that we were after it, I feel that we can't be too careful, Abel. Why, there must be mil- lions of dollars worth of treasure in that cave ; and what would our lives be worth if Kid Dai- ton, or other ruffians of his stripe, should hear of it ? They'd get the treasure if they had to kill every one of us. We must take no one with us whom we would not trust with our lives, for it may come to that very issue." For a couple of hours longer the two men Black Juan Keeps his Promise 231 sat on the porch, carefully considering and planning the best way to get the treasure safely from the cave. So interested were they that they took little note of the passing of the time, and it was nearing the noon hour, when, suddenly, in the midst of a heated dis- cussion of a controverted point, Abel Johnson leaped to his feet, with an exclamation, and, throwing his left hand up to his brow, stared out from under it across the plains, his agita- tion becoming greater every moment. " My God, David ! " he cried, pointing to where a distant figure was racing across the plains toward the ranch, "Chat's my little gal, an' she 's alone, an' ridin' Bonny Bess as if for life ! What can have happened ? What can have happened ? Quick, follow me ! " and Abel Johnson leaped from the porch, and ran down the hill to meet Loretta, for the flying figure was hers, riding Bonny Bess as fast as voice and whip could urge that noble little beast to go. Captain Kent jumped quickly to his feet, glanced in the direction of the fast-coming pony and rider, and then followed swiftly after Abel Johnson, his face going white with anx- iety. Loretta alone, and riding as fast as she could make her pony go, could mean but one 232 The Lost Treasure Cave thing something had happened to Dick and Harry! The moment Loretta met her father, she jumped from her saddle into his arms. " Quick papa Captain Kent hurry Dick and Harry are captured ! " she cried as her arms went round her father's neck. " Save them, oh, save them, papa ! " and she began to sob. " Loretta," and Captain Kent seized the ex- cited girl by the shoulder, " Loretta, for Dick's and Harry's sake control yourself, and tell us as quickly as possible just what has happened. We must know, or we cannot help them." For a minute or two Abel Johnson held her close to his bosom, fondly caressing her and murmuring words of endearment in her ears ; and then, gently withdrawing her arms from his neck, he said : " David is right, little gal. Now, tell us quickly what has happened to Dick and Harry." Then Loretta told, as well as she could in her excitement, how they had suddenly found themselves confronted by the three ruffians, with six-shooters levelled at their heads, how the boys had been forced to give up their rifles, and how she, taking advantage of the careless- ness of her captor, had escaped, owing to the Black Juan Keeps his Promise 233 fleetness of Bonny Bess, although she had been chased far by two of the men, who had shot many times at her when they found that they could not recapture her, and she showed the holes in her dress through which two rifle balls had passed. Before Loretta had finished with her story Captain Kent was running back to the ranch- house. He knew that every instant of time was priceless ; for, if possible, the boys and their captors must be overtaken before they reached the mountains, where it would be ex- ceedingly difficult to follow their trail. As he ran he called back to Abel Johnson to get together a dozen cowboys and follow after him as quickly as possible. In ten minutes more he was armed and mounted, and riding as fast as his horse could carry him toward the place where the boys had been captured. Abel Johnson wasted no time. He, too, thoroughly understood the value of every mo- ment. As he raced back to the ranch-house he shouted : " Ring- the alarm bell ! Arm and o mount as quickly as possible ! Do not waste a moment ! Every man that can, follow me ! " and he rushed into the house to get his weapons. Cowboy Jim heard the command, and 234 The Lost Treasure Cave jumped for the bell-rope of the great bell that hung from the top of a high pole which stood in front of the ranch-house ; and in another moment its loud peals were sounding across the plains, summoning every cowboy within hearing to the house. In a surprisingly short space of time Abel Johnson sat on his big gray horse, with a dozen armed and mounted cowboys crowding ex- citedly around him. In a few words he told of the capture of Dick and Harry, and of the need of the utmost haste, if they would rescue the boys before the robbers reached the moun- tains with them. " We 're your men till th' last hoss drops an' th' last grain of gunpowder is burnt," declared Red Hank, fiercely gripping his rifle. We're plumb bound to save Dick an' Harry, no matter who or what 's got them ; an' if a hair of their heads is harmed we '11 make somebody howl worser than a coyote." It needed but a glance at the faces of the men to tell that Red Hank had voiced the senti- ments of all. These knights of the plains were ever ready to risk limb and life to help a com- rade in trouble, or to avenge him, if too late to save ; and now they were on fire with a fierce longing to be after the villains who had dared Black Juan Keeps his Promise 235 to lay violent hands on Dick and Harry. Even the face of Black Juan looked full of wrath and determination, and he swore as loud as any as he listened to Abel Johnson's story of the capture of the boys. Abel Johnson was about to give the com- mand to start when Loretta galloped up to his side on Bonny Bess. Her eyes were flashing. " Papa, let me go with you," she urged. " I can take you straight to the spot where Dick and Harry were captured ; and I do so want to do something to help Dick and Harry. Please let me go, papa ! " " No, little gal," and her father turned in his saddle, and, throwing one arm around her, drew her close to his side. " No, little gal, you cannot go. I want to know that my little gal is safe at home, waitin' to welcome me back, waitin' to welcome Dick an' Harry back. Oh r we'll bring them back with us, never fear. Now, good-by, little love," and he lifted her from the back of Bonny Bess and for a minute held her close in his great arms, while his shaggy beard mingled with her soft dark hair. When he restored her to her saddle the eyes of both were moist. "Come on!" Abel Johnson shouted; and, followed by his brave cowboys, he galloped 236 The Lost Treasure Cave after Captain Kent, who was now a mile or more in advance. Loretta sat on the back of Bonny Bess and watched them, until they had passed from sight over the brow of a distant divide. Then she dismounted, and, without removing the saddle or bridle from Bonny Bess, seated herself on the porch of the ranch-house and began to cry. Bonny Bess looked at her loved mistress for a minute, and then, trotting up close to where she sat, thrust her muzzle softly into her lap, as much as to say : " I am so sorry, too ; but I did all that I could to help you and the boys." Loretta flung her arms affectionately around the pony's neck. " Oh ! Bonny Bess ! Dear, dear, Bonny Bess ! " she sobbed. " What has become of Dick and Harry ? Oh, what has hap- pened to them ? Can 't we do something to help them ? Oh, it is terrible to sit here wait- ing, doing nothing, when when their very lives may be in danger. Can 't we do some- thing to help Dick and Harry?" and she buried her face in the long mane of Bonny Bess. " I 's sorry, 'deed I is, Miss 'Retta," and Bill Burke stood very humbly before the sobbing girl. " Massah Dick an' Harry bes' frens dis niggah's got, an' now dey's done gone an' got Black Juan Keeps his Promise 237 captured by dem white rascallians. I 's berry sorry, Miss 'Retta ; but don't yo' weep no mo'. Dem boys come back sho'. I nebber did seed no such boys fo' gettin' out ob scrapes. Dar ain't no white trash can keep Massah Dick an Harry 'less dey wants to stay keeped ; no, sah. Dem boys jes scan 'lous fo' gettin' out ob troubles. Dey come back sho', Miss 'Retta, 'deed dey will," and the wrinkles on Bill Burke's face took on a look of preternatural hopefulness. Loretta smiled through her tears. Indeed, it was almost impossible to look at Bill Burke's face without smiling. Besides, his homely honest words and sympathy had cheered her, and reawakened her hopes. She knew that Dick and Harry were brave, keen-witted boys, and she began to feel quite confident that, even if Captain Kent and the cowboys did not rescue them, they would, somehow, effect their own escape. With a lighter heart she turned to answer Bill Burke, and, as she did so, her eyes caught sight of a horseman riding swiftly across the plains toward the ranch. " Look, Bill Burke ! " she exclaimed. " Look, some one is riding back. Oh, I hope they have found Dick and Harry, and he is coming to tell me the good news. I can't wait. I 'm 2. F 238 The Lost Treasure Cave going to meet him," and, jumping to her feet, she sprang on the back of Bonny Bess ; but she did not ride forth to meet the horseman. He was now so near that she could recognize him. It was Black Juan ; and Loretta, as well as some others, had taken a particular dislike to Black Juan. Therefore she sat still in her saddle and anxiously awaited his coming, in- stead of riding out to meet him. Black Juan came up on the gallop, and halted his pony close to the side of Bonny Bess. His face wore an urgent look, as if his business was pressing ; but he did not forget his politeness. " Seftorita," he said, bowing and doffing his hat, " I from the seftor, your father, come. He would have you ride back with me swiftly. The trail they have lost. He would have you show where were captured the boys. Of value