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"No; I will accompany Alice as far as where your forces are stationed," said Frank, and then they rode down the slope, Redburn turning toward where the road-agents sat upon their horses in a compact body, with Deadwood Dick at their head. As the miner drew nigh and came to a standstill, the Prince of the road rode forward to his side.
Joan remembered hearing Kells say that the Bannack stage had never been properly held up by road-agents, but that when he got ready for the job it would be done right. Riding grew to be monotonous and tiresome. With the warmth of the sun came the dust and flies, and all these bothered Joan. She did not have her usual calmness, and as the miles steadily passed her nervousness increased.
"I wonder who they are?" remarked Link Merwell, as he and his companion came to a halt. "Wait, don't let them see us until you are sure they will be friendly," cautioned Job Haskers. "For all you know they may be some of those dreaded road-agents one reads about in the newspapers. We don't want to be robbed, or have our horses stolen." "They certainly look like a hard crowd," whispered Merwell.
Harding glanced back as he came to the end of the cañon, but saw that the road-agents and their fair prisoner had already disappeared. Then the lash descended upon the backs of the startled horses and the team was sent along at a pace that was dangerous indeed.
Suddenly, at a whisper from Steptoe, he and Whiskey Dick both threw up their hands, and stood still on the trail a few yards from them in a burlesque of the usual recognized attitude of helplessness, while a hoarse laugh broke from Steptoe. "D d if we didn't think you were road-agents! But we see you're only guarding your treasure. Rather fancy style for Heavy Tree Hill, ain't it?
Then he took two more drinks, and told his story all over again; and as it was about the same story both times and he so scared, and by the time he told it over again so set up with his drinks, it didn't seem likely he'd sense enough left to be lying the boys allowed like enough it was true. What he had to tell except he piled on more road-agents than was needed was about reasonable.
"And his practise, mining interests, and gambling occupy him so thoroughly that he will not drive again, sir, I am sure." "Not unless no other can be found, for he is just the man to step in then in open defiance of danger." "Yes, he is just what you say of him, sir." "Now, how is that poor passenger who was crazed by a shot from the road-agents?"
"We want to get free!" he at last whispered, when none of those ahead were glancing back. "You will each receive a cool five hundred apiece if you will set us at liberty." The two road-agents exchanged glances. "It's a bargain!" returned one. "Stop your horses, and let the others go on!" The main party were at this juncture riding swiftly down a steep grade.
"Dave is beyond hope, I fear, while this gentleman is alive, though I do not know yet how seriously wounded. That man in rough clothes there is dead, as you can see at a glance; but come, we will get the wounded men into the stage at once, and I will drive on to the camps." "And the road-agents?" "By all means send a party to hunt them down," was the stern rejoinder.
Arizona was becoming a haven for fugitives from California vigilance committees and for renegade Mexicans from south of the boundary. The road-agents went to work along the route, and near Tucson they did a thriving business. Yet with all these enemies and obstacles, it is a matter of record that the Butterfield overland mail was only late three times.
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