CHAPTER XV
THE BATTLE IN THE CAVE
Reaching the rifle range, Tad sat down to think over the occurrencesof the past half hour. Why anyoue should wish to do him harm, he couldnot understand. And, if anyoue did, why should he adopt such apeculiar way of attack? Had it been a mountaineer, Tad was sure theman would have used a gun instead of standing off and throwing stonesat turn like a petulant school boy. He realized too, that they had adifferent mode of procedure in the mountains.
"I'd have been as dead as Chunky's bob-cat if the stone had hit mefairly," muttered the boy. "Anyway, I've got a chunk of something thatlooks a good deal like gold, in my pocket," he added.
Deciding to say nothing about his recent experience to his companions,Tad strolled slowly toward camp. Yet, he had firmly made up his mindto go back to the spot later and make sure that his suspicions werecorrect.
Most of the boys had returned by the time Tad arrived, and there was aclamor to know the result of his hunting trip.
"Maybe I shot a cat. But, I didn't," he grinned.
"What's that!" demanded Ned.
"Anyway, I've brought back a chunk of gold and discovered acave. That's more than the rest of you have done, I'll warrant."
Either announcement would have been sufficient to arouse the interestof the campers, and they crowded about Tad, demanding to know what hemeant by his mysterious words.
"I found a cave, I tell you," he repeated.
"Where?" asked Lige.
Tad explained its location as well as he could.
"And I found this chunk of gold, too," he added proudly.
The guide took the piece of ore, examining it carefully.
"That isn't gold," he laughed. "That is what is known as 'fools'gold.'"
"Scientifically known as 'iron pyrites'" explained the Professor.
Tad's jaw fell at this shattering of his hopes. Yet, when Lige tossedthe piece of mineral on the ground, the boy picked it up and droppedit back in his pocket. Why he did this he did not know. Perhaps it wasinstinct. However, after a few moments he had forgotten all about it.
"You must have had a fight with a bob-cat to get that fierce scratchon your cheek," chuckled Ned Rector. "I must say that Chunky has youbeaten to a--a--I've forgotten the word I want--when it coniesto fighting cats."
"I have seen no cats to-day, Ned. But I have found a real cave. Willyou take us over to explore it, in the morning, Mr. Thomas? I'll showyou the biggest thing of its kind you ever have seen, if you'll go,"promised Tad, enthusiastically.
"Providing we don't go hunting, yes, and--and find some more fools'gold," laughed the guide.
Tad went to his tent, for the wound in his cheek was giving himconsiderable pain, and a glance into the hand mirror showed him thatthe cheek was beginning to swell.
Taking a towel with him, the boy hurried off to a mountain rivulet,where he bathed the wounded cheek, holding the wet towel to it toreduce the swelling.
Chancing to look up, he observed the guide, Lige Thomas, standingbefore him, eyeing him keenly.
"Warm, isn't?" grinned Tad.
"Rather. Put the towel down. I want to look at that cheek."
Tad hesitated, drew the towel away, and gazed back at the guide with achallenge in his eyes.
Lige examined the wound carefully.
"How'd you get it?" he demanded, straightening up.
"Why do you ask that? It's only a scratch."
"Because I want to know. If you do not wish to tell me, of course Ishall not press you. However, it will be my duty to call the attentionof the Professor to it. You see, I am responsible for you boys whileyou are up here, and----"
"A stone did it," interrupted Tad, with a touch of stubbornness in histone.
"A stone?"
"Yes."
"How?"
"Somebody threw it at me."
For a moment the guide gazed at Tad doubtingly.
"I'll tell you all about it," exclaimed Tad impetuously. "But promiseme that you won't tell the boys. They'd never cease joking me aboutit. I'm going back there to-morrow to see if I can find the fellow whoshied the rock at me. No; I didn't see him at all. I was sitting withmy back to him when he let fly at me. But I pinked him,Mr. Thomas. Believe me, I did----"
"Pinked him?"
"Yes, I let him have an arrow full tilt, and I know it hit him, for heyelled and ran away," explained the boy.
"This matter must be looked into," decided Lige thoughtfully. "Itbegins to look as if Ben Tackers was right about the gang afterall. No; I'll not say anything to the crowd. It would only stir themup. We will visit the cave to-morrow, and, while the others areamusing themselves, you and I will look the ground over a bit. I'll goback now, and you may come along when you get ready."
Tad remained by the stream until he heard the supper call, whereuponhe rose slowly and picked his way over the rocks to where the othershad assembled about the table in the gathering twilight.
The boy's appetite, however, had not been affected by the experiencethrough which he had passed that afternoon, and he stowed away ahearty meal, after which the evening was spent in listening to storiesof the chase related by Lige Thomas.
There being still no sign of Ben Tackers on the following morning, avisit to the cave was decided upon. They reached the place about nineo'clock, guided by Tad, who took them to the hole in the rock at once.
"I guess you boys had better fix up some torches," directed Lige."Sometimes there are holes within holes, in these mountains, and wedon't want to take a sudden drop down a hundred feet or so. Threetorches will be enough to light. You had better take along two orthree more in case of need."
Before entering, the guide took the precaution of unslinging hisrifle, and, placing the boys behind him with the torches, he enteredthe cave first. They were obliged to stoop to get through theopening. Once within they followed what appeared to be a passage hewnout of the solid rock.
"Ah, here we are!" exclaimed Lige finally, straightening and glancingabout him curiously.
They found themselves in a dome-like chamber, from which hungsuspended hundreds of stalactites that threw back the rays of thetorches in a thousand sparkling, scintillating points of fire.
The Pony Riders gasped in amazement. Never had any of them seenanything like this.
"Wha--what is it?" breathed Tad Butler.
