"Thank you, Henry. No; I've not wasted my substance in riotous living, nor eaten husks; but I've been prodigal in wasting opportunities."
"Lost a whole college year, haven't you?" I asked.
"I hope not. There is a German university man at La Paz who has been coaching me. He thinks I can go on with my old class. This is my last trip, and after I am paid off I am going to work hard for a few months, and then return to New Havbridge for examination. There's something in that letter which concerns me."
Opening the letter, I learned that Captain Bayard knew Mr. Baldwin's story. He said this was to be the last trip of the courier, but that after his return to La Paz he would come out to meet me at Tyson's Wells, and report whether the horse-thieves were in town. He also suggested that in establishing a transshipment store-house at the steamboat-landing I place Baldwin in charge. The pay would be of use to him while "making up."
I SAW HIM FIRE THREE SHOTS FROM HIS CARBINE IN RAPID SUCCESSION.
Baldwin wished us a pleasant journey, and rode away at a scrambling canter up the pass. He had been gone but a few moments when my advance-guard shouted for me to look out. Doing so, I saw the courier standing on a pinnacle by the way-side, on the highest point of the road. He was looking in the opposite direction, and I saw him fire three shots from his carbine in rapid succession. I dismounted the men, and made the necessary preparation to meet an attack. Slowly we worked up the height, and when we reached the narrow level at the summit found Baldwin and the two soldiers that formed our advance occupying a shelter among the rocks to the left, and gazing down the opposite slope.
"What is it, Baldwin?" I asked.
"A party of Indians attempted to jump me here. I think they would have done it, too, but for the sudden appearance of Clary and Hoey. There they go now—across that opening in the sage-brush!"
A dozen Indians dashed across an open space south of the road, but too far away for effective shooting, and then two more passed over supporting a third between them.