Free Trapper's Pass

Gradually an opening became evident – a rough, seldom-travelled, and almost impracticable pass – apparently extending through into the Oregonian territory, on the other side.

Man and beast being so well acquainted with the route, the rate of speed was scarcely diminished. On either side towered the mountain, the almost perpendicular walls covered with draperies of green at the top, where the moonlight fell; but lower down, dark and chill. Eyesight could be of little avail here, without a thorough knowledge of the place and its surroundings.

And still, as Rutter clattered on, an answering noise from behind, as it were an echo, showed that the pursuer held his own. A dark smile swept over the blood-smeared face of the renegade, as he listened to the noise.

“Come on, come on, close behind. Ye come fast, but it may be a long time afore ye take the back trail at sich a rate. Them as comes in at Free Trappers’ Pass sometimes gits passed out. We’re safe here; but that’s more than him behind kin say.”

In order to prevent Adele from leaping down, and endeavouring to escape in darkness, Tom changed his position so that she could not make the attempt at dismounting without leaping straight into his arms. There was little necessity for this movement. Had it been light he could have seen that no such thought entered the brain of the young captive. She only clung tightly in her seat, and, in breathless suspense, awaited the end.

For half-a-mile, at least, the two horses plunged on through the dimness, and then, at a slight touch on the bridles, they turned to one side, and began ascending an inclined plain, which led along the wall of the pass.

“Steady, gal,” said Tom, in a coarse, thick whisper. “Be keerful how yer move now, for two feet out of the road might break that purty neck o’ yours. A stumble over these rocks is an ugly thing, and Tom Rutter’s work would all go for nothin’ if you got it.”

For a second the idea of self-destruction flashed through Adele’s mind. What so easy as to fling herself away over the rocks, and at once put an end to her troubles, and to life itself? Friendless and alone, in the power of an outlawed desperado, with but little hope of succour, why should she longer live?

It was but for a second. Far behind, from the darkness, echoed the sound of a horse’s hoof striking against a stone – she was not entirely deserted – friends yet sought her; rescue might be near at hand. Why, then, despond? The steeds ceased their upward motion. For the present their journey was at an end.

Apparently proceeding from the solid rock, a stout, squat-figured man emerged, bearing in his hand a small lantern. He glanced at the two a moment; then, in a hard, dry voice:

“So yer comin’ back to the nest once more, Tom Rutter; and you bring a purty bird along. Come in, and I’ll put the hosses away.”

“Shade that light, will yer, if yer don’t want a ball to come up here. Thar’s somebody comin’ through the pass that’s lookin’ for somethin’ he’s lost, and if he catches sight o’ that glim, there may be an extra job put out that I don’t keer about havin’ a hand in.”

“Ho, ho!” laughed the man with the lantern, as he put the slide down. “Ho, ho! somebody looking for a lost thing in Free Trappers’ Pass! There’s lots o’ them things goes in, but powerful few goes out. What’s he lost, Tom? A bit calico, or a back load o’ pelts, or a money purse? Them’s bad things to loose on the prairie or mountains, but nice to find, most mighty nice, most – ”

Here his words became indistinct, for he had entered a fissure in the rocks; but something very like an oath emphasized the concluding sentence. Tom Rutter and Adele followed.

The light from the lantern, which was now permitted to stream forth, was but barely sufficient to give the captive some idea of where she was.

The air felt damp and cave-like to her, and, looking around, Adele saw, as, indeed, she expected to see, that the place was part of a cavern, of how great an extent it was impossible to say. The man who was, for the time being, porter, led the horses to one side, and then returned to where Rutter was standing.

“Come on, Tom; we have the kennel all to ourselves to-night. All the boys are out, an’ if Big Dick don’t come back, we’ll hev a nice evenin’ of it. Strike into the room, an’ tell us whar you come from, how you got that bloody face, and whar you picked up that young squaw. I ain’t seen a face for three or four days, an’ am splittin’ for somebody to talk to.”

The renegade did not appear to be in a very loquacious humour, but he followed the advice of the man insomuch that he “struck” into the room, to all appearance only too glad to find that the place was not tenanted by the usual dwellers therein.

The underground retreat was of considerable size. The room in which they all three finally occupied was at least twenty feet square; the one through which they had passed was much longer, while a curtain of skins did not entirely conceal the passage to other rooms farther on. An air of rude hospitality was visible on Tom Rutter’s face, and in his talk and actions, as he motioned Adele to a seat.

