CHAPTER XII.
FACING WESTWARD
The rancher was astonished beyond measure at the success of his shot. He had looked for nothing of the kind, but there could be no mistake as to the result; there was nothing to be gained by any pretence on the part of the Sioux. He certainly was as dead as dead could be.
How he longed, like a certain famous general, for the coming of night! A little more darkness and he would flee with his wife and child under its friendly cover, and place a safe distance between them and their enemies, before the latter could learn of their flight.
Several minutes passed without a demonstration on either side, but while matters stood thus, a new danger presented itself to the rancher. Why should the Sioux stay where they were? What was to prevent them moving farther up or down the bank, under the screen it afforded, and crossing unobserved? The winding course of the current gave every chance of doing this, and surely they were not likely to forget such an obvious course.
The thought had hardly presented itself to the watcher when that very thing was attempted. The one who essayed it, however, forgot the caution he should have remembered.
The slowly settling night and the falling snow may have misled him, but when the warrior rode his pony into the stream at a point considerably above, Starr observed him at the moment he began descending the bank.
This was something that must be nipped in the bud. He shifted his position to where the grass gave slightly better protection, and sighted with the utmost care and deliberation.
The shot was successful, but not precisely as he counted upon. The bullet, instead of striking the rider, pierced the brain of the pony, who reared frantically, plunged forward on his knees, and rolled upon his side, the Sioux dexterously saving himself by leaping away and scurrying behind the swell before the white man could fire a second time.
"If they try it at that point, they will do so at some other," was the conclusion of the rancher, turning his gaze down stream. But the current made such a sharp bend near at hand, that his view was shortened, and the effort could be successfully made without detection on his part.
An unexpected diversion occurred at this moment. The pack-horse, that had been contentedly cropping the grass near at hand and paying no heed to what was going on about him, wandered toward the bank, and was in imminent peril of being shot by the vigilant Sioux before he could be turned away.
Mrs. Starr called sharply to him, and her voice caused the prostrate husband to look around. The pony at that moment was ascending the swell, to go down on the other side to the water, where he would have been in plain sight of the red men.
Fearful that words would not check him, the rancher sprang up and, bending his head to save himself from his foes, ran the few steps necessary to reach the animal. Catching hold of his bridle, he jerked his head in the opposite direction, and, to teach him prudence, delivered a vigorous kick. The startled animal headed toward the west and broke into a gallop straight across the plain.
"Let him go," said the impatient owner, looking after him: "he is too lazy to travel far, and we'll follow him soon."
"Why not do so now?" asked his wife.
"I fear that they are looking for such a move, and will be across before we can gain sufficient start."
"But they may do so now."
"Am I not watching them?" asked the husband, beginning to creep up the swell again, but pausing before he was high enough to discern the other side.
"They may cross above or below, where you cannot see them," remarked the wife, giving utterance to the very fear that had troubled him some minutes before.
"They may do so, but I have just defeated such an attempt, and they will probably wait a while before repeating it."
"Then we can have no more favorable time to leave them than now."
"Such would be the fact, if I only knew of a surety that they would wait a while."
"I am afraid you are making a mistake, George."
"It may be, but my judgment is against what you propose. Suppose that, at the moment of starting, they should appear on this side; they would run us down within a few hundred yards."
"Are not our ponies as fleet as theirs?"
"Probably; but with Dot to look after, you would have more than your hands full, and nothing could save us."
"I could manage her very well; but do as you think best. We can only pray to Heaven to protect us all."
Looking to the westward, the rancher saw the pack-pony just vanishing from sight in the gloom. Brief as was the time that he had left the Sioux without watching, he felt that it had been too long, and he now made his way up the swell until he could peer over at the other bank, where the red men were awaiting the very chance he gave them that moment.
The narrowest escape of his life followed. Providentially, his first glance was directed at the precise spot where a crouching Sioux made a slight movement with his rifle, which gave the white man an instant's warning of his peril. He ducked his head, and had he not instinctively closed his eyes, would have been blinded by the dust and snow thrown against his face, as the leaden ball whizzed through the air, falling on the prairie a long distance away.
In its flight it passed directly over the heads of the wife and child, who noticed the peculiar whistling sound a few feet above them. But they were as safe from such danger as if a mile away. The swell of the bank would not allow any missile to come nigh enough to harm them.
"Don't be frightened," he said, with a reassuring smile, "they can't touch you as long as they are on the other side."
