Ole Devil and the Mule Train (An Ole Devil Western Book 3)

by J. T. Edson

  Watching along the shaft of his arrow, which he had just drawn until it was at its anchor point ready to be aimed, Tommy let out a hiss of relief as he saw it would not be needed to save his employer. So he began to turn it in search of another target and had no trouble in finding one.

  Seeing the fates which had overtaken the rest of his companions, the last Hopi brave decided that discretion was the better part of valor. He regarded the loss of his bow with mixed feelings. While he had been deprived of his main weapon, its destruction had also prevented him from being injured. On the other hand, he now had no way of either killing the Texian in the river or defending himself against the man on the opposite bank and who was preparing to launch another arrow at him. Furthermore, his party was on a scouting mission and he now had something of importance to report to his superiors.

  Even as he was drawing his conclusions, the brave saw that the means for escape were at hand. Frightened by the shooting, the horse from which the paleface had fallen was approaching. Darting to meet it, the brave heard the whistle of an arrow passing close behind him. Grabbing the horse’s saddlehorn as it went by, he vaulted on to its back. Then, flattening himself along its neck to offer a smaller target, he gave a yell that caused the animal to bound forward even faster.

  Muttering imprecations in English, which he had found offered a more satisfactory breadth than his native tongue for expressing annoyance and anger, Tommy reached up to extract another arrow from his quiver. He realized that he was unlikely to be able to use it, but intended to try in the hope of bringing down the fleeing Indian.

  The little Oriental discovered, while nocking the shaft into position, that whoever was concealed up the silver maple tree had a similar idea. Either the pistol was double-barreled, or its user had its mate. No matter which, a second shot—sounding like its predecessor—came from the foliage. However, the bullet failed to take effect. Before Tommy could draw and aim the arrow, the brave had passed beyond his range of vision amongst the trees.

  Watching the departing warrior as he was coming to his feet and starting to press the Browning’s reloading lever, Ole Devil spat out a few choice Anglo-Saxon obscenities. Not only was he soaked to the skin, with no dry clothing into which he could change, but he had lost one of his horses. There was some slight consolation to be drawn from the latter. The animal was carrying nothing except its former owner’s saddle and bridle, to which it was accustomed and which Ole Devil had used rather than replace it with his second set of Texas-style rigging. Against that small benefit, he would be unable to travel as quickly now that he was reduced to the services of a single mount.

  Wading ashore, after having glanced behind him to make sure there was nothing further to be feared from his lance-carrying assailant, Ole Devil saw the deeply cut and indented leaves—their dull yellow winter hue just start to change to the colors of spring—pale green on the outer surface and whitish on the inner—of the silver maple being agitated. However, remembering how the person hidden by the foliage had acted, he concluded that there was no cause for concern.

  A pair of mud-smeared black Hessian boots, with stained white trousers tucked into them, appeared below one of the silver maple’s lowest branches. Even as a tall, slim man dressed in the fashion of a professional gambler swung downwards, there was a movement in the same clump of bushes on the left of the tree from which Ole Devil had received his first intimation of danger.

  ‘Don’t shoot!’ the man yelled, as the Texian’s Browning began to rise, and he dropped to the ground showing alarm.

  The warning had not been necessary. Before the butt of the rifle had reached his shoulder, Ole Devil was able to study the small figure emerging from the bushes. What he had seen was sufficient to tell him that he would not need the weapon. So he did not complete the movement.

  Despite all the hair being tucked out of sight beneath the crown of a wide brimmed hat and having on a dirt be-spattered brown cloak-coat over masculine attire, the newcomer was definitely not a man.

  Although somewhat haggard and showing signs of considerable strain, the young woman’s face was exceptionally pretty and struck Ole Devil as being familiar. She was walking slowly, showing every evidence of feeling extremely tired. For all that, there was something of what would have been a graceful and even slightly seductive carriage in more favorable conditions. A bell-mouthed blunderbuss was hanging muzzle downwards in her right hand.

