CHAPTER 19 THREE POINTS
To be left alone in the cave with only the unconscious Miquel forcompanion, was an eerie experience, Dan discovered.
A dreadful quiet settled upon the dark chamber once Red and Brad hadgone. Dan sat with his back against a projecting rock, within reach ofthe old man, should he stir.
The chill of the cavern began to creep into his bones. He arose to feedthe fire, noticing that there was very little wood. Scarcely enough toburn another twenty minutes. He dared not venture in search of more, lestthe old Indian fully revive in his absence.
For a long while after his companions had gone, Dan sat listening to themelancholy slap of the waves at the mouth of the cave. He could notestimate time very accurately. But as the fire burned lower, he reasonedthat Brad and Red should have reached the camp.
At any moment now, he encouraged himself, help would arrive. He hopedthat Brad and Red would get there in time to compete in the pow-wow. Ifthey did, his own sacrifices would be well worth while.
Old Miquel moaned and rolled over on the rock floor.
Instantly alarmed, Dan got to his feet, to place himself between the manand the edge of the pool.
Feeling inadequate to the situation, he rearranged the blanket, tuckingit more closely about the figure. Old Miquel's hands were icy cold andclammy to the touch. The cave was cold and, in addition, the elderlyman's clothing was wet.
"He may not last long unless Brad gets back here with help," Dan thought."Wish I could do something besides just sit and wait."
He took off his own light jacket and wrapped it around Old Miquel. TheIndian stirred again, showing signs of regaining consciousness.Encouraged, Dan began to chafe his cold hands, trying to restorecirculation.
Time dragged on. The fire died down to struggling coals, leaving the cavecolder and more terrifying than ever.
Dan huddled beside Miquel, watching the dark pool. He could hear theunderground stream gurgling softly as it disappeared into the bowels ofthe earth. Now and then an object, a tree twig, a board or a leaf camefloating in through the tunnel.
Already he had made minute inspection of the cave's interior, findingonly the remains of food stolen from the Cub's camp. Obviously, OldMiquel had taken it to keep alive. Of worldly possessions, the Indianapparently had none except the clothes on his back.
Dan sat motionless in the gloom, acutely aware of a change in OldMiquel's breathing.
The sound was plainer now, harsh and labored.
"He's coming around," the boy thought uneasily. "I sure hope he doesn'tmake any trouble. I might not be able to handle him."
Dan remembered Brad's advice to quit the cave if Old Miquel causedtrouble. But he had no intention of doing so except in a real emergency.
As the minutes passed, the Indian became increasingly active. At first,he merely tossed his head from side to side. Then suddenly he sat up,staring at Dan with strange eyes.
Dan's heart began to pound. He checked an almost overpowering urge toturn and flee from the cave.
After the first surge of panic, he quieted his own fears. Placing a handon Old Miquel's arm, he said:
"Take it easy. You're all right. Just lie still until help comes."
Dan scarcely expected the old man to understand. Therefore, it came as asurprise when Old Miquel answered in plain though halting English.
"Where--am--I?"
"Why, in the cave," Dan returned.
"Cave?" Old Miquel's gaze began to wander about the moss-covered walls ashe sought to regain his bearings.
"Don't you remember what happened here?"
The old Indian shook his head, continuing to stare at Dan.
"Who are you?" he presently managed.
"Dan Carter. I'm a Cub Scout. Don't you remember coming to this cave?"
Again the Indian shook his head. "I must get back to my tribe," hemurmured.
Again Dan restrained Old Miquel as he would have arisen.
"You must lie still," he directed. "You've been hurt."
"Hurt?" Miquel repeated parrot-fashion. "The fall from my horse?"
"A tumble into the pool of this cave," Dan corrected. "You struck yourhead on a rock or something. What's the last you remember?"
Old Miquel was silent for a long while. Dan thought he never wouldanswer, but finally he said.
"I remember--riding through a canyon. My horse shied at a rattler."
"And that's the very last?" Dan demanded. "Don't you recall anything atall about White Nose and Eagle Feather? Or the face you carved on theravine?"
"White Nose and Eagle Feather are my brothers."
"They've been after you," Dan informed. "They came all the way from thewest, picking up your trail here in Webster City."