"But how long will they stay there?" asked the wife, unable to repress her uneasiness over the tardiness of her husband.
"Molly," said he, stirred by a sudden thought, "why not ride after the pack-horse?"
"And leave you here?" was the astonished question.
"Only for a few minutes; you will gain a good start, and it won't take me long to come up with you. I can put my pony on a run, and we shall gain invaluable time."
But this was asking more than the obedient wife was willing to grant. No possible circumstances could justify her in deserting her husband. If he fell, she had no wish to escape.
Dot, who had held her peace so long, now spoke:
"Papa, don't ask us to leave you, 'cause we don't want to. I asked mamma to let me go to you, but she says no."
Tears filled the eyes of the father, and his voice trembled as he said:
"Very well, little one; stay with your mamma, and when the time comes for us to start we will go together."
"But why don't you go now?" persisted the child, taking her cue, perhaps, from the words her mother had spoken.
"I will not keep you waiting long," he assured her, more affected by the question of the child than by the arguments of her mother.
Shifting the point of observation, the rancher raised his head just enough, cautiously parting the grass in front, to permit him to see the other bank, becoming more dimly visible in the falling snow and gathering gloom.
He scanned the points whence had come the shots, but could discover nothing of his enemies. They might be there, but if so they were invisible, as could readily be the case; but, somehow or other, the conviction grew upon him that they were moving, and that to postpone his departure longer was to invite the worst fate imaginable for himself and dear ones.
"We cannot leave too soon," he exclaimed, hastening to carry out the purpose that never ought to have been delayed so long.
CHAPTER XIII.
IN THE FRINGE OF THE WOODS
Fully realizing the mistake he had made in waiting, the rancher now did his best to improve the precious time at his disposal.
His own pony had remained obediently near his companion, while the brush was going on between his master and the Sioux on the other side of the stream. The former hastily climbed into the saddle, and taking the reins in hand, looked at his wife.
"Are you ready, Molly?"
"I have been for a long time."
"Come on; keep close to me."
He spoke briskly to his horse, who broke into a swift gallop, which was imitated so promptly by the other that the couple advanced abreast toward the wooded section. It was no time for conversation, and the progress continued in silence.
The snow was now falling thick and fast, and the gloom had deepened to that extent that they could not see objects more than a hundred feet away. Both wife and husband continually glanced behind them, for they were almost certain that the red men were in the act of crossing the stream at the moment the start was made, and could not be far to the rear.
True, the fugitives had much in their favor. The keen eyes of the pursuers could detect their trail in the snowy ground, but not for long. By and by they might trace it only by dropping down from their ponies and using the sense of feeling. This would compel them to proceed carefully, and hold them well to the rear while the whites were using the occasion to the utmost, and continually gaining ground. Had the route to Fort Meade been level and unobstructed, they could have asked nothing more favorable. They would have forced their ponies to the utmost, and by the time the sun rose the vengeful red men would be placed hopelessly behind.
The straining vision saw nothing but the darkness and snow in the direction of the stream already crossed, but they could never feel relieved of the dreadful fear until safely within the military post of the Black Hills.
"Oh, papa, I see a horse!" was the startling exclamation of Dot, whom her mother had supposed, because of her stillness and immobility, to be asleep.
"Where?" demanded her father, grasping his Winchester and looking affrightedly around.
"Not there," replied the child with a laugh, working her arm out of its environments, and pointing ahead.
A solitary animal was observed standing as motionless as a statue a short distance in advance. Apprehensive of some trap by the Indians, the father brought his pony to a sudden stop, his wife instantly imitating him, and both peered ahead at the strange form.
They could see no rider, though there was something on the animal's back, which might have been a warrior lying flat, so as to protect his body from the rifle of the white man, or, what was equally probable, the owner was standing on the ground hidden by the horse, and awaiting his chance to send in a fatal shot.
"What's the matter?" asked Dot, puzzled by the action of her parents.
"S-h! We are afraid a bad Indian is there."
"Why, can't you see that's Jerry?"
Jerry was the name of the pack pony.
"Of course it is. Why didn't we think of it?" asked the father the next moment, relieved beyond measure by the discovery.
Jerry seemed to be of the opinion that it was the place of his friends to make the advances, for he did not stir until they rode up beside him.
The lazy fellow was found with his load intact. He had been given all the time he could ask for his journey to this point, and evidently was a little sulky over the treatment received at the hands, or rather the foot, of his master, for his head had to be jerked several times before he faced about, and then it required more vigorous treatment to force him into a lazy gallop.
