CHAPTER XXXVI.--TO THE RESCUE.
Badger and Shirley were carried from under the rock, but when it came tolifting them on the horses it was found that they were too much injuredto ride.
"Thar ain't no use in my tryin' it," groaned Badger. "I can't sit in thesaddle."
"Then what's to be did?" asked the landlord.
"Hide me away, and when daylight comes send some of the boys after mewith a stretcher."
"That'd never do," protested the landlord.
"Why not?"
"Coz, if you was to git back to the Gulch at this time all the chancesis they'd make you stretch hemp. Fact is, ole feller, you and Shirleyhere has played your last keerds, and I'm downright sorry to say thegame has gone agin you in a most surprisin' bad way."
"Don't leave me!" whined Shirley. "Take care of me and I'll pay you yourown price."
"Oh, that's all right," said the landlord, who, with his companion, hadplaced the two men side by side on their saddle blankets and left withthem two canteens. "But the barkin' of that dog comes nearer and nearer,and I don't like it. Keep a stiff upper lip and I'll send out and seehow you are after sun-up."
With this promise the landlord and his companion, with an eye single totheir own safety, mounted their horses and rode away.
The barking of the dog, coming from the west, was also heard by Sam andhis friends.
"I tink dlat no dogee. Dlat a wolf," said Wah Shin.
"Wolf!" repeated Ike with fine scorn. "That's no wolf. Heah him! Jistlissen, Mistah Sam! Ain't dat music, an' can't yeh make it out?"
"I hear it, Ike," said Sam, "and the animal is evidently running fastand coming this way."
"It's Maj! It's deah ole Maj!" shouted Ike, and in his excitement hedashed against the wall, and with a roar like Niagara the rocks wentthundering down the trail.
Sam heard the two horsemen galloping away, but as he could not tellwhether they were retreating or going after reinforcements he determinednot to abate his vigilance so long as there was a sign of danger.
Again he heard something clambering up the rocks, and he was on thepoint of firing, when a short, joyous bark rang out, and the nextinstant Maj was in their midst.
The faithful creature was nearly exhausted by his long run, for he hadescaped from the Apaches, but he had strength enough left to show hisjoy at the meeting.
He leaped at Sam, and after licking his face and hands he turned and,with commendable impartiality, bestowed the same attention on theothers.
Ike actually cried for joy, and he made an effort to take the dog in hisarms, but when the first greetings were over Maj, half dead with hungerand thirst, discovered that there was water near by, and without anythought of the propriety of his conduct he plunged in and lapped tillhis parched skin was full.
"Oh, if Ulna was only heah now," cried Ike, "we'd be all togedder aginan' as happy as a--as a darkey in ripe watah millyon time!"
Sam was confident that Ulna had reached Hurley's Gulch, and this thoughtgave him so much comfort that he did not wonder why his friend had notcome to his relief, for he well knew that the Indian youth would doeverything that lay in his power, and he was right in this surmise.
The coming of Ulna had not only saved the lives of two men, but it hadalso caused a revolution in the minds of a majority of the people livingat Hurley's Gulch.
To be sure, there were some who did not believe the Indian youth, andwho were satisfied in their own minds that Mr. Willett and Hank Timsshould be hanged, and that they would be, sooner or later; but thesefellows found themselves in the minority and only whispered theirbelief.
Mr. Willett and Hank Tims were still under guard, for the promised proofof their innocence was not at hand; but Si Brill and Collins, now themost prominent men in the camp, felt that the end they hoped for wasvery near.
Ulna, after being refreshed with food, kept his eyes open, and he wasthe first to discover that Badger, Shirley and the others had leftHurley's Gulch.
He at once sought out Collins and said to him:
"I saw the four men ride away."
"But men are ridin' away and a-ridin' in all the time," said Collins,who not being at all suspicious saw no harm in the act.
"True, Collins; but I am sure these men mean harm to Sam Willett."
"Nonsense."
"It is the truth."
"But you left Sam in the hands of them onary 'Paches, didn't you?"
"Yes."
"Then how can Badger get at him?"
"The Apaches say they are not at war with the whites----"
"I don't take no stock in them or their sayin's," said Collins.
"But they are at peace, else they would have killed Sam at once. As itis they will either rob him and turn him loose, or else hold him for areward."
"Well?" said Collins reflectively.
"And if Badger and his gang meet the Apaches and pay the reward, thenthey will have Sam Willett in their power----"
"Hold!" cried Collins. "I see it all! Once in their power they will killthe boy and get the receipt Tom Edwards gave when he was paid for themine. Then the dogs can come back here and defy us. We must move to therescue, Ulna! We must move at once!"
Accompanied by Ulna, Collins went to Si Brill and others of his friends,and after warning them to say nothing to Mr. Willett, he told them ofhis fears for Sam and urged the necessity of getting out a rescuingparty at once, which he was ready to lead "if no one else didn't offer."
At this time there were not many horses in camp, and unfortunatelynearly all were owned by the men who had been so bitter against Mr.Willett.
It was after midnight when Collins succeeded in getting three horses anda mule; they belonged to Mr. Willett and this limited the rescuing partyto four, one of whom was Ulna, who went along as a guide, though allknew he could be depended on if there were serious work on hand.
About two hours before day they came face to face with the landlord andhis companion.
"Where have you fellers been?" demanded Tom Collins.
"I don't know that it's any of your business," was the landlord's reply,"but I don't mind sayin' that we went out to see if thar was any Injunsin sight. For one, I didn't take any stock in that young Ute's story."
"Wa'al," said Collins, "there's plenty of better men than you--and I'mone of 'em, that do believe the Ute. Now what have you done with Badgerand Shirley?"
"They left us 'bout dark; if you want them you must hunt 'em foryourself. I ain't no one's dog," growled the landlord.
"The man that had you for his dog might count on bein' bit, but I reckonwe ken find out all we want without yer help. Go back to the Gulch andpack yer traps, for it's my 'pinion it'll be very hot there in a day ortwo for dogs of your breed," said Collins as he shook his bridle androde on.
Meantime Sam, ignorant of the doings of friends and foe, kept watch onthe summit of the rock.
He was completely "played out," and it was only by a strong effort ofwill and a constant change of position that he kept from sinking downand going to sleep like his companions.
As soon as the gray dawn began to make distant objects visible Sam awokeIke and Wah Shin.
Sleep had only brought a temporary cessation from the pangs of hunger,but the brave fellows made no complaint.
Ike, always on the lookout, was the first to discover horsemen in thedistance, coming from the direction of Hurley's Gulch.
"It 'peahs to me powahful like's ef Ulna is one ob dem yar men," saidIke.
He was not mistaken.
On came the riders at a gallop.
In the advance rode Ulna.
As soon as they caught sight of Sam they waved their hats and sent up athrilling cheer.
_Sam and Ike discover the horsemen coming to theirrescue._]
Even the horses caught the spirit of their riders, and plunged into afaster gallop, till they came to a halt under the towering rock whichSam had defended so gallantly.