I want you to do something for me without asking why. Later I will tell you.
Demorest looked at him fixedly. What is it? he said.
The pack-mules will be here in a few moments. Dont wait to close up or put away anything here, but clap that gold in the saddle-bags, and take Barker with you and lite out for Boomville AT ONCE. I will overtake you later.
Is there no time to discuss this? asked Demorest.
No, said Stacy bluntly. Call me a crank, say Im in a blue funkhis compressed lips and sharp black eyes did not lend themselves much to that hypothesisonly get out of this with that stuff, and take Barker with you! Im not responsible for myself while its here.
Demorest knew Stacy to be combative, but practical. If he had not been assured of his partners last night slumbers he might have thought he knew of the attempt. Or if he had discovered the turned-up ground in the rear of the cabin his curiosity would have demanded an explanation. Demorest paused only for a moment, and said, Very well, I will go.
Good! Ill rouse out Barker, but not a word to himexcept that he must go.
The rousing out of Barker consisted of Stacys lifting that young gentleman bodily from his bunk and standing him upright in the open doorway. But Barker was accustomed to this Spartan process, and after a moments balancing with closed lids like an unwrapped mummy, he sat down in the doorway and began to dress. He at first demurred to their departure except all togetherit was so unfraternal; but eventually he allowed himself to be persuaded out of it and into his clothes. For Barker had also had HIS visions in the night, one of which was that they should build a beautiful villa on the site of the old cabin and solemnly agree to come every year and pass a week in it together. I thought at first, he said, sliding along the floor in search of different articles of his dress, or stopping gravely to catch them as they were thrown to him by his partners, that wed have it at Boomville, as being handier to get there; but Ive concluded wed better have it here, a little higher up the hill, where it could be seen over the whole Black Spur Range. When we werent here we could use it as a Hut of Refuge for broken-down or washed-out miners or weary travelers, like those hospices in the Alps, you know, and have somebody to keep it for us. You see Ive thought even of THAT, and Van Loo is the very man to take charge of it for us. You see hes got such good manners and speaks two languages. Lord! if a German or Frenchman came along, poor and distressed, Van Loo would just chip in his own language. See? Youve got to think of all these details, you see, boys. And we might call it The Rest of the Three Partners, or Three Partners Rest.
And you might begin by giving us one, said Stacy. Dry up and drink your coffee.
Ill draw out the plans. Ive got it all in my head, continued the enthusiastic Barker, unheeding the interruption. Ill just run out and take a look at the site, its only right back of the cabin. But here Stacy caught him by his dangling belt as he was flying out of the door with one boot on, and thrust him down in a chair with a tin cup of coffee in his hand.
Keep the plans in your head, Barker boy, said Demorest, for here are the pack mules and packer. This was quite enough to divert the impressionable young man, who speedily finished his dressing, as a mule bearing a large pack-saddle and two enormous saddle-bags or pouches drove up before the door, led by a muleteer on a small horse. The transfer of the treasure to the saddle-bags was quickly made by their united efforts, as the first rays of the sun were beginning to paint the hillside. Shading his keen eyes with his hand, Stacy stood in the doorway and handed Demorest the two rifles. Demorest hesitated. Hadnt YOU better keep one? he said, looking in his partners eyes with his first challenge of curiosity. The sun seemed to put a humorous twinkle into Stacys glance as he returned, Not much! And youd better take my revolver with you, too. Im feeling a little better now, he said, looking at the saddlebags, but Im not fit to be trusted yet with carnal weapons. When the other mule comes and is packed Ill overtake you on the horse.
A little more satisfied, although still wondering and perplexed, Demorest shouldered one rifle, and with Barker, who was carrying the other, followed the muleteer and his equipage down the trail. For a while he was a little ashamed of his part in this unusual spectacle of two armed men convoying a laden mule in broad daylight, but, luckily, it was too early for the Bar miners to be going to work, and as the tunnelmen were now at breakfast the trail was free of wayfarers. At the point where it crossed the main road Demorest, however, saw Steptoe and Whiskey Dick emerge from the thicket, apparently in earnest conversation. Demorest felt his repugnance and half-restrained suspicions suddenly return. Yet he did not wish to betray them before Barker, nor was he willing, in case of an emergency, to allow the young man to be entirely unprepared. Calling him to follow, he ran quickly ahead of the laden mule, and was relieved to find that, looking back, his companion had brought his rifle to a ready, through some instinctive feeling of defense. As Steptoe and Whiskey Dick, a moment later discovering them, were evidently surprised, there seemed, however, to be no reason for fearing an outbreak. Suddenly, at a whisper from Steptoe, he and Whiskey Dick both threw up their hands, and stood still on the trail a few yards from them in a burlesque of the usual recognized attitude of helplessness, while a hoarse laugh broke from Steptoe.
