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Old Joe Crowfoot seemed either not to hear or to be too enraged to
heed. Like a mountain-goat, he raced upward over the rocks and
hastened straight toward the boy. But, what was strangest of all, the
boy made no effort to escape, nor did he seem at all frightened.
Instead, he seemed to stand and await the approach of the Indian.
Frank and Bart were surprised by this, but they were still more
surprised by what followed. The Indian reached the boy and quickly
clutched him. Then, with a swift swing, the strange old redskin swept
the lad round behind him and up to his back. The arms of the boy
immediately clasped about the Indian’s neck, while his legs twined
round the old fellow’s body, and there he hung pickapack fashion.
Scarcely had Old Joe Crowfoot paused in his upward race. When
Frank and Bart had confronted him at the mouth of the valley both
had fancied him old and rather feeble, but now he seemed to have
the strength of a youth and the agility of a mountain-goat. Having
swung the boy to his back, he continued to clamber upward over the
rocks as if quite unimpeded by his burden.
“Well,” gasped Hodge, “if that doesn’t beat the old boy himself!”
Merry was no less amazed. To both it had seemed that the old Indian
meditated doing the boy harm as he clambered toward him, but the
youngster had betrayed no fear, although his hand flung the missile
that destroyed Old Joe’s aim and saved Frank Merriwell’s life.
“He’s running off with the boy!” palpitated Bart.
“And the boy is perfectly willing,” said Merry.
“But the kid threw the stone at the old duffer.”
“For which I am very thankful, as it is certain the old duffer meant to
perforate me.”
Then they sat there on their horses and watched till the old Indian
and his remarkable burden disappeared amid the rocks. Just before
vanishing from view, Old Joe Crowfoot paused, turned and looked
down on the boys. Then he made a gesture that seemed to be one
of warning. The boy, still clinging to the back of his peculiar
companion, took off his wide hat and waved it gaily. A moment later
they were gone.
Frank and Bart sat there, staring upward and remaining silent for
some moments. At last Merriwell said:
“Well, that little affair is over. Let’s move along and see what will
happen next.”
“I don’t understand it,” muttered Hodge, in disappointed perplexity.
“Nor do I,” confessed Frank cheerfully.
“It’s strange.”
“Mighty strange.”
“A white boy and an Indian.”
“Companions beyond a doubt.”
“Yet the boy threw a stone at the Indian.”
“I believe he threw the stone to hit the Indian’s rifle, a feat he
accomplished. I do not think he intended to hit the Indian. Anyhow, I
owe him my life, and I am grateful.”
For a few minutes longer they remained there, discussing what had
happened, and then Merry again led the way into the valley. As they
advanced it slowly broadened before them. The valley was eight or
ten miles in length, and a stream ran through it, disappearing into a
narrow gorge. Near the head of the valley was a pretty little lake,
with timber about it. In the valley were to be seen a few grazing
cattle, yet from their position the boys could see no ranch-house.
“But I’m certain somebody lives here,” said Frank. “The sight of the
cattle convinces me of that.”
They soon found that it was no easy matter to ride down into the
valley from that point, but they discovered a dimly defined trail, which
they ventured to follow. Fortunately the hardy little mustangs were
steady and sure of foot, for there were points where it seemed that
no horse could go down without falling.
The little beasts squatted on their haunches more than once and
literally slid along till they could recover themselves.
Bart had his teeth set, and no word came from his lips, as he was
ready and determined to follow wherever Merriwell led. No accident
happened, and the level of the valley was reached. Then they
headed toward the lake at the upper end.
The sun was dropping behind the western peaks when they entered
a strip of timber that lay across their path in the vicinity of the lake.
The cattle they had passed gave them little notice, convincing them
that they were accustomed to the presence and sight of mounted
riders. The timber was open, yet they were unable to ride through it
at a swift pace, as they had not entered on a regular trail. When they
had proceeded a considerable distance they came at last upon a
path. In the deepening gloom it was not easy to make out if it was a
horse-trail or a foot-path.
As they reached this path, Frank suddenly pulled up, uttering a soft
word of warning.
“Stop, Hodge!” he said. “I thought I heard something.”
Bart stopped promptly, and they sat there, motionless and listening.
