_ CHAPTER XI. RUNNING THE GANTLET
Doctor Dick agreed to drive the coach back on condition that the driver who came to take charge should come on to Last Chance on horseback and be ready to come back with it.
He had shown that he did not fear the drive, but his business and professional duties demanded that he should be at Last Chance, and there he must remain.
He was secretly told by the agent that there was a valuable mail to go through in registered letters, and asked if he dared risk carrying them.
"By all means, sir, for I am driving to do my full duty," was the answer.
So the mail was made up, and at the last moment two passengers applied for seats.
They were strangers in W----, but said they were going to Last Chance to work in the mines, and they were accordingly given seats upon the box, as they preferred to ride outside.
Then the coach started on its return to Last Chance with Doctor Dick still holding the reins.
Having driven over the run once, and knowing what his relay teams could do, he started out to make the regular time on the run.
But there was alarm felt at Last Chance when half an hour had passed over schedule-time and the coach did not put in an appearance, and nothing was seen of it on the three miles of trail visible down the valley.
When an hour had passed the anxiety became great, for all conjectured that Doctor Dick had met the fate of Bud Benton and Dave Dockery.
Some said that the delay was because the doctor was new on the road, and this appeared to be a reasonable explanation, but Landlord Larry grew more and more anxious, and at last decided to go out with a party on a search for the delayed coach.
But, just as the men were told to get their horses, a shout arose down the valley that the coach was approaching, and soon after a cloud of dust was visible drifting along the stage-trail.
A shout arose, for it showed that at least some one was there, whatever had happened, to drive the coach in.
Then those who had said the delay was caused by the doctor being new to the trail began to crow, but only for a while, as Landlord Larry, who was gazing through a field-glass at the approaching stage, called out:
"There are only four horses--two are missing, for some reason."
It was now all conjecture as to the cause of delay. Again Landlord Larry had something to say, and it was to the effect that the coach was not dashing along with its accustomed speed in coming in at the end of the trail, that Doctor Dick was on the box, and alone, while he seemed to drive in a very careful manner, very different from his going away on his drive out.
Nearer and nearer came the coach up the valley, every eye upon it, and all wondering, guessing, and asserting their views of what had happened.
"The doctor is there, that is certain," said one.
"Two horses have been killed," another remarked.
"He may have lost them in the bad roads," was an answer.
"Perhaps they were shot down by road-agents."
"He has no passengers."
"See how he drives."
"He comes on as slow as a snail."
"See, he is driving with one hand."
"What does that mean?"
"His left hand is hanging by his side."
"He has surely been wounded."
And so the comments ran around, as all stood watching the coming coach, which half an hour after coming in sight rolled up to the hotel, came to a halt and was greeted with a wild chorus of cheers from the assembled miners.
The crowd that gazed at Doctor Dick saw that his handsome face was very pale, his eyes had a haggard look, and his teeth were firmly set. They knew that he had passed through some dread ordeal, and a silence fell upon all, awaiting for him to speak.
They saw that his left arm was carried in a sling, his handkerchief knotted around his neck, and that a red stain was upon his sleeve. Furthermore, they saw that the two wheel-horses were missing, the center pair having been put back in their place.
Upon opening the stage door to see if there were any passengers, Landlord Larry started back as the dead form of a man pitched out on his head.
The door being open it was seen that a second form was in the coach, all in a heap in one corner.
There were red stains upon the steps, and upon the leather cushions, and everything indicated that the stage had run a death-gantlet.
But, excepting for his pale, stern face, the doctor was as serene as a May morn, though his voice showed weakness when he spoke.
"I'll ask your aid, landlord, for I am weakened from loss of blood. Bind my arm up to stop the flow and I'll see how serious the wound is."
He said no more, but was at once aided from the box and over to his cabin, Landlord Larry leaving his clerk to look after the mails and the dead passengers.
Arriving at the cabin Doctor Dick had his coat-sleeve slit open and the bandage he had tied about his arm removed.
His silk shirt-sleeve was also cut, and then the wound was revealed in the fleshy part of the arm.
Taking a probe from his case Doctor Dick, after swallowing a glass of brandy, coolly probed the wound, found the ball, and, aided by Loo Foo, the Chinee, under his direction, soon extracted the bullet.
Then the wound was skilfully dressed, the arm rested in a sling, and Doctor Dick lolling back in his easy chair asked with the greatest coolness:
"Well, Landlord Larry, how goes all at Last Chance?"
The landlord was amazed at the calmness of the man, and said quickly:
"Oh, Last Chance is O. K.; but it is your run that we are dying to hear about, Doc."
"Well, it was a close call for me, Larry, I admit, for I found foes where I expected friends."
"You were held up?"
"Yes."
"Where?"
"At what you have very appropriately named the Dead Line, Larry."
"The place where Bud and Dave were killed?"
"Yes."
"It was the masked road-agents?"
"Not this time."
"Ah! who then?"
"I did not form their acquaintance by name, but perhaps a search of the bodies may reveal."
"You killed them?"
"Two."
"Where are the bodies?"
"I brought them along in the coach."
"I thought they were passengers who had been killed?"
"They were."
"How do you mean?"
"They left W---- booked as passengers, but reached Last Chance as dead-head road-agents."
"Now I begin to understand. It was your two passengers who attacked you?"
"Just so."
"It is a wonder that they did not kill you."
"They would easily have done so, had I not suspected them: but I grew suspicious, and without appearing to do so, watched their every look and move. When we drew near the Dead Line, they said they would lie down on top of the coach and rest, so they spread their blankets and did so.
"I thought this strange, as just before I had told them we were approaching the scene of the hold-ups. But I kept my eye upon them, and, as we neared the cliff, the sun shone brightly down and I distinctly saw the shadows of the two men as they arose and drew their revolvers.
"I drew mine as quick as a flash, turned, and caught this shot in the arm, while a second bullet whizzed by my head." _