Confusedly rubbing his head, he was about rising to his feet, when a hand of iron rested upon his shoulder, and a low voice whispered in his ear:
“Keep still, boy, ef yer wants ter come out o’ this place with a clean skin. Yer in a heap o’ danger.”
There was something familiar in the tone which, with the good sense of request, caused him to lie still, and await what this suddenly-introduced friend would have him to do. Silence reigned in the pass. At times he could hear the low breathing of the person by his side; once, for a few moments, he heard the noise of footsteps, as Big Dick sought the entrance of his retreat; but with these exceptions all was still. Perhaps a quarter of an hour had passed ere, becoming impatient, he whispered:
“All is now quiet, what is to be done next?”
“Right, by mighty!” responded the strange friend. “I knowed it war you, Charley Archer—rather an awkward tumble o’ yourn, but no bones broke, I suppose. Keep quiet a leetle bit longer, till we kin see ef them as fired that shot is agoin’ to deny anything.”
The speaker was Jacob Parsons. So soon as Waving Plume recognized him, he felt assured, in his own mind, of the propriety of adopting his advice, so, without wasting a breath in asking him how under heavens he came to be at that spot, when he had supposed him miles away, he retained his crouching position. Of course, this could not continue for ever, though a terrible long half-hour passed before Parsons thought it safe to move. Then, in a whisper, he announced that it was time; and, cautioning Waving Plume to keep close behind, he cautiously moved away, carrying his rifle in readiness for instant use, and scarce making a breath of noise, as he flitted ghost-like through the dusky night.
After three quarters of an hour’s fatiguing march, with a low “come on,” the leader began the ascent of a most difficult path. Up, up they toiled until they reached a long level ledge of rock, and here Parsons and his companion halted. For the present their travels were at an end.
“Now,” said Archer, as he wearily threw himself at full length on the rock. “Now, Jake, can you tell me how you here, where we are, and what we are to do?”
“Yer askin’ a good deal at once, but, perhaps I kin. You know I’ve scouted around this part o’ the country for quite a time, and livin’ alongside the red-skins, I got to learn their ways. Las’ night I was nigh thirty miles away, an’ right in among ’em. Young Robison and I war on their trail, ’cause the tarnal critters has got the Major an’ his darter—which is a cussed sight worse; and that’s what I ought to told you at fust.”