  ‘It’s Captain Hardin, isn’t it?’ asked the man, striding forward with an attitude of relief. He had a fine-looking double-barreled, percussion fired pistol thrust into the silk sash around his waist and an epee-de-combat hung sheathed on the slings of his belt. ‘I thought—and hoped—it might be when I saw you crossing the river, sir, but I couldn’t be sure.’

  Even if seeing the young woman had not supplied him with a clue, Ole Devil would have identified the voice before turning towards the speaker. Its tones were resonant and unforgettable, having been trained to reach the furthest seat of the largest theater without artificial aids and allowing every word to be understood by its occupant.

  Clearly in the peak of physical condition, despite having reached his middle forties, the man was impressively handsome. His normally immaculate shoulder long black hair, which had no covering and was uncombed and unkempt, was still luxuriant and had no traces of gray. Like the young woman, he was showing signs of considerable exertion and much hard traveling. All in all, he was looking far less debonair, elegant and composed than during his previous meetings with the Texian.

  ‘It is,’ Ole Devil admitted, somewhat coldly, lowering the Browning and returning its under-hammer to the position of safety at half cock.

  ‘Et tuy Brute?’’ xliv the man sighed, his welcoming smile wavering. Then he shrugged his shoulders and went on half to himself, ‘I suppose it’s only to be unexpected, though hard.’

  Considering that his life had been saved by the speaker’s timely warning, the young Texian was behaving in a far less cordial fashion than most people would have expected of him. However, while he was grateful, circumstances had caused him to have misgivings where his savior was concerned.

  Prior to his having left the United States, Mangrove Hallistead had appeared with great success at every major theatre in that country. Such was his fame, popularity and general behavior that, in spite of the normally marked reluctance shown by many wealthy Southern families towards accepting members of the theatrical profession as social equals, he had gained access to the homes of almost every influential Texian family—the majority of whom had their origins south of the Mason-Dixon line xlv—since arriving in Texas.

  Ole Devil had met Hallistead on a few occasions and, being of a tolerant nature, had had no scruples in accepting him as a social equal. He had found the entertainer to be well educated, cultured, intelligent, well-informed about current events and a gentlemen even by the exacting Southern interpretation of the word. They had never been more than acquaintances. So, although he had wondered why such an obviously talented person—to whom not even the slightest taint of a public scandal had attached itself—should have given up a successful and profitable career to make a home in Texas, convention would not allow him to satisfy his curiosity.

  The cause of the young Texian’s apparent ingratitude had arisen a few months earlier. After having seemed to be a supporter of Major General Samuel Houston’s policies, the entertainer had been one of the first to go and join Colonel Frank W. Johnson at San Patricio.

  ‘My thanks for your warning, sir,’ Ole Devil said stiffly, puzzled by the other’s comment and suspecting that it had implied he was behaving in a churlish manner unbecoming a gentleman.

  ‘I would have called out sooner, but I thought you to be aware of the Indians’ presence and, somewhat ill-advisedly in my opinion, were acting as a decoy to lure them into exposing themselves,’ Hallistead explained, his speech returning to the flamboyance gained in a lifetime on the stage. ‘And I must tender a further apology for not being able to
send an earlier warning. Although, from all I’ve seen, you managed very well without it.’

  ‘I don’t understand,’ Ole Devil stated and glanced over his shoulder to find that Tommy, riding with feet raised as he had done, was bringing all the horses across the river.

  ‘Manny!’ the young woman put in, preventing the conversation from continuing. Her voice had a melodious Southern drawl, but was also pitched so that it could carry around the auditorium of a large theater. ‘Mist— Captain Hardin’s soaked through to the skin. Surely you-all can let him change into something dry before you start asking questions?’

  ‘Egad, my dove, I concur,’ Hallistead replied, giving a courtly bow to his wife. ‘However, the proximity of these noble aborigines—’ he gestured towards the nearest of the Hopi Indians’ bodies, ‘presupposes that they have confederates in the offing. I may be reaching an erroneous conclusion, Captain Hardin, but I assume that they are merely a marauding band of indigenous natives and not a portion of the Mexican Army.’

  ‘They’re members of the Arizona Hopi Activos Regiment, Mr. Hallistead,’ Ole Devil corrected. ‘Forward scouts, most likely. We’ve had trouble with them before, but I thought the main body were at least two days’ ride away. If those four mean what I suspect, they’re closer than we thought.’

