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Upon reaching the top of a long line of bluffs, towards which we had been travelling for the last two days, we came in sight of a large wagon-train encamped, apparantly upon the open plain. Jerry at once declared it to be Magoffin's; and the boys and myself volunteered to ride forward and ascertain the cause of their delay.
My shoulder's putty sore, but I kin git along all right with it." I sprang to my seat, and found it nearly noon; indeed, so late that Jerry advised remaining encamped until the following morning, although Magoffin's train had been gone some hours.
They just stick closer'n a tick to their hoss's side, and do a heap of mighty good shootin' from under his neck, I can tell you. Why, I've seen forty of 'em comin' full tilt right towards me, and narry Injun in sight." "If you think they are going to attack us, Jerry, hadn't we better rouse the camp at once, and notify Magoffin's people?"
Word was sent to Jerry; and, half an hour afterwards, when I reached camp, I found him ready for a start. Hal and Ned were both extremely anxious to go; but Jerry would not hear to it for a moment, declaring they must remain and take charge of camp during our absence. The sun was just peeping above the eastern horizon when the party from Magoffin's appeared.
"Them varmints don't make smoke for nothing; and, when you see 'em in so many directions, it's a sure sign that they're gatherin' for mischief: at least, that's my 'sperience." As it was still early in the evening, I determined to walk over to Magoffin's camp, which was about a quarter of a mile above us, and ascertain if his men had seen anything to cause them to apprehend danger.
"Well, I'll go over and talk with Magoffin; and, if he's lost any stock and will lend us the men, I've no objection to your making the attempt." "You bet, judge, he'll see for himself, that them cussed varmints won't hev more'n four hours the start; an', ef he'll let us hev the men, we kin ketch 'em, sartin." I visited Magoffin's camp, and found it, like our own, in some confusion.
An examination of our stock showed that, notwithstanding the care taken in securing them, seven mules were missing; and that, as Jerry surmised, they were the ones that had been tied by the boys. "I wonder how many Magoffin's folks hev lost," said Jerry. "I believe I'll walk over to the camp and ascertain."
A brisk canter of a couple of hours brought us to the encampment, which sure enough, proved to be Magoffin's train, delayed by the high water in the Pecos. Right glad were we all, to fall in with our old companions once more; for, aside from the company their presence furnished, we felt infinitely safer than when travelling alone with our small party.
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