A Waif of the Mountains Part 26

The guide gazed in that direction and replied:

"Yes, but it comes from a camp fire, which isn't more than a half mile away."

The men looked in one another's faces and the captain asked in a guarded voice, as if afraid of being overheard:

"Whose fire is it?"

"There's no saying with any sartinty, till we get closer, but I shouldn't be 'sprised if it belong to the folks you're looking for."

The same thought had come to each. There was a compression of lips, a flas.h.i.+ng of eyes and an expression of resolution that boded ill for him who was the cause of it all.

In the early morning at this elevation, the air was raw and chilling.

The wind which blew fitfully brought an icy touch from the peaks of the snow-clad Sierras. The party had ridden nearly all night, with only comparatively slight pauses, so that the men would have welcomed a good long rest but for the startling discovery just made.

Over the eastern cliffs the sky was rapidly a.s.suming a rosy tinge. Day was breaking and soon the wild region would be flooded with suns.h.i.+ne.

Already the gigantic ma.s.ses of stone and rock were a.s.suming grotesque form in the receding gloom. The dismal night was at an end.

The twinkling light which had caught the eye of Felix Brush appeared to be directly ahead and near the trail which they were traveling.

This fact strengthened the belief that the fire had been kindled by the fugitives. The illumination paled as the sun climbed the sky, until it was absorbed by the overwhelming radiance that was everywhere.

The pursuers felt well rewarded for the energy they had displayed in the face of discouragement and danger. Valuable ground had been gained, and even now when they had supposed they were fully a dozen miles behind the fugitives, it looked as if they had really caught up to them, or at least were within hailing distance.

Every eye was fixed on the point which held so intense an interest for them. As the day grew, a thin, wavy column of smoke was observed ascending from the camp fire, which was partly hidden among a growth of scrub cedars, some distance to the right of the trail, whither it must have been difficult for the couple to force their horses.

"That leftenant ought to have knowed better than to do that," remarked Vose Adams, "his fire can be seen a long way off."

"What else could they do?" asked the captain.

"The rocks give all the cover he needs."

"But they could have no idea that we were so near," suggested the parson.

"It isn't that, but the leftenant had 'nough 'sperience with Injins on his way through here before to know he's liable to run agin them at any time. I never dared to do a thing like that on my trips."

"Let's push on," said the captain, who saw no reason for tarrying now that they had located the game.

The ground was so much more favorable that the animals were forced to a canter, though all were in need of rest. Little was said, and Captain Dawson spurred forward beside Adams, who as usual was leading.

Wade Ruggles and Parson Brush also rode abreast. They were far enough to the rear to exchange a few words without being overheard.

"From the way things look," said Brush; "we shall have to leave everything with the captain and he isn't likely to give us anything to do."

"He's mad clean through; I don't b'leve he'll wait to say a word, but the minute he can draw bead on the leftenant, he'll let fly."

"He is a fine marksman, but he may be in such a hurry that he'll miss."

"No fear of that; I wonder," added Ruggles, startled by a new thought, "whether Vose has any idee of stickin' in his oar."

"Likely enough."

"I must git a chance to warn him that we won't stand any nonsense like that! The best that we'll do is to promise him a chance for a crack after you and me miss."

"That won't be any chance at all," grimly remarked the parson.

"Wal, it's all he'll have and he mustn't forgit it. There's some things I won't stand and that's one of 'em."

"We can't do anything now, but we may have a chance to notify him. If the opportunity comes to me, he shall not remain ignorant."

They were now nearly opposite the camp and the two noticed with surprise that Adams and the captain were riding past it.

"What's that fur?" asked the puzzled Ruggles.

"That's to prevent them from fleeing toward Sacramento. When they find we are on the other side, they will have to turn back."

This was apparently the purpose of the men in advance, for they did not draw rein until a hundred yards beyond the camp. Suddenly the two halted, and half-facing around, waited until Brush and Ruggles joined them. The explanation of the guide showed that his plan had been rightly interpreted by Parson Brush.

CHAPTER XX

THE CAMP FIRE

The trail, as has been stated, was broad and comparatively level. The slope of the mountain to the right was so moderate that it could be climbed by a horse almost as readily as by a man. Its face was covered with a growth of cedars, continuing half way to the summit, when it terminated, only bleak ma.s.ses of rock, sprinkled with snow, whose volume increased with the elevation, being visible above and beyond.

When the four pursuers came together, their faces showed that they comprehended the serious business before them. It was seen that Captain Dawson was slightly pale, but those who had been with him in battle had observed the same peculiarity. Accompanied, as it was in this instance, by a peculiar steely glitter of his eyes, it meant that he was in a dangerous mood and the man who crossed his path did so at his peril.

It was evident that he and Vose Adams had reached an understanding during the few minutes that they were riding in advance. The words of Vose Adams were spoken for the benefit of Ruggles and the parson.

"You'll wait here till I take a look at things."

"What do you mean to do?" asked Brush.

"I'm going up the slope on foot to find out how the land lays."

"And when you find that out, what next?"

"He is to come back and report to me," interposed the captain.

There was a world of meaning in these words. It showed that the captain allowed Adams to lead only when acting as a guide. In all other matters, the retired officer a.s.sumed control. The opportunity of Vose to pick off the offending lieutenant promised to be better than that of any one else, since he would first see him, but he had been given to understand that he must immediately return and let the captain know the situation. Adams had promised this and he knew Dawson too well to dare to thwart him.

Brush and Ruggles could make no objection, keen though their disappointment was. They watched Adams, as he slipped off his mule, not deeming it worth while to utter the warning both had had in mind.

It was the parson who said:

"I suppose we have nothing to do except to wait here till you come back?"

"It looks that way, but you must ask the captain."