From the Indian's expression, the boy knew that his words were not beingunderstood. A theory was taking shape in his own mind. From Miquel'swords, he believed that the old medicine man had been injured some timebefore in a fall from his horse.
This fall, perhaps, had shocked his entire nervous system, causing alapse of memory.
So perhaps Old Miquel had wandered away from his tribe, unaware of hisown identity! Now the fall into the pool and another hard jolt hadrestored some recollection of the past!
"Don't you recall coming to Webster City?" Dan questioned him.
Once more Old Miquel shook his head negatively.
"Do you remember anything about a turquoise toad?"
At this question, the Indian's entire body seemed to stiffen.
"It was entrusted to my keeping," he replied briefly.
"And where is it now?"
"Where?" Old Miquel probed deep into his memory. "I--I--cannot remember."
"Somewhere in the west perhaps?" Dan prompted. "You didn't bring it withyou when you came to Webster City?"
"The turquoise--it was hidden in a safe place. No, that is not right. Itwas given to the white trader at the reservation store. Now it comes backto me. I feared the toad might be stolen. I gave it to the trader to keepin his store safe until the tribe ceremonial."
"This must have been before your hard fall from the horse," Dan deducted."But how did you get to Webster City?"
Miquel could not answer. His only recollection other than the fall in thedesert, had been a vague memory of having been on a freight train.
Exhausted from the effort required to talk, Old Miquel cringed down intohis blanket again. Though he did not lapse into a stupor, he seemed tolose all further interest in his surroundings.
"He doesn't know White Nose and Eagle Feather came here to punish him forstealing the turquoise," Dan thought. "The old fellow's in a bad way.Gosh, what can be keeping Brad and Dan?"
He arose and went to peer down the dark tunnel. Not a sign of any helpcoming! And yet Brad and Red surely had had more than ample time to getto the Cub camp and return with a stretcher.
Old Miquel apparently had regained his lost memory, but nevertheless, hewas in a serious condition physically. He needed medical attention and heneeded it right away.
Dan was quite sure he had figured out the real story behind the oldIndian. Undoubtedly, Old Miquel had told the truth about placing theturquoise toad in the trader's safe. When the old medicine man wasbetter, he should be able to furnish clues which would result in recoveryof the tribal treasure.
"He must have wandered off the reservation, not even knowing who he was,"Dan reasoned. "The tribe members couldn't understand his strangedisappearance. Naturally, they figured he'd made off with the turquoise.So White Nose and Eagle Feather were sent to trail him."
Dan was meditating upon the old Indian's interesting past, when he hearda slight scuffing noise in the passageway.
He listened eagerly. Had help come at last, or might it be White Nose andEagle Feather returning?
Fearful of the latter, Dan remained silent, the blood coursing fiercelythrough his arteries.
Distinctly now, he could hear someone at the entranceway of the c
ave.Abandoning caution, he called:
"Who's there?"
The answering shout from Mr. Hatfield brought intense relief.
"We're here, Dan! Be with you in a jiffy!"
Powerful flashlights now illuminated the tunnel, dispelling its gloom.The boy could make out several persons splashing along the slippery rockfloor. Help had come! His long siege was at an end.
After that, Dan had no further worries. Mr. Hatfield and Mr. Hollowayefficiently took charge. Aided by several of the Cubs from both Den 1 and2, they carried Old Miquel out into the warm sunshine.
There, Dr. Evans, who had been summoned from town, examined the Indian.
"He suffers from under-nourishment and exposure," he told the anxiousgroup. "The head wound appears superficial. If you can get him back tothe Holloway place, we'll take him from there by ambulance to thehospital."
Mr. Holloway and Mr. Hatfield personally supervised the moving of the oldIndian. They would not allow Dan to help bear the stretcher, insistingthat because his clothing was damp, he must hasten on ahead.
"You've done more than your share now," the Cub leader warmly assuredhim. "You and Brad hike as fast as you can for the house. Put in a callfor an ambulance, so it will be waiting when we get there."
"And don't let Red show you the way," Mr. Holloway added with a smile."He's not too good at finding the trail."
Brad had no intention of twice losing his way. Taking no chances, heannounced his intention of taking the longer but better marked path.
Hastening back to the camp, the two friends brought each other up-to-dateon what had occurred.
"Tell me about the pow-wow," Dan urged after he had revealed everythinghe had learned from Old Miquel in the cave. "Den 1 came out ahead, Ireckon?"
