CHAPTER III.
INTO THE NIGHT.
Cimarron Bill was a man who disliked being outwitted and outdone,especially by a youth of Frank Merriwell's years, and he was one who wasnot at all likely to let such a thing pass without seeking to recoverand accomplish his object by some method, failing in which, he wasalmost certain to take summary and tragic vengeance on the one who hadbaffled him.
Merriwell knew well enough in what peril he stood, and yet he maintainedhis manner of composure.
Bill spoke to two of the ruffians, of whom Big Monte was one, and Sam,the red-headed rascal, the other.
"You two take charge of this here altogether too smarty young gent,"said the leader of the desperadoes, "and look out for him a heap close.Don't let him come none of his slick tricks on you, for you will be heldresponsible for him, and I opines you know what that means."
"Oh, we'll take care of him!" said Sam significantly, as he fingered thebutt of a pistol. "All I wants is a right good chance to do that!"
Bill fixed the red-head with a look of his narrow black eyes.
"At the same time," said he, "permit me to suggest that you lets nospecial harm come to him, as I reckons him valuable property just aboutnow, and I may need him a whole lot later. If anything unnecessaryhappens to the young gent, you'll deal with me for it!"
It must be confessed that Merry felt somewhat safer in the hands ofthose ruffians after that, for he began to perceive that, for somereason, Bill wished to preserve him for the time being without harm.
Apparently the captive gave little heed to these words, but in truth hemissed nothing.
As the others drew aside with Bill, Big Monte took a picket rope,observing:
"I allows, Sam, that we'd better be keerful, jest as the boss suggests,fer it ain't a whole lot healthy to have anything happen contrarywise tohis wishes. Such bein' the case, I propose we tie up this here younggent some, so he'll not bring trouble on hisself an' us by tryin' tolope out."
Sam looked disappointed.
"I was a-thinkin'," he said, "that I'd like to see him try to lope; butsense the boss has put it so plain, I kind of changes my mind, an' Ithinks your propersition is kirect. Go ahead, Monte, while I keeps himkivered with my shootin'-iron."
Frank made no objection as Big Monte tied his hands behind him. He knewit was quite useless, and so he submitted with a meekness that wasrather deceptive, for it seemed to indicate that he was quite awed byhis situation and the men who had taken him captive.
"I judges that will do," said the big man, having bound the rope aboutMerry's wrists until it was uncomfortable in its tightness. "He's goodan' fast now."
Merriwell sat down on a rock, while the two ruffians flung themselves onthe ground in the shadow of the wall and waited the end of theconsultation between the chief and the remainder of the band.
Bill was talking to his ruffians in his low, quiet way, and they werelistening. Frank wondered what was passing, but they were too far awayfor him to hear.
At last, one of the men, who had but one arm, started off from theothers, hurrying toward the horses. Bill had thrust something into thisman's hand, seeming to give him a final admonition. Five minutes laterthe one-armed man, mounted on the very best horse he could find, rodeaway at good speed.
Even then Merry did not conceive that it was the desperate purpose ofOne-hand Hank to follow those papers all the way to Fardale, ifnecessary, in the attempt to gain possession of them. He fancied thatHank meant to try to find the Indian, with the hope that the papersstill remained in old Joe's possession.
Bill came back and stood looking Merriwell over. Several of the men haddeparted toward the spot where the horses were kept.
"I reckons you thinks yerself some slick, kid!" he said, with coldcontempt. "You'll git all over that before you're through dealin' withCimarron Bill. I'm sartin to take the conceit out of ye a whole lot."
To which Merry vouchsafed no retort.
"Bring him along," said the chief, to Sam and Monte. "We're goin' topull up stakes and hike."
So Frank was marched up to the horses, among which was his own animal,which had been captured by the ruffians.
"If you don't mind, gentlemen," said Merry, "it would give meconsiderable satisfaction to imbibe a little water."
"You'll choke plumb to death afore ye ever gits a drap from me," averredSam.
Whereupon Bill looked at the red-head sharply, saying:
"Sam, give him a drink from your canteen."
And Sam did so.
"Thanks," said Merry easily. "It was the desire for water that led me tosaunter out from my place among the rocks earlier than I intended. Ifeel much better now."
His saddle had been brought along, and, when it was strapped upon hishorse, he was tossed into it by Big Monte and another. The rest of theband had prepared to move, with the exception of those who had come fromdown the ravine and one fellow who seemed to have taken the place of thedeparted fellow with one arm. These men had horses beyond the rockybarrier that had been blown down to prevent Merriwell from escaping inthat direction, and it was necessary for them to return and pursueanother course, as the horses could not be brought over that barrier.
There was little delay when everything was ready. Bill took the lead,and those who were to follow did so, the captive in their midst; hishorse led by one of them.
The others had turned back.
The sun was descending peacefully behind the barren mountains, and nightwas spreading her sable pinions over the land. There was gold in thewestern sky. The heat yet seemed unabated, save in the valleys andgorges; but later it would become unpleasantly cool.
In silence those men rode onward, with their dark, cruel-faced leader attheir head. The hoofs of the horses clinked and rang, bestirring theechoes; and, when the gloom of night had stolen upward from the gulches,there came an occasional spark like a firefly when the iron of a hoofstruck a flinty rock.
So night came on, and still they went forward. Frank wondered what theirdestination could be; but he saw they were taking a course that mustbring them nearer the Queen Mystery Mine.
He wasted no words in seeking to engage any of them in conversation. Allthe while, however, his thoughts were busy. He wondered much if hecould come safely through this perilous mischance and how it was to beaccomplished. For Frank had not given up, and he had confidence thatsomehow he would find a way, or one would be opened to him.
Frank Merriwell's Backers; Or, The Pride of His Friends Page 5