At first they heard no sound save the breathing of their mounts. Bart
was about to speak, when Merry lifted his hand.
Straining their ears, they distinctly made out the sound of swift
footsteps, which were approaching. Hodge gripped the butt of a
revolver and drew it from its holster. A moment later the silence of
the gloomy timber was broken by a sound that sent the blood leaping
to their hearts.
“Help! Oh, oh—help!”
It was the cry of a child in great fear and distress.
 CHAPTER X.
THE KIDNAPED GIRL.

“Choke off the kid, Bill! Are you crazy, to let her screech like that?”
The command came quick and sharp and suppressed.
“Hanged ef I like this yar business of chokin’ babbys! I wouldn’t mind
ef she wuz a man.”
The retort was growled forth in a gruff bass voice. Two dark forms
were seen coming along the path. One of them, the one in advance,
carried in his arms a little girl of twelve.
The ruffians did not observe Frank and Bart until they were quite
close. Then, of a sudden, as the big fellow in advance halted,
uttering a startled oath, Merriwell’s clear voice rang out:
“Drop that child, you whelps, or we’ll drop you.”
The man behind made a quick movement, and Frank flung himself
from the saddle. It was well Merry did so, for the man had whipped
out a revolver and fired over the shoulder of his companion, the
bullet whistling past Frank’s ear as he dropped.
“Got him!” grated the man, evidently believing he had shot the youth.
“Down goes the other one!”
Bart had a revolver in his grasp, but, in the gloom of the timber, he
had refrained from firing, fearing to injure the girl, who now uttered
another cry for help.
But Hodge knew he was in danger, and he feared Frank had been hit
by the shot of the ruffian. He ducked beside the neck of his horse
and was barely in time to save his life, for another flash of fire
punctured the shadows, another report rang through the timber, and
the second bullet cut a hole through the hat of the dark-faced youth.
Then Hodge saw Merriwell leaping straight at the ruffian in advance,
and he knew Frank was not seriously hurt. With a shout of relief and
satisfaction, Bart sprang to the ground and jumped after Frank.
“Give it to the dogs, Merry!” he exclaimed.
Merriwell was on the big ruffian in a moment. The man had swung
the child under his arms, and he brought forth a revolver as Frank
came up.
The young athlete ducked and struck out, and the revolver was sent
spinning from the grasp of the wretch, being discharged as it flew
through the air.
Then Merry was on the scoundrel and the ruffian was forced to drop
the child and meet the attack of the fearless youth.
Hodge went past like a leaping panther, but the other man had
darted behind a tree and melted away amid the underbrush in a
most surprising manner, and while Bart slashed about in search of
the fellow who had disappeared, Merriwell fought the other, who was
a gigantic man of remarkable strength.
The child had crept away a short distance, where it crouched on the
ground, watching the battle in fascination and fear.
“Dern yer!” growled the ruffian. “Whatever do ye mean by botherin’
two peaceable gents in this yar way?”
“We mean business,” answered Frank.
“Waal, danged ef I don’t cut yer inter ribbons!” declared the giant, as
he made a movement and wrenched forth a knife.
Frank moved swiftly, and was barely in time to fasten his fingers on
the wrist of the murderous wretch.
“No, you don’t!” he exclaimed. “I object to anything of the sort!”
“Object and be dished!” came from the other. “Why, do you think yer
kin hold that yar hand? Ye’re nothin’ but a kid!”
Then the ruffian made a furious, wrenching twist to get his hand free,
but, to his surprise, the grip of the beardless youth was like steel,
and he failed utterly in his attempt.
This was the fellow’s first surprise; others followed swiftly.
“What’s this?” he howled, in fury. “Dang my hoofs! kin you hang on
that way?”
“You’ll find I’m something of a sticker,” laughed Frank.
Now, the other did not know that when Frank Merriwell laughed in
that peculiar manner he was the most dangerous, and he fancied the
youth thought the affair not at all serious.
“I’ll git him in a minute,” the ruffian mentally decided, “an’ I’ll give him
the length of this yar toad-sticker, which’ll convince him that this is a
mighty sad world, I reckon.”
But though he made another furious attempt to get his hand free, the
fingers of the youth were like riveted bands. Then the ruffian grew
still more angry.