"The pow-wow isn't finished yet."
"Then they didn't go ahead when we failed to show up?"
"All the events except one have been run off. They were just starting thelast one--the canoe race--when Red and I hit camp. We'd have been there alot quicker only we got lost in the woods."
"How's the score?"
"Den 1 leads by three points. But that doesn't mean a thing. Whoever winsthe canoe race, wins the silver plaque."
"When does the race come off?"
"Don't know," Brad answered. "Finding Old Miquel has thrown everythinginto a mess. Maybe now, the race will be called off. In that case, Den 1wins."
For awhile, neither Dan nor Brad gave very much thought to the pow-wow.Upon reaching the Holloway home, they immediately telephoned the WebsterCity Hospital, arranging for an ambulance to be sent.
By the time the men came in from the woods bearing the stretcher, it hadarrived.
Mr. Hatfield and Mr. Holloway both offered to accompany the old Indian tothe hospital. But as Dr. Evans was to ride with the ambulance, they wereassured that it was unnecessary.
Mrs. Holloway provided Dan with a change of clothing. Although thegarments were a snug fit, he did not mind.
"Quite a morning," Mr. Hatfield remarked as things quieted down a bit."Dan, now that I've had a chance to catch my breath, let me say, we'reproud of you."
"I didn't do anything," Dan said, flushing at the praise. "I just hopeOld Miquel gets along all right."
"He will, I think. Dr. Evans says he's not in bad shape and has a good,strong physique."
"Yes, it's practically certain he's the artist," Mr. Hatfield declared."The drawings on the cave wall reveal his skill. Poor fellow! He seems tohave no memory of what he did after he came to Webster City."
"Wonder what became of White Nose and Eagle Feather?" Dan worried."Someone ought to find them and tell them the truth about Miquel."
"We'll attempt to locate them," Mr. Hatfield promised. "Just now, we havea pow-wow on our hands. The Cubs haven't had anything to eat.Furthermore, there's one more event on the program. Or shall we call itoff?"
"No!" yelled all of the Den 2 Cubs. Chips added quickly: "Let's have therace now, and then our lunch!"
Mr. Hatfield gazed thoughtfully at Dan and Brad. Both boys, he knew, weresomewhat worn from their harrowing experiences of the morning.
"It might be better to wait a day or so--" he began.
"Not on my account, sir," broke in Dan. "Midge can take my place, if youdon't think I should enter the race. I feel fine though! Rarin' to go!"
"Same here," grinned Brad. "We're ready to test our skill against Rossand Donald any old time you say. The quicker the better."
"And if you get beat--as you certainly will--you'll say it was becauseyou were tired," Ross twitted.
"No such thing," Brad retorted.
Mr. Hatfield, Mr. Holloway and the leaders of Den 1 consulted over theadvisability of holding the race that day. Feeling was running a bit toohigh, they knew. But then, there always had been keen rivalry between thetwo dens.
The race itself was a very short one, not long enough to place any of thecontestants under strain.
"We'll go ahead now since you're all so eager," Mr. Hatfield finallyannounced. "But remember, this is a friendly competition. How you win ismore important than who wins."
All the Cubs and their parents gathered at the beach to watch the event.Fred and Midge willingly relinquished their paddles to Brad and Dan.
"Win that plaque for us!" Fred urged as the pair took their places in thecanoe.
"We'll sure try!" Dan promised with a grin.
At a given signal, the two canoes were off! Ross and Donald made a flashystart, immediately taking the lead.
Flustered by being caught off guard, Brad and Dan did not at oncecoordinate their efforts. By the time they began to work as a unit, Rossand Donald already had gained an alarming lead.
"Dig in, Dan!" Brad urged, increasing his own efforts.
The course was so short that both boys knew the race would be over almostbefore they could regain lost ground.
Dan's paddle dipped smoothly and fast. His keen eyes sweeping the watermade a startling discovery.
The course had been laid out in such a way that it included a stretch ofthe swift current which flowed down-river to the hidden cave.
Ross and Donald obviously were unaware that their canoe was travelingparallel to the ribbon of fast water.
"Brad!" Dan exclaimed, directing his companion's gaze to the current.
The older boy instantly saw the fast water, and with a hard surge of thepaddle, could have steered the Den 2 canoe into it. But he hesitated.
