CHAPTER XII.
A CHASE.
"We ought to be pretty close to the place we left our horses," said Chester.
"I was just thinking that, myself," agreed Colonel Anderson. "Must be around here some place."
"We shall be there within the hour," said Nikol, to whom the situation had been explained. He had declared he could lead them straight to the place they had left the animals.
"So you see, Mr. Stubbs, we are not coming back in such a hurry after all," said Hal.
"We're not there yet," mumbled Stubbs. "An hour is an hour. We've been altogether too lucky, if you ask me. It's about time something happened."
"Croaking again, eh?" said Chester. "I never saw a fellow like you before. You see trouble in everything."
"So I do—when I'm with you," declared Stubbs. "It's been my experience that wherever you and Hal happen to be, there also is trouble. I'm a peaceable man, I am. I believe in taking all precautions. But here we go, walking along as though we were on your uncle's farm. No thought of danger among any of you. But I've got a hunch—"
"You've always got a hunch," Hal interrupted.
"Well, all right," said Stubbs. "Just remember I've warned you."
They continued on their way in silence.
"To tell the truth, we have been remarkably fortunate," declared Colonel Edwards. "I had expected to bump into some of Nicolas' friends before this. It's funny."
"It's not too late yet," said Stubbs.
"Mr. Stubbs," said Chester, with some exasperation, "if you—"
"Hold on," said Stubbs. He pointed ahead and slightly to the left. "Here comes a gang after us now."
The others glanced in the direction indicated. A body of men afoot, perhaps a dozen all told, were approaching.
"Yes," said Chester, "here comes a gang, but that's no sign they are enemies."
"Everybody is an enemy in these parts," said Stubbs sententiously.
"By George, you are the limit, Stubbs!" declared Chester. "Now, I'll tell you what I'll do. I'll just bet you something pretty you're wrong in this case."
"Well, I ain't wrong," returned Stubbs, forgetting his grammar. "I'll take that bet. But in the meantime you fellows have a look at your guns. I may need protection."
This was good advice and the others realized it. They acted on it and the chamber of Colonel Anderson's revolver snapped with a click that emphasized his next remark:
"Can't trust them," he said.
The men were close now, and they appeared to be friendly enough. At sight of the prisoner in the center, one of them cried:
"Ho, Nicolas! where are you going?"
Quickly Hal stepped behind the prisoner and out of sight of the strangers, his revolver was pressed into Nicolas' back.
"No foolishness," he said in a low voice.
"Rather risky for you in these parts, isn't it, Nicolas?" said another of the strangers.
Nicolas heeded Hal's advice.
"I'm with friends," he returned. "There are enough of us here to look out for ourselves."
"Where are you bound?"
"Not far. I have a little business a couple of miles farther on."
"Want any company?"
Nicolas hesitated a moment and there came a queer gleam into his eye. And before Hal could say a word, he replied:
"Well, you can come along if you want to."
This reply staggered the others a bit, but it was too late now. Hal saw that he had not acted promptly enough, but to order Nicolas to change his decision would have aroused the suspicion of the others. There was nothing for it but to make the best of a bad situation.
"All right, we'll come along then, Nicolas," said the man who appeared to be the leader of the newcomers. "Might be a little gold in it for us, eh?"
"There might be," agreed Nicolas, with an evil smile.
Hal held a whispered consultation with the others and it was agreed it would be foolish to bring matters to a climax now.
"Wait until we get our horses," was Chester's advice.
The augmented party now continued on its way.
Half an hour later they came to the place where they had left their horses some days before. The man who had taken care of them advanced to meet the party.
"Horses still here?" asked Colonel Edwards.
The man nodded.
"And can you spare us three extra ones?"
The man considered.
"Do you wish to buy?" he asked at last.
Colonel Edwards indicated that he did.
"Then I can accommodate you," was the reply. "I have a dozen of my own animals, but times are hard and I need the money."
He named a sum and Colonel Edwards agreed to pay it.
"Have them all brought out immediately," the Colonel instructed.
