“Well, I’ll be derned!” grunted Big John, as they hustled along, “what d’ye make of that?--I’m wise, boys!” he laughed. “Them brave bucks has told the hogans that their friend, Mister Black Panther, has come and took _Niltci_--an’ they’re all stickin’ close to home, scairt to death! Hep, boys--hep!” CHAPTER VIII SILENT PINES AND YELLOW CRAGS “Shore I’m shy a good hat!” exclaimed Big John whimsically, as they slackened speed and began to look about through the gloom for some sign of the Colonel and the pack train. He took off his old Montana Stetson and twirled it ruefully in his hands. It was black as the night, where it had been gray, and out of two holes up near the crown he stuck two fingers and wiggled them at the boys. “I shore oughtta go on the stage after that panther stunt, boys,” he drawled, his face breaking into a slow grin. “When I left you, I worked around to whar the Injuns hed their big fire an’ got me some charcoal. Then I crep’ over to them rocks an’ lay thar, waitin’ till you come, and blackin’ up the ole cage all over good. Then I cuts two holes in her, an’ dolls her up with yore matches tied in two round bundles. Arter a while, when I thinks you-all shore must be hyarabouts, I spits on me hands and rubs them matches good. Shore ’twas funny!” he chuckled. “I looks me ole sombrero over an’ like to hev scairt myself to death with them two fox-fire eyes glarin’ at me out’n thet black hat! But ’twan’t a fleabite to the way them redskins lit out, an’ you two boys allowed to sell yore lives dear when I lets out that yelp intended to represent a panther’s call an’ oozes out into the scenery!” “I was just frozen stiff with fright,” admitted Scotty frankly. “We thought it was the Old Boy, himself, coming for us!--I’m not sure about it, even now!” Niltci grunted and stopped, transfixed with astonishment. “You?” he asked, incredulously, pointing his finger at Big John. “Shore ’twas me, Injun. Shore!” cackled the latter, facetiously. “No!” “Thunder, yes!” came back Big John, raising his voice all he dared. “NO!--Heap big lie!” squeaked Niltci. “Dsilyi’s panther him come!” he insisted. “I tell you, it was a stroke of genius, John!” laughed Sid; “the Indians must think it’s all over, or inside, with Niltci, now! That idea came to me, back there when we were freeing him; so I kept his thongs so they wouldn’t find anything. Makes it all the more miraculous, you see. They won’t think of following us.” Big John’s jaw dropped and he stopped dead. “Sid, you shore has a headpiece on you!” he declared, admiringly. “I never thought of that myself. My idee was jest to heave a gosh-almighty scare into ’em--but I never thought I’d get you boys, too!” and he broke into a huge chuckle again. A tiny point of light winked twice out of the gloom ahead, and then all was impenetrable darkness again. “Over this way, fellows,” whispered Scotty, who had noticed it, “that’s the Colonel’s flasher. He must have heard us.”