CHAPTER XVIA NORTHER
THE two, man and girl, had traveled along with so little speed that they were still several miles from home. They were now leaving the woods and were about to ascend a hill, after having crossed a small bayou. Along the border of the woodland, which they would soon skirt for a short distance, the prairie opened before them, their trail leading directly across it. In a sky which an hour before had been of purest blue, great gusty clouds were gathering. At the top of the hill a sudden puff of cool wind struck through the sultriness of the air. Before they had reached the prairie a second cold blast made Alison shiver.
“We’re going to get a norther,” said Neal. “We’d better be traveling, little lady, or you will feel it. You are rather thinly dressed.”
“It was warm when I started,” said Alison with another shiver.
“It will be a cold ride across the prairie,” said Neal. “If there were a house between here and home I’d leave you there and ride on for something to wrap around you. Foolishly I left my blanketwhen I started out to meet you, and that’s something a Texan ought never to do, part from his blanket.”
“I should have had better sense myself than to have gone so far from home with nothing for an emergency. I didn’t bring a blanket even for Chico.”
“Well, all of us are foolish sometimes,” remarked Neal. “We’ll just have to make the best of it and hurry on as fast as we can.”
The gale increased and the grass of the prairie bent in long waves like those of the sea; they seemed to be riding between its rolling billows. Rain began to descend and the cold steadily increased till Alison’s teeth fairly chattered. Neal viewed her anxiously and tried to think of some way to alleviate the situation. “There used to be a little cabin somewhere in these woods,” he said. “I wonder if I could find it without going much out of the way.”
“Pike Smith’s cabin, do you mean?”
“Yes, but what do you know about it?” asked Neal quickly.
Alison hesitated before she decided to make a clean breast of it. “If you are going to undertake a search for Steve,” she began, “I may as well tell you what I do know about it, for you will want all the information you can get. I don’t feel any compunctions now.” And she told him the story of her adventure with its consequences in giving them a clue to the cause of Steve’s disappearance.
Neal listened with grave attention, making no comment for some moments after she had finished what she had to tell. Then he said: “That was a pretty close shave for you, Alison, and I can’t promise that I’ll keep my hands off that man if I ever get within sight of him.”
Alison looked troubled, and gave a timid glance at Neal’s stern face so different in expression from an hour before. Here was a man who could be as relentless as he could be tender, and whose virile strength she had scarcely realized in her association with him, for the softer side had been that shown her. She had known him only as a good comrade, a man full of merry humors, though often, under certain influences, of gentle speech and delicate courtesy. She felt a sudden leaping of heart as she acknowledged her appreciation of those knightly qualities which permitted the existence of no dragon which might interfere with justice and right. “Even if he should really kill the Blatant Beast,” said Alison to herself, “I do not think I could blame him.” But she said aloud: “You remember I told you that you must allow somebody else to do any killing that may be necessary.”
Neal smiled grimly. “I’m making no rash promises. I shan’t play any Injun tricks, but in a fair fight I am not saying what I’ll do. It wouldn’t be in reason for me to play baby where Pike Smith might happen to be. I think we’d better get out of theopen, little lady, and see what shelter we can find in the woods. You’re fair blue with cold, and it makes me unhappy to see you that way while I haven’t even a big neckerchief for you.” He turned off into the woods, Alison following, and before long they had reached the hut which was so well remembered by the girl. Now the place was deserted; no smoke came from its chimney, no sound came from within. The door, sagging on its hinges, was easily pushed open; as Neal set foot inside some wild creature which had taken refuge there, dashed out and into the shelter of the underbrush.
“What was it?” said Alison startled.
“It wasn’t a ha’nt,” said Neal; “nothin’ but a jack-rabbit. I thought I wasn’t out of my calculations,” he went on. “I reckoned the place was about here. Now, you go in out of the wind and I’ll have a fire started in a jiffy.” The girl was stiff with cold and was glad to be lifted from her horse. The forsaken cabin furnished a shelter, but that was about all. A wooden bench was its sole furniture, though pinned on the wall was a strange uncanny woodcut of some dead and gone saint who seemed a fitting guardian of the retreat. Windowless, and with earthen floor, gaping chinks between logs and a general air of cheerlessness, the place was none too good for Chico and Neal’s horse, which were led in and placed amicably side by side in a dark corner.
It was not long before Neal had hunted up some fire-wood and soon the licking flames shot up the chimney, providing the warmth Alison felt sorely in need of. Even this appearance of comfort did not add much to the looks of the room, nor did the fire do much more than remove the chill, for the wind howled through the crevices and swept keenly through the door, which would not stay closed until Neal placed a heavy log against it.
