"Is it proper for me to ask, sir, whether Captain Freeman knows that you are trying to send this message?"
"Captain Freeman does not know, to a certainty, but he may suspect, and he may have men out to catch you."
"Thank you, sir. C Company's men won't get us if there's any way to prevent it."
"Join the company as soon as you can locate us, men. Firing may guide you, but, in that case, you'll have to avoid joining the wrong company."
Both young soldiers once more saluted. Then, with the message securely tucked in Hal's haversack, the bunkies started down the trail. They had not gone many yards ere they heard the orders for Cortland's company to fall in for the advance.
A mile of the distance Hal and Noll had covered when they encountered the slow-moving wagon train.
"Hello, rookies!" called Corporal Raynes banteringly. "Where are you headed."
"Yes, it's surely a fine day, Corporal," nodded Hal, as the two bunkies hurried on.
"That Overton kid is the one I must get hunk with before many days are over," grunted Raynes. "I must make him look as cheap with his company commander as he's made me look with mine."
When the wagon train had gone about two miles and a half further up the trail Corporal Raynes shook with his own chuckles.
He had run across his chance, and was shrewd enough to recognize it.
CHAPTER VI
RAYNES FINDS A PATRIOTIC ALLY
THE trail was broader here.
Some thirty feet from the rough road an old-time log cabin, well preserved, stood in a little grove of trees.
Before the door, on a backless chair, sat an old man, roughly clad in buckskin, who was dividing his time between talking to a dog and cleaning the old rifle that lay across his knees.
As the horses had had a hard pull, the wagon boss ordered a halt on this level stretch of trail.
Corporal Raynes, his head buzzing with half a dozen plans, leaped down from the wagon in his restored shoes. He sauntered slowly over to this old-time hunter.
"'Day, Pop," he greeted the old man.
"'Day," grunted the other. "You're a soger, I reckon?"
"Yes," admitted Raynes, seating himself on the ground and producing his pipe. "Uniform gives me away, doesn't it?"
"Some," returned the old hunter. "There's been a thunderin' lot of ye around to-day. I've heard a heap of firing twicet to-day."
Corporal Raynes nodded.
"Wa'n't shooting up nothing real, was ye?" inquired the old man.
"No, Pop; what we call manœuvres," Baynes explained.
"Jest plain, tom-fool, sham fighting, eh?"
"That's it," nodded the corporal. "But it isn't so tom-fool, after all. It teaches soldiers a lot about the real manœuvres of war."
"Huh! I wonder ef it teaches ary mother's son of ye any better how to fight the Japs when your time comes?"
"You think we're going to fight the Japs some day, do you?" inquired Baynes, finishing the filling of his pipe.
"Think?" retorted the old man testily. "I don't have to think. Some day we've got to depend on you sogers to drive them pesky brown critters back into the Pacific Ocean, or the Japs will own the whole coast and clean up here to the Rockies."
"You don't seem to like the Japs, Pop?" observed Corporal Baynes, puffing at his pipe.
"Like 'em? The same way I do pizen, rattlers and grizzlies!" exclaimed the old man with unlooked-for passion.
Corporal Baynes jumped inwardly with glee. In a flash the whole of his plan came to him.
"Have you seen any soldiers go by on this trail, Pop?" asked Baynes.
"Some," nodded the old man. "'Bout an hour ago nigh onter a hundred of 'em went by. 'Bout twenty minutes ergo 'nuther hundred or so came along and tramped up that way. They didn't stop, so I didn't ask any questions."
"If you had," prodded Corporal Baynes, "you would have learned something. The first company was C Company, and they represent American soldiers."
"Well, that's what they are – American sogers. Why shouldn't they stand for it?"
"But you see, the second company that went by here – B Company – they stand for Japs. In the game of manœuvres that the officers are playing the second company, B, are supposed to be a force of Japanese troops that are chasing the American troops through the Rockies."
"What do they wanter play that for?" demanded the old hunter, his eyes blazing wrathfully. "Why don't yer fool officers play that it's American sogers chasing Japs back to where they belong?"
"Well, you see, the Americans may yet win out, before the game is played through," Baynes offered consolingly. "It all depends on which company is manœuvred better by its officers. I belong to C Company, by the way; the American forces, you know."
"Well, I reckon I like ye better for that," nodded the old man.
"Pop, I wonder if you'd be willing to help the American company beat the Japanese company and bag it, whole hog?" proposed Raynes cleverly.
"Would I?" demanded the old man eagerly. "But, sho! What could I do, d'ye reckon?"
"Now, Pop, I reckon a couple of hours from now, or maybe three, there'll be two young soldiers come up along this way. You'll know 'em when you see 'em."
