Ralph Bonehill

“ Leaving the brook, the trail wound in and out along a series of rocks and then through some heavy brushwood and along the edge of a jagged cliff. The cliff was overgrown with heavy vines, which hung down and brushed Joe's head as he passed.
"I can't be more than three or four miles from the cave," thought the boy. "And if I hurry—"
He stopped short, and then gave a cry of terror, and with good reason. He had seen the vines ahead suddenly part, and now there came to view the shaggy head of a black bear. As soon as the beast caught sight of the boy he leaped to the trail and advanced upon him. ”

“ BURNING OF THE STOCKADE.
"What will you do with him?" asked Joe of Benson, as he pointed to Nat Potts.
"Don't be hard on me," pleaded Potts. "I meant you no harm."
"You ought to be hung," grunted the old scout. "You aint fit to live and you know it, Potts. You could make an honest living if you wanted to, but you would rather cheat and steal."
"It was Matt Gilroy who got me into this," answered Potts. "He—"
"Don't put it off on to somebody else, Potts!" cried the old scout wrathfully. "If you aint got backbone enough to be honest, it's your own fault." ”

“ It was fully an hour before Gilroy reappeared, accompanied by White Ox and an under-chief known as Little Wildcat.
"Want to talk," grunted White Ox, coming to a halt at a safe distance.
"Have you dug up the hatchet, White Ox?" demanded the captain. "If not, let us smoke the pipe of peace together."
"The pipe of peace is broken," answered the old Indian. "The white man is not the red man's friend. He makes promises only to break them. The Indian must fight for what is his own."
"Do you consider this fort your own?"
"The land is the red man's—the white man has stolen it from him. ”

“ Captain Moore knew his men well, and presently he sent for Drossdell and interviewed the soldier in private.
"I am sorry to see you in such trouble as this, Drossdell," he said. "I thought you were a better soldier."
"I haven't done anything, captain."
"It is useless for you to deny it. Do you know what my men would do to you and Bicker if they learned the truth? They would rebel and hang you on the spot—and you would deserve it, too."
"Oh, captain, for the love of Heaven, don't put us in the hands of the boys!" pleaded Drossdell, turning a ghostly white. ”

“ The cry came from Benson, as he rode down the trail at a breakneck speed, rifle ready for use.
"A buffalo!" cried Darry.
"A buffalo? Look out for yourselves."
"Yes, take care," came from Captain Moore, who was behind the old scout.
"We've fixed him," said Joe, not without a good deal of pardonable pride.
"Fixed him?" Old Benson looked out upon the glade. "By the great Jehosophat!" he roared. "Gone and shot a buffalo all by your lone selves! Or maybe he was dead when you got here?" ”

“ Here it was both dark and cool, and Darry breathed a long sigh of relief.
"How delicious!" he murmured. "It's almost like going into a cave. Benson, there must be lots of caves in these mountains," he went on reflectively.
"There are," answered the old scout. "I've been in a score or more."
"I should like to explore a big cave," came from Joe. "It would be a novelty to me."
"You may get the chance, lad," said Benson; "and get it soon."
"What do you mean? Are we going to ride by a cave?" ”

“ You see, many used to come out here just to shoot for the sake of killing. I've known a party of six men to kill twenty or thirty buffalo and then leave the carcasses to the wolves. That was a shame."
"So it was!" cried Darry. "One or two buffalo would have been enough."
"Some hunters never know when to stop," put in Captain Moore. "They shoot as long as anything shows itself. If it wasn't for that these hills would be filled with buffalo, deer, bears, and all other kind of game." ”

“ From one of the privates Captain Moore learned that Lieutenant Carrol and the other soldiers had escaped, but what had become of them nobody knew.
The little body of whites and Indians marched over a mountain trail for fully four hours. The step was a lively one, and when the party came to a halt even the soldiers used to a hard march were tired out.
"Those redskins can walk the legs off of anything I know of," was the way one old soldier expressed himself. "They are like some of these wiry mustangs who don't know the meaning of rest." ”

