“Not ’less you do, too.”
Another moment, and they were both back in their old places on the horse’s back and he appeared to have acquired a new strength. He lifted his grotesquely bandaged head, whinnied, worked his nostrils, and started forward at a swift pace. Then, clinging to him and to each other, they dropped their heads and went to sleep; and it was Benoni’s stopping which made them again open their eyes.
“Oh! Water! Oh! Water—rocks—trees—berries—berries—berries! How good, how good!” fairly shouted Carlos.
At last they had reached the hills! and, at once, all three of the weary pilgrims had their mouths in the little stream which ran among the rocks and were drinking deeply of the saving water.
CHAPTER XI
FRIENDS IN NEED
Thus refreshed, they all—even Benoni—dropped upon the grass which bordered the stream and again fell asleep; and it was the horse which first awoke. The neighing of one of his own race aroused him and he made an effort to rise; but, with a pathetic appeal in his great eyes, sank back upon his side. Another moment and the neighing, accompanied by human voices, was close at hand. A mustang’s head was pushed through a break in the scrub and a shout followed the head:
“Here we are! Yo-ah-ho! Water! Water!” Then the shout was checked by the exclamation: “What in the name of—redskins! Indians—Wh-e-aw!”
By then, Carlos had sprung up and, in the daze of first awakening, was staring at the intruder. He did not know that it was his own peculiar attire that had suggested “Indians,” and he had never as yet seen a hostile red man. But the tone frightened him. He seized Carlota and forced her to her feet, while beside them lay poor Benoni, unable to arise. Thus, for a time, the twins stood, motionless, clasping each other, with their terrified expression slowly changing to delight as they gazed at the several men in uniform who now approached them. All were horsemen and some were leading instead of riding their thirsty beasts.
“Soldiers!” whispered Carlos to his sister, and she smiled.
Often she had heard her father talk of the “brave soldier boys” who kept those wide plains safe from the unknown tribes of savages; and her smile revealed to the foremost cavalryman that he had not now to deal with the child of a detested race.