Dd if we didnt think you were road-agents! But we see youre only guarding your treasure. Rather fancy style for Heavy Tree Hill, aint it? Things must be gettin rough up thar to hev to take out your guns like that!
Demorest had looked keenly at the four hands thus exhibited, and was more concerned that they bore no trace of wounds or mutilation than at the insult of the speech, particularly as he had a distinct impression that the action was intended to show him the futility of his suspicions.
I am glad to see that if you havent any arms in your hands youre not incapable of handling them, said Demorest coolly, as he passed by them and again fell into the rear of the muleteer.
But Barker had thought the incident very funny, and laughed effusively at Whiskey Dick. I didnt know that Steptoe was up to that kind of fun, he said, and I suppose we DID look rather rough with these guns as we ran on ahead of the mule. But then you know that when you called to me I really thought you were in for a shindy. All the same, Whiskey Dick did that hands up to perfection: how he managed it I dont know, but his knees seemed to knock together as if he was in a real funk.
Demorest had thought so too, but he made no reply. How far that miserable drunkard was a forced or willing accomplice of the events of last night was part of a question that had become more and more repugnant to him as he was leaving the scene of it forever. It had come upon him, desecrating the dream he had dreamt that last night and turning its hopeful climax to bitterness. Small wonder that Barker, walking by his side, had his quick sympathies aroused, and as he saw that shadow, which they were all familiar with, but had never sought to penetrate, fall upon his companions handsome face, even his youthful spirits yielded to it. They were both relieved when the clatter of hoofs behind them, as they reached the valley, announced the approach of Stacy. I started with the second mule and the last load soon after you left, he explained, and have just passed them. I thought it better to join you and let the other load follow. Nobody will interfere with THAT.
Then you are satisfied? said Demorest, regarding him steadfastly.
You bet! Look!
He turned in his saddle and pointed to the crest of the hill they had just descended. Above the pines circling the lower slope above the bare ledges of rock and outcrop, a column of thick black smoke was rising straight as a spire in the windless air.
Thats the old shanty passing away, said Stacy complacently. I reckon there wont be much left of it before we get to Boomville.
Demorest and Barker stared. You fired it? said Barker, trembling with excitement.
Yes, said Stacy. I couldnt bear to leave the old rookery for coyotes and wild-cats to gather in, so I touched her off before I left.
Butsaid Barker.
But, repeated Stacy composedly. Hallo! whats the matter with that new plan of The Rest that youre going to build, eh? You dont want them BOTH.
And you did this rather than leave the dear old cabin to strangers? said Barker, with kindling eyes. Stacy, I didnt think you had that poetry in you!
Theres heaps in me, Barker boy, that you dont know, and I dont exactly sabe myself.
Only, continued the young fellow eagerly, we ought to have ALL been there! We ought to have made a solemn rite of it, you know,a kind of sacrifice. We ought to have poured a kind of libation on the ground!
I did sprinkle a little kerosene over it, I think, returned Stacy, just to help things along. But if you want to see her flaming, Barker, you just run back to that last corner on the road beyond the big red wood. Thats the spot for a view.
As Barkeralways devoted to a spectacleswiftly disappeared the two men faced each other. Well, what does it all mean? said Demorest gravely.
It means, old man, said Stacy suddenly, that if we hadnt had nigger luck, the same blind luck that sent us that strike, you and I and that Barker over there would have been swirling in that smoke up to the sky about two hours ago! He stopped and added in a lower, but earnest voice, Look here, Phil! When I went out to fetch water this morning I smelt something queer. I went round to the back of the cabin and found a hole dug under the floor, and piled against the corner wall a lot of brush-wood and a can of kerosene. Some of the kerosene had been already poured on the brush. Everything was ready to light, and only my coming out an hour earlier had frightened the devils away. The idea was to set the place on fire, suffocate us in the smoke of the kerosene poured into the hole, and then to rush in and grab the treasure. It was a systematic plan!
No! said Demorest quietly.
No? repeated Stacy. I told you I saw the whole thing and took away the kerosene, which I hid, and after you had gone used it to fire the cabin with, to see if the ones I suspected would gather to watch their work.
It was no part of their FIRST plan said Demorest, which was only robbery. Listen! He hurriedly recounted his experience of the preceding night to the astonished Stacy. No, the fire was an afterthought and revenge, he added sternly.
But you say you cut the robber in the hand; there would be no difficulty in identifying him by that.