“Take a seat, gal, an’ don’t be skeered. No one is goin’ to hurt ye, and yer wants’ll be pervided for as long as this here hand kin hold a rifle. It’s only a necessary o’ war that makes me do this, an’ I’ll take care that no hurt comes to ye, though I won’t say how soon or how long you’ll stay in the camps o’ the Blackfeet; that’s somethin’ I ain’t got the say about.”

Adele sunk on the pile of skins pointed out by the renegade.

One thing only somewhat reassured her. Tom had treated her with more deference than she could by any means have expected, and, somehow, there was an air of honesty about him, when he assured her of support and protection that was almost satisfactory to her, and which caused the other man to open his eyes, as though astonished to see anything like honour in a renegade, and sometime denizen of Free Trappers’ Pass.

In his rough way, Tom intimated, if she desired it, some refreshment would be prepared; but Adele shook her head in the negative.

“I s’pose yer sleepy, then, and so just follow me, and I’ll show you whar you may turn in.”

Mechanically the girl obeyed Rutter, and followed him through the curtained aperture. A short, narrow passage led into another apartment, somewhat smaller than the one they had just left. Strange it was, yet did it seem to her that the air was too dry for an underground room, and it was almost impossible to realize that it was not part of a legitimate dwelling-house.

Placing the lamp – a rude dish containing bear’s oil – upon the lid of the chest, Tom, with a few words, intended to quiet and soothe the feelings of the unwilling guest, turned and retraced his steps, leaving Adele alone in the guest-chamber of the outlaws’ retreat.

She did not feel at all like sleeping. Her situation was not one which would be apt to act opiatewise on her nerves. Just as the waning light shot up in one last expiring gleam, then disappeared, leaving her in the dark, she heard the sound of voices coming from the front part of the cave. Without any settled reason, she rose from her seat, and groped her way to the entrance of her prison.

Light as the evening breeze touches the fallen leaves and moss carpets of the forest, her feet fell upon the cold earthen floor of the passage. A square of light marked the curtain of the ante-chamber, and here Adele paused. The sound was no longer a hum, but every word of the speakers was uttered with distinctness, so that the listener could understand the conversation fully.

Evidently there was an addition to the number, for there was a voice heard – rough, boisterous, well suited for the utterance of round, rolling oaths. Probably, this man was “Big Dick,” spoken of by the porter, as one who might possibly make his appearance before morning. This man was speaking.

“He came so almighty suddent along, and made sich a cussed noise, that I thort he war one of us, a course. To make sure, I hailed him, but he didn’t stop, only licked up his hoss, an’ come faster than ever. I knowed ef it war any of they boys, they wouldn’t be doin’ any sich tricks, so I throwed my shootin’-iron up to shoulder, and let drive whar I thort he mout be. The noise stopped most mighty suddent fur a second, and then I heard a hoss gallop away in sich a manner, as said he hadn’t any rider aback of him. It war a good shot to make in the dark.”

What answer would have been given, was interrupted by the entrance of yet another man, who immediately exclaimed:

“We’ll hev to lay low and keep dry for a few hours, my coves, for there’s more’n fifty red-skins hoverin’ ’long that way: and they ain’t comin’ very peaceably, either. They’re bound to blaze, from their looks.”

“Whar yer from, Bill?” said Big Dick, “an’ whar did ye see them red-skins? I’ve jist been a tellin’ how I wiped someone out in the pass, here, but I didn’t see anything like Injun signs.”

“I war down South Branch, somewhat on the scout; and I see lots of people goin’ about, all of ’em with lot of arms and nary plunder, but those red-skins are strikin’ fur the pass, strait, an’ from the looks of ther top-knots, I should take ’em to be Crows.”

“What the – are Crows Injuns doin’ up here?” queried Dick.

“On the war trail, I guess.”

“Waal, there’s no ust a pickin’ a fout with ’em, and it’s a hard matter to meet with anybody, we don’t, – so we kin jist keep under kiver, an’ act cautious till they’re cleared out.”

Adele Robison listened for a short time longer, but finally determined that it was best to retire.

A heavy burden rested upon her young heart. Someone had probably been shot in the pass. That “someone” was doubtless the friend who had so closely followed on after the flight at the crossing of the Marias River.

