Excerpt
THE OATH OF DEL NORTE.
Rain had ceased to fall, but the night was intensely dark, with a raw, cold wind that penetrated to one's very bones.
Shortly after nightfall three men crossed the east branch of the Ausable River and entered the little settlement of Keene.
Of the three only one was mounted, and he sat swaying in the saddle, seeming to retain his position with great difficulty.
The two men on foot walked on either side of the horse, helping to support the mounted man. At intervals they encouraged him with words.
A few lights gleamed from the windows of Keene. Before a cottage door the trio halted, and one of the men on foot knocked on the door.
A few moments later a man appeared with a lighted lamp in his right hand, shading his eyes with his left as he peered out into the darkness.
"Who are you?" he gruffly asked, "and what do you want?"
"We want a surgeon or a doctor as soon as we can find one," answered the man at the door. "One of our party has been wounded by accident, and we wish to have his wound dressed."
"Another city sportsman shot for a deer, eh?" said the man in the doorway, with a touch of scorn in his voice. "It's the same old story."
"Yes, the same old story," acknowledged the man at the door. "He may die from the wound if we do not find a doctor very soon."
"There's no doctor nearer than Elizabethtown."
"Is there none in this place?"
"No."
"How far is Elizabethtown?"
"Twenty-five miles."
"How is the road?"
"It might be worse—or it might be better. You can't follow it to-night."
"We must. This is a case of life or death. See here, my friend, if you will help us out we will make it worth your while. We will pay you well. Have you any whisky in the house?"
"Mebbe so."
"It's worth five dollars a quart to us, and we will take a quart or more."
"I reckon I can find a quart for you," was the instant answer.
"If you will secure two horses and a guide to take us over the road to Elizabethtown to-night we will pay you a hundred dollars."
This offer interested the man with the lamp.
"Bring your friend in here," he said, "and I will see what I can do for you. Perhaps I can get the horses, and if I can——"
"Do you know the road?"
"I have been over it enough to know it, but it will be no easy traveling to-night. Better take my advice and stay here until morning."
The man outside, however, would not listen to this, but insisted that the journey to Elizabethtown must be made that night. He returned to his companions, and the mounted man was assisted to descend from the saddle. One of them held his arm while he walked into the house, and the other took care of the horse.
The lamp showed that the injured one had bloody bandages wrapped about his head. He was pale and haggard, and there was an expression of anxiety in his dark eyes. At times he pulled nervously at his small, dark mustache.
"Bring that whisky at once," said the wounded man's companion, as he assisted the other to a chair. "He needs a nip of it, and needs it bad."
The whisky was brought, and the injured man drank from the bottle....