“ Then, as it gradually dawned upon him that he was not hurt in the least, he endeavored to arise.
"Fast!" he muttered, and tore his jacket away from under the rock. Then he turned about, trying to locate his torch. But that was missing, and all was dark around him.
"I'm in a pickle now," he thought. "I wish I had taken old Benson's advice and remained around the camp-fire. But who would have imagined that big rock would play a fellow such a trick? How in the world am I to get back again?"
From a great distance he could hear Darry shouting to him. ”

“ As pressed as they were for time, Darry and Joe begged that the bearskin be saved, and did all they could toward helping the old scout skin the beast. With the pelt they took along about twenty pounds of the juiciest steaks.
"It's a pity to leave the rest to the wolves!" sighed Joe. "But it can't be helped. What a feast they will have!"
"I'm going to sling the beast into a tree," replied old Benson. "That may help save it until somebody else comes this way. The soldiers from the fort use the trail yonder, you know."
Soon they were on the way to where Benson and Darry had left Joe's horse. ”

“ If we can get that far I reckon we can make the fort."
"Then where will we stop to-night?" asked Darry with interest.
"At the Star Hotel—if the sky is clear," said Sam Benson, with a laugh at what he considered his little joke.
"You mean in the open, under the stars!" cried the boy; and, as the old scout nodded, he went on: "That will be nice. I've been wanting to camp out in regular trapper style ever since we left Riverton."
"So have I," put in Joe Moore. "But I don't know as I care to camp out and get soaked."
"If it rains we'll find some kind of shelter," answered Benson. ”

“ Benson, I owe you a good deal."
"And I owe you a good deal," said Darry, turning to his cousin.
"I'm glad I came up, Darry," answered the young captain. "After this both you and Joe must be more careful. If either of you had been killed I would never have forgiven myself for bringing you out on the hunt."
"I want to give you both a bit of advice, and I want you to remember it too," came from the old scout. "Never get too close to big game until you are certain of what you are doing, and be extry careful of big game that is wounded and cornered. ”

“ It did not take long for the brush to blaze up, sending the sparks to the roof of the cave and throwing fantastic shadows all about them.
"I declare, the fire makes the cave look quite home-like!" was Joe's comment, as he threw himself down on a flat rock with his blanket under him. "Staying here won't be so humdrum as I anticipated."
"I'm going to explore the cave, now I am here," returned Darry. "Who knows but what I might locate a gold mine!"
"You be careful of where you go," cautioned old Benson. ”

“ At night a strict watch was kept, and twice old Benson went out to reconnoiter.
"The Indians and desperadoes have surrounded us on all sides," he announced. "But it don't look as if they meant to attack us just yet."
With the coming of morning it began to rain, but this cleared away by noon, and then the sun boiled down as fiercely as ever. The sunny spots within the stockade were suffocating, and the boys were glad enough to stay within the cool walls of the stone fort. ”

“ The white man must go and leave the red man to his own."
"If you want the white man to go why don't you drive Gilroy and his gang away too?"
"They have promised to leave—after they have had their share of what is here."
"Oh, so that's the bargain!"
"You see how matters stand, Captain Moore," broke in the leader of the desperadoes. "If you know when you are well off, you'll submit as gracefully as possible."
"If we leave will you promise to let all go in peace," went on the young captain to the Indian chief, "you will not molest the women or any of the young people?" ”

“ Captain Moore carried the rifle, hunting-knife, and what was left of the meat, and also insisted upon having the private lean on his arm. In this fashion two miles were covered by noon, when they came to a rest under the shade of a big tree. Peck was pale, and showed plainly that the exertion had done him no good.
"Hardest walking I ever did," he admitted, as he stretched himself at full length. It was his will-power alone that had kept him up.
"Well, we are gaining," said Captain Moore cheerfully. "Three miles more will see us through."
"If the enemy don't gobble us in the meantime." ”