Raynes dropped into a description of Hal and Noll, while the old man listened attentively.
"Now, they'll probably ask you, Pop, which way the second company went. That's B Company, the Japs, you know. If they don't ask you outright, then you must fix it for 'em to ask you."
"I'll manage it," nodded the old hunter, a look of craft coming into his eyes.
"Now, don't let the make-believe Jap soldiers know that their company kept on up this trail. Tell 'em anything you like that'll send then off the trail – over to that hill, say," continued Corporal Raynes, pointing to a rocky peak distant about three miles. "Send 'em hiking straight over there. Then they won't get through with their news in time, and the American company will have a fair chance to bag the Jap company, whole hog. D'you see?"
"Don't I, though?" demanded the old-time hunter.
"Think you can work it, Pop?"
"Young man," demanded the hunter, "d'ye reckon I look like anybody's fool?"
"You sure don't," nodded Raynes. "And here's something to pay you for your trouble."
The scheming corporal tried to slip a two-dollar bill into the other's hand, but the latter drew away from it.
"Take it," urged Raynes. "It's government money."
"Young man, I'm an American, and I don't have to be paid to stand by my own country! I'll do all ye say, and more, ef I git a chance, jest to see the American company wallop the make-believe Jap company."
"You'll do us a huge service if you don't fall down on the job, Pop. Why, the news will travel all the way to Japan, and the Japs will gnash their teeth over it."
"I'll put the trick through fur ye, young man – even if I have to use bear traps to ketch the two young soger boys ye told me about," promised the aged hunter earnestly.
"Say, Corporal, cut your tether, if you're going to ride with us," called the wagon boss.
"I'm coming," announced Corporal Raynes, rising. "Don't forget, Pop," he whispered back over his shoulder.
"Ye kin trust me, young man!"
By the time he was out of sight of the cabin, around a turn of the road, the chuckles inside of Corporal Raynes got so close to the surface that they surged over.
"What's the smile, Corporal?" demanded the wagon boss.
"Oh, I'm pretty near choking over one of the lying yarns that old fellow told me about how he bagged twelve grizzlies single handed one day," lied the corporal.
"He must be a talented old liar," nodded the wagon boss.
"He is," agreed Corporal Raynes. "I never could understand, either, why anyone would take the trouble to lie unless he was paid for it."
Hal and Noll, all unsuspicious of trouble of any other kind than that against which Captain Cortland had warned them, kept on cautiously along the trail, then branched off at the road shown them on the map. Two miles further on they reached a village, with its two hotels for health-seekers, cottages and other buildings.
Even in this basin in the mountains the Western Union Company had penetrated. The two young military messengers found the telegraph office, turned over their message and then were ready to return.
"But, war or no war," declared Noll bluntly, "I'm not going to start back until I've crossed the street and had an ice cream soda."
"We'll have two," laughed Hal boyishly, "and then make up for lost time on the trail."
Unmindful of the curious glances cast at two soldiers in full field equipment, Hal and Noll enjoyed their treat to the utmost. Then they started back, traveling fast.
Nor did they run into any lurking detachments from C Company. Their "hike," as a fast march is termed, was uneventful until they reached the old hunter's cabin.
"Pop" was awaiting their coming, and a keen look flashed into his old eyes when he saw them and recognized them from Raynes's description.
"Sogers, hey?" he demanded, going sociably down to the road.
"Yes, sir," nodded Hal respectfully as he paused.
"Seen a lot of 'em go by to-day," continued the hunter.
"Then you're the man we want to see, sir," went on Private Overton. "Did two companies go by this way?"
"Yes, soger boy. They was 'bout three-quarters of an hour apart. And I reckon ye belong to the second one. Let me describe yer captain."
The old hunter gave a clear description of the personal appearance of B Company's commander. There is little that escapes a hunter's eyes or recollection.
"Yes," broke in Hal eagerly. "That was our commander, Captain Cortland."
"I wanted to be dead sure," resumed the old hunter artfully, "for yer captain left a message for ye, and he wanted me to be particular that no other sogers got it."
"Naturally," assented Hal unsuspiciously.
"Jest above here," continued the hunter, "yer captain turned his men to the left and went off over the rocks, kinder careful like, as though he didn't want any other sogers to see where his men was going."
"Yes; of course," agreed Hal. "That's part of field manœuvres."
"The word yer captain left with me, soger boy, was that he was going to camp his men – hidden, of course, ye understand – on that peak yonder to-night. That's where he said ye two soger boys was to join yer company. Reckon ye kin travel over that-a-way? There ain't no trail to that peak, ye understand?"