the greatest is time. He would have you come at once. You are mounted. Shall we ride now, seftorita ? " " Yes, oh, yes ! " Loretta exclaimed excit- edly. " I am ready. Let us go at once, this moment. Oh, why did not papa take me with him as I wanted him to ? Hurry, Black Juan ! Let us hurry ! Get up, Bonny Bess ! We are going to help save Dick and Harry. Get up ! " Black Juan Keeps his Promise 239 and she galloped off, urging Bonny Bess to her fastest speed. Black Juan followed swiftly after Loretta, his eyes glinting and his face smiling. Black Juan had promised himself that there should be no lack of excitement at the Lone Hill ranch ; and now he was beginning to keep his promise. Bill Burke stood and watched Loretta and Black Juan ride away, shaking his head dubi- ously. " Dis niggah don't like dat black Mex- ico nohow," he muttered to himself. " Dar's de dcbbel peekin' out ob his two eyes. I 's don't like Miss 'Retta ridin' off wid him, all by herself, nohow. It's up to dis niggah to done somefin'. I ' s gwine to follow Miss 'Retta to protect her," and, with his face wrinkled up into a look of stern resolution, Bill Burke hurried away to the horse corral, where, fortunately, he found a pony, that had been rejected by one of the cowboys as too slow for the chase after the robbers, still tied to a post. In a short time Bill Burke had a saddle and bridle on this pony and had cautiously mounted him, still having a very vivid remembrance of his flight through the air from a similar-looking back not longer ago than that very morning. But, again fortunately, 240 The Lost Treasure Cave there was no " debbel " in this pony's back- bone ; and Bill Burke, plying the whip vig- orously and yelling to the bronco, galloped down Lone Hill, just as Loretta and Black Juan passed over a distant divide and vanished from his sight CHAPTER XXI SCAR-FACE DICK and Harry the moment they halted in the stronghold of their abductors stared around them in astonishment. The narrow, rock-enclosed valley had an unaccount- ably familiar look. Both felt sure they had seen that valley before but when ? They glanced around anxiously, seeking some more familiar object with which to spur up their memories ; and, almost at the same instant, the eyes of each lad fell on the blackened ruins of an enormous tree, which lay, stretched along the ground, some five rods farther up the valley. Dick started and glanced apprehensively at Harry ; Harry flashed a look of surprise and fear at Dick ; and then both boys turned their eyes involuntarily upward, searching the face of the perpendicular wall of rock that rose directly opposite the spot where the stump of the great tree showed the place where the 242 The Lost Treasure Cave mighty monarch of the forest had once stood. Some two hundred feet above the ground their eyes rested on a round black spot, hardly vis- ible from below ; and again the eyes of each boy sought the eyes of the other. " The treasure cave ! " whispered Harry, ex- citedly. " Why have they brought us here ? " and his face grew white with apprehension. " Oh, Dick, can they know that the treasure cave is in this valley, and have brought us here to force us to tell where it is ? " " It looks like it," Dick replied, his voice trembling with the agitation the discovery of their whereabouts had caused him. " This is certainly Blind Canyon ; and we are stand- ing almost on the very spot where the In- dians built their camp-fire, and yonder is the very pile of rocks behind which Red Panther and his warriors hid when Captain Kent and the cowboys charged up the valley ; and, oh, Harry don't you remember the entrance to Blind Canyon was called the Devil's Back- bone, and how careful the Indians were when they brought us over it? We can't be mis- taken. This is the very spot where where," Dick's voice choked, " where my father saved us from the Indians." "Hush! Hush! Don't speak so loud!" Scar-Face 243 suddenly warned Harry. "We are being watched. We must control ourselves. We must not let them know that we were ever in this valley before ; and and, no matter what happens, Dick, we must not tell where the treasure is." " Not a word," and Dick's jaws came to- gether with a snap. " Not if they kill us, the cowards ! Just wait until Captain Kent and Abel Johnson and the cowboys get hold of them ! Be careful ! Here they come. Now I fancy we are going to find out what they brought us here for." So far the two boys had stood close together by the side of their horse, and quite a little dis- tance away from the men who had been hold- ing a council around their three captors. Now, two of the men left the council and walked hastily toward Dick and Harry. " You 're wanted, young feller," and one of these men clapped his hand roughly on Dick's shoulder and led him away to where the men stood awaiting them. The other man sat down on the ground near Harry, and kindly informed him that he would bore a hole through him as big as his fist if he did not do exactly as he told him to. Harry looked at him, and concluded that he 244 The Lost Treasure Cave would not give him a chance to bore that hole. As Dick and his companion approached, the men threw themselves down on the ground around a large rock, on which sat a huge, square-jawed, evil-eyed man, with a great scar running diagonally from his forehead across his left eye and nose, and giving his face a particularly ferocious look. Dick was halted directly in front of this man. " Boy " the man scowled savagely " do you want to be shot and have your body thrown into that river to feed the fish ? " was the rather startling query he propounded to Dick. " No, sir," Dick answered, his face going white, for the man looked as if shooting boys would be a most pleasant pastime for him. "Good," returned the man. "Jest hold to that idee, and 't will save us a lot of trouble. We don't hanker none to kill you boys ; but, we want you to know, right from the word go, that we ain't running no Society for the Pre- vention of Cruelty to Children, and that we had just as soon kill you as to eat our dinners, providing we was satisfied it would n't disa- gree with our stomachs. Savvy ? " The man leaned forward until his brutal face was within Scar-Face 245 two feet of Dick's, and his eyes, glowing like two coals of fire, looked straight into the eyes of the boy. " Show us where that treasure is hid," he roared, " and not a hair of your heads shall be harmed ; refuse, and, by heaven ! I' 11 shoot you where you stand," and the brute jerked out his six-shooter from its holster and thrust its muzzle within two inches of Dick's nose. Dick recoiled in sudden fright ; and then he straightened up with a jerk, threw back his head defiantly, and looked the bully straight in the eyes. " Shoot, you coward ! " he said. " Shoot an unarmed boy ! But, just as sure as you do, you shall hang ! Remember, you shall hang hang ! " and Dick actually lifted his clinched fist and shook it in the man's face. " Now, shoot, you bully ; for, if I know where any treasure is hidden, I will never tell you nor any of your cowardly band of robbers." There was no mistaking the look on Dick's face. It said more plainly than words could, " I '11 die before I '11 tell." The desperado's game of bluffing had failed most signally. Dick would not scare. The great scar on the man's face grew red as fire, and a deadly gleam came into the eyes 2a 246 The Lost Treasure Cave behind the six-shooter. It was not pleasant to be called a coward and defied before his comrades by a kid. For a minute it looked as if the man would shoot Dick where he stood. Then he lowered the revolver and slid it back into its holster. If he killed the boy who would guide them to the treasure ? Besides, there were other and better ways than shooting to get information from an unwilling boy. He would try some of those other ways presently. " Bring the other kid here ! " he called to the man guarding Harry. " Don't give in, Harry. No matter what happens, don't give in, Harry," Dick whispered, as Harry took his place by his side. For a minute the man on the rock regarded the two boys in silence ; and, when he spoke, his words came slowly, as if he wished the boys to fully comprehend the meaning of each word spoken before he uttered the next one ; and the look on his face gave a horrible reality to the threats with which he emphasized his demands. " You boys," he began, " have got sand, and don't scare worth a coyote ; but what 's the use of sand and courage in a case like this ? You are absolutely in our power ; and Scar-Face 247 Captain Kent and Abel Johnson, backed by all the cowboys in Colorado, can't rescue you, so long as we hold the Devil's Backbone ; and two men can hold it against a regiment of soldiers. Now, we know that you have dis- covered an enormous treasure somewhere in this canyon, and that you are here now on purpose to get it. We want that treasure, and we 're going to have it, and we ain't much time to do any fooling with you about it, so I '11 talk to you straight and brief. If you '11 show us where the treasure is, we '11 not harm a hair of your heads, and we '11 set you free the moment the treasure is safe in our hands, and more, we '11 give you your share of the treasure. That 's what we '11 do if you 're sen- sible, and I call it a square and right deal by you, considering the circumstances. " Now, listen, and remember I ain't talking none but what we 's all plenty willing to back up with deeds. We '11 give you exactly two hours to ponder over this proposition ; and if, at the end of that time, you are willing to agree to them terms, well and good. If you still set too high a value on that treasure and refuse to tell where it is, we '11 proceed to try our patent automatic