“ That's a big haul!" cried Darry, much delighted. "I was wishing we'd get a bear some time while we were out here."
"It's lucky the bear didn't get Joe," remarked Benson. "They generally come up a tree after their victim."
"I jumped from one tree to the other," answered the youth. "But I had quite an exciting time, I can assure you."
"How in the world did you get here?" questioned Darry, as Joe leaped to the ground. "Did you get through to another cave? Benson thought that might be the case." ”

“ Behind these were the ladies of the fort and the officers who were sick.
"Perhaps we had better surrender," said Colonel Fairfield, when told by his wife of the condition of affairs. "If we don't——" He could not finish.
"Kill the white soldiers!" was the cry from the Indians. "White Ox has fallen! They must all die! Spare nobody!"
Captain Moore was now fighting as never before. Beside him stood old Benson, and not far away were Joe and Darry. ”

“ Then, with a wild yelling and a brandishing of rifles, about a hundred and fifty red men burst from cover and ran toward the stockade.
"They are coming!" was the cry.
"Stand firm, men, don't waste your ammunition!" Captain Moore cried. He turned to the gunner. "Let them have it, Dilberry!"
Bang! the cannon boomed out again, and the shot tore through the advancing horde of Indians, laying four of them low.
Then came a volley from the red men, followed by the discharge of the piece in the hands of the desperadoes. ”

“ Two minutes later a single rocket went up from the fort.
"That's the last," observed old Benson.
"I'll wager that will set the Indians and the desperadoes to thinking," said Cass.
"They'll think some more when they see a camp-fire over Decker's Falls," put in Bernstein. "They'll imagine that they are being surrounded."
"Don't be too sure," came from the old scout. "White Ox is no fool. He has been through too much fighting. If we can only make him hold off a bit that's as much as we can expect. You can bet he'll have spies up here in less than an hour from now." ”

“ It was Darry who spoke, as he and Joe were eating an early supper that night, in one corner of the messroom.
"If the scheme is good for anything let Will have it by all means," answered his cousin. "Heaven knows we need all the help we can get!"
"My scheme is this," went on Darry. "Those Indians and the desperadoes must know something of our sending off for re-enforcements. Now why can't Will send out old Benson and a few others, to steal off for several miles and light camp-fires, blow bugles, and all that, to make the enemy think the re-enforcements are close at hand?" ”

“ Even a sneaking fox will turn on you if he sees there is no other way out of his difficulty."
"I'll remember that," answered both Joe and Darry, and they did remember, and thus was one peril of big-game hunting abolished.
Darry felt too weak for the time being to do much, so Joe led him back to where they had left the horses, while Captain Moore and old Benson took upon themselves the task of bringing in the four deer. Each was a beautiful prize, and the quartet made an imposing sight when hung up on a couple of tree branches. ”

“ At a distance could be heard the trickling of water, but where this came from, or where it went to, nobody in the cave could imagine.
The boys advanced from one opening to another with care, one with his torch held high, that they might see ahead, and the other with the light close to the ground, to warn them of a possible pitfall.
"A regiment of soldiers could quarter in here," observed Darry, as they pushed on. "What a defense it would make!"
"An enemy could fire right into the entrance. And, besides, supposing the enemy started to smoke you out? ”

“ At last Fetter threw himself down on a blanket to rest, leaving Gilroy and Potts still conversing earnestly by the fire. The two desperadoes talked in a low tone, so that Joe now caught but little of what was said.
The backs of both men were turned toward the side of the cave where Joe was in hiding; and, plucking up courage, the youth started forward on tiptoe, bent upon getting out of the cave before the men should make some move which would expose him. ”

“ It fell to Darry's lot, and Joe, hardly able to keep his eyes open, quickly retired, without undressing.
Darry's vigil was certainly a lonely one, doubly so because it was new to him. As he tramped slowly around the cabin, he could not help but contrast this situation with the one he was used to at home.
"I don't know as I'd like to be a night policeman or a night-watchman," he reasoned. "They must be awfully tiresome jobs. And the city isn't near as lonely as this, either, even in the middle of the night." ”

