The pedler was game, though
weary. They raised an ax to free him, but he hollers--one word to
the jump--"Don't--waste--too--much--hose!"'
"Percival put his hand on my shoulder. I thought my little effort
would receive at least a smile, and was preparin' to join in, when
he says:
"'Think of the state of that innocent man's mind for those three
days!'
"Well, I tried to, to oblige Percival, but I just naturally
couldn't; if it hadn't been a nut come loose under the wagon
there'd been nothing left for me but to die right there.
"Only one thing marred the trip. We run across a man who asked
where we was going.
"'Oh, out a little way!' says I.
"He looked at Percival. 'Here a minute!' says he. I went over to
him. 'Look out for your eye!' he whispered. 'The 'Paches are up.'
"Well, I never paid any more attention to a man predictin' Injun
troubles than I do to a farmer's kickin' about the weather, so I
thanked him and we strolled on. I explained to Percival that the
man was the well-known desperado, James Despard, of the Bloody
Hand, and he was askin' me if I'd met any of his enemies.
"'He didn't look fierce,' says Percival.
"'That's his lay,' says I; 'he goes up to a man and don't look
fierce, and the first thing you know there's a funeral.'
"About sunset we hit the place we aimed for: a nice, high spot with
a pool of water, overlooking the valley for miles. It was straight
on three sides, and a hard pull for the mules on the other; but a
patch of grass to the back, timber handy, and the lookout it gave
you, together with the water, made it worth the climb.
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