secret-extractors on you, and brand you, like we do all kinds of calves 248 The Lost Treasure Cave in this country. Bill," and he turned to one of the men, "just show the kids the kind of tools we use." Bill went into one of the tents which were pitched a short distance back from the stream of water, and returned in a few minutes with a couple of branding irons, such as are used in the cattle country for branding cows. These he handed to the desperado. " This," said the man, still speaking slowly, as he held out the smaller of the two irons for the inspection of Dick and Harry, " is what we brand calves with. Now, if at the end of the two hours you boys are still thinking more of that treasure than you are of your lives, we 're going to heat this iron red-hot, and brand each one of you on your right cheek. Then, at the end of ten minutes, we 're going to ask you again, and, if you still refuse, we 're going to brand each of you on your left cheek, so that both jaws will have the same ornament on them. Then we 're going to give you exactly an hour to discover precisely how it feels, and to let the burns get to stinging good, when we '11 ask you once more. This time, if you refuse, we '11 bring on our patent automatic secret-extractor," and he held out the larger of the two irons for the boys to observe. Scar-Face 249 " We '11 heat this iron red-hot, bare your backs and press the hot iron against them, until you come to the conclusion that your hides are worth more to you than a cave full of gold. Now, I ain't going to waste any more talk on you. You know what 's coming. Take the kids away and spread-eagle them. 'T will help them to understand we ain't doing this for pleasure none, and that we ain't no intentions whatsoever of being balked by two obstinate youngsters. Take them away," and the man glared, with the look of a wild beast in his eyes, at Dick and Harry. Two men at once conducted Dick and Harry to a level spot of ground a couple of rods back from the camp-fire, where they proceeded to stake them out, or spread-eagle them, as it is sometimes called. This was done by forcing the boys to lie flat on their backs. Then their arms were stretched out and upward as far as they would go, a sharpened stake driven firmly into the ground by the side of each wrist, and the hands tightly fastened to these stakes. Their legs were also stretched and spread, and strongly bound to similar stakes driven into the ground close to their ankles. This is an exceedingly uncomfortable position in which to be compelled to remain motionless for even 250 The Lost Treasure Cave a few minutes, and long before the two hours were up, Dick and Harry felt as if red-hot irons were being run up and down along the nerves and muscles and bones of their arms and legs and backs. " Dick," Harry said, when his agony had be- come almost unendurable, " how much longer do you suppose we Ve got to lie trussed out in this fashion ? I 'm getting about all that I can stand." " Don't know," Dick answered grimly ; "but I fancy it won't be much longer. Old Scar-face is getting ready for business," and he looked, suggestively, to where a couple of men were heating the branding irons in a fire that had been built not two yards away from where they lay. " What answer are you going to make him, Harry?" The two boys had been "staked" close together, and were able to carry on a con- versation in so low a tone of voice that the two men at the fire could not overhear them. " Well," Harry answered, after a moment's consideration, " I Ve been thinking it all over, Dick, and it seems to me as if old Scar-face had got an air-tight cinch on us. We can't escape there 's the Devil's Backbone for us Scar-Face 251 to cross. And Captain Kent and the cowboys, even if they are smart enough to trail us to this canyon, can 't rescue us there 's the Devil's Backbone again for them to cross in the face of armed men behind bullet-proof rocks. So, Dick, I think we might just as well give up all hopes of rescue or escape, and look the alternatives Scar-face put before us square in the face. We have either got to tell where the treasure is, and be given our free- dom ; or refuse, and be slowly tortured to death. I look for no mercy from these men. They are Western desperadoes, the most cruel in the world. They know that we know where that treasure is, and they are going to make us tell ; or, if we won't, they '11 try all sorts of tortures to force it from us, even to branding and burning us with hot irons, as that old heathen, Scar-face, threatens. They will not let the lives of two boys stand between them and so vast a treasure, not if I am any judge of human nature. But they won't kill us until they have given up all hope of forcing the secret out of us ; and that 's the worst thing about it all. If they would only shoot us, it would soon be over. I could stand that. But," and Harry's voice faltered, "those branding irons ! To have the hide slowly 252 The Lost Treasure Cave burnt off you with them. It is terrible! Dick ! Dick ! what shall we do ? " Before Dick could answer, Scar-face strode up to where they lay, and stood looking gloat- ingly down on them. " You have two minutes left, boys," he said, taking out his watch and glancing at it. " Are the branding irons ready ? " he called to the two men at the fire. " Yes, an' hot enough to scorch th' hide off a rhinoceros," responded one of the men. " Now," and Scar-face went up close to Harry and bent over him until his face was within two feet of Harry's face. " Now, you know exactly what 's going to happen to you, if you don't give us the answer we want ; and it 's going to happen mighty sudden. I' m not going to ask you twice. You give me a straight ' yes ' or ' no ' ; and if it 's ' no,' that hot iron goes onto your cheek the moment the word is out of your mouth. Do you under- stand ? " and the red, blood-shot, wolfish eyes glared down into Harry's, for a moment ; and then Scar-face straightened up and glanced at his watch. "Time 's up ! Bring me the branding iron." he called to the men at the fire. One of the men instantly hurried to his side, Scar- Face 253 with the smaller of the two branding irons, heated to a white heat, in his hand. Scar-face grasped the branding iron in his right hand and held the glowing surface within a foot of Harry's cheek. Harry's face became as white as chalk, and his whole body began to tremble, and cold drops of sweat stood out all over his skin. His eyes swept the circle of surrounding faces (the men had all crowded around to see the " fun ") in vain for a look of sympathy not one of them but would have been glad to have held the iron himself and, finally, rested on the white set face of Dick ! The sight of the agony on Harry's face, and the thought of that hot iron hissing through the skin and flesh, was too much for Dick, and he cried out : " Tell them, Harry ! Tell them where the treasure cave is ! " Evidently Scar-face thought that this was the opportune moment, for, bending over Harry and holding the hot iron within six inches of his cheek, he demanded : " Will you tell where that treasure is hidden ? " At that moment Harry's courage and reso- lution got its second wind, as it were. His face flushed angrily, his eyes flashed up defiantly into the eyes of Scar-face, and he yelled : 2 H 254 The Lost Treasure Cave " No ; I won't tell you, you cowardly pack of cutthroats ! Brand, burn, flay me alive by inches ; I won't tell you ! Do you hear ? I won't tell you ! I won't tell you ! You big, cowardly, ugly-mugged brute ! Now do your worst ! " and Harry glared at Scar-face. For a moment Scar-face was disconcerted by the suddenness and vehemence of Harry's outbreak, but only for a moment. With a horrible oath he bent forward to thrust the hot iron against Harry's cheek ; but, before the iron touched the skin, a clatter of hoofs was heard, a horseman dashed up, and Harry heard a familiar voice exclaim angrily: "What devilment is this?" and then the astounded boy saw Black Juan ride up to within a rod of where he lay ; and by his side rode Loretta on Bonny Bess, her hands tightly bound be- hind her back, and a gag in her mouth. With a curse Scar-face threw the heated branding iron aside, and straightened up. "Release those boys," Black Juan com- manded. " We '11 not do any branding just yet. I have other plans. Untie the girl and take the gag out of her mouth," and he pointed to Loretta. " You, Bill, stand guard over the children. Keep the three of them close to- gether. Let them do all the talking to one Scar- Face 255 another they please, but keep your eyes on them all the time. The rest of you come to the Council Rock. I have matters of impor- tance to lay before you," and, jumping from his horse, he strode away to the great flat rock, whereon had sat Scar-face when Dick had been summoned before him. CHAPTER XXII ON THE TRAIL OF THE ABDUCTORS WHEN Captain Kent reached the spot where Dick and Harry had been cap- tured the carcass of the buffalo bull still marked the place he paused only long enough for his eyes to sweep quickly over the ground to see if any "signs" had been left that would assist him in discovering who the abductors were and whither they had gone. Almost in a glance his quick eyes saw where the grass had been trampled down by the horses' feet, the spots where Dick and Harry had struck when they had been knocked senseless from their horses, where they had lain while bound, and the marks that had been left by the hoofs of Bonny Bess when she had so nobly leaped away with her mistress ; and from these "signs" he read all that had hap- pened as clearly as if it lay before him printed in the pages of a book. But this was all he could read from the plains, save the