CHAPTER XXI
When Mark awoke all was dark around him. He lay quiet for several minutes and then sat up.
"Mr. Socket!" he called out.
There was no answer, and much surprised the youth leaped to his feet. He saw a form some feet away and sprang toward it. It was that of Josiah Socket, and the man lay flat on his back in the snow.
"What is the matter? What has happened to you?" called out the boy and knelt down at the man's side. He saw that blood was flowing from a bruise on the right temple.
For answer there was a groan, and then Josiah Socket opened his eyes and tried to struggle to his feet. But he was too weak to do so.
"The Indians!" he gasped. "Our hosses and packs——" He could get no further.
Mark gave one glance around and then ran to where the horses had been tied up. Both steeds were gone, and so were the precious packs containing all the stores they had purchased.
"Did the Indians take them?"
"Yes. They came up behind me an'—an' knocked me over," groaned Josiah Socket. He put a hand to his temple. "I thought they were going to kill me!"
"How long ago was this?"
"I don't—don't know. I was knocked out clean an' clear. Oh, Mark, this the worst yet! Supplies an' hosses both gone!"
"Can't we follow them up?"
"An' get shot?"
"I don't care—I am not going to stand for being robbed in this fashion," answered the youth, recklessly. "Those supplies cost too much money, and, besides, we have got to have them."
In a few minutes Josiah Socket felt somewhat better. The cut on his temple was not serious, and he washed it with some snow and bound it up with his handkerchief. In the meantime Mark made a hasty search around and found that both of their weapons were at hand, the Indians having overlooked them in their haste to get away with the packs and the horses.
The snow had ceased and they made a light and lit a couple of cedar boughs for torches. By examining the ground they came upon the tracks of four red men, who had moved off in the direction of the lower valley, leading the two horses between them.
"Let us follow them," said Mark, without hesitation. "We ought to be able to bring them to terms with the gun and the pistol."
Now that he felt a little better, Josiah Socket was willing, and keeping their torches shaded somewhat, they followed the newly-made trail through the forest and down into the valley a distance of two miles. It was now growing light in the east, telling that the dawn of a new day was at hand.
"I see them!" cried Mark, presently. "Put out that torch." And he threw his own down in the snow and stamped upon it. His companion speedily followed his example, and both leaped to the shelter of some bushes.
The Indians were at rest, having traveled probably the whole of the day before and being worn out. They sat in the shelter of some trees, with the horses and their packs close by.
What to do next Josiah Socket and Mark scarcely knew. But they were determined to get back their belongings even if it cost them something to do it.
"Mr. Socket, haven't I heard you whistle to those horses?" asked Mark, in a whisper.
"Certainly—I often call 'em that way. Learnt it to 'em when they was colts."
"Would they come if you whistled to them now?"
"I think so."
"Then let us get behind the trees and get our weapons ready for use."
The man understood Mark's plan and did as requested. When all was in readiness a clear and peculiar whistle was given. At once the steeds pricked up their ears.
"Whistle again!" said Mark, and Josiah Socket did so. Then the horses came running toward their owner, much to the astonishment of the Indians, who leaped up in alarm.
"Here they come, and with the loads!" cried Mark. "Come on!"
As soon as the horses came up they urged the steeds onward, in the direction of the trail to the cabins. Then Josiah Socket fired a shot at the Indians and Mark did the same. One red man was hit in the shoulder and another in the leg, and with howls of pain the Indians ran back and out of sight behind some trees.
"Now we have got to dust for it," said Mark. "For all we know, they may come after us hot-footed."
They urged the horses into a run and kept close to the animals' sides. They expected a shot from the Indians, but none came, for the reason that the red men were armed only with clubs and bows and arrows, and they were too far off for the last named to take effect.
They kept on until Mark was about ready to drop from exhaustion. Then coming to a high cliff, at the base of which was something of a hollow, they led the horses into the shelter and dropped down in the snow and reloaded.
"See anything of them?" asked Mark, peering along the trail they had left.
"Not a sign of anything, lad."
"If they come we'll have to fire another shot."
"Right you are."
They rested an hour, and then, as tired as they were, went on again. The sun was now out clear and strong, so that they could see a long distance around them.
"I see them!" said Mark, after another three miles had been covered. "I really believe they are getting ready to attack us again!"
Slowly and cautiously the red men drew closer. One limped painfully, showing where a shot had taken effect.
"I'll fire first," said Josiah Socket. "They don't deserve no mercy."
He raised the gun he carried and blazed away. The bullet clipped the blanket of one of the Indians and he lost no time in dropping to the rear. But the others came on, and raised something of a war cry.
"If they can get at us, they will kill us!" gasped Mark, and took aim with his pistol. His shot told, and one red man fell, wounded in the knee. Then the others halted to consult together.
As soon as their weapons were discharged, our friends loaded up again and moved onward. Not once did they allow the horses to stop and they kept on a slow run beside them. Ahead was a turn in the trail and they hoped to find a safe shelter behind some other rocks and crags.
"Hullo, there is somebody!" ejaculated Mark, as the turn ahead was made. "It's Bob!"
"And there is Si, too!" put in Josiah Socket. "And both are armed!"
"Hullo there!" sang out Bob, coming up. "What the firing about?"
"Indians," said Mark.
"You don't say!" cried Si. "Where are they?"
"Back of us," put in Josiah Socket. "I'm glad you have the rifle and the shotgun," he continued.
"We thought we'd come out to meet you and also to look for game," explained Bob. "I see the Indians now."
Two of the red men had shown themselves around the bend of the trail. They gazed in astonishment and disappointment at the new arrivals.
"Give 'em a dose o' buckshot," said Josiah Socket to Bob. "They deserve it."
"So they do," added Mark.
Bob brought up the shotgun and let drive. The gun scattered widely and both of the red men were peppered. With yells of pain they turned back and fled to where they had left their companions. It was the last seen of the Indians for a long time to come.
As soon as they were certain the Indians had gone, our friends continued the journey to the cabins. Bob and Si had brought down half a dozen rabbits, and they told about the big bear that had been laid low.
"That's prime news," said Josiah Socket. "The bear, along with the provisions in the packs, will give us all we want to eat until spring comes."
They had to rest twice before the cabins were reached, for the horses were all but exhausted. They kept their eyes wide open for the appearance of the enemy, but nothing came to alarm them.
"Those redskins have evidently learnt their lesson," said Josiah Socket, "and if so, I am glad of it."
When they were still at a distance the Socket boys came running to greet their father and Mrs. Socket was at the doorway to welcome her husband. When the woman heard about the brush with the Indians she almost fainted.
"It's a wonder you weren't both killed!" she declared. "Josiah, you must be very careful how you venture out after this."
"I'm a-goin' to be careful," answered the husband.
"And you must be careful too, Mark."
"I'll keep my eyes wide open," said the boy.
The next day there was something of a celebration. A big haunch of venison was roasted, some turnips cooked and beans baked, and Mrs. Socket made some biscuits and some "real downright coffee," as Maybe Dixon named it. They feasted for over an hour, and never did a meal taste better to any of them. A good appetite and a touch of hunger are always the best sauce in the world for a square meal.