Argosy, Vol. 1 (1882) — page 50: what you’re looking at

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

ON THE TRAIL Of course, there was but one person who could address me thus. Chance had given Zach Peters the settlement of my fate, and he*had reciprocated my favor of the previous night. “And I have played the fool,” was my humiliating conclusion, “and, if I ever do get out of this scrape no credit will be mine.” How Zach Peters managed so as to iull the suspicions of his companions was beyond my comprehension, but manage it he did. I suspect his was the dominant spirit of the three, and being beyond suspicion himself, his as- sertion that they had been fighting only two native mountaineers like them- selves was accepted without question, whereas, had they been alone, they would have pushed an investigation that must have brought out the truth. If this theory was correct, it followed they had fatled to notice my traveling bag, despite the fact that it lay in plain sight. , There being no cause for distrust on the part of Zach Peters, he rejoined his friends a few minutes later and doubtless made his report, the nature of which it was easy to surmise. The mountaineer played his role to perfection, when he resumed conversa- " tion with his companions, it was in a voice which made every word atdible. “ Leave him lay where he dropped,” he said, referring to the form on the other side of the log near me; “ Vic Hawkins won’t shoot down any more of our boys.” “ That’s a good gun he had,” replied one of the others regretfully, as if he longed to get possession of it. . “Na better than each of yours. Let his friends see we don’t care how many shooting irons they have, we ain't afeard of ’em.” Since silence followed these words, it was a fair assumption that the three had departed ; but, remembering Zach Peters’ orders to keep my head down, I did not move hand or foot for a full half hour, and then when I once raised OF A MYSTERY. 41 my head, not a living person was in sight. The party had gone long before, and were probably the better part of a mile distant. CHAPTER XII. A STRANGE INTERFERENCE. I RosE from my position behind the log with a feeling of inexpressible relief, For the present I was safe, but only Heaven could say how long it would last. : It was early in the day, and the 1m- portant question faced me as to what should be my next step. First of all, however, I moved further into the wood wntil beyond sight of the blind that had been the cause of the tragedy. It was likely to receive further attention, and some of Vic Hawkins’ friends were cer- tain to learn of his fate and soon return © for the remains, in which case a meet- ing between them and me was liable to bring about unpleasant complica- tions. It will be recalled that I had almost reached the base of Rattlesnake Ridge when turned aside by the incidents de- scribed. Jake Auckland, upon whom I placed all my reliance to unearth the knowledge we were seeking, had been switched off, and was not likely to be seen again, Perhaps, if I went to his home, he could be induced to resume the duties of guide, but his last performance so lessened my regard for him that my in- clination was to do nothing of the kind. Unfortunately, he had told me noth- ing of his plan, and [ was therefore all at sea as to the right course to pursue. Still it was upon Rattlesnake Ridge that he hoped to pick up the information, and it was there I determined to seek it, with little or no idea of how it was to be done. “ There must be some family or per- sons there who can tell me, if so dis- posed,” I reflected, and to them I deter- mined to appeal. GOmilGoaoo Ss eco