"Of course we can, sir," Hal answered respectfully. "If the rest of the company can go to that peak we can follow our comrades there."
"Then I've delivered my message from yer captain," finished the old hunter with a satisfied air.
"And thank you very much," acknowledged Hal. Both he and Noll saluted the venerable old man of former times.
"Nice spoken soger lads, them," muttered "Pop," as he watched the bunkies step off the trail and start to cross the rocky wastes to the distant peak. "If they wa'n't make-believe Japs in this tom-fool sham fight I'd feel ashamed of myself. But I reckon a little extry hardship will do 'em good, anyway."
"Say," muttered Noll, halting, when they had gone something more than a mile of the rough way, "I don't want to criticize my commanding officer, but I wish he had chosen a camping spot that was easier to reach."
"It's a dandy good place up on that peak, anyway," laughed Hal, whose feet were beginning to feel decidedly sore. "C Company's men wouldn't enjoy hiking over this rough ground in the dark to make a night attack."
They covered another mile.
"I'm beginning to think that old fellow gave us a false scent," grumbled Noll. "I don't believe Captain Cortland would be heartless enough to march heavily laden soldiers over ground like this."
"Why, the old man back at the cabin was the soul of courtesy, and he described Captain Cortland to a dot," returned Hal.
Dusk was coming on by the time the bunkies had covered the rest of the distance, and had reached the ledges near the top of the lonely peak.
"Now, where's B Company?" demanded Noll almost savagely.
"Come along this way," proposed Overton. "We'll explore."
Through the gloaming the sore-footed soldier boys plodded on until Noll suddenly halted, gripping Hal stoutly.
Right in front of them, ambling their way, came a huge furry something. It wasn't a grizzly, but it was the next worse thing – an unusually large, dark-brown bear.
"Duck!" counseled Private Overton, promptly wheeling about. "Slip in a ball cartridge as you run!"
Nor did Noll lose any time in following the advice, for the brown bear was now in swift pursuit, growling ominously.
Somehow, it didn't seem easy to slip in a ball cartridge while they were running at top speed.
"There's a ledge. Get in behind it, and I'll follow, Noll!" shouted Hal, crowding his bunkie toward the ledge.
Down behind the ledge dropped both bunkies.
There was an opening in the rock of some sort behind them, but in their haste neither young soldier stopped to look at it.
Hal had succeeded in slipping a cartridge into his rifle. Noll did that, and also fixed his bayonet at the muzzle of his piece.
Bang! went Hal's gun, but he had "bear ague."
"Missed him, Noll! Take quick, sure aim!"
But at that instant another hoarse growl sounded behind them, and Private Terry could fairly feel his hair rise under his campaign sombrero as he yelled:
"Here's another coming at us in the rear, Hal! Must be the old female bear!"
CHAPTER VII
BEARS AND OTHER TROUBLES
NOR was there any doubt about the correctness of Noll Terry's guess.
He had only time to back against the ledge when the bear from the rear, uttering a nasty, growling snarl, leaped straight for him.
But Noll had braced the butt of his rifle against the ledge, the bayonet up.
It was no plan on Terry's part. He did it either instinctively or through sheer luck.
In the meantime the male bear, showing two fearsome rows of teeth, was crawling over the ledge from outside to get at Hal Overton.
Let it be frankly stated, Hal's teeth were almost a-chatter. He was scared all the way through, but he did not lose his head.
Shooting back the bolt of his rifle, he reached for another cartridge.
He had already used one, and only six to a man had been issued on this period of field duty.
There was no time to slip in the cartridge. Overton was compelled to leap up straight and club his gun.
Thump! Down came the butt of the weapon with a force that would have cracked the skull of a man.
But bruin merely stumbled.
Just then another thump sounded, followed instantly by a snarl of pain.
The she bear had sprung straight for Noll, but rifle and bayonet were in the way.
Noll held his gun rigidly, though not by calculation. All but frozen with terror he would not have been capable of action.
So the flying bear struck squarely against the bayonet, hurling herself with her whole weight and momentum against the point of the steel.
But the bayonet did not touch a vital spot. There was still a big amount of fight left in the she bear.
As she lurched backward the huge beast almost jerked the rifle out of Noll's hands, for the bayonet was still deeply embedded.
At the instant of clubbing his gun Hal had had his cartridge in one of his hands.
Now young Private Overton loaded faster than ever he had been able to do in drill.
Bang! The sharp report rang almost deafeningly in the narrow confines at the mouth of the cave back of the ledge.
Hal had shot his bear, though he had not inflicted a mortal hurt.
But bruin backed off, snarling, desiring to study the scene for a second or two before deciding on further attack.