"Would it be fair?" he muttered.
Dan understood what his friend meant. Ross and Donald were unaware of thefast current which if utilized, undoubtedly would give a canoeist adecided advantage.
Once in the swift-moving ribbon of water, the Den 2 canoe easily mightovertake the other craft. But would it then be a test of skill? Hadn'tMr. Hatfield said that it wasn't winning that mattered but the manner inwhich victory was achieved that counted?
"Skip it," he answered Brad's terse question. "We'll win by our ownskill, or not at all."
The finish line now was close at hand. Knowing that the honor of Den 2depended entirely upon them, Brad and Dan dug in with their paddles. Theyhad to win! The Cubs were expecting them to save the silver plaque. Butcould they do it? The race was so short.
Along shore the Cubs of both dens were cheering for their particular denmates. Dan and Brad heard the shouts but were only vaguely aware of them.
Slash! Slash! Their paddles lashed the water cleanly, sending the canoeforward in smooth spurts.
"Keep it up!" Brad encouraged. "We're gaining!"
Dan nodded, not wasting breath in a reply. The distance between the twocanoes rapidly was dwindling. If only the finish line were not so close!
Ross and Donald realized they were losing ground. Uneasily Ross lookedover his shoulder to see how hard they were being pushed. For an instanthe held his paddle, missing a stroke. The bow swung off course.
Before Ross could bring it back into a straight line, Dan and Brad surgedahead. The two canoes raced evenly.
> By this time all the Cubs ashore were shouting like maniacs. "Come onDan! Brad!" some of the boys yelled, while others cheered Donald and Rossto greater efforts.
The finish line loomed up. An instant before it was reached, Brad put allhis strength into a final thrust of the paddle. The canoe fairly leapedforward, crossing the finish line a half length ahead of the other craft.Den 2 had won! The plaque had been saved!
CHAPTER 20 THE TURQUOISE TOAD
Dr. Evans had just come from Webster City Hospital with a report for Mr.Hatfield concerning Old Miquel.
"The old fellow's coming around nicely," he informed the Cub leader. "Aday or two of complete bed rest and he'll be as good as ever. Quite acharacter! I had a long talk with him."
"Did Dan guess right about him?"
"Absolutely. The old coot is a Navajo medicine man. He carved the face atthe ravine though he has little recollection of doing it. So far as I candetermine, he suffered a severe head blow which caused a memory lapse.Apparently, he hopped a freight, and must have been tossed off here atWebster City. Having no money, he took to living in the woods."
"Did he tell you anything about the turquoise, doctor?"
"About the same as Dan learned. The tribal treasure was entrusted to him.He sticks to his story of giving it to a trading post man by the name ofHoward Brandall. I wired him and received confirmation. The turquoise isstill in his safe. He didn't know the tribe considered it lost orstolen."
"That's fine!" Mr. Hatfield said heartily. "Then there's no reason whyOld Miquel can't soon return to the west?"
"None whatsoever. By the way, what became of those two Indians who triedto avenge the tribe?"
"White Nose and Eagle Feather? No one has seen them since they left thecave this morning."
Dr. Evans consulted his watch. "It's now after four o'clock," he noted."They should be found, if they're still in Webster City."
"I'll call the Cubs of both dens together and see if we can round themup," Mr. Hatfield promised. "They should be told the truth about OldMiquel."
Though the Pack ceremonies long since had ended, nearly all of the Cubshad remained at the Holloway camp, swimming and enjoying the beach. Bynow though, all were dressed in their uniforms again.
Summoning the Cubs, Mr. Hatfield asked them to be on the lookout for thetwo Indians.
"Until they're found, it will be unsafe for Old Miquel to be releasedfrom the hospital," he added.
Brad and Dan were especially eager to join in the search. Their firstmission, however, was to return to Professor Sarazen the Navajo blanketfound in the cave. After that, they went to the grocery store, thinkingthat the two Indians might have been seen there.
The storekeeper informed them that neither Eagle Feather nor White Nosehad returned that afternoon.
"I'll bet they've left town," Dan remarked as the day wore on.
"It begins to look that way," Brad agreed. "Since we can't find 'em,we'll have to give up the search for the time being."