“Now,” said Neal, looking with satisfaction at the fire, “if we only had a good cup of coffee and something sociable to eat, we could be as comfortable as I would want to be.”
“I’m sure I am thankful enough for the fire,” said Alison, “but I think I can wait till I get home for something to eat.”
“Many’s the time in the last two years I’d given a heap for a place like this,” said Neal.
“You’ve slept on the ground with nothing but your saddle for a pillow, and a blanket to cover you. I know all about it, for John has told me. I am glad, very glad you will not have to do that any more.” She was silent a moment, then she asked, “If you go searching for Steve, do you think it will mean sleeping out nights and going through all those hardships like a soldier has?”
ALISON LEANED FORWARD AND HELD OUT HER HANDS TO THE BLAZE“ALISON LEANED FORWARD AND HELD OUT HER HANDS TO THE BLAZE.”
“ALISON LEANED FORWARD AND HELD OUT HER HANDS TO THE BLAZE.”
“ALISON LEANED FORWARD AND HELD OUT HER HANDS TO THE BLAZE.”
“Don’t know, but if I do have that sort of thing, it won’t be any more than I’m used to, and no morethan those fellows you’re so fond of had all the time.”
“That’s the truth,” returned Alison, but she gave a little sigh.
“Are you good and warm, little lady?” asked Neal.
“Oh, yes.” Alison from her seat on the bench before the fire, leaned forward and held out her hands to the blaze.
Neal, who was squatting on the ground in the attitude affected by the Texan in general, arose to his feet. “It seems to me the best plan would be for me to leave you here for a little while and ride on to the house for something to wrap around you. My horse is a pretty good traveler, and will take me there in no time. Do you mind staying here for an hour? I have been thinking it over and there doesn’t seem to be any other way. No one is likely to come this way; the house is too well hidden and it’s too far off the road to be seen by any passing traveler. Shall you be afraid, little lady?”
“No, not if you can shut the door. I shall have Chico for company.”
“I’ll make the door fast on the outside, and you’d better not open it to any one. I will knock three times when I come, and whistle ‘Hail Columbia.’”
Alison laughed. Blythe would have selected a more sentimental tune, but somehow she liked the idea of “Hail Columbia.” “I will listen for your whistle andthen I can peep out between the chinks to see that no one else has stolen your tune.”
So Neal left her and she watched his departure from a crevice between the logs. He dashed off in desperate haste and when the sound of the rapid hoof-beats had died away she felt a great sense of loneliness. But she drew the bench nearer the fire, and sat there, elbows on knees, and chin resting on her hands. Very quietly she sat gazing into the blazing fire and thinking, thinking, her early fancies driven from her mind by later absorbing realities. Her world of dreams had been invaded by a familiar figure which suddenly assumed the character of a knight. It was hard to fit Neal Jordan to the pattern of Sir Artegall, and yet—and yet—— He would not call her Lady Florimell, but it came upon her as a great surprise that he answered in more particulars than one to the description she had given to Blythe Van Dorn of the man she could most admire. Like many another she had looked far afield when her knight was near at hand. She reviewed her acquaintance with him, remembered how content she had always been in his society, and how ready he had always been to provide pleasures for her, to teach her such things as it seemed well that she should know, had—why, she had been blind; of course it was never Christine who had received his first greeting, his last farewell; it was never she whom Neal had deliberatelychosen to ride with, to walk with, on such occasions as there was a question of choice. “And I never discovered you at all, Sir Artegall,” she said, nodding to the red castle falling to pieces in the midst of the glowing embers. “Your Florimell had a spell put upon her, and she did not know you were her knight.” She laughed softly and Chico from his corner turned his head and gave a little whinney. “Oh, yes, Chico,” she went on, “I am glad you appreciate the situation. We were very foolish, but I shall not tell him so. Let him go on the quest, and if he finds Steve then I shall feel that I have a right to be happy without giving my dear Christine a pang by parading a joy which she must be denied. I have faith in my knight and I believe he will be successful. How delighted I shall be to hear of his adventures and to know they were undertaken for my sake. Christine would call me a romantic, silly thing to send him off in this way, so she shall not know, and when he comes back she will be so glad that she will have only praise for my romantic notion. Hark! what is that!”
There was a sound of the sharp crackle of sticks under an approaching tread. Was it Neal returning so soon? Hardly, the girl decided. She went to the front of the cabin and peered between the logs. A man was limping towards the door. Alison tiptoed back to her place by the fire, determined to make no response to any summons. Presently there came aknock, then some one with lips close to the door said in a low voice: “Mi madre, soy Carlos.”