  ‘I can’t claim that I was aware that they formed part of the force—’ the entertainer began.

  ‘Now, Manny!’ Corrinne Hallistead interrupted, indignantly stamping a dainty—despite being encased in an unfeminine boot—right foot and looking the Satanic-featured young Texian over from head to toe. ‘Why the poor Captain’s just running with water and like to catch a mortal chill. Surely you can let him change into something dry before you go on with your talk?’

  ‘A most level-headed suggestion, as always, light of my very existence,’ Hallistead conceded, reaching out to take the woman’s left hand and kiss it. Then he glanced to where Tommy was dismounting and, returning his gaze to Ole Devil, went on, ‘Your worthy Oriental factotum has arrived, sir. I trust that you have the vestments suitable for your needs?’

  ‘I haven’t,’ the Texian admitted wryly, knowing that even though the situation might have changed so that he could not continue with his present assignment, he was still faced with a long ride in wet clothing.

  ‘I suspected as much from the paucity of impedimentia attached to your saddles,’ Hallistead admitted. ‘Being aware that you are possessed of a strong sense of duty, sir, I can only conclude that you have heard of the happenings at San Patricio and, having seen the consignment of caplocks well on their way to safety, you are returning hot-foot to ascertain—’

  ‘Manny!’ Corrinne put in and her tone took on a sharper, more demanding note.

  ‘Of course, my love,’ the entertainer answered soothingly. ‘I’m afraid that I can’t help you in the matter of alternative raiment, sir. As you can doubtless envisage, our departure from the scene of our recent labors was of necessity hurried and—’

  ‘Why don’t you go back over the river and light a fire to dry your clothes, Devil-san?’ Tommy suggested. ‘I’ll go after the Indian who escaped and try to fetch your horse back.’

  ‘That’s the first intelligent suggestion I’ve heard,’ Corrinne declared. ‘And it’s what we’re going to do.’

  ‘I warn you that we may as well accede, sir,’ Hallistead told the Texian. ‘When my dear lady makes up her mind, nothing we mere men can do or say will shake her.’

  ‘Whatever you say then, ma’am,’ Ole Devil drawled, favoring the woman with a courtly bow. ‘Go to it, Tommy And you’d better find out how far away the rest of the Hopis are while you’re at it.’

  ‘I wonder, sir, if we could have the loan of transportation?’ Hallistead inquired, before the little Oriental could turn away. ‘We’ve lost our horses and are a-foot.’

  ‘I’ll leave this one for you,’ Tommy offered, swinging from his borrowed mount.

  Having collected the telescope from the pocket of Ole Devil’s clock-coat, which was strapped to the cantle of the line-backed dim gelding’s saddle, the little Oriental mounted his horse and rode away. After the entertainer had fetched two sets of bulky saddlebags from the bushes in which his wife had hidden, they both climbed on the animal that had been left for them and accompanied Ole Devil to the eastern bank of the river. Knowing that there would no longer be any purpose in trying to conceal their presence, the two men gathered wood and managed to set it on fire. Standing close, so the flames would warm him and, if time was permitted, dry his garments, Ole Devil requested a continuation of the explanation that Hallistead had started to give before Corrinne’s intervention.

  ‘Firstly, sir,’ the entertainer commenced, having seated his wife on the saddlebags after removing the means to reload his pistol. ‘Although I can only give you my word that what I am going to tell you is the truth, I joined Johnson at my own request and with General Houston’s wholehearted approval. Of course, the very nature of the task I was performing precluded a truthful explanation of my motives.’

  ‘The General needed to find out just exactly what Johnson was up to,’ Corrinne stated, wanting to ensure that there was no doubt in the young Texian’s mind regarding her husband’s behavior. ‘And, if it hadn’t been for Manny, the invasion of Mexico would have been made weeks ago.’