“ The nap had done the boys a world of good, and as they rode along their spirits rose so high that Darry proposed a race. Joe was willing, and away they went, along the well-defined trail, before either the young officer or the old scout could stop them.
"They are full of life," said Joe's brother. "Let them go. We'll make the fort to-night, even if they do tire the horses a bit." ”

“ The prisoners had been ordered to keep to the back of the cave, but after all but the guards had retired Captain Moore made bold enough to walk carefully to the mouth of the place.
"Hi, you want to keep back there," growled one of the guards, promptly raising his rifle.
"Don't be hard on us," pleaded the captain. "Let me get a little fresh air. It's vile in the back of the cave." ”

“ BENSON PUTS SOME MEN IN A HOLE.
The man whom old Benson had attacked was taken completely by surprise, and he went to the ground easily. But, once down, he struggled fiercely to release himself, and at the same time did his best to cry out for assistance.
"Silence!" commanded the scout in a whisper. "If you yell, it will go hard with you."
The desperado now saw who had attacked him, and his face changed color. But he continued to struggle, and was on the point of breaking away when the old scout hit him a heavy blow on the ear, which bowled him over and rendered him partly unconscious. ”

“ At the mouth of the cave sat two of the desperadoes on guard, each with his rifle across his knees.
"A dash into the darkness might save us," suggested Darry, but the captain shook his head.
"No, those fellows are too good shots," he said. "We will have to remain as we are until something turns up in our favor."
Our friends wondered if the desperadoes would remain about the cave all night. The other party which had gone off when Gilroy went for Joe and Darry had not yet returned, and the leader of the gang seemed to grow anxious concerning them. ”

“ The sun was shining over the distant mountain when he reached a bend in the brook and came out upon a rocky trail which crossed the water-course at a right angle. As he looked at the trail he was tempted to shout with joy.
"The place we crossed yesterday morning!" he exclaimed. "There is the very spot where we got a drink and watered the horses. Now I ought not to have such a hard time finding the cave." ”

“ Then a second guard had discharged his weapon, but by this time the fleeing prisoner had been swallowed up in the gathering darkness.
"He must not get away!" cried the young captain. "If he does, they will attack us at once. After him, Benson, and you, too, Forshew and Donaldson. I will follow with some horses!"
Without delay the old scout climbed the stockade and scrambled over the ditch. ”

“ I was sure they hadn't seen me."
"Those Indians are sly, Peck. They never let on until they are fully ready. We can be thankful that we escaped."
"How long have we been here?"
"The best part of the day. I carried you along the brook and to here, and I haven't dared to go any further. Those Indians can't be far off."
"It was good of you to do that for me, captain," said the private gratefully.
"I know you would have done as much for me, Peck. What I am worried about is what we are to do next."
"Perhaps you had better wait till dark, and then sneak to the fort." ”

“ It's more dangerous than lightning."
"So it is!" shouted Benson. It was with difficulty that he made himself heard. "Here comes the worse of it!" he added.
A strange humming now filled the air, followed by twigs and flying branches. Overhead it was unusually dark, and they could scarcely see one another. Joe and Darry kept close together and clasped hands. Captain Moore was on one side of them and old Benson on the other.
As the wind struck the cliff it sent a shower of loose stones in all directions. Then it tore through the undergrowth where the horses were tethered. ”

“ The Indians were now at the ditch, and one had advanced as far as the stockade itself. They were yelling like demons, and now the desperadoes began to show themselves, confident that the fort would soon be taken.
They haven't got a corporal's guard to defend it!" cried Matt Gilroy. "Nearly everyone of those inside is sick. Come on!" ”

“ The boys had no fishing-tackle, but Lieutenant Carrol fitted them out, and soon the party was on the way. The soldiers were to be gone but four hours, and so struck out at a gait that taxed Joe and Darry to the utmost to keep up with them.
"It's the air does it," explained Biggs, when Darry spoke about the speed. "After you've been out here a while you'll eat like a horse and feel like walking ten miles every morning before breakfast. I tell you, the air is wonderful." ”