direction and On the Trail of the Abductors 257 the haste in which the abductors had departed with their captives ; and Captain Kent, with hardly a minute's pause, galloped on, his eyes fixed on the trail that so plainly pointed toward the rocky fastnesses of the mountains. The thought that Dick and Harry were in the hands of desperadoes, who, somehow, had learned of the treasure hidden in the cave, gave wings to Captain Kent's haste. He knew the desperate character of these men. They would stop at nothing, not even torture and murder, to accomplish their purpose ; and if Dick and Harry had the grit and courage he felt quite sure they possessed, then, indeed, they were in the most deadly peril, unless res- cued at once. For some five miles the trail was plain, and Captain Kent had no difficulty in following it, even at full speed ; but, at the end of that dis- tance, the way became so rough and rocky that he was compelled to ride much more slowly and even to dismount occasionally in order to be sure that he was going right. This gave Abel Johnson and his cowboys a chance to overtake him. " Can we catch them before they reach the mountains?" Abel Johnson asked, the mo- ment he rode up. 258 The Lost Treasure Cave " We must, if possible," Captain Kent an- swered. " Abel, if anything should happen to Dick and Harry I could never forgive myself. I feel almost the affection of a father for the lads, they are such brave, sturdy, noble fellows ; and how could I ever face their fathers and mothers ? We must rescue them, no matter at what cost we must rescue them, Abel." But the trail proved very difficult to follow, and much priceless time was lost, and it was fully an hour after Dick and Harry and their captors had returned out of the first ravine they had entered before Captain Kent and Abel Johnson and his cowboys stood in front of its rocky gateway. " Shall we go on now, or wait here until morning?" asked Abel Johnson. "It is al- ready within an hour of sunset ; and as soon as it becomes dark it will be impossible for us to move within that ravine." "We will go on," replied Captain Kent quietly, riding into the ravine. " We might come upon their camp before it gets too dark to travel. They will not expect us to follow them into the mountains to-night, and, there- fore, will not be apt to keep a careful guard. It is always best to do what our enemy least expects us to do. Besides, I can't remain On the Trail of the Abductors 259 idle What is that ? " and Captain Kent leaped from his horse, and quickly caught up a white object that clung to the jagged point of a projecting rock. It was Dick's neck- scarf ; and Captain Kent and Abel Johnson recognized it at once. " Thank God, that proves we 're on th' right trail ! " ejaculated Abel Johnson fervently. But Captain Kent's face wore a troubled look, and he examined the ground around the spot where the scarf was found very carefully before he again mounted. " I cannot understand how their captors could be so careless as to leave so plain a sign behind them," he said, as he leaped into the saddle, and continued on down the ravine; "and so near the entrance, too. It almost looks as if it had been left purposely ; and yet Dick might have cleverly managed to drop it unseen. What do you think, Jim?" and Captain Kent turned to Cowboy Jim, who was now riding by his side. " It is plumb queer," Cowboy Jim answered, "an' I don't understand it none, unless they felt safe an' got careless-like. Anyway we know that Dick has been here, and that 's good to know Hello!" and Cowboy Jim jumped from his saddle. His keen eyes, that 260 The Lost Treasure Cave had never left the ground once while he was talking, had caught sight of a little white object lying off a short way to one side of the trail. In a moment more the object was in his hand, and he was holding it up for Captain Kent to see. "One of the buttons off Harry's shirt!" Captain Kent exclaimed joyfully. " It's been twisted off, too. Bully for the boys ! They are trying to leave tracers behind them. But," and here his face clouded again, " it 's too far from the trail to have been dropped, and the boy would not have tossed it. Any- way, as you say, Jim, it shows that the boys have been in this ravine, and that we 're on the right trail so far." A short distance farther on they came to where the horses had plainly left the im- print of their hoofs in the narrow strip of sand spread across the bottom of the ravine. Captain Kent, Abel Johnson and Cowboy Jim dismounted and examined these "signs" very carefully. " Them 's th' hoof-marks of Jack an* that pinto that Dick rode, sure as shootin'. I would know them anywhere," Cowboy Jim declared. "An' they 're pointin' down th' ravine, so I reckon we 're on th' right trail." On the Trail of the Abductors 261 Captain Kent got down on his hands and knees and very carefully went over the entire length of the strip of sand. When he came to where the horses had recrossed on their way out of the ravine, he called Abel Johnson and Cowboy Jim both to him. " Look here," he said, " this sand has been disturbed, and not more than two hours ago, and by human hands. See there ! " and he pointed to a faint mark that a human finger had left in the sand. " Now, it is my belief that we 're on a blind trail, and that this is where they recrossed the sand on their way out of this ravine. The neckscarf first made me suspicious. Men who are trying to hide their trail don't leave such signs behind them. Then the finding of that button, a rod or more one side of the trail where the robbers passed while going farther into the ravine, strengthened this suspicion. The only way that I can account for it being there is that Harry dropped it while going out to help set us right. This freshly disturbed sand and that finger mark confirm the suspicion. I feel quite sure that they only entered this ravine to start us on a false trail. What do you think?" and Captain Kent awaited anxiously the reply of Abel Johnson and Cowboy Jim. 2i 262 The Lost Treasure Cave Before answering both men examined the sand and the finger mark with great care. The sand evidently had been recently smoothed over, and the finger mark was proof positive that a human hand had done it. But, why had this been done ? They searched the ground on both sides of the strip of sand, but found nothing to aid them in solving the problem. " I anticipate you 're right, Captain," Cow- boy Jim answered, straightening up; "an' if you be th' sooner we get out of this ravine th' better. Now, I " But here Captain Kent interrupted him by suddenly going down on his hands and knees, and beginning to blow strongly on the sand. His keen eyes had discovered, at a spot where the sand had been thinly spread over the rock, the faintest possible outline of a mark that might be made to mean something. Slowly, carefully, he blew away the sand until there lay before him, stamped in the slightly damper sand than that which had been lightly spread over it, the rough outline of a huge misshapen foot. For a minute or more Captain Kent studied this mark most carefully, Abel Johnson and Cowboy Jim also bending over the imprint On the Trail of the Abductors 263 with signs of the deepest interest on their faces ; then he jumped quickly to his feet and leaped into his saddle. " Come on ! " he cried, impatiently. " We have already wasted time enough in this ravine. That 's the mark of the muffled hoof of a horse, and the horse was going out, not in, the ravine. I know because the impression is deepest on the side nearest to the ravine's entrance. We Ve been fooled, but not as badly as they intended we should be. Come on, we must see if we can't strike the trail outside before it gets too dark," and he galloped swiftly to the entrance, followed by Abel Johnson and his cowboys. Here, for the first time, Abel Johnson missed Black Juan. "Where's Mexico?" he asked. "I saw him start with us." " His hoss went lame jest over th' first divide," explained Red Hank. " Reckon he got a strain in th' steer-tyin' yesterday ; an' Mexico went back after another hoss. Said he'd follow along after us as fast as hoss- flesh could bring him. He appeared to be uncommon hot to be in at th' finish ; but it looks now as if he had cooled down some ; leastwise he 's not caught up with us yet." 264 The Lost Treasure Cave The men now spread themselves out both sides of the entrance to the ravine, search- ing for signs that would tell them which direc- tion the boys and their captors had taken ; but the rapidly increasing darkness soon compelled them to give up all hopes of finding the trail that night, much to Captain Kent's disappoint- ment, and it was determined to camp right where they were. At daylight they would take up the search again. In the morning, the moment it became light enough to see, Captain Kent and his men again began the search for the lost trail ; but so effectually had the horses' hoofs been muffled that they could not discover a "sign," and all were beginning to get discouraged, when a loud shout from Cowboy Jim called the attention of all to him. He was holding something up in his hand. As quickly as their legs could take them there Captain Kent and Abel Johnson were by his side. " Look ! Dick's hair-scratcher," and Cow- boy Jim held out a small pocket-comb exult- ingly. " I saw him usin' it not longer ago than yesterday mornin'." Both Captain Kent and Abel Johnson recognized the comb as belonging to Dick ; and, with lighter hearts, the trail was resumed On the Trail of the Abductors 265 along the side of the mountain where the comb had been found. All eyes searched the ground closely, as they rode, hoping to dis- cover other marks of the boys' shrewdness. Nor were they disappointed ; for hardly had they ridden a mile farther when Captain Kent jumped from his horse and picked up a white button, the mate of the one found in the ravine. This was proof that they were now on the right trail, and they hurried on with increased speed. Presently they came to where the road forked. The abductors of the boys might have taken either way ; but the muffled feet of their horses left no marks to show which way they had gone, and it would have been quite impossible for even Captain Kent to have told had not the eyes of Abel Johnson suddenly fallen on Dick's pocket-mirror lying on the ground, a mute but effective witness of the route taken by his captors. A little farther on they came to the narrow entrance of a deep canyon. " They have gone into the mountains here," Captain Kent said decisively. " I know this canyon well. It opens up into a rock-bound valley, once the bed of a mountain lake. Abel," and Captain Kent rode up close to the side of Abel Johnson, and spoke in so low a 266 The Lost Treasure Cave tone of voice that only his friend could hear, " from this valley you cross the Devil's Back- bone into Blind Canyon. Can it be that the robbers have discovered where the treasure is hidden and have gone after it ? " " Zounds ! " and Abel Johnson turned indig- nantly on Captain Kent, " you don't mean to hint that them boys have been made to tell where the treasure is hid, do you ? I don't believe there 's a gang of cutthroats in the Rocky Mountains that could dig that secret out of Dick and Harry with their knives. I '11 bank every steer I 've got on the grit of them two kids." "And I," replied Captain Kent a little sternly, " would give every cent I am worth to know that the boys will not be put to the test. They are too brave and gritty to give in, and if they don't give in Abel, God alone knows what will happen ! They are in the hands of men who will stop at nothing, not even at tor- ture and murder. I fear that these men know that the treasure cave is somewhere in Blind Canyon and have brought the boys there to force them to show them where it is. But, let us hasten. It may be that they are encamped in this valley," and Captain Kent hurried on into the canyon. On the Trail of the Abductors 267 As they drew near to the valley Captain Kent proceeded with the utmost caution. He wished to surprise the robbers, should they prove to be encamped there. But the valley was empty of all human life. Captain Kent's face paled when he saw that the trail, which was now plainly visible, ran straight across the valley in the direction of the Devil's Backbone ; for he knew that it would be impossible to cross the Devil's Back- bone, if it were guarded. Two men could hold that narrow passageway against a regiment of soldiers. And once safely in Blind Canyon, with Dick and Harry absolutely in their power, what might not the robbers do to compel the boys to show them the way to the treasure cave ? What might they not have done already ? About half a mile from the entrance to- Blind Canyon was a large clump of trees. When Captain Kent and his men reached these trees, they paused to take counsel as to- the best way to approach the Devil's Back- bone. So far they could not have been seen by any one left to guard the pass ; but, once beyond the clump of trees, and they would be in plain sight from the rocks guarding the other end of the Devil's Backbone ; and, 268 The Lost Treasure Cave should armed men be lurking behind these rocks, it behooved them to advance with the greatest of care. Captain Kent and Abel Johnson and Cow- boy Jim dismounted and crept forward to the edge of the woods to reconnoitre. Not a sign of a human being was in sight, and the valley looked as quiet and as peaceful as a Sunday afternoon. Birds sang joyously in the near-by trees, an eagle soared high above the Devil's Backbone, and close to the entrance of Blind Canyon a number of antelopes fed quietly. At that moment, from out the tall grass near one of the antelopes, leaped the long, lithe body of a mountain lion, and lit, with crushing force, on the back of one of the little animals. The other antelopes bounded away at a most amazing speed ; and the mountain lion, seizing his prey in his strong jaws, started with it toward the Devil's Backbone. " Look ! " exclaimed Cowboy Jim excitedly. " Th' brute 's goin' to carry th' antelope across th' Devil's Backbone, where I anticipate he 's got a den with young ones in it. Now, we '11 see whether or not th' pass is guarded, an' without th' risk of gettin' a bullet planted in us." Cowboy Jim was right. The mountain lion On the Trail of the Abductors 269 bore his prey to the edge of the chasm, and then started slowly across the Devil's Back- bone with it, watched with breathless interest by the three men. When a little over half way across the lion stopped, dropped the ante- lope on the rocks at his feet, lifted his head and appeared to be sniffing the air. A mo- ment afterward a white puff of smoke shot out from behind one of the rocks, the lion leaped convulsively into the air, fell half over the edge of the precipice, clung desperately for an instant to the rocks with his strong claws, and then vanished. The three men turned and looked at one another with whitening faces. There could be no longer any doubt. Dick and Harry and their captors were in Blind Canyon, and the pass thither was guarded. Braver men than Captain Kent and Abel Johnson and his cowboys never lived, and there was not one of them but would have willingly risked his life to rescue Dick and Harry ; but all drew back appalled before the certain death that con- fronted them on that narrow ridge of rock. It would be madness even to attempt to cross it, and yet it seemed the only way to get to where Dick and Harry were held captives. What was to be done ? 2 j 270 The Lost Treasure Cave " I thank God that my little gal is safe out of their clutches," Abel Johnson said fer- vently. Alas ! he had yet to learn of the treachery of Black Juan. " An' yet, somehow, she seems to keep a-pullin' at my heartstrings, as if she was in some awful trouble an' wanted me bad. I 'm almost afeard somethin' has happened to her ; but I reckon it 's only my anxiety for them two kids," and he turned his troubled face to Captain Kent. " We must do somethin', David. I promised Loretta we 'd bring th' two kids back with us, an' I 'm goin' to keep my promise, if it 's in th' power of man to do it. We must do somethin', David." "We will, Abel. We will," Captain Kent answered. Then he sat for many minutes silent. At length he arose. " I will go and hold a parley with the men on guard," he said. " Perhaps we can come to terms with them. Better lose the treasure than the boys. Every one remain here until I return." As he spoke he laid down his rifle, cut a long slim branch from a tree, and tied a large white handkerchief to one end of this branch. Then, holding this impromptu flag of truce above his head, he walked out of the woods toward the Devil's Backbone. On the Trail of the Abductors 271 No one knew better than Captain Kent that this was a dangerous thing to do. Robbers do not respect the courtesies of war, and he might be welcomed with a rifle ball ; but he walked forth as quietly as if he were taking a morning's stroll. When within a rod of the precipice spanned by the Devil's Backbone, Captain Kent halted. He was now within calling distance of the rocks from behind which had come the puff of rifle smoke. So far he had not seen a sign nor heard a sound of a human being. An ominous silence hung over the rocks and the awful chasm. Captain Kent waved the flag of truce above his head and waited, his eyes fixed on the rocks. Still no sound nor sign came from across the chasm. " Hello ! " he called. " I wish to hold a parley with you," and he held the flag of truce high over his head. A white puff of smoke shot out from behind the rocks, a rifle cracked, and the flag of truce fell to the ground, its staff severed close to Captain Kent's upper hand. Captain Kent quietly stooped, picked up the flag, and, holding it above his head, took another step toward the Devil's Backbone. 272 The Lost Treasure Cave Again the rifle cracked, and this time the ball cut a lock of hair from the side of Captain Kent's head. Captain Kent bowed and smiled. " I have something to say to you concerning two boys you hold as prisoners," he called, " and " " We don't know nothing about no boy prisoners," interrupted a rough voice, " an' we ain't longin' for no kind of a talk with you. Our orders is to shoot every man that attempts to cross th' Devil's Backbone. Now, we '11 give you jest one minute to turn round an' walk back where you come from. If you ain't started at th' end of that time we '11 shoot to kill," and the voice became ominously silent. Again Captain Kent bowed, turned slowly about, and walked slowly back to where Abel Johnson and his cowboys were anxiously awaiting him. The moment he was back within the friendly shelter of the woods he called the men around him. There was a stern look on his face and the light of battle was in his eyes. " Men," he said, " the robbers will hold no parley ; and, without a doubt, they will shoot every man who attempts to cross the On the Trail of the Abductors 273 Devil's Backbone. We must fight them with their own weapons. They won't let us in the canyon well, we won't let them out. I want three men to keep constant guard over the Devil's Backbone day and night until this thing is settled ; and I'm going to ask Cowboy Jim, Red Hank, and Dutch to take this guard for the present ; and I want you to see that not a human being comes out of or goes into Blind Canyon without my permission. Shoot every man that attempts to cross the Devil's Backbone. We '11 give them a dose of their own medicine. There 's a huge rock within a few rods of the pass that will give you protection ; and when night comes and it gets too dark to see, one of you must keep constant guard on the Devil's Backbone itself, so as to make it impossible for any one to creep across under shelter of the darkness. The rest of you will come with me. I fancy we can circumvent the villains yet. But there is no time to waste. Every moment of delay may mean terrible suffering to Dick and Harry. Are you all willing to abide by my commands? I cannot stop to explain them now." Captain Kent spoke in the quick, decisive tones of one who was master of himself and the occasion. 