CHAPTER XVIII An Appeal
It was not particularly difficult as Billy had not the faintest suspicionthat he was under surveillance. As he had planned beforehand in his ownmind, Ralph followed him a few moments after his departure from camp alittle after daylight the next day.
Both rode burros--the small, sure-footed ponies, which are used almostentirely in the western states where difficult climbing is to beaccomplished. And, except for the pair of mules which were sometimeshitched to their provision wagon, the Sunrise Camp Fire party had noother steeds.
If any were required for their longer excursions they were rented fromthe hotel stables.
This morning Billy got ready his own burro and Mrs. Burton had asked Mr.Simpson to have Ralph's waiting in case he wished it.
The order was an extraordinary one, yet Mr. Simpson, being one of thewisest of men, had asked no questions.
Naturally he had been aware of Billy's daily disappearances, but asnothing was told him concerning them, he had appeared comfortably blind.
Now the morning was slightly misty, as many of the early fall morningsare apt to be in the neighborhood of the greatest canyon in the world.
But the mist was colored like an opal as the sun sifted its warm lightslowly through.
Ralph did not attempt to keep the younger boy in sight. Only now and thenhe would send his pony a little more swiftly forward for a fleetingglimpse of him. He was, of course, afraid that Billy would hear him, orthat he might suddenly turn around and see him.
It was not necessary that he constantly watch the other rider at thebeginning of their travels, as he had a fairly good impression of theroute the younger boy would take.
Ralph had been a little bored at getting up so early in the morning, ashis outdoor bed had been extremely comfortable. He had slept not far awayfrom Billy's and Dan's own tent, declining the offer of Dan's cot whichhe had generously insisted upon his taking. Therefore, his bed had been amattress of balsam and a pair of heavy Indian blankets.
As a matter of fact this was the first morning which Ralph Marshall hadhonored by arising early since his coming to Arizona. Now, quite apartfrom his interest in Billy Webster's mysterious behavior and his owndesire to be of service, Ralph felt repaid for his effort.
"The great point was to get started at a thing," he argued with himself."After that the doing of it wasn't half bad." It occurred to Ralph thatthis might be true of more important issues than the present one.
There was a possibility that Billy had only a desire to spend his days infreedom and adventure. But, if this were true, no one would have had areasonable right to interfere with him. Now, in spite of the fact thatRalph suggested this idea to himself, he was not convinced by it.
The tiresome journey of the day before Ralph was not required to repeat.There was a more direct route to the track and from there to the smallrailroad station.
But, once arriving along the more open road which ran beside it, Ralphwas forced to keep farther behind.
However, this was unimportant if he could manage to arrange to have Billyin sight when he reached the station. After that, he did not know whatdirection the boy would take, as he might continue down the track or elsestrike across the country.
Half a mile from the little railroad station Ralph Marshall's saddlegirth suddenly broke. As the burro he was riding was so small incomparison with his own height, Ralph's legs almost reached the ground oneither side of his mount. There was, therefore, no danger in connectionwith his mishap, only there was a short delay. However, the time consumedwas not a matter of five minutes, required for pulling the leather strapstogether and rebuckling them in a fresh place.
Ralph was not seriously concerned, although having remounted he did rideon more rapidly than he had since starting out. But, for some reason hedid not again come in sight of Billy Webster. Arriving at the railroadstation there was still no sign of Billy.
This was puzzling. The pursuer stopped for reflection. His acquaintanceof the day before was not in evidence, but there was a chance that thestation master, who, at present, was in his small box, or else the keeperof the shop, would have seen Billy go by and noticed what route he hadfollowed.
Both men declared that no boy had been seen by either of them during theentire morning.
Ralph Marshall argued the question. One or the other of them must haveseen the boy, since undoubtedly a boy had passed by. But, althoughargument did not shake their testimony, it did make the men angry so thathe was finally obliged to desist.
Then, undoubtedly in his own phraseology, Ralph felt himself up againstit. He simply did not know what to do next. He must follow Billy, but onecannot well follow without knowing the plan or the direction of one'sleader.
In this life it is the first failures which are most difficult to endure.Ralph Marshall had made so few efforts of any kind in his existence, thathe was profoundly disturbed by this small one.
Moreover, Ralph was at last becoming affected by Mrs. Burton's obviousnervousness. Perhaps a successful culmination of his quest was not sounimportant as he had previously conceived it. He had wished toaccomplish what he had set out to do, because Mrs. Burton was uneasy andbecause he was anxious to do her a favor. Incidentally he was not averseto doing one for Peggy, should conditions develop in that way. But thequestion of Billy's own welfare he had never taken seriously. Therefore,it was curious that he should find himself suddenly growing uncomfortableover the boy.
Well, as one must inevitably go somewhere in this world--either forwardor backward--Ralph appreciated that he could not remain indefinitely atan entirely uninteresting and apparently uneventful railroad station.
So, following an impulse--not a purpose, or even an idea--he rode awayfrom the station and into the country.
He continued riding the greater part of the day, feeling as absurd as anyfoolish follower of Don Quixote's bent upon an impossible quest.
