Argosy, Vol. 1 (1882) — page 37: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

28 ‘“T can understand that such men would leave his body to rot above ground as a prey to vultures and wild beasts, but we may find his bones and give them decent burial, and I'll pay you the reward for your help in doing that.” Instead of showing the exhilaration I expected over this offer, judging from the effect of the five dollars given him, Jake Auckland became gravely thought- ful. It was evident he was turning over some serious problem in his mind., “IT can’t see that there’s any great difficulty in the way; you know every foot of the country for twenty mules around, and it 1s not far to Rattlesnake Ridge; we will go there together and make search; no harm can follow if we fail, and there is always the possibility that we may learn something.” “It ain’t that, pardner; the Baker and Howard gangs fight each other as hard as they know how, but when it comes to newspaper men, both gangs do their purtiest to wipe ’em all off the face of the yarth. It'll be tough work to foller up your friend and I'll have to run agin everybody, but by thunder! Pll do at!” He slapped one hand on his knee, compressed his lips and shook his head in a way that could not have been more emphatic. His mental debate was end- ed, and no matter how great the risks to be encountered, he determined to go with me to the end. Somehow or other, I placed great hope upon this decision. CHAPTER VIII. A NIGHT JOURNEY. “But say,” Jake suddenly’ ex- claimed, “ what ‘bout this yere letter? Do you want me to keep it till we're through this new job?” “ No; take that to McVeyville and put it in the post office ; then come back to me as soon as you can.” ‘‘ Shall I bring that pony of Gaff- kins?” THE ARGOSY. * You mean the one that ran away with me? Will it be safe to use him to ride to Rattlesnake Ridge? ” “It would be safe ‘nough, but you can’t do it, for the bridle path is only for a part of the way; I’ll brmg him here and let dad keep him till you’re ready to ride hum, which I hope, being it’s you, will be purty soon.” “ Do you think Gaffkins will let me have him after his running away with me?” ‘“ Dunno; proberly the pony was al- ways gun shy and you didn’t hurt him any, and, if you hired the animal by the day, Gaffkins will be glad ’nough for me to bring him back; it’ll save time, too.” “ If you start early you can get back by noon with the pony? ”’ ‘* Dead easy; but I can do a blamed sight better than that.” “ How?” “ By starting now.” “Gracious! it is hardly midnight,” I said, looking at my watch; “ it is as dark as pitch, there’s a fine rain falling, the weather is cold, and the storm promises to increase.” “What of it?’ he demanded with a contemptuous sniff, rising to his feet and beginning his preparations, which were of the simplest character. His coat was a.rough resemblance to a pea jacket, and, as has been shown, he wore the slouch hat so popular among the Kentucky mountaineers, though other kinds of headgear are common. He buttoned the coat to his chin, tucked his trousers more carefully into the tops of his big cowhides, looked at his cartridge belt, and then stepped to where his rifle stood and picked it up. ‘You can tell the old folks in the morning that I’ve gone after your hoss, and say,” he added in a cautious whis- per, “I reckon you’d better put out that candle till I git a start. If any- body’s hanging round he can see me too plain when I open the door.” With a puff I extinguished the light, ‘and the embers being: wjvered owl a eco