Alison held her breath not daring to move towards the door, but afraid not to do so. She was spared any decision, however, for a heavy shoulder pushed it open sufficiently for a man to enter. He looked wild and unkempt, and his face was distorted with pain. At sight of the girl he made as if to leave the place, but decided otherwise, for he turned and said imploringly in English, “You will no betray me, señorita?”
“Why should I betray you?” said Alison. “Who are you, and why do you come here?”
“I am seeing the smoke, and I think my mother is here.”
“Your mother? Brigida? Then you are her son.” Alison’s mind was working rapidly. She looked at the man searchingly. Many possibilities arose before her. She perceived that it might be advantageous to detain him. “I will not betray you,” she told the man. “I know your mother; she loves you and I would not make her unhappy.”
“You are alone?” The man looked around.
“Just at this moment I am, but my friends will be here in a minute. You will have to hide somewhere. Are you hurt?”
“I am hurt.” He limped to the bench and sat down in evident pain.
Alison viewed him compassionately. “I wish I could do something to relieve you,” she said. “What is the matter?”
“I am pursued. I go with much hurry. I fall. I think I break the leg at the foot.”
“Oh, dear, that is bad. It should be set at once.” She saw difficulties to be overcome in getting relief for this man. “Perhaps it may be only badly sprained,” she said. “Who was it pursuing you, and why did they do it?”
The man remained silent and Alison, remembering that he was an outlaw, did not doubt but that some of her own friends were in pursuit, for it was he who was concerned in the thefts which Pike Smith had conducted. He knew where Steve was. At that thought her heart gave a sudden bound. “You are Carlos,” she said. “I remember about you. The time is very short before my friends will be here. I must hide you, for you cannot get very far away with that hurt. I promise not to tell where you are if you in return will do something for me.” She looked around the bare room but a possibility occurred to her.
“Ah, señorita,” murmured the man, “what can a poor wounded, as I, do for you?”
“A great deal, and perhaps I can do you a good turn.” She listened for a moment to the howling wind shrieking around the little hut. It was theonly sound she heard. There was no whistle of Hail Columbia. “I can perhaps help you by getting word to your mother,” she continued, “but first I must make you safe here.”
“Ah, señorita, an angel you are.” The man’s dark eyes lost some of their fierceness as he gazed at her from under his matted locks.
“I will tell you why I wish to do this,” said Alison. “I once promised your mother that so far as I had power to prevent it no harm should befall you. I did not foresee this situation, but I will not inform upon you if you will tell me where Steve Hayward is.”
The man looked around startled, as if to see if escape were possible.
“No, no,” said Alison, “don’t think of that. You would be taken. Quick, tell me. Would you have me give you up?”
She spoke impatiently and the man staggered to his feet, but dropped back again upon the bench with an expression of pain. “I was foolish to come back,” he muttered to himself in Spanish.
“Then why did you do it?” asked Alison.
He looked at her surprised. “You know my language, señorita?”
“Yes, and I can be well understood by your mother. Now I will hide you. Lie down there.” She pointed to the dark corner by the chimney. The man obeyed her and she gathered up the armfuls ofbrush which Neal had brought in and scattered them over Carlos till he was fairly hidden. “That will do very well,” said Alison. “Now, I am waiting for you to tell me what I asked. Otherwise, you understand, you are in my power.”
She bent her ear close to the pile of brush and the man said, “I perceebe, señorita, and I can do no less. I am grateful that you help me and I will also help you, but I know not where Stephen Hayward is.”
“Where did you take him?” asked Alison eagerly. “You see that I know of his having been taken away by Pike Smith and his men.”
“We took him westward, señorita, into the mountains. There we left him.”
“Why did you leave him? What was your object?”
“There were signs of Indians. We have fear of attack. We must escape. One horse is go lame, therefore we must leave him.”
“What Indians were they?”
“We are told the Apaches.”
“The Apaches!” Alison spoke the name with horror; she well knew the bloodthirsty record of this tribe. “It was cruel, cruel,” she said. “It would have been better to kill him at once.”
“No one is wish to do that. It is promise Cy Sparks not to do so, but only to take him away to aplace not return, where Mexicano is keep prisoner; but is come the Indian, we cannot.”
“Did he have arms? Was there a possibility of escape for him? had he food?”
“Food, yes; a pistol, also. He may perhap make to escape.”
“Oh, I have hope, I have hope,” cried Alison. “Tell me exactly where it was that you left him.”
“In the valley of Night Creek; near mountains Guadalupe.”
“Thank you, thank you, Carlos. I believe you tell me the truth.”
