THE DAWN BROKE CLEAR ON A WORLD WASHED clean, leaving behind no clue of the trail of the robbers. Bob was grim with angry determination this morning. No one had gone back down the trail in the night since the rain, and he was sure no sane man would have undertaken it during the storm.
"We'll follow them this time with no stops," he told Shorty, who was getting breakfast over a small fire.
Shorty had learned from the Indians that only fools build big fires. "Podner," Shorty volunteered, "I knows a short cut tuh Rattlesnake iffen this rain ain't plumb washed it away. I'm thinkin' them jaspers is headed for there. If yuh say so, we starts on that trail up the canyon a piece. I've only rid it twict, but we'll try it, iffen yuh say so. It cuts off quite a piece, maybe forty mile."
"You bet we'll try it, you bow-legged puddle hopper. Let's throw these things together and get out of here. We've got a chance to cut them off yet. They won't travel fast now, for they'll be laughing up their sleeves, thinking the rain has blocked pursuit."
They followed up the canyon for half a mile, then, where the trail wound around a long point of the mountain and up Elk Creek, they took off to the left. Bob couldn't see even a sign of a trail, but trusted to the faithful Shorty. The first half mile of going was hard, doubly so on account of the mud. One of the pack animals fell and rolled down the hill for a hundred yards, stringing the contents of the pack all over the landscape. They lost almost an hour's time gathering up the wreckage and getting the mule on the trail again. At last, reaching the summit, they stopped to look at the glorious sky just before the sun appeared over the distant Lolo Pass. Bob gasped in wonder. It looked like a holy halo of fire kissing the rim of the deep purple mountains.
"Ee-dah-how! " breathed Shorty reverently. "Bob, I can see why the Injuns think the fire comes down on the mountains here. Jest look at that!"
"Empire of Ee-dah-how!" Bob said wonderingly. "Shorty, it's a kind of vision of what is to come. Let's move on. We've already lost a lot of time."
Slowly and with difficulty they descended the mountain side leading into the purple mists of the lower canyon trail. Bob could hardly make out any sign of trail, but like an Indian Shorty went on unhesitatingly, forging ahead at the best speed possible. While they were making poor time they knew the men they sought were making no better.
All day they traveled, stopping at noon just long enough to eat. At night they camped within reach of Rattlesnake by a twelve-hour ride.
Within twenty miles of Rattlesnake they ran out of the rain-flooded country, and a mile or two farther they came again into the Lolo Trail. It was impossible to determine whether their quarry had passed or not.
It was dusk when they finally rode into the town of Rattlesnake. Like the other mining hamlets of the mountainous regions, it boasted of log cabins and tents. Here and there a saloon or resort. These were already full of rough men bent on celebrating. Whether it was Sunday or Monday made no difference.
They rode up the narrow street and asked for a livery barn and were directed to a stable back of the Nugget Saloon. They unpacked their animals and saw to it that they were watered and fed. Then they took inventory of the stock in the stables. In a far end in a stall by themselves, Bob discovered two of Ford's mules, and knew that the fugitives were in town. He called the stable man over to him.
"Where will I find the men who brought these mules in?"
"Stolen, air they?" the man asked suspiciously.
"Guess not," Bob answered carelessly. "Just thought maybe we might buy one or both, if we could."
"They belongs to a feller name o' Plummer. Yore like to find 'im over to the Nugget Saloon or the hotel."
"How many in the party?"
"Only two showed up here."
Could it be that the main part of the gang, with Dixie, had gone to Elk City after all? The thought was maddening to Bob. If it was true, a thousand things could happen to her before he could ever reach her. Again, it was possible the party had split in this country and part of them gone to Florence or Virginia City. This he doubted, however, for he believed that Plummer would have made himself safer by keeping them here together. It was more likely that he had sent them to Elk City with the intention of pushing them into the Basin.
"Shorty," he admonished, as they walked away from the stable, "we've got to be careful. I've got to find out if Dixie is in this country with those men. She told me she was afraid of Plummer and Cleveland. I know they're both after her. I shouldn't wonder if Three Finger Smith was trailing her too. A beautiful girl like her hasn't much chance with a gang of murderers like these. God! I'm nearly crazy!"