Luckily, the greater part of the plain had been crossed before this reunion took place, and the party had not gone far when the rancher allowed the animals to drop to a walk. In front loomed a dark mass, which he recognized as the fringe of the wood observed from the bank of the stream behind them. Through this it was necessary to thread their way with extreme care, owing to the darkness and their unfamiliarity with the ground.
Upon reaching the edge of the wood the fugitives came to a stand-still.
Slipping from his saddle, the rancher brushed away the snow at his feet and pressed his ear against the ground.
"I can hear nothing of them," he remarked, resuming the upright posture; "I am quite hopeful that that party will molest us no more."
"It won't do to count on it," were the wise words of his wife.
"I think you had better dismount and lead your pony," said the rancher; "we can mount again when through the wood; there will be less danger from the trees and limbs, and you and Dot must be cramped from sitting so long."
He helped them to the ground. It was a relief indeed to both, for they had kept their places on the back of the horse for a number of hours. Dot yawned, stretched her limbs, and felt as though nothing would delight her so much as a frolic in the snow. The thoughtful mother had provided her not only with thick, strong shoes, but with heavy stockings, leggings, and warm clothing, with which she was well protected against the storm that was impending when they left their home.
Nothing could have better shown the childish innocence of her nature than her action in slyly removing her mittens, stooping down, packing a wad of snow with her hands and flinging it against her father's face, with a merry laugh.
"Gracious, Dot! how you startled me!" he said, looking around at her.
"Did I hurt you?"
"No; but don't speak or laugh so loud, for some of the bad Indians may be near."
"I forgot about that, but I'm going to hit Jerry, for he is so lazy he needs it."
And the indolent animal received a tiny whack from the snowy missile projected by the chubby hand of the child. He seemed to think, however, that it was no more than a snowflake, for he did not give even an extra wink of the eye.
The delay was only momentary, when the rancher, with one hand grasping the bridle-rein and the other parting the limbs and bushes in front, began groping his way through the growth of timber, where it was so dark that everyone's eyes were practically useless.
Directly behind the horse walked Dot, with her mother next, leading her pony, and the pack-horse bringing up the rear.
Ten minutes of this cautious progress and the leader checked himself with an impatient expression.
"What is it?" called the wife, in a guarded voice.
"Another stream of water."
"Do you know anything about it?"
"Nothing; I came near tumbling into it, with Dick on top of me; if he hadn't scented it first I would have done so."
"What is to be done?" asked Mrs. Starr, as grievously disappointed as her husband.
"I'm blessed if I know; it may be half a mile deep and ten miles across, with a perpendicular bluff a thousand feet high on the other side."
Leaving her pony, the wife took the hand of Dot and joined him where he had halted on the edge of the unknown stream.
"I've made up my mind that we shall do one thing right away," he remarked decisively.
"What's that?"
"Eat supper while we have the chance; Jerry is on hand with the provisions, and he may be somewhere else in the morning."
"I'm glad of that," said the happy Dot, "for I'm awfuller hungry than I ever was in all my life."
"Then supper it is."
CHAPTER XIV.
TURNED BACK
It was a wise proceeding on the part of the rancher. The opportunity to make a substantial repast was theirs, and as he had remarked, there was no certainty when it would come again.
The bag in which the provisions were placed was taken from the back of Jerry, and the father helped his child and wife, who ate until they were fully satisfied. He dipped up water with Dot's small tin cup from the stream in front, and with it their thirst was slaked.
"Molly," he suggested, "you can carry one or two of the sandwiches without inconvenience."
"Yes."
"Let us both do so; we may lose Jerry, and if so, they will come in handy."
"I have a couple, too," said Dot.
"It isn't best that you should burden yourself with them."
"But I can't help it, papa."
"How is that?"
"They're inside of me," and the parents, even in their great dread, smiled at the odd conceit of the little one, who chuckled softly to think how she had "fooled" her papa.
The delay was brief. The rancher knew that it was impossible to reach Fort Meade without crossing the stream before them, with the probability that still others awaited them at no great distance. It can be understood with what depth of dread he contemplated swimming the animals over, with the certainty of the saturation of all their garments, on this winter night, and the cold steadily increasing.
In short, it meant perishing, unless a fire was kindled, in which case, a delay would be necessitated that would throw away all the advantage secured by flight. He was determined not to do it, unless actually driven to it as a last resource.
