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Updated: June 17, 2025
"Quick, Jim, give me the lantern," he called, and in a moment the glimmering light went bounding down the rocky trail, back to the road. And there the two soldiers met Pike trotting up rapidly from the west, the captain swinging his lantern in the Pass. "Where's Manuelito?" was the fierce demand. "Gone, sir. Gone and taken the mules with him. The wagon's back there four hundred yards up the road."
"Trouble?" said Pete, leaping down. "Bobby. I tied up his pony and hobbled the rest. At daylight they wasn't in sight. Bobby went after 'em. I waited a long time and then I hobbled off down here to see. Wagon's five or six miles north.
A threatening boulder lying to the right of the wagon's course could not be avoided. The men on the line jerked and swore. It was useless. One side of the wheel collapsed, the front axle swung around and the blazing wagon straddled the troublesome boulder like a stranded ship. The men guiding heaved to on the line it parted; the cabin stood safe. At once, the rifle fire from the cabin ceased.
"The wagon's broke down a couple of miles below, right out on the open mountain-side. We've been working like hell all night trying to drag the load down to some place where we could hide it, but it was no good. Dixon's gone on to town to get another wagon, but the mischief is done. Come daylight, everybody on this side of Bull Mountain will know what's in that wagon, and where it comes from."
At length he said: "Shorty, I believe that wagon's loaded with hard tack." "It's certainly a Commissary wagon," said Shorty, after studying it a little. "Yes, I'm sure that it's one o' them wagons we was guardin', and I recollect it was loaded with hard tack." The mere mention of the much-abused crackers made both their mouths water. "Seems to me I recognize the wagon, too," said Shorty.
An inspection, the next morning of the wagon's load, showed it to be mainly made up of hams, shoulders and sides, plundered from the smokehouses visited. With these were a number of guns, including several fine rifles, and all the ammunition that could be found along the route.
He went over to pick up the morning papers, and there it was. It must have gone by during the night." "Thanks, Barby," Rick said absently. His mind was already exploring the possibilities. The houseboat had taken up the ideal position for watching comings and goings from Spindrift. The cove was even close enough so the sound of the Sky Wagon's engine could be heard clearly.
But the wagon's waitin' outside, so just be lively and bundle in, and I'll carry you to where you're a goin' to live." "Where's that?" "Wal, some folks call it the Poor House, but it ain't any the worse for that, I expect. Anyhow, them as has no money may feel themselves lucky to get so good a home. So jest be a movin', for I can't be a waitin' here all day."
"Cuss and swear, boys, all you've a mind to," he was saying, "if you think that'll swell your grub. You know it won't. Only one wagon's come up, and it had only a half-load. Our share in it is what you see here. I figure that there's just about one cracker apiece for you, and as I call your names you'll step up and get it. Don't swear at me. I've done the best I could.
The wagon's done for." De Spain threw the fur coat at him. "Put it on," he said. "We'll look at the wheel." They tried together to wrench it into shape, but worked without avail. In the end they lashed it, put Nan on the Lady, and walked behind while the team pushed into the pitiless wind.
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