Percy and I felt rather stiff and extremely sleepy when Jack aroused us next morning while yet the stars were shining, and prodigious were the yawns with which we greeted our companions and each other. A hot and plentiful breakfast, however, soon put us to rights, and as soon as it was despatched Jack and the ranchman set to work packing the mules, while we two subordinates looked to the saddling of the horses. Everything being ready, we climbed into the saddles, and bidding a final adieu to our good friend, George, we set out over the hills on our second day’s march, just as the first reddening of the eastern sky proclaimed that the punctual sun was preparing to get up for his day’s work.
As a matter of precaution Jack rode about half a mile ahead, in order that he might signal us to get away and hide in case we should come suddenly upon Bates and his companion; though, had those gentlemen been awake and within hearing at the moment, they would undoubtedly have discovered our presence at once, for as Jack galloped off to take up his position in advance, our two mules raised a hideous cry, thinking that their dear friend, Toby, was about to desert them. It is curious how, in a small party like ours, one horse will usually assume the position of “boss”; the others, and especially the mules, looking to him for guidance, and feeling uneasy whenever he is out of sight.
We had been riding in this order for about an hour, when Jack, who had just reached the brow of a gentle hill, suddenly wheeled around and came galloping back, waving his hand to us to draw off to one side behind some willows.
“There’s a camp-fire down the valley to the left,” said he, dismounting, “and I saw two horses tethered there. I noticed that the fire is built near a great pile of loose rocks, and I believe I can crawl up close to it without being discovered, and if I can do so I may be able to hear what they are after, and what they intend to do next. I think it is worth trying, don’t you?”
“Let me go instead, Jack,” said Percy. “I should like to get up close to them so that I may make sure it is Bates. I only half believe it yet.”
“HE LOOKED DOWN UPON THE TWO UNSUSPECTING CAMPERS.”
“All right,” replied Jack. “You shall crawl up to their camp, and I’ll stand guard a little way behind you. Tom shall stay here and take care of the horses.”
This arrangement was followed out. The animals were driven in among the willows, and I, who stayed to look after them, watched my companions as they went dodging and stooping around the end of the hill, until they disappeared from sight.
Percy, leaving Jack behind him to act as a guard, crawled cautiously toward the little column of smoke until he had come within ten feet of it, and then, lying flat between two big stones, his face concealed by the long grass, he looked down upon the two unsuspecting campers, who were sitting on either side of the fire cooking scraps of bacon on sticks. One of them was Bates; there was no question of that. The other, too, disclosed his identity the moment he spoke; it was, without doubt, the squeaky-voiced train-wrecker.