“I’ll go and tell them,” said Frank.
“No, you had better stay by me,” said Bob. “If there are some white men bossing this, I think you will have all you can do. Suppose Coyote Bill is among them?”
“By George! I believe you’re right,” said Lem.
He jumped off the porch, and in company with Frank went out to the corral to catch the horses that were to carry us safely out of reach of the Comanches. Bob had found a cloth and was tying up the soldier’s head; Elam was skirmishing around the house trying to find something to eat; the other soldier was filling up on water, of which he had long been deprived; and the balance were busy gathering up their weapons. For myself, I was thinking over a certain proposition that had suddenly suggested itself to me. It was a dangerous thing, I knew; but I didn’t see who else was to do it.
CHAPTER XVI.
A RAID BY THE COMANCHES.
The thing I was revolving in my own mind was this: Should I go all by myself and warn the boys who were herding cattle on the plains, and so run the risk of being captured or shot by the Comanches, or should I stay with Bob and go with him to a place of safety? For I knew that Lem and Frank would exert themselves to take him safely out of reach of danger, while I could not say that for myself. I would be going right back the way the Indians were coming, and to be captured—that is what I was afraid of, for I had seen men who were taken prisoners by the savages, and I knew what was in store for me. But those boys had stood by us when we were in danger and were willing to do so again. While I was thinking about it my horse was brought up. He was a small sorrel, who had brought me in safety through many perilous places, and he was lithe and vigorous yet. I did not see but that, if I got out on the prairie with two or three Indians after me, I could make a good run yet, and perhaps be able to overtake my party before they had got very far away. My mind was made up. Those boys would not have deserted me, and why should I desert them? I put my saddle on him, slipped on my bridle, and threw the lariat off his neck. Then I buckled my revolvers about my waist, picked up my rifle, and mounted.
“Good-by, boys,” said I.
“Why, where are you going?” demanded Bob. “We’re all going off in a minute.”
“I am going out to warn the boys,” said I. “I think I will overtake you after a while.”