"Great Scott! you here?" exclaimed Mr. Alford.
"Yes, and here I'm going to stay till I take my man," replied the detective, with a laugh. "Don't be alarmed. I shall not remain in your house, but in the neighborhood."
"You are trifling9 with your life, and, I may add, with mine."
"Not at all. Come up to your bedroom. First draw the curtains close, and we'll compare notes. I won't stay but a few moments."
Mr. Alford felt that it was best to comply, for some one might come and find them talking in the hall. When Brandt entered the apartment, he threw himself into a chair and laughed in his low careless style as he said, "Well, I almost bagged my game to-night, and would have done so had not three of your men, returning from the tavern10, interfered11."
"There's a party out looking for you now."
"I know it; but I've put them on the wrong trail. What I want to learn is, will Bute live?"
"Yes; your shot made a long flesh-wound just above his shoulders. A little closer, and it would have cut his vertebrae and finished him. He has lost a good deal of blood, and could not be moved for some days except at some risk."
"You are sure of that?"
"Yes."
"Well, he may have to incur12 the risk. I only wish to be certain that he will not take it on his own act at once. You'll soon miss him in any event."
"The sooner the better. I wish your aim had been surer."
"That wasn't my good luck. Next time I'll have to shoot closer or else take him alive."
"But you can't stay in this region. They will all be on the alert now."
"Oh, no. The impression will be general to-morrow that I've made for the lowlands as fast as my horse could carry me. Don't you worry. Till I move again, I'm safe enough. All I ask of you now is to keep Bute in his own shanty, and not to let him have more than one man to take care of him if possible. Good-night. You may not see me again, and then again you may."
"Well, now that you are here," said the superintendent, who was naturally brave enough, "spend an hour or two, or else stay till just before daylight. I confess I am becoming intensely interested in your adventure, and would take a hand in it if I could; but you know well enough that if I did, and it became known, I would have to find business elsewhere very suddenly—that is, if given the chance."
"I only wish your passive co-operation. I should be glad, however, if you would let me take a horse, if I must."
"Certainly, as long as you leave my black mare13."
Brandt related what had occurred, giving a comical aspect to everything, and then, after reconnoitring the road from a darkened window, regained14 his cover in safety. He declined to speak of his future plans or to give any clew to his hiding-place, to which he now returned.
During the few remaining hours of darkness and most of the next day, he slept and lounged about his fire. The next night was too bright and clear for anything beyond a reconnoissance, and he saw evidences of an alertness which made him very cautious. He did not seek another interview with Mr. Alford, for now nothing was to be gained by it.
The next day proved cloudy, and with night began a violent storm of wind and rain. Brandt cowered15 over his fire till nine o'clock, and then taking a slight draught16 from his flask17, chuckled18, "This is glorious weather for my work. Here's to Clara's luck this time!"
In little over an hour he started for the mine, near which he concealed19 his horse. Stealing about in the deep shadows, he soon satisfied himself that no one was on the watch, and then approaching the rear of Bute's shanty, found to his joy that the pony20 was in the shed. A chink in the board siding enabled him to look into the room which contained his prey21; he started as he saw Apache Jack22, instantly recognizing in him another criminal for whom a large reward was offered.
"Better luck than I dreamed of," he thought. "I shall take them both; but I now shall have to borrow a horse of Alford;" and he glided23 away, secured an animal from the stable, and tied it near his own. In a short time he was back at his post of observation. It had now become evident that no one even imagined that there was danger while such a storm was raging. The howling wind would drown all ordinary noises; and Brandt determined24 that the two men in the shanty should be on their way to jail that night. When he again put his eye to the chink in the wall, Bute was saying:
"Well, no one will start fer the mountings while this storm lasts, but, wound or no wound, I must get out of this as soon as it's over. There's no safety fer me here now."
"Ef they comes fer you, like enough they'll take me," replied Apache Jack, who, now that he was alone with his confederate, could speak his style of English fast enough. His character of half-breed was a disguise which his dark complexion25 had suggested. "Ter-morrer night, ef it's clar, we'll put out fer the easterd. I know of a shanty in the woods not so very fur from here in which we kin1 put up till yer's able ter travel furder. Come, now, take a swig of whiskey with me and then we'll sleep; there's no need of our watchin' any longer on a night like this. I'll jest step out an' see ef the pony's safe; sich a storm's 'nuff ter scare him off ter the woods."
"Well, jest lay my shooter on the cha'r here aside me 'fore7 you go. I feel safer with the little bull-dog in reach."
This the man did, then putting his own revolver on the table, that it might not get wet, began to unbar the door. Swift as a shadow Brandt glided out of the shed and around on the opposite side of the shanty.
An instant later Bute was paralyzed by seeing his enemy enter the open door. Before the outlaw26 could realize that Brandt was not a feverish27 vision induced by his wound, the detective had captured both revolvers, and was standing28 behind the door awaiting Apache Jack's return.
