Ralph Compton Whiskey River (14 page)

“If anybody calls their hand,” said Stackler, “it'll be on the Mississippi.”

“We didn't see another boat on the Arkansas, all the way from Fort Smith,” Ursino said. “Seems like there ought to be more traffic, at least to Little Rock.”

“Too dangerous,” said Stackler. “The last few months have been almighty dry, and in the best of times, rivers have shallow water in some places. I imagine these captains of the Estrello steamboats know where these treacherous waters along the Arkansas are.”

“I've heard a good captain can ‘grasshopper' a steamboat across a sandbar,” Clemans said. “These gents are not very sociable, but they know their jobs.”

“I sort of like Captain Jenks, after he told off Irvin and Suggs,” Betsy said. “Whatever else he may be, he's a gentleman.”

“I hope he
still
is when we return with all that whiskey,” Long said.

“I wonder if we can't talk some sense to Captain Jenks before we return to Fort Smith with the whiskey,” said Bill. “Suppose he knew—as we know—that the steamboat captains and their crews are supposed to die when the need for them is past?”

“It would be our word against Estrello's,” Mark said, “and these steamboat people are not making any money off us. Of course, we can't dismiss the idea entirely, because we have no idea what's likely to happen before we return to Fort Smith.”

“All right,” growled Irvin as he arrived in their midst, “what's going on here, a tea social?”

“We were taking a vote,” said Clemans. “We're trying to decide whether we'd prefer to see you hung, or backed up against a wall and shot.”

“We compromised,” Ursino said. “We decided we'd prefer to see you hung, but while you're kicking air, we'll shoot your carcass full of holes.”

“Where's Suggs?” Stackler asked. “Did the captain have to kill him?”

“He's with his own kind,” said Betsy. “On the lower deck with the mules.”

“There ain't a damn one of you got anything to be funnin' about,” Irvin said. “There'll come a time to shut your mouths, and I'm looking forward to it.” With all the arrogance at his command, he walked away.

“There it is,” said Mark. “He as much as told us Estrello aims for us to die.”

“Oh, Lord,” Amanda said, “that means he intends to kill the rest of you, and then force Betsy and me to lead him to the gold. I'll drown myself in the river before I'll do it.”

“I'll join you,” said Betsy.

When darkness fell, Bill, Betsy, Mark, and Amanda took refuge in the wagon that had belonged to Jake Miles.

“I swear I'm going to stop drinking water until this is over,” Amanda said. “I hate going to that lower deck after dark.”

“So do I,” said Betsy. “I keep looking for Suggs to show up.”

“Bill and me can go with you,” Mark said.

“I have a better idea,” said Betsy. “We'll stay on this deck, and get over there near the edge. When it dries, nobody will be the wiser.”

“Be sure there's nobody around,” Mark cautioned.

But they had barely reached the point near the edge of the upper deck when there was a shout. Irvin and Suggs came charging out of the shadows. Mark and Bill scrambled out of the wagon, but the damage had been done. With a shriek, Betsy and Amanda went over the side into the dark, muddy water below. Mark drew his Colt and fired three times. It was an accepted signal of danger on the frontier. One of the men on the third boat, the
Midnight,
fired three answering shots, and in the distance there were more shots as someone on the Goose relayed the distress signal. Making their way toward shore, the steamboats were grounded shy of it, for there was a lengthy sandbar. Men from the first three boats were wading in mud and water, and as Mark and Bill left the Star, they encountered Wolf Estrello.

“What the hell . . .” Estrello bellowed.

“Betsy and Amanda are in the river,” Mark shouted.

Captain Jenks arrived with a lantern and was told what had happened.

“We'd better begin walking the banks,” said Jenks. “Can they swim?”

“We don't know,” Bill said.

“I want to know who's responsible for this,” said Estrello, “and I want to know now.”

“I heard the shots,” Captain Jenks said, “But I saw nothing.”

“I fired the first three shots,” said Mark. “Betsy and Amanda were near the edge of the upper deck. Irvin and Suggs ran out of the darkness, startling them. That's when they went over the side.”

