this was astounding news, indeed, and for a few minutes the two veteran hunters were completely taken back. they had considered the place where their animals were picketed as being so secure that the contingency of losing them was not thought of until it came upon them with the suddenness mentioned.
"they didn't find them themselves," growled tom, as if determined on finding consolation in that fact; "they've stumbled onto 'em accidental-like, and then rid off, as though they were smart enough to be reg'lar hoss-thieves."
"have you seen the trail?" asked dick.
"yes."
"whereaway does it lead?"
the hunter replied by pointing toward the northwest, among the hills and mountains in the wildest portion of the country.
a hurried consultation now took place between them, and it was resolved to recover the two mustangs. they counted it easy to secure a couple of the indian ponies; but among them all were none which, in their own estimation, could compare with their own, and they were determined not to leave the country until they were regained. the most skillful apache may succeed in hiding his own trail at times, but he cannot cover that of his horse so that the trained scout will fail to find it.
it was found that the mustangs had been ridden away without being accompanied by other animals. the number of moccasin tracks at a certain point showed that a party of warriors had accidentally detected the animals, each of which was mounted by a single indian and ridden away, the warriors taking altogether a different direction. this simplified matters, and was not displeasing to dick and tom, for two of these active redskins could, as a matter of course, be circumvented with much more ease than could ten times that number.
accompanied by ned, the hunters led the way up out of the hollow, crossed as it was by the stream of icy cold and clear water and covered with the richest grass, and entered a more rocky section, where the horses must have experienced considerable difficulty in traveling, as numerous places showed where their hoofs had slipped upon the stones.
"we can beat them on that," said dick, when they had trailed them for a short distance. "they can't be many hours ahead of us, and when we do catch up with 'em, tom, we'll warm 'em; what do you say?"
tom nodded his head to signify that he agreed with these sentiments exactly, and the trio pressed forward harder than ever.
there were many places in which the thieves had progressed with no little trouble, and their pursuers, unimpeded by the mustangs, were gaining rapidly upon them; but this by no means insured success. a hundred difficulties remained in the way, and the most that the two hunters could hope was that the two apaches had no suspicion of being followed. if they believed themselves secure, it followed as a matter of course that they would take no precautions against any surprise from the rear. the hunters went forward at a rate which was exceedingly trying to ned, but he bravely held up until something like a mile was passed, when tom, who acted as a leader, suddenly paused.
"we must wait here till we make an observation," said he, in a low tone. "i take it that we aren't very far from the scamps, and we must look out and not spile the whole thing when we've got it all in shape."
for the entire distance they had been steadily advancing upon higher ground, and having now reached the culminating point, it was necessary to look ahead and learn whither they were going before making any rash venture into an entirely different section. while dick and ned, therefore, remained where they were, tom stole cautiously forward for some distance further, until he reached a high, flat rock, the edge of which he approached on his hands and knees, and stealthily peered over.
only a few seconds did he spend thus when he began retrograding, like a crab.
"i think i've hit the spot," he said in an undertone, as he rejoined his friends. "there's a sort of path which leads down into the lower country, and as that's the only way the hosses can travel, it follers that they must have gone that way. that 'ere place that i was speakin' of goes down into a spot a good deal like the one where we expected to find the animiles and didn't, and there's where i think we'll find 'em awaitin' for us."
"do you see any sign?" inquired dick.
"not yet; they wouldn't be likely to kindle a camp fire at this time of day, and afore they jined the others. come ahead, we must be mighty keerful now, when we're gettin' so close."
as before, tom took the lead, and they advanced with the greatest caution. if the apaches had any fear of being followed, they were very likely to detect the men stealing down upon them; but much reliance was placed upon the likelihood of their holding no such suspicion.
the afternoon was half gone when the locality pointed out by hardynge was reached, and the three halted again. as soon as they had concealed themselves tom continued his reconnaissance, making it with such care that he consumed fully a half hour before concluding it. when he reappeared, with the silence of a shadow, he whispered:
"they're there—both of 'em."
he explained that he had approached close enough to recognize his own animal as well as dick's. he saw nothing more, not even an indian, but it followed, of course, that they were near at hand. from this point forward, therefore, the presence of the lad could be nothing but an incumbrance, and it was agreed that he should stay where he was until the animals were recaptured, when he could ride away with one of them.
"remember, the varmints are close onto you," said tom, by way of caution; "and you must keep mighty shady. don't go to crawling about, and trying to peep into what's none of your business."
the boy promised obedience, and the two left him. as near as he could judge he was within a hundred yards of the camp of the horse thieves, and there was no certainty that, if they discovered the approach of the hunters, they might take a course which would bring them back over the same path. so, to avoid any unpleasant discovery, he crept in beneath some dense shrubbery, where he felt secure against observation, and anxiously awaited the result.
ned had not been in this place of concealment five minutes, when he was startled by a slight noise behind him, such as would be made by the cautious approach of some person or creature. he turned his head, but his view was too much obstructed by the vegetation around him. the slight disturbance continued until ned's curiosity got the better of his judgment, and he stealthily parted the leaves with one hand sufficiently to permit him to see out.
as he dreaded, he detected an indian warrior, whose actions indicated that he knew what was going on. he was stepping along as if fearful that the slight rustling would catch the ears of parties who were far beyond the range of hearing. fortunately for ned, at the moment he looked forth in this stealthy manner the apache afforded only what may be termed a three-quarter view, having passed slightly beyond where he was hidden; and, as he continued to move in the same direction, nothing but his back was visible a few minutes afterward. but the lad saw enough to render him uneasy. at first glimpse he took the indian to be lone wolf, but he caught sight of enough of his visage to make certain that it was another warrior altogether; but he was large, powerful, and very formidable looking, and ned dreaded an encounter between him and one of the hunters.
curiously enough, he carried no gun with him, and, as the boy still retained possession of lone wolf's, it seemed to young chadmund that he could want no better opportunity of wiping out one of those pestilent redskins. with this purpose in view he cautiously shoved the end of the weapon through the bushes and aimed at the back of the warrior, who, at that moment, could not have been more than a dozen yards from him. there could be no mistaking a target so conspicuous and so close at hand; but when the aim was sure and ned's finger was pressing the trigger, he restrained himself by the self-imposed question whether it was right to pick off a foe, savage though he was, in that fashion. he was well aware that no mercy would have been shown him had the position been reversed; still, he could not justify in his own mind an act that looked so much like murder.
"no," said he, when this inward conflict had continued a minute or so. "i s'pose tom and dick would laugh at me if they knew how i acted: but i don't believe father would like to have me fight that way. anyhow, my conscience don't, so i won't."