Disheartened, the two friends started for their homes. The day had beenan exciting one, and both were tired. But they felt highly elated. Notonly had they won the silver plaque for Den 2, but they had solved themystery of the strange carved face. Likewise, they had the satisfactionof knowing that Old Miquel had been restored to reason.
Presently the boys drew near the railroad tracks. A flasher light warnedof the approach of a freight train.
Had they hastened, Dan and Brad could have crossed ahead of the long,heavy freight. Instead, being in no hurry, they waited for it to pass.
The train rumbled by, moving slower and slower as it approached thestation. Finally, it came to a jerky halt.
"Now we've got to wait," Brad grumbled.
Dan did not answer. His gaze had fastened upon two lean figures. The menhad emerged from behind the tool house on the railroad right-of-way. Herecognized them as White Nose and Eagle Feather.
As Dan stared in disbelief, the two ran along the tracks. Finding an openboxcar, they leaped lightly inside. By now the boy had come to life.
"Quick, Brad!" he shouted. "We've got to stop them before they get out oftown!"
The older boy also had recognized the two Indians. With Dan he darted tothe boxcar whose door had been pulled shut from the inside.
The two Cubs pounded on the barrier, calling upon those inside to "openup!" When there was no response, Brad finally managed to shove open theheavy door.
"White Nose! Eagle Feather!" he called.
He could not see the two Indians anywhere in the dark interior of thecar. At the same time, the freight's heavy engine gave a sharp toot. Thelong string of cars began to move.
Again Brad shouted to the two Indians. Though he could not see them, heknew they must be in a dark corner of the car. The train was movingfaster now.
The Cubs ran to keep up.
"You must stay!" Brad shouted. "The turquoise has been found! Old Miqueldidn't die! He's told everything!"
The words carried, for from the darkness of the car, the two Indianssuddenly emerged. They stood framed in the open doorway, and as Bradagain pleaded with them, listened attentively.
The train now was moving so fast that the boys could not keep up.
"It's no use," Dan gasped. "They're gone."
But even as he spoke, the two Indians leaped from the train. They landedon their feet and came back to talk to the boys.
Brad related what had occurred since the two Indians had left the cave,stressing that Old Miquel never had been responsible for his strangeactions.
"You can't punish him for something that wasn't his fault," he ended."Won't you go to the hospital now--tonight--and tell Miquel thateverything is all right again? That he can go back to the tribe?"
"We go," White Nose promised. Gravely he and Eagle Feather shook handswith the two boys before departing.
Ten days elapsed before the Cubs saw the Indians again. Their appearancecame most unexpectedly at a weekly meeting of Den 2 at Mr. Hatfield'shome.
"A little surprise, boys," declared the Cub leader.
He then introduced not only White Nose and Eagle Feather, but Old Miquelas well. The old medicine man had almost fully recovered from hisinjuries and now was able to be about.
The three Indians made little talks, thanking the Cubs for the collectionof clothing which was to be sent to the Navajo reservation. White Noserelated the story of why the turquoise toad was so highly treasured byhis people, and ended by presenting Brad and Dan with small pieces ofcarved gems.
"We return to our tribe tomorrow," White Nose said in conclusion.
"Miquel too?" asked Dan.
He was assured that the old medicine man would accompany his two Indianbrothers to New Mexico, there to resume his rightful place in the tribe.
Never before had the Cubs enjoyed such an unusual meeting. Not only didthe Indians tell them many fascinating stories, but they recited chantsand gave several dances. Finally, at a late hour, the meeting broke up.
"Wow! We really picked ourselves a theme when we decided to go in forNavajo lore!" Dan declared, collapsing into a chair. "What's next on theprogram, Mr. Hatfield?"
"Oh, that's a secret," laughed the Cub leader.
"Is it something as exciting as the great carved face or the cave?"demanded Chips eagerly.
"You know we couldn't expect to run into anything like that again in amillion years," Midge protested.
"Oh, yes, we could!" insisted Red. "And we will, too!"
"Sure," drawled Mack, "with Mr. Hatfield to select the Cub theme, andBrad and Dan to carry it out, we're certain to steer a straight courseinto another ripping adventure!"
THE END
Transcriber's Notes
--Silently corrected a few typos (but left nonstandard spelling and dialect as is).
--Rearranged front matter to a more-logical streaming order.
Thank you for re
ading books on BookFrom.Net Share this book with friends