He did not forget that he was now where there was an abundance of material with which a raft could be constructed that would obviate this exposure, but the building of such a rude craft, under the circumstances, was next to impossible. He had no implement except his pocket knife, and might grope about in the darkness for hours without getting together enough timber to float them to the other side.
Obviously one of two things must be done – try to cross where they were or follow the bank down until a fording place could be found, and repeated trials were likely to be necessary before success was obtainable.
Singular it is that so often out of the mouths of babes are heard the words of wisdom.
The rancher had risen to his feet, and was in the act of mounting his pony to enter the water, when Dot spoke:
"Why don't you let Dick go ahead and you ride behind on Sally?"
"Well, I declare!" exclaimed the father admiringly; "I begin to believe that if we reach the fort, it will be through your guidance, my precious little one," and, stooping over, he kissed her cheek.
"Strange that we did not think of that," remarked the mother. "Dot is wise beyond her years."
The plan was adopted at once.
The mare ridden by the mother and child, and the horse of the father, were so intelligent that no risk was involved in the essay, which insured against the immersion held in such natural dread.
The saddle and trappings were removed from Dick, while the rancher mounted upon the side-saddle belonging to his wife. Then the horse was ordered to enter the water, and, with some hesitation, he obeyed, his owner being but a step or two behind on the mare.
The gloom was so deep that the hearing, and not the sight, must be depended upon. That, however, was reliable when nothing was likely to occur to divert it from its duty.
The stream was no more than fairly entered when the rancher made two unwelcome discoveries: The current was much stronger than he had anticipated, and the water deepened rapidly. Ten feet from shore it touched the body of the mare.
Inasmuch, however, as Dick was still walking, there was hope that the depth might increase no more, or, at most, not to a dangerous extent.
Mr. Starr could not see his own horse, but he plainly heard him as he advanced cautiously, feeling his way, and showing by his sniffing that the task was anything but pleasant to him. Not knowing the width of the stream, it was impossible to tell in what portion of it they were: but he was already listening for the sounds which would show that his animal was climbing out on the other side, when the very thing he feared took place.
A loud splash, followed by a peculiar rustling noise, showed that Dick was swimming.
At the same moment the mare sank so deeply that, had not the rider thrown his feet backward along her spine, with his body extended over the saddle and her neck, he would have been saturated to the knees. As it was, Sally was within a hair of being carried off her feet by the force of the current.
The rancher drew her head around, and, after a sharp struggle, she held her own, and began laboring back to the shore she had left; putting forth such vigor that it was plain the task was far more agreeable than the one upon which she first ventured.
Meanwhile, Dick was swimming powerfully for the farther bank, and before his owner could think of calling to him, owing to his own flurry, he heard his hoofs stamp the hard earth. True, he had landed, but that brief space of deep water was as bad as if its width were ten times as great; it could not be passed without the saturation of the garments of all, and that, as has been said, was not to be endured.
Before the mare could return Mr. Starr called to his pony, and the animal promptly obeyed, emerging only a minute after the mare from the point where he had entered.
"It's no use," he said to his waiting wife and little one; "there is one place where the horses must swim."
"Did you get wet, papa?" enquired Dot, solicitous for his welfare.
"No; but I came mighty near it."
"Then I suppose we must follow down the stream, and try it elsewhere," said the wife.
"Yes, with the discouraging fact that we are likely to pass a dozen fordable points, and strike a place that is deeper than anywhere else."
The saddles were readjusted, and the move made without delay. Since it was hard to thread their way through the wood, which lined the stream only a short distance from the water, they withdrew from it to the prairie, where travelling was easier.
Reaching the open plain, but keeping close to the margin of the timber, from which, fortunately, they had emerged at a point considerably removed from that of the entrance, the rancher repeated the precaution he had used before.
"Wait a moment," he said, in a low voice.
Once more the snow was brushed aside at his feet and the ear pressed against the ground.
To his dismay he heard the tramp of horses' hoofs on the hard earth.
"They are near at hand!" he said, in a startled whisper; "we must get away as quickly as we can."
He hastily helped his wife and little one on the back of the mare, mounted his own animal, and, with the pack-horse at the rear, moved along the timber on a rapid walk, continually peering off in the gloom, as though it was possible for him to see the Sioux, who certainly were at no great distance.
One fear troubled him: Suppose they should resort to the same artifice as he, and one of them appeal to the earth for evidence. He would be equally quick to discover the proximity of the fugitives, and with his sense of hearing trained to the finest point by many years' exercise, would locate the whites with unerring precision.