“Double dern yer!” he panted. “You kin hang on, so I reckon I’ll just
have ter break yer back!”
Then he tried to fling Frank to the ground, but Merry used a
wrestling-trip, and the man went down instead. In the fall the grip of
the youth was almost broken, and, with a snarl of satisfaction, the
ruffian twisted his wrist free.
Then he swung back his hand to drive that terrible knife to the hilt
between Merry’s ribs. But Frank knew his danger, and, like a flash,
he had the thick, hairy wrist again in his clutch.
The man swore and tried to fling his youthful antagonist off, but he
found he could not do so and retain his hold on the knife. Then he
relinquished the knife and put every effort into the struggle to hurl
Merry aside.
The little girl, on her knees by the foot of a great tree, watched this
fearful battle with distended eyes.
Bart Hodge was still beating about for the man who had so cleverly
vanished in the gloom. There was a sudden report, as fire belched
from a tangled thicket, and a bullet grazed Bart’s cheek.
Hodge dropped, knowing now the other man had sought shelter, and
waited till he felt that he could bring one of the youths down with a
sure shot. Evidently the man believed he had succeeded, for he rose
to his feet, so that Bart obtained a glimpse of him.
In his impatient rage, Hodge did not wait for the fellow to advance,
but he took a quick aim and fired immediately. Down went the man.
“Soaked him!” said Bart grimly. “He brought it on himself.”
Then he lifted himself to his feet. It was Bart’s turn to meet with
surprise, for again from the thicket came a flash of fire, and this time
Hodge felt something burn and sting in his shoulder.
With a shout of fury, Hodge leaped straight toward the thicket, into
which he fearlessly plunged, reckless of his life.
But when he reached the spot where he believed the enemy must
be, he found no one there. The desperado had slipped away as
Hodge came leaping toward the spot, being aided to escape by the
deepening darkness.
Finding the man was not there, the conviction came on Hodge that
he was crouching near, waiting to obtain another shot, which he
would take care to make sure. Then the instinct of self-preservation
overcame Bart’s great fury, and he crouched close to the ground,
holding his revolver ready, while he peered about in the gloom and
listened.
Not far away the battle between Frank and the giant ruffian was still
raging fiercely.
With every sense on the alert, Bart squatted there, ready to shoot or
spring. His nerves were tingling, but he did his best to be steady and
cool. An encounter of this sort, however, was something to unsteady
the nerves of almost any man, and it was not at all strange that Bart
found himself shaking somewhat as he remained motionless and
waiting.
The breathing of the floundering giant who was trying to conquer
Merriwell sounded hoarsely through the gloom, and there was
something awesome in it. Suddenly the sounds stopped. The
struggle seemed to be ended. Who had conquered?
At the risk of betraying his position to the man who might be waiting
to shoot at him, Bart ventured to call:
“Merriwell!”
Hodge’s heart gave a leap of joy when Frank’s voice answered:
“Here! Are you all right?”
“Sure thing! And you?”
“Well, I’ve succeeded in quieting this chap, though he did put up an
awful fight.”
“Look out for the other!”
“Then he is——”
“He’s around here somewhere. I popped at him two or three times,
but I didn’t bag him.”
Crouching low, Bart moved as quietly as he could toward Frank, still
ready to shoot instantly. But in the gloom no pistol flashed, and no
deadly bullet sang through the timber.
Bart found Merriwell with his arm about the frightened child, while
near-by, on the ground, lay the body of the giant, sprawling
grotesquely.
“Have you killed him?” asked Hodge, looking down at the silent
ruffian.
“I’m afraid so,” said Frank.
“Afraid?” exclaimed the dark-faced youth.
“Yes.”
“Why afraid?”
“I have no desire to kill anybody.”
“But this murderous dog——”
“Not even a human being of his caliber.”
“Well,” said Hodge grimly, “I did my level best to bore the other cur,
and my conscience would not have troubled me had I succeeded.
How did you do this one?”
“He had wonderful strength and wind, and he thrashed round to beat
the band. I was forced to be at my best all the time, and I hurled him
back repeatedly after he had partly succeeded in rising with me. The
last time I did so his head struck against the exposed root of that
tree, and it doubled under him with a snap like a pistol-shot. Then he
was limp as a rag, and the fight was over, so far as he was
concerned.”
