A quarter of a mile of cautious advance brought him to the foot of the ridge, and he turned south and soon came to the ledge. As he leaped to the ground and led the horses deep among the rocks and brush Elsie Tonpit’s face peered from behind a boulder. In another moment he was leading father and daughter to the hiding-place.
CHAPTER XIII
THE SENTENCE OF THE WILDERNESS
Although styled a cave by Sevier the hiding-place in the ledge was only a rock recess, caused by the undercutting of surface waters. In this pocket the borderer left the Tonpits while he went for assistance. He was surprised on scouting toward the trail to hear the voices of the outlaws raised in loud discussion. He had taken it for granted that Hajason’s men would not observe the abrupt ending of the signs left by the three horses and would continue their pursuit for some distance beyond the ledge.
“I tell ye this is the girl’s hoss. I plugged him to stop the girl. That skunk of a Sevier can’t make fast time carryin’ her on his saddle. Old Tonpit’s nag must be ’bout blowed,” bawled Hester’s voice.
“My breed tracker says there was three hosses ahead,” boomed Hajason’s deep bass. “He didn’t have to see ’em to know that. If ye fools hadn’t rammed ahead of him an’ wiped out the signs he could ’a’ told where they swung off the path. All we know now is that they turned off somewheres atween here an’ where we stopped, or ’bout half a mile ahead. We’ll have to scatter an’ search both sides of the path.”
“This hoss with his flank ripped open is the girl’s nag, I’m tellin’ ye,” persisted Hester. “If Sevier didn’t ride double then they must ’a’ took my hoss. If that’s the case an’ he’s within hearin’, I reckon I can wipe out the need of searchin’ both sides of the path. My animal is trained to prick up his ears when he hears this.”
Sevier darted back toward the three horses hidden among the rocks, but he had scarcely started when the bully’s shrill whistle rang out. Before he could cover quarter of the distance the whistling was repeated several times and Hester’s mount came galloping through the thickets in answer to his master’s call. The borderer essayed to catch the bridle, but with a snort the animal jumped aside and crashed toward the trail.
The excited cries of the outlaws, punctuated by Hester’s loud oaths of admiration, greeted the arrival of the horse. Sevier’s only consolation was the knowledge that although the faithful beast had answered the call he could not guide the outlaws to the ledge. And yet, a quarter of a mile even of thick forest did not afford as wide a margin of safety as Sevier would wish. The borderer realized that whatever action he was to take to safeguard the secret of the ledge must be initiated at once.
At a point where a twist in the trail hid the band from view Sevier crossed to the other side. Moving parallel to the trail, he gained a position opposite the horsemen just as Red Hajason was commanding: