THEY did not pause long. True, the chance of Goodbrand’s doing any thing was small even should he succeed in reaching the spot. But it was better than no chance at all and something else might occur to him by which to assist his friends.
The canoes were again made ready, and the party, with their weapons in good order, entered. They could quite plainly see the canoes of the Indians outside, while they knew it was impossible for themselves to be seen until they should approach quite near the entrance.
Slowly they stole forward, making no noise that could be heard outside, above the monotonous roar of the channel.
As they advanced they could see the Indians more plainly. There were three canoes of them, and a constant stream of inquiries and answers was kept up with those on shore.
They evidently feared the rangers were preparing to make some desperate attempt to dash out. They had had abundant evidence of their power of resource in danger, and meant to leave no way open.
The rangers understood this, and felt it was all the more favorable for the success of their plan.
The foremost canoe, directed by Scarred Eagle, at last came to a stop. Twenty yards further would reveal them to those outside.
For a moment the rangers consulted in low tones on the chances of actually making a dash past their enemies. The three canoes of the Indians were somewhat to the left of the entrance. But if they should get past these there were enough Indians standing along the banks to riddle them before they could get any thing of a start. So they gave it up, and Goodbrand prepared for his desperate work.
The canoes of the rangers now rested in the middle of the channel. Goodbrand, shaking hands with his companions, let himself silently into the water and in a few seconds swam to the right wall, and as far up as it was safe to do. Glancing toward the light, his friends could make out the outlines of his form as he sought for a place to rest until the proper moment should arrive.
In a few moments they saw that he remained motionless, and waited for his signal. This was to have been a waving of his arm thrice. But the moments sped on and no signal came.
Scarred Eagle was about to push up nearer, when he observed Goodbrand relinquish his hold, and in a moment the latter had noiselessly swum back.
“What’s the trouble, Goodbrand?”
“No trouble,” he said. “Something good. Follow me close up. Some chance all get way—cheat all the warriors now. If mistook, then we can try other way jes’ same.” And without waiting for reply, Goodbrand let go the side of the canoe and swam back, as silently as before.
Word was passed to Brom, who was in the rear with Moorooine and the Irishman. Then the canoes were turned, and pushed close up beside the friendly Miami.
As yet the shouts and inquiries of the enemy were kept up from shore and stream. Their canoes remained in nearly the same position, and a continuous watch was maintained over the entire surface of water adjacent to the dark entrance.
“Here!” whispered Goodbrand as they came up. “Give me ramrod—quick!”
Taking one from the hands of Mace, he pushed it up in a slanting direction through a fissure in the rocks. The gaze of the rest following his movement, met a beam of pale light coming through the hole made in the loose earth above. By it they were enabled to see that the fissure was large enough for them to crawl through, and that the covering of earth above could be easily removed.
For a moment after making this discovery they remained inactive. The chance of escaping so unexpectedly presented, thrilled them one and all. And yet a single mishap might rob them of it forever and fatally.
Scarred Eagle was the first to speak, which he did in a low whisper, as if fearful it might be heard above the noise of the subterranean passage.
“We must arrange carefully. Can you creep in thar by standin’ on my shoulder, Goodbrand?”
“Yis, easy; quick. Easy to move the earth above. Den we can keep below slope of bluff, an’ not be seen.”
“Understand then. You go first. If them out yonder come this way for any cause, all that ar’ left here at the time ’ll scull back after firin’ into the enemy. After that, failin’ to hear any one outside the passage from the chamber, it shell be taken as a signal that this way is yit secret, and that help is waitin’ hyar. Now—stiddy the canoe, men, while Goodbrand mounts ahead.”
The latter, stepping upon the shoulder of Rhodan, easily got within the fissure, and began to clamber up. It was necessary to go scarcely his length, however, when he encountered the covering of earth.
“Be keerful!” admonished Scarred Eagle. “Don’t let any of the earth fall back, nor a stone.”
The most intense and painful anxiety now prevailed. So near to escape on one hand, and to capture and death on the other.
Goodbrand worked forward cautiously. Gradually he removed the slight barrier of earth, and they saw him push his head through, and knew he was taking a rapid survey of the bluff. In a moment he settled back, and turning his head, whispered:
“All clear—come on!”
Having warned them, he moved again, and in a moment had passed entirely out, throwing himself flat upon the ground outside.
With beating hearts the rest prepared to follow. Moorooine was assisted up, and began to crawl forward. Revel was the next in order, Scarred Eagle refusing to go till the last. But before Revel had a chance to ascend, a movement was heard outside in the starlight, and looking out they saw a canoe of the Indians in motion.
“Git y’ur rifles ready!” muttered Scarred Eagle, in a low tone. “It’s impossible to tell what they’re goin’ to do, but—”
“Hold stiddy for y’ur lives—Moorooine?”
It was the voice of Brom, sufficiently loud to reach the girl’s ears without being heard by the enemy.
“What?” she answered.
“Lie still where you be—don’t move a hand’s breadth or the reds may notice the light which your body now hides!”
He spoke as rapidly as possible, then turned to watch the canoe. This was moving as though again to enter the depths of the passage.
“Hish!” muttered Scarred Eagle, bending forward.
“Tell ye it’s time ter take the oars!” remonstrated Mace, excitedly. “We mustn’t be diskivered in this spot! Ef we be, our chance is gone here, sartin!”
“As long as they’ve no torch we’re safe from that, yit,” remarked Rhodan. “They’ve got to pass ahind us before they can see us. Ah—now—silence for y’ur lives!”
The occupants of the approaching canoe, five in number, swept their bark suddenly aside not ten yards above the rangers, and began to glide toward them. Rhodan at once divined their object. It was not to again penetrate to the rocky chamber, but to gain a position where they could see if a light was visible therefrom.
It was too late for the rangers to move back without being heard. Nor did Scarred Eagle wish to. He had hopes that he could remain undiscovered, and that the explorers would soon turn back. If not, he was confident of being able to worst the fellows, and make good his retreat before others could interfere.
With their own canoes pressed close to the wall, and ready to use paddle or rifle as occasion might warrant, the borderers awaited developments with bated breath. Nearer came the canoe of the warriors, and lower crouched the whites. Suddenly the canoe stopped. It was so near that the rangers, looking toward the light, could make out the forms of its occupants peering forward into the darkness. For several moments they remained thus; then, dropping back upon foot and knee they swept back, and rejoined the others.
The rangers lost no time in making their exit from the place. One by one they ascended till only Scarred Eagle was left. Seizing the hand of Mace, he was assisted up, and in five minutes after the Indians had withdrawn, all of the whites were gliding away toward the opposite side of the bluff.
It was now considerably past midnight, and heavy clouds began to drift across the sky, rendering the starlight dim indeed. The little party soon halted at the edge of the water on the other side. They could plainly hear the excited jabber of Indian tongues behind them, and knew that no time was to be lost.
But how to escape from the bluff was the question now. To their right, after ascending the bluff, lay the deep forest. An attempt to escape that way would expose them to great danger, as it was quite certain some of the Miamis would be hovering near the place. Not a canoe was to be had, and not a log could be found on which to float to the forest further south.
After a short consultation Scarred Eagle and Mace left the rest, and ascended the bluff to reconnoiter. Goodbrand and Revel, moving apart, kept as sharp watch as possible around the left curve of the bluff toward the subterranean passage.
“Dthere must be a way for us now dthat we have got so fur out of it,” said Tim at length. “Och musha, me head!”
“I b’l’eve thar will, Tim,” replied Brom, who was supporting Moorooine, into whose willing ears he had been whispering. “You’ve had a hard one over gittin’ me clear. If I k’n ever pay ye back—”
“Luk, now!” interrupted the Irishman. “Sthop, ef yees don’t want to rise me. Is it of pay y’ur goin’ to talk, an’ to Tim Devine? Yees know betthur. Wouldn’t yees do as much for me, an’ more? We done dthe besht we c’u’d, though. Poor Dan Hicks! Och, musha! B’ated down; an’ him skulped before me very eyes!”
The poor fellow’s voice trembled with emotion.
“It’s b’en an onusual adventur’,” remarked Brom. “Of course we all mean to stick to each other. Thar’s three lost, not to speak of Hill. I hope ’e made good ’is escape. He couldn’t ’a’ done nothin’ for us. Thar wouldn’t ’a’ b’en one us alive ef ’t hadn’t b’en for—”
“—Dthe wan beside yees—why don’t ye spake it?” said the Irishman, as Brom paused. “Yes, God bless ’er. She’s a haro to dthe core, and wan I’d shed me besht blood for—thrue’s me father was a docthur w’u’d I. I what, they’re coomin’ back, an’ now I’m in hopes dthurt a way to l’ave dthis divule’s ragion.”
Not for a moment had Brom and his companions ceased to keep a sharp watch about them, and their brief conversation had been carried on in whispers. As Tim spoke, Revel and Goodbrand came up.
“The reds mistrust something, for they’ve started into the cave with torches,” said Revel. “Less move forward.”
“Thin we’ll hear from dthim soon, I’m thinkin’.”
“They’ll see the canoes we left, an’ that’ll tell the story.”
“It will, onless, as may happen, the canoes drifted down beyond the chamber,” said Brom. “In that case they’ll leave us a little more time.”
They were creeping cautiously up in the direction taken by the elder scouts. These had now been gone nearly half an hour. Suddenly Goodbrand, who was some paces ahead, put back his hand and sunk to the earth, the rest speedily following his example.
What had he discovered? In a few moments the question was answered. Three dark forms began to loom into view, dealing down the slope of the bluff. The rangers did not attempt even to exchange a hurried whisper. There was no need, for each of them comprehended the situation, and held the same theory. In some way Scarred Eagle and Mace had aroused the suspicion of these warriors, but evaded them. The latter, to satisfy their curiosity, were searching over the ground where they suspected an enemy had lurked.
The concealed party well knew why these warriors made no outcry. They could have no suspicion, as yet, that any of the whites who had been driven into the subterranean passage, had escaped. But the latter might have companions watching for a chance to render them aid.
Nearer they came, glancing sharply around, and stepping so lightly that they seemed like moving phantoms instead of living forms. Brom and his companions lay as silently as death, hoping to escape detection by these prowlers. All knew that an outcry or struggle could hardly fail of being heard beyond the bluff, and would at once bring others to the spot. But they held themselves ready for a quick struggle, if it should prove necessary.
The three Indians were several paces apart, and paused every moment in their course, listening keenly. In this manner they passed the little party, who lay so close to the ground that only the closest inspection could reveal them.
Brom, who lay furthest to the right, began to move aside, and the others followed his example. In a moment or two, all were crouched beneath the shelter of a scraggy spruce, under which the Indian spies had already searched. The outlines of the latter could now barely be seen passing around the curve of the bluff; but they did not pass out of sight. As if satisfied that their ears or sight had deceived them, they turned back after a short pause, directly toward the whites.
But the latter had already moved on, nearly in single file, keeping the spruce between them and the warriors. Suddenly a whisper, which they recognized as Rhodan’s, warned them aside. They were in time to dodge behind a protuberance of the bluff as the Indian spies loomed into view between them and the spruce.
“Don’t show a limb!” whispered Scarred Eagle. “Ef I move, all on ye foller, an’ be sure to use no weepons unless they see us first. These ’ere mustn’t be allowed to make an outcry.”
A few seconds after the delivery of this order, the spies came on boldly. They were passing a yard or two below the party, when they suddenly halted and gazed out over the water. Looking downward, they could distinguish nothing; but they had heard some sound, as of a body moving through the water. They at once glided down close to the edge of the shore.
Scarred Eagle had also heard the slight sound, and well knew it was Mace swimming forward and pushing a log before him. The sound had ceased now, and he felt sure the latter was aware of the presence of the three warriors. Had they discovered him?
They squatted down close to the water and remained motionless. Minute after minute passed, and still they moved not. The hearts of the rangers began to beat wildly. At any moment their absence from the cave might be discovered, when the entire bluff would be surrounded and searched closely. And in a little more than an hour it would be light!
“We kain’t wait longer, nor we kain’t avoid a tussle with these chaps below us,” whispered Rhodan to Brom. “It’s Mace out thar, with a log brought from across the angle of water. The hull of us must steal onto them chaps. Pass word to the rest, an’ remember we must take ’em without raisin’ an alarm, or lose the lives we’ve brought so fur out o’ the jaws o’ death!”
From one to another was the order passed. Then as silently as a shadow, the veteran scout rose with Brom and Revel at his left. Foot by foot they crept toward the spies, whose attention to the water seemed completely absorbed. A sudden dash from behind, and they found themselves thrown to the earth, while bands of iron clasped their throats. At this moment a movement, heard a few yards out, told that Mace comprehended the scene, and was pushing in with the log.
The captured spies were stout fellows, and expecting death, made every endeavor to struggle or cry out. But those who came behind threw themselves across their bodies, while Moorooine, with the remnants of a blanket, assisted to gag them. While this was going on, Mace reached the shore with the section of a tree-trunk.
“What! End the devils an’ done with it,” he said, savagely, drawing a knife as he spoke over one of the captives.
“Hold!” said Scarred Eagle, catching his arm. “Put that spirit out of ye, Ben; enough blood has b’en spilt, an’ this is onnecessary. An’ remember these!” he added, nodding toward Goodbrand and Moorooine.
The other understood him, and hurriedly began to secure their rifles and ammunition on the heavy log, Goodbrand and Tim assisting. The spies were securely bound, and placed so that they would not easily be discovered in the gloom. At this moment several dark figures were discovered on the slope above moving down toward them!