"Hist!" whispered Brandt, "not a sound, or you will both be dead in two minutes."
Bute's nerves were so shattered that he could scarcely have spoken, even if he had been reckless enough to do so. He felt himself doomed29; and when brutal30 natures like his succumb31, they usually break utterly32. Therefore, he could do no more than shiver with unspeakable dread33 as if he had an ague.
Soon Apache Jack came rushing in out of the storm, to be instantly confronted by Brandt's revolver. The fellow glanced at the table, and seeing his own weapon was gone, instinctively34 half drew a long knife.
"Put that knife on the table!" ordered Brandt, sternly. "Do you think
I'd allow any such foolishness?"
The man now realized his powerlessness, and obeyed; and Brandt secured this weapon also.
"See here, Apache Jack, or whatever your name is, don't you run your head into a noose35. You know I'm empowered to arrest Bute, and you don't know anything about the force I have at hand. All you've got to do is to obey me, an officer of the law, like a good citizen. If you don't, I'll shoot you; and that's all there is about it. Will you obey orders?"
"I no understan'."
"Stop lying! You understand English as well as I do, and I'll suspect YOU if you try that on again. Come, now! I've no time to lose. It's death or obedience36!"
"You can't blame a feller fer standin' by his mate," was the sullen37 yet deprecatory reply.
"I can blame any man, and arrest or shoot him too, who obstructs38 the law. You must obey me for the next half-hour, to prove that you are not Bute's accomplice39."
"He's only my mate, and our rule is ter stand by each other; but, as you say, I can't help myself, and there's no use of my goin' ter jail."
"I should think not," added Brandt, appealing to the fellow's selfish hope of escaping further trouble if Bute was taken. "Now get my prisoner out of bed and dress him as soon as possible."
"But he ain't able ter be moved. The superintendent said he wasn't."
"That's my business, not yours. Do as I bid you."
"Why don't yer yell fer help?" said Bute, in a hoarse40 whisper.
"Because he knows I'd shoot him if he did," remarked Brandt, coolly.
"Come, old man," said Jack, "luck's agin yer. Ef there's any hollerin' ter be done, yer's as able ter do that as I be."
"Quick, quick! jerk him out of bed and get him into his clothes. I won't permit one false move."
Jack now believed that his only means of safety was to be as expeditious41 as possible, and that if Bute was taken safely he would be left unmolested. People of their class rarely keep faith with one another when it is wholly against their interests to do so. Therefore, in spite of the wounded man's groans42, he was quickly dressed and his hands tied behind him. As he opened his mouth to give expression to his protests, he found himself suddenly gagged by Brandt, who stood behind him. Then a strap43 was buckled44 about his feet, and he lay on the floor helpless and incapable45 of making a sound.
"Now, Jack," said Brandt, "go before me and bridle46 and saddle the pony; then bring him to the door."
Jack obeyed.
"Now put Bute upon him. I'll hold his head; but remember I'm covering you with a dead bead47 all the time."
"No need of that. I'm civil enough now."
"Well, you know we're sort of strangers, and it's no more than prudent48 for me to be on the safe side till we part company. That's right, strap his feet underneath49. Now lead the pony in such directions as I say. Don't try to make off till I'm through with you, or you'll be shot instantly. I shall keep within a yard of you all the time."
They were not long in reaching the horse that Brandt had borrowed, and
Jack said, "I s'pose I kin go now."
"First untie50 Bute's hands so he can guide the pony."
As the fellow attempted to do this, and his two hands were close together, Brandt slipped a pair of light steel handcuffs over his wrists, and the man was in his power. Almost before the new prisoner could recover from his surprise, he was lifted on the borrowed horse, and his legs also tied underneath.
"This ain't fa'r. You promised ter let me go when you got Bute off."
"I haven't got him off yet. Of course I can't let you go right back and bring a dozen men after us. You must be reasonable."
The fellow yelled for help; but the wind swept the sound away.
"If you do that again, I'll gag you too," said Brandt. "I tell you both once more, and I won't repeat the caution, that your lives depend on obedience." Then he mounted, and added, "Bute, I'm going to untie your hands, and you must ride on ahead of me. I'll lead Jack's horse."
In a moment he had his prisoners in the road, and was leaving the mine at a sharp pace. Bute was so cowed and dazed with terror that he obeyed mechanically. The stream was no longer a shallow brook51, but a raging torrent52 which almost swept them away as Brandt urged them relentlessly53 through it. The tavern was dark and silent as they passed quickly by it. Then Brandt took the gag from Bute's mouth, and he groaned54, cursed, and pleaded by turns. Hour after hour he urged them forward, until at last Bute gave out and fell forward on the pony's neck. Brandt dismounted and gave the exhausted55 man a draught from his flask.
"Oh, shoot me and have done with it!" groaned Bute; "I'd rather be shot than hanged anyhow."
