Of course the doctor hastened to assure him he would be only too glad to take the long gallop to the trading post, and do what was necessary for Old Jimmy, whom he knew very well, and esteemed highly.
“I am not much of a horseman, I’m afraid,” he told Jack, whom he knew simply as a well-to-do young gentleman, with a great love for outdoors sports, and big game hunting chief of all; “but the Colonel has an animal I’ve used before, and doubtless Romeo will carry me safely to the post, since the trail is fairly easy; but the distance is more than he could negotiate at one try, I’m thinking.”
“That can be easily arranged,” Jack explained; “we might be able to get halfway to our destination by the time darkness sets in, when we could make camp, spend the night beside the trail, and get an early morning start. And thank you very much, Doctor, for your kindness in going, I did all I could for a temporary dressing; but it was only the work of an amateur, and Jimmy really needs further attention.”
“Which I shall be only too pleased to give, since I have the utmost regard for the old factor,” which remark satisfied Jack that everything was coming along nicely.
XXV
AN OVERNIGHT BIVOUAC
Immediately the station took on an air of great commotion. Sergeant Red Lowden had been given secret instructions to accompany the two air voyagers, and was to go heavily armed, as for a battle. He was also told to place his services entirely at the disposal of the young fellow, as to whose real identity he had been “put wise” by Perk, while Jack and the commander had their little chat.
The horses were brought out from the log stable, supplies gathered and packed, and everything done that was needful when a force was starting off for “business at the old stand.”
Of course Perk had met Dr. Hamilton, and been introduced under his fictitious cognomen of “Smith.” He seemed a bit awed in the presence Of the other, and kept watching him out of the tail of his eye—indeed, from that time on Perk showed signs of being deeply interested in the strange man, for he would steal a glance in his direction, shake his head as if “all balled up,” to quote his own words as spoken later on; and then go into one of his rare silent spells as if cudgeling those slow moving wits of his.
Jack had of course taken occasion to tell Perk what the Colonel had passed along concerning the doctor; and being duly impressed with the need of caution had solemnly promised never to evince the slightest curiosity in connection with the unknown past history.
“Queer, how I seem to keep thinkin’ I’ve met up with him somewhere or other,” he managed at one time to mention to his chum, just before they got word from Red Lowden that everything was ready for the start; “but shucks! that same could hardly be possible, since he on’y bobbed up hereabouts sixteen moons back, Red tells me; and I’d been out o’ this country a few moons ’fore that. Kinder guess I must be pokin’ in the wrong prairie-dog hole, an’ it’s jest a case o’ mistaken identity, as some calls it when you’re follerin’ the false trail. Let it go at that, partner; an’ here comes Red to tell us we gotter to jump-off.”