Generally it was no more than a dozen feet in width, occasionally expanding to two or three times that extent. The moon had moved over so far that only its faint reflection against the dark walls and ma.s.ses of rock availed the hors.e.m.e.n. The sky seemed to contain an increasing number of clouds and there were indications of a storm, which might not break for a day or two, and as likely as not would not break at all.

The traveling, despite its difficulty, was comparatively safe. The trail did not lead along the sides of precipices, with a climbing wall on one side and a continuous descent on the other, but it was solid and extended across from one ridge to the other. Because of this fact the three pushed their animals hard, knowing that it would not be long before they would have to be favored.

"I don't know whether we are wise to keep this up as we are doing,"

said the captain, "but I know there are few places where we can travel in the darkness and I feel like making the most of them."

"It is only a question of what the horses are able to stand," replied Brush; "it is easy enough for us to ride, but a very different thing for them to carry us. We must guard against their breaking down."

"I will look out for that, but it is strange that when we were making ready to start we forgot one important matter."

"What was that?"

"We did not bring a mouthful of food."

"We shall have little trouble in shooting what game we need."

"Perhaps not and perhaps we shall. The lieutenant and I found on our way from Sacramento that, although game appeared to be plenty, it had an exasperating habit of keeping out of range when we particularly needed it. Delay will be necessary to get food, and the reports of our guns are likely to give warning, just when it is dangerous."

"It was a bad slip," a.s.sented the parson; "for there was plenty of meat and bread at home; but we shall have to stop now and then to rest our animals and to allow them to feed and we can utilize such intervals by getting something for ourselves in the same line."

"It isn't that, so much as the risk of apprising the two of their danger. In addition, it will be strange if we get through the mountains without a fight with the Indians. According to my recollection, we shall strike a region to-morrow or on the next day, where there will be the mischief to pay."

Two miles more of laborious work and another halt. For the first time Parson Brush showed excitement.

"Do you know," he said, "that some one is following us? There may be several, but I am sure of one at least and he is on a horse."

CHAPTER XVIII

A CLOSE CALL

Few situations are more trying than that of being followed at night by what we suspect is an enemy. The furtive glances to the rear show the foe too indistinctly for us to recognize him, and the imagination pictures the swift, stealthy attack and the treacherous blow against which it is impossible to guard.

There was little of this dread, however, in the case of our friends, for they felt strong enough to take care of themselves. Moreover, all three formed an instant suspicion of the ident.i.ty of the man.

It was Felix Brush at the rear who first heard the faint footfalls, and, peering into the gloom, saw the outlines of a man and beast a few rods distant, coming steadily up the trail in the same direction with himself. A few minutes later the halt was made and all eyes were turned toward the point whence the man was approaching. He must have noticed the stoppage, but he came straight on until he joined the group.

"Howdy, pards," was his greeting.

"I thought it was you, Vose," said the captain, sharply; "what do you mean by following us?"

"What right have you to get in front of me? Don't I have to make a trip to Sacramento three or four times each year?"

"But you are not accustomed to start in the night time."

"And I never knowed it was your custom to leave New Constantinople in the middle of the night; leastways I never knowed you to do it afore."

"We have important business," added the captain brusquely, uncertain as yet whether he ought to be displeased or angered by the intrusion of Adams.

"So have I."

"What is it?"

"Your good."

"I don't understand you; explain yourself."

"There ain't one of you three that knows the way through the mountains, and if you undertook it alone, it would take you three months to reach Sacramento."

This was a new and striking view of the situation, but the parson said:

"Each of us has been over it before."

"Sartinly, but one trip nor half a dozen ain't enough. You lost your way the first hour in Dead Man's Gulch; if you hadn't done so, it would have took me a blamed sight longer to find you; there are half a dozen other places in the mountains ten times worse than the one where you flew the track. Howsumever, if you don't want me, I'll go back."

And Vose Adams, as if his dignity had received a mortal hurt, began turning his mule around.

"Hold on," interposed Captain Dawson; "you have put things in their true light; we are very glad to have you with us."

"That makes it all right," was the cheery response of the good natured Vose; "I never like to push myself where I ain't wanted, but as you seem glad to see me, after having the thing explained, we won't say nothing more about it. Howsumever, I may add that I obsarved you started in such a hurry that I thought it warn't likely you fetched any vittles with you, so I made up a lunch and brought it with me, being as you may not always have time to spare to shoot game."

The chilliness of Vose Adams' greeting changed to the warmest welcome.

He had shown more thoughtfulness than any of them, and his knowledge of the perilous route through the mountains was beyond value. Indeed, it looked as if it was to prove the deciding factor in the problem.

"Do you know our business, Vose?" asked the captain.

"I knowed it the minute I seen you sneaking off like shadows toward the trail. I hurried to my cabin, got a lot of cold meat and bread together and then hunted up Hercules, my boss mule. He isn't very handsome, but he has a fine voice and has been through these mountains so many times that he knows the right road as well as me. I knowed you would travel fast and didn't expect to overhaul you afore morning, but you went past the right turn and that give me a chance to catch up sooner."

"But how was it you suspected our errand?" persisted the captain.

"How could I help it? What else could it be? I seen the miss and the leftenant start for Sacramento, and being as you took the same course it was plain that you was going there too, if you didn't overtake 'em first."

"You saw them start!" thundered the father of Nellie Dawson; "why didn't you hurry off to me with the news?"

"Why should I hurry off to you with the news?" coolly asked Vose Adams; "it wasn't the first time I had seen the two ride in that direction; sometimes she was with you, or with the parson or Ruggles, and once or twice with me. Would you have thought there was anything wrong if you had seen them?"

"No, I suppose not," replied the captain, seeing the injustice of his words; "but I have been so wrought up by what has occurred that I can hardly think clearly. I ask your pardon for my hasty words."

"You needn't do that, for I see how bad you feel and I'm sorry for you."

"When was it they left?"

"Early this afternoon."

"There was no one with them of course?"