“I see,” said Jack, “and you got your chance when Tom Swayne and the dog ran off down the valley to help Goodall.”
“Yes, that was our chance. We cut across the valley, and as your animals were feeding near your camp we drove them in front of us up the cañon, and there I held them against the bars while Morgan slipped back to get a couple of saddles and bridles; and as soon as we were ready I let down the bars, pulled aside the brush, and off we went.”
“Did Morgan upset that big rock into the gully?” asked Jack.
“Yes,” replied Bates. “His intention was to keep you down there until he should get money for your release from the people at home. But though I pretended to agree to this plan, my intention was to desert Morgan at the first opportunity, give information of where you were, and get you out. I was afraid you would starve to death if you had to spend the winter down in that hole.”
“That was good of you,” said Jack. “What did you do next?”
“We were afraid to go near Bozeman, so we turned to the left over the range, intending to keep clear of all towns and ride back to Utah, but as we rode along next day, the snow coming down like a blanket,—Morgan leading and I bringing up the rear,—my horse fell, throwing me off upon my head. How long I lay there I don’t know, but when I recovered I was buried completely in the snow, and Morgan and the horses were gone. I have never seen them since. I came very near to freezing to death, for the wind was blowing terribly, and after wandering about for some time I came upon this cabin, and here I spent the night. Next morning when the storm ceased I went out to collect fire-wood; for my teeth were rattling in my head from the prolonged exposure to the cold. I had gathered a good deal and was going out for more, when four grey wolves made a rush at me, and I had to retreat hastily and shut the door. They have been besieging me ever since—at least three of them have. I couldn’t open the door an inch but one of them would make a dash for it. That gave me an idea—after my wits had been sharpened by going a whole day without food. I drove a stake into the ground behind the door, so that the door would open only about eight inches. Then, with a stout club ready in my hand, I let the door fall back against the stake. One of the wolves jumped for the opening directly, but his shoulders stuck, and before he could get back again I hit him a tremendous crack upon the top of his head and killed him. He was mostly bones, but he lasted me four days. Since then I have had nothing. The other wolves have sat outside, waiting for me to come out, so all I could do was to sit in here and starve.”
“Well,” said Jack, “you certainly have had a hard time of it, but you are all right now. We’ll stay here to-morrow and give you a chance to pick up a bit, and then you shall come on with us to Bozeman, or wherever else we come out.”
“Thank you,” said Bates, “you are very kind.” Then, in an embarrassed, hesitating manner, he went on: “I sha’n’t forget your kindness. I’ll do anything I can to help you to recover your stock. And I beg your pardons, all of you, for my part in this horse-stealing business. The beginning of it all was my losing my money in a gambling-place. There’s another thing I should like to mention,” he went on, after a short pause, “though it is no concern of yours and may not interest you. While I have been sitting here starving and thinking, I have made a resolution. I will never bet or play cards for money again as long as I live.”
“Good for you!” exclaimed Jack, reaching out and shaking hands with him. “It is a pretty rough cure for gambling, but if you stick to that resolution you will look back at this experience of yours as the most fortunate thing that ever happened to you.”
“I’ll stick to it,” said Bates, with a very earnest countenance. “Never fear.”