“Damn them,” Estrello said. “They've cost us the gold.”

“Damn the gold,” Mark shouted. “Let's look for Amanda and Betsy.”

“Some of you get aboard boat four,” said Captain Jenks, “and I'll take you across. We will have to search both riverbanks.”

All the men scrambled back aboard boat four. Captain Jenks guided the craft as near the opposite bank as he could, and the men aboard descended again into mud and water. Estrello was stomping the deck of boat four, bawling for Irvin and Suggs.

In the dark waters of the Mississippi, Amanda and Betsy fought the backwash from the steamboat's huge paddle wheel. When the vessel was far enough away and the water calmed, they swam for the nearest riverbank. They crawled out on their hands and knees, bellied down, and coughed up river water.

“Damn,” said Betsy, “are we in a mess. Estrello probably won't even look for us.”

“The hell he won't,” Amanda panted. “We know where the gold is. There's somebody with a lantern across the river. The question is, should we allow ourselves to be found? This might be the answer to our prayers, where Bill and Mark are concerned. Suppose we could reach a telegraph office and send a message to Fort Worth?”

“It might be worth a try,” said Betsy, “if we can send it collect. We don't have a cent between us. But it'll scare the hell out of Bill and Mark. They'll think we drowned.”

“I hate that, but we're trying to help them,” Amanda said. “Along a river like this, I can't believe there won't be a lesser town somewhere between here and St. Louis. Let's go upstream, the way the boats were going.”

They started walking, resting when exhaustion made it necessary. Soon the sounds of the search and the shouts of men were behind them. They could hear only the sound of the river and could see nothing in the darkness. There was no moon, and the twinkling stars seemed dim and far away. When they were able to walk no farther, they sprawled in the grass beneath a tree and fell into exhausted sleep.

 

Mark and Bill walked the riverbank at least two miles downstream without seeing or hearing anything. Clemans and Ursino were with them.

“We might as well turn back,” Bill said. “If they're alive, they won't be this far downstream.”

“And we don't even know if they could swim or not,” said Ursino.

“No,” Bill said, “and if they could, we may not find them. They're the kind who would use this as an opportunity to send that message to Fort Smith if they can.”

“I think you're right,” said Mark, “and if they're alive, they'll be somewhere upstream, the way the steamboats were headed. What's bothering me is how long Estrello will look for them before saying the hell with it and going on to St. Louis.”

But Estrello wasn't about to give up so easily. He found Irvin and Suggs hiding in Bill Harder's wagon on the Star.

“Come out of there, you troublemaking sons-of-bitches,” Estrello shouted.

“We didn't do nothin',” Suggs whined. “We saw somebody on deck and come up here to see who it was. It was all an accident.”

“You damned bunglers,” snarled Estrello. “If we don't find them, we've lost the gold, and I'll personally hang the two of you upside-down over a slow fire. Now get the hell off this boat and join the search.”

In their haste to escape Estrello's fury, Irvin and Suggs leaped over the side into neck deep water and mud. Quietly cursing Estrello, they stumbled up the riverbank not too far from where Betsy and Amanda had reached safety. Captain Jenks returned to the steamboat, to find Estrello pacing the deck.

“It's going to be impossible to find them in the dark,” the captain said. “Shall we just go on?”

“Hell, no,” said Estrello. “We're going to stay right here until first light and look some more, until we find them or their bodies.”

“It's going to cost you,” Captain Jenks said.

“You'll get everything that's coming to you,” said Estrello ominously.

Finally, exhausted from the search and having seen no sign of Betsy and Amanda, the men returned to the steamboats.

“We can't find them in the dark, Captain,” Bill said. “What's going to be done?”

“Estrello has ordered us to lay over here until daylight,” said Captain Jenks. “He will find the ladies or their bodies before we continue.”

Mark and Bill climbed into Jake's wagon, where they slept not a wink. They were wet, muddy, and exhausted, but none of that mattered. Amanda and Betsy were gone.

