CHAPTER XXVI.
SOMETHING OF A SURPRISE.
Andy was certainly as much dismayed as Matt at the discovery which had been made. Just at the time when they supposed that they were drawing closer to the object of their chase, they found that they were most likely further away than ever. The older member of the firm gave another groan, and this was supplemented, by another from the freight agent.
"I knew he couldn't cross that river," growled the latter. "Now, just see what a wild goose chase you have led us!"
"Oh, he crossed the river, there is no doubt of that!" returned Matt quickly. "But where we got off the track was somewhere among the mountains. We dropped the right track and took something that resembled it."
"Yes, that must be the truth of the matter," put in Andy. "It's too bad!"
"What's it all about, anyway?" questioned the tavern-keeper curiously.
In a few brief words Andy explained matters, while not only the tavern-keeper, but also the others in the place, listened with deep interest.
"Any reward offered for catching the rascal?" questioned one of the men present, a brawny individual—evidently a mountaineer.
"Yes," returned Matt quickly. "How much shall we offer, Andy?" he asked in a whisper.
"Twenty-five dollars would not be too much," returned his partner. "It is quite a sum to us, I know, but I guess we would rather have our turn-out back a dozen times over."
"We will give twenty-five dollars in cash for the return of our horse, wagon and goods," said Matt, in a voice loud enough for all to hear.
"Twenty-five dollars in cash!" repeated several, and it was plain to see that this offer was regarded as quite liberal.
"What kind of a looking turn-out is it?" was next asked.
Matt described Billy and the wagon. All listened attentively, and when he had finished the mountaineer who had first spoken tapped him on the shoulder.
"I'll go out with ye and hunt him up, stranger."
"So will I!" cried another.
"And I!" added a third, and soon six men stood ready to continue the search with Andy and Matt.
Seeing this, the freight agent decided to drive back home, taking a much better road, which led down to Easton. He did not lose any time in starting, and, if the truth must be told, both Andy and Matt were glad to be rid of him.
After he had gone the auctioneers procured another horse and wagon from the tavern-keeper and also a couple of lanterns. The mountaineer had a mule upon which he rode, and the other men went along on foot.
They traveled the road by which the young auctioneers had come. The village was situated in a small open spot, and now, when they once more found themselves between the mountains, they were enveloped in a darkness which the rays of the lanterns scarcely dispersed.
They traveled along as rapidly as possible, and inside of half an hour came to a fork in the road which Matt had had in mind since the discovery of their mistake had been made.
"We will examine the ground here," he said. "It is more than likely he branched off here."
He was soon hard at work, and all of the others with him. The wagon track they had followed was very plainly to be seen, and now Matt saw, at a spot which was covered with loose stones, where the thief had branched off with his stolen outfit.
"That is the road he took," he announced to the others. "Had we followed him from here in the first place we would most likely have caught up to him by this time."
"Is that 'ere track the right one?" questioned the mountaineer eagerly.
"I believe it is."
"Then I'm off fer the reward!" shouted the brawny fellow. "Git up, Bones!" and he slapped the mule with the flat of his hand, and was off without another word.
"Ramson will get it, sure," grumbled one of the other men. "No use for us to go any further."
And he turned on his heel and started back for the village, followed by most of the others, leaving a single man to race after the mountaineer on foot.
Matt and Andy were not slow to urge their fresh horse forward. But the way was now even darker than before and also rougher, and it was with difficulty that the wagon moved along.
"I don't believe he went very far on this road," said Matt, bringing the horse to a halt. "I am going to follow that track on foot."
He sprang down from the seat, and with the light close to the ground, moved along in front of the horse. It was well that he did so, for hardly had he advanced a hundred feet than he uttered a cry and came to a halt.
"What's up now?" questioned Andy, peering forward through the gloom.
"He turned off here and went into the brush on the left. Don't you see the tracks?"
"But there is no road through the brush. He would lose his way and get caught among the rocks further back."
"I have an idea that he drove away in here to hide the wagon," suddenly cried Matt. "He could very well do that, you know, and then ride off on horseback to some place and put up for the night."
"By the boots, I believe you are right!" returned Andy. "Why, of course that is just what he has done! How stupid of us not to think of that before."
"I hope the wagon is still O. K.," went on Matt. "It would be hard work to get a spring fixed in this out-of-the-way place."
"Well, we must find the wagon first. Supposing we tie up and go ahead on foot."
"I'm willing."
They were soon side by side, making their way through the brush and around the rocks as rapidly as they could.
"Let us go forward as silently as possible!" suddenly whispered the boy. "Barberry may still be around, and if that is so we want to surprise him."
"That's a good idea! What a pity we can't put out the light."
"We can't do without it. The track is growing fainter. We are coming to almost solid rock."
On and on they pushed, until Andy calculated that they had covered a distance of five hundred feet from the main road. Then they found themselves on the verge of a deep ravine, with a high wall of rock to the left of them.
"Phew! supposing he drove over that!" shuddered Andy, as he pointed into the blackness of the hollow. "That must be a hundred feet or more deep."
"He went to the right, Andy—the only way he could go. Have you any matches with you?"
"Yes. What do you want of them?"
"I am going to put out the light, for I fancy the wagon is not far off, and the thief may be around also. If we wish we can light up again later on."
Matt did as he had intimated, and the two found themselves in a darkness that was simply intense to the last degree. They could not see their hands before their faces, and had to literally feel their way along.
Matt went first, with his partner holding on to the hem of his jacket. They had progressed but a dozen feet when, on rounding a high rock, the young auctioneer stopped once more.
"I was right," he whispered. "The wagon is directly ahead."
"How do you know?"
"I can see the lantern, which is standing on the seat."
"Then the thief must still be around," returned Andy excitedly.
"I suppose so, but I don't see any one. Come on, but don't make any noise, or he may run away, and I think he ought to be captured and locked up."
"Certainly he ought to be placed under arrest. I am ready. Won't he be surprised when he sees us!"
Once again they moved forward toward where the auction wagon stood beneath the shelter of a large tree. Matt noted that Billy had been unharnessed and was tied to the rear, where he was engaged in making a meal of some feed which had been given him.
"Barberry is making himself at home evidently," murmured the young auctioneer to himself. "That fellow certainly has nerve!"
"Hold up!" suddenly cried Andy, catching the boy by the arm.
"What's up, Andy?"
"Look there, to your right!"
Matt did as directed, and saw a sight which both amazed and. alarmed him. There, by a little fire built to keep them comfortable in the night air, sat two burly men, drinking and smoking. Neither of the individuals was Paul Barberry.