Who was it?

Her heart grew faint, and her mind dared not suggest an answer. At last sleep came to soothe her wearied brain. It was a calm and quiet sleep, that lasted a long time. At least, so it appeared to Adele when she awoke. In the darkness she lay and wondered where she was, how long she must remain, how it would end.

Tom Rutter’s appearance, with refreshments, told her that without the cave it was daylight.

He was very silent. From anything he might say, she could glean no information as to the probable length of her stay in the cavern, and her ultimate destination after having emerged therefrom. She would have asked, concerning the movements of the Indians, whom she had overheard mentioned as approaching on the previous night, but she cared not to confess herself an eaves-dropper. Tom saved her from trouble on that score, by saying, just as he was leaving:

“Keep yer heart up for the next few days. Thar’s a consid’rable lot o’ Injuns about here, that I don’t keer about meetin’ jist now. Ef we don’t do that, we’ll hev to lay down here till they clar out, and there’s no sartainty when that’ll be.”

CHAPTER V.

MEETING OF ARCHER AND PARSONS

We need scarcely tell the reader that the horseman at whom Dawson had fired was none other than Waving Plume. As he recklessly urged his horse along the rugged pass, he heard the hail of the outlaw, but thought not of answering it. Then suddenly and furiously did his horse turn, that before he could well understand what had happened, Archer found himself upon the ground in the midst of his whole equipage, while the animal was almost out of hearing.

Confusedly rubbing his head, he was about rising to his feet, when a hand of iron rested upon his shoulder, and a low voice whispered in his ear:

“Keep still, boy, ef yer wants ter come out o’ this place with a clean skin. Yer in a heap o’ danger.”

There was something familiar in the tone which, with the good sense of request, caused him to lie still, and await what this suddenly-introduced friend would have him to do. Silence reigned in the pass. At times he could hear the low breathing of the person by his side; once, for a few moments, he heard the noise of footsteps, as Big Dick sought the entrance of his retreat; but with these exceptions all was still. Perhaps a quarter of an hour had passed ere, becoming impatient, he whispered:

“All is now quiet, what is to be done next?”

“Right, by mighty!” responded the strange friend. “I knowed it war you, Charley Archer – rather an awkward tumble o’ yourn, but no bones broke, I suppose. Keep quiet a leetle bit longer, till we kin see ef them as fired that shot is agoin’ to deny anything.”

The speaker was Jacob Parsons. So soon as Waving Plume recognized him, he felt assured, in his own mind, of the propriety of adopting his advice, so, without wasting a breath in asking him how under heavens he came to be at that spot, when he had supposed him miles away, he retained his crouching position. Of course, this could not continue for ever, though a terrible long half-hour passed before Parsons thought it safe to move. Then, in a whisper, he announced that it was time; and, cautioning Waving Plume to keep close behind, he cautiously moved away, carrying his rifle in readiness for instant use, and scarce making a breath of noise, as he flitted ghost-like through the dusky night.

After three quarters of an hour’s fatiguing march, with a low “come on,” the leader began the ascent of a most difficult path. Up, up they toiled until they reached a long level ledge of rock, and here Parsons and his companion halted. For the present their travels were at an end.

“Now,” said Archer, as he wearily threw himself at full length on the rock. “Now, Jake, can you tell me how you here, where we are, and what we are to do?”

“Yer askin’ a good deal at once, but, perhaps I kin. You know I’ve scouted around this part o’ the country for quite a time, and livin’ alongside the red-skins, I got to learn their ways. Las’ night I was nigh thirty miles away, an’ right in among ’em. Young Robison and I war on their trail, ’cause the tarnal critters has got the Major an’ his darter – which is a cussed sight worse; and that’s what I ought to told you at fust.”

“Never mind that, I know that part, though you can tell me what’s become of Hugh,” said Waving Plume.

“He’s all right – will make a bully Injun fighter, he will. They were all round him, but we fought our way through, killed a dozen – more or less, an’ then clared out. We had to separate, but he kin hold his own candle, so I ain’t a bit frightened fur him. When I started in this direction, I jist thought Tom would strike this way – ”

“As so he did!” exclaimed Charley Archer, excitedly, leaping to his feet. “It was he that I followed into the pass – he carried with him Adele Robison.”

“Yes, yer correct, an’ you needn’t be alarmed, she ain’t fur off, an’ we stand a mighty good chance of taking her out of his fingers.”

“Tell me where she is, if you know; and how you expect to rescue her! It will be no easy matter, though it must be done; and I seek for light on it.”

“Easy, boy, don’t be in a splutter. There’s a cave in the rock, as I kinder hinted, and Tom Rutter has holed thar till he seed jist what to do. And now, while I’m thinkin’ on it – how in thunder does it come that he breaks in alone with ther gal, an’ you come alone following him when he had a party of thirty braves, an’ you were with half-a-dozen free trappers? All the rest on both sides ain’t wiped out, be they? I’m kinder curious on them points.”

Waving Plume gave a succinct account of his adventures in search of the Major’s daughter, together with a detailed description of the conflict at the crossing, the flight, and his lone continuance of the pursuit – of the position of Ned Hawkins, the Major, and the rest of the party he was profoundly ignorant, nor could he tell what had become of the Blackfeet.

Jake heard the account in silence, reserving his criticisms until it was ended; then he commenced:

“Waal, Tom allers war a sharp ’un to handle, and he got ahead of ’em slightually this time. He’s a turn-coat on principle, you see, and had been alivin’ among the Injuns ever since that time the black rascals fotched him up a standin’. He don’t seem to be doin’ the square thing to the Major an’ his darter, but as near as I kin come to it he’s fooled you an’ the red-skins both, an’ slipped in here – which ar a mighty bad place for an honest man or woman. Maybe you’ve heard tell o’ Free Trappers’ Pass – ef you have, this here’s the place. Now, I’m sleepy and tired, you perceive, and so will jist dry up an’ go to sleep, fur there’s plenty o’ time to-morrow to tend to all our talkin’ and sich like.”

Used as he was to the hardships of trapper life, to Jake, there was no need of a bed of down to bring sleep. In a few moments he was cosily ensconced in the arms of Morpheus, and the watchful ear of Charles Archer could hear the long-drawn breath which announced his condition.

Gradually the blackness of the surrounding night changed to a leaden grey. Mistily thoughts swarmed through his brain. Then came a blank – Archer, too, was asleep.

Even yet was his dream haunted by a golden-haired girl, who struggled in the arms of a heavily-bearded refugee and countless Indians. The fight at the crossing was to be refought, the hand-to-hand struggle with the renegade, the sudden retreat, the dark intricacies of Free Trappers’ Pass, and the hurtling rifle bullet – all once more appeared ere, with the breaking morn, he arose from his hard couch on the level rock.

With keen eye he studied the windings of the path which he had followed to reach this resting-place; and anxiously he gazed around to make himself acquainted with the topographical intricacies of his retreat. As he was looking down upon the scenery below, Parsons, who had wakened, remarked:

“It’s a queer country this, ain’t it, now?”

“Yes, Jacob, it is a queer-looking country. This is, in one sense, a safe retreat, also. It would require a more than ordinary set of men to dislodge us by force of arms; but I am afraid it would not take long to starve us out – indeed, as far as I can see, that would be the only plan that could prove successful.”

“Don’t you be too sure of that. There’s a quicker way than that, if it ain’t a better one. This wall” – patting with his hand the rocky side of the recess – “looks amazin’ thick an’ stout, but six or eight good men could have her down in short order.”

Seeing the surprise of Archer, Parsons explained as follows:

“You needn’t stare so, it’s true. If you look sharp, you’ll see this rock’s limestun – right about here you’ll find lots of it.”

Sunlight suddenly stole over the face of Waving Plume, and the joy of his soul beamed out through his keen grey eyes.

“So near,” he exclaimed, “nothing save a few inches of rock to separate us – she must and shall be saved! Quick, tell me your plans, that we may at once begin the work, for delays are dangerous!”

To this rather excited speech of Archer’s, Parsons coolly responded:

“Don’t be in too great a splutter, young man. There’s things to be thought on afore we commence to go in. We had better scout around an’ see how the country looks, an’ then lay our plans accordin’.”

Charles assenting, the two together began the descent of the path which served as a stair-case to this high eyrie.

Preferring to leave the difficult duties of scouting to one most thoroughly versed in its mysteries, Waving Plume sought out a comfortable resting-place on which he might seat himself, while Parsons disappeared in the direction of the mouth of the basin, or cul-de-sac, in which they were encamped.

