Argosy, Vol. 1 (1882) — page 67: what you’re looking at

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

58 half expecting to see the dreaded mountaineers loping towards us. “ This will never do; we must get further away.” He humored my whim, and, with- drawing to a safe distance, we again sat down. Shorty,” said he, “ when you told me about the shooting of that fellow at the blind, you said the body was leit lying there.” “Yes.” ‘And his Winchester was not dis- turbed? ” “It was there when I left.” ‘From your account, we are near the spot ; let’s go there and get the rifle and cartridge belt ; then, if worst comes to worst, we can put up a decent fight.” “ Strange I did not think of that be- fore!” I exclaimed admiringly ; “ it is a happy thought, if the gun has not been confiscated.” “We must take our chances on that, but it has not been long since the oc- currence. While I cannot be sure whether the blind 1s behind or in front, let’s take it for granted it is in front.” Neither referred to the fact that we were violating the law we had _ laid down in thus using the trail, while day- light lasted, but we did not forget the fact. I now had the lead, and advanced cautiously, while my comrade was equally vigilant at the rear. We had not gone far, when I recog- nized an oddly spotted rock which pro- jected over the path, and which I re- membered was passed by Jake Auck- land and me before we reached the blind which was the scene of our mem- orable adventure. I halted. “It is behind us, Dick; we have come further than I supposed, and miust turn back.” ‘“T doubt whether that ts wise,” he said with a shake of his head; “I can’t bear the thought of decreasing the dis- tance between us and that infernal cabin. No; let’s push on; we have put several miles behind us, and night isn’t far off.” THE ARGOSY. “ But we must leave the trail, for I have been in a shiver of dread all the time we were on it.” “We can afford to sit down and wait until darkness.” ‘And we'll do it,” I said, leading the way to a safe distance in the wood, where once more we seated ourselves, this time on the bare ground. “T judge we have come fully half way 99 I gripped my companion’s arm with a gasp of affright, and pointed toward the trail, where the slouched hat of one of the mountaineers was moving as si- lently as a shadow in the direction we had been following. Neither of us spoke, but crouched lower, for we were in danger of discovery. We dared not change our position through fear that the inevitable rustling would betray us. At a point exactly opposite, the man halted and looked to his right, which was away from us, so that only the back of his head showed. Suddenly, like an automaton, he whisked around, and the suspicion we had both formed was con- firmed. He was Zach Peters. Despite our caution in following the trail, he had discovered and kept us in sight all the time, though Dick was unaware of it. Our rashness had brought its penalty. That rashness was supplemented by another equally unpardonable, when we sat down 1n sight of the trail. The moment Zach Peters looked around his keen eyes recognized the _ two crouching figures, and with some- thing like a chuckle, he came straight toward us. “ Tf he’s alone, we'll make a fight,” ] said in a low voice. “We'll do it any way; there must be no surrender; let’s sit still till he 1s within reach, when we'll jump up and tackle him! ” As the mountaineer came more fully into view, I saw he was carrying a Winchester in each hand. The thought flashed upon me that one of them had belonged to the victim of the blind. COM ElOOO eco