Argosy, Vol. 1 (1882) — page 44: what you’re looking at

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

9: é ON THE TRAIL rangement of branches and leaves al- ready described. “ It 1s a cowardly and sneaking trap that an Apache Indian ought to be ashamed to use against an enemy.” Hawkins’ face flushed and he said: “The Howards and Whites begun the game on us. They’ve picked off more’n one of our men from them blinds.” “That doesn’t make it any the less shameful 7 “ Sh! down!” interrupted Hawkins ; ““ somebody’s coming! ” He dropped his head, and, running like a rat to the rear of the blind, crouched behind the screen. Jake was but an instant later, and there seeming nothing else left for me, I hurried after both. As I stooped down behind the shel- ter, a feeling of inexpressible disgust came over me as I realized the situa- tion in which I had placed myself. A fine position for me to occupy, with the probability that a fight would open in the next few minutes. I reflected, however, that my re- volver would not be expected to keep company with the two Winchesters, and I could not be compelled to shoot, and yet our enemies were not likely to make any discrimination among us when business opened. Vic Hawkins must have been a vet- eran at bushwhacking, thus to discover the approach of enemies before I could detect the faintest evidence of it; but we had hardly assumed our positions, when, peering through the leaves and following the direction indicated by their looks, I noted a peculiar flickering among the trees to the left, and the next moment saw that three men were walk- ing along the trail in Indian file. If they continued their course they would pass within fifty feet of the blind, and near enough to bring them within deadly range of the rifles, and sufh- ciently near for me to shoot any one of the three with my Smith & Wesson. While my friends each had a repeating OF A MYSTERY. 35 rifle, the slight pause between the shots, brief as it was, was so great a disad- vantage that it was all important I should join my companions in firing. * T’ll take the first,” said Vic Haw- kins in an eager undertone, “ Jake the second, and I s’pose you can manage the third with your pistol? ” | -“ There’s no doubt of it, but I’m not the dog to take any part in this game; don’t count on me to help you.” This was the second time I had in- sulted Hawkins, and he was enraged. With a muttered imprecation, he de- manded in an undertone, tremulous with passion : | “What sort of a thing have you fetched with you, Jake?” “ Shet up your blamed clack! Don’t you see we've got no time to fight among ourselves? They'll be in range ina minute. We can ’tend to ’em our- selves.” The imminence of the crisis averted a collision between Hawkins and me. In- stant attention must be given to our three victims drawing steadily near their doom. | All three of us were lying on our faces, my two companions with the muzzles of their rifles shoved through the mass of leaves, which where slightly parted with their left hands, so as to permit them to look out. I also made a little opening in the same manner, and fixed my eyes upon the approaching party. The first glance revealed the startling fact that the leader was Zach Peters. Here was a test of Jake Auckland's sincerity, and I turned my head and looked into his freckled face. He was at my elbow and read the meaning of that look. He compressed his lips and shook his head. , “ The truce’ll have to wait till we've plaved this hand.” There was no time for protest. and: I said nothing, but I inwardly swore not to remain idle while this hideous crime was perpetrated before my eyes. If the trio did not discover their peril, T xeuld Ss eco