This characteristic summons produced no response, and, feeling the peculiar peril of his exposed position, the Irishman determined upon changing it and securing the shelter of a tree for himself.  It was not prudent to move directly toward the spot which gave forth the rustling sound, as that would be likely to draw out a shot from a foe if he desired to avoid a personal encounter.  Accordingly, the Irishman made what might be termed a flank movement by turning to the right, running rapidly several paces and then diving in among the trees, as though he were plunging into the water for a bath.

The few minutes occupied in making this change were those which Mickey felt were of great danger; for, if he should reach the wood and find himself opposed to but a single man, or even two, the situation would not be so uneven by any means.  No shots were fired, and he drew a great sigh of relief when he gained the desired covert.

“Now I can dodge back and forth, and work me way up to them,” he concluded; “and when they stick their heads out from behind the trees, I’ll whack ’em for ’em, just as we used to do at Donnybrook when the fun began.”

He waited where he was for some time, in the expectation that his foe would reveal himself by an attempt to draw out.  But if there is any one thing which distinguishes a scout, whether white or red, at such a time, it is his patience.  It is like that of the Esquimaux, who will sit for sixteen hours, without stirring, beside an airhole in the ice, waiting for a seal to appear.  Mickey O’Rooney was not burdened with overmuch patience, and acted upon the principle of Mohammed going to the mountain.  He began picking his way through the shadows and among the trees, determined to keep forward until the mystery was solved.

CHAPTER XII.

Through the mountains.  Continued.

When Mickey found himself under the shelter of the trees, something like his old confidence returned.

“As I obsarved some minutes ago, it’s mesilf that’s not going to stand any fooling,” he added, loud enough for the redskins to hear.  “Whither ye’re there or not, ye ought to spake, and come out and smoke the calomel of peace, and give a spalpeen a chance to crack your head, as though ye’re his brother; but if ye’re up to any of your thricks, make ready to go to your hunting-grounds.”

By this time he was within a dozen feet of the spot whence came the rustling that so disturbed him, and was staring with all his eyes in quest of the redskins.  In spite of the bright moonlight, the Irishman could not be certain of anything he saw.  There were trees of large size, behind any of which an Indian might have shielded himself effectually, and it was useless for Mickey to look unless his man chose to show himself.

The Irishman had all the natural recklessness of his race, but he had been in the Apache country long enough to learn to tone it down, for that was the country where the most fatal attribute a man could have was recklessness or rashness.  In many instances of conflict with Indians it is worse than cowardice.