"Jest yuh say the word, podner, an' we'll shoot up the town."
"No, we won't start anything until we know the lay. You'd better scout around a bit. It isn't likely they would recognize you as quickly as they would me. I'll drop down the street and find an eating place. I'll be waiting for you. If we are ever going to do anything it will have to be tonight, for I'm heading back in the morning if we don't find Dixie. Hurry! "
A hundred yards or so east of the Nugget Saloon Bob found a log restaurant. He glanced furtively about the room. There were only two other occupants. They paid no attention to him as he took a seat at one of the tables facing the door. No one could come in without his seeing them.
Before long Shorty came in and sauntered back to Bob's table. "They was at the Nugget Saloon, all right, Bob," he volunteered. "Lickered up an' goin' strong. They didn't seem tuh be on very good terms--quarrelin' to beat ol' Nick."
Bob's eyes brightened. "You say they were quarreling?"
"That's what I'd call it. They was cussin' each other out aplenty. I heerd Plummer say, 'If yuh double-crosses me I'll let daylight through yore guts!'"
"And Three Finger?" Bob questioned impatiently.
"Don't think he's in town, podner. I asked some o' the men an' no one knowed him."
"Then we'll get this thing over with. We've got to take care of these two and ride. We haven't any time to lose. I've got to get to Elk City. I can't rest until I find Dixie."
"I'm thinkin'," Shorty answered, pushing back his plate, "that when we does fer these ringtail leaders the rest'll be easy."
For a moment Bob drummed on the table. "Sure you haven't any idea what they were quarreling about?"
"Shucks, I didn't want tuh tell yuh, but it was over a gal they's both sweet on."
Bob's eyes shot flames of fire. "That's enough, Shorty! She's here some place, and we've got to find her!"
"I don't think so, podner. They said something about her bein' watched by Three Finger in Elk City. Cleveland don't trust the scalawag, an' Plummer lays by him."
Bob sprang to his feet, hitching his guns into place. "Come on, let's get through with it!"
"Boss, ordinary, yuh got some sense in yore hair. Think twicet. This is Plummer's range, an' he's got a lot o' hangers-on here. If I don't miss my guess he's roundin' 'em up tuh herd 'em intuh the Basin. Yuh knows, as well as me, all his kind's in on every big strike. This gal stuff has turned yore noodle. Iffen yuh shows up there now, yuh've got tuh give 'em a chance tuh draw on yuh, an' one o' 'em would git yuh, shore as hell. Yuh knows too they's likely got friends."
"Thanks, Shorty." Bob put his hand on Shorty's shoulder affectionately. As they strolled outside, Bob lighted his pipe and blew the white smoke skyward thoughtfully. Presently a wry smile crossed his tanned face. He stopped. "I've got an idea, Shorty," he whispered, "let's go over to the hotel and get a room."
"Yuh aimin' tuh ambush 'em, podner?"
"Better yet, Shorty. Something is sure to happen tonight, and I think we'll be at our journey's end."
They crossed the street to a long log building, over the door of which hung a sign, "Hotel."
There were three men in the big room. Two of them were playing checkers and never looked up. The other man, a miner they judged by his dress, was looking on. As they came in he straightened up and yawned.
"Got a room for a couple of travelers?" Bob asked.
The man leaned over to the old man with the grizzly beard, who was just going to move one of the black men, and shouted loud enough for the world to hear, "Got a room left, Dan?"
"Eh?" the old man cupped a hand to his ear.
The man leaned over closer. "Strangers! Got a bed?" he screamed.
"Yuh want tuh bet? How much yuh want tuh bet I don't shunt him?"
The man looked up at them shaking his head helplessly. "My Gawd, strangers, see fer yoreselves. He's deefer'n a post. Wouldn't know it if the whole shebang was tuh blow up."
"Maybe yuh'd show us?" Shorty suggested, "since the old turtle there's stuck in the bog up tuh his belly."