Bart caught the ruffian by the shoulders and partly lifted him. Then
he let the fellow drop back, a slight shiver running over him.
“Neck broken!” he said shortly.
“Broken!” exclaimed Frank. “As bad as that?”
“Sure thing!” said Hodge. “He won’t try to kidnap any more children,
for I reckon that was what they were doing with this one.”
Frank turned his attention to the child once more, while Bart looked
after the tired mustangs. As he approached the animals, a figure
suddenly sprang out of the gloom and onto the back of one of them.
There was a yell, and away dashed the animal along the path,
bearing the ruffian who had escaped.
Hodge took a shot at the fellow, and then, finding the man still clung
to the mustang, having disappeared in the gloom, he fired again in
the direction of the sound. Still the mustang fled on with its burden,
and Bart muttered an exclamation of rage.
The other animal had been alarmed by this, and Bart found some
trouble in approaching the creature, though he finally succeeded in
capturing him.
“Well, Merriwell,” he said, as he returned, leading the single mount,
“we’ve lost one of our beasts.”
Frank had been trying to allay the fears of the trembling child, and he
simply made a gesture for Bart to be quiet, which was seen and
understood, for all of the fast-deepening shadows.
“We will not harm you,” Merry was saying, in a soft, gentle way. “You
need have no further fear. What is your name?”
“Felicia,” was the low answer. “But Old Joe calls me Star Eyes.”
“Felicia—what a pretty name!” said Frank. “And these bad men were
carrying you off?”
“Yes. Please take me home.”
“We’ll do that, little Felicia. Your home is here, in the valley?”
“Yes, sir. It’s in the Black Woods, by Lake Sunshine.”
“Lake Sunshine? Another pretty name! What do you call the valley?”
“Pleasant Valley.”
“And that is a pretty name, too.”
“My mama named the lake, and the valley, and the woods. But now
she’s gone.”
“Gone?”
“Yes, and papa says she’s gone to a beautifuler world than this,
though it doesn’t seem to me it can be true, and I know just where
papa put her in the ground when she died. I was there putting
flowers on her grave, and the grave of the Good Stranger, when
those bad men grabbed me and carried me away.”
Frank felt a queer thrill.
“The Good Stranger?” he said. “Who was that?”
“Oh, I loved him, and Dick loved him, and we all loved him, for he
was so kind. But the fever took him, and he died, too. He is buried
near my mama.”
“What was his name?”
“I don’t know. Old Joe called him White Beard, but I just called him
uncle.”
“How long ago was it that he died?”
“More than a week, now. Papa buried him, too.”
Bart’s hand fell on the shoulder of Frank, who was kneeling, with one
arm about the little girl. That touch told that Hodge was beginning to
realize just what Merry’s questions were leading to, which filled him
with eagerness.
“What is your papa’s name?” asked Merry, and then held his breath
as he waited for the answer.
“I just call him papa,” said the child. “Please take me to him. He will
be so sorry when he finds I’m not at home.”
“In a moment we’ll take you to him. You call him papa, but what do
others call him?”
“Nobody ever comes here much, except Old Joe, and he calls my
papa Silent Tongue.”
“Who is Old Joe?”
“A good Indian.”
Merry started a bit, and then quickly asked:
“Do you mean Old Joe Crowfoot?”
“Papa calls him Crowfoot sometimes. Please take me to my papa.”
“The scent grows hot!” muttered Hodge.
“And did you never hear your father called anything but Silent
Tongue? What did your mother call him?”
“Most times she called him dearest, but sometimes she called him
——”
“Yes, yes—she called him what?”
“Juan.”
“I knew it!” broke from Hodge. “We’re on the right trail, Merry!”
“At last!” exclaimed Frank, in deep satisfaction. “Little Felicia, we’ll
take you to your father without delay.”
 CHAPTER XI.
JUAN DELORES.

They left the big ruffian lying there in the darkness of the timber.
Little Felicia was placed on the back of the mustang, beside which
Frank walked, while Bart led the way along the path.
Having passed from the dark timber, they came out near the pretty
little lake, which was reflecting the golden glory of the lingering
sunset, flung up against the mountain-bordered sky. The crimson
and amber and purple were fading from the heavens as the somber
wing of night spread over the world.