That nearly stunning report had the effect of bringing Noll to his senses. He had a cartridge in his chamber. Cocking the piece, he pulled the trigger feverishly.
He inflicted another wound on the she bear, though he did not put that maddened animal out of business. Yet the beast drew back so sharply that Private Terry was able to free his bayonet from entanglement.
"Fix your bayonet, Hal, if you have a chance," shouted Noll Terry, as he now leaped gallantly after the maddened animal that was claiming his attention.
Hal did, not a moment too soon, for now bruin was at him again.
Two quick, sharp thrusts Hal made, the first just as bruin was rising on his hind feet to advance to hug the young soldier.
The second thrust tapped bruin on the left shoulder just as he sank to all fours.
Then Private Overton turned sick again, as he saw the dripping fangs of the beast come closer.
Darting back a dozen feet, Overton, in frantic haste, jammed in his third cartridge.
"Steady, boy!" he urged himself. "This is for your life!"
Bruin made a spring. The muzzle of the rifle was not four feet from the male bear's heart as Hal Overton pulled the trigger.
That was the end of bruin. The beast fell and rolled over on his side.
Like a flash Hal turned to see what help his bunkie needed.
Plenty of it, apparently, for Noll, crowded back to the wall, was making furious drives with his bayoneted gun in his efforts to keep the she bear from leaping and forcing him down to the ground.
Hal had to think like lightning.
He decided on a cartridge.
Slipping back his bolt, and thus ejecting the cartridge shell in the chamber, Overton jammed fresh ammunition home.
Click! shot the bolt faintly.
Dropping to one knee, in the gloom Hal aimed, as nearly as he could judge, just behind the left fore-shoulder of the she bear. Then he pulled on the trigger just as the she bear sprang at Noll Terry.
At the report the she bear toppled over with a grunt of pain. Noll leaped forward, thrusting his bayonet time after time.
Private Overton, clubbing his rifle, delivered several forceful whacks over the head of the expiring animal, which then lay quiet.
"We've settled their case, Noll," Hal remarked in an awed voice.
"Glad of it," quoth Noll dryly.
To their ears now came a whining further back in the cave.
"More bears?" asked Noll grimly. "If so, I'm in favor of sounding a retreat."
"And I'll be with you," agreed Soldier Hal. "But wait a second. I've a box of blazer matches with me. First, slip all your cartridges into your magazine."
Both soldiers did this. Then Hal, striking a blazer match, led the way back into the cave.
"Poor little beggars," he muttered suddenly. "I thought so."
"What?" asked Noll, stepping forward.
"Look."
"Cubs!"
"No wonder the old she bear was savage," glowed Noll.
On a rude bed of dried leaves and twigs tumbled five furry, fuzzy, whining little bear cubs.
"We've broken up a family's happiness this night," muttered Hal, looking down.
"Well, it was their family, or two bunkies," retorted Noll, nevertheless feeling almost ashamed as he bent down over the innocent, harmless, bereaved little cubs.
"Shall we put 'em out of their misery?" asked Hal.
"I – I haven't the heart to."
"Well, I'm afraid I haven't that kind of heart, either. But, see here, Noll!"
"Well?"
"We're in the heart of the enemy's country. If one of C Company's scouting detachments comes this way I don't want them to find the two dead bears and take 'em away in triumph. It would be treason to our own B Company to let C Company come in for an unearned feast on nice, juicy bear steaks."
"That's so," agreed Noll.
"Help me, and we'll drag both carcasses back into the extreme inner end of the cave. Then, if Captain Cortland approves, he can send men here and it will be B Company that'll feast on bear steaks."
Both bunkies worked industriously until this task had been accomplished.
"Speaking of bear steaks," announced Hal, "makes me realize that I'm famished myself. Now, as we're clear off the trail of B Company – and that's no dream – we'll have to put in the night finding our comrades. So a few minutes spent munching hardtack won't count."
"And not forgetting the salted almonds we bought in the village this afternoon," rejoined the other young soldier.
Down on the floor of the cave the bunkies squatted themselves.
The work of eating absorbed both for the next few minutes.
Then, of a sudden, they halted, astonished.
Human footsteps sounded on the rocks outside.
Privates Overton and Terry stopped their eating, neither venturing to speak, for a voice outside was saying:
"Sergeant, instruct the men not to light fires. They'll have to sup on hard tack alone to-night. Fires would betray us to the enemy."
Then Hal placed his mouth close to Noll's ear and whispered:
"Bunkie, we're pickled!"
Noll pressed his comrade's arm understandingly.
"Pickled and sealed in jars," Hal's whisper continued. "C Company is camping here, and we'll be prisoners inside of a minute. And, great Scott – C Company eats the bear steaks!"