"Couldn't think of it," replied the detective, cheerily. "My rule is to take prisoners alive, so that they can have a fair trial and be sure that they get justice. I'd take you the rest of the way in a bed if I could, but if you can't sit up, I'll have to tie you on. We'll reach a friend of mine by daylight, and then you can ride in a wagon56, so brace57 up."
This the outlaw did for a time, and then he gave out utterly and was tied more securely to the pony. Out of compassion58, Brandt thereafter travelled more slowly; and when the sun was an hour high, he led his forlorn captives to the house of a man whom he knew could be depended upon for assistance. After a rest sufficient to give Bute time to recover somewhat, the remainder of the journey was made without any incident worth mentioning, and the prisoners were securely lodged59 in jail on the evening of the 24th of December.
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1
kin
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| n.家族，亲属，血缘关系；adj.亲属关系的，同类的 | |
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2
refreshment
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| n.恢复，精神爽快，提神之事物；（复数）refreshments:点心，茶点 | |
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3
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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4
thicket
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| n.灌木丛，树林 | |
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5
superintendent
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| n.监督人，主管，总监；(英国)警务长 | |
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shanty
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| n.小屋，棚屋；船工号子 | |
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7
fore
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| adv.在前面；adj.先前的；在前部的；n.前部 | |
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8
darted
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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9
trifling
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| adj.微不足道的；没什么价值的 | |
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10
tavern
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| n.小旅馆，客栈；小酒店 | |
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11
interfered
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| v.干预( interfere的过去式和过去分词 )；调停；妨碍；干涉 | |
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12
incur
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| vt.招致，蒙受，遭遇 | |
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13
mare
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| n.母马，母驴 | |
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14
regained
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| 复得( regain的过去式和过去分词 )； 赢回； 重回； 复至某地 | |
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15
cowered
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| v.畏缩，抖缩( cower的过去式 ) | |
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16
draught
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| n.拉，牵引，拖；一网（饮，吸，阵)；顿服药量，通风；v.起草，设计 | |
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17
flask
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| n.瓶，火药筒，砂箱 | |
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18
chuckled
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| 轻声地笑( chuckle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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19
concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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20
pony
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| adj.小型的；n.小马 | |
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21
prey
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| n.被掠食者，牺牲者，掠食；v.捕食，掠夺，折磨 | |
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22
jack
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| n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克 | |
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23
glided
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| v.滑动( glide的过去式和过去分词 )；掠过；（鸟或飞机 ） 滑翔 | |
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24
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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25
complexion
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| n.肤色；情况，局面；气质，性格 | |
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26
outlaw
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| n.歹徒，亡命之徒；vt.宣布…为不合法 | |
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27
feverish
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| adj.发烧的，狂热的，兴奋的 | |
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28
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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29
doomed
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| 命定的 | |
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30
brutal
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| adj.残忍的，野蛮的，不讲理的 | |
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31
succumb
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| v.屈服，屈从；死 | |
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32
utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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33
dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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34
instinctively
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| adv.本能地 | |
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35
noose
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| n.绳套，绞索（刑）；v.用套索捉；使落入圈套；处以绞刑 | |
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36
obedience
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| n.服从，顺从 | |
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37
sullen
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| adj.愠怒的，闷闷不乐的，(天气等)阴沉的 | |
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38
obstructs
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| 阻塞( obstruct的第三人称单数 )； 堵塞； 阻碍； 阻止 | |
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39
accomplice
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| n.从犯，帮凶，同谋 | |
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40
hoarse
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| adj.嘶哑的，沙哑的 | |
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41
expeditious
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| adj.迅速的，敏捷的 | |
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42
groans
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| n.呻吟，叹息( groan的名词复数 )；呻吟般的声音v.呻吟( groan的第三人称单数 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
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43
strap
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| n.皮带，带子；v.用带扣住，束牢；用绷带包扎 | |
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44
buckled
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| a. 有带扣的 | |
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45
incapable
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| adj.无能力的，不能做某事的 | |
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46
bridle
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| n.笼头，束缚；vt.抑制，约束；动怒 | |
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47
bead
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| n.念珠；(pl.)珠子项链；水珠 | |
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48
prudent
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| adj.谨慎的，有远见的，精打细算的 | |
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49
underneath
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| adj.在...下面，在...底下；adv.在下面 | |
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50
untie
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| vt.解开，松开；解放 | |
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51
brook
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| n.小河，溪；v.忍受，容让 | |
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52
torrent
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| n.激流，洪流；爆发，(话语等的)连发 | |
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53
relentlessly
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| adv.不屈不挠地；残酷地；不间断 | |
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54
groaned
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| v.呻吟( groan的过去式和过去分词 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
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55
exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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56
wagon
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| n.四轮马车，手推车，面包车；无盖运货列车 | |
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57
brace
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| n. 支柱,曲柄,大括号; v. 绷紧,顶住,(为困难或坏事)做准备 | |
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58
compassion
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| n.同情，怜悯 | |
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59
lodged
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| v.存放( lodge的过去式和过去分词 )；暂住；埋入；（权利、权威等）归属 | |
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