The Quest of the Four: A Story of the Comanches and Buena Vista. Altsheler Joseph Alexander

day was now drawing to a close, and the two atesupper with a strange company in the large dining-roomof the boarding house. Phil, a close observer, noted thatsix languages were spoken around that more or lesshospitable board. He understood only his own, and a littleFrench and Spanish, but the difference in sound andintonation enabled him to note the others. One of themen who sat opposite him was a big fellow withglistening gold rings in his ears, evidently a West Indian ofsomewhat doubtful color, but he was quiet, and atedextrously and skillfully with his knife. A sallow youngMexican with curling black mustaches complainedincessantly about his food, and a thin New Englander spoke attimes of the great opportunities for capital in the Southwest.

      Phil and Arenberg, who sat side by side, said little, but both watched all the other guests with interestedeyes. The one who held Phil's gaze the longest was asmoothly shaven young man on the other side of thetable. It was the difference between him and the othersthat aroused Phil's curiosity. He sat very erect, withhis square shoulders thrown back, and he never spoke, except to accept or reject the food passed by colored girls.His eyes were blue, and his face, cut clear and strong, betokened perception and resolve. Phil believed that hecould like him, but his attention by and by wanderedelsewhere.

      Philip Bedford had not felt so nearly content for manydays. The making of a new friend was a source ofstrength to the boy, and he felt that he had taken a stepforward in his great search. Fresh confidence flowed likegood wine into his veins. He had friendly feelingstoward all those around the table, and the room itselfbecame picturesque. He ate of strange dishes, French orSpanish, and liked them, careless what they were. Amild breeze came through the open windows, and theoutlines of buildings were softened in the dusk. Withinthe room itself six candles in tall candlesticks, placed atregular intervals on the table, cast a sufficient light.Two young colored women in red calico dresses, and withred turbans on their heads, kept off the flies andmosquitoes with gorgeous fans of peacock feathers, whichthey waved gently over the heads of the guests. Philbecame deeply conscious of the South, of its glow and itsromance.

      The guests, having a sufficiency of food, left the tableone by one. The young man with the smooth face wasamong the first to go. Phil noticed him again andadmired his figure-tall, slender, and beautifully erect.He walked with ease and grace, and his dress of plainbrown was uncommonly neat and well fitting. "I shouldlike to know that man," was Phil's thought.

      After dinner the boy and Arenberg sat on the verandain the dusk, and talked in low voices of their plans.They deemed it better to keep their intentions tothemselves. Many expeditions were fitting out in NewOrleans. Some were within the law, and some were not.Wise men talked little of what was nearest to their hearts.

      "If we go into the West-and we are going," saidPhil, "we shall need weapons-rifles, pistols."

      "Time enough for that," said Arenberg. "If wehave the money, we can arm ourselves in a day.Weapons are a chief article of commerce in New Orleans."

      An hour later they went up to their room and to bed.Phil carried his money on his person, and most of hisother belongings were in a stout leather bag or valise, which was fastened with a brass lock. It was necessaryfor him to open the bag to obtain some clean linen, andas Arenberg's back was turned he took out, also, a smallpaper, yellow and worn. He opened it for the thousandthtime, choked a sigh, and put it back. As he relocked thebag and turned, he noticed that Arenberg also had beenlooking at something. It seemed to be a photograph, and the German, after returning it to his own bag, gazedabsently out of the window. His face, which at othertimes was obviously made for smiles and cheeriness, washeavy with grief. A flood of sympathy rushed overPhilip Bedford. "I wonder what it is he seeks outthere," the boy thought as he looked unconsciouslytoward the West. But he had too much delicacy of mindto say anything, and presently Arenberg was himselfagain, speaking hopefully of their plans as they preparedfor bed.

      Phil slept soundly, except for one interval. Then hedreamed a dream, and it was uncommonly vivid. Hesaw Hans Arenberg rise from his cot, take from his bagthe small object which was undoubtedly a photograph, goto the window, where the moonlight fell, and look at itlong and earnestly. Presently his chest heaved, and tearsran down either cheek. Then his head fell forward, andhe dropped the photograph to his breast. He stood inthat stricken attitude for at least five minutes, then heput the photograph back in the bag, and returned to hiscot. In the morning Phil's recollection of the dream wasvery vivid, but Arenberg was cheery and bright.

      The boy and the man ate breakfast together in thedining-room, a breakfast of oranges-Phil had never seenan orange until he came to New Orleans-cakes andbutter and coffee. Only a few of the diners of the eveningbefore were present when they went into the room, butamong them was the young man with the shaven face andthe firm chin. Phil liked him even better in the morninglight. His seemed the kindly face of a man with a strongand decided character. Their eyes met, and the strangersmiled and nodded. Phil smiled and nodded back.After breakfast Phil and Arenberg went out upon theveranda. The man was already there, smoking a cigarette.

      "Fine morning," he observed easily. "One could notask anything better than these early spring days in NewOrleans. In the North we are still in the grasp of snowand ice."

      Phil and Arenberg also sat down, as the way was nowopened for conversation.

      "Then you are from the North, I suppose," said Phil.

      "Yes," replied the stranger, "from the State of NewYork, but I am traveling now, as you see. My name isMiddleton, George Middleton."

      He paused, meditatively blew a whiff of smoke fromthe little Spanish cigarrito, and added:

      "I'm not for long in New Orleans. I'm thinking ofa journey in the West."

      "Nobody goes there unless he has a very good reasonfor going. Iss it not so? No harm iss done where noneiss meant," said Arenberg, in a tone half of apology andhalf of inquiry.

      Middleton laughed and took another puff at his cigarrito.

      "Certainly no harm has been done," he replied."You are right, also, in saying that no one goes into theWest unless he has an excellent reason. I have such areason. I want to look for something there."

      Phil and the German exchanged glances. They, too, wished to look for something there. So! Here was athird man seeking to embark upon the great journey.But it was no business of theirs what he sought, howevercurious they might feel about it. Phil took another lookat Middleton. Surely his was a good face, a face toinspire trust and courage.

      "We wish to go across Texas and New Mexico, also,"he said, "but we've been delaying until we could form aparty."

      "You've two at least," said Middleton, "and younow have the chance to make it three. Why not do so?"

      "We will," said Arenberg. "It iss a case wherethree are company, and two are not so much. Our firmis now Middleton, Bedford, Arenberg & Co."

      "Do not put me first," said Middleton. "We mustall be on exactly the same plane. But I hope, friends, that you trust me as much as I trust you. I think Iknow truth and honesty when I see them."

      "We do!" said Phil and Arenberg together and emphatically.

      The three shook hands, and that single act boundthem into a solemn compact to stand by one anotherthrough all things. They did not waste words. Thenthe three went into the town, walking about among theinns and on the levee to hear the gossip of New Orleans, and to learn what chance there was of a large party goinginto the West. On the way Middleton told them of somethings that he had learned. He was not sure, but a largewagon train might start soon for Santa Fé, in the farMexican land of New Mexico. It was to be a tradingexpedition, carrying much cloth, metal goods, and otherarticles of value to this, the greatest of Mexico's outlyingposts.

      "It will be a numerous train," said Middleton,"perhaps too numerous, as it may arouse the suspicion ofthe Mexicans. The relations of the States and Mexicoare none too good. There is trouble over Texas, and whocan tell what will happen a thousand miles in the depthsof the wilderness?"

      "Nobody," said Arenberg. "Who should know better than I?"

      He spoke with such sudden emphasis that Middletonopened his mouth as if he would ask a question, butchanged his mind and was silent.

      "Then it is your opinion, Mr. Middleton," said Phil,"that we should join this train?"

      "If