“There are the Black Woods,” said the little girl, as she indicated a
thick mass of trees near the head of the valley. “My home is in
there.”
By the dying light Frank made out that she was very pretty, with dark
hair and eyes. She had a sweet voice.
“Felicia,” he thought, as they made their way toward the woods. “The
name seems to fit her. It seems strange to find such a child here.”
Merry was restraining the impatience that beset him, for now he felt
that he was near the end of his long search. He had no doubt that
the Good Stranger spoken of by the child was his father, who had
died there in that wild but beautiful spot—died as he had lived,
strangely.
There was a mystery to be unfolded, and Frank was determined to
clear it up, if possible.
“Up there,” said Felicia, with a gesture, “is the place where my mama
and the Good Stranger are buried.”
Frank was near the grave of his father, he believed. It was too late to
visit it then; besides, Merry felt that it was his duty to take the child
home without delay. Felicia had explained that her father was away
at the time when the men came upon her and carried her away,
having left some hours before, saying he would return ere nightfall,
and warning her to stay close to her cabin home.
As they approached the Black Woods they could discern the dark
opening where the trail entered. There the track was plain beneath
their feet. But when they were yet a little distance from the woods a
stern voice cried from the darkness of the shadows:
“Halt, dere!”
Bart stopped, his hand flying to the butt of his revolver. His rifle,
swinging from the saddle of his mustang, had been lost when the
escaping ruffian rode madly away on the beast.
“Don’t try to draw da gun!” came the voice from the woods. “Shoot
mighty quick if you do! Up with da hands!”
“It’s papa!” exclaimed little Felicia. “Papa! papa!”
Bart shrugged his shoulders and lifted his hands.
“T’other one put up da hands,” came the voice.
“We are friends,” declared Frank quietly. “We have just saved your
child from the hands of ruffians.”
“Put up da hands!” ordered the voice, and there was a clicking that
seemed to tell of a rifle being cocked. “I’ll shoot if you don’t!”
Merry stood up boldly, facing the point from which the voice came,
fearlessly saying:
“If you shoot, you will fire on those who have saved your child, which
will prove you a dastard. I refuse to be held up road-agent style, and
shall not lift my hands. Fire if you will!”
Silence for a moment, and then, quick as thought, the child leaned
over and put her arms about Merry’s neck, crying:
“Don’t, papa—don’t! He beat the big, bad man who was carrying me
away!”
Another silence, and then the voice called:
“Felicia!”
“Papa!”
“Get off dat horse and come here quick-a!”
She seemed to hesitate, and then she tightened her arms about
Frank’s neck, murmuring in his ear:
“Don’t be afraid. I’ll not let my papa hurt you.”
A second later she had slipped to the ground and was running
toward the dark woods, into which she disappeared.
Frank and Bart stood waiting what was to follow. The sound of
murmuring voices came from amid the grim old trees, and the child
was heard relating to her father the story of her thrilling and exciting
adventures. But it seemed that the man meditated upon the proper
course to pursue, for she was forced to plead with him in behalf of
Frank and Bart.
“They are good, papa—I know they are,” they heard her declare.
“The one who fought so hard for me with the great, big, bad man is
just as kind and gentle.”
After a time the man came forth from the darkness, leading the child
by the hand, while he carried his rifle in his other hand. He seemed
to be keenly on the alert, as if he did not trust the strangers, for all of
the words of his child.
“I have to t’ank you,” he said, with an accent, “for what you have
done. My little Felicia, she tell me. She is all I have left now. When I
come on my way home and hear da shooting, my heart it jump like a
frog into my mouth-a. I run home quick as I can, and call, call, call for
her. She do not answer. Den I t’ink somet’ing have happen to her,
and I start to run dis way fast. When I come here to da edge of da
woods I see you coming dis way, and I stop. You bring my little
Felicia back-a to me, and I t’ank you.”
The child seemed to look at her father in surprise, as if she were not
accustomed to hearing him speak thus freely.
“We are happy to be of service to you and little Felicia, Mr. Delores,”
said Merry quietly.
The man was seen to start a bit, while he gripped his rifle still harder.