  ‘I did my modest best, sir,’ the entertainer continued, throwing a look filled with gratitude at the woman who had endured so much for him without complaint or protest. ‘Without allowing myself to be identified as the culprit, I commenced by starting rumors that a large number of volunteers would soon be forthcoming and their assistance would greatly enhance our chances of success. When these failed to materialize, I hoped to capitalize upon the general disappointment, persuade them to give up the ill-conceived venture and attach themselves to the rest of the Army, even if only to the extent of joining the garrison at Fort Defiance. Regrettably, I learned of von Lowenbrau’s mission too late to send a message warning the consignment’s escort that he was coming. However, on hearing that you, sir, were in command, I was sanguine that it would not succeed. If it had, nothing further could have prevented the invasion from being launched. On the other hand, a failure would in all probability have resulted in what I was striving to achieve, the abandonment of the scheme.’

  ‘It failed, but not before I’d had to kill von Lowenbrau,’ Ole Devil said flatly. ‘And, if he’d held off for another five minutes, that needn’t have happened.’

  ‘I doubt if anybody of consequence and perception will hold his death against you, sir,’ Hallistead replied and his wife nodded vigorous agreement. ‘Knowing him, I’m certain that he left you with no other choice but to do what you did.’

  ‘How about the attack?’ Ole Devil wanted to know, his every instinct suggesting that the entertainer had been speaking the truth and was sincere. ‘I was told that Johnson and all his command, or just about, had been wiped out.’

  ‘A gross exaggeration, sir,’ Hallistead corrected. ‘I’d be surprised if more than fifty of them were killed or have fallen into the enemy’s hands. xlvi We were, I admit, very nearly taken by surprise. Johnson’s men were growing disenchanted by his leadership—or lack of it—and discipline was practically nonexistent. So word that a large Mexican force was in the offing arrived much later than would have been the case if the few patrols which had been sent out were performing their duties correctly. When the attack came, all was confusion. There was some resistance, but the majority of those present cut and ran. I—’

  ‘Manny only left as soon as he did because of me and to make sure that you were warned,’ Corrinne interrupted, once again wanting to set the record straight on her husband’s behalf. ‘Before that, what little resistance there was had been organized by him. Johnson had gone and—’

  ‘I don’t question Mr. Hallistead’s courage, ma’am,’ Ole Devil assured the woman, smiling warmly. ‘And I’m satisfied that he acted throughout with the best interests of Texas in m
ind.’

  ‘My thanks, sir,’ the entertainer boomed and, as he noticed with relief that there was a distinct improvement in the young Texian’s attitude towards him, his own tone showed his thanks were more than just a formal response. ‘We remained unnoticed in the vicinity while I was ascertaining something of the enemies’ strength. I regret that my knowledge of matters material is insufficient for me to go into greater detail, but there appeared to be one regiment each of regular artillery, cavalry and infantry, the cavalry being Lancers. In addition, there were one foot and one mounted Activos or some other form of volunteer regiments. After I had dispatched one of my men to alert Fannin to the danger and sent the other to General Houston with a full report of what had taken place, Corrinne and I made our way towards Santa Cristóbal Bay. We intended to turn back von Lowenbrau if he should have succeeded in his purpose, or to warn you in the more than likely—in our opinions—event that you had thwarted him.’

  ‘Gracias, sir,’ Ole Devil drawled, pleased with the compliment. He turned to let his rear side receive the benefit of the fire and glanced at the woman. ‘Please excuse my back, ma’am,’

  ‘Think nothing of it. Captain, I only hope that you’ll have time to get properly dried,’ Corrinne answered, showing more grace now that she was satisfied the Texian was regarding her husband favorably. ‘Tell him the rest, Manny darling.’

  ‘With the greatest of pleasure, my dove,’ Hallistead assented. ‘We arrived just in time to see von Lowenbrau’s party taking their departure. From his and your absence, we concluded, correctly as has been proven, that you had circumvented his schemes and dispensed with their dubious services. So we sought out the tracks left by your party, not a difficult task in itself, and followed. Unfortunately, first Corrinne’s and then my mount foundered and we were left a-foot, but we kept on undaunted.’

  ‘You had bad luck,’ Ole Devil commiserated, with a sympathetic glance at the exhausted-looking woman, but he was also seeing how the loss of their horses added to his difficulties.