274 The Lost Treasure Cave " We are," responded the men heartily. Captain Kent turned to Cowboy Jim and his two companions. " Remember, you are to remain here on guard until relieved, if it is a month. Good-by," and he shook the hand of each. " Now, the rest of you mount your horses and follow Abel Johnson and me," and he sprang into his saddle, and rode swiftly away toward the spot where a distant ravine tore a passage through the rocky walls of the valley. Cowboy Jim, Red Hank, and Dutch picketed their horses, and then crawled cautiously up to the huge rock near the Devil's Backbone, from behind which they were to keep guard over the narrow passage- way to Blind Canyon. CHAPTER XXIII GOLD OR LORETTA ? DICK and Harry stared in speechless surprise and horror from the face of Black Juan to the face of Loretta, as the supposed Mexican sat on his horse and issued his sharp peremptory commands to these villainous men, who obeyed him without the slightest sign of a demur ; and it was not until both had been untied, and Loretta, freed from gag and bonds, was rushing to- ward them, with a cry of joy, that they found their voices. "Oh, Loretta, Loretta! What has hap- pened ? How came you in the power of these terrible men ? " Dick cried, as the poor girl fell almost fainting into his arms. " Tell me, what has happened ? Where is Abel Johnson and Captain Kent? How did that black-hearted, treacherous, lying villain, Black Juan, get you into his thieving clutches?" and Dick's eyes flashed and he clinched his fists wrathfully. 276 The Lost Treasure Cave " I thought you safe at home," groaned Harry, " and here you are ! Oh, Loretta, Loretta, I could have stood the branding irons ; but to think of you in the hands of these desperadoes ! What shall we do ? What shall we do ? " and the boy, who but a few minutes before had so bravely defied Scar-face to do his worst when it was only himself who was to suffer, broke down and sobbed at the thought of Loretta in the power of these cruel men, and he and Dick unable to help her. " He told me that papa had sent for me, that they could not find your trail ; and and I went with him, not for an instant doubting his word and only too glad to be of help," Loretta explained, when they had their feel- ings under a little better control. " And I was n't thinking of anything but of getting to papa just as quick as I could, and he rode up close behind me, and suddenly dropped his rope over my head, and drew it tight around my arms so I could not move, and tied my hands behind my back ; and when I began to scream he stuck his neckscarf in my mouth, and fastened it there so tight I could not make a loud noise ; and then he tied a rope to Bonny Bess's bit and led her behind, Gold or Loretta ? 277 and rode as fast as he could make the horses go, and I thought I would die before I got here. What does it mean ? What are they going to do with us ? I don't understand it," and she turned imploringly to Dick and Harry. "Why have they brought us to this lonely canyon ? What can they want of us ? Oh, I thought we were going to have such a good time while you were here, and now " and the exhausted and overwrought girl began to sob hysterically. Dick and Harry comforted and cheered her as best they could, but it was nearly a half an hour before she again gained control over her- self, and bravely tried to face the perils of her situation as she believed the daughter of Abel Johnson should. By this time the sun had set and the deep canyon was in darkness, lit only by the bright camp-fire of the robbers. On the great rock, standing out in the firelight sharp and dis- tinct against the dark background of the night, sat Black Juan surrounded by his band of evil- looking men. Evidently the business he had to communicate to them was of the greatest importance, for the light of the fire showed the eager, excited faces of his men listening intently to his words. Every now and then 2 K 278 The Lost Treasure Cave they would turn their greed-hungry eyes from the face of the speaker and glance toward the spot where Loretta and the boys sat close together ; and it was easy to conjecture that the talk concerned them most intimately. For an hour or more the talk continued ; and then Black Juan got up from the rock and walked toward Loretta and the boys, followed by Scar- face, the rest of the men remaining where they were. " There comes the infernal scoundrel ! " Harry cried, the moment he saw Black Juan walking toward them. " And for once he 's going to hear in pretty plain English exactly what one boy thinks of him," and he jumped to his feet and glared at Black Juan. " The villain ! I never ached so to thump a man in my life as I do him ! " and, with a savage light in his eyes, Dick got on his feet and stood by the side of Harry in front of Loretta. " Greetings, seftorita ; greetings, sefiors," and Black Juan, bowing and smiling, stopped a couple of paces in front of the boys. " I would your pardon ask for your pleasant talk interrupting, but I have of importance 'some- thing to say " The sight of the smiling, bowing face, and Gold or Loretta ? 279 the mock politeness of the one to whose cruel treachery they felt certain that they owed their present sorry plight, coupled with the remem- brance of how brutally he had treated Loretta, had proved too much for the tempers of the boys, and, almost at the same instant, both had leaped upon him with the suddenness and fierceness of two wildcats, regardless of every- thing but that this hated form was within reach of their fists ; and consequently the sud- den ending of Black Juan's sentence. " Take that, you cowardly kidnapper of girls ! " Dick shouted, aiming a blow with all his strength at Black Juan's right eye. " And this, you cur ! " yelled Harry, attempt- ing to land a blow on Black Juan's jaw. So sudden and so unexpected was this attack, and so complete was the surprise of Black Juan, that the fists of both boys struck almost simultaneously on his face, and he was hurled violently backward, stunned, into the arms of Scar-face, who was standing directly behind him ; and before either of the men had time to recover themselves, the enraged boys were upon them again. Scar-face for a moment, cumbered by the almost senseless body of Black Juan, was at the mercy of the boys, and it began to look as if they would get the 280 The Lost Treasure Cave better of him also, when the man who had been left on guard rushed in from behind ; and the next instant Dick and Harry were sprawling on their faces, and before they could struggle to their feet Scar-face had leaped upon Dick and the guard was astride of Harry. Black Juan staggered to his feet, straight- ened up, and stood for a minute or two watch- ing with glittering, snake-like eyes Scar-face and the guard, who had gripped the throats of the boys with their muscular right hands, and were slowly choking the life out of them, to the accompaniment of a string of oaths that would have horrified even a sea captain. When the eyes of the boys began to look as if they were about to drop from their sockets, and their faces were beginning to turn black, Black Juan motioned the men to desist. " That will do," he commanded. " Let the young wildcats up. If they try that game again we '11 pull their claws out." Dick and Harry, gasping for breath, sat up and then, after resting a little, got slowly up on their feet. "We're in your power, Black Juan," Harry said, glaring defiantly at him, " and if you want to kill us you can. But, just as sure as Gold or Loretta ? 281 there is a God in heaven, you and your band of cutthroats will have to suffer for your brutal cruelty and treachery to this helpless girl. Have you forgotten that she is the daughter of Abel Johnson and the friend of Captain Kent ? If a hair of her head is harmed their vengeance will be terrible. Why have you brought her here? She can't, if she would, tell you where the treasure is. She does not know." "Si, senor" Black Juan was smiling and bowing again, though the boys noticed with thrills of pleasure that the marks made by their fists on his face were growing every moment more evident " true it may be that the senorita knows not where the treasure is ; but the young seftors know, and for the seftorita's sake it may be that the young seftors will tell," and his beady black eyes became more snake-like. "It was of this to talk with you that I came, when phist ! bang ! like two wildcats you were upon me ! " and he smiled, but the smile was not a pleasant one for Dick and Harry to see. " I would now talk to you, and I would have you listen ; and if any more wildcats you make of yourselves I will with regret bind and gag you." For some reason, when addressing Loretta 282 The Lost Treasure Cave or the boys, Black Juan preferred to speak in his peculiar disjointed English, probably be- cause he thought it aggravated them by re- minding them of how cunningly he had fooled all at the Lone Hill ranch in making them believe that he was a Mexican. Dick and Harry sat down, one on each side of Loretta, and prepared to listen to what Black Juan had to say. " I to the point will come at once," he con- tinued, smiling wickedly. " To me it is known that in this canyon is hidden somewhere a great enormous treasure of gold and jewels beautiful grand enough many men to make rich. I this treasure have looked for and cannot find ; and I your help, seftors, would crave, for known to me it is that you where this great treasure hidden is know. Most humbly I of your kindness this informa- tion would crave, sefiors," and he paused, fixing the snaky light of his black eyes on the faces of Dick and Harry. " Never ! you sneaking, cowardly, treacher- ous, black-hearted villain ! If I knew where gold enough to fill this valley was hidden, I would never tell you. I would die first !" and the strong jaws of Dick came together with a snap like that of a steel trap. Gold or Loretta? 