The man sputtered at them for a moment like a burning fuse, then exploded. "Say, who the devil be yuh what thinks I'm goin' tuh act nursemaid tuh growed-up men? I don't give a damn if yuh have tuh roost in a pine tree! Yuh both got eyes, and I notice yuh kin both walk!"
"That porcupine makes a noise like a cannon," Bob quietly remarked, "but he's harmless as a mosquito in a windstorm. Come on, we'll take the first claim that's not staked." Turning to the irate man, he asked, "How much will the room be, providing we can find one?"
"Ask that thar squat-headed, bow-legged skeeterbite yore teamin' with; he's so Gawdawful smart!" the man hissed.
Shorty whirled about on one foot. Bob saw at a glance what was coming, and he jumped between them.
"Easy, easy, Shorty."
"Leave me be, Bob! All I aims tuh do is tuh pierce his ear! He ain't never wore earrings yet! He's jest a low-down Injun!"
Bob gave him a shove that landed him almost to the door. "Don't go off half cocked, Shorty. Don't make an enemy in this stage of the game!"
They pushed through the middle door into the next room. It was so dark Bob went back and appropriated a candle from a table. A survey of the room showed that there was a saddle hanging on a peg behind the outside front door and one lying on the floor at the foot of the bed. The saddle on the peg differed from the other in that it was showily carved, and across the broad horn had been carved the big letter "P".
"This is what I call luck, Shorty! We've dropped right into their roost! But I think we'll hunt another stall."
"They thinks a lot o' their precious saddles, eh, podner?"
Bob nodded his head understandingly. "And there's a good reason. I'll find out later."
The next room gave no evidence of being occupied, so they appropriated it. There was a rude home-made table under the back window; a couple of rawhide chairs; whipsawed floor; pegs on the wall for the belongings of the guests. There were no locks on the doors, but there were small poles standing in the corner, evidently for bracing closed doors.
"Wal, podner, now we've squatted, what's next?"
"You're through for tonight, Shorty. Better turn in. I'll be with you in a few minutes." He took from his pocket a piece of paper from an account book and wrote on it. "We'll try making them wipe each other out tonight. From what you say, they're in the right humor."
"What?" protested Shorty, "yuh means we ain't goin' tuh have a chance tuh fight after follerin' these skunks through a rainstorm fer nigh on three days? I calls that a cheat!"
"Don't be so sure, partner. There's sure to be powder burning tonight."
"An' yuh wants me tuh go tuh bed like a ol' grandma?" Shorty grumbled.
"Read that," Bob thrust the paper toward Shorty, "and shut up."
"Aw, yuh read it, podner. My eyes is bad an' I lef' my specks home on the organ."
Bob read, "Thanks, Plummer, fer tellin' me where tuh find Cleveland. I'll git him before mornin', then yuh'll have the gal tuh yoreself. A Vigilante."
"By cracky! Won't that burn 'em up? Yore plumb smart, pard! Plumb smart!"
Bob opened the door softly into Plummer's room, and feeling in the dark he located Cleveland's saddle. Then, spitting on the back of the note, he put it on the seat of the saddle and lifted the saddle to the bed. He hurriedly ransacked the saddle pouches. Just as he had expected, in one of the pockets he found a poke of dust, a part of what had been stolen from the post in Oro Fino. No wonder Cleveland was so careful of his saddle. Evidently he had cautioned the deaf hotel keeper to guard his treasure, but the old man had become so engrossed in the checker game he had forgotten it altogether.
Just then Bob heard the scraping of chairs in the next room, indicating that the exciting game had ended. He hurried from the room without searching the bags in the other saddle. He was sure he would have found a mate to this pouch there.
"Here's one of the gold pouches," he whispered to Shorty. "Sh-h! Someone came in the next room."
A light showed under the crack of the door. The heavy thud of boots crossed the room to the bed. Bob and Shorty stood motionless, listening. A gasp of choking anger, then a voice quivering with rage, "Goddam you! Double-cross me, will you?" They recognized the deep voice of Plummer.
