Joseph Altsheler - The Quest of the Four - A Story of the Comanches and Buena Vista

"Now, what in thunder did he mean?" exclaimed theastonished innkeeper.

"I think he meant just what he said," replied Phil."He is going away from New Orleans. He certainlylooked it."

So far as he knew, the assertion was true, because, aslong as he remained in the city, he neither saw nor heardanything further of the Comanche. But the time for hisown departure was soon at hand, and in the excitementof it he forgot all about the Comanche.

The train made an imposing appearance with itssixty wagons and its horsemen, numerous and wellarmed. It was commanded by a middle-agedtrader of experience, Thomas Woodfall, who had alreadymade several trips to Santa Fé, and the hopes of all werehigh. They carried, among other things, goods that theseñoras and señoritas of Santa Fé would be eager to buy, and much gain might be obtained. But every one of thefour who rode so closely together thought most in hisheart of that for which he sought, and in no instance wasthe object of search the same.

But they were cheerful. Whatever were past griefs orwhatever might be those to come, the present waspropitious and fair. The Southern spring was not yet advancedfar enough to drive the cool tang out of the air bydaylight, while at night fires were needed. It rained butlittle, and they marched steadily on through crisp sunshine.

"I trust that the good Sir Roland is pleased," saidBill Breakstone to Phil. "Fresh air in the lungs ofyouth produces exhilaration."

"It's fine," said Phil, with emphasis.

"But we may yet come to our Pass of Roncesvalles.Bethink you of that, Sir Roland. They say that it's anill wind that blows nobody good, and I say that it's agood wind that blows nobody ill. The rain will rain, thesnow will snow, the wind will blow, and what will poorrabbit do then?"

"Get into his little nest, cover himself up warm anddry, and wait until it passes," replied Phil.

"Right, Master Philip. Go up to the head of theclass," said Bill Breakstone in his usual joyous tones-Philalways thought that Bill had the cheeriest voicein the world-"I'm glad to see you taking thought forthe future. Now our good friend Hans, here, would nothave made such an apt reply."

"Perhaps not, and I do not mind your saying so,Herr Bill Breakstone," said Arenberg, smiling broadly."No harm iss done where none iss meant."

"A fit answer from a loyal representative of theHohenstauffens, the Hohenzollerns, and theKatzenellenbogens," chanted Bill Breakstone.

"Ah, Herr Breakstone, it iss that you are one happyman," said Arenberg. "I wonder that you go to findsomething, when you have the joy of living anywhere."

"But I do go to find something," said Breakstone, suddenly becoming grave. Phil noticed that he puckeredup his eyes and gazed far into the West, as if he wouldsee already that for which he sought.

They traveled for several days among plantations in alow damp country, and then they passed suddenly beyondthe line of cultivation into a drier region of low hills andsmall prairies. Phil was pleased with the change. Ifthey were going into the wilderness, he was anxious toreach it as soon as possible, and this, beyond a doubt, wasthe edge of the unknown. The first night that he heardthe scream of a panther in the woods he felt that theywere leaving all civilization behind, and that, save for thetrain, the world of men was blotted out.

Yet it was very pleasant as long as the weatherremained dry, and the early spring was certainly doing itsbest. It was a succession of crisp days and cool nights, and Phil liked the steady advance by day through newlands, and the rest in the evening, when they built firesfor the cooking and to fend off the chill. They usuallydrew the wagons up in a circle in one of the littleprairies, and then went to the forest near by for woodthat belonged to whomsoever took it. Phil and BillBreakstone were always active in this work.

"It gives me an appetite for supper," said Breakstone."I would have you to know, Sir Philip of theForest, that sitting long hours on a horse which carriesme luxuriously along, the horse doing all the work and Idoing none, tends to laziness and fat. I need thisexercise to put me in proper trim for the luscious repast thatawaits us."

"I don't need anything to whet my appetite," repliedPhil, as he laughed. "To tell you the truth, Bill, I'malways hungry."

"Do not grieve or have fears for the larder, Sir Philipof the Hungry Countenance. There is an abundance offood in the wagons, and we also shall soon be in a goodgame country. Unless my eye and hand have lost theircunning, a fat deer shall speedily be roasting over thecoals."

The four kept close together, and they usuallygathered around the fire at which Thomas Woodfall, theleader, sat. Woodfall had shown a decided respect andliking for Middleton, and, following the custom whichBreakstone had established, always addressed him as Cap, short for Captain. Phil and Breakstone had beenparticularly active gathering wood that evening, and it hadbeen Phil's task and pleasure, when it was all put in aheap, to light it. Now he was watching the little flamesgrow into big ones, and the yellow light turn to blazingred. He listened, also, as the flames hissed a littlebefore the wind, and the dry boughs snapped and crackledunder the fiery torch. Middleton regarded him withkindly approval.

"A good boy," he said to Woodfall. "A lad withfine instincts and a brave spirit."

"And a mighty handy one, too," said Woodfall."I've noticed how he works. He's as big and strongas a man, and I never saw anybody else who was justprized down like a hogshead of tobacco, crowded full ofzeal."

"I think it likely he will need it all before our journeyis over," said Middleton.

"It's probable," repeated Woodfall, "but I'll askyou, Cap, not to speak it. It may be that thisexpedition was begun at the wrong time. I had heard, and theowners had heard, that the troubles with Mexico werequieting down, but it seems that, instead of doing so, they are getting livelier."

"I shall certainly say nothing about it to our peoplehere," replied Middleton. "Cheerful hearts are the best, and we may have trouble with neither Mexicans norIndians."

Phil himself was not thinking at that moment ofeither yellow or red foes. His fire had grown into amighty pyramid, and, as the dead wood burned fast, itsoon sank down into a great mass of glowing coals.Then he, Breakstone, and Arenberg boiled coffee in bigiron pots, and cooked bread and many slices of bacon.The night was cool and nipping, but the coals threw outan abundance of heat. A delicious aroma arose andspread far. Everybody came forward with tin cup andtin plate, and helped himself. Phil took his filled platein one hand, his filled cup in the other, and sat down ona fallen log with Breakstone and Arenberg.

"In my time, and as an ornament to the stage," saidBill Breakstone, "I have eaten some bountiful repasts. Ihave feasted as a prince, a duke, or some other lordling.I have been the wrestler in the Forest of Arden with Rosalind and Celia . I have had my head deep in themug of sack, as Sir John Falstaff , but most of thosemagnificent repasts depended largely upon the imagination.Here I am neither prince nor duke, but the food isreal, and the air is so good that one might even bite achip with a certain pleasure. Excuse me, Sir Philip ofthe Forest, while I even drain the coffee-cup."

He took it all down at one draught, and a beatificglow overspread his face. Arenberg regarded him withadmiration.

"Ach, Mein Herr Breakstone, but you are one cheerfulman!" he said. "You never do any harm, becausenone iss meant. When you drink the coffee you makeme think of the German in the old country drinking beer, and you like it as well."

"I snatch the joys of the flying day, or, rather, night, and think not of the ills of the morrow," repliedBreakstone. "Somebody somewhere said something like that, and, whoever he was, he was a good talker. To-morrow,Phil, I think I may get a chance to show you how toshoot a deer."