283 " Cruel, most cruel, to the beautiful seftorita are you, seftors," Black Juan declared, with a deprecatory wave of his two hands. Then the smile left his face, and the cold glitter of steel came in his eyes, and the hiss of a snake was in his voice. " Now, to me listen, seftors. I my words will not speak twice. All night will I give you to think of what I say. In the morning, when the sun on the great Council Rock first shines down, will I ask you again. If gold you still love more than the beautiful seftorita, and the treasure to show me you still refuse, then will I the beautiful seftorita hang by the neck the limb of that tall tree to until she is dead. I my words have spoken. Pleasant may thy dreams be. Adios, senors ; adios, seftorita," and, with a courtly bow and a sneering smile first at the boys and then to Loretta, he turned and walked back to the men who were still sitting around the Council Rock. Scar-face stood for a couple of minutes scowling horribly at Loretta and the boys, and then, without speaking a word, he turned and joined the men at the rock. Dick and Harry stared each into the other's eyes, and their faces grew ghastly white, and they shivered as if they were cold. 284 The Lost Treasure Cave " He dares not, he dares not, he dares not do it ! " Dick reiterated fiercely ; but in their heart of hearts both boys knew that Black Juan not only dared to do what he had threat- ened, but that he would do it without fail. There was no mistaking the look on his face and in his eyes. The treasure he must have, would have, no matter at what cost. CHAPTER XXIV CAPTAIN KENT'S PLAN CAPTAIN KENT rode so swiftly away ^ s - > from that rock-enclosed valley where he had left Cowboy Jim, Red Hank, and Dutch to guard the Devil's Backbone that he had had no opportunity to explain his plans nor to tell whither he was going ; but so great was the confidence of the men in his ability and courage that not one of them even thought of hesitating to follow him. They were ready to go wherever Cap- tain Kent led, and without questioning why or whither. Even while passing through the ravine that gave them passage out of the val- ley, Captain Kent did not slacken his speed, except in places where the roughness of the ground made it absolutely necessary, but spurred on over rocks and stones and gullies at a pace that made even the rough riders who followed him wonder at his reckless haste. At length they came to the end of 2L 286 The Lost Treasure Cave the ravine, and dashed out, at full speed, into a small valley ; but, hardly had they ridden a rod into this valley, when Captain Kent pulled up his horse with a suddenness that threw him back on his haunches. " Look ! Look there ! " he cried excitedly, pointing down the valley. In a moment every man had pulled up his horse and was staring in the direction of Captain Kent's pointing finger, where a strange and startling scene was being enacted. On a level spot of ground, not twenty rods away, stood an enormous grizzly bear, reared up on his hind feet and growling savagely. Directly in front of the bear, and less than twenty feet from him, was Bill Burke, shaking his head angrily at the grizzly. Evidently Captain Kent and his men had appeared at the most critical moment ; for, even as they pulled up their horses, the bear with an angry roar charged on the negro. " Run ! For heaven's sake, run ! Run, you blamed black idiot ! " shouted Captain Kent, striking the spurs into his horse, and dashing toward the endangered negro. But nothing was farther from Bill Burke's mind than running. His fighting blood was up. Besides he really had no comprehension Bill Burke lowered his head, clapped both hands under his chin for support, and, putting forth every ounce of strength in his muscular legs and back, shot forward to meet the bear." PAGE 287. Captain Kent's Plan 287 of the enormous strength and ferocity of his antagonist. The captive grizzlies at home had made him somewhat contemptuous of bears. Then the bear was between him and his horse, and he was anxious to get on that horse's back. " Go on 'bout yo' bus'ness, Mistah Bear," he shouted. " Dis niggah don't want nuffin' to do wid yo'. Go on, ' fo ' I knock yo' breas'bone fro' yo' spinal column. Go on, outter my way. I's " Here the bear charged. " Oh ! Ho ! I's yo' honey ! " and Bill Burke lowered his head, clapped both hands under his chin for support, and, putting forth every ounce of strength in his muscular legs and back, shot forward to meet the bear. Never before in all his life had anything like this happened to bruin ! And it is not to be wondered at that his brain became a bit confused at the sight of that black thing rushing toward him ; and then, before he had recovered sufficient bear-sense to act in his own defence, the head of Bill Burke struck him in the pit of the stomach, and, with a grunt of agony, over he went on his back, his feet sprawling up in the air. Ah, but his bearship was angry now ! The indignity, and 288 The Lost Treasure Cave shame, and pain of it all ! With fire in his eyes and rage in his heart, he bounded on his feet, and whirled around, ready to swallow that black thing alive ; and was confronted by a man on horseback, with a rifle levelled at his head. The rifle flamed and thundered ; and the grizzly plunged forward and went down, never to arise again. "Golly! Whar yo' come f'om?" and Bill Burke stared in blank astonishment at Cap- tain Kent and the cowboys. " I 's electrified to meet yo', 'deed I is," and then he caught sight of Abel Johnson, and rushed to him. "Oh, Massah Johnson ! Massah Johnson ! Miss 'Retta's done stolen ! " he cried. " Miss 'Retta's done runned off wid by that rascallian Black Juan." With a cry like that of a wounded lion Abel Johnson leaped from his horse, and seized Bill Burke by the shoulders. "My God! What do you mean?" he shouted, shaking Bill Burke violently. " My little gal stolen ! stolen ! " he reiterated, "stolen by that black devil of a Mexican! I '11 tear th' black hide off his bones, an' crush every bone to powder ! Stolen ! My little gal stolen ! " and the grip of his great hands tightened like vises. Captain Kent's Plan 289 " Lemme go ! I's done did n't do nuffin'. Lemme go ! " begged Bill Burke, frightened by the fierce grip of the enraged ranchman. But Abel Johnson only tightened his hold, and, with a white stern face, bade Bill Burke tell him exactly what had happened. " Quick, get on your horse, Bill Burke," Captain Kent commanded the moment the negro had finished his tale, " and ride with us. Abel, every moment is priceless. Do not waste one of them. We may be in time to circumvent the villains yet. I 'd rather lose my right arm than that a hair of Loretta's head should be harmed ; and we will save her, if mortal men can do it. Come on," and, striking his spurs deep into his horse, he dashed away at full speed, followed by the cowboys, whose blood was boiling with the thought of the treachery of Black Juan. Every one of those men loved Loretta, and not one of them but would gladly lay down his life for her. Abel Johnson rode by the side of Captain Kent, his face white and set, and his eyes blazing. His heart was wrung with anguish. Loretta in the hands of desperadoes, and he powerless to help her ! The thought was mad- dening. What might not have happened? 290 The Lost Treasure Cave What might be happening even at that very moment ? He groaned in agony, and vowed that if ever Black Juan got within reach of his hands he would show him what it meant to arouse a father's terrible wrath. Captain Kent did not speak. He had no time for words. Now was the time for riding ; and Captain Kent believed sincerely in doing the right thing at the right time, and in doing it with all his might. Every bit of speed that he could get out of his horse he was getting ; and, fast and furious, behind him rode the cow- boys ; and last of all came Bill Burke, holding on to the pommel of his saddle with both hands, while his horse was making desperate efforts to keep up with the rushing cavalcade. From the moment when he had first learned of the capture of the boys Captain Kent had realized the desperate need of haste, if the treasure would be saved and the boys rescued ; and now, with Loretta in the hands of the robbers, a speedy rescue became even more imperative. Whatever the robbers did, they must do quickly. Their safety depended on their getting out of this part of the country as speedily as possible ; and he knew they would waste no time with Loretta and the boys. If Dick and Harry refused to tell where the Captain Kent's Plan 291 treasure was, even when threatened and he felt quite sure that they would they would at once proceed to torture, to murder, if need be, to make them tell ; and Captain Kent shuddered when he thought of what might happen with Loretta in their power. By threatening harm to her they could compel Dick and Harry to tell all they knew ; and by holding her as hostage they could force Abel Johnson, if necessary, to come to their terms. On the other hand, if they thought that their safety demanded it, he knew that these desperate men would not hesi- tate a moment to take the lives of the three children. Hence, from whatever point of view he looked at the problem, haste was impera- tive, if he would save the treasure and the children ; and already much time had been lost. It was impossible to reach the robbers by way of the Devil's Backbone ; and there was no other way, save one a way so desper- ate and full of peril that even the iron nerves of Captain Kent shrank from undertaking it. But it was their only hope. If it failed them, then would Loretta and Dick and Harry be at the absolute mercy of the robbers, and beyond the reach of their help. It was to attempt this way that Captain Kent was now riding with such desperate haste. 