Two guns roared at the same instant and the light went out. The thud of a falling body and scraping boots followed.
Instantly Bob was at the door; he jerked it open just as a fleeing body escaped through the door. Shorty was at Bob's heels.
"Get him, Shorty!" Bob yelled.
The man on the floor was groaning. A half dozen men were swarming in through the doorway as Shorty pushed through.
"Bring a light, somebody!" Bob called. "Let's see what's happened!"
Men came crowding in. Somehow they had made the deaf hotel keeper understand and he came in carrying a lighted candle in a trembling hand.
"Take the light!" he shouted, and thrust the candle into the hand of the man nearest him. He ran to the saddle and began fumbling hysterically in the pouches.
Bob was stooping over the dying Cleveland. The man was conscious and grinned recognition of Bob.
"You got me, damn you! What'd you know about--Dixie Lee?"
"Where is she?" Bob shook him. "She saved my life, Cleveland! Listen! I tell you I love her! You're about to cash in. Do one good turn in your life and tell me where she is!"
An ugly grin came over Cleveland's white face. "Aw, hell!" he mumbled, and for a moment lay still. "You'll never take Plummer," he said with an effort. "She won't be worth havin'...when...Three Finger...'ll " The head dropped lifelessly.
The hotel keeper turned from the saddle bags. "The dust's gone!" he shouted. "The dust I was tuh guard! Git that feller, men, before he gits away!" All thought of the dead man was forgotten.
Two guns appeared in Bob's hands like magic. "Back in the room here, all of you, or I'll see how many I can get! And don't leave here for ten minutes!" Slowly he backed from the room.
Once outside he ran toward the stable. Both horses were saddled. Shorty had one mule packed.
"He plumb got away, Bob. Thought yuh'd want tuh hit the trail!"
"And damn quick! Don't bother with the other mule! Leave the rest of the stuff! They're after us! Be here any minute! Get going! I'll stay and hold them off until you get a little start!"
Shorty, leading the pack mule, urged his horse into a gallop, with Bob at the mule's heels lashing him with his quirt at every jump. As they left the outskirts of the town a volley of shots followed from the saloon. Faster and faster they urged their mounts. Speed was now their greatest necessity.
Far behind they could hear the drumming of pursuing hoofs. They had the advantage, however, of darkness, and the timber loomed up ahead. Once they reached that they would be safe. It wasn't likely they would be followed farther until daylight.
As the hoof-beats became more and more distinct, the two swerved from the road down into Little Rattlesnake Creek. The rocky creek bed slackened their speed, but with grim determination they forged ahead. They wound round the shallow serpentine stream until they reached the point of a hill where the timber came down almost to the water's edge. They breathed a sigh of relief when at last they rode into the protecting arms of the big pines again.
They stopped to listen. There was no sound save the blowing of their horses and the wind in the tree tops. Their surmise had been correct; their pursuers had not come beyond the timber line.
"I believe we've given them the slip," Bob whispered cautiously, "but we can't depend upon it. Are you sure Plummer headed this way, Shorty?"
"Shore. He jumped on one o' the horses hitched in front o' the Nugget."
"He's got a lot the start of us," Bob commented, "but I believe he'll camp somewhere along the line. His horse is as near jaded as ours. Let's get moving. I'd like to meet up with that yellow-bellied skunk!"
"Now, I ain't so doggone all-fired anxious to do no sech thing. Murder don't mean nothin' tuh that ringtailed rascal. He could pick us off, ridin' along this trail, as easy as pickin' birds offen a pole fence."
"Well, we're between hell and the devil, any way you look at it. We can't stay here. Besides, we've got to get back to Oro Fino. We're heading for the Boise Basin and we've got no time to spare. We'll have to get in there before snow flies. I must find that girl. I couldn't stand to wait all winter, knowing that every minute she's in their hands she's in danger! Look what they did to my sister!"
"I'm forkin' a big horse by yore side, podner. Punch this mule in the rear. Plummer er no Plummer, you an' me's pushin' on--maybe intuh the fiery furnace!"