Re: Chapter 8: The Five Year Plan
[1874]
The trio heads northeast, uneventfully through Sacramento into the foot hills of the mountains and towards the Donner Pass. Hunting as they go, they find the countryside bountiful and are able to maintain a good pace. By the fourth day they have adequate provisions to make it all the way to Broken Hills and so are able to quicken the pace further. Also on the fourth day the group crossed paths four fellas from the Smithsonian Meteorological Society and were comforted to learn the weather was likely to hold out for them through to the other side of the mountain range.
Late on the fifth day of their trek while walking the horses with Artemus leading the way through a highland meadow and as he stepped through some low brush the Aussie disturbed three quail. Two popped up and darted north and the third to the south. In a flash of quick drawing magnificence Travis spun, stooping such that he rotated his body around the revolver and BAM - BAM he shot the heads, the HEADS mind you! off of both birds. Twisting he shot the third quail striking it in the neck. All three birds fell. Disturbed by the commotion a hare suddenly bolted! In the blink of any eye Travis holstered his first pistol while drawing the second and finishing the hare mid leap. The three men were laughing hard “Meat on the menu tonight, boys!” Said JEB. Drawing the Loomis from the saddle holster he added “Maybe there’s more.” And sure enough another quail sprang from the brush very close to JEB and headed straight for him. Leveling the Loomis JEB let both barrels go – KOOKOOOOMM. The bird vanished in a mist and cloud of feathers hung in the air. “Think ya got ‘im, pard.” Said Travis. That evening the men enjoyed a bounty of quail and rabbit and rounded out the meal with some baked apples.
In the morning, just after starting the three located a trail heading up and began to follow it when Travis abruptly halted the group and seemed to be studying something in the dirt. “What is it?” Artemus asked. “Hmmm. Don’t like that. These tracks – horse shoe tracks – look to have Chinese characters cast into them.” “That alone isn’t a concern. But this. . .” Travis points out a particular character, “this is a symbol used by one of the harbor gangs.” Travis moves to another spot and looks even more concerned. “This symbol, I think, means we need to move along. When we get to Reno, I want to send a telegram.”
On the three went, Artemus often, but not always leading the way. He pointed out where the Donner party became trapped. Along beautiful trails, seeing fantastic vistas they continued. Travis explained that his concern was that the man Cole killed, Sebastian Love - Boss Love, to those who’s misfortune it was to work under him - had friends in low places. And if they were ahead of us then we need to move along.
Arriving in Reno in the evening, the group proceeded directly to the Western Union office and Travis sent a message to Eduardo Gomez.
EG CONFIRM IDENTITY OF POSSE LEADER STOP SUSPECT HARBOR CONNECTION STOP REPLY CARSON CITY STOP TS
Sleeping in a real bed seemed to appeal to Travis and JEB. Art would rather sleep under the stars, but tonight the group turned in early, rose early and continued on to Carson City.
Approaching the edge of town by the afternoon. Art says, “I got kin here somewhere. Town’s named for my uncle - my father’s youngest brother, Kit. Kit Carson. Haven’t seen him since I was about five though. Came though here after Lily died but he wasn’t around. Don’t seem like we’ll have time today either.” Again the group proceeded directly to the Western Union office. JEB said “I’m going to leave you to the telegram and make an inquiry on my own with the local law.” They agreed to meet up later.
“Sunday, Travis Sunday. Anything waiting for me?” Travis said. The telegraph was chattering away. Dit dit dit. Dah dah dah. One man listened and transcribed, another took the small slips and filed them. The third, a small, older man with spectacles worked with the customers.
“Let’s see,” he says as looks into grid of small bins, “yes, sir, right here. Came in about an hour ago.” He hands Travis a slip of paper:
TS CONFIRMED LI QUAN AND FOUR OTHERS STOP TWO LOCALS AND TWO CHINAMEN STOP THEY ARE LOOKING TO CATCH A TRANE STOP SUGEST CAUTION STOP EG
“Is there a reply?” Ask the old man. “Not today.” Travis says back. Turning to Artemus he adds, “Let’s find JEB.”Meeting up again Travis fills his friends in on what he knows. “Li Quan was some sort Chinese monk. Supposedly betrayed his temple, then fled to America with four other renegades. I hear he’s the man to see if you need to line up a lot of Chinese muscle. He’s expensive, but effective. And a bad hombre, if we can avoid him we should. He’s got more lives than a cat.”
JEB chimes in, “And it seems like your friend came through here yesterday. He kept a low profile but was noticed. Seems like he left out of town heading northeast which they tell me . . . is the longer way to Broken Hills.” “So we have an opportunity to get ahead of them. If we head southeast following the river to Walker Lake, then northwest through some rough into Broken Hills”
“I know the river and the lake. It can get dry but there will be water for the horses.” Says Artemus. “We should leave right away and get in a few more miles before dark.”
“One other thing,” said JEB, “the Marshall said that there was a railroad payroll moving through Nevada in a few days headed for San Fran. Marshall didn’t know about any posse for Cole, but thought they might be looking commit a robbery.”
“Maybe he heard it was a two for one special.” Said Travis and patted Horse’s nose.
“We’re lucky that it isn’t summer, the heat would probably kill the horses. As it is the nights will be cold.” Said Art. And it was indeed quite cold at night, but they built a big fire every night and made hot coffee every morning. A bit after noon the riders cleared a ridge. Travis raised his binoculars and panned around a bit. “That’s it.” He said.
Within two hours the trio found themselves at the edge of the small town. “Where should we look for him?” Asked JEB. “I don’t know,” Artemus said motioning the others to stop, “but be careful there.” And he point to the ground about ten feet ahead. “Sidewinder.”