292 The Lost Treasure Cave Steadily, on and on, never pausing and only slackening his speed when the roughness of the road made it absolutely necessary, Captain Kent rode for an hour and a half or more ; and then he came to the shore of a quiet, mountain-enclosed lake. On the bank of this lake Captain Kent pulled up his horse. " Who is an expert swimmer and diver ? " he asked, turning quickly to the men who had halted near him. "Reckon that's my call, Cap," and a tall, lank cowboy rode a pace forward ; "leastwise I 've won more 'n a dozen medals for swimmin' and divin'. What might you be wantin' ? " " Good, you are the man I want, Jake," re- plied Captain Kent. " Now, listen, men. Time is very precious, and I must be brief, but I '11 try and make my plan clear. Loretta and Dick and Harry have been captured by a band of robbers, who are holding them pris- oners in Blind Canyon. Apparently there is only one way into Blind Canyon and that is across the Devil's Backbone, which is held by the robbers ; but, in reality, there is another way, though absolutely unknown to all human beings until discovered, under the most won- derful circumstances, last summer. The rob- bers know nothing whatever of this second Captain Kent's Plan 293 way ; and we can take them completely by surprise if we can only get into Blind Canyon through it. But this will not be easy ; for the road is through a marvellous series of caves, extending from this lake through the moun- tains, and opening into the perpendicular side of Blind Canyon two hundred feet above its bottom. Nor is this the only difficulty ; and here is where you will come in, Jake. The opening to these caves is under water, or, at least, was last summer ; and all who enter must do so by diving. Now, my plan is to attempt to reach Blind Canyon through these caves, however difficult and perilous the way may seem ; for, so far as I can see, it offers our only hope to rescue the children and pun- ish their abductors. Are you willing to follow Abel Johnson and me into these caves?" "Through water an' fire plumb to brim- stone, if t'other end but promises to land us within ropin' distance of them abductors ! " ex- claimed one of the men. "An' I calculates that I voice th' sentiment of every cowpuncher present, barrin' none," and he glanced threat- eningly around the circle of horsemen, but saw only looks of approval. The response of every man was equally emphatic and hearty. 2M 294 The Lost Treasure Cave 44 I knew I could depend on every one of you," Captain Kent said simply, but in a way that made every cowboy feel as a soldier does when he has been publicly commended by his general. " Now, we must ride on. You un- derstand my plan and approve, Abel ? " "Yes, David," Abel Johnson responded. 44 But let us hurry. God only knows what is happening to my little gal ! She has been in th' hands of them villains now for nigh onto a day. Zounds, if I can only get my grip on the throat of Mexico ! " and his strong hands clinched, until they almost pressed the nails through the tough skin of his palms. As Captain Kent rode along the shores of the lake his keen eyes saw evidences every- where that the now quiet lake had been the scene of much watery turbulence, during the spring melting of the winter's snows, which had fallen to an unusual depth on the sur- rounding mountains. The banks were strewn with debris, and the water-marks on the moun- tain sides showed that the lake had reached a surprisingly high level. But now it appeared to him that the water was lower than he had ever seen it before. After a short half an hour's further ride they came to a great pile of rocks near the Captain Kent's Plan 295 opening of a narrow canyon. Again Captain Kent halted and glanced eagerly around. " Yonder is the pile of rocks behind which we waited for the attack of the supposed red- skins coming up the canyon." Then he paused and appeared to be measuring distances with his eyes for a minute or two. " And there 's the cave where the bear that killed the old hermit had her den. Yes, this is the place, and the entrance to the caves should be right down there, just around them rocks," and he rode quickly toward the spot where a huge promontory of rocks jutted out into the lake. When he reached the promontory he dis- mounted, and, followed by Abel Johnson and the cowboys, hurried around the point of rocks. " Hurrah, there it is ! " he shouted, joyfully, the moment he had rounded the point. " And above the water ! We won't need to test your diving ability, Jake. A little wading will bring us safe and dry into the cave. Nature has done us a good turn, boys," and Captain Kent and Abel Johnson surveyed in pleased astonishment the opening to the caves through whose awful depths they had made that fear- ful journey the summer before. An examination of the opening showed that 296 The Lost Treasure Cave not only had the waters of the lake fallen much below their usual level, but that the opening itself had been enlarged ; and it was evident that during the flood-time of the spring freshets the water had rushed through this opening and into the cave with enormous violence, wearing and tearing away the rock of the arch, until now a man could enter by wading through water hardly above his knees. " Gather as many pine knots for torches as you can find, every man of you, and move lively," Captain Kent commanded. " We must take as many torches with us as we can carry." There was a large pine grove near by ; and in a very short time the men had gathered an abundance of wood to serve as torches. " Now, let every man take his rope and wind it around his waist," again commanded Captain Kent. " We may need them. Build a fire and light a couple of the torches." In five minutes more every man stood ready, his rifle in his right hand, a torch in his left, and a bundle of torches on his back. Two of the torches had been lit. Captain Kent took one of these, and gave the other to Abel Johnson. " Come on, Abel. We will light the way," Captain Kent's Plan 297 and Captain Kent stepped into the waters, and, holding the flaming torch above his head, passed under that gloomy arch of rock and into the darkness of the cave beyond ; and by his side walked Abel Johnson, his lighted torch smoking and flaming in front of him ; and directly behind them came Bill Burke, with eyes rolling and the wrinkles jumping all over his face ; and after the negro trailed the wondering cowboys. For a few minutes the light from the flaming torches illuminated the opening, gradually growing dimmer and dim- mer, until once again all was blackness and silence ; and every vestige of these gallant men had vanished from the light of day. CHAPTER XXV THE LADDER OF ROPES THERE were no "pleasant dreams" for Dick, or Harry, or Loretta that night. The fearful threat of Black Juan had driven all thoughts of slumber far from them ; and, when at last the light of morning began to brighten the darkness of the canyon, not once had the children closed their eyes in sleep during the long hours of that terrible night. What were they to do ? It went sorely against their grain to tell these desperadoes where the treasure was, to have all that untold wealth fall into the hands of these villains ; but, what else could they do ? If they still refused to tell, the robbers would certainly hang Loretta ; and what was all the treasure in the world in comparison to the life of this dear girl ? But, was there no other way ? Over and over, again and again, in every conceivable light, Dick and Harry considered the problem ; and could find no solution, other The Ladder of Ropes 299 than that of revealing the hiding place of the treasure to the robbers unless Abel Johnson and Captain Kent effected their rescue before the first ray of the morning's sun touched the great Council Rock. But such a rescue was improbable, nay, more, it was seemingly im- possible ; for the Devil's Backbone lay between them and Captain Kent and Abel Johnson and his cowboys, and it would be death for them to even attempt to cross it. Still the children hoped against hope, even as they watched the sun's rays creeping closer and closer to the great rock, that something would happen to render the fateful choice unne- cessary. All the men, with the exception of the one guarding Loretta and the boys, were now gathered around the Council Rock, waiting, impatiently waiting, for the rays of the sun to fall upon the rock. Presently one of the men left the rock, and, approaching the children, bade Loretta come with him. Instantly Dick and Harry leaped to their feet and sprang in front of Loretta, deter- mined that she should not go unless they went with her. The man nodded to their guard, who drew his six-shooters, and, pointing one at the head 3