It is needless to say that Col. Warner's intention in leaving the stagewas to join his fellow conspirator. There was no advantage in remaininglonger with his fellow travelers, since the opportunity of plunderingthem had passed, and for the present was not likely to return. Hehad been a little apprehensive that they would try to detain him onsuspicion, which would have been awkward, since they had numbers ontheir side, and all were armed. But in that unsettled country he wouldhave been an elephant on their hands, and if the idea entered the mindsof any one of the stage passengers, it was instantly dismissed.
When the stage was fairly on the way, Col. Warner went to a house wherehe was known, and asked for a horse.
"Any news, colonel?" asked the farmer, as he called himself. Really hewas in league with the band of which Warner was the chief.
"No," answered the Colonel, gloomily. "No, worse luck! There might havebeen, but for an unfortunate circumstance."
"What's that?"
"There's plenty of good money in that stage coach and Brown and I meantto have it, but some sharp-eared rascal heard us arranging the detailsof the plan, and that spoiled it."
"Is it too late now?" asked the farmer, eagerly. "We can follow them,and overtake them yet, if you say so."
"And be shot for our pains. No, thank you. They are all on the alert,and all have their six-shooters in readiness. No, we must postponeour plan. There's one of the fellows that I mean to be revenged uponyet--the one that ferreted out our secret plan. I must bide my time, butI shall keep track of him."
Soon the Colonel, well-mounted, was on his way back to the rude innwhere he had slept the night before.
Dismounting he entered without ceremony, and his eyes fell upon thelandlord's wife, engaged in some household employment.
"Where's Brown?" he asked, abruptly.
"Somewheres round," was the reply.
"How long has he been home?"
"A matter of two hours. He came home awfully riled, but he wouldn't tellme what it was about. What's happened?"
"We've met with a disappointment--that's what's the matter."
"Did the passengers get the better of you?" asked the woman, for she wasin her husband's guilty secrets, and knew quite well what manner of manshe had married.
"They found out our little game," answered Warner, shortly, for he didnot see any advantage in wasting words on his confederate's wife. "Whichway did Brown go?"
"Yonder," answered Mrs. Brown, pointing in a particular direction.
Col. Warner tied his horse to a small sapling, and walked in thedirection indicated.
He found the landlord sullenly reclining beneath a large tree.
"So you're back?" he said, surveying Warner with a lowering brow.
"Yes."
"And a pretty mess you've made of the job!" said the landlord, bitterly.
"It's as much your fault--nay, more!" said his superior, coolly.
"What do you mean?" demanded Brown, not over cordially.
"You would persist in discussing our plan last night in my room, thoughI warned you we might be overheard."
"Well?"
"We were overheard."
"What spy listened to our talk?"
"The young man, Melville--the one traveling with a boy. He kept it tohimself till the stage was well on its way, and then he blabbed thewhole thing to all in the stage."
"Did he mention you?"
"Yes, and you."
"Why didn't you tell him he lied, and shoot him on the spot?"
"Because I shouldn't have survived him five minutes," answered thecolonel, coolly, "or, if I had, his companions would have lynched me."
Brown didn't look as if he would have been inconsolable had thisoccurred. In fact, he was ambitious to succeed to the place held by thecolonel, as chief of a desperate gang of outlaws.
"I might have been dangling from a branch of a tree at this moment, hadI followed your plan, my good friend Brown, and that would have beenparticularly uncomfortable."
"They might have shot me," said Brown, sullenly.
"I prevented that, and gave you timely warning. Of course it's adisappointment, but we shall have better luck next time."
"They've got away."
"Yes, but I propose to keep track of Melville and the boy, and have myrevenge upon them in time. I don't care so much about the money, butthey have foiled me, and they must suffer for it. Meanwhile, I want yourhelp in another plan."
The two conferred together, and mutual confidence was re-established.
CHAPTER XXIX. A NEW HOME IN THE WOODS.
Do and Dare — a Brave Boy's Fight for Fortune Page 28