Time passed on. At least two hours had elapsed, and yet the trapper did not return.

At length, tired of inactivity, and restless from a mind burdened by so great a duty as the rescue of the fair “Mist on the Mountain,” he debated with himself whether he should follow in the footsteps of Jake, and seek the plain, or return to the niche wherein he had passed the night.

Reflecting that in the one case he would be needlessly thrusting himself into danger, and at the same time drawing no nearer to Adele – while in the other he would be closer to the maiden, even if there was no possible means of access to her, he chose to retrace his step.

Out of breath, he reached the spot, and flung himself down much in the same manner as he had done on the night before. Suddenly, behind his head he felt a slight vibration of the rock, and could hear a tapping sound as though someone were, with their knuckles, trying its strength or thickness. With a bound, Waving Plume was on his feet. Circumstanced, as he was, he could not, at once, think what course it was best for him to pursue.

Following the bent of the first impulse which struck him, he drew from his belt the large hunting-knife which he there carried. For a moment he surveyed the seemingly solid wall before him, gave a glance at the edge of his weapon, and then resolutely attacked the only known barrier which lay between him and Adele.

As Waving Plume progressed with his labour, he began to realize how very thin the partition actually was. At a heavy pressure of his hand he could feel it spring inwards, and he marked well the progress that he had made. One more vigorous application of the knife, the point sank into the rock and disappeared. His work, for the time, was almost done.

A hole as big as the palm of his hand testified to the vigour of his proceedings. Anxiously gazing through this, he could see the apartment beyond. A small lamp cast an uncertain light, and almost directly before the aperture a dim shadow loomed up. The shadow was that of a woman.

“Adele!”

In a low, but audible whisper the word floated into the room. Bending down her head, she replied:

“Who is it that speaks?”

“A friend – one who would rescue you – Charles Archer.”

“Thank Heaven!”

This, much more in the shape of a fervent prayer than of a reply; then, to Waving Plume:

“If you can aid me, be quick!”

When the three had reached the valley, and were in some manner bidden by the foliage of the trees, a momentary halt was called, and a short consultation was held.

Environed by difficulties, with two companions depending upon his inventive genius for escape from a most unpleasant position, no light breaking upon the dark road which seemed to stretch out before him, Parsons did all but despair. Think as he might, no good would come of it, and so, after some minutes, he said:

“Well, Charley, it ain’t no use. We can’t git out.”

A groan was the only response, so he continued:

“But that ain’t no reason why we can’t stay in. They say, ‘what ain’t hid’s best hid,’ an’ we’ll try it. There’s plenty of room to lay by here, an’ ef we can only throw ’em off the scent a leetle, it may work. Jist come along now.”

Diving right into the thick underbrush, Parsons led the way, until they came to the side of the basin which they were in. Here, in a clump of evergreens, he placed them, and then began to retrace his footsteps, first charging them not to move until they heard from him.

As he returned to the spring, he effaced, as much as possible, the marks of the passage of himself and friend.

Stepping lightly into the open space at the spring, he looked carefully around. Nothing unusual met his eye, nor did any suspicious sound fall upon his ear.

“Strange, ther’ ain’t no sound from ’em yit,” was his muttered cogitation. “Tom Rutter must hev got most cussedly careless since he got among the Blackfeet, or he’d hev missed the girl afore this. It ain’t so likely neither; but there’ll be something’ up soon.”

While thinking thus, Jacob was adjusting the saddle of his steed. With a bound he had vaulted into his seat, but scarcely had he settled there, when, from the rocks above him, in the direction of Free Trappers’ Cave, came a wild yell.

Drawing in a long breath, he gave vent to an answering cry, so loud and clear, as even to astonish himself. A moment, horse and rider stood motionless, then, with a renewed cheer, he dashed boldly and at full speed toward the mouth of the basin and the plain.

CHAPTER VI.

CAPTURE OF JAKE PARSONS

The yell which had come to the ears of Jake Parsons, was sounded from the lips of Tom Rutter.

“Quick! Follow them! Don’t stand here idle. Your lives depend on it.”

Such were the exclamations which Rutter gave vent to; and the man by his side gradually dispensed with the sneer on his face, as he began to understand fully how matters were.