SWDnovel Chapter 40: The Rangers Find the Lost Arms, Tom Obtains the Mysterious Box
Chapter 40: The Rangers Find the Lost Arms, Tom Obtains the Mysterious Box
Tom let out a low growl with all his might and finally overturned the few pieces of broken stone to the side!
The soil under the stone was dug up, and three small boxes wrapped in faded bison hides were exposed to the glaring midday sun!
The box was quite large, about 40 centimeters long, and about 30 centimeters wide and high, and it was heavy.
He deftly brushed off the wet mud clinging to the box, then wiped it with his sleeve, revealing the rough leather and cold metal edges underneath.
Without the slightest hesitation, Tom bent down and lifted the box in one go.
The weight made his arms ache, but he walked steadily toward the carriage.
With a muffled thud, the box was slammed onto the floor of the carriage, kicking up a small cloud of dust.
Tom grabbed a thick, oil-stained canvas from the side, unfolded it with a whoosh, and covered the box completely, obscuring all its conspicuous outlines.
He leaped onto the carriage shaft, plopped down, grabbed the reins, and gave a sharp shout to Mudfish: "Giddy up! Mudfish, back to Fort Worth!"
As for whether the Rangers in the canyon will be able to find the weapons they've been longing for.
What's it to him!
Tom knew it perfectly well.
Tom has now completely severed ties with Clefthoof Valley and the Sun Gang's mess!
He led the way to the lair!
"Snap!" The whip tip cracked in the air with a crisp sound, landing precisely on the side of the horse pulling the carriage.
The horse, in pain, neighed and struggled to pull the wheels.
The wagon rolled over the gravel, tumbling out of the shadows of Crackhoof Valley and back into the embrace of the vast wilderness.
The loach swung its four hooves and trotted briskly ahead.
Tom sat steadily on the carriage shaft, squinting as he gazed at the horizon.
The scorching wind whipped up yellow sand, leaving a long trail of dust behind the wheels.
In the distance, the low wooden outlines of Fort Worth, like a giant beast crouching in the desert, gradually became clear.
Clefthoof Valley.
Not long after Tom left, a commotion broke out at the stone house.
The weapons that had been missing for months have been found!
Hidden deep beneath the cellar of the stone house, even that precious Gatling gun was among them!
After the initial excitement wore off, William felt a jolt of unease; something just didn't feel right.
He nudged Frank, who was still grinning, with his elbow: "Frank, don't you think that cellar entrance is a bit too conspicuous?"
Frank didn't care about that right now.
After enduring nearly four months in this godforsaken place, the recovery of the weapons meant he could finally return to the glamorous world of New York.
"So what if it's conspicuous?" He waved his hand dismissively. "Maybe those damned bandits were in such a hurry that they didn't even bother to close the cellar door properly!"
William opened his mouth, as if he wanted to say something more.
But looking at Frank's face, which was filled with "relief," he suddenly seemed to understand something, and swallowed his words back.
He still had a question in his mind: if this was the robbers' hideout, where had their gold gone? Had they all run off with it?
Just as Frank and William were celebrating their discovery of the weapons, Tom, in the distance, was frozen in place by the sight before him.
The outline of Fort Worth was not far away, and on this windswept, white-tinged wasteland, a lithe wild mare stood quietly, her deep, wild eyes meeting theirs coldly through the swirling dust.
Then it moved.
Its four hooves kicked up dry dust as it slowly strolled toward them.
"Whoosh—!!"
The loach next to the carriage suddenly burst into an excited, distorted hiss!
The old man spotted that wild mare that haunted his dreams again!
It didn't care where it was; it took off charging at the mare like a madman, leaving Tom standing there.
Tom was completely stunned until the wild mare impatiently shook off the clingy mudskipper and walked straight up to him, at which point he snapped back to his senses.
wrong!
This mare didn't come for the mudskipper, she came for him!
Its gaze was sharp, carrying an unquestionable air.
Tom's gaze fell on the mare's long neck, where something wrapped in rough, tanned leather was tightly bound.
"You…" Tom's Adam's apple bobbed, his voice dry, "You want me… to take that thing off your neck?"
Under the mare's wild gaze, Tom opened the package.
"It's just a feather!" Tom exclaimed, looking at the wild mare with a puzzled expression.
The wild mare snorted and trotted away into the distance.
Tom stroked the feather in his hand.
Who sent it?
Deep down, he had a vague idea: besides that silent old Indian man, he couldn't think of anyone else who would give him such a gift.
As for what use these feathers are?
He shook his head, temporarily putting the idea aside.
There's something more important right now: preparing for departure.
The plan is set; we'll set off tomorrow morning, heading to Oregon.
So many days have passed, where have my parents gone?
Time was of the essence, so he had to quickly purchase supplies and then head straight to the crossroads to set up camp for the night.
As for the carriage, consider it compensation from Frank.
However, it backfired.
Tom had just parked the carriage in front of the grocery store when a familiar figure came into view: the broker who sold loaches at the cattle and horse market.
"Hey!" the cattle broker greeted him enthusiastically.
Tom couldn't pretend he hadn't seen it: "Buying something?"
"Yeah!" The other person grinned, leaned closer, and lowered his voice with a hint of smugness, "I know the boss well, I can get insider prices!" He even winked at Tom as he spoke.
Tom's face immediately broke into a smile.
Although I don't understand why this person suddenly showed goodwill, I don't hit a smiling face, so I'll save my breath if I can.
Sure enough, after a shopping spree, looking at the goods piled up in the carriage, Tom clicked his tongue in amazement: what he saved were all jingling silver coins!
This regular customer truly deserves the title.
"Thanks!" Tom said sincerely, the money saved was genuine.
"I often shop here." The broker waved his hand, then casually asked, "By the way, are you an immigrant? Thinking of going to Oregon?"
Tom nodded subconsciously.
"Do you need beef cattle?"
Tom felt a chill run down his spine.
So that's what they were waiting for!
"I really don't know if they found it or not," he shrugged, his tone tinged with helplessness. "As you can see, I have no say in this matter."
A hint of disappointment flashed across the broker's face.
But he quickly put on his usual warm demeanor and said goodbye to Tom.
As the sun began to set, Tom's carriage finally crossed the border of Fort Worth once again.
The horse-drawn carriage rolled along the familiar dirt road and finally arrived at the Sanchakou camp.
The campfire crackled and burned, its orange glow dispelling some of the darkness of the night.
Tom took a deep breath and carefully lifted the lid of the box that had been pulled from the ground.
The first box was filled with dazzlingly bright gold coins.
The second box contained neatly stacked gold ingots, heavy and pressing down on the bottom. Several of them had faint Mexican writing etched on them, which made Tom's heart skip a beat.
When he pried open the last box, he was momentarily speechless. It was crammed full of green banknotes!
The night was deathly still, with only the whisper of the campfire remaining.
Tom was staring blankly at the three boxes of unexpected wealth when his ear suddenly twitched!
In the distance, the sound of horses' hooves, like muffled thunder before a sudden rainstorm, was approaching and tearing through the night!
Tom's pupils contracted sharply, and like a cheetah whose tail had been stepped on, he sprang to his feet instantly, gripping the revolver tightly in his hand!