“I speak truth.”
“Hush!” Alison sprang to her feet. “Keep very quiet. Some one is coming.”
It was not Neal’s whistle that she heard, but the approach of horses. She ran to the door, forgetting Neal’s charge to keep out of sight. Two men had dismounted and were examining the trail of the man who lay hidden. Unheeding the chill wind and the beating rain, Alison stood in the doorway, but retreated a little as the men approached. They both stopped short at sight of her, and she saw Bud and Ira.
“Alison Ross, what under canopy are you doin’ here?” exclaimed Ira.
She laughed nervously. “I came in out of the rain. What are you doing here?”
“We are huntin’ the worst kind of cattle, one of Pike Smith’s gang. Caught sight of him in the road ahead of us, got after him but he slipped us somehow and we thought we had struck his trail here.” He stepped into the room. To all appearances it was empty, save for the presence of Chico.
“Them footprints certainly must ha’ been his’n,” said Ira, as he fell to examining the tracks.
“Whose? Neal’s?” asked Alison innocently. “It was he who brought me here, you see, and he has gone home for some warm things.”
“You don’t mean Neal Jordan? He got back?”
“Yes, he came this morning and rode out to meet me. Neither of us had even a blanket, so I am waiting for him to come back with something I can wear home. I didn’t prepare for a norther.”
“That so?” Bud had been listening attentively. “Well, you had precious little sense, the two of ye, to come away without ary blanket.”
“You are right, but it was so pleasant when I left I had no idea we should have such weather before I could get home.”
“Got a fire in there, hev ye?” said Ira. “Well, you need it to-day. We was caught same as you. We was making for home when we see that blamed Mexican.”
“Yes, and we’ll lose him sure, though he wasfootin’ it,” said Bud. “I move we go on and don’t waste no more time jawin’ about it.”
“You’re surely not going to face this norther. I don’t think he can be worth that,” said Alison.
“We ain’t sugar nor salt, and I reckon we’ve faced northers before,” said Bud. “It’s the first time we’ve come on one of them fellows and we mean to git somethin’ out of him. Sorry we can’t keep you company, but I reckon you’re safe till Neal comes.”
“We was on the wrong trail, Bud,” said Ira. “I reckon we’ll strike it further along.” And to Alison’s relief they rode away.
They were scarce out of sight before Neal’s cheery whistle was heard above the howl of the wind and the drip of the rain. Alison was at the door to meet the young man.
“All right?” he said, as he came forward, blankets and wraps over his arm.
“All right,” she replied. “I’ve let the fire die down and, unless you are very cold, I think we’d better ride on. I shall be well wrapped up, thanks to you, Sir Knight.” She hastily slipped on the warm jacket and hood he had brought her, and pinned a blanket around her. “There, I think I can stand any storm,” she said. “I look like a mummy.” And they started forth, leaving the man hidden under the pile of brush. “He will be dry and safe, even if he is suffering,” thought Alison, and then she cudgeledher brains for an excuse to get word to Brigida without exciting suspicion. She was absorbed in her thoughts for a long time, but Neal did not interrupt her brown study.
After they had again passed from the woods and had entered the way across the prairie, she turned to him and said, “Neal, would you think me a crazy lunatic if I asked you to go with me to the little Mexican village on the other side of the bayou?”
“Now? In this norther?”
“Yes, now.”
“What for? Can’t wait, I suppose.”
“Not very well. The worst of it is that I don’t want any one to know about it, and I cannot even tell you why I must go. Can you trust me enough to go and ask no questions? I will tell you before you go away again, but I can’t to-day. I want to see that woman Brigida.”
“And you are afraid she will die before to-morrow? Couldn’t I go for you? Ain’t it one of those errands those jays used to do for their young ladies?”
“Oh, don’t say young ladies,” laughed Alison; “it does sound so commonplace. Say lady-loves.”
“All right, little lady—love.” He paused between the two words and Alison felt the color coming to her cheeks. “I don’t want you to be uncomfortable any longer than need be,” continued Neal, “and that’s why I want to get you home.”
“I am comfortable, and I shall be better satisfied to go, if I can go to-day.”
“All right. Have it your own way. As long as you don’t take cold I am willing to do anything that suits you.”
“It is very mean of me to make you go when you have been riding all this time in the cold.”
“That’s nothing. I’ve been out in worse weather than this, and in company I liked less.”
“It isn’t so very far out of the way,” continued Alison, “and it is much more sheltered. We shall not have the wind in our faces at any rate.” So they turned off and followed the edge of the woods in another direction till the village of adobe huts was before them.