Nevertheless, Ralph did not give up. He was tired and bored and hungry,and frequently had to get off his pony in order to allow it to rest. Hefound food for his burro and a little for himself at a small ranch house,but only now and then did he came in contact with a human being.
Most of the country through which he traveled was pine forest. It wasridiculous to imagine that Billy Webster could have any interest or anypurpose in this unfamiliar and comparatively uninhabited region. YetRalph could not make up his mind to return to Sunrise camp bringing backwith him no Billy, no information--nothing but a confession of failure.
An hour before twilight, however, Ralph was forced to start for camp.
He carried a compass with him; indeed he had been using one ever sincehis arrival in Arizona, and had been wise enough to watch the route hehad followed with great care. For the latter part of the afternoon he hadbeen traveling in a homeward direction. But now, of course, he must pushstraight on without further loitering.
To spend the night in the woods was entirely feasible, but withoutcovering it would not be agreeable and nothing would be accomplished byit.
Sometimes it appears as if one must give up a desire in this world inorder to accomplish it.
Certainly Ralph Marshall surrendered all thought of discovering Billy--atleast on this particular day. He would try again, however, on the nextday and on as many days as were necessary.
The early dusk had fallen. Ralph was walking along, leading his burro andfearing that he had overtaxed its strength, although these small poniesare supposed to be able to survive almost any test of endurance.
Then, quite unexpectedly, he heard noises. They were unmistakably humannoises. Tying his burro to a nearby tree, Ralph walked cautiously towardthem.
He had not, however, in any way associated the noises with the success ofhis own quest. For, temporarily at least, he had forgotten Billy, orrather he believed that the boy must by this time have returned toSunrise camp.
The fact which made him most curious was, that at the present moment hew
as not far away from the spot where he and Peggy Webster hadaccidentally discovered the unknown group of men some little time before.These were the men who were apparently the strikers on the railroad.
If these were the same men whom he now overheard, Ralph was not anxiousto thrust himself into their society against their wishes.
Nevertheless he was amazed when he finally saw them. Yet the men were theones he had expected them to be.
The amazement was due to Billy Webster.
Billy was with them! But not only was he with them. In spite of his longlegs he had been lifted high in the air and was seated on the shouldersof two of the biggest and strongest of the men. And Billy was making aspeech!
From his hiding place Ralph could catch a glimpse of the boy's white facein the half dusk. He could also overhear what Billy was saying.
"I tell you men it won't do," he argued persuasively. "You know they areon the look out for you. Haven't I been all up and down the track fordays getting reports for you? You say your strike has failed and othermen are at work at your old jobs, but I can't see how it will help you oryour cause to try wrecking the track, or doing any kind of mischief.Please don't." His voice had a high sweetness.
He had leaned over from the men's shoulders and spoke like a child askinga favor. Yet the older men were listening to him with serious faces.
Ralph could not believe what he actually saw and heard.
"You've got to win some day, if you'll only have patience; we have allagreed on that fact," Billy continued, still in his sweet boy's voice."Of course it may take a long time, but it is the biggest fight on earth,to win justice for the poor; so you know everybody has got to have a lotof patience. If you are going to do wrong things because you think therich have done wrong to you, I can't see how you are any better than theyare. And I wouldn't trust you any more than I do them, once you get thesame power."
It was occurring to Ralph Marshall, as he stood absorbedly listening tothe youthful speaker, that Billy Webster was discussing in a simple,school-boy fashion certain of the biggest social problems of the day.
But what most impressed him was not what Billy said--almost any clever,visionary boy might have read the views he expressed and repeated themparrot fashion. The extraordinary thing was the way the men listened.
Actually, by some strange gift of nature, Billy was a leader amongthem--an influence they respected, even if they would not follow it.
"You made a mistake with that ugly piece of work you did the othernight," he went on pleadingly, "but no one was hurt and you have not beenfound out. Promise me you'll never do a job like that again?"
Then Billy slid down to the ground again.
Afterwards Ralph Marshall could see that he went about from one of themen to the other, talking, and that in most cases the men shook theirheads. But he could not hear either what Billy said, or his companionanswered, when they were speaking directly to each other. It was due tothe fact that Billy had been addressing the group and that he had beenlifted up in the air, that had made his words audible to Ralph.
Whatever conclusion was finally reached Ralph eventually realized thatthe younger boy was intending to leave for home. For he solemnly wentabout and shook hands with each of the men, as if he were a personalfriend. And, although some of them received the attention awkwardly, noneof them refused it.
A little later Billy passed Ralph without observing him. He mounted hispony and began riding slowly toward Sunrise camp.
In about five minutes Ralph followed, but he allowed about twenty toelapse before he rode up alongside the younger boy.
When he did and Billy discovered his identity, he nodded in hisimpersonal but friendly fashion.
"Have you been on the lookout for me?" he inquired. "I had half an ideaTante would try to discover what I was doing, when I refused to tell her.
"She isn't accustomed not to having her own way. Well, I am glad you didnot run across me today. After this, perhaps, it won't make muchdifference if I do give up my daily disappearances and remain at camp. Idon't think I can have any more influence as I have said all I have tosay."