When the gray of approaching dawn crept over the eastern sky, they went in search of the captain. “Captain Jenks,” Mark said, “if we had horses, we could do this much quicker.”

“Then put one of the ramps in place and take your horses,” said Jenks.

“Nick,” Bill shouted, “will you and Vernon help us get this ramp in place?”

“Sure,” said Nick. “If you're taking your horses, we'll take ours. Mark, you don't have a horse or saddle.”

“I will,” Mark said. “Suggs and Irvin have saddles and horses. I'll borrow one, and I'll dare either of the skulking coyotes to say a word.”

Seeing the ramp in place, all the men from the
Star
—except Irvin and Suggs—took their horses for the search. It was Ursino who found a boot print where Amanda and Betsy had emerged from the river.

“They're walking upstream,” Nick shouted.

“I wonder if we're doing them any favors, tracking them down,” said Bill, as he and Mark galloped to join Nick.

“There's not much else we can do,” Mark said. “There may not be a telegraph office any closer than St. Louis. We can't leave them stranded on their own, without food.”

But as it turned out, Bill and Mark had no choice. As though he feared just such a possibility, Estrello had ordered men from boats two and three to unload their horses and join in the pursuit. Amanda and Betsy heard the horses coming and turned to look. Bill and Mark leaped from their saddles while the horses were still moving. Wearily, Betsy and Amanda stumbled to them, tears streaking the mud on their faces. Some of the men from boats two and three reined up.

“You're wasting time here,” Wilder said. “Get them on horses and back to the steamboats.”

“This is none of your damn business, Wilder.” said Mark.

“I'm makin'it my business,” Wilder said.

Wilder seized Mark's shirt by the collar from behind. Mark tore loose, and with a long night of bottled-up fury and frustration behind it, smashed his fist into Wilder's jaw. He went down and didn't get up.

“If Estrello don't kill you for this, you lead a charmed life,” said Stackler.

“I'm sorry we dragged you and Bill into this, Mark,” Betsy said.

“I'm not,” said Bill. “If Estrello wants to blame somebody, let him go after Irvin and Suggs. They started all this.”

Wilder sat up, a thin stream of blood trickling from the corners of his mouth. He looked at Mark and spoke in a venomous tone. “You don't do that to me and live to talk about it, bucko. One day you and me will meet where we're not bound by Estrello's ten commandments. Then we'll see just who's the better man.”

“I'm looking forward to that day, Wilder,” said Mark. “Until then, I'll be careful not to turn my back on you.”

Mark and Bill lifted Amanda and Betsy to their horses and mounted behind them. They soon arrived at the waiting steamboats, and with the ramp still in place, the riders trotted their horses aboard. When Amanda and Betsy were helped down by Mark and Bill, Captain Jenks actually smiled.

“You men get those horses below deck and unsaddled,” said Estrello. “We've lost too much time as it is.”

“Not until we settle something with you,” Mark said. “We're damn tired of Irvin and Suggs dogging us. The next one of them that steps out of the dark without warning will get a dose of lead poisoning.”

“I've taken care of that,” Estrello said shortly.

Not wishing to remain alone on deck, Amanda and Betsy went with Mark and Bill to the lower deck. waiting while they unsaddled the horses.

“In a way, I'm glad you found Betsy and me,” said Amanda, “and in another way, I wish you hadn't. We might have had a chance to send that message for you.”

“That's what we planned to do, after we thought about it,” Betsy added.

“I'm glad we found you, whatever the consequences,” said Mark. “We'd have lost our minds, not knowing if you were alive or dead.”

“What do you suppose Estrello's done with Irvin and Suggs?” Betsy asked.

“They're on the boat somewhere,” said Bill, “but I don't think they'll be bothering you or Amanda.”

“I'm surprised Estrello didn't shoot them both,” Mark said. “I think he's keeping himself a mental list, and when he starts killing folks, the troublemakers within his own outfit will be the first to go.”

“If I had the chance to shoot just one of these coyotes,” said Bill, “I think I'd rid us of Wilder. He's as much or more a danger than Estrello himself.”