The man bowed and departed after pocketing the money the Colonel gave him. Colonel Edwards returned to the others.
"It's all right," he said in a low voice. "Our horses are still here and
I have bought three more—one each for Nikol, Ivan and Nicolas."
"Good," said Hal.
He gathered his friends about him, Nicolas in the center, and in a few brief words explained a plan he had hit upon:
"We'll walk slowly toward the barn," he said. "Nicolas will tell the others to remain where they are." He eyed the traitor coldly. "Then we'll dash into the barn and mount. When we are all ready, we'll make a dash for it, shooting as we do so."
"As good a plan as any, I guess," said Colonel Edwards, after a moment's hesitation. "Let's get started."
Slowly they moved toward the barn. Nicolas' friends, seeing him moving away, followed, but still kept at some distance.
The friends entered the barn without being molested. The mountaineer had just finished with the last horse and Hal gave the word for all to mount.
"Keep Nicolas in the center," he said, "and if he makes a false move, shoot him. He's too dangerous a man to be running around loose."
While the others mounted, Hal moved to the door to watch the men without. He arrived there just in time to meet a man who would have entered. Hal produced his automatic.
"Get back there!" he commanded.
The man took one look at the revolver and leaped back in a hurry. A moment later a voice called:
"What's the matter in there, Nicolas?"
"Answer him," said Chester, prodding Nicolas with his revolver. "Tell him everything is all right."
Nicolas did so.
Came the voice from without again:
"Trying to give us the slip, eh? Don't want to divide up the gold with us, I guess? Well, we're coming in after you."
"All ready?" asked Hal at this juncture.
Chester glanced around quickly.
"Ready, as soon as you mount," he replied quietly. "Hurry!"
Hal took one more look out the door and saw that the men were approaching, separated widely.
"They're coming!" he cried, and leaped astride his horse. Then he called to the mountaineer,
"Open the door wide!"
For a moment the mountaineer hesitated. He saw that there was trouble coming and he knew that it was none of his business.
Hal aimed his automatic at him.
"Open it wide, quick!" he commanded.
The man hesitated no longer. He threw wide the door.
Again Hal glanced quickly about him; then gave the command in a sharp voice:
"Forward!"
Out the door they charged at a gallop—Hal and Chester in the lead, next
Colonel Anderson and Nicole, then Nicolas and Stubbs, with Ivan and
Colonel Edwards bringing up the rear.
Outside the door the enemy had drawn somewhat closer together and they stood with drawn revolvers as the riders charged.
There was no time for flight, and in spite of the fact that the charge was a distinct surprise, the foe opened with their revolvers.
Without checking their wild speed, Hal and Chester fired point blank into the faces of the men who barred their way. Whether they hit or not it was impossible to tell, but two men who were unable to jump out of the way in time, were knocked down by the foremost horses and the rest of the little troop passed over their prostrate forms.
But now beyond the enemy, Hal and Chester, leading, did not check the speed of their horses, for Colonel Edwards had mentioned the fact that there were more horses in the barn, and all knew that there would be pursuit.
Behind, some of the men had fallen to their knees and taken deliberate aim at the flying riders, and the sharp crack, crack of the weapons continued for several seconds. Bullets flew near, but not one struck home.
Out of revolver shot, Hal and Chester drew up their horses to take stock.
"Any one hit?" demanded Hal.
There was no reply.
"All right," said Hal, "we'll move on again."
Colonel Edwards, glancing to the rear at that moment, called:
"Here they come!"
The others looked back.
It was true. With loud shouts and waving their revolvers aloft, almost a dozen men galloped forward.
There came a cry of alarm from Stubbs, in the center of the little troop.
"Hey! Let's get away from here."
He dug his heels into his horse's ribs and dashed through the others.
"Spread out!" ordered Hal. "We make too good a mark this way."
The others obeyed this order, Ivan still keeping close behind Nicolas, and then Hal commanded:
"Forward!"
They went forward at a rapid gallop. The pursuers gave chase with wild yells, firing wildly as they did so.