I wounded only a HAND, said Demorest. But there was a HEAD in that attempt that I never saw. He then revealed his own half-suspicions, but how they were apparently refuted by the bravado of Steptoe and Whiskey Dick.
Then that was the reason THEY didnt gather at the fire, said Stacy quickly.
Ah! said Demorest, then YOU too suspected them?
Stacy hesitated, and then said abruptly, Yes.
Demorest was silent for a moment.
Why didnt you tell me this this morning? he said gently.
Stacy pointed to the distant Barker. I didnt want you to tell him. I thought it better for one partner to keep a secret from two than for the two to keep it from one. Why didnt you tell me of your experience last night?
I am afraid it was for the same reason, said Demorest, with a faint smile. And it sometimes seems to me, Jim, that we ought to imitate Barkers frankness. In our dread of tainting him with our own knowledge of evil we are sending him out into the world very poorly equipped, for all his three hundred thousand dollars.
I reckon youre right, said Stacy briefly, extending his hand. Shake on that!
The two men grasped each others hands.
And hes no fool, either, continued Demorest. When we met Steptoe on the road, without a word from me, he closed up alongside, with his hand on the lock of his rifle. And I hadnt the heart to praise him or laugh it off.
Nevertheless they were both silent as the object of their criticism bounded down the trail towards them. He had seen the funeral pyre. It was awfully sad, it was awfully lovely, but there was something grand in it! Who could have thought Stacy could be so poetic? But he wanted to tell them something else that was mighty pretty.
What was it? said Demorest.
Well, said Barker, dont laugh! But you know that Jack Hamlin? Well, boys, hes been hovering around us on his mustang, keeping us and that pack-mule in sight ever since we left. Sometimes hes on a side trail off to the right, sometimes off to the left, but always at the same distance. I didnt like to tell you, boys, for I thought youd laugh at me; but I think, you know, hes taken a sort of shine to us since he dropped in last night. And I fancy, you see, hes sort of hanging round to see that we get along all right. Id have pointed him out before only I reckoned you and Stacy would say he was making up to us for our money.
And wed have been wrong, Barker boy, said Stacy, with a heartiness that surprised Demorest, for I reckon your instincts the right one.
There he is now, said the gratified Barker, just abreast of us on the cut-off. He started just after we did, and hes got a horse that could have brought him into Boomville hours ago. Its just his kindness.
He pointed to a distant fringe of buckeye from which Jack Hamlin had just emerged. Although evidently holding in a powerful mustang, nothing could be more unconscious and utterly indifferent than his attitude. He did not seem to know of the proximity of any other traveler, and to care less. His handsome head was slightly thrown back, as if he was caroling after his usual fashion, but the distance was too great to make his melody audible to them, or to allow Barkers shout of invitation to reach him. Suddenly he lowered his tightened rein, the mustang sprang forward, and with a flash of silver spurs and bridle fripperies he had disappeared. But as the trail he was pursuing crossed theirs a mile beyond, it seemed quite possible that they should again meet him.
They were now fairly into the Boomville valley, and were entering a narrow arroyo bordered with dusky willows which effectually excluded the view on either side. It was the bed of a mountain torrent that in winter descended the hillside over the trail by which they had just come, but was now sunk into the thirsty plain between banks that varied from two to five feet in height. The muleteer had advanced into the narrow channel when he suddenly cast a hurried glance behind him, uttered a Madre de Dios! and backed his mule and his precious freight against the bank. The sound of hoofs on the trail in their rear had caught his quicker ear, and as the three partners turned they beheld three horsemen thundering down the hill towards them. They were apparently Mexican vaqueros of the usual common swarthy type, their faces made still darker by the black silk handkerchief tied round their heads under their stiff sombreros. Either they were unable or unwilling to restrain their horses in their headlong speed, and a collision in that narrow passage was imminent, but suddenly, before reaching its entrance, they diverged with a volley of oaths, and dashing along the left bank of the arroyo, disappeared in the intervening willows. Divided between relief at their escape and indignation at what seemed to be a drunken, feast-day freak of these roystering vaqueros, the little party re-formed, when a cry from Barker arrested them. He had just perceived a horseman motionless in the arroyo who, although unnoticed by them, had evidently been seen by the Mexicans. He had apparently leaped into it from the bank, and had halted as if to witness this singular incident. As the clatter of the vaqueros hoofs died away he lightly leaped the bank again and disappeared. But in that single glimpse of him they recognized Jack Hamlin. When they reached the spot where he had halted, they could see that he must have approached it from the trail where they had previously seen him, but which they now found crossed it at right angles. Barker was right. He had really kept them at easy distance the whole length of the journey.