“You know my name?” he said, a bit harshly.
“Yes.”
“How?”
“We have come far to find you.”
This seemed to put him more than ever on his guard.
“What do you want?”
“The story is rather long,” said Merry. “There is no chance for us to
get out of this valley to-night. Take us to your home and I will tell you
everything. I do not think you will regret it.”
“Why should I do dat? You are strangers.”
“That is true, but you knew Charles Merriwell.”
Frank looked straight and hard at the man as he uttered the words,
but, to his surprise, the father of little Felicia did not betray emotion
of any sort—or the darkness hid his betrayal.
“Charles Merriwell?” he said. “Who you mean?”
“The Good Stranger, who lies buried over yonder.”
“What you know ’bout him?”
“He was my father.”
Little Felicia gave a cry, but the man simply said:
“How you prove dat?”
“I can prove it. I am Frank Merriwell, well known in New Haven,
where I have been at college. This is my friend Bart Hodge, who will
tell you whatever you wish to know about me.”
“But I know not’ing of him. Dat be no proof. Have you de word?”
“The word?”
“Dat’s what I ask.”
Frank was forced to confess that he did not know what Juan Delores
meant by “the word.”
“Den you be not Frank Merriwell!” positively declared the man.
“I do not know what you mean by ‘the word.’” Merry said, “but I
assure you that you are wrong about me not being Frank Merriwell.”
“He would come with da word.”
“Then you have been expecting him?”
“I no say so.”
“But you have the same as said so. There has been a failure of the
plans, Mr. Delores, and that is why I do not come with the word you
expect. I will explain everything to you if you will give me a chance.”
“Why should I trust-a you?”
“Your daughter, safe at your side, answers that question.”
“Follow me,” said Juan Delores, turning about.
Frank had won, and he followed, Bart striding along at his side,
saying nothing, but thinking a great deal. They entered the Black
Woods by the dark trail, which it was now difficult to follow,
proceeding till they came to a cabin in the very midst of the growth.
No light gleamed from the cabin, but Delores said:
“Dis my home. Felicia, you take da stranger in da house and make
da light. I take da horse. I come prit’ quick.”
Frank surrendered the mustang to the man, and then they followed
little Felicia into the cabin, wondering why the home had been built in
the midst of that gloomy growth of trees.
The child found matches and lighted an oil-lamp which stood on a
table in the living-room—the room they had entered. The light
showed them a comfortably, even tastily, furnished room, much to
their surprise. It was small, but the walls were tinted blue, the floor
carpeted, and the furniture was good. There were handsome
paintings on the walls, while at the two windows were lace curtains.
A handsome piano stood in one corner of the room, opposite an
open fireplace of stone.
Both Bart and Frank were surprised, and they exchanged glances
which told each other their feelings.
By the light of the lamp, Merry saw that little Felicia was pretty,
indeed, with a dark, oval face, and snowy white teeth.
“Let me take your hats,” she said, smiling at them. “Sit down. Papa
will be right in.”
They sat down, and Merry, finding a guitar, soon occupied himself.
Having tightened the strings and put the instrument in tune, he
strummed lightly upon it, singing a soft little song to the girl, who
came and stood near, her hands clasped, looking at him earnestly.
While Merry was singing, Juan Delores came to the door and
paused a moment. He looked in and beheld the spectacle. It
reassured him and banished his fears. When he came in he closed
and bolted the door.
“I see you make yorse’f at home,” he said. “Good!”
He was a man with a Spanish face and deep, dark eyes. His face
was not exactly handsome, and yet about it there was something
fascinating. He had a mustache and imperial, which had once been
coal-black, but were now heavily mixed with gray.
Delores had studied Merriwell’s face as he stood outside the door,
and what he saw seemed to restore his confidence. Surely, this
frank-appearing youth who was singing to Felicia could not be very
bad.
But, when he looked at Bart, Delores was not so sure, for the face of
Hodge was not one so easily read.
Felicia clapped her hands.
“Oh, that’s a fine song!” she cried.
“You like music, do you?”
“Oh, yes, I do! I can sing.”
“I shall be delighted to hear you sing.”
“Mama taught me,” said the little girl soberly. “She used to sing such
sweet songs.”