"Stalactites," announced the Professor.
"Look like icicles to me. B-r-r-r," shivered Stacy Brown.
"It is a very common thing to find them in caves," added theProfessor. "But I never have had the pleasure of observing theformation before."
"I can show you some better than these," stated the guide. "I know ofa cave, not so very far from here, that is as big as a church, and aregular picture of one, too."
"Is this the end of the cave?" asked Ned.
"No; there are other passages leading further into the mountain, atthe other end of the chamber there," replied Lige.
"Are we going to explore them?" inquired Walter.
"Yes; we can go further, if you wish. But you boys must keep a sharplookout where you are going. Don't fool too much. It's easy to getinto trouble here, you know."
While Lige was speaking, Tad had edged cautiously to one side of thechamber, where he had observed what appeared to be a small rock,glistening in the light of the torches. He picked it up, unobserved bythe others, and dropped it into his pocket for further observation.
The party then pushed on into the cave, one chamber leading intoanother, forming a bewildering maze, the brilliant reflections almostblinding them at times, until at last Lige Thomas was forced to admitthat he never had quite seen the like of it anywhere else in theRockies.
"Didn't I tell you I'd show you the biggest thing you ever saw in yourlife?" glowed Tad Butler.
At that instant a yell of terror from Stacy Brown drew their attentionsharply from Tad, their eyes bulging with fear at what they saw beforethem.
There, sitting on its haunches, paws extended menacingly, showing itsteeth as it uttered low, angry growls of protest, was a full-grownblack bear.
Tad Butler, indeed, had shown some of them the most surprising thingsthey had ever seen. Yet this was not exactly the surprise he hadplanned for them, or for himself.
The guide had put his gun down as he entered the chamber, to get oneof the stalactites for Professor Zepplin, who wished to examine it. Asa result, Lige was now some twenty-five feet away from his weapon.
At first, with the bright reflection in his eyes, the guide was unableto understand what it was that had caused their sudden fright. Yet thebreathless silence about him told him instantly that something serioushad happened.
The bear had dropped to all fours and was lumbering straight towardStacy Brown, who stood fascinated, watching the approach of thehideous object, whose raised upper lip showed a row of white gleamingteeth.
"Look out!" yelled Tad suddenly finding his voice.
"Quick, guide!" begged the Professor, weakly.
"What is it? Where?" snapped Lige, crouching down and shading hiseyes to protect them from the glare.
He quickly saw what had caused the startling alarm. He saw too, thehulking beast drawing nearer and nearer to Stacy Brown, and knew thatonly some sudden shock to his mind would break the spell that seemedto possess the boy at that moment.
"Run!" thundered the guide.
But Chunky stood as rigid as a statue.
Lige sprang for his rifle. In his haste he slipped on the smooth, dampfloor and went sprawling.
By the time he had recovered himself, the bear had ambled up to Stacy,until the boy could feel the hot, nauseating breath beating againsthis face.
Tad Butler without regard for his own safety, leaped for the bear. ButProfessor Zepplin was too quick for him. He caught Tad by the arm,jerking him back.
Now, at that instant, Stacy Brown did a thing that brought a groanfrom each one who witnessed the daring act.
Chunky drew back his pudgy fist and let go with all his might.
His knuckles smote the bear fairly on the point of its nose, and theimpact sounded loud and clear in the tense stillness of the cave.
If the Pony Riders were surprised, Bruin was even more so. With agrunt the bear suddenly sat down on its haunches, passing its pawsover its nose, bewilderment plainly written on its countenance. Underordinary circumstances the boys would have laughed. But now they weretoo horrified to do so.
Chunky, either because he was emboldened by the success of his attack,or through the excitement of the moment, picked up a rock from thecave floor, and stepping back, hurled it with all his strength. Thestone hit the bear a glancing blow on the head, bringing from theanimal a growl of rage. Now, the brute was dangerously angered.
It charged the party savagely, jaws wide apart, but uttering no sound,not even a growl. By this time some one had pulled Chunky from hisperilous position and Tad and Professor Zepplin were pushing the otherboys back toward the exit with all possible haste. It all had happenedin a few seconds. Lige scrambled to his feet, rifle in hand, just intime to see the big brute charging straight at him, as if recognizingthat in that quarter lay its gravest danger.
There came a sudden flash of flame, a crash and a roar as if the verymountain had been rent in twain, followed by another and stillanother.
Tad had grabbed a torch from the hands of one of his companions, theinstant Lige began to fire, and sprung back to give the guidesufficient light to shoot by.
In doing so, however, the boy had unwittingly placed himself in thedirest peril.
The wounded bear was charging madly here and there, uttering terrificgrowls of mingled rage and pain. But the instant its bloodshot eyeswere fixed upon the boy with the torch, the animal rose on itshaunches, and, with paws making powerful sweeps in the air, bore downupon Tad.
The boy was too far over in the chamber to be able to make his escapewithout getting between Lige and the bear, and escape seemed well-nighimpossible.
However, Tad did not lose his presence of mind. With a leap asunexpected as it was surprising, he sprang straight for the savagebeast. It seemed as if he was throwing himself right into the wideopen jaws to be crushed to death.
"Don't shoot!" he warned, leaping forward. As he did so, he loweredthe torch to the level of his own eyes, and drove it straight into thegaping mouth of the maddened bear. Then Tad sprang lightly to oneside, throwing himself prone upon the floor.
The great bear was not growling now, but its groans of agony as itfought to get the deadly thing from its throat, sent a chill to thehearts of all who heard them.
At the instant when Tad threw himself down, Lige pulled the trigger.
His bullet ploughed its way through the brain of the bear, relievingits fearful sufferings. Bruin collapsed and rolled over, dead.