Juan Delores had very little to say, though he lingered a while and
listened to their talk. At last he said:
“I see you all right, young gentlemen. I go get da supper. Mebbe you
be hungry?”
“Well,” smiled Frank, “to confess the truth, I am ravenous.”
“And I’m rather empty myself,” acknowledged Bart dryly.
“I have not much fine food,” said Delores; “but I t’ink I have somet’ing
to fill you on.”
“That’s what we’re looking for, Mr. Delores,” said Merry. “You’ll not be
troubled by our fastidiousness.”
“Can I help you, papa?” asked little Felicia.
“No; you stay and make da gentlemen company.”
Then, having stood quite still and looked at Merry, the queer man
suddenly held out his hand, exclaiming:
“I t’ank you, sir, for save my little girl. I love her. She is all I have left
since her mother go ’way forever.”
Frank was touched.
“Don’t mention it, Delores,” he said, as he took the offered hand.
“Her cry of distress appealed to me, and I was ready to fight to the
death for her.”
“I know da men who were carryin’ her off,” said Felicia’s father, his
eyes flashing. “Da come here an’ make da threat when da no find
what da want. I go to look for dem, but I did not t’ink da get dis side
of me. I t’ink my Felicia be safe.”
Then he stooped and put his arms lovingly about the little girl, whom
he kissed with great tenderness.
“You knew the men?” said Merry. “What did they want?”
“Somet’ing da never get,” answered Delores. “Da big one be
Gunnison Bill, da worst dog in da State!”
“That’s the one I had the fight with,” nodded Merry.
“With him? Why, he much bigger dan you!”
“Somewhat.”
“How you fight him?”
“Hand to hand. He pulled a knife on me, but I got him by the wrist
and forced him to drop it.”
Delores seemed unable to believe this.
“Why, you very young!” he said. “You almost boy. Gunnison Bill, he is
giant.”
“Mr. Merriwell is an athlete,” put in Hodge. “He is the champion all-
round athlete of Yale—or was.”
“Mr. Merriwell!” said Delores, again looking searchingly at Frank.
“Why you call him dat?”
“Because it is his name, even though you, for some unknown
reason, seem to think contrary.”
Juan Delores shook his head.
“It is very queer,” he said. “If he be Frank Merriwell, he should bring
da word.”
“I think I know what you mean by that,” said Merry. “‘The word’ is
something my father told you I would be able to give when I
appeared. I will explain after supper why I am unable to give the
word. I believe I can satisfy you, sir.”
“I hope you do dat; but never till you give da word am I to do it.”
“Do what?”
“Dat I shall not tell.”
“It is plain that you are bound not to betray your trust, Mr. Delores,
whatever it is. I admire you because you are faithful.”
“An’ I admire you because you whip da Gunnison Bill. How you do it
I cannot guess.”
“Oh, papa, he did fight so hard, and I was so afraid!” exclaimed
Felicia. “Once I thought sure the bad man would kill him right before
me, but I prayed to the Lord.”
“Did you pray?” breathed Frank, drawing her to his knee. “Bless you,
sweet little Felicia! Perhaps it was your prayer that saved my life!”
“Do you think so?”
“It may be. Who knows?”
“Quien sabe,” said Juan Delores. “But it was not Gunnison Bill dat be
most dangerous. It was da odder. I know him—I know Anton
Mescal!”
“Anton Mescal?” shouted Frank, leaping to his feet and clutching the
man’s arm. “Good heavens! do you mean to tell me that the man
with Gunnison Bill was Anton Mescal?”
“Dat his name. He come here an’ try to bluff me two days ago. I
laugh at him. He swear he make me laugh some odder way. He try
to keep his word.”
“Anton Mescal!” repeated Merry, in deep emotion. “And it was too
dark for me to recognize the wretch who stole the message from me!
Oh, if I had grappled with him, instead of Gunnison Bill!”
“Oh, if I had bored him with a bullet!” grated Hodge, who was even
more excited than Merry.
“You know him?” questioned Delores.
“Know him?” said Frank. “I never saw the scoundrel but once in my
life, but on that occasion he snatched from my hands the dying
message sent me by my father, who, I believe, is buried in this
valley.”
Delores could not help being impressed by the words and manner of
the two young men.